The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 13, 2003, Page 2, Image 2
STATE
SCE&G offers new
mid-sized rate class
COLUMBIA (AP) - South
Carolina Electric & Gas Co.
wants to create a new rate cate
gory for medium-sized busi
nesses like supermarkets, a
spokesman for the utility says.
The utility has applied to the
state Public Service
Commission for the new rate.
SCE&G is seeking to increase
electricity charges and wants to
develop the rate based on the
amount of power used, the size
of the user and the ability to
shift energy use to off-peak
hours, spokesman Robin
Montgomery said.
In November, the Public
Service Commission — which
regulates utilities — heard tes
timony about the company’s
plan to raise rates 14 percent for
small businesses, 12 percent for
medium-sized firms, 5 percent
for large businesses and 7 per
cent for residential customers.
The new classification would
cut rates by about 4 percent for
medium-sized businesses,
Montgomery said.
Tim Wilkes, chairman of the
state Small Business Chamber
of Commerce, says he’s unhap- „
py the medium-sized businesses
have cut a deal with SCE&G,
leaving out consumers and
small businesses.
Man acquitted of
2001 murder charge
COLUMBIA (AP) - A Richland
County man has been acquitted
of murder in the 2001 shooting
death of a Columbia man.
After deliberating about five
hours Thursday, a jury acquit
ted Anthony Reese, 32; in the
shooting death of Jimmy Mark
Singleton, 31.
Reese had been in jail await
ing trial since his April 12,2001,
arrest, the county’s assistant
public defender Sheila Mims
said. The soft-spoken Reese
showed little emotion as the ver
dict was read.
Singleton was shot in the
head during a party April 6,2001,
at a home.
NATION
Crash investigation
to leave Charlotte
' CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Field
investigators were packing up
debris and heading home
Sunday for more detective work
into the cause of a fatal com
muter airline crash that killed
all 21 people aboard.
US Airways Express Flight
5481 crashed 37 seconds into its
flight Wednesday, preliminary
data show. A final conclusion
about what happened could take
months or even years after in
vestigators finish reviewing
maintenance records, testing the
charred debris and running
computer simulations.
In four days, investigators
looked at factors such as the
plane’s weight and balance, re
cent maintenance and whether
a larger jet could have buffeted
it with enough turbulence to
cause the crash.
They scrutinized a West
Virginia facility that serviced
the aircraft Monday night and
interviewed baggage handlers
about a pre-takeoff discussion of
how much baggage could go on
board.
Espionage case
headed for trial
ALEXANDRIA, VA. (AP) - It’s
the first U.S. espionage trial in
nearly 50 years that could end in
a death sentence: A retired Air
Force master sergeant, deeply in
debt, is accused of offering satel
lite secrets to Saddam Hussein
and others for more than $13
million in Swiss currency.
Barring a last-minute plea
agreement, jury selection was to
begin Monday in the case
against Brian Patrick Regan in
U.S. District Court.
His lawyers waged a late, un
successful fight to delay the trial
because of a possible U.S. inva
sion of Iraq, one of the countries
to whom Regan was accused of
offering to sell secrets.
Legal experts said a plea
avoiding trial this late was un
likely.
WORLD
"Turkey allows base
inspections
ANKARA,TURKEY(AP) - As
tensions grow with the United
States, its most crucial ally, the
Turkish government has finally
agreed to allow the U.S. military
, to inspect Turkish bases for use
in a possible war with Iraq.
But the decision to allow in
spections to start on Monday
leaves open whether Turkey will
give in to U.S. pressure to allow
tens of thousands of American
soldiers to invade Iraq from
Turkish soil — a move that U.S.
and Turkish generals agree
would likely shorten any war.
The issue is causing friction
between Washington and the
new government of Prime
Minister Abdullah Gul, which
must balance its ally’s desires
against a Turkish public that is
overwhelmingly opposed to a
war.
U.S. military leaders have
been pushing for a final decision
on U.S. troops using the bases,
concerned that delays are com
plicating war plans.
Afghan warlord lets
50 prisoners go
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) -
After appeals from tribal elders,
northern Afghan warlord Abdul
Rashid Dostum has released 50
members of the Taliban militia
captured during fighting more
than a year ago, Dostum’s
deputy said Sunday.
The men were freed from
prison in the northern city of
Kunduz on Saturday and hand
ed over to Pashtun tribal elders,
said Gen. Abdul Majid Rozi, con
tacted by satellite phone at
Dostum’s headquarters in the
northern city of Mazar-e Sharif.
Most of the prisoners were
captured in late 2001 as forces al
lied with the northern alliance
of opposition groups that op
posed Taliban rule swept the
country with U.S. assistance.
