Putnam records

Marriage applications

The following people applied for marriage licenses in PutnamCounty between March 30 and April 6:

* Paul David Turley II, 27, and Rhonda Lynn Weddington, 34, bothof Culloden

* Johnnie Lee Lanham, 28, of Poca, and Samantha Louise Slater, 19,of Scott Depot

* Divorces

The following people filed for divorce in Putnam County betweenApril 3 and 6:

* Melissa D. Barnett from James E. Barnett

* Helen G. Harper from Sherden W. Harper

* Jennifer Taylor from Brian Taylor

* Lisa Cavender Rogers from Jim Michael Rogers

* David Taylor from Sierra Taylor

* Lori Conley from Keith Conley

* Property transfers

The following property transfers of more than $50,000 wererecorded in Putnam County between March 30 and April 6:

* Steorts Homebuilders LLC to Jaime J. and Jean Ann Fuentes. Lot,Teays Valley District, $572,534.

* Hallie N. Whittington to Charles W. and Hazel M. Todd. Lot,Scott District, $160,000.

* Hobba Enterprises LLC to Keeneland Fields LLC. Tract, BuffaloDistrict, $100,000.

* Barry W. Stollings II to Marion A. Houser. Lot, Teays ValleyDistrict, $210,000.

* Greg A. Giles to Samuel E. and Iris I. Hindman. Lot, TeaysValley District, $339,900.

* Shirley Landis to Gregory M. and Angela Paxton. Lot, TeaysValley District, $130,000.

* Daniel A. and Melissa Sundall to Christopher G. and Denise S.Makinster. Lot, Hurricane District, $375,000.

* Barbara A. and Ray C. Wrightsman Jr. to Bella Woods LLC. Lot,Scott District, $165,000.

* Arbutus A. Higginbotham to Scott and Lori McCracken. Lot,Hurricane District, $83,000.

* Danlin Homes Inc. to Jesse W. Samples and Kathy L. Samples. Lot,Hurricane District, $249,900.

* Randy M. and Michelle M. Styles to Jason Hanshaw. Lot, ScottDistrict, $122,000.

* Frank and Mary Robinette to Melissa A. Haas. Lot, ScottDistrict, $158,000.

* Patricia A. Queen and Steve W. Galloway to GMAC GlobalRelocation Services Inc. Lot, Teays Valley District, $239,500.

* David Neal Combs and Hurley Malcolm Combs to Irlan Dale andJennifer B. Coleman. Lot, Scott District, $180,000.

* Charles W. Wolford and Pamela K. Cottrill Wolford to Susan K.Williams. Lot, Teays Valley District, $187,500.

* Modern Home Concepts Inc. to Kenneth R. and Sue C. Harris. Lot,Hurricane District, $293,100.

* David R. and Deborah L. Tincher to Lori L. and Earl FranklinHill III. Lot, Scott District, $136,000.

* Delmer and Juanita P. Chapman to Stuart and Jennifer Dinkelo.Lot, Teays Valley District, $78,000.

* Diane G. Brown to Tracy R. Davis. Lot, Eleanor District$130,000.

* Eric S. Carpenter to Jonathan D. and Paige Chapman. Parcel,Scott District, $113,000.

* Bruce L. Hunter to Shane T. and Alicia A. Perry. Lot, CurryDistrict, $171,000.

* Bernard J. Luby to Swetadri and Vasanthy Manohar. Parcel, ScottDistrict, $298,000.

* James Warren and Talma L. Turley to Gary S. Walton. Lot,Hurricane District, $70,000.

* Kathaleen Erwin to Carmen M. and John F. Hamilton Jr. Lot, ScottDistrict, $335,000.

* Steven L. and Alisa G. Cole to Christopher C. Jackson. Lot,Scott District, $89,000.

* William R. and Carol L. Mullins to Travis J. and Sondra R.Dillon. Parcel, Curry District, $101,000.

* Ahern & Associates Inc. to Eugene E. and Donna H. Thompson. Lot,Scott District, $56,000.

* Alvah H. Worley and Agatha B. Worley to Joseph G. and Angela L.Deiss. Lot, Scott District, $190,000.

