Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 1

Political mud Iteyor's Trophy Final District 2 candidates sniping, 1 B. Ole Miss turns back MSU, 1C. Gone fishin' Belzoni prepares for catfish festival, 8E Metro edition Jackson, Mississippi Thursday April 1, 1993 35c i to buM iigiiiiiiifiiiiiiiiiiiiiumniiuiiinmiiii Fred's chain plans buyout of Bill's stores Both boards must OK merger; each company would retain its identity. By Lee Ragland Clarion-Ledger Assistant Business Editor Fred's discount chain of Memphis announced a deal Wednesday to acquire Jackson-based Bill's Dollar Stores. Bill's owners, a New York investment company, will receive an unspecified amount of Fred's stock in exchange for the privately held chain of 530 stores in 13 Southeastern states.

The deal is subject to approval by both companies' boards. Publicly held Fred's stock closed Wednesday at $16.50 a share, up 25 cents. Bill's would become a division of Fred's but would keep its name, top monairomont anA 9nflom rl nvaa may warraratt raew sossiosi Measure died on floor due to senator's move; many lawmakers say it would be worth calling one-day special session. By Jay Eubank Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer 13a r- kxX Legislators could be called back to Jackson for a special session to handle a bond bill designed to lure a theme park and movie studio to Madison County. The bill died late Tuesday night on a Hinds County senator's procedural move after clearing both the House and Senate.

"Certainly a project of this magnitude would warrant considering this bill for one day," Lt. Gov. Eddie Briggs said Wednesday. The 1993 Legislature is set to adjourn Sunday, and its headquarters on 1-55 North. rules prohibit further consideration of the Area targeted for theme park MADISON COUNTY I very comfortable with the management team in the company and like the people we have seen," Fred's President Michael Hayes said.

"We have no intention of pulling the headquarters up." Bill's headquarters greeted the news warmly. "It gives some influx of capital that was sorely needed," said Charles Acklen, Bill's chief executive officer. "This will help our inventory, enhance the appearance of our stores and put in technology that we would not be able to afford otherwise." Bill's was started by former lumbia native Bill Walker, a dis- i. 1- .11 ii Canton bond bill in the regular session. Briggs and House Speaker Tim Ford met with Gov.

Kirk Fordice Wednesday to go over options. The bill would allow Madison County to issue $500 million in bonds for California developers to build a 400-acre, park and movie studio. By state law, gover Flora jf i Tfl Madsonl sJlfjackson I MiSS. 7 SCALE IN MILES li 0 20 Micheie StapletonTne Clanon-Leager Bay St. Louis Mayor Eddie Favre(bottom right) addresses to meet the inaugural run of Amtrak's Sunset Limited.

The pas-hundreds who crowded the Bay St. Louis depot Wednesday senger train also stopped at Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula. All aboard! Sunset Limited on a roll Passengers, onlookers romanced by memoriesf on train's inaugural run a r. By Emily Wagster Clarion-Ledger Gulf Coast Bureau ---I couni, siore pioneer who sum uie company in 1986. Since Bill's is privately held, its income figures are not public.

Acklen said the company has regained profitability after heavy losses three years ago. Bill's reported sales of $232 million last year but saw its profitability hurt by a heavy debt incurred from a rapid expansion of stores in the late 1980s. "Bill's has about $61 million in debt and the interest cost is choking them," said Craig Weichmann, a Morgan Keegan Co. analyst in Memphis. Fred's in 1992 made $8.2 million on sales of $316 million.

The chain operates 158 stores, the first of them in Coldwater in Desoto County. Weichmann said Fred's stores are typically 12,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet, while Bill's average 6,300 square feet. A majority of the Fred's offer pharmacies. Bill's do not. Expansion of Bill's is anticipated.

"The clear intention is that Fred's bought it to grow it," Weichmann said. "It broadens their arsenal for future development." Bill's will open seven new stores today including one in Brandon and Acklen said 15 new stores are planned this year. The two chains overlap in only 40 markets. "In most cases, I am not pro-merger," said Fred's Hayes. "But this is a marriage that came about very naturally." nors can call special sessions to deal with subjects of their choice.

Such sessions cost about $25,000 a day. Briggs said a special session on the bill should last only one day. "It could be a possibility for that kind of economic development We'll just have to wait and see," Fordice said "It certainly looks like a boon, economically speaking." On Tuesday night, the House and Senate both approved the bill. Later, just before the Senate adjourned around 11 p.m., Sen. Alice Harden of Jackson entered a motion to reconsider.

That caused the bill's death. "It's just unfortunate that one person asking for reconsideration could nullify all the work from the last two days," said Duke Loden, executive vice president of the Industrial Development Authority of Madison County, which has worked on the project for 3V2 years. International Studios Inc. of Hollywood proposes constructing the studio and theme park in an area bounded by Canton, Madison and Flora. No site has been selected.

Company officials could not be reached Wednesday. Local officials said the company includes former Walt Disney studio officials. Harden said Wednesday, "I want all the facts so I can make an intelligent decision. I'm looking out for Hinds County." "That's the most short-sighted and nearsighted thing," Loden said. "I couldn't believe it.

The theme park will fill up the hotels and motels in Jackson, and benefit the whole central Mississippi area, as far away as Vicksburg. She's just making some lame excuse." "(Harden) didn't raise any questions during debate. I'm disappointed in that she didn't understand the significance of this legislation for central Mississippi," said Sen. Barbara Blackmon of Canton. "If we do have a special session taxpayers can thank Sen.

