The Daily News-Journal from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • 1

-ft 138th Yet Monde RUTHERFORD COUNTY'S HOME NEWSPAPER SINCE 1849 224 N. Walnut St. Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37130 Phone 893-5860 Good Afternoon i Cages, 2 Sections 35' -v Stopping crime pays dividend for local man "i MS more citizens with that kind of concern for their neighbors Watson and his wife Dorothy were driving east on Halls Hill Pike when they noticed a strange black car parked at rear and to one side of the Marlin Ewell residence. Ewell was their neighbor at the time. Mrs.

Watson noticed a black male standing near the house as well. "We drove down the road to our home," Watson recalled. "I got my .38 Special, and my wife called the sheriff's department. Then we drove back." Watson cornered one of the men outside the home, holding the pistol on him. The man claimed he was alone and just seeking directions to Woodbury.

However, Watson saw his two accomplices flee from behind the house. Detective Ricky Deal arrived and carted James Lewis McAdoo, 20, the man Watson was holding at gunpoint off to jail. The other two men Charles Eugene Randolph, 22 and Bud Gene Ivy, 45 were later apprehended. All three were charged, convicted and given one-year terms. "Nothing had been stolen yet, but they had cut the screen to gain entrance to the house," Watson recalled.

Ewell, the man whose residence was nearly burglarized, is a Farm Bureau member. By JOHN HOWZE News Journal Staff Writer "Crime doesn't pay," the old adage goes, but one man learned last week that stopping it can. Mack Watson had no thought of himself last August when he stopped a burglary in progress at a residence on Halls Hill Pike. However, as the disabled man learned this week, sometimes there is, more reward for doing good than fMc the deed itself For Watson the extra dividend came in the form of a $500 Farm Bureau check. It followed closely on the heels of a court conviction for the man he caught breaking into his neighbor's house and held at gunpoint until deputies arrived.

Two other accomplices who fled the scene were later charged with attempted burglary. They were convicted as well. "We are pleased to be able to present this check," Farm Bureau board member John L. Batey said. "Farm Bureau will pay a reward for information leading to the conviction of anyone who commits any crime against a Farm Bureau member," said Farm Bureau president R.L.

Howard. "It can be arson, vandalism or any other crime. "It has been several years since we paid out a reward here," he added. "We congratulate Mr. Watson on what he did.

The county could use DNJ photo by Sherry Billmgsby LET'S PLAY Robin Bombardi, 2, is one of the first children to tile artist David Wright from a drawing by elementary school enjoy the Children's Discovery House when It opened for student Jessica Waldron. The museum will open to the public on members today. The tile mural in the background was done by Tuesday. Discovery House opens Tuesday Floyd candidate for TSU president By CAROLYN BRACKETT Lifestyles Editor Dozens of educational activities filling the airy, cheerful rooms will greet visitors Tuesday when the Children's Discovery House officially opens its doors. More than a year of planning and months of work on the building at 503 N.

Maple St. have resulted in complete renovation of the site into a hands-on museum for children ages 2 through elementary school. Hours for the museum are 10 a.m. to 5. p.m.

Tuesday through Friday and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. "We have our first school group coming in Wednesday," said Billie Little, an organizer and one of three directors of the museum. "They are Rebecca Brooks' third-grade class from Buchanan School, and they are first because they submitted 1,095 ideas for the MTSU's vice president for administration may have found a new home. Otis Floyd said today he submitted an application Thursday for the post of president at Tennessee State University in Nashville.

He has acted as interim president at the institution since June 1986. "I put in my application Thursday afternoon," he said. "It seemed like so many people came to me from the university community, senators, representatives and wanted me to doit." Floyd said he made the decision to run based on that support and after state rules were recently changed to allow an interim president to apply for the position. Before the change, make their own creations. A health room will give youngsters a chance to try on surgeon and nurses uniforms that are made to their size as well as learn about healthy lifestyles.

