The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 1

GALVEST ON CO UNT OUR COUNTY: Galveston school board candidates outlined their positions during a Monday forum. Page A6 3832 M30 SH MICRQFUeUSHING 2627 EAST YANDEIL EL PASO, TX 79903- property taxes lowered, but few are lining up to help pay for the cuts. Page A7 50t APRIL 8,1997 Vol. 154, No. 363 SPORTS: The pros began arriving Monday in preparation of Thursday's start of the 61st Masters.

Bl Shortened shuttle ends today Forced to fly, on only two- thirds power, space shuttle Columbia's astronauts squeezed in as as possible Monday, ft is expected to land this afternoon. A3. HA regional president Lease East End terminal GALVESTON Benny Holland said all other options are not realistic. By HEIDI LJUTZ The Daily News GALVESTON The regional HA president told the Galveston Economic Development Corp. on Monday that the best thing the Port of Galveston could do is lease the East End terminal to Houston.

"1 don't think Galveston can compete with Houston with containerized business," said Benny Holland, president of the South At- lantic and Gulf Coast Distrirt International Longshoreman's Association. They've tried to compete with them and haven't been able to." The other options recently disclosed in an outside review of the port's East End container terminal are not realistic, Holland said. i See A12 The port re- docesthe cotton export fee to help bring in more business. Ml I'm appreciative. I'm happy.

I think it's another sign that our music is important." Wynton Marsalte on winning the Pulitzer Prize for music AS SPORTS: Texas City beats Dickinson, 43, in prep action Dickinson pitchers shut down the heart of Texas order, but the un-. ters delivered the crushing blow No. 9 hitter Derek Martin. DUL A6 Emergency workers help a county district court judge who was hurt in a one-car accident on FM1764 Monday. EXTRA: Uh, thanks for the vote, I think LATHAM, Kan.

His honor the mayor isn't so sure his new job is much of an honor at all. Nobody filed to run for the office, and so it was a very unerrthusiastic Brett Calvin who wound up with the job after he was elected with 17 write-in votes last Tuesday. "1 was hoping somebody else would do it, but nobody wants to," he said. Calvin, 37, has lived in the south- central Kansas community of 170 since 1969, and can pretty much guess who elected him to office "probably my mom, my dad, the other city council members and their families." Latham residents, it turns out, are passionate about not wanting to be mayor, said David Corbin, who works at the Latham Saloon. He said everyone abhors the unpaid job, which involves having to pitch'in when Latham's lone city employee is sick or unavailable to mow lawns and read water meters.

"1 wouldn't have it as a gift," he said. Corbin didn't vote for Calvin, but the mayor shouldn't take it personally, voted for another guy because I thought it would be very nice if he got stuck with the job," CortMn said. Associated Press Searchers fan out FRIENDSWOOD Laura Kate Smither has been missing since she left her Ware Dairy Road home Thursday morning to. go jogging on sparsely populated Moore Road. Since then, several agencies have conducted a search for the girt.

Group seeks lerTED Humane Society calls for more prosecutions Volunteers search a field near FM 528 in Friendswood Monday in a massive search for Laura Smfthef. The 12-year-oW gri has been missing since Thursday. (Photo by Kevin Bartram) Family pleas for 12-year-old's return A Gay Smither ties yeUow ribbons as she watts for news about her daughter, Laura. (Photo by Kevin Bartram) By GINA V. GOMEZ The Daily News FRIENDSWOOD "Bring her home," demanded Gay Smither on Monday as the search for her missing daughter.

Laura Kate Smither entered its fifth day. "I don't know why they have taken her, but they need to bring her home," Gay Smither said, as she sat cutting yellow ribbon after yellow ribbon here at a Texas-New Mexico power branch office, which serves as a headquarters for those helping in the search for the 12-year-old girl. Laura Kate Smither has been missing since she left her Ware Dairy Road home Thursday morning to go jog- ging on sparsely populated Moore Road. Since that time, hundreds of volunteers have turned out daily to assist the contingent of police, FBI agents, Texas State Guard and Coast Guard in the search, said Mandy Albrittori, coordinator of the volunteer effort. About 500 volunteers turned out Sunday and 200 Monday, she said.

Volunteers are handing over anything suspicious to the police, but so far, none has produced substantial leads, Albritton said. "We're working in the air, water and ground," Albritton See A12 Smfther If anyone has any information about the disappearance of Laura K. Smither, please call the Friendswood Police Department at (281) 996-3300. STATE Enforcement, including undercover operations, should be increased, and criminal charges should be brought against violators, the society said. The Associated Press HOUSTON The Humane Society of the United States on Monday called for criminal prosecution of shrimpers who violate federal.regulations oh turtle excluder devices.

'Sea Kemp's ridley; are drowning because some shrimpers tie shut the TEDs or use a "fake flap" to conceal they are not using the escape hatches in their nets, the society said. Its investigators, in what the group described as its first such undercover operation, examined 32 boats in several ports stretching from Sabine to Corpus Christi between July and November. Of those boats, 13 shrimpers had tied shut their TEDs, said John Grandy with the Washington, D.C.-based Humane Society. Enforcement, including undercover operations, should be increased, and criminal charges should be brought against violators, he said. "The regulations are being openly violated with only the threat of civil penalties," Grandy said.

Investigators, who talked to shrimpers, found that some use radios to track the Coast Guard and other agencies so they can untie then- TEDs if they fear a See A12 Mayoral candidate withdraws offer to debate incumbent HITCHCOCK Last week, Russeil "Russ" Amatt challenged Mayor Harry Robinson to a debate on April 21. By ALICIA C. SIMMONS The Daily News HITCHCOCK Hitchcock mayoral candidate Russell "Russ" Amatt withdrew his offer Monday to a public debate after incumbent Mayor Harry Robinson failed to respond. Last week, Amatt (pronounced AY- mat) challenged Robinson to a debate at 7 pjox April 21. "This structured debate would have been an ideal opportunity for the residents to hear our philosophies, understand our game plans for future growth and success and learn about our unique differences in leadership," Amatt said in a letter sent to Robinson on Monday after the mayor failed to notify him of a decision.

Robinson said he did not respond to Amattfs offer because the date suggested falls on the same night as the regularly scheduled City Commission meeting. "It would seem that anyone- running for office would know when our regular city meetings are," he said. However, Robinson has agreed to participate in a political forum later this month conducted by the Hitchcock chapter of the American Business Women's Association. If Amatt participates in the forum, it will not be the first time the two will butt heads on issues. In a written response last week, Robinson said as a newcomer, Amatt does not know the importance of the Galveston County Fair and Rodeo and the effect it has for youths through its scholarship program.

i See A12 Amatt Weather Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. High in the 70s. Tonight through Wednesday night, continued cloudy with showers or thunderstorms likely. Low in the 60s. AALVESTON BAY East wind 20 knots and gusty.

Seas 7 feet. Scattered Beach water 69. A2. Pick of the Day Family i Values" KRIV, 6 1 p.m. The spooky clan returns for this sequel, in which Gomez and Morticia welcome their new baby boy and Fester plans to marry.

Texas Lottery Pick 3: Cash 5 Texas: 5-7-3S37-39 Wednesday's Lotto Texas drawing will be for a jackpot worth an estimated $4 million. On the Index Read The Daily News on the World Wide Web at Get the latest headlines and Scores, or chat with your neighbors on the Internet! Applause B6 Business All Classified B8-12 Comics B7 Crossword DearAbby B6 Horoscope B6 Movies A5 Obituaries A4 Opinion A10 Our County A6 Passing Parade A2 Peopte A5 A3 Sports Bl B5.