The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 8

A8 Hit SUNDAY. MAY 2, 1999 GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS The Associated Press HUNTSVELLE Only a day ago, prisoner-of-war Steven Gonzales sent his parents a message from Yugoslavia, apologizing for the agony his captivity had caused them. On Saturday, all the pain was overcome by joy after Rosie and Gilbert Gonzales learned their son and two other American soldiers would be freed. "We just thank God so much for answering our prayers," Rosie Gonzales, wearing a smile for the first time in weeks, told reporters. "We can't wait to hold him." "We probably won't sleep tonight," her husband added.

probably be watching the TV news all night long waiting to see them get on that bus and get out of there." Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic agreed Saturday to release Army Spc. Gonzales, 22; Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Stone, 25, of Smiths Creek, and Staff Sgt. Andrew A.

Ramirez, 24, of Los Angeles. The decision followed a meeting between Milosevic and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who had visited the three soldiers Friday in Belgrade. Jackson said the POWs would accompany him to Croatia on Sunday and then fly to the nearest U.S. air base, likely in Germany.

Stone's wife, Tricia, planned to fly overseas with the couple's 4- year-old son, Ryan, to reunite with her husband as soon as she received confirmation of his release. "She's packed and ready to go if it is true," Stone's mother-in-law, Lisa McKinney, said from her San Antonio home. Tricia Stone and Ryan have been staying with her. "She is praying, and she is very hopeful that it is true," McKinney said. The Gonzaleses also were firming up plans to travel to Europe, and when they finally do see their son, Rosie Gonzales said words would not be needed.

"I don't even think we'll have to say thing to each other just look into each others' eyes and hold each other," she said. The soldiers had been held in isolation since they were seized March 31 while conducting a routine patrol along the Yugoslav- Macedonian border. Friday's meeting with Jackson was the first time they had seen each other since their capture. During the visit, which was televised, Gonzales apologized to his family, saying, "Sorry I put you through so much pain and agony." When asked about his message, Rosie Gonzales choked back tears and said, "Through this whole ordeal, even though he was the one really suffering more than we were, I know he was just constantly thinking about how we were doing." With the news of Gonzales' impending release, residents of this southeast Texas town of 35,000 said Saturday that they, too, felt only joy and hope. Tm just gonna start thanking God all evening," Cheryl Leo said as she headed to a children's art festival in the town square, where the sidewalks are decorated with flags and yellow ribbons.

"I want them to come home, get a little sleep and then party," she said. Employees at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where both Rosie and Gilbert Gonzales work, have been planning a parade for weeks. A date will be set once Gonzales returns. Gonzales grew up in Palestine but his parents moved to Huntsville in 1997. He attended Texas University for a year before enlisting in the Army in 1996.

In a letter his parents received earlier in the week, Gonzales said he looked forward to being reunited with his family and returning to A Rosie Gonzales, left, and her husband, Gilbert Gonzales, parents of Army Spc. Steven Gonzales, smile Saturday as they discuss their son's and two other American soldiers' possible release from their Serbian captors. (AP) And while Gonzales' parents had hoped to have him home in time to celebrate his 22nd birthday last month, they said there would be plenty of belated partying once he returns home. "We have plans for many celebrations," Rosie Gonzales said Former attorney general under investigation by FBI The Associated Press DALLAS The investigation into whether Texas' former attorney general tried to funnel a portion of the state's tobacco settlement to a friend is widening, The Associated Press has learned. Dan Morales' successor, John Cornyn, and other sources familiar with the operations in the attorney general's office told the AP that the FBI has been looking at documents as well as whether Morales did anything improper in contracting a portion of the billion settlement to Houston attorney Marc D.

Murr. Sources who asked to remain anonymous said the FBI has been comparing computer hard-drive data to a paper analysis to determine whether Morales backdated four contracts and letters in an attempt to make it appear that Murr was involved in the case earlier. The FBI, which routinely refuses to discuss investigations, did not return telephone messages requesting comment. Morales denied that he or any of the lawyers who worked on the tobacco settlement did anything wrong. "I think that once all of the facts and circumstances have been re- leads The Associated Press DALLAS A woman has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing her 10-year-old son in 1993 and leaving his body in the closet of a homeless shelter.

Ora Armenthia Prince, formerly known as Ora Lewis, reached a deal with prosecutors five months after she was extradited from Seattle to face charges in the death of Willie Brookshire Jr. Brookshire's body was found covered with clothes in his closet five days after his mother was seen getting into a cab before dawn on Oct. 16, 1993. Prince evaded authorities since then, and investigators said she stayed in shelters for battered women and the homeless in Nebraska, California, Seattle and elsewhere. FBI agents tracked her to a women's shelter in downtown Seattle in May 1998.

How the boy died is still unknown. In court documents, medical examiners said he might have been strangled or suffocated but also could have been slain by other means. The motive also remains unknown. But according to court records, Prince, 45, told neigh- viewed, there's no doubt in my mind the conclusion will be evident that no unethical or improper activity on the part of any of the lawyers occurred, including my office," Morales told The Associated Press on Saturday. Morales led Texas' effort to sue eight tobacco companies and three trade groups in March 1996 seeking reimbursement of about $8.6 billion in Medicaid funds spent on Texans' smoking-related illnesses dating to 1968.

The case never went to trial; a settlement eventually grew to $17.3 billion. Five private attorneys who helped represent the state were bors the boy was a burden and rude, that she wished she'd never had him, and that she did not return the affection the boy always wanted to show her. "It may have taken a while, but justice was served for Willie in this case," prosecutor Keith Robinson said. WCKttt IN IOYIHC MOM 01 HTM Sunset Many times we needed you, a million times we cried, If love could have saved yon, yon would have never died. II broke our hearts to lose you, hut yon did not go alone, A part of us went with you When God called yon home! Sadly missed Wife Louna.

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PALAIS ROYAL For the store you, coll 1-800-36-M010 or log on ot www polonroyn! com awarded a total $3.3 billion in fees. In December 1997, Murr asked for $520 million for his role as an adviser to Morales. A state arbitration panel approved half or $260 million even though the other attorneys said Murr did little or no work on the case. Some people associated with the case said they had never heard of Murr when the deal with the tobacco companies was being negotiated. Morales suggested the dispute over Murr's share of the settlement stems from reluctance to share the fees by the other attorneys involved.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The family of Clarence A. Smith, Sr. would like lo lake this method of saying "Thank You" to all who made his slay al Gulf Biwze Senior Citizens Home a pleasant one. His home-going celebration at Avenue Baptist Church was memorable. May God bless each of you for your many acts of kind- ness shown lo the family: Rev.

C. Thompson. Rev. James Thomas. Rev, I'errie Joy Jackson, and Amity Ixxlge Thanks for giving us that inner strength lo faee the future And lo all of the other family members, friends, and acquaintances low numerous to list individually.

Hospice of Galveston and the College 1'ark family re most kind and comforting during our lime of bereavement. Our Gift, Just For You! If you're cleaning-up, ftxing-up. or painting-up. please civc us a call 762-3363 May we present you with a free one-year membership to Clean Galveston to show our sincere appreciation for your effort. Phil Can says.

"Show your pride. Let us include your address in our list tf proud Galvesum homes. Tliank Yon." CLEAN GALVESTON, INC. from the family of MAMIE RUTH CAMPBELL Words alone cannot fully express the appreciation of the Campbell Family for the kind words, prayers, flowers, cards, food, phone calls, contributions and other assistance extended during our time of sorrow. The love and support shown to us reflected what we have always Mamie Campbell was loved by many.

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