Monday, 12.10.12 PRESS D HOLIDAY CHEER Opponents Call...
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raising tax rates on the wealthy — might not be wise. “There is a growing group of folks looking at this and realizing that we don’t have a lot of cards as it relates to the tax issue before year end,” Corker told “Fox News Sun- day.” If Republicans agree to Obama’s plan to increase rates on the top 2 percent of Americans, Corker added, “the focus then shifts to enti- tlements and maybe it puts us in a place where we actually can do something that really saves the na- tion.” Besides getting tax hikes through the Republican-dominated House, Corker’s proposal faces another hurdle: Democrats haven’t been re- ceptive to GOP proposals on the en- titlement programs. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., on Sunday was skeptical about pro- posals to increase the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67. He said he doesn’t see Congress addressing the complicated issue of Medicare overhaul in the three weeks remain- ing before the end of the year. “I just don’t think we can do it in a matter of days here before the end of the year,” Durbin said. “We need to address that in a thoughtful way through the committee structure after the first of the year.” And hard-line fiscal conserva- tives in the House are holding fast to their position. “No Republican wants to vote for a rate tax increase,” said Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, chairman of the House Republican Conference. Added Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.: “I’m not sure there is sup- port for the rate hikes. There is sup- port for revenue by cleaning up the code.” Still, at least one House Republi- can has said there is another way. Rep. Tom Cole, of Oklahoma, has said Obama and Boehner should agree not to raise tax rates on the majority of Americans and negotiate the rates for top earners later. Cole said Sunday that most House Re- publicans would vote for that ap- proach because it doesn’t include a rate hike. “You know, it’s not waving a white flag to recognize political real- ity,” Cole said. Vincent Wright The memorial service for Vin- cent E. Wright, 47 of Wagner will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, Decem- ber 12, 2012 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Wagner, with in- urnment in the parish cemetery. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home of Wagner is in charge of the arrangements. Vincent Ed- ward Wright, son of George Wright and Marilyn (Wampol) Wright, was born December 27, 1964 at Gettysburg, SD. He died Thursday, December 6, 2012 in a fire at the Downtown Hotel in St. Charles, MN. Vince attained the age of 47 years, 10 months and 10 days. Vince attended Webster Grade and Middle School in Yankton and Yankton High School through his sophomore year. He earned his GED while working for the SD Job Corps in Nemo in 1982. Vince worked as a cook in Nemo. He joined the US Navy in 1983 and served for three years. While in the Navy, he had one of the three highest scores in intelli- gence. After his time in the Navy, Vince worked as a security guard in Boston, MA. He also spent over eight years traveling throughout the U.S. and over- seas. Vince helped his Mother care for his Grandpa Wampol for 11 years. Vince loved the Minnesota Twins, Timberwolves, Vikings and Nebraska Huskers. In his younger years, he enjoyed play- ing basketball and softball. Vince enjoyed fishing and driving around the country. He espe- cially loved to listen to his Grandpa Wampol play the accor- dion. Thankful for having shared his life are his mother, Marilyn Wright of Avon; his father, George Wright of Sioux Falls; brother, Virgil of Yankton; two nieces; one nephew; two great nieces and an- other on the way; two step sis- ters: Cheryl Peifer of St. Paul, MN and Glenda Sunderman of Hum- bolt; one step brother, Randy Wright of Sioux Falls; aunt and uncle Agnes and Norman Nedved of Wagner; two step aunts: Alyce Frandsen of Lake Andes and De- lores (Gordon) Thomas of Tur- lock, CA; and several cousins. Vince was preceded in death by his grandparents and step un- cles Raymond Brodsky and Ejner Frandsen. Yankton Press & Dakotan December 10, 2012 Albert Brue Albert A. Brue, 76, of Yankton, South Dakota, died Dec. 6, 2012, at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. Funeral serv- ices will be 2 p.m. Wed., Dec. 12, 2012, at Wass Fu- neral Home in Centerville, SD. Visitation with the family present is 5-7 p.m. Tues- day at Wass Fu- neral Home with a prayer service at 7 PM. Albert was born May 25, 1936, in Turner County, SD, to Gustav M. and Esther (Nelson) Brue. He attended country school, Center- ville High School, and attended agriculture classes