The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • Page 12

a a a a a a a a a a 4B Wednesday, January 12, 2005 The Anniston Star Anniston BOE approves bid to renovate high school field house Anniston High School football players can stash away any electric fans they may have reserved for future workout sessions. They'll have air conditioning in their weight room this year. The Anniston City Board of Education on Tuesday approved $223.828 bid to renovate Anniston High's football field house at Chink Lott Memorial Stadium. BY JOSEPH LORD Star Staff Writer The decision came during a special meeting set specifically to discuss the field house renovations. The board discussed the renovations during last month's meeting without making a decision.

The board voted 4-1, with member Bill Robison opposed. The renovations will include new lighting, updated showers and heating and air-conditioning system, among other improvements, superintendent Sammy Lee Felton said. Three companies submitted bids for the renovation. Kilgore Construction Co. of DeArmanville was awarded the contract.

The project should take about 90 days to complete, said Daniel Parker, an architect from Birmingham-based McCauley Associates. Parker didn't know when the work will begin. but he told the board that the contractor could schedule work around spring football practice if needed. The board had the option to Weaver abolishes Civil Service Board BY CYNTHIA MALAKASIS Star Staff Writer WEAVER The Weaver City Council voted to abolish its Civil Service Board Tuesday evening. According to the text of the resolution passed by the council, "it has been almost impossible to get board members to serve and do their duties," and "the board has not been able to supply the personnel to fill open positions." The resolution also said the cost of the board is prohibitive for the city.

and elected officials able to handle personnel issues. The resolution is an official. request to the Legislature to abolish the board during the 2005 legislative session. In other matters, councilwoman Sheila Field offered a motion to prohibit open burning of organic matter. Such a rule exists at the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, but is not enforceable in municipalities.

Field said she had been contacted by Weaver residents who complaining about neighbors' open burning. Her motion died for lack of a second. He also said he has bought and will put up two signs congratulating the Weaver High School football team for its first undefeated 10-0 season on a 3A Regions Championship. The signs, white with red letters, will be put up at the city's entrances. The cost for the signs was $125, he said.

Weaver's next council meeting will be 7 p.m. Jan. 25. 'Listening posts' another sign Siegelman might run for governor Speculation is growing that former Gov. Don Siegelman will run again for governor in 2006 because he is planning a series of posts' beginning Jan.

19 in Huntsville. Joe Reed, vice chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party, said there's no question about what's on Siegelman's mind. "He's going to run again if he's breathing," Reed said Tuesday. Siegelman said he's not at that point yet. He began using the listening sessions in 1985 to find out what was on voters' minds, and he said Tuesday he plans to conduct several over the next few months.

"I'd like to find out what people think about the state of the state," the former Democratic governor said. Talk about a political comeback for Siegelman has been growing since October, when federal conspiracy and fraud charges against him were dismissed. Siegelman sent a message to friends and supporters across the state Monday saying the Huntsville appearance will be "my first Governor's Listening Post." He outlined several issues he wants to discuss, including school funding, a state lottery, teachers' pay, and the creation of high-tech jobs. All of those were issues either in his successful 1998 campaign for governor or his 2002 re-election campaign, when he narrowly lost to Republican Bob Riley. Siegelman's appearance in Huntsville is in conjunction with a meeting of the Rocket City Democrats.

Meeting organizer Pam Miles said Siegelman has not told her what he plans to do in 2006, but she thinks he would make "an outstanding choice." Miles. who owns a computer business, said she sees the impact of Siegelman's four-year term every day when she looks at the new schools and industries that were built in Huntsville. Jess Brown, a political scientist at Athens State University, said listening sessions have proven to be an effective way for Siegelman to connect with voters. "It's a low way for him to build a grassroots network if he runs again," Brown said. Siegelman said he thoroughly enjoyed his four years as governor.

but one consideration about running again is that a campaign would fall during the senior year in high school for his youngest child, Joseph. Siegelman said he questions how much time he should spend away from home during that year. Anniston: Little trying to appeal judge's decision Continued from Page 1B BY PHILLIP RAWLS Associated Press for houses on the city's a abatement list after the council ordered him to do so. "It was really the straw that broke the camel's back." Little said. Anniston Mayor Chip Howell said he did not recall the council ordering Seymour to take that action.

