Enterprise-Journal from McComb, Mississippi • 1

ri se al The one newspaper in the world most interested in this community 25 Cents McComb, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 1986 96th Year No. 244 1 section, 12 pages Space shuttle explodes after launch Crew apparently dies in fireball CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) successfully carrying out 24 shuttle Space shuttle Challenger exploded into a gigantic fireball about a minute after liftoff today, apparently killing all seven crew members, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. There was no announcement of the fate of the crew but it appeared there was no way they could survive.

No American astronaut ever had been killed in flight. NASA administrator William R. Graham was meeting with congressmen on Capitol Hill about the NASA budget when word came of the disaster. "'NASA officials told the congressman it doesn't look like any lives were saved," said Steve Goldstein, an aide to Rep. Manuel Lujan, The $1.2 billion spacecraft, one of four in NASA's shuttle fleet, appeared to be destroyed.

Parts of the ship fell into the Atlantic 18 miles southeast of the launch pad. The other crew members were commander Francis R. Scobee, 46, pilot Michael J. Smith, 40; Judith Resnik, 36; Ronald E. McNair, 35; Ellison S.

Onizuka, 39; and Gregory B. Jarvis, 41. "RECOVERY FORCES were unable to enter the area for several minutes because of continuing falling a Mission Control commentator reported. The flight had been delayed this morning because of fear that icicles on the launch pad could harm the shuttle. It was the first in-flight disaster in 56 U.S.

manned space missions, although three astronauts were killed in a 1967 launch pad explosion during the Apollo program. The explosion was a devastating setback for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration after successfully carrying out 24 shuttle missions in slightly less than five years. NASA said the explosion occurred about 60 seconds into the mission, at a point when the astronauts were beginning to throttle their engines up to maximum thrust after they throttled them down to a 60 percent level at 35 seconds in order to reduce the forces of gravity during liftoff. Among those who witnessed the explosion were Mrs. Auliffe's attorney-husband Steve and their two children, Scott, 9, and Caroline, 6, who were in a crowd watching at Cape Canaveral.

Also here were members of Scott's third grade class from Concord, N.H., displaying a large Christa" banner. They watched in stunned silence as the spacecraft blew apart. Several began crying and parents hugged others and quickly cleared them off the viewing bleachers and herded them aboard buses. ALSO HERE WERE Mrs. At left, space shuttle Challenger roars from launch pad Tuesday Shuttle, Page 12) At right, shuttle explodes into fireball 60 seconds after liftoff Warming trend spells relief for state McAuliffe's parents, Ed and Grace Corrigan, of Framingham, Mass.

They stood silently during the launch, arm in arm and remained standing together as the loudspeaker brought the bad news and a NASA official climbed a couple of rows into the bleachers, walked to them and said: "The vehicle has exploded." A stunned Mrs. Corrrigan looked back at him and repeated his words as a question. "The vehicle has exploded?" He he nodded silently and the Corrigans were quickly led away. McAuliffe, 37, had been selected from 11,146 teacher applicants to be the first to fly in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's citizen-in-space -Highlights Reagan stunned by explosion WASHINGTON (AP) President Reagan today stood in "stunned silence" as he watched a television replay of the space shuttle explosion. Presidential spokesman Larry Speakes said Vice President George Bush and his national security adviser, Adm.

John Poindexter, interrupted a meeting of Reagan and senior aides to tell him of the explosion. "The president is concerned; he is saddened; he is anxious to have more Speakes told reporters at a briefing. The spokesman added that "quite frankly, the president stood there in almost stunned silence as he watched the television." Told of the blast, Reagan had gone immediately to his small study to watch developments on television. Speakes said he did not anticipate any change in Reagan's plan to deliver his State of the Union speech to Congress tonight. "I'm sure the president will feel compelled to mention this," Speakes added.

Asked if the president said anything about Christa McAuliffe, the teacher on board the flight, Speakes said, "It was something that was on all of our minds, that it had the first teacher in space, the first civilian" on board. As for the impact of the explosion on the future of the space program, including future civilian participation in flights, Speakes said such questions were "premature." "I'm sure it will not affect the United States' determination to continue the exploration of space," he added. Inside Classified 10-11 Opinions 2 Comics 6 Sports 8-9 Crossword 6 State 3 Family 4 Stocks 12 Nation 3 TV log 7 Obituaries 12 Weather 12 AP Laserphotos From wire reports Warmer temperatures should spell relief for Mississippi residents by sundown today, as a blast of arctic air leaves the state as fast as it swept in, the National Weather Service said. The icy air, which barreled into the state Sunday night, sent temperatures plummeting into the teens across the state late Monday night. According to officials at the McCombPike County Airport the temperature at 6 a.m.

today was 18 degrees. Winds eased somewhat and temperatures did not dip quite as low as had been feared. Britte Hughey dies, services held today Britte Edwin Hughey of Smithdale, influential community leader who was in his 36th year on the Southwest Mississippi Junior College board of trustees, died Monday at the age of 75. Mr. Hughey's death in the Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center emergency room came after a sudden illness.

Services were at 2 p.m. today in Hartman Chapel with the Rev. Riley Hinton officiating. Burial was in Mars Hill Cemetery in Amite County. A former state legislator, Mr.

