Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas • 1

i f' 1 THE MOURNING BEGINS, PAGES A10-A13 I 1 1 1111 Tny II fill II II 1 (PI 50 CENTS NS V- I I PUBUSHED SINCE 1871 SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1997 (M Central Texas comes to grips with its losses; Jarrell shaken as tornado siren wails again 9 J' By Chuck Lndeu. American-Statesman Staff ARRELL The tornado that killed 27 people here Tuesday was so devastating that only two twisters this decade can compare in intensity. Even so, many residents weren't thinking about the odds Friday evening. A. I I i I 1 Reports of funnel clouds 20 miles north of Jarrell persuaded volunteer firefighters to blare the tornado siren when the storm system appeared to be taking a path similar to Tuesday's weather system.

The response was immediate on already frayed nerves. Residents, relief workers and journalists jumped into cars to scatter at 6 p.m., tuning radios to follow the storm's path. Many declined offers to take cover inside Jarrell's larger buildings, remembering the complete destruction of Tuesday's tornado. Later, funnel clouds were sighted near Jarrell 'This is something we'll be dealing with not just once, oij. onceayear.lt I willbea continual Max Johnson, pastor, First Baptist Church of Jarrell bl I''- I1 I.

1 i I i 1- and over Salado, about I nine miles to the north, but no damage was reported. Jesse Jacobson, 25, who lives in Jarrell, was one of those heading out. "I knew it was, 'Here we go I got to, my truck and headed to Georgetown. No matter what, I wasn't going to stay" Jacobson hung out at the Wal-Mart in Georgetown watching weather in the electronics department until it was safe to leave. Even as Jarrell breathed a sigh of relief Friday night, it looked ahead to the aching task of burying 27 of its residents in the next few days.

Today members of three families will be buried: Cindie, Brandi and Stacy Smith; Vicki Kehl Taylor and Johnathan Kehl; and all five members of the Igo family Max Johnson, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Jarrell, will co-preside over the Igo funeral today, say-See In Jarrell, A13 Si, Tom LankesAA-S photos veteran killed in a tornado that hit the area Tuesday. At top, Terry Hielscher is comforted by friends at his son's memorial service. At the Pedernales Valley Baptist Church in southwest Travis County, a community said goodbye Friday to 25-year-old Kevin Hielscher a son, a friend, a Navy After the storm In Pedernales Valley, tragedy is smaller but equally felt The generosity of Central Texans will pay for the Red Cross' entire tornado relief operation. A10 A10 How to help. Texas musicians to unite for Tornado Jam benefit concert.

All A12 Internet messages poured in from around the world. A14 Editorial. winning personality, fresh from a six-year stint in the Navy "Everybody who met him loved him," said Pastor John Rudd. Once the service concluded in the church off Texas 71, it was back to the business of recovery for those who live in the unincorporated area known as Pedernales Valley The 2,500 residents who live in neighborhoods called Briarcliff, Bee Creek, Hazy Hills, Lick Creek and Pedernales Canyon Trail returned to what is left of their lives. "Everybody is still in a state of shock," Rudd said.

"Most of the people who have lost things have not really at this point let See A loss, All 'Most of the people who have lost things have not really at this point let the loss soak in. Pastor John Rudd By Sharon Jayson American-Statesman Staff Only two weeks after Kevin Hielscher celebrated his 25th birthday, his friends filled the Pedernales Valley Baptist Church for his funeral. Hielscher died Tuesday in the same storm that took the lives of 27 people in Jarrell, but he lived in southwest Travis County A tornado from that storm system ripped through this close-knit rural community some 20 miles west of Austin, destroying 25 homes and damaging many others; For an hour Friday, mourners stopped thinking about their own troubles and focused on the life of a young man with a Coming Sunday The tornadoes ravaged neighborhoods, shattered dreams and took 30 lives. None of us will forget those terrible mo- ments when the storms unleashed their fury on Central Texas, or the sorrow afterward. In Sunday's Austin American-Statesman, we'll recount, moment by moment, the tale of the tornadoes and the destruction they wrought We'll also honor the lives of those who died among them teachers and truck drivers, a single mom who died with her teen-age son and a family of five.

Lynne DobsonAA-S LegSslitors rejsct cups Jurors to resume ueigliing Me of IMfefgii today Vote today in Central Tares runsf fs In Central Texas runoffs, two i spiiis Giro: appraise I 1 .1 III COUNCIL EUICnON its A 4 Willie Lewis Eric Mitchell places are at stake in the Austin City Council, while Pflugeft'ille votes for a City Council member and T7 1 Leander is looking to a spot on the "It gives taxpayers the opportunity to spread out their burden." Art Cory, Travis County's chief appraiser, disagreed. "It is not property tax relief," Cory said. "It is a way to spread the payments." Homeowners would be able to defer taxes on appraisal increases of more than 5 percent a year. school board. Candidates and polling places, E3.

B. Spelman M.Zuniga As he turned the case over to the jurors, US. District Judge Richard Matsch told them, "You are the sole and exclusive judges of the facts." Moments later, survivors of the bombing, and victims' relatives, rushed to telephones to change reservations for flights back to Oklahoma City from Friday night and this morning to tonight. Paul Heath, a Veterans Administration psychologist who survived the bombing, predicted a verdict by this afternoon. Others were less confident.

"My stomach is very, very upset right now," said Dan McKinney, whose wife, Linda, and niece, Shelly Bland, died in the explosion. "I worry that there's something the jury didn't like. Not that he's not guilty but that because of some little piece (of evidence), he'll be found not guilty "I don't know how I would handle that." Still, McKinney said he hoped jurors would take their time and ren- See McVeigh, A5 OPauiful waiting continues for victims' families, survivors in Oklahoma City blast By Gwen Florio The Philadelphia Inquirer DENVER Jurors in the Oklahoma City bombing trial debated the fate of Timothy McVeigh for TA hours Friday without reaching a verdict, sorely disappointing survivors and families who had waited more than two years for this moment "This reminds me of waiting after the bombing to find out the fate of my daughter," said Marsha Kite, whose child was one of the 168 people killed in the April 19, 1995, blast. "Now, once again, I'm waiting." The seven-man, five-woman jury began deliberating soon after 9:30 a.m., and deliberated until 5 p.m. They were to return this morning.

Alternate plan lets homeowners delay paying increases higher than 5 percent By Michele Kay American-Statesman Capitol Staff Legislation that would have helped protect Texas homeowners from spiraling property tax hikes was rejected Friday when key lawmakers decided not to limit increases in residential appraisals. Instead of capping increases at 5 percent a year, a House-Senate committee proposed allowing homeowners to defer their property taxes when the value of their house increases by more than 5 percent a year. Supporters said deferment would provide property tax relief, but critics said it simply delays the effects of increased appraisals; "This is real property tax relief," said Sen. Teel Bivins, R-Amarillo. Birth control measure slips into budget bill.

Bl 'Zero tolerance' revision opposed. Bl Linda Finch tribute grounded. Bl Newsmakers Metro State, BIO Scoreboard Sports, E8 TV listings Life Arts, C12-13 1997, Austin American-Statesman Best Bets Metro State, B10 Comics Life Arts, C14 Classifieds Section Crossword Life Arts, C15 Deaths Metro State, B4 Editorials News, A14-15 Entertainment Life Arts, C9 State honors Kilgore man. B7 mi They would pay 8 percent interest on the taxes they defer. But if their assessment increases by less than 5 percent in See Effort, Back page fci 1 Metro State, B10 Lottery 8.