The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 14

2B Tuesday, February 5, 2002 THE TENNESSEAN www.tennessean.com STATE LOCAL NEWS Compiled 'ftom Tennesson Staff and 'News Reports Enhanced Option School, Metro spokesman Craig Owensby said. The federal "No Child Left Behind" act, signed into law by President Bush last month, requires states to test every student in grades 3-8 each year something Tennessee already does. But the new law also says that states must make sure all students are progressing, even those at the lowest achievement levels. JENNIFER BARNETT WSr wm urn- Police searching for man who robbed Quik Mart COLUMBIA Police are searching for a man who robbed Quik Mart No. 11 on Mount Pleasant Pike at 6:24 am Saturday, detective Lt.

Ray Messick said yesterday. "We had a man come into the store with a T-shirt over his face and a bag over his right hand," Messick said. "He demanded that the clerk place the cash drawer on the counter and then told her to get on the floor." The robber, who was described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall, stocky and muscular, got away with $160. The clerk, Tonya Sutherland, 29, of Columbia, was not injured, Messick said. SUE MCCLURE Harpeth Hall receives $2M to renovate middle school An anonymous donor has given $2 million to renovate Harpeth Hall's middle school building, school spokeswoman Laura Squyres said.

The private, all-girls school hasn't decided exactly how to spend the money, Squyres said. But the middle school building, which serves 197 girls in grades 5-8, is becoming overcrowded and could use larger classrooms and technology-related updates, she said. The faculty and board of directors will assess the building's needs and then come up with a plan, she said. Sheriff's department seeks help in search for deputy FRANKLIN The Williamson County Sheriffs Department is asking for help in finding a deputy missing since Thursday. When Deputy Michael Shaddy did not It the second multimillion-dollar gift the school has received in the last three years.

The first one, a $5 million donation from Ann Scott and Monroe Carell, paid for a new library that was completed last year. JENNIFER BARNETT Grants to renovate schools given to Midstate systems Several Midstate school systems, including Metro Nashville, have won school renovation grants from the state. snow up tor worK Saturday afternooa law enforcement agencies throughout the Southeast were notified. Shaddy, 36, was reported to have been headed to Fayet-teville to celebrate his Murfreesboro woman, 56, father's retirement. SHADDY i in' 7 fi i i -rfifr Metro and Cumberland County each won $500,000 grants, the maximum being given, the state Education Department said in a statement.

The awards were primarily given to rural or high-poverty school sys 4 TAYLOR Uictntv Iaccah MICHAEL CLANCY nistory leSSOn A couple studies a wall containing information about Tennessee history at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall. He was last seen Thursday morning by his roommate, Deputy Joe Burns, said Lt. Fred Bennett. Shaddy worked the evening shift Wednesday. "He (Burns) doesn't remember anything except that he was with him sometime Thursday morning, and everything appeared to be fine," Bennett said.

The Sheriffs Department contacted members of the media and, with help from the Highway Patrol, checked the route from Shadds home in a Royal Oaks apartment to Lincoln County. Shaddy was believed to have been driving a gray 1993 Dodge Dakota pickup truck with a camper top and license plate number GLB 550. He is 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighs about 175 pounds and has black hair, a mustache and brown eyes. "We've had people who walk off before, but I've never had an officer to walk off," Bennett said. "Anything's possible at this point." Anyone with information about Shaddy can call the Williamson County Sheriffs Department at 790-5550.

PEGGY SHAW tems. "I am pleased to award these grants to help school systems meet the very real needs they have for school renovation," state Education Commissioner Faye P. Taylor said in the statement. Other Midstate winners were DeKalb County, Grundy County, Lewis County, Humphreys County, $266300; and Macon County, $260,000. -STAFF REPORTS Education Secretary Paige to address state lawmakers killed, man hurt in wreck A 56-year-old Murfreesboro woman was killed and another man seriously injured when their cars collided near the Rutherford-Coffee county line over the weekend, authorities said.

Delores Douglas of 110 Double Springs Road died Sunday from injuries she sustained in the accident, which occurred around 130 p.m. on Manchester Pike, said Jill Kellogg of the state Department of Transportation, who was reading from an incident report. Aaron Hill, 56, of the Hillsboro community was driving the second vehicle. He was flown by LifeFlight to Vander-bilt University Medical Center, where he was listed yesterday in critical but stable conditioa According to the report, Larry Douglas, 57, was driving a Ford Escort with Delores Douglas and 16-year-old Brandy Douglas, all of the same address, as passengers. They were traveling eastbound on Manchester Pike when he turned left in front of the Ford Focus being driven by Hill.

