Leader-Telegram from Eau Claire, Wisconsin • 1

Monday e-Telegeam TP MOW Mi 1 831-2OO0 The following stories will be updated: Tobacco trial Selection 1053 ClintonAfrica Selection 1054 Clinton Selection 1055 Ark. shooting Selection 1057 NCAA women Selection 1058 Boy dies, towns bashed in Minnesota tornados NCAA men Selection 1059 r. A St--- p'Vm Le Center in south-central Minnesota and Comfrey in the southw estern portion of the state. Debris was found 55 miles away in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburbs of Apple Valley and Eagan, including a piece of the obituary page from the St.

Peter Herald newspaper that turned up in Apple Valley. A page from what appeared to be a library book from Le Center was found in Eagan, 40 miles away. Dustin Schneider was killed when the van he was riding in was thrown into a muddy field near St. Peter. The wind sucked the boy out of the van and tossed him 150 yards.

At least 38 people were treated in hospitals in Mankato and Springfield, and three were listed in critical condition. See STORMS, Page 2A By Kevin Powers Associated Press ST. PETER, Minn. Powerful tornados cut a ragged swath of destruction across southern Minnesota, killing a 6-year-old boy and carrying debris up to 55 miles away. At least three dozen people were injured.

Brad Bencke said he drove into the tornado in St. Peter on his way to an emergency shelter. "It picked the car up about 3 feet in the air and it was shaking, not just levitating," said Bencke, 25. Car windows were blown out and Bencke 11 -month-old child needed 10 stitches. The Sunday afternoon twisters flattened homes, uprooted trees and downed power lines in St.

Peter and intriBUm Tr- nitifara i -niii tfll 1 Twister spotted in Buffalo County By Leader Telegram staff and The Associated Press Buffalo County may have had Wisconsin's first tornado of the year as severe storms swept through the region on Sunday, producing downpours and golf-ball sized hail in some areas. The Buffalo County Sheriff's Department said a twister hit in backwaters of the Chippewa River near Maxville without damaging any structures. "There was one in the wildlife bottoms, but it didn't cause any damage to any property or persons," a sheriff's dispatcher said, declining to give her name. "One of our trained weather spotters for the fire department observed it. It was just down in the trees and it went north out of his sight." The National Weather Service said it could be a couple of days before it V1 One more time Mondovi's school district is going back to voters April 7 with a $6.8 million referendum to relieve student overcrowding.

Voters rejected a similar referendum Dec. 6. Page3A. Associated Press Residents of a storm-damaged home survey the wreckage Sunday after a tornado ripped through St. Peter, Minn.

Tornados leveled homes in a series of storms across southern Minnesota storm systems which also worked their way into western Wisconsin. Words of experience Rose Nix Leo, 103, of Howard, writes columns for a weekly newspaper, a monthly magazine and a church newsletter. Page 7A. rr Wtt to are i i Virm to v- 1 could determined whether it was an official tornado in Buffalo County. Eau Claire received 2.8 inches of rain from midnight Saturday to midnight Sunday, said Chris Scott, "We were sitting here, and all of a sudden, holy cow, it sounded like people were throwing rocks." Jean Borseth, Sheriff's department dispatcher Biif (vlflS Not a Bud man When acting baseball commissioner Bud Selig goes for lunch, he orders a diet soda and a hot dog.

His culinary selections say something about how he rules baseball and runs the Milwaukee Brewers. Page ID. a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in -t Staff photo by Steve Kinderman hi 111 Hi) The rising Chippewa River floods the city bike trail this morning in the area behind the Hobbs Ice Center. Chippewa River inching closer to flood; big problems unlikely It could be a while before we can dry out. Rain and the occasional thunderstorm are likely tonight, Tuesday and Wednesday, with lows around 40 and highs in the upper 40s.

Page 2A. By Tawny Colaizy Leader-Telegram staff The Chippewa River is expected to reach flood stage soon thanks in part to heavy rain over the weekend, officials said today. At 9:45 a.m. the river was at 771.6 feet. Flood stage is 773 feet.

The National Weather Service is predicting the river will crest at flood stage Tuesday or Wednesday. The river rose a half-foot in the last 24 hours, said Bruce France, city of Eau Claire survey supervisor. "But we're expecting it to continue rising today and tomorrow because of the rain we got last night," he said. iJfeavy rainfall today and Tuesday will increase the flooding potential, France said. The National Weather Service is calling for a 40 percent chance of showers or thunderstorm today and a 70 percent chance of rain tonight and Tuesday.

The prediction of the river cresting at 773 feet is based on an additional M-inch of rain, France said. Any rain above that amount would drive that level up. If the river crests at flood stage, low-lying areas like parts of Owen Park would be minimally impacted, France said. Parts of the Chippewa River bike trail along Owen Park already are under water. "At flood stage there would be very little damage or worry for general property owners, at least here in Eau Claire," he said.

Problems begin when the river reaches about 775 feet, or two feet above flood stage. Snow remaining in the northernmost region of the Chippewa-Flambeau river basin contributed to the rising waters, France said. With the freezing and thawing, the snow acted like a sponge, he said. About 1 to 3 inches of water had accumulated in the snow. "That, combined with the rain over the weekend, has created the problem," he said.

