Johnson City Press from Johnson City, Tennessee • 8

Page 8 JOHNSON CITY PRESS Thursday April 17 2003 Bredesen- New 3 i 4 I Abdullah Ahmed 49 part of a rally setting a Saddam statue oif fire are Muslim We like the Americans and Many Iraqis believe Americans launched the war tor seize their oil In what many iiv Baghdad consider confirmation1 of that one of the first Baghdad buildings seized by US forced uroo tKa -ml rujMetrv THov a a his address ETSU speech will be my first commencement speech as Bredesen said Wednesday in a written statement a real honor for me to be a part of this kind of a milestone day for these Rredpspn who took office in said the Americans were responding to fire from another rooftop are killing us and no talking about it We want Saddam said Zahra Yassin whose 17-year-old son was shot in the stomach and wounded the embargo i 2s rr'-'X1 0' 'y s' 4 4 'IjHh pm ymmmuxr 7-v I AP Photo listens to a question during a brief news the Presidential Palace North in Baghdad Tfr A A1 cleric took over CityHaIir Hundreds of his followers blocked US Marines from entering Tuesday with a message that is more than just one leader in the The Marines departed opting against confrontation In the southern city of Ur Shiite Muslims boycotted a meeting to create a postwar government because of US plans to install a retired American general as temporary administrator Thousands protested near the meeting chanting: to America and no to There have been daily demonstrations in Baghdad as well many outside the Palestine Hotel temporary home to hundreds of international journalists and US Marines Hundreds of people hold up banners demanding the restoration of electricity water and phone service Many also urge the Americans to leave town Even as people topple statues of Saddam they criticize the US-led invasion for the death and destruction it wrought and warn that Americans will become targets unless they fix what they destroyed and leave comes to destroy Iraq and its said Fouad said in the northern city ot 'UKrit trembling at the sight oi American tanks rolling through his city Actor Fadel Abbas watched hia theater get torched by looters want to protect these places only the oil min' he said the oil I The US military now says it will work to stop looters' Americans armed newljf recruited Iraqi police officers with handguns to help keep order Marines and Iraqi police caught about a dozen men trying to loot money from a burned out bank in central Baghdad otf Wednesday Marines wrestled some of the men to the ground I including one who had a pros thetic leg and found larga stacks of Iraqi dinars on them Looting that has plagued cities has been the cause of much! of the anger and many blame the Americans for encour aging it Donny George director for research at the Ministry oi Antiquities complained that thd Americans let museums be sacked I is what the Americans he said wanted Iraq to lose its Gen Tommy Franks center conference on Wednesday at Briefing S' SB! police officers with handguns to help keep order And citizens sought to pick up their normal lives market is open and products are said Tadamoun Abdel-Aziz as she shopped with her son for eggs bread and vegetables in the downtown Irkheita Market But with power only partially restored and temperatures in the 90s some residents bought 3-foot blocks of ice American commandos backed by about 40 Marines staged the raid on the residence of RihabTaha dubbed by UN weapons inspectors Taha a microbiologist was in charge of secret biological laboratory suspected of weaponizing anthrax Three men emerged from the raid on her home with their hands up and American troops removed south of Baghdad and was operated by the Palestine Liberation Front and the Iraqi government He said recruits were apparently instructed in the art of bomb-making adding that Marines found chemicals beakers and pipes at the site along with questionnaires that asked recruits to state their preference in missions Hoellwarth said many volunteered for suicide missions The discovery came less than a day after American officials disclosed the capture in Baghdad of Abul Abbas a Palestinian behind the 1985 hjjacking of an Italian cruise ship in which one American was killed Other suspects were taken in a series of raids that also netted weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades military officials said "Its 'Mien yoUTtahy itave ui a "lutvi wa9fiuiaiivuu mnu-rom iiuig behind and go out and start to make your way in the Bredesen said certainly understand that most of the students will be very preoccupied with the day and their family so I'd like to keep it short and just have something to say and not be too pontificating about life and the world they are The governor said he and his wife Andrea Conte went through such emotions last spring when their son Ben graduated from college knew how I felt and how Andrea felt on that Bredesen said helps me understand what all those parents and loved ones are feeling out there as they watch their own children Stanton said ETSU was pleased the governor was able to find the time to make ETSU a priority in his schedule so early in his tenure real pleased going to be here with Stanton said just shows his level of interest in education in general and higher education in The ETSU president also said the address also speaks to interest in this region really appreciates the people of Northeast Tennessee and their help in the Stanton said ETSU administrators recently notified about 25 employees that they were high for layoffs thanks to the budget crunch The administration plans to cut the equivalent of 100 positions mostly through contract adjustments attrition leaving positions unfilled and shuffling employees but some 20-25 people could lose their jobs Stanton has held off on actual layoffs noting that the revenue picture could remain cloudy until June when the Legislature acts on the budget and the Tennessee Board of Regents sets tuition levels Although Bredesen directed state departments to find the cuts actual 2003-04 appropriations will be up to the Legislature Regents officials have discussed fee increases up to 14 percent According to university records dating back to 1985 the previous two governors also spoke at ETSU graduations: Ned McWherter