The Selma Times-Journal from Selma, Alabama • 5

THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL SUNDAY, AUGUST 6. 1995-A5 State Activists visit site where A-bomb material produced OAK RIDGE. Tenn. (AP) Whether it was with pride or remorse, people from all over the country gathered here Saturday to see where material was made for the atomic bomb that killed more than 100,000 people This is one of the most important commemorations of our generation, said David Grant of Burnsville, N.C1, who was bom 10 days after the Hiroshima bomb was dropped. Its a horrible thing to think about.

To go to this place is like going to the graves of close relatives. The meeting place was the American Museum of Science and Energy. About 40 people had preregistered for a tour of the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant. Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Oak Ridge K-25 Site as pan of the two-day commemoration of the bombing. Y-12 is where uranium for the Hiroshima bomb as produced, and since that time, components for all of America's nuclear weapons, fn 1992.

it produced its last weapon and is now in the business of dismantling weapons. Emotions were mixed among those preparing for the tour. Many agreed the atomic genie should have never been released. But at least one believes that question can never have brought angry responses from local residents who are proud of what was accomplished SO years ago. Lois Cassell, a 77-year-old receptionist at the museum who lived just outside Oak Ridge in 1945, didnt voice any resentment toward the activists.

I feel sorry for them. I can't condemn them. said Cassell, whose father worked on the secret project. I dont think they really understand what was going on at the time. Organizers are hoping for about 200 people to attend events Sunday that include a march through downtown Oak Ridge to the gates of Y-1 2 for a rally.

really be answered. 1 think we need to stop talking about that. said Nashville resident Tom Phillips. What we need to start talking about is never letting it happen again. Steve Wyatt, a DOE spokesman who had-coordinated the tour with several environmental and peace groups, said the days when the federal agency had a adversarial relationship with environmental groups and peace activists are gone.

Its really changed around here." Wyatt said. "It reflects the times, the end of the Cold War. Security requirements have changed." In past years, protests at Y-12 Grays Furniture Midnight strike deadline approaches for 4 regional phone companies before jointly discussing major components of a new contract. Progress on reaching a deal with Ameritech was also slow Saturday, and union and company, officials meeting in Chicago were split on whether an agreement could be reached. We dont think a strike is necessary, that we can reach an agreement without a work stoppage and that would be the best interest of employees and of customers, as well, said company spokesman Mike Brand.

Ameritech, with 32,000 CWA members, serves about 15.5 million lines in in the Midwest. Were not very optimistic about the chances for resolving it (the contract dispute), so were preparing to fight, CWA spokesman Seth Rosen said. ATLANTA (AP) Negotiations between four regional telephone companies and their unionized employees continued Saturday as the midnight deadline approached, while the union said that prospects of an agreement with one of the companies looked dim. If talks fail, more than 164,000 unionized workers in 19 states could go on strike, disrupting customer service, repairs and installations for about 60 million lines. A strike appeared most likely at Pacific Telesis, the parent company of Pacific Bell, where negotiations had broken off.

They are all talking, said Jeffrey Miller, a national spokesman for the Communications Workers of America, which represents the bulk of the non-management jobs at the companies. Were far apart on some key points wages, job security and health care cost shifting. Nearly all of the companies have cut their work forces in recent years. Only informal talks were continuing Saturday between the union and PacTel, Miller said. A strike is possible, unless theres a major breakthrough, he said.

The unions membership has previously authorized its leaders to call a strike if necessary, but the unions could agree to extend deadlines if they are close to a deal. Alabama students rank below national average MONTGOMERY (AP) Alabama students ranked below the rational average on the latest round of achievement tests, with -the performances in elementary school exceeding those in high school. For the first time this spring, all of Alabamas public school students in grades three through 11 took the Stanford Achievement Test. Gov. Fob James got the State Board of -Education to order the tests so he would have a benchmark to measure the impact of his new education program approved by ffh Legislature last month.

Students in those same grades will continue to take the tests each year. In the past, only students in the fourth and eighth grades took the SAT. The test results varied dramatically among school systems. For instance, eighth graders in Mountain Brook scored at the 87th percentile while those in Wilcox County were at the 15th percentile. Convicted rapist accused of lst-degree sodomy BIRMINGHAM (AP) A Jefferson County man convicted 20 years ago of raping his daughter has been charged with sodomizing his current wife's 7-year-old granddaughter.

Colon Charles Hill, 52, of Sylvan Springs was charged with first-degree sodomy and sexual abuse on Friday and was released from jail after posting $40,000 bond, a spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department said. The mother of the child described Hill as a very sick man" and said she was upset he was released from jail. I dont think if fair to any other child in the United States to let him out, the mother said. Hill, contacted at his home Saturday, declined comment. My lawyer has told me not to speak to anyone, he said.

Hill became a pen pal of his current wife while serving a sentence for the rape of his daughter. Hurricane heavily damages pecan crop FOLEY (AP) Agriculture officials estimate Hurricane Erin wiped out 25 percent to 50 percent of south Alabamas pecan crop, with Baldwin County taking the worst hit. Slome farmers said they lost more than 75 percent of their pecans, just two months before they would have been ripe for harvest. You see all the pecans here, said Foley grower Vaughn Underwood. These would have been beautiful pecans.

