January 1997

Paper Trails Date: 01/03/97 Category: STYLE Page: 8E Hello 1997: Here's the plan The empty pages of a blank new daily planner leave lots of room for resolutions. A few notable Arkansans share theirs. Kevin Kerby; guitarist, Ho-Hum: "I'm going to pattern my life after Martha Stewart," Kerby says. Why the emulation? "Because she rocks. She's the best." Dr. Joycelyn Elders; former U.S. surgeon general: "I would say I'm going to go on a diet, but nobody would believe me," Elders says. So instead, she says she'll make the resolution that everyone expects her to make. And that "is to not let anybody offthe hook who's trying to use children for political gain." John Robert Starr; columnist, former Arkansas Democrat-Gazette managing editor: Starr looks to Kipling for inspiration. "I resolve to maxim my oppressors like a Christian ought to do." However, Starr says naming his oppressors is not part of the resolution. Tommy Sanders; local talent; host of "ESPN Outdoors": In 1997, Sanders hopes "to carry on with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. "And, if there's any time left over, yard work." Casey Sanders; producer, "Arkansas Week": "If Tommy will carry on with the pursuit of our happiness, I'll even help with the yard work." Barbara Graves; owner, Barbara Graves Intimate Fashions: In addition to taking a watercolor course at the Arkansas Arts Center, Graves resolves "to walk my dog five times a week and my husband three times a week." Graves says, "The dog loves to walk." Her husband, though, might need some help with his resolution to exercise, she says. John Walker; civil rights lawyer: "I would hope that this year would be one where people learn to respect each other and to treat all people with equality and dignity irrespective of race or color or income status. "I would also hope that the schools learn how to teach our children better than they have been taught in the past." Carol Pate; psychic: This year, Pate plans on "putting the small stuff to the side. You know, the petty things." She also plans on learning the lesson, "I can only deal with what is mine." Pate says she too often tries to rescue people. "Yes, of course, I'm a rescuer big time," Pate says. "I've learned that you can rescue too much." Dr. Kelsy Caplinger; allergist: "My perennial resolution is to lose weight," Caplinger says. "I just rubber-stamp that one every year." More tolerance and more time with his granddaughters also are on Caplinger's list, but a cure for allergies isn't. He's "too busy treating them to look for the cure." "That's mean, isn't it?" he says. Rett Tucker; commercial real estate executive; outgoing chairman of the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce: Anyone worried that nothing commemorative will ever open across from the site of the 1957 crisis at Central High School can rest easy. Tucker says, "I resolve to open the Central High visitors' center in September and help the city celebrate the 40th anniversary ofthe 1957 crisis." Jennings Osborne; Christmas king: "I thank the good Lord for giving me more time to enjoy my family, which is the light of my life." And he resolves "to work with Mickey sharing the magic with others and seeing what the Christmas elves have planned for the new year." Bill Valentine; general manager, Arkansas Travelers: Imagine, if you will, Valentine singing his New Year's resolution, as he likes to do. "When my mother-in-law begins to yell and shout, Through the window I would like to throw her out. I resolve not to do so, and here is why: I'm afraid of hitting someone passing by." Jim Johnson; advertising executive and lead guitarist and singer for Johnny Roberts and the Rockets: There are no weight-loss resolutions for Johnson. That's not his problem. "I'm going to insist that the dry cleaners in Little Rock quit shrinking the waistband in my pants," he says. Another goal for the 61-year-old: "I plan to be the only (rock 'n' roller) with liver spots on my hands." He adds, "The hardest part is staying up late." Bobby McDaniel; attorney for Susan McDougal: McDaniel tried to think of a humorous resolution but then thought better of it. "That might be a good one," he says, "to not attempt humor anymore." Instead, he resolves "No. 1, to do what I can to get the Congress to reexamine the power given to an independent counsel." And, "No. 2, to just be and appreciate the incredible essence of being." He adds, "The Taoist thinkers out there will appreciate that." Jane Krutz; volunteer fund-raiser, Arkansas Educational Television Network: Krutz just won't quit pitching for public television. Her resolution this year? "We will get all the funding we need for AETN." Gary Heathcott; advertising executive; co-owner, Gatsby's Fine Cigars: Like Krutz, Heathcott just doesn't quit working. His motives, however, are a bit less than altruistic. "In 1997, I resolve to lower my personal stress levels by increasing my daily cigar consumption." He adds, "I resolve to purchase only products that are thoroughly advertised, thus supporting the industry that supports me." Darrell Potts; advertising executive: What is it with these advertising guys? Potts had a ready-made list of 23 resolutions. A sampling: "Lose weight without giving up Cokes. "Learn how to get eight hours of