Griffin daily news. (Griffin, Ga.) 1924-current, March 10, 1977, Image 1

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Griffin daily news., March 10, 1977, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text; JE < < fl HF . ■lllllg ■ Saccharin out... Feds move to get artificial sweeteners off market WASHINGTON (AP) — Diabetics and others who can’t eat sugar might be able to get saccharin as a prescription drug after the proposed federal ban on the artificial sweetener goes into effect. The Food and Drug Administration announced the ban on saccharin Wednesday, citing a Canadian study that found large doses of the sweetener caused cancer in laboratory rats. Canada simultaneously banned Terrorists threaten to chop heads WASHINGTON (AP) - Machete wielding terrorists, bent on revenge against Black Muslim leaders they blame for a 1973 mass murder, held more than 100 hostages in three buildings today, and threatened to chop off captives’ heads unless demands for retribution are met. Police and the terrorists were at a standoff after a tense night during which a man who identified himself as Khalifa Hamaas Abdul Khaalis, the leader of the gunmen who had invaded and occupied three buildings, talked frequently with reporters by telephone. Asked if he expected his demand that Muslim leaders be delivered to him to be met, the terrorist said, “If they don’t, the worst is to come, yet, the worst is to come ... I’m prepared to die.” City officials said unidentified diplomats were involved in efforts to negotiate with the terrorists. Abdul Khaalis confirmed he had talked to representatives of foreign nations. The gunmen all were believed to be members of the tiny, predominantly People ••• and things Sign in front of Mount Zion Baptist Church at Taylor and Fourth Streets reading, “Love God and one another.” Students at Griffin High taking tests. Wonderful odors floating around about noon from various Griffin restaurants, drive-ins, quick food places. Gordon does it again Gordon Junior College ranked second among colleges in the University System of Georgia on the results of the Board of Regents’ Test this winter, according to Board statistics. From a total of 106 Gordon students who took the exam in February, 81.13 per cent passed. One-hundred per cent passed the reading section of the test. Only one other college, Floyd Junior DAILY NEWS Daily Since 1872 saccharin. The FEA said it would take at least 120 days to put the ban into effect, but it called on manufacturers “to discon tinueuse of saccharin as soon as pos sible,” In announcing the ban, the FDA said it would consider allowing some limited use of saccharin to continue because no substitutes for it would be available in the near future. black Hanafi Moslem sect. They seized the headquarters of a Jewish social service organization, an Islamic mosque and the District of Columbia City Hall. During the takeover of City Hall, a black reporter for a Washington radio station was killed and a city councilman and three other persons were wounded. Eight other persons were injured during the takeover of the building housing the headquarters of B’nai B’rith, the Jewish service organ ization. Three of those eight were still hostages. Shortly after dawn, the gunmen released a woman from the B’nai B’rith building after they were told she had a heart condition. She was taken to a hospital where a spokesman said she was unharmed. Police said the men were armed with rifles, shotguns, automatic weapons and machetes. The siege continued through the night with police uncertain how many hostages were being held and how many terrorists were in the buildings. The largest group of hostages was being held in the eighthfloor cafeteria of the B’nai B’rith headquarters, seven blocks north of the White House. An official of B’nai B’rith estimated that as many as 118 people were in the hands of the terrorists. Another 14 hostages were being held at the Islamic Center on Washington’s Embassy Row and seven were inside the District Building, located on Pennsylvania Avenue within sight of the White House grounds. In a telephone conversation from the B’nai B’rith building, Khalifa Hamaas Abdul Khaalis was asked if he would hold out indefinitely. He told an Associ- College at Rome, scored higher with 82.14 per cent passing the entire test. The percentage of students passing in the System was 60.63. The Board of Regents’ Test is required of all rising juniors in the University System of Georgia to determine abilities in reading and essay writing. GRIFFIN Griffin, Ga., 30223, Thursday Afternoon, March 10,1977 Ban on sugar subs a bitter pill for many Meds here surprised The federal government’s ban on saccharin and other artificial sweeteners caught many Griffin area medical people by surprise. “I was a little surprised to see it (saccharin) so preciptiously withdrawn... Even the experts are not agreeing among themselves,” said Dr. Grady Duke, a member of the Spalding County Health board. He was speaking as a private physician reacting to news of the ban on the artificial sweeteners. “Saccharin may ultimately be avail able for diabetics on a doctor’s advice or prescription,” Dr. Duke said. Lee Roy Claxton, pharmacist, said, “It’s hard to see how one or two grains of saccharin a day could cause cancer in humans.” He said he was skeptical until he saw the research data and figures himself. James Strickland, pharmacist at Neel’s Pharmacy, said, “I can’t see how normal human beings using a normal amount of saccharin” could become ill from it. Dan Baker of Hospital Discount said he didn’t think the tests, made in Canada, were valid. Tom Gary of Forbes said he thought saccharin should be available for diabetic people. He