The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 20

a LOCAL NEWS Friday, July 16, 1993 The Atlanta Journal The Atlanta Constitution Candidate in the soup over logo 1 1. ii hi i ii ii 1 1. in i I. i Mil I IU.II1II.I III! LI mi.li.lll .1 MAYOR 1 Mayoral candidate Bill Campbell's campaign logo (left) is strikingly similar to the Campbell Soup trademark. tmmmm GoldanCorn Special blue and white after meeting with the company's attorneys.

Eight years ago, the company sued a city council candidate in Florida for using the same tactic but dropped the suit when he lost the race. "Most candidates don't realize they are violating our trademark, and when they realize they are making us unhappy, they graciously stop using it," said Mr. Moran, who planned to consult with company attorneys. During her campaign kickoff Thursday night, rival candidate Myrtle Davis used the logo fuss By Lyle V. Harris STAFF WRITER Mmm, mmm bad.

In his quest to become a household name, Atlanta mayoral candidate Bill Campbell is using a campaign logo strikingly similar to the red-and-white trademark of the nation's best-known soup company and they're simmering about it. "We really don't appreciate that," said Jim Moran, a spokesman for the New Jersey-based Campbell Soup Co. "That trademark is priceless to us, and we vigorously protect it. We would appeal to him that he run on his own good name and identity rather than using ours." In T-shirts, yard signs and posters some depicting a container resembling a soup can the candidate's campaign ads have been plastered around the city by the thousands. But Mr.

Campbell said he used the logo in his 1981 and 1985 council campaigns without stirring any reaction from the soup company. He also explained tersely that he checked with the law firm of Jones As- RICH Hi Jailhouse hanging sparks GBI inquiry PERRY: The GBI is investigating the jailhouse death of a drug suspect who was found hanged in the cell where he was being kept aone, officials said Thursday. Charlie James Davis, 40, was found dead about IS minutes after he was brought to the Perry jail after his arrest Wednesday night on two counts of selling cocaine. He apparently hanged himself with his pants, tying them to the top of a bunk-bed post, said GBI special agent Jack White. The GBI was called by Perry police to investigate whether there was any wrongdoing, Police Chief Frank Simons said.

Meanwhile, some members of the Middle Georgia city's black community expressed concern over the hanging, citing an incident last year in which a white police officer answering a domestic call shot and killed a black man who allegedly threw a bicycle at the officer. The officer was cleared in the shooting, but the black community simmered for months, believing the man posed no real threat to the officer. AVIATION JESUP: NTSB probes fatal chopper crash. An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board was in southeast Georgia Thursday trying to determine what caused a helicopter carrying four drug agents to go down in the Altamaha River. The U.S.

Customs Service helicopter was on a drug-related mission when it hit power lines and crashed into the river Wednesday. Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent William L. DeLoach of Claxton and three Customs agents from Florida were killed in the crash. Agent DeLoach, 29, had been with the GBI since 1986 and was assigned to the Douglas office. The Customs Service identified its dead agents Thursday as Rick Talafous, 40, of Ponte Vedra Beach, and Alan Klumpp, 32, of Jacksonville, both pilots, and criminal investigator David DeLoach, 31, also of Jacksonville.

David and William DeLoach were not related. POLITICS ATLANTA: Athletes go to bat for mayoral candidate. Mayoral candidate Bill Campbell picked up the endorsement of several Olympic athletes and local sports heroes Wednesday in a move he said was designed to appeal to younger voters who have grown disenchanted with politics. "This is important because we need to energize young people who have not been part of the process," Mr. Campbell said at his campaign headquarters in the Rio shopping center on North Avenue.

"These athletes are people who are looked up to in the community and who are role models." Among the jocks weighing in for Mr. Campbell were Olympic sprint gold medalist Mel Pender, former basketball star Charlie Scott, Atlanta Hawk Duane Ferrell and Braves centerfielder Otis Nixon. EDUCATION AUGUSTA: Principal, teacher suspended. The principal and a vocational education teacher at an Augusta High School were suspended after an investigation of alleged sexual misconduct at the school, according to a superintendent's report. Hephzi-bah High School Principal Julian Allen was suspended Thursday for 20 days without pay for failing to report allegations of child abuse made against two teachers at the school.

