Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 1

JACKSON MISSISSIPPI FINAL 25r Copyright 1984 I Volume 148 No. 7 1 6 sections 44 pages Winner of the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Public Service January 11, 1984 WEDNESDAY A Allai in cues 1 -v 'V1 4 unity as key to pro gress J4" jm p-- Staff photo by Stan Badz Gov. Bill Allain is administered the oath of office by Mississippi Su- Judge Walter L. Nixon, left, holds the Bible. Allain became Mis-preme Court Chief Justice Neville Patterson, right, as U.S.

District sissippi's 59th governor during Tuesday's inaugural ceremony. They braved cold for many reasons Legislative peace offering. Page IB Inaugural speech text, Page IB ByTOMOPPEL Cltuion-Lcdger Suit Writer Bill Allain, urging "a spirit of harmony, not of confrontation," took office Tuesday as Mississippi's 59th governor in noontime ceremonies interrupted by rain and sleet that forced the new governor and his audience inside the New Capitol for the inaugural address. Temperatures stayed below 40 degrees and a fine mist swelled into steady rain as Allain was sworn in at 1 1:45 a.m. on the windswept south steps of the New Capitol.

Allain took the oath from Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Neville Patterson 15 minutes early because of the worsening weather. The 55-year-old governor's first official act was to delay his inaugural address until a crowd of about 600 dignitaries, legislators, families, friends and the general public could reassemble in the House chambers or in committee rooms where speakers broadcast the speech and the conclusion of the ceremonies. As the Capitol plaza was evacuated, the 41st Army Band of the Mississippi National Guard played The Notre Dame Fight Song, in honor of Allain's alma mater. Four years ago, the New Capitol was in the midst of an extensive renovation, so William Winter planned to take his oath of office on the balcony of the Old Capitol. But rain forced the entire event to be held in the House chamber of the Old Capitol, Veteran inaugural watchers Tuesday said they could not recall any past gubernatorial swearing-in ceremony that began outside and then shifted indoors.

During his 16-minute inaugural address, Allain, who defeated Republican Leon Bramlett to win the chief executive's office, renewed his campaign theme of cooperation. "My becoming governor of Mississippi was made possible only through the prayers, help and encouragement of the people throughout the state. I now need and seek your help in guiding our state to the vision of greatness before us," Allain told the 250 officials, family members and friends who found spots within the House chamber. Among the guests were Allain's three sisters; Winter; Lt. Gov.

Brad Dye; House Speaker Buddie Newman; former Govs. J.P. Coleman. Ross Barnett and Cliff Finch; Carroll Waller, wife of former Gov. Bill Waller.

U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran; U.S. Reps. Jamie Whitten, Webb Franklin, Sonny Montgomery and Wayne Dowdy and all nine state Supreme Court justices.

"I implore each of you to stand with me as a team, a team whose only opposition consists of illiteracy, economic stagnation, poverty, hunger and illness," the new governor said. Allain built his reputation as an activist attorney general who had challenged utility rates and the presence of legislators on executive boards. But during his address Tuesday, the new governor extended an olive branch to lawmakers and busine ss leaders. As the cm-monies resumed in the House, he joked, "With the help of the weather, we put to rest the speculation that Bill Allain could not cooperate with the Legislature. It will be recorded that the first request of Governor Bill Allain to the Legislature was unanimously approved." Allain repeated a similar thought in the midst of his address.

That message drew a reaction from Lt. Gov. Brad Dye when he followed Allain to the podium to conclude the ceremonies. "I want to assure our new governor that we will cooperate with him (and) we look forward to four years of progressive government working with Bill Allain tor the people of Mississippi," Dye said. Allain also called in his speech for an enhanced "partnership" between state government and the private sector to help address the broad priorities he identified for his administration: education, the economy and human services.

Specific proposals were reserved for a future speech to the Legislature. "Business and government have to make a strong commitment toward a quality education and training program if we are to have a healthy economy," the new governor said, noting that "it is not government that creates prosperity (but) government can and See Inauguration, back page )' mJ i By ELIZABETH H. HOLLAND Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer Some came because they'd never seen a governor's inauguration before. Some attended because they had been to other maturations. And some fame because they supported Bill Allain and "I have to be here to see my hero.

He's really worked for the people, and I feel he's done so many great things for us already. I'm going to stay, but if it gets too uncomfortable, I might go back inside' Jean McRaney, Cleveland guration ceremony rather than waiting and shivering outside. "Actually, though, we have watched it when it was a lot colder than this" she said. "When Ross Barnett was inaugurated, I think it was 17 degrees. I never was so cold in my life." Retired registered nurse Elxey Edwards, 72, was swathed in a coat, scarf, hat, gloves and leather boots with her-suede dress.

