Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 17

fcpnqpra fnnrpnrrA jackson-area deaths-2 0. iffl nllUJ TO SHARE TIPS, IDEAS: CLOSEUP-2 g( UldralJ LZ3 I UlUL I LJ Uy Contact: Tammy Ramsdeli, Metro Editor COMMUNITY NEWS 4 LZJ Jackson area: 961-7234 Toll free: 1-800-222-8015 THE CLARION-LEDGER JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI Fax: 961-721 1 THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1997 after Habitat itto pulls political ad lodges protest Nina Redding, Habitat's executive director, confirmed her conversation with Rushing. "As 501 C3, we never will endorse a political candidate or be involved in a being used in the spot, Ditto's campaign manager Glenn Rushing said Wednesday. "They requested that we would pull it because they are non-profit," Rushing said. "They had concerns about the appearance of an endorsement." The commercial, which started airing March 18, was already scheduled to stop running by today, Rushing.

"Due to the concerns of Habitat, the ad will not air again," he said. and hammered a few nails for publicity," Johnson said. "But Habitat for Humanity deserves all the credit to why this woman is a homeowner." Johnson also asked, "Should the mayor be able to use the merits of a nonprofit group to get votes?" Ditto said the ad is accurate. "We had people, not actors, saying what they thought and the record speaks for itself," he said. "I certainly do not try to take all the credit, but certainly I think much of the success of correct." Mayor Kane Ditto's role in Midtown "is just as he presents it there." Harvey Johnson, one of Ditto's five Democratic challengers, called a news conference Wednesday to challenge Ditto to pull the spot.

Johnson said the commercial showing Ditto standing with a woman who has received a Habitat house is misleading in that it seems to indicate that Ditto is responsible for her home. "The mayor may have come out the renovation in the Midtown area is due to my administration." The commercial states: "It was the pits. It was a place that no one wanted to live in. As a matter of fact, it had almost become an abandoned area. "When we got ready, and Habitat came in here, then the city was ready.

"As a matter of fact, the mayor came in and helped us to build some of those houses with his own hands. Now we have a community instead of just somewhere to live. We couldn't have done it without the mayor." The organization objected to the use of its name, campaign official says. By Grace Simmons Fisher Clarion-Ledger Assistant Communities Editor Mayor Kane Ditto has agreed to stop running a political television advertisement about new housing in the Midtown area of Jackson. Habitat for Humanity, whose workers appear at work in the ad, objected to the organization's name Ditto political campaign," she said.

But Redding, who has seen the ad, said, "The content of the ad is -rt ftSria Floods bad for farming? Not always, study says r4 fl- ---v v-" irdfei MSU doctoral dissertation 17 It indicates yields sometimes rise with high waters. Exemption would have covered turnarounds for Head Start buses. By Bruce Reid Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer By Joseph Ammerman Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer Calling it "reminiscent of an outdated political patronage system that should not be allowed to return," Gov. Kirk Fordice on Wednesday vetoed a bill that would have authorized boards of supervisors to maintain private roads or driveways. Senate Bill 2595 would have allowed supervisors to add gravel to private drives and shell roads used as turnarounds by Head Start buses.

The bill returns to the Legislature, where lawmakers may attempt a veto override. The first attempt has to be made in the Senate, where it passed originally by a 31-13 vote. It would take a two-thirds vote to override the veto. That would be 34 votes if all 52 senators voted. Even with its gt.

MMMkJiM, J.D. SchwalmThe Clarion-Ledger Inmates from the Madison Parish Detention Center near tain a sand boil near the Mississippi levee (background). Tallulah, use sandbags Wednesday afternoon to con- Sand boils become a problem when flood waters rise. A new study in the Mississippi Delta challenges the notion that flooding is always bad for farming. The study was discussed this week at the Mississippi Water Resources Conference in Jackson.

