The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 4

4-A THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1996 GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS Fighting prompts U.S. show of force The Associated Press 1 MONROVIA, Liberia Rebel factions moved their battles away from the U.S. embassy and into the neighborhood of Liberia's main warlord on Wednesday, littering the streets with bodies and provoking a strong showing of U.S. force. The spread of fighting came one day after Marines guarding the U.S.

Embassy in this West African country shot and killed three Liberians who fired weapons toward the compound. American warships came so close to shore Wednesday that witnesses could see helicopters taking off from their decks. The ships moved further out to sea before nightfall. It was the closest the warships had come since their arrival two weeks ago to deploy 230 Marines to guard the U.S. Embassy and help evacuate foreigners.

A U.S. Embassy official in Monrovia, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the movement was "just to show a closer American presence." The shooting at the embassy Tuesday was the first exchange of gunfire involving U.S. troops in Monrovia since April 6, when government forces tried to arrest a rebel leader, setting off fierce fighting, mass evacuations and the closure of many international aid agencies. A temporary cease-fire was broken by the latest unrest. As a result, U.S.

guards set barricades Wednesday to prevent anyone from driving past the embassy. American officials spoke with faction leaders, warning them to tell their followers to stay away from the compound. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs George Moose left the country Wednesday, after he failed to meet with rebel leaders, State Department spokesman Glyn Davies said in Washington. Taylor and Kromah, former enemies who have since joined forces, refused to meet with Moose. Their rival Roosevelt Johnson, spoke with Moose by telephone.

The U.S. military has evacuated more than 2,000 foreigners the past three weeks. World Canada Deputy premier forced to quit over tax cut remark 2 HAMILTON, Ontario Canada's deputy prune minister resigned Wednesday after a week of public pressure, reluctantly fulfilling a 1993 campaign promise to quit if the government didn't scrap the national sales tax. Sheila Copps, the No. 2 official in the government of Prime Minister Jean Chretien, was put in an embarrassing position last week when the government acknowledged it would not carry out its campaign pledge to abolish the tax.

Copps was in a bind because she explicitly promised during the campaign to resign if the tax was not abolished. She tried to hang on, saying her pledge to quit was a "fast-lip comment" that shouldn't be held against her. But newspapers, the opposition, even voters in her own district in the Lake Ontario steel city of Hamilton demanded that she live up to her promise. At a news conference in Hamilton, Copps said she would try to recapture her seat in the House of Commons when a special election is called to fill the vacancy created by her resignation. During the 1993 campaign, Copps told a town hall meeting: If the GST (Goods and Services Tax) is not abolished, I will resign." But last week she retreated from her pledge.

Australia Climatic change, ozone, pollution threaten whales 3 CANBERRA The world's whales are more threatened by climate change, ozone depletion and pollution than by whaling, International Whaling Commission chairman Peter Bridgewater said Wednesday. International efforts to revitalize whale populations, such as the establishment of sanctuaries and the IWC whaling ban, have led to a much healthier general population, Bridgewater said. Aside from a few nations, such as Japan and Norway, enthusiasm for commercial whaling has waned. "The biggest danger to whales is global change," Bridgewater said, addressing a lecture series on whales at the National Science and Technology Center. "By global change I mean not only climatic change, but also other effects, such as the ozone hole and the spread of pollutants." Bridgewater said evidence of the direct effects of chemical pollutants on whales, dolphins and porpoises was still circumstantial.

The IWC has urged its member countries to focus on researching and monitoring the issue. An IWC meeting in June will consider a report on the likely impact of climate change. The Associated Press Obituaries Vaughn Louise HOUSTON Vaughn Louise, 31, of Houston passed away Tuesday. Arrangements are pending at Jack Rowe Funeral Home. Dr.

Hershal Glenn Tree TEXAS CITY Dr. Glenn Tree, 78, died April 30, 1996 after a brief illness at Columbia-Mainland Center Hospital in Texas City. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 3, 1996 at Saint George's Episcopal Church in Texas City, with the Rev. Mehrdad Abidari, officiating.

Burial will follow at Forest Park East Cemetery in Webster, Texas. A visitation will be Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the James Crowder Funeral Home in La Marque, Texas. Dr.

Tree was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lucille Tree, who passed away last year, and his beloved daughter, Jennifer Jane Tree. He was born on January 1, 1918 to George and Sara Tree of Blue Ridge, Texas. He graduated from North Texas University in Denton and taught high school mathematics for two years in Glen Rose and Burkburnett, Texas. He served in the United States Navy during WWII as a Lieutenant Commander for five 1 st Friday 4 years in the Pacific Theater. After leaving the Navy he attended medical school at the University of Texas in Galveston, where he graduated in 1950.

He practiced medicine as a general practitioner in Texas City for over 40 years. He loved his work and his patients. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Mary Ann and Diego Giordano of Fort Worth, TX; two sons and daughter-in- law, William A. and Cathy Tree, Jim Dan Tree, all of Texas City, TX; six grandchildren, Emily Jane, John, Billy, George, Jared and Melanie Tree, all of Texas City. The family request memorials be sent to the American Diabetes Association.

James Crowder Funeral Home, La Marque Clifton Walker LEAGUE CITY Clifton Walker, 81, of League City passed away Tuesday, April 30, 1996, at his residence. Mr. Walker was born in Meridian, Oklahoma, and served in the U.S. Army during W.W. II.

