Visalia Times-Delta from Visalia, California • 21

INSIDE Terror threat Security tightened at LA malls2C Deaths2C City Editor: Jim Houck, 735-3276 FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2004 VISALIA TIMES-DELTA- IN BRIEF LOCAL workload. Judge Paul Vort-mann gave him until May 24 to complete a review of the evidence and trial testimony, which fills several volumes. He said he received a late-afternoon telephone call from Vortmann Wednesday asking him to represent Givens and to be present in court on Thursday morning. Hiddleston previously represented Robert Acre-mant in a murder case and Angela Thompson in a murder-child abuse case, both in Kordell was not present at Thursdays hearing. Hiddleston also requested a transcript of the confidential Marsden hearing held in Vortmann's chambers Wednesday where Lacey Givens asked for a new lawyer.

Tulare County Assistant District Attorney Carol Turner objected because "that was a confidential hearing." Vortmann ordered a conditional release of the transcript but said he would con had not been confirmed by the judge. Her husband, Todd Givens, was also convicted of first-degree murder, and the jury sentenced him to death. At Hiddleston's request, Vortmann ordered Kordell to turn over all files and court records by 5 pm Monday. "I will order him to turn over all files and documents, but if he does not, I will expect you to contact the court," Vortmann said. Clark Hiddleston to represent LaceyGivens By Melinda Morales Staff writer Veteran criminal lawyer Clark Hiddleston was appointed Thursday to represent Lacey Givens in her attempt to get a new trial.

He will also represent her during her formal sentencing. Hiddleston has a heavy sider a written objection from the district attorney's office. Hiddleston then requested a continuation of her case until July 30, but Turner objected saying three months is excessive. Vortmann gave Hiddleston until May 24 to complete a preliminary review. Hiddleston said he would not comment on the case until he has had a chance to collect and review all the files from KordelL 18 inmates cause riot in Wiley facility Eighteen inmates were involved in a disturbance Wednesday afternoon at the Bob Wiley Detention Facili-tyin Visalia.

According to a Tulare County Sheriffs Department report, the inmates became loud and disruptive, flooded their toilets and broke a piece of glass. The unit where the 5 inmates were held houses 32 maximumsecurityprisoners I in individual cells. The cause I of the disturbance was unknown. Calls to a Sheriff's I Department spokesman I werenotreturnedonThurs-1 day. i Sheriffs staff used tasers I and chemical irritants to restrain the inmates.

Several I inmates required first aid for exposure to the irritants, or i bruises. No members of the jail staff were injured. The inmates were removed from their cells and will be reassigned after an investigatioa 2001. Givens asked Vortmann on Wednesday to remove her attorney, James Kordell because he refused to file a motion for a new tri-aL She had also previously complained that Kordell had slept during portions of the trial Givens was convicted in March of first-degree murder in the deaths of siblings Patreace and Barry Hol-stone. She had been sentenced by a jury to life in prison without parole but students practice Wednesday for CfaCQdeMayo A.

i -1 V' pi I I 1 I turn--- i i 22: Mayor's Breakfast Former VP of UPS to speak Staff reports Retired United Parcel Service senior vice president Joseph Moderow will be the featured speaker at the annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast at 7:15 am Thursday at the Visalia Convention Center. Moderow is the son-in-law of longtime Visalia pastor and police department chaplain Floyd West-brook. Moderow began his career with UPS in 1968 as a sorter and unloader and recently retired from the company as the senior vice president of legal and public affairs. i.v He-was invited at the request of Calvary Chapel of Visalia. "The prayer breakfast is primarily an outreach to our business community," Kathie Smee, event coordinator said.

"They use it as an opportunity to bring in associates who might not go to church, but thell go to a prayer breakfast" In the past the event has brought together hundreds of people from throughout the community to pray for their leaders and their endeavors. This will be the 16th prayer breakfast but the first for Mayor Bob Link, Tickets are available from Calvary Chapel of Visalia, either in person at 11720 Avenue 264 just east of Mooney Boulevard or by calling 687-0220. Tickets are $16 each or a table for eight is $120. Tickets must be purchased by 5 pm Monday. How to attend The Mayor's Prayer Breakfast 2004 will be at 7:15 am Thursday at the Visalia Convention Center, 303 E.

Acequia Ave. Tickets are $16 or $120 for a table for eight Bob Link Carlos Pina, left, Christine Marquez, Anthony Reynozo and other the Cinco de Mayo performance Ran HdmanTimes-Detta at Maple school in Tulare. Culture and history to be celebrated throughout Valley Metal pipe severs Tulare power line TULARE A power line was severed Thursday morning by a metal pipe that was being lifted by a crane. The accident knocked out power for commercial and residential customers in southeast Tulare. Most customers had their power restored within 30 minutes of the 11 am incident, Southern California Edison spokesman Glen Cardaronella said, but others were in the dark for several hours.

The problem with the crane occurred at Tulare Iron Metal, 3615 South St. The outage extended to Blackstone Street and Paige and Martin Luther King avenues. Group schedules dog vaccination clinic The Valley Oak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will have a dog vaccination clinic on Saturday. The clinic will be from noon to 3 pan. at Plaza Park, near Highway 198 and Plaza Drive.

