The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 11

MEDIA Was ticket story too much fun? Page 8B LOCAL NEWS News roundup 2B Deaths 7B Weather 8B TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1998 i Chavez 'S ft 0 Mile 5 1 Qwwirsn i Rutherford landowners force move Initial roads Inner loopNnn'fTd" COMMENTARY Anti-racetrack forces are trying to spoil a good thing, columnist Larry Woody says. On 1C. Wilson County's Planning Commission meeting Friday when the company will request that the property be rezoned from agricultural to industrial is only the beginning of the quest for governmental approval. The track's destiny must be decided by the full Wilson County Commission, possibly by year's end. Should the project get the green light, Wilson County could realize all the sales tax revenues from the speedway ticket office, but both counties would gain from hotelmotel taxes, company representatives said.

The hotelmotel taxes, plus property taxes on the development, should Turn to PAGE 2B, Column 4 Smyrna probably will handle the sewer needs for the racetrack, and Rutherford County could be home to future ancillary developments such as a possible office park, warehouses and auto research facilities, McGlynn said. Although the choice has been made, the project is not a sure thing, even for Wilson County. 7T" DREW WHITE STAFF L. It's all about food, family and friends Future roads Developers say the proposed new speedway will be in Wilson County, rather than straddling the Wilson-Rutherford County line. DAVIDSON'' rutherford Breanna Parker, 8 months old and a Detail r.n I -V III.

Bv DEBBIE McOANAHAN StaffWriter Dover Downs Entertainment, Inc. announced yesterday that it plans to build a $124 million superspeedway entirely within Wilson County's borders. Although the company's preferred plan would have straddled the WilsonRutherford county line, owners of key properties in Rutherford County have refused to sell, forcing the racetrack to shift 100 yards over the Wilson County line. "Rutherford County will benefit by proximity," said Denis McGlynn, president and chief executive officer of Dover Downs. member of the Cane Ridge community, I 1 1 jid'S- 4 i i 7 Jmvv -i, i t- V1 Commentary Girl's quest unfulfilled, Mr.

Mayor On the night he won his second term, Mayor Phil Bredesen spoke compassionately of a little girl in a low-income housing project She wanted to live in a house free from her negative world. "I need to work a little more on that little girl's dreams," he told the crowd. Three years later, the little girls of Nashville wait And so do the neighborhoods where they live. For a leader who said yesterday that he has done all he set out to accomplish, there remains one more mountain he promised to climb. "Everything is drugs around here," said Angela Cosby, a mother, pointing to James Cayce Homes, a low-income housing project that has the largest collection of disadvantaged little girls with dreams.

"All that the football stadium is going to do is increase crime," said the Nashville native. "Things are worse here (Cayce) than before. I was visiting a friend, and people started shooting guns outside. We need police here day and night" When it comes to Metro's disadvantaged and their dreams, Bredesen's announcement not to seek re-election barely caused a ripple. "He has presence, but since I'm not running in his circles, not being in on the decision-making, it (his tenure as mayor) hasnt affected me," said Carolyn Washington, a former welfare mother and now a community educator who works with Families First recipients.

Two women sitting on a stoop in Sam Levy Homes are representative of this truth. "I dont get involved with any of the politicians," said one woman. "I don't vote." Apathy is the problem here. Many folks in the projects dont know their council representatives, either. But staying tuned out is a matter of survival, because the police aren't here at night During the day, however, Sam Levy looks better than a year ago.

The Dollar General Store has been rebuilt bigger and better. Two abandoned buildings on the corner of Berry and North Third streets are being renovated into a coin-operated laundry and police substation. "He has done a great job," said Lucille WatMns, a former Sam Levy resident who now works in handling juvenile court cases. "But there are some things he should have done. We need more for the school system and more social programs for children.

We need self-esteem programs for teens. We need help in teaching parenting. The teachers need raises." As for awareness of these needs and others, Bredesen is light years ahead of other politicians in Tennessee such as Gov. Don Sundquist And because he knows, more is expected of him. We want the same deals and coalitions that brought pro sports here to work for the disadvantaged on basics like vast new neighborhoods of affordable housing and a night police presence so poor kids can sleep at night and learn the next day.

Bredesen is brilliant He's passed big education initiatives. But what's troubling is that his vision stopped short of the greatest of needs that he saw in the eyes of a little girl. Yesterday, after finishing lunch at the daily feeding program at Nancy Webb Kelly Methodist Church, Gene Gruzella said he can't believe what he's seen in five months here. "They don't fix the sidewalks here," the homeless man said. "They are pedestrian potholes.

I dont understand how you can build new things but not take care of the old." In his last months in office, Bredesen should concentrate on these little things that really are big things sidewalks, neighborhoods and girls with dreams. I II For 5 decades, the Cane Ridge Community Club has stayed pretty much the same By KEITH SNIDER Staff Writer It's 6:30 p.m. and the long wood- en buffet table at Cane Ridge Community Center groans under i the weight of casseroles some square and some round, all tucked beneath blankets of aluminum foil. Soon the smell of home cooking joins the sound of soft laughter from people who went to the same schools and know each other's dad-'dies. i After a blessing, the line stretch-'es past meat loaf and pulled pork, the baked macaroni and the corn dressing, butter beans and deviled jeggs nestled in little trays.