Colaizy can be reached at 833-9202. Chanhassen, Minn. From 6 p.m. to midnight the city received 1 .78 inches of rain, accord-ing to reports from weather observers at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport. In Eau Claire, a large section of a sandstone hillside at 3300 Fairfax St.

washed out on the street, blocking westbound traffic during a heavy rainstorm at 1:43 p.m. Sunday. Parts of the street continued to be blocked off Monday morning, Eau Claire Police said. "If we continue to receive heavy rains, the sandstone could give way further, causing a real hazard," a police report said. No damage or injuries were reported in the wash out.

A lightning strike during the storm apparently started a fire at a town of Hallie motel. A passer-by noticed the fire at 10:44 p.m. at the Northward Motel, 4407 Joles and reported it to a motel occupant who called the fire department. The fire was confined to an attic and extinguished in about 20 minutes, according to a Chippewa Fire Protection District spokesman. No one was injured in the blaze.

Jean Borseth, a dispatcher with the Chippewa County Sheriff's Department, said heavy rains caused water to cover some roadways in the county. She said hail the diameter of golf balls poured down at times in Chippewa Falls. "We were sitting here and all of a sudden, holy cow, it sounded like people were throwing rocks," she said. Hail also was reported in Eau See DAMAGE, Page 2A Feet MM 100 year flood 782 r-n Record flood at old gauge site 781 45 year flood 780.6 KTTO-Hfal Record flood at 780 I I present gauge site 779.6 Water touches low steel on Water St. bridge 778.8 V' Water over approach 778.5 tiiMSffil to Madison St.

bridge 778 10 year flood 777 First Ave.Chippewa St. --intersection flooded 776 Some downtown businesses get water I in their basements 775 WrrTFi- Flood stage park i. areas begin to flood 773 9mmmmmmmmm National Weather 1 Service forecasts the river will crest at 773 ft. Tuesday or Wednesday "3 fX" 1 770 I 1 1 Ann Landers 7A Bulletin Board 4A CityRegion 3A Classified 5B ComicsTV 6A Crossword puzzle 6B Horoscopes 10B Obituaries 4A Opinions 8A Senior Life 7A Sports IB If your newspaoer hasn't been delivered by 5:30 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m.

weekends, call 83M254 or (800) Phone open until 6:30 p.m. weekdays. 6 to 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Number 292 20 Pages Volume 28 2 Sections Flood Hazards This Week Although serious flooding is not anticipated, existing flood conditions can be hazardous, Eau Claire officials say.

Rising and fast mr flood waters are dangerous, and swift currents can cause unstable bank conditions. Residents should stay away from all areas affected by flooding. Children should not be allowed to play in or near flooded areas. In addition, citizens should be aware of the following flood-related concerns: Be extremely careful around electrical equipment in wet areas. Stay away from sanitary and storm sewers and all flood water due to associated dangers.

Do not play with any water craft. fl Do not drive through standing water. Respect all barricaded areas. The City of Eau Claire flood information phone number is 839-4941. Source: National Weather Service Staff graphic by Kathy Nelson nt adds to smoking sguboetig Today The Short Street bridge over the Chippewa River in Shawtown will be dismantled starting today.

will be replaced by a larger structure. Tuesday The Milwaukee Brewers will play their first National League game when they open their 1998 season at Atlanta. Game time is 3:10 p.m., with television coverage on WTBS, cable channel 12, and Midwest Sports Channel, cable channel 37. Friday The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Theatre production of "The Yellow Boat will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Riverside Theatre of the Fine Arts Center.

Sunday Palm Sunday. By Laurie Kellman Associated Press WASHINGTON Negotiators on the Senate's main tobacco settlement bill are hung up on key provisions, such as how to spend the industry's money and whether to protect companies from lawsuits. Those sticking points kept round-the-clock negotiations from wrapping up over the weekend. Nonetheless. Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain.

R-Ari bill by Friday and send it to the full Senate for a vote sometime before June 1. For all the progress, negotiators left unfinished the central issues of debate how much, if any, legal protection to give the industry, and how to spend the $506 billion the tobacco companies would pay over 25 years. McCain's panel has used as its starting point the $368 billion settlement reached last June between the companies and 40 states suing them to recover the cost of medical care for tobacco-caused illnesses. Companies would pay that amount over a quarter-century to settle the lawsuits and agree to curb their advertising practices. In exchange, the industry would receive immunity from most future lawsuits, particularly class actions.

Without that legal protection, tobacco companies say, they would bo forced into bankruptcy. declared other parts of the bill "a solid foundation for the debate that lies ahead." Democrats were more cautious. Sen. Ron Wyden, reported "some progress." but said agreements must be forged on the liability protections and other matters before the bill is acceptable. According to a draft McCain released Sunday, the bill would charge the tobacco industry $138 billion more and impose harsher restric tions than the settlement that companies and states reached in June.

Negotiators also approved giving the Food and Drug Administration broad authority to regulate nicotine products, a victory for the health community and the White House. But the bill also would set strict guidelines for the agency if it ever tried to ban nicotine. McCain has scheduled formal committee consideration for Wednesday, hoping to vote out the.