The Times Herald from Port Huron, Michigan • Page 1

Beacons: Home games crucial in series sports, ib Red Wings await Calgary sports, ib TOMORROWS WEATHER PARTLY SUNNY 57 37 4-DAY FORECAST, 2A SINCE 1869 PORT HURON, MICHIGAN Thursday, April 22, 2004 50 CENTS mm iRALD I International nearing end of the rail line 1 rap dittai LAST WHISTLE: One of the last Amtrak-VIA Rail trains crosses 16th Street in Port Huron on Tuesday'as it heads toward Sarnia. i xwc wr "Or. Death toll from suicide bombs increases to 68 Gannett News Service BAGHDAD, Iraq As many as 68 people were killed, 16 of them schoolchildren, in suicide car bombings early Wednesday. Elsewhere, U.S. Marines killed 20 insurgents in renewed fighting in Fallu-jah, threatening a ceasefire.

The Marines, who have surrounded the city, fought back after coming under attack. The growing security problems in the run-up to a return to Iraqi self-rule June 30 have sparked more signs of a split within the U.S.-led coalition. On Wednesday, Poland said it is reconsidering the future of its troops in Iraq. In Basra, the four car bombs went off in front of police stations and a police academy. Two buses carry- CHAMS VIEWS POLLING AMERICANS A poll by Ipsos-Public Affairs reveals Americans' attitudes about terrorism: Half think terrorists might be winning the war on terrorism.

One in five thinks strongly the terrorists are winning. More than a third have less faith in the government's ability to protect them. Two-thirds said it was likely terrorists would strike before the November elections. Two in 10 said they avoid crowded public spaces such as malls and amusement parks. MORE NEWS, 8A MARINES POUND FALLUJAH REBELS DAY'S DEVELOPMENTS ing kindergarten students and middle-school girls were hit by one of the blasts.

Arab TV networks aired footage of victims being pulled from the vans. District teachers ponder buyout Most Carsonville-Port Sanilac staff eligible for offer By HILLARY WHITCOMB JESSE Times Herald CARSONVILLE- Nearly two-thirds of Carsonville-Port Sanilac Schools' teachers are eligible for a contract buyout this year. The district employs about 36 teachers, business manager Margie Christen-bery said, and 22 have worked the required 15 years to take the buyout. District leaders don't have a target number of people they want to retire. Approved last week by the school board, the package is designed to save the district money.

Hiring a new teacher at the bottom of the pay scale instead of paying a veteran teacher could save the district about $30,000 each time, Christenbery said. The package offers teachers who have worked 15 years in the district $15,000 in a 403(b) account if they resign at the end of this school year. Teachers who announce by the June 1 sign-up deadline they will resign after the 2005-06 school year will receive $10,000 in a 403(b) account. A 403(b) is a retirement-fund account similar to a 401(k), but can be offered only by tax-exempt organizations such as schools. We're very excited about (the buyout)," said Marilyn Loding, an elementary teacher and head of the Carsonville-Port Sanilac Education Association.

Loding said the district offered a buyout last year, but few teachers were old enough to retire under their pension plans. This year, "a lot more have reached that ripe old age of 55," Loding said. While being eligible to retire is not necessary for taking the buyout, Loding said it's not practical for most teachers to leave before they can collect their pensions. Although 22 teachers are eligible based on seniority, Christenbery said, "I can't imagine that they would (all retire), because everybody's situation is different." The teachers' union asked district officials in March whether another buyout could be offered. Loding said seven teachers with more than 20 years' seniority met with Superintendent Harold Titus to discuss the idea.

Times Herald photos by TONY PITTS FOND MEMORIES: Richard Bieniasz of Toronto, a senior service attendant on the Amtrak-VIA route between Chicago and Toronto, thinks fondly of the regular riders. "I'm going to miss it. It's like a family," he said. "I've seen little kids grow up and graduate. It's like breaking up a family." The final train will ride the route Friday.

Amtrak route's last ride Friday 4 -M "ji4- ,4 rtjjlt 1 SAYING GOODBYE: VIA Rail attendants Richard Bieniasz and Evelyn Dion pose for a photo taken by an engineer on one of the last Amtrak-VIA trips between Chicago and Toronto. By DAVID JESSE Times Herald Henry Lakes didn't know it, but his trip Wednesday from Toronto to Chicago aboard Amtrak's International line put him in rare company. He'll be among the last to take that journey as Amtrak prepares to discontinue the line at the end of the week. The route will run between Chicago and By NABIL AL-JURANI, The Associated Press SINGED BUS: Iraqi firefighters rush to extinguish a minibus at the scene of one of four blasts Wednesday in Basra. Two buses carrying 20 children were hit by one of the blasts.

