Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 9

(sum- Online Edition: clarionledger.com Mississippi's News Source Monday, February 26, 2001 Jackson, Miss. 50c 'We all jumped in the hallway and the house blew apart' SPORTS II nimiiiinmBMWtH MTWW'M i i Recount no help for Gore in study Fliilsaps, MC get postseason bids The NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament will pit a pair of Metro-area teams in 1 USA Today the first round on Thursday. 1C BoysGirls State begins today The two-week high school basketball tournament cranks up at the Coliseum. 1 E-TECHNOLOGY yyz' ry rr; I 1 tuiii himm uA.T rr- AiS -X si" J.D. SchwalmThe Clarion-Ledger Riley and Brenda Seale salvage the family Bible and other items from 10th Street in Pontotoc during Saturday's tornado.

Michael Seale was the site of their nephew's home, which was swept from the hilltop on killed along with his sister, Betty Clowers, and her son, Donnie. Electronic etiquette Making phone calls in a theater is rude. So what's acceptable? Experts decide. 1E NATIONWORLD Bush taking aim at subsidies The president plans to cut corporate subsidies to pay for tax cuts, education and health spending, an official says. 3 A HEALTH FITNESS Nervous tics hard to give up MIAMI Former Vice President Al Gore would not have picked up many new votes in Miami-Dade County and might have lost ground in the county if the hand count of ballots he requested had been completed, according to a study done for USA Today, The Miami Herald and Knight Ridder Newspapers.

Gore would have had a net gain of 49 votes if the most-lenient standard counting even faintly dimpled chads had been used, the study found. If the standard had been more stringent, George W. Bush probably would have gained votes. The results are a blow to Democratic claims that Gore would have won the election if a hand recount had occurred. Democrats had expected to net about 600 additional votes in Miami-Dade.

That would have been enough to overcome Bush's 537-vote margin. USA Today, The Miami Herald and Knight Ridder hired national accounting firm BDO Seidman to examine all 60,000 undervotes in Florida's 67 counties. Full results are expected soon. Federal day-care subsidies fall short By Gloria Butler Baldwin Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer Thousands of Mississippi children who once relied on federally subsidized day care so their low-income parents could work and stay off welfare are now without that assistance. But officials with the state Department of Human Services say it's the same sad song every year.

The problem, they say, lies in the amount of available funding. While children who qualify for federal child care assistance through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program have first priority, those qualifying under the different Child Care Development Block Grant fund program must stand in line on a first-come, first-served basis. That means some children who qualify for federal assistance are left without it. Ridgeland mother Andrea Smothers said she had to quit her job to stay home and care for her three children ages 5, 2 and 9 months because she couldn't pay for child care. "I got a letter saying I qualified, but there was no money available.

I was getting Medicaid and food stamps, I Musgrove seeks emer -x Humming, nail biting and foot tap- ping are habits that are hard to break. 1D 9-year-old boy among five killed in Pontotoc County ByKathrinR. Dougan Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer PONTOTOC Evan Nixon died in the midst of his 10th birthday party, one of five people killed when a tornado tore through this north Mississippi community, leaving dozens of oth- The five killed in Mississippi Saturday night were among a death toll of 10 that spread throughout the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota and Nebraska. With wind speeds peaking at 150 miles per hour, the tornado dropped from the night sky onto a home near the Pontotoc-Calhoun county line in southwest Pontotoc County. The storm traveled northeast, never lifting from the ground until it reached the Union county line 23.7 miles away, Pontotoc County Sheriff Leo Mask said.

The five deaths in Pontotoc occurred on East 10th Street on the south side of town. Killed were Nixon of 154 E. 10th Betty Clowers and her son Donnie Clowers, both of 149 E. 10th Michael Seale, who is Betty Clowers' nephew; and Peggy Hester, of 142 E. 10th St.

Both Seale and Hester were at the Clowers' residence when the tornado struck. Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, who viewed the storm's destruction from a helicopter Sunday, was expected to declare the county a state disaster area today. Barely a week after storms raked three north-See STORMS, 4A gency disaster aid, 4A More photos on the Web, clarionledger.com ers injured and more than 1,000 homeless. His stepdad, digging through the rubble afterward, found him and cradled the dying boy in his arms.

