Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 2

A2 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2001 The Arizona Republic REP. MAY I Leaving Army on his terms 12 NEWS School threats: A special report on how one Valley school district is taking a tough stand LOOKING AHEAD Dear diary: Renee Zellweger takes on the title role in Bridget Jones's Diary, a film based on the popular novel. FRIDAY IN PREVIEW ON ARIZONA'S HOME PAGE Check out our new motorsports section, which includes news, driv.er profiles and lots more, at sports.azcentral.com. azjcentralcom against students who make threats, TODAY AT 5 P.M. At a glance Apparent Police kill suspect in stabbing of 4 workers deal with Glendale Gay state Rep.

Steve May's career in the Army ends Saturday. How his case against the military evolved: Aug. 18, 1989 May first dons an Army uniform. 1995 r- May declares he's gay a year after being discharged. 1998 Called into the Army Reserves.

February 1999 Army begins its inquiry under the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy after May speaks out against an anti-gay bill in the Legislature. May 2000 Military panel recommends May be discharged. January Army agrees to let May serve his final three months as a reservist. From Page Al raisers, but for the past several months has accepted only travel fare. By November, he had raised $25,000 to cover legal expenses.

May's fund-raising prowess and national identity have fueled rumors that he's planning a bid for Congress. However, he shrugged off the idea Tuesday, saying that his herbal tea business is flourishing and that he has two more terms before term limits force him out of his current post. He also said he's talking with publishers about writing a book about his ordeal with the Army. May said his case set a precedent because the Army had never before backed off a dismissal. But no soldiers have used the case as a reference, said Dixon Osburn, executive director of the Servicemem-ber's Legal Defense Network, which helps hundreds of soldiers each year fight "Don't ask, don't tell" dismissals.

May was an up-and-coming reserve officer with a spotless record near the end of his tenure, which gave the Army a weak federal court case, Osburn said. But May remains a lightning rod in the war against "Don't ask, don't tell" and an inspiration for other soldiers to challenge their dismissals. "He served with honor and distinction to the end of his term, which directly undercuts the rationale for the gay ban," Osburn said. "Steve May's leadership is exactly the reason the military should not be kicking out two to three people every day for being gay." May said he holds no hard feelings toward the Army, despite an effort to eject him that was so aggressive his attorney called it "a search-and-destroy mission." "It's Congress," May said. "I don't hold anything against anyone in the Army.

Congress passed this law." Reach the reporter at robbie.sherwoodarizona republic.com or (602) 444-8146. From Page Al Gretzky, the Coyotes' managing partner, planned to be at the public council meeting that will follow the executive session. Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross attempted to call Ellman on Tuesday afternoon, but she said he never returned her calls. City Councilman George Zraket, who opposed the arena project at Los Arcos, said, "I think he (Ellman) at least owes us some modicum of respect to let us know what his plans are." Just last month a divided Scottsdale City Council extended the life of the Los Arcos Stadium District, the entity that provided up to $200 million in public money for an arena-mall complex. But that deal had come under intense public scrutiny, and Scottsdale officials were considering putting the issue before voters a third time.

After months of delays, Ellman took control of the Coyotes in February after forming an ownership group that includes Valley transportation mogul Jerry Moyes. The group bought the team from Richard Burke for $125 million. Scruggs approached Ellman about moving the team to Glendale, Arizona's fourth-largest city, a month ago as negotiations over Los Arcos remained unsettled. The mayor hopes to make the Coyotes an anchor to developing the city's southwestern corner. Bundgaard, one of the orig The team, which leases the facility, does not enjoy lucrative revenue streams like exclusive corporate sponsorships and stadium naming rights.

The team also discounts about 4,000 tickets because of restricted views. Scottsdale City Manager Jan Dolan expressed disappointment after learning of the Glendale deal from a reporter. "Los Arcos is a major retail and commercial center," she said. "We are dedicated to redeveloping that site. It's a top priority for us." Scottsdale voters twice approved funding measures to redevelop the 42-acre Los Arcos site, where old mall buildings have been partially destroyed.

