The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 5

2B Wednesday, February 20, 2002 THE TENNESSEAN www.tennessean.com STATE LOCAL NEWS Pregnancy education series targets teens, young women Miriam's Promise, a local pregnancy, parenting and adoption service, will hold a 12-week educational and mentoring program called the Elizabeth Project a Christian-based educational and mentoring program for pregnant teens and young womea The weekly meetings will be held on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. beginning today, and will include dinner with women mentors, fellowship, educational discussions, games, videos and guest speakers. "The goal is to have a healthy baby and a healthy mom," said Susan Smith, coordinator of Miriam's Promise. The program will address how to have a healthy pregnancy as well as a healthy mentality through discussions about self-esteem, life goals and the importance of education, Smith said. The program is free, and pregnant girls and young women are encouraged to sign up through Friday.

Call 292-3500 to register and for more informatioa ELIZABETH M-K KRUSE r- i 1 VI i a Construction at the Hillsboro Road-Old Hickory Boulevard intersection has been stalled because of court cases since the discovery in 1999. The graves straddle the Davidson-Williamson county line, and the unkempt appearance of the intersection has rankled some local residents. In additioa Gov. Don Sundquist publicly expressed frustration and even considered whether to post signs that the construction delay was not the state's fault For months, the issue also pitted the state Department of Transportation against the state Commission of Indian Affairs and put the state attorney general's office in the position of insisting it could represent them both. Native Americans, who have had prayer vigils and made traditional tobacco offerings at the site, were told by the state Court of Appeals last summer that they have no standing in the case.

But Heldmaa in his order, said the remains were "of great cultural significance to Native Americans" and wrote that he may allow them to appear at the hearing as "friends" of the court He also said that neither TDOT nor any other state agency has indicated it would ignore state laws for reinterment of human remains, possibly a key to ending the case. -JIM EAST Multimedia presentation looks at process of dying Brighton Gardens, an assisted-living facility at 103 Arcaro Place in Brentwood, will host a video presentation and discussion group for professionals and the public about the process of dying at 7 pm tomorrow. Video segments of Miracles, Angels, and Afterlife, an award-winning film series about death and spirituality, will be showa Peter Shockey, author and producer, and Fred Rowles, co-producer of Miracles, Angles, and Afterlife, will speak about spiritual issues surrounding death. Cindy Page, general manager of hospice organization Odyssey Healthcare, will discuss how doctors and medical professionals can help patients deal with death. "We're trying to tell people there are options to dying," said Joyce Peck, director of activities at Brighton Gardens, a private facility that is home to about 85 senior citizens.

"This is a great tool for people to talk about their experiences." The presentation is free and open to the public. Call Joyce Peck at 376-5299 for more details. ELIZABETH M-K KRUSE BILL STEBER STAFF Garden of Delight Seventeen-month-old Anja Engstrom laughs as her mother, Marie Engstrom, pushes her on a swing at the new Lily's Garden playground, part of Fannie Mae Dees Park at 26th Avenue South and Blakemore Avenue. in Murfreesboro, will feature nearly 300 students, most from Middle Tennessee, applying their brains to different science and engineering challenges. The games begin at 9 am The winners will go on to the state competition in Knoxville this April.

NICOLE GARTON Metro Nashville is prepared to pay, he explained. When Wilson County pays for school training, there is a requirement that new employees agree to work at least one or two years, but after that they are free to seek employment elsewhere. Fox said Metro's higher pay is a prob Children between ages 9 and 16 can compete in the race, first by building a car from a kit and with the help of an adult, then by racing the car down a hill, powered only by gravity. Winners will advance to the International Soap Box Derby in Akroa Ohio, and attend a weeklong camp prior to that race. Youngsters who would like to participate should contact Bill Hileman at (931) 381-490L Businesses that would like to sponsor a car should contact Jennifer Graham at (931)486-5071.

The race is sponsored by Saturn and United Auto Workers Local 1853. SUE MCCLURE lem more counties than just Wilson face. WARREN DUZAK Trial under way for man charged in 2000 murder COLUMBIA Testimony is to begin today in Maury County Circuit Court in the trial of a Hampshire man charged with the murder of a Giles County man and the wounding of two other mea Pharez Nishon Price, 27, of 5125 Old Kettle Mills Road is charged with the February 2000 shooting death of David A. Houston 30, of 841 Ragsdale Lane, Pulaski, and the wounding of Paul Readus, 37, of Pulaski and Randy G. Massey, 25, of Pams Parkway in Pulaski.

The shooting took place in an apartment at 1407 Perkins Lane. A grand jury indicted Price for the crime on May 14, 2000, and police searched for nearly a year before he was arrested on June 7, 2001, by the Maury County SWAT team. Judge Jim T. Hamilton is hearing the case. SUE MCCLURE Soap Box Derby racers to take green flag June 15 MOUNT PLEASANT The sixth annual Maury County Soap Box Derby has been set for June 15 on Washington Avenue in Mount Pleasant County bracing for loss of EMS personnel to Metro LEBANON Capt Steve Fox hates to hear that Metro Nashville is hiring emergency medical technicians and paramedics.

