Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 29

FdCUS on rui fn fo) Kf JOTS TO SHARE TIPS, IDEAS: Contact: Bill Zimmerman, communities editor Jackson area: 961-7249 1 Fax: 961-721 1 To submit news: Focus, P.O. Box 40, Jackson, Miss. 39201 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1 998 WW LIU Lniu iru THE CLARION-LEDGER JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI If Aura sosfe Iddls afi Em Russell named staff member Heather Russell has been selected as a Universal Program, sponsored by Junior League, brings wonders of art to kids By Ed Inman Special to Focus nated use of its parking lot at no charge. Most weekday sessions of Kaleidoscope are reserved for school groups, but it will be open to all ages on weekends. Open houses are on Saturday, April 4, 11 and 18 from 10 a.m.

until 4 p.m. and on Sunday, April 5, 12 and 19 from noon to 4 p.m. Additional open houses are scheduled for Friday, April 10 and Monday, April 13, from noon to 4 p.m. All adults must be accompanied by a child and all children must be accompanied by an adult. For information on Kaleidoscope, call 352-2581.

I West Park neighborhood over the next three to five years so we saw this as a way to serve the children of that area with a fun, educational event," Craft said. "I would encourage all parents to make plans now to have their children visit Kaleidoscope," said Junior League Kaleidoscope program chairwoman Beth Orlansky. "It's a wonderful, creative experience and it's available to out community absolutely free, thanks to Hallmark Cards." Craft said she hopes the free event will encourage more children to become involved with activities at the zoo as well. The zoo has do- scrap art materials, markers, and crayons for children in Jackson to use and admission is free of charge. Surplus greeting card paper is die-cut to create the various art projects.

"No matter where we go the children's response is always the same they love it and they want us to come back," Ellis said. Junior League spokesperson Laine Craft said her organization decided to become involved partly as a way to enhance opportunities for children in the central Jackson neighborhood where the zoo is located. The Junior League voted to allocate most of its resources to the are encouraged to stretch their imaginations and express their creativity. "Our goal is to give each child a sense of creative accomplishment," said Kaleidoscope tour specialist Jeanine Ellis. Puzzles, masks, jewelry, and airplanes are just some of the fun projects children who participate can choose from.

They will also be able to take a journey into a cosmic outer space adventure and make "extraterrestrial" art, Ellis said. The program was first created and funded by Hallmark Cards in 1969. The company and its subsidiaries provide nearly a ton of Cheerleaders Association 1998 Mid-South In-structional Staff member. Heather is a student at Madison- III 1 I i I i i The Junior League of Jackson has joined forces with Hallmark Cards and the Jackson Zoo to bring "Kaleidoscope," a hands-on interactive art experience for children to the capital city April 1-24. Housed in two connected 45-feet purple trailers at the zoo's parking lot just off W.

Capitol Street, Kaleidoscope will provide children a magical environment where they Russell Leading the parade Ridgeland Academy, where she is captain of the cheerleading squad. She is the daughter of Stump and Donna Russell of Madison. Allen honored for teaching Madison-Ridgeland Academy math teacher i i Donna Allen was honored by the Madison Chamber of Commerce as senior high school teacher of the year. Allen has Allen V' IK "Ay- i if lilt 1, i 4 hopefuls to vie for Miss Metro honors Pageant, set for Saturday, will feature talent, swimsuit competitions By Maybelle Cagle Special to Focua Four contestants will compete for the title of Miss Metro Jackson Saturday at the Clinton Junior High School auditorium. The scholarship pageant begins at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for students. Contestants will be judged in four categoriesi judges' interview, talent, swimsuAind evening gown. The winner of the competition will represent the metro area in the Miss Mississippi Pageant at Vicksburg in July. Sara Beth Lipscomb of Jackson, the reigning Miss Metro Jackson, will crown her successor. Contestants include: Liza Tomlinson, 18, of Madison, a freshman at Mississippi State University.

She is the daughter of Irb and Martha Benjamin. Her talent will be to sing and perform sign language. Her platform (issue of concern) is focusing on passing legislation that would allow sign language to be taught in the schools as a foreign language. Jenny Marie Watkins, 18, of Ridgeland, a freshamn at Holmes Community College in Goodman. She is the daughter of Wayne and Jackie Watkins.

Her platform is supporting the prevention of child abuse. For her talent, she will do a dramatic monologue. Shellye Palmer, 18, of Madison, a senior at Madison Central High School. She plans to attend Mississippi State University upon graduation from high school. Palmer is the daughter of Nolan and Amy Palmer.

Her platform is arts education in school. Her talent will be a songdance. See PAGEANT, page 2 taught math at Madison Ridgeland Academy for nine years. She is the head of the math department at MRA. Drane named top educator Carol Ann Drane of Madison, Special Populations Coordinator at Canton Career Center, has been named the Mississippi Association of Vocational Educators Outstanding Educator for 1997-98.

