The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • 2

A2 The News Leader, Friday, January 9, 2004 The News Leader Serving Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County Celebrating 100 years The Daily News Leader (ISSN 0747-2501, USPS 0520-760) is published mornings except Sunday by The Leader Publishing 11 N. Central Staunton, VA 24401. Periodic postage paid at Staunton, VA. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to The Daily News Leader, P.O. Box 59, Staunton, VA 24402-0059.

Member of The Associated Press, The Newspaper Association of America, Virginia Press Association and Southern Newspapers Publishers Association. Leader Publishing Co. is part of Gannett of McLean, Va. We help fund local charitable efforts through the Gannett Foundation. More information is available through Gannett and Gannett Foundation links at the bottom of www.newsleader.com.

Additional local foundation information is available from Robin Henderson, (540) 213-9136. Contacting Us Main Number: -(540) 885-7281 Waynesboro: (540) 949-7113 Elsewhere, toll-free: (800) 793-2459 Mailing address: Box 59 Staunton, VA, 24402-0059 Who's in charge? If you have a question or concern about the newspaper, please contact one of these operating committee members. Gary Stout, president and publisher, is the executive of Leader Publishing and responsible for all departments. After addressing issues with the department heads, the buck stops here. 213-9105 Danny Allen, circulation director, is responsible for home delivery and singlecopy newspaper sales, including subscriptions and carriers.

213-9141 Susan Armstrong, human resources assistant, handles employment questions, including our commitment to a drug-free, equal-opportunity workplace. 213-9105 Jim Clark, advertising director, is responsible for all paid content in the newspaper and our other products. 213-9151 Jeremy Erling, controller, is responsible for our business office. 213-9110 I David Fritz, executive editor, is responsible for all news content in the newspaper and our other products, including www.newsleader.com. 213-9116 Macon Rich, production director, is responsible for the packaging and printing of our products.

Your Life, Your News We want to hear from you about news happening in your life and your neighborhood. We need you to help us shape our coverage of our communities. While some tips and news items appear in columns calendars reserved welcome your news! for reader- submitted news, other items can serve as the basis for stories written by our staff. Our general newsroom phone number is (540) 213- 9119. Our general newsroom e-mail is These two staffers are trained to field general news questions and guide you to the right person, if needed: Erica Schmidt, news assistant, handles reader requests, prepares reader news items and can refer you to the right person.

213-9120 Libby Lawhorne, news clerk, handles calendar items and other reader -submitted news. She can refer you to the right person. 213-9108 Other news contacts Cindy Corell, city editor, is responsible for local news and feature content. She assigns reporters and photographers and is responsible for local story editing. 213-9123 Jennie Coughlin, assistant city editor, assists the editor a and edits stories.

213-9121 Dennis Neal, opinions editor, is responsible for our Opinions page. More about Opinions, including how to submit letters, is found on that page. 213-9128 William Ramsey, news editor, is responsible for editors who copy edit stories, write headlines and design pages. 213-9165 Hubert Grim III, sports editor, is responsible for all sports coverage. 213-9131 a Mike Emery, sports copy editor, edits and designs sports pages.

Jamie Kennedy covers education, faith and values. der.com Chris Lassiter writes feature and entertainment stories and covers health. 213-9166 Rob Longley covers Waynesboro, politics and local business. 213-9186 En Maria Longley covers Staunton, growth and development. 213-9122 Bonnie Naumann covers Augusta County and agriculture.

213-9129 Brad Zinn covers crime, accidents, courts and transportation. 213-9127 sleader.com Errors, accuracy and ethics We strive to make certain our news content is accurate and reflective of our community. All corrections and directions for reporting errors appear on A2 daily. Our ethics policy can be found at www.newsleader.com/customerservice/ ethics.html Circulation Department Home-delivery subscribers should receive the News Leader by 6:30 a.m. weekdays and 7 a.m.

