The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • 1

MM Thursday, May 29, 2008 50 cents Jackson, Tennessee a YOUR DAILY DCS halts funding for Carroll Academy QUICK READ Grant termination may force the school for at-risk youth to close grant for $1.25 million and support from Juvenile Court Judges Larry Logan, Hansel McAdams, and John Derrington, Lisa Nor-ris developed the academy in Huntingdon to give at-risk youth a chance of living stable, consistent and productive lives. This year, and for the last five years, the academy has received $858,512 from the state, according to a press release from the Carroll County Juvenile Court. In a letter from DCS, "a the academy will result in more at-risk youth being placed in state custody, which will cost millions of dollars. "The cost could easily be $6 million to $8 million," McBride said. "There are times when cutting programs cost more than funding them." McBride added, "We are going to make every effort to make our case to the people in Nashville." Please see ACADEMY, 2A serious funding problem" for the 2008-09 fiscal year was cited as being the reason for the termination of the grant.

Those problems included the impact of changes in Medicaid policies on TennCare funding. Funding to DCS was cut by as much as $73 million. The letter also cited a "significant shortfall in state revenue." But according to Hatch and Carroll County Mayor Kenny McBride, cutting the funding of jr sis" iff By TYRONE TONY REED JR. ttreedjacksonsun.com The state Department of Children Services has terminated funding of Carroll Academy, which could promote the school for at-risk youth to close its doors on June 30, according to Randy Hatch, senior administrator and athletic director of the academy. "It's real disappointing," said Hatch, who also serves as director of the Carroll County Juvenile Court.

"We're still holding out hope. If the academy closes, it will be bad for everybody involved, especially the kids." With funding from a state Dianne Odell 1947-2008 A 9 Aim amnrta dm thw anm A- IMl (LMjIKAUL MM IblMlJ HjGM lb Jjiiii AMANDA HERRONThe Jackson Sun Beth Smith, of West Tennessee Healthcare, gives Sue Barnes a bone density test during the Senior Day Health Fair Wednesday at the Jackson Family YMCA. Story, IB. Web Extra Visit jacksonsun.com for news and sports updates throughout the day. Also find photos, video, blogs and more.

Get Out! ROOTS IN THE MUSIC: This year's Shannon Street Blues Heritage Festival features Guitar Shorty, who says he's Longtime polio survivor dies after a power outage stops iron lung 1 A I 7 ready and rarin'" to return and perform in Jackson. It also features an opening act who competed for the honor, a car show, a 5K run and a bar 75 i if Mf 4 if Vs-V- becue festival. RETURN OF INDY: Did the sequel live up to the hype? The burden of high expectations may have affected the long-awaited sequel in the movie franchise. RADIOHEAD: Without a record deal, Radiohead revels in its newfound freedom, as "In Rainbows" and the band's new tour makes impact on the music biz. Plus, read about David Cook, the newly crowned American Idol.

PLUS: Find event listings, TV listings, Dear Abby, horoscopes and more in today's Get Out! By JACQUE HILLMAN jhillmanjacksonsun.com In death, Dianne Odell, the nation's longest living survivor in an iron lung, is remembered as the sweet woman who never complained, never raised her voice in anger. Dianne told every journalist who visited that she didn't deserve stories about her. She'd say, "Don't write a bunch of weepy Pollyanna stuff about me. Write about my mama and daddy, who are angels on earth." Dianne died at 3 a.m. Wednesday at age 61, after a power failure caused her iron lung to shut down.

A generator that the family has on hand to power the iron lung in the event of such an outage did not come on. She had lived 58 years in what she called "the elephant in the room." Her father, Freeman Odell, worked to save her. Frank McMeen, president of West Tennes-' see Healthcare Foundation, said that Freeman Odell worked "tirelessly hand-pumping the machine to save Dianne, as he has done before. He tried very hard to save her." Dianne's mother, Geneva Odell, said, "It's just unbelievable it could happen. But there's nothing we can do.

This was God's will. I know she's in a better place, but it doesn't mean it hurts any less." Friends, family and celebrities around the world have called or written about Dianne. Each has said Dianne, who caught bulbar polio in 1950, inspired them all with her patience, her belief in God, her sense of humor. TODAY'S WEATHER Mostly sunny HIGH: 84' LOW: 64' COMPLETE FORECAST, 8A Visit jacksonsun.com and dick Local 'FIRST 48: A Memphis police sergeant who has been featured on "First 48" hopes to inspire Jackson youth to make smart choices when she speaks at the annual Steak and Burger Dinner. IB Today, Dianne Odell's name was No.