"Yes, I bundled up," she said. "But I really wanted to be here today. I don't think we could've elected a better person than him." "I'm real warm," said Jean McRaney of Cleveland, her face all but covered by the turned-up collar of her hip-length mink jacket as she stood outside waiting for the ceremony to begin. "I have to be here to see my hero. He's really worked for the people, and I feel he's done so many great things for us already.

I'm going to stay, but if it gets too See Crowd, back page this section leu they needed to show that support. "I felt like he needs his supporters to be here," said Stan Pittman, facilities maintenance supervisor for the State Highway Department. Alluding to the allegations of homosexual misconduct brought against Allain in the final two weeks of the campaign, Pittman, an Allain backer, said, "I never believed those things anyway. There wasn't enough evidence to support those charges." Jeff Jones, 27, another Highway Department worker, said, "I really wanted to see him. I've never seen an inauguration before.

"I think he's going to make a good Staff photo by Mark Mahoney the electric company when he was attorney general. "It's awfully cold out there," said Mildred Risher of Philadelphia, who with her husband, John, stood inside on the Capitol's first floor before the inau governor. I got a check back from (Mississippi Power and Light Co.) and that's the only check I got from anybody ever without going through some kind of hassle," he said, referring to Allain's victory in a rate case against 1 Madison supervisor wins, other races uncertain; bond issue fails constitutional because of wide population differences. He redrew the lines, encompassing entirely new political areas and breaking up the constituencies of incumbents. The political shakeup threw incumbents into new districts and pitted them against 18 challengers hoping to end the supervisors' decades-long tenures in office.

In the city of Madison, taxpayers voted 284 to 144 against the bond proposal that would have raised the average tax bill by $50. The referendum, which lost by a 66-percent margin, See Madison, back page this section By DEL STOVER Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer An easy victory by one incumbent, the defeat of second, and the uncertain fate of a third highlighted a special election of supervisors in Madison County. The special election, which will be followed by runoffs in two and possibly three races Jan. 24, was delayed two months by court suits that led to the drawing of new district lines to equalize the size of supervisory districts. While voters countywide were deciding on supervisors, residents of the city of Madison easily defeated a $700,000 bond issue to repair 40 to 50 streets.

The proposal also would have raised taxes by about 50 percent. In the supervisor races, J.S. "Brother" Harris was the only incumbent who came awayTues-day night with a clear mandate from the voters. He handily defeated 2nd District challenger Norman Gainey by a 4-to-l margin for another four-year term. Incumbent E.D.

"Buddie" Mansell lost in his attempt to win a seventh term in the 5th District. Challengers William J. Mosby and J.L. McCullough outpolled Mansell and will face one President Pat H. Luckett Jr.

will face a runoff with J.M. "Buddy" McGowan, while in the 3rd District, where no incumbent ran, David H. Richardson and Horace M. Ross will be in the runoff. The defeat of Mansell, along with the retirement of incumbent Dorothy "Dot" Dowdle, means that at last two new faces will join the Board of Supervisors for the next four years, partly due to the political upheavals of the federal court-ordered redistricting plan.

U.S. District Judge William Barbour ruled in July that the 90-year-old district lines were un another in the Jan. 24 runoff. The outcome in the 4th District remained uncertain when officials finished counting ballots for the night. Incumbent A.E.

"Preacher" Crawford led a four-man race with 51 percent of the vote, which gave him a slim 1 percent margin 22 votes between victory and a runoff with second-place vote-getter Karl M. Banks. More than 100 affidavit ballots in that race remained uncounted, enough to prevent Crawford from holding onto a majority. In the 1st District, Board of Supervisors City Council wants pay raise Arctic air chills state; snow closes 2 schools What's inside Amusements 2C Ann Landers 2C Business 8B Classified IE Comics 7D Crossword Deaths 28 Editorial 8,9 A Horoscope 2C Jumble 5E Names Faces 2A Southern Style 1C Sports ID State Metro IB Stocks TV-Radio Log 3C Weather 10A NATION -The United States and trie Vatican establish full diplomatic relations after a break of 117 years. Page 3 A.

WORLD A Bulgarian airliner crashes while trying to land at Sofia's airport, killing all 50 people on board. Page IE the mayor's salary from $23,000 to $30,000 and the commissioners' salaries from $17,000 to $23,000. In asking voters to approve raises for the council, Fowler said that the cost of living has increased 66 percent since 1977, and that other city employees had received raises designed to keep their incomes abreast of inflation. According to income disclosure statements filed with the state Ethics Commission, Roan's only other income is from his wife Faye's job as a secretary with the Jackson Public Schools. Roan owns a home and lot on Dell-wood Drive in south Jackson valued at about $38,000, according to recent Hinds County appraisals.

