THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN 14-A THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2003 Columbia data recorder found Nation ROUNDUP By Marcia Dunn AP Aerospace Writer HOUSTON In what could be one of the most significant debris discoveries yet from the shattered Columbia, searchers found a data recorder that may hold valuable clues as to what destroyed the space shuttle, the accident investigation board said Wednesday night. A spokeswoman for the board, Laura Brown, said the ship's recorder was intact but sustained some heat damage. Officials are hoping that temperature and aerodynamic pressure data can be retrieved from its magnetic tape, she said. Brown compared the recorder to an airplane's black box. "We have no way of knowing whether the data can be recovered," she said.
The recorder was discovered near Hemphill, Texas, and was being sent to Johnson Space Center for analysis. Officials said they believe it was found Wednesday. Brown said these recorders called the orbiter experiment support systems normally are turned on right before a space shuttle begins its descent through the at mosphere and run for one or two hours. Columbia disintegrated over Texas on Feb. 1 during its atmospheric re-entry.
The investigation board suspects the left wing of Columbia was breached, possibly by launch debris 16 days earlier, and that the searing atmospheric gases penetrated the hole and carved a deadly path through the wing and into the left landing gear compartment. All seven astronauts were killed. About 30,000 pieces of Columbia have been found, representing nearly 20 percent of the descending shuttle. Shuttles have a variety of computers and data recorders but nothing directly comparable to the black boxes on airplanes that give crash investigators detailed flight information. Earlier Wednesday, well before the recorder was found and identified, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe said investigators may never find a single definitive cause for the accident.
"We're six weeks into this and there's not going to be an 'ah-hah'," he said in an address to the NASA Advisory Council at Sten-nis Space Flight Center in Mississippi. O'Keefe said contributing factors could include hardware failure, the breakdown of processes and procedures during the flight and bad judgment calls. He did not elaborate on those factors but noted: "I bet it's going to be a combination of all three." O'Keefe said he does, however, expect answers that will enable NASA to resume shuttle flights. "My personal sense is that the problem is definable and the problem is fixable," he said. In New Orleans, meanwhile, NASA's deputy associate administrator for spaceflight, Michael Kostelnik, led a meeting to discuss how to keep the program active through 2015.
The two-day meeting was billed as the beginning of the space agency's process of determining how to extend the lifespan of the three remaining shuttles. The shuttles, which were built to fly no more than 100 missions, could be needed far longer than expected, Kostelnik said. Columbia was on its 28th mission. Kostelnik likened the shuttles to the military's B-52 bombers, most of which were built in the 1950s but have been repeatedly updated and remain in use. to tourists.
Dwight Watson, who was protesting farm policies he said were forcing him out of his family's tobacco-farming business, was taken into custody about midday. Watson, 51, of Whitakers, N.C., was charged with threatening to explode an explosive device, Chambers said. He was due to be arraigned today in U.S. District Court. HEALTH Weak gene thought linked to binge eating BOSTON Binge-eaters who say they can't help it may be right.
A study suggests a weak gene, not feeble willpower, may be the cause for some people. The research may point the way to a future pill to tame their appetites. The joint Swiss-German-American study makes the strongest case yet that genetic mistakes can cause an eating disorder, researchers say. Traditionally, eating behavior has been viewed as complex and cultural in its causes. ALSO IN THE NATION FACE-LIFT DELAY: People will have to wait a little longer to see Andrew Jackson's new look on the redesigned $20 bill.
The updated bill, which carries an image of the seventh president, will be shown to the public for the first time in May rather than at the end of March as planned, officials from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing said. FROM WIRE SERVICES CRIME Suspects facing life in prison for abduction SALT LAKE CITY Charged with felonies that could send them to prison for life, the suspects in the Elizabeth Smart abduction stood expressionless Wednesday during their first court appearance by video from the county jail. Brian David Mitchell, 49, and his wife, Wanda Barzee, 57, were ordered held on $10 million bail each and were appointed public defenders in a hearing that lasted only a few minutes. They were charged Tuesday with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated burglary in the June 5 abduction. They also were charged with aggravated burglary and attempted aggravated kidnapping for allegedly trying to abduct Elizabeth's 18-year-old cousin July 24.
