The Index-Journal from Greenwood, South Carolina • Page 6

The Index-Journal, Greenwood, 8.C. Wednesday, August 1, 2001 Nation Tiger fatally mauls worker at animal park Got on Idoa for a story? Call uo at 943-2525. 458 Bypass 72 NW Greenwood Next to OutbMM "A Sleep Well Company" 229-4012 CENTER HILL, Fla. (AP) -A tiger broke through iu cage an exotic animal park In northern Florida on Tueiday and fatally mauled a worker. Vincent Lowe, 49, had entered a cage at Savage Kingdom to make repairs when "Tie," the 500-pound male Siberian in an adjoining cage, broke through the wlrei and pounced.

"For lack of a better word, it buated through," Sumter County Sheriff'! Lt. Oary Brannen laid. cut knocked it out of his holster, we don't know," Chief Deputy Jack Jordan said. Jordan said he didn't know how long the worker had been employed ut Savage Kingdom, but added he was In training for a state license to possess an exotic animal. Savage Kingdom Is not listed In telephone directories, and officials could not be reached for comment.

A messuge left at Baudy's home was not returned. Savage Kingdom breeds exotic animals for zoos and Siberian tigen can grow to more than 600 pound and 7 feet long. The tiger wai shot by the park's operator, big cat expert Robert Baudy, no roxcue crew could get Inside. Paramedic aald the man suffered a fatal bite to his neck and severe Injuries to his head, arm and ribs, The dead worker had a pistol for protection, but he was unable to fire it and the gun was found on the ground. "Whether he dropped lt or the attractions throughout the world.

Once open to the public as a zoo, admission Into the 41-acre park Is now very restricted. In March 1997, a Siberian tiger escaped from the park and seriously injured a worker before It was killed by sheriff's deputies. Baudy, 79, was well-known during the early 1950s, when his animal acts were regularly featured on The Ed Sullivan Show. Center Hill Is about 40 miles west of Orlando. AHinct-ahlA RaHc un aaie inowj urn Ml "Dill 1 1 i cm sccks to doosi access genesis computer systems, inc.

to mental health no vera ere 388-7447 I Celeron 800 OR AMD 850 Processor has expressed strong opposition to the bill, saying Senate leaders were not allowing other voices to Asus Mainboard 64MB SDRAM 20 GB 7200 RPM HD pinH A HO Mitsumi 1.44 MB Floppy be heard. Advocates have argued the human brain, as important as any other organ, should treated as such. "Current law is at best a partial parity that leaves many people vulnerable to inferior insurance coverage," said Ralph Ibson, a lobbyist with the Nutionol Mental Health Association. The Surgeon General's Office 66 Current law is at best a partial parity that leaves many people vulnerable to inferior Insurance coverage. Ralph Ibson, mental health lobbyist 99 ers would have to charge the same co-payments and deductibles for either types of conditions, whether influenza or schizophrenia.

Sponsors said the original legislation was not as expansive because of political considera 3D-AGP Graphics PCI Sound Network Card 48x CD-ROM Drive 56kV.90PCI Modem MLI 699 Speakers 15" .28 Pitch Graphic Monitor Genesis ATX Mini-tower Case Mitsumi Keyboard Mitsumi Mouse Microsoft Windows 98 PC Essentials 2000 Online Bible Only $74900 FREE 64 MEG MEMORY UPGRADE WASHINGTON (AP) Senators say they are closing a loophole in a federal law meant to force insurers to cover mental health conditions as they would any other medical problem. Sens. Paul Wellstbne, and Pete Domenicl, want to update a 1996 bill that is set to expire this fall. The act's flaw, the senators said, is that it dictates equal footing only for annual and lifetime benefits provided patients. The new fix would prevent health plans from limiting hospital stays and doctors' visits for treatment of mental health symptoms.

"The big problem was that people were cut off from the very beginning, so how much you spent in a year or in a lifetime was beside the point," Well-stone said in a recent interview. The legislation does not require companies to offer mental health coverage as part of employee health benefits. Instead, companies that do must provide the same level of coverage for mental health as they do for physical health, from routine checkups to major Ihsur- has said mental disorders affect almost one in five Americans. Two-thirds never seek treatment, including even people with severe mental illness. Health plans and employers who provide insurance coverage contend the plan amounts to a mandate from the Washington.