Underwood said about 25 of his 160 pecan trees were blown down and many of the others had their crop blown off. Whafs terrible is this was going to be the best year wed ever had. The trees were full of pecans, Underwood said. He and other growers were looking forward to a big harvest to make up for last year, which was one of their worst. Baldwin County agricultural extension Agent Dennis Peterson said pecan trees have a small root system that makes them among the first trees to blow over in a big storm.

Bond revoked for man convicted of twin slayings MONROEVILE (AP) A man convicted of killing his twin daughters to collect life insurance money and stop child support payments was taken into custody after the judge in the case revoked his $150,000 bond. Stanley Kidd, 28, had be allowed to remain free on bond after he was found guilty of non-capital murder in the 1993 carbon monoxide deaths of Tyesia Cierra and Kierra Letitia, both 14 months old. Monroe County Sheriff Tom Tate said Kidd was taken into custody Friday at one of his attorneys' office. He will remain in the county jail until another bond hearing is scheduled. District Attorney Tommy Chapman had asked Circuit Judge Sam Welch to revoke the bond after Kidd was convicted, but Welch initially refused, saying convicts are allowed to remain on bail untH' sentencing, Teen charged with murder mistakenly released BIRMINGHAM (AP) A teen-ager charged with capital murder got mistakenly released from jail, but police found him waiting at his home.

Jefferson County District Judge R.O. Hughes held a hearing Thursday where he found probably cause to let a grand jury decide if Jermaine Earl Johnson, 18, should be indicted on capital murder charges for the March 16 beating death of Willie James Browder, 79. After the hearing, a paperwork error caused workers at the Jefferson County Jail to release Johnson, Capt. Jim McCreless said. Officers found Johnson at his home a couple of hours later, McCreless said.

Johnsons attorney, Carl Chamblee said jail workers told Johnson, Youre going home, just sign your name, and he said, OK. He went home and just waited for them. Alabama felon sought in Mississippi JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Federal and state lawmen searched Saturday for an Alabama felon who got away from authorities. Terry Ray Uptain, 62, ran out the back door of a house and fled into a wooded area off Old U.S.

49 about 9 a.m. Friday as officers approached, said James M. Maddock, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI in Jackson. Maddock said agents think Uptain may seek help from area relatives. Uptain was the middle man for the purchase of several pounds of marijuana, said Lauderdale County, chief assistant district attorney Mike Jones.

Erin damages schools in Baldwin County BAY MINETTE (AP) Hurricane Erin damaged almost half of the schools in Baldwin County, but Superintendent Larry Newton said the repairs should be completed in time for schools to open on schedule Aug. 28. Newton said 17 of the countys 38 schools suffered damage, with some of the worst occurring at Bay Minette Middle School, where 10 classrooms were flooded when part pf the roof was destroyed. He said most of the damage would be-dovered by insurance. Weve been blessed that we didnt have as much damage as we might have, he said.

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379. 14 Ladies Wide Band 19 Diamond Cluster Ring Special $3995 Diamond Wedding Trio Set Starting at $g95 Gents Masonic Rlny 99 ljpipn spokesman Santora said "thlt CWA district vice president Janice Wood announced to our members last night that a strike (against PacTel) appears imminent. Talks broke off late Friday after the union turned down several proposals, accpiing to Santora. The stufpwe' got on the table from them is just Unacceptable. We were hoping we can come up with some compromise they would budge on but so far nothing, he said.

But PacTel spokeswoman Dane Pascoe said the company expects to avoid a strike. PacTel serves about 15 million lines and employs some 35,000 CWA members in California and Nevada. Stalled talks between Bell Atlantic and the CWA resumed Saturday, but the two sides were very, very far apart, union spokesman Doug Thompson said. The company said it was offering a wage increase and hoping to overcome obstacles that had stymied talks since Thursday. Bell Atlantic serves some 16 million lines in the mid-Atlantic.

The CWAs Thompson said sticking points were company proposals to change the way overtime is counted and paid, and to reduce a three-step grievance procedure to two steps. The company and the union, representing some 37,000 workers, had agreed to let representatives from each area work out local issues Your Choice of Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire Diamond Tennis Bracelet Ladies or Mens 5 CT. TW Diamond Fashion Rings s14955 Special Special 7 Herringbone Bracelet $Q95 Special Large Selection 9 Anklets $2995 Special Letter American institution. Ricky Haywood Elba Call Mr. Amari today and see if he can, or will, answer these questions about freedom of choice, a true Select Group Pulsar Watches AFFORDABLE QUALITY MAMUFACTUWBOF HANDCRAFTED DOORS 9DEUTES TMK0MS JAMBS SASHES 40 Off Continued from page A4 health care providers.

Is she the only Blue Cross cardholder allowed this privilege? Or is the whole campaign by Blue Cross just bunk? I feel the latter may be the truth, and that the citizens of this great state may be footing the bill for Blue Cross to advertise propaganda such as the Mae Hughes ad that may not necessarily be true. I am a business owner, a registered pharmacist, a member of numerous professional and trade organizations, and the elected mayor of the city of Elba, and I recognize that the people of this great state, the patriots of this great country in which we live, must wake up and make a stand. Stamp out this form of socialism in Alabama before it is too late for us all. Ulomes Diamond STiouse Exceptional Service, Quality mid Prices Ph. (334) 874-4830 Selma Mall Ok 1 -800-359-7557 onrttt: CNTliOMERY Ai 36109 205 277 7910 A6-THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL, SUNDAY AUGUST 6, 1995.