When Davidson County hires, Wilson County loses. "We lose handfuls of people," said Fox, director of the county's EMS program. "Its all a pay thing." Metro is expected to be hiring emergency personnel next month, and Fox said he expects to lose staff and knows several who are just waiting for their chance. The county simply can't match the $7,000 to $8,000 a year more that Final hearing set on fate of Native American graves FRANKLIN Chancellor Russ Held-man has set a final hearing date to decide once and for all what to do about the ancient graves of three Native American infants in the way of a highway widening project near the intersection of Hillsboro Pike and Old Hickory Boulevard. Heldman on Feb.

13 ordered the Tennessee Department of Transportation and "any and all" parties interested in the project to appear before him at 10 am on April 17, including Native Americans who think they have an interest in the case. Students will go for gold in area Science Olympiad MURFREESBORO Middle and high school students will exhibit important science skills such as egg dropping and buggy building at this year's regional Science Olympiad The contest, which will take place Saturday at Middle Tennessee State University Get more Williamson County news at si www.tennesseaacomwtlliamsonam Muslims: Group shares rural life IW Ky, I Land -TfMapV" Between' Miss 1 area f. to Lakes I I Candidates: Gordon gives nod to Bredesen distillation of his stump speech. He dismissed the idea of a state income tax and called for fundamental reform of TennCare, the state's health program for the poor and uninsured. But he spent most of his time discussing his desire to retool the state's educational system.

"It can't be done just by throwing money at the problem," Hilleary said. "It involves reforming the school system and how they do business down to its core. It means empowering principals and teachers to do what needs to be done to change and then expecting them to Ho it." white roadside siga Without that marker, a passerby would probably miss the row of mobile homes perched on either side of a gravel drive drifting into the woods below. "Muslims of the Americas," it announced. Past the first trailer sat a white guard house.

A young African-American man in a Muslim's skullcap emerged, then ran to find someone who could answer a reporter's questions. A man in his early 40s walked into view minutes later. Talib-din Abdul Haqq was polite and willing to entertain an on-the-record interview at a later unspecified date about his faith and his community. He shared a book written by Gilani. But asked later about whether the Dover Muslims are tied to other Muslims of the Americas enclaves, he shook his head dismissively.

At the mention of Pearl or al-Fuqra Haqq grew silent. "It would do me no good to talk to you," he said, almost laughing. He made it clear he considered plans for attacks, and al-Fuqra members were convicted of defrauding Colorado of about $350,000 in phony worker's compensation claims, Wamsley said. After discovery of the weapons caches near Buena Vista, prosecutors obtained convictions for three al-Fuqra members in 1993 and 1994. One of them was rearrested and convicted late last year, this time for federal weapons charges in Red House, Va, site of another Muslims of the Americas enclave.

In January, Robert Brown-lee, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia sought and obtained indictments for another alleged Red House al-Fuqra member, involving illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. It's a stark contrast to the picture some Stewart Countians paint of their Muslim neighbors. Drive the dusty road high above the farm fields and you'll see American flags fluttering in the winter wind Last week, two of those flags were flying beside a black-and- "They're very warm and seem to be compassionate people," said Loretta Threatt, general manager of The Stewart-Houston Times. "They're religious, of course, and I think they really have a true love for this area" "We've had no trouble with them whatsoever," said Sheriff John Vinsoa Doug Wamsley, an assistant district attorney in Jefferson County, prosecuted members of the Muslims of the Americas and al-Fuqra.

"My belief is that the groups are one and the same," Wamsley said "I've been asked a number of times, 'Well, do you think they're And I have to go back and say, based on everything we found, I can't come to any other conclu-sioa" The Colorado cases have turned up caves filled with weapons and ammunitioa A storage garage was filled with guns, pipe bombs and upshot: "I have not seen any effect on the fact that Congressman Tanner early on endorsed one of the candidates. I have not seen it have any impact whatsoever, and I've campaigned in his district" Bredesen received Gordon's endorsement soon after Andy Womack, a former state senator from Murfreesboro, withdrew last week from the race. Bredesen said he was "honored to have Congressman Gordon's support" In fact, the Tennessee delegation to the U.S. Congress was never far from the gubernatorial race yesterday. After all, Hilleary represents the 4th Congressional District and he has been endorsed by U.S.

Rep. Ed Bryant, who represents the 7th District. Hilleary's morning appearance at the Smyrna fire hall was a brief STAFF such inquiries disparaging and unfair. It was not the kind of attention he wanted. He smiled, shook hands and waved goodbye.

