The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 3

7 GILBERT MERRITT jt Heads to judge conference Page 6B Briefs 213 Deaths 5B Weather 6B LOCA SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1995 LNEWS Old 1-440 dash leens arrest Safer route Motorists entering I-24E from I-40W no longer merge with heavy traffic. Vehicles no longer cross several lanes of heavy traffic to get to 1-440 from I-40W. the past leads to flag trial delay hing of Junction change eases headache By GAIL KERR Staff Writer Getting on Interstate 440 from the airport area used to be sort of like one's first dive off the high board: Close your eyes, hold your breath, pray and go for it. Highway officials called it a "mega-dollar mistake." But a $4.5 million re-routing of the interchange now has motorists easing onto the bypass with no nerve-shattering lane changes. The fix: a little-used Murfrees-boro Road ramp was converted into part of Interstate 24, creating one path for 1-24 and one for traffic bound for 1-440.

That way, travelers from the airport area don't have to dart across three lanes of traffic to get on 1-440 the lane they are in naturally carries them to it. "One day we were just scratching our heads and realized there was such a simple solution," said Clellon L. Loveall, assistant executive director of planning for the Tennessee Department of Transportation. A series of orange and white traffic barrels now guide you smoothly onto the 1-440 ramp. The flow will stay that way, but by Thanksgiving, permanent median barriers will be in place, and the yearlong project will be complete.

"Traffic is flowing now like it is going to be flowing," said Luanne Changes to I-24E 1 Barrier I-24E was widened and 1 wa'' split with a barrier wall 'I to separate traffic jj llljl merging onto it from In i-4ow. yii 1 Rerouted lanes it mil I of I-24E 1 1 mil route from lj III MOW to 1-440. jM I II New barrier J1! jUH Jn ll jjTunsportation four loaded guns and 60 "rocks" of crack cocaine, made prosecutors reassess Merriweather's involvement in the Westerman shooting. "Had last Friday night not happened, we'd still be on track for Oct 2," with only Morrow and Darden being tried together, Morriss said. Morriss told Wedemeyer yesterday that Tony Andrews, the fourth teen-ager in the car from which Westerman was shot Jan.

14, "may very well testify on behalf of the state" against Morrow, Darden and Merriweather. Andrews' lawyer, Larry Wilks, said Andrews "has agreed to tell the truth, whichever side calls us" to testify. That would leave murder charges pending, for trial at a later date, against three young black males accused of riding in a second car that allegedly helped to "box in" Wester-man's truck moments before he was shot. Merriweather's lawyer, Bill Goodman, complained yesterday that the prosecution in the murder case "feels like it's entitled to finagle the docket and split and combine the defendants in whatever manner they like." Morrow's lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Collier Goodlett, said he was "horrified" that the arrest of Merriweather and Darden, outside a high school football game in Elk- Turn to PAGE 2B, Column 1 III Profile of self-taught mastermind Which way did he go? "I'm interested in knowing what happened to the man they found up in a hollow," says Helen of Dickson. "He had read all the classics and knew math and was highly educated, but had never been to school, and then he went to Vanderbilt.

I'd like to know where he is now." You are referring to Robert Allen, Helen, who made quite a splash a few years back when his amazing story came out. "I lived happily ever after," he reports now. A dash of background, for those who didn't get the original facts: Allen grew up in Huntingdon with relatives who didn't see the need for a formal education. They did help him learn to read; however, and he taught himself by reading pretty much everything he could get his hands on. He got a high school equivalency diploma, then a bachelor's degree from Bethel College and a master's and doctorate from Vanderbilt.

One professor called him "a walking encyclopedia." He's now in his fourth year as a lecturer at Murray State in Kentucky, where he teaches a survey course in "the high points of Western tradition in literature and philosophy." "Lately, I've taken up playwright-ing," he says. "Mostly tragedies. I've been working with a local theater group and had one performed last spring." Some people still remember and recognize him from news reports, but not so often anymore. "I think I've had my 15 minutes of fame thank goodness." "I have been wondering if you could get information on how much the United States pays on the total cost of the United Nations budget," writes Kenneth of Gallatin. "That would be interesting to know if the other nations are paying their fair share:" I'm not sure what you would consider to be fair, Kenneth, but we certainly pay the lion's share.

