Birmingham Post-Herald from Birmingham, Alabama • 1

Merry Christmas She Birmingham INews I Birmingham Post-Herald Spedal Combined Edition December 25 2004 50C 1- New identities helped Bowen stay on the run of CMstmas Shelby man with Jony Bowen Worked in drywall carpentry eluded law years By CARLA CROWDER News stiff writer Shelby County authorities have offered details on how a fugitive with an eighth-grade education eluded local state and federal law officers for 4 'A years Jerry Lee Bowen convicted in April 2000 for the murder of ex-wife Brenda Breckenridge Bowen created new identities for himself even paying off $19000 in back child support for a Nevada man whose identity he had adopted during his run from the law Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry said Friday that authorities found Social Security documents military records obituaries and high school diplomas earlier this week during their search of home in North Charleston SC shock me but foe average person would be amazed Shelby County District Attorney Robby Owens said at a press conference called to elaborate on the Dec 21 capture of the county's most-wanted fugitive Bowen wore a full beard Officers believe he was supporting-himself with drywall and carpentry-type work He had bought an old house and was restoring it In April 2000 a jury convicted Bowen an appraiser and contractor horn Westover of foe 1997 murder Free on bond before his sentencing Bowen vanished later that spring maintaining his innocence and telling relatives he feared for his life in prisoa was told he would not survive said Vance 69 one of his sisters Vance said she did not communicate with her brother during his run and believes he was See Bowen Page 2A Christians cherish icons that celebrate birth of Jesus ByfiRERBAJKtSON Nam staff writer Symbols of Christmas line the echoing hallways and vast rooms of Sacred Heart Monastery in dozens of Nativity scenes wreaths and several Christinas trees The tree in one room has been decorated with dozens of delicate hand-crocheted white snowflakes made more than 30 years ago by die grandmother of Sister Veronica Ryan prioress of die monastery Wreaths hang on dooiways and walls Hie Benedictine sisters see all die decorations as part of one message "The wreath is die unending circle of said Sister Mary Adriana McLean is a sign that Christ is always with Ryan said "The lights on the Christmas tree are a symbol of Christ being the light of the Such symbols adorn the homes of most Christians helping diem celebrate holy day commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth same 2000 years ago in Bethlehem is die feast of the incarnation the word become flesh and that lends itself to a lot of symbolic representation United Methodist Bishop William Willimon said He prefers symbols that tell the Christian story babe in the manger is probably the Willimon said gets closest to the Christmas Of aD the symbols of Christmas the giving of a gift is die most important concept for Christians to convey Ryan said The monastery's Nativity scene at the end of the main hallway assembled by the nuns has been adorned with colorful See Christmas Page 2A NEWSSTAFFCHARLESNESBfTL Sister Therese Haydel Bghts and adjusts the candies in the Nativity scene at Sacred Heart Monastery NEWS STAFFMARK ALMOND The UAB cheerleaders tty to get fans fired up Friday morning at a tailgate party at the Sheraton Waikiki The University of Hawaii beat UAB By PAUL HJ SHIR New York Daily News NEW YORK If you get a Christmas present this morning it necessarily mean on list A vast blizzard that has paralyzed several Midwest has delayed jin the South andl "We obviously regret any inconvenience this may have caused our customers for foe holiday said UPS spokesman Malcolm Berkley The company's workload will likely have totaled about 340 million packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas At FedEx which runs a major hub in snowed-out Memphis been priori-foal have to be de- tizing packages for But the Postal Service which delivers about 20 billion pieces of mail from Thanksgiving to will deliver parcels today with its express service which runs 365 days a year spokesman Paul Harrington "We all knowTiow important it is because really more than mail an expression of love that people are sending to one Harrington said But FedEx and UPS major private carriers won't deliver this weekend Fans glow with pride at bowl appearance some of helpers from UPS FedEx and foe US Postal Service That means you may have to wait till Monday to get your gift before Sandra Munoz said1 spokeswoman US troops wrestle nostalgia for home in Iraq vow to endure Roberts was one of dozens of UAB fens who made foe trip to Honolulu to watch foe Blazers play what they hope Is foe first in a long line ol postseason bowl appearances UAB lost to foe University of Hawaii Friday night 59-40 in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl finishing foe season 7-5 Proudly displaying their school colors foe small contingent of UAB fens who made the journey braved intermediate rain showers to see foe game at Aloha Stadium Roberts brought his wife and See Blazers Page 2A By TDRAME NORMS News staff writer HONOLULU Bobbie Roberts has followed UAB football since its inception A UAB alumnus he was there fin every Blazers home game in the Division in and Division I-AA eras and for foe move hi 1996 to I-A college top division Friday was a day Roberts has anticipated for years i always told my friends when UAB played a bowl game even if it was on foe moon go Of course I had no idea it was going to be in children he carried on the tradition On this night before Christmas in Baghdad SgL Owens 25 a combat engineer with foe 1st Cavalry Di-i out of Fort Hood Texas read to some of his platoon members the words that sustain his fomihr and Christians around foe world on their holy day INSIDE Rumsfeld tels troops they face enemy in kaqBA Bush hoikty cals to mitary BA By GRETCLC KOVACH The Dallas Morning News CAMP 1STIQLAAL Iraq Even when a soldier for horn home a few of your buddies have died and a chance you'll never return Christmas must go on SgL Brian father always read him foe Nativity story from the family Bible on Christmas Eve When the son became old enough to have A Marine chaplain leads a prayer In a mess haB at Huntcane Point Marine Base in Ramatfl Iraq Birmingham Post-Herald For home dedverx cal 205-325-4444 Military families hopeful at Christmastime Cl D1 C5 Cl C2 Salamander test coming to Homewood 12A Business C4 Comics C17 Horoscope C17 Insight Cl Sports Viewpoints -v W1 Wrm hi jj irMweSdNiiirili W' feiWnf i fi 1 friiHf 'TN'tiWw.