Drane was named Canton Public School District Teacher of the Year in 1997, Outstanding Educator in the Metro Jackson Area in 1996, Madison County Teacher of the Year in 1995 and has received the Teacher Leader Award from the Canton Public School Board of Trustees in 1995. Stevens wins business award Bill Stevens, owner of The Plant Patio Centers in Ridgeland, Crossgates and Florence, was named the 1 997 Mississippi state winner of the Blue Chip Enterprise Initiative Award. The award is sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Nation's Business magazine and Mass Mutual. Fleming wins spelling bee Jacob Fleming, an eight-grader at Brandon Middle School, was the overall Spelling Bee winner for the sixth, seventh and eight grade.

He represented the school at the District Spelling Bee held at Hinds Community Col-lege-Rankin Campus in February. Dunlapwins chess tourney Matt Dunlap, a student at Brandon High School, won first place in the Rankin County Chess Tournament. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Dunlap.

Brian Albart BroomSpecial to Focus Malcolm White, co-owner of Hal and Mai's, leads Jackson's Mai's St. parade, themed "Sixteen Scandals," was the city's 12th and featured Paddy's Day Parade through the streets of Jackson last Saturday. The music and a variety of floats. 'Prompt action' on cases earns Williams Officer of Month honors MC celebrates spring with music, play Natural Spectacular will present songs from their 1997 concert, Time Warp America, during the first part of the two-hour show. In his second year as director, Steven Barnett was a member of the group before he graduated from Mississippi College.

The group has 14 singers and dancers, a seven-piece band and a six-member technical crew. Choreography is by Greg Jones, a former member of the Naturals and two former Opryland professionals, Todd Crank and Marin Johnson of Nashville. Costumes come from Josette's of Pascagoula and Janice Beatty of Clinton. The overall production should be nothing less than spectacular," said Barnett. "Through a new concept we developed, the students (members of the group) had a great part in creating the show." Barnett said the group's annual concert is usually done in April, but it's earlier this year due to scheduling conflicts.

Macbeth Did It by John -Patrick-opens Thursday night and runs through March 31. With the exception of a 2 p.m. matinee March 29, performances are at 7 Natuarlly Spectacular, MacBeth Ddfhighlight Arts in April events By Maybelle Cagle Special to Focua Mississippi College gets a head start on the city's Arte in April this weekend with a concert by Naturally Spectacular and a Shakespeare Festival play. The theme for the 11th annual Naturally Spectacular concert is Solid Gold Explosion, which features a variety of songs from the 1960s-1980s. Naturally Spectacular is a touring show group that represents the college at functions ranging from civic banquets to festivals throughout the state and Southeast.

The group performs three times a year on campus. Their MC appearances include homecoming, a Christmas show and an end of the year show. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in Swor Auditorium. Advance tickets on the floor and $6 in the balcony.

Students with a valid I.D. will be ad- mitted for $5. Tickets will also be sold at the door. p.m. in Aven Little Theatre on the Mississippi College campus.

The play is in conjunction with the college's 21st annual Shakespeare Festival beginning March 26. Macbeth Did It is a light-hearted farce revolving around a community theatre's attempts to produce Macbeth and the mishaps the troupe encounters in the process. "It's a comedy about a group of people putting on a play about Macbeth. They have some of the same problems that the characters in Macbeth do," said George Pittman, director of the Shakespeare Festival and an English professor. "We think it will be a light, enjoyable production.

"Students who have studied Macbeth will enjoy seeing a play abut Macbeth!" Cindy Stokes, who is directing the play, said about 20 students are in the production. "I needed a big cast and this particular show had the kinds of characters I needed," she added. According to Stokes, MCs theatrical department usually does a spring production. Macbeth Did It will double as the spring pro-See MC, page 2 "I like investigating homicides in an effort to bring the responsible parties to justice." Detective John Williams law enforcement was about," said Williams. Williams said he enjoys his work because "the entire unit works as a team to help solve cases.

"I like investigating homicides in an effort to bring the responsible parties to justice," he added. He considers the key to solving a murder case "prompt action, responding to calls within a responsible period of time, isolating witnesses and obtaining prompt information from police and witnesses." Williams' responsibilities include trying to solve crimes such as aggravated assault, murder and capitol murder. In January, Williams was responsible for solving three homicides. They included the death of a 2-year-old child. In that death, the child's stepfather was charged with capitol murder in February.

Jackson detective solved three homicide cases in January alone By Maybelle Cagle Special to Focua Detective John Williams has been selected the Jackson Police Department's Officer of the Month for March. In honoring Williams, Acting Police Chief Bracy Coleman said he deserves to be commended for a "job well done," because of his dedication in serving Jacksonians. A Jackson resident, Williams attended Lanier High School where he graduated in 1976. He was a member of the U.S. Army for three years.

Williams said he worked for the Jackson Police Department from 1983 through 1984 as a detention officer. In 1985, he went to the Mississippi Law Enforcement Academy in Rankin County. From 1985 to 1996, he was a police officer for Precinct 4. Two years ago, he was promoted to a homicide detective. Williams is one of 10 JPD homicide detectives.

"After 11 years in patrol, I wanted to broaden my horizon. I wanted to see what the investigative side of I Club notes 3 Community notes 2 School notebook 3 TO SUBMIT NEWS The deadline for submitting news is noon Wednesday, a week prior to publication. News should be submitted as far in advance as possible. Each person in any photograph must be identified. News releases should be typed and in clude a name and telephone.

For questions on submitting news, contact Delicia Brown at 961-7281.