Mr. Walker has lived in League City most of his life and is retired from Amoco Oil. He is survived by wife, Elsie Walker, of League City and numerous other relatives includ- pier dozen Cash Carry MAINLAND FLORAL, INC. featuring ing step-children, step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren. Friends may call between 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Thursday, May 2, 1996 at the Jack Rowe Funeral Home.

Graveside services to be conducted under the auspice of League City Masonic Lodge No. 1053 A.M. F.M. at 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 3, 1996 at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston. Jack Rowe Funeral Home Ruby Mae Bircher GREEN RIVER, WY Ruby Mae Bircher, 86, of Green River, Wyoming passed away Wednesday, May 1,1996 in Texas City.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 3,1996 at Emken-Linton Funeral Home. Burial will be at Prairie Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.

Friday morning. Mr. Bircher was a retired surgical circulating nurse. She is survived by her son, Jimmy Bircher, of Green River, Wyoming; granddaughters, Elisa, Cheryl, and Carole; seven great grandchildren; sisters, Lela Null and Mozelle Mize, both of Texas City; nieces and nephews. Emken-Linton Funeral Home In Loving Memory Of George Palmer Saunders, II January 26, 1950 to May 1, 1995 "Our grief for you still fills our days; But memr'y of your happy ways Brings quick relief from pain and care, And helps our grievous loss to bear." Sadly missed hy his Parents, Margaret (Died April 17, 1996) ami Palmer Saunders, Wife, Mary and Daughter, Susan and Sister, Margaret Adam Shadrick Charles Sr.

LA MARQUE Mr. Shadrick "Bro. CharlesTCammie" Charles, 62 passed from tin's earthly life Monday, April 29, 1996 at Columbia Mainland Medical Center in Texas City. A native of Ville Platte, Louisiana, he was born November 14, 1933 and was a construction worker. He was a member of Rising Star Baptist Church in Texas City.

His memory will linger on in the hearts of his loving and devoted wife, Marie Charles of La Marque; his children, Lonald Ray Watson of Lake Charles, LA, Deborah Charles Caddrich of Houston, James Walker of 2710 Broadway 765-LOVE f-f-t A I TrffiDAEYNEWS U.S.P.S. 213400 Founded in 1842 Texas' Oldest Newspaper Dedicated to the growth and progress of Galveston and all of Galveston County. Published every morning by Galveston Newspapers 8522 Teichman Road, Box 628, Galveston, Texas 77553. Second class postage paid at Galveston, Texas. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use or republication of all the local news of spontaneous origin printed in this newspaper.

Subscription rates by carrier, $12 per month; by mail, $270 per year anywhere in the continental United States, $540 per year outside the United States. Telephone (409) 744-3611 (409) 986-7711 (800)561-3611 The Galveston County Daily News welcomes letters to the editor, which should be limited to 150 words. Obituaries Obituaries are a paid feature of The Galveston County Daily News. For information about the costs and how to submit an obituary, call (409) 744-3611 or (409) 986-7711, Ext. 275.

The daily deadline for obituaries is 4 p.m. Funeral home arrangement notices will be accepted until 5 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, obituaries will be accepted until 4 p.m. by fax. Obituaries placed by individuals must have written verification of arrangements by an independent source and must be paid in advance.

MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Families and funeral homes are urged to ensure that Information is accurate, and all names are spelled correctly. The Dally News assumes no responsibility for inaccurate Information provided to us. The Dally News is not responsible for lost or damaged photos. Las Vegas, NV, Anna Grant, Celeste Watkins, Shadrick Charles, Jr.

all of La Marque, Reda Audrey Sledge of Nevada, Tabatha Lancaster of Texas City; sisters, Estella Cartwright of Lake Charles, LA, Lee Esther Gaillo and Mable Joseph both of Ville Platte, LA; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Visitation will begin after 1:00 p.m. Friday at the Mainland Funeral Home Chapel followed by a wake from 7 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 4th at the Rising Star Baptist Church in Texas City with Rev.

Dr. D.N. Benford, officiat- ing. He will be laid to rest in Rising Star Cemetery in La Marque. Mainland Funeral Home Services Laws Celebration of homecoming for Harry James Laws, 11:00 a.m., today, Mount Carmel Church, 4301 Weaver Road, Houston.

Hecker Funeral services for Jane Elizabeth (Betty) Fraley Hecker, 10:00 a.m., today, Broadway Funeral Home. Burial, Grace Memorial Park, Alta Loma. Fourth in a Series John L. Sullivan on the issues: A1EADER, NOT A CHEERLEADER Vandy Anderson: John, what kind of leader do we need in the Mayor's office? Why are you the most qualified for the job? John L. Sullivan: Galveston is not an easy city to lead.

We have some unique challenges and opportunities. That's why our Mayor must be more leader than cheerleader. In the past, our best leaders have been men and women who have prepared themselves first by service on the City Council. When I served on City Council, Galveston had a budget surplus. We had positive economic growth.

And there's no reason why we can't return to that. All of this takes the ideas and support of the public. As your Mayor, I will work with all segments of the community to seek out those good ideas and find ways to put them to work for Galveston. With your input and ideas, we can really make a difference. A ELECTION DAY Saturday, IJohnLI FOR MAYOR VOTE Political advertisement paid for by John L.

Sullivan for Mayor, P.O. Box 3387. Galvcston, TX 77552. Gerald Sullivan. Treasurer.