The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • 1

Stuarts Draft wins soccer tournament, B1 mm Serving Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County $1 Learning the value of safety Sunday April 26,1993 108th year, No. 100 InsliSa Today DRIVER EDUCATION Student opens i fire at dance Teacher killed; 14-year-old boy STUDENT DRIVER "''Si, i iiiiim "i 1 1, I .7 -5 i-i mi mum nan nn.ipw.ij.. .) Class CI2G00 This is the latest installment in a three-year occasional series of stories chronicling the lives, attitudes, growth and education of the Class of 2000, today's high school sophomores. Today's installment highlights students from Buffalo Gap and Robert E. Lee high schools.

Other installments will focus on other high schools. Mark MillerThe Daily News Leader Patrick Jackson and Ahdan Hassan Youth find Johnson Street clean-up is fun Details on page A3 Whitney Vaughn prepares for a driving lesson with Robert E. Lee High School. License brings- freedom Paul Hatcher, a coach and wreck near the high school. He remembers sitting next to one of the crash victims the day before while riding the bus.

The next day he read in the paper about the deaths. "Mom was like, 'I don't want you riding with he said. "She tells me to wear a seatbelt before I drive off." He said his parents' and other students' attitudes have changed because of the deaths. "It has changed a lot of people," he said. "Not as many people take chances." Some still do, though.

"It's not like anyone follows the speed limit," said Lee High's Jason Faulken-berry. "Everyone drives Many want or have own cars By Michael Hewlett and Ronda Cox Staff Writers For the Class of 2000, getting their driver's license marks a new period of independence. And most agree, the day they get their license is one of the most important points of their lives. "You can come and go as you please," said Kara Vass of Buffalo Gap High School. "You don't have to worry about trying to find rides." "It gives me a sense of freedom," said Robert E.

Lee's Amanda Mace. But many know that convincing their parents charged By Kristen Hays Associated Press Writer EDINBORO, Pa. 14-year-old boy was charged Saturday in shooting at an eighth? grade graduation danccj with the theme "I Had thf Time of My Life." A science teacher was killed and twoj pupils and a teacher Andrew Wurst, a pupil at Parker Middle School, shot; teacher John Gillette on patio outside a banquet; hall, walked inside and; fired several more shots, left the building through a rear exit and was arrested shortly thereafter, police! spokesman Mark ZaleskC said. Teen-agers were dancing: to "My Heart Will Go On." from the movie Titanicf oti Friday night when the first: of several booms rang xiut, at Nick's Place, near Ediny boro about 100 miles north; of Pittsburgh. Sobbing girls in satin- dresses and terrified boys in neckties huddled outside? the hall.

Some hid in a closet. Gillette, a teacher for 27 years who had organized the dance, died. The 48-. year-old father of three was shot in the head. Two 14-year-old boys were wounded by gunfire; one was grazed across the abdomen and the other' shot in the foot.

Both were treated at a hospital and released. A female teacher was grazed by a bullet and did not need medical treat ment. Wurst, who carried a handgun and a small amount of marijua na, was caught in a fiejS behind the hall just after the shooting by Nick's Place owner James StrandJ, who carried a shotgun. Wurst, of nearby McKf ean, was charged as an 4 auuu vvibii liiiiiiiai nullum cide, three counts each ff aggravated assault anjj reckless endangerment, as well as drug and gu-n charges. He was jailed without bond.

School offi- cials did not know what motivated the shooting. Sarren described Wurst as a loner who never smiled and dressed sloppj- iy- iJ it -u. V-m. Mark MillerfThe Daily News Leader driving Instructor at fast." Immaturity and inexperience cause young drivers to experiment. "They want to play around and see how fast they can go," said Miss Vass.

But the Class of 2000 seems to have parents looking out for them. All of those licensed drivers said despite their new-found independence, they must still tell their parents where they're going and when they'll be back. Some are still limited to where they can go. Ms. Mace of Lee High said she is only allowed to drive in the city.

"My parents didn't let Please see Class of 2000, back page this section as soon as possible." Elements of the conceptual design elements handbook include: The Men's Green Thumb Park. In its initial proposal, Whitesell Orrison called for the elimination of the rectangular beds of the park located at Greenville Avenue and Richmond Avenue. But after some criticism the beds were designated as the city's memorial beds Please see STAUNTON, back page this section Blue ribbon signifies ind of child abuse Details on page A3 Uppnlsip ToiSay Horse auction AMHERST The Glenmore Hunt will sponsor an all-breed horse auction at 5 tonight at the Central Virginia Livestock Market. For more information, call 887-1280. Concert WAYNESBORO Mighty Sounds of Joy of Staunton will present a concert at Union Baptist Church at 4 this afternoon.

