Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 14

VALLEY STATE B2 TUKSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2001 The Arizona Republic Lawmakers want proof of cell-phone danger ROAD RESTRICTIONS East Valley construction In Gilbert, Greenfield Road will be closed today and Wednesday from Ray Road to Williams Field Road as part of a pipeline project. In Apache Junction, the intersection of Ironwood and' Broadway roads will be closed for 24 hours starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday for a water-line project. In Mesa from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday through Friday, expect slow traffic on Country Club Drive from McDowell to McKellips roads because of a work on the pouring of a deck on the new Red Mountain Freeway bridge. Country Club will be reduced to two lanes each way on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, there be two southbound lanes and one northbound. their conclusions but lack cause-and-effect evidence that cell-phone drivers make our streets miserable. Nintzel said that, if ADOT adds a line to its crash reports to include cell-pjione use, it would take at least three years to accurately track a trend.

With the huge boom in cell phones in Arizona, among the country's most competitive wireless markets, it makes sense for ADOT to start counting cell-phone-caused crashes and for drivers to own up. We need proof a ban makes sense. Otherwise it'll be just more stories. Just Friday, I saw a woman in a white VW zipping down Alma School Road, going for the trifecta smoking a cigarette, blindly changing lanes, carrying on an animated cell-phone chat. In short, your basic "driver inattention." DRIVER'S 101 a Man loses red-light case A Mesa Municipal Court judge ruled Monday that once the arrow is red you're supposed to stop.

Judge Sidney Mitchell rejected Frank Barth's contention that he wasn't given enough time to make a left turn at Country Club and University drives. Barth was cited in October for running the red arrow but believed the three seconds of yellow arrow time wasn't enough to complete the turn. On Nov. 14, after receiving similar complaints from other drivers, Mesa's traffic department bumped the yellow arrow time at all intersections with double left-turn lanes to four seconds. Barth's story was detailed in last Friday's Bumper to Bumper column, where he claimed he would not have been cited had he been given the extra second of yellow to turn.

Mitchell, though, said, "Three seconds is adequate time if a person's watching and paying attention." where it comes to traffic crash statistics," said Doug Nintzel, ADOT spokesman. One problem, Nintzel said, is drivers would not likely admit to talking on a cell phone when a crash occurred. That's the case in Oklahoma, which keeps official counts of cell-phone crashes, though the records carry an asterisk that incidents may be underreported. "Some people just say it's none of your business," said Lt. Chris West of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.

Ytt Oklahoma still was able to link 107 crashes and two deaths to cell-phone use in 1999. Since 1994, cell phones were blamed in 728 Oklahoma crashes. An Oklahoma bill to allow officers to cite drivers involved in crashes for talking on the phone failed in 1999. Few states have taken Oklahoma's lead in collecting cell-phone crash data. So we are forced to rely on national studies that tantalize us with BUMPER TO BUMPER BOB PETRIE The Arizona Republic zona.

The state Department of Transportation keeps copious records on the causes of crashes, alcohol, speeding, etc. ADOT has 145 "elements" to help classify crash statistics but nothing on cellphone-caused crashes. They fall into the chasm of "driver inattention," encompassing everything from changing radio stations to applying makeup Of the 11,297 crashes attributed in 1999 to "driver inattention," it's impossible to determine in how many cellphones played a role. "We just haven't gotten to the point where we're ready to track it (cell-phone use) KU-AT Ffop5 ABORTION I Doctor trial under way Reach Petrie at bumper arizonarepublic.com or at (602) 444-7941. called the green room where you went if you wanted to smoke," she said.

"But couples, who I believe saw very little of the movie, also went there." "Of course," Flora said, opening her eyes widely, innocently, "I never went in there. I was a good girl." Reach the reporter at William. hermannarizona republic.com or (602) 444-4875. Tax Deduction rt Free Pickup I' HRS DAYS We do all the piperworit Punning or not All Proceeds to Arizona Charities United Vehicle Donations 1-877-569-5874 Toll Free i A i it: Courtesy of Verlyne Meek Shane was showing for a quarter at the Roxy Theater when this photo was taken in the 1950s. The Buckeye theater opened in the early 1930s and closed in 1971.

