The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • 11

SECTION THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1992 JACKSON, TENN. Third lawsui filed in brutality case By Sandy Hodson Sun reporter The third young Jackson man whose police brutality charges led to the firing of three veteran Jackson police officers has filed a federal lawsuit against them and the city. Keith D. Morgan filed the lawsuit seeking up to $200,000 in compensatory and punitive damages Wednesday in federal court Similar lawsuits also have been filed by Jeremy McPhear-son and Reginald L. Williams who, along with Morgan, were questioned by three officers last August in connection with several vehicle, home i 'I lf berated Morgan and struck him on the side of the head, bursting an Morgan then wrote a confession as dictated by Springer, the lawsuit continues.

Morgan is seeking up to $100,000 in compensatory damages for medical treatment and pain and suffering, including loss of employment because he was falsely accused of crimes, and up to $100,000 in punitive damages to punish the officers and city. The city was named as a defendant in the lawsuit because it alleges the city failed to properly train and monitor officers and that it practiced a pattern or policy of indifference to charges such as Morgan's. New tax not to hit morticians and business break-ins in northwest Jackson. The officers David Springer, Danny Utley and George "Butch" Blanton were fired from the city police force after an internal investigation and administrative hearings about last August's questioning of Morgan, McPhearson and Williams. The former officers also face criminal charges of aggravated assault official oppression and conspiracy to commit official oppression.

A June 8 trial date is scheduled in Madison County Circuit Court According to Morgan's lawsuit he was picked up for questioning, was -M! tJk it THE MEWS Robbers beat hotel clerk A Garden Plaza Hotel night clerk was beaten and robbed after two men jumped over the front desk about 3:15 a.m. today. The hotel Is at 1770 U.S. 45 By-pass. David Blankenship was working with his back to the counter when a man jumped the counter, threw him to the ground and began stomping on him, the report said.

The assailant then picked Blankenship up, and banged his head against the counter and demanded to know where the money was. A second man grabbed a bank bag containing $200 before both robbers fled. Man with fork threatens women A Jackson woman walking to the Parkview Courts office was accosted and threatened Tuesday afternoon by a man armed with a barbecue fork. Jackson police are investigating the incident, and attempted aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated burglary charges are expected to be filed against the suspect, according to police reports. The woman was walking in Parkview Courts about 12:40 p.m.

when a man approached her, grabbed her and held a two-prong barbecue fork to her side, and demanded money. When she protested she didn't have any money, he threatened to kill her, according to the police report The suspect then forced the woman into an apartment He fled when the resident told him to leave. Strawberry Fest coming up in May HUMBOLDT It's nearly time for the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival. Organizers are putting the final touches on Humboldt's premiere event held May 4-9. Anyone interested in entering the festival parade should register by April 22.

The entrance fee is $20 for floats and $50 for cars. Don McLemore of Bradford, this year's official festival float builder, is available to build floats for a few groups or individuals, organizers said. His fees are based on the material and labor costs of each float April 12, the First Baptist Church in Humboldt will host the Strawberry Festival Fashion Show, featuring clothing stores from around West Tennessee. The fashion show is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. Tickets are $5 each and are on sale at stores around Humboldt For more information, call the Humboldt Chamber of Commerce at 784-1842.

To inquire about having a float built call McLemore at 742-3149 or 784-7881. L- I III llli I I 1 -i 'hV-v-. jailed six or seven days without bond and without being formally charged and was not allowed to communicate with family and legal counsel After his first night in a cell, Morgan alleges, Utley and Springer took him from the cell to an office where Morgan was told he was being charged with several burglaries and thefts and told he should confess. Morgan alleges that when he refused to confess he was insulted and otherwise verbally abused until he was returned to his cell. On his third day in custody, according to the lawsuit Morgan was again taken to an office.

He alleges Springer iuiiij im.i, a A S. wasn't worried. He and his wife got their licenses to operate the trucks used in their fertilizer business. "This will be good if they can get the bad drivers and the drivers who use drugs off the roads," he said. Another driver, William F.

