European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 16, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pago 4 the stars and stripes monday May 16,1994 Agency links arson of i re by Kevin Dougherty Kaiserslautern Bureau Kaiserslautern Germany arson is suspected in the fire last August at the Vogel Weh commissary that caused More than $2.5 million in damage a spokeswoman for the. European Region of the defense commissary Agency said Friday. A. A they believe it was arson a Agency spokeswoman Gerri Young said. However the air forces office of special investigations would not confirm that arson caused the aug. 18 fire preferring instead to say it was a a fire by unknown causes a in response to a query special agent Woody Taylor said a a fire department investigation ruled out electrical failure spontaneous ignition and discarded smoking  asked what other possibilities remained staff sgt. Barbara Lavigne a spokeswoman for Ramstein a said a they done to know. Its a fire by unknown  the fire caused so much damage to the stores warehouse and loading area that deca officials decided to seek congressional funding for a new commissary. The project is on the Agency a major construction list for fiscal 1995, though Congress has yet to approve it. On Friday Young could not provide the estimated Cost for the new commissary. The current Structure was built 43 years ago. Design work on Vogel Wehs a new Coin emissary is expected to Start this summer. The 10,450-Square-foot facility would be located on the baseball Field Between Pulaski Barracks and the gymnasium. The current store is next to the base Exchange in the Vogel Weh shopping Complex a few blocks from the baseball Field. The baseball Field had previously been considered for a new commissary before the military draw Down got into full swing. In the meantime food at the existing facility is stored in coolers directly in front of the Entrance to the building. The August fire broke out about 7 30 . Just behind the commissary. The commissary was filled with shoppers who calmly filed out of the store leaving their grocery packed carts behind. There were 4 no injuries. A preliminary assessment by fire officials on the scene indicated the Blaze started in a trash dumpster behind the store. Since then Osi has not provided any substantive details on the fire saying the Blaze is still under investigation. Investigators have not ruled out foul play Lavigne said. According to Taylor numerous individuals have been interviewed but no suspects have been identified. A a Ltd they done to have any physical Eye Deuce at this time to say arson a a Lavigne said. What has hampered efforts to solve the Case is the Lack of eyewitnesses or informants Lavigne said. Investigators a have tried making Public appeals a Lavigne said a but they did no to get anywhere with that a not one Telephone Call.�?�. Anyone who May have additional information concerning the fire. Can Call Osi at Dan 480-2381 or 5779. The civilian Telephone number is 06371-472381 or 5779. A get Gold award service work by the stars and stripes six girl scouts in Europe recently were Given the Gold award for projects ranging from recycling in the army Hospital in Berlin to organizing a clothing drive for children in Somalia. To earn the Gold award the highest achievement in girl scouting a participant must fulfil requirements in leadership career exploration and Community service. The girl scout also must Complete a Community project. A Julie Floyd 17, the daughter of James and Wanda Floyd. She is a senior at Oesterberg High school in the Netherlands. Floyd developed and conducted a children a Auto safety Campaign to inform parents about the hazards children face if they Are not secured in safety seats. Informational fliers were distributed through out Oesterberg a Netherlands and Public service announcements were broadcast on an and local dutch television. A Jennifer Kolb 14, the daughter of Douglas and Anita Kolb. She is a freshman at John f. Kennedy High school in Berlin. Kolb worked with medical personnel to initiate a recycling project in the army Hospital in Berlin. Major hurdles included learning about medical waste disposal and coordinating a project at 17 locations. A Melissa Alcorn 16, the daughter of rank and Sandra Alcorn. She is a Junior at Christian Liberty Academy satellite schools in Vilseck Germany. Alcorn reactivated the youth sponsorship Welcome program in her Community and expanded it by speaking to elementary and High school classes. A Alison Fry 17, the daughter of Richard or. And Janet Fry. She is a senior at Brussels elementary High schooling Belgium. Fry created and produced a handbook for use