Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 16

ISA THE CLARION-LEDGER SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 2001 MetroState STATE NEWS 2-3 DEATHS 4 THE CLARION-LEDGER JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 2001 ONLINE EDITION: CLARIONLEDGER.COM H.HH.HIIIIIH.1WIIIIIW Bill would delay redistricting 9 cities would be State law requires the Fire chiefs meet in capital city The city of Jackson Fire Department along with the Clinton Fire Department will host cities. The proposed leg-i 1 a i approved by the Municipal SAVINGS STOREWIDE the 2001 Mis Tupelo, Bay St. Louis, Greenwood, Gulfport, Hat-tiesburg, Meridian, Biloxi and Laurel. All are co-chartered under Mississippi's mayor-council form of government. If the bill is approved, the cities wouldn't have to use the new ward lines until 2005.

Senate Bill 2206 now goes to the Senate Elections Committee for further review. Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood, chairman of the Municipalities Committee, said he wants to see the legislation approved as quickly as possible. "This is an emergency in terms of elections for the strong mayor-council forms of government," Jordan said, noting even if the legis- lation passes, the U.S. Department of Justice will have to preclear the changes.

However, even with a change in law, cities using old ward lines for 2001 elections face possible lawsuits. The Justice Department requires cities to meet the principle of "one man, one vote." Changes in population See REDISTRICTING, 5B cities to redraw ward lines before this year's elections. But the qualifying deadline is in March for the spring elections and Census 2000 figures for redistricting are due April 1. "It allows no time at all," said Jeanie Smith, executive director for the Mississippi Municipal League, which has banded the nine given more time to redraw ward lines By Gregg Mayer Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer A Senate committee Friday approved a bill that would help nine Mississippi cities facing a time crunch in redistricting and holding elections this year. sissippi Fire ities Committee would allow the cities to hold elections under current ward lines and to redraw ward lines in time for the next city elections.

The cities are Jackson, Chiefs Association Mid-Winter Conference Jan. 11-13. A i -mately 200 chief officers throughout the McNulty Suit against tax panel thrown out i save 50 save up to 50 save 50-66 CAREER COLLECTIONS AMERICA'S FAVORITE DESIGNER Orig. NOW 29.50-94.50. save 25-50 DESIGNER SPORTSWEAR STATUS LABELS Orig.

NOW 14.50-67.12. KIDS' DESIGNER WEAR JUNIOR COLLECTIONS TRIXXI 'RAMPAGE LA BELLE MORE Orig. NOW Brian Albert BroomThe Clarion-Ledger STATUS LABELS Orig. NOW With the help of his wife, Pamela, and daughters, Ali Mara, 6, and Lindsey, 16, Charles Easley is sworn in as a State Supreme Court justice by Circuit Judge R. Kenneth Coleman on Friday afternoon in Jackson.

Easley sworn in as new justice Judge rules cities have no standing to sue commission By Gregg Mayer Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer A 1999 lawsuit claiming 20 municipalities are owed millions of dollars from the State Tax Commission was dismissed Friday in Hinds County Circuit Court. Circuit Judge Swan Yerg-er ruled that the municipalities have no standing to sue the Tax Commission, and that a state law passed last year forbidding such lawsuits is constitutional. The cities, which include Jackson, Ridgeland and Starkville, may now appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court. "It certainly means we lost this round," said Jim Mozingo, an attorney for the cities and Multistate Tax Associates, the group that banded the cities together for the suit. "And clearly I'm disappointed.

I certainly thought we had standing to sue. "We'll just have to see where we go from here." Yerger did rule the cities didn't have to pay the Tax Commission's attorney fees. Cynthia Melvin, director of the city of Jackson's department of administration, said city officials will have to review the ruling before determining whether to appeal. "The city of Jackson put forth the effort (in the lawsuit) the city thought was best for the citizens," Melvin said. In the November 1999 lawsuit, the cities contend the Tax Commission unfairly distributed more money to the state than municipalities, as by not including sales taxes collected from "direct pay permit holders," which allow for the purchaser rather than seller to pay sales taxes.

"Since 1968 that's the method we've used to distribute funds to the cities," said Lester Herrington, deputy director for the Tax Commission, on Friday. "We've felt all along we were right." Gov. Ronnie Musgrove signed House Bill 987 in March 1999, halting additional suits against the Tax Commission over tax revenues. Even without the new law, Yerger said the cities had no standing. Mozingo noted Yerger did not rule on the substance of the cities'claim the diversions are unfairly disseminated.