in 1985 as speaker of the House in the state Legislature and again in 1994 as governor and Don Sundquist in 1995 (Contact Sam Watson at 8oncitypress com) Shiites rising to power several boxes of documents Her whereabouts were unknown Administration officials cited the desire to eliminate weapons of mass destruction as one key reason for the war although none has yet been found really just in the early stages of search Brig Gen Vincent Brooks told reporters at a briefing in Qatar UN weapons inspectors also failed to find any banned weapons during prewar searches Hans Blix the chief inspector is expected to appear before the UN Security Council next week to discuss a possible resumption of the effort even though the United States has not invited the international team back into Iraq A Marine spokesman Cpl John Hoellwarth said the terrorist training camp consisted of about 20 permanent buildings on 25 acres And they seem unwilling to surrender authority to a central government they like Shiites make up 60 percent of 24 million people but have traditionally been pushed to the political sidelines by members of mainstream Sunni sect of which Saddam is a member They have long complained of religious persecution under Saddam and erupted in jubilation at his downfall practicing their rituals in public for the first time in years Scores of Shiite pilgrims can now be seen walking on highways and country roads to Njaf and Karbala carrying the black flags that mourn the 7th century of al-Hussein one of the most revered saints shrine is in Karbala while his father Imam Ali son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad is buried in Najaf Centerville to Tenn 840 A citizens group recently filed a lawsuit over the environmental impact of Tenn 840 South in Williamson County Nicely who took office with Bredesen in January said he looked at projects in process the status of a 1986 road plan and an effort to connect county seats to interstates with four-lane highways Forty-one counties have that access which could help them attract industry He also tried to keep in mind the three geographic divisions relieving congestion and roads where local governments share the cost The projects are in all phases of development from preliminary engineering to construction Assembly approving the TDOT budget For Fleming the announcement represents an opportunity for Kingsport to draw in visitors and display the characteristics of the entire area be distributing information to he said Taking a cue from a West Virginia welcome station Fleming said the city also hopes to turn the center into a display for artwork and crafts from around Northeast Tennessee These items would as for sale to visitors as the come through the area In other announcements the only Washington County project to make the TDOT list is the funding to purchase right-of-way for a 8-mile section of US Highway 11E from Tenn Highway 36 to Tenn Highway 381 Contact James Watson at jwatsonjohn-soncitypre88 com) cation supplies some sunshine on the horizon out Phillips said Contact James Watson at com) LETTER FROM A CONCERNED CITIZEN To the Voters of Johnson City: With the election of city commissioners around the comer clear that the editors of the Johnson City Press developers and other big-moneyed interests are supporting Duffie Jones Mitch Meredith and Phil Roe They are pulling out all the stops to defeat Ricky Mohon and Pete Paduch I wonder why put some light on these candidates that the JC Press supports and examine the things that they believe in start with Duffie Jones who seems to be a nice person but who votes consistently against the people and favors the spending of our tax dollars for white elephants and big business developments that cost the taxpayers like the Millennium Centre Remember the rezoning battle at South Roan and University Parkway? Duffie led the attack to change this beautiful scenic area into an unneeded shopping complex that now includes a pharmacy She supported the Knoxville developer in spite of 1 100 signatures from local citizens on a petition against the rezoning The same developer got support for another rezoning effort on behalf of a proposed at West Market Street Duffie has been on various boards is the director of the Hands-On Museum sits as a city commissioner and Mayor and has the chutzpah to vote on issues involving the museum a clear conflict of interest She says now in a desperate effort to gain votes that the city has to reduce our annual debt but she tell you that she backed the spending of millions of taxpayer dollars on the extravagant Arts Center $350000 to replace the steps of city hall (an idiotic waste of money) etc If only she had the will to respond to calls and protect our green spaces rather than promote free rent for her museum By the way I support the museum and have a family membership Duffie Jones has voted for all the tax increases and is loved by the JC Press and the big spenders She is running a desperate race and said that she expects to use $35000 The Police and Fire Department Associations and the Teachers Union support her as they know her past record How about Mitch Meredith who just rediscovered Johnson City? When asked to reveal his platform Meredith told this newspaper that he has not devised a detailed platform In other words a candidate This man only recently returned to Johnson City and went to work for Mountain States Health Alliance I understand that his mother was on the board when he was hired This is the same MSHA that tried to get the TVA property rezoned and destroy the old beech trees Mitch admitted to the newspaper that if he had been on the commission he would have voted to rezone the TVA property He sees no conflict of interest with this view His mother has been a county commissioner sits on the board of the Public Building Authority and owns billboard property Now she wants her son Mitch to help run the city Meredith is the man who was campaign treasurer for Steve Darden a fact that he rarely talks about We remember how the duo Meredith and Darden managed to acquire and spend a record $55000 on a campaign two years ago to help buy the election for Darden He is the man who voted against Martin Luther King Day His law firm is tied in with MSHA and Darden voted with Duffie to