Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 19

nn EDUCATION 2 MISSISSIPPI DEATHS 4 PRESIDENTS' DAY CLOSINGS 5 TO SHARE TIPS, IDEAS: Contact: Deborah Skipper, metro editor Jackson area: 961-7101 Toll free: 1-800-222-8015 BFax: 961-721 1 E-mail: dskipperjackson.gannett.com Online: For Mississippi news, go to clarionledger.com THE CLARION-LEDGER JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2000 mm a) Wftsir taGTOioti Ih for mm Committee chair-woman Leonice Race relations topic of meeting U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, United Methodist Bishop Jack Meadors and the Rev. Leroy Wadlington of Oxford will help lead discussions about race relations during the "Can We Come to Consensus?" race relations conference March 4 in Marks. attend the meetings where Democratic voters would have chosen their delegates and alternates for the Hinds County Democratic Convention on March 11 at the C.W.A.

Hall on Country Club Drive. Jan Hillegas, who was at Precinct 60 at Lake Elementary, said two people showed up for the caucus. She said that wasn't a problem because the number of delegates each precinct can send to the convention is based on the voter turnout during the last election. Apparently, not many people got excited about the caucuses. "We contacted a lot of people that weren't really interested," said Ethel May, Hinds County's Democratic Executive Committee chairwoman.

"We had a lot of people who expressed a lack of interest. I was disappointed in the turnout." While a few precincts in Hinds County, such as Precinct 85 on Flag Chapel Road, reported mild turnouts of about 20 to 25 people, others had two or three people to Hillegas said her precinct could send two, but she said lack of publicity and basic organization affected the turnout, which was important because leaders are picked by the delegates who go to the convention. "We won't have another one for another four years," Hillegas said. Torey Yates, temporary chairwoman at the Utica 1 precinct, said the showing was poor at both of the towns' precincts. She said it could be attributed to apathy more than lack of publicity.

Apathy, lack of publicity cited for public disinterest in primary By Patric Sawyer Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer Notices about the Hinds County Democratic Party precinct caucuses may not have been publicized soon enough to attract voters on Saturday. Meanwhile, in Madison County the Democratic Party precinct caucuses had to be held outdoors at some locations, Democratic Executive 1 The conference, which begins at 10 a.m. in the Quitman County Courthouse, emanates from a previous conference in fall 1999. Wadling Meadors 2 Planning board shake-up has Oxford in a stir i xmR Four ousted members not sure why they were fired By Tony Plohetski Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer OXFORD In a city steeped in small-town culture and charm, the firing of four planning commission members has gotten folks stirred up. The former members of the commission, which decides things such as how tall buildings can be and where they can go, say they aren't sure why TODAY Mississippi Bush takes South Carolina, 1A Goodloe said.

The county was not obligated to provide buildings for the caucuses. Precinct caucuses are the first step to select delegates for the Democratic National Convention. Goodloe said she got a few calls from people asking if the caucuses would be canceled. "I said, 'Go where are you supposed to -TTI some Delta counties. Walker said shortly after Friday's storm passed his office, he got a call from an angry resident -plaining about Possible tornado hits Drew, 3B the lack of warning sirens in her area.

Southaven has a warning system, Horn Lake has sirens on order and Hernando has no system, Walker said. Olive Branch is taking bids on sirens. The proposed countywide system sought by Walker would overlap existing and planned city sirens. Walker, who has directed the agency since 1982, said the current Board of Supervisors is the first to be truly receptive to the idea. Walker said the sirens would cost about $15,000 per unit.

That would put the ton and Meadors will lead discussion on the "religious imperative" for racial reconciliation. Cochran is the luncheon speaker. The meeting, sponsored by the North Delta Mississippi Enterprise Community and Valley Bank, is open to the public. Call (662) 487-1968 for details. Wildlife moving to new offices The state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks in Jackson is getting new digs.

Staff will move within several weeks to new offices at 1 505 Eas-tover Drive near the Education and Research Center. The new central telephone number will be (601) 432-2400. Health Expo set for Trade Mart One of the largest health care trade shows in the South comes to the Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson on April 6-7. The annual Healthcare Exposition is sponsored by the Mississippi Hospital Association. Attendees will view more than 250 booths from a full range of healthcare exhibitors, including technology, services, products and education.

