The Times and Democrat from Orangeburg, South Carolina • 4

THE EFSDCi STORBES THE TIMES AND DEMOCRAT Orangeburg, S.C. Monday, August 30, 1999 Mom plans wedding hurricane or not Clemson wind teams to follow Dennis anchored and then left while researchers pulled back to safer areas, to return after the storm to collect and analyze the information collected. Each trailer has computers and towers that extend to 15 and 33 feet to detect hurricane-force winds. Travis McKinney, a recent civil engineering graduate from Greenwood, said that after months of work he was happy the gear would finally see some action. Much of the work on the computers was only finished in the past few weeks.

"Ifs all kind of come together very quickly, he said. "If been a good kick in the pants." By The Associated Press CLEMSON, S.C. Even as Hurricane Dennis appeared to be turning away from the coast, Clemson University researchers were there to measure the wind in hopes of figuring out how to build better hurricane-resistant houses. Four wind-detecting trailers from Clemson's Wind Load Test Facility were being stationed along the wast and near Wilmington, N.C. The trailers, which cost $25,000 each, would be else thought that any of it was necessary." Beth Wilson's father, Terry, said the probability of a hurricane threatening Charleston on a given weekend was infinitesimal.

"Plus, I really didn't think God would do that to the South on the opening weekend of college football season," Terry Wilson said. The mother, who was always thinking ahead, also gave her daughter a hurricane survival kit packed with a radio, flashlights, peanut butter, candles and water at a June wedding shower. "It might be the first wedding gift we actually use," the bride said. By The Associated Press CHARLESTON, S.C. The logistics of planning a wedding is stressful enough, but it was double the trouble for one bride during hurricane season.

Beth Wilson ordered the cake, hired the florist and arranged for the harpist, clarinet and violinist to travel three hours inland to a second chapel in Spartanburg just in case a storm hit Charleston on Saturday. If something else could spoil the best plans, it did. Lightning started a fire at the the Spartanburg church earlier in the week. Firefighters extinguished the flames before too much dam- age was done. Thursday morning, Wilson burst into tears over a year of plans possibly ruined.

"I was just thinking, ifs two days before my wedding and I don't know where its going to be," Wilson said. After watching simulations of Hurricane Dennis creep up the Atlantic, Wilson's family finally announced the wedding was on at the Citadel's Summerall Chapel in Charleston as hoped. "It was all my idea," Wilson's mother Jeslyn Wilson said the day before the wedding. "Nobody Planes from Southeast evacuated to Wright-Patterson Carolinas. By Sunday evening, 211 planes, including 61 F-16s and 129 F-15s, from coastal bases and air stations in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia had landed at WrightPatterson, with at least 17 more on the way.

Planes from bases in the Southeast are assigned to relocate to Wright-Patterson when hurricanes threaten, Baker said. They have specified bases where they are permitted to take shelter in a hurricane evacuation situation. We are a known shelter area and we're glad to Barrier islands evacuating as Dennis lumbers north doit, she said. By The Associated Press DAYTON, Ohio More than 200 planes from Air Force bases and Marine Corps air stations in the Southeast have arrived at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to escape Hurricane Dennis. "We've got a bunch of aircraft up here and more is on the way.

Ifs going to be really wild," said Wright-Patterson spokeswoman Sue Baker. As the hurricane blew by the South Carolina coast on Sunday, residents and beachgoers were evacuated from a handful of North Carolina cities and a hurricane warning was posted for much of the coastal Quiz show goof victim boosts winnings on his return visit By The Associated Press NEW YORK The North Carolina graduate student who was mistakenly told he gave the wrong answer on a television quiz show increased his winnings in a return visit Sunday but backed out before answering a $250,000 question. David Honea got his first question right as he continued an earlier run on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," but declined to answer the second, deciding instead to pocket the $125,000 he'd already won. He was three correct answers from winning a million dollars. Host Regis Philbin told Honea on Aug.

Iff a show that he was wrong when he said Lake Huron was the second-largest in area of the five Great Lakes. The show said Lake Michigan, but later admitted it had made a research error and invited Honea back. Producer Michael Davies told Honea, a doctoral student in computer engineering, that he could keep the $64,000 he'd won and try to increase his winnings. In a show taped Saturday and aired on ABC Sunday, Honea correctly answered the question "Which was the last horse to win the Triple Crown?" boosting his winnings to $125,000. The correct answer is Affirmed.