There are, in fact, two U.N. budgets: the regular budget, which covers salaries, building maintenance and other essential costs; and the peacekeeping budget, which is pretty self-explanatory. The regular budget for 1995 is $1.35 billion; peacekeeping is an estimated $3.2 billion. The U.S. is assessed 25 of the regular budget and 31.2 of peacekeeping.

The rest of the top five are: Japan, 13.95 and 14; Germany, 8.94 and 8.98; France. 6.32 and 7.88; and the Russian Federation, 5.68 and 7.1. A country's gross national product is used to help set assessments, according to U.N. spokeswoman Lil-li Schindler. The current figures have been in place for a long time, she said, but there are discussions going on now about updating and revising them to make them more equitable.

Congress also passed a measure, supposed to be effective next month, limiting the U.S. portion of the peacekeeping budget to 25. Schindler said. The U.S. is obligated by the U.N.

charter to pay its assessment, but if it doesn't she said, "there's not much the U.N. can do about it" Questions or comments? Call 259-8047, fax to 259-8093, e-mail to Jrogetcft' aol.com or write to 1100 Broadway, Nashville 37203. Include your name, a daytime phone number and city in which you live. Joe Rogers' column runs Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. More ahead The fix for the Interstates 440-24-40 interchange is almost complete, solving a major headache for area motorists.

But new road work is on the way, promising some new orange-barrel angst: In December, the state will begin resurfacing and upgrading the other side of 1-440 in the Murfreesboro Road area. Starting soon, the 1-440 ramp off eastbound 1-40 near 46th Avenue in West Nashville will be widened to two lanes. This work, which is part of the deal that led Columbia-HCA Healthcare Corp. to move their headquarters here, will tie up traffic from around Robertson Road to just past 46th Avenue. Grandinetti, TDOT spokeswoman.

The project included widening the 1-24 viaduct over Murfreesboro Road and adding one lane to 1-24 from the 1-440 interchange to Bri-ley Parkway. What about the $4.5 million question: Why did they design it so badly in the first place? Political compromise, says Loveall. To satisfy a court battle by area residents trying to block 1-440, the state agreed to use only land it already owned and to limit the number of lanes. "That meant the off ramp was right on top of the 1-40 and 1-24 interchange," Loveall said. "There was no room to weave.

We're talking about a mega-dollar mistake." the state is willing to contribute. Bredesen said Sundquist's position "makes it a great deal more difficult" to land a team. "It is not impossible," the mayor said. "There are very good rationales for the state to help. It is very much a regional facility.

But we will basically have to come up with a way to come up with that money." By KIRK LOGONS and WENDI C. THOMAS Staff Writers CLARKSVILLE The arrest of two Kentucky teen-agers last weekend on drug and weapons possession charges led yesterday to a three-month delay in Robertson County's Confederate-flag murder trial. Criminal Court Judge Robert Wedemeyer upheld revocation of the bail bonds of the two Guthrie, teen-agers, who are among seven young black males charged with murdering a young, white man who was flying a Confederate flag from his pickup truck on Jan. 14. Wedemeyer also granted a prosecution request to add Marcus Merri-weather, one of the two teen-agers arrested last weekend, to the list of defendants who were set to be tried, beginning Oct 2 in Springfield, on charges of murdering Michael Westerman, 19, of Elkton, Ky.

But Merriweather's attorney said he could not be ready for trial that soon, prompting Wedemeyer to reset the trial for Jan. 8 with Mer-riweather to be tried then along with Freddie Morrow, 17, accused of shooting Westerman, and Da-mien Darden, 17, who is accused of driving the car from which the fatal shot was fired. Assistant District Attorney General Dent Morriss said the arrest of Merriweather and Darden in Elk-ton last weekend, in a car carrying Emergency equipment upgraded Baptist gives $103,000 By LINDA A. MOORE Staff Writer Trauma, a near drowning, an electrocution, lightning strike or heart problems any one of those conditions could produce irregular and possibly fatal heart rhythms. Without the proper equipment, the first emergency unit to arrive on the scene in most cases a fire engine, not an ambulance may not be able to help.

