Battle Creek Enquirer from Battle Creek, Michigan • Page 1

Operation Anaconda heats up NationWorld, 5A RER ENQU MONDAY March 18, 2002 Battle Creek High, 52; low, 32 FORECAST, 8B BATTLECREEKENQUIRER.COM 50C OUSDBE Peeetrator to get $L6M face-Mitt Aim Construction expected to start today ml. uiili iii.l 1 11 mwmmiMimmm wmuiu iwm 4v f. fr oh. m. I I 1 -f Road work on the penetrator: Four bridges: the north and southbound passes over Dickman Road and the north and southbound bridges over the abandoned railroad tracks.

Road construction: M-66 from Van Buren Street to Capital Avenue and on 1-194 from Golden to Hamblin avenues. it will be nice not to have to bump around on the Please see Road, 7 A neer for MDOT and supervisor for the project The $1,675,721 project will repair four bridges along the highway that connects I-94 with downtown Battle Creek, meaning that traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction in the construction areas. The project also involves replacing two sections of road on from Van Buren Street to Capital Avenue, and on I-194 from SCOTT ERSKINETHE ENQUIRER Motorists using the penetrator, which links downtown Battle Creek with 1-94, will encounter construction zones and possible traffic delays beginning today. att kwmmu ffl Teams battle it out in tourney Illinois joins Indiana in Sweet Sixteen. Sports, IB The news in City to review eatery's license Clara's on the River owes property taxes Eric J.

Greene The Enquirer Clara's on the River, a restaurant in downtown Battle Creek, is under pressure from John J. Vander Meer The Enquirer In Chicago they say there are two seasons winter and construction. Well, in Battle Creek, winter's almost Starting today, the Michigan Department of Transportation will begin a construction project on I-194 or the penetrator, as it's called that is expected to last until at least mid-June, said Andy Strupulis, resident engi Grenades thrown in Pakistan church Associated Press ISLAMABAD, Pakistan A grenade attack on a Protestant church packed with Sunday worshippers killed five people including an American woman and her daughter in an assault clearly aimed at Pakistan's foreign community. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, in which at least young man in black some witnesses said two ran through the center of the church hurling grenades. But suspicion'fell on Islamic extremists.

Ten Americans were among the 45 people injured, most of whom were foreigners, police and hospitals said. One body remained unidentified late Sunday, and officials said it may be the assailant. 2 ffi A if yA VsTi If BATTLE CREEK Detroit theater group brings history alive COLDWATER Smoky woodburning stoves catch city's eye ALBION Phoenix Restaurant and Lounge opens Local, 3A i Golden Avenue to Ham-blin Avenue. "It's both a ride-quality issue and also a deck-repair issue," said Strupulis, who expects the repairs to hold up at least 20 years. "I think traffic will be inconvenienced because it's quite a busy road.

(But) we need to fix the road so it will keep being there for us to drive on in the future." Battle Creek resident Jeff Robertson said that while si ASS0CIATED PRESS Vice President Dick Cheney walks with Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain on Sunday. tinian crisis and his search for Arab-world support for a wider war on terrorism. But on Sunday, he said the crisis had overshadowed other items on his tour of the region. The conflict "is a preoccupation for everybody in this part of the world," he said at a news conference in the presidential guest palace in Manama after a meeting with Bahrain's king, Sheik Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Cheney visited the headquarters in Bahrain of the U.S.

Navy's 5th Fleet. 11 in Afghan women mourn death of their family member outside a church where two attackers hurled grenades in Islamabad on Sunday. Five people were killed, including two Americans, and about 45 were wounded in the attack. President Bush con- responsible and bring president at a The attack occurred at demned the attack on them to justice. time when he is trying to 10:50 a.m.

during a ser- the Protestant Interna- Britain's Foreign Sec- quell Islamic fundamen- mon before 60 to 70 tional Church and called retary Jack Straw said talism following the Tal- worshippers. Dozens of it an act of terrorism. He the assault was aimed at iban's fall in neighboring pledged to find those undermining Pakistan's Afghanistan. Please see Attack 7A Cheney says Mideast crisis dominates Quest for war's support upstaged by conflict the city to pay its unpaid property taxes. As of Friday, the eatery owed If you go WHAT: Battle Creek City Commission WHEN: 7 p.m.

