Tallahassee Democrat from Tallahassee, Florida • Page 1

10 1 to. IS tH i. J0 J'M'MTyV TOUR DE FRA? ICE: American Floyd Landis all but assured victory after comeback 1C WHAT'S COOKING? CO DRIVE-THROUGH Gerald Ensley begins unusual campaign to lower gasoline demand Local IB THIS SEASON IS A GOOD ONE FOR SERIOUS BOOKS ID 1 nJ Surratt's work in the kitchen expected to help FSU's I 3 running game cn.4 1 OO Fiw Promoting democracy since 1905 A TT TT (U)(PMT VUVUJluZ All. Vil $1.25 TALLAHASSEE com Sunday, July 23, 2006 HAVE TIPS FOR THE AL! GILMOHE CASE? CALL (850) C91-HELP tTl VQ Tt I is Friends and family say Gilmore's disappearance makes little sense; investigators continue the search By Stephen D. Price CAPITOL BUREAU Ali Gilmore was supposed to have a baby last Tuesday.

She was hoping for a girl. Whether she did is a mystery, as is most everything about her disappearance. Six months ago, she Elanned to decorate the aby's room in different shades of pink. She had decided her baby shower would be decorated with baby clothes hanging on a clothesline. "It's cute to see the INSIDE: A timeline of Ali Gilmore events, 12A.

An update on the investigation, 13A. Executive Editor Bob Gabordi weighs in, 5E. display of little baby booties socks, hats Ali e-mailed a co-worker on Jan. 31. The 30-year-old had suffered a last year, and .7 i 1KVWOTT PETA tour makes a stop Animal-rights group tries to pressure chicken chain to improve living conditions for the birds.

LOCAL, IB DIVAS throw a celebration Program to mentor girls marks a rite of passage with ceremony. LOCAL, IB Tight market helps refineries But consumers could be in trouble if a hurricane or other disaster cuts distribution lines. BUSINESS, IE Coming Monday With all the recent changes at Florida University, faculty, students, alumni and lawmakers are debating what the future holds for the university. There's a constant buzz surrounding university politics: Who's in control? Whose star will rise or fall? Who's next to be hired or fired? We'll take a comprehensive look at these issues and the overall condition of FAMU. Let us know what you think Go to Tallahassee.com and click on any story, h-1 editorial or us what you think.

NEWS TIP HOTLINE: 599-2233 FOR BREAKING NEWS: www.Tallahassee.com INDEX 2D LifeArts ID IB 2A 7B 4D 1C 3B 40 LocalState SD Lottery IF Obituaries 2B Poplife 5D Sports 4E Street Beat 5F Travel 6D Today: mid-90s Tonight: low 70s Rain: 60 Weather, 8C MORE INSIDE Real Estate Weekly, TV Book, Comics and USA WEEKEND DELIVERY NEWSROOM 599-2170 ADVERTISING 599-2331 OTHER NUMBERS Page 2A mm fa -n- Advice Books Bridge Classifieds Corrections Crossword Editorials Horoscope Mingling of races surges in U.S. White population shrinks; interracial ties common By Ely Portillo and Frank Greve MCCIATCHY NEWSPAPERS WASHINGTON -Despite its battles over immigration, affirmative action, racial profiling and other issues, America is finally becoming a melting pot. A powerful interracial tide has transformed friendships, dates, cohabitations, marriages and adoptions in just one generation. If the wave continues to grow, it could sweep away racial stereotypes and categorizations, as well as the rationale behind affirmative action and other broad minority protections. It remains to be seen, however, whether higher levels of social integration, especially among Asians, are benefiting blacks, the least integrated of U.S.

minorities. Data from the 2010 census will make that a lot clearer. For now, the interracial trend while evident everywhere is hard to gauge because young adults and children are at its vanguard: children such as Heshima Sikkenga, 9, of Apple Valley, for whom race "is a minor point, like brown hair or blond hair," as his father, Steve, put it. Please see RACES, 2A Fuel prices Marinas hurting at the pump Those who own yachts may look at the rising fuel prices and shrug their shoulders, but many boaters around the Big Bend are shocked by what they're seeing. Along our stretch of the Gulf coast, mid-grade unleaded fuel goes for nearly $3.50 a gallon at some marinas.

That's hurting small marina owners. Tim Edwards of C-Quarters Marina in Carra-belle, which provides charter-boat tours, said he charged $650 for a half-day charter in May. Today, it costs $1,000. "I barely broke even," he said. "I told the mate we would lose money if we lost one lure.

I haven't gotten nearly the phone traffic I used to get." -Read more, Page IE -Independent gas stations suffer, Page 6E K. A CHASE AGNELLO-DEAN Democrat she was excited to be pregnant again. She pondered girl names: Angel. Jasmine. On Valentine's Day, she was to learn whether she was carrying a girl or boy.

But sometime after 11 p.m. Feb. 2, a stormy night, Ali disappeared. Police found no evidence Please see GILMORE, 12A Ali isn't alone; many are reported missing 7 Walk-offs common, investigators say By Jennifer Portman DEMOCRAT SENIOR WRITER Ali Gilmore is not the only woman missing from Tallahassee. At least two others are missing at the moment, just a few of the 1,089 women currently reported missing in the state.

Bobbi Jean Tew Jackson always called her three kids at least twice a day. When a week went by without a call, her ex-husband reported her missing. A Midway car-repair-shop employee dropped her off at a west Tallahassee mobile-home park April 27, 2005. Her 35th birthday was in June; she still hasn't called home. Gloria Fraidin was last seen the morning of June 9, 2005, at an Apalachee Parkway hotel.

The then 73-year-old paid for several nights but never returned to the room. She disappeared wearing a yellow dress and sun hat. No numbers nave been kept on what eventually happens to missing adults. But experts say, unlike the impression left by the media, the vast majority of cases do not involve foul play. "Those are very few and Please see MISSING, 13A Laurvetta Grimsley-McLawrence clutches a picture of her daughter Ali Gilmore with Gilmore's stepfather, Carl McLawrence, inside the family home in Riviera Beach.

Gilmore was reported missing in February. Copyright 2006 Tallahassee Democrat Inc. A Gannett newspaper 4 -r-ftnl v..