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THIRD STREET TUNNEL
Most Fire Hydrants Out of Order
Twenty-eight of 36 fire hydrants in the Third Street tunnel were not working properly when they were inspected by the city Sunday, officials said yesterday.
The D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department discovered the problem Sunday night as it was completing inspections of all hydrants in the city, spokesman Alan Etter said. Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin has decided that until repairs are made, extra fire units will go to the scene of any emergencies in that area. Fire engines typically carry 500 gallons of water.
The Third Street tunnel is just northwest of the U.S. Capitol. The problems there were first reported by WUSA-TV (Channel 9).
Erik Linden, a spokesman for the D.C. Department of Transportation, said his agency shares responsibility for the hydrants with the fire department and the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority. WASA officials said the Transportation Department is in charge of their upkeep. Linden said the agencies are meeting to plan quick repairs.
SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH
Members Sue for Pastor's Removal
Members of Shiloh Baptist Church in Northwest Washington filed a lawsuit yesterday seeking to remove their pastor, the Rev. Wallace Charles Smith.
The lawsuit, filed in D.C. Superior Court against Smith, as well as Christine Clark, interim chairman of Shiloh's board of trustees, and George R. Johnson Jr., interim chairman of its board of deacons, alleges that the three "hijacked" the church. It alleges that Smith has mismanaged the church's operations and violated his employment contract by taking another job in addition to his work at Shiloh. It also alleges that Smith, Clark and Johnson misrepresented the financial condition of the church.
It asks the court to declare valid an Aug. 11 meeting at which 138 church members voted to oust Smith. Smith and church leaders have said that the meeting was invalid and represented only a minority view. They have scheduled a meeting Sept. 15 to decide Smith's fate.
"The New Testament prohibits Christians from taking other Christians before secular magistrates," Smith said. "Bible-believing Christians know and understand this. Our attorneys are reviewing this suit, and we will not comment further until we meet with our legal counsel."
Clark and Johnson could not be reached for comment.
