— The McCormick Place mess may not be over. Isn`t it true that Gov. James Thompson received a hot phone call from newly appointed McCormick Place chairman Jim Brice and new trustee Richard Ogilvie? Didn`t Jim and Dick call to tell the guv that the $60 million appropriated by the legislature isn`t enough to finish the annex? Help! What are we gonna do now? Aren`t the contractors` claims for work already done three times higher than anticipated? Will there be another trip to the legislature for funds? Has anybody thought to ask Santa?
— Chicago aviation attorney John J. Kennelly is moving quickly to preserve the wreckage and maintenance records of the U.S. Army-chartered DC-8 that crashed last week killing 248 servicemen and eight crew members. In the first multimillion-dollar suit to be filed on behalf of a victim, Kennelly will ask the Cook County Circuit Court to invoke the Chicago Convention Treaty of 1944, which provides for a joint government investigation into such crashes. The DC-8 reportedly had maintenance problems.
POL MAUL . . .
— It`s Miller time: Lee Miller, a political hanger-on and operative in Mayor Harold Washington`s campaign, showed up at City Hall Tuesday and had more to say than on his last visit, when he refused to discuss anything about a controversial snow-removal contract award at O`Hare International Airport. Rumors that Miller had been instrumental in getting the lucrative contract for his girlfriend, Josie Perez, were fueled Tuesday when he passed out press releases at the Hall, congratulating Washington for his courage in awarding the contract to a Hispanic woman.
— The mayor`s chief of staff, Ernie Barefield, queried about whether he had immediate plans to begin formal budget negotiations with Ed Burke, chairman of the City Council`s Finance Committee, responded: ”No, I don`t. Most government business is done in the hallway anyway.” Yuk. Yuk. . . . What a difference four years makes: Adlai Stevenson walked away from his Monday fundraiser in Springfield with more than $30,000–a sum that took his 1982 campaign four events to equal. ”For a simple cocktail party a week before Christmas,” said a Stevenson source, ”it was a very good showing.” . . . A real mover in politics??? INC. hears state Rep. James Stange (R., Oak Brook)
recently purchased NU-Way, N.A. of Chicago–a moving and storage firm of North American Van lines.
STAR TRACKS . . .
Richard Attenborough, director of ”A Chorus Line,” reportedly is devastated by critical reviews of his movie and refers to any less-than-glowing reviews as ”vicious.” . . . INC. thinks that Mary Tyler Moore`s cover picture on McCall`s magazine tells us one of two things: Either MTM has had several nips and tucks, or someone in McCall`s photo department went positively berserk with an airbrush. . . . Quincy Jones, who has scored more than 50 films and just coproduced ”The Color Purple,” is eager to finish his two album commitments so that he can devote all his efforts to films. The projects: albums for himself and Michael Jackson. You remember Michael Jackson, don`t you?
THAT`S THE TICKET . . .
It`s back to divorce court for Harriet Irsay and her estranged husband, Robert, owner of the Indianapolis Colts. Up for discussion Wednesday:
Harriet`s tickets for the Super Bowl and a hotel room in New Orleans. Then on Thursday, her attorney, Bernard Rinella, will argue the issue of the maid`s car. (Yes, the maid`s car. We`re dealing with wealthy people here.) Who will represent Mr. Irsay is anybody`s guess; so far, INC. hears, the feisty football team owner has gone through two sets of lawyers.
SWEET HOME CHICAGO . . .
The time is right: Watch for the Illinois Office of Tourism to resurrect that ”Chicago is your home” TV commercial featuring Mike Ditka and Dick Butkus. . . . Tom Dreesen, the pride of Harvey, will show up Dec. 23 on ”TV`s Bloopers, Blunders and Practical Jokes” with the first of several reports from Chicago. And Dreesen will be honored April 24 with the Notre Dame Club of Chicago`s ”Excellence in Entertainment” award. . . . When Nora Dunn of
”Saturday Night Live” comes home for the holidays, she`ll return to the Roxy, 1505 W. Fullerton Ave., for shows on Dec. 27 and 28. . . . Chicago actress Connie Cooper, whose last hometown appearance was as a nun in ”Boss” in 1973, returns Dec. 31 to star as Miss Mona in ”The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at Drury Lane Oak Brook.
INC.LINGS . . .
INC. erred in reporting that three behind-the-scenes people had quit Channel 2 last week. Sometimes we get what already has happened confused with what`s about to happen. . . . Wednesday birthdays: Keith Richards, 42, and Roger Smith, 53. . . . When the state`s 16th residential facility for the handicapped opens next fall in Dixon, the center for the deaf and blind will be named in honor of retired Tribune columnist Jack Mabley. Though Mabley now heads his own consulting firm, he continues his holiday efforts on behalf of the Forgotten Children`s Fund, which has provided services for the state`s mentally retarded citizens for more than 25 years. You can send your check c/o Chicago Tribune Charities, P.O. Box 8673, Chicago, IL 60680-8673.
