Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 19

III! Hill- II mi Hip mi i Will ii-nmri f' gy-y jg Hi jjl HI" Tffr JP -yjr llll JACKSON-AREA DEATHS 2 BUSINESS 5 STOCKS 6-7 THE CLARION-LEDGER JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1991 "o) a) 6 charged in city auditorium billing scam Embezzlement charges in auditorium case Warrants are issued for acting director, four custodians and a former custodian. By Christina Uthoff Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer Earnestine Scott, 34, acting director of Municipal Auditorium, four counts of embezzlement and four counts of conspiracy to embezzle. James L. Berry, 23, custodian, one count of conspiracy to embezzle. Christopher Whitney, 25, custodian, one count of conspiracy to embezzle.

Josie Minor, 34, custodian, two counts of conspiracy to embezzle. Sam Tillman, 61, custodian, three counts of conspiracy to embezzle. Bobby Eubanks, 26, former temporary custodian, one count of conspiracy to embezzle. "One example is a leasee, a person, would be billed for engineering services when in fact a building engineer was not employed," Rejebian said. "Checks were then issued to custodians as building engineers." Custodians for the city are paid an hourly wage in a weekly paycheck.

Police discovered, however, that additional checks were being issued to the five custodians named in the warrants. The charges are the latest of a series of criminal allegations against city employees this year. Rejebian said Ditto supports the investigations of the police department into the misconduct of employees. "The mayor in this administration isn't going to tolerate any impropriety by any city employee," Rejebian said. day, but Michael Rejebian, spokesman for Mayor Kane Ditto, said the activity apparently began in December 1989.

The warrants were issued "for illegal activity conducted at the auditorium," Rejebian said. Police have been investigating that activity since April. Rejebian said the supervisor of those employees has initiated firing procedures against the five who still work for the city. "The charges involve billing for services that were not provided or shouldn't have been (billed)," Rejebian said. The alleged conspiracy apparently involved several types of misrepresentation by auditorium employees, including charges for engineering services.

Five Municipal Auditorium employees and one former worker are wanted by the Jackson police following an investigation into a false billing scam. Arrest warrants on felony embezzlement charges were issued late Wednesday for the six: the auditorium's acting director, four custodians and a former temporary custodian. The six are accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from people and groups leasing the auditorium. City officials did not offer an exact amount Wednes Fall elections could make Legislature 17 black, at most General election winners will serve one year until new districts are drawn. N.Y.

owner of WAPT-TV takes over Dick Appleton says the station's problems are "complicated." By Leslie R. Myers Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer The owner of WAPT-TV is mov-ing to Jackson to run the daily operations of the ABC affiliate. WAPT general manager Bill Ferrell resigned late Wednesday and Dick Appleton took his place. Appleton of New York is president of Northstar Television Group, which By Jay Eubank Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer i 1 "A Only eight blacks would be added to the Legislature next January if all 30 black candidates for House and Senate win in fall elections. That's not enough progress in the push to increase the number of blacks in a Legislature that's 87 percent white, black leaders said Wednesday.

"We want black voters to vote for black candidates," said Hazlehurst attorney Carroll Rhodes, who helped spearhead a coalition that had hoped to use legislative redistricting as an avenue to bring more blacks into the House and Senate. If eight new black candidates owns WAPT-Channel 16. In an unrelated matter, William D. "Woodie" Webb who has been WAPT's station manager sales director since April was suspended i VST win and 22 incumbents are reelected, the percentage of blacks in the Legislature would rise to 17 percent. Mississippi is about 35 percent black, the 1990 census shows.

"The goal for black Mississippi-ans is to have a fairly representative Legislature," said Sen. Alice Harden of Jackson, one of two blacks in the 52-member Senate. Harden and others say they've Ferrell Harden Scott BoydThe Clarion-Ledger 45th homicide victim Emily Loggins, left, watches as her son, Ricky Loggins, 16, is Chestnut was shot three times before falling behind a loaded into an ambulance Wednesday after he became house on Hooker Street, just a few blocks from his home, at Jackson's 45th homicide victim of 1991. Loggins, of 724 about 3:24 p.m. Story, 4B.