Deborah Hill, 48, Jane Hill, 20, and Adam Hill, 35, all of the Hillsboro community were passengers in the Ford Focus. Larry Douglas was charged with failing to yield the right-of-way. CARLY HARRINGTON assault in connection with the incident. A witness to the shooting, Melanie Bradford of Tullahoma, told officers that Hendrix had been drinking and had argued with Jerry Bradford in the front yard, threatening to cut him, Deputy Brandon Harris reported. When Jerry Bradford went back into the house, Hendrix went into his bedroom, came out with a pistol and shot Jerry Bradford, Harris said.

Officers searched the house for a weapon but found nothing until Kathy Darlene Bradford, 41, of the same address, told them she had put the gun on the back porch. She was arrested and charged with tampering with evidence. SUE MCCLURE Stepfather, woman booked in shooting of man in groin COLUMBIA A Maury County man is recovering from a gunshot wound, and his stepfather is in the Maury County Jail, charged with shooting him in the groin with a 9 mm handgun, according to sheriffs officials. Jerry Bradford, 20, of 3520 Greens Mill Road is in stable condition at Van-derbilt University Medical Center, where he was taken following the 10 p.m. Sunday shooting.

His stepfather, Bobby W. Hendrix, 51, of the same address, is charged with aggravated domestic U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige is scheduled to speak to state legislators this morning about how a new federal education law will affect Tennessee. PaitrP Will tpctifir i iwuii tit a Get more Williamson County news at meeting of the House KAIUt education committee at 1030 am. Before that, he is to visit Metro's Glenn naaea i.wt i iwmiarnsonafrv Mockingbird Theatre delivers the beef in 0f Mice and Men' By KEVIN NANCE ers do, which makes the feeling between them all the more poignant and, at the end, almost unbearably sad.

The strong supporting cast is led by the magnificent Joe Keenan as broken-down old Candy, whose every word is heart-rending. There can be no more affecting scene than that of his beloved dog's death unless it's the staggering moment when Candy, overhearing George and Lennie's Utopian vision of a home in the world, begs to know whether such a place could ever exist. sometimes must be made for one's friends in hard times. Set on and near a northern California farm in the 1930s, the play follows a migrant worker named George and his pal Lennie, a gentle giant with the combustible combination of a small child's intelligence, enormous and barely controlled physical strength, and an overwhelming desire to pet soft, furry animals such as mice, rabbits and women. After a series of close shaves, the pair arrives at a new job site, where they meet an assortment of amiable farmhands (including Candy, a desolate old man who shares George and Lennie's dream of owning their own home).

Stall' II riter In this era when some artistic directors seem increasingly convinced that all the public wants is fluff, t(H) many theater productions leave you wondering where the beef is. All this energy, all this talent, all this money for that? Talk about empty calories. Fortunately, local patrons hungry for some stick-to-your-ribs drama can stave off anemia with Of Mice and Men, Mockingbird Theatre's beefy new production of the Jolin Steinbeck classic at War Memorial Auditorium. Unlike the snacklike shows that disappear from your mind the They also encounter the boss' hotheaded son, Curley, and his beautiful young wife, who has the disturbing habit of engaging the workers in chitchat designed to put them squarely in Curles cross hairs. Of Mice and Men is patterned as a Greek tragedy, its carefully constructed ironies stacking on one another in ways that render the tragic outcome inevitable and, it must be admitted, a bit predictable.

But if Steinbeck was not the subtlest of American writers, he was one of the most committed to exploring the effect of deprivation on human lives. The illness here is poverty; the symptoms are longing, loneliness and isolation; the treatment, if not the cure, is friendship, which Steinbeck takes as seriously as other writers take romantic love. The production, beautifully directed by Rene Copeland, is uniformly effective. Copeland's simple set, expertly lit by PCaren Creel, takes advantage of the new flexible seating at War Memorial by using a wide stage thrust well out into the auditorium, bringing the actors considerably closer to the audience. There worth seeing up close.