"He just said we can't sue about it," Mozingo said. But Gary Stringer, an attorney for the Tax Commission, added Yerger didn't have to rule on that claim since the case was dismissed. "He didn't include we're collecting anything wrong, either," Stringer said. Columbus lawyer succeeds Prather on Supreme Court By Jimmie E. Gates Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer Moments after being sworn in as a state Supreme Court justice, Charles "Chuck" Easley Jr.

said many people think he is the luckiest man in Mississippi. Easley defeated longtime Justice Lenore Prather in the November general election. He was sworn in Friday before family, well-wishers and elected officials in a ceremony in the Old Supreme Court Chambers at the state Capitol. "I know I'm not lucky," Easley said. "I'm here because of the grace of God.

I'm a blessed man." Easley said he was considered a longshot to win the seat in the 22-county north Mississippi district. He said a lot of people, some he didn't know, worked for his election. He also thanked his wife, giving her a bouquet of flowers, and other family members. Easley was the first to challenge Prather, who had been on the court since 1982. Prather had previ ously been elected without opposition.

Easley, who will serve an eight-year term, called it a wonderful day as he entered a new phase of his life as a Supreme Court justice. Chancery Judge Dorothy Colom of Columbus, who attended the ceremony, said she believes Easley will be a good justice. "I have had him in my court," Colom said. "He will bring a lot of experience to the court in serving the wealthy and the poor. He has a wealth of experience as an attorney." Easley has practiced law in Columbus since 1983 and served as judge and prosecutor for the town of Caledonia, where he and wife Pamela and their three children, Chris, Lindsey and Ali Mara, reside.

Chief Justice Edwin Pittman welcomed Easley to the court and told him to take his seat with the other eight members of Supreme Court. "(Easley) has already brought a smile and cooperative attitude to this court," Pittman said. Although Easley's official swearing-in ceremony was Friday, he had been on the job for two or three days, Pittman said. state are expected to attend. The conference will focus on issues such as: insurance rating in the state; purchasing laws; arson law changes; and stress management.

"It gives all the fire chiefs of Mississippi an opportunity to come together," said Jackson Fire Chief Raymond McNulty. "It's a great event, and from the phone calls we've been getting, everybody's looking forward to it." The conference will be held at the Ramada Inn Southwest Conference Center on Ellis Avenue. For information, call 960-1392. Applications for grants online Applications for the spring 2001 grant cycle from the Greater Jackson Foundation are now available on the Internet. The application is accessible at www.greaterjacksonfounda-tion.comapplication.htm.

Grants of up to $7,500 each will be awarded in late April to nonprofit organizations in Hinds, Rankin and Madison counties. Applications must fall within one of the Foundation's areas of interest: health, families children, general education, environment, the arts or community building. Completed applications are due Feb. 15. Those without access to the Internet may fax a request to 981-4258 for an application packet.

City transfers equipment The Jackson City Council approved on Tuesday transferring approximately $20,000 worth of equipment to Hinds County for use in its new Juvenile Detention Center. Among the equipment transferred is a 1 998 Ford E350 1 5-passenger van, worth $18,685. Other equipment included file cabinets, a fax machine and three courtroom tables. Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. explained if the city did not transfer the equipment, then the city would have to pay half for new equipment as part of the interlocal cooperation agreement to operate the center.

Stokes calls for cleanup drive A community-wide cleanup campaign begins today at 10 a.m. at Freedom Corner, Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes announced Friday. "This activity is in preparation of company coming," Stokes said. "With the 2001 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Birthday Celebration in full swing, we want to look our best." Freedom Corner is located at the intersection of Medgar Evers Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Council votes on telecom center Jackson City Council members are scheduled to vote next week on a resolution supporting the establishment of a telecommunications center downtown. The council meets 10 a.m.

Tuesday in City Hall. mmm i save 33 save 50-66 CASUAL COLLECTIONS STONEBRIDGE 'SUSAN BRISTOL MORE Orig. NOW save 25 MEN'S DRESS SHIRTS ROUNDTREE YORKE 'MURANO MORE Orig. NOW save 50 JUNIOR DRESSES ZUM ZUM 'MORGAN 'JUMP MORE Orig. NOW $21 Forest protection plan to have small effect on state KIDS' SWEATERS COPPER KEY MORE Orig.

NOW 16.08-24.12. Some urge Bush to scuttle plan putting federal land off limits From staff and wire reports WASHINGTON Presi-dent Clinton is declaring nearly a third of the coun try's federal forest land off limits to most logging, but some Republicans already are urging President-elect Bush to scuttle the plan. The president, who announced the massive forest protection plan Friday, is determined to establish a legacy for protecting public lands as he completes the final weeks of his presidency. Under the forest plan, the Forest Service will ban road building in 58.5 million acres of federal forests where no roads currently exist. The regulations also will limit future logging in those areas to only activities that "restore and preserve" the forest, although commercial timber contracts already in the government pipeline will be allowed to go through.

