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 National Legislative Services and Security Association
Newsletter - Winter 3/99

Articles and Region news

Hawaii State Capitol Tour - Security and Safety Analysis of a Capitol Building - Self Defense - Leading (And Following) In Turbulent Times - Demonstrations: Formulating a Contingency Plan & Preparing Briefing Notes - Agency Evaluations - Public Speaking - NLSSA Executive Board Visits State Capitol in Baton Rouge - Measure Puts Capitol Work to the Voters - Despite D.C tragedy, Nevadans want to keep public buildings public - Log on to Legislature: http://www.leg.state.nv.us - Changing times call for addition to Capitol Police - Restoration Renaissance - Legislators to consider security in private - After 67 Years, Nebraska State Capitol May Finally Get Its Fountains Flowing - Congratulations to James and Margaret Woods - Restored rotunda gleams in reopening - Wall of old Capitol uncovered - A New Look for the Capitol on A Day of Beginnings - Stadium Deal Brings Media to the Capitol - Congratulations to Bill Morgan - "Disturbed" Bomber Hunted in Concord, New Hampshire - Damage toll at Capitol: hundreds of thousands - Retirement of Rep. Richard D. Olasz - Capitol Nurse Dispenses Emergency Care, Drugs and Advice - Bomb threat empties part of Capitol

1998 Annual Training Conference Sessions:

Submitted by: Nancy Young, Purchasing/Property Manager & Telecommunications Coordinator, Louisiana State House of Representatives

Symbolism is the word to describe Hawaii's State Capitol Building. Not just another modern structure, the impressive State Capitol, home of the legislative and executive branches of state government, becomes even more interesting when one is made aware of its symbolism.

The two legislative chambers are cone-shaped, like the volcanoes, symbolic of the geological origin of the Hawaiian Islands that grew upward from the ocean floor. The magnificent columns are representative of the graceful palm trees which are abundant and were so important to the early Hawaiians as a source of food and building material. Surrounded by a reflecting pool of water, the Capitol embodies the concept of Hawaii as an oceanic island state.

The airy open design is ideally suited to the mild Hawaiian climate where the sun, rain, and tradewinds are free to enter. This concept of openness was essential to the building design as it was important that the State Capitol reflect a government that is accessible to its' citizens. The great central rotunda, open to the sun, moon, and stars, rises to the sky like the volcanic caldron that built this land. In the center of the rotunda, is the mosaic design "Aquarius," created by a renowned island artist Tadashi Sato that shows the changing colors and patterns of the ocean waters surrounding the islands.

In the legislative chambers, deep carpeting reflects the ocean floor and visitor galleries are set in proximity above the deliberative functions, demonstrating the intimate sense of participation that Hawaii's citizens have with their government. Each chamber is illuminated by a beautiful chandelier designed by artist Otto Piene, the "Moon" in the Senate, is made of polished aluminum and chambered nautilus shells. The "Sun" in the House of Representatives, is made of gold-plated copper and brass. Huge tapestries designed by Ruthadall Anderson, hang from floor to ceiling in both chambers and are composed of warm earth tone colors in the House and cool sea and sky colors in the Senate.

Adjacent to the State Capitol lies the historic Iolani Palace. This magnificent edifice is a retreat into Hawaii's past and the days of the last reigning monarchy of the Kingdom of Hawaii until its overthrow in 1893. It served as the official residence of King Kalakaua from 1882 until his death in 1891 and his sister-successor, Queen Lili'uokalani until the overthrow of 1893 and remains as the only Royal Palace in the United States. From 1893 to 1968, Iolani Palace served as the capitol of the Republic, the Territory, and finally the State of Hawaii. After completion of the new State Capitol in 1969, the palace was vacated and restored to its present condition.

After completing the Capitol and Palace tours, members were treated to a refreshing lunch reception at the Governor's residence. Our thanks to Hawaii's Governor, Benjamin Cayetano, for welcoming us into his home and sharing his remarks and gracious hospitality.

Following lunch, a training session was presented by the U.S. Secret Service on the "Security and Safety Analysis of a Capitol Building." Mr. Richard C. Harrington, Jr., Special Agent, Investigations and Security Division, Washington, D.C., and Mr. Troy Hammond, Branch Chief for Technical Operations, Los Angeles Field Office, gave members an in-depth look into the policies and procedures of conducting a security and safety analysis. This proved to be an especially interesting and thought provoking program for those of us who manage the security for our Capitol buildings.

While many participants attended the security and safety analysis session, others were concurrently learning to "surf." No, not at Waikiki beach, but on the Internet. This training session conducted by the Computer Training Company, provided members with a hands-on experience of surfing the net as well as helpful tips and short cuts for getting the most out the information on the Internet.

While safety and "surfing" meetings were being held, several others and I had pre-arranged meetings with our Hawaii staff counterparts. I was very fortunate that my counterpart who serves as the Sergeant At Arms as well as the procurement and purchasing agent for the House of Representatives had a few minutes to spare for me. Actually, it may have been the best time he had for the whole conference because he got to sit in one place for more than 15 minutes. My thanks to Kevin Ebata, my counterpart, for sharing his expertise and knowledge of Hawaii's procurement and purchasing operations.

Submitted by Bill Morgan, Sergeant, Training Officer, Connecticut State Capitol Police

The Security and Safety Analysis of a Capitol Building session featured two United States Secret Service Agents. Special Agent Richard C. Harrington, Jr. from the Secret Service Special Investigations and Security Division, Security Programs Division and Special Agent Troy Hammond of the Technical Operations located in the Los Angeles Field Office, conducted the training.

Agent Harrington is responsible for the development and implementation of many of the physical and personal security programs currently in use within the Secret Service. During his fourteen years with the Service he has worked criminal investigative duties and intelligence duties in support of the Presidential Protective Division.

Agent Hammond is responsible for the development and implementation of technical countermeasures against any method of attack on protectees of the USSS. Branch Chief Hammond has been assigned to over 300 Presidential and Vice-Presidential protective advances, which have included traveling to 35 foreign countries.

The development of a security awareness program was the starting point of the session. Such a program can be as simple as having a "security tip of the day" appearing on your offices' computers upon signing in. More complex programs can include training for staff in areas such as fire and emergency evacuation drills.

The survey team should be made up of seven or eight members. The team should include Capitol security personnel, Governor's security personnel, state and local police, fire department personnel, building engineering staff and a photographer to document the survey.

The evaluation the Secret Service does incorporates this team approach. It is designed to cover the following areas; buildings and grounds, operations, technical security and guard force/security force. The Service will support the evaluation with photos, videos, diagrams and attachments.

The assessment of the grounds includes descriptions of the neighborhood, adjoining buildings, streets and land. Looking at access to freeways and railways spurs concern for hazardous materials incidents. The buildings review looks at the entrances and exits, windows, roofs and storage areas. The ingress and egress points are appraised. The survey looks at whether windows are alarmed, barred or secured in another manner. Many issues that relate to how these areas are secured and monitored are reviewed.

Some of the solutions are as simple as closing the drapes in certain offices. Other counter measures can be elaborate.

If you are interested in having your Capitol analyzed, start locally. Contact your local field offices and ask for the Special Agent in Charge. Follow-up this request with a letter outlining your request and forward a copy to Special Agent Richard Harrington, Jr. at the United States Secret Service Special Investigations and Security Division in Washington, D.C..

Submitted by Wayne Todd, Jr., Florida Senate Sergeant at Arms

During the 25th Annual NLSSA Conference, Sergeant W.D. "Bear" Maher and Deputy Sergeant N.T. Neil presented a training seminar on self-defense. Legislators and legislative staff are working longer hours than before and are exposed to confrontational individuals and groups. This session taught simple ideas and techniques designed to protect yourself in your car, your office and your home. Attendees were given plenty of hands on experience on how to defend themselves in case of an emergency. Some participants even lost their hair while practicing certain techniques. Sergeant Maher presented a video containing personal safety information. I plan to share this video with the Floor Wardens of our building. You may obtain a copy of the video by sending a blank VHS tape to Sergeant W.D. Maher, Department of Public Safety, Kailua, Hawaii.

