The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 21

OCALN EWS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2002 Mb xmi in ttaOEs ror tthemne panrBs a fail Water attraction would be first step in project midstate bhefut World tobacco treaty hearing in Nashville Positions in the debate over a new worldwide treaty on tobacco control will emerge in a public hearing set for 9:15 am today at the downtown public library. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is being developed by the World Health Organi-zatioa The idea is to set up ways that countries worldwide can deal with issues such as tobacco smuggling, tobacco advertising and the effects of smoking on health. Nashville is one of three U.S. cities to hold hearings on the treaty. Middle Tennesseans and local groups, including the Campaign for a Healthy and Responsible Tennessee, will be taking part in today's hearing.

Former Environmental Protection Agency head Carol Browner will be on hand. The hearing is in Conference Room 1-B of the Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St is in or near Mt Juliet" Shearer said. "We don't have a detailed proposal. If too early to telL" The Nashville area has been without a major theme park since Opryland USA closed in 1997. Themeparks LLC had looked at building a $190 million theme park at a site in Nashville near The Coliseum.

The location was not pursued because of several issues, including the purchase of existing properties and how the project would fit with the city skyline. Themeparks also had asked Metro to guarantee $120 million in revenue bonds to be paid back from tax and parking revenue. The city expressed reservations about the arrangement because of the risk to taxpayers should the park "I think (Wilson County) understands the benefits of a publicprivate partnership," Hart said. "What we want is to build an exciting ride park in the Nashville metropolitan area. Opryland had a successful business despite the fact they weren't known for dramatic, big, exciting rides.

They were known as a 'show "With 21st century rides, people can conclude a park can do as welL if not better, than Opryland. Now we just have to find the right partnership." Staff Writer Richard Lawson contributed to this report. Andy Humbles covers Wilson County for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 726-5939 or ahumblesTennessean.com. By ANDY HUMBLES Staff Writer The Louisville, Ky company that withdrew plans for a $190 million theme park in downtown Nashville is considering Wilson County for a scaled-down versioa Themeparks LLC has been testing interest with Wilson County government officials for the past few months.

Instead of a fullblown park with roller coaster rides, the company would build a water park first and then expand, President and CEO Ed Hart said. All sides are only in the talking stage, and Hart said he was keeping other Middle Tennessee counties in mind. "But Wilson County is who we've had the most discussions with," Hart said. "But we're not down that road yet It's still very, very, very preliminary." Hart would not identify possible Wilson County locations. Nor did he indicate what other counties might be considered for the park.

Wilson County officials are taking a trip to Hot Springs, Arlc, to see firsthand Magic Springs and Crystal Falls, a twice-defunct amusement and water park that the company revived. Themeparks also owned Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville before selling it to Six Flags several years ago. Holly Sears, executive director of the Joint Economic and Community Development Board of Wilson County, said she would be among county representatives going to Magic Springs this weekend. "I think they are interested in coming to Middle Tennessee, period," Sears said. "They said they are looking at several sites in Wilson County.

But nothing is firm." Mt Juliet City Manager Rob Shearer said he also had a meeting with Themeparks LLC representatives. "We understand one of the sites A DKCI.A RATION lINlTkl) HI ATK OF AMKMICA, sftfcmu th ttM WM0ZZZZZZ I'M HV 4-' 9 Copy of Declaration coming in November A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence from its initial printing on July 4, 1776, will arrive in Nashville in November as part of a national "Declaration of Independence Road Trip." Owned by producer Norman Lear since June 2000, the "Dunlap broadside" is one of 24 copies produced by Philadelphia printer John Dunlap on the evening of July 4. An arrival ceremony is planned for Nov. 8. The exhibit will be on display at the Nashville Public Library from Nov.

9 until Nov. 2L Service academies' representatives at FRA Representatives from the US service academies will take part in an "Academy Day," set for Oct 5 at Franklin Road Academy, 4700 Franklin Road. Students who are interesting in attending one of the academies are invited to attend. Admissions liaison officers will be on hand from the VS. Military Academy at West Point, the VS.

Naval Academy at Annapolis, the VS. Air Force Academy, the VS. Coast Guard Academy and the VS. Merchant Marine Academy. Representatives of the Reserve Officer Training Corps and the Tennessee National Guard will also offer informatioa Registration is at 830 am; the program begins at 9 am VS Rep.

Bob Clement, who is a candidate for the VS. Senate, will act as host for the event for the 14th consecutive year, his office said. Chris Hutto works on the cafeteria windows at Station Camp High, a school under construction In Gallatin, the building wasn't ready for the beginning onto sdieT so the school opened in an alternate location. 1 Sumner gels ready for first magnet school -ma- 4 1 1 1 1 Merrol Hyde five-year plan Man behind the name While new schools often are named in memory of prominent people who have died, Merrol Hyde Magnet was named after the current and very much alive director of schools in Sumner County. Hyde became the county's last elected school superintendent in 1988 and served unta 1992.

when the county began appointing Its schools directors. He returned by aprxantmerrt In 1997 and continues to hold the position. Many of the county's schools are named after former elected superintendents, and Hyde tent the only one stil Irving. Benny Bills, for whom Benny Bills Elementary was named, is principal of Gallatin High. through nine and add two grades a year until it serves more than 700 snidents in kindergarten through 12th grade, will help manage some of that growth, Deputy Schwls By NICOLE GART0N Sin It rim HENDERSONVILLE Three times a week, fourth-grader Leah Loven leaves her classmates to seek greater challenges and more stimulating projects.

Although she's well-served by the gifted program at Indian Lake Elementary, her mom would like to see her in a school where she can encounter those challenges every day in her regular classroom a school where it's cool to be smart That's what Leslie Loven hopes her daughter will find at Merrol Hyde Magnet School, Sumner County's first academic magnet school, which will open next falL A magnet schcxil typically focuses on a specific area or subject and Ls designed to draw children from all over the public school system. Initially, magnet schools were a way to integrate urban schools. Now, systems offer them as an added choice INSIDE Midstate 2B Davidson Road construction 5B Obituaries Weather JOB EACH WEEK Sunday: Meetings calendar Monday: School news Wednesday: "Learn Nashville" Friday. Road construction update Saturday: Faith Values TO REACH OUR NEWSROOM Tommy Goldsmith, Assistant Managing Editor Local News, 259-8095 E-mail ncwstipiKennesscaacom USA NIPP STAFF Sevefitn-gradors Shala King, Lacey Rust and Matthew Murphy look for books to check out In the library at Knox Doss Middle in Hendersonville. Next year, Knox Doss wiP move to a new location, and the current building win be converted Into a magnet school for parents and a new avenue for students who need a tougher curriculum and higher expecta-tioas.

"Basically, in my opinion, magnet schools, if operated correctly, would be an asset in every system," said Schools Director Merrol Hyde, for whom the new schixl will be named. "I see it as a basic need for most systems that are our size." Though it's not the most rapidly growing Midstate county, Sumner's population swelled by 263 between l'WO and 2000. The school system usually sees an average of 200-300 new students a year, but this year that number increased to more than 800. The magnet school which will open with grades five Please "MASNET, 68 www.tennewan.coni Today's Kealities ii 4J.