The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • Page 4

Page 4A Saturday. April 8. 2000 Obituaries Cleburne Water Authority says-water is safe to drink The authority sent water samples to the slate Health Department Monday for testing. On Thursday they received the results: The water is clean. On April Fools Day morning, eyewitnesses spotted a motorcyclist in the Rosewood area, near one of the open fire hydrants, Cleburne County Deputy Dennis Green said.

But sheriff's officers have received no new information since then. "Haralson County hasn't come up with anything; we haven't either," Cleburne County Sheriff Darrell Durham said, The crimes are still under investigation. In Alabama, the act carries the charge of criminal mischief, a felony if causing $1,000 or more in damage. Water Authority officials estimated they lost about $800 worth of water. Anyone with information regarding these crimes should call the Cleburne County Water Authority at (256) 463-7860, or the county Sheriff's Office at (256) 463-2277.

By Matthew Korade Star Staff Writer Cleburne County residents can turn off the ovens and put away the pots; the Water Authority says it's safe to drink the water. Residents have been boiling tap water as a safety measure since one or more vandals opened three fire hydrants April Fools Day and drained the county's entire northeastern water supply. MuscadineJ Fruithurst and Rosewood lost all their water. Haralson County, just over the border was also hit, but water authority officials there were able to contain the problem. Because possibly contaminated ground water can seep into the system if the water pressure in the pipes falls below a certain level, the authority issued a public health warning over the radio after the incident, telling residents to boil their water.

71 Billboard company rejects 'Vegetarian Jesus' message Phillip Morris and Lamar Davis officiating. Burial will be in Heflin City Cemetery with Dryden Funeral Home- in family will receive friends Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The body will be at the church an hour prior to services. Rev.

Harlan died Friday, at Regional Medical Center. Survivors include his wife, Izella Harlan of Heflin; three daughters, Kay Sanders, Phyllis Wynn, and Fay Birchfield, all of Heflin; two sons. Joe M. Harlan and Richard Harlan, both of Heflin; two sisters, Barbara Burgess ol Anniston and Annie Vise of Mobile; 1 1 grandchildren, Stephanie Benefield, Hope Brackin, Casey Wynn, Patrice FoLsom, Sharon Prestridge, Jay Harlan, Holly McLean, Jennifer Harlan, Erin Birchfield. Harlan Sanders, and Halite Birchfield; and six great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Jimmy Bragg, Robby Brown, Mark Cooper, Harold Davis, Ronnie Hardeman, Chester Hughes, Bob Rigsby, and Calvin Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Harlan-Baracca Sunday School class. Rev. Harlan was a native and lifelong resident of Cleburne County. He was retired from Anniston Army Depot and had served as minister at several Cleburne County churches.

He was a member of Heflin Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by two sons. Timothy Harlan and Aaron Harlan Jr. and a grandson, Thomas Richard Harlan. Contributions may be made to Alabama Baptist Children's Home and the Alabama Methodist Children's Home.

Hilton Services for James Hilton, 92, of 98 Shadow Trace Lane, Anniston will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Anniston Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bud Putman officiating. Burial will be in Anniston Memorial Gardens. Mr.

Hilton died Tuesday at his home. Survivors include his wife, Associated Press Allen TALLADEGA Services for Harold Allen. .66.. of. Talladega will be Saturday at 3 p.m.

at Ironaton Church of Christ with Cliff Goodwin Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Talladega Funeral Home in charge. The body will be at the church an hour prior to services. Mr. Allen died Thursday at his home. Survivors -include four daughters, Derenda Bishop, Rita Williams, and Carol Duncan, all of Talladega, and Draima Schiehl of Cullman: two sisters, Christine Shropshire and Earline Atkisson, both of and eight children.

Pallbearers will be Tommy Shropshire, Jared Duncan, Scotty Bishop, Rodney Williams, Gary' Duncan, and Phillip Schiehl. Mr. Allen was a lifelong resident of. Talladega County. He was a member of Ironaton Church of Christ and was the owner of Allen Construction Company.

