Daily Record from Morristown, New Jersey • 14

A14 Daily Record, Morris County, N.J., Saturday, January 15, 2005 New iersey 'All you will hear is wind and screaming' Six Flags' theme park building world's tallest, fastest roller coaster BY JOSEPH SAPIA GANNETT NEW JERSEY I fei III As Kingda Ka's beam went into place, O'Donnell and Sandy Nicolaysen, 47, of Montgomery, snapped photographs. "So, when does it officially top, when it's (the beam) bolted in?" Nicolaysen said. "I guess," O'Donnell said. O'Donnell, a carpenter, and Nicolaysen, who programs machinery via a computer, then began discussing coaster construction intricacies. But Nicolaysen's daughter, Jen, 18, was able to put the topping in less technical terms.

"It's like the caterpillar coming out of the cocoon," Jen Nicolaysen said. Although the topping is com- or a few weeks after Great Adventure opens for its 32nd season March 25, Aristone said. In the coaster community, a "topping off is an event in itself. "When the coaster gets topped off, it kind of reached an important stage in (its) life," said "Coastin' Steve" O'Don-nell, 45, of Horsham, Pa. "Obviously, the significance of topping off the world's tallest roller coaster (is) it becomes the world's tallest coaster," said Urbanowicz, author of "The Roller Coaster Lover's Companion: A Thrill Seeker's Guide to the World's Best Coasters." ly built the monument that's going to attract (people) from all over the world," he said.

Once completed in the next few months, Kingda Ka will be the world's tallest and fastest coaster. Its 45-story height and speeds of up to 128 mph will surpass the now record-holding coaster, Top Thrill Dragster in Sandusky, Ohio, by 36 feet and 8 mph. "It's very exciting," said coaster fan Diana Reess, 33, a Lakehurst homemaker. "We're so thrilled to have this here." It'll spring to life Kingda Ka is expected to roar to life in late April or early May, "It's the moment we've been waiting for," said Angel Aris-tone, a spokeswoman for the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park. Within 10 minutes, the two workers Rich Roy and Kenny D'Alfonso, both of Ironworkers Local 68 in Hamilton began fastening the beam to the highest point of the Kingda Ka roller coaster's 456-foot-tall tower.

"This is just too monumental to miss," said Steve Urbanow-icz, 45, of Bayonne, one of a half-dozen coaster devotees Great Adventure gathered for the "topping off." "After 30 years (of the theme park's existence), they've final ASSOCIATED PF JACKSON As Thursday's morning fog cleared, there rose Kingda Ka. Soon, one crane 50 stories tall lifted two ironworkers, standing in a metal basket, high into the sky. Another 50-story crane lifted an approximately 22-foot, steel beam. An American flag, traditional at construction sites, flew off the beam. .1 puii.iu.il i 1 I 1 Wouldn't it be great if people did what they said? Elizabethtown Gas has a new parent company, AGL Resources.

We're making resolutions for the new year and we'll keep them. Resolution 1 Riggers Install a piece on the Kingda Ka roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adv ture in Jackson on Thursday. plete, "we have a lot of wo remaining in the construct before riders will zoom all Kingda Ka's 3,118 feet of tr in about 50 seconds, said Glinter, a Six Flags emplo who is project manager. includes finishing the laui and station, putting the coas train in place and mak adjustments, Glinter said. "The weather has been tough on us wind, rain, ft said Glinter.

Although the topping 1 been delayed for weeks, overall project remains schedule, Glinter said. "We made progress in ot areas," Glinter said. "You to be flexible to move aroi (because of weather). We charging ahead." So the topping off was only a coastering milestone a construction one because completion of the tower's str ture means unfavorable we; er will have less effect on project, Glinter said. Estimate: $25 million Six Flags does not release nancial information, but the timaterollercoaster.com site lists Kingda Ka's cost at million.

Standing in the Great Ad ture parking lot, one norm! would have difficulty gaug how much Kingda Ka tow over the Route 537 area. But, on Thursday, a ports lift holding a National graphic film crew added i spective. "Look how tiny the hi reach (lift) looks," said A tone, referring to the 100-1 lift. Riders will be launched draulically in a horizontal tion at 128 mph and then cli the tower straight up. Brake: the top will slow riders, "si gives you time to look arour Aristone said.

When the coaster train cr the top, it will be going onlj mph, Urbanowicz said. "That piece of track that went in is going to get the 1 dest screams that Jackson ever heard," Urbanowicz "You're going to feel like yoi stalling. You won't have roar of the coaster anymore, you're going to hear is wind i screaming." Kingda Ka then descends feet straight down, sending i ers through a spiral before tl climb over a 129-foot cai hump. Six Flags is now translat Kingda Ka as king of coaster: "Because it's breaking 1 world records and will as the tallest and fastest coas on earth," said Kristin Sie fjeicher, a Six Flags spoil wbman. I'l can't wait to get on Rob Issler, 22, of Newtown, "Whatever day (it opens), I be here." IN BRIEF Man hit by truck, dies aiding N.J.

motorist In BOWLING GREEN, Kf(AP A Louisville man who.stopp to help a Stranded motorist fro New Jersey on Interstate 65 ha died after he was struck by a truck that was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer, state police said Robert Bivin, 62, had(ktoppe on 1-65 Thursday morning aftei he spotted a car stopped along the highway north of Bowling Green. Judy Schaefer'sBuick Century had run out of gas, sis police said. Schaefer, 5, of Oal land and her twin sister, Jan Frey, of Montgomery penter, were in the car. Bivin drove Schaefer to a ne by station to get gas and returned, parking his commercial truck behind Schaefer's or the shoulder of the interstate. As Bivin and Schaefer were pouring gas into Schaefer's cat tractor-trailer struck Bivin's parked vehicle, said Trooper Charles Swiney.

1 Bivin and Schaefer, who we: standing at the rear driver's sii of Schaefer's car, were hit by Bivin's truck, Swiney said Bivin died at the Medicaid ter in Bowling Green on Thur; day. Frey Was treated and released, and Schaefer was taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn foi further treatment, state polic said. Show up on time. We know everything good follows from delivering reliable service when you need it. In 2005, we will improve turn-on and turn-off service, reducing delays by more than 50 percent.

AGL Resources Gu'srartTirf woui t'Jiio iwT Resolution U2. Be there when needed. In 2005, we will expand our customer service center capabilities, giving you faster access to a customer service' rep. When we operate more efficiently, you will too. AGL Resources GuYik'intoi 4 (voijf Resolution 3.

Make new friends. All our actions follow from our four values: Be honest. Show generosity of spirit. Operate inside the lines. Seek value.

In 2005, we will put new energy into your community because now it's our community too. AGL Resources Guarantor Witness (your name here) Elizabethtown Gas TURN ON THE GAS. For customer service: 800-242-5830 To report a potential gas leak: 800-492-4009 www.aglresources.com.