* Conrad H. Sansoucie Jr. to Phyllis Ann Copley. Lot, CurryDistrict, $204,400.

* Timothy N. and P. Dawn Spradling to Frank D. and Mary M.Robinette. Lot, Teays Valley District, $260,000.

* David G. and Shirley Ann Helper to Randall L. Maass. Parcel,Poca District, $130,000.

* Thompson Real Estate Inc. to Jerry Alan and Beth Ann Lilly. Lot,Hurricane District, $148,900.

* MaryAlyce and Robert J. Brown Jr. to Kenneth A. and Connie L.Smith. Lot, Hurricane District, $196,500.

* Michael R. Raynes to Truman O. and Roberta J. Garrison. Parcel,Buffalo Town District, $79,500.

Police and courts

Missing hikers

found in Dolly Sods

Seven hikers reported missing in the Dolly Sods Wilderness areain Tucker County were found safely by the West Virginia AviationDivision.

The hikers, all females from Pennsylvania, were reported missingabout 11 a.m. Saturday.

They had ventured out into the wilderness earlier that day beforeState Police in Elkins alerted the Aviation Division that they'dgone missing.

After an extensive search, the hikers were found before darkSaturday. None of the hikers, three adults and four minors, reportedany serious injuries.

Sgt. Steve Knotts piloted the Aviation Division's Bell 407 whileSgt. Bob Stump, of the State Police detachment in Parsons, served asthe observer.

Man accused of

tainting fuel tank

An arrest warrant has been issued for a St. Albans man accused ofpouring a foreign liquid into his ex-girlfriend's boyfriend's fueltank.

St. Albans police were dispatched to Grant Avenue in reference toa disturbance, according to a criminal complaint filed in KanawhaMagistrate Court.

Upon arrival, police spoke with a man who said he watched fromhis window as Bruce L. Padgett, 32, of Whispering Way pouredsomething into his van parked in front of the residence, thecomplaint said.

The van is actually registered to Davis Creek Church of God.

The man went outside to confront Padgett, who threw a punch atthe man and then fled in a white Ford Ranger, the complaint said.

When police arrived, they discovered the gas tank door had beenpried open, and a clear liquid, possibly bleach, still wet aroundthe lid and on the ground, the complaint said.

Police also later spoke with the pastor of Davis Creek Church ofGod, who said he talked with Padgett on the telephone.

The pastor said Padgett made verbal threats to him when he wasinformed he would be financially responsible for damages to the van,the complaint said.

The damages, if any, were not included in the complaint.

Padgett is charged with auto tampering, battery, destruction ofproperty and telephone harassment.

Men accused of

concealing felon

State Police arrested an Elkview man on felony warrants, and thenarrested four more people for attempting to conceal the man'swhereabouts.

Troopers on Sunday located Aaron Desmond, 28, of Elkview at theParsley Inn on Charleston's Bigley Avenue on charges of possessionof a controlled substance with intent to deliver, obstructing andfleeing, according to a press release from Sgt. Kenneth McCord.

Upon arrival, Desmond became belligerent and had to be physicallyrestrained, the complaint said.

He also was charged with obstruction and simple possession ofmarijuana, the complaint said.

Police also arrested Morgan Smith, 25, of Elkview, who earlierhad made contact with State Police and provided misleadinginformation to conceal Desmond's location, the complaint said.

Smith was found at the same hotel and charged with aiding andabetting, the complaint said.

Also arrested and charged with aiding and abetting were HarleyMollohan, 35, and Homer Larch, 50, both of Pinch, the complaintsaid.

Both are accused of making phone calls to Desmond, alerting himof the police search and presence, the complaint said.

James Fridley, 59, of Elkview also provided false information topolice, the complaint said.

He is charged with aiding and abetting, accessory after the faceand providing false information to police.

Desmond's room was registered in Fridley's name.

Police say man

threatened woman

A Charleston man is accused of threatening to kill his baby'smother because she would not give him money.