Farmer's surrender ends standoff WASHINGTON The farmer who drove his tractor into a pond near the National Mall and threatened to set off explosives surrendered Wednesday after a 48-hour standoff that snarled rush-hour traffic and kept some monuments off limits Hijacked Cuban plane lands in Key West By The Associated Press KEY WEST, Fla. A Cuban airliner carrying 29 passengers was hijacked at knifepoint Wednesday night and landed under U.S. military escort in Key West, U.S. authorities said. Six hijackers took over the plane and surrendered to authorities in Key West, said FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela in Miami, Fla.
They will face federal hijacking charges, she said. There were no immediate reports of injuries among the hijackers, passengers or six crew members. It was not immediately known what motivated the hijackers, nor was their destination clear. The plane departed from Cuba, and air traffic controllers at Miami International Airport spotted it on radar about 7:45 p.m. They were unable to make voice contact, FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.
Air Force fighter jets were sent from Homestead Air Force Base and escorted the Douglas DC-3 to Key West, Bergen said. An airport worker said he saw the plane land about 8:20 p.m. "It was followed by three or four U.S. Navy jets. The plane sat on the runway for about 15 minutes before the doors finally opened," Robert Accerra said.
The hijackers surrendered to airport police on the tarmac, said Peter Horton, manager at Key West International Airport. Passengers were brought into the airport within a half hour. The plane took off from Nueva Gerona the principal city on the small Isle of Youth, about 185 miles southwest of Key West on a scheduled flight to Havana, said Leonardo Pena, a Cuban civil aviation official. But the aircraft flew past the capital and across the Florida Straits. Pena did not know who owned the plane, but Florida officials said it was owned by a company called Aerotaxi.
The hijacking follows strained relations between the United States and the Communist-run island. Late Tuesday, the communist government announced the detentions of several dozen opponents and said U.S. diplomats no longer may move freely around the island. Deaths TAYLOR, Scott, 40. Services Friday (Brown's).
WEIBLING, Charles 77. Services Saturday (Brown's). FORT GIBSON RADEBAUGH, Dennis, 51. Graveside services today (Mallory, Stigler). GERONIMO GARNER, Charles 49.
Services Saturday (Becker, Lawton). GLENCO HARRIS, Miron, 82. Services Monday, Glenco (Strode, Stillwater). GUYMON JOHNSON, Margaret, 85. Memorial service Friday (Henson-Novak).
HEALDTON WARRINGTON, Vermeil, 84. Services Saturday (Spivey's-Reser). HUGO PARKER, Ruth Wilson, 83. Services Saturday (Rogan). WOODS, Everlena, 95.
Services Saturday (Rogan). KINGFISHER ATKINS, Wilber "Bud," 76. Services Friday (Sanders). KREBS DUFF, Minnie 84. Services Friday (Chaney-Harkins, McAles-ter).
LAWTON COOPER, Robert Henry, 77. Services Friday (Lawton Ritter Gray). MOORE, Glenn 84. Services Saturday (Lawton Ritter Gray). SEYMOUR, Ella Jane, 77.
Services Saturday (Lawton Ritter Gray). LEEDEY SMITH, Verbon, 87. Services Saturday, Perryton, Texas (Shaw). LINDSAY DECKER, Donald E. Services Saturday, Bixby (Leonard Marker, Bixby).
MANGUM TATYREK, Fannie, 96. Services Saturday (Greer). MARIETTA WOODARD, Lillie 97. Graveside services today RINGLING HOLDER, Jackie, 95. Services Friday (Spivey's-Reser).
SEMINOLE STOUT, Hattie 92. Services today (Swearingen). SHARON GASTON, Lillian Maxine, 84. Services Friday (Billings, Woodward). STILWELL GANSON, Richard, 47.
Services pending (RobertsReed-Culver). WILLIAMS, Ester Irene, 80. Services Friday (RobertsReed-Culver). STRATFORD EDGE, James. Graveside services today (Pickard).
TAHLEQUAH HICKS, Jimmy Ray, 40. Services pending (Reed-Culver). TULSA NASH, Louise, 70. Services pending (Keith D. Biglow, Okmulgee).
ROBERTSON, Edward Sr. "Eddie," 76. Services Friday (Butler-Stumpff). THOMPSON, Elmer, 67. Services pending (New Dyer).
WELLSTON HAINES, Errol Dean, 76. Services pending (Brown's, Luther). WOODWARD BIFFLE, Charles 64. Services Friday (Johnson's Good Samaritan). METROPOLITAN OKLAHOMA CITY ANDERSON, Renita 40, died Saturday.
Visitation 2 p.m. ending with 4 p.m. service today (E. Dale Gunter, St. Petersburg, BLACKBURN, Argle 57, died Wednesday.
