The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 69

I) 12 THE TENNES3EANf Thuwaov. January 31, 1980 Conditions, Drugs Cited State Women Inmates Planning Protest ua a-ooi on pursuing Warren School Case mates at the facility complained in the past il I- .1 i i i ni (Continued From Pf ll encouraging and instigating the in-mates into staging some type of demonstration, vwhich is very irresponsible. the prison, has been working on the prison's night shift since her return to work. "There are no grounds for their charges' whatsoever," the warden said. "In the first case, the employee was found sleeping on the job twice.

If a fire had occurred while she was asleep, it's no telling how many lives could have been lost." She added that in the second case the woman, who admitted being careless and permitted liquor to get in the prison, was placed on the night shift because she has never worked that shift before. "ON THE night shift there are presently two whites and two blacks," the warden said. Concerning the inmates' charge that the amount of drugs getting inside the women's prison is increasing, Deputy Correction Commissioner Robert Morford said during the last 11 months he has not heard of or seen any more drugs there than at other state penal facilities. "I get no sense that the drug problem there is out of hand," Morford added. "But the use of narcotics is a problem at any penal 1 -v," GET definite proof that an employee or some employees are doing this, I will recom-mend that individual's or those employees' firing C-to the commissioner of correction," Mrs.

Bern-X liardt added. According to Mrs. Ware, who is serving a -20-year sentence from Tipton County for second- degree murder, and Delthea Graves, serving an M- to 85-year sentence for first-degree murder nd second-degree murder, inmates at the women's prison are also not planning to go to -Zxvork tomorrow. "We want to protest the high amount of drugs inside the prison and also black employees Jgetting fired and being put on the night shift," riwrs. Ware, the mother of seven children, said.

"Also, there are a number of other little items we want something done about." MRS. WARE, who also said there is a lack of quality jobs for long term prisoners, said in- inruugn meir resiaem aavisors mrs. Bernhardt about problems at the institution. "Sometimes you can talk to the warden and she'll say one thing and do another," the inmate added. "We feel now that the best way to get anything done about conditions here is to do it on our own." Mrs.

Ware, who said she killed another woman with a knife during a fight over her fiance, added that the protest demonstration is to also show the public that "we need help out here. "THEY ARE talking about putting three Eeople to a room because it's so overcrowded ere," she said. "And rules from the Correction Department's central office say we can't have powder or perfume." The women's prison was designed for 115 inmates, but presently more than 200 women are being housed there. Although she did not directly say that the prison's dormitory matrons have urged the inmates to stage their protest, Miss Graves did say that the inmates are "being used." A "I FEEL LIKE we're being used by the staff members:" said Miss Graves, who is serving her sentence far crimes she committed in Shelby County. "If they want somebody in trouble, then they will tell us what somebody else said or done about different things that go on here.

It causes a lot of problems. And it makes living here hard." Miss Graves added, "All I want to do is my time and get the hell out of here." The inmate said she believes 90 to 100 of the inmates at the prison will participate in tomorrow's protest. "WE NEED TO make somebody aware of the problems that we have out here," she said. "Drugs are coming in from staff members, visitors, over-the-fence and everywhere. "We've never seen the commissioner.

And I think it would be helpful if he came out here for a talk. He wauld have to be very busy to not be concerned or unaware af the things that are going on here." According to Mrs Bernhardt, all the talk about a protest demonstration probably stems from her decision not to hire a black female employee who had been working on probationary status as most state employees work when they come into the system. SHE ADDED that the inmates have also apparently sided with another black female employee who, after being suspended for three days for allowing a visitor to bring liquor inside general charges, including alleged misuse of school property and student project funds. "I personally feel that the best interests would have been served if all this had been conducted in accordance with the law, the Sunshine Law," Rogers said. Paycheck Ordered To Pick Up Tab In Ferguson Case (Continued From Page 11) FERGUSON COULD not be reached for comment last night.

Swiggart's decision may be the first battle in a long war between Ferguson and Paycheck. They are suing each other in another court battle, to be heard later this year, over Ferguson's managerial contract with the country singer and songwriter. Paycheck is claiming that Ferguson did not properly manage the singer's money, while Ferguson is claiming that Paycheck illegally broke the management contract and is asking for $500,000 in damages. IN ANOTHER COUNTRY music court battle, Chancellor Ben Can-trell ruled yesterday that Loretta Lynn and her former management company, the Wil-Helm Agency, owned by the Wilburn Brothers, are financially even with each other. The suit, filed in 1971 by the Wil-Helm Agency, asked for $5 million from Miss Lynn, saying she broke her contract by leaving the group and striking out on her own.

Lynn filed a counter suit-, claiming that she had been poorly managed. "After sifting through the proof," Cantrell said, "the court concludes that the claims of the parties off-set each other and should be proof shows that the defendant (Miss Lynn) was being booked at a fee of $2,500 to $4,000 per an artist of her stature should have commanded a much higher figure. In addition, the failure to expose her to national television ana the stress of the conditions under which she worked result in damages that are reasonably certain and should off-set the plaintiff's claim." McMINNVILLE, Tenn, -District Attorney General Charles S. (Buck) Ramsey said yesterday there will be no criminal prosecution of veteran educator Thomas L. Pedigo unless school officials provide "hard evidence." The Warren County Board of School Commissioners voted Tuesday night that Pedigo, who once served as schools superintendent, be dismissed at the end of the current school year on charges of "misuse of school funds" and "improper use of student project funds.

