The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 1

Dude, Asiiton Kutcher Is On A Roll lowaLife Jet Mer ST Saturday February 8, 2003 IOWA EDITION The Newspaper Iowa Depends Upon DesMoinesRegister.com Price 50 Cents I I 1X1(1 II II Inside rrui rui LTL 151 LTL Shuttle photo maybe of little service Report: Attack to coincide with Muslim holy days Li All VEHICLES (MTtRiMG THIS mum SUBJECT TO INSPECTION v. By CURT ANDERSON ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington, D.C The government raised its terror threat level to "high risk" orange on Friday, warning of a growing possibility that the al-Qaida network would launch an attack against the United States to coincide with Muslim holy days. Changing the alert from "elevated condition" yellow triggered tighter security at borders, airports and hotels. Officials also urged greater vigilance by all Americans. Attorney General John Ashcroft said the government had received intelligence information, corroborated by multiple sources, that Osama bin Laden's terror organization sought to attack Americans at home or abroad during the time of the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, which begins today.

The intelligence indicates that al-Qaida operatives might attempt to attack lightly guarded targets such as apartment buildings and hotels, and that attacks could involve chemical, biological or radiological devices. Ashcroft said there are indications that al-Qaida "might also seek economic targets, such as transportation and energy sectors, as well as symbolic targets and symbols of American power." No specifics were given about the method, timing or location of a possible attack. But a high-ranking law enforcement source in New York said intercepted communications appeared to pinpoint New York as a target. The alert level was last raised to orange in September for two weeks. How should you plan for attack? Page 4A AS-- ROBERT NANDELLTHE REGISTER Tightened security: A Conley Security employee checks the trunk of a car entering the parking ramp at the Des Moines airport.

The checks were reinstated after the federal terror threat alert was raised on Friday. Alert raised Federal officials raised the nation's terror alert to orange, warning of a "high risk" of terrorist attack. HUSH 3 Severe condition Around the nation At airports, more random bag searches were being conducted and -some parking spaces were closed off. Some border crossings from Canada and Mexico were closed. In New York, doctors were asked to look out for symptoms that could be an early sign of a biological attack.

At South Dakota's Mount Rushmore, a possible terrorist target, more U.S. Park Police officers were deployed and security was tightened. in Iowa Vehicles entering the Des Moines airport parking garage are again being stopped for inspection. State troopers are on heightened alert. Security will be bolstered at state facilities.

The Iowa National Guard has established a 500-soldier rapid deployment force. Iowa Air Guard's 1 32nd Fighter Wing of Des Moines is available for air combat patrols. Details, Page 4A Orange High condition condition Source: Office of condition condition asssociatd fK CV -f ISU's Sullivan puts on his game face While his teammates work off nervous tension by shooting the basketball, Iowa State's Jake Sullivan has his own pregame ritual, pacing with a determined scowl that intimidates even teammates. "I want them to know that if you play me, you're going to be in for a fight," says Sullivan. Iowa State plays Colorado today at 3 p.m.

in Boulder. Sports, Page 1C Speech contest draws thousands About 10,000 Iowa high school students will act, read, mime or sing for a top ranking at today's state large-group speech contest at schools in Des Moines, West Union, Sioux City and Ottumwa. Metro Iowa, Page 1B Muslims are focus of latest cola war Muslims in Europe are being asked to pledge their cola allegiance to one of two new brands that are trying to cash in on anti-American sentiment. Business, Page 8C Coming Sunday Country churches strong in Iowa Country churches are alive and well in Iowa, despite any perceived decline of rural America. Congregation loyalty is strong, but religious leaders also credit savvy pastors, open-mindedness and divine intervention.

Weather HIGH 22-30 LOW 2-15" Mostly cloudy. Scattered flurries. Details, Page 8B Delivery (515) 284-8311 (800) 365-4692 Index Business 8C Comics 4B Crossword 7B Dear Abby 6B Editorials 6A Marc Hansen 1B lowaLife 5B Letters 6A Lotteries 2A Marketplace 1F People in the News 2A Sports Roundup 5C TV Guide 7B with SOY INK Copyright 2003 Des Moines Register and Tribune Company A Gannett Newspaper February 8, 2003 "40901 "1 5006' Air Force image does not offer clear evidence of what troubled Columbia. By MARCIA DUNN ASSOCIATED PRESS Houston, Texas A high-definition military photograph shot in the final moments before space shuttle Columbia broke apart is "not very revealing," a NASA official said Friday. But investigators were optimistic that a recovered section of the shuttle's wing could provide solid clues.

