Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 33

3 mm ADVICEPUZZLES COMICS TV TONIGHT- THE CLARION-LEDGER JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1992 KM Pop bios Next time you have to do a book report on a biography, TBS' news youths can use coming next month LESLIE R. MYERS -sj 8 TV Columnist I The Clarion-Ledger 1 -1 i UN I IJI Jl-lll II IIIIMLH News and features will be tailored for kids. Gannett Nwt Service skip Washington and Lincoln and go directly to Waters. The director of Hairspray and other campy film frolics is featured in the new American Originals series. Each bio ($11.95, Thunder's Mouth Press) uses essays and interviews to profile a pop artist.

The focus is on creative whizzes who are as cutting edge as they are commercial. Besides John Waters, who also brought you Cry-Baby, you can about it, it needs to be handled by News for Kids says executive producer Jerry Krieg. Cable News Network will provide the videotape for the stories, which will then be shaped for the show. It will contain hard news, features by young reporters, and will let audiences call in their opinions. WPG tracks teen trends and appears Wednesdays In Southern Style.

.4 Current events are news to you? Not anymore. Cable channel TBS will begin airing a week-in-review called News for Kids in syndication Sept. 19 and on TBS Sept. 20, aimed at young people ages 9 to 13. The show will take what's topical Byrne and explain it to kids.

"If the story has reached a point in this particular week where I think kids are hearing about it and talking read all about Talking Head David Byrne and performance artist Laurie Anderson. 5 ikSaJh Ill III. I II ,11, I 11,11,11 Haute dogs are among the new tricks being tried at Battlefield Park. Puffin)' on News junkies have no trouble finding fixes in Jackson Nobody should be starving for news in this TV market (especially if it's about Elvis). That's not to say there's any such thing as too much news (unless it's about Elvis, even if he was the King, which he probably was).

First, on a responsible non-Elvis note, all three major networks' Jackson affiliates are expanding their news offerings. The bottom line is that if you turn on your TV at 6 a.m., noon, 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., you're apt to find local news on all three affiliates nowadays. Here's how those channels are changing. NBC affiliate WLBT-Channel 3 and CBS affiliate WJTV-Channel 12 are doing what newspapers have done for centuries offer full news coverage on weekends.

On Aug. 1, both stations debuted local newscasts at 6 p.m. Saturdays. The same day, WLBT began airing NBC's new Saturday Today show at 7 a.m. It also will begin airing Sundays at 7 a.m.

this Sunday. This past Monday, ABC affiliate WAPT-Ghannel 16 rolled out its first-ever 6 a.m. weekday local newscast. Joining the team Long-time underdog WAPT also has wooed an anchor away from news-leading 1 i mm mm By Gary Pettus Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer id 7 1 r1 When the Rev. Eddie McBride decided to burnish Battlefield Park, part of his solution was to let it go to the dogs.

Hot dogs. Finely finessed frankfurters so good that "if you were to come out here and try one, your tongue might just jump out and slap you upside the head," said McBride. "And you might start singing the Campbell's Soup song! Talk about mmm, mmm, good." A few months ago, in the Jackson park's abandoned concession stand, McBride hatched Hot Dog Heaven. It was part of his strategy to re-establish beleaguered Battlefield as a recreation spot for families rather than drug users. That strategy included leasing the park from the city, cleaning it up, managing the tennis center, keeping a close eye on visitors, banning alcoholic beverages, WLBT to help expand its evening news operations.

Cynthia Bowers, who has been anchoring 6 a.m. and noon newscasts for WLBT, will join WAPT's news team in a few weeks. "I think this is pretty major because, historically in this market, the moves have been the other way," WAPT news director Dave Cochran said. putting up gates to control access and traffic. And putting on the dog.

Five dogs, as a matter of fact: a regular dog, JSU chili dog, New Orleans dog, Texas dog and Polish dog. They are the culinary creations of Maxine Johnson and Betty Jo Sibbie, two Jackson Public Schools teachers who have worked as "I just think people love hot dogs. There no place that sells exclusively dogs." the Rev. Eddie McBride Bowers caterers. This summer, they worked McBride's concession stand.

