The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • 3

-1 gion The Jackson Sun, Jackson, Saturday, April 25, 1 987 3A 75,000 see Hank governor in Paris parade 1 spaced so that it took about two hours to complete. Children on roller skates threaded in and out between parade units. A toddler ran out and stomped on the trailing banner carried by a flag-bearer. Parade entries included Miss Tennessee, Kris Beasley, waving from an open car; Gibson County Fair Tiny Tot Queens riding in a black Corvette trimmed in red fringe; the Cottage Grove Volunteer Fire Department's truck with a live dalmatian riding atop. Hank Jr.

wasn't the only "celebrity" in this parade; spectators ran out eagerly to shake hands with "Mr. President" himself an exaggerated look-alike Ronald Reagan (Nicky Lax of Paris in costume), riding in a white convertible adorned with a facsimile presidential seal. But the unlikeliest celebrity of all was Mary Alice Garrett of Dallas, whose plain, undecorated brown Honda Accord was sandwiched in between a fire truck and a float from Buchanan Springs. Garrett, red-faced and shaking with embarrassed laughter, drew applause from spectators who realized her plight. "I don't know how it happened," said -t the Texan.

"I took a wrong turn and some-; how I ended up in this parade, and I don't know how to get out. All I can do is follow that fire truck." To her traveling companion, Pearl Guaid of Nashville, she gave the only ad-: vice she could think of "Just wave at the crowd and smile." 1 crowd near the end Sun photo by Gary Hairtson of the Fish Fry parade in Paris. corated cars and floats bearing beauty queens. Parade entries came from throughout West and Middle Tennessee and Southwest Kentucky. i Children threw noisemakers, heckled marching bands and dived for candy thrown from floats as the parade snaked endlessly along its route, units widely Events continue at annual fish fry By Delores Ballard Sun senior writer PARIS The thousands at Friday's Fish Fry parade had to be content with whatever glimpse of Hank Williams Jr.

they could get between his squadron of state trooper bodyguards. But no similar problem, it, seemed, with Gov. Ned McWherter. "You couldn't get anywhere near Hank Jr. the troopers would run you off," said Terry Cole, photographing the parade for Benton and Henry county newspapers.

"But there was nobody (official) near the governor, and everybody kept running up shaking Ned Ray's hand." The fish will continue frying this morning with the 11 o'clock opening of the fish fry tent at Henry County Fairgrounds. Five dollars buys all the fish, coleslaw, potatoes, hush puppies and white beans you can eat. The tent remains open until 9 tonight. Other events today include an 8K run at 8 a.m., beginning at Henry County High School; a "Small Fry Parade" at 10 a.m., and a Junior Fishing Rodeo at 2 p.m. at Williams Lake.

The 18th annual Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo concludes starting at 8 p.m. at the fair- Lead runs By Wlnslow M. Mason Jr. Sun reporter UNION CITY Police and FBI agents reached a dead end Friday on a report that Marlena Childress, a 4-year-old girl missing since April 16, had been seen in Memphis getting her hair cut. Investigators received a report that Childress was with two women in a Memphis hair salon and calling "Mommy, Mommy." The women and the girl left in a car with Maryland license plates.

The car was stopped by Mississippi police, who determined the youngster's name was Marlene and she was not the missing girl, Union City patrolman Perry Bar-field said Friday night. Authorities have searched in several Candidate would change street surfacing strategy waves to the of the caravan and then made his exit to leave for a gig in Indiana. At the point where the parade dispersed, "Hank went one way, and the governor went another" as soon as their march through Paris streets ended, bystanders said. But the crowds stayed on for plenty of junior high and high school bands, de year old Marlena has silver-capped front bottom teeth and the woman said she didn't recall seeing caps on the girl's teeth in the mall, Adcock said. "I wouldn't say that it was the best, but it is a lead that bears checking out," said Adcock.

Meanwhile, roadblocks were erected Thursday night and Friday in Union City as police interviewed motorists who may have been through the Division Street neighborhood about the time the girl was last seen, Adcock said. FBI agents will continue working in Union City through early next week, she said. The Associated Press contributed to this story. By Betty Mallett Sun reporter Jack Tosh believes he can provide the type of leadership he says is lacking in the city's street department, he said Friday. Tosh, a real estate salesman, is running for commissioner of streets, health and sani 5 mm-, Nicky Lax, acting as Ronald Reagan, grounds.

Admission is $6 for adults and $4 children at the gate. But of all the Fish Fry events, the parade is the biggest single crowd-draw. Estimates put Friday's turnout at 75,000, attributed in part to grand marshal Williams. He put in a hasty appearance at the front out for 4 states for leads in the Childress case. Acting on the Memphis tip, agents and detectives were interviewing people in a Memphis shopping mall where the hair salon is located, said Union City police spokeswoman Debby Adcock.

"We got a report from a lady in Memphis that she had seen a woman in her 50s and a woman in her 30s in a beauty shop in a mall," said Adcock. "With them was a child who was getting her hair cut. The child was very upset, and was crying the words, 'Mommy, The woman who telephoned police told authorities she approached the child and asked her name, Adcock said. "She thought she said, Adcock said. adults to come to trial in a sex abuse scandal that began in 1984.

The youngster was the second girl called to testify against Mrs. Stimpson, who is on trial on three counts of aggravated rape. Defense lawyers contend that overzea-lous investigators using sloppy interview techniques encouraged 26 youngsters involved to create bizarre tales of sex abuse. Commission delays hotel zoning Second girl, 7, describes sex abuse at day school department. In 10 years, it has steadily gone down," Tosh told The Jackson Sun editorial board.

