Victoria Advocate from Victoria, Texas • 18

8B-THE VICTORIA ADVOCATE, Sunday, August 8, 1993 Tottering Democrats explain vote on the Clinton tax bill Four IdUed in tornado Nation WASHINGTON, (AP) When the phone calls and White House visits were over, the fate of President Clinton's economic package and maybe his presidency boiled down to three reluctant Democrats. He needed two of them. The three stood together on the floor of the House on Thursday night, surrounded by party leaders. The roll call, flashed on the chamber's sports stadium-like scoreboard, stood at 216-214 for the plan. Clinton needed 218.

Pat Williams, Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinksy, and Ray Thornton, from Clinton's home state, all wanted to oppose the plan. Margolies-Mezvinsky, a fresh- head." When Thornton wouldn't vote "yes," Williams said, he looked at Margolies-Mezvinsky and said, "We have to vote together." And so they did, putting the plan over the top and shipping it to the Senate. On Friday, Thornton denied he was undecided at the end. He said he was aware people would be watching his vote because of his long association with Clinton. But another Democrat, who was in the middle of efforts to line up votes, said Thornton's defection was unexpected and left the party with no other option but getting Margolies-Mezvinsky's vote.

man from a Philadelphia suburb that is perhaps Congress' most Republican district represented by a Democrat, had opposed the first version of Clinton's plan. Thornton and Williams had supported it, but were now opposed because of its gasoline tax. "Two of us obviously had to support the package or it was going down," Williams said in an interview Friday morning. Williams said he looked at Thornton and said, Ray, this has to be easier for you than for the He just shook his t. I Asiocitttd Press Firefighters walk through a Colonial Heights, Kmart parking lot strewn with overturned cars Friday.

A tornado swept through the area on Friday. Gunman kills four, wounds six in restaurant Wal-Mart store claims three COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. (AP) The three people killed when a tornado slammed into a darkened Wal-Mart store were heading for the front doors when the twister hit, authorities said Saturday. "They were in the process of coming out of the store because the power was out," Colonial Heights police Capt. Larry E.

Williams said. The tornado hit the front of the store first, cutting a swath 40 to 50 feet wide. A fourth person was killed when the storm hit a Prince George County construction site Friday. Williams said everyone known to be in the Wal-Mart store had been accounted for Saturday. Nevertheless, workers planned to resume their search through the rubble after engineers stabilized walls and ceilings.

What remained of the store's front wall teetered precariously toward the building's ravaged interior. Fearing that people could have been swept out of the building by the ferocious winds, authorities also searched a brushy area around a lake behind the store but found nothing. "It was so quick, probably nobody had time to do anything," said Robert L. Bohannon, a police chaplain who counseled many of the 119 who were injured in the store. The people in the store were among 170 hurt when twisters slashed through several Virginia localities Friday.

Tornadoes rarely strike Virginia, and Friday's was the deadliest to hit the state since 1959, when 10 people were killed by an Albemarle County twister. The state's last tornado, in 1989, killed two people in the FAYETTE VILLE, N.C. (AP) -Some people screamed and ducked under the tables. Others tried to run out of the restaurant when a man armed with three guns, and shouting about the president and homosexuals in the military, started shooting. Four people were killed and six wounded before police shot down the gunman.

Warrants issued on Saturday charge Army Sgt. Kenneth Junior French, 22, with four counts of first-degree murder and six counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. French, who was wounded in the leg and jaw, was listed in stable condition at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. He has refused to talk to police and has asked for a lawyer, said Lt. David Pulliam of the Fayette-ville Police Department.

w' French, a native of Zephyrhills, is stationed at Fort Bragg. Pulliam said French apparently had never been to the restaurant before. Police have not found any connection between French and Luigi's Italian restaurant. French drove a black Chevrolet truck to the restaurant and wore a hunting vest, police said. Police Sgt.

Mike Ballard said French entered the restaurant about 10 p.m. Friday, spoke loudly about "Clinton letting faggots in the military," and opened fire. When the shooting ended, the restaurant's owners, 73-year-old Peter Parrous and his 65-year-old wife, Ethel, were found dead in a booth to the right of the entrance. They appeared to be clutching one another. The other victims were 26-year-old Wesley Scott Cover of Fayette-ville and 46-year-old James F.

