European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 26, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday March 26 2007 s t a s a n d 8 tripes pages severe storms rip through Southwest Logan no a series of storms producing at least 13 tornadoes destroyed buildings and injured at least a dozen people several critically in an area along new Mexico Border with Texas police said the worst damage was reported in the towns of Logan and Clov is communities about 80 Miles apart police said the tornadoes which were re ported during a five hour period damaged several buildings downed Power lines and sparked fires that were later extinguished in Clovis town police it James Schoeffel said dog beheading filmed on suspects cell phone Minneapolis a Man charged Friday with killing a girls companion dog because the girl had spurned his attentions had a cell phone with video clips showing the dog being decapitated with a Chain saw according to a criminal complaint Anthony Albert Gomez 24 at first denied any involvement in the death of Chevy an australian Shepherd mix but later told police that he instigated others to do it telling them to Cut its head off and to do it with a Chain saw the complaint states the dog was apparently dead at the time of the beheading police said from wire reports miss Tennessee crowned miss Usa Yale Veiga the associated press los Angeles Rachel Smith a journalism graduate from Tennessee was crowned miss Usa winning the contest to replace a titleholder whose reign was marred by a much Public sized struggle with alcoholism Smith realized she had a real shot at the miss Usa Crown when she made it to the top 15 next up was the swimsuit por Tion of the pageant and Smith told herself in just going to work it Smith 21 bested 50 other aspiring Beauty Queens to win the title of miss Usa on Friday night the 5foot 11inchtall Brunette is a graduate of Belmont University and a former intern for the production company behind the Oprah Winfrey show in speechless at this Point i really am Smith said after the pageant contestants from All 50 states and the District of Columbia competed to succeed miss Usa Tara Conner who entered rehab after accounts surfaced suggesting she was boozing at new York clubs the Kentucky native was in Dan Ger of losing her Crown but real estate Mogul Donald Trump who crowns the pageant with Abc gave her a second Chance the telecast did not shy away from the controversy opening with a string of news and inter View clips about Conners woes then the 21yearold blonde emerged onstage wearing a strap less ruffled gown it has been the most unforgettable year of my life and Imback and better than Ever con Ner said to wild applause from the audience at the Kodak theatre Smith of Clarksville term edged out top finalists Meagan Yvonne Tandy of California Cara Renee Gorges of Kansas Helen Salas of Nevada and Danielle la course of Rhode Island who was named the first runner up when asked whether she was ready to take Over for Conner Smith admitted it would be a Little bit of a Challenge but quickly added she was ready for it in excited to see what this year will hold she said Smith also praised Conners stewardship of the miss Usa title and her handling of the challenges she faced Kevork miss Tennessee Rachel Smith won the miss Usa 2007 pageant on Friday in los Angeles i definitely Learned a lot Smith said of Conners tenure As miss Usa asked How she would behave during her reign Smith said in going to be honest and open during a Brief onstage inter View with hosts Tim Vincent and Nancy Odell of Access Holly Wood Conner said her future plans included writing a Book and doing correspondence work and a Little bit of acting police sued Over death of former Marine the associated press Wilmington Del the family of a former Marine who was Given multiple electric shocks and then shot to death by police sued Friday claiming the officers used excessive Force and violated the mans constitutional rights police were investigating a motorcycle gang when they encountered Derek j Hale 25 House sit Ting for a fellow member who had been arrested there earlier according to the lawsuit males widow and parents Al lege that although Hale posed no threat and police had no warrant for his arrest they shocked him with a Taser gun three times nov 6 the lawsuit alleges that when Hale left incapacitated and vomit ing was unable to comply with police commands to raise his hands a Wilmington police officer shot him three times in the Chest attorney Thomas Neuberger said the family Hopes to restore the reputation of Hale who served two Tours of duty in Iraq the plaintiffs Are seeking damages and an injunction to Force Wilmington and state police to properly train their officers in the use of tasers and deadly Force asked what she hoped to get out of the lawsuit Hales widow Elaine said it would be a Mur Der conviction that would make me most Happy