NATION/WORLD DIGEST Factory Sorry For Sludge...

BY ALAN FRAMAssociated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — A top WhiteHouse adviser questioned theneed Sunday for a blanket stop-page of all home foreclosures,even as pressure grows on theObama administration to dosomething about mounting evi-dence that banks have usedinaccurate documents to evicthomeowners.

“It is a serious problem,” saidDavid Axelrod, who contendedthat the flawed paperwork ishurting the nation’s housingmarket as well as lending institu-tions. But he added, “I’m notsure about a national moratori-um because there are in factvalid foreclosures that probablyshould go forward” becausetheir documents are accurate.

Axelrod said the administra-tion is pressing lenders to accel-erate their reviews of foreclo-

sures to determine which oneshave flawed documentation.

“Our hope is this moves rap-idly and that this gets unwoundvery, very quickly,” he said.

With the reeling economyalready the top issue on voters’minds, the doubts raised overforeclosures and evictions arebecoming a political issue withthe approach of Nov. 2 elections.

Underscoring those pres-sures, two leading lawmakerstook opposing stances on thewisdom of a moratorium.

Rep. Debbie WassermanSchultz of Florida, a top HouseDemocrat, said she backed aforeclosure moratorium and gov-ernment talks with the bankingindustry to concoct ways to letlenders reshape troubled mort-gages. She said the foreclosureproblem has been “extremelyvexing” in her state.

The No. 2 House Republican,Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, said

a national moratorium wouldremove the protections thatlenders need.

“You’re going to shut downthe housing industry” with anational stoppage, Cantor said.“People have to take responsibil-ity for themselves.”

In recent days, SenateMajority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in a tough re-election race,urged five large mortgagelenders to suspend foreclosuresin his state until they establishways to make sure homeownersdon’t lose their homes improper-ly. Attorney General Eric Holdersaid that the government is look-ing into the matter, andDemocratic lawmakers urgedbank regulators and the JusticeDepartment to probe whethermortgage companies violatedlaws in handling foreclosures.

The attorneys general of up to40 states plan to announce a jointinvestigation soon into banks’ use

of flawed foreclosure paperwork, aperson familiar with the investiga-tion told The Associated Press lateSaturday.

On Friday, Bank of Americabecame the first bank to halt fore-closures in all 50 states. Threeother institutions — JPMorganChase & Co., Ally Financial’sGMAC Mortgage unit and PNCFinancial — have stopped foreclo-sures in the 23 states where fore-closures must be approved by ajudge.

President Barack Obamavetoed a bill last week that wouldhave made it easier for banks toapprove foreclosure documents,which the White House said couldhurt consumers.

Axelrod spoke on CBS’ “Facethe Nation” while WassermanSchultz and Cantor appeared on“Fox News Sunday.”

White House Doubts Need To Halt Foreclosures

June IrwinWAGNER — The funeral serv-

ice for June Irwin, 93, of Wagnerwill be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday,October 12, 2010 at the WagnerCommunity Church, with burialin the ZCBJ Cemetery, ruralWagner.

Visitation will be at theCrosby-Jaeger Funeral Home inWagner from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.Monday.

June Wanda Irwin, daughter ofCharles and Lelah (Kindig)Palmer, was born June 15, 1917 atKingsley, IA in WoodberryCounty. She died Saturday,October 9, 2010 at the GoodSamaritan Society in Wagner.June attained the age of 93 years,three months and 25 days.

June lived in Iowa until shewas two years old. Her familymoved to South Dakota wherethey farmed near Ravinia. Junegraduated from Armour HighSchool in 1935.

June married Ivan Irwin onDecember 26, 1936 in Lake Andes.Four children were blessed totheir union.

June and Ivan lived inDouglas County and Charles Mixall of their life. They owned andoperated the Armour Cleaners.They owned Corral’s Cafe inLake Andes and also had a cafein Ravinia. When the HeritageCourt opened in Wagner, Ivanand June were some of the origi-nal residents and they managedHeritage Court for many years.Ivan died in October of 1987.June continued to live in theHeritage Court until she decidedto move to the Good Samaritan

Society in Wagneron October 1,2009.