1 on Google search engines. She would have smiled about being a "Google" diva. Friends loved to tell her she was a divine diva. Actress Jane Seymour called from an on-location movie shoot for Hallmark Sports Seymour HELEN COMERThe Jackson Sun Actor David Keith visits longtime polio survivor Dianne Odell during a gala in her honor in this 2001 file photo. Odell died Wednesday after spending 58 years in an iron lung.

She was 61. ATHLETE HONORED: Lester Hudson, a junior on the University of Tennessee Martin men's basketball team, has been named the Ohio Valley Conference's Male Athlete of the Year. ID World SHARK ATTACKS: Sharks have attacked three surfers recently along a resort-studded stretch of Mexican coast. 6A REPUBLIC BORN: Nepal's lawmakers, led by former communist insurgents, have abolished the monarchy, setting up a secular republic. 6A If you go titled "Dear Prudence" to say how much she would miss Dianne.

"I just spoke to her 10 days ago. I sent her my 'Woman in a Red Dress' painting, which she loved. She kept it near her so she could see it in the mirror over her head," Seymour said. "I had a long conversation with her," Seymour added. "She said she was really weak and that she knew she may not live very long.

She said she was just grateful for our friendship and she wanted us to assure her that we were going to do everything in our power to tell her story, which we intend to do." Seymour talked with Dianne about the concept of "living with an open heart, about a book I'm thinking of writing. Dianne said, 'You can only really love when you give it Now she let go and went to heaven, where she knew she was going to go." While the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation administered the Dianne Odell Fund for her daily care, McMeen had also Please see DIANNE, 3A Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Campbell Street Church of Christ off Campbell Street in Jackson. Services will be held at the church at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Web Extra View photos of Dianne Odell with her family and friends. Watch video of people close to Odell as they share their memories. Visit the forums to share your condolences. See a note that Odell wrote using her foot. Read her statement of her philosophy of life.

Find out more about polio and the development of its treatment. 0nyat jacksonsun.com Inside Opinion DIANNE ODELL: We mourn the passing of our friend and neighbor Dianne Odell. Her remarkable life was an inspiration to many. She will be missed. 7A Read a timeline of major events in Dianne Odell's life.

3A Celebrities who knew Odell share their thoughts about her. 3A Find out more about bulbar polio and the iron lung. 3A Online Updates atjacksonsun.com: There were 1,092 news updates posted in April. 75 photo galleries 20 videos Source: Omniture Inc. SiteCatalyst, YTD April 2008 Loved ones remember Odell's fun-loving nature, sweet spirit Index Business Classifieds Comics Deaths Local I r- 1 I -v In ji A family photo from Dianne Odell's 60th birthday party sits on top of her iron lung Wednesday evening at Campbell Street Church of Christ in Jackson.

Odell died Wednesday morning when a power outage caused her iron lung to shut down. AMANDA HERRON Jhe Jackson Sun I 2A 7A 4A 6A 6B 1C 7C 6A IB Nation Opinion Sports State World running and playing throughout the house, while she babysat other children in the home. Freeman Odell worked for South Central Bell telephone company. A princess in an iron lung in a red brick home on Odell Road, she held court. She'd tell anyone who looked at her in the iron lung: "No matter what you're handed in life, you can take it and do something with it Whatever happened, her parents made certain Dianne grew up having fun.

Please see MEMORIES, 3A By JACQUE HILLMAN jhillmanjacksonsun.com Dianne Odell was the woman who spent 58 years of her life looking up at the mirror over her head that reflected her room and the people in it her life. She was the image of polio's crippling past. She was a post-war child born on Feb. 13, 1947 too early for the vaccine, in an era when polio crippled presidents and 3-year-old girls. Geneva and Freeman Odell have cared for her all these years.

Geneva Odell made sure there were slumber pities and girls Subscribe Call (800) 244-3225 to get The Jackson Sun, or subscribe at jacksonsun.com tyHHf JW 1 ly'B -itttH 1 PFtp-iflij IZZ2.