Submitted by Jon Hochkammer, Senate Sergeant at Arms, Wisconsin

Are you leader or a follower? Do you make decisions based solely on the five senses or sometimes do you make a decision on a simple hunch? Do you consider yourself to be an introvert or extravert? These are examples of the questions that members considered as we participated in the seminar: Leading (And Following) In Turbulent Times.

Mr. William Harvey Jr., Northwest Mortgage Company, had everyone in attendance fill out the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) prior to the training session. The MBTI had a series of 94 questions with two potential answers to each question. Mr. Harvey reminded us that everyone is an individual and that there were no right or wrong answers to any of the questions.

After Mr. Harvey scored the MBTI, he selected individuals based on their scores, to describe items such as an apple, the perfect New Years Eve Party, how they would go about planning a vacation, or deciding how they would select nine members from a twelve member baseball team to attend a travelling tournament.

It was very evident by the responses, that people are individuals and they will react in many different manners. Each person fell in to one of the following preferences:

Extraversion or Introversion

Sensing or Intuition

Thinking or Feeling

Judging or Perceiving

Following are brief descriptions of each of the preferences:

Extraversion - People who tend to focus on the outer world of people and things.

Introversion - People who tend to focus on the inner world of ideas and impressions.

Sensing - People who tend to focus on the present and on concrete information gained from their senses.

Intuition - People who prefer to focus on the future, with a view toward patterns and possibilities.

Thinking - People who tend to base their decisions on logic and on objective analysis of cause and effect.

Feeling - People who prefer to base their decisions primarily on values and subjective evaluation of person-centered concerns.

Judging - People who tend to like a planned and organized approach to life and prefer to have things settled.

Perceiving - People who prefer to like a flexible and spontaneous approach to life and prefer to keep their options open.

It was very interesting that the scores of the MBTI usually placed participants in the same characteristic type the individual selected for themselves prior to the evaluation. This training session was well attended and enjoyed by all participants.

Submitted by Rudy Boudoin, Chief Assistant Sergeant at Arms, Louisiana

Mr. Dennis Clark, Assembly Sergeant at Arms, Ontario, Canada was the guest speaker on Demonstrations: Formulating a Contingency Plan & Preparing Briefing Notes. There were 14 members present for this session representing 9 states. Mr. Clark suggested having a plan in tact, which consisted of communication and operation. He recommended having a checklist and notifying the proper authorities. He also proposed meeting with the heads of the pros & cons of the demonstration. After the demonstration he suggested having a debriefing to make sure that all operations have returned to normal.

Submitted by Rod Welsh, House Sergeant at Arms, Texas

Brian Weberg gave us a very informative session concerning agency evaluation at the 25th Annual Training Conference in Hawaii. Brian is the director of the Legislative Management Program for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) where he oversees NCSL programs and services that address the procedural, organizational, management and professional development needs and interests of state legislators and state legislative staff. His session provided useful tools on how to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of an agency and whether the agency is performing at the level it should be.

The beginning portion of the session focused on why we should be concerned about the effectiveness of our agencies or departments. The main reason is because legislatures are changing in a number of ways. A

few changes that Brian cited are:

Some of the more recent changes in information and communication technology include the use of fax machines, cell phones, pagers, voice mail, e-mail, the web, laptops, and electronic books. There have been technological advances with regard to weapons concerning the miniaturization and materials used in the making of weapons. There have also been many improvements in the area of surveillance and stealth technology.

Partisan competition has been a changing force in legislatures because of the changing party make-up of legislative bodies and the increasing costs of elections. There is greater pressure on nonpartisan staff to remain trusted and a greater pressure on partisan staff to maintain the majority.

Public opinion and direct democracy have caused changes in legislatures due to scandals of a few bad apples and attacks on the institution, such as, term limits, initiatives and referenda, tabloid journalism and talk radio, militia mentality, and physical assaults like the one at the U.S. Capitol.

Generation shifts are another cause of change in legislatures and their effectiveness. Brian identified three generations and pointed several observations and differences in each generation. The Silent Generation

(1925-1942): lived during the depression and WWII, placed a high value on security, were comfortable with strong leaders, respected formal authority/hierarchy, and developed skills before the computer age. The

Baby Boomers (1943-1960): were born into economic prosperity, grew up in the atomic age, authority figures were vulnerable/negative (Vietnam War, Watergate, Three Mile Island, JFK and MLK assassinations), idealistic, highly educated, and comfortable with information technology. Generation X (1961-1981): witnessed an era of corporate downsizing (a loyalty to self and team, not to organization), children of record divorce-rate families, dual career couples, pragmatic and cynical realism, work to live not live to work, seek mentors and coaches not bosses, and born with technology.

The new legislative culture brings out the following elements: more politics and less institution; decentralized power (members more independent, entrepreneurial, ideological, and partisan); impatient membership trying to make their mark quickly; and less job security and more opportunity. Staff roles include remembering, educating, interpreting, summarizing, anticipating, advising, and adding value. The strategic plan that Brian described involves identifying your stakeholders, clarifying their expectations, establishing and articulating your mission, understanding your environment, measuring your current performance, setting specific performance goals/targets, and evaluating your performance.

In conducting a stakeholders analysis, the following questions need to be asked: who are your stakeholders, which stakeholders are important, what do your stakeholders want from you, what do they expect from your office, and how well are you meeting stakeholder expectations? You should rank the expectations in order of importance and develop action plans for areas where you need to improve services.

Some important things that will help in meeting the expectations of stakeholders are: speeding up your processes and abandoning bureaucratic practices that slow things down; be accountable for outcomes; continue learning; think customer service, know the members and their needs; promote a shared, clearly articulated mission and workplace philosophy; involve people in decisions, delegate real responsibility and display trust; improve open and honest communication; provide professional development about new tools, technology, and techniques; and give feedback performance on a regular and personal basis.

By evaluating our own association as an example, Brian's session was particularly insightful in assessing the performance level of our association. Those members attending the session decided that our four main stakeholders were the sergeants, legislators, services staff, and other legislative staff. Other stakeholders mentioned included constituents, lobbyists, press, family, NCSL, state agencies, international counterparts, and the federal government. We then broke up into four groups to decide what we thought the stakeholders expected from our association. And finally, we evaluated the effectiveness of our association in helping to meet those expectations.

The expectations of the "sergeant" stakeholders included providing professional development and training, camaraderie, networking ability, inspiration for members of the association, and experience from the members of the association. The evaluation from the whole group showed that we meet expectations with regard to professional development, camaraderie, and networking. However, we are marginal or lacking with regard to inspiration and experience from the members of the association. This may be in part due to the fact that there were more Silent Generation and Baby Boomer members attending the session and very few Generation X members. Therefore, since there were more of the older generation or longer serving members of the association attending the session than newer or younger members, they may not have felt that the association met their expectations with regard to inspiration and experience because they are more likely to be the providers of those expectations than the receivers are.

The expectations of the "legislator" stakeholders included providing professional development and training, networking ability, being an information source, being a source for meeting legislators' needs, and developing new initiatives. The evaluation from the whole group showed that we meet expectations with regard to professional development and networking. However, we are good to marginal with regard to being an information source and a source for meeting legislators' needs. And, we are marginal or lacking with regard to developing new initiatives.

The expectations of the "services staff" stakeholders included networking ability, being a source for information exchange, and providing management and technological training. The evaluation from the whole group showed that we are good to marginal with regard to networking ability and being a source for information exchange. However, we are marginal with regard to providing management and technological training.