BUCKEYE I Theater burns down We know people drive horribly while talking on cell phones. We see them bob and weave and slow and speed while trying to dial and jabber behind the wheel. We just can't prove it. Statistically, that is. Surveys show people are fed up with cell phones and driving.

Everybody has a story of cell-phone drivers oblivious to red lights, school zones and anything except what they're talking about. But without hard facts showing it's dangerous to dial and drive, it's unlikely we'll convince our state leaders that a cell-phone driving ban is in everybody's best and safest interests. "I have a problem with legislating by anecdote," said state Sen. John Verkamp, R-Flagstaff chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee that torpedoed this session's attempt. If you're looking for stats on cell phones and driving, you won't find them in Ari- because she was separated from her husband and had two children.

Ahler told the jury that Biskind was motivated by the high fee charged for late-term abortions. According to a clinic fee schedule, abortions up to 11 weeks cost $290, but jumped to $1,250 for fetuses between 20 and 24 weeks. Kazan said Biskind did not order a technician to tamper with the ultrasound, nor did he do the procedure for money. He said Biskind warned Herron about the risks in late-term abortions before she signed a consent form. Kazan said Biskind saw a small amount of blood on the sheets when he checked on her after the 1:30 p.m.

procedure but was not alarmed because postoperative bleeding is common. Biskind left the clinic about 3:45 p.m., believing that Herron was recovering, Kazan said. Stuart-Schadoff, though, told a staff member to page Biskind about 25 minutes later when Herron's condition worsened. Biskind did not return to the clinic, but ordered his staff to call 911. When paramedics arrived between 4:22 and 4:26 p.m., Herron was dead, Ahler said.

Mexican governor Associated Press The governor of a Mexican border state who was wounded in the head in an assassination attempt is out of intensive care, a hospital official said Monday. Chihuahua Gov. Patricio Martinez was flown to St. Joseph's Hospital and Med- Mulch fire's smoke visible across Valley The Arizona Republic A large mulch fire continued to burn late Monday in north Phoenix, pouring smoke into the air and forcing the partial closure of Seventh Street. The fire began shortly after 1 p.m.

at a business near Seventh Street and Deer Valley Road, and the smoke was visible across the Valley. Deer Valley and Beardsley roads. By late Monday, the blaze was not getting any bigger but it was not out, fire officials said. About a dozen four-person fire crews still were battling the blaze at 10:30 p.m. No injuries were reported.

TAX PROFESSIONALS Free "Insider" Report: "How to End IRS Prpblems Forever!" 888-807-7464 24 Hour Recorded Message From Page Bl "We had a deal with the little Gila Bend theater, about 50 miles away," Sidney Davis, 72, said with a laugh. "One of us would rent a film and we'd share it. I'd show a reel, give it to a guy who raced in his car to Gila Bend and they'd start showing it. Just as my second reel arrived at their place, they'd send the first reel back down the road to Live trafficam Updates at azcentral.com communitytrafficcams.html ADOT hotline 1-888-411-ROAD Scottsdale to weigh hunt ban By Sarah Anchors The Arizona Republic The Scottsdale City Council voted 5-2 Monday night to consider a ban on hunting in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The council will vote later on whether to approve an ordinance banning hunting, and that would be drafted sometime after February's City Council meeting.

Several people spoke out on both sides of the ban, with those against it insisting that hunting is a way of life and those who favor it saying it's unfair to allow hunting while excluding other activities. Currently, bow hunting and falconry are the only types of hunting allowed in the preserve. Joe Yarchin, an urban wildlife specialist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, favors changing the preserve to a "wildlife area" so the Game and Fish Department can better track hunting activities. The council and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission will discuss that option at the next council meeting on Feb. 13.

