European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 14, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 a the stars and stripes saturday december 14, 1991 releasing tape would Hurt shuttle families judge rules Washington a a Federal judge thursday refused to order the Public release of the audio tape of the last moments of the seven astronauts who died aboard the space shuttle challenger in 1986, saying it would violate the privacy of the victims families. A exposure to the voice of a beloved family member immediately prior to that family members death is what would cause the challenger families pain a said Federal District judge Norma Holloway Johnson in a 10-Page ruling. The ruling came in a Case involving a suit by the new York times seeking to Force the National aeronautics and space administration to make Public the audio tape of the astronauts last moments before their spacecraft blew apart on Jan. 28, 1986. The space Agency had made Public a transcript of the astronauts final words after a request from the times but it refused to Supply the recording itself saying the a voice inflections of the Crew members could be distressing to the families. The times sued under the Freedom of information act contending that the transcript might be insufficient to understand what actually happened in the final moments and that there was no Legal justification for nasal a position. Johnson initially ruled in the newspapers favor in 1987, saying that the Freedom of information act did not allow the Agency to withhold the tapes. But a divided Federal appellate court ruled in december 1990 that the tape recording fell under an Gainesville Fla. Apr a tiny Crucifix unearthed at the first settlement founded by Christopher Columbus May he the oldest Symbol of christianity in the Western hemisphere an archaeologist says. The 1 /2-Inch tall Cross which includes a representation of Christ was found at la Isabela where Columbus established the first european Colony in the americas nearly 50 1 years ago. The Cross is made of Pewter and Iron. A Copper Alloy was used for Christ a body. A it is a direct expression of the catholicism brought to the americas by the Spanish a said Kathleen Dea Gan an archaeologist from the University of Florida. She and others worked with venezuelan archaeologist Jose f. Cruxent at the site in the dominican a cubic. La Isabela was founded on Columbus second voyage to the new world in 1493 and existed Only until 1498. Experts previously believed Columbus had established Only one settlement in the area. The archaeology exemption in the Law that allows agencies to withhold medical personnel and similar files if their disclosure would result in a a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal  last years 6-to-5 appellate court ruling sent the Case Back to Johnson for a decision to balance the privacy rights against the value of the Public disclosure of the tape recording. The times could Appeal last december a appellate court ruling to the supreme court or let the matter drop. According to the official transcript the Crew members were unaware of the impending disaster until the final moments of the flight. The last comment on the tape was a huh of a which the space Agency has identified As the voice of the Pilot cmdr. Michael j. Smith of the Navy. The tape stopped 73 seconds after launching just before the spacecraft exploded because of a faulty Seal in the Booster. Johnson said the space Agency had submitted affidavits from people who had listened to the tape. They said the Only background noise was from the solid rocket boosters. In addition to Smith the other Crew members were Francis r. Dick Scobee the spacecraft commander or. Judith Resnick Mission specialists or. Ronald e. Mcnair and air Force it. 0 1. Ellison s. Onizuka Gregory b. Jarvis a payload specialist and Christa Mcauliffe a new Hampshire schoolteacher. Its however uncovered a second settlement nearby. Unlike the main site the second one had a Fertile Plain for farming a River for fresh water and Clay soil for pottery making. Columbus founded la Isabela with about 1,500 sailors soldiers and settlers. More than two thirds of the people became ill within weeks. Many went hungry when they were unable to grow crops. Others rebelled. A some experts think the real problem is Columbus terrible record As a Leader Quot Deagan said. A the left la Isabela almost immediately to explore other islands for Gold leaving the Colony in the hands of his  the site was nearly destroyed in the late 1950s when officials ordered the area cleared for a military guard Post during the cuban revolution she said. Today la Isabela is a National Park and a focus for the dominican republics observation of the 1992 qui Centenary of Columbus arrival in the americas.  Angeles to restore teachers Cut wages from wire reports los Angeles a the nations second largest school District agreed thursday to repay wages Cut from teachers salaries earlier this year tentatively ending a contract dispute. The agreement reached bet Yeen the Board of education and the teachers Union would guarantee repayment of the 3 percent trimmed in november to help balance the districts 1991-92 budget. The Back wages would be paid Over the next four years with a minimum of one half percent interest. The settlement also would restore teacher salaries to the pre wage Cut level beginning next september at a Cost to the District of $70 million. The agreement would not affect salaries for the remainder of the school year. The proposal must be ratified by the 30,000 members of United teachers los Angeles. The vote is scheduled for tuesday and wednesday. The Board Cut the salaries of its 58,000 employees after it was faced with a $275 million shortfall in its $3.9 billion budget. The shortfall was produced in part by reduced state funding caused by the  takes ribbing Annapolis my. A gov. William Donald Schaefer is doing a Good deed and getting the last laugh on a parody Christmas album that includes songs poking fun at him. The 10-tune, two volume collection of parody songs was produced by Baltimore radio station Wesr. The tapes Cost $8 each $12 for the pair. Proceeds go to the stations children a fund. The democratic governor is immortalized on the album in Schaefer got run Over by a reindeer4 French tourists killed Lake Mead National recreational area Ariz. A Crews worked thursday to recover the bodies of four French tourists and their american Pilot. The chartered plane crashed on a flight from the grand Canyon to Las vegas in heavy rain tuesday. The wreckage was found wednesday scattered near a 5,000-foot Ridge along the Arizona Nevada Border. The Pilot was identified As Perry Smallwood 44, of Henderson Nev. The tourists were tentatively identified As Esther Suid Daisy Bok Abea Yardena Solal Cohen and Maira Sarfaty. No hometowns were available. Investigators  immediately determine what caused the twin engine Piper aircraft to  suffers stroke Richmond a. A syndicated newspaper columnist James j. Kilpatrick is recovering from a mild stroke. Kilpatrick 71, was stricken last week while travelling to the Gridiron club dinner in Washington. He spent several Days at Culpeper memorial Hospital 50 Miles Southwest of Washington before returning wednesday to his Home in Charleston . He said he suffered some paralysis on his right Side that impaired his speech and the movement of his right hand. He said doctors have told him he should be recovered in six to nine  has surgery Houston a former House speaker Jim Wright underwent surgery thursday to remove a cancer on the floor of his Mouth. Wright who will be 69 on dec. 22, will remain hospitalized for about seven to 10 Days. His doctors at the University of Texas . Anderson cancer Center anticipate a routine recovery his office said. A some follow up radiation therapy May be recommended after surgery but it May be several Days before that is decided a  said. Wright was diagnosed with a squamous cell carcinoma a cancer that arises in the tiny Flat cells that Are found in the skin and lining of the Mouth. The initial evaluation showed that the cancer had not spread doctors said. Wright was forced to resign As House speaker in 1989 amid alleged fund raising improprieties. He did not run for re election to the congressional seat he had held for 34 years. A this Crucifix was found at the ruins of la Isabela site of Columbus first settlement in the new world. The Cross is made of Pewter and Iron. Also shown Are a Spanish Coin and a buckle from Spanish Armor. 15th Century Crucifix unearthed at site of Columbus first Colony