Sioux City Journal from Sioux City, Iowa • 3

Sioux City Journal, Saturday. Sept. 8. 2001 -A3 Sioux Tools rejects union moves to keep IE SEMI what so it's pretty much up to us to get the best exit deal that we can get" Nash said. Snap-on notified employees on Aug.

20 that it intends to close the tool plant within 15 months, and move its operations to a Murphy, N.C., plant Company officials attributed the move to a downturn in the na- -tional economy, and a desire to achieve economies of scale through consolidation. Sioux Tools, which has operated in Sioux City for nearly 90 years, currently employs around 160 people. In late August IAM officials had proposed establishing a team of senior management and union leaders to explore alternatives to closing. The suggestions included: Requesting economic development assistance from state and local officials. Seeking potential new equity investors for the Sioux City plant, including a potential employee buyout.

Exploring a newly reorganized Sioux Tools plant that would incorporate the "best practices" approached used by the IAM in developing high-performance work organizations. In the Sept 5 letter, Morrone noted the company has "con sulted with local and state officials in Sioux City to explore economic assistance, and they have been cooperative and responsive. However, as you might guess. North Carolina has also offered incentives, and is more attractive than Sioux City due to geographic and facilities perspectives." Company officials point out the Murphy plant is almost new, while the Sioux City plant is nearly 100 years old. The Murphy plant is also a non-union shop.

After hearing rumblings that Snap-on might decide to close the plant the city of Sioux City sent the company a letter outlining possible local and state assistance, including tax incentives and available land for a new facility, said Patty Heagel, the city's economic development division manager. But the company did not respond to the letter, Heagel said. It was not clear what if any, incentives North Carolina officials had offered the company in exchange for relocating the Sioux City operations. Rick Secor, a Snap-on spokesman, was not immediately available for comment late Friday. In the letter, Morrone said an employee buyout or additional equity investors also doesn't fit World War Slain family continued from page 1 family." After the service, about 50 friends and family members went to a nearby cemetery, where family members received a golden crucifix for each victim.

For each victim, a dove was also released. "She was a good woman, a good sister and a good mother," said Carlos Aguilar Leticia Aguilar's brother. Deacon Joe Baca presided over a prayer vigil Thursday night and tried to help family members make sense of the tragedy. i "It is a time for us in which we are confronted with tremendous sadness and sorrow," Baca said. "We are left with the tremendous question of why.

Why did this have to happen? And where was God in all this? Moss is accused of going into Aguilar's home while she and her children were sleeping. He Blankets continued from page 1 school at the Riverside Annex where some of West Middle School's sixth-graders attend classes. Zacarias Saldana, 11, also was a sixth-grader at the Riverside Annex. Wolf said a blanket will be provided for each of Everett's 360 pupils. She also would like to give some blankets to some of Claudia's and Zacarias' classmates.

"We hope the blankets will help the kids with the healing pYocess. When you make a quilt, you put a little bit of yourself into it," 1 she explained. "The kids will know that somebody cares about them." Wolf lives in Osage, Iowa, northeast of Mason City. She said she knew it would be next to impossible for Iowans to By DaveDreeszen journal tomes editor Sioux Tools officials have rejected union overtures seeking to reverse the company's recent decision to close the Sioux City plant The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), which represents union workers at the plant, called on Sioux Tools and its parent. Snap On to consider alternatives to closing the plant But a top company official splashed cold water on the union's proposals in a letter dated Sept.

5, a copy of which was obtained by the Journal. "In a different type of situation, the ideas would be worth exploring in-depth," the letter said, signed by Frank Morrone, Sioux Tools division manager, human resources. "But because our decision is based primarily upon geographic criteria and facility criteria I don't think what you've sent us can influence our decision." In an interview Friday, Bob Nash, shop foreman and president of the IAM Local 1426, described the company response as "pretty discouraging." "It's been pretty much spelled out to us they're not going to keep the place open no mater Reunion of continued from page have," he said. "We burn with envy when they throw the after-' burner in and go up to 10,000 feet" The P-47s he flew had about 2,000 horsepower with big propellers and had a tremendous ability to take punishment. Sulzbach was shot down on April 21, 1945, during a strafing run near the Po Valley in Italy.

