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The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 8
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The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 8

Publication:
The Pantagraphi
Location:
Bloomington, Illinois
Issue Date:
Page:
8
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

AS THE PANTAGRAPH Wednesday, July 5, 2000 www.pantagraph.com .4 Fourth of July marked by OpSail 2000 if. i NEW YORK (AP) Like pages of a history book sprung to life, towering tall ships with crisp white sails and crews in formation glided through New York Harbor on Tuesday as OpSail 2000 marked a very special Fourth of July. Spectators came from across the city and around the world for a rare look at the floating parade, which included two dozen warships from 14 countries in only the sixth International Naval Review in history. President Clinton, standing on the flight deck of the USS John F. Kennedy, was among those impressed by the line of seafaring craft of all sizes and shapes.

The ships sailed into sight with the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop. The Operation Sail marked the first return of the tall ships to New York since 1992's 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' journey. The 26 Class-A sailing ships, those over 160 feet, came from 19 countries. They had miles of canvas, but inconsistent breezes and tight maneuvering space forced them to use their engines. More than 100 smaller wind-powered vessels also were part of the parade of sail.

Doris Nelson came to Battery Park from the Bronx with her 10-year-old son, Michael, who was buying an OpSail T-shirt. "We're very excited," she said moments after a Stealth fighter buzzed overhead as part of the festivities. "This is the closest I've ever been to a Stealth fighter. It's very interesting." Nearby, Samuel Johnson of Brooklyn wielded his video camera over the heads of spectators standing 20-deep in Battery Park. They watched as the extraordinary water show was led by the Coast Guard barque Eagle a craft seized from the Nazis after World War II.

"It's beautiful," Johnson said enthusiastically. "It's a wonderful scene." Up at Riverbank State Park in Harlem, the crowd stretched across 10 blocks. It took the parade almost two hours to reach the park, but spectators both young and old said it was worth the wait. "They're beautiful ships," said 78-year-old Lawrence Gibson, a retiree from the Bronx. "It's the first time I've seen anything like this.

I'm used to seeing these ships just in books." The tall ships, drawing the biggest oohs and aahs, led the floating parade beneath the Ver-razano Bridge, emerging as if beamed in via time machine through a morning harbor haze. Clinton, speaking shortly after the ships headed north on the Hudson River, delivered a message of good will. "Our ancestors came here on immigrant ships and slave ships," Clinton reminded Jiis au- New citizens take oath on Fourth of July CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) In business suits, saris and checked sundresses, 84 people from 27 countries stood on the steps of Monticello Tuesday and became United States citizens. The new Americans who took the oath of citizenship during the annual Independence Day ceremony at Thomas Jefferson's home included a Bolivian fisherman, an educator from Pakistan and a Chinese biologist, among others.

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who spoke at the ceremony, said they reminded her of the fears she felt when she came to the United States from Czechoslovakia at age 11. "It never occurred to me that I would be secretary of state and have Thomas Jefferson's job," Albright told the crowd of about 1,500. Elsewhere around the country there were parades, picnics, games and, of course, fireworks to mark the anniversary of America's independence. In New York, 150 tons of explosives fueled the nation's most spectacular fireworks display. The rockets' red-white-and-blue glare exploded in an extravaganza that capped off OpSail 2000's daytime parade of tall ships and naval vessels.

Pyrotechnics lit up the sky all around Manhattan's edges, creating dramatic, fiery displays against the glamorous backdrop of the city skyline. In Boston, several hundred thousand showed up at the Esplanade along the Charles River Tuesday night for the traditional Boston Pops concert and fireworks display. In cloudy Seattle, people were in jackets, carrying umbrellas. "Generally, summer doesn't usually start around here until July 12," said Kirsten Willman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "It was like 85 last week, but you can't let the weather get you down around here," said Kevin Jackson, 35, of Seattle, who was at Gas Works Park with his wife and 2-year-old daughter.

Across the country in Boston, a small group of Hawaiians mourned the loss of their islands' independence. Blowing conch shell horns, about two dozen Native Hawaiians and their supporters gathered where American colonists threw British tea into the Boston Harbor in 1773 to protest colonial rule. The Hawaiians threw garlands of the Hawaiian plant Ti also pronounced "tea" into the harbor. The group hoped to draw attention to the United States' 1893 takeover of the eleven Hawaiian Islands. "It will take a little while for people to understand our situation in Hawaii, but it's got to start somewhere," said activist John "Butch" Kekahu.

