Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 1

Minneapolis Monday February 25, 1980 Volume CXIII Number 238 1A Final 3 Sections 25C Single Copy Cap ItnilMniiMKtaSUf An Olympian moment to remember Brooks, his wife moved to tears By Joe Soucheray Staff Writer Lake Placid, N.Y. The XIII Winter Olympic Games narrowed to a close Sunday afternoon with a freeze-frame of Americans team in the act of celebration. Freeze that moment when 20 boys on the road to manhood came together in a jumble of dark blue jerseys on the ice of the Olympic Field-house in the tiny village of Lake Placid. Freeze that moment and remember it in the rough times. There was no way that yesterday's hockey game against Finland could have been as good, or meant as much, as Friday's game, when America's team defeated the Soviet Union.

But on Friday night, America's team wasn't playing for itself. On Friday night, America's team gave a medal in heart and soul to everyone in this land. Yesterday, America's team played for the gold medal and they won It 4-2, and they did it for themselves. That was the difference yesterday and it made the game every bit as good as Friday's. And after yesterday's game, America's team came out of the fieldhouse In full uniform.

They stood in the falling snow on the avenue above the speed skating oval. Tbey stood there with America's people and something good was happening again because this was real and it was a moment that was earned. America's team moved on through the snow, through the doors of the Lake Placid High School, now the headquarters of the world press. This place had been off-limits to America's team because America's coach. Herb Brooks, had forbidden any player to go on display In Interview sessions.

America's team was a family without Individual stars, Brooks had been saying, but he Introduced them all yesterday. "This team has startled the athletic world," Brooks said, "not the hockey world, but the athletic world. Whatever you people write, remember that these players are deserving. Any father or mother will know how much I love these players." America's team was on the stage of the high school audilorium. They were mugging for the cameras and there was a lightning storm of flashbulbs.

Mark Wells of St. Clair Shores, and Ken Morrow, the bearded defender from Davison, put towels over their faces. Mike Eruzione, the team captain from Winthrop, took one of the high-backed leather chairs in Olympics continued on page 4A Mk Vzsja jv JA CKr I Associated Press Team U.S.A. whooped It up after beating Finland 4-2 to win the Olympic gold medal Sunday. It was the first hockey gold medal since 1 960.

More on the Olympics in the sports section. By John Gilbert Staff Writer Lake Placid, N.Y. He held his composure, the man be- ing called Ayatollah. Brooks for his hard-driving coaching of the U.S. Olympic hockey team.

He yelled and thrust a fist in the air whenever the U.S. scored, and he did it again when the 4-2 victory over Finland was secured Sunday afternoon. When it was over. Brooks headed straight to the dressing room while his players piled pell-mell on each other on the ice. After the players piled into the dressing room, Brooks and his wife, Patti, watched quietly.

"The players were singing 'God Bless America' over and over," he said. "They were laughing and crying. I don't think I'll ever witness anything like it. "It was good," he said, "until I looked at my wife and she started crying. Then I started crying.

No, the players didn't see me. I turned the other way." Bob Fleming, chairman of the U.S. Olympic hockey committee, said, "You might be human after all." The elation of the gold medal completed a day that had started out pensively for Brooks. "For the first time since I've been coaching, I had trouble eating," he said before the came. Then he chuckled and said, "So I just forced down two six packs and went to work.

"Before the game, 1 was thinking how ironic It was to be here, in a different role, 20 years after I was cut just before the team went to Squaw Valley and won the gold medal. "I saw Jack McCartan just before we played today, and he said, 'Herb, it's meant to be; it'll He was the last guy I talked to in Denver, in 1960, then they went one way and I went the other. "I thought back to then. When I got Brooks continued on page 4A ment actions affect their businesses. Ernie Pesis is president and sole stockholder of Sutton Place, owner of the Fox Trap Disco, 14 N.

5th St. Ronnie owns the Y'All Come Back Saloon. 828-830 Hennepin and the Locker Room Bath House, 315 1st Av. N. Jimmy owns Jimmy's Liquor Bar, 3675 Minnehaha Av.

S. All of these operations require city licenses to operate, and ail are monitored by the police department. In addition to his political contacts, Ernie Pesis is a close friend of for-" mer Police Chief Donald Dwyer and former Acting Chief Leonard City Hall continued on page 6A above the usual average temperature, but it's about 6 degrees less than the average temperature of the warmest winter in 50 years, 25.5 degrees in 1933. Kuehnast said the "bitter cold" of the last three winters has made this year a blessing and has molded public opinion. Last year through February the Twin Cities had an average temperature of 9.5 degrees and 59.1 Inches of snow as measured at the airport.

What about March? Kuehnast does not make any predictions. However, Bruce F. Watson, a consulting meteorologist, said the month will be "stormy and snowy" with 15 Inches of snow and normal or slightly below normal Panel, Bani Sadr hold 'constructive' talks Pesis family relies on contacts in City Hall to stay in business time the United States had won the hood opposition and to choose the bus shelter proposal involving Ronnie Pesis over plans of two other firms. As a result of Ernie's efforts, son Jimmy was able to remain in operation, at least for the time being. And son Ronnie secured refinancing for his businesses in exchange for helping a group of local investors get the bus shelter franchise.