Bradley LITIS IH KG Services for Ross Garnet Bradley, of 225 Evans. Road. Leesburg will be Sunday at I p.m. at Cherokee Memory Gardens Mausoleum with Perry Funeral Home in charge. The family will receive friends Saturday night.

at the funeral home from 5 to 7. Mr. Bradley died Wednesday in Oxford, Survivors include two sons. Ross A. Bradley of Leesburg and Ralph Bradley of Oxford; and a brother, Donald Bradley of Florida.

Mr. Bradley was a native of Ontario, Canada, and the son of the late John and Edna Bradley. He was retired from Ford Motor Company. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or HosjMce. Broadnax ATLANTA.

Services for Melba Patricia Broadnax, 49, of 35 South Allen Atlanta, formerly of Anniston, will be announced by Anniston Funeral Service. Ms. Broadnax died Thursday in Atlanta. MOBILE An outdoor advertising company has declined to sell billboard space to an animal rights group that wants to promote, a vegetarian diet by claiming that Jesus did not eat meat. The advertising campaign by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals includes messages reading: "Jesus Was A Vegetarian" and "I said, Thou shalt not kill Go Vegetarian." Representatives from Lamar Advertising one of the nation's largest outdoor advertising companies, have refused to sell billboard space in Mobile or Montgomery for the campaign.

"It would offend all of the churches in our area," said Troy Tatum, general manager for Lamar's Mobile office. The poster includes an illustration of Jesus with an orange slice for a halo. Greg Dageforde, a Montgomery-based sales executive for Lamar, said he declined to run the campaign for similar reasons. Mr. McGehee was a native of Montgomery and had lived in Talladega since 1950.

He served in the Army Air Corps as a in Europe during World War II and was a graduate of Auburn University. He was a director of Talladega National Bank, and was later chairman of the board Of Regions Bank in Talladega. He was president of the Talladega Chamber of Commerce, the Talladega Kiwanis Club, and the Talladega City Zoning Board. He was the first president of the North Talladega Chapter of the United Way, He served on the board of direc-' tors of the Synaflex Corporation, the Presbyterian Home for Children, and the Alabama Bible Society: He was secretary of the board, of directors of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and had received the Hall of Fame's Governor's Award in 1998. Following many years of service to the Boy Scouts of America, he was presented the Silver Beaver Award, the highest honor given to adult Scouters.

Mr. McGehee was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he was a deacon, and elder, and a member of the Caravan Class. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions for the establishment of First Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden. Pollard Services for Lillie Mae Pollard of Anniston, formerly of the Ballplay Community, will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Union 3 Baptist Church in Ballplay with Revs: Gary.

Smith and T.V. Burroughs officiating. Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery with Collier-Butler Funeral Home in charge. The family will receive friends Saturday night at the funeral home from 5 to 8. The body will be at the church an hour prior to services, Mrs.

Pollard died Thursday at Gadsden Regional Medical Center. Survivors include two daughters, Wanda Mathis and Sherry Mason; four sons, Jerry Beam, Howard Ramsey Richard Ramsey, and Charles Ramsey; six step-children, J.T. Pollard Harold Pollard, Donald Pollard, Bobby Pollard, Billy Pollard, and Shirley Pollard; five sisters, Minnie Ruth Pollard, Myrtle Pruitt, Estelle Mote, Pat Mote, and Carrie Hawkins; a brother-in-law, Fred Lipscomb, two sisters-in-law, Mary Reed and Sally Reed; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be grandsons. Mrs.

Pollard was a native and lifelong resident of Etowah County. She was a member of East Gadsden Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Howard Ramsey; her second husband, J.T. Pollard four brothers; and four sisters. Spinks Services for Lonnie F.

Spinks, 60, of 1805 Bancroft Anniston will be announced by Anniston Funeral Service, Mr. Spinks died Thursday at Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center. Alabama man faces charges in Arkansas Associated Press HOPE, Ark. An Alabama man who successful-" ly defended himself against a rape charge and had federal kidnapping charges dropped as part of a plea agreement now faces a state kidnapping charge. The latest charge against Mark Anthony Wright, 27, of Holly Pond, was filed Thursday in Hempstead County Circuit Court.

