The Daily News-Journal from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • 1

137th Year No. 69 Wednesday, May 7, 986 RUTHERFORD COUNTY'S, HOME NEWSPAPER SINCE 1849 Phone 893-5860 Good Afternoon 224 N. Walnut St. Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37130 32 Pages, 3 Sections 35 Mamk ween vote GaMaer 9 Ga ither ousts Buckner as I mud 't gains nomination in By JOHN HOWZE News Journal Staff Writer 1 1ncumbent county schools superintendent Carl Buckner was swept from office Tuesday by a voter turnout that approached 30 percent of the county's 45,800 registered voters. Jerry Gaither won every precinct to become the Democratic schools superintendent candidate in the August general election.

Also winning the Democratic nomination was County Executive John Mankin, who trounced opponent Bob Peay by a margin nearly as large Gaither's two-to-one romp over Buckner. Unofficial totals show that Gaither, a county commissioner, garnered 8,753 votes to Buckner's 4,049. Mankin routed Peay by 7,899 votes to 4,683. "I'm disappointed more people didn't turn out," said Buckner as his defeat became apparent during the counting of returns. ''However, it would be sour grapes to say that's why we lost.

I congratulate Jerry Gaither, on his victory and I will assist him any way ean he takes. Marik public service," he said. "This is the, culmination of a Gaither had no comments about changes in the school system or its programs. "I won't be one to make a quick change," he said. "I'm going to look things over very carefully." Mankin, whose opposition was more vocal than Buckner's prior to the election, said it was "gratifying to win.

i "Obviously I haven't offended everybody in the he noted. "We have several things we need to complete, and I'm grateful the people of this county think I'm the one for the executive's job. Mankin said the new jail now under construction, and the school building'' program designed to handle massive growth in the county's population, were top priorities for the coming years. He added that while the county's growth must be regulated, he does' not yet favor the' land use plan now being developed by the planning commission. "I've got a problem telling people T-y0 "A -v'''' XlliPJease see Gaither, page two) 2i DNJ photo by Jim Oovit Gaither gets a victory hug from a supporter as it became clear he had Cities flex muse -r le in election tk- V.

By JOHN HOWZE News Journal Staff Writer A careful look at the voting in Tuesday's Democratic primary shows several facts that future candidates might want to keep in mind. For one thing, urban voters wield a heavy political club. Roughly 66 percent of all votes cast or some 8,606 ballots came from within one of the county's four municipalities. When the 4.4 percent that were absentee ballots are added in, that leaves rural precincts with 30 percent of the votes. Urbanization has made itself known here in more ways than new schools and subdivisions.

As the county's rapid growth continues and more and more people live within the four municipalities, political power will be increasingly concentrated in the hands of municipal voters. Statistics derived from the unof- over the best school system in the state." i Also ginning against opposition Were incumbents Homer Jones and Howard Penuel. Jones, register of deeds, defeated John Burkhart 8,031 to 3,566. Penuel, who is county trustee enjoyed a similar margin over school bus driver Pete Baltimore, winning 8,714 to 3,177. Unopposed were Sheriff Truman Jones, Circuit Court Clerk Robert Suddarth, and County Clerk Ed "Sonny" Elan.

Jones gathered 10,854 complimentary votes, Suddarth 9,972, and Elam 10,033. Both Gaither and Mankin sounded conciliatory notes as their victories became apparent. "I'm extremely gratified with the results," said Gaither as he and Mankin celebrated in a joint party at the Holiday set out to run a hard, clean campaign. I've traveled day and night for the last two months; and I had a lot of people com- mitted to helping me. i "I really feel like people are ready to pull together," he added.

"1. love this county, and I love DfU photo by Jkn Davit John Mankin is con-McAdoo after voters stay in School students who were on their annual trip to the environmental study area. The judge says his trips to LBL with children from local schools are a lot fun and give him insights -into understanding children. "Indirectly, it helps me stay current and stay in touch with young people how they think, what motivates them and their trends," Corlew said. judge says GAITHER NOMINATED defeated Carl Buckner.

Jerry News analysis: ficial vote returns show winners in the two hottest primary contests, County Executive John Mankin and school superintendent candidate Jerry Gaither, did far better in the cities than their opponents. Gaither took 5,616 votes from the municipalities, 64 percent of his total. By contrast, Encumbent school superintendent Carl Buckner got 2,693 city votes. That was 67 percent of his total, a slightly larger percentage than Gaither enjoyed, but it was still barely one third of the city votes cast. Gaither's lead in the cities could not be overcome.

The mandate for Gaither, or against Buckner, was so overwhelming that questions are raised. Were snow days, the issue stressed Channel By MIKE WEST News Journal Staff Writer Stockholders in WHTN television have signed a contract with the Christian Television Corp. for the purchase of Channel 39. "We have signed a contract for the purchase of the station," said Robert R. D' Andrea, president of Christian Television Network.

