European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 15, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Spill tops Exxon Valdez by 10.5 million Gallons amount left after fire off Spain still unknown la Coruna Spain apr the greek Tanker Aegean sea lost 21.5 million Gallons of crude Oil after it ran aground almost twice the amount spilled in the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska estimates show. It has not been determined How much Oil has burned away. An explosion split the Tanker in two after it ran aground dec. 3 while trying to enter la Coruna a Northwestern port in foul weather. The resulting fire burned for 24 hours. The Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million Gallons into alaskans Prince William sound three years ago in what was considered the worst Oil Tanker disaster of recent years. So far about 1.1 million Gallons of crude have been recovered from the Aegean sea spill and Salvage operations showed an estimated 1.2 million Gallons of the tankers cargo was still on Board merchant Marine spokesman Juan Jose Alvarez told a news conference sunday. That would mean the Aegean sea which had a cargo of about 23.8 million Gallons lost about 21.5 million Gallons. Pilar Lledo a la Coruna Central government representative said Calm seas Over the weekend showed that the Slick caused by the leak had diminished greatly though she gave no details of the area affected. The environmental group Greenpeace estimated Friday that 125 Miles of the regions rugged coastline were affected by the spill and officials said some 15 Miles of Beach had been stained. The Impact on the areas fishing Industry has not been fully determined but officials have said the Region could lose $15 million from ruined Mussel farms spoiled shellfish Beds and wrecked equipment. Lledo said Salvage workers found no crude in the ships partially submerged Stern which holds up to seven of the vessels nine tanks. The Stern was initially believed to contain most of the Oil expected to be found on the wrecked ship. On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez Oil Tanker struck Bligh reef in alaskans Prince William sound about 25 Miles from the town of Valdez. The Tanker was off course and was piloted by the third mate instead of the Captain Joseph Hazelwood. The Valdez spill fouled hundreds of Miles of alaskan coastline. Hazelwood was found to have had an unacceptably High level of alcohol in his blood. In 1990, he was convicted of a Misdemeanour charge of negligent discharge of Oil but the Alaska court of appeals threw out the conviction in 1992. . Military some civilians exempt from new British tax Raf Mildenhall England a amps a . Military members and some . Civilians living in the United kingdom will be exempt from the new British Council tax according to 3rd air Force Legal officials. A new Law by the British government exempts dwellings occupied by . Military members or members of the civilian component according to Lyndon James Legal adviser on Host nation matters for the 3rd air Force. The exemption also applies to family members including British nationals who live in those dwellings. However the Law does not exempt retired . Military members or other civilians working on military installations who do not have the civilian component stamp on their passports James said. The Council tax is set to Start april 1 and replaces the Community charge or poll tax which taxed individuals. The tax applied to British National spouses of . Military members. Some area councils already have sent Council tax registration forms to Many dwellings. James advised military members and civilians who have received the forms to fill them out and clearly Mark them with the words a dwelling exempt a visiting forces before returning them. He said arrangements will be made to exempt those who already returned their forms without the notations. According to local authorities the Council tax will be similar to the rates system in effect before the poll tax. Everyone who bought or rented a Home off base paid the tax which subsidized Community services such As garbage collection libraries and Street lighting. Airman acquitted in cocaine Case Torrejon a Spain a amps a a second air Force member assigned to Torrejon a has been acquitted of the wrongful use of cocaine despite a urinalysis test indicating the presence of the drug in his system. Airman 1st class Matthew j. Merkle a transient Alert team member with the 600th air base group at Lorre on a was acquitted Friday at the end of a two Day general court martial held at the base just outside Madrid. A panel of six officers determined that Merkle did not knowingly use the cocaine. Hie prosecutor capt. Todd j. Hedgespeth presented evidence indicating that Merkle tested positive for cocaine during random drug testing july 7. Merkle testified that he did not know How the cocaine came into his system but that he thought it might have been slipped into his drink or drinks during visits to an off base a biker bar a in Torrejon de a Doz said tech. Sgt. Louis Arana Barradas a Torrejon spokesman. On sept. 1, another Torrejon airman tech. Sgt. Kenneth Reid successfully used