Hughey was active in a variety of state and local activities, but friends say that perhaps the cause dearest to his heart was of SMJC. "He was known as a 'Mr. Junior said longtime friend and colleague Horace Holmes, president of SMJC. "Following his love and devotion to his family and his church, I would say the junior college was behind his commitment to these. "He was one of the most respected people in this part of southwest -Mississippi, and his loss will be greatly felt by this institution." Mr.

Hughey served more than a dozen years as chairman of the SMJC board of trustees. He was born April 28, 1910, in Smithdale, the son of Ralph Lloyd Hughey and Vivian Barron Hughey. He was a member of Mars Hill Baptist Church, where he also served as Sunday school teacher and deacon. He served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1956-64, was a member of the State Tax Commission, served as deputy fire marshal for the state's southern district from 1970-80, was director of the Mississippi Farm Bureau for 12 years, president of the Amite County Farm Bureau from 1968-84 and vice president from 1959-68. He was a member of the Mississippi Building Commission under former Govs.

Ross Barnett However, Meridian set a record for the date when the mercury fell to 14 degrees before dawn. The previous record was 20 degrees, set in 1976. Most overnight readings were in the upper teens and low 20s. Temperatures are expected to climb from the lower 30s over northeast Mississippi to near 50 over southwest counties, perhaps as early as this afternoon. Wednesday promises to be even warmer, forecasters said.

Icy winds in Tishomingo County and other areas in the extreme northern part of the state reached wind chill factors of 25 Britte Hughey and Paul Johnson, and was a member of the John A. Quitman Lodge of the as well as a Shriner. Mr. Hughey began his junior college career at Holmes Junior College but became a member of SMJC's first class in 1929, Holmes said. "In my 38 years in southwest Mississippi I knew no one that had a greater impact as a result of service in the fo Holmes said.

"He was very influential. He was committed to the people of southwest Mississippi and he was committed to education." Holmes said Mr. Hughey played a vital part in the growth of buildings and enrollment at SMJC. "He was a very strong spokesman for junior colleges in our state." But it was at SMJC that Mr. Hughey had the personal touch, Holmes said.

"Every time there was a student that needed some assistance, whether financial or information about education in the area, he would carry this information to the administration and see that something was done about it." (See Services, Page 12) degrees below zero Monday night. Elsewhere in the South, bitterly cold air dropped temperatures to record lows today but most Florida citrus groves apparently escaped major damage, and "one monster of a storm" delivered heavy snow and freezing rain that blacked out more than 100,000 people in the Northeast. The storm was blamed for at least 11 deaths from New York to Alabama from Sunday into today. On Monday, the weather forced schools to close in at least 12 states and sent dozens of homeless people to Alabama shelters. Low temperature records for today's date toppled all across the South, into the 30s in Florida and into the teens and lower elsewhere.

In the Appalachians, Asheville, N.C., chilled to 2 below zero, down from the previous record of 8 set in 1977, and Beckley, W.Va., hit 7 below, 3 degrees off its old record, also set in 1977. The lows of 13 at Montgomery, and Savannah, broke records that had stood since 1897. Greer, S.C., hit a record low of just 5. And in Michigan, Sault Ste. Marie dove to a record 28 degrees below zero.

While much of the East shivered, parts of the West and even New England basked in record high temperatures. N. Pike schools cancel classes By Roy Thomas E-J Managing Editor An influenza epidemic that forced Pike County public schools to close last week remains a problem, prompting North Pike schools to cancel classes today and Wednesday. Officials said more than 1,200 students were absent from the three Pike County public school districts and Parklane Academy on Monday, including 372, or 28 percent of the student enrollment, in the North Pike school district. North Pike Superintendent Dr.

Jimmy Jones said schools in the district would reopen Thursday. North Pike classes were canceled last Friday. So far, Parklane has been able to weather the epidemic and Administrator Billy Swindle said there still are no plans to close, even though the number of absentees are almost double what they were a week ago. Swindle said today that Monday's sick list showed 15 percent of the school's 867 students about 130 were out. He said absentees were up another 3 percent today.

No teachers were absent, however. "EVEN THOUGH we remain open we urge parents to keep kids who are running a fever at home," Swindle said. South Pike schools were closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week after 25.5 percent of the student enrollment missed classes Jan. 21. McComb public schools decided last Tuesday when about 600 students were absent to dismiss classes at 1:15 p.m.

on Thursday and not reopen until Monday. Both Dr. Lauren Lanier, superintendent of South Pike schools, and Dr. Ted Alexander, superintendent of McComb schools, said they were pleased with the results of the closings. Lanier said South Pike absentees on Monday totaled 396 students and 13 teachers, down about 10 percent from a week ago.

McComb public school absentees Monday remained high, with more than 500 students still home sick, but that number was significantly lower than the 900-plus students who did not report to school for the short day last Thursday. Alexander also reported that 23 teachers missed work Monday because of sickness. THE PLUNGE in temperatures Monday and today worried Lanier. "We figured that by closing three days last week, coupled with the weekend, would break up the cycle," Lanier said. "How the next couple of days go, only time will tell.

We've got our eye on it to see what Alexander said the rest had a positive effect on 12 of 13 grades in McComb public schools, with fewer students absent Monday than had been missing last Thursday..