Globe-Gazette from Mason City, Iowa • 1

rfmn 9 7 Jm Key tests for Iowa, ISU today North Trolley bought for rail NORTH I0WAA4 Iowa's kids adorn tree KIDS11 sWW.V SPORTSD17 Romanians topple dictator, vow elections EDITOR'S NOTE: AP Special Correspondent Mort Rosenblum was the first Wstern reporter to make it into closed Romania. Here is his report By Mort Rosenblum Of The Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania Outraged Romanians and rebel sol- sistance from pro-Ceausescu security forces, said Stefan Gusa, the first deputy defense minister who joined the uprising. The rebels held the communications centers and arrested key figures from the Ceausescu regime, including the interior minister and the chief of the secret police. About 2:30 a.m. (6:30 p.m.

Iowa nia's second-largest city of Brasov. Friday morning, Ceausescu fled his presidential palace as hundreds of thousands of Romanians called for his death in retaliation for the massacre of their countrymen in a military crackdown unleashed a week ago. See ROMANIA. A2 diers toppled President Nicolae Ceausescu on Friday in fierce, daylong battles with troops loyal to the Soviet bloc's last dictator. Hundreds were reported killed in the fighting, which continued early today.

The rebel army and the people were in control in most places, with only scattered pockets of re time) Friday, security forces opened fire around Romania's radio and television headquarters about two miles apart but rebel troops repulsed the attacks. Fighting also was reported late Friday night in the western city of Timisoara, where the revolt began on Dec. 15, and in Roma In The News Donnelley buys Meredith-Burda DES MOINES Donnelley Sons the leading commerical printer in North America, agreed Friday to buy the Meredith-Burda printing business jointly owned by Meredith Corp. of Des Moines and the Burda family of West Germany in a deal valued at about $570 million. Meredith, a Fortune 500 diversified media company that publishes Better Homes and Gardens magazine and also has interests in television stations and real estate, said it would use its share of the proceeds to strengthen and expand its core businesses.

Meredith has warehouse operations in Clarion. Job director quits DES MOINES (AP) Richard Freeman, director of the Iowa Department of Employment Services, resigned Friday and will be replaced by a top official from the Board of Regents office. Freeman's agency has been under fire from the Legislature over charges of mismanagement and declining morale among workers. Freeman will be replaced by Cynthia Pendleton Eisenhauer, director of business and finance for the Board of Regents. The change will be effective Jan.

5, Gov. Terry Branstad said in a brief announcement issued by his office. A ft i -1 I I 1 v. Another pipe bomb injures county judge HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) A package bomb exploded and injured a county judge in his apartment Friday, the fifth bomb attack in four states since Saturday, authorities said.

Washington County Circuit Judge John Corderman, 47, was in stable condition after undergoing surgery to remove shrapnel in his stomach, abdomen and right hand. Corderman also suffered damage to both ear drums, but never lost consciousness and his life was in no immediate danger. The bomb exploded in Corder-man's third-floor downtown apartment about 10 minutes after a delivery man left a package in the building. Corderman was alone at the time. An unexploded pipe bomb was found in the same package as the device that exploded, and was designed to detonate when the first one did.

The second device was' disarmed by two bomb specialists. Police Lt. Robert Frick said the blast had some similarities to the bombs that killed a federal judge in Alabama on Dec. 16 and, two days later, a city councilman who was also an NAACP attorney in Savannah, Ga. Parcel bombs were also found this week at the the Jacksonville, chapter of the NAACP and the 11th Circuit courthouse in Atlanta.

Both were defused without incident. Priebe pledges action against gas 'rip-off By Kevin Baskins Staff Writer When Berle Priebe purchased propane gas for his Al-gona farm in November, it was 36 cents a gallon. Thursday, he paid 84 cents. At 36 cents a gallon, Priebe was a farmer buying a basic need. At 84 cents a gallon, he is an angry state senator pledging action.

