Daily Press from Newport News, Virginia • Page 11

(AO LOCAL STATE Wednesday, March 1 7. 1 993 B5 Woman better after experimental cell transplant The Associated Press RICHMOND A woman who received an experimental cell transplant to bypass her failing liver improved within hours of the operation, her doctor said Tuesday. The 52-year-old Mineral woman was in a coma and her organs were failing when she underwent the transplant at the Medical College of Virginia on Feb. 21, transplant surgeon Robert A. Fisher said.

Fisher placed healthy liver cells into the woman's spleen, which then began functioning as a makeshift liver. Within eight hours the liver cells in the spleen were performing many of the normal functions of the liver, including filtering impurities from the blood, he said. 1 The transplanted cells "were able to give her just enough liver function to stabilize brain function," and keep the other organs working, he said. Fisher said it was th first time the procedure has been berformed in the United States. He said doctors believe the surgery worked in (his case because the woman's bwn liver was so badly damaged that it could not compete with or reject the new cells.

The woman remains in critical condition. The woman, whose name was not released, had severe cirrhosis of the liver and lung problems as the result of a genetic disease. She had been awaiting a liver transplant for two weeks when her condition worsened. No liver was available for transplant, so Fisher opted for the cell transplant, he said. When a suitable liver became available three days later, the woman received a conventional transplant.

She remained in a coma throughout both transplants and awoke fully six days after the initial procedure, Fisher said. The woman is active and talking, but remains dependent on lung support. She should be able to go home in three to four weeks, he said. Doctors waited to announce the operation's success until they knew the patient was mentally alert, Fisher said. "It was not enough to be able to say that the science worked if we were not going to end up with a whole human being who could go back into society," he said.

The hour-long transplant procedure was performed through a catheter instead of through conventional surgery, lessening the risk of infection or other problems on the operating table, Fisher said. The liver cells used for the procedure were removed from healthy livers and then frozen, Fisher said. Liver cell transplant has been done on humans in Japan, doctors said. "It is a fascinating concept and one I'm sure we will hear a lot about in the future," said Camillo Ricordi, director of cellular transplantation at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and president of the Cell Tfansplant Society. Ricordi said the procedure could be used in two ways.

As in the Richmond operation, transplanted liver cells can serve as a bridge until a suitable organ is found or until a damaged liver can regenerate. The procedure can also be used to treat enzyme deficiencies in the liver, he said. Instead of transplanting the entire organ, doctors could supplement it with the outside cells. Erin go bye: Sailors leave today tle Creek-based dock landing ship Report: Cities, i Marine admits COUntieS Daily Press NORFOLK It'll be a St. Patrick's Day farewell for more than 2,000 Atlantic Fleet sailors who are leaving this morning on a scheduled six-month deployment to the Mediterranean.

They'll be joined by 2,200 Marines as part of the Saipan Amphibious Ready Group. The group will be composed of three ships: the amphibious assault ship USS Saipan and the amphibious transport dock USS Ponce, both based out of Norfolk, and the Lit similar problems Here are some findings of a state Commission on Local Government report Tuesday comparing Virginia cities and counties during the 1980s: 72.5 percent of the population growth occurred in counties; 27.5 percent In cities. Nearly 84 percent of total net city growth occurred in three jurisdictions Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Newport News. Per capita income increased by 1 17.9 percent in counties and 95.1 percent In cities. By 1 989, per capita income in counties was 20.5 percent greater than in cities.

Median value of owner-occupied housing Increased by 90.2 percent in counties and 83.3 percent in cities. By 1990, the median value of owner-occupied housing in counties was 27.1 percent greater than that In cities. Crime rates decreased by 10 percent In counties and increased by 3.1 percent in cities. Teen-age pregnancy rates decreased by 6.7 percent in counties and increased by 3.8 percent in cities. Infant death rates decreased by 33.6 percent In counties and 17.7 percent in cities.

Percentage of families living below the poverty level decreased by 20 percent in counties and 8 percent in cities. Both experienced weak income growth The Associated Press RICHMOND Virginia's inner cities and rural counties shared a struggle with declining tax bases and growing social problems during the 1980s, the state Commission on Local Government reported Tuesday. Generally, Virginia counties fared better than cities in income, employment, property values and other measures of a locality's health. But the commission found that inner cities and rural counties had much in common. Both experienced declining populations and weak growth in income, employment and housing values.