"You must have a short memory," Little said. Little was given three minutes to discuss his claim. The council took no action afterward. Seymour said after the council meeting that the city is moving ahead on dealing with substandard structures. During the council's premeeting, Seymour had given an update on the abatement process.

Little was not at the premeeting. Seymour reported that already in the current fiscal year, 20 substandard homes have been abated by demolition or by being brought up to code by their owners. He expects 10 more abatements by the end of February, he said. The city budgeted $100,000 to deal with substandard homes during fiscal 2005. Seymour said about $24,000 is left for the remainder of the year.

If the city does abate 30 homes by the end of February, Seymour told the council, it will have surpassed the average of 29 homes the city has abated in each of the past four years. Seymour said the council approval had ordered him to move forward with the abatement process. That can be done by other methods besides awarding bids, he said. Sometimes homeowners can do the repairs themselves or pay for the demolition themselves, he said. The city sometimes handles demolition with its own workers instead of bidding the project out.

Before his proposal to do away with the city manager form of government, Little proposed that the city hire an attorney to represent taxpayers. Little is trying to appeal a decision handed down Monday by Circuit Court Judge Malcolm Street that validates a lease- -incentive agreement between the city and IRS Properties for a shopping center development just north of the Lenlock Wal-Mart. Little said he learned that the district attorney who represented the taxpayers in that case does not handle the appeal. He said the city should pay for an attorney to represent the taxpayers. Little withdrew his motion after Councilman Herbert Palmore asked that the council take some time to discuss and research the motion.

Little testified in court that the agreement was unfair and the city should invest the same "sweetheart deals" into other parts of the city. Under the agreement validated by the court, the city would lease a parking lot from IRS Properties for $420,000. The money would be paid after the construction of the parking lot and surrounding shopping center are completed. The city would pay for the lease through sales taxes generated from future tenants of the shopping center. Little and Palmore voted against the lease incentive Dec.

7. Contact Brandy Warren at or 235-3548. Wilson: Graduate of Dartmouth, Harvard Continued from Page 1B "He could remember way back He was a graduate of Dartwhat he did, where he was," mouth College and Harvard GradHis love for reading made him Rilling said. uate School. He taught English at an active member of the local His favorite memory of Wilson George Washington University, library, Klinefelter said.

was of a time when Wilson reluc- Rice University and Rutgers ColBut his activism also embraced tantly agreed to take in a kitten. lege before and after World War II. United Way and his own neigh- "He ended up doting on that He is survived by a son, Peter borhood on Christine Avenue, said kitten," Rilling said. "He really Wilson, and several nieces and neighbor Paul Rilling. warmed up to that little fellow." nephews.

Rilling said Wilson was vocal Wilson, a Washington, D.C., The Anniston-Calhoun Counabout forestalling rezoning that native, served in the military from Public Library will have a ty would allow businesses to come in 1941 to 1956. Most of his service memorial service in his at 2 honor and spoil his neighborhood's resi- was spent on Edgewood Arsenal p.m., Jan. 23. dential character. with the Chemical Warfare Miller Funeral Home is in He described Wilson as a School, which was transferred to friendly, supportive neighbor with Fort McClellan in 1951.

Wilson charge of arrangements. an exceptional memory and a love stayed with civil service employ- Contact Cynthia Malakasis at for walking and for classical ment until his final retirement in music. 1973. or 235-3551. have the renovations done without air conditioning the weight room.

Parker said. Most of the board's questions to Parker during the hour-long meeting centered on the air-conditioning system. "If someone gets too hot on the football field, we need to get them inside and into air conditioning," board chairwoman Vivian Thompson said during the meeting. Robison agreed, but added that players would probably not be going directly to a weight room after practices. "I've got massive concerns with this air-conditioning money." Robison said during the meeting.

"It's got nothing to do with not having air Robison argued that the airconditioning package and a firealarm system were too costly. He said he also wanted subcontractors to bid on the components of the renovations, saying such a move would have held down costs. But in the end, the board chose to accept the full package. The field house renoyations are part of a greater stadium renovation project, which has already replaced seating and made other improvements to the facility. Felton said.