Kidd of Wheaton, 111. Pulliam said he heard that Kidd and his adult son tried to hide under their table and Kidd tried to shield his son. Of the injured, three were treated at a hospital and released, and three were in stable condition. Shenandoah Valley. Friday's dead were identified as Wal-Mart employees Cheryl Diane Weisheim, 40, and Carolyn Gunn, 48; store customer Mae Prosise, 57; and Morris Gupton 28, the Prince George County victim.

Most of the injured where taken to Southside Regional Medical Center. Seventeen people were admitted, and one remained in serious condition Saturday. Injuries ranged from broken bones to head and neck problems. The storm also injured at least 30. people in Petersburg and ravaged the city's historic Old Towne district.

Damage in the city was estimated at $10 million. The tornado was packing winds of 210 mph when it struck Petersburg, meteorologist Jim Belville of the National Weather Service in Rockville, said. The winds had diminished to 125 mph by the time the twister hit the Wal-Mart. On your' North Branch and Thank You for selecting our services. I CUGS 576-BUGS 4a 575-6401 2305 N.

Laurent, Victoria Associated Press Wal-Mart employee Annie Hill tends to Kim Evans after Hill pulled her from the wreckage of the Colonial Heights, Wal-Mart store Friday after a tornado slammed Into the store. Nation in brief 1 Mpemiifp flQlWiT Three arrested for satanic cat killings there may have been others. CONGRATULATIONS! Victoria National Bank ON THE OPENING OF THE NORTH BRANCH Congratulates PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) -Three men' accused of killing cats in satanic rituals face animal cruelty charges. One suspect told investigators cult members drank cat blood after an animal sacrifice, said police Sgt.

Jerry Potts. The remains of at least eight mutilated cats have been found in the city since July 17, and Potts said The cats were choked, stabbed or beaten to death, probably near a suspected ritual site, although some remains were found in their owners' yards. The men charged Thursday and Friday allegedly drove around residential neighborhoods looking for cats, Potts said. 1st Victoria National Bank North Branch .11.11 I. IIHI.IIJI.IIH..I I I.

.1.1 D-JHHI I l-ll I Agriculture secretary visits flooded area 4039 BROADWAY SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78209 MX T.lri II I Li Lee Witt; Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-Mo. and Rep. Jerry Costello, flew into this Mississippi River town in an Army helicopter after flying over Costello's district. A gamble early last week to dynamite a Mississippi River levee three miles northwest of town in order to drain off the floodwaters appeared to have paid off PRAIRIE DU ROCHER, 111.

(AP) Federal officials toured flood-stricken areas of southern Illinois on Saturday, seeking to assure residents their pleas for help will be answered. Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy; Federal Emergency Management Agency Director James feRME: MtfflRMl I Sir QZciiiniBiirEittaiiDatteD 1st Victoria National Bank On Your NEW NORTH BRANCH Senate approves 'open skies' treaty First Victorio IVIotlonol Bonk on the opening of their Rlorth Branch WASHINGTON (AP) The White House on Saturday welcomed Senate approval of an "open skies" treaty allowing spy flights over three continents, saying it would "promote openness and transparency" about military activity. The treaty, signed by 25 nations in March 1992, was approved late Friday by the Senate. It would allow surveillance flights over North America, Europe and the former Soviet Union to ensure compliance with arms control agreements. an John Stockhauer.

Professional Service Industries Victoria Texas nn We are proud to work with and be associated with First Victoria Nationai Bank. Your expansion and vision strengthens the entire economic community of Victoria and the Victoria area. Is plea4ffepSe with First pM Wmm Bank John StdfcEbatter Road UNL iMITEfD 5125769090 SI elicit cctitiaci4, 1 the grand opening of First Victoria National Bank's newest branch, North Branch. Throughout the years, economic growth has been reflected in First Victoria National Bank's expansion of services to the people of Victoria. Colonial Funeral Home and Colonial Funeral Home North are proud to be associated with First Victoria National Bank's strong and progressive movement into the future.

Colonial 1801 Red River 578-3535 Colonial North Cuero Highway 572-0358 FIRST VICTORIA NATIONAL BANK We applaud your committment to the community. First Victoria National Bank for your dedication in meeting the community's needs with the North Branch. Architectural Woodwork Modular Casework Robert D. Goebel 1213 Mc Arthur, Cuero, TX 77954 Gardens ETTE BOB GOEBEL Finish Carpentry Services Fabrication Installation 512-275-5225 or 512-275-5220 FLORIST GARDEN CENTER LANDSCAPE Since 1969 606 E. Mockingbird Mon.

-Sat. 9-6 573-7434.