The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 1

Page A3 JANUARY 27, 2002 KANSAS ournal Serving Kansas since 1871 $1.50 4 Super matchups Pag6 C1 KANSANS HELD HOSTAGE Days, months drag on for Bumhams Wichita couple caught in the middle of militant uprising in the Philippines By ADAM BROWN The Associated Press ZAMBOANGA, Philippines After a day on the white sands of a ritzy resort, Martin and Gracia Burnham retired to their stilt cabin to the hum of an air conditioner and the lapping of the Sulu Sea. Before dawn, the door was kicked in and the Wichita, missionaries joined 18 other hostages hauled away at gunpoint by the Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim extremist group linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qalda network. Eight months later, scores of soldiers, l-ebels and hostages have died, the Philippines' reputation and tourism industry have been battered and the country has been called the next U.S. target in the war on terror. About 100 U.S.

military support staff were already in the southern Philippines by Saturday, and the numbers were to grow to more than 600, Including 160 Special Forces, on a mission to train the Filipinos to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf. While the Philippine Constitution bars foreign combat troops on the country's soli, the U.S. advisers will be allowed to visit combat zones and carry weapons for self-defense a decision that has sparked controversy for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. May's mass kidnapping at the Dos Palmas Island resort was not the Abu Sayyaf's first. Two years ago, the rebels stormed a "We always look at each other and I tell Martin! I love you, I want you to know it before I die." Gracia Burnham a missionary from Wichita who, along with her husband, Martin, was taken hostage eight months ago by a radical Muslim group Malaysian resort, snatching 21 foreigners, Filipinos and Malaysians.

Most were later released, reportedly for multimillion-dollar ransoms paid by Libya's Moammar Ghadafi. But this time, the rebels are still on the run with the Burnhams In tow, Gulllermo Sobero of Corona, Calif, 14 Filipino tourists and three resort staff also were kidnapped with the Burnhams. The kidnappers' speedboat easily outran the Philippine navy on its getaway to the nearby island of Basilan. Landing days later, the hostages were force-marched through the jungle at night. "We had no light and were only wearing slippers and the children kept on slipping," said Reghls Romero, a construction magnate who escaped.

"When we reached a coconut frond hut, we slept there, but only a few hours because there were so many mosquitos and centipedes." See HOSTAGES, Page A2 The Associated Press Kidnapped American missionaries iVIartIn (center) and Gracia Burnliam are seen beside their abductor, Abu Sabaya, leader of the IVIusiim extremist group Abu Sayyaf in this undated photo made from video released in October. mm A menacing, dilophosaurus will look down on museum visitors. Dinosaurs from movie will populate halls of Sternberg Museum starting Saturday By HAROLD BECHARD The Sallnn Journal AYS If dinosaurs are your passion, the Sternberg Museum of Natural History Is once again the place to be. The traveling exhibit "Jurassic Park: The Life and Death of Dinosaurs," which features several of the big fellows In skeletal and fleshed- out forms, opens Saturday and will continue through Mays. The Jurassic Park exhibit comes to Sternberg Museum 10 months after the closing of the popular exhibit "A T.

Rex Named Sue," which brought In more than 105,000 visitors to Hays. Highlighting the exhibit Is the first traveling display of the world's largest meat-eating dinosaur the newly found giganotosaurus from Argentina which is slightly larger than the largest Tyan- nosaurus rex ever found. The exhibit Is part of the largest collection of dinosaur skeletons traveling in the United States and the only one to display the actual dinosaur sculptures used In making the Jurassic Park movies. Those include the and- the 80-foot, long-necked mk- menchisaurus. A special effects "extinction theater" also will be available to visitors.

Bringing in the big boys The Jurassic Park exhibit, which filled four tractor- trailers for its journey from Cincinnati to Hays, is much larger than the Sue exhibit. Museum officials are hoping the number of visitors Increases, as well. "Sue was such a phenomenal success that, quite frankly, I was concerned that we'd never be able to find anything as big and as successful," museum director Jerry Choate said. But, shortly after the Sue exhibit closed, Sternberg officials were contacted by Dino Don Lessem, an amateur expert on dinosaurs who works as a consultant to Universal Studios and Amblln Entertainment. Choate said Lessem was responsible for much of the consultation of the Jurassic Park movies and convinced Universal Studios to set up traveling exhibits about dinosaurs and to use props from the Jurassic Park movies.

See HAYS, Page AS Jerry Choate, director of the Sternberg Museum, hopes the Jurassic Park dinosaurs, lIKe this veloclraptor, draw even more visitors than "AT. Rex Named Sue." Jurassic Park: The Life and Death of. Dinosaurs Dates: 5 Admission: Pre-sale: $6 (adults) and $4 (children and seniors); at the door: $7 (adults) anci $5 (children ahd seniors) Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 1 -9 p.m. Sunday-Monday Ticket office: toll free 1-877-332-1165 www.Jparkdlnos.com ABOVE: Volunteers push a section of the mamenchl- saurus Into place while preparing the Jurassic Park exhibit at the Stemburg Museum of Natural History.

The exhibit opens SatMrday. Photos by TOM DORSEY The Sallna Journal GOVERNOR'S RACE Wichita mayor to run Bob Knight confirms he'll enter race for Kansas governor By JOHN HANNA The AssoclnlctI I'ress TOPEKA Wichita Mayor Bob Knight confirmed Saturday he is running for governor, transforming a Republican race billed as contest between the party's feuding 'meaeratd and conservative wings. Knight, mayor of the state's largest city for more than 10 KNIGHT years, joined Attorney General Carla Stovall and State Treasurer Tim Shallenburger In seeking the GOP nomination. Knight told groups of Republicans about his plans during events at the party's anpiial Kansas Days convention. "1 think I have a lot of experience that can be beneficial for the state," Knight said during an Interview between events.

"From my vantage point, there's a lot of daunting, seemingly intractable challenges. I think I've had a pretty good record of taking those." Knight's announcement, which came after a month of public statements suggea he was ready to enter the race, left Republicans speculating ag to how his decision affects the race. There was no "He's certainly well -regar4e (j' in a lot of places in the and has to be regarded as a sig-; niflcant candidate," said JSeB Ranson, a longtime GOP" and former Republican National Committee member- from Wichita. Republican Gov Bill Graves, re-elected In 1998, cannot seek third consecutive term uhdef the Kansas Constitution. "The presumed Democratic nominee for gbyernor is Insurance GOm- mlssloner Kathleen Shallenburger said he believes he already has the siiiJ- port of 30 percent to 40 percent of GOP voters and is likely to need 45 percent to win the Aug.

6 primary "We don't believe the mayor will do well outside of Wichita, so he won't get a third of the vote, don't burger said. Stovall said she doesn 't believe Knight win cut Into her support outside the state's 4th Congressional District, which is centered on Wichita. "Polls still show we're on top," she said. See KNIQHT, Page A2 WEATHER High: 64 Low: 35 Sunny and continued warm; west wind 10 to 15 mph. Clear tonight.

PAGE A3 The unuisually dry winter weather has Kansas fire offlciais concerned about wildfires, and some already liave hit the southcentrai part of the state. PAGE A6 U.S. troops found more than they to inside caves formert by al-QaidaiS images of Presidfiht Bush. INSIDE Classified D4 Crossword B6 Deaths Llfe Lottery Money Sports Weather Viewpoints A7.