Nation notebook

Bulldozed town rallies to clean up

GRANBY, Colo. - A community still in shock from a bulldozer rampage by a man who authorities say killed himself afterward pulled together to repair itself Sunday, donating dollars, sweat and tears.

Folks grabbed brooms and shovels to help their neighbors begin cleaning up damaged homes and businesses. Thousands of dollars have already been donated to help rebuild. And residents offered hugs to friends and strangers alike.

"It's good to see. It's just people helping other people," said John Trieber, who owns several buildings on Agate Avenue, the mountain town's main street and the most heavily damaged part of town. His wife's flower and gift shop was damaged.

Help has been pouring in since Marvin Heemeyer's armored bulldozer rolled through and over the town Friday afternoon. Authorities said Heemeyer shot himself when the armed bulldozer's radiator broke.

A fund has been set up at Liberty Savings Bank, which itself was damaged in the rampage. Local radio station KRKY-AM, which broadcast the events as they unfolded, gave $1,000 and free advertising to help launch the fund, said Sharon Brenner, executive director of the Greater Granby Area Chamber of Commerce.

Business leaders are planning fundraisers over the summer, she said.

"This community will come together. It's a small town, and people care," Brenner said.

McALESTER, Okla. - Court battles have raged for years and millions of dollars have been spent, but whether bombing conspirator Terry Nichols gets life or death could come down to the health of one juror.

The penalty phase of Nichols' state murder trial was pushed to the brink of mistrial last week when Judge Steven Taylor dismissed two jurors after they had improper conversations with each other about the case.

Legal experts say the loss of one more juror could endanger prosecution efforts to seek the death penalty.

"If they lose another juror, I think it's over," said Andy Coats, a former prosecutor and dean of University of Oklahoma School of Law.

Defense lawyers will begin arguing their case to try to spare Nichols' life when his trial resumes Monday.

GAVIOTA, Calif. - A wildfire in Southern California scorched more than 6,000 acres and forced the evacuation of hundreds of people from a gated community nearby, authorities said Sunday.

The flames spread quickly through a line of narrow canyons and steep hillsides covered with dense, old-growth brush, burning on both sides of Highway 101 about 27 miles north of Santa Barbara.

Fire department spokesman Barry Peckham said temperatures in the area were expected to reach 90 degrees, making it easier for the fire to spread.

More than 300 firefighters battled the blaze, which was reported shortly before noon on Saturday, said Charlie Johnson, spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

Waves of thick, black smoke and fiery embers cut visibility on the freeway to zero, forcing authorities to divert traffic on a roughly 3-mile-long stretch of the highway in both directions. The highway was expected to remain closed for several hours.

Meanwhile, light winds and high humidity have helped firefighters get a handle on a wildfire that has burned 47,000 acres in rural New Mexico, fire officials said Sunday.

The blaze was 55 percent contained Sunday, but crews were monitoring thunderstorms moving into the area. Though rain would help extinguish the blaze, officials were concerned about the possibility of strong winds and lightning.

The lightning-sparked fire was reported May 15 in rugged terrain in the Lincoln National Forest. It initially crept along the ground before exploding May 23, destroying a dozen cabins and threatening wildlife in the area.

CUMBERLAND, Md. - An Amtrak train on its way to Washington was stopped and searched Sunday in western Maryland after passengers reported suspicious activity by two men on board, officials said.

Barry Maddox, an FBI spokesman, said the agency was investigating, but had found no cause for alarm.

Deputy State Fire Marshal W. Faron Taylor said someone on the train noticed "suspicious activity" from two men. Taylor said one of the men appeared to have an object concealed beneath his clothing.

About 200 people were ordered off the train, and police detained the two passengers, Taylor said. He said no explosives were found. It was unclear whether the men had been released.

Dan Stessel, an Amtrak spokesman, said trains are stopped because of similar reports about once a week, although passengers are not usually detained.

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