In Irving, Texas, every house in the University Hills neighborhood had at least one flag on its lawn after neighbors pitched in to buy 1,000 flags. The neighbors' efforts reward the longtime ritual of Nell Anne Hunt, who for years has planted her own flags in as many neighbors' yards as she can. It Top: The 361 -foot Kaiwo Maru, of Japan, a four-masted bark built in 1989 was shrouded in fog as it prepared for OpSail 2000's Parade of Sail on Tuesday. Above: Boats anchored around Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Right: Deckhands secured the foresail onboard the Amistad schooner in New York Harbor on Tuesday.

dience, calling for acceptance of immigrants and people of color. "We must resolve never to close the golden door behind us." He also announced that America's next generation of destroyers would be named for late Adm. Elmo Zumwalt architect of the modern U.S. Navy. Clinton called Zumwalt, who died in January at age 79, "my mentor, my friend and a magnificent role model." About halfway through the tn AP Fcts about Tuesday's Op-Sail 2000 in New York City and estimates from the Coast Guard on the number of participants: 30,000 Coast Guard estimate of spectator vessels.

26 Class-A tall ships, those over 160 feet in length, accompanied by escort sailing vessels; more than 100 other wind-driven ships were part of the Parade of Sail. 24 Modern warships in Naval Review. 14 Navies in Naval Review. 10,000 U.S. and foreign military personnel in Naval Review.

11 miles Length of Naval Review. 28,800 Police officers on duty Fourth of July. 12,000 Police officers assigned OpSail 2000 duty. 2,500 U.S. Coast Guard members on OpSail 2000 duty.

200 Coast Guard small boats and cutters deployed for OpSail 2000. SOURCE: AP their ships and saluting Clinton. Crew members on a Canadian frigate, The Ville de Quebec, not only took off their hats and shouted "hip hip hooray," but blasted a rendition of the song "New York, New York" from their loudspeakers. classroom TIT a I MOSCOW Russia cracks down on Chechen rebels Russia's military forces bombed Chechen rebels Tuesday, imposed a strict curfew in the rebellious province and made numerous arrests in the wake of truck-bomb attacks that claimed dozens of lives. The new measures suggested that Russian leaders were taking seriously threats by Chechen rebels to launch more "kamikaze" attacks, as early as Wednesday, against Russian military targets and pro-Kremlin Chechens.

Russian officials, meanwhile, revised downward the number of servicemen killed in Sunday night's suicide attacks in five Chechen cities. Sergei Yastrzhem-bsky, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman on the war, put the count at 33 dead, 84 injured and three missing. State ORT television reported Tuesday night, however, that two of the missing were found dead, which would raise the death toll to 35. Yastrzhembsky did not have a count of civilian or rebel deaths in the assaults on Russian outposts by drivers of trucks loaded with TNT. of the Russians killed were part of an Interior Ministry contingent whose two-story dormitory in Argun, about six miles from Grozny, was targeted by rebels.

JERUSALEM PHALCON may be sold through 3rd party Israel will propose selling an advanced airborne warning system to China through a third country in hopes of reducing U.S. pressure to drop the sale, an Israeli TV channel reported Tuesday. Channel Two said Israel's ambassador to Washington, David Ivri, and Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh would present the proposal to U.S. administration officials in the coming days. The report, which cited unnamed Israeli defense officials, did not name a proposed third country.

Sneh's aide, Hillel Fertouk, denied the report. Israel has come under tough criticism in Congress for going ahead with the $250 million sale of the PHALCON advanced warning system to China. Some members of Congress say the system presents an immediate threat to Taiwan, and a potential threat to U.S. air forces who could conceivably be involved in defending Taiwan. Israel has all but agreed to give Crp-jfurther PHALCON sales to China; but fears that scrapping this one after the Chinese have al-f eady paid $100 million toward the sale would undercut its carefully cultivated reputation as a reliable arms dealer.

Selling the plane through a third party could allow to lower the sale's profile in the United States, while saving face with the Chinese. CRAIG, Colo. Strong winds threaten to spread wildfire Firefighters were bracing for strong winds and waiting for reinforcements Tuesday as they tried to stop two Western Slope wildfires from spreading. The larger blaze started Monday in the Dinosaur National Monument in remote northwestern Colorado, and was burning on nearly 8,300 acres about 5 miles from the Utah border, said Lynn Barclay, spokeswoman with the Craig Interagency Dispatch center. Firefighters were expecting to be challenged by strong afternoon winds with gusts up to 35 mph, and were taking advantage of calmer morning weather to drop etardant and water from an air tanker and a helicopter.

The blaze was burning mostly on federal land, and no structures were immediately threatened, Barclay said. Farther south, firefighters feared dry conditions and strong winds would cause a blaze burning on 2,000 acres about 35 miles southwest of Grand Junction to spread. 1 "It's extremely dry fuel," said bavid Lehmann, spokesman with the interagency firefighting center in Grand Junction. "It will most likely spread quite a bit." Lehmann said four air tankers were working along the western flank of the fire to protect private property there, and no buildings were under immediate threat. In southwestern Wyoming, two wildfires believed to have been parted by lightning had burned j.