The cities had more problems with crime, teen-age pregnancy and infant deaths while rural counties coped with aging populations. "Both categories of localities are comprised of jurisdictions confronting major difficulties and meriting the careful attention of the state," said the report that commission members hand-delivered to Gov. Doug Wilder. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NEWPORT NEWS CITY COUNCIL Notice is hereby given that the Newport News City Council will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, March 23, 1993 at 7:30 P.M. in the Newport News City Council Chambers, City Hall, 2400 Washington Avenue for the purpose of discussing the enacting of a system of service charges for the City's proposed stormwater control program.

Interested persons are invited to attend the public hearing and express their views and concerns. Copies of the proposed Stormwater Management Program and the system of service charges proposal can be viewed at City Libraries. More information can be obtained by contacting the Department of Engineering at 247-8611 or visiting their office on the 8th Floor of City Hall. The City Council meeting will be broadcast on Cable Channel 10 beginning 7:30 P.M. on March 23, 1993.

If you are disabled and will require an accommodation in order to participate in the meeting, please call the Department of Engineering at 247-8611 at least three days in advance of the meeting. Woman shot at 7-11 has improved slightly USS Pensacola. The group will include detach-'ments from Naval Beach Group Two and Naval Special Warfare Group Two, both based at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. Before turning toward the Mediterranean, the Saipan group will sail for Morehead City, N.C., to take on elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The group is scheduled to relieve the USS Guam Amphibia ous Ready Group in the Mediterranean.

EOtMl OPPORTUNITY sodomizing teen- QUANTICO A Marine master sergeant who i disappeared after being accused of molesting children has admitted to sodomizing a teen-age boy on the Quantico Marine Corps Base. Master Sgt. Phillip Anthony Moore, 39, pleaded guilty Monday at the beginning of his court-mar-, tial. The proceedings continue today as Moore faces charges he molested girls ranging ages 6 to 10. Moore's court-martial had been set for last summer when he disappeared.

He later was arrested in California. He pleaded guilty to four counts of sodomy and one count of an indecent act with the boy. The incidents occurred between June 1990, when the boy was 12, and October 1991, when the child was 14. Moore offered no excuses for his behavior, which he called "immoral, disgusting." Evidence against Moore, a 20-year veteran of the Marines, included diaries in which Moore allegedly detailed how he molested children. Defense lawyer T.

James Binder said the diaries were filled with Moore's fantasies. Two witnesses testified Monday that Moore fondled four young girls in his base quarters during the summer of 1991. The defense is expected to present its case today. When Moore disappeared July 6, he told his ex-wife in a letter of his plans to commit suicide. Authorities found his car in Dale City but never found a body, leading to the theory that Moore staged his suicide to avoid prosecution.

Federal agents eventually arrest-, ed Moore in Rialto, Oct. 15. 700 inmates peacefully protest PETERSBURG About 700 inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution refused to work their prison jobs for several hours in a peaceful protest regarding parole eligibility and health care, officials said. Officials said about 70 percent of the 1,067 inmates at the prison's medium-security facility in Prince George County had not reported to work by 7:30 a.m. Monday, said Eugene Ray, executive assistant to the warden at the prison.

The protest lasted less than eight hours with normal operations resuming at 3 p.m., Ray said. By 3:30 p.m., most of the inmates had reported to work, he said. "This is nothing more than inmates who want to get their point across," Ray said. Those inmates who didn't report to work had remained locked in their dormitories throughout much of the day and were served lunch there instead of the dining hall, Ray said. Inmates were concerned about a lack of parole eligibility for offenses after 1987, Ray said.

"That's a federal statute. We have no way to control that," he said. The inmates also wanted more medical and dental care. Freight trains to pick up the pace ABINGDON The speed of Norfolk Southern freight trains through Abingdon will be increased to 50 miles per hour on April 1, a railroad official has said. This is the last of the speed increases to be implemented through Abingdon, said W.R.

Hughes, Norfolk Southern lieutenant of police. In November 1991, Norfolk Southern officials notified Abingdon Town Manager G.M. Newman of plans to upgrade tracks and increase the train speed limit to 60 miles per hour to meet customer expectations. In early 1992, the railroad agreed to increase speeds gradually to 50 miles per hour after efforts were made to educate the public about railroad safety. In addition, Abingdon has had warning gates, lights and bells installed at its grade crossings.

From wlr mtvIo report! iaCCQ The report is the latest in a number of studies showing the widening gap between rich and poor localities in Virginia. Wilder appointed a panel last year to study local government issues, but he sought no legislation to implement its suggestions. Frank Raflo, a member of both the study panel and the Commission on Local Government, said Wilder told him the General Assembly was conducting its own study of the issues. "Absolutely nothing was done," Raflo said. Layton R.