Teacher Robert Brown Jr. was suspended for IS days without pay starting Aug. 30, for making sexually suggestive remarks to students. He denied some of the allegations. Mr.

Brown, a volunteer assistant coach of the girls' softball team, will not be permitted to coach the teaml upon his return from suspension. Details of the suspensions were; described in reports released Thursday by Richmond County Schools Superintendent John Strelec. Mr. Brown is the third teacher at the school investigated for inappropriate relations with students. Assistant principal Richard Cundey and head football coach Ralph Mooser quit their jobs after allegations surfaced.

UTILITIES ATLANTA: Electricity demand still peaking. For the second time this week and the third time this summer, Georgia Power, customers Thursday set a record for energy demand in a one-hour period, the energy company said. Electricity demand peaked at more than 13 million kilowatts between 2 and 3 p.m., topping the record set Monday of just slightly above 13 million. Thursday's exact figure would not be known until after calculations were completed. From staff reports and news services Lithia residents fighting over town's right to be Group petitions to re-revoke charter Council members Bill Campbell (left) and Myrtle Davis are rivals for mayor.

to dish up some thinly veiled criticism of her opponent. The city's problems need "creative, pragmatic solutions," the councilwoman said, "not canned responses that remind us of warmed-over soup." Mr. Campbell said he didn't know how much his campaign had spent festooning the city with the look-alike logos, but he has no plans to change them. "We think it's a very clever way for people to identify with our campaign," he said. "Our volunteers have put up thousands of signs, and by the end of the campaign we hope they will put up thousands more." viX vn- 'Vjjugidivmts UUUULA CO STAFF the personality conflict between the heads of the two organizations clouds the issue.

"This is over the rights of Lithia Springs residents to have a legal tool to control business in their own area," she said, adding that about 200 people have signed a petition asking that their names be taken off the first petition. The pro-city forces came about after Douglasville annexed six miles east along Interstate 20 to Thornton Road. That Thornton Road area is considered Lithia Springs, but is about two miles from the old city limits, about a square mile centered at the old train depot at the Bankhead Highway and Sweetwater Road intersection. In February, Judge Robert James ruled that Lithia's charter was still in effect and ordered that a surveyor determine the old city limits and an election be held. In 1933, Lithia officials liqui-' dated city property to raise cash for an election to void the charter, of the dying town.

Residents voted overwhelmingly to do so. i 4 yA i FULTON YVA TAYETTE Olympic personalities help firm mark signing kew to make sure he wasn't treading on the trademark. "There are similarities but it's not the same sign," Mr. Campbell said. "We are selling Bill Campbell, and there is clearly no mistake that anyone would make with regard to what our sign seeks to promote." Company officials pointed out that Mr.

Campbell is not the first and probably not the last political candidate who has "borrowed" the company's logo. Mr. Moran said South Carolina Gov. Carroll Campbell was using similar political advertising but changed the colors to Harvey Shiller (left) of the USOC presents two brass tickets to the '96 opening ceremonies to Stephen Brown (right), CEO of John Hancock Financial Services, as ACOG chief Billy Payne watches. MAHAN Staff John Hancock is paying about $15 million in cash and services to become one of three insurance companies sponsoring the Atlanta Games and the 1994 and 1996 U.S.

Olympic teams. In the five previous deals with Atlanta Olympic partners, the price had been $40 million in cash and products or services. For that amount, a corporation received exclusive sponsorship rights in product categories. But John Hancock is paying only for the right to promote its life insurance business. Health insurance and property and casualty insurance rights have yet to be sold.

