At least 192 killed in blastswebmedia.newseum.org/newseum-multimedia/tfp... · 3/12/2004 · The...
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CMYK Anniston, Alabama www.annistonstar.com 6 7 66000 11111 (USPS 026-440) OBITUARIES INDEX Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . 3D Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7C Dear Abby . . . . . . . . . . 2B Lottery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2B Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3B Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1C Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . 2B + + Vol. 124, No. 72 WEATHER Courtney Lance, 2nd grade, Trinity Christian Academy MOSTLY SUNNY HIGH: 61 LOW: 32 Friday, March 12, 2004 A home-owned newspaper 50 cents BUSINESS Popping up everywhere Why is the Oxford area attracting so many different hotel chains? 1D WORLD/NATION Reporter to anti-U.S. spy? Former congressional aide accused of working with Iraqis. 3A SPORTS Tigers, Tide differ in SEC After Auburn’s hard loss to Georgia, Alabama able to down Tennessee. 1C REGION Not just for the greens Golf carts become a new status symbol for Oxford residents. 1B Infant William Dawson Baker, Oxford Willie Mae Ballard, Ashland Leonard Eugene Brittain, Jacksonville Leonard A. Crawford, Goodwater Mary M. Corby, Talladega Linda Faye Hamilton, Anniston Hollis Hawkins, Anniston Lovell Jackson, Anniston Retired Navy Rear Adm. William Harold “Tag” Livingston, Texas Annie Mae Madden, Pell City Arlenda Marbury, Anniston Murphy “Turk” Pearson, Lincoln Ommie Nora Bell Smith, Roanoke Willie Cleve Tanner, Talladega Lizzie Keith Turner, Talladega Eugene Gilbert Williamson, Ashland Obituaries/4B At least 192 killed in blasts BY MAR ROMAN Associated Press MADRID, Spain — A series of bombs hidden in backpacks exploded in quick succession Thursday, blowing apart four commuter trains and killing at least 192 people and wounding more than 1,400. Spain at first blamed Basque separatists but a shadowy group claimed responsibility in the name of al-Qaida for the worst terrorist attack in Spanish history. Panicked rush-hour commuters trampled on each other, abandoning their bags and shoes, after two of the bombs went off in one train in the Atocha station in the heart of Madrid. Train cars were turned into twisted wrecks and platforms were strewn with corpses. Cell phones rang unanswered on the bodies of the dead as frantic relatives tried to call them. “March 11, 2004, now holds its place in the history of infamy,” Prime Minis- ter Jose Maria Aznar said. The bombing came three days ahead of Spain’s general election on Sunday. A major campaign issue was how to deal with ETA, the Basque militant group that is seeking greater autonomy. Campaigning for the election was called off and three days of mourning were declared. The bombings occurred exactly 2 1/2 years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, and was Europe’s worst since the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jetliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, that killed 270 people. The attacks also reawakened terror- ism fears among investors. Stocks fell in London and in New York, where the Dow Jones industrial average dropped nearly 170 points. On Friday, Tokyo stocks opened sharply lower. The 10 backpack bombs exploded in a 15-minute span, starting about 7:39 a.m., on trains along nine miles of com- muter line from Santa Eugenia to the Atocha terminal, a bustling hub for sub- way, commuter and long-distance trains Peter Dejong/Associated Press Rescue workers remove victims at the Atocha train station following a blast there. Explosions rocked three train stations Thursday in Madrid. 1,400 injured by terrorist bombs on trains in Madrid INSIDE After blasts, panicked passengers ran everywhere — including dark- ened tunnels. In a country with homegrown terror, investiga- tors struggle to sort out attack. PAGE 5A Please see BLASTS ❙ Page 5A Incinerator PCBs tests are set for weekend BY NATHAN SOLHEIM Assistant Metro Editor The Army’s chemical weapons incinerator will redo parts of criti- cal tests on the incinerator’s abili- ty to remove PCBs from its stack emissions this weekend. Environmental regulators asked for the repeat tests after the incinerator failed by narrow mar- gins parts the original tests, taken back in November. Several officials with the Envi- ronmental Protection Agency will monitor this weekend’s tests but will not be available for questions from the press. Officials said the observers will monitor the tests and help in the investigation to determine the source of PCBs. “(The Army) needs to meet the standard,” said Maria Doa, of the EPA. “We want to work with them so