at SDSU in Brookings. As a young man Al- bert worked for Cushing Con- struction and married Mary Jane Shahan in January of 1958. Albert farmed and had dairy cattle in the Wakonda area for many years. He was an “iron man,” or a steel recycler, and made many trips to Sioux Falls and Yankton hauling junked cars and scrap iron. After retiring from the farming business, Albert worked for Sears installing household appliances. He is survived by his son, Duane (Debbie) Brue of Yankton; five daughters, Lori (Larry) Haw- ley of Elk Point, Linda (Gene) Norman of Albuquerque, NM, Karen (Dennis) White of Charleston, IL, Diane Brue of Madelia, MN, and Janelle Brue of Mankato, MN; seven grandchil- dren, two great-grandchildren, and his brother, Harlan (Brenda) Brue of Wakonda, SD. His parents preceded him in death. Yankton Press & Dakotan December 10, 2012 Helen Ripple Helen Ripple, 92, of Yankton died Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yank- ton. Mass of Christian Burial is at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Lesterville, with the Rev. Joe Forcelle officiating. Burial will be in the Polish Cemetery, rural Lesterville. Visitations begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Opsahl-Kostel Fu- neral Home & Crematory, Yank- ton, with a rosary at 7:30 p.m. followed by a Scripture service at 8 p.m. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Merle Dwyer Merle V. Dwyer, 98, of Wakonda died Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at Wakonda Heritage Manor, Wakonda. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Thursday at Hansen Funeral Home, Irene. Visitations are 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. For obituary and online con- dolences, visit hansenfuneral- home.com. Willa Kirwan Willa Mae Kirwan, 74, of Ft. Randall died peacefully at her home in Ft. Randall Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012. Funeral Memorial Mass is at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Fair- fax. Inurnment will be in St. An- thony’s Catholic Cemetery. Rosary/Wake services are at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home, Wagner, is in charge of arrange- ments. Monday, 12.10.12 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net NEWS DEPARTMENT: [email protected] 3 PRESS DAKOTAN the world So. Africa Finds Itself At Political Crossroads JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Inside a Catholic church that once served as a major rallying point for anti-apartheid activists, the image of a gray- suited Nelson Mandela appears in stained-glass window that also features angels and the cross. Worshippers here prayed Sunday for the hospitalized 94-year-old for- mer president, who remains almost a secular saint and a father figure to many in South Africa, a nation of 50 million people that has Africa’s top economy. Mandela’s admission to the hospital this weekend for unspecified medical tests sparked screaming newspapers headlines and ripples of fear in the public that the frail leader is fading further away. And as his African National Congress political party stands ready to pick its leader who likely will be the nation’s next president, some believe governing party politicians have abandoned Mandela’s integrity and mag- nanimity in a seemingly unending string of corruption scandals. That leaves many wondering who can lead the country the way the ailing Man- dela once did. “When you have someone that’s willing to lead by example like he did, it makes things easier for people to follow,” said Thabile Manana, who worshipped Sunday at Soweto’s Regina Mundi Catholic church. “Lately, the examples are not so nice. It’s hard. I’m scared for the country.” Syria’s Civil War Spills Into Lebanon Again BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s civil war spilled over into neighboring Lebanon once again on Sunday, with gun battles in the northern city of Tripoli between supporters and opponents of President Bashar Assad’s regime that left four dead. Nine Syrian judges and prosecutors also defected to the opposi- tion. It was the latest setback for the regime, which appears increas- ingly embattled with rebels making gains in northern Syria and near Damascus, the capital. The defecting judges posted a joint statement online urging others to join them and break ranks with Assad’s regime. There have been several high-level defections over the past year, including Assad’s for- mer prime minister. In Geneva, the United Nation’s Special Representative for Syria and the Arab League, Lakdhar Brahimi, met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns to discuss the crisis in Syria. They said in a joint statement that the situation in Syria was “bad and getting worse,” adding that a politi- cal