Saturday and Sunday. If you do not receive your paper: call The News Leader circulation department at (540) 885-7348 by 9:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and before 9:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Subscription Rates (payable in advance) 1 Year 6 Months 3 Months Daily Home Delivery $119.60 $59.80 $29.90 Weekend home delivery $91.00 $45.50 $22.75 Daily mail subscription $171.60 $85.80 $42.90 Weekend mail subscription $104.00 $52.00 $26.00 Single copy price is 50 cents daily and $1.25 SunMail subscription prices applicable where carrier delivery is unavailable.

Classified Advertising If you wish to place a classified advertisement, call (540) 885-7387. Classified hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday -Friday. The Daily News Leader www.newsleader.com Obituaries Hilda B.

Raines, 72 LEXINGTON Hilda Bonnie (Sprouse) Raines, formerly of Craigsville, died Thursday (Jan. 8, 2004) at Stonewall Jackson Hospital. She was born Jan. 8, 1932, at Fordwick, to Melton Wright and Lucinda (Massie) Sprouse. Mrs.

Raines was preceded in death by her husband, Audie Raines; two sisters, Mary Jane Ingram and Lillie Brouillette; and three brothers, Douglas, Lunsford and Henry Sprouse. Survivors include two sisters, Eudora Desper of Stuarts Draft and Susie Tutrinolli of Townson, and five brothers, Leon, Denny, Rodney and Ervine Sprouse of Craigsville and Wesley Sprouse of Swoope. Graveside services will be at 1 this afternoon at Lebanon Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Bear Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Beatrice T.

Tanbusch, 95 STAUNTON Beatrice Virginia (Tull) Delahay Tanbusch died Wednesday (Jan. 7,2004) at King's Daughters' Community Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born Oct. 1, 1908, at Choptank, to John and Stella (McCracken) Tull. Carolyn M.

Masters, 66 Ralph C. Pullin 89 About This Service We provide free obituaries as a reader service in memory of all area residents and former residents. We accept obituaries from funeral homes until 6 p.m. daily. Privately placed obituaries are subject to verification.

Obituaries can be directed to the news department at 213-9119, via fax to 885- 1904, or via e-mail to All obituaries are edited to our style. Prior to retirement, she had been employed as a secretary for the Lutheran church. Mrs. Tanbusch was preceded in death by her husband, William Tanbusch; a brother; and a sister. Survivors include a Dick Delahay of son, Staunton; a daughter, Virginia Miller of Perry Hall, and a brother, William Tull of Fort Myers, Fla.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Oxford Cemetery, Oxford, Md. Visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 this evening at Henry Funeral Home. FORT DEFIANCE -Carolyn Marie Masters, of 603 Battlefield Road, died Wednesday (Jan. 7, 2004) at Augusta Medical Center.

She was born Aug. 21, 1937, at Indianapolis, to A. Ward and Cleone Irene (Bokerman) Bloom. She was a licensed practical nurse. Survivors include her husband, Edward E.

Masters three children, Mark Allen Masters of Georgia, Marie Eastman of Fort Defiance and Karen Irene Masters of Flora, and a brother, John D. Bloom of Kansas. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at McDow Funeral Home, Waynesboro. Visitation will be after the services at the funeral home and at other times at the residence.

James L. Dickerson 75 WAYNESBORO James Lee Dickerson of 425 Alpha died Wednesday (Jan. 7, 2004) at Augusta Medical Center. Viewing will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday at McCutcheon's Funeral Home. Services will be at a later date at Goldsboro, N.C. Competing studies laud, condemn Warner tax plans RICHMOND- The econom- The Associated Press ic benefit of lower income taxes on all but the richest Virginians, cuts in the food and estate taxes and more spending on schools will offset higher sales, cigarette and corporate taxes, a study by the Warner administration says of the Democratic governor's tax plan. Equally predictable, a Republican study by President Reagan's former top budget aide contends that Gov. Mark R.

Warner's tax proposal will cost Virginia billions of dollars and nearly 30,000 jobs. Both analyses became public Thursday in the lead-up to Wednesday's opening of the 2004 General Assembly and the tax reform topic that will dominate the debate at least into March: They also precede a competing tax reform proposal that the Senate's chief budget writer, Finance Committee Chairman John H. Chichester, R-Stafford, plans to introduce this session and outline for reporters early next week. Another tax restructuring plan, filed by Del. Allen L.

