The Daily News-Journal from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • 1

HostenliouGki motivated Ossa CoverageBI -rti ti 146 Year-No. 89 J- mi i -MiTT' 11 By ANGELA CAKTiQN Staff Writer Marietta Police in Georgia apparently aren't linking the October 1992 murder of an MTSU student there to the recent Nashville murders of a California couple, a department official said. MTSU student Heather Uffelman was beaten to death in a Marietta motel almost two years ago, and Robert and Kelli Phillips were beaten to death in a Nashville motel in March. T.h Idetropolitan Nashville-Police -Department contacted the Marietta Police about a month ago concerning some similarities in both cases, but discussions between the two departments havent ended up linking the two cases at this point, said Marietta Police CapL Walter Parker. The physical descriptions of the suspects are totally different," Parker said on Tuesday.

"We are still looking at it, but at this point, we feel there is no connection between the two." In the first case, Uffelman, 22, died after she and finance Jeremy Rolfs, nW "24r went" to meet a potential computer customer at a Marietta located just off Interstate 24. Both Uffel man and Rolfs -were beaten, and Uffelman didn't survive the attack. No one has ever been arrested in the case. The bodies of the Phillips couple were discovered March 8 in a Nashville motel room, said Don Aaron, Metro police spokesman. The Phillips had been -beaten to death, and Kelli Phillips had apparently been raped.

Thomas Steeples, 49, of Mt. Juliet was charged Friday with killing the couple, Aaron said. Steeples was also charged with one count of aggravated rape. Steeples has also been charged with the killmg of Hermitage- bar owner Ronald. BinghamT Steeples reportedly a computer salesman.

Metro police began- talking with Marietta authorities about some similarities in the Uffelman and Phillips murder cases before Steeples' arrest "We have had some contact with the Georgia authorities, but that has not Jeen recently, ancLinjQLhonesty, our-murder squad detectives have been working diligently our case Aaron said, adding he couldn't comment on what was discussed between Marietta and Nashville police. Aaron said Nashville "authorities would be happy to assist Marietta" authorities who have jurisdiction in the case if necessary. "We have not heard from them recently," he said. Parker added that Marietta police havent given up on the Uffelman case. When asked if they had any strong -suspects in the case, he said "I'm not at liberty to discuss that At thiB point, we (See Unsolved, page 2A) Robber hits at Ho Jo's Mankin makes recommendation XT Ji jr'l By JOHN CALLOW- Staff Writer Rutherford County employees paid through the eounty general fund would get 4 percent raises, without a property tax increase if the county commission approves the recommendation of Countv Executive John Mankin.

As recommended by the Public Safety Committee, a new school resource officer for Eagleville is included in the proposed budget. Other, shangea jrexommendedj by in the general fund from the current budget include increased contributions to senior citizen centers in Murfreesboro and Smyrna; If approved by the full commission June 30 the -Murfreesboro-wntei-would receive 18,000 up- vK If By USA MARCKESOKI Staff Writer Murfreesboro Police were searching for an armed woman bandit who robbed the Ho Jo Inn clerk of more than $1,000 Tues-. day night, officers reported. Carryinga lac semi- automatic handgun, the woman entered the motel lobby about 10:45 p.m., Officer Brett Barrett Win trfk "We did ask for (higher) raises for some em- loyeesankintold-ffiecommission's Budget Committee Tuesday. from $12,000, and the Smyrna center $5,000, up Ve though it was time to do that to catch some of them up.

he said reported. The raises can be funded without a tax increase L3 "Give tm all" the monev exceot is getting the -general fund closer to balancing, county- finance -director Randall Matlock said. "This concept will have the general fund out of balance by $234,890," Matlock said. This is a projected reduction in our unbalanced condition of $903,697 from last year. "We've gope from a $1.3 million imbalance a few -(See Mankin, page 2A) if the commission shifts 6 cents from the solid waste tax rate to the general fund, Mankin said.

Mankin's recommended budget reduces raises for sheriffs department employees which were requested by Sheriff Truman Jones and approved by the commission's Public Safety Committee from 7 percent to 4 percent Mas 15 1 for the change," the robber told the woman clerk, according to police. The clerk handed over the cash and the robber fled oh foot, the officer reported. She described the robber as a black woman about 5 feet. 6 jn-ches tall to 5 feet 8 inches tall. She had black hair worn in dreadlock braids.

She had a very dark complexion and wore a blue shirt and blue jean shorts. Detective Lt John Singleton Detective Alan -Miller interviewed the clerk who told officers she stood away from the desk and gave the robber the cash. i The front counter and door were checked for fingerprints, Singleton reported. Detectives took the clerk to the police department to examine photographs of possible suspects and to help develop a composite of the robber. Officer Alvin Randolph reported a witness gave' him a description-of a possible suspect and vehicle.

