Is it true that nearly half of the citations written by city inspectors for food preparation and health violations have mysteriously disappeared? INC. hears that some folks in the city`s consumer protection division are nervously awaiting the outcome of a probe by the office of municipal investigations and the Cook County state`s attorney`s office. Word is that over the last two years, a huge cache of tickets representing thousands of dollars in fines is unaccounted for. Is someone in consumer protection voiding tickets for payoffs? Why aren`t these tickets making it to the court docket? Are some supervisors running the scam? Stay tuned.
INC. spots . . .
— Dem-da-Dem-Dem: INC. hears there`ll be a few surprises at Thursday`s big Democratic shindig, billed as the largest Democratic fundraiser in Cook County history! Mayor Harold Washington and former Mayor Jane Byrne were not invited. ”We finally decided not to shoot ourselves in the foot anymore,”
said a Dem biggie. ”Each year we ask them. Each year they don`t come. Each year they call us names.” Watch for Cook County party Chairman Ed Vrdolyak to hold `em and enfold `em as keynote speaker by stepping out from his political role and emerging as a ”conservative” leader trying to bring the party back to the ”middle.”
–Pss-s-t: Bill Dixon, U.S. Sen. Gary Hart`s chief of staff, claims that someone dumped INC. a loada baloney. ”Gary did not snub (State Comptroller)
Roland Burris` fundraiser last week. The Senate was in session, voting on two of his bills.” Democratic National Committee veeps aren`t important to presidential candidates, are they? Just asking.
— Another case of premature press release: Some Springfield observers are still chuckling over Illinois House GOP leader Lee Daniels` move to issue the first press release taking credit for the medical malpractice compromise. Daniels, who had little or nothing to do with effecting the agreement, nonetheless quickly issued a release announcing the agreement between lawyers and doctors. From Day 1 this has been an effort forged by State Senate President Phil Rock (D., Oak Park) and House Leader Mike Madigan (D., Chicago), not the best of buddies.
Star tracks . . .
Donna Reed, who replaced the ailing Barbara Bel Geddes as Miss Ellie on
”Dallas” and who has been replaced by the no-longer-ailing Bel Geddes, has sued Lorimar and CBS Entertainment for $8.6 million. A Los Angeles judge denied her request to issue a temporary order banning filming of scenes in which the Reed/Bel Geddes character appears. . . . With wrestling so hot, it was only a matter of time before Hulk Hogan T-shirts covered the land. The time has come. Hulk and friends Andre the Giant, Capt. Lou Albano, Rowdy Roddy Piper and Jimmy ”Super Fly” Snuka will make their debut this summer on T-shirts, muscle shirts and sweatshirts. Knit-Mates, which holds the exclusive franchise from the World Wrestling Federation, sold its production for June delivery before the stores got a sample.
That`s entertainment . . .
After four years, the comedy team of Mandel & McVeigh is splitting up. The team`s last Chicago appearance will be Thursday at the Beefsteak Inn, 6935 N. Sheridan Rd. . . . Nicolette Larson, the Country Music Awards` Newcomer of the Year, will entertain Monday for the local Emmy Awards on WBBM-TV (Channel 2). Carol Marin of WMAQ-TV (Channel 5) will miss the awards. She`ll be in New York all week filling in for Jane Pauley on the ”Today” show. . . . Tickets go on sale Saturday for Robert Plant`s July 10 show at the Rosemont Horizon.
Book looks . . .
Look out, men. Heading for the fall best-seller list are ”How to Get a Man to Make a Commitment” and ”Thirty Days to Find a Husband,” by the author of ”Thirty Days to Thinner Thighs.” . . . Sorting through the books donated for the Brandeis University Annual Used Book Sale (June 1 to 9 at Edens Plaza in Wilmette), volunteers have discovered money (as much as $20), pressed flowers, stock certificates, lots of lists and, of course, love letters. . . . One of the bookstore owners at the American Booksellers Convention in San Francisco said that in the last several months, he has been asked for a copy of ”Madame Ovary” and that Southern classic, ”How to Kill a Mockingbird.”
INC.lings . . .
Wednesday birthdays: Bob Hope, 82; Christopher Lee, 63; and Lisa Whelchel, 22. . . . Bill Veeck and La Preferida`s Frank O`Grady were spotted at TJ`s, training on light beer for an upcoming 10-K race for charity. . . . The Chicago Press Veterans Association is offering a $500 college entrance scholarship in the name of the late Lyman Atwell, onetime Tribune photo chief.