He declined to risk part of that money on the next question, "Approximately how much saliva does the average human adult produce each day?" "I could take a guess, and I'd really like to keep playing for a million bucks," Honea said. "A hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars is more than I paid for my house. I can't risk that I'm going to take my money." Philbin gave Honea a check with his winnings and then let him guess at the correct answer with no money on the line. He got the right answer a quart. Firefighter killed trying to contain Western blazes By The Associated Press Firefighters battling flames on thousands of acres of Western brushland on Sunday had a grim reminder of the danger after a California firefighter died fighting a blaze north of Santa Barbara.

Rescuers found Stephen Joseph Masto, 28, in steep terrain of the Los Padres National Forest on Saturday after he didn't return to camp. Officials said it wasn't clear how he died and there was no evidence of burns. This may have been his first wildfire," said Michael Kotowski, a battalion chief with the Santa Barbara city fire department were Masto was stationed. He said Masto had volunteered to help fight the 180-acre blaze. Despite strong, shifting winds Sunday, fire officials across the West expressed cautious hope of controlling fires that have been raging for the last week in several states.

More than 200,000 acres have burned. Blazes in the Northern California county charred 32,879 acres. Two major fires were surrounded, and firefighters were gaining the upper-hand on three others. In the mountains northeast of Los Angeles, high, erratic winds caused the evacuation of two sparsely populated desert communities north of a fire burning near the resort town of Lake Arrowhead, officials said. A fire in the Stanislaus National Forest that forced the closure of Highway 120 into Yosemite National Park was contained after burning 4,028 acres, but officials kept about 1,000 firefighters on the scene for fear of flareups.

The highway was reopened Sunday. ByPAULNOWELL Associated Press Writer WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C. Hurricane Dennis moved along the coast toward the Carolinas on Sunday, prompting evacuation orders for the fragile Outer Banks barrier islands. Conditions were expected to worsen overnight, but it looked like the brunt of the storm might miss land. The hurricane was about 130 miles south of the North Carolina coast by the evening, with its top wind revved up slightly to 105 mph, and it had edged slightly toward the east.

A hurricane warning was posted for much of the coast of North Carolina. Winds were gusting 30 to 45 mph along the southern coast of the state by early evening. By midnight, winds there should reach up to 60 mph, forecasters said. Dennis was expected to continue turning toward the northeast. The storm's track was far from certain, the National Hurricane Center said.

"It weaves and bobs as it goes along," Jerry Jarrell, the center's director. "It's been holding its own, but I've noticed the eye is very large, it's huge, and if that eye goes through one of those cycles where it contracts, it certainly could intensify, and that would bring it closer to the coast and even over the coast." He also cautioned that because of the hurricane's size, with tropical storm-force wind extending up to 175 miles from the center on Sunday, "it doesn't have to come across the coastline to cause pretty strong winds." Forecasters said winds approaching hurricane force could pass off the coast of Cape Fear near North Carolina's southernmost tip at sunrise Monday. Hurricane force winds were expected to remain offshore. Well in advance of the storm, Gov. Jim Hunt on Sunday afternoon declared both a state of emergency and a state of disaster, which aides said allowed him to activate any resources necessary to cope with the storm.

Wrightsville Beach declared an 8 p.m. curfew Sunday, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base sent aircraft to bases in Ohio to escape the storm. New Hanover County at Wilmington said schools, courts and offices would be closed Monday. The storm was already kicking up high waves Sunday for surfers on the Outer Banks. Today was really, really big," Brian Schwartz said after surfing before going to work at Bert's Surf Shop on Nags Head.

"You had to be a little cautious, but we had a lot of fun rides." At 10 p.m. EDT Sunday, Dennis was centered 135 miles south of Wilmington, N.C. It had turned slightly east of due north and had quickened its pace to 13 mph, with maximum sustained wind near 105 mph. A hurricane warning was in effect for the North Carolina coast from the South Carolina state line to Oregon Inlet, near Nags Head. A tropical storm warning extended from Oregon Inlet northward to Chincoteague, and southward as far as Savannah, Ga.

Along North Carolina's sandy, low-lying Outer Banks chain of barrier islands, evacuations started at 1 p.m. Sunday south of Oregon Inlet and at noon on Ocracoke Island. Ocracoke is accessible only by boat, and ferry service will continue as long as the weather permits, said Peter Stone at the Ocracoke ferry office. There weren't many people on the island, said Terry Gray at the Hatteras Island ferry office. "We haven't been haulin' a whole lot," he said.