about 1,600 acres of shrubs and grass on public and private land over two days. From Pantagraph wire services 1 24-hour news information on CITYLINE Call 829-9000, enter 9030 II fitduil Students at Duke spend holiday in By JAIME LEVY Raleigh News Observer DURHAM, N.C. What could be worse than sitting in crawling traffic as you inch your way to the beach for the long Fourth of July weekend? How about sitting in class? That's where many Duke students and professors were Tuesday, the second day of the second summer session. "I hate it," junior Jaimie Slade of Wilmington, said. "It's a holiday, and I feel like sessions." Gilbert, director of Duke's summer said she could have scheduled final a Sunday or eliminated a reading options that were unpopular among The Fourth of July was the last feasible she said.

yes; popular, no. dad's in the Army, so the Fourth of heroic holiday. I'm used to making a said senior Elizabeth Oakes of a student social programmer for everyone else has off. The postman doesn't have to go to work; why should we have to go to class?" For the past few years, the Fourth of July has conveniently fallen between Duke's two summer terms. But this year's midweek event is difficult to schedule around, administrators said.

"There are a limited number of days we have for summer session," said Judith Ruder-man, vice provost for academics and administrative services. "There are other aspects of the entire year's calendar that sometimes make it impossible to have July Fourth in be Arafat divulges financial secrets Honesty Integrity Knowledge Experience Dr. Steve Troyanovich Chiropractic Physician Advanced Chiropractic of Normal 454-5556 101 E. College Ave. naval review, the gray clouds and haze vanished, giving Clinton a better view of Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and the New York skyline.

More than 10,000 U.S. and foreign sailors participated in the review, many standing at attention on the decks of confirmed that it had a monopoly on cement and a 47 percent share in the Palestinian areas' only flour miU. In 1999, the PCSC had a net profit of $77 million, including $18 million from the sale of cement, the report said. Palestinian investors have long grumbled that it is difficult to do business because of what they say is the Palestinian Authority's stranglehold on the economy. BANKRUPTCY File Within 48 HRS.

Court Costs To Start Attorney Andrew W. Covey 828-2780 4 BULK HARDWOOD MULCH VARIETIES ROCK BOULDERS -WALLSTONE AND OTHER BULK VARIETIES KICKAPOO CREEK NURSERY PR0CHN0W LANDSCAPING INC. 1-309-378-4694 Towanda-Barnes Blacktop, 3 miles south of Rt. ISO. tween Paula programs, exams on day students.

option, Feasible, "My July is a big deal," Fayetteville, the summer. iBH I ir mm 828 Moms, stop If your child is had allergies 4 1 'U eligible to Get results with Gertrude Jacobs of Lexington did! 6633 800-747-7323 dreading seasonal allergies. between the ages of 12 and 17 and has for at least two years, heshe may be participate in a clinical research study. pnysicai exams related investigational medication Set out and eniov snrinnl informntinn JERUSALEM (AP) After years of 'pressure from foreign donors, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has divulged his administration's financial secrets from the existence of a multimillion dollar slush fund to a state monopoly on cement and a $60 million share in a highly profitable casino. The 16-page report, posted on the Palestinian Authority's Web site, has drawn praise from the donor community, coupled with warnings that fledgling financial and economic reforms will be eroded if the gbvernment doesn't trim the bloated public payroll expected to devour 60 percent of this year's $1 billion budget.

"It's very positive what has been done," foreign aid official Torgeir Larsen, economic officer at the Norwegian Representative Office in the West Bank, said Tuesday. The donor community, led by the United States and the European Union, has demanded for years that the Palestinian government divulge its financial dealings, including the diversion of millions of dollars in tax revenues to secret accounts in Israeli banks to which only Arafat and a few close advisers have access. According to the Palestinian Authority's financial report, which was first presented to a donors' conference in Lisbon, Portugal, last month, some $530 million did not reach the Treasury in 1998 and 1999. "It's very positive what has been done." Torgeir Larsen, foreign aid official Some of the money was used to help cover the Palestinian Authority's operating expenses, but the bulk was saved or invested through the Palestinian Commercial Services Company, or PCSC, which is fully owned by the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian Planning Minister Nabil Shaath, who helped draft the document, said Arafat for years resisted releasing information on the secret accounts because he wanted to invest the money for the benefit of the state coffers and not be pressed to spend it on social welfare, including increasing the public payroll, Shaath said.

In 1999, the PCSC had $345 million worth of assets, including $292 million in equity holdings in three dozen companies, among them some of the giants of the Palestinian economy. The largest holding, valued at $60 million, was a 30 percent stake in a casino in the West Bank town of Jericho. In the past, the Palestinian Authority refused to acknowledge its involvement in the casino, apparently fearing criticism by Islamic fundamentalists who oppose gambling on religious grounds. The Palestinian Authority also 'C4Vk4i'i Study benefits include; 1.x. -i tVV X.V-',fV"'' Study fc breading Spring? glCSL Clinical Studies 1300 Franklin Suite 180 Normal, Illinois 61761 www.clinicalstudies.net.

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