process to end the conflict was “still necessary and still possible.” Russia and the United States have argued bitterly over how to ad- dress the conflict, which began with peaceful protests against Assad in March 2011 and escalated into a civil war that has killed an esti- mated 40,000 people. Activists said another 45 were killed on Sunday. Chavez’s Designated Successor Named CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The man President Hugo Chavez wants to succeed him is an intensely loyal 50-year-old former bus driver who has long served as the international face of Venezuela whenever the socialist president wasn’t soaking up the limelight him- self. Nicolas Maduro had been foreign minister since 2006. Chavez then tapped him as his vice president three days after winning re-election on Oct. 7 If the cancer-stricken Chavez survives until his Jan. 10 inauguration but dies during the first four years of his term, the constitution says that Maduro would take over temporarily and that new elections should be held within 30 days. Chavez told Venezuelans on Saturday night if he isn’t able to stay on he wants them to elect Maduro as his successor. Same-Sex Couples Begin Marrying In Wash. SEATTLE (AP) — Same-sex couples in Washington state began reciting wedding vows at events across the state Sunday, on the first day they could marry after the state’s gay marriage law took effect. About 140 couples had registered to marry at Seattle City Hall, which had set up five separate chapels to accommodate the revelers. Starting at 10 a.m., cheers and applause regularly broke out as another couple’s marriage became official. Weddings at city hall were to con- tinue through 5 p.m. Mayor Mike McGinn, who greeted couples at they arrived, called it a “great day, a joyous day.” “It’s really wonderful,” he said. “A new civil right is going to be rec- ognized in this great civil institution.” Keith Bacon and Corianton Hale of Seattle, who celebrated their six-year anniversary the night before, hugged and kissed to loud cheers and camera flashes as they took their vows before one of the 16 local judges who volunteered to officiate the weddings on Sunday. OBITUARIES Gladys Merkwan who passed away on December 13, 2011 Robert Meyer who passed away on December 15, 2011 Our care and concern does not end with the funeral service. This week we remember with family and friends the anniversary of the deaths of: Our Thoughts And Prayers Are With Them Guiding and serving families with compassion and trust. This remembrance is brought to you free of charge. If you have a loved one you would like remembered, contact us at Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory. Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton Memorial Resource Center, Tyndall Memorial Chapels, Tyndall, Tabor & Menno 665-9679 • 1-800-495-9679 www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com WEEKLY SPECIAL Good December 10th–15 th, 20 1 2 15th & Broadway • Yankton, SD • 665-7700 1-800-447-4910 • www.piedpiperflowers.com All Remaining Artificials 20% OFF 20% OFF 20% OFF 2216 Broadway, Yankton d WD K , ^ Includes Soup & Salad Bar Wright Brue By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — A member of a U.S. special operations team was killed during a weekend rescue mission in Afghanistan that freed an American doctor abducted by the Taliban outside of Kabul five days ago. President Barack Obama praised the special forces on Sunday, saying the mis- sion was characteristic of U.S. troops’ “ex- traordinary courage, skill and patriotism.” A spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan said Dr. Dilip Joseph of Col- orado Springs, Colo., was rescued early Sunday, local time, in eastern Afghanistan. Joseph, a medical adviser for Colorado Springs-based Morning Star Development, was rescued after intelligence showed he was in imminent danger of injury or possi- ble death, according to the U.S. military. The U.S. did not immediately identify the special operator killed in the mission. “He gave his life for his fellow Ameri- cans, and he and his teammates remind us once more of the selfless service that al- lows our nation to stay strong, safe and free,” Obama said in a statement. In a separate statement Sunday, De- fense Secretary Leon Panetta said, “In this fallen hero, and all of our special opera- tors, Americans see the highest ideals of citizenship, sacrifice and service upheld.” Morning Star, a relief group that helps rebuild communities in Afghanistan, said in a statement that Joseph was uninjured and would probably return home in a few days. The group also said two of his co-workers were freed by their cap- tors about 11 hours before the rescue, after hours of negotiations were con- ducted over three days. Morning