Island Dispatch, 1998-04-03

              Island  DISPATCH  April 3, 1998 650 24 Pages ImM Monday Nite Madness LARGE CHEESE PIZZA 4-95 J (ffiZZfrISUBS) Official Newspaper for the Town of Grand Island & the Grand Island School District Lt\ years "As the voice of Grand Island" Vol. 54 • No. 50 (716) 773-7676 Gast returns to site of crash Memorial to commemorate Brown and associates by Kelly Gast Today, April 3, 1998, marks the two year anniversary of the tragic plane crash' in Croatia that claimed the lives of 35 Americans including United States Secretary of Commerce, Ronald H. Brown and many top business executives of the U.S. These men and women were on a mission in pursuit of securing economic stability and peace in a war ravaged nation. On the morning of the disaster, a problem that arose with Enron, a Texasbased natural gas company negotiating with Croatian government led to a disagreement between Brown, Morris Reid, Brown's advance person and number one aide, and Zdenka Gast, a consultant who led the mission. The disagreement spared two lives. The unaccounted for seats aboard the Air Force version of a Boeing 737, the very plane that carried the First Lady a month earlier, belonged to Reid and Mrs. Gast who left their U.S team partners to resolve the problem and board the Croatian government's plane instead. Both Mr. Reid and Mrs. Gast argued with Brown about leaving the group believing the problem would resolve whether or not they were to stay behind. However, Brown prevailed and convinced the two to stay behind, in turn saving their lives. After the crash, families of the victims approached Mrs. Gast in hope that she would continue the projects that the Brown Mission set out to accomplish in memory of their loved ones. Today, in honor of Ron Brown and the Americans who fought to rebuild the Balkans, Mrs. Gast will climb the mountain where their fate was determined, 30 feet from the mountain top. The climb is rocky and dangerous, one must constantly be on the lookout for poisonous snakes. On behalf of President Clinton and the Brown family, she will lay a wreath at the memorial site that was created in memory of these men and women. The journey to the top marks a new beginning as well as an accomplishment. Bechtel, an American road building company that Mrs. Gast has been representing, is signing the first contract for $600 million after ONLY A MEMORY - Commerce Secretary Brown was a dear friend of Zdenka Gast's. Here they are pictured in the U.S. Commerce Building in Washington D.C. before his death. MOUNTAINSIDE MEMORIAL - This is the breathtaking view of the Adriatic Sea on the Dubrovnik mountain where the plane crashed. One year ago, when Zdenka Gast returned to the mountain top to pay her respects to friends and partners who perished in the crash, she found a small piece of paper with a message scrolled on it. The note reads: Robert E. Donovan, 1941-1996. It battled a year of rain and wind remaining in the same shrub when Mrs. Gast returned. "This same shrub that was burned along with all the other plant life from the flames of the disaster, now is green and full of life, the only thing green and full of life," Mrs. Gast reports. Reality Cafe celebrates fourth anniversary by Carla Dueck March 30 marked a special evening at Reality Cafe, as Enrichment and Referral Center staff members, community volunteers and students celebrated the fourth anniversary of the teen hangout. Offering the senior high youth of Grand Island a place to talk and relax on weekend evenings, the Cafe serves a valuable function in the community. Over 50 people crowded into the Cafe, located at the Nike Base on Whitehaven Road. The crowd enjoyed non-alcoholic beverages and anniversary cake, shot pool, listened to music and played games. The evening also featured special recognition of both past and present chaperones who come to the Cafe on Friday and Saturday nights. The chaperones are coordinated HAPPY FOURTH ANNIVERSARY! - Reality Cafe goers enjoyed a Fourth Anniversary celebration on March 28 with a delicious cake. Shown here are Town liaisons Mike Heftka and Dick Crawford Jr. with the Youth Board, who make decisions about the operation of the Cafe. RECOGNITION OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS - Individuals from the Grand Island community who have volunteered their time as chaperones for Reality Cafe were given certificates of appreciation and recognition at the 4th Anniversary Celebration held last Saturday evening. Enrichment and Referral Center Facilitators Kirn Jansen and Sue Novits presented the certificates, thanking each individual for their help in making the Cafe a success. Niagara Falls man arrested for dealing drugs The Erie County Sheriffs Dept. has announced the arrest of 22 year old Charlie Faso, IV, of Hyde Park Blvd., Niagara Falls. Faso was arrested around 11:30 p.m. in the parking lot of his place of employment, the NOCO gas station, at 1898 Whitehaven Rd. @ Grand Island Blvd. in Grand Island. "What makes this particular case more disturbing than others," said Richard Donovan, Ciiief of Police Services, "is the audacity that while working as a clerk, this individual bought and sold illicit drugs openly on store premises, as unsuspecting store customers and children walked in and out of the place." Members of the Erie County Sheriffs narcotics unit spent the last month purchasing a variety of drugs from Faso, including hallucinogenic drugs such as "Ecstasy," crystal methamphetamine and acid (LSD). Detectives say throughout their continued on back page continued on back page continued on back page \ /'_ Jj Remember lo set your clock ahead vhc Ihr on Sunday April sth at 2am