Zoning Officer Guilty Of Harassment 
Indecent Assault Against 
Gary Delserra, 74, Was Dropped.

911 Official's Rise Dials Up Questions 
Norbert O'donnell's 
Quick Climb Up The Ladder 
Is Due To County Political 
Connections, Say Leaders 
Of Local Taxpayers Groups

By ALIAH D. WRIGHT; Associated Press Writer
 Monday, January 12, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





HARRISBURG- Unless it's deep fried or grilled and on a plate, don't look
for any poultry at the Pennsylvania Farm Show this year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For the first time in nearly 15 years, live and dressed birds of any kind
have been banned from the annual show because of fears of a statewide outbreak
of avian influenza. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But that was news to Joe and Gloria Black. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Shanksville, Pa., couple wandered Sunday around the Farm Show complex
in Harrisburg, searching in vain for the live chicken displays they thought
would be there. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I grew up on a farm," Joe Black said. "I'd just like to look at the
chickens." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We kept walking around looking at the signs that said chickens and
poultry," said Gloria Black. "We thought maybe we had missed it." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Since December of 1996, avian influenza has ravaged 17 flocks of chicken
and at least one turkey flock in Central Pennsylvania. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So far, 1.8 million egg-laying chickens have been found to be infected with
the virus, which is harmless to humans but lethal to chickens, turkeys and
other fowl. The virus has spread mainly among flocks in Lancaster County, the
hub of Pennsylvania's $563 million poultry industry. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The strain is very different from the type of disease that has caused the
Hong Kong government to destroy 1.3 million chickens there, Pennsylvania
agriculture officials said. The mysterious strain in Hong Kong has killed four
people and sickened at least nine. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 During an epidemic in 1983-84, 17 million birds in Pennsylvania, Maryland
and New Jersey were wiped out. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The virus is a special concern in winter, when flocks spend more time in
closed buildings and the reduced ventilation allows infection to spread more
rapidly. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In trying to avoid a repeat of the epidemic of 15 years ago, all birds have
been banned from the Farm Show- a disheartening decision for visitors and
exhibitors like the Penn State Shaver's Creek Environmental Center. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The center had planned to bring such birds of prey as owls, falcons, hawks
and an eagle, said Douglas Steigerwalt, the center's program director. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But "I thought it would be best not to bring birds here or any poultry
products such as eggs and meat products," said Agriculture Secretary Samuel E.
Hayes Jr. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Many poultry farmers share the Agriculture Department's decision to be
cautious. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I think it's a good thing" Robert Esbenshade, said from his turkey farm in
Paradise, Pa. He said he has brought live birds to the farm show for "years
and years" but was happy to take the year off for the safety of his flock. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Meanwhile, Steigerwalt said a few people did ask where the hawks and
falcons were. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dozens of people cr

Bye-bye Birdies At Pa. Farm Show 
Poultry Has Been Banned From Annual Exhibition To Prevent Spread Of Influenza 
That Has Infected 1.8 Million Chickens In State. Disease Is Different From One 
That Has Caused Slaughter Of Birds In Hong Kong, Officials Say

Bye-bye Birdies At Pa. Farm Show Poultry Has Been Banned From Annual Exhibition To Prevent Spread Of Influenza That Has Infected 1.8 Million Chickens In State. Disease Is Different From One That Has Caused Slaughter Of Birds In Hong Kong, Officials Say