Former USOC sponsor Blue CrossBlue Shield is a likely candidate in the health category. While John Hancock receives all the marketing rights of a full-fledged partner, it will have to share an allotment of hotel rooms and tickets with the other insurance sponsors. Under its contract, no other insurance company with a major interest in life insurance, can be considered for the other insurance sponsorships. "There is no insurance company that would spend partner levels on their own. It doesn't make economic sense," said David D'Alessandro, a John Hancock senior vice president.

ATLANTA TODAY: By Bill Torpy STAFF WRITER In February, a group of Lithia Springs residents convinced a Douglas County judge to revive the city charter that had remained dormant for 60 years. But a group of Lithia residents, saying they don't want another layer of government bureaucracy, will go before that same judge today to ask him to undo that charter. "This thing was shoved down our throats by a half-dozen blow-hards, hotheads and radicals," said Bill Riley, a retired Lithia resident who is leading the effort to get the charter revoked. "No one asked them to do it. We're not big enough to be a city; there's no commercial base." Kenneth Krontz, the group's attorney, says state law mandates a charter be surrendered if the city hasn't functioned for 10.

years and a majority of the registered voters ask the court to do away with it Mr. Riley's forces have circulated a petition signed by 608 of the city's 894 registered voters. But Ronnie Denney, the unofficial mayor of the new city, calls his opposition "lying SOBs" who whipped up opposition to the city with untruths. He said they told some residents fire and police protection would suffer. Mr.

Riley says petition circulators mostly dwelt on the fact that taxes would have to be raised. "They went out there with lies and whipped up public reaction," said Mr. Denney, an ex-boxer who owns a Bankhead Highway barber shop. "All these damn nobodies jump out of nowhere to kill it. Anyone will sign a petition against something." Rosemary Johnson, who has fought to revive the charter and plans to run for mayor, said that BY HELEN HOLZER By Melissa Turner STAFF WRITER A star-struck John Hancock Financial Services has wasted no time capturing the essence of the Olympic spirit.

Just a few hours after it was announced Thursday that the firm had agreed to become the official life insurance company of the 1996 Atlanta Games, NBC sports announcer and 1992 Olympics anchor Bob Costas played master of ceremonies at a dinner for company brass at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead. Earlier in the day, CBS sportscaster and 1994 Winter Olympics host Greg Gumbel hosted a morning-long workshop for 250 John Hancock agency managers who convened at the Ritz-Carlton to discuss strategy for marketing the company's Olympic sponsorship. And Wednesday night, ABC's Jim McKay, the preeminent Olympic anchor, was on hand for dinner. "We wanted to impress our agency force with how great an opportunity this is," said a John Hancock spokesman. "These people really personify the Olympics." Parking: Police patrol stadium area to enforce new restrictions on lots parking lot on Pulliam Street was cited for two violations, said Atlanta police Officer C.A.

Wicker, who shut down another small lot on Central Avenue. Still, some abuses persisted. Not all residential streets were marked with "No Parking" signs. A commercial lot on Fra-ser Street, which has a permit for only 90 cars, appeared to contain at least three times that number. "I know I'm over my limit," said Mr.

Aaron, the lot's operator, who declined to give his first name. "Where should I tell the fans to go?" Fewer cars around the stadium also meant slow business for ticket scalpers and vendors of Braves merchandise. "It's really unfair," said Fred Allgood, a vendor. "The city officials they don't care' about the little people." MARTA officials, however, said they were thrilled with the extra business. "It's an excellent opportunity for us to win some additional converts to mass transit," said spokesman Chuck Schadl.

Many fans said they were impressed with MARTA. "It's a whole lot easier than driving," said Mr. Wallace. "I thought I would try it for the first time tonight, and there; were no delays at all." Staff writers Cooper, Mary, Louise Kelly and Alma E. Hill con-tributed to this article.

