I The Behrend Beacon
Passenger liner catches fire
MIAMI, Florida: A Princess cruise liner heading for Jamaica caught fire due to an unknown cause
on Thursday.
One passenger died of a heart attack related to the incident, while 11 others were treated for vari
ous degrees of smoke inhalation. Information was released in a public document by Princess
Cruises, which is a part of the Carnival Corporation.
The ship itself was en route to Montego Bay, Jamaica after departing from Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, when a was reported in the passenger accommodations section of the ship. Crew fire con
trol parties quickly got the flames under control, but the precise location of ignition and the cause
are still undetermined. Smoky air still pervades much of the ship.
"Passengers were immediately notified of the fire using the public address system and requested to
report to their muster stations," the official press release stated. "We are currently completing a full
passenger check to account for all passengers and crew."
The United States Coast Guard is assisting in the investigation and continuing passenger safety
actions.
Texas undercover agents bust bar drunks
SAN ANTONIO, Texas: State undercover agents are slipping into bars around Texas to show bar
regulars that just because you're drunk in a bar, it doesn't protect you from state and local laws
against public drunkenness.
Thirty people were arrested from 36 of the bars under police actions that not only enforce the law,
but also keeps the drunks from becoming disorderly in public or getting into a vehicle, claimed
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission spokeswoman Carolyn Beck
"We feel that the only way we're going to get at the drunk driving problem and the problem of
people hurting each other while drunk is by crackdowns like this," Beck said. "There are a lot of
dangerous and stupid things people do when they're intoxicated, other than get behind the wheel of
a car. People walk out into traffic and get run over, people jump off of balconies trying to reach a
swimming pool and miss."
Beck also confirmed that the operation would be continuing throughout the state and several other
states have expressed interest in similar programs.
Credit cards: proceed with caution
Credit card management is more important than ever as increasing
younger generations are relying on plastic. The Center for Credit and
Consumer Research (CCCR) at Penn State Erie, The Behrend college
has launched its online credit card game to help educate students about
the dangers of creditors. The interactive quiz demonstrates skills that
are necessary for students to use credit cards responsible.
Mary Beth Pinto, director of the CCCR explains that it is a fact pro
gram with questions and answers that teaches facts and specific issues.
Similar to a popular bar game, there's 4 questions with a timer. The
goal of the game is to be fun but informational. Through education stu
dents can avoid being stuck in finical debt that will hurt them in the
future when they are looking for a loan, a car or anything else involv
ing credit. According to the CCCR nearly 75% of college students
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Thousands of Cases. Hundreds of Trials!
• DUI • Rapes
• Drugs • Sexual Assults
• Assaults • Homicides-Murders
Keith H. Clelland
Attorney At Law
337 West Sixth St., Erie, PA 16507
Phone: (814) 459-7754
Classifieds
"The weak can never forgive.
Forgiveness is the attribute of the
strong."
Mohandas Gandhi, civil rights leader
(1869-1948)
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Janct Neff Sample Center
Thor,. & Cr - rdity
Source: CNN.com, Yahoo! News
By Keith Golembiewski
staff writer
krg 5023 OP psu.edu
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already have at least one credit card, and, on average most college stu
dents have three credit cards. Even more shocking the average month
ly payment on a credit card for a college student is about $2,000. Most
students carry high balances plus student loans and by graduation will
have accumulated a debt close to $20,000. To help fight this surge in
spending State Senator Jane Earll proposed and helped pass legislation
that requires all universities in Pennsylvania to provide students with
information on credit cards.
The bill requires have to:
-Require registration of on-campus card marketers;
-Limit credit card marketers to specific predesigned areas of campus;
-Prohibit credit card marketers from offering gifts to a student in
exchange for completing a credit card application, unless the student
has been provided with credit card debt education literature such as
written brochures or electronic information;
-Provide, at least quarterly credit card debut education literature with
campus bookstore purchases;
Escape to Greece is as close as Wesleyville
Somewhere between the Country
Fair on Buffalo Road in Wesleyville
and Athens, Greece lies a small diner
where a hungry patron can sit, relax,
and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee and
choose from a wide assortment of
Greek favorites. Run for over 50 years
by the Geanous family,
Coney Island Lunch has
been offering customers
everything from Greek
burgers and fries to Cajun
eggs and a variety of other
Greek classics. With a
name derived from a small
60s Greek diner in New
York City, Coney Island
Lunch captures the
essence of a small city
with the flavor of the
times of its origin.