June will lov-ingly be remem-bered for all thebaby quilts shemade. She sewedfor many peopleand also enjoyeddoing embroidery.

Thankful for having sharedher life are her children: Darvol ofWagner; Delayne and wife Carolof Corsica; and Shirley and hus-band Jim Leines of Wagner; son-in-law Dave Lile of Wagner; 13grandchildren; 29 great grand-children with one more of theway; and 10 great-great grandchil-dren.

June was preceded in deathby her husband; daughter SharonLile on August 19, 2010; twobrothers: Charles and CurtPalmer; and one sister MaryMatheson.

Yankton Press & DakotanOctober 11, 2010

Merlin HinsethIRENE — Merlin K. Hinseth of

Irene died Saturday (Oct. 9, 2010)at Sanford Medical Center, SiouxFalls.

Arrangements are pendingwith Hansen Funeral Home,Irene.

NATION/WORLD DIGEST8 Gang Suspects Arraigned In NYC Attack

NEW YORK (AP) — Eight gang suspects arrested in the torture oftwo teenage boys and a man in an anti-gay attack were arraignedSunday, standing in a courtroom with their heads down and theirhands cuffed behind them as their relatives wept.

They were expected to face charges including robbery, assault andunlawful imprisonment as hate crimes, but no charges were readaloud at the hearing. They didn’t enter pleas.

Police were looking for a ninth suspect, who had been expected toturn himself in but didn’t show up.

The nine members of the Latin King Goonies gang earlier thismonth heard a rumor one of their teenage recruits was gay and thenfound the teen, stripped him, beat him and sodomized him with aplunger handle until he confessed to having had sex with a man,police say. The gang members then found a second teen they suspect-ed was gay and tortured him and the man, police say.

The gang members found the man by inviting him to a house,telling him they were having a party, police say. When he arrived, theyburned, beat and tortured him for hours and sodomized him with aminiature baseball bat, police say.

Report: No Fines On PG&E Over 6-Year PeriodSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A review of public records shows the

agency responsible for regulating public utilities has taken a mostlyhands-off approach to violations by Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports Sunday that even thoughPG&E had more pipeline infractions than the rest of the state’s majorpipelines combined over a six-year period, the California PublicUtilities Commission did not levy a single fine on the utility duringthat period.

The newspaper says its review of CPUC records found that PG&Eaccounted for almost 60 percent of the probable violations of federalsafety laws found by regulators between 2004 and 2009.

The report comes after word that a CPUC panel will review lastmonth’s PG&E pipeline blast in San Bruno that killed eight people.

Vegas Wedding Chapels Busy On 10-10-10LAS VEGAS (AP) — Churches, banquet halls and other wedding

venues across the country were extra busy Sunday as couples seekinga perfect 10 rushed to tie the knot on a once-in-a-century milestone:Oct. 10, 2010.

In Las Vegas — long a destination for weddings — one marriagelicense bureau extended its Sunday hours from 6 p.m. to midnight toaccommodate the rush. Hotels and churches in New Hampshire’sSeacoast area were booked long before Oct. 10.

Wedding-related businesses said the day was perhaps the mostsought-after wedding date since July 7, 2007, when the lucky 07-07-07marked the calendar. Some 10-10-10 couples even chose to take theirvows at 10 a.m.

One pastor in Nevada took the rush airborne by planning to join 30couples at various venues Sunday and aboard a helicopter throughthe buzz of a headset.

“This is kind of a neat way to spend my retirement years. It keepsme in good health and keeps my mind alert,” the Rev. Jim Hamilton ofHenderson’s Sunrise Community Church told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

‘King Of Rock And Soul’ Solomon Burke DiesAMSTERDAM (AP) — Solomon Burke was born to the sound of

music in an upstairs room of a Philadelphia church and went on tobecome one of the greatest soul singers of the 1960s, renowned asamong music’s premier vocalists.

Yet his popularity never matched that of those he influenced, con-temporaries including James Brown and Marvin Gaye, a reality heaccepted with grace and some frustration, colleagues said.