"It is in the process of being filed and it will probably take 90 days for approval by the Federal Communications Commission." D'Andrea said CTN, once it assumes control of the station, wUl stress positive community involvement. "We really want to get involved in with MANKIN RE-ELECTED County Executive gratulated by county commissioner Allen nominated the incumbent by a wide margin. while Buckner took 29 percent of his support from-iOUtside the cities, or 1,173 votes. What does Mankin's strong victory mean? The issues stressed by Peay were the county's growing debt, the wheel tax sticker, and the new jail. Voters either were happy with Mankin's handling of these or did not consider them overriding campaign issues.

The new jail will get a federal judge off the county's back, at least in that area. The schools will be filled with thousands of new students as the county's growth continues. The wheel sticker tax will help pay for those schools. As expected, if the cities wield the club, Murfreesboro leads the way. Peay got 44 percent of his votes here.

Mankin got 53 percent of his. Gaither got 49 percent, and Buckner got 55 (Please see Cities, page two) to air Tarns plained. The new general manager said he expects to finalize programming for Channel 39 during the next few days. "During the 90-day period, it will be Christian and family programming," he said. The station will also include some features of the past, including the Independent Network News as part of its package.

"I hope to have a good, steady programming schedule by Monday," Weldon said. "I'm going to be analyzing our situation the next few days. I've got to find out where we are to know where we're going." Until the sale of the station is ap-(Please see Channel, page two) careened across two small bridges and drove their vehicle onto the 5th green. Once on the green, it appears (Please see Smyrna, page two) Index Classified Ads 14-19 Comics 8 Cookbook 21-32 Crossword 8 Editorials 4 Horoscopes 8 Obituaries 2 Sports 11-14. 9 Weather 7 by Gaither, really an issue? Probably not to the extent that Gaither claimed.

It is possible that voters were expressing dissatisfaction with Buckner. If the county's teachers had solidly supported Buckner, he would have carried at least a few precincts. He carried none. Mankin's victory was another definite statement by the voters. Mankin got 5,244, or 67 percent of his total, from the municipalities.

Peay, who had 2,624 city votes, or 56 percent of his total vote, got more of his support from the county than other candidates did. Forty-one percent of his total, or some 1,912 ballots, were from county precincts. By comparison, Mankin drew only 29 percent of his support from county polls, or 2,274 votes. Gaither, who won in every precinct, took 2,770 county votes (32 percent of his total), 39 returns Murfreesboro," the network president said. During this interim period, Channel 39 is back on the air under the direction of Terry Weldon, who replaces Bob Hudson as general manager.

"By the unanimous consent of the stockholders of Murfreesboro Television I've been elected president and general manager and I will serve in that capacity until the sale of the television station is approved by the FCC," Weldon said. WHTN signed back on the air at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday as an affiliate of CTN. "We have signed a network affiliate contract with the Christian Television Network," Weldon ex Smyrna youth in connection with the, theft. "It's disgusting," course manager Jerry York said Tuesday afternoon.

"We beat our heads against a wall trying to get the place fixed up, then these people tear the course up at night and steal our equipment during theday." York said that the vandals were apparently driving a small dune buggy or mini-pickup. "It had to be very small to go across our bridges," York said. "Even so, they scraped against the rails in several places they left a lot of dark green paint on the bridge from their vehicle." Looking at the tracks, it is easily apparent the vandals drove onto the course, smashed the hole 1 sign, Christian. nrofi JL Q. SJ, X-'J A ir.

-g l3Sr 11111 Smyrna golf course falls prey to vandals, thieves OKI photo by togota Cannon JUDGE ENJOYS OUTDOORS WITH KIDS Juvenile Judge Bob Corlew and sixth-graders share a field trip at land Between the Lakes. trip Juvenile helps By ANGELA CANNON News Journal Staff Writer GOLDEN POND. Kv. Mit- chell-Neilson Elementary School students at Land Between tne Lakes had to answer to a juvenile judge this week. However, ihey aian care.

Juvenile Judse Robert Corlew says he enjoyed chaperoning the Tuesday activities of about 140 Mitchell-Neilson Elementary him By DAN GOODWIN News Journal Staff Writer SMYRNA Tuesday was" not a good day for the city golf course's finances, grounds or manager. First, in the dark hours of the morning, vandals drove a small dune buggy or pickup onto the course, severely damaging about $1,000 worth two greens, wreaking havoc on sand traps and smashing a $500 custom-made sign that illustrated hole 1. Then, before noon, after work crews did what they could to repair the damage, someone stole a $5,000, motorized, three-wheel from" hole 9 while the course was full of golfers. Luckily, Smyrna police located the expensive rake late in the afternoon and arrested a touch LBL provides nature hikes and other activities and environmental studies for school groups. An 1850s farm and a planetarium are also in the park.

"Basically, I enjoy the outdoors," Corlew said. "I used to be a Boy Scout master, and now I don't have the time to fit in the things I enjoy doing." (Please see Juvenile, page two).