a similar defense in his court martial for wrongful use of cocaine. The defense and prosecution testified to the Validity of the testing in both cases Arana Barradas said. If convicted Merkle a resident of Parma Ohio faced a possible sentence of five years confinement. Mannheim sergeant Dies in fall Mannheim Germany a amps a a 32-year-old Mannheim Soldier died Early saturday after falling from the master bedroom window on the 16th floor of a government leased housing area in Frankenthal a Mannheim suburb. The body of sgt. Douglas r. Huck master a combat Engineer assigned to cob 12th engr in was discovered by a German police patrol on the ground outside the apartment building alter being alerted by the soldiers wife. Buckmaster a native of la Porte ind., was pronounced dead at the scene at 1 30 . By a German doctor according to a 293rd base support in spokeswoman. An autopsy to determine the exact cause of death will be performed within the next few Days the spokeswoman said. A memorial service will be held wednesday at 2 . In the Coleman Barracks Chapel. Buckmaster is survived by his wife Deborah stepdaughter Kathryn Baker 9 daughter Amie Joe 6 and son Douglas ii 4. Officials with the criminal investigation come and German police Are investigating the incident according to the spokeswoman. Quot infant wants to meet father for Christmas dear Santa i am just 6 months old and i have Only one Christmas wish. My wish is for my daddy spec. Joseph j. Kishel from Karlsruhe Germany to come Home to see me for the first time. I know he loves me very much. My wish is not Only for me but for my Mommy and daddy too. Otherwise i am very Happy but daddy would make my and Mommy a Christmas Complete. If you cant Send him Home for Christmas then Send him Home As soon As possible. We miss him very much. Love Hollie Ann Kishel Hamburg . Dear Santa Claus my name is Maddie Emery. I am 2vi years old. I like to sing my Turtle song at my Rainbow land school. Never play with matches. For Christmas May i please have a new pair of scissors i like to Cut paper. Thank you and merry Christmas Maddie other letters written to Santa include Michael manaois James manaois Rebecca manatos Christopher manaois Nicholas Rendon Jamie Adlace  Michael Sierra Ernest Cham pig by Willy gripman Sean Huber Martinez Lourdes Kevin Wood Barbara Jimenez Ben Mcgah Keith Knapp Tori Althens Beth Emery John Robert Pepper Brandon Pepper Ayasha Williams Gary Devalk Laffma Martin Jessica Martin Melanie Thomas Sonia Champigny Steven Dawson Justin Hance Carina Walker Craid Shipley Garrett Soares Taylor Nyquist Elizabeth Zielinsky Christine Erlich Brian Tursi Tiffany Hicks Trevor Hall Sarah Sullivan Ramon Arroyo Erika Byrd Taquine Brittney Davis Benjamin Stahr Chasity Byers Brandon Cahela sharmaine Williams Kevin Wheeler Kathleen Garrahan Justin Hilton David Fisher Sarona Mitchell Joel Mesa Todd Wessling Bridget Young Sarah Wininger Jessica Drake Ryan Platt Justine Mikaloff Vanessa Barriera Hannah Stein Little person Steele Courtney Mancuso Jennifer Lunney Kimmy Mcafee Laryssa Tartt Kara Freehardt Alyssa Brooks Darius Morris Lani Maio Megan Molina Samantha Clark Missy Scarton Michael Wity Austin Ward Christopher Wessell Farid Adam Barker Meggy gripman Chancy re prey Rena to Cooper Ebonie Williams Kenneth Blanford Cleveland Pulliam Arthur Thomas Richard Maldonado Brittan Honderd Nicolas Pepper Cameron Turney Erica Devalk Edward Mcmahon Sabrina Martin Greg Martin Michele Compton . Phipps Nicole Dawson Jonathan Hance Anika Morris Matthew Dickhaut Shannon Hiemstra Jennifer Zielinsky Crystal Kearse Mona Lee Hatch Joshua Usry Allie Myers Alex Hall Jason Romain Melanie Mulvey Leroy Byrd Nicholas Pryde Keith Mccullough Rafael Camacho Torres Michael Winters Joey Duplessis Lorilei Williams Tom Robinson Charlca Clinette Phipps Jeremey Hilton Sherri Orre Lapaula Jane Pruitt Ashley Ward Amanda Young Melissa Ridge Ashley Harbin Jacob Maddox and Thoma Alexandra Martinez Faith Gloyd Christopher Ruark Alex Rupp Patrick Brown Michael Jones Nathan Molnar Lauren Bethrie Willie Jackson Becky Harville summer Crawley Brittany Molina Frankie Scarton Kevin Mooney Mindy Wity Gary Kehoe Chuck Wess Samir David manaois Darak Handy Moriana Cumberbatch Rebecca Champigny Kristen Wilson Shelby Mer Matthew Wright Jimmy Moreno Christina Beltran Leanne Cathan dual Buterbaugh Anthony Ghens Ryan Romain Aaron White. Darak Pepper Johnson Williams Monica Devalk Kevin Mcmahon Tara Martin Joshua Alexandra Arganbright Chris we Coxson shantay Dawson Casey Gates Kayla Shipley Jason Soares Cody Compton Jeffrey Zielinsky David Erlich Karleigh Wilson Nicky Usry Beth Hall Chris Sullivan Erick Tobar . We lighter Jason Byrd Tiffany Opp Logan Crawley Monique Sierra Heather Mcdowell spec. Robert Cgraggen Durell Williams Wade Robinson Charlotte Rush Grade Redei Jarod Jeselink Ben Nicholson Neil was Slang Annika Bolander George Youngjr. Nadine Ward Julia Woodards Steven Owensby Geoffre Thoma Kari Desantis Daron Coine Christina Ruark Nathan Rupp Maurice Armstead Crystal Christopher Soares Trevor Brooks Greg Martin Rachel Harville Billy Stein William Andrew Clark Nicole Scarton Chad Martin Priscilla Ray Brian Rasmussen Aziz Fouad