Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 40

I Section A Page 20 AMICK Fort Worth Star-Telegram I Friday February11011995 1 Developer 'not pleased' by Dallas delay on racetrack 1 1 By BARRY SHLACIITER poned until March 8 NASCAR race promotion" Gos- developer Ray Hunt who owns Asked about Gossage's conten- dianapolis 500 car race dates lined Fon Worth Star-Telegram sage said in a call from Charlotte Woodbine Hunt has a close work- tion that the delay was motivated up for 1996 for his proposed track Both groups are seeking finan- NC ing relationship with city officials to favor Meyer Garcia said: "We have reached an agreement A spokesman for North Carolina cial incentives from the city for lo- including Mayor Steve Bartlett "I think the Dallas City Council in form" confirmed Jack Long ex- businessman Bruton Smith criti- eating a track in Dallas Smith is Mayor Pro Tern Domingo Gar- wants to make a decision that's in ecutive director of the Indy Racing I ctzed the Dallas City Council yes- considering a site in southeast Dal- cia had asked the council to reject "Unfortunately that's the way th best interest for the developers terday for postponing the decision las and Meyer has said he plans to KPMG Peat Marwick as consult- democratic process works" said League who said it is up to Meyer to choose between two racetrack build a track at a Pinnacle Park site ant on the racetrack issue because Gossage 36 "There's nothing im- and the citizens of Dallas and that to release any details "We've been r4 I uproposals asserting that the cbun- in west Oak Cliff Smith is also the firm does business with Wood- proper with that But yes Ray have analysis taking the necessary time to negotiating with Mr Meyer for a 'Zil backs Billy Meyer a Waco mil- considering a site in Denton Coun- bine Development Corp which Hunt has tremendous influence an objective of both race date That negotiation has led ir lionaire who leads a rival group ty north of Alliance Airport and in would develop the track supported with officials of Dallas and he's oroposals' ective anal us to issue a document to Meyer's P' 1 By 56 minutes Meyer beat a company from the Indy Racing (1 "We are not pleased about it" Grand Prairie near Joe Pool Lake by Meyer and with Dal-Mac Con- probably earned it" midnight Wednesday deadline by League" spokesman Eddy Gossage said of struction Co which would build "We really think the leadership Bartlett was in Washington yes- Smith's track handing in a 523-page proposal to Gossage said that Bruton Smith the Dallas City Councirs decision in the city government starting terday and did not return messages Dallas A spokeswoman Lisa Le- had already submitted his general Wednesday prompted by a with the mayor's office has fa- Councilwoman Sandra Cren- left for him Earlier he said the Master declined to disclose de- plan but that Dallas has dragged its move to delay hiring a consulting 'vored Billy Meyer's plans and shaw expressed concern that the city's selection of which track to tails saying they are proprietary feet on answering cru' cial questions to help in the selection The haven't given us proper respect selection process has been biased support will be made purely on the Meyer told a sports talk radio about infrastructure and incen- council decision was post- due us as the leaders of toward Meyer because of his ties to merits of each proposal program yesterday that he has In- fives 1 II 1 ELate-Inght Lawyer ii 1 7 1 i 0 44:0) 1 I 2 Ikt St 14 i shot in So activities i 4 tk target teens s' -It 4 elevator i i 1 -( BY JESSAMY BROWN 'r 4 IS 1 i 1 l' 1 :1 1 14N A1 i Fort Worth Star-Telegram l'' '4 l'i VVVe't 5NI 4ge4t4t0g0 Dallas co-workers fmd ARLINGTON Teens looking i i ft body at office building for a safe hangout on weekend eve- nings can now join in on late-night ----mt ili The Associated Press basketball movies and field trips 1 DALLAS A real estate law- at the Boys Girls Clubs of Arling- k'i: 4 4 4110- to' yer fatally shot in the elevator of t'''t 44 '41 '4 --7-J4 his office building yesterday was The clubs have extended their 'V4 t---- 44' 'ir? $4 11I)i1--: 4 nr: '0'5i 4 i A 0 14 ') 0-N found when co-workers tried to as- ke 111W pcso cend to his floor I cr --1- Iv Youth activities 4 field Police said David Merrifield found on the floor of the eleva- Hours of operation for the Boys 81 Girls Clubs of Arlington's main 1 19 -f Li(' It tor He had been shot once in the branch 608 Elm St: 6' i his wallet missing leading IL back of the head and police said waet was mssng eang Saturdays 9 am to 5 pm Monday-Friday 3:20 to 9 pm them to believe he was a robbery yr victim Closed Sundays For youth age 13-18 activities on The 42-year-old Merrifield had Fridays will continue until midnight 0 and on Saturdays from 7 to 11:30 CitttrOrt ie been scheduled for an early morn- ing meeting before the shooting pm Call 275-6551 for information 0- 1 i00 '1 0 this morning as I understand" po- "He had an appointment earlier i hours for teen activities thanks to -49 King said "But be- lice Sgt Jer ry i 7 part of a $235000 city initiative to to 'It- 'If'r i expand recreational services for A i Detective Chris Gilliam said Arlington's youth 1' 0' 4 r- 4 yond that we do not know much" ier 'w lik Merrifield's wallet was taken But Fort Worth Star-telegram ALLEN ittiSE i The