State infant mortality rate edges up Fact and impact been stymied, at least temporarily, by a federal court decision forcing candidates to run in present districts, which have been in place since 1982. The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to delay legislative elections, which open with primaries Sept. 17. Winners in the Nov.

5 general election will serve one year until new legislative districts are forged. Then a special election will be held, probably in fall 1992, to elect legislators from new districts. "The people being punished are black Mississippi-ans," said Rep. George Flaggs of Vicksburg, chairman of the 22-member Legislative Black Caucus. Blacks had hoped the 1991 Legislature would draw districts that would allow more blacks to be elected.

But the U.S. Department of ustice rejected districts legislators approved in April and the issue soon became mired in federal court. More blacks are expected to run in the 1992 special election because many couldn't afford the cost of two campaigns, Rhodes said. Rhodes is the lead attorney for a group of nine blacks who filed suit in U.S. District Court on June 28 charging existing districts deny blacks the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.

Three federal judges in Jackson ruled on Aug. 2 they had too little time to oversee the drawing of new political boundaries. A Supreme Court appeal of the three-judge panel's decision is still "a distinct possibility," Rhodes said. A decision on whether to appeal will be made this weekend but will have no effect on Sept 17 party primaries. Harden, one of nine suit plaintiffs, said, "the whole purpose of redistricting is to change the face of the Mississippi Senate." Mississippi's infant mortality rate, among the nation's highest, rose slightly from its historic low of 1 1.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 1989to 12.1 in 1990.

The rate means 23 fewer Mississippi babies lived to see their first birthday. The rate is higher among minority infants and the trend may mean low-income women are finding it harder to obtain prenatal care. Doctors are concerned that low-income women are finding it harder to get prenatal care. By Sidney Smith Cearnal Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer and Deborah Skipper Assistant City Editor Twenty-three fewer Mississippi babies survived in 1990 than 1989, but health officials remain optimistic the battle to lower the state's infant mortality rate is being won. "A one-year figure doesn't tell you much," said Dr.

Aaron Shirley, executive director of the Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center. "We have been in a declining trend, and if you take one year, it really doesn't give you a true picture." Overall, infant deaths increased to 12.1 from 11.6 per 1,000 live births, which per 1,000 live births. "The problems we're facing don't really go away," said Gale Moore, maternal and child health coordinator for the state Department of Health's District 3, which covers much of the Delta. "We're making progress, but it's slow. "We do have a large percentage of teenage pregnancies.

That contributes to the number of low-birth-weight babies. A third of all babies are born to teenagers. We have one patient, 21 years old, who is having her ninth child. That's sort of the epitome of what we face." Between 1987 and 1989 Mississippi climbed from 50th to 42nd on the national infant mortality ladder thanks to a comprehensive effort to improve access to medical care. See MORTALITY, 2B County-by-county mortality rates, 2B with pay pending a Michigan court case, Appleton said Wednesday.

Webb was arraigned Aug. 11 in Cadillac, on charges he embezzled more than $41,000 from his former employer, WWTVWWUP-TV, according to The Grand Rapids Press newspaper. A preliminary hearing is set for Friday. Webb was unavailable for comment. "Murphy's Law is working overtime right now," Appleton said.

"The station has gone through some difficult days. Business is difficult this year, and we've been working our way through it." Ferrell and Appleton agreed the resignation was mutually beneficial. "I felt for a number of reasons I needed to make a change," said Ferrell, 43, who was general manager for two years. "I haven't taken a vacation in five years." Ferrell had brain surgeries last (December and February. "There was an awful lot of pressure," he said.

"I was very, very ill. In all fairness to everyone, I came back (to work) too early; everyone knows I did. But I'm completely recovered." Ferrell will receive his full salary for an undisclosed number of months. Appleton said he felt WAPT needed his own "involvement." "Bill is getting back on his feet. I didn't want to see him take 10 steps backward with his health," he said.