It's free and open to the public. "Last year, over 2,000 healthcare professionals attended the expo," said Sam Cameron, MHA president. For more information, call 368-3228. Make-A-Wish seeks volunteers People interested in volunteering for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mississippi or learning more about the charity are invited to a luncheon Thursday at Turtle Creek Mall in Hattiesburg. The gathering is in the Community Room near Sears at 1 1 :45 a.m.

The foundation grants wishes of Mississippi children who have life-threatening illnesses. It is seeking more volunteers in the Hattiesburg area, said Andrea Saffle, a Make-A-Wish staffer. For more details, call Saffle at 26 1-2483. Counties to get disaster relief Attala, Kemper, Lauderdale and Walthall counties have been deemed disaster areas by federal authorities for crop losses. they've been kicked off.

That's despite widespread speculation that their ouster had to do with a controversial vote on a church's proposed new building. And residents say they're concerned the next wave of Dancing to the beat Jackson State University dance ensemble members (from left) an African dance Saturday at the annual Extravaganza for Chil-Renalta Fleming, Maya Hayes and Tametra Thompson perform dren at the Medgar Evers Community Center in Jackson. At the Hinds County Democratic Convention, people elected from each precinct will elect the members of the Hinds County Democratic Party Executive Committee, which will run the business of the Democratic Party for the next four years. The precinct delegates will also elect at the county convention the people who will go on to the congressional district convention and the state convention. From there, delegates will be chosen to attend the national convention in Los Angeles in August.

planning commissioners will open the floodgates on major development. Mayor Pat Lamar is busy finding replacements for the ousted members. She's writing new ordinances to allow for a seven-member planning commission and a separate board of adjustments. She said she hopes the brouhaha that started with the Feb. 9 ousting of Richard Barnes, Tom Horton, William "BUI" Lawhead and Vada Baird will end by early next month.

The mayor, on the advice of her attorney, is not giving any specifics on why Oxford's Board of Alderman showed the four the door. "The bottom line is that at this point in time, we just thought it was in the best interest for the city of Oxford See OXFORD, 3B What the mother of two did know was that her fourth-grade daughter's enthusiasm for reading waned last fall. That's when the family moved from Nashville to Hernando in DeSoto County as the Maddox Foundation, where Costa is managing trustee, moved its office. When Costa did some See DESOTO, 3B It also will include legislators to be appointed by House Speaker Tim Ford and Lt. Gov.

Amy Tuck, said David Cole, Musgrove's chief of staff. "We are trying to get See COMPUTERS, 3B It was not uncommon for him to offer to buy a YMCA membership in order to pull an underprivileged child off the streets. "There are so many boys out there that we curse under our breaths. The truth is, how much of it would be avoided if each of us assumed a little responsibility?" These days, despite the lung problems, life is good. Every night he plays with his grandson.

"I'm sitting in the glow of this grandchild." And in the glow of Lane Varner, who helped to give a human brother a breath of hope on the side of the road. Contact Orley Hood at 961-7215 or ohoodjacksogan-nettUom schools high-tech Officials: Warning system lacking Parent works to get learning program in DeSoto schools Rick Guy The Clarion-Ledger Goal for Effort taken to put computers with Net in all schools by 2002 By Cathy Hayden Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer Gov. Ronnie Musgrove is taking the first step to craft a plan to put computers in every public school classroom and connect them to the Internet by the year 2002. He's forming a task force he will co-chair with state Superintendent of Education Richard Thompson. "It's something that I support very strongly.

I'm willing to chair this effort to make sure it happens," said Musgrove, who highlighted the priority in his Feb. 9 State of the State address. The plan "is fairly specific, and we have been working very diligently to put a computer in every classroom," Musgrove said. The task force will have 1 --wer total cost of the 60 units he thinks are necessary at $900,000. "You need one every four square miles," he said Friday.

"If you have a 16-square-mile city, you need four sirens." When Walker spoke to the board in February 1999, he said the warning system he was proposing would give residents a two-minute warning of severe weather. Walker said the project should be cooperative, with the county and the four municipalities sharing the cost proportionally. "At one time it looked like the tax structure couldn't handle it," he said. Now, "it certainly is a possibility. I can see light at the end of the tunnel." Walker said he's not out of the tunnel yet, however.