The next phase will install a track around the stadium's field. Bids for the track are expected in March. Felton said. Student civil rights pioneer James Forman dead at 76 BY JEFFREY MCMURRAY Associated Press WASHINGTON James Forman, a nonviolent activist who inspired the students of the civil rights movement similarly to the. way Martin Luther King Jr.

inspired the adults, has died of colon cancer, his son said Tuesday. He was 76. Forman died at 11:20 p.m. Monday at a hospice in Washington. where he has lived for several years.

Forman's son, Chaka Esmond Fanon Forman, said his father had been fighting cancer since 1991 and was surrounded by friends and family members when he died. "He went very peacefully just stopped breathing." Forman Brannock ASHLAND Services for William A. "Billy" Brannock. 61. of Ashland will be 11 a.m.

Thursday at Clay County Funeral Home with Revs. David Holcombe and Dennis Gisel officiating. Burial will be in Concord Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends tonight at the funeral home. Mr.

Brannock died Monday at his home. Survivors include a brother. James Brannock of Cleveland. and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Davey Holcombe, Sam 1 Morrow, Doug Holcombe.

Dale Holcombe. John Williams. Joey Brannock. Jamie Brannock and Dewayne Gunter. Mr.

Brannock, a Clay County native and lifelong resident, was a member of Shirey's Mill Assembly of God Church. He had been employed at Foster's Upholstery Shop. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Floyd and Lacy S. Brannock; and a brother, Therrell Brannock. Chatman MUNFORD Services for Evelina "Speakie" Jones Chatman.

86. of Talladega will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Kelly Springs Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Jacobs officiating. Burial will be in Kelly Springs Memorial Garden with Terry's Metropolitan Mortuary in charge.

The family will receive friends 6- 7 tonight. The body will be at the church an hour prior to services. Mrs. Chatman died Thursday at her home. Survivors include her husband, M.C.

Chatman; four daughters, Louella Lewis, Everlina Gooden and Evangelist Anna Chatman, all of Munford, and Mary Smoot of Talladega; two sons, Melvin Chatman of Talladega and Henry Chatman of Oxford: 32 grandchildren, 61 great-grandchildren, and 16 great-greatgrandchildren. Pallbearers will be grandsons. Mrs. Chatman, a former member of Kelly Springs Missionary Baptist Church, was a member of The Ark of Safety Church. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Sarah Lou Chatman Bagley and Mary Alice Chatman McLeod; and her parents, Hugh Jones Mattie Lou Combs Jones English.

Dalrymple ALEXANDER CITY -Ser- vices for Mary Adell Dalrymple, 84, of Alexander City will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Quattlebaum Funeral Home in Roanoke with Rev. Ridley Parmer officiating. Burial will be in Bethel East Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.

Mrs. Dalrymple died Monday at Russell Medical Center. Survivors include two daughters, Jeanette Raymond and her husband, Howard, of Dadeville said in an interview with The Associated Press. "He was in no pain and no A native of Chicago' who grew up in Mississippi. Forman was a principal organizer of the 1963 March on Washington and the Freedom Rides in which blacks rode across the South as a way to make sure buses were integrated as ordered by the courts.

In 1961. he joined the Student Coordinating Committee and was. elected its executive secretary one week later. Even though he was actually slightly order than King, many students in the group looked to Forman as their true inspirational leader. Although both the student group and King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference were OBITUARIES and Katherene D.

House of Forest Park. a brother: William Hendley of Roanoke: and three grandchildren. Tammy Higgins and her husband. Gary, Brandon Gautney and Jason Gautney. Pallbearers will be Gene Ford, Gary Dalrymple.

John Higgins, Ken Rosenberg. Winfred Smith and Harl White. Mrs. Dalrymple. a Randolph County native.

was a member of Whitfield Methodist Church in Montgomery. She retired from Handley Mills as a textile weaver. She was preceded in death by her husband. Varnell Dalrymple. Hardy LINEVILLE Services for Ida Hardy.

98. of Lineville will be announced by Rest In Peace Funeral Service in Lineville. Ms. Hardy died Tuesday at her home. Hosey SAND ROCK Services for Judith Ann Gilliland Hosey, 45, of Sand Rock will be 2 p.m.