rezone the TVA property and destroy the trees We can expect Mitch Meredith (if he wins in this election) and Darden to vote as twins against the interests of the people ditch Mitch and send him back to his employer MSHA It will keep him from voting on matters that are a conflict of interest Then Phil Roe a candidate who began his campaign with an odd emphasis on the need for a Public Protection Plan to handle terrorist attacks His promises for fiscal responsibility sound like campaign rhetoric As Chairman of the JC Planning Commission he voted in favor of rezoning the TVA property off West Market State of Franklin This would have permitted MSHA to develop it commercially to benefit So what if there are already many other pharmacies in the area! He admits that if he is elected to the commission he will side with the present majority of Jones Darden and Charleton in other words more of the same fiscal irresponsibility time to change the direction of the commission from a and philosophy to one that puts the interests of the people and the environment first We need our streets repaired and potholes fixed return Pete Paduch and Ricky Mohon to the commission They have earned the right They seem to be the only commissioners who take the time to study the issues in advance ask questions and vote for the people They are opposed to the support of the failing Millennium Centre and the deteriorated railroad station Their goal has been to achieve fiscal responsibility avoid taking on more debt and work to take care of the basic needs including schools and adequate salaries for city employees They have received the endorsement of the JC Professional Firefighters Police and Education Associations They voted against rezoning so as to protect the trees Wayne Robertson has demonstrated his interest in environmental issues helped found ROOTS and supports affirmative action in hiring We need him as a third commissioner who is more interested in the concerns of the people The power brokers are hoping that citizens of the city will not come out to vote let the big malicious ads and the JC negative editorials mislead you They want you to think that discussions and arguments at commission meetings are bad for the city Can you imagine where we would be if everyone went along meekly with Mayor Duffie Jones Vice-Mayor Steve Darden and CH Charleton as they push their agenda for irresponsible special interest projects that put us into more debt and taxes? We can deal with the financial problems responsibly if we elect Paduch Mohon and Robertson time to change direction! Frederick Kasten (Paid for by Frederick Kasten a retired taxpaying Johnson City resident who grows prize vegetables in his spare time watches the city commission at work and has a sincere interest in all the people of Johnson City) NAJAF Iraq (AP) In this holiest of Muslim Shiite cities clerics are running a self-declared government the same in nearby Karbala another sacred Shiite city Muslim Shiite clerics have in the past week moved swiftly to fill the power void created by Saddam ouster appointing governors imposing curfews offering protection jobs health care and giving financial assistance to the needy In some respects they have replaced Saddam as new leadership Ominously they distrust the Americans who rid them of tyranny and have little faith in the opposition leaders now returning to Iraq from years in exile They also question whether Western democratic values are suited for their country over taxes raged and the state faced a $30 million shortfall Senate Speaker Pro Tem Jo Ann Graves said that was because she and the rest of the legislative delegation from the Sumner area opposed then-Gov Don income tax proposal could have pulled (Tenn Highway) 840 which was not needed instead of (Tenn Highway) 386 which is desperately she said Tenn 840 a beltway under construction around Nashville is among 15 controversial projects now under review by the department that were not included on the list Environmental studies however are funded for 20 miles of Tenn Highway 100 from are located at the beginning of the road at the state he said adding the westbound center will be located in Erwin nearly 60 miles south That center will be directly on 1-26 announcement came from the office of Gov Phil Bredesen as a part of the 2003-04 TDOT project list The work list reflects the reduction in the overall $14 billion transportation dollar budget announced earlier this year by the governor and Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely This was the only project funded in Sullivan County for the coming budget year Funds will be allocated for both the preliminary design and the actual construction of the welcome center No actual funding amount was released The location of the site is still contingent on the General troopers Wednesday the commissioner did give some good tidings: new equipment Bradley said the local troopers will be receiving new radar guns new cameras and new safety Roads Lawmakers eagerly review the annual list looking for improvements planned in their districts Good roads can be economic lifelines for rural areas or help relieve congestion in more urban settings Nicely said he hopes to create a new long-range plan and take some of the politics out of the road-building process but had little time to try to revamp it this year The list includes funding for one political football Vietnam Veterans Parkway in Sumner County It was cut from the budget last summer as a battle Center fyr center will be located has yet to be decided but Fleming said it will be around the edges of Kingsport Tennessee Department of Transportation officials been in contact with out staff trying to identify a suitable the assistant city manager said Though Johnson City will be the most northern point on 1-26 officials with that interstate task force expressed no concern about locating the center off the actual route Johnson City Kingsport of Bristol just pleased the entire region is going to benefit" Johnson City 1-26 Task Force Chairman John Smith said The decision to place the center in Kingsport made perfect sense to Fleming centers by definition Morale I 1 school bus and van before it can initially carry children and then again on an annual basis While meeting with the.