Louderback, R-Page, also awaits consideration. The administration's examination of the tax plan concludes that various tax cuts and bolstered spending for public education, critical transportation needs and Medicaid that will improve the state's business climate "will outweigh any plausible negative effects from the proposed change in the sales tax and the increase in the top bracket of the income The study was done by four Plug it in, plug it in Come see us for the diamond studs that make you hum a tune. jh1701 Crown 6 E. Beverley Downtown Staunton Mon. -Sat.

885-0653 MONTEREY Ralph Cameron Pullin Sr. died Wednesday (Jan. 7, 2004) at Bath County Community Hospital. He was born Aug. 17, 1914, at Mill Gap, to Elbert Alfonzo and Jessie May (Rexrode) Pullin.

He was a retired electrician from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Mr. Pullin was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Rebecca (Lemon) Pullin. Survivors include a daughter, Audrey Marie Puffenbarger of Millboro; a son, R.C. Pullin of Monterey; and a sister, Viola Louise Rexrode, also of Monterey.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Green Hill Cemetery. Obaugh Funeral Home, McDowell, is handling arrangements. Mary D. Carpenter, 73 CRAIGSVILLE Mary Frances (Dickerson) Carpenter died Wednesday (Jan.

7,2004) at Augusta Medical Center. Craigsville, Sensabaugh Zimmerman Funeral Home will announce arrangements. Police Briefs Authorities mum on pharmacy break-in STAUNTON The names of three men arrested early Wednesday morning following a break-in at the Weyers Cave Pharmacy will be released today, according to the Augusta County Sheriff's Office. Typically, those arrested appear in the sheriff's department's arrest log the following day, but Sheriff Randy Fisher said Thursday that his office has withheld the names of the suspects because of an ongoing investigation. "It involves more than just a break-in in Augusta County," he said.

Around midnight Tuesday, sheriff's deputies responded to the pharmacy on Keezletown Road after an alarm sounded at the business. One man was arrested at the scene, and two others were arrested shortly after fleeing, Fisher said. "They didn't get anything," said the sheriff. A press conference will be held today at 1 p.m. at the sheriff's office.

Fisher said more details surrounding the arrests will be revealed. From Staff Reports Getting it Right The News Leader strives to be accurate in its news columns. If you believe we have made an error of fact, please call Executive Editor David Fritz at 213-9116 or (800) 793-2459 ext. 116. Corrections will appear on this page.

I Information was incorrect in the obituary published Thursday for Timmie Vickers Sr. Private graveside services will be at 3 this afternoon at Oak Lawn Mausoleums and Memory Gardens. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Ebenezer Baptist Church. ANNOUNCEMENT RALPH CAMERON PULLIN SR MONTEREY, VA Ralph Cameron Pullin, age 89, of Monterey, died Wednesday, January 7, 2004 at Bath County Hospital.

He was born August 17, 1914 at Mill Gap a son of Elbert Alfonzo and Jessie May (Rexrode) Pullin. On June 23, 1939, he married Frances Rebecca (Lemon) Pullin, who preceded him in death on May 24, 1979. Mr. Pullin was a member of the Beulah Presbyterian Church. He was a retired electrician from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and was once active in Weekly Religious Education.

He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Audrey Marie and David Puffenbarger of Millboro; a son and daughter-in-law, R.C. and Brenda Pullin of Monterey; four grandchildren, Genie Cunningham, Robert Pullin, Cassie Ailstock and David J. Puffenbarger; two stepgranddaughters, Gail Arnott and Tanya Rexrode; seven greatI grandchildren; two step-greatI grandchildren; a sister, Viola Louise Rexrode of Monterey; two nieces and their husbands, Linda Manfred Freeman and Wanda and Mike Evans; a great niece and great nephew and a group of life long friends from Minnesota and Wisconsin. A graveside service will be conducted at 10 a.m., Saturday, January 10, 2004 in the Green Hill Cemetery by the Rev. James.