Rabies shots are $8 and a distemperparvo combo is $10. Both vaccinations are available for $16. Identification tags also will be available to order. Information: 651-1111. Sheriff Wittman to honor fallen officers Tulare County Sheriff Bill Wittman on Monday will honor nearly two dozen local law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.

The memorial is in conjunction with California Peace Officer Memorial Week. Twenty-one officers from the Sheriffs Department and other local law enforcement agencies will be recognized. The ceremony will be at the Tulare County Peace Officer Memorial Park, at the corner of Woodland Street and Burrel Avenue in Visalia. Mom's Day brunch to be served May 9 A Mother's Day buffet-brunch will be served from 11 am. to 2 pia on May 9.

The buffet will be served in the banquet room of the Heritage Complex at the International Agri-Center, 4500 S. Laspina St Brunch is $15 per adult and $5 for children ages 4-10. Children younger than 5 eat free. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Reservations, call 688-1751.

Staff reports CORRECTIONS Because of an editor's error, the wrong B.C comic strip ran in today's Choices section of the Times-Delta. Please see page 2A in today's paper for the correct strip. The Times-Delta promptly acknowledges and corrects errors. To report an error in a news story, please cat the executive editor. 735-3268, or the city editor.

735-3276. How to attend Seventh annual Downtown Cinco de Mayo festival will be held Sunday. An artist reception will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Arts Visalia Latino Cultural Exhibit 214 Oak St Latino music and dance will be performed 11 am to 5 p.m.

at the Visalia Transit Center, on the corner of Oak Avenue and Santa Fe Street Interactive booths for children will be open from 11 am to 5 p.m. at ImagineU Children's Museum, 700 E. Main St Information: Louie Luna, 734-5077. Cinco de Mayo in downtown Tulare runs from noon to 8 pm Sunday. Entertainment includes music, food booths, children's rides and games, a car show and vendor and craft booths.

Information: 685-2350. "Fiesta de Colores" Cinco de Mayo festival in Din-uba runs through Saturday. Food and craft booths will be available today at Rose Ann Vuich Park. A parade will begin at 10 am. Saturday.

The parade route starts on Elizabeth Way and ends at the Dinu-ba Chamber of Commerce Building. 350 people this year." He also said he's seen an increase in Cinco de Mayo celebration over the years from non-Hispanics. An artists reception will be at the Arts Visalia Latino Cultural Exhibit, 214 Oak St Three of the featured artists include Visalians Richard Arenas, Josie Figueroa and Rudy Vargas. Vargas, a former Marine and Visalia police officer, painted a mural on the north side of SeeCinco4C By Percy Ednalino Staff writer For Louie Luna, celebrating Cinco de Mayo isn't about politics. It's about appreciating and preserving Mexican culture for younger generations.

"We have to keep it going before we lose it," he said Cinco de Mayo is widely celebrated in the United Stated and commemorates the Mexican army's victory in 1862 over the French in Puebla, Mexico. Sev eral Cinco de Mayo festivals will be held this weekend throughout Tulare County. The seventh annual Downtown Cinco de Mayo festival will be Sunday at the Visalia Transit Center, ImagineU Children's Museum and the Arts Visalia Latino Cultural Exhibit Luna, co-chairman of the festival, said the last festival was held in 2002. "Hopefully, it should draw a pretty good crowd," he said "We had about 400 to 500 people two years ago. Tm happy with 300 to Butler steel plant acquired by Australia-based company if By Melinda Morales Staff writer Butler Manufacturing which has made steel buildings in Visalia since 1971, is being acquired by a Melbourne, Australia-based company, but officials don't expect it to affect local operations or its 160 employees.

Butler designs and manufactures systems and components for nonresidential, pre-engi-neered steel buildings. Plant manager Greg Stolze said the acquisition, by BlueScope Steel Ltd, was finalized Tuesday. Tm not aware of any expected changes in employment here," he said. "All the information that I've heard so far is that BlueScope has no plans in the immediate future for plant closings or job reductions." Buder Manufacturing Co. is located at 7440 W.

Doe Ave in the industrial park. The acquisition, which was first announced in February, said BlueScope would offer $2150 a share for about 6.4 million shares. Stockholders of Butler will receive letters instructing how they may redeem shares at the price of $2230 a share. Buder was valued at $143 million in the acquisition. Buder was founded in 1901, and currently operates manufacturing, erjrieeririg and service renters the United States and in 15 foreign countries.

Its product line consists of one- and two-story custom-designed and pre-fab-ricated steel or wood-framed buildings that are used for office buildings, plants, warehouses, schools, shopping centers, livestock and farm buildings according to the company's Web site BlueScope Steel is a leading steel producer in Australia and New Zealand and supplies the majority of flat steel products sold in those markets. Although news releases indicate there will be no changes in local management or number of jobs, BlueScope Steel did an-nounce executive appointments and changes. Butler Marxrfactumg Co. The plant in Visalia, which is located at 7440 W. Doe Stew R.

FutmouTmes-Oeoa was acquired by BlueScope Steel Ltd of Australia this week. manufactures pre-fabricated steel and wood-framed buildings, Ave..