The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 1

THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN The State Newspaper Since 1907 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2001 500 Tornado slams into Cordell WORLD Americans win physics Nobel Three U.S.-based researchers won the Nobel Prize in physics Tuesday for creating a new state of Minor injuries reported; 150 homes destroyed matter a kind 200J For the latest information on the cleanup from Tuesday's storms, watch KWTV NEWS9. To see video of the storms online, visit NewsOK.com. By Ron Jackson Staff Writer CORDELL Hundreds of residents were left homeless Tuesday by a tornado that ripped through Cordell, destroying an estimated 150 homes but leaving just seven people injured. No serious injuries were reported. However, some people were treated at Cordell Memorial Hospital, and one man was taken to Elk City's hospital for a CT scan of his neck.

Late Tuesday, authorities were trying to account for all of Cordell's 3,000 residents. Witnesses saw the twister touch down south of town near Calvary Creek on State Highway 183, bouncing up and down as it demolished everything in a path roughly a quarter-mile wide and more than a mile long. Todd Callery, 25, narrowly escaped. He raced across town in his car when he saw the black twister coming from the southwest. His mother's home was in the tornado's path.

"I had to check on her," said Callery, who was covered with dirt. "I drove right toward it See CORDELL, Page 2-A STAFF PHOTO BY STEVE GOOCH His rental property littered with debris, Bob Holman of Cordell begins cleaning up Tuesday night after a tornado devastated the western Oklahoma town. of super-cold gas physics that could help scientists build tinier electronics, faster computers and ultra-precise clocks and measuring instruments. Page 12-A OKLAHOMA More challenges for city zoo An audit points to more challenges facing the Oklahoma City Zoo and the Oklahoma Zoological Society as the two entities seek to clarify and strengthen the ties that bind them together. Today FOOD This takes the cake The Oklahoma Sugar Art Show has grown from a modest beginning at a mall to an event with fierce competition among cake artists that drew 75,000 guests last weekend during the Tulsa State Fair.

It's credited for making Oklahoma a big name in cake-decorating circles. Pumpkin fudge Sherrel Jones lauds the arrival once again of pumpkin season by sharing an unusual recipe for pumpkin fudge. Page 1-B BUSINESS Healthy demand The need for health care workers is great and is expected to balloon. Nearly 1,700 students gathered Tuesday at the Myriad Convention Center to learn about their burgeoning careers. Page 1-C Air strikes clear skies for JJ.S.

in Afghanistan Two from state die in Canada in plane crash Pilot killed, four injured during landing attempt An S-3B Viking plane takes off from the USS Enterprise on Tuesday, the third day of U.S. strikes on al-Qaida and Taliban targets within Afghanistan. The aircraft carrier Enterprise in the Arabian Sea is one of several ships involved in the military deployment in response to the Sept. 1 1 terrorist attacks on the United States. SPORTS It's Hybl Even as fans celebrate the Ml Oklahomans sail to front of new war OK LAI l()M Jim Charles Ryan: Pielsticker: The president The chairman and chief operand founder of ating officer of Arrow Trucking the Nordam Co.

was killed Group died in in the crash. the crash. I 1 I -n I Plane crash 140 miles northeast of Kuujjuarapik Hudson Bay Icanadala United vv KuUjjUarapik Vstates 1 Vi r-A am Quebec Ontario Bay University of Okla Taliban's defenses pounded From Wire Services homa's second straight football victory over Texas, an almost-dead debate has been revived: Who should quarterback the Sooners? Here's the response I By Bob Doucette and Larry Levy Staff Writers TULSA A pontoon plane carrying a group of Tulsa businessmen on a hunting trip crashed in northeastern Canada, killing two men and their Canadian pilot. Killed were Charles Ryan, 50, president and chief operating officer for the Nordam Group, and Jim Pielsticker, 63, chairman and founder of Tulsa-based Arrow Trucking. Canadian authorities did not identify the pilot.

The plane crashed at 5:30 p.m. CDT Monday while trying to land at a lakeside hunting lodge near the Hudson Bay coast, about 680 miles north of Montreal, said Jim Harris, Canadian Transportation Safety Board spokesman. Four other people on board were injured, but none of the injuries are life-threatening, authorities said. Those injured were Robin Siegfried, 54; Mike Case, 51; Vince Westbrook, 37; and Jamie Hagan, 30. Siegfried is part owner of Nordam and chairman of the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents.