Star said the three workers were ab- ducted by a group of armed men while re- turning from a visit to one of the organization’s rural medical clinics in eastern Kabul province. The group said the three workers were taken into moun- tains about 50 miles from the Pakistan border, The relief group said it would not re- veal the identity of the other two men be- cause they live and work in the region. The group said it did not pay ransom to obtain their release. Morning Star praised those who helped get their workers back unharmed, singling out “courageous members of the U.S. mili- tary who successfully rescued Mr. Joseph as they risked their own lives doing so.” The group also offered thanks to local Afghan elders and local leaders “who made visits and appeals to the captors ad- vocating for the release of the hostages.” BY SARAH EL DEEB Associated Press CAIRO — Egypt’s opposition said Sunday it will keep up protests against a referendum on a disputed draft constitution but stopped short of advocating ei- ther a boycott or a “no” vote less than a week before the ballot. The opposition was still pushing for Islamist Presi- dent Mohammed Morsi to cancel the Dec. 15 referen- dum, saying they reject the process entirely and refuse to call it legitimate. The referendum over a disputed draft constitution has deeply polarized Egypt and sparked some of the bloodiest clashes between Morsi supporters and op- ponents since he came to power in June. In a sign of how jittery the government about hold- ing the referendum, Morsi has ordered the military to maintain security and protect state institutions until the results of the referendum are announced. The new presidential decree, published in the offi- cial gazette, would be effective starting Monday. The military is asked to coordinate with the police on maintaining security and would also be entitled to ar- rest civilians. Morsi insists on holding the referendum on sched- ule. Instead, as a concession to his opponents, he re- scinded decrees he issued last month granting him almost unrestricted powers, giving himself and the panel that drafted the constitution immunity from ju- dicial oversight. The decrees sparked the protests. Opponents said they were issued initially to protect the disputed con- stitution from numerous court challenges. Rushing the approval of the constitution in a late night session in the panel further inflamed those who claim Morsi and his Islamist allies, including the Mus- lim Brotherhood, are monopolizing power and trying to force their agenda into practice. The opposition sent hundreds of thousands of pro- testers into the streets, in unprecedented mass rallies for the largely secular groups since they led the popu- lar uprising last year that toppled President Hosni Mubarak. This prompted protests by Morsi supporters and sparked bouts of street battles that left at least six people dead and hundreds wounded. Several offices of the Muslim Brotherhood also have been ransacked or torched in the unrest. The National Salvation Front, an umbrella opposi- tion group of liberal and leftist parties, said at a news conference Sunday that holding the referendum in such an atmosphere would lead to more strife. It called for another mass demonstration on Tuesday. The front said Morsi and the regime are “gambling by driving the country toward more violent clashes that are dangerous for its national security.” In a sign of the continued tension, Misr 25 TV, affili- ated with the Brotherhood, announced that an al- liance of Islamist groups will hold rival rallies on Tuesday in support of “legitimacy.” MOLLY RILEY/POLARIS VIA ABACA PRESS/MCT President Barack Obama hugs the Christmas elves while attending the “Christmas in Wash- ington” concert at the National Building Museum in Washington Sunday. The annual holiday concert was scheduled to feature something nontraditional this year: a performance by South Korean rapper and Internet sensation PSY, who’s just apologized for using what he says was “inflammatory and inappropriate language” during anti-U.S. protests at concerts in 2002 and 2004. Special Ops Forces Praised After Afghanistan Rescue Egypt Opponents Call For Continued Protests H OLIDAY C HEER ! Panetta Cliff From Page 1
Transcript of Monday, 12.10.12 PRESS D HOLIDAY CHEER Opponents Call...
raising tax rates on the wealthy —might not be wise.
“There is a growing group offolks looking at this and realizingthat we don’t have a lot of cards asit relates to the tax issue before yearend,” Corker told “Fox News Sun-day.”
If Republicans agree to Obama’splan to increase rates on the top 2percent of Americans, Corkeradded, “the focus then shifts to enti-tlements and maybe it puts us in aplace where we actually can dosomething that really saves the na-tion.”