But soon 13 of the Metro Fire Department's first responder units will be equipped to help. Baptist Hospital has donated $103,000 to the Fire Department for the purchase of automatic external defibrillators (AED), expected to be installed by early next year. "This is a machine that you hook up to a patient and it automatically reads your heart rhythm," said Donna Mason, director of the Baptist Emergency Pavilion and Chest Pain Center. The device reads the rhythm, Turn to PAGE 2B, Column 1 Bredesen, By GAIL KERR Staff Writer Mayor Phil Bredesen says key Democratic lawmakers are willing to talk about finding more state money for an NFL Oilers deal than the amount being offered by Gov. Don Sundquist.

Bredesen met privately yesterday with House Majority Leader Bill Purcell, D-Nashville, and House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, D- Research, D'Anna Sharon; Graphic, Jeff MeeseyThe TENNESSEAN about $3 million from sales tax generated by the team over about 20 years, land owned by the state, and the state's borrowing power. He said he hoped the state would give $50 million outright and $10 million in infrastructure funds. "They wanted a briefing," Bredesen said of yesterday's meeting with lawmakers. Bredesen said he "respects the process" that was set up to allow a JACKIE BELL STAFF services for homeless veterans, which included new clothes, showers, dental and medical exams, and counseling. Representatives were also on hand to offer information on employment and VA benefits.

A NEW LOOK Lawrence Roach, a homeless veteran, gets a haircut from Glynda Hardwick at Operation Stand Down '95 at the Tennessee National Guard Armory. About 200 people registered for lawmakers have private stadium chat team of Metro and state officials and business leaders to negotiate exclusively with the Oilers until Oct. 20. Both he and Sundquist signed letters agreeing to the negotiation process, and the state's position on funding will go through Sundquist, Bredesen said. Purcell acknowledged meeting with Bredesen but was noncommittal about what more, if anything.

Covington, to discuss developments. The mayor characterized the meeting as a "briefing" and not an attempt to end run Sundquist to drum up more state money. The governor said this week the state will not ante up $50 million to $60 million to help build a stadium for the Oilers. He outlined the state's proposed contribution as $10 million in road and infrastructure improvements, annual proceeds of DAVIDSON MARSHALL Covered Wagons, horse-drawn wagons and other items in the vast collection amassed by John C. (Tennessee) Miller in his lifetime will be sold today in the auction of the estate of Mary Elizabeth Miller, who died in April 1994.

Mary Miller left the bulk of her estate in trust for Middle Tennessee State University to build a horse show Coliseum and aid the horse-science program. The auction begins at 9 a.m. and is at 10-Tucky Farms, MONTGOMERY Bikers Who Care win host the 14th annual Leslie W. Watson Toy Run at noon today from Clarksville Fairgrounds Park to Governor's Square Mall. Toys collected will be presented to members of the Clarksville Fire Department, who will distribute them to the city's less fortunate children at Christmas.

More than 1,000 bikers are expected to ride this year. The group will have a camping party Immediately following the event. Proceeds raised will go to Camp Rainbow. TERRY BATEY MIDDLE TENNESSEE A crackdown on speeding drivers hasn't been enough to slow some people down, but this should slow a few. Construction is expected to close a lane in the area of Interstates 24 and 440 today.

State Department of Transportation officials said contractor The Rogers Group will close one lane of I-24 east-bound beginning at the I-4024 interchange and continuing to I-440. Lane closures began at about 2 a.m. and will continue until this evening. BETH WARREN A first-hand lOOk at an American tradition is what 50 Haitian refugees and their families will get today at a tailgate party and football game at Vanderbilt University. The school donated tickets for Its annual tailgate picnic.

The refugees have been in Nashville about a year. "This is an excellent opportunity for the Haitian community in Nashville to experience another facet of American culture," said Edouard Noisin, a volunteer Interpreter with the group. USA BENAVtDES SECTION EDITORS City editor. Tommy Goldsmith, 253-8095, Regional editor: Day: Bill Choyke, 259-6095; Frank Gibson, 726-5907; Lisa Green (database editor), 259-8095; Robert Sherborne, 259-8080; Denise Williams; 259-8091. Nightweekend: Dwight Lewis, 726-5928; John Richards, 259-8090; Richard Stevens, 259-8083; George Zepp, 259-8091.

Fax: 259-8093. E-mail new tip: newstipstennesseai.com 4 1831 Franklin Road, Lewisburg. JENNIFER GOODE.