Among some of the
many choices on Coney's
menu, one can find grilled
cheese sandwiches, break
fast items, and many other
daily meals. To cater to the many cus
tomers that frequent Coney, the owners
have kept their prices low. Out of the
six Greek restaurants that serve Erie,
Coney Island in Wesleyville has the
lowest prices. Keeping their loyal cus
tomers in mind, the Geanous family
keeps their doors open for the majority
College funding dropping rapidly per student
WASHINGTON: State and federal funding support of the nations' colleges and universities per stu
dent have fallen to a 25-year low after having reached record highs in the 2000-2001 school year.
While the overall number of students attending higher education institutions has risen by roughly
14 percent in the last five years, the funding and tuition support received from state and federal
agencies has dropped nearly nine percent. The $7,121 in support per student that colleges and uni
versities received in 2001 has fallen to around $5,800, a nearly 30 percent drop in aid and funding
for each student nationally.
"Especially in the last four or five years. it's been very difficult for state governments to keep
pace with that demand for higher education," said State Higher Education Executive Officer
President Paul Lingenfelter. "The implications of that have been seen in the increased reliance on
students and their families to pay the costs."
Lingfelter and other education officials from several states are concerned that the continuing trend
of lower federal and state support since 2001 could lead to much higher levels of student debt and
financial distress in low- and middle-income families as schools arc forced to increase tuition to try
to make business ends meet.
Somali civil war continues as factions clash
MOGADISHU, Somalia: Dozens of fighters from several warring factions were killed earlier this
week as combat continued in the war-ravaged country of Somalia.
Mercenaries and soldiers siding with Somali warlords launched attacks on areas held by funda
mentalist Islamic clerics who are also making bids to take control of the country through a mix of
military force and general ideological appeal, in a battle that the clerics said, "has nothing to do with
religion."
While both sides have continuously reinforced their troops and positions, neither has made much
headway against the other and the central government has been rendered nearly irrelevant.
In a war that's lasted 15 years and seen some strange alliances, it never seems to end.
The main opposition to the coalition of Islamic clerics seeking to take control is an odd alliance of
warlords. businessmen and farmers who claim that the Muslim forces are little more than well
armed and organized terrorists.
The war started in 1991 when several warlords overthrew the central government and started
claiming selected provinces as under their control and protection as the country descended into
poverty and famine.
By Christopher LaFuria
sports editor
cslsoos@psu.edu
"The people here
get to be like your
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-Incorporate a credit card debt education presentation intworientation
programming. ,
More than ever credit card companies target young people who for
the most part have had no prior experience with credit. By the time a
person realizes how deep they are in debt they are more than often to
late to bail themselves out. The game aims to help students become
more responsible and accountable for their usage of credit. Pinto sug
gests cards are not bad if used properly for emergency things that you
can pay off at the end of the month. Always pay more than minimum,
and not to be late that always impacts a persons credit Always look at
interest rates before getting a card because rates may vary severely
with many hidden stipulations.
If your going to get a card he careful and watch interest rates, the
average is 18.5 percent. Also always look for a grace period to pay off
a charge. Lastly never use your card as a installment loan that loan
may be stuck with you longer than you imagined or had hoped.
Adherence to these guidelines should keep your debt manageable.
of the day. With the exception of a few
morning hours used for maintenance
and Sunday nights, Coney Island is
open to customers most of the time.
Although the times have changed for
the Geanous family and the many who
work at Coney, the establishment still
owns its fair share of success.
According to Helen, an employee for
the past six years, people used to line up
out the door and around the block, just
to get their taste of Greek cuisine. Even
though Coney no longer needs a velvet
rope to keep the anxious customers in
line, they still maintain their steadfast
regulars. Ja-net and Michael Moske
have been regulars at Coney Island for
almost their entire lives. "My dad
brought me here when I was a kid.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Since then, we have four generations of
my family who come to eat here," said
Ja-net Moske. "The people here get to
be like your family."
To add to their positive reception of
their customers, Coney does many
things to please their patrons. Every
August. Coney has their "Customer
Appreciation" sale in which you can
purchase their famous burgers and fries
for 50 cents. Furthermore, Coney
invites Froggy 94, the
local oldies station, to play
for the customers. During
the holiday seasons,
Coney adds items to their
menu to celebrate, cook-
ing up special
Thanksgiving, Christmas,
and Easter dinners each
year.
Whether you're a
college student looking for
a cheap but delicious meal
to satisfy a late night crav
ing or a weary traveler
looking for a place to relax
and talk about world
events or politics, Coney
Island does its best to cater
to whatever your needs may be. As the
sign hanging on one of their walls says,
"Somewhere over the rainbow, blue
birds sing. And somewhere under the
rainbow, Greekburgers are the thing."