The Algona Democrat announced Friday that he wants the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to find out why the price of propane gas has doubled in two weeks. "I think this is a genuine rip-off for gas to go up that amount," Priebe said. Priebe also drafting a bill that would regulate the currently unregulated propane industry, making suppliers justify increases, he said. "I just feel that the impact on the elderly and the people See PRIEBE. A2 By Jeff Tecklenburg City Editor As temperatures plummetted this week, propane gas prices soared in North Iowa.

"We just filled the tank yesterday," said Marilyn Kittleson, Route 4, Mason City. "It was up about 40 cents a gallon" since it was last filled in October. Marilyn and LaVerne, local farmers for 20 years, paid 94.9 cents per gallon to their provider, Thermogas of Mason City, compared to "about 52 or 54 cents back in October," she said. Their experience differs little from most area rural customers who depend on propane to heat their homes. Propane prices have soared and most of the jump has come within the last three weeks, said Chuck Warrington, whose son Dan owns St Ansgar LP.

"Today, our price is 88 cents a gallon," said Chuck Warrington. "It was 34 cents in November." "It's going up every day; sometimes, twice a day. They've told us it will go into the 90s and won't go down until the end of January. A lot of people are topping off their tanks" to beat the next price hike. At Worth County Co-op Oil in Northwood, the price has doubled See PROPANE, A2 Vx Staff photo By DAVE DELPEROANG Cold Carrier: Mary Julson, a Northwood mail carrier, kept good cheer as she delivered last-minute Christmas cards in the below-zero weather Friday.

She can take some comfort: Gradual warming is expected this weekend, with highs in the 20s on Christmas day. Tuesday, highs are to reach the low 30s. HOLIDAY TRADITIONS Swaledale gifts by draft keep all happy Gate opens WEST BERLIN (AP) Tens of thousands of people surged through two new Berlin Wall openings Friday and celebrated at the Brandenburg Gate, a monument to German unity that became a symbol of division when the wall went up in 1961. The new passages, immediately north and south of the towering gate, were opened at 3 p.m. in a ceremony attended by Chancellor Helmut Kohl of West Germany and the East German premier, Hans Modrow.

Senators scrutinized WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate Ethics Committee said Friday it will formally investigate five senators who intervened with banking regulators on behalf of a wealthy contributor whose huge savings and loan was failing. The panel also will probe a sixth senator accused of influence peddling. The senators all have denied wrongdoing. They are: Majority Whip Alan Cranston, Banking Committee Chairman Donald W. Riegle, John McCain, Dennis DeConcini, and John Glenn, D-Ohio, the former astronaut, and Sen.

Alfonse D'Amato, Jury asks 16 years CARROLLTON, Ky. (AP) A jury on Friday recommended 16 years in prison for the man who caused the nation's worst drunken-driving accident, but some families of Larry Mahoney's 27 victims said it wasn't enough. Mahoney, 36, was led in handcuffs out of the Carroll County Courthouse and taken to the local jail. Years ago, villages would stack gifts beneath the tree in the square, one for each. Today, the method has changed but the spirit is the same.

By Reid Magney Staff Writer SWALEDALE SAM and SAL had a Christmas party recently for their big family. All the children and most every grown-up got a gift. What makes their party different, and what makes this group a family, is that they're residents of tiny Swaledale, population 186, in south-central Cerro Gordo County. SAM and SAL are really the Swaledale Area Men and Swaledale Area Ladies clubs, which organize the annual event. "We go around and solicit gifts and donations from local businesses.

Then we have a drawing, and everybody's happy," said Dale Caspers of SAM. "All the kids got one and most every Christmas tree surrounded by sacks of presents for everyone, said Long. In recent years, business owners get together at the coffee shop and organize their Christmas give-away, consisting of gift certificates to in-town businesses, said Long. Residents used to register for the drawing in the businesses, but that method was abandoned because "some greedy ones" would register several times and make the drawing unfair, said Long. Now, residents come to the fire barn and each receive a numbered ticket stub at the door for the drawing.

A "couple hundred" of Thornton's 443 residents showed up last See TRADITION, A2 adult," said Caspers. Some years the gifts outnumber the party-goers, which means a a second round of drawings, he said. There might have been something for everyone this year if SAM members had another day or two to gather donations, Caspers said. Variations of Swaledale's annual Christmas tradition also go on in other small towns. "We're more family-oriented in small towns," observed city clerk Eva Long of Thornton, which held its holiday give-away the same day as Swaledale's.

