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modbee.com Grand jury starts probe into tire pile http://www.modbee.com/metro/story/0,1113,154754,OO.html <br /> Oupenor�..ourt. _.. -- <br /> home in seismic test - <br /> The California Integrated Waste Management Court says columnist didn't <br /> Board years before had assumed oversight of Wel lawyer <br /> the pile. <br /> MTBE crackdown goes <br /> into effect at South Tahoe <br /> A grand jury investigation would duplicate <br /> efforts of other agencies conducting probes. S.F.Bay area Briefs <br /> Thursday, foreman George Betker wouldn't San Joaquin Valley Briefs <br /> confirm or deny that his panel is looking into the <br /> fire pile, saying that all grand jury matters are <br /> secret. He wouldn't comment further on his <br /> October denial of Caruso's request. <br /> "I was surprised," Caruso said Thursday. "I <br /> don't know why they had a change of heart. <br /> "I'll stick by my original statement: That there is <br /> probably enough blame on all sides. If the county <br /> had a hand in irresponsibility,we should own up <br /> to it, apologize to the community and move <br /> forward." <br /> Critics have railed against various government <br /> agencies for not forcing landowner Ed Filbin and <br /> pile owner Mark Kirkland to eliminate or better <br /> manage the pile.At one point, it was the largest <br /> in the world of its kind. <br /> "(Grand jurors') big thing was,we didn't handle <br /> it right,"said Blom,who lived in Westley from <br /> 1963 to 1966 and continued to farm there until <br /> 1972. <br /> Kirkland has said he wanted to reduce the pile <br /> but was stymied by"incompetent"state waste <br /> officials. <br /> The Bee has been unable to reach Filbin for <br /> comment for several months. But sources have <br /> said that Filbin recently appeared before grand <br /> jurors and has talked with investigators <br /> representing District Attorney Jim Brazelton and <br /> state Attorney General Bill Lockyer. <br /> Grand jurors are charged with looking into and <br /> reporting on dealings of local public officials. The <br /> district attorney looks at possible criminal <br /> charges,while the attorney general could focus <br /> on all targets. <br /> The attorney general early this month filed a <br /> civil lawsuit against Kirkland, Filbin,their <br /> companies and Modesto Energy Limited <br /> Partnership,which owned the fire-burning plant <br /> next to the giant pile. The plant shut down in <br /> February. <br /> Kirkland this week said he has not been <br /> interviewed by grand jurors. He has given <br /> 2 o1'3 04/28/2000 10:37 PM <br />