they meet the standard. We want to cooperate with them and to make sure the problems are resolved and thus, they meet the standard.” The incinerator’s deactivation furnace, which burns M-55 rocket parts and small amounts of agent, will be tested again for three days starting Sunday. Two preliminary runs are scheduled for Saturday. Results from the tests will be evaluated by the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA, which regulates chemicals such as PCBs. PCBs are present in shipping and firing tubes for M-55 rockets, amounting to less than 1 percent of the overall composi- tion, officials said. The EPAalso asked incinerator officials to study potential sources of PCBs other than the tubes, which could include air, natural gas or gaskets. Officials have been able to rule out some sources, Please see TESTS ❙ Page 5A Jacksonville elections heat up — already BY BEN CUNNINGHAM Star Staff Writer JACKSONVILLE — After 12 years of relative sta- bility, city leadership in Jacksonville is set for a shake- up this summer. Winter’s chill hardly has left the air, but campaign season already is warming up, with candidates stepping forward early for an election year in which the mayor’s office and two of the five council seats likely will not have incumbents. Mayor Jerry Smith, who has served in that position since 1998, has said he won’t seek re-election. Jack- sonville businessman Bill Owens is running, and current Councilman Johnny Smith and former mayoral candi- date Buford “Pete” Brooks each have said they’re con- sidering running. The qualifying period for candidates begins July 6 and ends July 20. The election is Aug. 24. If Johnny Smith runs for mayor, his council seat and that of Evelyn Douthit will be open — the first time in at least eight years so many seats have no incumbent can- BY AMY SIECKMANN Star Capitol Correspondent MONTGOMERY — Over the next 25 to 30 years, Alabama taxpayers will have to come up with $10.3 bil- lion to help cover the health insurance costs of retired state employees and teachers. The administration had estimated earlier this year that the state would need about $7.5 billion to cover those costs. But a recent study concluded that, even assuming health care growth is cut in half in the next five years, the actual total will be much higher. That means that either $10.3 billion will have to be found — through increased contributions and/or reduced benefits to state employees and teachers — or the state will have to find some tax dollars to meet the cost. If Alabama did not find the money, it would have to default on its payments to its health care provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and that would mean BCBS could deny claims payments. Please see COST ❙ Page 4A Please see JACKSONVILLE ❙ Page 4A BY CHARLOTTE TUBBS Star Staff Writer ABEL — Strings of fire snake through the woods like an unraveled spool of yarn. They devour crisp leaves, pinecones and honeysuckle, grow- ing stronger and brighter by the sec- ond. Within a few hours, hundreds of acres are blazing and charred, all taking place as planned. U.S. Forest Service teams burned 2,500 acres across the Tal- ladega National Forest this week, bringing the total number of acres burned since October to 16,000. The controlled fires, known as pre- scribed burns, are used to reduce underbrush and reinvigorate forests. Prescribed burns decrease the chances of wildfires and allow larger trees, such as the longleaf pine, to flourish, according to Forest Service officials. Thursday, Forest crews burned 795 acres west of the intersection of Cleburne County Road 24 and the Talladega Scenic Highway, also known as Alabama 281, in addition to 486 acres southeast of Munford. Smaller burns could continue through this weekend and the month, depending on weather con- ditions. One may take place north of Coleman Lake Recreation Area, 20 Calhoun Talladega National Forest 9 9 Anniston Cleburne N David Bone/The Anniston Star Burn Area 431 21 431 78 Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star Leigh Agan’s image is distort- ed by the intense heat from a fire she started along the Scenic Highway on Cheaha Mountain during a U.S. Forest Service controlled burn. ONE HOT JOB Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star Earl Stewart, right, firing boss for the controlled burn on Cheaha Mountain, describes the plan to keep the fires under control. Prescribed burns have gone through 16,000 acres of forest since October Please see BURNS ❙ Page 4A EPA officials will be in town to monitor redo $10.3 billion needed to cover cost of care for state employees
Transcript of At least 192 killed in blastswebmedia.newseum.org/newseum-multimedia/tfp... · 3/12/2004 · The...