IF YOU GO Port Huron, the Canadian portion of the trip. "I had a friend who rode it and BLUE WATER INAUGURAL SPECIAL Amtrak will celebrate the return of the Blue Water line with music, food and a balloon launch starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Port Huron station, 2223 16th St. Greenspan hints at interest-rate boost EAST LANSING: Departs 7:58 a.m.; arrives 8:08 p.m. BATTLE CREEK: Departs 9:12 a.m.; arrives 6:56 p.m.

KALAMAZOO: Departs 9:41 a.m.; arrives 6:21 p.m. D0WAGIAC: Departs 10:10 a.m.; arrives 5:47 p.m. NILES: Departs 10:25 a.m.; arrives 5:35 p.m. CHICAGO: Arrives 11:10 a.m.; departs 3 p.m. NEW SCHEDULE BLUE WATER LINE PORT HURON: Departs 5:15 a.m.; arrives 10:50 p.m.

LAPEER: Departs 6:05 a.m.; arrives 9:48 p.m. FLINT: Departs 6:41 a.m.; arrives 9:09 p.m. DURAND: Departs 7:17 a.m.; arrives 8:54 p.m. Margaret Cordray half of 2003 and is expanding more vigorously now. "The prospects for sustaining solid economic growth in said it was easier than driving or flying, so I thought I'd give it a try," the 55-year-old Toronto resident said at Port Huron's station.

"So far, it's been nice." Amtrak's revised route will be called the Blue Water instead of the International, the moniker the Chicago -to -Toronto line had for almost 30 years. The change in route, name The Associated Press WASHINGTON Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said Wednesday extra-low interest rates "must rise at some point" now the economy is hitting its stride, an assessment reinforcing some economists' beliefs rates will climb in August. Greenspan, testifying before Congress' Joint Economic Committee, said the economy staged a significant rebound in the second and departure times is aimed at increasing rid-ership, rail officials said. The train company will move up the departure time from the Port Huron station to 5:15 a.m. to entice riders into taking the train for a day trip to Chicago.

On Saturday morning, Amtrak will have a pub- Alan Greenspan improvements at the 16th Street station. The move isn't without its detractors. A group called Save Our Trains Michigan had a rally in early April to try to save the Inter-See AMTRAK, 2A lie celebration to inaugurate the retooled line. A special, invitation-only train trip will kick off that morning. Amtrak is making other changes locally: It's returning a ticket agent to the Port Huron station and plans lighting the period ahead are good," Greenspan said.

Greenspan gave no direct response when asked when rates may rise. Contact Hillary Whitcomb Jesse at (810) 989-6277 or hjesse gannett.com. Grand jury indicts Jackson Job seekers shop for careers at fair el 7 -T (Pi riff CNN and MSNBC cited sources that were They had no details about the indictment usually are secret until a defendant is arraigned. Jackson lawyer Mark Geragos would not answer questions. Geragos, other defense lawyers and prosecutors in the case are covered by a gag order.

Jackson's spokesman, Raymone Bain, did not immediately return calls. His father, Joe Jackson, was overseas, said a man who answered the phone at his home. Panel has been hearing testimony about molestation The Associated Press LOS ANGELES Pop star Michael Jackson was indicted by a Santa Barbara County grand jury investigating child-molestation charges, TV news organizations reported Wednesday. The reports by ABC, Hoshowski of Port Huron. "But now I need to find a job.

It's job-hunting time, and that's why I'm here." Hoshowski spent Wednesday afternoon passing out resumes and talking with potential employers at St. Clair County Community College's ninth annual See FAIR, 2A Michael Jackson i Hi i rn a By ERIN KOSNAC Times Herald The countdown has started for Karen Hoshowski. Hoshowski, 48, has a month and a half until she graduates from Ross Medical Education Center in Port Huron as a certified medical assistant. "I can't wait," said By MARK R. RUMMEL, Times Herald TAKING A LOOK: Amanda Barrand of Clyde Township talks to corrections officer Leslee Moore and Mike Berro, a Michigan Department of Corrections employee, during a career fair at St.

Clair County Community College. or any official confirmation or announcement. Grand jury indictments Copyright 2004 The Times Herald Co. A Gannett Newspaper Printed in the USA WEEKEND SPIN Cranbrook celebrates a century of science, education and art LOCAL, 3A Woodrow Wilson school neighborhood plans spring cleaning Irene E. Parr, 73 Phyllis M.

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