The News and Observer from Raleigh, North Carolina • 19

TTT AKE 3B I Forum to examine 'sustainable development' BY NED GLASCOCK STAFF WRITER Emerging Issues Forum schedule nging Issues Forum schedule What: The Emerging Issues Forum "People Planet: A Fragile Partnership" Where: McKimmon Center Western Boulevard at Gorman Street When: Today and Friday ging Issues Forum Fragile Partnership" on Center Western in Street I Friday of speakers National Geographic Society "Mission to Planet Earth" Daniel Goldin NASA administrator FRIDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS EMIR 1 8:30 am McDevitt secretary of the NC Department of Environment of speakers National Geographic Society "Mission to Planet Earth" Daniel Goldin NASA administrator FRIDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS NM 8:30 am Remarks McDevitt secretary of the NC Department of Environment IIIIMTODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS 1 offered up headliners with household-name recognition including Al Gore and Hillary Rodham Clinton the 1998 Emerging Issues Forum features lesser-known speakers who nevertheless rank high in their fields The lineup includes the head of NASA the National Geographic Society's explorer-inresidence the director of the national zoo the mayor of Milwaukee and the chairman of the President's Council on Sustainable Development "We have very powerful speakers who bring to the podium different perspectives business government scientific environmental" Owen said "They are from around the world and they are the people we have identified as the best thinkers the most informed on the topic of sustainable development "They are going to define for us some new ideas that I would say are exciting Those are ideas that North Carolinians need to hear" On-site registration for those who did not sign up in advance will take place this morning at McKimmon Center at Western Boulevard and Gorman Street The $150 fee includes meals and forum materials RALEIGH The term "sustainable development" means many things to many people: protecting the environment for future generations finding strategies for development and nature to coexist making our cities function better At the 13th annual Emerging Issues Forum a two-day conference opening this morning at McKimmon Center a collection of the nation's leading thinkers on the topic outer-space and underwater explorers business leaders and government officials will share their insights The topic: "People and Planet: A Fragile Partnership" "We feel like it's the most important issue of our day: How do we want to live in the next century?" said Betty Owen director of the nationally recognized event which is put on by NC State University Nearly 1000 policy wonks political operatives issue advocates and academics are expected for the forum with Gov Jim Hunt as host The forum offers two days of speeches demonstrations and dining Unlike years past when the conference has and Natural Resources "The Wealth of Cities" John Norquist mayor of Milwaukee 'Community Development and the Environment as Natural Allies" John Knott developer Dewees Island SC Response Camille Cates Barnett chief management officer Washington 11 am "Natural Capitalism" Paul Hawken environmentalist author and business consultant 12:30 pm: Closing luncheon Gov Jim Hunt and William Friday president emeritus University of North Carolina John ee ent and the ies" John land SC chief manr1 'out Hawken Ind business cheon am Friday sity of North 10 am "A Spear in the Chest and Subsequent Events" Ray Anderson CEO of Interface inc and co-chairman of the President's Council on Sustainable Development "Forging a Society-University Partnership for the Environment" Theodore Hullar director of the Center for the Environment at Cornell University 1:30 pm "Biodiversity and the Future of Planet Earth" Michael Robinson director of the National Zoological Park 3 pm "Sea Change: A Message of the Oceans" Sylvia Earle marine biologist and explorer-in-residence at the Ned Glascock can be reached at 829-4557 or nedgnandocom I It 1 i i i 0 a i 4 I I 1 i 7 0tagNeWeatra000autow rigfligt i -71 Daniel Boyce defending 1 John Williams Jr shows a 1 model of the site where his 1 client is alleged to have killed 1- a woman Williams left meets tt defense attorney Nigle 'Tex' 0 It Barrow's smile with a laugh STAFF PHOTOS BY SCOTT SHARPE But prosecutors She1le3 Desvousges and Rebecca Hol said the "mountain" of evidenc( 4 only points to one person I "It is fashionable to try an( 1 A blame the police nowadays wh3 wasn't this test done? Why wasn' that test done?" Holt said "Really Daniel Boyce defending John Williams Jr shows a model of the site where his client is alleged to have killed a woman Williams left meets defense attorney Nig le 'Tex' Barrow's smile with a laugh STAFF PHOTOS BY SCOTT SHARPE But prosecutors Shelley Desvousges and Rebecca Holt said the "mountain" of evidence only points to one person "It is fashionable to try and blame the police nowadays why wasn't this test done? Why wasn't that test done?" Holt said "Really TRE NEWS THURSDAY FEB RAL 1 4 City muse 'toys for The Raleigh seeking artifacts THE NEWS OBSERVER THURSDAY FEBRUARY 26 1998 RALEIGH City museum needs 'toys for next exhibit The Raleigh City Museum is seeking artifacts for Its next exhibit "The Games We Played: Children and Their Toys" which will explore the culture of childhood and its changing meaning throughout the city's history There could be a toy truck or train doll or board game model airplane or zeppelin China tea set or a plastic kite in an attic or basement The museum is looking for people who will loan or donate such objects to the museum To provide a toy for the exhibit call Jenny Kulikowsld or Katie Dougherty at (919) 832-3775 or write to