CMYK
Anniston, Alabama www.annistonstar.com
6 766000 11111
(USPS 026-440)
OBITUARIES INDEXClassifieds . . . . . . . . . . 3DComics . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7CDear Abby . . . . . . . . . . 2BLottery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2BMovies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3BSports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1CWeather . . . . . . . . . . . . 2B
+ +
Vol. 124, No. 72 WEATHER
Courtney Lance, 2nd grade, Trinity Christian Academy
MOSTLYSUNNY
HIGH: 61LOW: 32
Friday, March 12, 2004 A home-owned newspaper 50 cents
BUSINESS
Popping upeverywhereWhy is the Oxford areaattracting so many different hotel chains? 1D
WORLD/NATION
Reporter toanti-U.S. spy?Former congressionalaide accused of working with Iraqis. 3A
SPORTS
Tigers, Tide differ in SECAfter Auburn’s hard loss toGeorgia, Alabama able todown Tennessee. 1C
REGION
Not just for the greensGolf carts become anew status symbol forOxford residents. 1B
Infant William Dawson Baker,OxfordWillie Mae Ballard, AshlandLeonard Eugene Brittain, JacksonvilleLeonard A. Crawford, GoodwaterMary M. Corby, Talladega
Linda Faye Hamilton, AnnistonHollis Hawkins, AnnistonLovell Jackson, AnnistonRetired Navy Rear Adm. WilliamHarold “Tag” Livingston, TexasAnnie Mae Madden, Pell CityArlenda Marbury, AnnistonMurphy “Turk” Pearson,
LincolnOmmie Nora Bell Smith,RoanokeWillie Cleve Tanner, TalladegaLizzie Keith Turner, TalladegaEugene Gilbert Williamson,Ashland
Obituaries/4B
At least 192 killed in blastsBY MAR ROMAN
Associated Press
MADRID, Spain — A series ofbombs hidden in backpacks exploded inquick succession Thursday, blowingapart four commuter trains and killing atleast 192 people and wounding morethan 1,400. Spain at first blamed Basqueseparatists but a shadowy group claimedresponsibility in the name of al-Qaidafor the worst terrorist attack in Spanishhistory.
Panicked rush-hour commuterstrampled on each other, abandoningtheir bags and shoes, after two of thebombs went off in one train in the Atochastation in the heart of Madrid. Train cars
were turned into twisted wrecks andplatforms were strewn with corpses.Cell phones rang unanswered on thebodies of the dead as frantic relativestried to call them.
“March 11, 2004, now holds its placein the history of infamy,” Prime Minis-ter Jose Maria Aznar said.
The bombing came three days aheadof Spain’s general election on Sunday. Amajor campaign issue was how to dealwith ETA, the Basque militant groupthat is seeking greater autonomy.
Campaigning for the election wascalled off and three days of mourningwere declared.
The bombings occurred exactly 2 1/2years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks in the United States, and wasEurope’s worst since the 1988 bombingof a Pan Am jetliner over Lockerbie,Scotland, that killed 270 people.
The attacks also reawakened terror-ism fears among investors. Stocks fell inLondon and in New York, where theDow Jones industrial average droppednearly 170 points. On Friday, Tokyostocks opened sharply lower.
The 10 backpack bombs exploded ina 15-minute span, starting about 7:39a.m., on trains along nine miles of com-muter line from Santa Eugenia to theAtocha terminal, a bustling hub for sub-way, commuter and long-distance trains
Peter Dejong/Associated Press
Rescue workers remove victims at the Atocha train stationfollowing a blast there. Explosions rocked three train stationsThursday in Madrid.
1,400 injured by terrorist bombs on trains in MadridINSIDE
After blasts, panicked passengers raneverywhere —including dark-ened tunnels.
In a country with homegrownterror, investiga-tors struggle tosort out attack.
PAGE 5APlease see BLASTS ❙ Page 5A
IncineratorPCBs testsare set forweekend
BY NATHAN SOLHEIMAssistant Metro Editor
The Army’s chemical weaponsincinerator will redo parts of criti-cal tests on the incinerator’s abili-ty to remove PCBs from its stackemissions this weekend.
Environmental regulatorsasked for the repeat tests after theincinerator failed by narrow mar-gins parts the original tests, takenback in November.
Several officials with the Envi-ronmental Protection Agency willmonitor this weekend’s tests butwill not be available for questionsfrom the press.
Officials said the observerswill monitor the tests and help inthe investigation to determine thesource of PCBs.
