Pensacola News Journal from Pensacola, Florida • 1

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2, 1998 INSIDE PENSACOLA i Lasso some family fun St. Anne's Roundup among weekend celebrations. Weekender TV "Last night, I could hear gators sitting on the porch here." Milton resident Cindy Hartsell Jeny Falwell part of Pensacola event Renowned evangelist to preach at Bible conference next week. Life, IB Parents' nightmare comes true Babies severely injured at day-care center. Florida, 8F EAST MILTON Residents near rivers start cleaning up soggy homes Iff- til i w.

is, AST' li By Heidi Hall News Journal staff writer Santa Rosa and Escambia County emergency officials say the worst is probably over for residents along the Black-water, Perdido and Escambia rivers, but troubles for the few who live on the Yellow River in Santa Rosa County are just beginning. The Blackwater and Escambia rivers crested on Wednesday, the Blackwater breaking a 1926 record with a 28.9-foot crest. Workers in the two counties are assessing the damage and expect to have solid figures today on the number of homes damaged and the cost of repairs. Post-Hurricane Georges flooding took its toll on an estimated 200 homes in Santa Rosa County mostly along the Blackwater River and its tributaries. In Escambia County, public safety director Janice Kilgore estimated at least 500 homes were hurt by either high winds or Perdido and Escambia river flooding.

Both rivers are receding, and AccuWeather is predicting no rain for at least four more days. The Yellow River is expected to crest at 24 feet, 2 inches today, 12 feet over flood stage. There are only about 25 homes near the Yellow River in Santa Rosa County, half of which are vacation homes and fish camps. "Have you seen Harold? It's under water," said Stephanie Thompson, 25, a rural Harold resident who lives only yards from the Yellow River. "And there's really nothing you can do about it" She moved her family to the Comfort Inn outside Milton on Tuesday as water rolled into her one-story home.

Flooding on the Yellow and Shoal rivers in Okaloosa County already has forced road closures and evacuations there. State Road 85, Scott FisherNews Journal Richard Savage, from left, Debbie Stough, Scott Hynes canoe down Airport Road on Thursday to check on the damage to Savage's home. Floodwaters in the area have begun receding after rivers reached record crests this week. Clinton declares Panhandle disaster area PENSACOLA BEACH Banjanin keeps seat in runoff Mason wins spot on School Board By Amie K. Streater News Journal staff writer Escambia County District 4 Commissioner Tom Banjanin defeated challenger Jim Pennington 2 to 1 in a Republican runoff Thursday.

In other Republican runoffs, Hal Mason won the District 1 Escambia County School Board race and District 1 Rep. Jerry Burroughs lost to newcomer Jeff Miller. Banjanin received 66.49 percent of the votes compared to 33.51 percent for Pennington, according to unofficial election results. Banjanin faces Democrat Andy Kowalski in the Nov. 3 general election.

"I just want to thank God and the wonderful people of District 4," Banjanin said. Banjanin supporters said Pennington received too many campaign contributions from developers. "I'm afraid Pennington will help build more high rises on the beach;" said Kim Crittenden, 28, of Pensacola Beach. Pennington blamed his loss on Banjanin's campaign ads, which Pennington said distorted his positions on key issues. "The voters fell for it," he said.

"District is going to suffer for the next four years." In other runoff races: Mason received 66.21 percent of the votes compared to 33.79 percent for Pat Bailey to win the Escambia County School Board seat. Because there is no Democratic candidate, Mason takes the District 1 post. Miller won 52.37 percent of the votes while Burroughs received 47.63 percent. In Santa Rosa County, Carol McDaniel received 60.38 percent of the votes compared to 39.62 percent for Dorothy Slye to win the District 3 School Board seat. Jay Mayor J.D.

Bray was re-elected in the non-partisan race, defeating Oakland L. Ard and Haywood Stewart. Bray received 73 votes, Ard got 59 votes and Steward finished with 29 votes. VOTER TURNOUT: Number surpassed estimates, 1 WEATHER v. 'ii WHOM TO CALL The Federal Emergency Management Agency has set up a toll-free claims line for residents who have suffered property damage as a result of Hurricane Georges.

When you call, provide your Social Security number, insurance policy numbers, a daytime telephone number and directions to your property. The number is 1-800-462-9029. of damage totals available. State and federal officials say they cannot assess the cost to repair flooded roads and bridges until the water subsides from rivers swollen by four days of persistent rain earlier this week. The latest estimate is that about $140 million will be needed to repair damage to insured houses and businesses, as well as roads and bridges from Pensacola to Panama City, said Joe Myers, director of the state's division of emergency management.

About $63 million is in Escambia County alone. In Santa Rosa County, FEMA provided damage estimates totalling $17.5 million. In Crestview, where the Yellow, Shoal and Blackwater rivers flooded homes, people such as Robert Medenis wondered if the federal government will buy damaged houses. Witt said it is possible, noting money in mitigation and prevention funds could cover the purchases. woes persist After Georges Critic charges National Hurricane Center inflates wind speeds, 4A.

Cleanup efforts already in full swing, 1F. Downtown Pensacola takes greater toll from Georges than from Opal and Erin, 1F. Perdido Key reopens with major damage, 1 F. Animals also find aid amid the storm, 2F. Area military bases suffer $6.5 million in damages, 2F.

