Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 12

A12 FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2000 The Arizona Republic NATION 1 1 ducing 780,000 megawatts of Experts warn of overloads this summer I. J- til spending on such programs more than 50 percent, according to the Energy Department. Generally, deregulation of the electricity industry has not helped the country deal with power shortages, Hirst said. Loosening the rules that governed how power is produced, supplied and sold was supposed to spur competition and efficiency. But the 4-year-old deregulation process has spawned more confusion than improvement, he added.

As a many utilities, uncertain how deregulation would affect profits, have chosen to wait on building new power plants. "The effect of combining this rising demand for electricity, with stagnating production has been that different regions around the country are working with a smaller and smaller margin of safety," Hirst said. The United States has generating plants capable of pro Council, a public-private power alliance, lists areas at risk as Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, New York and New England. Arizona Public Service Co. and Salt River Project officials told state regulators last month that they expect to keep power flowing to metro Phoenix this summer, but acknowledged that supplies will be tight.

Ironically, the possible power shortages could come as a result of the decadelong economic boom that has benefited much of the country. Flush with cash and confident in the economy, Americans have spent heavily on power-guzzling appliances, boosting demand for electricity faster than capacity can keep up. Also, many energy-efficiency and conservation programs created in the 1970s after oil prices soared have been reduced. Since the early 1990s, utilities have cut Associated Press 'My mom and tlad taught me everything," says George Abraham Thampy, joined by his parents, Bina and K. George, after winning the National Spelling Bee.

Missouri youth spelling champ Hearst Newspapers WASHINGTON As temperatures soar this summer, consumers from Arizona to New England could find their air-conditioners failing and their lights dimming as electricity shortages caused by stepped-up use of appliances cause brownouts and possibly blackouts, experts warned Thursday. "The industry is doing everything it can, but there are regions at risk for power said Eric Hirst, a member of the Department of Energy's Task Force on Electric-System Reliability. A report from the North American Electric Reliability Inert gas studied for jet fuel tanks Jailers spot boy missing since '92 Associated Press WASHINGTON Youngsters schooled at home swept the top three spots Thursday in the national spelling bee, with first place going to a 12-year-old Missouri boy in a remarkable scholastic feat: Last week, George Abraham Thampy fell one answer short of winning a national geography contest. Taught "since birth" by his mother, George correctly spelled "demarche" a step or maneuver to emerge from a field of 248 contestants in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee. He tied for fourth in 1998 and finished in a third-place tie last year.

A measured but deadly accurate style carried the seventh-grader from the St. Louis suburb of Maryland Heights to victory through the 15 grueling rounds over two days. He said a thirst for knowledge, rather than a quest for the $10,000 top prize, motivated him to return for a third try. "It was really the words. And there were 400,000 of them," he said, referring to the number of entries in the official dictionary used at the 73rd annual bee.

George's last two rivals also were taught at home: In second was Sean Con- ley, 12, of Newark, Calif. "Apotropaic," which means designed to avert evil, 1 m- tripped him up; be spelled it "apotrypaic." He won $5,000. Alison Miller, 14, from Niskayuna, N.Y., took third and $3,000. Alison missed "venire." She spelled the word for drawing qualified people as jurors "veniery." In fourth was Jacob Norton, 13, an eighth-grader at East Junior High School in Traverse City, Mich. He erred on "gitano." He was greeted by hugs offstage after he spelled the word for a Spanish male gypsy "jitano." The first home-schooled winner of the national competition was Rebecca Sealfon of New York City in 1997.

This year, 27 bee contestants were taught at home, ahead of youngsters attending private and parochial schools and second to public school students, 178. George paid tribute to his parents, K. George Thampy, a biochemist and physician, and Bina, who works full time teaching her four sons and three daughters. "My mom and dad taught me everything," said George, who earned $15,000 with his second-place finish in the National Geography Bee, also in Washington. In that contest, George lost to a public school student when he could name only one of the three largest sections of Denmark.

The winner named all three. George's parents, natives of southern India, said teaching their children at home helped them learn as well. j. ir -1 i f- -t 1 Time Offer' electricity on a typical summer day, and it will take at least 700,000 megawatts to power the nation generally this summer, according to Energy Department estimates. That leaves little surplus for times of extreme heat.

