The Sentinel from Carlisle, Pennsylvania • Page 2

gtjte Gates A2 Wednesday, April 7, 1993, The Sentinel, Carlisle, Pa. NRC says TSVii operators had OK response The report noted that incidents at TMI as far back as 1976 had indicated faults with security at the plant, site of the nation's worst commercial nuclear accident in March 1979. The Unit 2 reactor was destroyed in the accident but Unit 1, which was undamaged, was restarted in 1985. NRC Chairman Ivan Selin said the intruder had been able to reach an area where he could have done "significant damage," but he generally praised the company's response. Last month, GPU announced it would toughen security at the plant to prevent a repeat of the break-in. The company said it would spend about $1 million to install metal guard rails, reinforced gates, intrusion alarms and more surveillance cameras. itored reactor and plant conditions, which would have revealed tampering. "If required, the reactor could have been shut down and cooled down from the control room," investigators concluded. The building is on the nonnuclear side of the plant, where steam generated by the reactor system is used to generate electricity. The report did identify some shortcomings, among them: Concerned about their personal safety, control room workers locked fire doors that cut them off from other staff and equipment. Plant security officers improperly used electronic equipment near the intruder's car before determining if it contained explosives. BOCKVILLE, Md. (AP) Operators of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant responded adequately to a February break-in during which a man used a car to ram his ay into the turbine building, investigators said. The Middletown plant's internal equipment was undamaged, but officials said the incident could lead to revised federal guidelines in the way nuclear industry workers are trained to handle emergencies. A report issued Tuesday by Nuclear Regulatory Commission investigators generally endorsed actions taken by. the plant's operators, GPU Nuclear during the Feb. 7 break-in. "The security force responded appropriately to the specific challenge presented by the intruder," the report said. "The event resulted in no actual adverse reactor safety con sequences and was of minimal safety significance." A man drove past a guard station, crashed his station wagon through a fence and metal garage door and then disappeared into the turbine building of the plant's Unit 1. He was arrested four hours later. The suspect in the case, Pierce Nye, of Bethel has been charged with causing or risking a catastrophe, criminal mischief and related charges. The NRC report said he had been hospitalized several times for depression prior to his arrest on TMI, most recently in January. The NRC team said operators acted properly by allowing the plant to continue generating power, even though it was not immediately known how many intruders were inside or what the person or people might be doing. During that time, control room operators closely mon- Court upholds insurance law Wife wanted now the Medicare fee scale for their services. Gov. Robert P. Casey hailed the court's decision as a protection for motorists, who he estimated already have saved about $1.4 billion in insurance premiums since the law took effect. "This case was a major challenge to our successful auto insurance law and affirms that the consumer has prevailed over the special interests in this state," Casey said in a statement. He noted that the decision could also smooth the way for proposed workers' compensation reforms that would cap medical fees for doctors and hospitals that treat employees hurt on the job. rights by instituting a price cap when lawmakers did not find that the medical fees contributed to higher insurance premiums. The law also restricts doctors' rights to provide service to patients, the group said. In suing the state, the society had sought to overturn key sections of the reforms and to lift the cap on medical fees. Ms. Palladino concluded that the limit on medical fees is an accepted way of ensuring that the cost savings built into the auto insurance law are not passed on as another price increase borne by consumers. Under state law, doctors and hospitals that treat accident victims cannot charge more than 110 percent of HARRISBURG (AP) The Pennsylvania Medical Society failed to make its case against the state's three-year-old cap on medical fees for treating patients injured in automobile accidents, a state court ruled. In a 13-page decision issued Tuesday, Commonwealth Court ruled against the group's claims that the 1990 state auto insurance law was too vague and infringed on doctors' rights. "A careful reading suggests that the provisions in no way restrict a physician's ability to choose whether or not to treat a particular patient," Judge Madaline Palladino wrote. The medical group contended the law violated physicians' due process 11 -year-old returns home safely Troy Murphy had not been seen since he got off a Montoursville School District bus Monday afternoon, state police said. The fifth-grader at McCall Middle School apparently was unhappy after being TROUT RUN (AP) An 11-year-old boy, whose disappearance sparked a search by dozens of volunteer firefighters, emerged unharmed Tuesday after a freezing night in the woods. BELLEFONTE (AP) The wife of former judge Joseph O'Kicki joined her husband on the wanted list when she was charged with changing her name illegally to avoid foreclosure proceedings. In her 1991 name-change application, Sylvia J. O'Kicki said she was changing her name to Onusic because it was her "proper, original maiden name," authorities said. Her maiden name actually was Notich. Mrs. O'Kicki also was accused of lying on her application in order to hide a financial interest in a house. Authorities said she listed a State College address on the form and failed to mention the Johnstown-area home where she and the judge lived. "Those premises were the subject of a mortgage note and mortgage," the complaint said. "The actor, anticipating a foreclosure action which was, in fact, filed on August 