James Klein, president of Benefits Council, said tions. The Senate Health, Labor and Pensions Committee is set to flew mentajtnealth parity plan Other Special Upgrades $129 17" Monitor add $69 19" Monitor add $79 15" LCD add $139 1 Year Internet vote on the new, expanded ver- w6uld oie of the most sion of the law Wednesday; sup- restrictive andThtrtisive require-porters expected it to head for a ments ever imposed by Congress full Senate vote by the end of on the health benefits voluntarily session. offered bv emolavers to their PHI lGhzadd AMD lGhz add 8x4x32 add 46x12x40 add $49 $149 $369 $159 But Sen. Judd Gregg, employees." I New England town's residents want secession over taxation NEWINGTON, N.H. (AP) Townspeople haven't called out the militia, but some frustrated residents of this feisty town of 850 want to seoMe resident holding a homemade sfgft4fginf otitis to revolt.

The state imposed the property tax two vears ascf as'tem. from the state over the slltie porarr, measure to-oav for issue that led to the American CaoMooUiJUnder it, Ijfewkigton Revolution: taxation. million irfstat taxel At issue is the state property to fund education this year and tax, under which wealthy com is scheduled to pay another $2.1 million next year. Newington and two dozen other donor communities sued the state over the tax. In January, a judge declared the tax unconstitutional and ordered the state to repay the communities the $884 million it collected.

But a divided state Supreme Court reversed that ruling in the spring. In June, lawmakers voted to munities so-called "donor towns" send money to the state for redistribution to poor towns. Residents from Newington and other donor communities packed a town hall meeting Tuesday night to respond to a petition signed by 52 residents urging the town board to invoke a constitutional clause giving them the right to revolt. Many blamed the governor and other officials for the tax, as well as the state Supreme Court for keeping it on the books. The meeting attended by about 200 people ended with the town's board of selectmen promising some sort of referendum in the fall, but likely not a motion to secede.

"The whole taxation idea is trash," said Bettey Tobey, a Rye make the property tax perma nent. "I think that was the straw right there," said Selectman Jack O'Reilly. Critics of the tax say it hurts those on fixed incomes often the elderly who may be proper-. ty rich, but income poor. "I'm fighting for my home," It seems banks everywhere are merging, changing names, selling out.

If you've had enough, come home to The County Bank. Consider Classic Checking the right account If you want a basic checking program that's an easy tool for managing cash and paying bills. Plus you'll get preferred rates on our Switch CDm and Switch Money Market accounts. Check It out! said Portsmouth Mayor Evelyn Sirrell, who attended the public hearing to support Newington. Dock by Popular Domond! The Hearing and Balance Center at Greenwood ENT will be presenting Informational leminari during July and August Door prize will be given and light refreshments served at each event Plan to come arid bring a Mend or family member.

The first 10 (ten) people to register will receive a free package of hearing aid batteries. There is no charge for these programs, but you must pre-register by calling the Hearing and Balance Center at Greenwood ENT; 227-0444 or toll free at July 27: "I Siw What You Said" No monthly service charge No per debit charge No minimum balance until 2002 Unlimited check writing Unlimited VISA debit card usage Unlimited 24-hour Telebank usage' j. FREE first order of checks FREE online banking Call, come by or visit us online, and we'll give you all the details. It's so easy to make the witch to The County Bank! Offer effective until January 2002. August 3: "Assistive Technology for ths Htsrlng Impaired" AKA MAI Jill August iu: vsavsncsa Hearing County BANK" Aid Technology" Greenwood Ear, Noee A Throat I-aurtn tar.

Nose A Throat 324 ProfewlonaJ Park Road Clinton. SC 29325 Phone; 864.133-3333 lOIJSpHngStrwt lireenwood. St' 29646 Abbeville Ear, Note A Throat 200 Carwcllyn Road Abbeville. SC 29620 Phone: 16459-5100 Toll Free: I -866-646-HEAR (4327) Visit us on the web: www.greenwcodent.com Main Office 419 Main Street 942-1600 www.thecountybank.com kiss 'em cjoodbys.