RAMSEY SAID HIS office will not investigate the school board allegations unless he is "presented with hard evidence that such is warranted." Meanwhile, Manchester lawyer J. Stanley Rogers, representing Pedigo, said he will request a "full, public hearing" on the school board charges within 45 days and indicated he is prepared to take the matter to Chancery Court if Pedigo is not rehired. 1 Rogers was critical of the school board's investigation of Pedigo, which apparently took place over the past six weeks. The attorney indicated he would question whether the probe violated the state's open meetings law, commonly referred to as the Sunshine Law. THE INVESTIGATION was not conducted openly.

The school board, on Jan. 2, voted to transfer Pedigo from his position as principal of Northside School, where he had served since 1972, to assistant principal of Warren County Senior High School. In announcing the move, school board officials said only that it was "for the betterment of the school system." The decision to dismiss Pedigo was made after Schools Superintendent Joe Stewart presented the board a memorandum outlining five Peking Paper Says Criticized Plant Improves Beer Quality PEKING "(AP) The People's Daily says there has been a major improvement at a beer factory criticized in the paper a year ago for producing inferior beer. The paper said in 1978 that the factory leaders were pursuing high output value and profits at the expense of quality because people would buy the beer anyway for lack of any other supply. i 1 Vernell Wore "We need help" Delthea Graves "We're being used Brandt Studies Court Clerkship Election Suit made through his attorney, Charles Galbreath, that the next practicable election to fill the vacancy is the August election.

The May primary should remain strictly a primary because it is designated as such, McPherson contends. ON (THE other hand, Assistant State Attorney General Ken Herrell, representing the defendants, argued that the Constitution's intent is to have an election as soon as possible so that a special election need not be called. He also argued that voting- procedures, including ballots and voting booths, permit simultaneous participation in a primary and general election without infringing on voters' rights. At one point during Herrelf closing argument, Brandt questioned the state's attorney about election procedure allowing political parties to decide whether to choose a candidate by primary, caucus or convention. AS HERRELL answered, Gal breath made a loud popping noise.

It elicited no apparent response from Brandt. Confusion also was created when Herrell announced to the court that he had been told by Democratic Party officials that tonight's Democratic Executive Committee meeting had been called off. HERRELL SAID later he apparently misunderstood comments during a telephone conversa-lion after George Barrett, chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee, said the meeting will be held as scheduled in the Legislative Plaza. After yesterday's hearing, Galbreath announced his intentions to amend the complaint today, naming Barrett a defendant. The attorney said he wants a temporary injunction against tonight's action.

Defendants presently in the suit are the state's attorney general and the state election coordinator. seeks a declaration that the vacancy be filled in the August election rather than, as presently scheduled, in the May election. By filing the suit, McPherson apparently hoped to block an opponent, Sam McPherson, from capturing the lead in the race for the seat left vacant by the recent death of County Court Clerk Robert (Bobby) Wor-rall. Sam McPherson, who is not related to the councilman and who is an aide to Mayor Richard Fulton, is considered a leading contender in tonight's election of a Democratic nominee by the 70 members of the Davidson County Democratic Executive Cimmittee. UNLESS A legal ruling invalidates tonight's nominating procedure, the winner's name will appear as the Democratic Party's choice on a ballot.

If Brandt rules with McPherson, the ballot will be before the electorate in August. On the other hand, if he rules against McPherson, the winner's name will appear on the May ballot. The Davidson County Democratic Executive Committee scheduled the meeting at 7:30 tonight to select its nominee under nominating procedures for political parties when no primary is scheduled for the selection. It is McPherson's contention, MARSHA VANDE BERG Robert Brandt took "-fihder advisement yesterday a law-uit which seeks clarification of the -Tennessee Constitution's application on the timing of an election in Davidson County court clerkship face. The fact no ruling was handed down left unclear what will be the implications of tonight's scheduled 'election of a Democratic nominee for the post by the Davidson County Democratic Executive Committee.

"I BRANDT SAID a ruling will be issued "fairly soon." chancellor took the legal question under advisement after a which was marked by contusion over the plaintiff's purpose (or being in court, an apparent misunderstanding and an attorney who made a popping sound with his lps. 'JiThe legal question involved is whether the Tennessee Constitution's wording of "the next election" means a vacancy in an elective post will be filled during the election occurring immediately after the vacancy or in the next general election. BILL MCPHERSON, a Metro "councilman who is a candidate for County Court clerkship, has Traised the question in a suit which SHOP BEFORE YOU BUY, VJUY 12.408 NEW 1980 REGALS From '6207 Stock No. 561-564 EPA MPG 20 CITY, 27 HWY NEW 1900 SKYLARKS From 5907 Stock No. 549 EPAMPC 22CITY.34HWY 11.846 CURRENT RATE Jan.31-Feb.

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