City officials still consider the property a key to pumping life back into Scottsdale's downtown. "We've got to get back to the table with them right away on a Plan Manross said. "My main concern is revitalizing the Los Arcos area. As a city, we've got to move on." Dolan said Scottsdale still could use public funding for Los Arcos if a sports complex were built there. Along with building a new arena in Glendale, the Coyotes could move their practice facility from the All-tell Ice Den in Scottsdale, which is still owned by Burke.

Republic staff members Lesley Wright and Bob McManaman contributed to this article. inal architects of the legislation that would have allowed Scottsdale to capture tax revenue from a special stadium district to finance part of the arena, said Ellman decided to accept the Glendale offer "because of their willingness to do the deal with the Coyotes." The vacant Glendale land, which abuts 91st Avenue, has been on the market for a while. Real estate sources say the asking price was $60,000 an acre, putting the purchase price at around $13 million. A group known as the Hol-comb Family owns the land. Bundgaard said the arena would give the West Valley the sort of identity it was seeking when officials tried to land the $335 million Arizona Cardinals stadium, which was ultimately awarded to Tempe.

"The West Valley might have come in second place with the Cardinals, but it came in first place with the Coyotes, which means 200 nights of entertainment a year instead of eight or 10 games," he said. A National Hockey League team hosts at least 41 regular season home games, not counting preseason and playoff competition. But a new arena could play host to other events, including concerts, and compete with America West Arena. The Coyotes play at America West, in downtown Phoenix, but Ellman has said he will lose up to $20 million this season by playing there. Associated Press KEARNY, N.J.

A former postal worker was shot and killed by police Tuesday night after he walked into a Postal Service facility and stabbed four people, none fatally, authorities said. The man had quit his temporary job at the facility last month after a personnel dispute and may have returned to retaliate against other employees, said Terrence Hull, a Hudson County prosecutor. The man walked into the lobby of the bulk mailing facility armed with a handgun and two knives and attacked the workers, Hull said. Three police officers arrived after a 911 call and saw the man in a locker room, covered in his own blood after apparently trying to cut his wrists. "He approached the officers, and he was instructed to drop his weapons a number of times," Hull said.

"When he didn't, all three officers discharged their weapons." The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified as a 26-year-old from Newark. The injured suffered stab wounds and cuts and were treated at area hospitals and released. The man resigned March 5 and had held temporary jobs three other times with the Postal Service, Hull said. He said the handgun was loaded with eight rounds of ammunition but apparently was not fired during the attack.

DAVID CASSTEVENS return Friday. Minority troopers tell of N.J. racial profiling BLAST I Dad missing; 3 people dead 14 rritle. Thomas Rd. 14 kill PHOENIX SCOTTSDALE Coronado High Scioo Oak St.

Associated Press TRENTON, N.J. After the state police superintendent complained last year that 10 percent of New Jersey troopers still were practicing racial profiling, some troopers began wearing T-shirts featuring a skull, two crossed pistols and the words "10 percenters," minority officers testified Hiesday. The shirts were displayed during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is investigating charges of widespread ra cial profiling that have troubled the state for two years. Minority troopers gave examples of what they said was abusive behavior and offered graphic cartoons with racial and sexual stereotypes. The cartoons, posted in state police barracks, named troopers who filed discrimination complaints.

State Police Superintendent Carson Dunbar defended reform efforts and urged the committee to judge the entire force based on the testimony of the minority troopers. Map 5 area EMoiado Fatal fire ram McDowell Rd. g-t From Page Al house to a blackened skeleton. Police did not identify the bodies of a woman and two children found in the burned house. But they said the mother, Mary Fisher, and her children, Brittney, 13, and Robert Fisher 10, are missing.

The cause of the explosion, which appeared to be centered in the living room, is still unknown, although a gas leak was initially suspected. Southwest Gas spokesman Garth Andrews said crews checked the gas lines all the way to the meter and found them intact. "Whatever happened, happened inside the house," he said. The explosion, which neighbors compared to the sound of a "bomb blast," was strong enough to collapse the front brick wall and rattle the frames of neighboring houses for a half-mile in all directions. RuralMetro Fire Department firefighters were on the scene within minutes and successfully kept the intense blaze from spreading to neighboring houses, even ALMANAC CORRECTIONS Mark WatersThe Arizona Republic though the heat was sufficiently intense to melt some of the firefighters' plastic face shields.