Graveside services 10 a.m. Friday, Resthaven Memory Gardens (Vondel L. Smith Son South). BLACKMON-COGGINS, Dorris 91, died Wednesday. Services 10 a.m.
Saturday (Hunter). BROWN, Carol 74, died Wednesday. Services pending (Hahn-CookStreet Draper, Oklahoma City). BROWN, Harold, 74, died Wednesday. Services pending co*kER, Lloyd Darrell, 69, died Saturday.
Graveside services 2 p.m. Friday, Rosedale Cemetery, Rose-dale (John M. Ireland, Moore). CRAIG, Persia 90, died Sunday. Services 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, Amos Temple, Boley (Pollard). HARRISON, George, 59, died Tuesday. Services pending (Turner, Geary). HOLLOWAY, Valerie, 18, died Saturday. Services 10 a.m.
today (Rolfe). JOURNEAY, Jill Hanna, 19, died March 15. Services 10 a.m. Saturday (Paylor, Midwest City). LITSEY, Margaret Lorraine, 97, died March 12.
Services 11 a.m. Friday, Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Resthaven, Oklahoma City). LOPEZ, Soledad, 85, died Tuesday. Prayer vigil 7 p.m. Friday, funeral home chapel.
Mass 10 a.m. Saturday, Little Flower Catholic Church (Baggerley South). MORGAN, Margaret "Peg," 96, died Monday. Prayer service 4 p.m. Friday, funeral home chapel.
Mass 10:30 a.m. Saturday, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church (Smith Kernke, NW 23). MYHRO, Carlton Vinge, 84, died Wednesday. Services pending (Affordable Cremation).
NEWTON, Doffice, 65, died Wednesday. Services pending (Howard-Harris). SETZER, Timothy Mark, 43. Memorial service pending Pitcher-Hackney, Carnegie). SMITH, Patricia, 63, died Tuesday.
Services 11 a.m. today, Church of the Living God, Temple Number 39 (Rolfe). STATEN, J.T., 77, died Tuesday. Services 2 p.m. Friday (Vondel L.
Smith Son South). WARD, James Coleman, 86, died Wednesday. Services 2 p.m. Friday (Resthaven, Oklahoma City). WHITE, Dorothy 75, died Tuesday.
Services 2 p.m. Friday (Mercer-Adams, Bethany). BETHANY HATCHER, William 32, died March 6. Services 2 p.m. Saturday (Mercer-Adams).
OSBORN, Mary K. "Susie," 58, died Wednesday. Services 10 a.m. Saturday, Rose Hill Mausoleum chapel (Mercer-Adams). McALESTER KOLYER, Helen Josephine, 75.
Services Friday (Bishop). MENO DECKER, Lula, 97. Services pending (Anderson-Burris, Enid). MULDROW FORTNER, Charles "Chuck," 69. Services Friday (Agent).
MUSKOGEE CLARK, Vernell Agnes, 51. Graveside services today, Summit (Keith D. Biglow). CLAYTON, Sandra, 29. Graveside services Friday (Keith D.
Big-low). RUCKER, Bertie Jane "B.J.," 81. Services pending (Keith D. Big-low). WAGNER, Shirley Johnson, 62.
Services Friday (Ragsdale). NINNEKAH McADAMS, Esther Martha, 89. Services Friday (Ferguson, Chicka-sha). OGLESBY INMAN, Bonna 76. Graveside services Friday (Stumpff, Bar-tlesville).
PONCA CITY SIMS, Mildred 78. Graveside services today, Ponca City (McCafferty-Bolick-Green, Tonka wa). WHITE EAGLE, George, 74. Services pending (Grace). POND CREEK TEDFORD, Clarence "Jack," 76.
Services Saturday (Wilson). PORTER SURRATT, Woodrow Sr. "Wood," 81. Services Saturday, Muskogee (Keith D. Biglow, Muskogee).
PRYOR BUNCH, Dortha 85. Services Friday, Chouteau (Shipman's Jim Green). WEAVER, Georgia Faye, 81. Services Friday (Shipman's Jim Green). DEL CITY MADDUX, Truman 82, died Wednesday.
Graveside services 2 p.m. Friday (Bill Eisenhour Southeast). EDMOND FREEZE, Marie 88, died Wednesday. Services pending (Baggerley, Edmond). MIDWEST CITY LORANCE, Grace 76, died Monday.