sleep in only five hours. "Lose weight without giving up cheese dip. "Win at least one sweepstakes. "Lose weight without giving up Oreos. "Use my new 1997 day planner for at least three months." Rep. Jimmie Wilson, D-Helena; lawyer: Since Wilson declared in 1996 that he was going to stop the King Biscuit Blues Festival from taking place in 1997, we figured the New Year's holiday would be a good time to check his progress. "That's not my resolution," Wilson says. He's not concerned about the demise of the festival. "If I was going to have a resolution, it would be to have the demise of the DemocratGazette." Is it something we said? More like everything the newspaper has published. "It has been an additional public rope around the necks of the African-American since its inception," Wilson says. Patrick Oliver; owner, Images of Africa: "To find a significant other" is Oliver's goal this year. So is the never-before-married Oliver looking to tie the knot? "I'm not saying that." Gov. Mike Huckabee: The governor has three goals for the new year, one of which should make most Arkansans happy. First on his list is "to keep the weight offand maintain an exercise regimen." Second is "to make the car tags process simpler." And third is "to catch larger fish so I won't have to embellish on my fish stories." Miller Williams; poet; director, University of Arkansas Press: This Arkansas poet who will compose and recite a poem for President Clinton's inauguration also shares an eloquent resolution for the new year. And that is "to spread a fuller understanding of the fruits and nuts and bolts of Arkansas politics and to help return simple civility to social discourse." Connie Hamzy; rock 'n' roll groupie and business entrepreneur: "My goal is to get out of the retail business and to get my doll business going," says Hamzy, who got some free advertising for her business in David Brock's "The Seduction of Hillary Rodham." "This could be the boost my doll career needs," Hamzy says. She's also hoping to expand her Persian cat-breeding business. And Hamzy resolves to "have more fun and get a certain relationship going with a certain lawyer in town." HOT TIP? QUIRKY STORY? LIVELY TALE? Call Carrie Rengers at 378-3892.

Down go the lights Date: 01/07/97 Category: NEW Page: 5B Photo by Steve Keesee, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Terry Bruce, who works for the Jennings Osborne family of Little Rock, drops a strand of lights Monday from one of two 1 00-foot-tall poles that stood in front of the state Capitol during the holiday season. The Osbornes provided the Capitol's Christmas light display this year.

King panel to sponsor Salute to Greatness Date: 01/12/97 Category: NEWS Page: 3B Caption: Photos Jennings Osborne Floyd Burns Hezekiah Stewart Woodson Walker Henry Wilkins The Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission will sponsor its annual Salute to Greatness Community Sewice Awards Gala at 7 p.m. Thursday at the DoubleTree Hotel. Twelve community service leaders will be honored at the event, designed to encourage public servants and community leaders to recommit themselves to King's dream. "Each honoree has worked hard to make their community a better place to live for all people," said Tracy Steele, commission director. The award recipients are: Salute to Greatness Award v "Broadway" Joe Booker, the program director for KIPR 92.3, where he is the host of "the Broadway Joe Video Show." v Dr. Erma Glasco Davis, president of the National Dunbar Alumni Association of Little Rock. She organized the Men of Dunbar, a mentoring group of retired male Dunbar High School alumni who work with at-risk male students. v Bishop Donnie L. Lindsey Sr., a church, community and business leader who was the first black to serve on the North Little Rock City Council. v Jennings Osborne, who is involved in community service work and is best known for his Christmas light displays. v Capt. Floyd Burns, the first black firefighter in Arkansas, about to complete his 28th year with the Little Rock Fire Department. v Renaldo Hemphill, an early graduate of Watson Chapel High School, where he maintained a grade-point average of 3.85. Currently studying at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, he maintains a GPA of 4.0 and has won many academic competitions. v Dr. Patricia W. McGraw, recipient of 76 teaching excellence awards, a professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas. v The Rev. Hezekiah Stewart, founder and executive director of the Watershed Human and Community Development Agency, an outreach ministry of the Mount Nebo A.M.E. Church of College Station, where he is the pastor. Act of Kindness Award v Attorney Woodson Walker, senior partner at Walker, Campbell, Ivory and Dunklin, the largest black law firm in Arkansas. He was the first black president of the Pulaski Bar Association Corporate Award v Southwestern Bell, which has spent more than $10 million with Arkansas minority suppliers last year. Organization Award v Shepherd's Ranch Inc., a nonprofit corporation founded in 1991 by Rhona Weaver designed to enrich the lives of at-risk children. Posthumous Award v State Rep. Henry Wilkins of Pine Bluff, who began his legislative career in 1973 and was elected to 10 consecutive terms in offce.