Upstairs is the "Great Performances" room where children will be able to make videos of themselves in various costumes or broadcast a radio show. "This room still needs the most done to it," Mrs. Little said. "We have a P.A. (public address) system, but it's not hooked up yet." "And we're going to get some more mikes (microphones) so the children can record themselves," she said.

Children will also enjoy learning about nature through the exhibits upstairs. A glass case has been constructed in a hallway to house (Please see Discovery, page two) edges behavioral problems. "It can be helpful for those who want to improve," Ms. McKenzie-said. Students can be sent to the program by the juvenile courts' or the county school system disciplinary board.

Some special education students can be placed in the 2-year-old program. The incentive for students to perform well in RASP classes is one (Please see Schools, page two) Schools use RASP to take off Labor Day school start bill advances By ALAN BAUER News Journal Staff Writer Keeping kids in school is a process of continual efforts by education officials across the county, state and nation. In Tennessee, more than one-third of all fifth-graders do not graduate, state statistics indicate. Across the nation, about one-fourth fail to complete their high school education. In Rutherford County, 84 students have dropped out of school so far this From Staff, Wire Reports The House Education Committee approved a bill last week that would require Tennessee public schools to start the academic year after Labor Day.

However, the panel first tacked on an amendment to give local education boards an option so that schools could still recess by late May or early Almost everything in the museum from renovation of the building to construction of exhibits was donated. "Stuff just started showing up. It was really incredible," said Mrs. Little. The museum will be overseen by three directors, but a staff of volunteers has also been recruited and trained to lead the children through various activities.

"We went to the Senior Citizens Center and the high schools for volunteers," Mrs. Little said. "We had our first training session Saturday, but we still need more volunteers." Entering the museum, the eye is drawn immediately to the wildlife mural on the wall alongside the staircase. Artist John Reynolds has painted pictures of fish, ducks, deer and other wildlife. year.

Along with the Community Learning Center, vocational school (Holloway High School) and the Rutherford In School Suspension Program (RISP) one line in the defense against students leaving school early is the Rutherford Alternative School Program (RASP). The program offers a final chance for some students to remain in school. "The main purpose is to provide an alternative to expulsion or some type Cosman received blunt trauma to his chest in the accident, Ms. Phillips said. His passengers, wife Michelle and John Lurgio of Clifton, HI.

were also slightly injured. State Department of Safety spokesperson Jean Harvey said today the driver of any vehicle which strikes the rear end of another vehicle is at fault. "It's the law," she said, adding that Army vehicles take precedence on the interstate system. "The in-terstates were built as part of the nation's defense network and Army convoys take precedent on them." Additionally, Ms. Harvey said there is no minimum speed limit in the right lane of the interstate unless in Ohio, stopped in Murfreesboro for an interview on her way to Nashville for an address before the Optimist Club.

"We are trying to get the message to the public to strive for energy independence. We are trying to get out from under OPEC's (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) thumb," said Routzahn. She said the U.S. had come a long way since the oil crisis of the 1970s, but she said, "We're not really out of the woods yet." Part of Routzahn's message was that needs In the U.S. are Still growing because Americans are finding new ways to use energy every day.

"We need to Utilize our coal and In the room to the right, children will enjoy experimenting with different art media and displaying their work in that area. The Waterworks room will draw younger children to a water tub with a fountain. After putting on plastic aprons, the youngsters will be able to play with the water toys in the fountain. This room is highlighted by a tile mural made by tile artist David Wright. "We had a contest with schoolchildren drawing scenes, and I chose this one which happened to be by Jessica Waldron," Mrs.

Little said. The scene depicts fish and underwater surroundings. Also downstairs is a room dubbed "How Everyday Things Work." It includes an exercise bike which powers an electric train set. In another corner are containers holding Lego toys for children to of suspension from school," teacher Barbara McKerizie said of the program designed for students with behavioral problems ranging from fighting to truancy. Students in the program attend class at Holloway, but, for the most part, are segregated from the rest of the student population, Ms.

McKenzie said. The eight students currently in the program work on an individualized basis to keep up in school while working to correct a minimum has been set by a municipality the highway runs through. "They could have been driving 20 mph, and it would have been legal," she said. Ft. Campbell public affairs officer Maj.