Friction among employees prevails in the street department, Tosh said. Half the workers are working and the other half are "riding around," he said. "They're fighting among themselves. I would set up a chain of command, and we would know exactly where they are at all times." A commissioner should be a leader in spending taxes the way they should be spent, Tosh said. The current administration has been "patching up holes and picking up trash, with no ability to resurface streets.

We're paying tax money and contracting the work Please tee TOSH, next page. Hills Drive presented a petition signed by 40 residents who oppose it. They contend deed restrictions allow only single-family residences in the subdivision. The proposed 168-room hotel is expected to bring 120 new Jobs to Jackson. Mayor Bob Conger isn't predicting what the outcome of the May 15 hearing on the access road closing will be.

"I don't know," Conger said Friday night at his election headquarters. The commissioners are "waiting until this street thing is settled. I want to hear the Pleas tee HOTEL, next page. i-w 17 i. i it -ft it Sun photo by Larry Atherton A Seniors compete for fun, fitness and fellowship tation and public improvements.

He faces opposition from incum Jack Tosh bent Commissioner Johnny Parham and Jack Friedlob. "Johnny Parham is a good, Christian man. But he is not able to lead the street dential to planned commercial, but city commissioners have final approval. City commissioners will wait until a May 15 public hearing on closing an access road from the bypass to Beverly Hills. A new access road would be built that would accommodate access to the land where the hotel would be built.

But the old road must first be closed before a new road is built. About nine Beverly Hills residents showed up for the commission meeting to voice their approval for the rezoning request. But Carolyn Faught of Beverly i '4 4 4 i 'A 4H. By Betty Mallett Sun reporter The Jackson City Commission delayed action on a request to rezone land off U.S. 45 Bypass for a $6.5 million hotel until access to the property is worked out.

Developers are planning to build Garden Plaza Hotel by the summer of 1988 in Beverly Hills subdivision. Jackson planning commissioners have already recommended the land for the hotel be rezoned from single-family resi Patterson in the basketball free throw contest. Patterson was in competition with her husband, H.O., and as the game started, he turned to her and said, "Go, Mom!" 'Take your time," he told her from the sidelines as she tossed the ball. At Highland Park where the outdoor activities were held, blacks and whites walked, talked, played and ate together. Perhaps they understood a lesson in race relations that only age could teach.

"I've got lots of white friends around. I know everybody and I am so crazy about this bunch," said Willie Hart, a 67-year-old volunteer worker at Golden Circle. "I'm with them everyday and I believe the Lord blesses me more when I'm doing for somebody else." "You haven't even spoken to me today, Willie," said Agnes Riddick, one of Hart's white friends. They joked and shook hands. "With all of these rings, I know I'm going to get some good luck.

Will me these rings," Hart said. "Oh, you think I'm going to die first," Riddick replied as they both laughed. Children also joined the oldsters. "We didn't get to do all that playing when we were young, and we sure didn't wear all those nice shoes," said Hart as he and a group of 10 watched the children play. "Being a senior citizen with the problems I've had with my leg, just being able to participate is an accomplishment," Please see SENIOR, next page.

MEMPHIS (AP) A second-grader testified Friday that she and four other young girls were taken from a church day school in Memphis and fondled by three adults at a private residence. The youngster also said she and two other girls were sexually assaulted at Georgian Hills Early Childhood Center by the former director, Betty Stimpson. Mrs. Stimpson, 49, is the first of four TVA helps county cut utility bills By Tim Tanton Sun business reporter Cutting the peaks and staying in the valleys is the key to keeping school utility costs low, Tennessee Valley Authority officials are telling Madison County. "The biggest problems schools have now is financial problems, and energy ranks right up there with the top three or four," said Al Campbell, communications supervisor with TVA in Jackson.

The county school system has entered TVA's County Energy Partnership program to reduce utility costs possibly as much as 15 to 20 percent, Campbell said. "It's one of your big-cost items," agreed Superintendent Buddy McMillin. The school system budgeted $511,000 for electricity and natural gas costs this school year. McMillin has no idea how much the energy partnership will save the schools. "If we could save 10 percent, we'd be coming up with $50,000.

If we could save 20 percent, we'd be saving $100,000." County school officials and TVA energy experts have met twice in the last month to discuss energy-saving methods. Each school is forming an energy management team to keep track of utility bills and find out how their costs are adding up. "If you don't know where you're spending your money, you're not going to be very good about saving it," Campbell Please see UTILITY, next page. By Sharon D. Luvene Sun reporter When Evalyn Crawford played basketball in high school, she could hit baskets from center line.

During practice Friday, the 79-year-old hit eight out of 10 free shots. But by game time, "I couldn't do anything. I just pushed the ball too hard," said Crawford, who's had recent surgery. But neither age nor health prevented Crawford and others 55 and older from participating in the 1987 Madison County Senior Olympics Friday at Jackson Boys Club and Highland Park. "I've won the basketball free throws for the last two years," Crawford said.

"But I have had heart and eye surgery since last year. My husband didn't want me to play this year because he was afraid I would pull the tube out of my heart. I'm playing anyway because I like sports and I like to stay active." "Our goal is to maintain the physical stature of our people," said Dot Allen, director of Harvest Years Senior Citizens Center. About 129 senior citizens from Golden Circle, Harvest Years and West Madison senior citizens centers wearing orange T-shirts with white lettering participated in games such as checkers, billiards, dominoes, Rook, shuffleboard, horseshoes, water balloon toss and a 1.5-kilometer walk. "We have a lot of fun and we enjoy doing this," said Madelle Blasingame as she rooted and hollered for her friend Loretta Gertrude Patton, representing Golden Circle Senior Citizens Center, tosses a horseshoe at Friday's Madison County Senior Olympics..