Besides getting tax hikes throughthe Republican-dominated House,Corker’s proposal faces anotherhurdle: Democrats haven’t been re-ceptive to GOP proposals on the en-titlement programs. SenateDemocratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill.,on Sunday was skeptical about pro-posals to increase the eligibility agefor Medicare from 65 to 67. He saidhe doesn’t see Congress addressingthe complicated issue of Medicareoverhaul in the three weeks remain-ing before the end of the year.
“I just don’t think we can do it ina matter of days here before the end
of the year,” Durbin said. “We needto address that in a thoughtful waythrough the committee structureafter the first of the year.”
And hard-line fiscal conserva-tives in the House are holding fast totheir position.
“No Republican wants to vote fora rate tax increase,” said Rep. JebHensarling, R-Texas, chairman of theHouse Republican Conference.
Added Rep. Marsha Blackburn,R-Tenn.: “I’m not sure there is sup-port for the rate hikes. There is sup-port for revenue by cleaning up thecode.”
Still, at least one House Republi-can has said there is another way.Rep. Tom Cole, of Oklahoma, hassaid Obama and Boehner shouldagree not to raise tax rates on themajority of Americans and negotiatethe rates for top earners later. Colesaid Sunday that most House Re-publicans would vote for that ap-proach because it doesn’t include arate hike.
“You know, it’s not waving awhite flag to recognize political real-ity,” Cole said.
Vincent WrightThe memorial service for Vin-
cent E. Wright, 47 of Wagner willbe 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, Decem-ber 12, 2012 at St.John the BaptistCatholic Church inWagner, with in-urnment in theparish cemetery.
Crosby-JaegerFuneral Home ofWagner is incharge of thearrangements.
Vincent Ed-ward Wright, son of GeorgeWright and Marilyn (Wampol)Wright, was born December 27,1964 at Gettysburg, SD. He diedThursday, December 6, 2012 in afire at the Downtown Hotel in St.Charles, MN. Vince attained theage of 47 years, 10 months and10 days.
Vince attended Webster Gradeand Middle School in Yanktonand Yankton High School throughhis sophomore year. He earnedhis GED while working for the SDJob Corps in Nemo in 1982.
Vince worked as a cook inNemo. He joined the US Navy in1983 and served for three years.While in the Navy, he had one ofthe three highest scores in intelli-gence. After his time in the Navy,Vince worked as a security guardin Boston, MA. He also spentover eight years travelingthroughout the U.S. and over-seas. Vince helped his Mothercare for his Grandpa Wampol for11 years.
Vince loved the MinnesotaTwins, Timberwolves, Vikingsand Nebraska Huskers. In hisyounger years, he enjoyed play-ing basketball and softball. Vinceenjoyed fishing and drivingaround the country. He espe-cially loved to listen to hisGrandpa Wampol play the accor-dion.
Thankful for having shared hislife are his mother, MarilynWright of Avon; his father, George
Wright of Sioux Falls; brother,Virgil of Yankton; two nieces; onenephew; two great nieces and an-other on the way; two step sis-ters: Cheryl Peifer of St. Paul, MNand Glenda Sunderman of Hum-bolt; one step brother, RandyWright of Sioux Falls; aunt anduncle Agnes and Norman Nedvedof Wagner; two step aunts: AlyceFrandsen of Lake Andes and De-lores (Gordon) Thomas of Tur-lock, CA; and several cousins.
Vince was preceded in deathby his grandparents and step un-cles Raymond Brodsky and EjnerFrandsen.
Yankton Press & Dakotan
December 10, 2012
Albert BrueAlbert A. Brue, 76, of Yankton,
South Dakota, died Dec. 6, 2012,at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital inYankton.
Funeral serv-ices will be 2 p.m.Wed., Dec. 12,2012, at Wass Fu-neral Home inCenterville, SD.
Visitation withthe family presentis 5-7 p.m. Tues-day at Wass Fu-neral Home with aprayer service at 7 PM.
Albert was born May 25, 1936,in Turner County, SD, to GustavM. and Esther (Nelson) Brue. Heattended country school, Center-ville High School, and attendedagriculture classes at SDSU inBrookings. As a young man Al-bert worked for Cushing Con-struction and married Mary Jane
Shahan in January of 1958. Albert farmed and had dairy
cattle in the Wakonda area formany years. He was an “ironman,” or a steel recycler, andmade many trips to Sioux Fallsand Yankton hauling junked carsand scrap iron. After retiringfrom the farming business, Albertworked for Sears installinghousehold appliances.
