The Times and Democrat from Orangeburg, South Carolina • 4

fffreQJtmeg anu Democrat The big stories Page 4 Orangeburg, S.C., Friday, March 14, 1997 DPU manager hopes for speedy resolution FBI: Terrorist missile could have brought down TWA Flight 800 to purchase the rest elsewhere, Boatwright said. "The contract calls for them to give us notice four years in ad- If FlDTT AnnMftt lM1T Continued from Page 1 A elsewhere until the year 2000, Duncan said. it simply dous aown 10 a au- ference in opinion about what the contract means," Duncan said. party providers to transport their electricity over lines, Boatwright said. If doesn't allow the electricity to flow through its lines "we will be seeking damages" for lost savings, he said.

Boatwright said he believes DPU will realize savings by purchasing power elsewhere, but said he is not allowed to divulge what the savings would be at this time. Boatwright said that under the contract, DPU must purchase at least 50 megawatts of power per day or 50 percent of its maximum integrated demand about 63 megawatts from until the contract expires in 2000. The local utility believes it is entitled 1MB IB a uioatticciiicin A 11 sion on Wednesday. DPU will intervene in the filing, DPU Manager Fred Boatwright said Thursday. "We will ask for summary judgment, hopefully which will come very quickly," Boatwright said.

"We are disappointed that they chose to take this course, but they've done it and we have to do what we can in response," he said. "We're confident we're going to be successful." Meanwhile, DPU will continue to make arrangements with third- the terms oi a contract, ana mere is no animosity involved, Boatwright said. "It is purely just a business matter." DPU has been purchasing electricity almost exclusively from, or its predecessor, Broad River Power since 1927. DPU purchases about 98 percent of its electricity from siles are designed specifically to shoot down planes. Flight 800 exploded after takeoff from Kennedy Airport, killing all 230 people on board and scattering wreckage across a five-mile stretch of the Atlantic Ocean.

The missile theory has been bolstered by people who reported seeing something in the sky before the disaster. "There were too many people who describe strange events like flares and streaks of light in the sky" to ignore the missile possibility, Kallstrom said. Kallstrom's remarks came in a week rife with reports that a missile was responsible for the explosion. He was particularly incensed by claims by Pierre Salinger, a former ABC newsman and press secretary to President Kennedy, that the U.S. government is covering up the real cause of the blast.

"The outrageous claims of the Pierre Salingers of the world that are unfounded in any facts, absent any rational analysis do nothing to assist us in trying to find the answers to this horrific event," Kallstrom said. Salinger offered an expanded version Thursday of his theory that a Navy missile shot down Flight 800. At a Paris news conference, he released a 69-page document and a set of radar images from a video. The tape "completely confirms a missile fired down TWA 800," Salinger said. Kallstrom said investigators long ago eliminated any "friendly fire" scenarios or the possibility of a military cover-up.

The FBI reviewed radar and other sources to conclude the military could not have shot down the plane, he said. By The Associated Press NEW YORK The FBI agent in charge of the TWA Flight 800 investigation acknowledged for the first time Thursday that the plane could have been brought down by a shoulder-fired terrorist missile. But so far, there is no evidence to prove that theory, James Kallstrom said. And he condemned as ridiculous a new flurry of claims that the jet was destroyed accidentally by the U.S. military.

"This terrible, terrible tragedy was not caused by our military," Kallstrom said in an interview with The Associated Press. "Our military, in particular the Navy divers, are the heroes of this operation -not the culprits." Investigators have focused on three possible explanations for the July 17 disaster: a bomb, a missile or mechanical failure. Kallstrom said that it is "technically possible" a terrorist using a shoulder-fired, Stinger-type missile could have caused the tragedy, and he said investigators are examining that possibility. He would not elaborate on where a missile could have been fired from or provide other specifics. The plane was 10 miles onshore and more than 13,000 feet up at the time.

Kallstrom said there is no new evidence to support the terrorist missile scenario over other theories. But he noted that similar missiles have been used to down more than 25 commercial planes over the past two decades in places such as Africa, the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. Stinger-type mis VW also reportedly looking at S.C., other states Continued from Page 1 A. Audi official was quoted as saying. If a facility is built in the Southeast, Audi would join a growing group of automakers creating a new network of plants there.