Donald Jackson, a Mississippi State University professor who advised the study's author, said he hopes the work will help temper debate involving hotly contested flood-control projects. Emotions always run high during spring flooding, as is now occurring along the lower Mississippi River. "We continued to hear that flooding is bad for farming," said Jackson, a fisheries expert in MSU's College of Forest Resources. The study reviews 31 years of government-compiled data on tributary flows in the upper Yazoo River basin and on cotton and soybean yields in 15 northwestern counties. Jackson said the data indicates spring floods "might not be as serious a thing as people suggest." In her 99-page report, a doctoral dissertation, study author Qifeng Ye wrote that between 1964 and 1994, "no factor associated with flood events adversely influenced production of cotton and soybeans." Under certain conditions, Qifeng wrote, yields rose with more flooding, Overwhelming passage in the House, where it passed with only one dissenting vote, Rep.

David Green, D-Glos-ter, who worked for the bill's passage, is not sure the bill can sur- jiiiiiijj M.NJUIMpflflwJ'lJii. I i .1 III.IIIIIJ I I said corps spokesman Michael Lo-gue. But, he said, the timing, severity and frequency of floods are critical to farming. This year's high water, like past floods, is prompting calls for increased federal spending on flood control in the Delta. U.S.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, is to tour Delta counties Friday to view flooding and meet with farmers and residents during town meetings in Rolling Fork and Vicksburg. Qifeng, who is now living in China, concluded that her study raises questions about large-scale, traditional flood-control efforts. She also wrote: "Conservation of rivers and their fisheries and agronomic enterprise are not necessarily mutually exclusive." probably because soils were replenished and because increased soil moisture tempered the effects of subsequent drought. The study also examined relations between floods and fish populations, and found that moderate flood-control efforts might not be as harmful as once thought.

Delta farming interests and officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg contacted Wednesday were not aware of the study but said they were eager to review it. The corps has spent $110 million on flood-control projects in the upper Yazoo basin and plans to spend about $200 million more. "There's no doubt that flooding makes an area more productive," Fordice signs bill to regulate and register fund-raiser charities, 5B New law may not speed up judicial process, 5B Chiropractor guidelines defined, 5B vive. "If the veto gets here, I don't know that we can override it," J.D.

SchwalmThe Clarion-Ledger Flood water bubbles from a sand boil like water from an artesian well. Auditor asks Jackson council to explain $170,000 Green said. "Some members just won't vote to override a veto." In his veto message, Fordice said he did not want to add to county expenses. "Considering the fact that there are 23,781 students attending over 200 Head Start sites in our state with approximately 665 buses, it can easily be seen that this measure has the potential to significantly expand driveway maintenance costs that would ultimately be borne by county taxpayers," Fordice said. But Green said he didn't think taxpayers would see much additional cost "Basically, you've got the same turnarounds for school buses as you do for Head Roy VanDevender, a Kemper County supervisor, said the board gets several requests monthly to upgrade driveways used for turnarounds by regular school buses.

"We don't just rubber stamp them," he said, adding that thoae approved are reviewed annually. "You just don't maintain them forever and ever amen." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Bryant told council members in a letter dated March 24, "Pursuant to complaints filed against the Jackson City Council, this office is conducting an investigation." Bryant asked for the following information on 51 expenditures: The city's authority to use the funds, including confirmation of applicable matching funds. Any state attorney general's opinions on the funds. riety of community service programs and must not be the sole funding sources.

However, some of the council expenditures were made to defray travel expenses and pay for a variety of things, including meals, football tickets and equipment. The council has until April 7 to respond to the audit department's inquiry. Bryant can demand that any misspent taxpayers' dollars be reimbursed. See AUDIT, 3B A description of the purpose for each of the expenditures. The expenditures come from council members' appropriation of recreation dollars.

The Carion-Lecfeerpublished the list late last year in reports about former state auditor Steve Patterson investigating possible misuse of the recreation funds. Previous attorney general's opinions say recreation funds can be spent on a va Phil Bryant's demand covers a two-year period dating back to 1994. By Jimmie Gates Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer State Auditor Phil Bryant is asking the Jackson City Council to explain spending at least $170,000 in public money over a two-year period dating back to November 1994. Hearst to acquire Jackson's WAPT in merger with owner, Argyle Television In 1987, New York-based Price Communications bought WAPT and three other stations from Clay Communications for $60 million. In 1989, a former Price Communications official bought four television stations including WAPT for $120 million.