"You have to ask yourself," Threatt said later, "and I have myself: What are they doing here?" And that was one of the questions that was asked at the (community) meeting. And it was to be able to live in a rural community. "So what else do you do? You see them around towa not an awful lot. They're very pleasant. Very well-mannered and they seem to really relate.

It could be an act, but something tells me that it is He wants to identify highly per- forming schools around the state, thea use them as models for reforming underachieving institu-l tions. And he wants to establish. charter schools to offer parents an'1 educational option for their children. i Viruses: Check with own doctor before going to hospital liM'JiMrmil 1 If parents are concerned that their child might have a life-threatening condition, such as meningitis, and they cannot reach their pediatrician within an hour, "by all means they should come" to the emergency room, she added. Other local hospitals are reporting many feverish patients in their emergency rooms.

On Monday, 13 young children were treated in the emergency room at Skyline Medical Center on Dickerson Road for vomiting, diarrhea and high fever. Seven others received intravenous fluids in the emergency room at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage because they had become dehydrated, hospital officials said. The hallmark symptoms of the flu include high fever, between 101 and 105 degrees, chills, fatigue, body aches, a dry, scratchy throat and a slight cough, Bracikowski said. The stomach bug also can cause a high fever, between 101 and 103 degrees, along with vomiting and diarrhea, she said. Tylenol or Motrin is the recommended treatment for fever in childrea Bracikowski said.

It also may help to put the child in a bath "and sponge them down with lukewarm water," she To avoid dehydration in children who are vomiting and have diarrhea, parents should try to get them to take frequent small drinks of clear fluids such as diluted Kool-Aid. "If they're uncomfortable and fussy, despite the fever coming down, or so lethargic you csm't get them to drink or move around much, call the doctor," Bracikowski said. "They may need to come in" to the emergency room Bill Snyder covers health for The Tenness-ean. He can be reached at 259-8226 or bsnydertennessean.com. ious parents and feverish babies and childrea "Sunday nights are usually the worst," Bracikowski said.

"Families are having to wait, (but) we have to see the sickest ones first" Bracikowski recommended that parents call their pediatrician, even if their child's fever is as high as 103 degrees, before heading off to the emergency room. "If there are other complications like pneumonia we're there to sort it out," she said. But "so many of the kids are OK. They just have a nasty virus." Vanderbilt University Theatre presents Mockingbird Theatre presents NeST 2002 New Southern Theatre Festival March 22-30 Gill lU-blOi tor tickets 8. People's Branch Theatre presents THE FIEVER by Wallace Shawn April 4-7.

17-20 Qll 254-0008 for tickets The Laramie Project 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 Ex-city manager wants to amend his firing, add benefits Boiler Room Theatre at 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! FINAL WEEK JANET PLANET Live, interactive variety show for kids. Held over through Feb. 23 Saturdays at II :00 a.m. get a feel for how they feel about it," Martin said. On Jaa 17, council members voted 4-3 to fire Elliott, citing his ACT I presents Noels Coward's HAY FEVER March 1-16 Darkhorse Theatre 46 10 Charlotte Ave.

Call 726-2281 for reservations Tickets 615-794-7744 or order online at www BoilerRoom Theatre com 3 Manager Kate Collier. Several council members say "no way." "I'm standing by the original employment agreement," said Councilman Chip Matlock. "If he didn't like this agreement, he should have said something when it was signed" Councilman Larry Smithson agreed. "My position is, we've taken the action of terminating Elliott and I'll stick with that unless something overwhelming comes along," he said. Councilman Charles Sanders By SUE McCLURE Siaff Writer COLUMBIA Former Columbia City Manager Bob Elliott, who was fired from his post last month, has drafted a "separation agreement" -with increased benefits that he wants City Council to approve.

Elliott is asking the city to nullify his termination and accept his res-ignatioa to increase his severance package from four to six months and to extend his health-care coverage from its June expiration through Dec 31, said Interim City said he would go along with the agreement if it came to a vote. "I think it's in the best interest of the city to sever our relationship with the city manager in the least damaging way," he said. The council will consider Elliott's proposal at its 630 p.ra study session tomorrow. Councilwoman Christa Martin said she would compare Elliott's proposal with the original contract before making a decisioa "I plan to spend a lot of time going through it, and I plan to touch base with my constituents to lack of communication and insubordination in hiring an outside firm to handle the job search for a police chief after council had directed him not to. "He has violated the sunshine laws, hasn't given the public docu-4 ments they were entitled to and he brought charges against Councilman Smithson over campaign ads 1 1 .1 1 I Great Performances at Vanderbilt presents The Wrath of Achilles by Aqullu Theater Highly regarded company performs work based on Homer's Iht IM.

Thursday. February 21-8 p.m. Ungfotd Auditorium Tickemvtster 255-9600 or rww.tkermastercom FREE ACTING CLASS Vim ALL MY CHILDREN'S veteran actor, Alan Dysert television-film-commercials 385-5181 for info with," Matlock said at the time..