The Clarksdale Press Register from Clarksdale, Mississippi • 1

Weather Turning cloudy tonight with a 50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Low near 50. Wind southeast 5 to 10 mph, Tuesday: A 60 percent chance of thunderstorms. High in the mid 60s. Wednesday: mostly cloudy north with a chance of rain.

QB McNair paces Alcorn win over rival JSU Page 7 Vandals hit Sunflower again Page 2 Three Cub Scouts among the dead in Brandon Page 5 Parents are introduced to computers their Idds use Page 3 127th Year -riuntsr 231 of wS ,20 of 1 1 1 i rCi 1 I 1 yJ itfliSSSSSS ppl I s- ---ia x- i i -y i formally asked President Bush today for a federal disaster declaration. Montgomery, whose congressional district includes Rankin County and other areas damaged by the storms, said he asked Bush to move quickly so federal aid could begin pouring into the areas. The state's formal request is expected Tuesday. Wilkinson said Mississippi Power Light Co. and Southern Pine Electric Power Association hoped to get electricity restored by tonight throughout the damaged areas, where the homes could resume service.

By DAN EVEN Associated Press Writer BRANDON, Miss. (AP) --Federal and state assessment teams moved in today to put a dollar loss on a killer tornado and 100-mile storm system that left 15 dead and more than 200 injured in a swipe across Mississippi. "They probably won't look at all the damage, but will look at as much as they can in the worst affected areas," said Jim Maher, executive director of the Mississippi Emergency. Management Agency. "That's wh'at will form the basis of our request to the president." When asked today about damage estimates, Maher would only say' "we are looking at mil- Ah I Af Eight-year-old Kyle Overstreet sits on what was his parents' mobile home with a puppy Monday li 31 1 6Tl morning in Florence, surveying the damage left by a tornado.

The scene is also where his mother, Donna Overstreet, lost her life. Kyle was looking for what was left of his toys. --AP Laserphoto Christmas club checks will total $596,000 this season Veteran AP reporter takes part in rescue When they arrived, the medics told us, "If they're dead, go on by. We're looking for the live ones." damage." Hardest hit was Rankin County, 15 miles from Jackson. Ten person died in the county that is a mix of small towns, suburbs and small trailer parks.

Six people died in a trailer park. Nearly 100 were injured and many of them remained in area hospitals. "Everybody is accounted for inside the city (Brandon)," Mayor W.L. Whittington said today. Rankin civil defense director Charlie Wilkinson said he believed residents in areas damaged outside Brandon had been accounted for.

"The game plan today as far as we are concerned is the 1 p.m. meeting with damage assessment teams from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). Those assessments begin today," Wilkinson said. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep.

G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery, Editor's Note: Mississippi State Editor Ron Harrist has covered dozens of tornadoes, hurricanes and other disasters. This time the tornado covered him as he and his wife crouched for safety in a bathtub. Here's his story: By RON HARRIST Associated Press Writer BRANDON, Miss. (AP) -When the storm came up, you could hear the thunder rumbling in the distance.

The lightning was intense, and I turned to my wife Hendra and said, "This is going to be a bad one." About that time, everything If Christmas clubs at the local banks are any indication, merchants in town might be having a greener Christmas this season. According to figures provided by First National, Sunburst, and United Southern banks, amounts of money saved in Christmas Gubs has increased at all three banks this year. Figures from First National Bank show an increase in Christmas Club savings as well as in the number of members. First National officials reported having $186,000 in its Christmas Club this year, up $51,000 from the 1991 figure of $135,000. Christmas Club membership at First National was also up this year, 507 members versus 389 for last year.

Sunburst Bank officials also reported increased savings of approximately $16,000 in its Christmas Club. Last year Sunburst dispursed about $109,000 in Christmas Club funds, and this year the bank's club savings totalled roughly $125,000. Sunburst officials said there were 274 Christmas Club accounts this year, but were unsure of the exact number of those accounts for last year. United Southern Bank officials reported 778 members, system-wide, with a total of about $285,000 in Christmas Club funds. Like figures from the other two banks, this year's numbers are up from last year.

USB officials said last year the bank's Christmas Club had 736 mem- bers with almost $250,000 in savings. No bank officials cared to speculate as to why Christmas Club memberships and the amounts of savings increased, but the one undisputable fact is more money saved by local residents is more opportunity for local merchants to cash in on Christmas spending. stopped. It was dead silence. Hendra said I'd better open a window on the north side of the house, but before I could get there, the windows blew out, and we ran to the bathroom and got in the tub.

The whole house shook. You could hear it ripping and tearing. See Harrist on Page 9 Woman's murder under investigation Coahoma County sheriff's deputies are investigating the apparent murder of a Clarksdale woman found in Big Creek River south of Clarksdale Friday afternoon. Sheriff Andrew Thompson said this morning the body of Willie Mae Davis, 22, of 315 Monroe, Clarksdale, was found shortly before noon Friday by some fishermen in Big Creek River. Thompson said the sheriff's department was contacted about the body about one p.m.

Friday afternoon, and relatives of the victim identified the body late Friday afternoon. Thompson refused to release many details of the woman's death, since an investigation is ongoing. However, Thompson did confirm that autopsy reports revealed the woman had been dead about seven days when she was found in the river, and when asked Friday Thompson said there was "no question about foul play" being involved. Thompson also confirmed the woman had been released from the Coahoma County Jail around the first of November on misdemeanor charges. Sheriffs department officials are investigating the incident, and Thompson said there are presently no suspects in the crime.

1 I l'y the Bush attends mother's funeral 1 i SI. stroke, was being buried today after a private funeral service with friends and members of her family, including the president. The service for Mrs. Bush was being held at Christ Church, a 287-year-old Episcopalian church where Mrs. Bush had been a parishioner since World War II.

President Bush said his parents were the most important people in his life. His 1987 autobiography, "Looking Forward," is dedicated to them. GREENWICH, Conn. (AP) Dorothy Walker Bush, mother of President Bush, is remembered by friends for her compassion and down-to-earth attitude. Mrs.

Bush, who died Thursday at age 91 after suffering a Choosing the Turkey Tangle winners Piggly Wiggly Manager Randy Mathews and cashier Daisy Jones choose the 15 winners of the Turkey Tangle contest this morning from the 227 correct entries. The winners of the turkeys, whose ages range from 27 to 75, are listed on Page 10 of today's Clarksdale Press Register..