Cato, supports the new requirement "When it comes to the threats, I've got no comment on that" he said. So far there have not been any reports of problems with truckers, said Sue Allison, public information officer at the state Department of Safety. "You don't know if they are idle threats," Ashe said. "We will check the buildings at the inspection stations for broken windows and other things." local sales 'We're basically eliminating the salespeople. It was purely an economic Morrie Beitch, WLMT-TV in Memphis, but none had applied as of Wednesday, he said.

"We're basically eliminating the salespeople. It was purely an economic decision," Beitch said. il If. Sun photo by Kevin Eans Truckers wait while Shelia Steinmetz checks tests Wednesday at Jackson's drivers testing center. icrea tfrmnDllceir's tes TEST FACTS The Driver Testing Center is open Monday through Friday for commercial drivers to get their licenses.

Testing hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Class A licenses, which include tractor-trailer and fifth-wheel combination vehicles, are $38. Class licenses, which Include school buses and box trucks, are $34. Drivers should bring their current license; Social Security card; Department of Transportation physical fitness card.

More information: 423-6622. ByTomCorwin Sun reporter Funeral homes and other services not currently paying sales tax would not be subject to a tax proposed to fund the state's troubled Medicaid system, a state official said Wednesday. A broad category of businesses called "personal services" was originally considered for a new 7.5 percent privilege tax, said Revenue Com missioner Joe Huddleston. But the new tax would be levied only on service businesses that already pay sales tax; Since credit would be given for sales tax paid, most of the affected businesses would see no net increase in taxes, he said. If approved by the General Assembly, the new tax would switch some former sales tax money to the Medicaid program to help meet a new requirement that at least 15 percent of state matching funds for the program come from a broadbased tax.

Hospitals and nursing homes will shoulder the burden of raising another $160 million to bring the way Tennessee handles its Medicaid program into line with federal regulations, that go into effect in October. The state receives $7 in federal money for every $3 in state money that's raised. Unless Tennessee changes the way it raises money for Medicaid, it could see a drastic reduction in federal funds for the program, which helps the poor and disabled with medical bills. Businesses that fall into the service category that is being considered for the privilege tax include parking lots, telecommunications, laundry and dry cleaning, Huddleston said. Other businesses being considered include hotels and lodging, motion pictures, automobile repair and other various repair services, and amusements.

Those businesses will first receive a credit for the sales tax they've paid against the privilege tax. If the sales tax amount is more than the privilege amount those businesses would not pay the privilege tax. The 15 percent will be raised from those that are not currently paying enough sales tax, Huddleston said. But how this will all work exactly has not been determined, Huddleston said. He expected a version to be finalized by the end of the week.

While Gov. Ned McWherter has said he is sticking by his original budget proposal of $600 million in cuts and $318 million in taxes on hospitals, the administration is working with the Tennessee Hospital Association on the privilege tax proposal. "The proposal is in a state of flux right now," Huddleston said. It could become another headache for the small business owner, said Bob Bond, partner in the company that owns the One-Hour Martinizing Cleaners in Jackson. "You've got your sales tax and your workman's comp, it pretty much keeps the secretaries going full time, and the owner," Bond said.

"Sometimes it can get out of hand. (The proposed tax) would be something else to keep up with." porter. "It turned out to be something entirely different." He said he had thought it would not affect credit cards. Rhinehart, D-Spencer, said it was cowardly for lawmakers to bow to constituent complaints. He had argued the legislation was not intended to hurt the consumer.

"This might just help someone stay, out of bankruptcy," he said. Koella's action allowed the Senate By Patsy J. Thomas Sun reporter Truck drivers may be angry about new standards regarding their commercial driver's licenses, but that did not stop them from flocking to Jackson's Driver Testing Center. Beginning Wednesday, drivers of commercial vehicles will be required to pass a uniform test to get their driver's license. In the past drivers had licenses from several states.

This often made it hard to check the drivers' record for fines and violations in other states. Only one license will be issued and it will be good nationwide. This has angered many truck drivers. Nationwide, some truckers have threatened to plant bombs at inspection stations across the country. Tennessee, which had received no threats as of this morning, has four weigh stations, with its West Tennessee station located in Haywood County on Interstate 40.

