European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 27, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday August 27, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 5 weigh in time elephant Trainer Richard Elgin eases a giant foot onto the South Carolina Highway patrol truck Scales near co Lumbia. The state lets the Columbia zoo weigh its elephants once a year. This year the 20-year-old female weighed in at a svelte 8,750 pounds that s up 850 from last year. Winds fan flames across Yellowstone minuteman silo Safe Yellowstone National Park Wyo. A brisk winds car ried a 108,300-acre Blaze Over fire line thursday fanning flames to within less than a half mile of one of Yellowstone National Park s most Scenic areas and forcing officials to close the Park s Wes Entrance. Meanwhile a fire that had come with in a mile of a nuclear missile silo in Montana moved away thursday. Crews in Yellowstone began hosing own the 600 Cabins and other buildings at the Canyon area one of the largest developments in the nation s oldest National Park As flames became visible from the area. Firefighters also began in rolling water lines on roofs for Sprinkle systems to bolster Protection. The North Fork fire jumped the Road from Norris Junction to Canyon despite efforts to create a firebreak before the Road. Two other fires the 162,000-Acreclover-Mist fire on the Park s Eastern Side and an 88,326-acre Blaze in the Park s Southern end burned but threatened no buildings. To the South of Yellowstone in grand Teton National Park and the Bridger Teton National Forest fire manager chose to Herd a 15,569-acre Blaze North toward Yellowstone hoping it would run out of fuel when it merged with other blazes. Elsewhere in the West fire Crew struggled with blazes in Montana Utah Idaho Oregon Washington and California. In Yellowstone All roads into the can Yon area were closed and heavy smoke obscured the Sun and reduced visibility to less than 200 Yards. With the Park s South Entrance already closed Only three entrances now remain open. The fire s flare up followed a Lull ear Lier in the Day that provided a breather for the firefighters. Park spokeswoman Amy Vanderbilt said the North Fork Blaze grew about 10,000 acres wednesday but part of the acreage was attributed to backfires set to create a fire break in a Meadow West of Canyon she said. Park officials evacuated 361 visitor from Canyon on tuesday moving them to other Park lodgings. Other Park area closed by fires include the Pebble Creek Norris Madison and Lewis Lake Camp grounds. In Southern Montana firefighters battling a pair of major wilderness Forest fires that burned close to 60,000 acres raced for a hot afternoon with gusting winds. A lightning storm moved toward the Helena area where fire Crews hoped to contain a 37,200-acre Blaze to the South East while a 900-acre fire in Centra Montana moved away from a minute Man missile silo. That fire broke out wednesday afternoon and More than doubled to 900 acres overnight but a dispatcher for the Helena National Forest in great Falls said the missile silo is completely  Malmstrom fab at great Falls sen military police and firefighters to protect the silo wednesday but withdrew the during the night capt. Donald Planalp said thursday. There is really nothing above ground that s flammable he said. Oregon state fire marshal Olin Greene issued a statewide ban on out door burning with the exception of approved Field burning a Day after gov. Neil Goldschmidt declared a state of emergency in Southwest Oregon where three major fires charred 2,600 acres an destroyed a Rural House. Officer was reprimanded in Sailor s drowning Pensacola Fla. A a High ranking officer received a letter of reprimand and four other supervisory personnel were Given non punitive letters of Cau Tion in the death of a Rescue swimmer trainee a Navy spokesman said thursday. The information was disclosed As proceedings began in the court martial of it. Thomas a. Torchia former officer in charge of the Navy Rescue swimmer school where airman recruit Lee Mirecki 19, of Appleton wis., died March 2. Testimony at a june investigative hearing indicated Mirecki died from a fear induced heart attack or drowning. Instructors allegedly pushed Mirecki Back into a swimming Pool and held his head under water after he had panicked climbed out and shouted that he wanted to quit the  s former Boss capt. . Lavinder jr., now retired who headed the Navy schools come a Pensacola Nas at the time of Mirecki s death there received a letter of reprimand for dereliction of duty it. Cmdr. Dennis Hessler a Public affairs officer said. He said the letters of caution were issued to an offi cer and three enlisted men but their identities were not disclosed because the letters did t go on their  punishment against four enlisted res Cue swimmer instructors including reductions in ran for two of them and fines were ordered on june 29 and made Public  and an enlisted instructor scheduled for trial monday Are the Only personnel facing court mar tial in the , 32, of Princeton 111., was in his office Over looking the Pool at the time of Mirecki s death wit Nesses have  guilty verdict could bring Torchia up to three months confinement loss of pay and a formal reprimand. Scheduled for trial monday is Petty officer 2ndclass Michael w. Combe 26, of Tempe Ariz. He is charged with involuntary manslaughter Battery an conspiracy to commit Battery. Sands of time in the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. Shuttle Booster passed test in spite of deliberate flaws aug. 27, 1948 the British film Industry decided to Send the film Oliver twist to America despite threats that it would be boycotted in the . Due to its horrible portrayal of a jewish character. 30 years ago today. Aug. 27,1958 two multimillionaire democratic Goy. Averell Harriman an Republican Nelson a. Rockefeller won their parties unanimous nominations for governor of new York. 20 years ago today aug. 27, 1968 after several meetings Between soviet officials and czechoslovakian representatives the soviets agreed to recognize the Alexander Dubcek regime and to gradually withdraw its forces from Czechoslovakia. 10 years ago today aug. 27, 1978 italian Cardinal Albino Luciani 65, was elected roman Catholic pontiff in the shortest papal election of this Century and chose the name John Paul i. Salt Lake City a despite deliberate flaws a joint on the Rede signed space shuttle Booster prevented super hot gases from escaping during a crucial test firing of the rocket Morton thi Okol said thursday. The findings from the test conducted aug. 18 at the aerospace company s Northern Utah Plant 25 Miles West of Brigham City May have been the most reassuring yet for the nation s manned space flight program. Morton thi Okol spokesman de Snow said engineers looked at the intentional flaws and were very pleased to see that hot gases had not blown by the primary of ring that it had sealed  the Success of the test the fifth and final firing of the new 126-foot solid fue Booster was vital to Nasa s plans to resume shuttle missions grounded after the Jan. 28, 1986, challenger disaster in which All seven Crew members died. A presidential commission blame leaking gases from a faulty Seal on one of challenger s boosters for the spacecraft explosion shortly after launch. Snow said Nasa and Morton Shioko engineers will continue to tear Down the four segment rocket Over the next 1 i weeks. If no problems Are found in the other joints Nasa officials have said they expect to set a firm Date in late september or Early october for the first shuttle flight since the challenger Accident