Local Response to Census Is Lower than National Average The initial Census response is officially over, but that doesn't mean there will no longer be knocks at your door from the Census Bureau staff requesting information about your gender, race, income, and marital status. According to the Census Bureau, Memphians apparently did not care enough to respond to the census as much as residents of other U.S. cities. The Memphis response rate -- 58 percent -- declined by 3.8 percent since the 1990 census, and it is 7 percent lower than the national response rate. The return percentages for other municipalities in Shelby County are: Arlington, 45 percent; Bartlett, 77 percent; Collierville, 78 percent; Lakeland, 60 percent; Germantown, 78 percent; and Millington, 65 percent. That averages out to 65.9 percent for the Memphis area. "This is your future. Don't leave it blank," blares the slogan of the Census 2000. Lew Alvarado, a researcher at the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Memphis, supports and adheres to that warning. "There is certainly a concern about the future here," he says. According to Alvarado, participating in the census is in an individuals' own self-interest. People who answer the census help their communities obtain federal and state funding and provide valuable information for planning schools, hospitals, employment services, housing assistance, highway construction, and programs for the elderly. Census information helps decision-makers understand how federal dollars should be distributed based on which neighborhoods need new schools and which ones need greater services for the elderly. But they will not be able to tell what neighborhoods need if residents don't fill out -- and return -- the census forms. Memphis households may still be visited if questionnaires were received after April 18. The non-response follow-up ends July 7th. For more information, visit the Census Bureau's Web site at www.census.gov, or see initial response rates for Census 2000 at http://rates.census.gov. -- Jamie Schmidt Freeland Steps Down as Flyer Editor Dennis Freeland remembers the first Flyer he worked on, nearly eight years ago, and every issue since then. This week, he announced he is stepping down as editor. "This was completely my idea," says Freeland. "I've been doing this job for more than 400 issues, and the Flyer has grown and prospered in that time. But there's no question that it's a very stressful job, and I'm looking forward to stepping back, doing more writing, and playing a somewhat different role here." Freeland will remain with Contemporary Media, Inc., publisher of the Flyer, and will devote his time to other editorial projects within the company. He also intends to continue to write his regular sports column for the Flyer. A native of Paris, Tennessee, Freeland graduated from the University of Memphis. Under his command, the Flyer has expanded from 36 pages to 80-100 pages each week. During this time, it has also garnered dozens of journalism awards, including first-place honors from the National Newspaper Association, the Institute for Southern Studies, and the Green Eyeshade Awards. "It's a bittersweet decision, but I believe Dennis is doing the right thing," says Kenneth Neill, CEO and publisher of Contemporary Media, which also publishes Memphis magazine and Memphis Parent. "This will be a good move for his family, his health, and his career, and we are indeed happy he is staying on with our company." Freeland, 44, suffered a stroke last summer from which he is still recovering. The company is currently conducting a search for his successor. WMC Radio Stations for Sale After years in the rumor mill, one of local media's most persistent buzzes is finally coming to pass. Raycom Media has announced that it is looking for a buyer for its two Memphis radio stations, WMC-AM 790 and WMC "FM 100." Ever since Raycom acquired the WMC family of stations -- which also includes WMC-TV Channel 5 -- in 1996, speculation has been constant that the Alabama-based company would eventually shed the two radio properties. The company currently owns 36 television stations, but doesn't own any radio stations outside Memphis. Earlier this year, the sell-off gossip began hitting the trades, and Monday it finally became a press release. "In response to numerous inquiries, we have decided to explore a potential sale of our only radio stations," says Raycom president and CEO John Hayes in a company release. "With the ownership of radio stations rapidly consolidating, it has become increasingly apparent that we can no longer effectively compete with just two radio stations." According to Hayes, however, there are no plans to sell Channel 5. -- Jim Hanas Flinn Spins Stations Radio listeners may have found themselves hopelessly confused touring the AM dial in the last month. Flinn Broadcasting, the media mini-lith owned by radiologist George Flinn, has been shuffling its stations in what should now and forever be known as a patented "Flinn Spin." Let's see if we can get this straight: · WOWW-AM 1430, which used to air talk programming, was broadcasting rhythm-and-blues music until a month ago, when the station began broadcasting Radio Disney's family-oriented programming. · For a while, the talk programming that used to be on WOWW was airing on WTCK-AM 1030 (which, you'll recall, was WSFZ "Super Sport 1030" when Flinn