the museum at PO Box 10273 Raleigh 27605-0273 Include your name address and phone number as well as information about the size and type of artifact its relationship to Raleigh and its history of ownership Information should be submitted by March 30 RALEIGH Historic Oak View keeps baseball theme The series of baseball-themed movies sponsored by Historic Oak View County Park continues for two more Fridays with "The Babe Ruth Story" this week and "Field of Dreams" March 6 The movies begin at 7 pm in the Commons Building at the Wake County Office Park 4001 Carya Drive Historic Oak View is sponsoring the free showings in conjunction with the Smithsonian traveling exhibit "Major LeagueMinor League Baseball" at the park The exhibit features photos of baseball stadiums from across the country along with artifacts from North Carolina teams and players that emphasize the Tar Heel state's contributions to the sport The exhibit is open through March 16 Hours are from 10 am to 4 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays and from 1 to 5 pm Sundays Call 250-1013 for more information RALEIGH Raleigh ranks 59th in travel costs Raleigh came in 59th in a top100 ranking of daily business-travel costs in US cities published by Business Travel News Rankings are based on the cost of lodging three meals and car rental according to the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau The study puts Raleigh's costs at $20257 a day up 45 percent from last year's $19390 but sliding four slots from a 55 ranking New York tops the list at $42027 a day Raleigh falls between No 58 Charleston WVa at $203 and No 60 Tucson at $202 Other Southeast cities fall in the index's midsection Richmond ranks 33rd Greenville SC is 48th and Charlotte is 49th Raleigh ranks 20th in rental car costs 66th in food costs and 67th in hotel costs The national average cost among the top 100 cities is $217 a day up 61 percent from last year Hong Kong is the world's most expensive city according to the index with costs of $583 a day RALEIGH Commission honors area volunteers The Raleigh Human Resources and Human Relations Advisory Commission applauded citizen business and organization volunteers at its recent awards luncheon Annette Henry who recently retired as the first director of the Triangle Radio Reading Service received the citizen award The service's 130 volunteers provide 66 hours of local news and information broadcasts each week reaching more than 1100 people in more than 16 counties Henry oversaw the service's growth in her 13 years as director Communications received the business award for its corporate involvement in a range of community projects Interact a nonprofit United Way agency received the organization award for its programs and services for the victims of sexual assault and domestic violence FROM STAFF REPORTS 1414 Murder trial winds down Janus like portraits emerge of John Williams Jr as opposing lawyers make their last jury appeals BY ANNE SAKER STAFF WRITER RALEIGH For 612 hours Wednesday the lawyers debated the two faces of John Williams Jr To the defense he is as much a victim as the women he is accused of killing raping and assaulting To the prosecution he is a remorseless hunter of the weak Today a Wake County Superior Court jury will be asked to digest weeks of evidence and Wednesday's closing arguments to determine whether Williams 37 murdered two women and raped or assaulted five others over a 16- month period If Williams is convicted of murder the Augusta Ga native faces a possible death sentence The trial which began Jan 12 explored the crimes against seven crack-addicted women in a twosquare-mile area of downtown The first rape occurred in October 1995 Patricia Ashe was found dead Jan 6 1996 Another rape and two assaults occurred in 1996 and Deborah Elliot was found dead Dec 26 1996 The last assault Feb 4 1997 resulted in Williams' arrest The gallery of Courtroom 3C filled with relatives of the women and other observers Williams' mother Richardine sat in the front row just behind her son The lawyers tried to dame the problem for the five women and seven men on the jury The speeches were unusimlly long because the case is unusually large Daniel Boyce defending Williams counseled the jury not to 1 r-old pay e's fee convicted of )e legal )ut is still about $5000 3tive fee WILLIS RITER linent defense shire of Raleigh resent Taurean ut that doesn't Iministrative fee family Mawiyah and Ical activists who )hillip and Cheryl for their 14-year the Whites are Cheshire about I 1k I I' Taurean ing March 9 on a rst-degree sexual )n with allegations 4-year-old girl who own The enter and Black-Poole Road have public and finanhe Whites They rmational meet0 at their cultural tended as a fundlonated an undismoney 1 ationship banker Inesday that less donated to The Defense Fund BB 'om my underiew trial accord-who came in and aid ave to specify an vhen they stop by he said the teller know te a deposit into receipts are to be mts" Virgil said lbon said that 's gracious offer need of money is the adminisLt $5000 but even 3 that go beyond port their son in lese parents had because they're ass people with she said "Even )ve the $5000 I ommunity would to have excess aey need" Dried the family's roughly a seven-to see Taurean at 1 pay fee convicted of legal but is still about $5000 fee WILLIS WRITER Prominent defense Cheshire of Raleigh represent Taurean but that doesn't administrative fee family Mawiyah and local activists who Phillip and Cheryl for their the Whites are Cheshire about I '1 I Taurean March 9 on a first-degree sexual with allegations 4-year-old girl who own The Center and Poole Road have public and the Whites They informational at their cultural intended as a donated an money relationship banker Wednesday that