The expectations of the "other legislative staff" stakeholders included making them aware of our organization's goals and objectives, exchanging professional and effective communication with other staff, conveying ideas for improvement with other staff, and making recommendations to leaders for change. The evaluation from the whole group showed that we are marginal or lacking with regard to each expectation.

Brian also provided us with an informative and useful guide from NCSL to assist with self-assessment of an agency or department entitled Self-Assessment Guide for Legislative Staff Managers.

Submitted by Nancy Young, Purchasing/Property Manager & Telecommunications Coordinator, Louisiana State House of Representatives

Sweaty palms, moist upper lip, dry mouth, trouble breathing. Signs of a heart attack? Perhaps, but in my case these are all symptoms I experience before speaking in public. While some people seem to have a knack for getting up in front of a large crowd, I have worked very long and hard to overcome my fear of speaking in public. Sounding and looking stupid, not saying the right thing, making our bosses or superiors upset or mad, being misquoted or not saying the right thing. These are all reasons most of us fear speaking in public.

Dina Hidalgo, California Senate, presented an excellent program on public speaking at the NLSSA Annual Training Conference in Hawaii. Dina gave several pointers beneficial to those of us who find ourselves before an audience. Whether it be an orientation, training conference or simply a panel discussion all of the pointers below can be beneficial when planning your speech.

1. Preparation.

2. Identify your audience. What is their goal or mission?

3. Time limit.

4. Decide what you want to say in the form of an outline.

5. What resources are available for your use?

6. Practice your speech in front of a mirror.

7. Don't read your speech. Refer to your outline.

8. Use visual aids if possible or practical.

9. Bullet points. Say what you need to say and keep to your point.

In addition to public speaking many of us are also in the position of speaking with the media. According to Dina her "Ten Commandments of Media Relations" will see you through any media encounter.

1. Be open and cooperative. Never lie.

2. Personalize the Organization.

3. Develop media contacts.

4. Take good stories to them.

5. Respond quickly.

6. Never say "No Comment".

7. It's O.K. to say "I don't know" (but I'll find out).

8. If you screw up, confess and repent.

9. Use the big dump.

10. Prepare for a media disaster.

If you would like more information on media relations or public speaking, please contact Dina at the California Senate. Congratulations to Dina on an excellent presentation and welcome as a new member of the NLSSA.

Submitted by Nancy I. Young, Chair, Region 2

It was my pleasure to welcome the NLSSA Executive Board members to Baton Rouge on January 21, 1999. Board members, Steve Watson, Jon Hochkammer, Jim Woods, Bill Morgan, Monte Walters, Jimmy Branson, Watson Holley, Maureen Hill, NCSL liaison Kae Warnock, and guests, Cathy Morgan, Margaret Woods and Charles Hamilton were greeted at the Capitol by board member John Gentrey. After a short stop in the House Chamber members and guests enjoyed morning coffee and traditional Mardi Gras King Cake. After much discussion concerning the tradition of baking a plastic baby in each king cake, members donned purple, gold and green Mardi Gras beads and got to work. Items discussed during the board meeting included the annual NCSL meeting in Indianapolis and also a presentation by Maureen Hill on the annual NLSSA conference in Missouri.

Following the board meeting, the executive board and other guests were invited to Longview, the historical home of Earl K. Long. Randy Haynie, owner of Longview, provided the history of the home for the attendees as well as other topics during lunch. Crawfish etouffee, provided by Andy Dreher, was a new experience in dining for some guests. I think we have convinced Andy, who will be joining NLSSA as an associate member, to bring etouffee to Missouri when Region's 1 and 2 host a hospitality night. (I'll keep working on him!) Following our luncheon, Captain Brad Tullier of the State Police (member) arranged a tour of the Governor's mansion for the group. The mansion, thanks to Governor and Mrs. Foster, has been restored and refurbished over the past three years and was beautifully decorated in traditional Mardi Gras fashion. Believe me it was hard keeping Jimmy Branson's hands out of the "bead" bowl.

After leaving the Governor's mansion, the group headed to the Old State Capitol. Recently restored, the capitol offers very interesting displays and exhibits including a display of the gun that was used to assassinate Governor Huey P. Long. After arriving back at the new State Capitol, the board members received a welcome from Speaker of the House Hunt Downer in the House Chamber. Speaker Downer, a true preservationist, presented a history of the House chamber and its recent restoration to its historical accuracy along with the new technology in the chamber including closed-circuit TV monitors and laptops for the legislators. After his welcome address, members toured the Senate Chamber, Speaker Downer's office and visited the observation deck on the 27th floor of the capitol where they were able to view the grave of Governor Long in the center of the front capitol grounds. Captain (as of this date) Dennis LaFleur of the capitol DPS also gave a tour of their operation center located at the back of the capitol.

On behalf of Speaker Downer, John Gentrey and myself, I again would like to thank all of the board members and guests for spending the day at our capitol. We look forward to having you return, or in traditional Louisiana flavor- Ya'll come back now, ya hear!

February 2, 1999

By Mike Soraghan
Denver Post Capitol Bureau
Copyright 1999, Reprinted with permission from the Denver Post
Denver, Colorado

Voters would be asked to spend $140 million to renovate Colorado's Capitol building under a proposed ballot initiative to be discussed today. The proposal follows years of study about the problems at the Capitol, which proponents of the measure consider to be a firetrap.

"This is the time to determine if the electorate thinks public money should go to fix the public's building," said Heidi Boyer, a sponsor of the measure.

On the surface, the ornate building looks like it's in pretty good shape. Nothing is falling down, and the railings are polished fastidiously. But supporters of the measure say the building is not safe. In fact, they say, if it was a private office building, it wouldn't meet code and the owners wouldn't be able to use it.

The key problem with the Capitol is that the way it's built allows fire to go up, but won't let people get down and out.

The Capitol's dome and decorative open spaces in the floors would act like chimneys if fire broke out, allowing smoke and fire to rise, said Sen. Dottie Wham, R-Denver, who has studied the issue for years. At the same time, staircases do not run all the way from the third floor to the first. Someone trying to get from the top floor to the bottom must start at a corner staircase, then run through the halls to a staircase in the middle of the building to get to the first floor. At the first floor, a person would have to run through the halls again to get to the outside.

"We invite school-age children into that building," noted D.A. Betram, a Denver construction industry lawyer who sponsored a similar measure two years ago and expects to be involved this time.

Over the years, false ceilings have been installed that cover some of the craftsmanship from when the building was constructed.

The measure would require the Legislature to use $140 million from its budget surplus to renovate and restore the Capitol. The money would be exempt from Colorado's constitutional spending limits, and would go toward putting in safety improvements, making the building accessible to the handicapped, and installing better climate controls and communications equipment.

The state could accept private donations for the repairs, which would be tax-exempt.

During the work, Capitol operations would have to be moved to another location, as would parking in the Capitol circle. Work would have to start by Oct. 1, 2001, and not take longer than three years.

Wham says a statewide vote is the only way the Statehouse will get fixed, because legislators won't vote to do it themselves.

"People here are concerned that it's not something the people of the state are interested in," Wham said.

The proposed measure will be discussed today at a public meeting with the directors of Legislative Council and Legislative Legal Services to get the comments of the two agencies. The meeting will be at 2:00 p.m. in the basement of the Capitol, Room 0111.

After the meeting, the measure will go before the state's Title Setting Board, where it can be challenged. Two years ago, the measure was not challenged. But the effort was scrapped, because supporters felt there wasn't enough time to obtain the signatures needed to place the measure on the ballot.

July 28, 1998
By Bill O'Driscoll
Reno Gazette-Journal
Reno, Nevada

As congressional leaders Monday talked of a more secure underground visitors entrance at the U.S. Capitol, Nevadans resisted barricading public buildings and say threats are part of the job.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said she has received at least four death threats in her 12 years on the job, including one in which someone reportedly put a contract out on her. That prompted her staff to advise she wear a bulletproof vest, which she has refused.