Red flags were posted along Wrightsville Beach, warning swimmers of possible rip currents. Last year, a 10-year-old swimmer at Atlantic Beach drowned in a rip current before Hurricane Bonnie arrived. Out of the water, the approaching storm hadn't slowed business yet for Kitty Hawk Kites, which operates hang-gliding classes on the huge Jockey's Ridge sand dune on the Outer Banks, about 50 miles north of Cape Hatteras. Melissa Lim said several people went hang gliding Sunday morning and classes were held during the day. Georgia's emergency management officials began to relax Sunday as forecasts showed Hurricane Dennis bypassing the state.

"We're starting to uncross our fingers very slowly," said Phillip Webber, the Chatham County Emergency Management Agency director. In South Carolina, officials closed 13 shelters around Charleston after just 40 people showed up. Dennis blew through the northern Bahamas on Saturday. Few homes were severely damaged, but several boats sank at marinas, said James Sweeting, assistant manager of the Divers Down dive shop on Treasure Cay. Silt stirred up by the storm will likely kill parts of the coral reefs that draw divers to the islands, he said.

"ItH grow back, but it's not going to look as pretty for a couple of months," said Sweeting. Stanback exhibit showcases array of local talent Continued from Page 1 A demonstrate our delight in their, achievements." The entry by the Staleys' daughter, Kizzi, will be displayed in a New York gallery Sept. 6-10. "I can't find the words to say how proud I am of these students," Staley said. "I worked hard with them, sometimes ignoring my doctor's warnings.

But with the showing they have made, it was worth every minute of it. I want the com-, munity and the world to know; that these kids are iust as erood young artists come and go, but they (the Staleys) stay here and they keep producing winners year after year after year." Also speaking for the school district, Assistant Superintendent Melvin Smoak said, Tou can go anywhere in the world and you wouldn't find anything better than the works you see here today." "It is our pleasure to host Orangeburg School District 5 and these wonderful students," SCSU President Leroy Davis said. "We couldn't miss the opportunity to Dennis heads north, brushes by Charleston Carolina Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Competition over the last three years. "Events like this show our young people how much we believe in them and their talent," Former O-W Principal Thomasenia Benson said. "But I must say Fve never seen so much talent in two teachers as I see in Alvin and Bretta Staley.

The Continued from Page 1A and better than any other artists. They are winners, in everything." Regional alliance aids Calhoun development Continued from Page 1A Late in the day, town officials closed Folly Beach, on a barrier island south of Charleston, to all but local residents to discourage a steady stream of sightseers bent on watching a hurricane spin by. "There's no need to come out to the islands right now just to look at the waves," Mayor Vernon Knox had said earlier. They're high, believe me." Still, despite a hurricane watch 'and tropical storm warning for the South Carolina coast, dozens of people came out Sunday morning to watch 10-foot waves at the Washout on Folly Beach. Only a few homes in the area, all new since Hugo washed out the narrow stretch on the island 10 years ago, were boarded up.

Most surfers managed only short rides on the crashing waves. The conditions right now are the next squall line spinning off the sea. Gov. Jim Hodges said he did not think an evacuation order was necessary but warned people in low-lying beach areas to be alert to the possibility of flooding and wind damage even if Dennis did not come ashore. "We aren't out of the woods yet," he said, following an evening update from emergency preparedness officials.

But, he said, Ve all feel comfortable with our decisions." In Myrtle Beach, atjout 90 miles north of Charleston, Gary Loftus, manager of the Bar Harbor Motor Inn, said Dennis was more of nuisance than a threat. He was one of 4,863 golfers planning to play in the DuPont World Amateur Handicap Championship golf tournament, but organizers canceled Monday's rounds. One guest told Loftus he was in town to see the storm, not play golf "You're about as disappointed as the golfers. We aren't golfing tomorrow and we aren't having a hurricane tomorrow," Loftus said he told the man. fools are still going out anyway." The rip currents were especially dangerous, he said.

The best surfing is when a hurricane is well offshore and just sends swells into the coast, Home said. Ed Yarborough, who was board-: ing up a house a block from the beach, was not convinced the storm would turn to sea "Seeing is believing," he said. "You must board up and be safe rather than be sorry." Harold Holt of Mount Pleasant, who was out early to watch the surfers and the roiling waves, was more trusting of the forecasts. "I think it's going to come close but turn north," he said. Dennis was expected to parallel the Carolinas' coastline, National Hurricane Center Director Jerry Jarrell said.