acquired it). But that station has now become WGSF and is airing Spanish-language Radio Ambiente. · What used to be WGSF-AM 1210 "Radio Ambiente," meanwhile, has now become WWGQ-AM "Talk 1210," and it, appropriately enough, is airing the talk shows that used to be on WOWW before they moved to WTCK. So, in summation, if you used to listen to the talk shows on 1430 and you followed them to 1030, you should now tune in to 1210. If you formerly listened to Spanish programming on 1210, you should now tune to 1030. And if you just have a big crush on Donald Duck and/or Michael Eisner, then 1430 is the place for you. Needless to say, these listings are subject to change without notice. -- Jim Hanas Despite Minor Setbacks, AutoZone Park Hits Home Run "Today is an emotional day for me and Dean; it's the day we officially turn AutoZone Park over to you, the citizens of this region." The last time the Flyer touched on Redbirds baseball, Kristi Jernigan made these comments in her address to the thousands who lined the entrance plaza of the new AutoZone Park. "Are we proud of AutoZone Park, home of the Memphis Redbirds!?!" shouted Mayor Rout at the opening. Judging by the attendance, the citizens of the region seem quite proud. Thus far, the Redbirds have averaged more than 10,000 fans at each game. It has been the hottest ticket in town, proving to the Redbirds staff that their unconditional service featured in the April 6th issue of the Flyer is not going unappreciated. "It's nice to know that while we know things haven't been perfect to this point, the fans haven't harped on it too much because of their overall excitement when they come to the ballpark," says Jason Jones, media relations manager for the Memphis Redbirds. "But what's really exciting is the fact that things are going to be even better." Even the best draw in Memphis has had its share of setbacks. The Direct TV feature in the luxury boxes that allows patrons to view any live major-league game wasn't installed until this past week. There have been various complaints about the sound system throughout the stadium. Technicians have had to upgrade the left-field scoreboard's capabilities to accommodate a pitch count for those sitting in the right-field bleachers. "There are a few things that haven't gone great, but most have come along according to plan," says stadium operations manager Don Rovak, who says he is still amazed with the park despite his constant exposure to it. "The biggest surprise has been the constant reminder of how huge a ballpark it is, and how much attention it is constantly receiving." Since its opening, AutoZone Park has been a major attraction, even when the 'Birds aren't playing. On the days the team is away, the stadium has booked half of them for special events, such as board meetings for Storage USA (where Dean Jernigan is CEO), the Memphis Arts Council's Arts Fair, a Kirby High School class reunion, a luncheon for The Hutchison School, and -- for those diehard baseball fans -- even wedding rehearsal dinners. Says Rovak, "It's the best facility in the city, and people internally and externally are finding out that it is more than just a baseball field." With the increased exposure comes a necessity to have the park ready for visitors. And with construction still underway, that is easier said than done. "Every day, at three in the afternoon, me and a co-worker have to clear the ballpark of any signs of construction, throwing stuff in closets and getting it out of the public's view," says Rovak. "It's become kind of fun, like a challenge. I don't think visitors have any idea that has to happen every day, just before they arrive. The bottom line is that when the fans come to the ballpark, we don't want them standing in green paint, or [someone] picking up a hammer and seeing what he can do with it." Despite a few minor setbacks, mostly known to only the staff, AutoZone Park is doing well. Okay, really well. The Redbirds' attendance is higher than what the staff was even expecting, and is outdrawing major-league teams like the Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins, and Milwaukee Brewers. Its success is probably what keeps the staff so optimistic. They believe fans will be even more impressed after all the attractions are in place and minor corrections made. Says Jones, "We've made a good amount of progress with corrections to the park thus far, and as soon as everything gets finished with the Boardwalk and construction, fans will really be amazed." -- Jake Lawhead Survey: Memphians Care About Education, But Have Little Confidence in Current System Memphis school officials are hoping a new study will give lawmakers the backbone needed to push tax reform in Tennessee. In a telephone poll of 400 registered voters released last week by Partners in Public Education, 63 percent said they'd pay higher property taxes if they were assured the money would be spent on public education. "Now we have some ammunition to back up our case," says Sara Lewis, president of the Memphis Board of Education. "I hope this gets into the hands of every lawmaker out there." Jane Walters, executive director of PIPE, the nonprofit support group for Memphis City Schools, agrees. "The results are very positive," she says. "They show there is a lot of support out there for public education, and that's the first step in making anything positive happen." The