The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 1

Dolly Parton tapped to host CM A Awards Dow gains 43.03 for post-crash high ID 7B CDpvriuhl im, ThelLNNESSEAN Second class postage paid al Nttshullc.TN J. A Gannett Newspaper 4 Svctiuns olume KN. 151 Vaslnilli', Ti'iimv" 1 1 5J? Hey Vern! Ernest TTJ needs iguana for TV Id Hot and then some ft. 'Billions' in defense deals probed Escapees suspected in killings Elderly couple found dead in mobile home 'i I .2 i .1 TIM AIIFRN WASHINGTON The Pentagon corruption investigation focuses on 75-100 defense contracts worth "teas of billions of dollars," the chief prosecutor told congressional leaders yesterday. He also said indictments might not be returned until after the November election.

"A lot of individuals are involved and people will be shocked when they hear all the Information." said Sen. Strom Thurmond. after hearing from prosecutor Henry Hudson. "It appears they have very good evidence." A major figure in the probe, Deputy Assistant Navy Secretary James Gaines, is cooperating with authorities by providing information, sources told the Associated Press. Gaines' phone was tapped by the FBI as part of the investigation.

ABC News cited sources as saying authorities have made no deal with Gaines for lenient treatment in a possible prosecution, but they expect thit later. Hudson, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia made an unusual trip across the Potomac River from his office in Alexandria Va. for two closed-door briefings of House and Senate leaders on the case which has caught Washington's full-time attention. Hudson said the investigation is pursuing three areas ot potential misconduct, chiefly involving the sale of iaside information by private consultants who were acting as middlemen between the Pentagon and defense contractors, said House Speaker Jim Wright, D-Texas.

The prosecutor said it was possible no indictments would be returned until after the Nov. 8 election. "I'm hopeful that if indictments are appropriate in the case, they will be secured by the end of the year." he said. "If we can proceed at a faster pace, we'll attempt to do it." Attorney General Edwin Meese III said last week he expected indictments in 30-90 days. Rep.

John Dingcll. said Hudson told the House group that 75-100 contracts are under scrutiny in the 2-year-long The total value of the contracts is in the "tens of billions of dollars," he said. Mike DuBose Malt Metro fircfiuhter Ron Robinson recovers from Ihe Yesterday's 100-dcgrcc Heather added to the intense heat while fijjhting a house Tire at 248 Spence Ijne. heat from the blae. Heat poses health danger CYNTIIIA FLOYD and JOHNNY V.

BROOKS SiaJJ Hritrn PATRICIA FFRRIFR iirtr Hrtler An elderly former Nashville couple was found dead yesterday In their retirement home near Dover, and authorities suspect escapees from a Kentucky prison may be connected to their deaths. Two of the escapees including one whose fingerprints were found Sunday on a garage wall in Dover were captured in Taylor County. Ky after a brief exchange of gunfire with Kentucky State Police. The bodies of Buford (Slick) Vester 71, and his wife. Myrtle Estelle.

69, were found about 1 p.m. yesterday by a neighbor at the Leatherwood Resort, a retirement and summer home community, said Stewart County Sheriff David Hicks. Both victims suffered fatal shotgun wounds, Investigators said. "We believe the escapees are linked to it," Deputy Sheriff Kenneth Anderson said. "We don't gel murders here very often we've only had one in 1 0 years.

And the Vesters lived approximately two to three miles from where an escapee stole a car Sunday." Ronnie Hudson. 29, and Joseph Montgomery. 27, were arrested at 7:21 p.m. in a field about two miles cast of Campbellsville, Ky. They were only 300 feet from a temporary command post state police set up in the Robinson Creek Baptist Church parking lot.

Children playing softball behind the church had spotted them crawling through the field and alerted police. The Vesters, ho ran Vester's Hotel and Vester's Liquor Store before retiring to the wooded community on Kentucky Lake more than 1 0 years ago, were supposed to have visited their son, Wayne, in Nashville Monday, a friend said. When they failed to show up. he contacted a neighbor who found the bodies in their mobile home. The bodies were expected to be taken last night to the Davidson County medical examiner's office, where autopsies were to be performed today.

Officers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation were called in to assist in the investigation. An all-points bulletin was issued for the Vesters' maroon 1985 Pontiac Bonneville, believed stolen by the killers. The car's license tag is 843-K14. Turn to PAC-F 6A, Column 3 RLNFF F.I.DKK ami TAMMIF SMITH Stall Hrnrrs Middle Tennesseans are searching for ways to keep cool despite a scorching drought and lOu-degree temperatures that could pose health threats to small children and the elderly. People as well as crops are suffering from the history-making dry spellheat wave that has enveloped the area.

Physicians urge residents to stay indoors until it cools off. "You can't do the things you normally do in this type of weather your body can't stand the heat," said Paul Aurbach. head of emergency services at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The temperature hit 1 00 degrees the high for the day at about 3:30 p.m. yesterday, tying the all-time record for this day, which was set in 1944.

It was the second straight day of 1 00-de- ral Service to receive faas, said Martha Brandon, the agency's director. "These are people who have no air conditioning, many of whom live in housing projects," she said. "We need more fans, definitely." Heat stroke is the most dangerous heat-related illness. Aurbach warned against prolonged stays in overheated rooms or direct sunlight. "People who can't cool down are at risk," he said.