"All I knew was there was a whole list of hot dogs I wanted," McBride said. "They put it together." The New Orleans dog, for example, is festooned with onions, peppers, tomatoes, mustard and much more. "We just jotted down things we thought would be good on a hot dog," Johnson said. "She cooks a lot," she said, meaning Sibbie. "I eat a lot." But why not hamburgers? "Because then you're competing against McDonald's, you're competing against Burger King," McBride said.

"You're competing against everyone else. "I just think people love hot dogs. There's no place that sells exclusively dogs." See HOT DOG, 2D B.R. RascherThe Clarion-Ledger The Rev. Eddie McBride has added managers Maxine Johnson (back-Hotdog Heaven to Battlefield Park.

Al- ground left) and Betty Jo Sibbie (back-though the stand was his idea, he says ground right) keep the place going. G.I.F.T.S. aims to coordinate aid to homeless, needy "Back in the days when news was not a priority at this station (WAPT) hired people without a lot of experience. Once those people perfected their skills, they often were snatched up by Channel 3 or 12. "This shows how seriously we're taking our news efforts here," he added.

"Nobody can remember this happening ever." WAPT did land one of Channel 3's talents, but not one of its key evening anchors, WLBT general manager Dan Modisett said. Bowers, who anchored at WCBI-TV in Columbus before working four years at WLBT, will co-anchor WAPT's 5 p.m. weekday newscasts with Cal Adams. "She's going to be a reporter for us as well as an anchor," Cochran said. "This will just make us stronger." That frees up current 5 p.m.

newscast co-anchors Stephanie Bell Flynt and Cory Thompson. That pair will assume the coveted co-anchoring positions for WAPT's new 6 p.m. weekday newscast, which will debut Aug. 31. Weatherman David Hartman and sports-caster Mike Rowe will complete WAPT's 5 p.m.

and 6 p.m. anchoring teams. An hour of Elvis Tupelo tourism should get a boost from CBS' 48 Hours: Crazy About Elvis, which will air at 9 tonight on WJTV. The hourlong homage to the Tupelo native is better than most, as it marks the 15th anniversary of Elvis' death, four days later. Crazy About Elvis is most effective in wonderful black-and-white film footage of Elvis' early performances, as it stops around no-frills Tupelo and accompanies four fanatical fans from Denver to Graceland, their mecca in Memphis.

But the show's entertainment and imagination fail in plastic Las Vegas, where Elvis impersonators are as one-dimensional as the city itself. Furthermore, there's no overview that tells us how events informed his life, or his fate. Several 48 Hours correspondents float in and out of the show as Dan Rather tries to be an omnipresent commentator. The correspondents and their individual segments in Tupelo, Denver, Memphis and beyond have no particular identity. Journalistically, they have no purpose other than to tackle this story's wide geography.

It's a weak format. Nonetheless, Crazy About Elvis has enough of Elvis to make it worth the trip. homeless after reading a newspaper article about Stewart Guernsey, executive director of the Community Stewpot. "I was touched as I read about his work with the homeless in Boston and how he came back to Jackson to do the same thing," she said. "I thought, I'm here in the city and I can do something, too." Steven Cooper, vice president of G.I.F.T.S., said he was impressed by Guernsey and his work.

"He was a successful attorney, but he gave up his law practice to help the less fortunate." Because of Guernsey's efforts, G.I.F.T.S. decided to adopt the Community Stewpot as a special project. The group has also adopted AA Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Center, operated by Lizzie Cooper of Jackson. Cooper's center on J.R Lynch Street In March 1992, she gathered a cross-section of people from the community and met to share her vision of helping others. The result was the formation of an organization known as G.I.F.T.S.

(God Inspires Faithful Trusting Servants). "G.I.F.T.S. was established to activate and coordinate the tremendous resources of the entire community to combat and prevent homelessness in the Jackson metropolitan area," Allison said. "Having worked in the mayor's office, I have seen a lot of services that are not meeting the needs of the people. "My goal is to find a way to help those organizations that are already in place to help those in need," she said.