survey, which was paid for by the Hyde Family Foundation and conducted by local pollster Ethridge & Associates and WestRogers Marketing, covered topics ranging from funding and reform to school conditions and desired qualities of a new superintendent. But all the results were hardly encouraging. Among the survey's findings: · 28 percent of respondents think the city school system does only a fair job of preparing students to compete. · 44 percent give the system a C in terms of student achievement. · 31 percent give the school board a C for its effectiveness. · 46 percent say they are not confident the school administration and elected officials have the ability to move the system where it needs to be. (Although, 44 percent are confident in current school leaders, 66 percent could not immediately name a school board member and 61 percent did not support Mayor Willie Herenton's plan of eliminating the election of school board members.) · And while 50 percent of those surveyed say public city schools are safe, 45 percent disagreed. The news gets worse when it comes to funding issues. A whopping 66 percent say citizens are not getting their money's worth from Memphis City Schools. While 61 percent feel the system is not adequately funded (39 percent think the system spends too little per child, while 37 percent say it spends the right amount), 55 percent think more money will improve quality while 43 percent think more dollars won't make any difference. Lewis says the school board will work closely with PIPE to figure out what to do with all the statistics, suggesting the school board meet with PIPE's board of directors at a retreat. Walters says finding solutions will be difficult, acknowledging the fact that people are often supportive when simply being asked a polling question and then back away when the time comes to put their money where their mouths are. "But we're at a point where we're looking for a new superintendent and we're sort of at the cusp for change," says Walters. "If people want to make a difference in public education, the time is now." Walters says PIPE will soon post a synopsis of the survey on its Web site: www.pipememphis.org. -- Tanuja Surpuriya

					Fly on the Wall Unnecessary Roughness As if Memphis sports fans didn't have enough to cheer about, what with the tremendous success of AutoZone Park, it has come to our attention that the Bluff City is in line to get its own professional football team. Vince McMahon, the man behind the World Wrestling Federation, has announced that we've made the short list for his new wrestling-themed XFL football league, which is scheduled to make its national television debut on February 3rd, the week after Superbowl XXXV. Though our own arena team, the Pharaohs, came in with a whimper and went out with a more pitiful whimper, longtime Memphians may recall the unprecedented outpouring of civic pride that surrounded the arrival of the USFL Memphis Showboats back in 1984. We were so happy to have professional sports in town that the city even developed double-decker MATA buses, with fancy bus stops that looked just like Mississippi River paddlewheelers. While we know that such extravagance is out of the question this time around, we can at least cross our fingers and hope our city fathers will see fit to sponsor a fleet of garbage trucks shaped like the Hulkster. Underground Delivery On June 6th, a group made up primarily of senior citizens and underprivileged youths headed out of Memphis on a Greyhound bus on their way to Niagara Falls, Canada. Their goal: to retrace the footsteps of the countless slaves who took a hidden moonlit path known as the Underground Railroad to freedom. Over the course of the tour the group will take part in an Underground Railroad re-enactment involving bounty hunters and animals. They will walk across the Niagara Falls suspension bridge, just as Harriet Tubman did so very long ago, and they will take part in a traditional African praise ceremony called a libation. The tour, which is conducted by costumed guides from Motherland Connextions, is being sponsored by both Greyhound Lines and FedEx. While we admire these huge corporations' generous involvement in bringing history to life, we also understand the corporate world's penchant for branding everything they touch. So let us close our eyes and pray that future textbooks do not read, "The Underground Greyhound: When you absolutely, positively have to get emancipated overnight." Radio Free Nothing On Thursday afternoon, immediately following the Howard Stern show, 92.9 FM will temporarily ditch its regular hard-rocking format, and start taking requests. From Beethoven to BTO, from Johnny Cash to the Johnny Mnemonic soundtrack, it's anything goes -- but it will cost you. In an effort to support the proposed plan to create a health insurance package for Memphis area musicians, 92.9 announces its first-ever live Radioathon. You pledge a donation and you get to hear your request. Of course, in the spirit of free enterprise, station officials have announced that anyone with deep enough pockets can block offensive requests with a counter- pledge. So dig deep people. After all, a day without 'N Sync is like a day in Paradise.
		Compiled by Chris Davis Send items to: P.O. Box 1738 Memphis, TN 38101 FAX: 521-0129 e-mail: davis@memphisflyer.com.

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