Nazareth

Earl S. Highter Sr., a retired Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. meter inspector, died Monday of acute hepatitis at University of Maryland Medical Center. He was 63. Born in Norfolk, Va., he served in the Air Force in Guam and South Korea. He moved to Baltimore in 1968 and was a meter inspector until retiring last year. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at Jones Tabernacle Baptist Church, 2100 W. Baltimore St. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, the former Lorraine Shirley Howard; a son, Earl Highter Jr. of Baltimore; three daughters, Cecilia Vandervall and Corinthia Davis of Baltimore and Trevillian Highter of High Point, N.C.; his father, Nazareth Highter of Norfolk; three brothers, Alfred Highter and Ricky Highter of Norfolk, and John Highter of Baltimore; two sisters, Frances Hughy of Norfolk and Evelyn Jollif of St. Louis; eight grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

A recovering addict can find trouble around plenty of corners in Highlandtown, where, as in many Baltimore neighborhoods, a bar or a drug dealer are rarely out of walking distance. Joy Sweeney knows this because, not so long ago, she lived a drunken and desperate existence. She found solace in her family and in Alcoholics Anonymous, but she knew plenty of people who, after detox, had nowhere safe to go. So when her church, Nazareth Lutheran, began debating what to do with two rowhouses it owned on Bank Street, Sweeney suggested opening a group home for male alcoholics and drug addicts.

NAZARETH, Israel -- Pope John Paul II enveloped Jesus' boyhood hometown in a festive embrace yesterday, seeming to override months of Christian-Muslim hostility and a huge show of force by police. In a display of religious coexistence that could have gone dangerously awry, Pope John Paul led a Mass honoring the Virgin Mary inside a basilica steps from midday prayers by hundreds of Muslim men at an open-air mosque that has been the source of a bitter local dispute. Fears of possible violence prompted Israeli authorities to seal off streets from traffic and flood them with police and border guards three hours before the pope arrived, giving downtown Nazareth the early-morning feel of an armed camp.

Eric Goodberlet picked a good time to score his first goal of the lacrosse season. Goodberlet, an honorable mention All-American and Nazareth's leading scorer last season, beat goalkeeper Ray Pagano with eight seconds remaining to lift the No. 2 Golden Flyers to a thrilling 12-11 victory over No. 6 Washington College in front of 300 spectators at Loyola's Curley Field. The victory avenged an 11-8 loss to the Shoremen in last year's season opener. "They were playing good defense on me all day, and I couldn't quite get by them," said Goodberlet, who also had an assist.

NAZARETH, Israel -- Jerusalem is usually the place that dominates religious animosities in the Holy Land. But lately, Nazareth has been competing for attention in a dispute that's even aroused the Vatican.It started two years ago with the demolition of a Muslim school. Since then, the dispute between Muslims and Christians in the city where Jesus grew up has sparked outbreaks of violence and become a crisis that threatens Pope John Paul II's trip next year to the Holy Land to celebrate the year 2000.

WASHINGTON -- Jesse Ventura finally found an opponent he could not pin: The Almighty.The governor of Minnesota experienced this epiphany the instant Playboy magazine published an interview in which he described religion as a crutch for weak-minded people. His popularity ratings immediately hurtled toward the abyss. Overnight, he went from the most popular politician in his state's history to another chump with a limousine and an entourage.To understand of the governor's predicament, look beyond the obvious.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is considering a rule that would require all public companies to disclose their exposure to hedge funds, banks and other institutions that rely heavily on credit, an SEC official said yesterday."

For 13 years, Al Unser Jr. had the good life.He was married with four children. His racing career was off the charts, as he drove for Roger Penske, the most successful car owner in Indy Car history. He virtually wanted for nothing.And then came 1995 and the Indianapolis 500. Unser became the first defending champion in 500 history not to make the starting field the year after winning the race. None of Penske's cars made the field.Then came the nearly four years of racing without a victory.

CHESTERTOWN -- They have played in three straight NCAA championship games, and brought Washington College a title at long last. The Shoremen have an abundance of four-year starters, and first-year coach J. B. Clarke has leaned on his seniors since the day he was hired last July. "Coach Clarke really put the team in the senior's hands," defenseman Scott McGilvray said. "He met with us first, and stressed from day one that we're only going to go as far as the seniors. He told us he would put as much control of the team in our hands as we can handle."