said anything in excess can be harmful. Don Fordham of Kmart pharmacy said he was not too concerned. . . that the situation was just another federal government blowup. He agreed that too much of anything would be harmful. R. F. Hobbs who operates a But Acting FDA Commissioner Sherwin Gardner said any decision on the prescription approach was still months away. Canada said those on restricted diets will be able to buy pure saccharin only in drug stores after Sept. 1. Diet soft drinks account for three quarters of the five million pounds of saccharin used yearly in the United States. A spokesman for the National ated Press reporter, “Don’t worry, when the heads start dropping out the window, then you worry." Abdul Khaalis described himself as the leader of the Hanafi Moslems. His son-in-law, Abdul Aziz, was contacted in the northwest Washington headquarters of the Hanafi Moslems where the murders took place four years ago. Abdul Aziz told reporters that if the demands of the terrorists were not met, “heads will be chopped off. A killing room will be set up at B’nai B’rith and heads will be thrown out of windows.” Mayor Walter Washington, who had been barricaded in his city hall office for several hours early in the takeover but later escaped the building, said early today that foreign diplomats were involved in discussions with the Hanafi gunmen. Revenge for the brutal 1973 murders of seven Hanafis, six of whom were Abdul Khaalis’ children, appeared to be the principal motive for the sudden invasion of the three buildings late Wednesday morning. Five Philadelphia Black Muslims were convicted of the 1973 slayings and each was sentenced to 140 years in prison. In telephone conversations with newsmen, Abdul Khaalis blamed Black Muslim leaders, including heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, for the slayings of his children and demanded that authorities turn the Muslims over to him. In addition to Ali, he listed as Muslim leaders Wallace D. Muhammad, now head of the move ment; his brother, Herbert Mu hammad, and former Philadelphia Muslim leader Jeremiah Muslim Shabazz. Wi I lit //// “What some folks do in conversation is called filibuster In the senate.” pharmacy said he thought it was ridiculous to take the artificial sweeteners off the market. Pharmacist L. E. Cato said the tests were not much of a basis for pulling saccharin off the market. Ronnie Higgins who operates Cole’s said he thought the tests needed more study. Everett Beal who operates a pharmacy said he sells very little saccharin. Haskell Conkle who operates a druggist said he thought it might be just another study by governmental bureaucrats to make jobs look more responsible. All of the pharmacists said they would abide by whatever regulations come out of the controversy. Soft Drink Assoiiation said the industry would try to develop new low-calorie beverages without saccharin. The Coca-Cola Co. said it regretted the FDA’s action, but would comply with the request to discontinue sac charin use as soon as possible. “We will have reformulated low calorie drinks ready for the market” before the FDA ban takes effect, Coke, executive vice president Charles W. Mr, I'jW People in one of the rooms at B’Nai B’rith raise their hands as police enter. They were told to raise their hands until police could confirm that they were people trapped in the building when armed gunmen entered. (AP) County says it wasn’t contacted on authority Spalding County Commissioners today said they were not contacted about participating with the city in an authority to promote getting new industry. “The Board of Commissioners never has been contacted with respect to joining this authority and certainly has never declined to participate,” the county commissioners said in a letter today to Griffin Mayor Raymond Head. A story in the Griffin Daily News Wednesday prompted the letter, the commissioners said. Vol. 105 No. 58 Adams said in a statement from Coke’s Atlanta headquarters. The Canadia study showed that the sveetener caused bladder cancers in rats fed a diet of 5 per cent pure sac charin for their entire lives. To con sume an equivalent amount of sac charin, a human would have to drink 800 12-ounce diet sodas a day for a lifetime, Gardner said. Gardner said that while he could not The commissioners had reference to the report on a city commission session Tuesday morning when the industrial authority came into being. The city commissioners appointed businessman Jimmy Goolsby chairman of the authority. It’s mission would be to encourage new industry to locate here. The county commissioners in their letter to the mayor said, “The board has the greatest confidence in the Chamber of Commerce’s industry search capability and wishes that a full Weather » FORECAST: Considerable cloudiness with a chance of showers tonight. Showers likely Friday. EXTENDED FORECAST: Showers with a thunderstorm or two Saturday and Sunday with slow clearing Monday. only sugar left assess the economic impact of the decision, it would be “substantial, no question about it.” While diet food industy spokesmen disagreed with the FDA over the scientific evidence, they agreed with the economic assessment. The ban "will kick the legs from under us,” said William L. Brooks, 7-Up bottling plant manager in Reno, Nev. public discussion of the city’s proposal had been made prior to its unilateral action.” The city commissioners had said throughout their discussions that they did not want to work in conflict with the Chamber of Commerce in any way. Bart Searcy, chairman of the Chamber’s new industry committee, was invited to the meeting last Tuesday to discuss formation of the authority. He attended as did Chairman Goolsby.