"I will be relieved when the board finally says, 'Let's get at it." going from his face to the oxygen. I knew he was struggling." Varner, 37, told himself, "I can't believe that poor man is out there with an oxygen bottle trying to change a tire." Later, Varner said, "The Lord provided me with an opportunity to help a brother." Simple as that. All about values Varner, who lives in Byram and owns a landscape and maintenance business, wanted to call an ambulance. "I think he was just about to pass out when I got there." Franck said no to the ambulance. "I just need to rest a few minutes." Varner changed the tire.

"It was all I could do to get The counties suffered insufficient rainfall, extreme heat and drought from The Associated Press HERNANDO DeSoto County emergency officials say they need to beef up their severe-weather warning system before serious conditions catch residents off guard. T.H. Walker, the director of the county emergency management agency, said Fridays brush with stormy weather highlighted the county's shortcomings. "It pointed out the need for an outdoor warning system," Walker said. Walker plans to go before the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors with a $1.75 million proposal that includes sirens, tone-activated weather radios and a telephone alert system.

High winds and tonadoes swept across parts of north Mississippi on Friday. No injuries or property damage was reported, although damages were reported in Byram HE was on his way to Mississippi Baptist Medical Center for a doctor's appointment when the right rear tire blew out. Bill Franck, 70, knew he was in trouble. "With my physical condition, I don't feel disabled," he says, "and I don't admit I'm disabled." So he figured he could change the tire. "I sat in the car for a minute and said, can do I went over it in my mind.

I got my spare. I got my jack." The first lug nut was a breeze. The second was stuck. He jumped on the tire tool trying to break the nut loose. "I was almost instantly gagging," Franck says.

Lung problems will do that to you. March 1-Nov landscaper breathes life into Good Samaritan role 18, 1999, and sustained sufficient production losses to war By Cathy Hayden Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer, To hear Robin Costa tell it, she barely knows a com-puter mouse from a modem. But that didn't stop Costa from spearheading an initiative that will soon put an Internet-accessible computer in all DeSoto County school district classrooms. 16 to 18 members, including representatives from the Mississippi Economic Council, Public Education Forum, state PTA, Information Technology Services and Council on Educational Technology. must have.

The idea that we still have these values that there are young people willing to stand forth and witness for the Lord." One lucky man "I'm the luckiest man in the world," says Franck, who lives with his youngest daughter, her husband and their 18-month-old son. "I've had more fun than any three people should be allowed to have. I don't think anybody's lived a more enjoyable life." Franck, who has 23 grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren, spent his career in the antiques business, dealing with people from many walks of life. He's seen a lot of good and a lot of human misery. JMajafc-" mm Pickering rant the disaster declaration from the U.S.

Department of Agriculture, said U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering. Operators of family-sized farms are eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency. Interested farmers should contact their local FSA offices for information on aid and a variety of farm loan that lug nut broke loose," he says.

Varner told Franck that those bubble tires, those little bitty spares, aren't so good. "I'll follow you to the hospital," he said. "Almost as an afterthought," Franck says, "he asked if it was all right if we prayed. He was no stranger to prayer. It was beautiful.

"He said, 'Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your "I said, 'Son, you have made my I've never been quite so smitten by anything in my life A few days later, Franck was still overcome by Varn-er's Good Samaritan deed. "The entire experience was just surreal. I'm so proud of what he did. What a marvelous mother and father he He gasped. He was drowning.

He got his bottle of oxygen out of the car and sat down on the shoul Ortey Hood der of the highway. "The least little exertion absolutely destroys me," he says. This was a real crisis. Cars whipped by at 70 mph as the panic grew. He was marooned.

Would this be how it would end, on the side of a highway? Then he heard the voice of an angel. says, "was obey what God told me to do. I was driving by there arid saw the cord l.f pJ Readers, if you've ever wondered about the status of a story we've previ ously reported, call us at (60 1 96 1 -7234 or write the Metro Desk, The Clarion-Ledger, Bo. 40, Jackson MS 39205-0040,.