Tuesday WHERE City Hall. ION. Division St $10,946 in real and personal property taxes for 2000, according to the city treasurer's office. The Battle Creek City Commission can block the restaurant's upcoming license renewal with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, but such action appears unlikely. Commissioners have given other businesses, including Arcadia Brewing extensions on their back taxes in the past and Clara's probably will get more time if needed, officials said.

"Like with Arcadia, we'll do what we can to try to assist any of the businesses to stay viable and in operation, but after a period of time we don't want to continue to simply enable a business to get more in debt," said Mayor Brian Kirkham. Clara's owner Ross Simpson said the restaurant will take a check to the city today. He declined to comment further. Each year, the city compiles a list of licensees with outstanding violations, such as unpaid taxes or property code problems. Clara's was the only licensee on the list Friday.

Commissioners are scheduled to decide Tuesday whether to block or support the license renewal "We'll try to go with it as long as we can and, at that point, we'll have to do what's necessary in their best interest as well," Kirkham said. Eric J. Greene covers City Hall and legislative issues. He can be reached at 966-0687 or egreenebattlecr.gan-nett.com Michigan Mortgage Funding Jewish holiday fare explored Lifestyle, 3C Good morning to Jim Hazel Jr. of the Battle Creek Rotary Club for helping to organize the club's annual auction to benefit Community Integrated Recreation.

Neighbors, 1C Deaths Beatrice M. Balch James R. Paul Clarence H. Poth Robert J. Poyser Frances B.

Quinn William F. Roose Sr. Vada Shaw Obituaries, 4A I Complete index on 2A 2002, Battle Creek Enquirer Online poll Weekend question: Thursday, the State Board of Education adopted a controversial accreditation system that would assign a letter grade for performance. How would you I grade your local school? battlecreekenquirer.com '40901 "00344 1 mi 1 M1 ASSnriATFD PRESS target Chevys dubious distinction of taking the top three spots on the list, with last year's prime target, the 1989 Camry, falling to second place and the 1990 model in third. Auto thieves definitely have a taste for Japanese passenger cars, with Toyota and Honda brands occupying 16 of the top 20 spots, but when it comes to pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles they preferred American brands.

The 1994 Chevrolet C1500 4x2 pickup was the most stolen vehicle from a U.S. automaker, coming in at number five on the list. Of the top 25 most stolen vehicles, five are sport utility vehicles or pickup trucks all from U.S. automakers. Prigge says the rise in thefts of trucks and SUVs mirrors their increasing popularity among new vehicle buyers.

Since 1997 thefts of so-called light trucks has increased seven percent from 25.7 percent to 32.6 percent 616-321-0700 Thieves Camrys, Associated Press DETROIT If you own a 1991 Toyota Camry, any Honda Accord or a Chevrolet model keep an eye on it For the fifth straight year, a Camry was the vehicle auto thieves targeted most while the Chevrolet was the most stolen brand in 2001, according to CCC Information Services Inc. The Honda Accord was the most stolen vehicle regardless of model year. Overall, however, vehicle thefts declined 2.7 percent last year, according to the Chicago-based technology company that provides software and information services about auto claims to insurers and repair facilities. "We don't know for certain why a vehicle is stolen," said the company's president of sales and service Mary Jo Prigge. "The trend is they're all stolen for the value of their parts." The Camry and Accord have been perennial sales leaders during the last ten years.

Indeed, Camrys had the 800-945-7008 Associated Press MANAMA, Bahrain Vice President Dick Cheney, nearing the end of his tour of Arab countries, acknowledged Sunday that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become "a preoccupation for everyone" in the regioa The crisis has blunted Cheney's effort to build a case for a tougher stance against Iraq. With Cheney ready to head to Israel, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah author of a peace initiative drawing support accepted an invitation to visit President Bush at his Texas ranch. Cheney delivered the invitation in person Saturday night in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. On 5A: Violence continues in Mideast. The vice president was to meet today with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Cheney has left time on his schedule for meetings with Palestinian leaders, a senior U.S. official said Sunday. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said there were no plans for Cheney to see Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, but would not rule out the possibility. Cheney has said he will confer with U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni upon his arrival in Israel.

The vice president has denied any linkage between the Israeli-Pales- HOME EQUITY LOANS FAST! (Hillside CehtoD 626 Romence Rd. 104 Ml 49024.