The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 90

TQ SUBSCRIBE; 242-NEWS Got a news tip? Call 771-5411 or fax 771 -5409 WILLIAMSON AM. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2001 State Route 840 opens eyes, access Opinion I 'J Laura Hill Long-disputed arc opens to 1-65, helps Page students travel to school i 1 7L.v.. A sympathy for their positions. When Allison said she was frustrated by litigation delays because they delayed improved access to Spring Hill for her relatives in Arkansas and Texas, fellow senior cadet Trent Sipes of College Grove spoke up. "You can understand people who have put years and years into their land not wanting to lose it," he said.

Please see ROUTE, 3W By MARK R. COOK Staff Writer THOMPSON'S STATION For. Tennessee Transportation Commissioner Bruce Salesman, yesterday's opening of State Route 840 was about "access to markets." County Executive Clint Callicott orated about the safety of the new highway, linking Interstate 65 to Interstate 24 near Murfreesboro and Interstate 40 near Lebanon in a 47-mile arc. To Lenata Allison, a Page High School senior there yesterday morning to present the colors at the 840 ribbon-cutting ceremony with the schools JROTC unit, it's all about getting to schooL "It will help going to col lege next year, too," said the Spring Ilill resident, who has been commuting to Page via the curvy, narrow Long Lane and Gosey Hill Road. And although longtime opponents of the Williamson County part of 840 were not part of the crowd of about 200 at the Lewisburg Pike (Highway 431) terminus of the road, not all were without MANOYLUNNSWF Vehicles enter State Route 840 from Franklin after a ribbon -cutting ceremony yesterday.

-l Scarier than biohazards: fall spiders I'm up to my eyeballs in Tom Friedman's From Beirut to Jerusalem, trying to fill major gaps in my knowledge about the Middle East. CNN has become our dinner music, and Aaron Brown is my new best friend. Everybody seems to have info on anthrax to offer. But nothing I've come across lately is helping me sort out a truly pressing problem: Our house is bugged. Not by secret agents with hidden microphones and transmitters.

I'm talking crickets, spiders and moths, oh my. Yech, you say. And I agree. Yech, indeed. Yesterday began with a close encounter with a Martian cricket in the bathroom.

Today I tangled with another one on the bedroom curtains. You know the kind of critter I mean. Normal crickets are cute little black things, Disney characters that make happy chirping noises and bring you good luck. Martian crickets, though, are the size of kittens, grayish brown, ominously silent and CKsessed of five-inch long gs. I've heard they don't bite, and, to be completely honest, I've never actually been attacked by one.

But anything that looks that scary can't be benign. Besides which, they sneak up on you when you're least prepared, in the early morning gloom or when you're staggering to the sink with a pot of boiling pasta. The reason we're seeing 1 these beasts on a daily basis, I'm told, is because of the newly cool weather. In fact the local Commissioner of Environmental Education PHO I Ub MlUitui. UMJ I IA1 James Bedwell receives a big hug from Meals On Wheels Fairview site manager Debby Ralney after counting milk cartons.

Bedwell, a WAVES participant, helps Rainey prepare lunches, and she helps him count puis in WIT jijsjino. Committee supports southern school delay Debate turns to whether holding off will save district money By KNIGHT STTVENDER Staff Writer FRANKLIN A school committee is recommending the board delay building a southern high school near the Goose Creek Bypass for another year. The Facilities and Transportation Committee decided Wednesday afternoon that the project was already too far behind schedule to expect the school to open in the fall of 2003 as was originally intended "It's just another damn setback," said a frustrated Ralph Ringstaff, who represents the area that would be zoned for the new schooL His concern is with Page High, wtiich has two portable classrooms this year and likely will have more next year without a new school to relieve overcrowding. Further, he's worried that pushing the opening back a year would mean some children would start at Centennial and then switch to the new school after just one year. But delays with acquiring land for the school have caused the board to seriously question whether proceeding as scheduled is a wise idea.

They called Wednesday's meeting after the construction manager told them Monday night that the present schedule was "very, very tight," and that the school would open on time only if "there are no hiccups" in the process. Some board members feel that extending the timeline of the project will save the county money by allowing extra time for bids. But that may not be the case. The county sells bonds to finance big projects such as schools. Right now, interest rates are low, so when the county pays back the bonds, it Is with little added interest But with today's unsteady economy, interest rates could go up, meaning the county would have to pay more on the money it borrows from those who buy the bonds.

Therefore, there is a question over whether it makes more sense to sell the bonds now and move forward or wait a few months until the board is ready to resume construction and has time to collect more bids. Board Chairwoman Jean Keith asked County Commissioner Clyde Lynch what his recommendation would be. The normally opinionated Lynch replied, "I don't have any." With that to consider, the school board may reconvene in special session to figure out where to go with the project The committee will recommend they wait a few months. Keith said Wednesday she wasn't sure when the board would meet again. on te din Behind every successful 'program' are dedicated people mutual for both volunteer and the program.