He is survived by his son,Duane (Debbie) Brue of Yankton;five daughters, Lori (Larry) Haw-ley of Elk Point, Linda (Gene)Norman of Albuquerque, NM,Karen (Dennis) White ofCharleston, IL, Diane Brue ofMadelia, MN, and Janelle Brue ofMankato, MN; seven grandchil-dren, two great-grandchildren,and his brother, Harlan (Brenda)Brue of Wakonda, SD.
His parents preceded him indeath.
Yankton Press & Dakotan
December 10, 2012
Helen RippleHelen Ripple, 92, of Yankton
died Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at AveraSister James Care Center, Yank-ton.
Mass of Christian Burial is at10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, atSt. John the Baptist CatholicChurch, Lesterville, with the Rev.Joe Forcelle officiating. Burial willbe in the Polish Cemetery, ruralLesterville.
Visitations begin at 2 p.m.Tuesday at Opsahl-Kostel Fu-neral Home & Crematory, Yank-ton, with a rosary at 7:30 p.m.followed by a Scripture service at8 p.m. Visitations will resume one
hour prior to the service at thechurch.
Merle DwyerMerle V. Dwyer, 98, of
Wakonda died Friday, Dec. 7,2012, at Wakonda HeritageManor, Wakonda.
Funeral services are at 11 a.m.Thursday at Hansen FuneralHome, Irene.
Visitations are 5-7 p.m.Wednesday at the funeral home.
For obituary and online con-dolences, visit hansenfuneral-home.com.
Willa KirwanWilla Mae Kirwan, 74, of Ft.
Randall died peacefully at herhome in Ft. Randall Saturday,Dec. 8, 2012.
Funeral Memorial Mass is at10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, at St.Anthony’s Catholic Church, Fair-fax. Inurnment will be in St. An-thony’s Catholic Cemetery.
Rosary/Wake services are at 7p.m. Tuesday at the church.
Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home,Wagner, is in charge of arrange-ments.
Monday, 12.10.12ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net
NEWS DEPARTMENT: [email protected] 3PRESS DAKOTANthe worldSo. Africa Finds Itself At Political Crossroads
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Inside a Catholic church that once served asa major rallying point for anti-apartheid activists, the image of a gray-suited Nelson Mandela appears in stained-glass window that also featuresangels and the cross.
Worshippers here prayed Sunday for the hospitalized 94-year-old for-mer president, who remains almost a secular saint and a father figure tomany in South Africa, a nation of 50 million people that has Africa’s topeconomy.
Mandela’s admission to the hospital this weekend for unspecifiedmedical tests sparked screaming newspapers headlines and ripples offear in the public that the frail leader is fading further away.
And as his African National Congress political party stands ready topick its leader who likely will be the nation’s next president, some believegoverning party politicians have abandoned Mandela’s integrity and mag-nanimity in a seemingly unending string of corruption scandals. Thatleaves many wondering who can lead the country the way the ailing Man-dela once did.
“When you have someone that’s willing to lead by example like he did,it makes things easier for people to follow,” said Thabile Manana, whoworshipped Sunday at Soweto’s Regina Mundi Catholic church. “Lately,the examples are not so nice. It’s hard. I’m scared for the country.”
Syria’s Civil War Spills Into Lebanon Again BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s civil war spilled over into neighboring
Lebanon once again on Sunday, with gun battles in the northern city ofTripoli between supporters and opponents of President BasharAssad’s regime that left four dead.
Nine Syrian judges and prosecutors also defected to the opposi-tion. It was the latest setback for the regime, which appears increas-ingly embattled with rebels making gains in northern Syria and nearDamascus, the capital.
The defecting judges posted a joint statement online urging othersto join them and break ranks with Assad’s regime. There have beenseveral high-level defections over the past year, including Assad’s for-mer prime minister.
