European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 04, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 r the stars and stripes thursday August 4,1994 fire victims get . Buying spree Boysue Palumbo Mediterranean Bureau Rota Spain air Force sgt. Sally Carrillo picked through the charred debris Ami ashes for hours ignoring the pleas of onlookers to get out of the building before it  & Carrillo and 37 other military families lost personal belongings when a warehouse in puerto de Santa Maria of re april h the contracted warehouse was holding Point for goods before they were shipped to the a United states or delivered to naval station Rota. I was looking for All those things that make a Home a Home Carrillo said with a slight catch in her voice. J j016 when saw an old Corning Ware dish that had found my stuff. I just kept digging until i found what i went for  Carrillo was Able to recover about 200 damaged Pic Tures a fraction of the More than 3,000 she lost. Although Navy officials can t replace the sentimental value of family photos the . Government is footing the Bill to take about 16 people shopping in the United _ states for More tangible items. The group leaves Rota on saturday and will have about two weeks in the states to shop for everything from furniture and clothes to Knickknacks and toys. If the stores in Norfolk ., can t Supply All their needs families will be transported to the civilian Airport for flights to other cities but they la have to pay for their own plane tickets. The 16 people who will take advantage of the trip will be using Money already Given them for claims filed we replaced quite a bit when they gave us the first emergency Check for $20,000 when it happened but there Are a lot of things you just can t find overseas Petty offi Wand class Willy Rivera against their losses or they will buy items in anticipation of an upcoming claim payment. I know my wife is headed for the malls said Petty officer 2nd class Willy Rivera who said he lost More than $68,000 Worth of household goods. We replaced quite a bit when they gave us the first emergency Check for $20,000 when it happened but there Are a lot of things you just can t find  officials could t say if the Navy had Ever sponsored similar trip. The idea for this one came from the Mediterranean Force master chief Petty officer Ramon Nunez who had a similar experience 14 years ago when his House burned Down in the states. Nunez said he knew firsthand the Nightmare of try ing to replace lost items especially from overseas. Military officials in Rota and Naples Italy arranged through the military Community in Norfolk to Lodge the families. Local sponsors will help transport them around the Norfolk area. Officials also arranged for Large purchases to be sent directly to a Navy warehouse for shipping. While Many families have received the bulk of their claims payments some have not. All of the families had gotten at least a partial payment and at least two thirds had gotten their final liquidation Rota official said. Since the warehouse fire Many families already had transferred Back to the states and others chose not to go on the shopping trip because they had already been Back on leave or on military orders officials added. Both Rivera and Carrillo said they were surprised and pleased with the assistance they received from the Rota Community. Furniture clothes and other essentials were donated by the Community. The chaplain s office set up a support group the Exchange set up Spe Cial payment plans and waived some fees and the base provided leaner  said he has not decided if he can afford to take the shopping trip because he has not received his final claim. He said he knows several others will go with Cash in hand but most will rely on credit cards until the government gives them the Check. "1 have to at least know the amount i m going to get or i d be setting myself for a fall Rivera said. I wish they would have waited a Little longer but hey. It Isa really Good  5 scouts in Europe achieve Eagle rank by the stars and stripes _ five boy scouts in Europe recently joined the ranks of Eagle scout for projects that included conducting a child identification Booth and building a Patio and Barbecue area at a Hospital. Eagle scout is the highest earned. Achievement for boy scouts. The award signifies excellence and dedication in leadership Community service and out door activities. A Community service project is a requirement to become an Eagle scout and must involve at least four months work. The five scouts Are Chris Mitchell 13, the son of Charles Mitchell and Donna Mataj recently finished his second year at Farmer s school m Fairford England. For his project Chris constructed a footbridge at Raf Fairford s Lake to decrease the stagnation of a smaller Lake. He also replaced a worn out footbridge. Chris has been about for seven years and has earned 22 Merit badges. Peter b. Hoag 17, the son of John and Becky Hoag recently graduate from Brussels american school in Bel Gium. For his project Peter refurbished and repainted the Wood and steel visitors bleachers at the school football soccer Field. He engaged both Community and school volunteers in the Effort. Peter has been a scout for nine years and has earned 25 Merit badges. _ Matt a. Fahrner 15, the son of Don and Claudia Fahrner recently completed his Sophomore year at Heidelberg High school in Germany. For his project Matt Mitchell Fahrner refurbished and restocked the Heidel Berg military Community s food locker. Matt has been a scout for More than eight years and has earned 25 Merit badges. Dustin l. Mendenhall 17, the son of Leonard and Karen Mendenhall has completed his Junior year at Heidelberg High school. Dustin conducted a project child identification Booth at the Pat Spring carnival. His project included weighing measuring fingerprinting and photographing More than 350 children. Dustin has been a scout for 10 years an has earned 32 Merit badges Scott w. Ralph 18, the son of James and Barbara Ralph recently graduated from Ramstein High school in Germany. For his project he built a Patio with a Barbecue area for patients and staff at 2nd general Hospital in Lan Stuhl Ger Many. Scott has been a scout for seven years and has earned 28 Merit badges. Unit plans Tiger rests Bash Kaiserslautern Germany is officials at sem Bacic a will commemorate the 601st a Wing s inactivation in style aug. 20 with a Farewell dinner and dance party. The Tiger rests Bash will be held at the base s hangar 489, and tickets to the event Are $8 per person. To join the festivities diners and dancers must be 18 years or older and be military members or department of defense employees or family members. The base about 12 Miles from Kaiserslautern is scheduled i for partial return to Germany by october 1995 As part of the draw Down of . Forces in Europe. Although the 601st will not inactivate until Jan. 10, Wing officials wanted to hold the Farewell event this month to allow the maximum ,.number " of current601st members to attend said tech. Sgt. Ignacio Rubalcava a base spokesman. Brenda Mcnalley is the person to con tact about the Farewell Bash. Call Dan 496-7551 or 06302-67-7551 Amtrak train derailment in . Hurts up to 125 Batavia . A an am Trak Tram screeched off its rails Early wednesday sending nine passenger cars Down an embankment on the Edge of a Forest. As Many As 125 peo pie were injured some seriously. Of the 340 passengers and 20 Crew members 16 were hospitalized said Amtrak spokesman Howard Robertson. Everyone on Board was accounted for according to Thomas Chawluk Amtrak District superintendent. But Genesee county sheriff Gary Mah ordered cranes brought in to lift the wreckage to search for possible survivors or bodies. Shore limited was travel York City to Chicago. Jul about 3 45 a m said Robertson. He id offer no clues to tue Vazac of the derailment at least the eighth for Amtrak since 1992. J"t.8�t very surreal for a minute said Jim Lamb who boarded the train a v., York cite. The train started " Over. Twas no taken to wiggle was All very Calm. There screaming or  after the passengers were take away the twisted tracks were littered with baby bottles and baby  cars were off the tracks some on their sides. Roof skylights were smashed and seat cushions were Dan gling out windows. Federal Railroad administrator to Jene Molitoris headed for Batavia from Washington d.c., on wedge say along with inspectors from her Agency and six National transportation safety Board investigators