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APRIL 3,1997 AUGUSTA FOCUS
Gravity mission among
space launch objectives
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Following completion of the re
cent Flight Readiness Review,
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) managers
set April 3 as the official launch
date for NASA’s Microgravity Sci
ence Laboratory (MSL-1) mission.
The focus of the upcoming mis
sion, designated STS-83, will con
centrate on NASA’s efforts to fur
ther understand the subtle and
complex phenomena associated
with the influence of gravity in
many aspects of daily life.
The STS-83 flight agenda re
sembles future work set to take
place aboard the International
Space Station. STS-83 will be the
22nd flight of space shuttle Co
Texas court refuses to reverse ruling for new
hearing for man who blames rap for his crime
AUSTIN
(AP) The state’s highest crimi
nal appeals court has refused to
reconsider its decision to grant a
new punishment hearing for a con
demned Houston man whoblamed
rap music for his actions in the
1992 slaying of a state trooper.
The Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals ruled in December that
the trial court in the capital mur
der case of Ronald Ray Howard
erred by allowing prosecutors to
eliminate a potential juror.
The court’s decision last week to
deny a state motion to reconsider
its earlier ruling came without
comment.
Howard, now on death row, was
19 when he was convicted of shoot
ing Texas Department of Public
Safety Trooper Bill Davidson in
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lumbia and the 83rd mission flown
since the start of the space shuttle
program in April 1981.
Thecrew ofthe STS-83 includes:
Jim Halsell, commander; Augusta
born Susan Still, pilot; Janice Voss,
Michael Gernhardt and Donald
Thomas, mission specialists; and
Roger 1&?& and Greg'llvfizterm
as payloa ;pecm.lwu mas,
who had ered a broken ankle
following a routine training exer
cise on January 29, has officially
been cleared to fly as planned. l
“We are very pleased that Donl
has been cleared for flight and are'
confident in his ability to carry out
his mission responsibilities,” said
David C. Leestma, director of
NASA Flight Crew Operations.
theneckat closerangeon April 11,
1992, after Davidson pulled him
over in Edna, about 120 miles
southwest of Houston, for a miss
ing headlight.
In a taped confession, Howard
said he shot Davidson because he
felt he was being pulled over for no
good reason and feared being ar
rested and sent to jail.
Hisdefense atiorney, Allen Tan
ner, said the shooting was
prompted by Howard listening to
“gangstarap,” which often focuses
ondrugs, sex, violence and hatred
for police. Howard said he listened
totapes of Tupac Shakur, the Geto
Boys and other rappers in the car
the night of the murder.
Jackson County District Attor
ney Robert Bell has said he would
retry the entire case if necessary.
AUGUSTA
MITSUBISHI
Kids help libraries through the “Read-A-Thon”
Kids can help the Richmond
County library of their choice by
participatingin the “Read-A-Thon.”
to be held in celebration of Na
tional Library Week (April 13
through 19). Pledge sheets are
available at all Richmond County
libraries. Studentsin grades 1-12
can sign family and friends up to
pledge “pennies for pages” for ev
erything they read between now
and April 19. Students can desig
nate which Richmond County li
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brary they want their earnings to
benefit, and proceeds will be used
to purchase books and other read
ing materials for that particular
branch.
Students can read books, maga
zines, electronicinformation from
the Internet(although cereal boxes
are not recommended), newspa
pers—whatever they like. They
then record the titleand numberof
pages on their pledge sheet, and
collect the pledges from their spon
Look in the growing classified
section of the AUGUSTA FOCUS
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4471 Columbia Road, Suite C-2 . Martinez, Georgia 30907
(706) 854-0440 . Fax: (706) 854-0540 :
S
sors. The pledges can be turned in
at the Read-A-Thon party, to be
held at each Richmond County
library Saturday, April 19 from
10:30 a.m. - 12 noon. All pledges
must be turned in no later than
April 26.
The Read-A-Thon is being held
in conjunction with National Li
brary Week. This year’s theme,
“Kids Connect @the Library,” will
celebrate the many wayslibraries
and librarians serve children. The
goalistoencourage parents, grand
parents and other care-givers to
bring children tolibraries and help
them connect to books, computers.
and other resources that will help
them learn and grow throughout,
theirlives. :
The Read-A-Thon is cosponsored
by the Augusta Chronicle, the
Friends of the Augusta Library,
the Sweetheart Cup Company,
Springprint Medallion, and CSRA :
Advertising Specialties.