less donated to The Defense Fund from my new trial who came in and said have to specify an when they stop by she said the teller know a deposit into receipts are to be parents" Virgil said Kambon said that gracious offer in need of money is the $5000 but even that go beyond support their son in these parents had because they're people with she said "Even the $5000 I community would to have excess they need" the family's roughly a to see Taurean at 14-year-old must lawyer's Taurean White rape will get free representation expected to pay as an administrative BY LAURIE STAFF RALEIGH attorney Joe has agreed to White for free exclude a small he is asking of the According to Kamau Kambon are trying to help White raise money 14-yearold son's defense expected to pay $5000 to help cover administrative costs Their son Taurean was convicted in December of first-degree rape of a 9-year-old The boy was tried as an adult and sentenced to 16 years in pris- on He faces a hearing second charge of assault in connection that he assaulted a The Kambons Bennfi Cultural Blacknificent Books on been trying to gain financial support for even held an meeting a few weeks ago center It wasn't fundraiser but people undisclosed amount of Karen Virgil at said than $600 has been Taurean White account set up at "It is set up understanding to get a according to the parents set it up" Virgil Donors do not account number a BBSiT branch "They are to let they want to make that fund and the mailed to the Mawiyah despite Cheshire's the family is still "Certainly there administrative fee of about if there are funds the 0000 to the initial trial to sell off valuables both working-class modest resources" if funds rise above would hope the want these people money for what Kambon mentioned drive each Sunday seven-hour round trip the Western Youth Institution in Morganton "There are many expenses outside of the layer's expenses that come up" she said Laurie Willis can be reached at 829-8949 or Iwillisnandocom what that is is an effort to draw attention away from the defendant" Desvousges ended her argument by addressing the class issue "Mr Boyce has asked you to consider the victims she said "That's a rather snobbish question under the circumstances But I'll respond this way: What does it matter? What does it matter?" Today Judge Robert Farmer will instruct the jury on the law Then the panel will begin deliberating If jurors find Williams guilty of murder they will consider his punishment in a final phase of the trial Anne Saker can be reached at 829-8955 or asakernandocom internal matter that should be left to the armored car company to sort out "We have confidence that those Loomis Fargo officials will handle the situation" he said "I wouldn't like to read any more about that subject" Alicia Williams can be reached at 829-4565 or awilliamnandocom Follow Up is an update on an event or person appearing in the news in the past To suggest a topic for a FollowUp call 829-4570 or e-mail jruffin6fnandocom with the women Someone else could have been with the women after Williams and used condoms he said Nig le "Tex" Barrow sought to emphasize the differing descriptions of the assailant by literally turning Williams' face to the jury "You have seen one side of John Williams" he said "You can see his ear is misshapen It's very very noticeable" Then holding up a police composite drawing issued in June 1996 Barrow said "It's a different person!" The defense lawyers said the police failed to do enough tests to rule out other possible suspects and seized upon Williams as the answer to their investigations month whether the drivers were under suspicion or how the investigation was going Local Wells Fargo managers in Cary have referred all questions to their parent company Loomis Fargo Co in Houston which did not return several calls this month from The News Observer Ralph Reardon senior vice president of administration at Coastal Federal Credit Union said the whole issue has been blown out of proportion "It's a done deal" Reardon said "It's toast How we ever got involved in it we don't know" He said the lost money is an be swayed by the size of the case against his client which included DNA test results that found Williams' sperm in one of the murder victims and the two rape victims plus five in-court identifications "It would be very easy to jump the gun because of the sheer volume of evidence" he said "But you have to break it down and when you do the case starts to fall apart" Boyce noted the victims' histories of drug abuse made their recall of details hazy and unreliable The women exchanged sex for drugs and Boyce said the DNA evidence suggests only that Williams at some time had sex Almost two months later officials have not shared much more The drivers David Faircloth of Wilmington and Steven Stepp of Raleigh told their bosses that $209300 fell off the truck between stops in Research Triangle Park Faircloth could not be reached Wednesday and Stepp declined to comment FBI investigators have been mum initially reluctant to confirm they were handling the case then later refusing to disclose any details John Werner lead agent in the FBI's Raleigh office would not say in a telephone interview earlier this Hush surrounds the mystery of the missing money By ALICIA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER Surprisingly not too many folks are talking these days about $200000 that disappeared from a Wells Fargo truck That is they are not speaking publicly The missing loot has been a mystery since Dec 29 when two drivers for the company reported it fell off their armored vehicle en route to a Coastal Federal Credit Union at IBM Wells Fargo replaced the credit union's money but whatever happened to that healthy bag of dough is the question that remains.