"People get irate, but I don't ever recall someone threatening me to my face," Del Papa said.

State and local police agencies in Carson City as well as the FBI and Secret Service cooperate in the State Information Network Group where they share intelligence information on threats to public officials.

Occasional threats are received, especially during legislative sessions. Police try to get photographs of such people from state motor vehicle or criminal records, Legislative Police Chief Wayne Hurte said Monday.

Hurte said the Legislative Police Department, a part of the network, now has files on four people, but none is considered a serious threat.

"We had four people we were concerned enough to look for last session due to comments they made, but they were minor in nature," he said. "There were no arrests. But if they came in the building, we wanted to know."

Hurte cited one case of an unarmed man, later found to be mentally unstable, who had been considered suspicious and was stopped before he could enter a lawmaker's office.

"If someone made a threat, they may not get in the front door. But we've never had to turn anyone away," Hurte said.

Gov. Bob Miller refused to discuss the issue of threats.

"It's for security reasons," spokesman Gordon Absher said. "But any threats that come in are investigated thoroughly to the satisfaction of the governor and his security detail."

Under Nevada law, threats of violence against people are misdemeanors.

"We get hundreds of those," Reno Police Assistant Chief Jim Weston said, "We try to determine what elements are involved and screen them out. Also, there usually are two sides to a story."

Weston said he couldn't recall any threats against Reno City Council members. But when he was chief, he used to get threats on the Internet.

Sparks police Lt. Paul Ochs said a dispatcher normally will tell an officer responding to a home about any history of threats against officers from the address.

As far as keeping a master list of threats against people, he said, "I'm not aware of any list."

Since threatening someone is misdemeanor, Washoe County sheriff's Capt. Lee Bergevin said the threatened person must sign a complaint for prosecution. Otherwise, the law-enforcement agency will just note it in a report.

But for high-ranking officials such as Del Papa, "You have to take everything somewhat seriously."

To that end, in addition to a Capitol police officer at the entrance to the attorney general's office, "panic" buttons are positioned throughout for alerting police to trouble.

Such buttons exist in legislative hearing rooms, too. And TV cameras are poised atop the outside corners of the building scanning the perimeter as well as the parking garage to the rear.

During sessions, an armed officer sits at each entry while others patrol the halls and hearing rooms. Add a hot-line phone in the rear entry's outer foyer linked to the police station, and the Legislative Police are ready, Hurte said.

"We're always thinking of ways to improve. But if someone wants to get through, no matter what kind of security, they can," he said. "All you do is your best to make sure no one gets hurt."

"Eventually, what we've got now will be antiquated. As times change, we have to change, too."

Legislative police are confident they can handle any threat to the security of the Legislature Building.

Improvements made when the building was renovated and enlarged before the 1997 session have aided the eight-person Legislative Police staff in watching those entering, Hurte said. They include a full-time armed police officer posted in the main entry and additional closed-circuit TV cameras tied to monitors inside the police command post.

As part of the redesign, anyone entering the front door off Carson Street must pass through two glass doorways before reaching the building's interior.

"That gives us a chance to analyze who's coming in before they even get into voice contact," Hurte said.

Whether metal detectors will be considered since Friday's killings at the U.S. Capitol is uncertain. Lawmakers, fearing a public backlash against a heavy police presence and citing the tradition of few if any barriers to constituents, opted not to use them in 1997, not even for occasions such as the governor's State of the State address.

The Legislature convenes in January, but an ongoing committee might decide before then to install two detectors that police have purchased from Reno/Tahoe International Airport.

"I see us revisiting this issue in our next Legislative Commission meeting," said Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno. The meeting likely will be in September.

"(Metal detectors) give you a sense of security. Sometimes that's the only way people know security is there," said Sen. Lawrence Jacobsen, R-Minden, a commission member.

Log on to Legislature: http://www.leg.state.nv.us

February 6, 1999
By Sean Whaley, Donrey Capital Bureau
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Copyright 1999, reprinted with permission by the Las Vegas Review-Journal

CARSON CITY - If lawmakers were wondering just who is tuning in now that their meetings are being broadcast live over the World Wide Web, Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, got an answer this week.

He received an e-mail from former state Sen. Bill Hernstadt, who was listening to Coffin speak during a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee.

Hernstadt was listening from Singapore.

"He e-mailed me and said he had been up late at night listening in," Coffin said of Hernstadt, who served two Senate terms beginning in 1977. "He said `I heard you loud and clear,' and said it was (as) if he was in the room next door."

Hernstadt e-mailed the next day to tell Coffin that there was a bit of a hum in the second meeting he listened to.

Legislative leaders decided before the session began Monday to broadcast live audio of all hearings and floor sessions over the Internet at the Legislature's Web site, http://www.leg.state.nv.us.

It took a bit longer than expected, but Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Lorne Malkiewich said all but a few committee rooms are wired for the live broadcasts. The Senate and Assembly floor sessions and all Senate committee rooms are online, he said.

Most Assembly committee hearings, including Ways and Means and Judiciary, also are heard online, and the final few Assembly hearing rooms should be finished by the end of the month, he said.

"What little comment we've received so far has been positive," Malkiewich said.

The Legislature took the plunge into the world of computers and the Internet in 1997 with limited success. A new computer system had problems with drafting bills, and lawmakers said their lap-top computers didn't work as well as they had hoped.

Coffin said the technology in place for this session is far superior, and should give the public more access than ever before to the legislative process.

All lawmakers who want one have been issued lap-top computers that can be used to read bills, review the budget and e-mail constituents.

The Legislature's Web site also contains information about each lawmaker, allowing people to find out who their representatives are and to contact them via e-mail.

Committee schedules, agendas for meetings and membership on each committee are available on the site, as are bills being considered by the Legislature and the list of bill draft requests.

October 23, 1998
By John Hanna
The Topeka Capital-Journal
Topeka, Kansas

The newest Capitol Police officer has a rust-colored coat and isn't much for small talk. Rocky also has a constantly wet nose and four legs.

Rocky is a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois, a dog trained to sniff out explosive materials, track criminals and bring down fleeing suspects.

He will spend a lot of his time in the back of a patrol car on the Statehouse grounds, awaiting a call to action, but visitors will see him walking in the Capitol and nearby state office buildings.

The Kansas Highway Patrol, which supervises Capitol Police operations, introduced Rocky and his partner, Officer Gregory Cowan, to the public Thursday during a news conference on the Statehouse steps.

The new partners were all business. The 37-year-old Cowan was dressed in a navy blue SWAT uniform and spent most of the news conference at attention as others talked.

"It's no secret these days that the world is a little more dangerous," said Secretary of Administration Dan Stanley. "We're delighted to have this."

The Highway Patrol's superintendent, Col. Lonnie McCollum, said Capitol Police officers suggested they get a trained dog to help them with their security duties.

McCollum said it was part of officers' attempts to upgrade their force, efforts that included installation of a machine to X-ray mail and packages coming into the Capitol.

Rocky is living with Cowan, who considers himself a dog lover and has two dachshunds as pets. Cowan trained for eight weeks. Rocky spent a year with a Highway Patrol trooper in Northeast Kansas.

One of Rocky's biggest strengths is his sense of smell.

"He'll be able to respond to any threats of explosives that we have," Cowan said. "He can find them where you and I couldn't."

For his part, Rocky seemed unaffected by the attention he received Thursday, though he did sniff curiously at the cords of the television microphones.

January 24, 1999
By Roger Myers
The Topeka Capital-Journal
Topeka, Kansas

Virtually everyone who sees it says it knocks their socks off.

The restoration of the House of Representatives chamber in the Statehouse is complete, and few expected the resulting renaissance.

"I certainly was surprised- I certainly was," said Bill Groth, the Capitol architect and the man who oversaw the renovation. "I thought it was going to be nice, but I just didn't have any expectation it would be as nice as it turned out."

