Page 8 - 200303 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - February 2003

8 Shuttle Columbia Special 8 Shuttle Columbia Special Astronauts' remains being Airspace restricted JNF brings you a special message from outer space! studied Nacogdoches County authorities Continued from Page 7 said falling debris had damaged buildings We wanted to share with all of you the and vehicles. The county had reports of possible statements made by Ilan Ramon, who is People report to hospital debris at more than 1,000 sites, but not all presently encircling the earth aboard the were confirmed, Sheriff Thomas Kerss Columbia space shuttle. In a televised The arc of the shuttle's destruction said. conversation with Israeli Prime Minister left a trail of debris, including alongside a An estimated 100 sites were being Ariel Sharon, Ramon, who is the first highway, in a parking lot, on sidewalks guarded Sunday because they were Israeli astronaut, said, "I call upon every and on residential front lawns. deemed to have "significant pieces of Jew in the world to plant a tree in the land One piece, a 4-foot-wide cylinder, wreckage" or possible hazardous of Israel during the coming year. I would emitted a vapor. materials, he said. like to see at least 13 or 14 million new At least six chunks, including one Most of the findings so far were in trees planted in Israel exactly one year about 5 feet long, landed on Ronnie Joe Nacogdoches city, the most heavily from now, on the anniversary of the Evett's farm in Texas. One piece looked populated part of the county, he said. launching." like tubing, he said. Another, with screws "We have a mass amount of forest Upon hearing Mr. Ramon's statement, and bolts, was partly charred and and timberland," Kerss said. "Some of Jewish National Fund Chief Executive punctured. this area may not receive coverage for Officer Russell Robinson said, "It is so Despite all the falling debris, no weeks or months." meaningful that the first Israeli astronaut injuries were reported -- "a miracle," said Perry said most of the debris calls out from space, to Jewish people Roy Blake, mayor of Nacogdoches, seemed to be about 2 to 5 inches in size. everywhere on earth, to have a direct Texas. In Louisiana, debris turned up near connection to the land of Israel by Authorities warned people not to the Texas border, and three pieces had literally planting roots in its soil." touch debris, noting its potential hazards been confirmed as having come from the In Israel, Jewish National Fund and the investigation. shuttle. officials immediately took up the Witnesses reported seeing lots of challenge last week by planting the first 13 trees in the Ben Shemen Forest in material fall into the Toledo Bend honor of Ilan Ramon and the Columbia Reservoir, which forms part of the border between Texas and Louisiana. Officials team. As JNF World Chairman Yehiel said they were waiting for sonar Leket said, "On the Colombia's next orbit around the earth, Mr. Ramon will already equipment to arrive so they could search be able to see the first 13 trees that JNF for the pieces underwater. planted as a response to his request." Experts estimated Columbia broke up nearly 40 miles above Earth, meaning Mr. Leket had already planted a tree in the debris might be scattered as far west Mr. Ramon's honor in the new Bible Forest on Tu B'Shevat, where he noted as Arizona. Brothers Stan, left, and Steve Melasky look that the Israeli astronaut's first name, over a piece of debris that fell on their farm The Federal Aviation Ilan, literally means "tree." near Douglass, Texas. (Photo:AP) Administration restricted air space from In response to Mr. Ramon's request, JNF Cedar Creek, Texas, just south of Dallas, to Fort Polk, Louisiana -- a zone 160 promised to send the message to Jews "The FBI has informed us that if miles long and 40 miles wide -- saying around the globe. you take that, that is federal property. that would make it easier for officials to To plant your tree in Israel in honor of They will pursue legal action and collect debris. Aircraft in the zone were Ilan Ramon, call 800-542-TREE (8733) prosecute if necessary to get that back," barred from flying below 3,000 feet. or visit www.jnf.org. To learn more about said Sue Kennedy, Nacogdoches County [End] traveling to Israel, call JNF Travel & emergency management chief. Tours at (877) JNF-TOUR (563-8687) or By 7:30 a.m. Sunday, at least 70 email travel@jnf.org. *Please forward people had gone to emergency rooms in this e-mail to friends and family. area hospitals, concerned they might A Note to Brandon friends and family. have touched debris. None of the people Today, The Associated Press reported the showed any injuries, Kennedy said. following: "She (Mrs. Ramon, wife of Eight people -- all civilians who astronaut Ramon) said that at liftoff, were not part of the salvage effort -- have while everyone was celebrating, the been treated for burns and respiratory Ramon's 5-year-old daughter said, 'I lost problems at San Augustine-area my Daddy." 'Apparently she knew,' Rona hospitals, said an emergency Ramon said..." Hopefully, in time, this management coordinator for three east premonition, also known as a DBV or Texas cities. deathbed vision, will bring peace to this grieving family. Please take care of Internet Hosting Solutions: 100 Mb, 1 Gb yourselves during this tender time. Transfer, Unlimited E-Mail Address, Auto A Louisiana State Trooper inspects a piece of Responders and more! www.rel-mar.com debris Saturday in Shreveport. (AP) Dr. Carla Willsbrandon, PhD