The Tennessean du lieu suivant : Nashville, Tennessee • Page 14

4B Tuesday, March 6, 2001 THE TENNESSEAN www.tennessean.com 3 LOCAL NEWS Doctors, suppliers question pesticide-safety campaign Franklin-based botanical producer behind Care for Kids Chief Executive Officer Douglas Grindstaff said, "We aren't just telling (parents) they shouldn't use particular pesticides. Read the labels. Seal up places where pests can enter. Let's learn how to minimize the use of pesticides." The Care for Kids campaign offers a checklist of things to do to improve pesticide safety at home and at school. It offers more information through its Internet site, www.carcforkidsnow.org.

And while EcoSMART is trying to publicize the unique aspects of its products, "we're not just trying to replace the insecticides that are out there," Grindstaff insisted. Synthetic pesticides known as organophosphates block a nervous system enzyme shared by insects and higher animals, and therefore may be harmful to humans in high doses. Bioganic products block a chemical messenger that regulates vital functions in insects, but which is not essential in mammals or humans. This may make the products more "people friendly." Another company goal is to promote methods for controlling pests that minimize the use of man-made chemicals, Grindstaff said. Toward that end, the firm is investing in the Care for Kids campaign and in an independent, nonprofit foundation of the same name that will "share information about how to protect kids," he said Bill Snyder covers health for The Tennessean.

He can be reached at 259-8226 or bsnydertennessean.com. and open burning of leaves and garbage is a much more important risk factor, he said. "More kids are hurt by walking across the street than by insecticides," Weinberger said. However, "educating people to use them properly is certainly very appropriate." Ray McAllister, an official of the American Crop Protection Association, which represents manufacturers of agricultural products, including pesticides, accused EcoSMART of using the "Care for Kids" campaign to run down the competition so it could "gain market share." But EcoSMART Chairman and SMART Technologies. Within the past year, EcoSMART has rolled out a line of alternative "botanical" pesticides sold through a subsidiary, Bioganic Safety Brands.

Derived from plant oils, the products are available locally at Home Depot stores. However, not everyone is convinced that appropriate use of conventional pesticides endangers children. Pesticides used to rid schools of cockroaches and other pests, for example, "are safe and do not result in excess exposure to children," said Allen James, president By BILL SNYDER Staff Writer A Franklin-based producer of "natural" pesticides has launched a campaign alerting parents to what it claims are the potential risks that conventional products may pose to their children. Actress Jane Seymour will kick off the campaign today at a news conference in New York City. The campaign, called "Care for Kids," urges parents to "look for and eliminate harmful pesticides from their homes and children's schools and day-care centers and replace them with safer alternatives," according to the company, Eco- of Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment, a trade association that represents suppliers of pesticides used in urban areas.

In its literature, EcoSMART cites a variety of sources, including citizens' groups, that have linked exposure to pesticides to a variety of ailments in children, ranging from cancer to asthma But Dr. Miles M. Weinberger, a pediatrician and asthma expert at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, said no conclusive scientific evidence exists that proves asthma Ls triggered by exposure to pesticides. Exposure to secondhand smoke Blood-alcohol test negative for driver who hit trooper TENNESSEAN.com tvtry day matter, wwwtennti3sean.com Jflok flood, i br Feel flood A rr. .1 'on yJCMrve 1 A i a i XyX9 i .1, n'riLi ii mf tSmtmrn limlf Lai By SHEILA BURKE Stall Writer Results of a blood-alcohol test given to a Hermitage man about nine hours after his truck struck and killed a state trooper on New Year's Day on Interstate 24 have come back negative.

Test results show that James Akin Shepherd, 34, did not have any alcohol in his bloodstream when he was tested hours after the hit-and-run incident. Shepherd turned himself in after he saw TV reports that Trooper John Mann was killed and a carjacking suspect injured when they were hit while wrestling on a snowy interstate. Mann, who was on DUI patrol that evening, tackled a man suspected of hijacking a taxi and ramming it into another car on the interstate. The suspect, Charles W. Gray, was treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, but he remained comatose and was moved by his mother to a hospital in Nebraska Prosecutors plan to press criminal charges against Gray if he regains consciousness.

Shepherd told police that he was driving along 1-24 and knew he hit something, but didn't realize he'd struck two people and didn't stop. He also told police that he had been drinking before the accident. Shepherd surrendered to police I KBefre 11 I Bridge. S. SJJ about seven hours and 45 minutes after the 2 a.m.

accident and was tested an hour to 90 minutes later, Metro police Officer David Kitchens said. He faces a felony charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident and misdemeanor charges of leaving the scene of an injury accident and failing to report an accident. He was released on $28,000 bond. Shepherd could face other Assistant District Attorney Jim Sledge said. A decision won't be made until after his preliminary hearing, scheduled for April IL Shepherd could have been intoxicated at the time of the accident, but enough time had passed for the alcohol to leave his blood when he was tested, Metro Medical Examiner Dr.