Charleston police responded to a domestic incident on Friday,according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha Magistrate Court.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with a female, who said thatAlphonso Lawayne Harper, 25, of Pearl Drive was at her residence andasked her to withdraw money from an ATM and give it to him, thecomplaint said.

When she refused, Harper got angry and said, "Bitch, you aregoing to help me," the complaint said.

Harper then grabbed her by the throat and told her to take him tothe ATM, the complaint said.

When she again refused, Harper started scratching her car andsaid he would kill her if she called police, the complaint said.

Police confirmed there were several scratches to her vehicle.

Harper was arrested and charged with domestic battery anddestruction of property.

Man hit with car

during altercation

One man was taken to the hospital after another man hit him withhis car during a domestic dispute in Cabin Creek.

The Kanawha County Sheriff's department responded Monday to adisturbance in Miami between Dale Eugene Guthrie, 20, of Eskdale andGerry Franklin Jones, 53, of Rand.

The men were arguing over Guthrie's 17-year-old girlfriend andJones' granddaughter when Jones struck the younger man with his 1999Ford station wagon, according to a news release from the sheriff'sdepartment.

According to the sheriff's department, the girl had called hergrandfather to come pick her up during an argument with herboyfriend. When he arrived, the two men also argued and Jonesthreatened to run over him.

Guthrie, who is on probation for other charges, at first fled thescene.

He later called for medical assistance and was taken toCharleston Area Medical Center's General Hospital.

Science and Industry exhibit lets you see inside spacesuit

An exhibit opening today at the Museum of Science and Industry explains the science behind spacesuit technology. It includes X-ray images of the suits — but no actual suits. They're too fragile to travel, so a replica is included instead. (An actual glove, boot and helmets are part of the display.) This Sun-Times graphic explains the technology that went into one suit:

An X-ray of an early developmental helmetAn X-ray of an early developmental helmetAn X-ray of Harrison "Jack" Schmitt's Apollo 17 lunar glove

Republican: Voters will rally behind me

He says he does not know enough about Mayor Daley, Mike Ditka orOprah Winfrey to offer an opinion. But he sees Democratic rivalBarack Obama as akin to the wizard in the "Wizard of Oz."

And Republican U.S. Senate nominee Alan Keyes insists he can beatObama. The former United Nations ambassador sat down with the ChicagoSun-Times on Monday. Below are excerpts from the half-hour interview.

And don't worry. Keyes said he will get a read on Oprah and therest before this thing is over.

"I'm going to be forming those conclusions," Keyes said. "Youbet."

You spoke Sunday about an uphill battle against Obama. Do youthink you can beat him?

You know what I feel like when people talk about this whole hypeabout the convention speech and all this? Do you remember the "Wizardof Oz?" There was that scene in the "Wizard of Oz" that the Wizard ofOz was this big golden face and he was so impressive and so forth andso on. And then when Dorothy came to find out what was really goingon, there was just this little guy who was pretending to be big.

I think we have to make sure that before we are drawingconclusions based on all this hype, we get a chance to look behindthe wizard's projection to see what's really there.

But do you think you can you beat him?

I certainly do. . . . When the Republican base is consolidated, ithas always been competitive in Illinois. . . . That consolidation isthen going to draw on that conservative Democratic sentiment that'sthere, people who are in the blue-collar areas and so forth, who arestrong on Second Amendment rights. . . . And finally, I think thatthere are going to be folks in every community, including the blackcommunity, who will answer the challenge of moral principle. There isa deep difference between Barack Obama and Alan Keyes on importantissues like abortion and traditional family and support for marriage.And that extends across racial lines.

Some people worry how little you know about Illinois. Can you namethe last six governors?

No. I've made no bones about the fact that ---

Can you name four U.S. senators from Illinois from the past whoyou admire.

Well that I might be able to do. I can name four U.S. senatorsfrom Illinois, not all of them do I admire though -- Paul Simon,Adlai Stevenson, Douglas, Percy. But let me, before you go into thisstuff, make a clear point because I think it's important. I have notpretended to know the state of Illinois. And I'm not going to pretendto know it. I know a lot about the issues that confront people andaffect the lives of people all over this country and also, of course,in Illinois. I have worked with people in Illinois on a lot of thoseissues. But when it comes to those things that are specific to thestate in terms of background and personality and experience and allof that -- that's something I'm going to have to rely on others. I'mgoing to be learning --

How many counties in Illinois?

