The Paducah Sun from Paducah, Kentucky • 2

2 A The Paducah Sun Thursday, Dcmbr 31,1 992 Sierra highways reopen during break between storms BY JOHN HOWARD ASSOCIATID PHI SS WHITER NYACK, Calif. A break between storms allowed limited reopening of two major highways through the snowbound Sierra Nevada on Wednesday and thousands of snowbound motorists rushed to cross the mountains. One man died in an avalanche. Up to 8 feet of snow had fallen since Monday at some higher elevations in one of the strongest snowstorms in years, and drifts had piled up to 12 feet high. "This is unbelievable.

I haven't seen snow like this in 10 years," said Deb Howard of the mountain town of Meyers. "We can't even see out our windows." Forecasters predicted another storm would hit northern California's coast and valleys with rain during the night, possible hitting the Sierra with more snow this morning. "It's going to start all over again," said Ed Clark, a National Weather Service meteorologist In Sacramento. Heavy snow also hit parts of Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado on Wednesday. A 20-year-old Lakeport man was killed Wednesday in an avalanche on a back-country slope In Sherwin Bowl, ust south of Mammoth Lakes, a popular ski resort about 170 miles east of San Francisco, said city spokesman Jeff Irons.

The victim's name was withheld pending notification of relatives. Rescuers saved an 11-year-old boy buried in the avalanche and called off their search when no other victims were found. The boy was treated for back pain at the hospital and released, Cole said. The Mammoth Mountain ski area was not Involved in the Incident. Interstate SO and VS.

50, the two main east-west routes through the Sierra between northern California and Nevada, were closed Monday night because of the deep snow and poor visibility. They remained closed Tuesday, stranding thousands of motorists at both ends of the summit passes. But on Wednesday, sunlight broke through the clouds and the wind calmed, and those two highways reopened. Traffic on 1-80 initially was limited to 200 vehicles hourly each way between Apple-gate, and the Nevada state line. Transportation workers reopened east-bound U.S.

SO, the main route to Lake Tahoe, at about midday, Initially letting 100 cars through every hour from Pollack Pines. 1-80 looked like a parking lot west of the Applegate checkpoint. Many motorists left their stopped cars and went for walks while waiting. Some people on the Nevada side of the mountains had spent the night sleeping on the floors of fully booked casino hotels. At Kirkwood ski resort at the elevation, marketing director Greg Murtha said about 60 people had been sleeping In three large conference rooms since Monday, because State Highway 88 was closed.

Also, many employees were snowed in at the lodge or at home. Murtha said 300 to 400 skiers took advantage of the break In the storms to hit the slopes Wednesday. "There's people hooting and hollering out on the chairbfta as we speak, people grinning ear to ear," he said. "It's been almost a decade since we've had snow this good. We're calling it the December to remember." JAIL Continued from page 1 6 John Doe' rerun draws just 8 calls to sheriffs office I (J ST fir rrsj wry A GENE BOAZSpecial to The Sun Paducah Tilghman cheerleaders pose aboard the Jubilee before setting off for the National Cheerleaders Association competition in Dallas.

From left: (bottom row) Starla Spitzer, Maria Johnson, Heather Knott, Addie Curtis, Elizabeth Key and Erin Gwinn; (top row) Caroline Goodman, Jenny Dickson, Ainsley Burnett and Carrie Chase. ies" telecenter and the local sheriffs office, convinced her daughter dated John Doe when he served in the military a few years ago. Greif said the woman called him and the television show's toll-free number in September, also, and her information was ruled out because John Doe has no military record. An Arkansas caller said John Doe closely resembles her brother-in-law, who's been missing since September 1991. She's sending a photograph, although Beyer doesn't think it's going to be John Doe.

