Aiken Standard (Newspaper) - March 26, 1998, Aiken, South Carolina 4 Trade with Japan takes local turn Page IB A I K E N Tennis South Aiken continues hot streak 10A Vol 132 No 85 Aiken South Carolina Thursday March 26 1998 Staff photos by Scott Webster Karl Odenthal gives his son Patrick a push on his bicycle left the first time for Patrick to ride without training wheels Afterwards an excited Patrick gives his dad a high five Odenthal knows a thing or two about bicycles hes a part of the Aiken Department of Public Safety bicycle patrol Cards send a message about SRS missions By THOMAS SMITH AUGUSTA Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness wants to send a message to Secre tary of Energy Federico Pena that the CSKA wants new plutoni um missions at the Savannah River Site With the help of area chambers of commerce and the economic development community Pena should get the message at least 6000 times CNTA and its partner groups launched a postcard campaign Wednesday in an effort to show Pena the level of sup Index Crossword 8B Dear Opinions 4A Television 8A Deaths Dr James Gaston Bloodsworth Aiken Rufford William Moseley Aiken Charles Dorsey Stanley Aiken Carol Mitchell Tilson North Augusta Obituary notices on page 2B Ga lottery Wednesdays winning numbers Cath i 104 Hhh 3 CHsh I 2H29 Fantasy B port the new missions have The preprinted cards already stamped and addressed carry a simple message As a resident of the Central Savannah River Area I can assure you that these mis sions are wanted and community support is strong CNTA executive director Michael Butler said the complete plutonium disposi tion mission should be located at SRS since the site is the only place in the country with immo facilities The Depart ment of Energy missions include pit disassembly and conversion of plutonium the pit is the actual Sunshine expected for races Staff reports If Mother Nature cooperates the Aiken Harness Races could surpass last years record crowd of more than 4200 spectators The forecast for Saturday calls for a mostly sunny day with a high of 77 degrees The pleasant weather could help draw fans to Mile formerly the Aiken Mile Track on Banks Mill Road Post time for the first of nine races in the 27th running of the annual event is 1 pm Thirtytwo pacers and trotters will compete in nine races in the third and final leg of the Aiken Triple Crown sponsored by the USC Aiken Pacer Club Corporate sponsors include the Aiken Produce Company and Miller Lite Race sponsors Plutonium used in MOX fuel fabrication converting Plutonium oxide into usable fuel for commercial and immobilization disposal of unus able Given that fact that youve got part of the mission here there is a great savings to the DOE in bringing it all here Butler said Preliminary figures indicate the savings would amount to mil lion in capital costs and mately billion in total life cycle costs if all the missions are concentrated at SRS Please see CARDS page 9A Harness Races When Saturday Gates open 10 am Post time 1 pm Where Mile on Banks Mill Road General Admission adults children include USCA 98 Radio Aiken Produce Aiken Coca Cola the City of Aiken and Fiberglas One of the days annual fea see SUNSHINE page 9A Courtesy of CNTA One of the postcards which pushes new plutonium missions for SRS Grieving students return Associated Press JONESBORO Ark The high powered spray guns have washed the blood from the walkways of Westside Middle School But how long will it take to wash away the fear and distrust Many students who survived Tuesdays ambush during a fake fire drill make a reluctant return to Westside today with four of their classmates and a teacher gone forever You cant lock them up in a rubber room and protect them forever said Lisa Bearden whose daughter Erica Swindle was in the line of fire But yet where are they safe at any more You just dont know Two Westside students Mitchell Johnson 13 and Andrew Drew Golden 11 are accused of killing five people in 25T Debate continues all night Video poker filibuster takes up Senate day Associated Press COLUMBIA Senators gave up naps in comfortable seats and darkened rooms this morning to catch a few hours of real sleep in real beds before returning for more debate on a to ban the billion video gambling industry Senators opposed to Gov David plan to kill the industry talked until 4 am today before ending a session that had started at 11 am Tuesday They often told jokes and bantered with each other but never strayed too far away from their point The debate was scheduled tc resume at 10 am Over my depleted body will we outlaw an lawful business in South Carolina that went into business made their investments under the color of law with the state of South Carolina said Senate Majority Leader John Land DManning But not all senators stayed in the chamber for the debate Sen ate Clerk Frank Caggiano count ed only 25 senators present early Wednesday night By midnight all but nine had returned to the chamber Some of the missing senators were in the Statehouse lobby At one point Sen Greg Ryberg and Sen Dave Thomas Inn had moved to the more comfortable couches in the lobby outside the Senate cham bers to watch the speeches on television Ryberg had even changed from dress shoes to sneakers These are more comfortable Ryberg explained Others went even further Sen Verne Smith DGreer caught a These are more comfortable Sen Greg Ryberg on changing into sneakers before the Senate debate quick catnap in a darkened room close to the chamber as the debate dragged through the night Only a few hardy onlookers mostly lobbyists remained in the lobby to listen to the debate Well be here as long as theyre here said Michael Gunn execu tive director of the South Caroli na Video Mall Association The Senate had yet to vote on the proposal and dozens of promised amendments still were waiting Gambling foes need 29 votes to end the filibuster and may be as many as nine votes away from getting the needed votes lobby ists had said Tuesday But a filibuster may be the only way to keep the Legislature from Please see DEBATE page 9A AP photo Ashley Broadway 13 an at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro Ark ties a white ribbon on a school crossing sign Tuesdays fusillade from a wood ed ridge behind the school In a court appearance Wednesday they were ordered held pending an April 29 hearing while parents prepared other children for a return to the 1200student cam pus Drews grandfather Doug Gold en told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the boy admitted he pulled the fire alarm that drew the students outside and that he fired some shots but said he Please see GRIEVING page 9A