There is an advantage -- there are 102 counties. There are 85township counties, 17 non-township counties. And so forth.

What is your take on Chicagoans such as Mayor Daley, Oprah Winfreyand Mike Ditka?

I don't make snap judgments about people and I generally don'tmake judgments at a distance on the basis of what I could only havelearned from the media and newspapers and so on and so forth. . . . Ihaven't sat down and talked to them the way I'm talking to you now.

Do you expect a speaking role at the Republican NationalConvention?

I don't know. We'll see. I think it would be a really good idea,but . . .

Where will you live in Illinois?

We're kind of looking at south suburbs at the moment. That wouldbe for the immediate. But over the long-term, I can't say. . . . Mywife and I will consult about this and then she'll tell me myopinion.

City throwing greenbacks at 'green' plan; West Side project's subsidy could come to 23% of costs

Developers in Chicago have learned that one way to get City Hallon board with a proposal is to "go green" in the design. But thesubsidies built into a project due on the West Side might make somedevelopers green with envy.

Bethel New Life, a community group with many good works to itscredit, and investor Terra Firma Co. have joined to win cityapproval for an $11.5 million housing and retail complex on city-owned land at 3148 W. Lake.

Bethel and Terra Firma will build 30 condos, half of them atbelow-market rates, and provide about 7,800 square feet in retailnext to a CTA Green Line stop. But the city is providing aninordinately high $2.5 million subsidy from future tax revenues tocomplete the deal.

Also, according to its report to the Community DevelopmentCommission, the city is giving the developers a deal on the land.They are paying $50,875, about a quarter of its appraised value. Intotal, the city subsidy is worth almost 23 percent of the project'scost. Other subsidy deals have reached 15 percent to 20 percent ofthe cost.

The developers promise a landscaped roof, wind turbines and othereco-friendly elements.

Why the heavy subsidy? "It's sustainable. It's affordable . . .and hopefully it will be a catalyst for further development in thearea," said Pete Scales, spokesman for the city's PlanningDepartment.

Terra Firma principal Bradley Leibov said East Garfield Parkstill is a risky area for investment.

US Secretary of State Clinton arrives in Pakistan after making tough counterterror demands

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — US Secretary of State Clinton arrives in Pakistan after making tough counterterror demands

Lukoil executive: Russia could trim oil output

Russia should consider cutting oil production to help OPEC prop up prices, an executive of Lukoil, Russia's biggest private oil company, said Wednesday.

Lukoil vice president Leonid Fedun also suggested that Russia could find it beneficial to join the oil cartel in the future. This would be a sharp change of direction for Russia, which has kept its distance from OPEC and insisted on its right to act independently in setting setting production targets.

"The future of the Russian oil industry and stable oil prices hinge on a closer cooperation with OPEC," Fedun said at an investment conference in Moscow. "This may even mean OPEC membership at some stage."

He added that executives from Russia's top oil companies could attend the OPEC meeting in Algeria in December.

Fedun said it would be reasonable to join OPEC in production cuts as Russian production is slowing anyway.

An Energy Ministry official acknowledged last week that Russia is heading for its first production decline in 10 years, saying output is likely to fall 0.3 percent, or 1 million metric tons. Analysts expect a bigger drop, of up to 3 percent this year.

Analysts say Russia is unlikely to agree to coordinated production cuts because production at West Siberian oil wells is difficult to halt because of low temperatures and geological factors.

Fedun said the government would be better off paying the oil companies for shutting wells than putting up with low crude prices.

"The Russian government is the ultimate beneficiary from high prices after all," he said.

Lukoil's vice president predicted oil prices would soar above $80 per barrel if Russia decided to join OPEC's possible 1.5 million barrel cut. Slashing 300,000 to 400,00 barrels per day would be quite affordable and feasible, he said.