State clears Champion International Corp. of discharge abuse, 3F. Cable systems almost back to full strength, 3F. the county's main north-south route, opened Thursday afternoon after being closed since Tuesday. But some areas looked more like parties than natural disasters on Thursday.

About 12 residents of Paradise Island and surrounding East Milton neighborhoods sipped cold beer, smoked cigarettes and cracked jokes, standing only yards away from their water-soaked homes. "When I built here nine years ago, they all said, 'Oh, you'll never get said Mickey Scheffner, 61, gesturing at her neighbors. "Now my house is the only one where the water is low enough to start cleaning up." The problem: Hurricane Georges dumped 16 inches of rain on the area over four days. High winds kept area bays from draining into the Gulf of Mexico, so rivers See FLOODWATERS, 4A be scattered showers over the weekend, but nothing significant. Daytime temperatures will be in the 80s.

Andrew Jones, 88, of Milton said the sun should help the Blackwater River recede a little faster from his Willing Street home. Water soaked his carpet and the bottoms of some furniture, but he was able to protect his most-valued possessions before the floodwaters rose. "We've had the worst of it, if it doesn't rain again," Jones said. "I've been here 60 years, and I know what this river does." Average rainfall in Pensacola for this time of year is 50.21 inches. So far, 59.95 inches have fallen.

in Kosovo other members of President Clinton's national security team told senators that NATO was ready to act. Asked if there was a deadline, Defense Secretary William Cohen said, "Soon." Cohen said Milosevic must remove his army and police from Kosovo, must allow the movement of humanitarian aid and must "allow displaced people to return to their homes." ATTACK OPTIONS: U.S., NATO make plans, 2A Bruce GranerNews Journal On Thursday, Santa Rosa Island Authority worker Rex McCurley opens up a single lane through the sand deposited on Ariola Drive by Hurricane Georges. ESCAMBIA COUNTY Here comes the sun Damage estimate at $140 million By Scott Streater News Journal staff writer, Northwest Florida residents and business owners now can apply to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster relief due to Hurricane Georges. President Clinton signed an order Thursday adding nine Florida counties including Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa to the federal disaster declaration. Clinton's approval, among other things, makes federal money available to families for programs such as small loans, grants for home construction, and temporary housing.

FEMA director James Lee Witt surveyed the damage Thursday during a helicopter tour with U.S. Rep. Joe Scarborough, R-Pensacola. After landing at Pensacola Regional Airport, Witt encouraged people in disaster areas to call the agency's claims line. "I'm tickled to death.

People need the help," said David Murphy, 54, who saw high water flood out five houses in the Ashbury Hills subdivision in central Escambia County. Murphy, vice president of the Ashbury Hills Homeowners Association, organized a meeting at his house Thursday to educate flood victims from the neighborhood about how they can get help. Meanwhile, post-storm damage assessments continued throughout the Florida Panhandle with only a scattering World market Associated Press NEW YORK The financial crisis that spread from Asia to Russia and now threatens Latin America could erode a global trend toward free-market economies, Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin said Thursday. In a policy address that combined stern warnings and notes of optimism, Rubin called on nations rich and poor to establish a "new openness in international finance" that could help the world avert future crises like the Si" Michael SpooneybargerNews Journal Marilu Tarbox cleans out the bathroom of her Ashbury Hills home after floodwaters recede. She, her husband, Rick, and three children escaped through a window in the night.

Rain 20 High 87 Low 70 Gloomy week ends brighter By Heidi Hall News Journal staff writer And on the fifth day, there was sunlight. After four days of no sun and 16 inches of rain due to Hurricane Georges, Northwest Florida residents were delighted to see the sun shine and floodwaters recede from their homes on Thursday. If the forecast of at least four relatively rain-free days holds true, the worst flooding on Blackwater River since 1926 will be over and nobody will have to build an ark. Mark Tobin, an AccuWeather forecaster, said there could imminent ethnic Albanians in the Serb-run province of Yugoslavia. The State Department also announced a travel advisory urging Americans not to travel in Yugoslavia.

The activity came as the U.N. Security Council strongly condemned the recent atrocities including massacres in Kosovo and called on Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to investigate, identify and punish those responsible for carrying them out. In an unusual mass closed-door briefing, Albright and Air assault V- More on 12A INDEX Ctassified4C-12D Crossword 2B.8D Home Computers 2B Life 1B Local 1F Lottery 1F Money 1C Movies Wkndr Obituaries 4F Opinion 10-11 A Sports 1E Television 7B To subscribe: Call 435-8686 A Gannett Newspaper Copyright 1998 Romania Croatia LBelgrad Bosnia- 5PtbTa vO Herzegovina terDia Yugoslavia JS Kosovo ntenegro Adriatic Sea Macedonia JAIbaniaU" J) Miles one that began with a jolt in Asia in 1997. Worries about a spreading global financial crisis dragged down stock prices on Wall Street Thursday. After plunging 237.90 points Wednesday, the Dow industrials tumbled another 210.09 points.

Also contributing to another crushing day in financial markets was fear that business credit will dry up as global money managers pull out from all but the safest investments. Stories, 1C. Associated Press WASHINGTON Diplomacy will be given a final chance but NATO "is now prepared to act" militarily against Serbian positions, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright declared Thursday after briefing nearly the entire Senate on escalating tensions in Kosovo. As the Clinton administration reached out for bipartisan support, it laid the groundwork for possible new air assaults to retaliate for the weekend massacres of News Journal graphic.