Amherst News-Times, 2004-03-03

              open enrollment closed - page 5 amherst news-time telling stories is her gift 3 plumbers hailed heroes after car strikes gas line by jason hawk news-times reporter on their way to lunch in early friday afternoon, christopher cox and david morales became heroes. for gross brothers plumbing, vermilion, had just finished cashing paychecks at first merit bank north lcavitt road were crossing the parking lot taco bell when they heard a crash behind them. driveway, maroon pontiac crashed into handicapped sign, sending placard through window of shupe visit, wedding part soldier's homecoming army specialist steven dove was mired war zone samawah southern iraq, he thousands miles away from his high school sweet heart whomc engage, busy guarding captured iraqi dictator saddam hussein, comforted letters then-fiance (above) visited children elementary last week (righl), thanked them cards sent troop while stationed middle east. children. 20-ycar-old graduate ridgcvillc who served as combat medic with 82nd airborne unit, scmol tuesday thank teacher deb gclcnius's grade students, mailed words encouragement stockings other sol diers iraq. "whenever wc saw things kids, it actually little more brightening than got mail adults," said. "when i my basic training medical training, there girl airport came up me gave colored drawing that said, 'dear soldier, hope return may be or left postmaster marge czech admits that, favorite episode seinfeld jerry takes newman's route; time ever, all delivered. "i'm not offended because know reality our carriers work very hard. we laugh about that," she grinned. since 1993, marshals small postal workers every morning, successfully delivers 52,000 pieces day k9 you win. i'm praying you.' still have that." adapting life near equator 150-degrcc desert climate shocking, kuwait, trained desert," dropped off toledo night, cold, build ings bombed out. transported samawah, that's where did fighting. told largest land battle vietnam." quelling uprisings dove's unit head ed baghdad, jan. 23. "wc stayed an old aban- sender? recycled dead 7,750 city stops 1,800 rural stops. 'that's kind what being we're quasi-government agency, act much military fashion," "we do everything can get piece belongs." recent years, electronic automation has replaced hand sorting amherst, huge leap said hugely improved agency's efficien cy. "at one point back continued building. according police sgt. dan makruski, driver, later found diabetic, confused put vehicle reverse, colliding nearby main located grassy area between bell, which broke under pressure. seeing danger posed break, went work. dragged him out car, decent distance, dave ran pipe-wrenches shut main," cox. wanted make sure 6 doncd schoolhousco groundskecper two daughters sons, youngest 10 years morales, pulled victim quickly repaired resulting leak noon, averting possible explosion. old," "she taught how count, write arabic letters, read them." m ii jjmm but exotic opportu nity proved, nothing compared students step in; turn drug user over arc poised arrest steele student peers blew whistle use. resource office john balog, serves department liaison district, stu dents law government program brought matter attention thursday, feb. 19, spotting materials juvenile's locker, now 'they credit making correct ethical choice," balog. proud right now, it's investigation, stemmed kids here. tough situation kid hallways. big dilemma expect tell situation." further investigation revealed unspecified paraphernalia male locker amounts marijuana, expects file misdemeanor charges end week. "unfortunately, nobody immune drugs schools, workplaces. occasionally find address here school," "our goal eradicate don't magic wand. everybody's help, it." balog routinely makes drug-related busts schools each year, most commonly finding marijuana "roaches" "gateway drugs." somebody supply ing, always above supplying. vicious pyramid. holds it, who's selling, buy it," 'today so information learn going will experiment. would like believe vast majority steer principal jeff reisen, advisory council security formed 21 direction ai mcconihe fiist reported problem. group, consists 16 juniors 17 seniors mcconihe's class es, aimed keeping potential dangers school's hallways, reisen. "the idea help