Some Thornton residents remember long-ago community events featuring a big NORTH IOWA STYLE EDITOR'S NOTE: Today is the first of seven stories on various holiday traditions special to North Jo wans. They will be appear daily through the Christmas week. Christmas Cheer Panama near anarchy, more troops at ready Weather '--irti in in-" Cheer Fund grows, as do North Iowa's needy By Julie Birkedal toys, and food were given to the Eastern Region Bureau Chief Cheer Fund, said Stackhouse. MASON CITY Even a day Those goods were distributed for after volunteers shut down Cheer use by needy people in the area. Fund Headquarters for another Friday donations: year, donations continued to boost cheer fund donations the 1989 campaign to new heights.

Additional gift from the Principal Maude Stackhouse, director of Financial Group Pension Center Cheer Fund operations, said she Employees $184.95 was happy with the successful Anonymous $10 campaign and delighted at the A friend, Janice Walker geneVosity of North Iowans. Sues $20 "It went oyer goal and it had to, st Martha's for us to take care of the needs church $25 this year," said Stackhouse. "As Don and Doris "McCready "of Osage we see it, there is more need in $20 our area than we have ever in memory of Zack, from Wilma known." and Parti of Clear Lake $10 In all, the Cheer Fund collected So Line Railroad employees $55 $13,810.38 more than the $25,000 ofJ1Jod)' Detra' goal set for the year That amount surpassed by more than $7,000 the j200 record total set two years ago. in ioving 'memory'rt In addition to cash donations, pigman, and Albert and Louise Gas- another $3,000 worth of clothing, sweiler $10 Christmas respite: Moderating temperatures today with a sunny sky. High near 5 above.

South winds increasing to 5 to 15 mph. Tonight, increasing cloudiness with a chance of snow. Low 5 to 10 above. Snow chances, 20 percent. Sunday, mostly cloudy with a chance of snow.

High near 20. Snow chances 30 percent. Outlook for Christmas Day, mostly cloudy. Highs in the 30s, lows in the teens. Details, A6.

1989 rotted on the streets and looters cleaned out furniture stores and car lots as conditions approached anarchy. Police were nowhere to be seen and pro-Noriega Dignity Battalions roamed from area to area, shooting and looting. U.S. Army Gen. Maxwell Thur-man, chief of U.S.

Southern Command in Panama, told reporters at Southern Command headquarters that he was "surprised" by the strength of forces that remain loyal to Noriega. He said it appeared Noriega was directing the counter-offensive, and a pro-Noriega official said he remained in the country. A handful of reporters were shown Noriega's private office, which contained pornography and phallic symbols, as well as sev-i eral of his private retreats. WASHINGTON (COX) With violence flaring anew, White House and Pentagon officials suggested Friday that U.S. troops in Panama may be have to be reinforced and the American occupation extended through the holidays in order to establish order in Panama's capital city.

"We are looking to bring more troops in," said Lt Gen. Tom Kelly, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Sources said up to 2,400 more troops could be added to the 24,000 there. His comments came only hours after forces loyal to fugitive Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega staged a daring attack on U.S.

military headquarters in Panama then tried to assassinate the No. 2 man in the government installed by the United States. In ravaged Panama City, supermarkets stood empty, garbage Don and Jer! Dockhorn $10 Norwest Bank employees $141 Norwest Bank $150 From $16 Anonymous $10 In memory of Timothy Hasapopou- los $10 Students and staff at Washington Elementary School $25 In memory of Broder D. Christiansen $5 TODAY'S TOTAL $956.25 GIVEN TO DATE $38,810.38 CHEER FUND GOAL $25,000 OVER GOAL $13,810.38 Index C12 Markau A12 Iridg B10 North Iowa A3-4 Classifieds C13-16 Obituaries AS Comica B10 Rdigioa B7-9 Crossword BIO Sports D17-20 OMna GuKte A2 Tstorisiat B12 Horacop BIO WsMhsr A6.