As Rainey and Bedwell get the meals ready, Rainey counts out pats of butter while Bedwell, counting along, places each beside an individual milk carton and a banana. Recently, Bedwell was able to count to six. That's amazing, James. We've never gotten that far," Rainey praised. "We know." Bedwell said proudly.

After organizing the lunches, Bedwell placed them in a kirge cooler for each driver to take on his or her route. Before sealing the cooler, he made sure a "cold thing" blue ice was plat ed in each. 1 le also knows to be on the lookout for a hash mark written Please see PROGRAM, 3W pant in WAVES Inc. a local program for developmental and physically handicapped adults, is one of the Fairview site's volunteers. The Meals On Wheels program delivers nutritious lunches and companionship to the area's elderly.

"James is such a big help. By doing what he docs, he's saved me an hour that I can use on paperwork or home visits," Rainey said. Bedwell came to work for Meals On Wheels two years ago when Rainey visited the WAVES program housed in the same building. Rainey asked if anyone wanted to help out Several clients volunteered, but Bedwell is the one who stayed. The relationship has been By BONNIE BURCH Staff Writer FAIRVIEW The sun has hardly risen over Fairview, and already James Bedwell is hard at work as a volunteer for the Mid-Cumberland Meals On Wheels program.

Before the morning is out he will have welcomed site manager Debby Rainey to the Fairview Recreation Center, prepared the coolers for food, packed the hot lunches for elderly program participants, helped his fellow volunteers load the coolers into their cars and cleaned the pots and pans and mopped the floors. Bedwell doesn't mind his busy schedule. People are depending on him. Bedwell, who is also a partici advises I should be protective of these poor crickets, who come in the house only because they're freezing their little insect tootsies off I'm aLso supposed to empathize with shivering spiders, who scuttle around comers in the laundry room and lurk between towels in the linen closet This may be a sorry commentary on my housekeeping standards, but I really wouldn't mind living in peaceful coexistence with Martian crickets and venomous spiders if they would just stay out of sight They could gnaw on whatever they gnaw on and nap when they felt like it I could walk around without a bedroom slipper and a dustpan in my hand, and everybody would get along nicely. Instead, I find myself caught up in an appalling daily routine: unexpectedly spot creature, garp in fright run for heay object and wad of paper towels, mutter oaths, commit murder, clean up mess, contemplate the nature of Nature.

I'm not by disposition a killer. I understand that the nights are growing cold, and that even insects have quality of life Issues. I appreciate that these are God's creatures, put on earth for a reasoa I'm aware that my karma is probably in permanent ruins after all the mayhem I've committed. But when it comes to sheer terror, for me bugs have got it over biochemical weapons any day. j- Laura Hi has omt thought! mm you can Dnd arty ontna at www tanrw aanxom E-mail ham at taft31ennemean.com Meals on Wheels volunteer James Bedwell helps pack lunches five days a week at the Fairview Recreation Center.

IHiiip, two, three, four, smile and wave! Beauty queen boot camp offers intensive training for prospective contestants Former beauty queen boot camp participants have gone on to achieve greatness. Thomas has led others to their crowns, including Mrs. Tennessee America 2001 Franklin's Terra Tucker, Ms. US Continental 2001 Angela Hazlehurst Ms. Tennessee World 2000 Jennifer Love- Please see SMILE, 3W "We just thought that 'boot camp' sounded cute.

You usually don't associate beauty queens with a boot camp," said Thomas, owner of Winners By Choice, a motivational speaking company and a former Mrs. Tennessee. The boot camp happens tomorrow and Sunday at the AmcriSuitcs in Brentwood. and a half of "intensive workshops" focusing on attitude, interviewing skilk stage presence, hair and make-up tips and health and fitness rather than a weekend rolling In the mud or going on a 20-mile run while someone barks orders. pants need a drill sergeant, too.

"I'll be whipping them into shape," said Dale Smith Thomas, who is holding this weekend's Boot Camp for Beauty Queens. Actually, the boot camp designation signifies a day By BONNIE BURCH Staff Writer BRENTWOOD Recruit, straighten that lipstick, shoulders back when you walk down the runway, and then drop and give me 20! Beauty pageant partici 1 1 1 ail 1 I Staci Jean Williams, 10 5th grade, Freedom Intermediate I I 13 II County news, features and Old Glory inspires new look in home decor Red, white and blue can brighten don, bathroom, and bedroom. On 19W. Every team, every week Get results from county high school football, volleyball, cross country, golf, soccer and more. On9W.

Letters to th Editor Williamson AM. 320 Premier CI, Suite 202 Franklin, Tennessee 3706 E-mail: willarritfKirtcsoan.com FaK 771-5409 Advarteing Information: 771-5430 Bracelets honor attack victims Centennial students believe fund-raising mementos give tragedy personal perspective. On 4W. I Monday-Frkfciy arid Sunday In Tht Jminesseart Tmvwmmni Publisher Craig Moon Genoral ManagerEditor TedPowor Community News Editors i Mark Cook Laura Cook 67 T43 Partly cloudy with no rain In the forecast calendars are on I the WoHd Wide Wt-b. I Crick wr.tenrteMeixrr 1 trww.tcmwsscanxosrf.