Parks and Recreation De- police still would like to talk to any partment and several nonprofit exas Rangers fans from left Jean Calaway Estelene Justice last night for the Mid-Winter Banquet at the Diamond Club at The witnesses including the person the tt agencies requested the funds a year Kay Fabian and Gerry Barton joined more than 400 people Ballpark in Arlington RELATED STORY IN SPORTS PAGE IC lawyer was to have met ago to make existing services and "That's a definite possibility" programs more accessible to young King said "That's the person we'd 1 people particularly those who live like to talk to" i in east and central Arlington of- A woman who answered the tele-- -1 ficials said strict to use reserves to keep down tac phone at Merrifield's office said es 't "It's basically a coordinated and the lawyer had been involved in an collaborated effort primarily to By MARY DOCLAR that the tax rate would not exceed The district is also planning to re- $118 million' 'available the fund "accident" serve and reach more of the chit- Fort Worth Star-Telegram 29 cents 10 cents more than the structure and extend the payments would be steadiry replenished by Police said three of Merrifield's dren than we had before" said ARLINGTON School trust- current rate after the bonds on $49 million ot existing debt accrued interest Carle said co-workers waiting to take the el- Don Kromer the clubs' executive ees last night instructed district fi- were sold But Carle said the dis- which will also lessen the impact Meanwhile officials with the evator to the third floor where director nance officials to use reserves from trict wants to do what it can to on the tax rate Carle said district's financial adviser said their office is discovered the law- The city funds were divided the debt service fund to hold down lessen the impact The projections presented to the confusion over a portion of the yer slumped in the elevator about 8 a when the doors opened among 10 programs including two tax increases arising from the sale "The opportunity is there with trustees also reflect the impact on Texas Supreme Court's ruling up- Merrifield was pronounced recreation centers Arlington of bonds from the $1 I 83 million that reserve fund and it's impor- the tax rate if voters pass a second holding the current school finance dead on arrival at Parkland Memo- i Youth Services and the YMCA of bond package passed in December tant to keep the tax rate as low as bond package for about ii7 mil- system continues to delay bond rial Hospital 1 Arlington Preliminary figures released by we can" she said "People expect lion tentatively scheduled for sales Some workers at the Oak Lawn bond experts during a work session that and they want that" 1996 Administrators have said Arlington trustees were sched- Boys Girls Clubs officials plan showed that the debt service por- Carle stressed that the figures on that the district's needs cannot be uled to sell the bonds Feb 16 but area offices north of downtown to use part of their $59200 share to tion of the tax rate would increase tax increases are only projections covered in one package Texas Attorney General Dan Mo- where a title company also is lo- enhance and expand programs for 35 cents next to 227 cents and that the actual impact on the If the second bond issue passes rates laced a moratorium on ap- cated said Merrifield's appoint- teens offering positive alterna- and no more than 4 cents in any tax rate depends on property valu- the figures show that the debt ser- proving bond sales after the prob- ment had been scheduled tor 6 tives to occupy their time and help one year if the district uses part of ations and interest rates Final fig- vice tax rate would never climb lematic wording was discovered in am with a person who was re- prevent gang violence said Beth the $118 million reserve account ures probably won't be known above 33 cents or 14 cents more the court's ruling ferred to him Ann Simms the clubs' director of If the district does not spend the until property values are received than it is today If that package George Williford managing di- marketing and resource develop- reserves which are the result of in July she said passes the district would again dip rector of First Southwest Co said Cu to dian st ment interest earned on the portion of The district has a tax rate of into its reserves this time for the matter is still unresolved His 41 1 The main branch 608 Elm taxes that go toward paying off $136 per $100 assessed property about $55 million to hold down firm is advising the district to delay outside 1 1 St will be open three hours longer bond debt the debt service portion value with $1 I 7 going to mainte- the tax rate the sale until the problem is cleared sno i 1 on Friday nights and an extra 412 of the tax rate would increase 10 nance and operations and 19 cents Financial advisers recommend up i 1 1 hours on Saturdays for structured cents next year Associate Superin- paying off existing debt Carle said holding at least $35 million in the "We're just keeping our fingers Dallas school tendent Marlene Carle said To lower the 1996 tax rate the debt service reserve Carle said crossed" he said "It may be a mat- supervised activities for boys and girls ages 13 to 18 The program Before the Dec 10 election district would use $75 million Though the amount that the dis- ter of days but it may be a matter 1 BY FRANK PERKINS will vary and will include sports school officials promised voters from the debt service reserve fund trict would withdraw exceeds the of weeks" FOnWonhStar-Telcgram tournaments games and other ac- Dallas police are investigating ivities In the past the facility has i toffered programs on grooming and Grand Prairie to pick committee for bond ssue the shooting of a school custodian yesterday at James Madison High I social skills cooking classes anti- School near Fair Park in south Dal- gang programs and seminars on BY MEDE Nix Langston said be hard for me to see doing" Brun- four las 1 substance abuse prevention of- Fon Worth Star-Telegram "We know what we face because drett said Crawford said Travis Elemen- Arlene Davis 51 was emptying ficials said GRAND PRAIRIE School we've seen a tremendous contro- Crawford said a larger elemen- tary could be used for overflow trash into a garbage bin behind the board members Plan to appoint a yersy in this district" Trustee RJ tary school of Jefferson about 900 students is from Jeerson ntermediate school shortly before 1 I am when On Fridays teens and young committee next month to study Garcia said "It's not going to be more cost effective than smaller School she heard a pop she recalled She adults can play basketball from 10 items to be included in a bond elec- easy to pass this issue" schools Associate Superintendent The bond issue would probably finished emptying the trash and pm to midnight at Hugh Smith i 1 tion later ths year A new school in northeast Grand Phil Jimerson said Travis has eight take six years to complete Craw- then went bal inside the school Recreation Center 1815 New Members said they plan to care- Prairie to replace two smaller portable buildings and Lamar has ford said according to cail Chandler the York Ave fully study appointments to the schools will be needed to take care Dallas school district's media rela- The extended hours started committee because of past contro- of growing enrollment in the next tions director 1 more than a year ago and money versies and the fear that a bond few years Superintendent Marvin 1 I Once back in he building Davis 4 -4 :) from the city program has allowed issue might have an uphill battle Crawford said The new $49 mil- told investigators she felt a Warm officials to begin to add special Administrators have said the lion school would replace aging Items discussed by the Grand firms proposing to provide liquid running 'down her left leg events and tournaments once a district needs more than $43 mil- Travis and Lamar elementary Prairie school board last night: legal services to the district went to her break area summoned month and pay for off-duty police lion in new construction renova- schools Desegregation: NAACP Board Vice President Michael a supervisor and rolled up her 1 officers to provide security center tion and improvements in technol- Trustee Frank Brundrett ques- President LaWanda Wright Grace said he had problems pants leg to discover a bullet hole director Maxine Kemp said ogy tioned the need said the NAACP does not plan with the way the current firm about an inch above her left knee 1 "I think we have our back to the "If we're only doing this to build to appeal a decision by US Wright and Associates She had no recollection of the bul- "There's a lot of kids come in wall and we need to be as nonpo- something in the northeast be- District Judge Barefoot handled the board's let striking her Chandler saidl I just to watch" Kemp said noting litical as we can in these appoint- cause we haven't built anything Sanders to end the district's investigation into allegations of She said Davis was taken to that 40 to 50 people come in for the ments" board Secretary Billy there in a long time that's going to 22-year-old desegregation contract violations against Parkland Memorial Hospital events order But Wright asked for Superintendent Marvin where she was in serious condition Officials at Meadowbrook Rec-written assurances in the final Crawford Detective Edwin Ruiz-Diaz reation Center 1300 Dugan St Today is deadline for Kennedale TAAS test decree that the board will Crawford and RJ Garcia who is investigating the shooting started Friday night teen volleyball KENN EDALE Today is the TAAS on March 7 the reading on uphold mandated standards at said they preferred staying said Davis was facing away from last week The first Friday of the deadline for former Kennedale March 8 and math on March 9 at Daniels Elementary School with Wright and Associates the school as she was emptying the month is for boys' play only with students who failed the Texas As- the high school Former students' "We don't have a problem which has represented the trash so the shot had to come from the second Friday reserved for sessment of Academic Skills to should notify Betsy Ellsworth or with this board" Wright said district for more than 20 years the neighborhood off the campus girls The third and fifth Fridays sign up to retake the test to qualify Jeannie Woolum at 478-1143 to "It's future boards we worry The board plans to decide "Right now we have no idea are for coed play No games are for their diplomas sign up about" whether to change firms where the shot came from or from held on be fourth Friday of the Students must paskall portions Attorney proposals: Wright and Associates' I what caliber weapon" he I said month said Kathy Weller director Current and formet students of the test to receive their diplo- Discussed proposals from six contract expires in June "All we know is that it left a pretty of the facility will take the writing portion of the mas small hole" fffff Section A Page 20 I AIWA Fort Worth Star-Telegram I Friday February 10 1995 Developer 'not pleased' by BY BARRY SHLACHTER Fon Worth Star-Telegram A spokesman for North Carolina 6usinessman Bruton Smith criti I ctzed the Dallas City Council yes( terday for postponing the decision to choose between two racetrack iproposals asserting that the cbunril backs Billy Meyer a Waco mil- 4 lionaire who leads a rival group 1 4 "We are not pleased about it spokesman Eddy Gossage said of the Dallas City Council's decision Wednesday prompted by a to delay hiring a consulting l'irm to help in the selection The -final council decision was post- 1 late-night te 1 a activities target teens BY JESSAMY BROWN Fort Worth Star-Telegram ARLINGTON Teens looking for a safe hangout on weekend evenings can now join in on late-night movies and field trips at the Boys Girls Clubs of The clubs have extended their Youth activities Hours of operation for the Boys Girls Clubs of Arlington's main branch 608 Elm St: Monday-Friday 3:20 to 9 pm Saturdays 9 am to 5 pm Closed Sundays For youth age 13-18 activities on Fridays will continue until midnight and on Saturdays from 7 to 11:30 pm Call 275-6551 for information hours for teen activities thanks to part of a $235000 city initiative to expand recreational services for Arlington's youth The Parks and Recreation Department and several nonprofit agencies requested the funds a years ago to make existing services and programs more accessible to young people particularly those who live in east and central Arlington officials said "It's basically a coordinated and collaborated effort primarily to serve and reach more of the children than we had before" said Don Kromer the clubs' executive director The city funds were divided among 10 programs including two recreation centers Arlington Youth Services and the YMCA of Arlington Boys Girls Clubs officials plan to use part of their $59200 share to enhance and expand programs for teens offering positive alternatives to occupy their time and help prevent gang violence said Beth Ann Simms the clubs' director of marketing and resource development The main branch 608 Elm St will be open three hours longer on Friday nights and an extra 412 hours on Saturdays for structured supervised activities for boys and girls ages 13 to 18 The program will vary and will include sports tournaments games and other activities In the past the facility has offered programs on grooming and social skills cooking classes anti-gang programs and seminars on substance abuse prevention officials said On Fridays teens and young adults can play basketball from 10 pm to midnight at Hugh Smith Recreation Center 1815 New York Ave The extended hours started more than a year ago and money from the city program has allowed officials to begin to add special events and tournaments once a month and pay for off-duty police officers to provide security center director Maxine Kemp said "There's a lot of kids come in just to watch" Kemp said noting that 40 to 50 people come in for the events Officials at Meadowbrook Recreation Center 1300 Dugan St started Friday night teen volleyball last week The first Friday of the month is for boys' play only with the second Friday reserved for girls The third and fifth Fridays are for coed play No games are held on lie fourth Friday of the month said Kathy Weller director of the facility poned until March 8 Both groups are seeking financial incentives from the city for locating a track in Dallas Smith is considering a site in southeast Dallas and Meyer has said he plans to build a track at a Pinnacle Park site in west Oak Cliff Smith is also considering a site in Denton County north of Alliance Airport and in Grand Prairie nearke Pool Lake "We really think the leadership in the city government starting with the mayor's office has favored Billy Meyer's plans and haven't given us proper respect due us as the leaders of exas Rangers fans from left Jean Calaway Estelene Justice 1 Kay Fabian and Gerry Barton joined more than 400 people BY MARY DOCLAR Fort Worth Star-Telegram ARLINGTON School trustees last night instructed district finance officials to use reserves from the debt service fund to hold down tax increases arising from the sale of bonds from the 1 183 million bond package passed in December Preliminary figures released by bond experts during a work session showed that the debt service portion of the tax rate would increase 35 cents next year to 227 cents and no more than 4 cents in any one year if the district uses part of the 118 million reserve account If the district does not spend the reserves which are the result of interest earned on the portion of taxes that go toward paying off bond debt the debt service portion of the tax rate would increase 10 cents next year Associate Superintendent Marlene Carle said Before the Dec 10 election school officials promised voters Grand Prairie to pick committee for bond issue By MEDE Nix Eon Worth Star-Telegram GRAND PRAIRIE School board members plan to appoint a committee next month to study items to be included in a bond election later this year Members said they plan to carefully study appointments to the committee because of past controversies and the fear that a bond issue might have an uphill battle Administrators have said the district needs more than $43 million in new construction renovation and improvements in technology "I think we have our back to the wall and we need to be as nonpolitical as we can in these appointments" board Secretary Billy Today is deadline for KENNEDALE Today is the deadline for former Kennedale students who failed the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills to sign up to retake the test to qualify for their diplomas Current and formet students will take the writing portion of the NASCAR race promotion" Gossage said in a call from Charlotte NC Mayor Pro Tern Domingo Garcia had asked the council to reject KPMG Peat Marwick as consultant on the racetrack issue because the firm does business with Woodbine Development Corp which would develop the track supported by Meyer and with Dal-Mac Construction Co which would build Smith's track Councilwoman Sandra Crenshaw expressed concern that the selection process has been biased toward Meyer because of his ties to that the tax rate would not exceed 29 cents 10 cents more than the current rate after the bonds were sold But Carle said the district wants to do what it can to lessen the impact "The opportunity is there with that reserve fund and it's important to keep the tax rate as low as we can" she said "People expect that and they want that" Carle stressed that the figures on tax increases are only projections and that the actual impact on the tax rate depends on property valuations and interest rates Final figures probably won't be known until property values are received in July she said The district has a tax rate of $136 per $100 assessed property value with $117 going to maintenance and operations and 19 cents paying off existing debt Carle said To lower the 1996 tax rate the district would use $75 million from the debt service reserve fund Langston said "We know what we face because we've seen a tremendous controversy in this district" Trustee RJ Garcia said "It's not going to be easy to pass this issue" A new school in northeast Grand Prairie to replace two smaller schools will be needed to take care of growing enrollment in the next few years Superintendent Marvin Crawford said The new $49 million school would replace aging Travis and Lamar elementary schools Trustee Frank Brundrett questioned the need "If we're only doing this to build something in the northeast because we haven't built anything there in a long time that's going to Kennedale TAAS test TAAS on March 7 the reading on March 8 and math on March 9 at the high school Former students should notify Betsy Ellsworth or Jeannie Woo lum at 478-1143 to sign up Students must paskall portions of the test to receive their diplomas Dallas' delay on racetrack developer Ray Hunt who owns Woodbine Hunt has a close working relationship with city officials including Mayor Steve Bartlett "Unfortunately that's the way democratic process works" said Gossage 36 "There's nothing improper with that But yes Ray Hunt has tremendous influence with officials of Dallas and he's probably earned it" Bartlett was in Washington yesterday and did not return messages left for him Earlier he said the city's selection of which track to support will be made purely on the merits of each proposal Fort Worth Star-telegram ALLEN ROSE last night for the Mid-Winter Banquet at the Diamond Club at The Ballpark in Arlington RELATED STORY IN SPORTS PAGE IC The district is also planning to restructure and extend the payments on $49 million of existing debt which will also lessen the impact on the tax rate Carle said The projections presented to the trustees also reflect the impact on the tax rate if voters pass a second bond package for about $117 million tentatively scheduled for 1996 Administrators have said that the district's needs cannot be covered in one package If the second bond issue passes the figures show that the debt service tax rate would never climb above 33 cents or 14 cents more than it is today If that package passes the district would again dip into its reserves this time for about $55 million to hold down the tax rate Financial advisers recommend holding at least $35 million in the debt service reserve Carle said Though the amount that the district would withdraw exceeds the be hard for me to see doing" Brundrett said Crawford said a larger elementary school of about 900 students is more cost effective than smaller schools Associate Superintendent Phil Jimerson said Travis has eight portable buildings and Lamar has Items discussed by the Grand Prairie school board last night: Desegregation: NAACP President La Wanda Wright said the NAACP does not plan to appeal a decision by US District Judge Barefoot Sanders to end the district's 22-year-old desegregation order But Wright asked for written assurances in the final decree that the board will uphold mandated standards at Daniels Elementary School "We don't have a problem with this board" Wright said "It's future boards we worry about" Attorney proposals: Discussed proposals from six Asked about Gossage's contention that the delay was motivated to favor Meyer Garcia said: "I think the Dallas City Council wants to make a decision that's in the best interest for the developers and the citizens of Dallas and that means taking the necessary time to have an objective analysis of both proposals" By 56 minutes Meyer beat a midnight Wednesday deadline by handing in a 523-page proposal to Dallas A spokeswoman Lisa Le-Master declined to disclose details saying they are proprietary Meyer told a sports talk radio program yesterday that he has In $118 miI1ioT the fund would be steadily replenished by accrued interest Carle said Meanwhile officials with the district's financial adviser said confusion over a portion of the Texas Supreme Court's ruling upholding the current school finance system continues to delay bond sales Arlington trustees were scheduled to sell the bonds Feb 16 but Texas Attorney General Dan Morales placed a moratorium on ap- proving bond sales after the problematic wording was discovered in the court's ruling George Williford managing director of First Southwest Co said the matter is still unresolved His firm is advising the district to delay the sale until the problem is cleared up "We're just keeping our fingers crossed" he said "It may be a matter of days but it may be a matter of weeks" four Crawford said Travis Elementary could be used for overflow from Jefferson Intermediate School The bond issue would probably take six years to complete Crawford said firms proposing to provide legal services to the district Board Vice President Michael Grace said he had problems with the way the current firm Wright and Associates handled the board's investigation into allegations of contract violations against Superintendent Marvin Crawford Crawford and RJ Garcia said they preferred staying with Wright and Associates which has represented the district for more than 20 years The board plans to decide whether to change firms Wright and Associates I contract expires in June dianapolis 500 car race dates lined up for I 996 for his proposed track "We have reached an agreement in form" confirmed Jack Long executive director of the Indy Racing League who said it is up to Meyer to release any details "We've been negotiating with Mr Meyer for a race date That negotiation has led us to issue a document to Meyer's company from the Indy Racing League" Gossage said that Bruton Smith had already submitted his general plan but that Dallas has dragged its feet on answering crucial questions about infrastructure and incentives Lawyer shot in elevator Dallas co-workers fmd body at office building The Associated Press DALLAS A real estate lawyer fatally shot in the elevator of his office building yesterday was found when co-workers tried to ascend to his floor Police said David Merrifield was found on the floor of the elevator He had been shot once in the back of the head and police said his wallet was missing leading them to believe he was a robbery victim The 42-year-old Merrifield had been scheduled for an early morning meeting before the shooting "He had an appointment earlier this morning as I understand" police Sgt Jerry King said "But beyond that we do not know much" Detective Chris Gilliam said Merrifield's wallet was taken But police still would like to talk to any witnesses including the person the lawyer was to have met "That's a definite possibility" King said "That's the person we'd like to talk to" A woman who answered t14 telephone at Merrifield's office said the lawyer had been involvedin an "accident" Police said three of Merrifield's co-workers waiting to take the elevator to the third floor where their office is discovered the lawyer slumped in the elevator about 8 am when the doors opened Merrifield was pronounced dead on arrival at Parkland Memorial Hospital Some workers at the Oak Lawn area offices north of downtown where a title company also is located said Merrifield's appointment had been scheduled tor 6 am with a person who was referred to him BY FRANK PERKINS FOn Wonh Star-Telegram Dallas police are investigating the shooting of a school custodian yesterday at James Madison High School near Fair Park in south Dallas Arlene Davis 5 I was emptying trash into a garbage bin behind the school shortly before 1 I am when she heard a pop she recalled She finished emptying the trash and then went bacl inside the school according to Gail Chandler the Dallas school district's media relations director Once back in he building pavis told investigators she felt a Oarm liquid runninedown her left leg went to her break area summoned a supervisor and rolled up her pants leg to discover a bullet hole about an inch above her left knee She had no recollection of the bullet striking her Chandler saidt She said Davis was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital where she was in serious condition Detective Edwin Ruiz-Diaz who is investigating the shooting said Davis was facing away from the school as she was emptying the trash so the shot had to come from the neighborhood off the campus "Right now we have no idea where the shot came from or from what caliber weapon" he said "All we know is that it left a pretty small hole" 1 I 1.