Colleen Mullen, House Speaker Robin Jennison's administrative assistant, said, "If someone had told me before they started that it would end up looking like it looks now, I never would've believed them."

"It is, without a doubt, some of the most impressive work I've ever seen. It just really makes you feel like it's a place where laws should be made."

Rep. Deena Horst, R-Salina, a middle school art teacher, got her first look at the refurbished House chamber when she reported to Topeka on Dec. 7 for the biennial pre-session meeting of the House to elect its new officers.

"I think it's wonderful," Horst said, "I'm very, very pleased. It's beyond my wildest expectations."

"We've revived its elegance, I think revived is the best way to put it because if already was elegant- we just didn't know it."

Gov. Bill Graves took note of the restoration when he delivered his State of the State Address to a joint session of the Legislature in the House chamber Jan.12.

"We're gathered this evening in the exquisitely restored chamber of the House of Representatives," Graves said as he opened his speech.

"My compliments to the artist and workers who made this possible, and on behalf of the people of Kansas, I want to express my appreciation to the Kansas Legislature for its vision and commitment to the restoration of this significant piece of Kansas history."

When the floor-to-ceiling scaffold was removed, and the plastic sheeting over legislators' desks was taken away in early December, the 120-year-old chamber glittered with more than $10,000 worth of gold leaf, although Groth hasn't totaled up the exact cost of the gold leaf because of change orders. He said the entire project cost about $460,000 to $470,000.

The four murals on the chamber's ceiling, paintings uncovered six years ago and that ultimately led to the renovation, were completely restored, their allegorical scenes representing history, justice, law and the first dawn of liberty.

"They're much better art than I thought they were," said Horst. "I wouldn't put them in the same category as Michelangelo, or (Leonardo) da Vinci, you know, the masters. But that was probably the best they could do at the time."

The west wing of the Capitol, which contains the House chamber, was finished in the early 1880s, and it is believed the murals were painted about that time.

Research made available to Capitol architect Groth indicated E.S. Miragoli & Co. of St. Louis was awarded the contract to paint the new west wing in December 1881 and that reports made by the Board of State House Commissioners indicated Miragoli received $7,500 between December 1881 and December 1882 for the work. It is believed he and his workers painted the original murals.

When the renovation and restoration were completed, the four small chandeliers that formerly hung from the middle of the murals were gone. In their place was $120,000 worth of indirect lighting produced by cold cathode tubes- custom made to fit in the recessed cove that encircles the chamber about midway between its floor and ceiling.

"We didn't have to do anything with the lighting if we didn't want to," Groth said. "But when we removed the four chandeliers, we needed to add some illumination to the chamber. The cove lighting really brings out the artwork on the ceiling."

The murals are fresco-style, Groth said, and were restored by artists from EverGreene Painting Studios Inc. of New York.

At times, the EverGreene artists had to restore parts of murals freehand where some of the art had flaked off and where the former chandelier holes had been plugged and plastered over.

The House has planned a grand rededication of its chamber with a joint session of the Legislature to meet there 10 a.m. Friday.

"I think it really needed to be done," said House Speaker Robin Jennison, R-Healy.

"I think this is a place that Kansans should be proud to some visit. I think we need to develop pride in this state and this is one of the things that could help do it. I think if we restore the building, more of our young people will want to come."

"I am very impressed. I was one of the people who wanted the murals restored, but I am surprised at how well it turned out."

"I've had a couple of people who said they didn't want to restore the murals who have come to me since the work was finished and told me they're glad we did it."

For about six years, state legislators looked up at the ceiling and saw scraggly, ugly paintings and averted their eyes. It took about that long for legislative leaders to decide whether they wanted to go to the expense of restoring the murals or paint over them again.

Not a soul that Groth, Horst, Mullen, Jennison or Senate President Dick Bond, R-Overland Park, have talked to about the restoration of the House chamber is sorry about the decision to go forward with a complete, and historically accurate, restoration of the hall.

Bond, who is chairman of the Statehouse Restoration Commission and who championed the House chamber project, said, "I think it's magnificent."

"I am so pleased and proud of the House chamber, and I think it is a major example of what we can do with this building for future generations."

"Before the restoration, the House was, at best, a big hall without charm and without elegance. Today it is elegant."

One of the major components of the project was restoration of the columns in the east and west visitor galleries and the half columns on the north and south walls of the chamber.

They were stripped of unknown layers of paint and returned to their original pink marble finish. The columns are eye catching, and no one living remembered they were supposed to look that way.

The columns were constructed using an ancient Egyptian process called scagliola, in which pigments and paint are mixed with plaster to create an imitation marble finish. The restored columns were buffed to a high sheen with several coats of carnoba car wax.

Tony Kartsonas of Milwaukee, one of the EverGreene Studio supervisors who helped oversee the restoration, said the scagliola columns make the Kansas House of Representatives chamber unique.

"This legislative chamber isn't typical," Kartsonas said. "It's been really interesting investigating it. It turned out to be a lot more ornate than we had anticipated."

"I think one of the greatest things is the columns, just because of the of their scarcity in this part of the country."

Kartsonas, who worked on the restorations of numerous state capitols, said he didn't think there were many scagliola columns west of the Mississippi.

Besides the columns, another element in the House chamber uncovered during the investigation of what was under all the paint, were 10 panels found on the north and south walls of the chamber.

The panels carried last names of individuals who were prominent early-day Kansas settlers, all of them anti-slavery abolitionists or free-soil Kansans. Among the 10 names is that of John Brown, the fiery abolitionist executed for his raid on the federal armory at Harper's Ferry, Va., shortly before the Civil War.

Of all the elements that have been painstakingly uncovered and restored, the most impressive may be the gold leaf.

Groth said it originally was decided to use Dutch Metal, which is kind of a gold alloy mixture.

"But that will tarnish over the years and so we elected to go for the real gold because it won't tarnish." Groth said. "We spent about $4,500 extra to do that and when we decided to use gold on the columns, that added another $2,500."

"But is was worth it. That gold will sparkle 100 years from now."

The one-of-a-kind artist who dabbed, not painted, the gold leaf onto the ceiling and walls of the House chamber said the state "had gone first class."

EverGreene Studios supervisor Kartsonas said last summer when the restoration project began that once the chamber was restored to its original décor, the murals, decorative plaster, pink marble columns and the soft creams and grays of the color motif, "all fit together and make sense."

Kartsonas said six months ago that when the House members returned for the 1999 legislative session this month, they would be happy with what they found.

"I think they'll be pleased when they see it," he said. "They will have left a good mark for themselves."

He was right. Just ask any of the House members, and they would be delighted to give you a tour of the masterpiece where they work.

By Jim McLean
The Topeka Capital-Journal
Topeka, Kansas

Tucked into the rules approved by the Kansas House and Senate this week was a little-noticed provision that allows members of legislative committees to meet in private to discuss security concerns.

Joint Rule No. 5 says various committees, as well as the full House and Senate, "may meet in closed executive session for the purpose of receiving information and considering matters relating to the security of state officers or employees".

Senate President Dick Bond, R-Overland Park, said he asked for the rules change after being told the Legislative Coordinating Council couldn't conduct a closed meeting "to talk about bombs and bullets and issues that have some sensitivity."

The change wasn't controversial. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensely, D-Topeka, called it "a good move."

With the rules change in place, Bond said the LCC is scheduled to meet in private later this month to hear from a consultant hired by the state to conduct a security audit of the Statehouse and state agencies.

Bond said preliminary indications are that security around the Capitol needs to be tighter.

"No question, we're vulnerable," he said. "The governor is vulnerable."