"Those truckers will only give other truckers a bad reputation," said Ben McAlister, as he smoked a cigarette Wednesday outside the testing center in Hamilton Hills Channel 16 Jackson's Fox station merges with parent By Stan Diel Sun reporter Jackson's Fox Television station WMTU-TV Channel 16 is scheduled to become a rebroadcasting station for WLMT-TV 30 in Memphis. "What you see on WMTU will be what you see on WLMT," said Morrie Beitch, vice president and general manager of the Memphis station. The only difference viewers should Shopping Center. "The new standards are good because they will help keep the bad drivers off the road. It also ensures that the driver knows how to operate their vehicle," said McAlister of Pin-son.

Examples of commercial vehicles are tractor trailers, tankers, school and transit buses, double trailers and triple trailers. Part of the anger could be because some drivers fear losing their jobs, said an official in the Public Service Commission office. "There are a lot of good drivers who can't read or write," said Ron Ashe, administrative assistant at the PSC. "They're worried." But Jimmy Reddin of Henderson eliminates notice as a result of the change will be an elimination of local commercials, which means five WMTU salespeople will go as well, Beitch said. The station will consolidate sales with its Memphis parent and the Jackson salespeople will lose their jobs Monday, Beitch said.

Salespeople at Channel 16 could not be reached for comment Wednesday. About half of Channel 16's staff are salespeople, Beitch said. The remainder of Channel 16 employees will stay with the company in Jackson. The Channel 16 salespeople were asked to apply for jobs at Channel 30 SUM LINE Q. Many, many ladies, including myself, are really interested in getting Weight Watchers classes started in Milan.

I have talked with Weight Watchers a number of times. At first they said we had to have a list of interested people. I got this. Then they said they had to have names and addresses. I got that We also told them we would provide a meeting room and scales.

Then they said they had to have at least 35 people to pay up front for a 10-week program. After this I thought, forget it! I just don't understand why they can have meetings in surrounding towns but not in Milan. AB. Milan A. Beverly Rutherford of Weight Watchers said she has begun working with you and others in Milan to get classes started, and they are scheduled to begin March 31.

She plans to offer an eight-week course for $59, which is $42 less than the regular price, she said. Anyone interested should call Weight Watchers at toll-free (800) 844-9292. Call Sun Line, 424-6080, or write to Sun Line, P.O. Box 1059, Jackson, Term. 38302, for action and information Include your name, phone number and address; they will be confidential Consumer questions also may be asked of the State Consumer Affairs Division at toll-free (800) 342-8383i tO CALL THE EDITOR Regional editor Carta Johnson Kimbrough can be reached at 427-3333, Ext 187.

Metro Editor Diana Branum can be reached at 427-3333, Ext 171. Reader Services Editor Michael Mercer is at 427-3333, Ext. 188. In West Tennessee outside Madison County, readers can call toll-free 1-800372-3922. Lawmaker scuttles plan to charge late fees on credit cards 'It turned out to be something entirely Carl Koella, R-Maryville By Bill Rawlins Associated Press NASHVILLE Sen.

Carl Koella is a man of few words. He was the only senator to vote in committee against honoring former president Franklin D. Roosevelt and the late Sen. George Norris of Nebraska for carl launching the Tennes- Koella see Valley Authority. To explain his vote, the Maryville Republican told the State and Local Government committee this week, "I didn't like either one of them." And he moved quietly Wednesday to kill legislation to allow late fees on 5 POCKETBOOK credit cards.

Voters exploded over the 54-40 House vote last week to let retailers add a 5 percent charge to credit cards every time customers are late with monthly installments. Koella first refused a request from House members to return the bill so they could amend it to exclude major credit cards from its provisions. Koella is the Senate sponsor. Rep. Ray Hill, R-Knoxville, pushed for return of the bill, claiming House sponsor Rep.

Shelby Rhinehart misled him to believe it applied only to "Mom and Pop stores." Koella said Monday he would add his own amendments, but he took more direct action on Wednesday. First, he granted the request to return the bill to the House. Then, he withdrew the Senate version from the Legislature, effectively killing the bill since it must pass both chambers to be effective. There was no debate. Koella said he agreed to sponsor the bill at the request of the Tennessee Council of Retail Merchants.

"I agreed to sponsor the bill, but I was told it would be limited, something that would help Mom and Pop stores," Koella explained to a re iu avuiu ma iuiiu vi ukuouj uiak divided the House for more than an, hour last week,.