St. Clair County officials in Illinois believe that operation of a rifle and pistol shooting range near Scott Air Force Base poses a danger to the aircraft that operate out of the base and, consequently, to people on the ground who might be struck by a crashing airplane, according to a report in the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat. St. Clair County Associate Judge James Radcliffe, who toured the Caseville Rifle and Pistol Club Monday, said he would need a hearing before rendering a decision about a temporary restraining order. The club apparently has operated since 1968 without incident.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall doesn’t see great value in trying to break the Sentinel ICBM program off as a separate budget item the way the Navy has with its ballistic-missile submarine program, saying such a move wouldn’t create any new money for the Air Force to spend on other…