The Daily Tribune from Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin • Page 5

Daily Tribune, Wisconsin Rapids 5A Saturday, July 20, 1996 BRIEFS if 1 i tl "it 1 -n a ,1 i Fatal fire is blamed on overloaded cord APPLETON AP) Fire blamed on an overloaded extension cord swept through an Ap-pleton home early Friday, killing a newly-engaged couple and their roommate. The cord sparked some flammable materials nearby and there were no working smoke detectors in the house to warn the residents, fire department spokeswoman Cheryl Kuhn said. The fire killed Matthew Martin, 24, and his fiancee, Tonya Beck, 22, who had moved into the house Monday, and Martin's longtime roommate, Lon Ostor-ero, 23, officials said. Nearly 200 Hmong refugees find home here MADISON (AP) The emigration of up to 3,000 Hmong refugees to the United States is expected to include the arrival of about 200 in Wisconsin within 1 1 Vietnam War ended, she said. Candace Gingrich to help Gunderson write-in effort MADISON (AP) Candace Gingrich, the lesbian half-sister of House Speaker Newt Gingrich, has pledged staff and money from her group to help with a write-in campaign for Rep.

Steve Gunderson, R-Wis. Gingrich, of the Washington- based Human Rights Campaign, visited Madison as part of a seven-city, week-long Midwest tour promoting Outvote 96, a national gay and lesbian convention. Gunderson of Osseo, the only openly gay Republican congressman, is scheduled to speak at the Out- Vote convention. Shelters worry more homeless will come MADISON (AP) Low unemployment and a ranking as the best place to live in America by Money Magazine may be attracting homeless people to the city, shelter workers say. "I don't know with all of the publicity about Madison being the best place to live, it may be bringing homeless people to the city with great expectations and we are concerned about this becoming a trend," said Lester Strom, executive director of Transitional Housing Inc.

1 the next few weeks. Wausau, home to the state's largest Hmong community, will receive the biggest share of the refugees from camps in Thailand, Sue Levy, state refugee coordinator, said Friday. Fifty-four refugees will move to the city, which has gained 4,500 refugees, mostly Hmong, during the 20 years since the i tiv 1,1 MORRY GASHAssociated Press Jerome Schaefer (left), and his son, Darrin, look through their destroyed the town Thursday night, and on Friday, residents worked to salvage kitchen Friday on Putnam Street in Oakfield. A tornado ripped through what they could from the piles of destruction. Victims try to salvage community Perm Sale don't really," Roberts said.

"You just have to be happy we are all alive." Walls buckled at a middle school and St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church was a crumpled pile of bricks. "It's pretty much totaled," said John Sankui, a member of the church council. "They'll have to take the whole thing away and start over." Giant walnut trees that once shaded Oakfield United Methodist snapped like brittle twigs and the building was in ruins, said Rutter, the church's pastor. "It is God's love and this man's heart and it is being seen all over the village," Rutter said.

"People are cooperating all over the community." age was estimated at $60 million Friday. "In both places the devastation was really breathtaking and his heart just goes out to the people in those communities whose lives have been disrupted," Chief of Staff John Matthews said. "There's so much devastation. That no one got killed is amazing to me," Thompson said. "It looks like a bomb situation." The tornado destroyed 44 homes and five businesses and damaged another 130 buildings in Oakfield, said Steve Sell, administer of the state's emergency management of fice.

Sue Roberts wept as she sorted soiled clothing, drenched books and broken furniture Friday, stacking what little was left of her newly remodeled home in a pile. She and her daughter Di-anna Buckarma, who is nine months pregnant, took refuge in "There's so much devastation. That no one got killed is amazing to me." Gov. Tommy Thompson the basement as the tornado rushed overhead Thursday night. "I thought we were dying," Roberts, 43, said.

"They say it's like a freight train. It's like three freight trains. It's awful." Roberts' home sat in the center of the tornados path, but her entire neighborhood resembled a war zone. Already Friday, though, residents struggled to recover. Chain saws buzzed, trucks hauled away debris and utility crews restrung ripped power lines.

"You've got to go on. But you i Perms Igj '50 or more i 7,, Now thru July 27 I JCPenney Styling Salon i 421-0511 Chainsaws fill air in village struck by twister Thursday OAKFIELD (AP) Chain-saws buzzed in the soggy summer air Friday as dazed residents sought to salvage what they could after a tornado tore through a canning plant, a school and dozens of homes. Nineteen people were injured and damage was estimated at $50 million. Millions of empty, unlabeled vegetable cans from the factory scattered about this rural community of 1,000 and debris fell in farm fields up to 30' miles away. "The village is shattered," said The Rev.

Thad Rutter, whose parsonage was a pile of plaster and broken boards. Gov. Tommy Thompson declared a state of emergency in Fond du Lac County after surveying the damage, then traveled 110 miles southwest to Green County, where flood dam- 7 anor Village 1 Private Rooms Private Baths 24 Hour Security Hearth Gourmet Cuisine with a European Flair Terry's Famous Dessert Menu Nightly Fresh Specials Extensive Wine List "The Complete Dining Experience" Open 5:00 pm Monday-Saturday Monthly rent includes: 3 Meals daily and snacks Housekeeping services Laundry services All gas anil electric utilities Medication monitoring No Waiting Lines Now Accepting Residents RN ON DUTY 40 HOURS PER WEEK Ready for occupancy ((iIy ftff Mm lh Sunday; Private Parties Only 8 11040 Main St. Hewitt 4 Miles East olMtld. on Cty.

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