Desserts are around the corner pecan and chocolate pies and great slabs of brownies this night, The minutes of the Cane Ridge Community Club will reduce it all to one unadorned line: "The meeting was preceded by a covered-dish dinner." For whatever reason, the monthly dinners have survived five decades that have transformed this sliver of southeast Davidson County, off Bell Road near busy Interstate 24, in every way but the most basic the respect shown by neighbor to neighbor. "I just like the natural friendliness of it," said OUie Cole, who has been coming to the meetings for several years since he met Fran Ross, a local woman. The two plan to marry in June. It was Ross' turn to provide table decorations this month and she went all out with an autumn theme silk leaves and ceramic jack-o-lanterns stuffed with candy. "I like Halloween so we volunteered for October," she said.

"They can take the candy and we'll use the containers again next year." The dinner meetings, which usually attract between 30 and 50 people, take place in an old school, neatly whitewashed inside and out George Washington stares out from one wall and the blackboards and schoolhouse lights remain, casting everything in a yellowish glow. I Turn to PAGE 2B, Column 4 Victim, 86, Bv BETH WARREN StaffWtiier Farmer Bernis Hardin, 86, said two Wayne County prison escapees "aren't as mean as people with the prison say they are" even though they duct-taped then hog-tied him to a post Sunday before taking his money and his truck. Convicted murderer Benjamin Underwood, 52, was captured outside the Nashville Arena yesterday after-ndon, TBI officials said. The other es H'llf'liti City Editor Gail Kerr, 259-8085 Regional Editors: 1 NightWeekend Dwight George 7 Cane Ridge, 4 once chock- I J0 Haywood full of dairy ZZCf- -g-vr-Ac community, 1WC OU I I I I- I Ben rTT 'A7i Hnr1 ihf--1! ATlf )i-b i'-MJ- sips a bottle held by her mother, Rita when they "The prisoners slipped in on me put something over my eyes, took me to the barn, laid me on the ground and taped over my eyes," Hardin said. "They were just as nice to me.

All they said to me is: 'We arent gonna hurt yoa' And, I believed 'em. "I've always had faith that people are honest til they gyp yoa" Hardin, who retired from the furniture and appliance business to focus on the cattle farm, said he asked kent travis staff Dave O'Neal reads the minutes from the previous meeting of the Cane Ridge Community Club. O'Neal has lived In Cane Ridge since he was 5. 1 Map 1 area PHOTOS BY D. PATRICK HARDING STAFF Parker, at the community dinner.

robbed him that the men handle his eyeglasses with care and leave him his leather wallet "They did, even though they took my cash, $100 worth, and my identifications first But the prisoner then put it back in my pocket like I asked." Doubting his truck would ever be found, Hardin drove a new one off the lot yesterday. His, which had been wrecked, was located yesterday afternoon at a Nashville body shop. I Volunteer now to Make a Difference Volunteer your tongue if you want Lick envelopes. Or volunteer to rake leaves. To participate in Make A Difference Day in Rutherford County on Saturday.cail Leah Bckel with First Call for Help, 907-1114.

says escapees were nice Facility, in Clifton, Tenn. William Caldbeck, 36, remained at large last night, while Donald Wallace was caught the night of the Oct 12 escape. Hardin said he believed the two escapees had been hiding out on his farm off the highway about five miles west of the prison sleeping in his barn and petting his dogs. That he figured, explained why his loyal blue heelers didnt make a sound when he was attacked from behind while headed to the barn Sunday. capee, Charles Hayes, 32, remained at large last night "They didn't tie me up very tight," Hardin said.

"They wanted me to get loose. They just wanted some money, the truck and to leave." The two were among four inmates considered dangerous by police who cut through a recreation yard fence to make their escape last week from South Central Correctional 1 Editors: Lewis, 726-5928 Zepp, 259-8091 To reach our newsroom: Phone: 258095 E-mail: rawstipstennessean.com Playground to close for annual checkup Start looking for activities to keep your child occupied for a few days. The children's stockade playground in Don Fox Community Park will be closed tomorrow through Friday. If time for its annual sealing, mainte nance ana repairs. Come to the park for free conceit Bring your chairs and blankets and enjoy the free concert in front of the Cannonsburgh Village Welcome Center on Front Street in Murfreesboro, tonight from 7-9 p.m.

The Dairy! Lee O'Donnell Band will provide the music for the event sponsored by the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreatiog Department Chamber luncheon includes talk on fraud Ashland City Police detective Marc Coukxi will discuss bad checks, counterfeiting and fraudulent billing at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Ashland City United Methodist Church. Reservations are needed, i Frank Gibson, 726-5907 irdMacGregor, 259-8095 Ellen Marguties, 726-5977 Robert Sherborne, 259-8080 Mike Sherman, 259-8899 Margaret Sizemore, 726-5941 -yvend C. Thomas, 664-2194 Ha.