"Bill is a good fellow. He's honest and hard-working." Appleton called WAPT's problems "complicated." Several of WAPT's 15 news staffers have resigned in recent months. WAPT ranks a distant third in viewership among Jackson's big-three network affiliates, which hurts ad revenues. The newscast has aging equipment. WAPT was not transmitting at full power, thus missing some viewers, until a transmission line was replaced in June.

Four staffers have quit since late June. Their positions remain open, said news director Terry Kurtright. means 23 fewer babies survived to their first birthday in 1990 than in 1989. The 1989 overall rate was the lowest in Mississippi history. The five-year average for Mississippi reflects an overall infant death rate of 12.4 The candidate As auditor, Hood would stress education But he says he wouldn't use the office as a springboard.

By Andy Kanengiser Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer Candidate: Ryan Hood Position seeking: State auditor Political party: Democrat Position salary: $54,000 Experience: Special assistant attorney general since 1979; former Claiborne County deputy sheriff. Education: Bachelor's ed governor in 1987. Current Auditor Pete Johnson is a Republican gubernatorial candidate. If he's elected this fall, Hood, 39, would bring to the job 12 years of experience as a lawyer in the attorney general's office. He's written over 1,500 legal opinions and conducted hundreds of seminars to educate officials on the law.

Hood says he would get tough with public officials who knowingly violate the law. "When people betray that trust, they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," he said. But the auditor should be more lenient when officials make honest mistakes with Mississippi tax dollars. "When we find someone making a good-faith error, let's get these people on the right sheet of music," he said. As auditor, Hood said the office will stress improved education programs for local officials to help them comply with laws and more efficiently oversee tax money.

Hood, Steve Patterson of Jackson, Cora Norman of Jackson and Billy Morehead of Pearl square off in the Sept. 17 Democratic primary. The winner will head an audit department with 186 employees and a budget of $8.3 million. State auditor candidate Ryan Hood promises he won't use the office as a springboard to another high-profile political job. "It is not a stepping stone," Hood told The Clarion-Ledger editorial board on Wednesday.

"I'm not looking for headlines or publicity." Ray Mabus fought public corruption as a highly visible state auditor and was elect Mis- degree, University of Mississippi; law degree, sissippi College School of Law Hometown: Clinton THIS CORNER MISSISSIPPI VOICES YESTERDAY'S HEADLINES Information released from the state Department of Health showed that the oldest state physician is 90 and the youngest is 23. fipfazoo Cltyj din I I Tylortown Coast Guard unit's gear in gulf OCEAN SPRINGS Members of a Gulf Coast -based Mississippi National Guard unit will report with borrowed equipment for weekend duty in October at Camp Shelby. The 1355th Service and Supply equipment is still in the Persian Gulf, said Capt. John McKay of Ocean Springs, the unit's commander. The troops served eight months in the Persian Gulf region during Operation Desert Storm and returned home two weeks ago with only the new uniforms they were wearing.

The company's equipment will have its homecoming in a few months, McKay said. Unfortunately, the equipment won't be back in time for the 1355th's weapons training at Camp Shelby. How do you feel about the quick end to the coup In the Soviet Union? GREENVILLE "Well, I'm pleased with it. I'm sitting here watching Mr. Bush, and he's saying you can't put freedom and democracy back in a box.

I think that sums it up." Robert Love, 54, plastic surgeon. YAZOO CITY "Oh, heavens, well I'm glad its over quickly. I'm glad those people didn't have to go through a lot of bloodshed. I know there was some," Patricia Sanford, 57, oil wholesaler. UTICA "I just think it's wonderful.

It was just such good news. I had been following it on the news since Monday," Bertie Mae Young, 58, retired. TYLERTOWM "I feel like since the Soviet people have kind of gotten a taste of democracy and freedom, that's why it didn't work. I think the people are behind Gorbachev now." Renea Oglesbee, 23, bank teller. Tom Virden of Hinds County, at the county boards of supervisors 37th annual convention, said, "Supervisors throughout Mississippi are united as never before.

We are dedicated to working with other elected officials in our state to build for Mississippi." U.S. District Judge L.T. Senter Jr. ordered Mississippi University for Women to enroll Joe Hogan, the school's first male student. Compiled by start librarian Susan Garcia.