"Well, he's 46 and he's a diabetic," Beyer said. "The age, I think, is going to eliminate him and the medical history is going to eliminate him. Our young man doesn't look like a 46-year-old diabetic." The final caller locally was from Adams, Tenn. a 33-year-old woman who works in a convenience store and was convinced John Doe was a man she saw there two months ago. "She was glad to find out it wasn't our John Doe, but she sure was hoping he'd come back," Greif said, laughing.

Sharon Streiff, supervisor at the Los Angeles telecenter, said a number of calls were recerwtf, but, "We have no hot tips on it' Hopefully, someone took a call with good information and didn't realize it and they'll just shoot it on through to you." Greif remained hopeful about the show generating leads. "Our best tips before were after the program had aired," he said. Beyer said he still gets about one inquiry a week about John Doe. "I now have six videotapes from shows like 'A Current Affair1 and those type shows, saying 'This looks like your John he said. "It doesn't take but just a few minutes to rule them out.

I've written letters and followed up a few." Regardless, Beyer said, he's sticking with it to the end. "We're going to be here until we get something or we don't get something," he said. "The public's never stopped asking about 'our John I was by his grave the other day and somebody had put some poinsettias on his grave for Christmas." ROBIN DIVINE SUN STAFF WHITER Authorities were somewhat disappointed with the response to Wednesday night's rebroadcast of an "Unsolved Mysteries" segment on McCracken County's John Doe. At 10 p.m., with the show set to air in just one more time zone (along the West Coast), officials manning telephones at the McCracken County Sheriff's Department had answered eight calls. A supervisor with an independent telemarketer providing the telephone bank for "Unsolved Mysteries" reported no "good" calls.

A crew from the nationally televised program re-created the events surrounding the Sept. 30, 1991, death of the still-unidentified man who fell from a commuter flight after he apparently tried to hitch a ride as it departed Barkley Regional Airport. After the show first aired in September, calls poured into the Los Angeles phone bank from across the country. A number of those were designated "hot tips," to be given priority treatment by authorities. Not so Wednesday night.

"We're glad we're still receiving phone calls," said Detective Jimmy Greif. "I think probably there's a difference now. It's probably run its course." Greif and McCracken County Coroner Jerry Beyer answered the eight calls that came into the sheriff's office all within an hour after the show aired on the East Coast and in the central time zone. Most calls were eliminated immediately, but Greif and Beyer did ask several callers to send photographs. A man in Michigan said John Doe looks like a man named Michael Price.

Although Price had a tattoo and John Doe does not Greif asked the caller to send a photograph for comparison. A woman in Cleveland called, convinced John Doe looks like her 20-year-old son who has been missing since February 1991. Greif said that as the conversation progressed, the woman ruled out her son because he had a mole and, again, John Doe does not. A woman from Tipton, called both the "Unsolved Myster TRIP Continued from page 1 tops. Band members already have raised $5,736.80 in two roadblocks, and money from a New Year's Eve dance tonight will go toward trip expenses, said Roy, the fund-raising chairman.

The dance, from 8 pjn. tonight until 12:30 a.m. Friday, will be in the commons area at Marshall County High School. Admission is $10 a couple, or $6 for singles. Roy said the dance will do two I killed Magistrate Julian Elliott said there were a lot of factors to consider, the most important being "getting it down to dollars and cents.

He stressed that he had made no decision on the jail's future pending a review of its past performance. "We have a lot of DUIs who're in and out," he said. "It would be some advantage to go to a 12-hour facility because you don't have to provide a meal, just give them a sandwich. Elliott said he expected the jail's food costs to run around $1,000 a month, or $9 to $10 a day per: prisoner. In the event the fiscal court decided to close the jail, the jailer.

probably would become a transport tation officer, Elliott said. Arivett said, "I think that would make it even more expensive' because you would be transporting more prisoners back and forth and having to pay these other counties to house them longer." With the approval of the fiscal court, state judges have started sentencing some inmates to home incarceration. At present, those in home incarceration report in to the jail twice a day by phone, accord-. ing to Arivett. But soon they could be wearing ankle "bracelets equipped with a radio transmitter that sends a signal to a receiving unit in a central monitoring station.