King panel honors student, Osborne Date: 01/17/97 Category: NEW Page: 2B ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE The Martin Luther King Jr. Commission honored 10 Arkansans and two organizations at a "Salute to Greatness" awards gala Thursday night in Little Rock. More than 500 people gathered at the DoubleTree Hotel's Grand Ballroom to commemorate slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 68th birthday. The theme of the program was, "Everybody can be great because everybody can serve." The awards presentation is one of several events the commission is sponsoring in celebration of King's birthday, recognized Monday in a state holiday that also honors Robert E. Lee. The Salute to Greatness awards were given to honor individuals and groups committed to helping the community. Awards were presented to: v "Broadway Joe" Booker, program director for KIPR-FM, 92.3 in Little Rock. He was recognized for his work on Little Rock's Gang Task Force and volunteer service in the annual Christmas food drive conducted by Watershed Human and Community Development Agency. v Little Rock fire Capt. Floyd Burns, the first black firefighter in the state. Burns, a recruiter and trainer for the Fire Department, has been a member of the department for almost 28 years. v Dr. Erma Glasco Davis, a retired Detroit teacher, counselor and school administrator. A Little Rock native, Davis is president of the National Dunbar Alumni Association of Little Rock and spearheaded the effort to create the National Dunbar History Project. v Bishop Donne L. Lindsey Sr., a Reader native who was the first black Arkansan elected to a chamber of commerce in Arkansas. Lindsey is pastor of New Calvary Temple Church of God in Christ in North Little Rock. v Dr. Patricia McGraw, an English professor at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway who has received 76 teaching excellence awards. McGraw is a member of the boards of the Arkansas Museum of Science and History and the Little Rock Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission. v Jennings Osborne, widely known for his humanitarian efforts and Christmas light displays. Osborne, owner of Arkansas Research Medical Testing Center Inc. in Little Rock, is active in many community organizations. v The Rev. Hezekiah Stewart Jr., founder and executive director of Watershed Human and Community Development Agency, an outreach ministry of the Mount Nebo AME Church of College Station. Stewart has received numerous awards and commendations for his community service efforts. v Woodson D. Walker, a trial lawyer and senior partner in the Little Rock law firm of Walker, Campbell, Ivory & Dunklin. Walker, who won the "Act of Kindness Service Award," was the first black president of the Pulaski County Bar Association and received the association's Lawyer-Citizen Award in 1981. v Renaldo Hemphill, who won the "Outstanding Youth Award." Hemphill, an early graduate of Watson Chapel High School, says his most notable accomplishment is overcoming leukemia through a bone-marrow transplant at age 7. He is a freshman at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. v Rep. Henry Wilkins III, recognized posthumously for his legislative career, which spanned 10 straight terms in the state House of Representatives. Wilkins was an associate professor of political science at UAPB and sponsored the legislation that created the Martin Luther King Commission. The commission recognized Shepherd's Ranch Inc. with the Organization Service Award. Southwestern Bell received the Corporate Service Award.