The region is appealing because it offers cheap labor, a mostly union-free work force and big tax incentives for those setting up shop. General Motors and Ford have long had a presence in the region. Toyota and Nissan built plants there in the 1980s. Volkswagen will follow fellow German companies BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which recently established operations in South Carolina and Alabama. The Associated Press con-; tributed to this report.

project and has narrowed its search to Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the Journal reported in Wednesday and Thursday editions, citing sources close to the situation. An Audi spokesman said the company is studying the United States and other countries for sites, but no factory would be built before the year 2000. The News reported that Audi officials are conducting studies to determine if the plant in the United States or elsewhere would be supported by sales and other economic factors. Audi AG has many countries under consideration where production could make sense, but the company is far from a decision, an she isn't aware of the information, but "I hope it's true." She said some industries are large enough to conduct their own site selection without going through local development officials Local utilities, education and soil officials likewise said they were unaware of the possibility. A state Department of Commerce official cited that office's confidentiality policy.

The News story followed Wall Street Journal reports that Audi is preparing to spend $780 million on a new production plant. The luxury unit of Volkswagen will create 2,500 jobs with the LAPD chief: Weapon, wool cap also seized Continued from Page 1 A Cooler weather not expected to slow flowers Continued from Page 1 A North Hollywood home, will be charged with one count of murder. He has "some criminal history," Williams said, declining to elaborate. Two other people brought in for questioning Wednesday night a man and a woman were released. Markhasev came to this country legally as a Russian refugee in 1989 and is not a U.S.

citizen, a federal official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press. The primary witness was a woman Ennis Cosby apparently was going to visit the night of the slaying. After Cosby had the flat tire, she went to the scene in her car and came face to face with the suspect. Williams said her description of Markhasev was remarkably accurate. As the chief spoke, Markha-seVs mug shot and an artist's sketch made from a description provided by the witness were displayed side by side.

Williams confirmed the tip came first to the National Enquir- Friday is expected to be mostly cloudy with showers early in the day. Highs are expected to range from 70 to 75 degrees. There is 30 percent chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Lows will be in the mid-50s. Saturday should become sunny -and breezy with a high near 70.

Sunday should remain clear, but expect highs around 60 and lows around 30. Salley expects the flowers, such as azaleas, dogwoods and wisteria to continue blooming despite the cooler weather. "Historically there has always been a cold snap before Easter," he said. "The roses should be in bloom by the middle of April, but I hope we can keep them from blooming until about April 25 so they will be ready for the Rose Festival." It happened to be a man in a car and the defendant who is now under arrest happened to come by" Williams also said investigators seized a knit, woolen cap believed worn by the suspect and the gun used in the Jan. 16 slaying of Ennis Cosby, who was shot along a roadside as he changed a tire on his $130,000 Mercedes convertible.

Ballistic tests confirmed the gun was used in the killing, Williams said. He said the gun, which he did not describe, and the cap were found last Friday after a thorough search of the area with help from recruits from the Los Angeles police academy. The chief noted that nothing appeared to have been taken during the robbery attempt and that Markhasev drove to and from the crime scene. Markhasev, who was arrested Wednesday night at his suburban schedule. "The azaleas have been blooming since the end of February," said Rotie Salley, superintendent of gardens for the Orangeburg Parks and Recreation Department.

The dogwoods have just started to bloom." Bailey: I'm kind of limited in what I can say er's reward tip line, and was passed on to the police department's press relations office. "This tip along with many other hundreds was methodically reviewed and followed up on," the chief said. "The investigation of this tip included the issuance of at least three search and seizure warrants and the results of those warrants led to other information that ultimately identified the suspect and led to his arrest yesterday. Enquirer editor Steve Coz said the tipster called within days of the killing and provided a reporter with a pager number. The number and name were relayed to police.

The tipster told the tabloid there was a Russian crime syndicate connection, and the Los Angeles Times reported the same link on Thursday, but Williams emphasized Markhasev apparently wasn't part of a gang. Coz said the tabloid's tipster helped police find the gun by pointing out the area a few miles from the crime scene where it had been dumped. Cosby family spokesman David Brokaw talked to Bill and Camille Cosby and said, "I sense a real sense of triumph, exuberance and something along the lines of some sort of closure." In a statement, the couple thanked police and said they "felt certain and had every hope that they would find the suspect and that the process of jurisprudence would unfold." The younger Cosby was a doctoral candidate in special education at Columbia University. The slaying came as a particular shock to many because of the elder Cosbs role as America's favorite TV father. The state of California and two tabloids offered rewards totaling nearly $400,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.