The advance followed a U.S.
aerial bombardment campaign
— aimed at unseating the
Taliban — that was prompted by
the Sept. 11 attacks.
BRIEFLY
Exchange accepts
study applications
USC’s Warwick Exchange
Committee will accept applica
tions through Jan. 13 for par
ticipation in the history de
partment’s Warwick Exchange,
a program that gives Carolina
students a chance to study at
the University of Warwick in
Coventry, England, for the
2003-2004 school year.
Rising sophomores, juniors
and seniors who are history
majors, minors or doing a cog
nate in the department are eli
gible. Selected students would
pay their regular tuition, fees
and housing costs to Carolina;
part of the round-trip travel ex
pense for each student will be
defrayed from the history de
partment
Applications are available
in Gambrell Hall, Room 245.
Forms must be turned in by
Jan. 13.
Embezzlement
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
October. The Center for Colon
Cancer Research was founded
after the university’s selection
for an $11 million grant from the
National Institute of Health.
McKinney said Sturkie’s job
was one of many that allowed
access to university credit cards
for the purpose of departmental
supply purchasing, a privilege
she abused.
“There are a number of indi
viduals throughout the univer
sity that have authority to pur
chase for their particular of
fice,” McKinney said.
Although the purchases be
gan in April of 2002 and contin
ued unnoticed until November,
McKinney said the university
would have ultiniately discov
ered the scheme.
“We feel that eventually our
own university systems would
have caught it,” he said.
However, McKinney said the
university’s accounting pro
cesses will be looked over in
wake of the crime.
“Any time we find any kind
of abuse in a system, we take a
look at that system,” he said.
A similar crime was commit
ted at USC about 10 years ago,
“but that time, (university) con
trols did catch it,” McKinney
said.
Pathel said he didn’t know of
any previous cases of credit
card misuse at USC that equaled
$50,000.
Despite Sturkie’s position at
the Center for Colon Cancer
Research, McKinney empha
sized that the embezzled funds
were unrelated to the research
grant.
“None of these purchases had ^
anything to do with the colon
cancer research center,” he said.
According to Pathel, investi
gations “indicated that none of
the monies used to purchase the
computer equipment came from
the coion cancer research grant.”
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecochudesk@hotmail.com
Welcome
Back
Students
We are now leasing for August 2003, so
zoom on over and check us out...
fully furnished 2 & 4
bedrooms
individual leases
private bedrooms
fully equipped kitchen
full size washer & dryer
electronic alarm system
fire protection monitor
computer, copier, & fax
available
swimming pool
pool tables, fitness room,
basketball,volleyball, & tennis
free reserved parking
800 Alexander Road, Cayce, SC 29033
(located adjacent to Parkland Plaza) „ _
UNIVERSITY
www.capstone-dev.com 1 “Prn
Hours: M-F 9am - 5pm
APARTMENTS
I , 939,04441
3
Is health
care a
good lit ,
for you?
0 I
College of Health Professions information sessions
• Leant about MltSC • Receive detailed admissions information
• Get acquainted with the various professions and the faculty
• Attend a program-specific breakout session for one of the following;
ihvsicil therapy Cardiovascular Perfusion
Occupational therapy Communication Sciences and Disorders
Cvtotedmology These program include formats
Physician Assistant for working professionals:
Bachelor of Health Sciences
Master in Health Administration
,
MUSC Campus-Charleston. SC
January 31 February 26 March 21
EVPbjl/30«3 BStfiqrV3;/Qg MfPbfSflflWS
&?Oara-lOOpiB &00pm-9i0Clpni RJOara* 100pm
Harper Sedant Cento AiL B«icStiaj«HU*.taL HirperJfcdtotCato Aid.
CanerafCaunmaraodBaeStnto lBMJeptaeT Csmai ofCaurttupudBaltmta
The Rapids ...your every day
APARTMENT J HOMES l t\ « A » I
1 Catawba Circle • Columbia, SC 29201 W0 f A W A i/
(803)779-5888 W
featuring*
• Fully Equipped Kitchens
• Laundry Room with Washer &
Dryer Connections
• Breakfast Bar
• Separate Dining Area
•Walk-In Closets ... .
• Central Laundry Facility
• Cable TV Available
• Energy Efficient
• Nature Trail
• Clubhouse with Pool
• Handicapped Accessible/
Adaptable Homes Available
• Attractive Rents
• Celling Fans
• Outside Storage
! VlOO Refurbishment Fee
I
-
-U
Take Blossom Street toward Cayce and take
the first left before the Blossom St.
Bridge on Williams St.
Proceed to Catawba Street
and take a right. One block ahead Is the
Rapids Apartment Homes.