Last month, a Hempstead County Circuit Court jury found Wright innocent of rape in the April 29, 1999, abduction of a Hope motel clerk. The latest kidnapping charge against Wright is in connection with the abduction of the clerk. Prosecutor Randy Wright no relation to the accused said the kidnapping case has been assigned to Judge Jim Gunter and that no court date has been set. Mark Wright had faced federal kidnapping charges; along with carjacking charges, for allegedly using scissors to abduct the motel clerk near a Hope restaurant. Authorities say Wright was arrested by Texarkana, Texas, police after he allegedly drove the victim to a pawn shop and forced her to sell personal jewelry; The federal kidnapping charges were dismissed in a pleq bargain which resulted in Wright being sentenced in December to almost 25 years in prison, Wright is appealing the sentence.

"It's a moral issue," he said. "Biblically, that wasn't correct. They have other boards that they're going to run with us now." Later this month, PETA's anti-fishing signs will be posted in Montgomery, Dageforde said. Those signs do not state or imply that vegetarianism is a biblical directive. Bruce G.

Friedrich, vegetarian campaign coordinator for PETA, said the Norfolk, Va. -based organization's message is one people of faith must know. "Jesus is the prince of peace, not the bloody butcher," Friedrich said. "Eating meat mocks God by paying people to torture and kill God's creatures." In Baton Rouge, the signs have drawn controversy, said Bob Furlow, director of communications for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge. Furlow questioned the veracity of the "Jesus Was a Vegetarian" message, noting Jesus' celebration of Passover, a time when observant Jews gather for a meal that includes lamb.

"I would say that most people who are familiar with Scripture, the Old Testament and the New Testament, would see very clearly that Jesus very clearly was not a vegetarian," Furlow said. Friedrich dismissed the debate. "I think the most important thing is for people not to get lost in a biblical discussion of "he-said-she-said, and to ask prayerfully what we as individuals and Christians can do to lessen the amount of suffering and misery in the world," he said. Cunningham House votes not to consider three assisted-living bills Spradlin Eloise Hilton of Anniston; a daughter, Donna Stewart of Riverside; three sons, Robert E. Hilton of Anniston and James E.

Hilton and Charles L. Hilton, both of Tornngton, 14 grandchil-dren: and 15 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Marc Robert Champion, Joseph Champion Scott Hilton, Woodrow Collins Jr. and John Champion Jr. Mr.

Hilton was a native of Johnson City, and had jived in Calhoun County 26 years. He was a retired Master Sergeant in the Army. Mr. Hilton was preceded in death by a son, Thomas J. Hilton and a brother, Everett Hilton, Keener CENTRE Services for John Roy Keener, 82, of 1525 East Main Centre will be announced by Perry Funeral Home.

Mr. Keener died Friday in Luverne. McGehee TALLADEGA Services for William Boyd McGehee 77, of 1279 Eastaboga Road, Talladega will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church with Revs. Charles Sims and Leeann Scarbrough officiating.

Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery with Usrey Funeral Home in charge. The family will receive friends a half hour prior to service time at the church. Mr. McGehee died Friday at his home. Survivors include his wife, Mary Elizabeth McGehee of Talladega; a daughter, Meg McGehee Paulon of Hong Kong, China; two sons, William Boyd McGehee III of Talladega and Turner Joel Jones McGehee of Hastings, a brother, Edward Stokes McGehee of Birmingham; and five grandchildren, Katherine Turner McGehee of Birmingham, Stella Francis McGehee and -William Boyd McGehee IV, both of Talladega, and Martha Taylor McGehee and Carey Elizabeth McGehee, both of Pallbearers will be Richard F.

Bliss William' E. Bliss, A.B. C. Nicholls Dennis Buckner, Edward S. McGehee Philip Goodwyn, MacGregor McGehee, Wallis Elliott, Dr.