The 5th Army had gotten the Germans out of the mountains and into the Po Valley where it was flat," he said. "They got them out in the open where we could get at them." A 20 mm anti-aircraft shell ripped into his engine during the strafing run, and Sulzbach engine was knocked out, most likely a fuel line was damaged. Usually, if the engine was hit, only a few cylinders would stop. He picked out an open field near a formation of U.S. tanks and slammed the airplane into the ground.

According to the book 'The Memory is Still Fresh: Recollections of Men of the 346th Fighter Squadron," Sulzbach had gone to Naples to pick up a new airplane and bring it back to Pisa where they were stationed. After landing, he went back up with a wingman to the Po Valley with the mission of strafing targets of opportunity. The Germans were pulling out and heading north. His recollection in the book is that there were a thousand different targets. Another pilot and wing-man were also along.

They went right while Sulzbach and his wingman went left. They shot horses, trucks and personnel. "I had made about three passes and on my fourth pass I was clobbered by a 20 mm gun," he says in the book. 'The 1 i Sioux Cityan Dick Sulzbach right, talks with former deputy Commander George Miles of Portland, of the 346th Fighter Squadron during a reunion dinner Friday. (Staff photo by Jerry Mennenga) plant open the company's situation.

In regards to the union request for incorporating "best practices" performance approaches, he said the decision to close the plant "is not a reflection of the quality of the work force or Sioux City." Workers represented by Local 1426 are operating under terms of a contract that expires in February 2003. Nash said representatives of the union and company plan to meet at 9 a.m. Monday to hammer out a plant closure agreement. In advance of that meeting, Morrone in his letter said he could "review anything else (the union would) like to provide. However, I can't think of how we can possibly overcome the proximity to customers and aging facilities criteria that are the drivers of this decision." Sioux Tools, originally known as Albertson Company, is one of the oldest manufacturers in Sioux City.

The company was founded in 1914 by Swedish tool maker Oscar Albertson and an office boy, Harold Jacobson. In 1993, Snap-On acquired Sioux Tools, which became a subsidiary of Snap-On, a manufacturer and marketer of tools and other equipment that employs about 14,000 worldwide. Maj. Charles Gilbert, left, and Lt. Richard Sulzbach of Sioux City, are shown in this photo which appears in the book "The Memory is Still Fresh Recollections of Men of the 346th i Fighter Squadron.

combat missions in 1944 as a member of the 346th Fighter Squadron. "Our objective was to keep things off the roads, to destroy their transportation system and support our troops," he said. Thornblad has attended re-5 unions all over the country. He said he was impressed 'with Sioux City, but missed the mountains of Utah to get his bearings. George Miles, 86, of Portland, started flying with the Royal Air Force in England before the, United States was formally at war, He flew 169 combat missions.

"We enjoy camaraderie and telling war stories," Miles said of his stay in Sioux City. Journal staff writer Mike Koehler can be reached at: (712) 293-4219 -or mikekoehlersiouxcityjour' nal.com move to Channel 62, adding to the cable company's news network block. Additionally. CableONE. will be offering 13 new channels through a "digital value pack." Airing in the space created through" CableONE's digital conversion, the package will include ESPN News, ESPN Classic, CNNSports Illustrated, SoapNet, The Biography Channel, Discovery Health, Discovery Science, Tech TV, Boomerang, Discovery Wings, CNfn, History In-.

ternational and Toon Disney. The newcomers will air between channels 300 and 341. Just last month, the White House budget office said this year's projected $157 billion Social Security surplus would not be used to finance other federal programs, and that the overall federal surplus would be $158 billion. But the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that $9 billion in Social Security funds would be needed. The current fiscal year, 2001, ends on Sept.