Fairchild chairman of the Commission on Local Government, said more regional cooperation would ease the disparity between rich and poor communities. But he conceded wealthy jurisdictions have seen little reason to help their poor neighbors. "Sometimes things have to get so bad it forces people to stand up and give attention," Fairchild said. M.H. Wilkinson, the commission's executive director, said national studies have shown that suburban areas eventually suffer if their core cities decline.

"We ignore the plight of neighboring jurisdictions at our own peril," he said. ered little new evidence since last week, said police spokeswoman Lynn James. Adams said cards, letters and money have poured in to her mother since the shooting. Hawkins, who was on her way to her first full day of work when she was shot, has no health insurance and no savings. A fund has been established to help pay for her medical bills.

Checks, payable to "Friends of Stefanie Hawkins," can be sent to Commerce Bank, 12301 Warwick Newport News, 23606. "It's unbelievable," Adams said. "We want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. She's gotten flowers and dozens and dozens of cards. People we've never even met really cared.

It just made me realize that everyone out there isn't bad." Adams said her mother has not talked much, yet, and still is being fed through a tube. "She's calmed down a lot," she said. "She's realized that she's going to be there for a while. I told her, You might as well sit back and take of seven B-25s believed to have crashed during World War II training runs over the lake. Although previous reports have said as many as 23 planes went down in the lake, the Navy thinks that after extensive witness interviews and record searches, it now appears only seven B-25s crashed.

Putnam and divers based in Virginia and Charleston gave Tapp a copy Monday of a sonar scan of the plane, inscribed with "Bring Back the Big One," and their signatures. "We found it. We got the big one," Putnam said Monday, kissing Tapp's cheek. "If it wasn't for you, I don't think we'd have gotten there." Douglass said they also might have found another plane last The planes are in about 150 feet of water. Cmdr.

Steve Butler, with the Mobile Unit Two dive team, said it was one of the few B-25s to be retrieved and displayed. In 1983, Navy Reserve crews salvaged Skunkie from Lake Greenwood. It is being stored and may one day be displayed. Hawkins in pain, calm, daughter says By Matt Murray Daily Press Stefanie Hawkins, the woman critically wounded March 8 in a double-shooting in Denbigh, remains hospitalized and in pain, but she has improved slightly, her daughter said Tuesday. Hawkins, 50, who was shot five times just minutes before school teacher Donna Harrison was fatally shot by the same gunman, was listed in stable condition Tuesday at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, said hospital spokeswoman Rhonda Hammett.

"She's going to be OK," said her daughter, Angela Adams, 31. "She's getting better. But it's going to take a lot of time." Darryl Quentin Smith, 32, has been charged in the shootings and is being held in the Newport News jail without bond. Investigators still believe that car theft may have been the motive for the shootings and have uncov Tuocday, arch 23, 1993 7:00 to 9:00 PLY Gildcrslcovc Middle School Novjport Movjc "The Role of the REALTOR in the 90's" Topics to be addressed will include: "The Buyer's Agent" Sandra Ferebee, REALTOR "The Traditional Agent" Sondra Deibler, REALTOR "101 Ways to Finance Your Home" Steve Rockefeller, Commerce Bank "Overview of the REALTORS Role" Martha Anders, REALTOR Woman's 50-year memory outdoes scientific search Sponsored by the Virginia Peninsula Association off noalttoro, Inc. and the Your Hampton Roads Newspaper The Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C.

Better than sonar, 78-year-old Katherine Townsend Tapp's memory provided the information that Navy reserve divers needed to find a World War bomber submerged in Lake Murray. Divers last week found the B-25 bomber that Tapp saw go down in Lake Murray 50 years ago. Master Chief Mike Putnam, with Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two from Norfolk, started a couple of weeks ago with a list of a few witnesses and one led to another. He interviewed about 54 people, but it was Tapp's story that led divers to the wreckage. Tapp, who was 27 in 1943, saw the plane crash.

"It just came in like it was landing," she said. "I was surprised. It stayed up for a while. The crew got out on the wings." She and a neighbor rescued the crew in a boat. The Navy plans to salvage the plane next fall and then restore it for museum display.

The plane found last week is one CALL FOR RESERVATIONS Monday Friday 9AM to 5PM S90-S222 TODD STADIUMl MARINERS MUSEUM REALTOR GH.DERSLEEVE MIDDLE.