by teens involved in the teenagers encounter Christ organization in the Benelux area. A Holly Stanley 16, the daughter of Craig and Ellen Stanley. She is a Junior at Baum older High school in Germany. Stanley organized and conducted a clothing drive with the assistance of the american red Cross her senior girl scout troop and More than 25 members of the Community. The clothes were collected Over three Floyd Stanley Ziolke Ity months sorted cleaned packed into 25 boxes and then distributed to refugee children from Somalia. A Rachel Zielke 17, the daughter of Arthur and Roberta Zielke. She is a senior at shape High school in Mons Belgium. Zielke spent 10 weeks working with the Community theater company to increase opportunities for children wishing to explore the world of the arts. She Hopes that her project will continue As a children a company division in the Community theater.2 corps schedule balls Heidelberg Germany a amps a formal military balls june 10 and 11 in Heidelberg will Mark the 219th anniversary of the army a corps of engineers and finance corps. The finance Ball is 6 . June 10 at the Heidelberg officers and civilians club in Patrick Henry Village. All finance corps officers noncommissioned officers soldiers civilians and retirees arc invited to attend with their guests. For More information Call Dan 379-7571, Dan 379-7634 or civilian 06202-80-7662. The Engineer Ball is june 11 at the same location. The event is open to officers and sergeants first class and above As Well As civilian counterparts. Contact maj. Phil Mattson at Dan 370-6920 or 370-6712, Farewell set for army team Mannheim Germany a amps a the army a 3rd brigade combat team will hold a departure ceremony today in Mannheim. The unit is moving to fort Lewis Wash. The ceremony will be at 2 . At Woods memorial Field in the Benjamin Franklin Village housing area. It is open to the Public. Plans Call for maj. Gen. Berthold Schenk Graf von Lauffenberg head of the German army a Southern territorial come to decorate the unit with a cold War Streamer. More than 700 soldiers Are expected to participate in the  of projects helps 5 youths join Eagle ranks by the stars and stripes five boy scouts in Europe recently joined the ranks of Eagle scout for projects ranging from organizing a clothing drive for kurdish refugees to conducting a paperback drive for the Reading room at the american run military Hospital in former Yugoslavia. Eagle scout is the highest earned achievement in boy  Community service project is a requirement to become an Eagle scout and must involve at least four months work. 7 a Quot a 7 7. A. \ a the new Eagle scouts Are a Nils John Gransberg 14, the son of Douglas and Gwendolyn Gransberg he is in the eighth Grade at George c. Marshall school in Ankara Turkey. Nils collected More than 3,500 pounds of clothing to Benefit Refu Quot a a a a a gees from the civil unrest in the predominantly kurdish areas of Southeastern Turkey and North pm Iraq. He wrote letters to every on base Thrift shop in Europe the middie East Ana several on the East coast of the United states. Some Thrift shops in locations that were deactivating mailed All the clothing in their outlets. He has been in scouting eight years and has earned 33 badges. A David Tucker Chase 18, the son of Greg and Vina Chase. He is a senior at the american school of Paris in France. Chase organized a used clothing drive for the poor of Paris. Secours cat Olique a Catholic Aid organization distributed the clothing to needy people in Paris and Madagascar. A Hase has been involved in scouting for seven years and has earned 21 Merit badges a Andrew Allan Posta 16, the son of Charles and Beth Posta. He is a Sophomore at Kaiserslautern High school in Germany. Quot Posta organized publicized and conducted a blood drive for his military Community. With the help of scout troop 128 Ana area military commanders the drive netted 139 pints of blood. The projects publicity and commanders information packets Are being used by the Community to conduct More blood drives. Posta a scout for six years has 21 Merit badges. A Jonathan David Walker 18, the son of Henry and Diane Walker. He is a senior at Heidelberg High school in Germany. Walker organized a paperback drive for the Reading room at the Mobile army surgical Hospital in Zagreb Croatia. He collected More than 500 books. Walker has been a scout for five years and has completed 21 Merit badges. A Geoffrey f. Barstow 15, the son of David and Linda Barstow. He is a freshman at the american school of Paris in France. Barstow re carpeted two rooms in a Community Church. He has been a scout for five years and has completed 21 Merit badges. Gransberg