"They (judges) only sentence somebody that's a non-violent offender and is dependable, Arivett said. Motorists sentenced for DUI cannot be incarcerated in the home program, he said. The cost of the state's demands on jail and landfill standards and additional space for court facilities doesn't leave much leeway in small county budgets for large items such as a boiler replacement. It's a plight faced by most Ken tucky counties, especially the small ones. "We've done about all we can right now with our budget," Graves said.

He mentioned the recent costs of the courthouse boiler replacement "and other things that have hit us." "I think our people are paying about all they can pay (in taxes). We're having to look at every penny and make every penny count. Graves said the Administrative Office of the Courts "has asked us to see if it's possible to expand (the courthouse) because they need more room. "That's where we are now. We haven't been able to do much during the holidays.

"We've asked some architects to come talk to us because we don't even know what we would even be wanting," Graves said. Elliott said he thought the fiscal court might get by with making improvements to the present court room. "It's probably big enough, it's not laid out lust right," he said. The fiscal court's next meeting is scneauied at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Braun is interested in serving on the powerful Appropriations Committee, but senators said she expressed no interest in serving on the Judiciary Committee even though she entered the race because she believed Hill had been maligned by a jury of white men during Thomas' Supreme Court confirmation and sexual-harassment hearings. Braun said she did not seek a spot because she believed two Senators from the same state could not sit on the same committee. There is no rule against that, however, and Simon has said he would welcome her on the panel. Sue Purrington, executive direc-' tor of the National Organization for Women's Chicago chapter, said Braun likely will serve well even though some of her current actions are being questioned. "Sure, I wish things would fall into place sooner, but I think they will fall into place," Purrington said.

3t "This is probably the most exciting thing that's ever happened to one of my squads," said Chester, a cheerleading coach for 18 years. "We've qualified every year for as long as I've been a coach. About six years ago, we came in 22nd and about two yers ago we came 16th. So we're very excited about this." To qualify for the nationals, cheerleading squads had to win at one of several NCA summer camps held nationwide. The Tilghman squad took top honors at a NCA summer camp in Panama City, Chester said.

For the national competition, each squad performed for no more than 2Vz minutes. Music could be used for a portion of the routine, and the Tilghman squad's main selection was "Are You Ready For This." Chester said the national competition is a great learning experience for students. She said the cheerleaders develop self-confidence while getting to meet other cheerleaders and learn different cheering styles. "Wer as females, have a problem getting recognized, especially in "This is the only chance some of these kids will ever have to go to Washington and most will never go to another inauguration," Roy said. For anyone wanting to attend the inauguration but short of cash after the holidays, the Bank of Benton is offering loans of up to $1,000 for six months at 6 percent interest.

The BRAUN Continued from page 1 ager Kgosie Matthews, who reportedly was paid $15,000 a month during the general election campaign and who was accused of sexual harassment by unidentified female staff members. Matthews denied the allegations and Braun said the matter is not an issue unless formal charges are brought. Other members of the Senate freshman class elected Nov. 3 have frequently traveled to Washington, critics note. The city's two major newspapers contend Braun should have taken an equally active role.

"The only working U.S. senator in Illinois since last summer has been Braun's Democratic colleague, Paul Simon," the Chicago Tribune said in a recent editorial. A Chicago Sun-Times editorial said, "Braun has lost touch with her voters." Simon said Wednesday that Braun has been working during her cheerleading. We work really hard and yet we're not sometimes considered as athletes," Chester said. "One of the primary things this competition does is it makes people aware that cheerleaders are athletes, and they're not just there for the glamour." Cheerleading is recognized as a sport in Kentucky.