In fact, surplus electricity has been whittled by 60 percent during the last decade, said Jim Owen, spokesman for the Edison Electric Institute, a Washington-based interest group made up of private electric companies. Owen said the burgeoning high-tech industry, as well as firms engaged in Internet commerce or otherwise dependent on e-mail and similar online ways of doing business, are particularly vulnerable to power shortages. For these types of companies, a blackout can mean millions of dollars in losses for every minute their Web sites are down. in the tests. Making only the more vulnerable center tanks inert alone- would cost less, she said.

She noted that the estimate does not include any equipment that might be necessary on the plane. As a result of the July 17, 1996, explosion and crash of Flight 800, the National Transportation Safety Board issued an "urgent" recommendation on Dec. 13, 1996, that center fuel tanks be modified in some way to prevent the buildup of explosive vapors. In the case of TWA 800, the NTSB has determined that fumes in the Boeing 747's nearly empty center fuel tank exploded, although no ignition source has yet been found. The plane exploded over the Atlantic Ocean and killed 230 people about 12 minutes after it took off from New York's John F.

Kennedy International Airport on a flight to Paris. I I INTERNET i REHDY ft Associated Press REDWOOD CITY, Calif. A child on the run for eight years has been reunited with his father after officials spotted the boy trying to visit his mother in jail. Jonathan Ortiz, now 10, disappeared in 1992 after his mother allegedly tried to kill her husband with a pesticide-laced milkshake and then fled with the boy to Mexico. Elizabeth Fuentes Ortiz, 30, was captured in March in Guadalajara, Mexico, and returned to California to face attempted murder and torture charges for the attack on her former husband, Gilbert Ortiz.

She has been held at the women's jail in Redwood City, where police posted an age-progression image of what 2-year-old Jonathan might look like today, and warned guards to be on the lookout for visitors. Police Correctional Officer Laura Boersig noticed a startling resemblance to the image when Elizabeth Fuentes Ortiz received three visitors at the jail Tuesday night. "Jonathan was reunited with his very relieved father" Advertisement Mil supply eveijlfa else Mmotoiks to toe No longer on the run, 10-year-old Jonathan Ortiz has been reunited with his father. the next morning, Redwood City police Sgt. Kathryn Anderson said Wednesday.

"It's really ovemhelming. We see him and we can't believe it," said Brenda Ortiz, Jonathan's paternal aunt. "He's getting along with his dad." She said that Jonathan misses his mother and that the family would allow him to visit her in jail if a child specialist determined it would be beneficial for him. Jonathan recognized his father immediately, despite the lost years, because of family photos he kept. Gilbert Ortiz had not seen his son since 1992, when his wife allegedly urged him to drink the pesticide-laced milkshake.

also Smart Trak Bravada Sport Utility, luxury at its best, and the world renown Aurora, luxury handling Northstar technology setting new records in IRL Racing World Wide, a must drive vehicle. Here every car is on sale on a first come, first served basis with no bidding. It is the perfect opportunity to get a great new car or truck at the lowest price possible. All cars will be on display at Biddulph Arrowhead Oldsmobile, 8424 W. Bell Road, Peoria, from Friday and Saturday, 9:00 A.M.

to 8:00 P.M. and Sunday, 10 A.M. to 5 PM. All vehicles, will be opened so that the buyers may inspect them. Starting at 9:00 A.M., Friday, all vehicles will be clearly marked down for no hassle pricing.

Wholesale buyers will be present to, take iflttlj: 'Jit I 1 Il'l I iff Washington Post WASHINGTON The Federal Aviation Administration will consider requiring all commercial airlines to pump inert gas into aircraft fuel tanks before takeoff to prevent explosions like the one that brought down TWA Flight 800 in 1996, saying new cost estimates show that the requirement would not be prohibitively expensive. The agency has examined the issue in the past but has rejected the idea as expensive and probably impractical. Now, however, rapidly advancing technology has not only made the process, called nitrogen "ground inerting," practical, but has also cut its previously estimated costs in half, Elizabeth Erickson, the FAA's director of aircraft certification service, said in an interview Thursday. Erickson said that in new tests, conducted at airports in Atlanta and Atlantic City, the FAA technical center had found that providing every commercial airport in the country with equipment to make inert all aircraft tanks including wing tanks would be about $1.6 billion. Delta Air Lines participated Advertisement trade-ins during this sale," Mr.

Sanders said. "We also have four business managers who will help buyers arrange low-cost financing. We have over. $8 Million in inventory with over 300 new and used cars and trucks. Also, during this Oldsmobile event, all Isuzu's and Certified Used vehicles will be marked down.