The concert is sponsored by Pastor's Aid Ministry. Vins festival CHARLOTTESVILLE The fourth annual Wine Festival will he held from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. today at Ash Lawn-Highland, the home of President James Monroe. Events include tastings, a British car exhibit, crafts, live music and food. The cost is $10 and includes a wine glass and a Monroe house tour.

For information, call 804-293-9539. Benefit concert BROADWAY A fund-raiser for Protein Intolerant Children will be held at 6:30 tonight at Broadway High School. Recording artistcommedienne Donna Lou will be featured. For information, call Traci Painter at 833-2702. Landscape redesign to take a decade three students have their own cars.

Many depend on their parents to lend the car or for rides. Bumming rides is crucial at a time when the Class of 2000 dreads getting on the bus. "I'd push my truck around (before riding the bus)," said Blackwell. While several of the Gap students still ride the bus, none of the Lee High group said they still depend on the yellow monster for transportation. And although they're still young, the Class of 2000 knows the value of safety.

Blackwell in particular was sent a chilling message two years ago when one of his friends died in a $380,000 estimate was in line with what the firm recommends for the city if the majority of the work is done by Staunton's horticultural staff. "The $380,000 budget is very preliminary," White-sell said. The plan mainly calls for minimizing the number of plant types used in the city to create what Whitesell calls the "bold, unique" look. In some of the 24 areas, the firm has recommended using public art in 2V i '7 vwiJj Staunton's green areas targeted for redesign By Mark Shaver Staff Writer STAUNTON The city is on its way to getting a new, "bold, unique" look. City Council on Thursday unanimously approved conceptual design elements of the Comprehensive Landscape Master Plan, a roughly $380,000 to buy them a car to celebrate their new-found freedom may be difficult.

Arthur Blackwell of Buffalo Gap High School took the initiative to buy a truck for himself. A driver for three months now, Blackwell cut grass and baled hay to make the purchase. Gap's Andy Southard counts himself as one of the lucky ones: His parents have already bought him a car. Of the 20 students at the two schools interviewed for this series, six already have their own cars. Several students at Buffalo Gap have learner's permits and three students had their own cars.

At Lee High, five students have their licenses and scheme to redesign 24 "green areas" within the city limits. "We're proposing to do improvements along the Interstate 81 entry ways into downtown, and the underpass will be a key area," Gene Whitesell of Roanoke-based Whitesell Orrison Inc. told council on Thursday. "We will try to get the fountain running again." Whitesell Orrison hired by the city last year for $51,000, said the Brinkley has struggled to support himself and two children. As a young man, Brink-ley, a standout at Robert E.

Lee High School and with the Staunton Braves, had a promising career as a baseball player, He was a recruit for the Pittsburgh Then tragedy struck. In 196S. Brinkley aided a child trapped under a tractor. In that heroic act, however, he was paralyzed and had to go through rehabilitation to learn to walk again. He has had numerous heart bypasses, contracted diabetes and has arthritis so severe that he is In constant pain.

Please see CHRISTMAS, back page this section Christmas in April rehabilitates homes Cloudy and warm today with a chance of showers. Hiahs certain design schemes. Mayor G. John Avoli said the work done to bring the new design to fruition will take about a decade. "It's a long-range plan encompassing 10 years," Avoli said.

Jennifer Kibby, executive director of the Staunton Downtown Development Association, was one of a few speakers who rose to give council positive comments about the plan. "We love it," Mrs. Kibby said. "Let's get started on it 1 80. Cloudy tonight with 3 chance of showers.

Lows -near 50. Details, page A10 Abby C2 Business B7 'Classifieds D1-7 Comics Inside A4 few Jt I rl in Financial B8 Local A3 Lifestyles C1-8 Obituaries A2 Sports. B1-5 Copyright 1998 The Dally News Leader. Republication without permission prohibited. 5 residences refurbished By Ronda Cox Staff Writer STAUNTON As Wayne Brinkley sat on the sofa of his living room, power saws whined outr side his window V-Z "It's like music to my ears," he said as he wiped at the tears forming in his eyes.

Over his shoulder volunteers from Her- mitage Presbyterian Church as part of Christ- mas in April were busy building a wheelchair ramp for Brlnkley's 16-year-old stepson, Roger, who has a form of cerebral palsy. Plagued by heath problems most of his adult life, We print "uftinn At 25 recycled 'paper fiber eann- JK "friendly joy color Inks. Walter Abbott fits a post for a backyard ramp at the -j Wayne Brinkley home on a Mark MilterTh Daily New Leader Perry Street..