Burke, 70, died early Sunday of natural causes at Amsterdam’sSchiphol Airport, his family said in a statement on the singer’s web-site.

“This is a time of great sorrow for our entire family. We truly appre-ciate all of the support and well wishes from his friends and fans,” thestatement said.■ Get Updates At Yankton Online (www.yankton.net)

www.yankton.net PAGE 3Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan ■ NATION/WORLD ■ Monday, October 11, 2010

Yankton, 605-665-3644

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Our care and concern does not end with the funeral service. This week we remember with family and friends the anniversary of the deaths of:

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Laurie Broderswho passed away onOctober 13, 2009

Mercedes Listwho passed away on

October 17, 1998

Home Team!

MORNINGCOFFE E

WEEKDAYS 7:40 AMMONDAY-FRIDAYTuesday, October 12

7:40 Tammy Matuska, The Center8:15 Jeremy Dangel8:45 Pam Kettering

Wednesday, October 137:40 Deb Farver, SDHSC8:15 Hy-Vee Chef Stacy

8:45 Crystal Nelson,Dakota Territorial Museum

Charlene GollnickCharlene K. Gollnick, 67 of

Yankton, formerly of Wagner, SDdied peacefully Thursday,October 7, 2010 at Avera YanktonCare Center with Avera SacredHeart Hospice.

Mass of Christian Burial will beheld on Tuesday, October 12 at10:30 a.m. at the St. John’sCatholic Church, Wagner, SD withthe Rev. Richard Baumberger offi-ciating. Burial will be in the parishcemetery.

Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Monday,October 11 at Opsahl-KostelFuneral Home & Crematory,Yankton, with a rosary at 7 p.m.Visitations will resume 1 hourprior to the service at the churchin Wagner.

Charlene K. Gollnick, daughter ofJames C. and Mary (Soukup) Kubal,was born February 2, 1943 inWagner, SD. She married Willard L.Gollnick in Webster, SD on October26, 1957. She made her life as ahomemaker and also held numer-

ous jobs includingchildcare provider,foster parent,nanny, restaurantwork and severalyears at the WagnerGood SamaritanCenter.

Charlene lovedspending time withfamily and friends.Her grandchildren

particularly looked forward tospending time with her, playing UNOand enjoying her special lasagna,taco salads and peanut butter pie.She had a lifelong love for animalsand the family had many petsthroughout the years. Charlene alsoenjoyed reading, bingo and wordpuzzles.

Those who cherish her memoryare her four children: Susan (Don)Sund, Winner, SD, Leonard (Rita)Gollnick, Yankton, Georgene Parlier,Kearney, NE and Paula Skala,Mankato, MN; seven grandchildren;Brian Gollnick, David Lowe, Eric

Sund, Jared Skala, Rhebecca Lowe,Josie Skala and Laura Gollnick, onegreat-grandchild; Nathanial Lowe,four brothers; Charles (Ila) Kubal,Solome, AZ, John Kubal, Ft. Pierre,SD, Laddie Kubal, Rapid City, SD,Robert (Jodie) Kubal, Winner, SD,four sisters; Blanche Smith, GreatFalls, MT, Mary Anderson, Ft. Pierre,SD, Deloris Kubal, Yankton, HattieFlynn, Wagner, SD and many lovingnieces, nephews and friends.

Charlene was preceded indeath by her parents, two sons;Peter and Paul, sisters; StellaMcKenzie and Dorothy Flynn andbrother; James Kubal.

Charlene will be dearly missed.Yankton Press & Dakotan

October 11, 2010

GollnickIrwin

Online condolences at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com

O B I T U A R I E S

NEWS AROUNDTHE CLOCK

www.yankton.net

BY PABLO GORONDIAssociated Press Writer

KOLONTAR, Hungary — Theowners of the metals plant whosereservoir burst, flooding severaltowns in western Hungary withcaustic red sludge, expressed theircondolences Sunday to the fami-lies of the seven people killed, aswell as to those injured — andsaid they were sorry for not hav-ing done so sooner.

