Chaplain killed at Pearl Harbor finally laid to rest at home

Chaplain killed at Pearl Harbor finally laid to rest at home

DUBUQUE, Iowa

The remains of a Navy chaplain have been buried in his home state of Iowa nearly 75 years after he died during the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

A funeral took place for Chaplain Aloysius Schmitt in Dubuque on Saturday. Separate ceremonies were solemnized in his hometown of St. Lucas earlier in the week.

Schmitt’s niece, Rose Foley, told the Telegraph Herald she is very proud of her uncle and what he did.

“He did a lot for his family, he did a lot for his country, and a lot of people are very proud of him,” Foley said.

Schmitt was aboard the battleship USS Oklahoma when the Dec. 7, 1941, attack occurred. Schmitt helped other sailors escape the sinking ship before he died.

The Navy announced in September that Schmitt’s remains had been identified.

3 quakes recorded off Oregon coast; no tsunami warnings

COOS BAY, Oregon

Three earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 4.1 to 4.8 occurred several hundred miles off the Oregon coast Sunday, but none triggered tsunami warnings.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the 4.8 quake was recorded last and occurred at about noon about 260 miles west-northwest of Coos Bay.

Union approves deal to keep Sikorsky Aircraft

HARTFORD, Conn.

Union members have voted for a deal that would keep Sikorsky Aircraft manufacturing U.S. Navy helicopters in Stratford, Conn., for at least the next 16 years.

More than 2,000 Teamsters voted Sunday for the state deal that includes a 25 percent pay cut for workers hired starting in 2017. The deal had been reached between Sikorsky, Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration and Sikorsky’s new owner, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin.

It had received General Assembly approval Sept. 28.

Sikorsky agreed to increase its full-time employment in Stratford by 400 employees by the 14th year of the agreement.

Sikorsky is tasked with building CH-53K helicopters, next-generation helicopters that Lockheed sought $400 million in savings to make.

The new proposal also includes pension changes, a ratification bonus and a change in workweek hours.

Australian-Chinese $277 million bid for Australian ranches

CANBERRA, Australia

An Australian-Chinese consortium has offered to buy Australia’s largest cattle empire in a bid welcomed by the Australian agriculture minister.

Hancock Prospecting Pty. Ltd. announced Sunday that it would take a 67 percent stake and Shanghai CRED Real Estate Stock Co. Ltd. a 33 percent stake in Australia’s largest private landholding, S. Kidman & Co. Ltd., for $277 million.

The Australian government announced in May that the collection of 10 cattle ranches, a bull breeding stud and a feed lot covering 39,155 square miles in four states would never be sold to foreign interests when it vetoed a Chinese-led bid.

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce on Monday welcomed the interest of an Australia-led consortium.

Associated Press