Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 13, 1994 TAG: 9409130089
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
FRANKLIN, W.Va. - Cold and scared, five young thrill-seekers emerged from an eastern West Virginia cave Monday, a day after they got lost a half-mile inside with no equipment or light.
The five Virginians were found safe about 7 a.m. inside New Trout Cave in Pendleton County, said Jim Underwood, a member of the Pendleton County Tactical Skills Team.
``Half of them said they would never go in a cave again. It scared them to death,'' said John Hempel, spokesman for the National Cave Rescue Commission.
``They all felt sorry that they had caused such a rescue call-out. Several of them were very scared - their lives flashed before their eyes,'' he said.
The cavers, ranging in age from 15 to 22, were sent home with their families after some of the dozens of rescuers checked their conditions and gave them hot liquids and blankets.
- Associated Press
Utilities instituting measures to combat zebra mussels
RICHMOND - Tiny foreign mollusks are creating big problems for Midwest utilities, and Virginia's two largest power companies are making plans to prepare for their possible spread to the state.
Virginia Power Co. and Appalachian Power Co. both are formulating plans should the zebra mussel, a native of the Russian steppes, reach Virginia.
The 11/2-inch, distinctively striped shellfish loves to do two things: adhere to hard, submerged objects and reproduce.
Therein lies the rub. Most major lakes and rivers have huge intake pipes for power plants and municipal water plants. In no time, the zebra mussels can plug those pipes.
The nightmare for utility officials is the possibility that the larval stage of the mussel could find its way into a power plant and set up housekeeping in the miles of 1- and 2-inch pipe that make up a plant's system.
``They could bring a plant crashing to a halt,'' said Tim Mallan, Apco's environmental programs supervisor. ``They have the potential of taking isolated units out without a lot of prior notice.''
Apco, with four power plants in West Virginia, is about to begin talks with state officials there about possible steps to protect its plants. Mallan said zebra mussels have been found in the Kanawha and Ohio rivers, though in small numbers.
- Associated Press
Allen adviser apologizes for 'wetbacks' remark
RICHMOND - An adviser to Gov. George Allen who referred to some state road crew workers as ``wetbacks'' has apologized to Virginia Secretary of Transportation Robert E. Martinez.
Martinez and Hispanic community leaders were angered by the remark of Walter E. Barbee, whom Allen appointed to the executive committee of a strike force reshaping state government.
Barbee used the term while discussing state contracting with private businesses at a recent public meeting. Barbee said he had noticed trash pickup crews along the roads had plenty of ``wetbacks on the job.''
- Associated Press
Girl dies at slumber party after inhaling aerosol chemicals
NEWPORT NEWS - A 13-year-old girl died during a slumber party at her best friend's house after inhaling aerosol chemicals from spray cans.
Amanda Brotherton and her friend, Kate Stepp, made plans to sleep Friday night at the Stepps' house. About midnight Friday, Kate's mother, Debbie Stepp, went to check on the girls and found Amanda passed out, Roth said.
When Amanda's mother, Peggy Brotherton, arrived, Amanda was lying still on the floor of the trailer.
Police found a can of Lysol disinfectant spray and a can of Renuzit air freshener spray in the trailer.
- Associated Press
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB