The Daily News-Journal from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • 1

tlx Autopsy Two sets of photos taken after murder IVarrors find new Jbackfield Fam7y, police remember Capitol shooting victim J' y- A A VWv MURFREESBORO, TENN. 500 151st Year-No. Saturday, August 1 1 998 Rsis Mona community reactions mixed racing interest that holds two Winston Cup and two Bush Series races annually at its Dover, mofor-sports complex, has indicated it will build a super-speedway in the Nashville area by the year 2000. Dover Downs President Denis McGlynn has said the company has narrowed its search to two sites around the Nashville area. The company owns Nashville Speedway USA, as well as other race tracks around the country, and is searching for a larger site for a motorsports complex in the Nashville area.

McGlynn has neither confirmed (See Race track, page 2A) A mi-Biren vorce save om rallies against vote on judge Death-penalty decision at issue Rv Ifcrru Tai i ev Staff writer Property owners near the Mona community in northern Rutherford County "have mixed emotions about the prospects of living next to a NASCAR super-speedway. Barry Barrett, a Mona Road resident who's building an 18-hole golf course on 178 acres in the commu nity, said he hasn heard many neg ative comments about the possibility of Dover Downs Entertainment a race track there. "I don't necessarily welcome the -si Fire Safety House ready to teach kids By Lisa Marchesoni Staff writer Gray smoke seeps into the room, making it difficult to see and breathe. Simultaneously, the smoke alarm blares and flashes a stark light. That's what children will experience when they enter, the Fire Safety House owned by the American Red Cross and man-aged by Murfreesboro Fire Department The house is equipped with a bedroom, living room arid kitchen where firefighters will teach hands-on about fire safety.

Fire Chief David Baxter said the $29,000 two-story house was purchased through a Christy-Houston Foundation grant, a $5,000 donation from Pillsbury, a $60 gift from' a Cason Lane Cub Scout pack and other contribu- tors. Nancy McGill, director of the Heart of Tennessee chapter of Red Cross, applied for the Christy-Houston grant with help from Fire Inspector Carl Peas who "has put his heart and soul into this." The house will enable firefighters to teach children what to do to save their lives during a fire, she said. Tf this will save one life it will be worth the effort," McGill said. Fire Marshal Ken Honeycutt conducted a tour of the house, which is equipped with ramps for visitors in a wheelchair. A smoke detector sounds and flashes for people who are hearing impaired.

Fire Inspector Allen Swader sat in a Control room blowing smoke in the living room, bedroom and kitchen and answering the telephone when people dial 911 to report the fire either from the liv- 7 1 9 "Those people are still upset that Tennessee has not carried out the death sentence in 38 I Years. We're really upsetf about the fact that nothing happening (with die death penal BIRCH ty in Tennessee)." The group is focusing on the 1996 state Supreme Court decision that set aside the death penalty in the case of Richard Odom, who in 1991 in Memphis "approached J78-yeaideinalea-parldngl garage," Williams said. "He brutal- ly raped her and stabbed her to death. He was convicted and sentenced to death for that killing. "The Supreme Court decision which overturned the death sen- tence came to the conclusion that the murder was not heinous enough warrant the death penalty," Williams said.

Birch voted to over-turn "That goes against the common sense of most people. Any victim of rape, let alone rape andift'urderf-would disagree. The sex act alone. was. enough to tear internal organs," Williams added.

Also present at the rally were Murray Mathis and Donna Rowland, candidates respectively for (See Birch, page 2A) Blackman costs near $1 mark By Cunt Confehr Staff writer Construction costs for the high; school at Blackman. are more than $1 million over according to officials at the Rutherford County Public Builcg "2 Friday. About half is because the school board stipulated a heating and cooling system which will cost about $600,000, although operation and maintenance for the system will be less, architect Charlie Johnson said. nft have complete control of the next school, we should let die school board do it," said Larry Estes, a member of the authority. The other part of the expected cost overrun is being caused by prices received by the general con-, tractor, American Constructors of Nashville, for site preparation work Johnson reported.

(See Blackman, page 1) Ntirti'nW'Miinnfrmwiiii irntnTirr-r race track, but I think it's about the best things you could put on that property Barrett said, "A few out here, though, are concerned about the noise and the increased traffic, but I've heard very few negative comments about it." Barrett said he was approached earlier about selling his property, but the sale was contingent upon neighbor Carl Alsup selling his property. Alsup, according to Barrett, reftised, causing those wanting to develop a race track to lose interest in his property. ing room or outside the home. In the living room, a fire burns in the fireplace. Honeycutt said some house fires are caused by placing combustible items close to space heaters and other fire sources.

"We will teach them not to put DNJ file photo by Pam Harrison will a i I -v--. 7 don't necessarily welcome the race track, but I think it's shout the best thing you could put on that property Barry Barrett this, so I've told the people here in the community I will sell across the creek. But it ain't going to be cheap if they still want to buy it. I don't have to sell." Dover Downs Entertainment, a BOB Murfreesboro Fire Inspector Allen Swader, above, adds smoke to a room in the fire department's new fire safety house. At right, Fire Marshal Ken Koney-cutt, second from left, explains Jo Darwin Colston, left, and Nancy McGill of the Heart of Tennessee Red, Cross, and Fire Chief David Baxter how the fire safety house will be used to teach children! DNJ photos by Pamela Harrison stove, refrigerator, microwave oven, sink and fire extinguisher.

"We hav a lot of unattended cooking fires," Honeycutt said. In the kitchen, firefighters will show children to watch food while it's cooking, place pots and pans (See Fire, page 2A) earn master's year at age an associate of science from Santa Rosa Junior College and a bachelor of science from the University of South Alabama. Michael was born "severely gifted." At 4 months he began speaking. At 6 months he could talk in complete sentences. At age 3 he was reading on the fifth-grade Michael made his first entry in the Guinness Book of World Records by entering high school at age 5, He made his second by grad- uating at age 6, and his third by fin- (See Early, page 2A) Dinky Lane resident Richard Bradley said he also refused to sell 200 of 500 acres he and his family own near the state Route 840 interchange at the Rutherford-Wilson County line.

But Bradley said he has had a change of heart. "They approached me last December tosellJfradley said of the 200 acres he owns north of Fall Creek. 4tI just told them it wasn't for sale. They didn't tell jne at the -time what they wanted it for because I didn't give 'em' a chance. "But there ain't no way to win in 1 1 combustibles close to space heaters," Honeycutt said.

McGill said the smoke gives visitors the "sense you can't breathe. That's the perception anyway. When they fill it up with smoke, you really can't see." The kitchen is equipped with a 14-vear-old to By Chad Gilus Staff writer After taking undergraduate and graduate classes for two and a half years, Michael Kearney, 14, will finally get his master's degree yi biochemistry from MTSU on Aug. ,8. "I'm excited that it's done," Michael said, adding that after so much hard work he needed a semester off to sleep every day until noon.

Always adding to the list, Michael now has a high school diploma, which he received in one K-i--: By Byron Hensley Staff writer As the retention vote for, Tennessee State Supreme Court Chief Justice A.A. Birch nears, a group opposing his action on a death penalty case rallied Friday at the Rutherford County Courthouse; The Murfreesboro stop was part of a 14-city tour for Tennessee Justice, said Mickey Williams, a Mem phis Police detective and coordinator for the group. It was the third, of three on Friday, including rallies in Clarksville and at the Supreme Courtroom in Nashville. While all five of the state's Supreme Court justices face retention votes in the generalelection been singled out for opposition. "In this election, he's really the only one left of the justices on the Supreme Court we really have a problem with," Williams said.

Tennessee Justice, which is comprised of the -state's three largest law enforcement groups, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Police Benevolent -Associationand-lhe Memphis Police Association, is also joined by victims rights organizations throughout the state in opposing Birch. The same groups also claim responsibility in the 1996 retention vote that removed former Justice Penny White. Just under 300,000 voted to oust Penny White," Williams said. honors for local dealer and trainer Two Murfreesboro residents earned honors as Tennessee Dealer of the Year and Instructor of the Year from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, INDEX Classified 6B-11 ComicS.7.........-........-6A Opinion 4A Sports B1-5 TV 7A Weather 8A Public 3C .....120 Auto C1 -Y- t. Castles by the Kearneys Michael Kearney helps his sister Maeghan complete a 3-D puzzle in this file photo.

Michael will become the youngest person ever to obtain a master's degree from MTSU on Aug. 8. Maeghan is a sophomore at Middle studying to become a veterinarian. Sir' i v. I.