Harden." Madison County officials would issue industrial development revenue bonds for the project Such bonds are sold to raise cash that is repaid with interest over a period of years. County taxpayers would face no liability. Teacher-incentive planned OK'd, 3B -J Tmi itk ABOARD THE SUNSET LIMITED Clutching her black patent-leather purse, Gerry Lang eased into a seat by the train's upper-level window, sipped a Coke and watched the sunny Gulf Coast landscape slip past. "I tell you, when I was young, I worked over in New Orleans for years and years and rode the train every day," the 76-year-old Bay St. Louis grandmother said with a smile.

"I used to look forward to just seeing the train, even if I wasn't riding it." On Wednesday, Lang and dozens of other invited coast residents refreshed their railroad memories with a ride aboard the nation's first transcontinental train, the Sunset Limited. The 12-car train left Los Angeles at 10:50 p.m. Sunday and will finish its journey in Miami at 7:15 p.m. Friday. "This is nothing like trains used to be in the old days," Lang said.

"This is luxurious." The Sunset Limited took its time on the inaugural run Wednesday, stopping 15 minutes each for celebrations in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula before moving on to Mobile and Pensacola. Regular service begins Sunday, with three eastbound and three westbound Vicki Lever Niolet of Long Beach snaps a photo Wednesday as the Sunset Limited streaks across Mississippi marshland. Seated is Fred Walker of Long Beach. trains weekly.

Already on Wednesday, Mississippi-ans were making or fantasizing about travel plans. "This is neeeeaaaat," said fourth-grader Loi Nguyen, eyeballing the train at its Biloxi stop. The Howard 2 Elementary pupil isn't picky about where he'd go. "Anywhere," he said with a grin. Andrew and Odessa Mazerat, who greeted the train in Bay St.

Louis, said they want to ride Amtrak to Los Angeles this summer to visit relatives. "Instead of driving," Odessa Mazerat said, "we'll just ride and be comfortable and watch the landscape change." That's something Bob Katz recommends. He hopped the Sunset Limited Monday in Phoenix, his hometown. See TRAIN, 11 A Biloxi or Gulfport? 11A Quitting Florence chief: Phone-tape probe didn't oust me SB know it's going to be enough? How do I know you're going to be satisfied?" Hickman: You just name what it is and we'll discuss it. Lacey laughs as the conversation continues Florence Police Chief Jim Hickman: "Like I said, I'll leave it to you how to pay it off." Mary Lacey: "Well now, like I said now, how do I know that whatever the payoff, whatever it's going to cost me, how do I INDEX Advertiser index 4A Ann Landers 3D Business 5B Classified 6C Comics 6D Crosswords 3D Cryptoquip 3D Deaths 2B Horoscope 3D Mississippi Weekend 1E Movies 10-13E Opinion 12.13A People i 2A Southern Style 1D Sports 1C State Metro 1B Stocks 6.7B TV schedules WEATHER Breezy.

High in 50s. Details, 14A. Volume 156 No. 43 5 sections 60 pages 'Copyright 1993 Lusk said she had heard about the tape, but hadn't listened to it. "They asked us last night if we wanted to hear it," she said, referring to May and City Attorney David Ringer.

"I didn't want to hear anything. We already had his resignation." Hickman, whose salary this year was $23,152, earned $20,100 a year when he was hired in September 1989. The Marine veteran had been a reporter for the Rankin County News immediately before that. As chief, his duties included overseeing five full-time officers, one part-time officer and two school -crossing guards. Sgt Caley Gray was appointed offi-cer-in-charge until April 6, when the board will appoint an interim chief May said.

Aldermen are already advertising to fill Hickman's job. attorney, who gave the tape to the district attorney's office Friday. In a tape of the conversation obtained by The Clarion-Ledger, both Lacey and Hickman are heard laughing and joking. The word "payoff' is mentioned at least twice, as is the word "bedroom," but no details are exchanged. No overt sexual suggestions are stated.

"At this time we are reviewing the tape-recorded conversation to see whether criminal charges should be filed," Kelly said. Mayor Sonny May would not say whether Hickman had a choice about resigning. "I'm just in a position where I can't tell you anything but the chief submitted his resignation, the board accepted it and we wish the chief well," May said. At-large Alderwoman Velma Conversation between lawman, Rankin woman sparks rumors. By Arnold Lindsay Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer FLORENCE Jim Hickman said Wednesday that his decision to step down as police chief had nothing to do with a tape recording of a conversation he had with a Florence woman.

"I was tired of politics," he said the morning after he resigned, effective immediately, at an emergency Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday night. Hickman, 47, denied knowledge of the audiotape of a telephone conversation he had with Mary Lacey of Florence, that was sent to the Rankin County district attorney's office. Jim Kelly. "Before the investigation commenced, however, rumors of the allegations commenced circulating through the community that made the gaining of additional information impossible." Highway Patrol investigators have been asked to join a probe, Kelly said. No charges have been filed.

Lacey said she taped the conversation with Hickman at the advice of her Lacey said she sought advice from Hickman about an aggravated assault charge against her son Joe Lacey, 19. Lacey said throughout the six to eight weeks she had contact with Hickman because of her son's case, the chief injected "too many personal things" into their conversations. "We became aware of the allegation on March 25," said Assistant Rankin County District Attorney (9.