Palladium-Item from Richmond, Indiana • Page 1

Eaton takes state cross country title: Sports, Page CI Today's Weather Sunny. High 61 Low 38 PageA2 Sunday, Nov. 4, 2001 www.pal-item.com Richmond, Ind. $1.50 what'snews Sports sfi iff Age: 28 Description: African American with black, shoulder-length hair and dark eyes. Disappeared from: 1000 block of South Street.

Information: Contact Richmond police at (765) 983-7247 or the family at (765)965-1052. Richmond police still are searching for Niqui McCown, who was last seen July 22 at a Richmond laundromat. Police have found the 1990 GMC Jimmy, Ohio license CNC 6753, that she was driving when last seen. Name: Marilyn Renee "Niqui" McCown. In Dayton: But still no sign of woman missing since July By Don Fasnacht Staff writer Police have found the car Niqui McCown was driving when she disappeared from a local coin-operated laundry July 22.

The 1990 GMC Jimmy was parked at a Dayton, Ohio, apartment complex. "This is a big piece of the puzzle," Richmond Det. Sgt. Brad Berner said. But McCown is still missing.

fit ft Palladium-Item photo by Steve Koger Major Clue: This GMC Jimmy, driven by Niqui McCown when she disappeared, was towed back to Richmond. Yankees snakebitten Randy Johnson leads Arizona to Game 7, 15-2 Page CI Today Richmond mayor: First year in office Most praise Miller's performance no obvious signs of violence. Some of her laundry is still in the car. Berner and Det. Roger Redmond went to Dayton at Rodefeld's joins larger company 7 a.m.

Saturday to recover the vehicle. They talked with residents in the Meadow of Please see McCown, Page A3 i s- -TWu'lili' anapolis and close Warehouse Service Company, the Rodefeld distribution center on 455 N.W. St. in Richmond. Rodefeld and a representative from Carquest could not be reached for additional comment Saturday "The local company is excited about the opportunity of joining the highly reputable Carquest group," the Rodefeld's company stated in the press release.

With 13 separate corporations spanning 18 communities in Indiana and Ohio, Rodefeld's has its roots in Richmond. In 1900, August H. Rodefeld Sr. started operating the Rodefeld Machine Shop. The company evolved into auto repair and even manufacturing before going to auto parts manufacturing and, presently, distributing and retail.

Press release: Local auto parts distributor merges with Carquest By Dave Evensen Staff writer Rodefeld's announced Saturday the company has merged with Carquest, a auto parts chain. President Gary Rodefeld stated in a press release that, effective Friday, the business began operating through Carquest companies. Rodefeld's likely will begin operating under the joint Rodefeld's-Carquest name. The Rodefeld's press release stated no retail store employees will be affected by the move, but the companies will operate out of the existing Carquest distribution facility in Indi new war Keeping busy: Unionization, sewer problems just some of issues she's faced By Bill Engle Staff writer When Shelley Miller was picked as Richmond mayor in September 2000, she hit the ground running. She had to.

Within the first two months of her term, an ongoing struggle by city street and sanitation workers to unionize finally came to a head. Then the local Carpenter plant closed, idling few workers but closing one of the city's most visible manufacturing plants. Next, monsoon-like rains washed city sewage into dozens of homes, prompting a collective howl from affected residents. The 1 honeymoon for Miller the first female mayor in the city's 183-year history was over shortly after it began. Which, she said, was good for her.

"At least some of the priorities for things we had to work on were right there in front of us," she said. Despite the rough start, Miller has learned quickly She has faced challenges and made tough decisions while pushing ahead with several new programs. And she has won a lot of new supporters along the way. "I'm around quite a few people, and I've never heard anything negative about her," said former Democratic mayor Frank Waltermann. "I think she's done well," But others caution that it is too soon to pass judgment on Miller's tenure as mayor.

"You can tell she's really trying," said Richmond Some of Niqui McCown's laundry was found In the car. The car was towed back to Richmond on Saturday and secured in the RichmondPo-lice Department's garage. "We've started paperwork for a search warrant, and we'll go over it thoroughly beginning Monday," Berner said. A door lock had been punchedoutand the ignition had been tampered with, Berner said, but there were U7 On the Job: Richmond Miller, shown recently at Citizens give Miller her first-year report card, Page A4 Common Councilwoman Sally Hutton, who is head of the county's Democrat-ic Party. Juan Miguel Calderon, deputy consul general of the Chicago office, and other officials came to Indianapolis on Wednesday to meet with representatives of Mayor Bart Peterson and Gov.

