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Chesterfield, MO WWII veteran claims $254M powerball win

By TIMES WIRES
Published January 30, 2007

A World War II veteran and his family stepped forward Monday to claim a $254-million Powerball jackpot, one of the largest single-ticket lottery prizes in U.S. history.

Jim Wilson II, 84, and his wife, Shirley, 79, claimed the winning prize from Wednesday's drawing, along with their three sons. "I was absolutely astonished," said Jim Wilson, a retired electrician who served in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division in Africa and Europe. "I couldn't believe it, and still don't."

He bought the winning ticket - with the numbers 9, 19, 29, 42 and 53 and a Powerball number of 17 - at a grocery store in St. Louis County.

BALTIMORE MAIN HUBBLE CAMERA OUT OF COMMISSION

The primary camera on the Hubble Space Telescope has shut down and is likely to be only marginally restored, NASA said Monday, a collapse one astronomer called "a great loss."

While other scientific work can still be done by the aging observatory, the unit that failed, the Advanced Camera for Surveys, is the one most scientists depend upon. NASA scientists say they expect to be able to restore just one-third of its observation ability, probably by mid-February.

"We're not optimistic at all" about returning it to full function, said Dave Leckrone, a senior scientist on the Hubble at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt.

BOSTON BODY OF 1 OF 4 MISSING FISHERMEN IS FOUND

State divers recovered a body from a sunken fishing vessel in frigid waters off Nantucket on Monday, after the Coast Guard halted a search for four crewmen missing for more than two days.

The divers found the body about 2:30 p.m. in the wheelhouse of the 75-foot Lady of Grace after diving for nearly nine hours, state police said Monday night. The body was taken to the state medical examiner's office in Boston.

The Coast Guard had suspended its search earlier Monday, saying rescuers had exhausted all chances to save the crew. The vessel was found submerged on Sunday, lying on its side 36 feet beneath the surface.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA CRUISE LINE TO PAY $750,000 FOR WHALE HIT

Princess Cruise Lines will pay $750,000 to settle federal charges that a cruise ship hit and killed a humpback whale near Glacier Bay in 2001, according to an agreement approved in U.S. District Court on Monday.

As part of the agreement, the cruise line said the ship Dawn Princess had a "close encounter" with two humpback whales in July 200l, but did not admit that the ship collided with a whale. The cruise line said it was guilty of failing to operate its vessel at a "slow, safe speed" while near the humpback, but had implemented new safety procedures.

NEWARK, N.J. OFFICER SURRENDERS IN DWI THAT KILLED TODDLER

A police officer charged with driving drunk after an off-duty crash surrendered Monday to face an aggravated manslaughter charge that was filed following the death of a toddler who was injured in the wreck.

Tests after the accident showed Jersey City Officer Kevin Freibott's blood alcohol level was at least three times the legal limit, authorities said. Freibott, 39, was released on $350,000 bail, the prosecutor's office said. He had been free on $50,000 bail on charges of driving while intoxicated and assault by auto.

SHILOH, ILL. BOY KILLED WHEN CAR HITS SCHOOL CAFETERIA

A car plowed through the wall of an elementary school cafeteria during lunch Monday, killing an 8-year-old boy and injuring two other students and the 84-year-old driver, police said. Ryan Wesling died of head and chest injuries about an hour after the woman's car slammed into Shiloh Elementary School, St. Clair County Coroner Rick Stone said.

SAN JOSE, CALIF. 152-YEAR TERM GIVEN IN CHILD MOLESTATION

A man prosecutors say is one of the nation's most prolific child molesters was sentenced Monday to 152 years in prison for abusing two 12-year-old boys.

Dean Arthur Schwartzmiller, 65, said nothing as he was sentenced for child molestation and possession of child pornography. When he was arrested in June 2005, investigators found a memoir describing abuse, binders full of child pornography and 1,500 notebook pages with headings including "blond boys" and "best of the best, 13 and under."

Schwartzmiller, who had at least three molestation convictions and a dozen arrests over three decades, molested hundreds of boys, prosecutor Steve Fein said. He has been arrested on child molestation charges in New York, Idaho, Oregon, Arkansas and Washington.

[Last modified January 30, 2007, 00:55:42]