Dan Schmidt said today the convoys are well-marked and have a good safety record. "When a convoy is moving there are vehicles at the front and rear with revolving lights and signs notifying of the convoy's presence," Schmidt said. "Also, every vehicle in the convoy has its emergency flashers blinking." Schmidt said a convoy's speed varies according to the vehicles in-(Please see Military, page two) MRS plan nuclear energy and supplement that with solar energy, hydroelectric energy and other sources," she said. Concerning the safety of monitored retrievable storage, especially for Tennesseans, who face the possibility of such a facility In the eastern part of the state, she said, "In a nutshell, it's real safe' "The techonolgy is not new. We have been storing waste and high level nuclear fuel for years.

The term nuclear waste is a misnomer," said Routzahn. She said people have a misconception about nuclear waste, but it is not really what they think it ta. (Please see Energy, page two? Military convoys hold right of way Floyd was technically unable to become the permanent president. Floyd said he wanted to wait until the rule was changed to announce his interest in the job and become a formal candidate for the post. Howell Todd with the state Board of Regents said four people, including Floyd, are under consideration for the post.

He said interviews will be conducted over the next few weeks, and he anticipated a recommendation by Chancellor Thomas Garland at the March 20 meeting in Knoxville. Garland has strongly endorsed Floyd for the presidency in the past. Floyd has said he anticipates a close working relationship with MTSU, but not a merger. TSU has about 7,000 students. June.

Rep. Fred Hobbs, a member of the committee, said he voted for the bill after the amendment was added. "I had some reservations before the amendment," Hobbs said. Hobbs said the amendment, allowing schools to add 20 minutes to each school day and only attend 170 (Please see Labor, page two) MONDAY'S HEADLINES Tornado kills seven in Mississipi Mor than 3,000 volunteers began helping clean up after a tornado ripped through Laurel, Mil. Saturday.

The tornado killed seven, injured 145 and left 500 families homeless, doing $7.5 million In damage. See story, page 8. Lead found in D.C. drinking water Residents of Washington, D.C. are concerned about the amount of lead found in their drinking water, but officials insist It Is not endangering their health.

See story, page 3. Index Classified Ads 12-14 Comics 6 Lifestyles 5 Editorials 4 Obituaries 2 Sports 9-11 TV 7 Weather 8 (f you have not received your News Journal by 6 p.m. dally or 8:30 a.m. weekends, pease call your carrier or 893 5860 before 7 p.m. doy ond 10:30 a.m.

weekends. By DAN GOODWIN News Journal Staff Writer The 60-year-old Illinois man who drove his car into the last vehicle in an Army convoy Saturday night on 1-24 was apparently at fault despite the convoy's slow speed, state officials say. George Cosman of Riverdale, 111. was scheduled to be moved from Middle Tennessee Medical Center's intensive care unit to a private room today, MTMC spokesperson Laura Phillips said. Cosman drove his car into the rear end of an Army jeep Saturday night.

The jeep was the last vehicle in a convoy heading toward Ft. Campbell, Ky. following military maneuvers in the Tullahoma area. fr If wmm rt-wv I Energy groups support BySAMSTOCKARD News Journal Staff Writer The monitored retrievable storage (MRS) facility proposed for Tennessee would be safe, increase the United States' energy independence and provide jobs, representatives of Energy America claimed while traveling across the state in an effort to increase public awareness of energy needs and MRS. Sponsored by the U.S.

Committee for Energy Awareness, Energy America is made up of 15 engineers and scientists, who work for leading energy. companies across the country. Linda, Routzahn, operations audit coordinator at Perry Nuclear Plant DNJ photo by Shorry Bllllngiby CONVOY WRECKAGE Motorists and Army troops survey the damage done to an Army jeep that was struck from the rear by a civilian driver on 1-24 Saturday night. The jeep was the last vehicle in an Army convoy traveling to Fort Campbell, and had the warning sign seen In the picture and a revolving light affixed to it, officials say..