Intelligencer Journal from Lancaster, Pennsylvania • 1

METROPOLITAN EDITION For openers Curt Schilling pitches 8 shutout innings but the Phils lose to the Mets, 1-0, in 14 Page C-1 Thunderstorms, 72 Details Back Page U.S. launches review of city schools gifted program Statistics show minority students are underrepresented Alyssa Roggie Intelligencer Journal Staff meeting African-Americans make up 12 percent of students the GAT program and 20 percent of the school district total enrollment Hispamcs make up 10 percent ot students the GAT program and 38 percent of the total enrollment White students make up 75 percent of the GAT program and 36 percent ot the More GIFTED on A-4 We have issued notice to the School District of Lancaster that were going to be in the district reviewing access ot minorities to gifted programs, said program manager Brenda Wolff Our information showed that in the Lancaster area there might be some compliance The Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education held the meeting to gather information as it looks into whether minorities are overrepresented in the districts special education programs and underrepresented its gifted and talented, or GAT, programs concerns The review was prompted by school district statistics, anecdotal information from the community and complaints the office received from the state Department ot Education, Wolff said According to statistics released at the Parents of minority students in the School District ot Lancaster shared their concerns about access to the gifted and talented program Tuesday in the first step of a review of the program by the federal government Great Bear gets ready to roll U.S. officials OK takeover of credit union Gil Delaney Intelligencer Journal Staff $4 million in shares and $3 million in loans hen it as closed Deposits in the credit union were insured by the National Credit Union Administration, and no depositor is expected to lose any money School district employees last week were told to expect retund checks tor the money they had deposited in the credit union, but they will now have the option of transferring their accounts with the balance intact to the much larger Pennsylvania State Employees Credit nion That credit union, with assets totaling $1 billion andov er 229 000 members. is the largest in the state, according to Lesia Bullock spokesperson for the National Credit Union Administration Membership in the PSECU for More TAKEOVER on A-4 banking shut Credit week and keeping of Federal regulators have decided that most accounts trom the insolvent Lancaster Teachers Credit Union should be taken over by the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union, the largest credit union in Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania Banking Department shut down the local credit union last week because of insolvency and record keeping problems As credit unions go.

it was fairly small with approximately 1 200 members and assets of about $5 2 million Most of its members were employees ot the School District ot Lancaster, family members and school district retirees Chartered in 1935. the teachers credit union had approximately The state department down the Lancaster Teachers Union last because insolvency record problems. Intelligencer Journal photos bv Dan Marsthka Douglas Cherry of Wickersham Construction in Lancaster, left, peak of the park's new roller coaster, the Great Bear. The and Hersheypark engineer Jeff Budgeon stand near the highest Comet roller coaster is visible in the distance at right. Hersheyparks new ride nears completion Larry Alexander Intelligencer Journal Staff Jonesboro mourns its dead at memorial service Tom Parsons Associated Press ager of the Hersheypark Group, said Tuesday.

Every second will be intense, thrilling, jam-packed with excitement. Itll be the most exciting and quickest 175 seconds youve ever experienced your life Hersheypark officials showed off the roller coaster Tuesday when they hosted a press conference at the amusement park. Located the Minetown area by the Kissing Tower, the Great Bear will consist ot two trains Each weighs 10 tons and will carry 32 passengers in eight rows, four seats across, hanging below the rail The seats are open, meaning the riders feet will be suspended in air as they are whisked along The twisting track winds around the Sooperdoo-perlooper, the Coal Cracker and the Sky View rides. Spectators can watch it as it passes overhead and the ride travels at ground level where Spring Creek cuts through the park. There is a safe envelope of clearance, said More HERSHEY on A-4 HERSHEY Hersheypark fans beware: A Great Bear plans to scare you witless this summer.