Currently, the Statehouse grounds and both of the office buildings in the Capitol Complex are patrolled by officers of the Capitol Area Police, who work for the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Sgt. John Eichkorn, highway patrol spokesman, declined to say how many officers are stationed in the Statehouse on a daily basis, explaining the security operation could be compromised by revealing such details.

Although security was stepped up at nearly all public buildings after the Oklahoma City bombing, it is apparent that security at the Statehouse and at state office buildings isn't as tight as it is at other state office buildings in Topeka, including the Shawnee County Courthouse and the Frank Carlson Federal Building.

Despite the arrest at the Statehouse of anti-government protestors on the day he was inaugurated for a second term, Gov. Bill Graves cautioned against going too far to restrict access to what is perhaps the most public of public buildings.

"In this day and age, if someone is intent on causing some harm to people, it is pretty hard to stop them," Graves said at his new conference Friday.

Bond wants to extend the ability to discuss security issues in private to local governmental agencies. At his request, a bill has been introduced that would create an exception in the Open Meetings Act to allow the governing boards of cities, counties and school districts to adjourn into executive session to address security concerns.

February 16, 1999
Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan
Copyright 1999, Reprinted with permission by the Associated Press

A few finishing touches that were left out when the state Capitol was built 67 years ago soon may finally be put into place.

Four cast-bronze fountains were supposed to have been placed in each of the Capitol's four courtyards during the building's final construction phase in the early 1930s.

The plans were scrapped because of the Great Depression.

''They were facing the worst economic time and there was a lot of clamoring for ways to cut back on the expenses,'' said Bob Ripley, Capitol architect. ''They had to leave out a few finishing touches.''

Seven decades after first proposed, now the large bowl fountains may be built and installed under a plan being considered by the Legislature's Government Committee.

The bill (LB297) also would resurrect the Capitol's original landscaping plan, including flower beds and hedge rows in each of the courtyards and new trees and shrubs on the surrounding grounds.

''I think it would bring some life to the Capitol,'' said Lincoln Sen. DiAnna Schimek, who offered the proposal, which would cost about $1.3 million over the next 10 years.

The fountains and landscaping improvements would be done in conjunction with the Capitol's $20 million renovation. The bill requires that the fountains be installed and at least 70 percent of the landscaping be complete before the renovations are done in five to eight years.

The courtyards currently are empty, other than marble-tile walks and a few shrubs. At the center of each yard is a 12-foot-diameter round patch of grass where a fountain was supposed to sit.

While the fountains were not built, the landscaping plan was implemented and maintained for at least 20 years.

''There are still remnants of that original landscaping with several trees and bushes still alive but they are very large and damaged and need to be replaced,'' Ripley said.

The landscape began to deteriorate in the late 1950s and 1960s as plants were no longer properly cared for, Ripley said. As plants died, building crews would not replace them or instead put in other plants that were not part of the landscape plan.

''The fountains and landscaping are as important of an element to the Capitol as the murals and the statue'' of the sower atop the building's 14-story tower, Ripley said.

NLSSA wishes to congratulate James (Jim) and Margaret Woods on the celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary. Jim and Margaret were married February 22, 1939 in Raton, New Mexico.

The couple's careers were with Santa Fe Railway. Jim retired from Santa Fe in 1983 as Manager-Traffic Systems after 44 years of service. Margaret retired in 1980 from Santa Fe Accounting Department after 34 years of service.

Following his railroad career, Jim has been a part-time employee of the State of Kansas for 15 years. The past 10 years he has been Sergeant at Arms in the Kansas State Senate.

Jim has been a member of NLSSA since 1990, and has served as NLSSA Treasurer since 1996. Best wishes for many more happy years together for Jim and Margaret.

October 20, 1998
By Amy Rinard
Copyright 1998, Reprinted with permission by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Madison- After being encased in plywood and scaffolding for a year, a gleaming newly restored Capitol rotunda was unveiled Monday in a ceremony befitting the soaring center of state government.

Following a restoration project that cost $7.2 million- just as much as it cost to build the entire Capitol in the early 1900s- the rotunda now practically glows, its gilt-topped marble columns and gilded carved decorations brushed and polished.

It is the first complete restoration of the rotunda since it was finished 83 years ago. Cleaner, brighter and more faithful to the original colors, the rotunda has not looked like this since 1915.

The rotunda restoration is part of a 10-year Capitol restoration project scheduled for completion in 2002. So far, restoration of the rotunda and three of the building's four wings has cost $75 million.

At the apex of the inner dome, 200 feet above the ground floor, the restored mural of a woman depicting Wisconsin, holding a scepter of wheat as scantily draped nymphs scamper around her with symbols of the state's abundance, gives off a new rosy glow enhanced by the light from windows below that finally got a good washing.

Gone are the flat cold colors of a quickie paint job in the 1960s.

The rotunda's walls and arches, previously sort of pinkish and taupe, have been repainted a warm mustard color. The startling aqua color that has covered the coffers, the square recessed panels, inside the done has been replaced by a soft green.

Both colors were chosen after conservators carefully removed layer upon layer of paint to reveal the original colors or the walls and arches.

Research also revealed a beautiful painted stencil in a garland and tassel pattern that once has encircled the dome at what is called the trumpeter's circle. Painted over long ago, the stencil has been meticulously reproduced in its original golden colors.

It served as a gorgeous backdrop Monday afternoon for four trumpeters from the 132nd Army Band who stood on the trumpeter's circle and played a herald-style fanfare at the beginning of a rededication ceremony.

Calling the state's most famous landmark "the most beautiful capitol in America," Gov. Tommy G. Thompson said the circular space of the rotunda "is the turntable of Wisconsin, the roundhouse where Wisconsin sets its course."

The current Capitol is the third to occupy the site. Construction began in 1907 after the second Capitol burned down. Construction was completed in 1917. The rotunda was begun in 1911.

In at least one important area, the rotunda restoration has slightly changed the original.

The huge mosaics depicting classical figures representing Justice, Legislation, Liberty and Government have never been this clean.

Immediately after they were installed, a coat of varnish was painted over the 28-by 20-foot mosaics. The varnish turned yellow over the years, obscuring the vivid colors of the glass mosaics, said Maura Donnelly, manager of the restoration project.

During the restoration, each of the 400,000 pieces of glass in the four mosaics was cleaned by hand with a cotton swab.

But the restoration process revealed a serious problem. Pieces of glass are detaching from the wall. So to prevent any from falling off, a protective fabric allows the mosaics to be seen, but the effect of the cleaning cannot be fully appreciated.

Experts still are debating how to secure the glass pieces to the wall.

October 31, 1998
By Mike Flaherty
Wisconsin State Journal
Copyright 1999, Reprinted with permission by the Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, Wisconsin

Workers moving earth to build the Capitol's new southeast steps Friday accidentally unveiled some of the remains of the state's second Capitol, charred but historical.

The crews unearthed a thick wall of partially charred brick that showed some of the construction techniques of the late 1800s, as well as the damage of the massive fire that devastated the earlier Capitol in 1904.

Construction of the current Capitol was begun three years later, roughly over the location of the older, smaller Capitol.

The relics found Friday were a few feet underground near the current south entrance.

There isn't much left to be found of the old Capitol, which was completed in 1869 and expanded in 1884, reflected Bob Birmingham, the state archaeologist.

"We've found small remnants of the old Capitol- a common well, a coal bunker. But this is the biggest segment of the Capitol found so far."

The wall details how footings were laid for the building, the type of stone used, and the floor construction, Birmingham said.

The fire that destroyed the Capitol was caused by workers who were varnishing a ceiling by lantern light. The varnish caught fire and the wooden inner structure of the Capitol went up in flames, according to a history of the building by the State Historical Society.

Wisconsin has had three Capitol buildings in its 150-year history.

When Wisconsin was a territory, a capital was established in Belmont in 1836. Madison was platted a year later and construction of the state's first Capitol began.

It was demolished in 1863. A portion of its replacement collapsed 20 years later, killing seven people.