The plan will have "mini mal, if any" effect in Mississippi, said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Wen-dolyn Young. "The only area that will be affected in Mississippi is about 3,000 acres in Homochitto National Forest," she said. In comparison, Mississip pi has about 1.12 million acres of national forest land. Louie Miller, legislative director of the Sierra Club in Mississippi, said this is "certainly a step toward balance between conservation and multiple use" of forest lands.

See FOREST, 5B Ik Ole Miss choir up for Grammy Separate trials set for teens in slaying of Texas youth in Lexington. Mean-while, unrelated rape charges against Lowe in a separate incident were dismissed, Culp Gospel group's first CD earns coveted nomination Special to The Clarion-Ledger OXFORD When the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony airs Feb. 21, the University of Mississippi Gospel Choir's CD will be among the nominees. Send Up the Praise, the choir's first CD produced by Jackson-based Malaco Records, will be one of the five nominees for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album of the Year. After its national release in November 1999, the 10-track CD got a boost when it received praise from gospel music critics around the country.

Upon hearing of this week's nomination announcement from her boyfriend, the UM Gospel Choir's Co-director Dee Thomas said she was "I thought we had a good chance, but finding out was, 'Oh, my said Thomas, a senior from Hoover, Ala. "We worked really hard on that record." "The whole experience from the very beginning was a total blessing," said Jerry Masters, a recording engineer and producer at Malaco who had worked on the CD from its start. The project began without musicians, songs or all the funding needed, he said, "but then people started popping up, songwriters, musicians. It turned from what looked like a disaster at the beginning into a beautiful musical experience. "I hope the Lord blesses them with the award," Masters said.

"They deserve it." The choir, which does not hold auditions or award students academic credit hours for participation, achieved notice in 1999 as the first college gospel choir to sign with a major gospel record label. Ethel Young-Minor, the choir's faculty co-adviser, said she thought it remark-able that the students achieved a bid for what is considered the recording industry's most prestigious award. "It's miraculous. It really is an honor," said Young-Minor, also an assistant professor of English and Afro-American Studies at the university. "When we began the process of trying to record a CD, we never expected to win a Grammy.

We were just trying to record a sound that we thought was unique." Young-Minor, who helps guide the students with the choir's other faculty adviser, Lloyd Holmes, UM assistant dean of students for judicial and multicultural student activities, said she was amazed at the group's latest accom-See CHOIR, 5B save 33 save 33 MISSY SWEATERS WESTBOUND Orig. NOW 16.08-32.16. save 33 MEN'S FLANNEL SHIRTS ROUNDTREE YORKE Orig. $28, NOW $19. save 50 JUNIOR DENIM LEVI'S MUDD 'STATUS LABELS MORE Orig.

NOW 14.50-$29. Unrelated rape charges against one defendant dropped By Theresa Kiely Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer A Holmes County Circuit Court judge has set separate trial dates in the capital murder cases of two Durant teenagers charged in the beating death of a 15-year-old Texas boy and the rape of his girlfriend. A Holmes County grand jury indicted Elliot Culp, 18, and Travis Lowe, 15, March 20 on 13 felony counts in the March 2 death of Allen Paul Scott, 15, of Saginaw, Texas, and the Feb. 28 aggravated assault and rape of his 17-year-old girlfriend. Lowe's trial is scheduled for April 24, and Culp's trial is scheduled to begin May 7, Circuit Clerk Earline W.

Hart said Judge Jannie M. Lewis will preside over both cases about his client. Lewis has also responded to several motions filed in the case by Culp's attorney Imhotep Alkebu-lan of Jackson. Lewis granted funds of $1,000, plus actual expenses, to pay for a second attorney to represent Culp, as well as $3,000 for an investigator and $2,500 for an expert witness fee. Lewis denied other defense motions including: For discovery of any possible basis for disqualification of the prosecuting attorney.

To prevent imposition of the death penalty. To dismiss the March 20 grand jury indictment on account of abuse of process. To include persons who cannot read and write on the jury. To provide a recording or transcript of the grand jury proceeding. Lewis neither exists.

KIDS' COATS CLASS CLUB 'COPPER KEY MORE Orig. NOW 20.10-50.25. Holmes County District Attorney James H. Powell LTJ said. The March 20 grand jury had indicted Lowe and 15-year-old Gary Webster of Durant on charges of forcibly raping a 13-year-old girl in her home on Jan.

17, 1999. TTie Clarion-Ledger does not identify victims of sexual assault. Powell had the charges against Lowe and Webster dismissed after the girl refused to testify. "She wanted to put it all behind her," Powell said. Lowe's attorney, Joe Tatum of Jacksca, said a May 26 gag order prohibited him from talking publicly To call our city Dillaid's reporter, contact Gregg Mayer at (601) 96 1-7034 or gannettom OPEN MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 10 AM 9 P.M.

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