Come early for best selection. Since we are a local business, we would like to give back to the community," Mr. Price said. "We would rather allow local people to buy these overstocked vehicles than sell them to other dealers. At Biddulph Arrowhead Oldsmobile we are known for Great Selection, Great Service and Great Savings." This innovative approach to selling new vehicles will make it easy and quick for anybody in the market for an Oldsmobile to get a great car or truck at a very low, no hassle price.

See store for details. Any questions can be directed to Paige or Tonia at 623-933-3900. jJ 0 mnh 1 -PPppr- One of Maricopa County's Largest and Oldest Dealerships is overstocked and is selling Oldsmobile cars and trucks, regardless of profit, this Friday; Saturday and Sunday June 2nd, 3rd 4th during a three-day sale event A Great Limited With the New Sprint PCS Free Clear Plaik get a FREE option at no additional charge! Long Distance or 1000 Additional Night Weekend Minutes or Sprint PCS Wireless Web Use your 1000 Night Weekend Minutes trj make calls between 8 p.m. 7 am. weekdays and on weekends from 8 p.m.

Friday to 7 a.m. Monday' SAMSUNG Dual Band PCS Phone Wireless Internet ready Voice-activated dialing Up to 2.5 hours talk time 130 hours standby Peoria, AZ Rick Price, Sales Manager, Biddulph Arrowhead Oldsmobile-Isuzu, just announced plans to hold an Oldsmobile car and truck event on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 2nd, 3rd 4th. According to Used Car Sales Manager, Dick Sanders, "Record sales from the last few months have depleted our used vehicle inventory. We will be giving top dollar on all trade-ins during this three day event to replenish our inventory. During this every OldsmobUe will be sold for $3000 or more below its original price.

For example, a new 1999 Aurora will be marked down $7,000 including factory rebates. Also, 0.0 financing is available in lieu of factory rebates. Mr. Price said, "Our customers will find these prices even lower than most used vehicles, of the same model year." Oldsmobile features the all new Alero, with the Active Response System, the European handling Intrigue, with the new Northstar 3.5L engine made the best buy list of leading automotive enthusiasts, Silhouette Premiere mini-van with the best factory audiovideo system available to date, 1 arfabie: Accessories SormTpCS RecotonSamsung Leather Case Web. RecotorVSafiKung Power Cord Restrictions apply.

Seeprimsd on JulyJ2GG07 A non-refundable $29 99 activation fee per phone is required. $14.99 0222-6665 $24.99 materials in store tar details. 'Free JabraEarset offer ends service not available all stores. 9am-9pm PCS519 PCS343 Wireless Store Hours: CASA GRANDE: Florence Blvd. at Colorado COTTONWOOD: U.S.

89-A 4 E. Cottonwood St GLENDALE: Arrowhead Market Place. 83rd Ave. iBelIRd MESA: Southern Ave. Power 14 mile north of Superstition Frwy MESA; Southern Ave, and Alma School Rd MESA: Men SpeelnMl.

Stapley south of U.S. 60 PARADISE VAOETjVillaje Pair Power Center, tatum PHOENIX: West 71h Ave. PHOENIX Bell Road at North 9tti i St, east of 1-17 2000 0MX, Inc. We reserve 0223-4512 Sprint PCS Sun: 10am-6pm Mon-f rl: 7am-9pm Sat: (S20)(7M844 PHOBTOL Arodli Crusting. (520)6399560 (6) 486-2444 (489) 8074000 (480) S44-9Z12 633-8500 Rd.

(602) 482-1144 (602) 2954615 (602) 8634443 East Thomas Rd. and 44th St PHOENIX Ahwatutee FwKhllli. PHOENIXDEER VALLEft PHOENIX: Metre Marketplace. Black Canyon Frwy andDunlapAve SCOTTSOAtE tcottsdah i SCOTTSOAUE: PiniaRd. and SCOTTS0At01rkeMaPtaa.

TEMPE i Broadvvay and Rural TEMPE: The Graves Power (602) 8524055 Ray Rd. 8 48th St (602) 893-1776 Agua-Fria Hist west of 1-17 (602) 870-1888 Promeradt. N. Scottsdale Rd. (480) 9984290 SheaBlvd next to Kmart (480) 391-2223 N.Hayden and Osbom.

9944331 Rds. (480) 968-1989 Center. Elliot 12 mile east of 1-10 (480) 491-1800 the right to limit quantities. Not responsible for printing or typographical errors..