The state later withdrew its $50,000 offer at the request of the Cosby family. Los Angeles County also dropped a Continued from Page 1 A nrn LO)(oxo uJ one Roy Caffey by means of shooting andor aiding, assisting and abetting other persons in shooting the said Roy Bailey acknowledged at the scene where investigators were digging under overcast skies Thursday afternoon that "we were executing a search warrant" on the property. The backhoe was used to dig behind an abandoned mobile home where Clara Kemmerlin and her family formerly lived, which is next door to the mobile home where the family currently resides. Among those observing the excavation Thursday were SLED agents, Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office detectives, officers from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and members of the Kemmerlin family, including.

Betsy Kemmerlin and her mother. Asked if investigators were in-: deed looking for the car, Bailey responded, "Well, it's part of the investigation, so I really don't want to say a whole lot of stuff. We didn't find anything back there." In a conversation later in the day, Bailey said investigators believe the Betsy Kemmerlin, Benjamin Douglas Kemmerlin and Durham Lee Mizzell had access to a red Mustang. Asked what led investigators-to search Clara Kemmerlin's property, Bailey said, "It's part of. the investigation, and I don't, want to get into all the details of it.

I wish I could tell you some-' thing, but the investigation is on-. going. I'm kind of limited to what. I can say." the only place investigators have actually excavated for evidence in the case since Betsy Kemmerlin, 40, of Santee was indicted Feb. 24 by an Orangeburg County grand jury for Casey's murder.

According to 1st Circuit Solicitor Walter Bailey, Kemmerlin has said she was with two people when the killing occurred. She identified two accomplices her brother Benjamin Douglas Kemmerlin of Santee and Durham Lee Mizzell of Eutawville, both now deceased. The indictment charges that: "Betsy Rourk Kemmerlin did in Orangeburg County on or about Oct. 8, 1972, feloniously, wilfully and with malice aforethought, kill Call before summer settles in, and you can earn a $200 rebate on a Carrier Indoor Weather System that lets you forget about summer heat, humidity, high electric bills and constant thermostat adjustments. Carrier gives you complete control of your indoor weather.

To qualified customers, financing available for up to 60 months at 10 APR. mil 3 Three more Flight 1016 damages cases settled CUSTOM MADE INDOOR WEATHER holly hill mm a air Holly Hill Summerville Monck's Corner 1-800-406-1821 or 496-5843 oCRSCBI By KIM CURTIS Associated Press Writer COLUMBIA The families of three people killed in the Flight 1016 crash settled their cases against USAir on Thursday, but the dollar amounts were not disclosed. Rita Gray of Santee, Paul Perez of Columbia and Ann Sharkey of Chestertown, were on the DC-9 jet that went down in July 1994, killing 37 people and injuring 20 others. A federal jury last week found USAir, now called US Airways, negligent and liable for actual damages. Five other damages cases were settled Wednesday.

The flight, en route from Columbia, crashed in a thunderstorm near Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. A federal safety board determined a strong gust called a microburst drove the plane into the -ground. Survivors and victims' families sued, saying USAir's pilots were negligent for trying to land in the storm. The airline blamed air traffic controllers for not giving the crew adequate weather information. Ms.

Sharkey's case was to be presented to a federal jury Monday as an example for lawyers to use in negotiating other cases. "These families feel that USAir has stepped to the plate and recognized their responsibility," said Michael Baum, attorney for the plaintiffs who settled Thursday. He called the settlements "fair and reasonable and appropriate compensation." Attorney William Herlong petitioned the court on behalf of several media organizations to release the settlement amounts. The public has a right to know because taxpayer funds are involved, he said. (ED (BrmmsEJ mrmm enra -v V4 liraveinittoiry In Stock 'mttzm oiiismtttsiirii' Reno thought FBI would tell Lake about China role WASHINGTON (AP) Attorney General Janet Reno said she stopped trying to tell National Se-' curity Adviser Anthony Lake that, China might try to influence the 1996 elections because she thought the FBI would pass the word.

Reno said she called Lake's office after receiving an FBI briefing last May about the intelligence information. "I was not able to reach Lake," Reno said, and she didn't pursue the matter further because "I was told the briefing went forward." Both Lake and President Clin-ton have said they were not briefed about the FBI intelli- gence, which was given to two' National Security Council Strings, Cable, Sticks New and Used Items Financing and Layaway Available Over 50 Items on Sale Choose from Famous Name Brands Guitars, Drums, PA, Keyboards, Amps cFadyen Vjusic 747 J.C. Calhoun Drive ki erne ij Orangeburg 531-8300 Store Hours Sat.