Sun-News from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina • 1

1 ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE Winter Woes? Try throwing a parly or watching the best movies to beat the blahs KICKS! I INSIDE FRIDAY Partly cloudy COURTSIDE FRIDAY COMINOlSATURDA Saturday Mostly sunny 61 F0RECAST8B HOMICIDE Herring caught Man wanted in Conway death LOCAL 1 1C Plan your ideal garden this winter Flying high Eagles lifts Lady Panthers SPORTS I IB 626-8555 MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA WWWMYRTLEBEACHONL1NECOM JANUARY SI 2003 50C Saudi Foreign MMstarSaiirf MMoal (from teft) and Saudi Bush gives diplomacy to work in Iraq tively sets late March aa a deadline for action although officials from other nations suggest a decision could come sooner The next two key dates in the diplomatic process are Wednesday when Secretary of Please see IRAQ Page 6A SaRaoaiivi Thndayat ufCVTiinx House Tbs Saudbhaw besnsaddnga way to avoid war By Ron Edmonds The Associated Pros ii OXYCONTIN TRIAL SCDOT School timing changes delayed Local districts skirt rule prior to statewide debate By Zank Wilson The Sun News COLUMBIA The state Senate wont allow the uniform school start date to be picked apart by local bills meaning the rule should be safe until at least May Sen Luke Rankin D-Myrtle Beach argued successfully Thursday to have a local bill excusing a Spartanburg district from the uniform start date sent to the Senate Education Committee instead of being handled by the local delegation "We need to have statewide consideration of Rankin said If people dont like the result of the ride it should be debated aa a state issue not given local relief he uaid It was an example of the controversy The issue has been of particular interest to businesses on the Grand Strand They had been in favor of the later start date allowed by the rule Which would go into effect in 2004 See START I Page 6A says 1-73 is priority for state $1 billion federal help vital for road 4 ViV'" 1 '( By Zanb Wilson The Sun News COLUMBIA Building the proposed Interstate 78 to Myrtle Beach would coat at least $1 billion but it la the top priority for new road construction Department of Transportation officials told area legislators Thursday Even at that cost the project la doable within 10 yean if all the flmding permits and political action fall into place aa needed they said The DOT met with legislative members of the North Eastern Strategic Alliance a 10-county group that includes Horry and Georgetown to update them on the status of the road that was designated in 1991 but never funded DOT commission member Moot Truhick of Lake City said the 90-mile road is the top priority because it ia vital to the state's economy "The Strand is a valuable resource and it must be made more he said Carolina needs this prq- See ROAD Page 6A Illustrations by Jason Whitley The Sm Newt Federal court Judge Weston Houck (left) listens as Assistant ILS Attorney BUI Day (center) questions former pain dlnlc owner Michael Woodward on Thursday In court Defense says clients got serious medical care Proposed Interstates MB airport to get city fimding for new flights By David Klepper he Sun News Myrtle Beach will give $2869300 to Myrtle Beach International Airport to help accommodate new carriers that will soon begin flights City and county leaders lauded the allocation as an example of how the two governments can work together for the betterment of the entire area are eager to give them the money they said Councilman Chuck Martino who last year suggested the city buy the airport from the county to give the city more direct control over its operations The money will help the airport buy two boarding bridges modify the terminal See AIRPORT Page 6A Employment tenures at the pain center Eight doctors and three employee from the former Comprehensive Care and Pain Management Center in Myrtle Beach were named in a federal indictment alleging illegal activities when employed at the center Three doctors Michael Jackson Ricardo Alerre and Deborah Bordeaux are being tried on federal charges The remaining five doctors have pleaded guilty to lesser charges but Beryamin Moore committed suicide after pleading Periods of employment for the doctors are: Thomas Dcvbn Oct NM-Jm 1999 Heards Mem A 2000492001 Deborah Bardeaiu Fab 2000-Mm 2000 By Kenneth A Gailliard The Sun News FLOMENCI A defunct pain clinic in Myrtle Beach became an illegitimate medical practice about five yean after it was set up said its owner Dr Michael Woodward Comprehensive Care and Pain Management Center was a "pill where patient records medical tests and protocol for patient treatment were created aa protection against a potential police sting Woodward testified Thursday in federal court In about six hours of testimony he also detailed for prosecutors and defense lawyers how he built the practice and recruited doctors who indicated to him they understood the Michael Woodward tells the court Thursday hew Ms dink was operated nature of the operation In June a 93-count federal indictment was issued alleging illegal activities at the center including illegal distribution of narcotics such as OxyContin See OXYCONTIN Page 6A JFUSUJJSlIBBJFUAUJJHIBSJfliaUJJSfBSJFUjWJJSlSBB Deborah Thomas Vtakab Sutherland Desfin Nhurthi Fib 1999- Apt 2000 Fab 2001- April 2001 Mach 2000 April 2001 SaictMnpift By Ksnemi A Gmlumhi and Ktm Suluvmi Jfc Am Ntwt ONLINE WWWJMYRTLEBEACHONUNECOM Vd 53 No 69 2003 Sun Publishing Co 6 WHAT 7B Section 8D 8B Scoreboard Sports 'TV Weathor Money Section Nation A World 4A News From Back Home7A Obituaries 9C Cbsslftad Section Comtes 7D Community News 2C Crosswords 8C 7E Door Abby 8C Editorial 8-9A klcksttoday IOC Local Section 9.