After the fire in 1904, construction of the existing Capitol began in 1907 and was completed in 1917.

The contractor on the present remodeling, J.P. Cullen, has removed the entire stone stairway because the reinforcing steel and the bricks were so worn they couldn't be fixed, said Bob Brandherm, director of the state Building Commission.

Crews are digging deeply to build more storage rooms below the stairwell- then "we'll put it all back together," he said.

The South Wing of the Capitol, under renovation for the last two years, is scheduled to reopen within the next few months. The building's rotunda was rededicated this month after renovations costing $7.2 million.

The existing statehouse has been undergoing renovation since 1988.

January 4, 1999
By David Callendar
The Capital Times
Copyright 1999, Reprinted with permission by The Capital Times

There'll be another inauguration today in addition to the one scheduled for Gov. Tommy Thompson and the state's other top elected officials.

For the first time in three years, the newly restored South Wing of the Capitol will be open to the public.

It's the latest phase in an ongoing project to conserve the Capitol's nearly century-old grandeur while adding to the building the latest advances in heating and cooling, computer and telecommunications equipment.

The reopening of the South wing marks the return of the Senate to its traditional home. The Senate met from late 1995 until this fall in temporary quarters at 119 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

Like the already completed restorations of the North Wing and the West Wing and rotunda, the South Wing restoration project was an attempt to return both public and private spaces to their original glory.

The restoration work is rooted in the designs of the Capitol's original architect, George Post, who oversaw the construction project from 1906 until his death, shortly before the building was finished in 1917.

In many instances, Post's vision for the South Wing emerged from beneath layers of paint and varnish and from the far reaches of Capitol storerooms.

For example, the two towering lamps on each side of the president's podium in the Senate chambers were found after an examination of Post's records, old photos, and a search of the Capitol basement, says restoration project assistant Roxanne Nelson.

The same is true for the 14-karat gilt stencils now found in the Senate Gallery, uncovered after layers of paint were slowly removed, and the tiny "pearl" lights that surround the chamber's stained glass ceiling, which were part of Post's original design but were later changed to "can" spotlights.

The stained glass ceiling has been cleaned and the rack of fluorescent lights that illuminated it have been replaced with a single-source light that simulates sunlight. And the Kenyon Cox mural at the center of the chamber, commemorating the opening of the Panama Canal and the union of Asian and European commerce, has been cleaned and restored.

Senate offices now feature Post's turn-of-the-century color and design schemes and in many instances have regained their original furniture or replicas of it. For example, the office of Senate President Fred Risser showcases rich mahogany furniture and wooden wainscot against walls painted in sienna, olive green and light green with gold stenciling.

Though the color schemes might seem unusual to today's visitors. Nelson says in Post's day "it was very vogue. It was state of the art."

Nelson credits interior designer Diane Al Shihabi, of Diane Al Shihabi Historic Interiors, for bringing together many of Post's original office designs and adapting them to contemporary uses.

Al Shihabi catalogued and eventually tracked down nearly all of Post's original furniture for the Capitol, then designed several new pieces, such as phone stands and mirror-fronted armoires that can now be used for filing space.

Among the public spaces in the South Wing, Nelson calls the restored Senate Parlor "the jewel box of the Senate."

The walls have been returned to their original reddish-brown stained mahogany, as have the tables, chairs and elaborate writing tables in the room.

Senate Chief Clerk Don Schneider notes the ceiling murals in the parlor required extensive conservation because of leaks from the steam pipes above them.

As visitors admire the handiwork on the South Wing, many of the Capitol staffers have already turned their attention to the next and final phase of the renovation project- the East Wing.

Work begins early this year on the East Wing, home to the offices of the governor and the attorney general and the Supreme Court chambers, and is expected to be finished early in the next century.

Nelson says she speaks for many of the restoration staff- ranging from artists and craftsmen to designers and architects- when she explains that the work is often all-consuming.

"But I've never had a job I've loved as much as this one," she says.

Submitted by Sgt. Bill Morgan

The New England Patriots are seeking to relocate to Hartford, Connecticut and the news conference of the decade was held. News media from around New England arrived and starting setting up. By the start of the news conference the number of cables going out the window had the circumference of a basketball. The sidewalk below had to be closed and the parking lot was full of satellite trucks and microwave vans.

Such was the case on the day of the announcement of the move to Hartford. So, in the following weeks the planning for the special session and public hearing on the stadium deal had a new twist. How to handle the doubling and more of the media and the support vehicles?

The solution was to include a media planning session and the use of the pool feeds for the large number of stations covering the event. The building services and the audiovisual technicians, the electricians, and the cleaning staff were all a part of these planning sessions. The use of the internal fiber cables made the process easier, and a pool feed was used to limit the number of cameras in the actual hearing room.

Several stations were carrying the public hearing and session live. This created the need for an area in the lobby of the State Capitol to be set aside for television anchors and staff. This resulted in a demand on the electricians and support staff for power. A number of stations were using power supplied off generators on the media vehicles. This power was being brought into the building by extension cords running through an open doorway. The pile of cables running into the building, not only created a physical hazard, but also created a heating issue for the first floor of the Capitol.

On Tuesday, December 15, 1998, the Legislature voted decisively to build the new football stadium. The vote brought an end to the media's need for the parking lot and lobby areas. In the end, there were a total of 21 television vehicles and 1 radio station microwave truck. A record number of 11 satellite trucks were parked at the State Capitol. Ten microwave trucks had overrun the media parking and staff parking in the area.

On January 13, 1999, Governor Rowland signed the bill authorizing $374 million for the stadium into law at the Old State House.

The massive media experience may be over but the lessons learned should be shared with others. Preplanning for the news media is important, not only for them to get the shot they want, but also for you to be able to control building issues, parking, maintenance and safety and security issues. The preplanning should include a meeting with the media to determine resources and the needs of both sides. The end result was that all the media knew what to expect when they arrived at the Capitol for the public hearing and special session. They were pleased with the support they received.

Congratulations to Sgt. Bill Morgan, Third Trustee, Connecticut State Capitol Police. While in Hawaii at the 25th Annual Training Conference, Sgt. Morgan received the news that he passed the Bar. He celebrated his success with all his friends at the conference.

On November 2, 1998, longtime friend, Supreme Court Justice Richard Palmer, swore in Sgt. Morgan as an attorney. Sgt. Morgan looks forward to a limited general practice of law beginning in 1999.

Submitted by Lois Spearman, R.N.,C. Coordinator Health Services, New Hampshire

State and City officials warned that someone who is disturbed and dangerous placed bombs in two libraries. They asked the public to remain calm and vigilant. The bombs were set at the two libraries on Tuesday, October 27th, near the State House and the Legislative Office Building. They likely were the work of an amateur. One of the pipe bomb's fuses was lit and sparks ignited a small fire while patrons were in the library. The other, large pipe bomb was found later in front of the State Library. There was clearly the risk that people could have been severely hurt or killed if the bombs had detonated.

On Wednesday, as a precaution, the State House, Legislative Office Building, New Hampshire Historical Society and the two libraries were closed.

A written threat and a phone call were received. The communication from the individual said there would be two more bombs. On Saturday, all social activities in Concord were either cancelled or scheduled in another town.

As of November 2nd, the city was on high alert with increased security. State buildings were swept several times. Bomb sniffing dogs were also employed with the cooperation of the Massachusetts Police and the FBI.

There were two bomb threats over the weekend, one at Concord Hospital and the other at the New Hampshire Technical Institute.

State employees, especially the Legislative Branch were briefed. Extra security precautions have been implemented. There has been a heightened awareness of our surroundings and some understandable anxiety.

February 16, 1999
By David Dekok
The Patriot News
Copyright 1999, Reprinted with permission by The Patriot News
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Damage to the state Capitol caused by a broken water pipe on Sunday will cost "hundreds of thousands of dollars" to repair, a spokesman said yesterday.