In Geneva, the United Nation’s Special Representative for Syria andthe Arab League, Lakdhar Brahimi, met with Russian Deputy ForeignMinister Mikhail Bogdanov and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State WilliamBurns to discuss the crisis in Syria. They said in a joint statement thatthe situation in Syria was “bad and getting worse,” adding that a politi-cal process to end the conflict was “still necessary and still possible.”
Russia and the United States have argued bitterly over how to ad-dress the conflict, which began with peaceful protests against Assadin March 2011 and escalated into a civil war that has killed an esti-mated 40,000 people. Activists said another 45 were killed on Sunday.
Chavez’s Designated Successor NamedCARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The man President Hugo Chavez
wants to succeed him is an intensely loyal 50-year-old former busdriver who has long served as the international face of Venezuelawhenever the socialist president wasn’t soaking up the limelight him-self.
Nicolas Maduro had been foreign minister since 2006. Chavez thentapped him as his vice president three days after winning re-electionon Oct. 7
If the cancer-stricken Chavez survives until his Jan. 10 inaugurationbut dies during the first four years of his term, the constitution saysthat Maduro would take over temporarily and that new electionsshould be held within 30 days.
Chavez told Venezuelans on Saturday night if he isn’t able to stayon he wants them to elect Maduro as his successor.
Same-Sex Couples Begin Marrying In Wash. SEATTLE (AP) — Same-sex couples in Washington state began
reciting wedding vows at events across the state Sunday, on the firstday they could marry after the state’s gay marriage law took effect.
About 140 couples had registered to marry at Seattle City Hall,which had set up five separate chapels to accommodate the revelers.Starting at 10 a.m., cheers and applause regularly broke out as anothercouple’s marriage became official. Weddings at city hall were to con-tinue through 5 p.m.
Mayor Mike McGinn, who greeted couples at they arrived, called ita “great day, a joyous day.”
“It’s really wonderful,” he said. “A new civil right is going to be rec-ognized in this great civil institution.”
Keith Bacon and Corianton Hale of Seattle, who celebrated theirsix-year anniversary the night before, hugged and kissed to loudcheers and camera flashes as they took their vows before one of the16 local judges who volunteered to officiate the weddings on Sunday.
O B I T UA R I E S
Gladys Merkwan who passed away on December 13, 2011
Robert Meyer who passed away on December 15, 2011
Our care and concern does not end with the funeral service. This week we remember with family and friends the anniversary of the deaths of:
Our Thoughts And
Prayers Are With The m
Guiding and serving families with compassion and trust.
This remembrance is brought to you free of charge. If you have a loved one you would like remembered, contact us at
Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory.
Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton Memorial Resource Center, Tyndall
Memorial Chapels, Tyndall, Tabor & Menno
665-9679 • 1-800-495-9679 www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com
WEEKLY SPECIAL Good December 1 0t h – 15 th, 2 0 1 2
1 5th & Broadway • Yankton, SD • 665-7700 1 -800-44 7 -4 9 1 0 • www.piedpiperflowers.com
All Remaining Artificials
20% O FF 20% O FF 20% O FF
2216 Broadway, Yankton
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Wright
Brue
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A member of a U.S.special operations team was killed during aweekend rescue mission in Afghanistanthat freed an American doctor abducted bythe Taliban outside of Kabul five days ago.
President Barack Obama praised thespecial forces on Sunday, saying the mis-sion was characteristic of U.S. troops’ “ex-traordinary courage, skill and patriotism.”
A spokesman for U.S. forces inAfghanistan said Dr. Dilip Joseph of Col-orado Springs, Colo., was rescued earlySunday, local time, in eastern Afghanistan.Joseph, a medical adviser for ColoradoSprings-based Morning Star Development,was rescued after intelligence showed hewas in imminent danger of injury or possi-ble death, according to the U.S. military.
The U.S. did not immediately identifythe special operator killed in the mission.
“He gave his life for his fellow Ameri-cans, and he and his teammates remind usonce more of the selfless service that al-lows our nation to stay strong, safe andfree,” Obama said in a statement.
In a separate statement Sunday, De-fense Secretary Leon Panetta said, “In thisfallen hero, and all of our special opera-tors, Americans see the highest ideals ofcitizenship, sacrifice and service upheld.”
