European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 17, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday february 17, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 7 arsonist terrorizes Washington town Burns school churches classrooms Omak Wash. Api an arsonist who burned the town s elementary school and damaged a Church that was converted to school classrooms is suspected in n fire that destroyed another Church and is classroom authorities said. Aniak. A Central Washington own of 4,001 that a Oasis Okanogan county s Only stoplight has been  by tic arson spree. It s altered everyone in town. Peo ple Are very very grim said Mary Koch managing editor of the weekly Omak chronicle. They were somber As icy drove by it going to work this morn ing it was still  the North Omak elementary school Mas heavily damaged in a january fire its second in two months. In the past to weeks two churches and a Church Par in life have been set afar. " i t s air Xii  danced Aid Vic Power superintendent Nom a s school District school officials have checked through i hair records for any former employee or student who Hai a grudge but have turned up nothing he said. One of the interesting things in Omak is we Haven t had any particular problems with people Haven t had any. One out there we could identify who had been on our Case for any particular Rea son Power said. Police chief Peter Sirois said police arc looking at two or three persons of interest Ai this Point. Police Nave inter viewed about a dozen people so far he said. He declined to say Why the per sons of interest might have wanted to harm the schools or churches. Firefighters on monday extinguished the latest fire which destroyed the $1.5 million Omak presbyterian Church. The Church and he free methodist Church had served As temporary classrooms after the fire at the elementary school which served students in kindergarten through second Grade. Last week the methodist Church sustained Abnusi $200,000 in damage a tire set there saturday and at the parsonage next door on sunday caused an addition Al $30,000 in damage said Mike Cra Mer assistant chief of the eight person Omak police Force. It s got everybody on the Edge said pastor Alberto Harlow who lives across the Street from his presbyterian Church. They re nervous. Wailing to see what s going to happen  Church officials met sunday night and made sure All door and windows were locked Harlan said. A Security guard woke him monday with news of the fire. The Blaze apparently was set by some one who broke into the basement through a window hidden by two Ever Green Trees beside the three Story red Brick Church Omak fire Chi Cicai bowl ing said. Hut Bowling said he d rather not Dis cuss the investigation with reporters whoever set these fires is going to read your report and i d just hate to let him know what this has done to the Community Bowling said. The latest fire was too hot monday for inc fire marshal to determine what caused it Cramer said. We have a Strong feeling but we can t draw any conclusions cd he said authorities Hope to determine the cause by tuesday. But there was no doubt that an arsonist had set the earlier fires Cramer said. The fires arc beginning to take a psychological toll on residents and on the 1,800 students including 150 from North Omak elementary Cramer said. La s having b bad of feel on everybody. When the first fire hit the school n devastated the kids la was Lough for Ihm to move. Now they re going to have to again,1 he said. Electricians and plumbers helped ret up temporary buildings As classrooms said Cramer who added that nighttime patrols have been expanded with the help of the Okanogan sheriff s depart ment. It Only seems to happen while Omak sleeps Cramer said. In a Way that s Good because the buildings arc empty and so far no one a been  the Rev. Norman Lund pastor of foursquare gospel Church which also housed North elementary students said i does t want to guess what the arsonist is  "1 think everyone s concerned about saying anything he said. You Don t want to motivate the person Massachusetts gop seeks opponent for Frank Pul lib Pihi Washington