Services 11 a.m. Friday, Hartselle, Ala. (Barnes Johnson). MUSTANG NEAL, Virginia D. (Spain), 81, died Tuesday.
Services pending (Bill Eisenhour Northeast). NOBLE PETERS, Earl Robert "Pete," 81, died Sunday. Services 2 p.m. today, Noble Church of Christ (McMahans). SEATON, Raymond George 65, died Tuesday.
Graveside services 2 p.m. today, Little Cemetery, Seminole (Memorial Chapel). PURCELL HOLLAND, Charlie Jr. "Red," 70, died Wednesday. Services 2:30 p.m.
Saturday (Wilson-Little). MOSS, Bill Monroe, 79, died Tuesday. Services 2 p.m. Friday (Wilson-Little). ATKINS, Eldo 86, died Monday.
Services 1:30 p.m. today (Wilson-Little). WELSH, Janelle, 47, died Wednesday. Services 10 a.m. Saturday (Wilson-Little).
WORDEN, Dr. Robert William 62, died Monday. Services 10 a.m. Friday (Havenbrook, Nora-man). TUTTLE McALISTER, Essie Merle, 74, died Tuesday.
Services 10 a.m. Saturday (Wooster, Pauls Valley). YUKON LOZOYA, Cristobal 76, died Tuesday. Wake 7 tonight, funeral home chapel. Mass 10 a.m.
Friday, St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church (Yanda Son). OGLE, Gary, 59, died Tuesday. Services 10:30 a.m. Friday, United Methodist Church, Kingfisher (Sanders, Kingfisher).
WILLIAMS, Patricia "Pat," 75, died Wednesday. Services 10 a.m. Saturday. Graveside services 2 p.m. Saturday, Rush Springs Cemetery, Rush Springs (Smith Turner).
STATE ADA JAGGARS, Russell, 84. Services pending (Williamson, Wetumka). ALTUS GAY, William "Bill," 63. Services Friday (Lowell-Tims). ANADARKO BARTON, Johnny, 44.
Services Monday (Steverson). APACHE McCRACKEN, Alvin Houston, 88. Services Friday (Crews). ARDMORE POWELL, Marie Owen, 85. Services Friday (Harvey-Douglas).
ATOKA ODEN, Oma Viola (Johnson), 93. Graveside services Friday (Brown's). BARTLESVILLE BUSBY, William Wakefield III "Bill," 46. Services Friday (Brown-Dugger, Perry). NEWBY, Margaret 81.
Services Friday (Neekamp). BOKOSHE TACKETT, Betty 67. Services Saturday (Evans Miller, Po-teau). CALUMET KENNEDY, Oren A. "Bob," 64.
Services pending (Wilson, El Reno). CHANDLER HENDERSON, Myrtle 92. Services Friday (Parks Brothers). SHERMAN, Duane 48. Services Saturday (Parks Brothers).
CHEROKEE WEBSTER, Myrtle Scribner, 96. Services Friday (Goodwin). COALGATE NELSON, Delia, 93. Services pending (Brown's, Atoka). DUNCAN STRAWN, William Edward Jr.
"George," 78. Services Friday (Don Grantham). DURANT BRIEDWELL, LaHoma, 81. Services pending (Coffey-Murray). PUBLIC RECORDS BIRTHS Baptist R.
and R. Giroux, Mustang, a boy. J. and B. Grisby, Oklahoma City, a girl.
M. Hill and E. Moore, Oklahoma City, a girl. L. and M.
Craig, Oklahoma City, a boy. C. and J. Miller, Bethany, a girl. J.
Howard-Croft and R. Croft, Oklahoma City, a boy. B. Walters and T. Dinwiddie, Moore, a boy.
C. and J. Hutson, Cushing, a girl. S. and J.
Wilcox, Oklahoma City, a girl. C. Monevitay and R. Robinson, Oklahoma City, a girl. J.
and J. Farrell, Kingfisher, a boy. T. and T. Long, Yukon, a girl.
City, a boy. MARRIAGE LICENSES OKLAHOMA COUNTY Casey Matthew Jones, 19, and Stacey Danielle Reeves, 18, both of Newcastle. Cory Thomas Baldwin, 22, and Jennifer Michelle Shoopman, 21, both of Oklahoma City. Khan Mohammad-Motiurrahman, 27, and Mattie Marie Marzette, 33, both of Oklahoma City. Derek Julian Miller, 25, and Shawna Marie Duke, 25, both of Oklahoma City.