Richard F. Bliss, Henry R. Seawell, George W. Goodwyn, James D. Munroe, Thomas B.

Richardson, Ollis Madden, James Heacock, Julian L. Elliott. A.G. McMillan, Albert Ashley, Tommy Laird, and members of First Presbyterian Church's Caravan Class. the measure.

He said health officials should ask the Legislature for more money to strengthen the existing inspection program rather than creating new costs for the assisted-living industry. After April 30, the current rules governing assisted-living facilities could essentially disappear, unless a legislative panel votes to block the phaseouL Only a handful of states don't reg: ulate assisted-living facilities', Williamson said. Even if the legislative panel votes to continue the regulations, he said, they remain woefully inadequate. The state has three inspectors, which means some facilities don't get inspected for years. 1 Carrie Kurlander, spokeswoman for Gov.

Don Siegelman, said the administration plans to meet with Williamson and legislative leaders to determine a new strategy for strengthening oversight of assisted-living facilities. in the package he is sponsoring. "The real upset is that we've got people in harm's way and nothing's being done about it," Johnson said. "It's terrible." The bills could still be considered in the remaining 12 meeting days of the Legislature's annual session. I Iealth officials contend they don't have the money or the enforcement power needed to adequately police the assisted-living industry.

The rules are so ineffective that the state Committee on Public Health has already voted to repeal them. House members refused Thursday to place assisted-living facilities under the state's certificate-of-need rules for hospitals, nursing homes and other health care operations. Under the bill, the state would have had the power to restrict construction of new facilities unless the industry could prove there was a demand. Rep. Jim Haney, R-Huntsville, was among those who voted against Associated Press MONTGOMERY The Alabama Legislature is in no hurry to help state health officials start regulating possibly hundreds of unlicensed assisted-living facilities.

The House of Representatives on a procedural vote refused Thursday to consider one of three bills that would have created a new system of care for thousands of elderly Alabamians suffering from mild dementia and the first stages of Alzheimer's disease. The proposal also would have strengthened inspections of the state's 8,000 licensed assisted-living beds while helping the state crack down on possibly hundreds of unlicensed facilities. "I have real concerns about the quality of care that patients may get," State Health Officer Don Williamson said. Following the vote, Rep. Ron Johnson, R-Sylacauga, agreed to delay consideration of the other bills ALEXANDRIA Memorial services for Master Sgt.

(ret.) Raymond L. Cunningham, 49, of Alexandria, formerly ol Detroit. will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at Ervin Funeral Chapel, In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests one hour of your time be given to a child who is without' a family, hospitalized, terminally ill, impoverished, or just in need of a hug. Duke Services for Daniel James Duke 74, of 43 Kay Anniston will be announced by Gray Brown-Service Mortuary and Crematory.

Mr. Duke died Friday at his Guthrie ALEXANDRIA Services for Durie H. Guthrie, 65. of 7385 Highway 144, Alexandria will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Chapel Hill Funeral Home Chapel with Revs.

Mike Owens and Jason Borders officiating. Burial will be, in Anniston Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Guthrie died Friday at Regional Medical Center. Survivors include her husband, Vernon Guthrie of Alexandria; two daughters, Kathy Looney of Birmingham and Sheila Kelley of Roanoke, three sisters, Dorothy Hammonds and Billie Sue Love, both of Alexandria, and Juanzetta Henderson of Ohatchee; a brother, Ernie Howard of Ohatchee; and three grandchildren, Craig Allen Kelley of Jacksonville, Anna Rae Street of Birmingham, and Madison Hope Looney.

Pallbearers will be Paul Henderson, Robin Henderson. Howard Love. Terry Guthrie, and Bryan Guthrie. Mrs. Guthrie was a native and lifelong resident of Calhoun She was a member of Leatherwood Baptist Church.

Harlan HEFLIN for Rev. Aaron Alpheus "Tap" Harlan 79. of 210 Bedwell Heflin will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Heflin Baptist Church with Dr. Don Carrol! and Revs.