"If we pull our sources together, we can do a better job in meeting the needs of the people." Allison was motivated to help the receives no federal or state funds or grants. She runs the center with personal funds and contributions from others. "It's a wonderful thingG.I.F.T.S. is doing for me," she said. "There are a great many things the center is in need of.

"Right now we are trying to get a soup kitchen open," she added. "G.I.F.T.S. has helped me get a stove in my place. At first, I had to use a hot plate." Guernsey said he is thankful that G.I.F.T.S. is interested in the work of the Community Stewpot.

He said unlike Cooper, the Stewpot is not in need of money. "We are in an unusual and wonderful situation," he said. "God has blessed us in so many ways. We hope to work out ways of sharing some of our abundance with others." G.I.F.T.S. consists of about 25 individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Officers and board members include government employees, business persons, providers of non-profit services, religious leaders, social workers and educators. For details, write G.I.F.T.S. at P.O. Box 68216, Jackson, MS 39286; or phone 366-3926 or 923-3332. The volunteer group has adopted Stewpot and an AA center as special projects.

By Charlotte Graham Clarion-Ledger Religion Writer Jackson resident Janet Allison may not have everything she desires in life, but she does have a good job, food to eat and a place to call home. Allison, who works in the city's purchasing department, realizes many people cannot say that. They walk Jackson's streets daily, seeking employment, food and a place to rest for the night. They are Jackson's homeless and needy. "Sometimes when you work every day and seem to have many of the conveniences in life, you easily forget those who are without," she said.

"I attended a black history program in February and the speaker mentioned how so many of our professionals tend to forget about their roots and the less fortunate. "Although they can easily do something to help the needy, they don't. I don't want this to be said about me," Allison said. "My goal is to find a way to help those organizations that are already in place to help those in need. If we pull our sources together, we can do a better job in meeting the needs of the people." Janet Allison FREE STUFF THEY SAID IT.

OUT Af.D ADOUT EARTH SAVERS Easy for Yo-Yo to say he can really play PET PLACEMENT Many people adopt street and they a pet and later find tney cant care lor it. 1 iiorv Hinds Community College International Trade Center offers a Learn to Export seminar at 1 D.m. at the Jackson Enterprise Center, 931 U.S. 80 Jackson. For reservations call 857-3536.

Living Through Cancer, a support group for cancer pa The most effective "Fame is one of those things that if you fall for it you'll never have enough, because somebody's always going to be more famous. You don't want to be way to find your pet a new home is to put an ad in the newspaper. trip and fall, I can't help but start laughing. To me, that's just hilarious. They look like complete morons, and their groceries are all over the Great while it lasted Harry Hamlin, formerly of LA.

Law, and Nicolette Sheridan (Knots Landing are calling it quits, 1 1 months into their mar-' riage. It was the second marriage for Hamlin, 40, and the first for Sheridan, 28. The unofficial buzz is that she's harmonizing offstage with Michael Bolton, People says. Sylvia Kristel, who made it big in the soft-porn classic Emmanuelle, is trying to resurrect her career. Now 40, she refuses to take it off in any more films.

In Beauty Academy, the story of a contest to name the perfect topless dancer, Kristel plays the club owner. She lets others bare it all. EX BMai Mm MmUDn mlmT twanoaiiM. MHrlMftMM Lit iiamApcm mm, ovu. MMmainral Charge a fee tor ithe pet and interview several people before making a selection.

Animal shelters take jnwanted pets free of tients and families, meets at 7 p.m. at the Mississippi Medical Center, 1225 N. State Jackson. For details call 968-3090. The planning committee for the Making Victims a Priority in Mississippi conference meets at 1:30 p.m.

in Room 1 1 4 at the Department of Health Annex Building in Jackson. the very best, you don't want to be the most famous, you don't want to be the richest, but it's nice to have a little bit. That you can enjoy." cellist Yo-Yo Ma, in Details. "HI see somebody walking down kharge, but are burden- floor. You see an old person miss the curb by an inch hilarious! I mean, I'll go over, I'll help them up, but I've got to laugh." Andrew Dice Clay, comedy sophisticate, in People.

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