The new company was Northstar Television Group Inc. In 1995, Argyle Television bought WAPT and two other stations for $108 million. executive of San Antonio-based Argyle, said he sees the company doubling in size over the next three to five years. Marbut will be chairman and co-CEO of the combined company. John G.

Conomikes, Hearst's general manager of broadcasting, will be president and co-CEO. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter. WAPT, an ABC affiliate, has had several prior owners. Honolulu; Jackson; and Fort SmithFayetteville, Ark. Under current Federal Communications Commission regulations, Argyle would have to divest its self of WNAC in Providence because of an overlap with Hearst's WCVB in Boston, and Hearst's WDTN in Dayton would have to be sold because of an overlap with Argyle's WLWTin Cincinnati.

Bob Marbut, chairman and chief Television Inc. and combine it with six Hearst TV stations to form a new 12-station company, the companies announced Wednesday. Argyle shareholders will receive $159.7 million and about 6 million shares or 14 percent of the new company. The impact on the Jackson operation could not be determined. WAPT General Manager Stuart Kellogg referred comment Wednesday night to Argyle corporate headquarters.

Privately held Hearst, which also has interests in newspapers, magazines and books, said the deal will allow it to expand its television operations through public markets. Hearst stations in Boston, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Kansas City, and Dayton, Ohio, will be part of the new company. Argyle has stations in Cincinnati; Oklahoma City; Providence, R.I.; The impact on the Jjackson operation could not be determined. From Staff and Wire Reports SAN ANTONIO Jackson's WAPT-Channel 16 is among stations that will be acquired by Hearst Corp. in a merger with Argyle Television Inc.

i- Hearst Corp. will buy Argyle Thumbs YESTERDAY'S HEADLINES MISSISSIPPI VOICES Positive news about Mississippi. Four Mississippi truck drivers, two of them from Jackson, weather bursts of gunfire in the Louisiana dairy strike as highway patrolmen began escorting carriers in areas adjoining the Pelican State. H-l'iJMtVM Coupons for everything from breakfast cereal to laundry detergent find their way Into some poeketbooks and not Into others. Do you clip grocery coupons? Do you think they help In saving money? Why or why not? JACKSON "Sometimes I'll clip from the coupons in Sunday's paper.

I'm not a stickler for coupons. Now that Jitney has the Gold Card, I feel like I'm, saving more without using coupons." Opal Merry, 31, computer technician. VICKSBURG "I've never clipped a coupon in my life. I don't even think my wife does." Frank Jones, 26, graduate student. LAUREL "We try and save as much as possible.

I only use coupons on the stuff we really buy. Sometimes I'll see a good coupon on something I don't normally buy, and we end up losing because no one wants to eat it. Fro-dia Tony, 44, homemaker. To participate in Mississippi Voices, call 362-28 10 and follow instructions. Ole Hiss trunk shows to add art OXFORD Thanks to the Ronald McDonald House charities, the University of Mississippi Museums Traveling Trunk show will add art history to its repertoire.

For the past 10 years, north Mississippi elementary schools have been visited by the traveling collection, which includes more than 30 trunks covering everything from Mississippi folk art to human anatomy exhibits. Three new trunks will cover three time periods in art: prehistory to medieval, Renaissance to realism, and impressionism to contemporary art. Trunks are available to any organization within 90 miles of Oxford. For more information, call the University of Mississippi Museums at 232-7073. To report positive Mississippi news, call 352-28 10 and follow instructions.

Sue Black Flowers, 43, Progressive Hem and Mississippi Angus News editor, dies in a mobile home fire in Pendorf community. ycsu '111 A truck plows into a car trailing students on a 23-mile benefit walk-athon on Mississippi 6 held by the Ole Miss Chi Omega sorority. Five are killed. Compiled from Clarion-Ledger files by staff librarian Susan Garcia.