But, he warned, "Ifs going to be very close." Squalls from the outer bands of Dennis moved through the area Sunday morning with blinding rain and some street flooding. But then the sky would lighten and the steeples of Charleston's churches, towering above parking lots full of parishioners' cars, stood bright against the dark clouds of extremely dangerous," said Dale Home, a surfer from North Charleston who was content to watch. The sets are coming in too close together. Some of these crazy of our organization. We look forward to working with them." Calhoun County will pay $72,000 a year to belong to the alliance.

"This is well within our budget set up for economic development," Summers said. In addition, the private sector of the county must come up with $10,000 for the alliance. This second requirement gives the existing businesses and industries a stake in the development process, Summers said. "Everybody seems excited" about joining the alliance, he said. The alliance will assign profes sional staff specifically to work with Calhoun County.

This staff will maintain the relationship between the county and the Department of Commerce. The development office in St. Matthews will remain open with Jane Dyches in the office to maintain a liaison with existing industries and businesses, Black said. The eight member board, appointed by the county council, will also remain in existence. "We need to maintain the local office to support local needs and programs such as the appreciation dinner coming up next month" Black said.

"Jane Dyches in to be commended for providing positive" direction for the office while the office wa without a director. She kept all members of the Development Commission and the County Council well informed," he said. zation was very proactive and aggressive in seeking new industries for the region. King said the leads for possible new industries come in a variety of ways, with the largest percentage coming from the S.C. Department of Commerce.

The alliance advertises the region in many ways, King said. The Internet site is an important tool in seeking clients. In addition, the group purchases advertising space in site publications and nationally distributed newspapers. Direct mail is used, and King said that word of mouth between industry leaders also provides information and leads. Another method used by the alliance staff in seeking new industry for the region is personal trips to Europe, Canada and all over the United States.

King said the alliance's staff of eight has over 50 projects active at this time. "One of the most significant things an area can do is to beef up infrastructure and construct industrial parks," King said. As an example, King said that within two years of completing industrial parks with the appropriate infrastructure, the smaller counties served by the alliance -Fairfield, Kershaw and Newberry counties had companies from around the world in place at the parks. When speaking of the recent incorporation of Calhoun County into the alliance, King said, "We are pleased to have them as a part excellent post graduate educational and research facilities will play an important role in the development of that part of the county. Today companies are looking for a region in which to locate.

County lines can be archaic as far as economic development is concerned," Black said. The economic development alliance maintains an Internet site, and Calhoun County information will be included on the site. The site records thousands of "hits" each month. Another benefit of becoming part of the alliance, according to Black, is the ability of the staff to screen inquiries. There are certain businesses or industries we would not be happy to have locate in our county, he said.

"We look forward to working with Mike Briggs and his staff at the alliance on economic development projects for Calhoun County," Black said. Jack Skolds, Chairman of the Central Carolina Economic Development Alliance, said, "Calhoun County is a great addition to our regional development effort. There are several linkages that connect our region as one. I am convinced that Calhoun County has a bright future." David King of the alliance office in Columbia said that the organi Local officials relieved storm missed area Continued from Page 1A evacuation for coastal area, instead opting to allow counties to make their own evacuation decisions. Things look much better," Hodges said.

"Certainly the latest weather picture has improved for us." At 7 p.m. EDT Sunday, Dennis was centered 170 miles south of Wilmington, N.C. It had turned slightly east of due north and had quickened its pace to 13 mph, with maximum sustained wind near 105 mph, up from 100 mph during the night. A hurricane warning was in effect for the North Carolina coast from the South Carolina state line to Oregon Inlet, near Nags Head. A tropical storm warning extended from Oregon Inlet northward to Chincoteague, and southward as far as Savannah, Ga.

"We were fortunate," Smith said. "But we have to point out, this is early in the (hurricane) season. We're looking at the potential for 9 more storms. This has been a good exercise for all of us." "Were preparing to do some damage assessment in the morning, but it's still very much wait and see what's going to happen," Red Cross director Cindy Smith said. "Nobody ever died being overprepared." South Carolina's coast was under a tropical storm warning for much of Sunday.

Gov. Jim Hodges did not announce a mandatory.