Thursday at Perry Funeral Home in Centre with Rev. Melvyn Salter officiating. Burial will be in Cherokee Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends 5-8 tonight at the funeral home. Mrs.

Hosey died Monday at her home. Survivors include her husband. Rev. Scott Hosey; a daughter, Jenna Hosey of Sand Rock: a son, Zach Hosey of Sand Rock: her parents, James and Joyce Gilliland of Centre; and a brother, Jim Gilliland of Sardis. Pallbearers will be Stevie Gilliland, Brian Mackey.

Charles Graves, Terry Kisor, Chris Dorsett, Scott Norris and Mike Davis. Mrs. Hosey, a Jefferson County native, was a member of Sand Rock Baptist Church. The family will accept flowers, or contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Jones HOMESTEAD, N.Y.

Services for Rosa M. Jones. 74. of Homestead, N. Y.

will be announced by Anniston Funeral Service. Mrs. Jones died Sunday in Homestead. Morris NAPLES, -S Services for George Morris, 50, of Naples, formerly of Clay County, will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Benefield Funeral Home in Ashland Steve Young officiating.

dial will be in Clay County Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends 5-8 tonight and until service time Thursday at the funeral home. Mr. Morris died Saturday at North Collier Hospital in Naples. Survivors include a daughter and her husband, Jodi and Ryan Rector of Etowah, N.C.; a son, Nick Morris of Brevard, N.C.; a sister and her husband, Glenda fighting in the same struggle, there was also some friendly competition.

Often the students would organize demonstrations and take positions that went beyond those advocated by King. For example, when Mississippi tried to send an all-white delegation to the 1964 Democratic convention. Forman was far more outspoken than King about the "compromise" that allowed two -large votes for black delegates. SNCC helped organize a protest in Atlantic City, N.J., where the convention was held that nominated President Lyndon Johnson. He remained active in promoting the cause of blacks throughout his career, including traveling to Africa and Europe on behalf of the Black Panther Party.

and Ricky Young of Ashland; and his girlfriend. Lisa Roso of Naples. Pallbearers will be Mike Colburn. Jimmy Aldridge, Brad Marcum, Mike Whitmire, Dewey Parsons. Don Parsons.

Stan Smith and Jimmy Smith. Mr. Morris, a Clay County native. was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ashland. He had worked.

in Cable TV construction, 'as a Lineville police officer, and at Mastec Fiber Communications Company in Naples. He was preceded in death by his parents, Max and Nola Morris. Sterzel WEAVER Services for Rudolph Sterzel. 77, of Weaver will be announced by Anniston Memorial Funeral Home. Mr.

Sterzel died Tuesday at his home. WEDOWEE Services for Gladys Simpson Traylor, 94. of Wedowee will be 1 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church of Wedowee with Revs. Harris Hand and Gary Henderson officiating.

Burial will be in Pine Hill Christian Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends 4-8 p.m. today at Benefield Funeral Home in Wedowee. The body will be at the church an hour prior to services. Mrs.

Traylor died Sunday at Lineville Nursing Facility. Survivors include a daughter and her husband, Betty and Preston Williamson of Marietta, two sons, Sam Traylor of Odell, Calif. and Bill Traylor and his wife, Linda, of Wedowee; a brother, Bud Simpson of Bowdon, six grandchildren, Tammy Weaver, Pam Johnson, Patricia McDaniel, Pat Traylor, Allen Williamson and Cindy Hupert. Pallbearers will be Tim Iverson, J.R. Traylor, Roger Hammett, Jackie Whaley, Jr.

McCain and Robert Eason Jr. Mrs. a Randolph. County native, was a member of First United Methodist Church of Wedowee. She retired from the Randolph County Board of Education as a truant officer.

She had been' manager of the Senior Citizen Center, and a member of the Wedowee Senior Citizens Garden Club, Wedowee Garden Club and United Methodist Church Women's Night Circle. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert H. Traylor; a grandchild, and a great-grandchild. Wilson Services for Douglas Wilson, 94, of Anniston will be announced by Miller Funeral Home in Oxford. Mr.

Wilson died Monday at Regional Medical Center..