More than 20 Kentucky squads participated in the competition. Other western Kentucky schools in the event were Caldwell County, Owensboro Catholic, Livingston Central and Trigg County. The state did well in the national competition with four of the top 10 winners coming from Kentucky Harlan, Pikeville, Glasgow and Paducah, Chester said. More than talent brought the Paducah Tilghman squad into the national spotlight, their coach said. teen-agers made many sacrifices, practicing seven days a week for several weeks.

Chester said she asked the squad members after the final competition if all their work had been worth it, "and they said, 'it was low-interest loans also are available to anyone wanting to help pay the band's expenses, said bank president Frank Nichols. "(The invitation) is such a tribute to our district and we have the finest young people. We wanted to do something for them," said Nichols. vacation, calling him and others. He said she has hired experienced people from the staff of outgoing Sen.

Alan Dixon, whom she defeated in the Democratic primary and that she should be given a chance to prove herself "Let her get on the job in the United States Senate, and then if she votes wrong or does some other things wrong, take after her," Simon said. Some politicians have questioned Braun's leadership abilities in light of the criticism. Jesse White, the new Cook County recorder of deeds and longtime Braun friend, fired all 10 people Braun's office had hired, although he said some had the qualifications for rehire. "They were good in terms of selecting them, but in terms of hiring them, that was faulty," White said. "I cannot speak to whether she had a hand in it, but it was part of her administration." Her political savvy also has been questioned.

CHEER Continued from page 1 I'm sure they'd never performed in front of that many people ever in their lives," she said. Right before the Tilghman squad was to do its routine, a member of another squad missed a tumble and fell to the floor injured. The accident caused a delay in the competition. "Of course, this got our kids really shook, because we were afraid the little girl was injured pretty badly," Chester said. "It turned out that she's fine, but everything had to stop." For about IS minutes, the Paducah teen-agers waited nervously to begin their final performance, eventually requesting a hug from Chester to help compose themselves.

"They were hyped up, ready to go; then when they saw this, it really scared them, but they went on and did beautifully," Chester said. The squad brought home the 6th-place trophy Wednesday. of the band's route to Washington so people can see the progress as money comes in. The band will perform several times during the day, as will several gospel and country groups. The committee also hopes to have games and tethered balloon rides.

The activities are a way to give something back to the community for supporting the band, Roy said. "I don't have a child in the band, but I think it's an honor to be invited. It's good for Marshall County and for all our communities and it's educational and historical for these kids. mysterious death "Hoar niaru- Woll it'o tho "Dear Diary: Well, it's the New Year so I'm going to start telling you everything dearest to me. I have to get something off my back.

I killed my little sister. "I went into her room and got her and took her into my room and told her I loved her and covered her mouth and suffocated her. You're the first person I've told. Well, I feel better." The entry was dated Jan. 1, 1993.

The parents called police after discussing the entry with the family's pastor. things: "Give the young people something to do in an alcohol- and drug-free atmosphere, and raise money for the band's trip." Roy hopes the $45,000 goal can be reached Jan. 9 at a day-long fundraiser at the high school. One big event planned for that day is a Buy-a-Mile Marathon. A mile costs $30, but there are other activities that cost less including a pancake breakfast beginning at 6:30 a.m.

in the school cafeteria. Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Roy said architect Gayle McGregor is drawing a scale model my sister' sister were withheld because of their age. An investigation began Aug. 18 when the girls' parents found their asthmatic younger daughter dead in her bed.

The Alameda County Coroner's office listed the cause of death as undetermined. Last weekend, authorities said, the 14-year-old ran away from home and her parents opened the diary they had given her for Christmas, finding the following entry: Entry in teen's diary explains child's BY JAMES O. CLIFFORD ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER FREMONT, Calif. "Dear Diary: I killed my little sister." That's part of the sole diary entry of a 14-year-old Fremont girl accused of using a pillow to smother her 4-year-old sister, who died under mysterious circumstances. The teen-ager appeared in juvenile court Wednesday for arraignment on a murder charge.

I The names of the victim and her.