The Times Herald from Port Huron, Michigan • Page 1

TODAY'S WEATHER RAINSNOW MIX 32 4-DAY FORECAST, 2A SINCE 1869 PORT HURON, MICHIGAN Monday, Ellay 2, 2005 50 CENTS Amtrak ndership Will sfpilais gets back on track State officials credit new Blue Water Line for boost security adviser said Sunday the fledgling government was making progress against the insurgents. "There is no shadow of doubt in my mind that by the end of the year, we would have achieved a lot," Mouwafak al-Rubaie said in an interview with CNN's late Edition. "Probably the back of the insurgency has already been broken." Iraqi militants also released a video claiming to show Iraq's latest foreign hostage an Australian married to an American and living near San Francisco. Douglas Wood, 63, was shown seated between two masked militants pointing automatic weapons at him. His wife, Pearl, said the man was definitely her hus-liand, who has been working as an engineer in Iraq for about 18 months.

11 Americans among 116 dead in militant attacks The Associated Press BAGHDAD, Iraq A car bomb obliterated a tent packed with mourners at the funeral of a Kurdish official in northern Iraq on Sunday, killing 25 people and wounding more than 50 in the single deadliest attack since insurgents started bearing down on Iraq's newly named government late last week. The blast capped four exceedingly violent days in which at least 116 people, including 11 Americans, were killed in a storm of bombings and ambushes blamed on Iraqi insurgents. Despite the unrelenting violence, Iraq's national 1 4 Uw By DAVID JESSE Times Herald Well before the sun rose Thursday morning, Mariam Emmi sat on a bench inside Port Huron's Amtrak station, happy as lark. "I know I'm tired, but I don't want to fall asleep and miss something," Emmi, 77, of Richmond said. "I'm worse than a child." Emmi was one of five passengers to board Amtrak's Blue Water Line that morning, Mariam Emmi just after 5 a.m.

By the time it made it to Chicago, 120 passengers were expected to have ridden the westbound train that day. Emmi's part of the line's growing ridership. The line runs between Port Huron and Chicago. Ridership is up from 84,290 on the International route in its last year to 95,809 on the Blue Water Line in the same time period in its first year. The numbers are CUD Monthly riders on the International Line: April 2003 to April 2004 SOURCE: Amtrak IN in an (i I I The Associated Press ATTACK AFTERMATH: U.S.

soldiers and Iraqis check out the damage after an Army convoy was attacked Sunday by a car bomb in Baghdad. 0111 A1I0 HER OWN WORDS To hear why Mariam Emmi took Amtrak's Blue Water Line last iflfrP'i week, visit www.thetimesherald.com. Oil! AMTRAK For details about the rail service, visit www.amtrak. com. through March, the latest available.

Officials credit a switch the line for the change. One year ago, Amtrak canceled the International Line, which ran from Chicago to Toronto. It included stops in Port Huron and Sarnia. Officials said delays at the border often caused the International to run irregular schedule, leading to a decline in ridership. "We're pleased that rid- ership has performed as predicted," Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said "It's performed very well." While local numbers See AMTRAK, 2A Jhip 'imbs ivo1 is ri "A 4 4t Blue Water Line: May fa Times Herald national foundation that grants wishes of seriously ill children, King knows he would have qualified.

From her Nancy King experiences, and the help of her employer, Eaton Corp. in South-field, the 56-year-old Cot-trellville Township resident became involved with the Make -A-Wish Foundation. That was 13 years ago. Her efforts and those of 16 against skin cancer which is about the furthest thing from her mind. "I think a lot of teenagers realize it's dangerous, but because we're so wrapped up in the instant gratification we don't really worry about it," said Vitez, a high school junior in Norwalk, Conn.

The American Academy of Dermatology found similar attitudes in a nation Times Herald photos by TONY PITTS ALL ABOARD: A conductor helps Mariam Emmi of Richmond board Amtrak's Blue Water Line on Thursday in Port Huron. Emmi was traveling to Chicago to attend her grandson's First Communion. In the top photo, conductor Shawna Madison takes Emmi's ticket while passenger Parveen Butt of London, Ontario, waits. Driver's license rules get tougher Foundation honors local 'everyday hero' efficient," Tarcha said. Woman's efforts with Make-A-Wish earn recognition By JOSEPH DEINLEIN Times Herald When her son, Greg, was a young boy, Nancy King went through anguish the parents of Make -A-Wish children know well.