Case, of Case Associates Properties, is a real estate developer. Westbrook is the head coach of the men's tennis team at the University of Tulsa. Hagan is the foreman of a ranch owned by the Siegfried family. 3m AMERICA FIGHTS BACK Kabul assesses damage Children to recite pledge Displaying the flag Elder abuse expected Page 4-A from inside the halls of the Barry Switzer Center: Huh? Page 1-D WEATHER By Scott Cooper Staff Writer They are scared. They are proud.

They are Oklahomans on the front line in the war against terrorism. Aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Theda Roulston and Michael Baker find themselves on the battle line of American forces engaged or ready to assault enemy targets in the Middle East. Cruising the Mediterranean Sea and poised for more expected bombings against terrorist installations, the native Oklahomans admit they never dreamed they would be in this position. "It is really scary knowing that we are bombing some-See OKLAHOMANS, Page 8-A Underprepared for bioterrorism Page 9-A Attack arrests top 600 Attack cost New York $1 billion, mayor says Aid sent across border Compromise sought Chance of rain High: 73 Low: 53 Page 8-C Witnesses said the plane had trouble staying aloft, Harris said Tuesday. "They said they heard the engine running rough, then its left wing dipped and it hit the water," he said.

The news stunned the companies Ryan and Pielsticker managed. "Charlie and Jim were two highly regarded people here," said Ken Lackey, an executive at Nordam. "Charlie Ryan was a See CRASH, Page 12-A on air security Page 11 -A Flag demand steadfast Bailout bill includes equity provision Europeans draft airline measures Page 8-C INDEX Ann Landers Editorials 6-A Billy Graham. Food 1-B Bridge 6-E Horoscope 5-B Business 1-C Livestock 7-C Classified 1-E Markets 4-C Comics 8-E Movies 3-B Crossword 6-E Oil 7-C Records 13-A DearAbby 5-B Sports 1-D Deaths 12-A TV 4-B The United States hit targets in Afghanistan with a third day of air strikes, crushing Taliban air defenses, radars and airports to the extent that U.S. warplanes can fly virtually unchallenged night and day, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

"The skies (over Afghanistan) are now free," President Bush said. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld urged Afghan dissidents to "heave" Taliban rulers and the al-Qaida terrorist network. Today, warplanes dropped three bombs near the airport in the southern city of Kandahar, sources said, in the second morning of daylight raids on the Taliban stronghold. Kabul was reported quiet. Suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden's spokesman called for a holy war against U.S.

interests and praised the hijackers who flew jetliners into the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Sept. 11. "The storm of airplanes will not stop," Sulaiman Abu Ghaith said Tuesday. In a home-front scolding, Bush accused Congress of leaking information about the global investigation into the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"You have a responsibility, and some members did not accept that responsibility," Bush said. He warned lawmakers not to talk about troop deployments, either. See STRIKES, Page 8-A Oklahoma scientist works to neutralize anthrax toxin Yukon voters approve bond issue by landslide TODAY'S PRAYER You, dear Lord, have given us the miracle of memory through which we can remember loved ones and keep collecting more beauty from past experiences. We thank You, Lord. Amen.

By Lisa Tatum Business Writer The concept of biological warfare was nothing new to Rodney Tweten when he applied for a grant last year to research the deadly anthrax germ. As a scientist studying toxins, the Oklahoma researcher knew exactly how effective the lethal bacteria might be if terrorists someday designed a way to deploy it. As the nation speculates over whether that day has arrived, Tweten said he feels a heightened sense of urgency to accelerate his research, which one day could save the lives of anthrax-infected victims. Tweten and a team of scientists at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center are working to develop inhibitors to short-circuit the anthrax germ once it has begun developing in the body. Naturally occurring anthrax can be found in some soils See SPORE, Page 9-A By Ben Scott Staff Writer YUKON Yukon schools Superintendent Bill Spaeth thought Tuesday's $14.2 million bond election might pass, but he wasn't prepared for a landslide.

Patrons of Yukon School District responded enthusiastically to a bond issue designed to affect every student in the district. Voters Tuesday passed a pair of bond resolutions with 85 percent approval on each. The approval will allow the district to buy $14.2 million in bonds to enlarge the cafeteria at the mid-high, build two elementary school gyms, upgrade libraries across the district and make more improvements districtwide. The first proposition passed by a vote of 1,315 to 227 and the second proposition passed by a vote of 1,304 to 239 "I didn't dream of it passing by this much," Spaeth said Tuesday night. "I never wanted to take it for granted.

The last few bond issues in Yukon See ELECTIONS, Page 12-A 6IIII57942II11111I.