Bruce Levy said. "Typically, the average adult metabolizes slightly less than one drink per hour," Levy said. "One drink is the equivalent of a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or one shot of 80-prx)f liquor, so if you're kxking at nine hours, the average person theoretically would be able to eliminate the equivalent of about nine drinks." It is also possible that Shepherd was not legally drunk at the time of the accident, Levy said. I "iBTBS I Age DoctorsCare ADVANCED MEDICINE TENNESSEE'S MOST ADVANCED WEIGHT LOSS PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS CAU. FOR INFORMATION AND APPOINTMENTS 24 HRS7 DAYS Speedway wins final OK from county Critics say request proves earlier rezoning was faulty By WARREN DUZAK Stuff Writer LEBANON Zoning changes and variances for the Nashville Superspeedway sped through the Wilson County Board of Zoning Appeals and the Planning Commission last night.

Developers of the racing complex were back just weeks away from the track's grand opening to seek a final seal of approval from the county. Racetrack opponents took the opportunity to raise their complaints once again, but failed to move either board. Both unanimously approved the requested changes, pending final approval of a drainage plan and a few other site-plan considerations. "There is an obvious concern that they don't have any of their zoning in order," said Frank Fly, attorney for County Residents Against Racetrack Havoc, a few days ago. Supporters of the group, which calls itself CRASH, sued in 1999 after rezoning was approved for the track, owned by Dover Downs Entertainment and located along State Route 840 near rural Gladev-ille.

The CRASH lawsuit claims the county and developers played fast and loose with state laws and public notification requirements. However, Chancellor C.K. Smith dismissed the lawsuit, which was appealed. The state Court of Appeals is expected to rule soon. The track is scheduled to open April 13.

Jere McCulloch, the racetrack's local attorney, said he "absolutely and positively disagrees" with the CRASH analysis. By adding parcels of land, the racetrack owners are creating a whole new tract that must be rezoned even if there were no critics like CRASH, he said earlier. But Wilson County CRASH representative Jim Nay said the new rezoning is an attempt to do what was not properly done before. MkyTaM.D. wKiOiiy cry BoanlCflliy Weight lost Sptcialk.

14 JjJ LARRY MCCORMACK STAFF Getting a grip Mark Malone holds on tight as he climbs to the top of the roof of Blakemore United Methodist i Church on West End Avenue. He and others with vinyl Siding i Professionals were replacing some siding that had been knocked off by strong winds. State lawmaker backed for TVA spot THiamik yonu for imvestiimg inn onur cMldhremi's fatunire. KINGSPORT, Term. (AP) -More than three dozen Tennessee legislators have endorsed state Rep.

Keith Westmoreland for an upcoming vacancy on the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors. Westmoreland, 54, a Kingsport Republican, is a business consultant who has served in the Tennessee House since 1992. Previously, he was county executive of Sullivan County and chief deputy for the Sullivan County Sheriffs Department. Forty-four members of the East Tennessee legislative caucus sent a letter Feb. 21 to U.S.

Sea Fred Thompson, supporting Westmoreland. They said he has "outstanding credentials." The vacancy on the three-member TVA board will occur in April when Chairman Craven Crowell, a Democrat, retires with 13 months remaining on his nine-year term. Director Glenn McCullough, a Republican from Mississippi supported by House Majority Leader Tent Lott, R-Miss, is expected to be recommended to Bush as the agency's next chairmaa IVFISHVILLE Today, thousands of Middle Tennessee school children have sharper reading and comprehension skills, thanks to these companies and to our subscribers who donate to our News for Schools program. Their generous support of The Tennessean Newspaper In Education program has helped to provide complimentary newspapers, as well as other educational materials, to local classrooms. 1 sfl At Carestone Assisted Living, providing superior Barnes faNoble Booksellers Since 1873 Pfn TENNESSEE lH TEACHERS CREDIT UNION THE SMART ALTERNATIVE A 1ILLI0I IHT THIICi FOI assisted living is our mission, it is jwhat we do best.

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Address your donation to Melissa Spradlin, The Tennessean, 1100 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203. Carestone at Rivergate 94 Twin Hills Drive Nashville, TN 37115 615-855-1979 License: ACL-66 Carestone at Brentwood 5436 Edmondson Pike Nashville, TN 37211 615-837-8006 License: ALC--64 IMHE KEgfc The TENNESSEAN For -more information about NIE, the services it provides and how to make a donation, please contact Melissa Spradlin at (615) 259-8032 or mspradlintennessean.com. Even dav matters. www.tennessean.com.