The Arizona Republic 602-444-2424 WEST VALLEY 602-944-7200 ARROWHEAD RANCH 623-977-9700 I 1 em out of intensive care, doing 'nicely' From Page HI said he would allow the evidence, but warned that any effort to suggest that Biskind intentionally killed a viable fetus would result in a mistrial. Wilkinson agreed with Kazan's assertion that the jury would get "the impression that Dr. Biskind knowingly committed murder, and one he's never been accused of." Later, as Ahler described the last hours of Herron's life at the now-closed A-Z Women's Center in Phoenix, her father, Mike Gibb, held his head in his hands and sobbed quietly in the crowded courtroom. Ahler said he will prove that Biskind ordered a technician to manipulate an ultrasound to indicate that Herron was fewer than 24 weeks along. After 24 weeks, state law says that two doctors must attend the procedure, and that it can be done only to preserve the health and safety of the mother.

There was no second doctor, and Ahler told jurors that Herron sought the abortion LOS ARC0S Cutbacks proposed From Page HI density of the project, the need for public facilities such as a police substation and the condemnation of property. Under the proposal, the project would shrink to 1.5 million square feet from 2.3 million. It would be spread out over the Los Arcos site and the added property to the east, which fronts McDowell Road and stretches from 74th Street to Miller Road. A neighborhood center, which could house a grocery store, pharmacy and home-improvement store, would be built on the added property. The parking would shrink to 9,200 spaces from 10,000, and could go as low as 8,000.

Stanberry said it's possible to share parking spaces because the complex would be used at different times. He also proposed adding a $5 fee for general parking at special events, and more for could see an 8.5 percent return on its investment, up from his projection last month of about 2.8 percent. Tonight, the Council will decide whether to confirm its earlier decision to extend the life of the Los Arcos Stadium District to March 5, and will consider zoning changes. VETERAN EXIRS AGENTS I til hi me for a second showing. We burned up the highway with those reels." The Roxy closed in 1971.

Flora says her memories of the theater are fixed in the 1930s. "I'll never forget Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in It Happened One Night," Flora said, sighing. Then she smiled. "There was a room on the side and back of the theater leaving his office when former police agent Victoria Loya took a gun out of her purse and fired. She told a judge she shot the governor because he had harassed her.

IRS WE DO ALL PAPERWORK i TRAILERS REAL ESTATE LOTS RUNNING OR NOT' -KsnuawNSAmr FREE PICK UP 800 933-3882 Satellite System mAjt fi Ti NEJTW How Would You like Your disM ical Center in Phoenix after being shot on Wednesday. "He is progressing very nicely," said hospital spokeswoman Kimberly Lodge. Police say Martinez was TAX DEDUCTION "Fair Market Value" Per TRUCKS VANS RVs BOATS Purchase or Refinance i Donate Yocjp Vehicle i 1 The Nation's Missing Children Organisation 1 works with law enforcement to prevent abductions and provides assistance to families of victims. Serving nationwide since 1W 1 BUTWM-CWUE DISH Network Digital Dynamite Makes ft Easjl With the Digital lOO Home Plan Only $49.99 Activation Foo Gots Yout A- i 2 TV Multi-room DISH 500 Digital InstallgtlonJa 2 TV'SL. FREE First Month's Programming FREE 3 Months of 28 Premium Movie Channels (when you subscribe to that package) Offtew Plana Available, Call for Deraffsl I rtfwr ti Fixed Mortgage EAST VALLEY 480-897-8811 i 'IFlH Model 3822 I I Sever Meet with the IRS Settle for Pennies on the Dollar Guaranteed Results AHWATUKEE SCOTTSDALE 480-460-1400 480-998-8720 Free Tax Settlement Analysis: Confidential Interview in Our Local Office 800-925-9609 ()730-0 700 SHOWROOM: 1805 EH lot Tempe OflBf ante I31A11 A price, packages, tnd programming subjart to change without rtofct Progrsfnming it avaribto hy strtgle-tamity rJweHirtQS onty Al recvrs must amrwciM lo i phone line.

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