“(The Army) needs to meet thestandard,” said Maria Doa, of theEPA. “We want to work with themso they meet the standard. Wewant to cooperate with them andto make sure the problems areresolved and thus, they meet thestandard.”
The incinerator’s deactivationfurnace, which burns M-55 rocketparts and small amounts of agent,will be tested again for three daysstarting Sunday. Two preliminaryruns are scheduled for Saturday.
Results from the tests will beevaluated by the EPA under theToxic Substances Control Act, orTSCA, which regulates chemicalssuch as PCBs. PCBs are present inshipping and firing tubes for M-55rockets, amounting to less than 1percent of the overall composi-tion, officials said.
The EPAalso asked incineratorofficials to study potential sourcesof PCBs other than the tubes,which could include air, naturalgas or gaskets. Officials havebeen able to rule out some sources,
Please see TESTS ❙ Page 5A
Jacksonville elections heat up — already
BY BEN CUNNINGHAMStar Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE — After 12 years of relative sta-bility, city leadership in Jacksonville is set for a shake-up this summer.
Winter’s chill hardly has left the air, but campaignseason already is warming up, with candidates steppingforward early for an election year in which the mayor’soffice and two of the five council seats likely will nothave incumbents.
Mayor Jerry Smith, who has served in that positionsince 1998, has said he won’t seek re-election. Jack-sonville businessman Bill Owens is running, and currentCouncilman Johnny Smith and former mayoral candi-date Buford “Pete” Brooks each have said they’re con-sidering running.
The qualifying period for candidates begins July 6and ends July 20. The election is Aug. 24.
If Johnny Smith runs for mayor, his council seat andthat of Evelyn Douthit will be open — the first time in atleast eight years so many seats have no incumbent can-
BY AMY SIECKMANNStar Capitol Correspondent
MONTGOMERY — Over the next 25 to 30 years,Alabama taxpayers will have to come up with $10.3 bil-lion to help cover the health insurance costs of retired stateemployees and teachers.
The administration had estimated earlier this year thatthe state would need about $7.5 billion to cover those costs.But a recent study concluded that, even assuming healthcare growth is cut in half in the next five years, the actualtotal will be much higher.
That means that either $10.3 billion will have to befound — through increased contributions and/or reducedbenefits to state employees and teachers — or the state willhave to find some tax dollars to meet the cost.
If Alabama did not find the money, it would have todefault on its payments to its health care provider, BlueCross Blue Shield, and that would mean BCBS could denyclaims payments.
Please see COST ❙ Page 4A
Please see JACKSONVILLE ❙ Page 4A
BY CHARLOTTE TUBBSStar Staff Writer
ABEL — Strings of fire snakethrough the woods like an unraveledspool of yarn.
They devour crisp leaves,pinecones and honeysuckle, grow-ing stronger and brighter by the sec-ond.
Within a few hours, hundreds ofacres are blazing and charred, alltaking place as planned.
U.S. Forest Service teamsburned 2,500 acres across the Tal-ladega National Forest this week,bringing the total number of acresburned since October to 16,000. Thecontrolled fires, known as pre-scribed burns, are used to reduceunderbrush and reinvigorate
forests. Prescribed burns decreasethe chances of wildfires and allowlarger trees, such as the longleafpine, to flourish, according to ForestService officials.
Thursday, Forest crews burned795 acres west of the intersection ofCleburne County Road 24 and theTalladega Scenic Highway, alsoknown as Alabama 281, in additionto 486 acres southeast of Munford.
Smaller burns could continuethrough this weekend and themonth, depending on weather con-ditions. One may take place north ofColeman Lake Recreation Area,
20
Calhoun
TalladegaNationalForest
9
9
Anniston
Cleburne
N
David Bone/The Anniston Star
Burn Area
431
21
431
78
Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star
Leigh Agan’s image is distort-ed by the intense heat from afire she started along theScenic Highway on CheahaMountain during a U.S. ForestService controlled burn.
ONE HOT JOBStephen Gross/The Anniston Star
Earl Stewart, right, firing boss for the controlled burn on Cheaha Mountain, describes the planto keep the fires under control.
Prescribed burns have gonethrough 16,000acres of forestsince October
Please see BURNS ❙ Page 4A
EPA officials will be intown to monitor redo
$10.3 billion neededto cover cost of carefor state employees