As George and Lennie, David Alford and Jeremy Childs have a marvelous chemistry, based on a scrupulous frimming of sentimentality; they snap and scrap as broth- Getting there Of Mice and Men, an Actors' Equity-affiliated professional production by Mockingbird Theatre, has public performances at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and Feb. War Memorial Auditorium. For tick-ers call 255-ARTS (2787). moment you leave, Of Mice and Men is a theatrical banquet, full of juicy performances, a gripping story and a powerful message about brotherly love, responsibility and the desperate sacrifices that Tennessean arts writer Kevin Nance can be reached at 259-8238 or by e-mail at knancetennessean.com.

Plan to cut emissions violations at thermal plant requires Mmm Police seek help in finding woman's killer 5 1-year-old shot in robbery Metro detectives are asking the public to help them find the gunman who killed a 51-year-old woman in hpr nnrth Mickm'tia By BRAD SCHRADE Vanderbilt University Theatre presents "We'll always have some minor hiccups. I think it will take care of most of the problems we've been having." Floyd Mitchell, Thermal general manager Mockingbird Theatre presents OF MICE AND MEN Feb. 1,2,8,9, 15, 16 at 8pm War Memorial Auditorium. TPAC Tickets- $16 Adults. $10 $8 Stud Call 255-ARTS to purchase httpvfly tomockingbird The Laramie Project Staff Writer The Nashville Thermal Transfer Plant management will deliver a plan to the Metro Health director today that will cost more than $1 million to bring the garbage-burning plant into compliance with environmental emissions regulations.

General Manager Floyd Mitchell said the plan will include work to make the plant more reliable. Mitchell said he plant designed to burn only natural gas is expected to be operational Environmentalists have urged Bailey and city officials to shut down the garbage-burning oper Written by Moises Kaufman with the members of the Tectonic Theatre Project February 15,16,17,21,22,23 For reservations or information call 322-2404 ation immedi- atfly and end f- what environ Boiler Room Theatre The Factory in Franklin presents Baby-The Musical Starring TV's Rebecca Holden Tues. Thurs, Fri. Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm All Tuesdays are Twofor-One! JANlEs PLAISIET Live, interactive variety show for kids. Held over through Feb.

23 Saturdays at 1 1 :00 a.m. Tickets 615 794 7744 ot order online at www com will deliver the plan to Metro Health Director Dr. Stephanie Bailey today, meeting the deadline she set Bailey is hi "We'll always have some minor hiccups," Mitchell said. "I think it will take care of most of the problems we've been having." The Health Department held a public hearing last month to consider revoking the plant's permit. Inspectors for the Health Department and the Environmental Protection Agency have both expressed concern over a spike in emissions violations.

Mitchell said the plan calls for about $12 million of work to the plant. If Bailey decides that isn't sufficient, she could shut down the garbage-burning operation of Thermal, which would force the plant to burn gas to heat and cool 39 downtown buildings. That option could cost the city more than $8 million over two years. After that period, a replacement mentalists say has been a 27-year record of pollutioa Thermal board Chairman Bill Dennv said fhp MITCHELL in iltl. living home early Saturday morning.

Shirley A. McNeal, also known to many as Shirley Jackson, was shot during a robbery in her 528 N. Second St. home. Police said that a longtime boyfriend of McNeal lived with her and sold liquor after hours at the house.

McNeal apparently answered the gunman's knock on the door. Once inside, police said he demanded money and liquor. A shot was fired during the robbery, hitting McNeal in the upper body. She died at the house. The robber immediately fled.

The suspect is male and was wearing what appeared to be a new brown suede jacket, dark blue jeans and a mask. Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the police department's Homicide Unit at 862-7546 or Crime Stoppers at 74-Crime. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the gunmaa Callers can remain anonymous and still collect the money. SHEILA BURKE 1 FREE ACTING CLASS With ALL MY CHILDREN'S veteran actor, Alan Dysert television-film-commercials 385-5181 for info threatening to BAILEY close the garbage-burning operation of the waste-to-energy plant because of repeated emissions violations last year. Bailey has said she will consider the plan before making a decLsioa Mitchell said the plan is a gxd one and said he expects it to meet most of the problems.

board wants the Health Department to evaluate the plan and determine if it is feasible before the board spends additional money to repair the plant. Management is making plans to bring in backup boilers to ensure reliability over the next two years, regardless of the decisioa Great Performances at Vanderbilt presents AWADACIN PRATT and ZUILl BAILEY Pratt on piano and My on cello perform an evening of Mendeissai. Debu mon, Friday, February 8-8 pm- Langrord Auditorium Ticketmastei 255-9600 01 "w.ticketrnastet.com TENNESSEAN.com Every day mattm. wwwtennosseancom.