A series of smaller secondary explosions, believed to be either rifle ammunition or paint cans igniting, forced firefighters to keep their distance. One firefighter suffered minor injuries to his leg when he lost his balance and fell near the burning house, said Ruthanne Gilbert, a RuralMetro spokeswoman. "The house just self-destructed," neighbor Steve Durgarian said. The Fisher family was described as "just the sweetest people you'd ever want to meet in your life," according to neighbor Susan Hasse. PRAYER Lord, sometimes it is hard to give you thanks for our hardships.

Yet if we come to you in trust, we can understand life is not without pain. Amen. THOUGHT OF THE DAY "We think in generalities, but we live in detail." Alfred North Whitehead, British philosopher (1861-1947). Suzanne StarrThe Arizona Republic A family photo shows husband and wife Robert and Mary Fisher and their children, Brittney and Robert Jr. Lobbyist Chuck Blan-chard did not attend an "April 2 dinner at Morton's Steak House sponsored by Alliance Beverage Co.

An item in Sunday's Political Insider mistakenly said he attended. Marvin Borsand should have been described as a cosmetic surgeon in an article about plastic surgery that began on Page Al Sunday. TODAY'S CHUCKLE The Arizona Republic (ISSN 0892-8711) (USPS 030-920) Published daily by Phoenix Newspapers 200 E. Van Buren Phoenix, AZ 85004 P.O. Box 1950, Phoenix, AZ 85001 Telephone (602) 444-8000 MEMBER: AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS Cry and you cry alone; laugh and your family tries to get CORRECTIONS POLICY you into psychiatric counsel- ing.

The Arizona Republic corrects errors fully and promptly. To CLOCKS COUNTERS report an error in the news 103 years ago: In 1898, Presi- he Republic dent McKinley asked Con- at (602) 444-8143. To report gress for a declaration of war against Spain. pages, phone the Editor of the 6 Editorial Pages Keven Ann i 33 years ago: In 1968, Presi- Willey at (602) 444-8499. Or dent Johnson signed into law send a message to Correction the Civil Rights Act of 1968, a arizonarepublic.com.

week after the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King H0W TO REACH US 10 years ago: In 1991, U.S.- Newsroom (602)444-8235 led forces began a ground Editorial pap: (602) 444-8499 invasion of Kuwait and Iraq. Reader (602) 444-8912 360: The Only insect that can Metit Budnea Sport, Feature turn its head 360 degrees is (602)444-8222 the praying mantis. Photo (602) 444-8025 Robert Fisher works as a lab technician at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, where he reportedly did not go to work Tuesday. A spokeswoman for the Mayo Clinic declined to discuss his schedule.

Neighbors described him as an outdoor lover and a sport hunter. He was reportedly driving his wife's Toyota 4-Runner with Arizona license plate 106EJR. His vehicle, a new Dodge pickup truck, was still parked in the carport under the collapsed remains of the house's roof. Scottsdale police want to find him "to make sure he's safe and to let him know what happened," Reed said. Public records show the family bought the house in 1987 for $80,000.

Neighbors said the family had moved to Scottsdale from San Diego. Fisher's father-in-law, Bill-Cooper, said Robert Fisher "was the best husband you could ever ask for and the best son-in-law we ever' wanted." Family members attend nearby Scottsdale Baptist Church, where the Rev. Gregg Cantelmo described them as "an integral part of the church." The father is active in men's ministry and the wife was a Sunday school teacher, he said. Phil Rudd, who lives 12 houses away, said he was watching TV when the blast erupted. "By the time I ran out onto the street, the house was totally engulfed," he said.

Bob Jacoby, who lives three doors away, called it "a tremendous explosion." "I've heard propane tanks go up before, and that's what this sounded like," he said. "My two. cats went straight up into the air." Roofer Max Moody was barely half a block away when the house exploded. "There was a big boom, and then I watched debris come flying up into the air," he said. Less than a minute later, there was "a column of deep, solid smoke while flames were coming out the windows." Explosives experts from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were helping investigate the fire, Scottsdale police said Tuesday evening.

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