METROSTATE English could replace algebra A fifth English course could replace Algebra II as a graduation requirement for Jackson Public Schools students. 1B FORECAST Community rallies to comfort victims 1 Tornado path (45 Bldwyn I 'New Albany UNION pv Vi t. PONTOTOC "'XL' I COUNTfr l--l 8 Pontotoc J4fc 67rUpe0 I Alaoma 1 LEF 1 I 1 I' Partly cloudy and cooler with showers possible tonight. High in mid-60s, low near 50. Weather details, 2A Harold Gater The Clarion-Ledger Some 1 ,000 residents in need of shelter after storm By Robert Schoenberger Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer PONTOTOC Sunday morning, as residents of this close-knit town surveyed the damage done by a deadly tornado, one thing was clear many of their neighbors needed warm meals and roofs over their heads.

Authorities estimate about 360 homes were damaged or destroyed when the twister ripped through northeast Mississippi. Pontotoc County Director of Emergency Management Rickey Jaggers estimated that as many as 1,000 people are without shelter in the area, which is home to about 45,000 people. But despite the damage, only one person occupied an emergency relief shelter set up Sunday night by the Lee CountyTupelo chapter of the American Red Cross. "We're really surprised that there haven't been more people here," said Rebecca Dill, assistant shelter manager for the Red Cross. In fact, a shelter set up late Saturday night by a local church had shut down by Sunday afternoon.

Volunteers with the Red Cross and local churches See FAMILIES, 4A INDEX Ann Landers 4D MetroState 1B Business 6C Opinion 6-7A Calendar 3D People 2A Classified 1F Scoreboard 2C Comics 4-50 Southern Style 1D Crosswords 5D.3F Sports 1C Deaths 4B Spotlight 3A Jack Sunn 4D Technology 1E Jumble 6D TV listings 60 i I Betty Clowers, 149 E. 10th St. Donnie Clowers, address unknown, son of Betty Clowers. Michael Seale, address unknown, nephew of Betty Clowers. Peggy Hester, 1 22 E.

1 0th St. These four were in Betty Clowers' home when the storm hit. Evan Nixon, 154 E. 10th fourth-grader at D.T. Cox Elementary, would have been 10 Sunday.

Source: Pontotoc County Coroner Kim Bedford At. J.D. SchwalmThe Clarion-Ledger Barbara Marsh picks through what's left of her kitchen after Saturday's tornado. Her family moved in Feb. 7 and escaped injury.

"I can replace things, but not my family," she said. CORRECTIONS The Clarion-Ledger attempts to report news accurately. When we publish an error, we will correct it. To report an error, call (601)961-7101. See CHILD CARE, 8A Mississippi Edition Volume 1651 No.

10 Copyright 2001 Pay-raise bills for county officials appear dead began looking at the issue," act on bills originating in opposite chambers. "If we're going to address Bike riding as inspiration McBee Barbour is training to ride 200 miles in the National anyone, we need to address everyone or no one," Thames said. By Patrice Sawyer Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer If all county officials can't receive pay raises, then none will get them. That's Senate Fees and Salaries Chairman Billy Thames' reasoning for why he does not plan to present House Bill 306, the pay-raise bill for tax assessors and collectors, to his committee before Tuesday's deadline for lawmakers to raise for all county officials. "We want a pay raise.

We don't care who's on the shirt-tail," she said. But the Senate bill was tabled on a voice vote Feb. 14 in the House Fees and Salaries Committee and its revival isn't likely, said House Fees and Salaries Committee Chairman John Reeves, R-Jackson. No meeting of the committee is scheduled before Tuesday. Reeves said that although he believes assessors and collectors deserve a pay raise based on their experience, education and time they put into work, the financial picture is gray.

"I certainly cannot criticize Sen. Thames at all for denying the tax collectors and assessors a raise, given the financial situation that developed since we first priate." Winston County Tax Assessor and Collector Brenda Miles said the state association hasn't given up hope. Members will be at the Capitol pushing for the pay raise today and Tuesday. "We are going to put forth the effort," she said. Miles sees a chance with a pay raise in Senate Bill 2672.

That bill calls for a 10 percent across-the-board pay he said. Holmes County Sheriff Willie March said he and other sheriffs have been looking forward to a pay raise under the Senate bill, which allows some sheriffs to get a 10,000 bonus under certain circumstances. "We're kind of disappointed with that. All of our sheriffs are doing a good job," March said. Bike Ride for the Family.

"Our intentions were good, but the, House chose to address only one segment of county government. We do not feel it is proper or appro- 11 in 1 1 1 1 in 11 1 -hi ttj MlW rn i cl pi 1 rh rE ho I a I nh 'wsw ih'w cj.ailc.