Besides his salary as mayor, Danks claims income from a 10.71 percent interest in Caribe Apartment a partnership based in Gulf port Danks' wife Carolyn owns a home and lot on Meadowbrook Road in the Eastover subdivision valued at $206,050, according to Hinds County appraisals. Danks deeded the home to his wife shortly before announcing his candidacy for a second term as mayor in January 1981. The Dankses also own a home and lot near Lake Lorman in Madison County. The property is valued at roughly $27,000, according to Madison County Se Council, back page this section time," Danks said of the March 1 starting date. Danks and Roan voted to put raises before the voters after receiving resolutions from the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and Citizens Southwest, a lobbying group based in south Jackson.

"We feel it imperative that our public servants be provided with fair and just salaries as would be expected in the private sector," said Jimmy Fowler, president of Fowler Buick Co. and spokesman for the group. "We sincerely believe our elected officials are due a salary increase." Fowler said mayors of several Mississippi cities smaller than Jackson such as Biloxi and Clinton are paid more than Danks. Fowler also noted that the referendum itself would not cost taxpayers any additional money because the Feb. 7 election has to be held to pick Cochran's successor.

The chamber resolution asked that the mayor and commissioner salaries be increased to $50,000 and $40,000, respectively. Citizens Southwest President Dr, John Burris recommended $48,000 and $38,000, the amounts adopted by the council. When asked whether he deserved a raise, Danks said, "That's for the people to decide." The council members last received rais in 1977, when the voters boosted By MARTIN ZIMMERMAN Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer When residents vote Feb. 7 to fill th vacancy on the Jackson City Council, they also will decide whether the three council members should take home fatter paychecks. The question of a pay hike was added to the special election ballot Tuesday when Mayor Dale Danks and Commissioner Luther Roan decided to ask the voters for raises of at least 60 percent.

If approved, Danks' salary would increase from $30,000 a year to $48,000, or 60 percent. Roan's pay would jump from $23,000 to $38,000, or just more than 65 percent. Under state law, pay raises for Jackson's three council members must be approved by the voters in a referendum. The pay raises will share the ballot with candidates seeking to succeed former commissioner Nielsen Cochran, who resigned last month after winning a seat on the state Public Service Commission. Before voting to put the raises on the ballot, Roan said, "This is not a raise for Commissioner Luther Roan or Mayor Dale Danks," but for whomever serves on the City Council.

The raise, however, will take effect March 1, rather than after the next municipal election in 1985. vt had to come inteffect some By ROBERT OURLIAN Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer A blast of arctic air turned rain into snow over northeastern Mississippi Tuesday morning, sprinkling several counties with white and closing at least two school systems. The system stretched to the Eastern Seaboard, leaving ice and snow all the way to Maine. Accumulations there reached almost a foot in places. The snow and sleet ended in Mississippi by early afternoon, the National Weather Service said, and there was little significant accumulation.

State skies should clear today, with a high in the mid-40s. Tonight's low will be in the low 20s. Temperatures in the northeastern part of the state dipped into the 30s Tuesday morning down from about 50 at midnight and winds of 20 to 25 miles an hour brought the chill factor to 10 or 15 degrees, said Brad Doyle, a weather service forecaster in Tupelo. Doyle said sleet and snow entered Mississippi about 8:45 a.m. and reached Tupelo by about 11:25 a.m.

Precipitation ended by about 1 p.m., he said. Heavy rainfall was recorded in the northeastern part of the state earlier in pr the night, Doyle said. Rain in the area averaged around an inch, he said, with 1.5 inches at Tupelo and about 2 inches at Tibbee Creek near West Point. Officials at the Alcorn County sheriff's office said an inch of snow was on the ground there by 10:30 a.m. A little later, Corinth Police Department dispatcher Brenda Moore said.

"It's on the ground still, but the roads are clear." Trace accumulations of snow and sleet were reported at Ripley, Boone-ville, Corinth, New Albany and Tupelo by the end of the morning. "We got quite a bit of sleet and just light snow," said Louis McAlexander, a New Albany Police Department dispatcher, "but it melted just about as fast as it hit." "It got bad enough that it scared the school officials into closing the schools at noon county and city," he said. No other school closings were reported. The weather service had issued traveler's advisories in Alcorn, Tippah, Tishomingo, Prentiss and Union counties, but canceled those by mid-afternoon when precipitation ended and roads ap-See Snowback page this section 'Jt.