The Great Bear, Hersheyparks new $13 million, inverted roller coaster is nearing completion and should be ready on May 23, when the beast gets its first chance to test the mettle of the public. Like Ursa Major, composed of seven major stars and the largest constellation the universe, the Great Bear, which is named after the constellation. has seven main elements Along its 2.800 feet of track are a 360-degree, 100-foot loop, two barrel rolls, a 90-foot lift that turns into a 120-foot drop; a spiral, a hair-raising Immelmann turn, and an S-turn The ride reaches speedsof 60 mph and lasts for 175 seconds Youll appreciate every second of it, Franklin Shearer, senior vice president and general man Wright. 32 four dear innocent children ot God and a wonderful and heroic teacher "They have touched our lives and thev have touched the spirit ot this nation and lifted us up en as we grieve them Reno said We cannot lo'e faith in human gaid even in the face ot evil and injustice More MEMORIAL on A-5 Workers paint Great Bears 90-foot-high lift. County judge hears arguments in Lambert case Press lawyers argue against gag order Lawyer makes plea for clients freedom Paul Bomberger Intelligencer Journal Staff JONESBORO.

Ark Thousands ot tearv-eyed people attended a memorial sen ice Tuesdav evening lor the victims ot the Arkansas schoolv ard ambush and were told not to lose faith in human good Teacher Sara Lvnette Thet-ford. 42. who was wounded in the shooting, was released from the hospital Tuesdav and sat in a wheelchair on the front row at the sen ice Tissues ere prov ufed on erv fifth seat on the flair of the 10 OuO-seat arena Five white wreaths arrarged like the Olvmpic rings staxi on one end ot the arena stage one each for the four students and the teacher killed Five small tul.p trees to be planted at the si had as a memorial to the dead staxi apart Last Tuesdav when our i hil-dren came home Iront schad we hugged them a l.ttle tighter an normal" Gov ke Hjikahee said in a letter read to the He ard hi' wile Janet the sen ice so thev could time with their ch.Idren daring spnrg break Vtomev t.eneral Janet Reno said the menioial 'OrviCi also a ceVtra'ion ot Naake Brook' 11 Fa ge 12 ie Jotr'on 12 arrer 11 ard Paul Bomberger Intelligencer Journal Staff pers. told Stengel that a gag order in this case is simply not appropriate" because the judge will preside alone without a jury at Lamberts upcoming appeal hearing county court It is clear, your honor, when the courts (U S' Supreme Court and appellate coutts' look at limiting speech it is if a jurv panel could be poisoned bv publicity." Werner told the judge "That we do not hav here Stengel, who said Tuesdav he would reconsider his gag order but made no decision on whe'her he would modilv or rescind it. told Werner that it Lambert is 'jc-cessiul with her pend.rg appeal More GAG ORDER on A-4 victed of first-degree murder the death of 16-year-old Laurie Show, who was killed 1991.

Foerster told Stengel that it's premature to consider Lambert's release on bail before the completion of her pending Post Conviction Relief Act hearing in county court. Its our position this court today really has no power to grant her bail." the state prosecutor said Foerster said if Stengel decides to grant Lambert a new trial at the conclusion of the hearing, then the judge could entertain a request for bail Rainville told Stengel that Kir- More LAMBERT on A-4 Lawyers for three news organizations Tuesday told a Lancaster County judge he should lift his gag order the Lisa Michelle Lambert case because it has hindered reporting on the case and infringed on free speech Lancaster Newspapers Inc, ABC News and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers' Association presented courtroom arguments challenging Judge Lawrence Stengel March 6 order limiting what people involved the Lambert case can sav to reporters Attorney George Werner, counsel for Lancaster Newspa Lisa Michelle Lambert's lawyer asked a Lancaster County judge Tuesday to release her client from prison so she can be home with her 6-year-old daughter for Easter. Philadelphia attorney Christina Rainville urged Judge Lawrence F. Stengel to "do the right thing and grant bail for Lambert and release her on her ow recognizance. pending her upcoming appeal hearing However.

Jerome Foerster. a deputy state attorney general, argued that Lambert is not entitled to bail because she has been con Call INFOLINE 24-hCur bet mes Dial 291-SSS8.