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American Morning

Interview With Sabine County Sheriff

Aired February 06, 2003 - 09:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now back to the latest on the investigation into what might have caused the Columbia disaster.
Patty Davis joins us now from Hemphill, Texas to talk a little bit more about the search for shuttle debris there -- good morning, Patty.

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Paula. A miserable day here in Hemphill, Texas. Pouring rain, and we're expecting several more days of pouring rain.

Now yesterday, searchers were able to dig out the nose cone from the shuttle that had fallen thick in the forest. They had to use a truck finally to get that out, and that was trucked back to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. They found another piece of landing gear, a switchboard, some windows from the shuttle as well. Four hundred to 500 searchers here: National Guard, FBI, also Louisiana State Police; 100 other National Guard just added to the search team last night. Four hundred to 500 debris sites just here in this county.

We are joined by Sabine County sheriff Tom Maddox. Now, you found a couple additional things besides what I mentioned. What were they, sheriff?

TOMMY MADDOX, SHERIFF, SABINE COUNTY: Yes. We found some of the rockets there that were used in this. Again, there, we did locate there additional human remains yesterday, and anyway, that is the focal point of our operation. No. 1 there, it is recovery there of human remains, and then the shuttle debris.

DAVIS: Now, what about the weather? This has got to be hampering your efforts?

MADDOX: Well, the weather there has hampered it. It makes it miserable, but I can't say enough there about the attitude and the dedication there of all of the searchers. There -- the weather might be bad, but I want to tell what you what, their attitude there is just, I mean, they're on cloud nine.

DAVIS: Now, that big piece that is believed to have fallen into the Toledo Bend Reservoir, you had been having trouble getting at that. What's happening there?

MADDOX: They continue there to see this from the air. There have been more sophisticated equipment brought in. They say there that it is a large piece. Don't know just exactly how large. I've heard estimates there between 20 and 40 feet, and they can see it from the air, and by the time they get there it's gone.

DAVIS: I heard divers can't even see in that water it is just so thick.

MADDOX: When you get down five feet, it is -- the water is murky and there is so much water there coming in in there that it's just a nightmare. You can't see in front of your face. You have to feel.

DAVIS: Now, I was amazed to hear that there are astronauts here helping in the search. What are they helping you? What are they doing?

MADDOX: NASA has been tremendous there in their effort. The astronauts there, you know from several of the crews there are here. They are out there with the search efforts, are out there in the field. They are in the command post. You know, they do whatever -- whatever is needed. And I mean, just always there.

DAVIS: Thanks, sheriff, very much.

MADDOX: Thank you.

DAVIS: The accident -- shuttle accident certainly impacting this community as well. As you drive into town, you see lots of signs on businesses, We're praying for the families of the Columbia seven. Our hats off to you, the Columbia seven. And we've even been told that there are so many searchers in this area that people are opening up their their homes to them so there are places for them to stay -- Paula.

ZAHN: Oh, that's nice to hear. Patty Davis, thanks so much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired February 6, 2003 - 09:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now back to the latest on the investigation into what might have caused the Columbia disaster.
Patty Davis joins us now from Hemphill, Texas to talk a little bit more about the search for shuttle debris there -- good morning, Patty.

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Paula. A miserable day here in Hemphill, Texas. Pouring rain, and we're expecting several more days of pouring rain.

Now yesterday, searchers were able to dig out the nose cone from the shuttle that had fallen thick in the forest. They had to use a truck finally to get that out, and that was trucked back to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. They found another piece of landing gear, a switchboard, some windows from the shuttle as well. Four hundred to 500 searchers here: National Guard, FBI, also Louisiana State Police; 100 other National Guard just added to the search team last night. Four hundred to 500 debris sites just here in this county.

We are joined by Sabine County sheriff Tom Maddox. Now, you found a couple additional things besides what I mentioned. What were they, sheriff?

TOMMY MADDOX, SHERIFF, SABINE COUNTY: Yes. We found some of the rockets there that were used in this. Again, there, we did locate there additional human remains yesterday, and anyway, that is the focal point of our operation. No. 1 there, it is recovery there of human remains, and then the shuttle debris.

DAVIS: Now, what about the weather? This has got to be hampering your efforts?

MADDOX: Well, the weather there has hampered it. It makes it miserable, but I can't say enough there about the attitude and the dedication there of all of the searchers. There -- the weather might be bad, but I want to tell what you what, their attitude there is just, I mean, they're on cloud nine.

DAVIS: Now, that big piece that is believed to have fallen into the Toledo Bend Reservoir, you had been having trouble getting at that. What's happening there?

MADDOX: They continue there to see this from the air. There have been more sophisticated equipment brought in. They say there that it is a large piece. Don't know just exactly how large. I've heard estimates there between 20 and 40 feet, and they can see it from the air, and by the time they get there it's gone.

DAVIS: I heard divers can't even see in that water it is just so thick.

MADDOX: When you get down five feet, it is -- the water is murky and there is so much water there coming in in there that it's just a nightmare. You can't see in front of your face. You have to feel.

DAVIS: Now, I was amazed to hear that there are astronauts here helping in the search. What are they helping you? What are they doing?

MADDOX: NASA has been tremendous there in their effort. The astronauts there, you know from several of the crews there are here. They are out there with the search efforts, are out there in the field. They are in the command post. You know, they do whatever -- whatever is needed. And I mean, just always there.

DAVIS: Thanks, sheriff, very much.

MADDOX: Thank you.

DAVIS: The accident -- shuttle accident certainly impacting this community as well. As you drive into town, you see lots of signs on businesses, We're praying for the families of the Columbia seven. Our hats off to you, the Columbia seven. And we've even been told that there are so many searchers in this area that people are opening up their their homes to them so there are places for them to stay -- Paula.

ZAHN: Oh, that's nice to hear. Patty Davis, thanks so much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com