Like many people in business, the Pesises have contributed money to and built friendships with influential city officials. The activities of the Pesises that September day illustrate how the political system works in Minneapolis, how hundreds of people participate in city politics because govern view In New York, "There was no linkage between the formation of the commission and release of the hostages, if by linkage you mean a deal. Ayatollah (Ruhotlah) Khomeini, who has the ultimate authority over the crisis, does not make deals." Khomeini announced Saturday that a decision on releasing the hostages would be made by Iran's new Parliament, which will not be elected until April. But Farhang also said: "I can say that Imam Khomeini's statement and the work of the United Nations commission taken together have brought the peaceful end of the conflict in sight for the first time." American officials were wary of such optimism. Iran continued on page 4A Tribune News Services Members of the U.N.

commission in Teheran to investigate the deposed shah's regime met Sunday with Ira-, nian President Abolhassan Bani Sadr In talks described as "extremely constructive." But several Iranian officials insisted the panel's work was not tied to the release of the American hostages. The meeting concerned the commission's operating procedure, including possible testimony by the hostages. Hassan Habibi, spokesman for the ruling Revolutionary Council, said the panel might call as "witnesses" some of the approximately 50 Americans who yesterday spent their II 3th day In captivity at the U.S. Embassy In Teheran. Mansour Farhang, Iran's U.N.

ambassador, said In a broadcast inter Simmons, Editor's note: Friendship, money and power: Each Is a key element in Minneapolis city government, where it Is Important that people who do business with the city be visible to the people who govern. This is the second of three articles examining some of the people and politics Involved In governing Minneapolis. Doing business at City Hall hospital Security officers at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport have been alerted to look for Simmons, who is described as 5 feet, 7 Inches tall, 160 pounds, with blonde shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing casual clothes and tennis shoes, police said.

Her relatives, who live in the East, and the people who live in the south Minneapolis neighborhood where she grew up, have also been warned, police said. Dr. John Bennlnghoff, acting medical director at Anoka hospital, said that he is concerned for her safety and well-being, but doubts that she would be harmful to others. Escape continued on page 4A woman who stabbed By David Phelps Staff Writer Last September Ernie Pesis shuttled between committee rooms of the Minneapolis City Council for most of one morning as aldermen considered two items In which he had keen interest. In one room the council's Consumer Services Committee considered a liquor license renewal for Pesis's son Jimmy.

In another room the Transportation and Property Services Committee heard a proposal for the construction of commercial bus shelters that involved another Pesis son, Ronnie. By noon, the committees had voted to renew Jimmy Pesis's liquor license despite organized neighbor Almanac Monday, February 25, 1980 56th day; 3 1 0 to go this year Sunrise: 6:59. Sunset: 5:55 Today's weather Colder Colder weather is predicted for today In the Twin Cities area. Skies are expected to be clear to partly cloudy today and cloudy tonight and tues-day. Highs around 20 today and in the mid 20s Tuesday are forecast.

A low of 10 above to 0 Is likely tonight. Northwest winds at 15 to 25 miles per hour are expected this morning. Details on Page 9B. Business 10-12A Editorial 8A Calendar 6B Sports 1-7C Comics BB Theaters 6B Corrections 2 A TV, Radio 1 1B Tribune telephone 372 4141 News General 372 4J4? Classilwd 372 4:143 Circulation Enjoying the mild winter? Well, that's normal mother, missing from By Josephine Marcotty Staff Writer Pamela Simmons, a patient at Anoka State Hospital who stabbed her mother to death a year ago, disappeared Saturday morning and as of late Sunday night had not been found. Simmons, 36, was transferred three weeks ago from a secured ward at the hopsital to an open unit after Hennepin County District Judge Diana Murphy ruled that she was no longer dangerous under state law, but that she was still mentally ill.

She did not return to the hospital Saturday night after supposedly going shopping in downtown Minneapolis on an eight hour pass. "The weather has been pretty good to us. It hasn't been too cold," a man said as he waited for a bus to arrive. "Yeah, it hasn't snowed too much either, but wait till March," another commuter said. It probably could have been a conversation on any street corner in the Twin Cities.

But, many people may be surprised to learn, this winter has been almost normal. So far. To date, almost 29 inches of snow has fallen. By the end" of February the normal snowfall is 33 inches. "It wouldn't take much to catch up." said Earl Kuehnast, the state clima-tologist.

The average temperature has been about ,19 degrees. That is 4 degrees 1 Peter Fransway, assistant Hennepin County attorney who prosecuted Simmons, said that he believes she may be trying to return to Honolulu, Hawaii, where she lived before stabbing her mother on Jan. 3, 1979. "I always thought that she would try to go back to Hawaii," he said. He added that she did have access to money, though he did not know how much.

"But it was more than just a couple of dollars," he said. And, Teresa Koob, a 12-year-old girl and former neighbor of Simmons, said Simmons told her Thursday that she "was going to back to Hawaii, back to her old house to pick up a few things, and then she would come visme.".