The photo, shot by a powerful Air Force telescope camera in New Mexico, shows a fuzzy, batwing-shaped silhouette of the shuttle with a dark gray streak behind the left wing. Shuttle program manager Ron Dittemore said it would take further study to determine whether the image shows a problem with the shuttle and if the streak is from Columbia, or only a technical aberration in the photo. "It is not clear to me that there is something there," he said. Some people have said they see damage on the left wing, thought to be the heart of Columbia's problems, Dittemore said. "It does look like there's something just a little different about the left-hand side behind the wing than the right-hand side," Dittemore said.

"That does look a little different to us and is an area of investigation." He said the photo doesn't resolve the question of whether the shuttle may have been seriously damaged by a chunk of foam debris that struck Columbia on the left wing shortly after liftoff Jan. 16. "It does not indicate whether an event occurred on launch day, in orbit or even during re-entry," Dittemore said. "You cannot tell from that photograph that an event occurred." Crews searching for shuttle debris across Texas recovered part of one of Columbia's wings near Fort Worth, but Dittemore said it wasn't yet known if it came from the left side. "Certainly we're more See SHUTTLE, Page4A passed by security.

"I don't try to sneak in," he said. "I just go where I feel like God wants me to go." This is Weaver's third noteworthy caper, though he claims to have met five presidents. Two years ago, Weaver slipped past authorities outside the Capitol and handed a note to the just-inaugurated President Bush. On Thursday, Weaver said he unhooked a rope, approached the president, and handed him the letter, which warned: "If America does not repent, there will be 50,000 casualties and a six-month war" with Iraq. The exchange caught the attention of the Secret Service, and a small of army of agents accompanied Weaver to his hotel room and grilled him about his escapade.

He was not charged with anything. D.M. considers shutdown, sale of 50 parks to save money By JASON CLAYW0RTH REGISTER STAFF WRITER Copyright 2003, Des Moines Register and Tribune Company About 50 Des Moines parks would be shut down and sold under one money-saving idea being discussed at City Hall. The proposal promises to be one of the more controversial spending cuts city leaders will entertain as they work to close an estimated $14 million budget shortfall Yellow Elevated $17.8 million of the city's overall $136 million budget, will be an early target. "We absolutely will receive some opposition" to closing parks, City Councilman Frank Cownie predicted.

"Fundamentally, we're looking at restructuring the whole park system We need to ask how many of these facilities that we need." See PARKS, Page 4A i Guarded Low IT I 1 ROBERT NANDELLTHE REGISTER Winter fun: Two cross-country skiers make their way through Des Moines' MacRae Park, one that might be shut down and sold under a city proposal to save money. Man crashes event, hands Bush 'message from God' "We just tried to get along, be happy." Long-wed couple: 83 years have sped by for next year. Raised fees and fines, job cuts and other steps are expected to erase the problem by the time the council adopts a budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Council members say after they tackle that task is a perfect time to discuss longer-range plans to strengthen future budgets. The Parks and Recreation Department, which represents nearly "0- .1 ewe By LLOYD GROVE WASHINGTON POST Washington, D.C The Rev.

Richard Weaver, nicknamed "Handshake Man" because of his knack for getting up close and personal with the high and mighty, has struck again. Weaver, 57, a Christian minister from Sacramento, crashed the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday at the Hilton Washington, breezing through the entrance without a ticket and handing President Bush what he later described as an eight-page typed "message from God" about Iraq. "It's just God, buddy," Weaver told Washington Post writer David Montgomery. "They asked everyone else for a ticket. They didn't ask me." With his conservative suit and gregarious manner, Weaver easily Henry was born in Exira, Lena grew up near Elkhorn the two met in country school as youngsters and began to notice each other when Henry went to work for Lena's dad on the farm.

"She looked good to me," said Henry, demonstrating that flowery statements are not essential to a long marriage. Like many successful couples, the two shared a common passion. "She's a real farm girl," Henry said admiringly, looking at his wife, who sat silently but attentively in the wheelchair next to his. "We went to school 10 grades in the country, and she didn't want to go on to the high school after that. She See ANNIVERSARY, Page 4A By MARY CHALLENDER REGISTER STAFF WRITER Exira, la.

The Guinness Book of World Records might want to keep an eye on Henry and Lena Johnson, two of four centenarians who live at the care center in this western Iowa town of about 900. Today, the couple celebrates their 83rd wedding anniversary. The accomplishment does not seem to impress Henry, 104, or Lena, 101, but it has family members and the Exira Care Center staff quite excited. After all, 83 years of marriage ties the US. record set last April by a Kentucky couple, William and Claudia Ritchie.

The world record was held at last report by a Taiwanese SPECIAL TO THE REGISTER Affection: Lena Johnson, 101, left, and Henry Johnson, 104, celebrate their 83rd wedding anniversary today. couple, Liu Yung-Yang and Henry and Lena's history Yang-wan, who will cele- together dates back even brate their 86th anniversary further. Both the offspring of in March. Danish immmigrants.