The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 18

2B Thursday, August 14, 2003 THE TENNESSEAN www.tennessean.com 3 MIDSTATE MORGAN MACON Parole denied again for Indiana pair who killed farmer in '68 il ULiULL IS A 1 By MIKE MOSER Stale Correspondent PETROS, Tenn. Two Indiana ex-cons who shot to death a farmer as he begged for his life 35 years ago have again been denied parole. Michael George Phillips, 57, and James Frederick Slagle, 66, were turned down by the state Board of Probation and Parole at a hearing Monday at Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary Annex in Petros, I I i niTr fJ NINA LONG STAFF Hanging OUt Hilman Rice, left, 71, Jimmy Knight, 64, J.L Deckard, 76, Kenneth Hudson, 75, and Edse) Carter, 59, hang out in front of Bray's Farm Supply on Highway 56 in Red Boiling Springs. Term. The two men were convicted in the June 24, 1968, slaying of John Harrison Bradley, 20.

He was 'shot seven times with 32- and 22-caliber pistols as he begged for his life SLAGLE in 1968 RUTHERFORD incarcerated at Brushy Mountain, a maximum-security prison He said he was not surprised by the board's decision, even though he would have liked to go home to see his 86-year-old mother. "But when that sister of the boy I killed said, 'I forgive that was all I needed to hear. I am almost 67 years old. I know I won't ever get out of prison," said Slagle, who will be 67 on Sept. 23.

Slagle's next hearing is set for August 2023, and his sentence will end on Nov. 20, 2245, according to the prison system's Web site. Phillips' next parole hearing is set for August 2033, and his sentence will end on Jaa 2, 2123. He is incarcerated at Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City, Tenn. Slagle, from Muncie, Ind, showed remorse and accepted responsibility for his role in the shooting.

Phillips of Indianapolis rebutted testimony by children who were present when Bradley was killed and that of a woman who was kidnapped and threatened with rape and murder following Bradley's slaying. "I have got a bigger problem with you than I did with Slagle," parole board member Bill Dalton said to Phillips. "He kinda 'fessed up to what he did. But when a guy sits before the parole board with no memory or was too drunk to remember you are still not ready to face up to what you did. You're not there yet "You broke parole when you did it It don't get any worse than what you did, and then you killed another man." Phillips, who killed a fellow prison inmate several years ago that he said had tried to sexually assault him, was accompanied at the hearing by his parents, who spoke on his behalf.

No one appeared on behalf of Slagle. La Vergne police get 4-year grant to aid in teaching crime prevention TENNESSEE West Nile fears getting to you? Use spray now By LEON ALL1G00D Staff Writer State health officials have a message for Tennesseans: stem the spread of West Nile virus by spraying insect repellent early and oftea The reason for their concern is a report showing that the number of human cases increased threefold last week across the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventioa "We haven't had any cases in Tennessee, and we don't know what will happen here, but we expect that we will have human cases," said Diane Denton, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Health. "It's bound to be soon," said Dr. Tim Jones, deputy state epidemiologist. Fifty-six Tennesseans were diagnosed with West Nile virus last year.

State health officials are this year for two reasons. First this is the peak period in the West Nile virus cycle. "After the first week of August, the number of human cases began to escalate last year, and 65 of all human cases were seen in that next six-week period," Denton said. Second, the majority of cases reported have occurred in western states. According to Jones, 195 of the 367 human cases reported so far have occurred in Colorado, with an additional one-quarter of the total coming from other western states.

State officials are concerned that Tennesseans will become complacent, thinking West Nile virus is a western problem this year. "We don't want people thinking that and letting their guard down. You don't want to do that" Jones said. Residents can do several things to protect themselves, the officials said. Always wear insect repellent when outdoors, and be especially diligent between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, Denton said.

Sprays containing DEET as an active ingredient are recommended. The department also urges homeowners to walk around their houses and yards, looking for standing water, where mosquitoes can breed. "The kind of mosquitoes that spread West Nile virus only need a little bit of water to breed in," she said. "For the rest of the summer season it's very important for people to take measures to protect themselves because this is the time of season when people are at greatest risk of being infected," Denton said.1 Leon Alligood covere Tennessee for The Tennessean. Contact him a 615-259-8279 or by e-mail at lalligoodtennessean.com.

on his knees at a neighbor's home in the Big Lick community, about 10 miles south of Crossville. "I don't have the wisdom to decide what to do with this man," Bradley's sister, Karen Shanks, said of Slagle. "I do forgive him." More than a dozen of Bradley's family members and friends appeared at the hearing. "We all knew John Bradley well. He was the type of man you would have been proud to have as a son," said former state Sen.