Morning Star, a relief group that helpsrebuild communities in Afghanistan, said
in a statement that Josephwas uninjured and wouldprobably return home in afew days. The group alsosaid two of his co-workerswere freed by their cap-tors about 11 hours beforethe rescue, after hours ofnegotiations were con-ducted over three days.
Morning Star said thethree workers were ab-
ducted by a group of armed men while re-turning from a visit to one of theorganization’s rural medical clinics ineastern Kabul province. The group saidthe three workers were taken into moun-tains about 50 miles from the Pakistanborder,
The relief group said it would not re-veal the identity of the other two men be-cause they live and work in the region.The group said it did not pay ransom toobtain their release.
Morning Star praised those who helpedget their workers back unharmed, singlingout “courageous members of the U.S. mili-tary who successfully rescued Mr. Josephas they risked their own lives doing so.”
The group also offered thanks to localAfghan elders and local leaders “whomade visits and appeals to the captors ad-vocating for the release of the hostages.”
BY SARAH EL DEEBAssociated Press
CAIRO — Egypt’s opposition said Sunday it willkeep up protests against a referendum on a disputeddraft constitution but stopped short of advocating ei-ther a boycott or a “no” vote less than a week beforethe ballot.
The opposition was still pushing for Islamist Presi-dent Mohammed Morsi to cancel the Dec. 15 referen-dum, saying they reject the process entirely andrefuse to call it legitimate.
The referendum over a disputed draft constitutionhas deeply polarized Egypt and sparked some of thebloodiest clashes between Morsi supporters and op-ponents since he came to power in June.
In a sign of how jittery the government about hold-ing the referendum, Morsi has ordered the military tomaintain security and protect state institutions untilthe results of the referendum are announced.
The new presidential decree, published in the offi-cial gazette, would be effective starting Monday. Themilitary is asked to coordinate with the police onmaintaining security and would also be entitled to ar-rest civilians.
Morsi insists on holding the referendum on sched-ule. Instead, as a concession to his opponents, he re-scinded decrees he issued last month granting himalmost unrestricted powers, giving himself and thepanel that drafted the constitution immunity from ju-dicial oversight.
The decrees sparked the protests. Opponents saidthey were issued initially to protect the disputed con-stitution from numerous court challenges.
Rushing the approval of the constitution in a latenight session in the panel further inflamed those whoclaim Morsi and his Islamist allies, including the Mus-lim Brotherhood, are monopolizing power and tryingto force their agenda into practice.
The opposition sent hundreds of thousands of pro-testers into the streets, in unprecedented mass ralliesfor the largely secular groups since they led the popu-lar uprising last year that toppled President HosniMubarak.
This prompted protests by Morsi supporters andsparked bouts of street battles that left at least sixpeople dead and hundreds wounded.
Several offices of the Muslim Brotherhood alsohave been ransacked or torched in the unrest.
The National Salvation Front, an umbrella opposi-tion group of liberal and leftist parties, said at a newsconference Sunday that holding the referendum insuch an atmosphere would lead to more strife. Itcalled for another mass demonstration on Tuesday.
The front said Morsi and the regime are “gamblingby driving the country toward more violent clashesthat are dangerous for its national security.”
In a sign of the continued tension, Misr 25 TV, affili-ated with the Brotherhood, announced that an al-liance of Islamist groups will hold rival rallies onTuesday in support of “legitimacy.”
MOLLY RILEY/POLARIS VIA ABACA PRESS/MCT
President Barack Obama hugs the Christmas elves while attending the “Christmas in Wash-ington” concert at the National Building Museum in Washington Sunday. The annual holidayconcert was scheduled to feature something nontraditional this year: a performance bySouth Korean rapper and Internet sensation PSY, who’s just apologized for using what hesays was “inflammatory and inappropriate language” during anti-U.S. protests at concertsin 2002 and 2004.
Special Ops Forces PraisedAfter Afghanistan Rescue
Egypt
OpponentsCall ForContinuedProtests
HOLIDAYCHEER!
Panetta
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