Gardened front yard gives seed for lawsuit Date: 01/20/97 Category: NEW Page: 1B MARK WALLER, ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE The sidewalk leading up to Turag Ronaghi's front door winds through small trees planted atop grassy mounds and past two trickling waterfalls. Ronaghi, an oriental rug salesman from Iran, has covered every inch of the 2,088-square-foot yard with shrubs, flowers and walkways. When he moved to the Chenal Valley community in 1993, Ronaghi asked his brother Irag, who runs a landscaping business in Little Rock, to design a garden that could provide him with beauty and serenity. It is beautiful, Ronaghi said, but far from serene. Ronaghi's garden has sprouted a lawsuit. Deltic Farm & Timber, the company that developed the neighborhood, has sued him to make his yard conform with other, less elaborate yards in the community. "I'll be more than happy to move out," Ronaghi said. "I don't have any peace of mind here. I'm so miserable when I get off work to come home. I think I'm going back to a jail." By landscaping his yard without getting detailed plans approved by the company's Architectural Control Committee, Ronaghi violated the covenants and restrictions of Chenal Valley, according to the company's legal complaint. "The landscaping improvements made by Ronaghi are not compatible with the overall scheme of development and landscaping in Chenal Valley," the complaint says. "Allowing the landscape improvements to remain in their current form will destroy the neighborhood harmony of external design." Attempts to reach the company's president over the weekend were unsuccessful. "This isn't creating a problem," Ronaghi argued. "You're not hurting anybody. It's scenery. People come from all over the state to see this. They get out of their cars and say 'We admire you. This is beautiful.' But it's not like the Osbornes. It's not stopping traffic." Ronaghi was referring to the Jennings Osborne family of west Little Rock. Neighbors sued and won over an extensive Christmas lighting display they claimed caused traffic jams in their neighborhood. Veda Flanagan, a friend of Ronaghi's, said the legal process and a language barrier dismayed Ronaghi, causing him to mistakenly neglect to respond to some legal questions filed by the company's lawyers in August. "His yard is nothing bizarre or gigantic," Flanagan said. "It's just dwarf-sized shrubbery. It's something to admire. And it's amazing how people can find fault in it." Judge Jeff Pence, filling in for Judge Collins Kilgore, will make a final judgment on the case this week. Ronaghi said he submitted landscaping plans to the company, but the committee asked for revisions. He then made the changes, he said, and tried again. The developer called for more changes, he said. The company's filed complaint says Ronaghi did not submit plans or receive any written approval. While he was haggling with the developer, Ronaghi said, much of his yard was already completed. He said he could have avoided some of the attention if he would have put the garden behind his house. But he purposely located it in front. "We want the neighbors to enjoy it," Ronaghi said. "We don't have selfish motives. We want to share what we have." Francine McRoberts, one of his neighbors, appreciates his efforts. "I'm sure they're going to make him tear it up," she said. "It will hurt my feelings badly. I'm so sorry for him. He spent time and money. This is a country where there's freedom, right?"

It's important to stop and smell the roses, too Date: 01/21/97 Category: SPORTS Page: 1C Wally Hall Much has been said and written about Dennis Rodman's assault on another human being. Much more will be said and written about Rodman. Most will be negative. It's the nature of the beast for highly paid athletes and entertainers. If they are going to get their color picture on the front page for doing something right on the court, you can bet they will get the same coverage when they do something wrong on or off the court. Unfortunately, good deeds go unpublicized. Not because the media doesn't like good news, but because the athletes never tell anyone about those deeds. In Rodman's case, the negative publicity was like his temper -- a time bomb ticking much too fast. The problem wasn't where Rodman kicked photographer Eugene Amos -- although most guys who have been kicked there would think no punishment too severe -- but that he kicked him at all. Anyone who has been kicked in the groin can tell you the pain isn't immediate. No, that would be almost welcomed since it would be over sooner. It starts slow and builds until your stomach is like a tomado and you can't breath. Death seems like the only cure. While Amos was suffering through that and the indignation of it happening in front of thousands of people, Rodman stood a few feet away, smirking. Since this is the same Dennis Rodman who married himself, maybe the right thing for him to do when he loses his temper in the future is hit himself. Hard. In the groin. That way he can just keep all his pain, agony and misery in the family. Anyway, that was just the headline story of last week. At almost the same time that was happening, there was another story unfolding, a private story that needs to be revealed. And it was happening right our own state. The Saturday before, when Derek Fisher came home for a Saturday night, he took the time to spend a couple of hours with his grandmother, Carrie Johnson, who is 86. Since this is the first time Fisher has been away from home, he noticed his grandmother had grown a bit more fragile. Fisher, who comes from a truly great family, hasn't experienced the aging process or a single family death, so it depressed him. He even stayed over a few extra hours to visit with his grandmother again before he left. Still, he carried the emotions with him when he rejoined the Lakers. Last Wednesday, Annette Fisher, Derek's mom, received a call at work about a delivery to her house for her mom, who lives in Sweet Home with another daughter. Annette told the people just to leave the package. She was going out there after work and would take the package to her mother. No, she didn't understand, the man said. The package was far too large to fit in a car. Finally, they made arrangements to meet at the Fisher home and the man would follow her to Sweet Home. "I couldn't imagine who was sending my mom a package, and what could possibly be so large it wouldn't fit in my trunk," Annette said. After work, when the delivery man returned, Annette was stunned. "It was 20 dozen red roses," she said. The card said they were from Derek and Shaquille O'Neal. But later they found out Derek didn't know anything about it. O'Neal had sent the roses himself and added Derek's name to the card. O'Neal, who lights up like a Christmas tree when Annette -- he calls her Momma Fisher -comes to a game, had reached out and touched someone with what Jennings Osborne would call a random act of kindness. Everyone knows Shaquille O'Neal signed a $120 million contract with the Lakers. Everyone knows he is 7-3 and more than 300 pounds. What everyone doesn't know is he is a bigger man than Dennis Rodman in every sense of the word.