Anna Belle Clement O'Brien, who lives five miles from the murder scene. "The kids in the community looked up to him. It was a senseless killing." At the time Bradley was killed, Slagle and Phillips were on parole from the Indiana prison system Slagle for a forgery conviction, Philips for an assault conviction stemming from a shootout with police. "I am probably the freest man in here. I am free (of) anger, jealousy resentment," Slagle said in an interview after the hearing.

He is with senior citizens to advise them about scam artists, who may pose as telemarketers. The officers will listen to the seniors' concerns, research them and present information on those concerns at the next meeting, McMillen said. Some portable computer equipment will be purchased to help with the child identification program, which will provide parents with identification cards of the children with a checklist of what should be done if their child should ever be missing. In additioa six-hour classes will be taught to educate and empower parents and children concerning abduction. City spokeswoman Angie Mayes said the programs did not reflect increased crime trends in those areas.

"We wanted to be proactive," she said. The programs are community services the Police Department wanted to provide and found a funding source to do so, she said. Classes for "Rape Aggression" Defense will begin next month, McMillen said. They will teach up to 880 women over the course of the grant to defend themselves against sexual assaults. According to the department there were 178 domestic assault calls and 19 sexual assaults reported in the city in 2002.

Police also will meet monthly By IAN DEMSKY Staff Writer The La Vergne Police Department has received a $70,000 grant aimed at teaching self-defense to women, child-abduction prevention to parents, and at preventing crimes against the elderly, officials said. The money, which will be disbursed over a four-year period, includes more than $52,000 in federal funds and $17,500 from the city. "These are all new programs," said Sgt. Carl McMillen. "It's really been a collaborative effort between the chief of police (Steve Lindsay), mayor and aldermen, and city administrator." POLK Mayor convicted of sending child porn on the Internet Associated Press wimm Thomas, a grandfather, said afterward that he would "probably step down as mayor of Copper-hill," the former hub of a copper mining operation about 50 miles northeast of Chattanooga The jury of nine men and three women deliberated less than two hours on the second day of the triaL The panel had stacks of government evidence hundreds of photos of nude children, some showing children in sex acts with other children and adults that Assistant U.S.

Attorney Gary Humble said were copied from records of the mayor's e-mail CHATTANOOGA A jury convicted Copperhill's mayor of possessing and sending child pornography on the Internet after they got a look at his e-mail records and his computer screen name: "Young Wanting." US. District Judge R. Allan allowed Mayor Robert Thomas, 62, to remain free on $50,000 bail pending a Dec 1 sentencing on the five-count indictment The conviction carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. account with MSN-TV. MSN-TV is a California-based Internet company that allows customers to receive and send e-mails using a modem connection and a televisioa The mayor, accompanied by his wife at the trial, has said he used the MSN-TV system at home.

He did not testify. Thomas, who became mayor after the 1999 resignation of a predecessor who made headlines in corruption and drug cases, has said he was framed by his political enemies. He fired the Copperhill police force after taking office. To Advertise in the Performing Arts Directory, Call Sara Turner at 664-2185 The TENNESSEAN Every day matters, wwwtenrwssean.com FREE ACTING CLASS with All MY CHILDREN'S veteran actor, Alan Dysert television-film-commercials 385-5181 for info TO Go from working with to readytoimprcr. yp- OF NASHVILLE KEVEH CLEAN YC1I3 GUTTERS Hair loss isn't just a problem for men.

Many women of all ages have hair loss due to genetics, hormonesstress, medication or chemical damage. Whatever the reason, we can help you get your hair back. ffi Mb PEEFDHMIKGE Solid Aluminum Panel fits over your EXISTING GUTTERS! The NATION'S 1 SELLING gutter protection product! I I WIT 1 rjn i .1 IB Pattie mm 615-3704236 Senior Veteran 5 8004Z4-7Z58 Qn HQ FjpFT I Synergy Business Park J'A x' 278 Franklin Road AvZbw or call toll-free 866-864-3574 OiSti Suite 250 Brentwood, TN.