Frank O'Ban-non about possible downtown sites for the consulate. Pat Rios, chairwoman of the Indiana LatinoHispanic Affairs Commission, said even though talks iw iff 4 i-" Authorities work to thwart terrorists Conserving wetlands in Hagerstown Environmental group buys 45 acres to protect Page El Nation Investigators hope tests will solve anthrax case WASHINGTON Puzzled investigators were conducting a second round of environmental testing in hopes of figuring out how a New York woman was infected with a deadly case of anthrax. Authorities examined suspicious packages and powders, including a letter whose postmark and handwriting raised concerns at the Treasury Department. One month after the first anthrax case was confirmed, President Bush on Saturday called the anthrax threat "a second wave of terrorist attacks upon our country" He said officials were learning more day by day, and he urged people to look closely at their mail. "Anthrax apparently can be transferred from one letter to another," he said in his weekly radio address.

Anthrax testing was under way at 259 postal facilities, mostly on the East Coast. Page AS Around the Area Richmond Common Council might toughen city's animal ordinance. Shoppers line up for area bazaars. Vintage wheels roll into Kuhlman Center. PageBI from staff and wire reports Obituaries Royla S.Dane ElmaM.

Mills Marian H. Niswander Cecil Wilson Page B3 Inside Today Abby E1 Movies C8 Business B8 Nation A5 Classified D1 Comics Inside Editorial A8 Sports C1 Horoscope E2 Today E1 Local B1 TV Inside Lottery A2 World AK) Palladium-ltem photo by Steve Koger nary, took office in the fall of 2000 when Mayor Dennis Andrews stepped down. Mayor Shelley Bethany Semi- 4 A7, If "But it's too early to say. She has some good things going, but government takes a long time. It bogs down.

That's part of what she's up against." Miller has continued championing programs in WASHINGTON (AP) -As U.S. officials try to discern the next likely targets of possible terrorist attacks, they are evaluating uncorroborated tips and concrete intelligence, using some basic common sense and dealing with a whole lot of theories. The United States has stepped up security at airports and post offices, nuclear plants, even the Golden Gate Bridge. Terrorists seek out vulnerable spots: That's about the only thing most experts agree on. Once Americans learned how to stymie truck bombs against embassies, Osama bin Laden's followers looked around and found it easier to hijack airplanes.

"The big failure we had on Sept. 11 was a failure of imagination, of imagining what they could do," said Herbert E. Meyer, vice chairman of the CIA's National Intelligence Council in the Reagan administration. "We can't af- Mexico plans consular office in Indianapolis place for years, things like development of the Midwest Industrial Park, replacing the old Main Street Bridge and repair of city streets, curbs and sidewalks. She has expanded Please see Mayor, Page A4 Ricardo Gambetta, who heads Hispanic affairs for Peterson, said the only hurdle he saw left for the Mexicans was obtaining funding from their government for the office.

A consulate would deal with identification issues for Mexican nationals in the three states. Calderon said a permanent office also could serve the needs of Indiana business travelers. about an Indiana consulate have taken place over the past two years, conversations last week cemented the plan and gave it a tentative timetable. "Communications this time indicated a much higher commitment," said Rios, O'Bannon's deputy chief of staff. "The current goal is to havea location by the end of the year.

A delay will mean January or INDIANAPOLIS (AP)-The Mexican government plans to open an Indianapolis office next year to help handle passports and visas for Mexican citizens living in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The office would eliminate the need for trips to the Mexican consulate in Chicago or standing. in long lines during infrequent consular visits to Indiana cities. Associated Press Keeping An Eye Out: A California Highway patrol officer watches the Golden Gate Bridge on Thursday In San Francisco. As U.S.

officials try to discern the next likely targets, security is up at airports, post offices, nuclear plants and bridges across the country. ford that again." So far, the FBI has issued two nationwide alerts that terrorists might 'strike again the first Oct. 11 and the second Oct. 29. u3 1 Mferliners (Wfq We have over 100 1 si i im -vie m.m'Miii mi.