Continued from CI lots out of service until we were really ready to Larry III, managing partner of Atlanta Stadium Constructors, which will build the new Olympic stadium. Many ooerators of so-called 1 1 gypsy panung iois were aisoi having trouble filling their spaces, in part because so many fans chose to ride MARTA and also because of competition from official lots. "It's slow because the city has influenced the people that there's a lack of parking, when in, 'fact there is not a lack of; packing," said lot manager Grpgory Du Hart 'This is another overt attempt to close us down." Last month, city officials! sharply restricted parking on' residential property in the three stadium Some lot owners were given 30-! day extensions if their lots werei on commercial property and they pledged to build formal pajrking lots to city specifications. 'We had to park four miles, awy and there is all this space; riht here," said Harvey Cle-i of Atlanta. "This doesn't make sense." Dozens of police patrolled the- streets, ticketing some lot owners operating without permits and taking down the parking signs of illegal lots.

i The Internatipnal Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Screen Test Theatre highlights KidsFest '93 activities that begin today and run through July 25. Audience members take the roles of Dennis and his family. New this season is "The Batman Stunt Show" in a new amphitheater. Batman Vireworks and Laser Show run at 9:45 p.m. daily through Aug.

22 and Aug. 27-29. Park opens 10 a.m. daily, closing times vary. One-day ticket: $25; $18 ages 3-9; $14 over 55; free for age 2 and under.

1-20 west at Six Flags exit 948-9290. AROUND TOWN Atlanta Comic Book Show. Collectibles, auctions, artist tables, celebrity appearances and panel discussions. Begins 9 a.m. today and runs 24 hours daily until 5 p.m.

Sunday. $25 today or Saturday; $20 Sunday; 3-day pass $40; 2-day pass $35. Atlanta Hilton Towers, 255 Courtland St N.E. 221-6903. Caribbean Racial Unity Mlni-Fest Arts, crafts and non-stop music by Ben Hunter Crucial Roots.

9 tonight; doors open at 8. $10.50 at Ticket-master. The Roxy, 3110 Roswell Road. 249-6400. Great Southern Boat Sale.

Discounted boats and boating accessories, contests and a fashion show. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. today -Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday. S3 senior citizens; under 12 free.

North Atlanta Trade Center, 1700 Jeurgens Court, Norcross. 279-9899. Pogo Cartoon Exhibit Original works by cartoonist Walt Kelly and fantasy lithographs by Olivia and Michael Parkes are on display and sale. Noon-6 p.m. today-Sunday.

Free. Whitehall Suite at Radisson Hotel, Courtland and International Boulevard. 659-6500. Six Flags Over Georgia. More than 100 rides, live shows and attractions.

"Dennis the Menace" students and senior citizens; under 6 free. 3101 Andrews Drive S.W. 814-4000. Georgia Body Building Championships. Sponsored by Doc's Sports.

Pre-judging at 10 a.m. Saturday; $10. Championships at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Georgia World Congress Center, 285 International Blvd. N.W.

996-3627. "I Love My Pet" Expo. Celebrity appearances, pet products and services. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday. $1 under 12; pets allowed. Gwinnett Civic and Cultural Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 623-4966. WRFG Backyard Birthday Bash.

Radio station's 20th anniversary celebration features mu-' sic, vendors, storytelling and poetry. Noon-9 p.m. Saturday. under 12 free. 1083 Austin Ave.

(enter from Alta Avenue behind building). 523-3471. Call for free movie, theater, nightclub and concert Jnbr mot (on: ENTERTAINMENT LINE 222-2070 MARTA 144-471 1 Have on Item of Interest? Send It to Calendar Desk. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, P.O. Box 4689Mtkmta, Co.

30302. THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT "Damn Yankees." Broadway's musical salute to the boys of summer. Opening tonight 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays.

Through Aug. 21. S9-S14. Neighborhood Playhouse, 430 West Trinity Place, Decatur. 373-5311.

UPCOMING Civil War Encampment 93. Atlanta History Center annual event with more than 100 interpreters of history in period costume. Camp sites, storytelling, demonstrations and music. 10 a.m.-fl p.m. Saturday-Sunday; rain or shine.

$5.50.