MAL Rt., which owns the aluminaplant in Ajka, also said it was willingto pay compensation “in proportionto its responsibility” for the damagecaused by the deluge.

But the trouble may not be over.With the northwest corner of

the storage pool still showing ahole 50 meters (yards) wide wherethe mix of mud and water brokethrough last week, officials saidthe collapse of at least one of thebreached walls was inevitable.That, they said, would probablyunleash a new deluge of toxic mat-ter that could ooze a half-mile (1kilometer) to the north, wreakingfurther havoc.

That would flood parts of thetown nearest the plant — one ofthose already hit by the industrialwaste Oct. 4 — but stop short ofthe next town to the north.

Environmental State SecretaryZoltan Illes said that recently dis-covered cracks on the northern

wall of the reservoir at the alumi-na plant have temporarily stoppedwidening because of favorableweather conditions but will contin-ue to expand, especially at night.

Disaster agency spokesmanTibor Dobson said engineers did-n’t detect any new cracksovernight Saturday, and the oldercracks were being repaired, but itwas too soon to consider loweringthe state of alert.

Protective walls were beingbuilt around the reservoir’s dam-aged area to hold back furtherspills. And a 2,000-foot- (620-meter-) long dam that will bebetween 4 and 5 meters (yards)high was under construction tosave the areas of the town ofKolontar not directly hit by lastweek’s toxic flood.

“I would describe the situationas hopeful, but nothing has reallychanged,” Dobson told TheAssociated Press. “The wall to pro-tect Kolontar is planned to be fin-ished by tonight, but it will likelybe several days before residentsmay be able to move back.”

Nearly all of Kolontar’s 800 res-idents were evacuated Saturday,when Prime Minister Viktor Orbansaid the north wall of the massivestorage pool — which is 24.7 acres(10 hectares) in size — was “verylikely” to collapse because cracksthat had appeared at severalpoints.

The roughly 6,000 residents ofneighboring Devecser, just northof Kolontar, were told by policeSaturday to pack a single bag andget ready to leave at a moment’snotice.

“This hasn’t changed,” Dobsonsaid. “We are still on guard in caseof any more spills.”

Illes said that, since it would beimpossible to transfer the 2.5 mil-lion cubic meters (568 million gal-lons) of red sludge still in the dam-aged reservoir anywhere else, hehad set a 2-month deadline forclosing up the huge opening.

“The hole is 50 meters (yards)wide and 23 meters high,” Illessaid. “The job, including pouringenough concrete to raise three 10-story buildings, will have to bedone from the air. This is unprece-dented.”

Red sludge is a byproduct of therefining of bauxite into alumina, thebasic material for manufacturing alu-minum. Treated sludge is oftenstored in ponds where the watereventually evaporates, leavingbehind a largely safe red clay.Industry experts say the sludge inHungary appears to have been treat-ed insufficiently, if at all, meaning itremained highly caustic.

Illes, commenting to reportersduring a tour of the affected vil-lages and the damaged reservoir,confirmed that the red sludgestored in Hungarian reservoirs

had not been treated to reduce itsalkalinity.

A five-member European civilprotection team will start work inHungary, helping to assess andadvise on the impact of the sludgeon the environment, in particularon agricultural land, surface andunderground water supplies, andthe flora and fauna. The team willalso anticipate risks and suggestsolutions about how to restorenature as well as the agriculturaland urban land affected.

“The quick selection of thisteam ... clearly shows thatEuropean solidarity is working,”Kristalina Georgieva, the EU crisisresponse commissioner, saidSunday.

Last week, the sludge floodedthree villages in less than an hour,burning people and animals. Atleast seven people were killed andat least 120 were injured. Severalof those who were hospitalizedwere in serious condition. Around184 million gallons (700,000 cubicmeters) of the caustic red sludgewas released.

The sludge devastated creeksand rivers near the spill site andentered the Danube River onThursday, moving downstreamtoward Croatia, Serbia andRomania. But the volume of waterin the Danube appeared to beblunting the sludge’s immediateimpact.

Factory Sorry For Sludge Deaths