WEDOWEE Services for Travis Curtis "Doc" Spradlin, 55, of Wedowee will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Benefield Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Cecil Halsey officiating. Burial will be in Union Baptist Church Cemetery. Mr.

Spradlin died Wednesday at his home. Survivors include a special companion, Alice Duke of Wedowee; a step-daughter, Tanya Faulkner of Bowdon, a son, Jeffrey Spradlin of Roostervill'e, his father, Curtis Spradlin of Newell; three sisters, Annie Waters and Joan Whaley, both of Newell, and Patsy Dye of Woodland; a brother, Leroy Spradlin of Wedowee; and a granddaughter, Michalia Spradlin. Pallbearers will be Ed Creed, Ryan Spradlin, Joey Whaley, Franky Waters, Eric Dye, and Tony Brown. Mr. Spradlin was a native of LaGrange, and was employed in produce sales.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Audrey Spradlin and three infant children, Travis Curtis Spradlin Timothy Spradlin, and Tina Spradlin. Waid Services for John A. Waid, 85, of 88 Pinson Road, Anniston will be announced by Gray Brown-Service Mortuary and Crematory, Mr Waid died Friday at Regional Medical Center. UAB to conduct study on ways to combat cancer in minorities Associated Press "Martin Luther King Jr. said of all the disparities that occur between blacks and whites in this country, the greatest disparity between black and white is health," Partridge said.

"There is no reason to have a disparity in mortality rates between blacks and whites." Partridge said scientists suspect poverty and a lack of education contribute to the gap. The poor are Jess likely to seek health care, and there are many residents of the Black Belt who have never seen a doctor, he said. Dr. Mona Fouad, a principal investigator in the UAB program, said the network will reach out to people who otherwise would not seek help. Volunteers will work through clinics, civic groups and even churches to get black women to clinics for mammograms and get them back for follow-up visits, she said.

"The (volunteers) can really be a source to navigate women through the health care system," she said. The program also will work to enlist more blacks in clinical trials of cancer treatments. National Cancer Institute director Dr. Richard D. Klausner said 17 institutions nationwide will get 18 grants totaling $60 million over five.

years. The national program, called The Special Populations Networks for Cancer Awareness Research and Training, is intend; ed to build relationships between research institutions and communities, he said. BIRMINGHAM The University of Alabama at Birmingham will establish a network of volunteers to try to find out why blacks are more likely than whites to die of cancer. The study, to be funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute, is part of a $60 million nationwide program announced Thursday to combat cancer in minorities. The Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta also will take part in the federal program.

UAB's Deep South Network for Cancer Control will train 600 to 700 volunteers to raise cancer awareness, help run studies of cancer among blacks and work to narrow the gap between blacks and whites. The cancer institute says 27 percent more blacks with cancer die than whites. The gap is widest for breast cancer, prostate cancer and cervical cancer, and is especially bad in areas such as Alabama's Black Belt, where the population is predominantly black and poor. UAB will get as much as $6 million over five years for its part of the program, which also will study cancer in minorities in Birmingham and in Hattiesburg, Miss. Dr.

Edward Partridge, who will run UAB's part of the program, said there is no biological reason why blacks should die from cancer at a higher rate than whites. Joe Rock, co-writer of 'Since I Don't Have You', dies Associated Press Baptist Hospital, wrote the lyrics to the ballad. Jimmy Beaumont, lead vocalist for The Skyliners, wrote the melody. Roc as manager of The Skyliners. who recorded the first hit of the song in 1959.

1 The song earned new life when it was included on the "American Graffiti" soundtrack in 1974. It also has been recorded by Art Garfunkel, Don McLean, Chuck Jackson, Eddie Holman, Ronnie Milsap, Guns N' Roses, Johnny Mathis, the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Barbra Streisand. Rock is survived by three sisters. A memorial service was set for Saturday in Scott, Pa. NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Joe Rock, who co-wrote the classic song "Since I Don't Have You," has died following complications from quadruple bypass surgery. He was 63. Rock, who died Tuesday in.