Senate Chief Clerk Russell Faber said he hopes the have the Senate chamber repaired and reopened by March 8, and the adjoining Senate Minority Caucus Room, where some of the worst damage occurred, at least usable by the same date.

"It was like a waterfall, a sheet of water pouring into this room," he said of the scene in the Minority Caucus Room, which was directly below the water-line break.

A damp, musty smell pervaded the Capitol's north wing yesterday. Workers placed fans and dehumidifiers in the Senate chamber and the other damaged rooms to begin the drying-out process.

The damage occurred early Sunday morning when a flange connecting a water line to an air-conditioning unit gave way, causing a large volume of high-pressure water- 130 pounds per square inch- to escape. Capitol Police discovered the break when they say water leaking from beneath the doors of Senate offices along Mahogany Row on the Capitol's main floor.

Faber said the Minority Caucus Room had been restored only recently, in 1994. Workers had to chop holes in the ceiling to release some of the water.

Faber was particularly concerned about possible water damage to the ornate plaster ceilings and mahogany paneling in the offices of Sens. Robert Tomlinson, R-Bucks,; Robert Thompson, R-Chester; and Allen Kukovich, D-Westmoreland, as well as a staff office.

Honduran and African mahogany are readily available, according to specialty wood dealer Eddie Costik at Middletown Lumber, but it isn't cheap. It runs about $5 a board foot, defined as 12 inches-square by 1 inch deep.

"It was not a cheap wood, but they used it because it was hared wood and worked very easily, " he said. "It machined nice and kept an edge."

Mahogany, like cherry, oxidizes over time and develops a rich, dark patina. It was most typically used in corporate boardrooms and homes of the wealthy when the Capitol was built at the turn of the 20th century.

Faber said renovation of the north wing of the Capitol was scheduled for next fall. But he said consideration is being given to beginning that work now, at least on the four affected offices.

He said it was fortunate that the air-conditioning unit was located under the west end of the Senate Gallery and not the east end, where the water would have cascaded onto the control room for the television broadcast system.

Below that is the Senate Library, Faber said, which has a number of rare, difficult-to-replace volumes.

The state Department of General Services was in charge of maintaining the air-conditioning unit and the water line that led to it, Faber said.

"The unit itself was serviced regularly," he said. "We're still looking to see why the flange broke loose."

A retirement party was held on October 6, 1998 for Rep. Richard D. Olasz. Rep. Olasz was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1980 after serving on the West Mifflin Borough Council for eight years.

During his 18 year career in the House, Richard garnered a reputation as a man always ready to listen and never afraid to speak his mind. In 1996, after serving four years as Chairman of the Committee on Committees, Rep. Olasz was named Chairman of the House Democratic Transportation Committee.

For the past seven years, Richard has been a statewide leader in efforts to restrict the practices of managed care insurance companies.

Rep. Olasz has been a Legislative Advisor to the NLSSA since 1983. We wish Richard the best in his retirement, and look forward to seeing him at future NLSSA events.

September 11, 1998
By Jennifer Bundy
Copyright 1998, Reprinted with permission from the Associated Press
Charleston, West Virginia

Marsha Francis had been on the job only a few days when a fired security guard came back to the Capitol and shot his supervisor across the rotunda from her office.

A registered nurse, she called paramedics and applied first aid until they arrived, the first of many times that Francis, who staffs the Capitol dispensary, would call upon emergency medical workers to back her up.

West Virginia is one of 16 states that have a full-time nurse in their Capitols. Florida and Iowa also have full-time doctors, according to a 1992 survey by the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver.

In the eight years since she answered the state's newspaper ad for a nurse, Francis has helped a stabbing victim who staggered up the Kanawha River bank onto Capitol grounds, assisted several people having heart attacks or strokes and dealt with "every broken bone you can imagine."

A woman with a ruptured aortic aneurysm who collapsed in the House gallery during a legislative session presented one of Francis' biggest challenges.

As it often happens, she received a call saying simply that a woman had passed out.

"I never really know what I'm getting into until I get there," Francis says. She grabbed some basic equipment and radioed for the doctor of the day, who happened to be an emergency room physician.

Although people rarely survive ruptures of the main artery down the spine, Francis called 911 and did her best to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which was not easy because of the woman's large size.

"I call 911 quicker than anyone. I've got a great rapport with the paramedics in this valley. We're all kind of buddies," Francis says.

The woman died a few hours after being taken to a hospital, but she did not die in the Capitol, Francis emphasized.

Most of the 40 or so patients she sees every day do not have life-threatening ailments.

Francis takes blood pressure, gives allergy shots and dispenses medication for sinus problems and minor aches and pains.

"If I'm giving you a pill, I want you to know why you're taking it," she says.

Francis' one-room dispensary, tucked in a pillar just off the Capitol rotunda, is furnished with the usual components of a medical office. She has a computer, fax, examining table, refrigerator, medical books, and even a scale for those who want to pop in to see how their diet is going.

But the décor is not all business. There are photos of Francis with state troopers, Gov. Cecil Underwood and actor James Earl Jones, who came to the Capitol for a promotion.

And there is a photo of President Clinton speaking on the steps of the Capitol in 1993. Clinton came to Charleston to celebrate a budget victory and appeal for Republican support for health care, welfare reform and crime legislation.

Francis helped organize emergency medical care for the event and had her own Secret Service escort for the day, during which 28 people collapsed from the heat.

Every day is different and having a "ringside seat" to political power is fun.

Francis was born in St. Albans and has a nursing degree from the former West Virginia Institute of Technology. She was a surgical nurse at Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston and worked for a family physician in Dunbar before setting up the dispensary at Pepsi-Cola's bottling plant in Nitro.

She worked there part-time for a few years after her children, Kerri, 21, and Chris, 19, were born. She then was a stay-at-home mom until she started at the Capitol.

She went directly from a volunteer nurse on school band trips to taking care of 3,270 Capitol employees.

"All these people are like my family," Francis says. "My job is to keep them healthy, happy and comfortable while they are working. I'm here, as far as medicine goes, to troubleshoot."

The annual 60-day legislative session is her busiest time, but she has help then from doctor-of-the-day volunteers.

She monitors the health of legislators with serious problems, even giving intravenous antibiotics and making appointments at laboratories for those who need routine blood work. But most of her patients during a legislative session are the lawmakers' staffs. They must work long, intense hours even if they have the flu.

The rest of the year, she helps people like Rose McCoy, a clerk in the secretary of state's office.

McCoy visits Francis regularly for medication for a persistent backache.

"Most all girls in here have gone in there for headaches. Some people have hangovers," McCoy said with a laugh. "She helps them get through the day."

Francis even counseled McCoy through a recent divorce.

"She's really handy to have. I hope they never take her away," McCoy said.

January 27, 1999
Copyright 1999, Reprinted with permission by the Associated Press
Charleston, West Virginia

The only sign that something was different following a bomb threat in the state Capitol was a police dog playing with a tennis ball on the ground floor hallway.

Baro, a German shepherd, was taking a break Tuesday evening after he and his boss, Officer Steve Thomas of the South Charleston Police Department, completed an inspection of the Capitol's west wing.

Thomas said the inspection of the Senate Judiciary Committee and adjoining areas and rooms turned up nothing.

Raymond Prozzillo, director of General Services Division, said earlier that the committee reported a bomb threat at about 3 p.m. Prozzillo said he did not know how the threat was delivered.

State police and Capitol security evacuated the Capitol building's west wing, the site of the committee room. News of the threat spread to the House of Delegates in the east wing.

Many occupants left.

The bomb threat was the second since July when the entire Capitol complex was evacuated after a threatening letter complaining about mountaintop removal mining was sent to the office of Gov. Cecil Underwood.

PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AND SECURITY ASSOCIATION
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