W. "Bill" Moore, Rev. Chip Hill and Rev. David George. Active pallbearers will be Lynn Townsend, June Lowry, Joe Simmons, Randy Harold, Mike Evans and Manfred Freeman.

Friends may call at the Obaugh Funeral Home in McDowell. Memorial contribution may be made to Beulah Presbyterian Church Hooke PO Box 98 Monterey, VA or the Highland County Rescue Squad PO Box 268 Monterey, VA 24465. On The Web OT The Republican Analysis: www.capanalysis.com/docs/ SalesTaxes.pdf Warner Administration's Analysis: www.governor. ry.pdf Economic and Regulatory Analysis division of the Department of Planning and Budget. Cornerstones of Warner's plan include a 1-cent increase in the sales tax, to 5.5 cents on all non-food goods, and an increase from 5.75 percent to 6.25 percent in the income tax rates paid by Virginians whose taxable incomes exceed $100,000 a year.

Because of increased deductions for all filers and a lower income tax rate for some middle-and low-income taxpayers as well as other breaks, Warner is adamant that at least 65 percent of the state's taxpayers will have a lower overall tax burden. Finance Secretary John M. Bennett said the study was at least as credible as the one prepared by James C. Miller III, twice an unsuccessful GOP candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in Virginia and Reagan's former budget director.

"Don't take either of our words. First, ask the question: Are both of the studies thorough, meaning has it included all the elements of the plan or has it said, 'I'm going to look at the sales tax increase and the cigarette tax increase and ignore the fact that most Virginians are going to get a tax Let -Us Not Forget. 9 01 break out of this, and I'm going to ignore the fact there is an estate tax reduction, I'm going to ignore the fact that there are clear investments going on with the Bennett said. The GOP plan, released a few hours later, contends the sales tax and cigarette tax increases would leave most Virginians paying more each year, reduce personal income by about $10 billion annually as of 2006 and prevent the creation of 28,000 new jobs. Miller, one of the architects of Reagan's "trickle-down economics," conceded that his mathematical model did not allow for benefits from spending on schools and roads, nor did it contemplate cuts to the estate tax, the grocery tax or lower brackets for some taxpayers.

Miller nevertheless disputed Warner's contention that 65 percent of Virginia's taxpayers would pay less under the Democratic plan. "In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to come up with any double-digit number," he said. The report was commissioned paid for by House Speaker William J. Howell of Stafford and fellow Republican Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore, both of whom have attacked Warner's plan "This report clearly shows that the massive tax increase proposed by the governor will have a very negative and damaging impact on the incomes and job opportunities on the working families of our state," said Howell, R-Stafford.

Dial1-540-337-6900 r50177 AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION. of Virginia 1-800-LUNG-USA IT'S A MATTER OF HEALTH According to a 1999 survey, 34.8 percent of high school students currently smoke. SA0498 SOURCE: AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION OF VIRGINIA OUR POLICY Tributes are paid advertisements placed by Funeral Homes or family members. They are prepared and published by the advertising department of The News Leader. Privately placed Tributes are subject to verification and payment, in advance.

To place a Tribute please send to tribute or fax to 540-885-8779. Questions may be directed to 540-213-9201. The Shoppes at Mauzy SS0557 We have "The Cure" for Cabin Fever 10-6 Son. 12-6 Mauzy, VA. 1-81, Exit 257.

Route 11 South, 100 yards past the traffic light. 12 miles North of Harrisonburg. 540-896-9867 Don't hibernate! Have fun downtown! Shopping Dining Theater STAUNTON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION Home Loan 943-4484 CORPORATION OPPORTUNITY Your Home Loan Expert 23 years of mortgage education experience We have the right mortgage for you Let us get you Pre Vickie Painter Branch Officer 1534 Jefferson Hwy Fishersville, VA JH1711 OFF Regular Priced Apparel Winter Clearance Grandma's Bait Children's Clothing Toys Gifts 24 E. Beverley St. Historic Downtown Staunton Sat (540) 886-2222.