Charleston Daily Mail

Insurer to Spend $19 Million On Mall Space

BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Co. has purchased the Bob Evans and Montgomery Ward spaces at Charleston Town Center for $9 million and plans to spend $10 million more to turn the property into first- class office space, BrickStreet President and Chief Executive Officer Greg Burton said. The $9 million real estate price is more than twice the $4.4 million the mall paid for the property. And the $19 million total beats the $18.5 million Laidley Tower sold for in 2002.

Tuition Plan for War Wounded has Widespread Support

A proposal for the state to pay college tuition expenses for Purple Heart recipients in West Virginia didn't originate in any elected state official's brain. Eighth-graders studying state government in Joanie Adams' history class at South Charleston Middle School made the suggestion recently to a convenient visitor in their classroom - state Sen. Vic Sprouse.

Maps of Every Corner of State Available Free

Map lovers have a new friend in the West Virginia GIS Technical Center. The state agency now has state maps broken down by elevation, voting districts, state parks, flood zones and a slew of other topics, and they all can be downloaded to any computer in high resolution at no cost.

Hooked: ; On Harmony

A local lawyer loves the melodious sounds of an old-fashioned barbershop quartet so much, he's become a member of a board meant to provide harmony for singers across the country. Skipp Kropp, who works at Robinson & McElwee, has just been elected to the board of directors of the Barbershop Harmony Society, a non-profit organization of 30,000 male close-harmony singers in the United States and Canada.

Retired Physicians Donate House to Foundation

MARTINSBURG - Two retired physicians have donated the late 1900 English Tudor style house they used as an office for nearly 30 years to the City Hospital Foundation in Martinsburg. The gift from Dr. Orlando Agnir and his wife, Dr. Betty Yadao- Agnir, is thought to be the first property donated to the fundraising arm of West Virginia University's City Hospital-East, said Teresa McCabe, vice president of marketing and development.

Upcoming Legislative Session May Be Abortion Battleground , Lawmakers On Both Sides of Issue Plan On Pushing Proposals

With new leadership in the House of Delegates, groups on both sides of the abortion divide say 2007 could be a pivotal year in West Virginia. Anti-abortion groups hope that new House Speaker Rick Thompson, D- Cabell, will lend a hand to a pair of measures designed to limit access to abortion, while abortion rights organizers warn that the state's political climate now resembles that of South Dakota, where legislators voted to virtually ban abortion.

Teri Ditrapano Faces Several: ; Vehicular Citations

Charleston Police issued several citations against Teri diTrapano, the wife of a prominent Charleston attorney serving a prison term on firearms charges. On Dec. 23, Patrolman R.J. Welsh saw a black Cadillac parked on the 1400 block of Jackson St. on the city's East End. It appeared suspicious because males kept approaching the car, but the car didn't move, Lt. Eric Johnson said. Welsh pulled behind the car and it drove away.

Coal Truck Driver Unscathed After His Vehicle Overturns

A coal truck driver was uninjured after the truck flipped over on Slaughters Creek Road, State Police said. The truck, which is owned by Big E Trucking Co. of Beckley, ran into a ditch about 10:30 a.m Thursday, struck a utility pole and turned over on its passenger side, said Sgt. J.C. Lee of the Quincy detachment.

Imperial Troopers Get Marching Orders

PASADENA, Calif. - Jorge Candelas spent eight months perfecting the look of his Imperial biker scout uniform. He watched the "Star Wars" movies over and over, making sure the plastic armor on his uniform sat at just the right angle. He endured teasing from his father, who calls him his "8-year-old who never grew up."

Three Death Threats Preceded Kennedy Visit to Ireland

DUBLIN, Ireland - President John F. Kennedy was the subject of three separate death threats during his visit to Ireland in 1963, according to newly declassified police documents released today. The documents released by the Irish Justice Department said police received two anonymous telephoned warnings in the weeks before the arrival of the United States' first Irish Catholic president. A third threat went to the newsroom of the Irish Independent newspaper.

Telecom Giant Awaits Approval

WASHINGTON - While much of Washington enjoyed a holiday break, lawyers for AT&T Inc. and the government worked marathon hours to forge an agreement that would allow the company to complete its $85 billion purchase of BellSouth Corp. The proposed deal could lead to the largest telecommunications merger in U.S. history.

National Weather, Temps

Hi Lo Otlk Akron 49 33 PCldy

Weather,: ; Temps

Hi Lo Otlk Anchorage 25 18 Cldy

Nation & World

Saddam meets brothers, remains in U.S. custody BAGHDAD, Iraq - Saddam Hussein's half brothers visited him in his jail cell and he gave them his will, Iraqi officials said today, indicating his execution may be approaching. But they said he had yet to be transferred to Iraqi custody.

Thousands View Body of Brown: ; at Apollo

By LARRY NEUMEISTER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK - James Brown didn't move. He didn't sing. But even in death, the soul legend made thousands of people who streamed past him at the Apollo Theater feel good just to be near him.

Wvu Fans Stop at Tamarack On Way to Game , Beckley's Cold Weather Didn't Deter Faithful On Their Way to Gator Bowl

West Virginia football fans made their annual stop at Tamarack on Thursday en route to Jacksonville, Fla., site of the Toyota Gator Bowl on New Year's Day. Beckley's cold morning weather didn't seem to diminish their spirits in the least as they swarmed the arts and crafts complex, enjoyed a hot breakfast courtesy of The Greenbrier and steeled themselves physically and psychologically for the next leg of their travels.

Local Briefs

Sissonville mobile home a total loss after fire A mobile home was mostly destroyed by fire in the Sissonville area.

Calendar of Events

Friday AL-ANON: Family Group, Alateens, 8 p.m., 1225 Ohio Ave., Dunbar. For information, 342-4315.

Body Found On Chinese Mountain Is U.S. Photographer, Friends Say

SEATTLE - A snow-covered body found on a remote mountain in China has been identified as U.S. photographer Charlie Fowler, who disappeared several weeks ago during a climbing trip with the owner of a Seattle-based adventure company, friends said. Fowler and Christine Boskoff were not roped together when they were possibly swept up by an avalanche high on the peak, as friends initially believed they would be, and so the search for Boskoff continued as snow fell Thursday.

Officers Indicted in Post-Katrina Deaths , Details Surrounding Shooting of Two Men On New Orleans Bridge Murky

NEW ORLEANS - Despite the murky circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of two men on a bridge in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, seven police officers are facing charges of murder or attempted murder. A grand jury issued an indictment Thursday after hearing weeks of testimony about the shootings, which became one of the most widely cited examples of the anarchy that gripped New Orleans after the storm.