
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, October 26, 1993                   TAG: 9310260222
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PEOPLE

President Clinton did the shopping, but it was his wife's signature on the check that paid the bill - only fair, perhaps, after a sign honoring the first lady drew him in. Clinton stopped to browse Markoe's Gallery in St. Petersburg Beach, Fla., after reading a wall sign saying: "Relax, there's a woman on the job. We love you, Hillary."

He bought jewelry, glassware and pottery, then insisted on being billed at the White House when owner Nancy Markoe told him to put his money away.

Two weeks after the tab was sent, Markoe got a check for $342.40 - signed by the first lady.

Fallen hotel queen Leona Helmsley is to be released from a Danbury, Conn., prison today to serve the final months of her tax fraud sentence at a New York City halfway house, her lawyer said. Last June, a federal judge reduced the sentence to 30 months, citing the poor health of her 84-year-old husband, Harry.

by CNB