Thomas Ramirez-Gonzales, 19, and Vanessa Jean Van Arsdale, 24, both of Oklahoma City. Charles E. Sanders, 81, and Madge Carroll Womack, 74, both of Oklahoma City. Paul G. Way, 54, and Linda M.
Way, 54, both of Midwest City. Rodney Trent Tyra, 20, and Melissa Deann Scoggins, 20, both of Choctaw. Jose De'Jesus Velasco-Medina, 35, and Liliana Greiselda Rodriguez-Cardenas, 21 both of Oklahoma City. Stanley Eugene Shreve, 34, and Tra-vette D. Delay, 32, both of Oklahoma City.
Bear Fryar, 23, and Jennifer Jo-Vaun Wright, 23, both of Harrah. Eric Steven Robinson, 33, and Tami Jolene Bailey, 33, both of Oklahoma City. Timothy Ray Kinsey, 26, and Chrystal Ann Hill, 26, both of Moore. Steven Dale Wood, 23, and Kristi Elaine Burch, 20, both of Oklahoma City. Robert Wayne Yarber, 31, and Stephanie Ann Glenn, 26, both of Mustang.
Bryan Dale Scott, 30, and Lisa Renee Stahlscmidt, 28, both of Oklahoma City. Timothy Richard Hinkle, 33, and Shellie Lynn Ralls, 33, both of Oklahoma City. Paul David French, 44, and Nancy Shirlene Deutsch, 41, both of Edmond. Junaid Khalid Chaudhry, 27, Oklahoma City, and Danette Faye Murdoch, 39, Piedmont. Ross, Melvin McCloud v.
Gayle Marie Shelton, Bobby L. v. Connie Marie Snyder, Michael Lynn v. Marye Nicole Wolfe, Jason C. Sr.
v. Jennet DIVORCES GRANTED Armendariz, Olivia v. Sergio A. Fraire Burns, Stacey L. v.
Stephen C. Cassady, Stephen Grant v. Vernell May Garrison Daquioag, Baldomero C. v. Nora Hud-kins Esmaeili, Dorthy Jean v.
Abdol Majid House, Elaine v. Wilbur Clayton LaFevers, Jimmy L. v. Loraine A. McMurry, Valerie v.
Kermit Mize, Garry L. v. Vanessa S. Stevenson, Verona L. v.
Albert D. Taylor, Venice Davite v. Christopher Emil Tyra, Richard Earl II v. Mary Ellen Villamil, Lynn A. v.
Edgar Ernesto Wilton, Marlin D. v. Rose Ann James Edward Rattigan, 18, Moore, and Amanda Jean Bowers, 18, Oklahoma City. Jason Scott Jones, 20, and Dutches Marie Baggett, 18, both of Midwest City. Brian A.
Buswell, 47, and Marilynn J. Johnson, 47, both of Oklahoma City. DIVORCES ASKED Bryan, Ashley George v. Bill J. Christopher, Bruce v.
Mandy Clegg, Jamie P. v. Susan M. Green, Tonya D. v.
A'Kale J. Griffin, Mary Jo v. John Elmer Jr. Harper, Howard Paul v. Denise Susann He'bert, Karen Ann v.
Andre Holt, Duffie v. LaQuinta Joyce King, Kelley J. v. Charla Dawn Lunsford, Barbara Jean v. Terry Arthur Marks, Haruki Awaya v.
Sharon Kay McMasters, Dennis W. v. Donna G. Mitchell, Robert A. v.
Angela Murrell, Steven Lee v. Rhonda R. Olmstead, Jennifer Sue v. Jared De-wayne Reynolds, Sherry v. Archie Norman B.
Nelson and C. Schultz, Blanchard, a girl. S. Morris and J. Kanaugh, Norman, a girl.
J. and B. Carpenter, Norman, a boy. Renaissance, Edmond T. and D.
Hagan, Edmond, a girl. C. and B. Powers, Edmond, a girl. H.
and G. Kuhlman, Luther, a girl. St. Anthony E. Montoya and D.
Martinez, Oklahoma City, a girl. Southwest K. and T. Lewis, Oklahoma City, a boy. R.
Hageman and S. Grose, Moore, a boy. A. and C. Lewis, Del City, a boy.
A. Chambers and K. Hetherington, Oklahoma City, a boy. L. Cortez and C.
Littlejohn, Oklahoma City, a girl. C. Sanchez and F. Parra, Oklahoma.