3, 1992, omitted any statements reflective of her interest." Her husband, the former president judge of Cambria County, was convicted in 1989 of bribery and corruption. He failed to appear at a bond revocation hearing in Easton last month and has been a fugitive since. Mrs. O'Kicki was charged in Centre County with two felony counts of perjury and one misdemeanor count of false swearing. She also was charged in Cambria County on six counts of fraud and deception involving the deed to the Johnstown house. disciplined at school, police said. "It was a long, cold night. I don't know how he kept warm," said David Stine, chief of Plunketts Creek Volunteer Fire who was in charge of the nearly 12-hour search in rural Gamble Township, north of Williamsport. While search teams combed the steep terrain of Jacoby Mountain, Troy's parents, Jack and Mary Murphy, stayed either at the command post or inside their home. I Jt 9J At a glance Lottery lT horrifying situation. You wouldn't believe it if you didn't see it." The owner of the farm, Merle Mintmier, 44, was not there during the search. He has twice before been cited for cruelty to animals, said Doug Grosch, Indiana County's chief humane officer. At Boatman's recommendation, Grosch is considering filing charges against Mintmier, although none were filed Tuesday. Mintmier's attorney, Matthew Kovacik, declined to comment. Mintmier's telephone number is unlisted. -Associated Press Tuesday's Daily Number was 018. 018 Merita Welch, 90, aloiig'with instructor Mike Hussey, behind her in the rigging, floats in for a landing Tuesday in the Waynesville, Ohio, airport after her first parachute jump. She took the jump to celebrate her 90th birthday and said she was not frightened. (AP) Remains identified as those of teen PHILADELPHIA The skeletal remains found over the weekend by children playing in a city park has been positively identified as belonging to a teen-ager who disappeared five years ago. Forensic experts Tuesday used dental records to identify the body as that of 15-year-old John Benjamin Simmons, who disappeared on the first day of school in 1988. The remains were found Sunday in vjest Fairmount Park. Articles of clothing near the remains resembled those worn by the missing teen, and 4 set of keys to his mother's and grandmother's houses were found nearby. The boy was apparently shot once in the head, police said. i Dead dogs found on farm NEW FLORENCE Humane Officers searching a farm found the (Jarcasses of 1 6 dogs that had been stacked like firewood after the dogs were shot and killed. State law allows owners to destroy their animals in a humane way, but veterinarian James Boatman said he fvas shaken by what he saw Tuesday at the farm in West Wheatfield Township. Indiana County. "In my 31 years of practice, I've never seen killing like that," Boatman said. "The summary execution )f those dogs is inexcusable. That's the most reprehensible part of this PICK OP A Big 4:1495 Winning numbers drawn Tuesday in the "Pennsylvania Wild Card Lotto" game were: 02-04-05-09-30 and 44. The wild card number was 43. Friday's "Pennsylvania Wild Card Lotto" jackpot will be worth at least $2.5 million because no players matched the six winning numbers drawn Tuesday night, a lottery official said. Lottery director Charles W. Kline said no players matched five numbers plus the wild card and as a result, the winnings will roll over to Friday's Wild Card Lotto jackpot; 53 players matched five numbers and won 103 players matched four numbers plus the wild card and won 3,542 players matched four numbers and won $19; 2,600 players matched three numbers plus the wild card and won $15.50. Today's Super 7 jackpot will be worth at least $2.5 million. The Sentinel Published daily except Sunday and Christmas Day by Cumberland Publishers 457 E. North Carlisle. 17013. Second class postage paid at Carlisle, Pa. U.S.P.S. No. 0887-0802. Telephone (717) 243-2611 or 697-4611. News fax: 243-3121; all other departments fax: 243-3754. The Sentinel is served by dealers in Carlisle and surrounding communities at a newsstand rate of 35 cents Monday through Friday and 50 cents on Saturdays. The suggested home delivery rate is $2.00 per week by carrier and $2.15 per week by motor route. The mail rate is $1 1 for four weeks in the county and $17.00 for four weeks outside the county. National advertising representative: Landon Associates 750 Third New York. N.Y. 10017. The SenUnel is a member of the Newspaper AssociaUon of America. Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Association and the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Sentinel, P.O. Box 130. Carlisle, 17013. 4 PACK 4 PACK 5a 0 .1 ITwf mm TMMnf SlMtt'iflv)1 On Sunday, April 11th, from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Agway 4 Pack Total Lawn Care Program Satisfaction guaranteed Agway 4 Pack is the complete, goof proof system that feeds and enriches when your lawn needs it most. Plus, it controls weeds and insects that damage your grass. Costs less, too! Each application is designed for a specific stage of the growing season jmmi ciC and covers 5,000 sq ft. All the guesswork is gone; just follow the direc- 23 Jf pya5 tions and a thick, green lawn is GUARANTEED or we'll refund your CIMAI ntfa money. (864-325) Reg. $59.96 Sale $44.95 I. after $8.00 mail-in rebate ASK ABOUT DELIVERY, ft Easy, fast, no-tool assembly Easter Brunch The Brunch Includes: Carved Brown Sugar and Honey Glazed Ham Sliced Top Round of Beef with Sauce Robert Country Fried Chicken Broiled Flounder with Hollandiase Sauce French Toast Omelettes Dessert Display and much, much more! Price: $10.95 Agway Deluxe Spreaders professional quality rustproof 5-year guarantee 40-lb capacity choose broadcast, drop or towbroadcast eAAQC Reg. $42.95 YOUR CHOICE Cg 1 WETKZSTYOOISStfr Carlisle Agway Hours. 520 o.o freet WeekdiTsSO p.m. 243-4312 R-A LJ Children 5-12 $5.50 Children under 5 Free Reservations Appreciated BEST WESTERN INN 1245 H.irrisburg Pike, Carlisle 243-5411 or 7f6-8361 i offiwi CARLISLE DAIRY QUEEN, INC. 221 Penrose Place (Adjacent to MJ Mall) Phone: 249-8655 AM DO OfcMW? (Kj Pi! cm AM COW