Because of an undiagnosed ruptured appendix, her son, who is now 30, underwent numerous surgeries and lost almost all of his intestine. Though he never applied to the King said the support of her employer has made things easier. Eaton has donated semi-trucks to move items, as well as donated employee time and money. While the honor and cruise are great, King views it as icing on the cake. "My son (Greg) is getting married the night she said.

"It's going to be a wild weekend." Contact Joseph Deinlein at (810) 989-6272 or jdeinleingannett.com. New federal law requires proof of U.S. residency By DAVID JESSE Times Herald A controversial new federal law could set tough standards for who gets a driver's license. The law, which is known as the Real ID law, has passed the U.S. House and is awaiting Senate approval which could happen this week.

The law would require proof that someone seeking a license legally was allowed to be in the United States, said U.S. Rep. Can-dice Miller, R-Harrison offenders to jail, probation or a community corrections program -instead of prison. The new proposal would Patricia Caruso change the point system used to determine whether a low-level Tn Township, a major supporter of the bill. The law is aimed at making sure A illegal aliens don't get driver's licenses.

"It seems Candice Miller counter-productive to knowingly give illegal aliens driver's licenses," said Miller, Michigan's former secretary of state. Opponents of the new federal law said it targets legal immigrants and would force illegal immigrants to drive unlicensed and unin- See LICENSES, 2A offender should be sen-; tenccd to prison, jail or pro-; bation, department adminis--trator Marge Bosscnbery said. The proposal would cut by 650 the number of prison beds needed in a 12-month period, increase the number of jail beds needed in that time by about 230 and increase the number of See PRISON, 2A LOCAL, IB March of Dimes $141,000 richer thanks to efforts of hundreds of walkers Sentencing revisions seek to cut prison overcrowding other people across the country, called "Everyday Heroes," are being recognized by the national foundation Saturday with a Caribbean cruise and award. "For me personally, it's wonderful," King said. "I feel like I'm giving something back because my son still is in my life." Jeannette Tarcha, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan spokeswoman, said the award is very special.

The state branch has 500 volunteers, and there are 77 branches across the country. wide survey of 505 young sters between the ages of 12 and 17. About 80 said they knew tanning can be dangerous, and that childhood sunburns increase risks for skin cancer, the survey released today found. Yet 66 said people look better with a tan, nearly 50 said tans look healthier, and 60 said they got sunburned last summer. DEATHS, 5C Lloyd E.

Burpee, 58 Gloria S. Carey, 43 Joseph Delekta, 91 Eleanor T. Mareski, 90 Ann McLouth, 62 "We're talking probably 44,000 volunteers nationwide," she said. Foundation officials chose King because of her involvement with the annual Wish-A-Mile 300 Bicycle Tour, which has helped grant more than 2,000 wishes. King has been in charge of logistics for the three-day, 300-mile bike ride.

She is responsible for ensuring tents, equipment, food and other items are sent ahead as bikers trek across the state. "She has been a tremendous asset to us, making that easy and simple and fc' Mi The Associated Press LIKES THE LOOK: Lindsey Vitez, 17, of Norwalk, prefers a tan to looking deathly pale. Arthur F. Oakley, 86 Betty J. Peplinski, 73 Jeannine Proulx, 74 Lucy Rahmeyer Eleanor E.

Schroeder, 86 Survey: Teens know risks but decide to tan anyway The Associated Press CHICAGO -If the latest tanning survey is any indication, Lindsey Vitez, 17, is a totally typical teenager. "I hate looking deathly pale," said Vitez, who seeks a tan year-round, bronzing at tanning salons in cool months and hanging out by the pool or beach in summertime, using lotion to attract the sun, not protect Copyright 2005 The Times Herald Co. A Gannett Newspaper Printed in the USA The Associated Press LANSING State corrections officials think they've come up with a new way to avoid hitting population limits on the state's 41 prisons this summer without dramatically increasing the number of offenders in county jails. The Corrections Department's original plan would have sent more low-level SPORTS, ID Pistons return to Detroit with 3-1 series lead over Philadelphia It INDEX Business3A ClassifiedI Comics40 Crossword40 Dear Abby5C Horoscope5C LM-l Lile4B LotteryIB Movies30 Opinion5A TV3B Weather2A 3 "40901 "06735' MONDAY-FRIDAY 50c.