30, giving the administration little time to find the savings that would be needed to avoid dipping into Social "1... allegedly beat each of the children to death with a hammer while they slept, then went to Aguilar's room, cut her throat and beat her in the face with a hammer. Bail for Moss was set at $7 million. Seven first-degree murder accusations were detailed in complaints filed by county prosecutors. If convicted of first-degree murder, Moss would face life in prison.

Iowa does not have the death penalty. Moss had been living with Aguilar for a couple of months, said neighbor Myrtle Cress. The two had both worked at Smurfit- Stone Container which makes cardboard and paper products. "All of us would like to get our hands on him, but we are not, because it is not going to make things better, said Aguilar's sister, Isabel Rivera of Madera. targeted, which isn't true, but that's how they feel.

Some are afraid to go home and even afraid to be by themselves." Counselor Amy DeGroot is at the school three days a week to talk to the children. Hansen, who has a counseling background, also has been working with the youngsters, as have the teachers and "The big thing we can do is listen and see where they're coming from. When they talk, then we can start addressing their concerns. For the most part, they' are handling it very well. I am thankful they have somebody to talk to here." Hansen said the deaths also have been "devastating" on the staff.

you have a kid for six hours a day for 180 days a year, you get very close to them," she said. Wolf said the blankets have to meet specific requirements. 'The minimum size that they have to be is 60 by 72 inches, which is up to a twin-sized flat sheet in size. The only thing we ask is that they be hand-made and 100 percent machine washable and dryable fabrics. And, they have to be free of cigarette smoke.

So if the person smokes, we ask that they wash the blanket before sending it to the school. So many of our kids already have breathing difficulties. "And, the wilder they are, the better. Kids love lots of color. They can be quilted or tied with fabric, crocheted or knitted.

Since Project Linus was formed 5.5 years ago, 334,834 blankets have been distributed to children nationwide. Anyone wishing more information may contact her at: www. wolf I osage. net. takes off today show director, said the 2001 air-show is sponsored by the 185th Fighter Wing.

Several Siouxland business leaders are providing the needed capital, advertising and other requirements to make the show a go. In addition to current Air Force, Navy and Canadian aircraft plans call for historic planes to be included in the show, such as B- A simulated bombing attack by the 185th using ground-based py rotechnics is a highlight of Satur day event The Air Force Thun derbirds will perform Sunday. Two men found shot to death near Norfolk NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) Two Hispanic men were found shot to death Friday, authorities said. The Nebraska State Patrol released little information late Fri day as their investigation was lust beginning.

A passer-by saw the bodies about 5 p.m. The bodies were located about two miles west of Norfolk, near the Broken Bridge on the Elkhorn River. Autopsies have been ordered. squadron by Maj. Gen.

Kendall. He spent the rest of the day in his jeep learning what the infantry did. The next morning he was flown back to his base in Pisa. Friday's tour took the reunion guests to the Floyd Monument, Trinity Heights, Central High School, the War Eagle Monument and the confluence of the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers where the three states can be seen at the same time. "1 tired them out," he said.

The group of veterans will have breakfast this morning and go to Siouxland's Airshow. Later in the day, they will have a banquet at the Marina Inn in South Sioux City. On Sunday,) they will have a worship service and say goodbye until the next reunion. Robert Thornblad, 83, of Farmington, Utah, flew 120 Instead, programming (such as the new "Star Trek" series "Enterprise" which will air on KMEG) could turn up on established stations. Called KXWB.

the new WB channel will be operated by KCAU, the ABC affiliate. Its staff will sell advertising and help maintain its identity in the community. No channel was bumped to make room for KXWB, Olson said. However, there was talk that it would replace WGN. "WGN stays on for now," Olson said.