Randolph stopped a similar vehicle and suspect but the occupants told officers they had been in McMinnville when the robbery occurred. People with information about the robber may call the in-, vestigations division at 893-2717. 4 There is nothing hidden in this budget.1 Chris Wyre School board member By JOHN CALLOW Staff Writer Giving Rutherford County teachers the raise recommended Tuesday by 4he county commission's Health and Education Committee would cost average property owners about $15 more a year unless revenue projections change. Giving a 4 percent raise to the''' system's teachers and classified staff on the local portion of their salaries-would cost finance director Ed Shirley told the committee. Adding the raises to the budget package proposed by the board would cost property owners about 7 cents per $100 of assessed value.

For the owner of a home appraised at $85,000, this would mean a tax increase of about base growth would be needed to fund the system's proposed budget without tax increase, board officials say. Instead of $2 million, the schools shouldn't expect more than $481,000, county finance director Randall Matlock said. Neither the raises nor another million the board says it needs to help reduce pupilteacher ratios could be included, in the Jbudget if the county commission were to hold firm at the $78.1 million board estimates will be available without a tax increase in 1994-95." The $1 million is actually a higher priority to the board than the. raises, board member Tom Delbridge said. (See Teacher, page 2A) DNJPtntobyJimDavfc School over or bust Reeves Rogers Elementary School Principal Barbara Tuckson tries to walk out of her dilemma from playing in a school year-ending game of "Ants In your Pants." The pretend ants in this instance were students' water-filled balloons.

$14.88 a year. The committee's recommendation will be reviewed by the Budget Committee today at 5:30 Si.m. Final commission approval or the. 1994-95 budget is expected June 30. Approximately $2 million in new property taxjnoney from tax to a iiuiivgrse of Ecu ow 1 PAuto racing Parka board to hear Tinkerbell' proposal By CLINT C0NFEKR Staff Writer Murfreesboro Parks" and Recreation Commission was' uled today to hear a city businessman's proposal for the creation of something like Tinkerbell Park in Franklin.

Businessman Tom Beckwith said that recreation facility is "the neatest play area for kids and is something designed and built by volunteers which comes in all shapes and sizes, Patterson Park andor Old Fort Park would be good locations for theplay structure made with wooden decking, Beckwith said. Tm just going to explain it to the commission," he said. "This is a first step to see if there's a place to do it" The play structures can include slides, a sandbox, things to crawl into, and is large enough for parents so they can monitor children, Beckwith said. The idea was. 'developed from the dying wish of a girl with cancer.

"She dreamed this up," Beckwith a massive undertaking to get it done." c. Such parks are individualized to the community based on suggestions from children, teachers and parenta, he said. -v Thev don't call them playgrounds," Beckwith call them playscapes." The Parks and Recreation Commission was scheduled to convene at noon in City Hall. Meanwhile, Lanny Goodwin, deputy director -of the department, says the commission meeting agenda fists: Athletic coordinator Bart Fite's request for approval of a tennis league. "WeVe proposing the Rutherford County Tennis Association and Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department cosponsor an adult tennis league to play on Monday nights for approximately (See Parks, page 2A) in flMR thriller Darryl Sage of Franklin passed Joe Buford with two laps remaining to win the Jim DandyOldies 96FM 125 lap Late Model Stock Car race Saturday.

the bank with 35 terminals in. very good condition," Knight said. "Rather than let them gather dust somewhere, I came up with-the idea of offering the computers to schools when I called Mr. Stewart he said to bring 'em on that he would take them all." Stewart put a dollar value on the computers equal to between $50,000 and $75,000 if the school was to go purchase the terminals in the retail market. Bank officials knew the computers would hold great value for students even if they had somewhat lost their value in the business world, Knight said.

Cavalry routinely donates to various educational entities and civic groups throughout the' county as part of its efforts to be a good corporate citizen, Knight added. "Cavalry Bank is committed to providing community service' work whenever possible," explained Knight "We also do work in the (See Lascassas, page 2A) Ey DAN WHITTLE Staff Writer LAS CASS AS Students at Lascassas Elementary School lost access to their school library when the school doors closed to end this academicyear. But school officials hope to more than make up for that this fall by offering Lascassas ydungsters access to the "information superhighway." A world of knowledge via personal computer will be at their fingertips when they return this fall, thanks to an' idea by a Murfreesboro bank Vice president Cavalry Bank, vice president Ronnie Knight was honored with a brunch ceremony Tuesday for donating 35 IBM computer terminals, which will access data files at Vanderbilt University's library in Nashville. Access to Vanderbilt'i library ultimately opens the corridor of knowledge to university libraries in most countries of the world, said Lascassas principal Larry Stewart "A neighbor man to the school here has a compatible system to -ours in his home and he con-1 nected with a library in China the other day," said Stewart. "Can you imagine what this will mean to our students in termn of having access to information around the globe? Thatfa why we want to say thank you today to Mr.

Ronnie Knight and Cavalry Bankfor donating the 35 terminals to our school," Stewart said. One little girl was overheard calling; the banker the school's "Shining The idea for donating the computers to a Rutherford County school came, according to Knight, when the computer terminals became obsolete as the" bank brought in another system of computerization to upgrade customer service. "We had a major update in our computer system, which left us at INDEX Lifestyles Opinion B1-5 TV A8 A3.