Heat stroke occurs when the body loses the ability to control its own temperature, which can then soar as high as 1 10 degrees. Relief from the heat and prompt medical attention is required. A "shaded environment" combined with fans and air conditioners is the best way to keep body temperature down, he Aurbach said. I I urn to 6A, Column I gree temperatures, the first such weather in more than two years. No rain was recorded in the Nashville area yesterday, said National Weather Service meteorologist Derrell Martin.

No rain has fallen in the county since June 9, and Nashville's rain deficit for the year has reached 13.8 inches. Martin said the city is one of the nation's hardest hit by the drought. Perry, Hickman, Grundy, Sequatchie and Franklin counties received scattered showers late yesterday, but the rest of Middle Tennessee remains "hot and dusty," he said. "Small children, older people and people with chronic diseases are much more prone to heat-related problems," Aurbach said. "They don't control their body temperatures as well." Among those at risk are some 50 elderly, low-income Nashvillians on a waiting list at the Mayor's Information and Refer I 14 Column 4 NRA calls Casey's handgun ad lies' II RRV McCXSKH I.

Stall The National Rifle Association calls Metro Police Chief Joe Casey's endorsement of stricter controls on handgun purchases "lies and distortioas" of the group's position on firearms. "Probably the most disappointing thing in American politics is someone not telling the truth," a five-page letter sent last week to NRA members begins. "The recent ad Nashville Police Chief Casey ran for Handgun Control, is full of half-truths and lies about the National Rifle Association." The letter then asks NRA members to write Mayor Bill Boner "so that he is well aware that Chief Casey his employee is way off base." Gisey. a former patrol officer who has been police chief for about 1 5 years, said yesterday he expected the NRA to be after him following his recent endorsement of the so-called "Brady bill." "I expected it, but that didn't keep me from doing what I thought was right and what I still think is right," Casey, 61 said. "They've done it anywhere when someone says something they don't agree with.

It's their tactics." Casey, president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, went to Washington, June 6 to officially endorse the bill nicknamed for former HIGH 98 low 72 See 6A i Heather Stone Stall Will Blum, 3, in an attempt to do something about the brother. Jack, 7, on their lawn at their house at 4603 scortching weather, points a stream of cool water at his Park Ate. Three options emerging in tax hike debate I urntoPK.r. 14 Column 4 Teen found guilty of killing youth KIRK I fXiGlVS Stall Urilcr Robert Roger Brewington 1 7, was convicted yesterday of kidnapping, robbing and murdering Kerrick Majors, 1 4, after Majors and several friends allegedly damaged "junk" at a makeshift roadside flea market. A Criminal Court jury of seven women and five men deliberated for an hour and 20 minutes before finding Brewington guilty of all charges agaiast him.

The first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic life prison sentence, and Brewington faces additional sentences of 30-75 years for aggravated kidnapping and armed robbery. Brewington, who was a full-grown 1 6-year-old runaway when Majors was tortured and killed April 26, 1987, showed no emotion when the guilty verdict was read yesterday afternoon. Defease attorney Joe Binkley Sr. said in his closing argument to the jury that Brewington, who was raised in a series of foster homes, never received the "love and affection" necessary to develop a moral sense. "Without it.

feelings do not exist." Binkley told the jury. Binkley acknowledged that Brewington had no defense to the charges, since the youth confessed his involvement in the crime on the night after Majors was killed. But Binkley attempted to shift the primary responsibility for the torture and murder of Majors to Donald THIS SECTION Editorials 16-171A Metro State News 18-19A National News 13-15A Newsmakers 3A Washington News. 8.12A World News 2.4-5.7A SECTION Metro State 1-48 Deaths 3B Movies 2-3B Business 5-7B Stock Tables 6-7B Wall Street 7B SECTION Sports 1-10C Scoreboard 2C Classified 11-21C SECTION Style 1-6D Comics 3D Crossword 5D Horoscope 5D Television 4-5D anced and have each item listed line by line. Ironically, under Robert's Rules of Order, parliamentary procedure will only allow two substitute budget ordinances to be filed.

Between now and Tuesday, the three groups emerging will be fighting to collect promises of support from 21 council members, the number needed to approve a budget. According to council and administrative sources, the three emerging proposals are: A no-tax-hike budget with across-the-board cuts in all departments. Williams has asked this budget be filed, and some speculate he has the support of 1 1-17 council members. "I want to be respoasible about it," Williams said. Turn to PACK 6 Column 3 GAIL McKNIGIlT and ANNF.

PAINF. Staff Writers Councilman Rod Williams has asked that a no-tax-hike budget be drawn up, while Vice Mayor David Scobey and an estimated 20 council members are reportedly favoring a 60-cent increase. With the council's time to form a consensus dwindling. Mayor Bill Boner reportedly began one-on-one meetings yesterday with members to find support for a 95-cent tax hike 48 cents below his original request of $1.43 per $100 of assessed value. "There is not a budget that has been put together that has a consensus of the Budget and Finance Committee at this point," said Tim Garrett, chairman of that key commit tee.

"We're still saying $1.43 will give us the budget we need," Boner said last night "To say I'm producing a second budget is totally inaccurate. We have realized we can't get 21 votes for 1.43. If they can't support a 1 .43, what can they support?" Councilwoman Thelma Harper kind of wait and see. With all the programs being proposed, I wonder what's going to be cutout" The council must pass a budget before midnight June 30, or the mayor's proposed $717 million budget and the $1.43 tax hike will be approved by default. A council meeting is set for Tuesday night and three optional budgets may be offered.

To offer a substitute budget, it must be bal Turn to PACK 6A, Column 6.