It will remain on Channel 8. CNN, which currently airs on Channel 13, will though the president said Daschle spokesman Douglas Hattaway. The president, emerging from his session with the GOP lead-, ers, made no mention of the Social Security situation. Instead, he focused on the day's other troublesome economic news: that the nation's unemployment rate had risen to 4.9 percent last month, a 0.4 point increase that was the largest in six years. "I want the American people to know we're deeply concerned about the unemployment rates, and we intend to do something about it," Bush said.

make 400 quilts and blankets by Sept. 18, the date she plans to make the presentation at Everett. So, she said, she put the word out over the Internet to fellow Project Linus members i Thursday. "Already today I have heard from a gal in Michigan who said she would get busy and help us supply the blankets. I've heard i from Alabama, Michigan, North Carolina, Idaho and Washington so far.

They will be shipping i their blankets directly to Everett and I will bring the rest in my car," Wolf said. Dr. Micaela Hansen, Everett's principal, said she was flabber-; gasted by the offer. "I am hoping the blankets will give the kids some security. Some of our kids are feeling really afraid because of what has happened to their friends.

I think they will be touched because somebody thought enough of them to make them a present. 'They are worried something might happen to them. Maybe even that Everett kids have been WB is coming continued from page 1 prop was windmilling and I started looking for a field." Below, U.S. tanks were advancing in a spear formation. He cleared tanks and slid on the ground.

Once stopped he climbed out of the stood on the wing and waived at his wingman above. There was a German in a farm house that the tanks had bypassed. He started shooting his rifle as Sulzbach dove for the ground. "That was minor to what they were shooting at me when I was in the air," he said Friday evening at the reunion outdoor dinner at Anderson Dance Pavilion. "A few rifle bullets don't bother you it did spook me a little bit." Sulzbach crawled into a small ditch and headed for the friendly tanks.

He then was taken to the headquarters of the 88th Division and was greeted to get a fall launch, he said. None of them, however, was the focus of a star-studded rally. Ironically, neither Johnson (who starred on the since-canceled and Doherty (who recently left is still with the network. Nei- ther, for that matter, is "Buffy," the Vampire Slayer," one of the network's big series two years ago. That show was picked up by UPN, which doesn't have a Sioux City presence.

Olson said it's doubtful that a similar push could be made to get a UPN station on Ca-bleONE since it hasn't created a station group to air its shows. Hasten offered were across-the-board spending cuts that would be triggered automatically should Social Security's surpluses be eroded, and Uimming Bush's request for higher de- i fense spending, they said. White House officials would not comment on the situation. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, while declining to say how Democrats would fix the problem, was quick to drop it on the White House's lap. "It's refreshing to see someone in the administration own- ing up to the problem, even to Olson, his company has received a steady stream of questions about The WB since that rally.

"We have continued to hear from people who want The WB," he Although negotiations stalled from time to time, they never completely ended. Because both sides believed it was in their best interests to reach an agreement before the start of the fall television season, talks kicked into high gear in recent months. "Both sides were motivated to get this to work," Olson said. "7 Other markets served Ca-' bleONE which didn't have The; WB are also expected' continued from page 1 it could be as much as $15 billion. While that would have no effect on the program's solvency and would still leave this year's surplus the second biggest ever, it could violate a pledge that most politicians are adamant about obeying.

Many of them worry that Americans believe the giant pension program for the elderly and disabled would be weakened if even small portions of its annual surplus are used for other federal activities. Bush and the leaders made no decisions about what to do, aides said. Among the options Social Security Siouxland Airsliow Siouxland's Airshow takes off this morning at Sioux Gateway Airport with roaring jets, acrobatics and displays of military aircraft Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. An opening ceremony will be at 12:45 p.m.

with a dedication for Col. Tom Considine, the late commander of the 185th Fighter Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard. The 185th's F-16 fighters will perform a missing man formation fly-over while a moment of silence will be observed in his remembrance, said Lt. Col Rhonda Briggs, public affairs representative for the air show. Admission and parking are free this year.

A portion of the proceeds from concessions sales will be allotted to community organizations. Lt Col. Richard Fechter, air Nebraska Pick 5-12-16-18-28 Iowa Cash Gama 18-21-25-27-34 Plck3 5-7-5.