Promoter sings praises of revamped amphitheater Date: 01/29/97 Category: STYLE Page: 1F JACK W. HILL, ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE o backsides are likely to plop down anywhere near Little Rock's Riverfest Amphitheatre until at least the spring thaw, but when the time finally comes, there should be some noticeable changes, the kind that city offcials and promoters hope will bring patrons back again and again. There should be 1,816 permanent seats for music fans by the time the first concert of the 1997 season cranks up, says local promoter Butch Stone of the Concert Co., who has been keeping up with the situation for obvious reasons. "I couldn't be more pleased with what the city fathers have done, construction-wise," Stone says. "Last year we (Stone and Donnie Frizell, since departed from the company) took city officials to St. Louis to see a concert by Gloria Estefan at Riverport Amphitheater, and they all came back determined to make our facility as much like that one as possible -- userfriendly." Cromwell Engineers Inc. created the design, which calls for 500 folding chairs in the area closest to the stage, with 1,200 numbered seats, fanning out behind, flanked by two existing sidewalks. Plenty of grassy knoll remains for those who prefer to spread out and sit on the ground on blankets. "All of the sections, if not every seat, will be handicapped-accessible," says Stan Jackson, a project manager at the Cromwell firm. "The orchestra pit will stay flexible, for those shows for people who want to dance, or stand and hang out, or sometimes it will be folding chairs." Jackson said the work should start soon, after the city solicits bids for a contractor. "We'll do everything we can to get it done quickly," Jackson said. "We're well on the way to a first-class venue, compared to Mud Island in Memphis. Think about that situation, with lawn seating added. I think it'll be neater here." Stone is planning to stage his company's first concert of the year during the first weekend of May, but he's not sure yet who it will be. He has a couple of country artists tentatively booked during the summer concert season, but he's not ready to release their names yet. By the time the warm-weather concert season is over, Stone expects to have staged 10 to 12 shows in the amphitheater. "We will try to bring in the biggest country, rock 'n' roll and alternative acts that are available," he said. "We're looking at a couple of the festivals that are likely to tour the country, and we're also looking at a series, 'Party in the Park,' where we'll give local talent a chance to play down there for a very low ticket price. "We might even like to do a 'rave,' one of those unique underground happenings, or parties, that have caught on all over." By March, Stone expects to be ready to announce at least a couple of the shows he will present. "There will be bigger-name artists and more shows on the weekends," he said. "Things that are in the works will enable us to accomplish this at better ticket prices." Stone and his firm will again be linked to Contemporary Productions, a St. Louis firm that books entertainment into Riverport Amphitheater in that city and into Sandstone Amphitheater in Kansas City, Mo. "We are partners, tied by an umbilical cord," Stone said. "I'm very happy with them and glad to have them as partners." Ticket sales will be one major area he figures to change. Rather than using Ticketmaster, as he has in the past, Stone is exploring a setup with sales at a variety of retail outlets in Central Arkansas. The change would correspond with the way Riverport and Sandstone conduct business, he said. Stone intends to change the ticket structure to try to eliminate the practice of putting tickets on sale at a reduced price after some had bought them for a steeper price. Those who bought tickets early were not happy to hear that if they had waited, they could have gotten "two for one" or some such special deal. Food, beverage and merchandise sales will be expanded to more areas of the park, to try to make it easier for concert-goers to spend money. The flagpoles and two huge concrete pillars will be relocated. There will be steel added to the roof to accommodate bigger productions, and the mixing platform for sound technicians, which has stuck in the middle of the park, will be lowered to improve sight lines. A concrete retaining wall that made it hard for performers' buses and trucks to enter and leave the backstage area has been moved, making it easier on technicians. More portable bathrooms will be set up on the western side of the park until another permanent structure can be built, similar to the one on the eastern side of the park. Concert sponsorship has been elicited from Jennings Osborne, Budweiser and CocaCola. An area for VIPs has been permanently fenced. "There's a lot of excitement in the air," Stone said.

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