The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 12

ght Mania AND CONSTITUTION MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 1983, 12 Old Rivals Now Classmates at Consolidated Tri-Cities High School i Li AkU. iiiiiaiii BULLDOGS By Lori Boyer ShgWriler Lisa Groover reports Monday for her senior year of high school a time to hang out with old friends and relive the glory days. But for Lisa and hundreds of students who once attended Hapeville, College Park, Woodland or Russell high schools, this year will be a time to adjust to attending classes with old rivals at newly formed Tri-Cities High School. Many parents, students' and residents of College Park, East Point and Hapeville were unhappy with the Fulton County Board of Education's plan to consolidate some schools, and complained about the loss of neighborhood schools and the possibility of racial confrontations among students. "Everybody's scared right now.

Nobody knows what it's going to be like," said 17-year-old Lisa. Tri-Cities High School, which is expected to have about 1,800 students, is one of the first mergers under the consolidation plan, which will close 27 of 48 south Fulton schools by 1991. Tri-Cities students will attend classes on the Russell and College Park high school campuses until a new school is built Consolidation is designed to boost lagging enrollments in many south Fulton schools and be more cost effective, its supporters say. "We just feel good. I know that some people have some negative ideas, but we will never let them infringe on us," said Tri-Cities High Principal Hershel J.

Robinson Jr. "The only problem that I see is if the student has been misled in his thinking toward making this consolidation work." When parents and residents learned about the plan, groups picketed the Board of Education to stop consolidation. A group of Hapeville residents unsuccessfully took the school board to court to stop the closing of Hapeville High this year. The protests have stopped, but the reservations remain. Upset parents not only complained about losing neighborhood schools, but also about possible racial problems.

"If individuals would look at the content and the character of a person and not the color of his skin, will conduct student seminars on personal safety and legal responsibilities, work with parents, administrators and staff on safety concerns, and also conduct -similar sessions at feeder schools. Even knowing a security officer is on campus doesn't ease some students' tensions about attending Tri-Cities High. In the crowded halls, the officers won't be able to keep their eyes on everyone, said one student "If you're in the hall and the hall is compact, what are they officers going to see except what's in front of their eyes?" asked 15-year-old Amanda Kelley, a sophomore who will attend the Russell campus. Steve Frugoli, 16, has a slightly different attitude. "I don't think it's going to be as bad as some people say it will be," said Steve, a member of the foofr ball team.

"I don't think anybody's going to walk up and start anything." Camellia Meridieth of Hapeville, whose 15-year-old son, Brian, will be a sophomore on the Russell campus, said Brian is upset about consolidation but that she recommended he go in with an open mind. "I told Brian go with a good attitude, get along with people, go to get educated," said Mrs. Meridieth, whose daughter graduated from Hapeville last year. "If they go with a good attitude, it's going to be all right" Laurie Boyer, who will teach biology and physical science on the Russell campus, said Mr. Robinson is the driving force that will make consolidation a positive experience for the students and 130 faculty and staff members.

"He has very high expectations. He wants his teachers to give the kids the very best experience," she said after attending a weeklong Tri-Cities High teachers' workshop two weeks ago. "I think when the kids get there and see the attitude of the teachers and the principal, they're going to be very happy they were assigned there." "We have positive attitudes about it," said former Woodland student Ursula. "We are going in there with the attitude that 'I'm going to make new friends and I'm going to leave Woodland high school worries We hope everybody else will, too." DWIGHT ROSS JRTStaff Hershel J. Robinson principal of Tri-Cit- the four schools that were consolidated into ies High School, holds up the top half of the Tri-Cities Hapeville, College Park, Wood-new school's physical education uniform.

Mr. land and Russell chose the design for the Robinson said a committee of students from uniforms. then you don't have any problem," Mr. Robinson said. The student population will be 60 percent black and 40 percent white, and the teacher racial ratio will be 60 percent white to 40 percent black, Mr.

Robinson estimated. Hapeville High School was predominantly white, while College Park, Woodland and Russell high schools were mostly black. "Maybe we might not mix with them as well as with each other," said 16-year-old Ursula Fambro, a black student who attended Woodland High School last year. "Everybody's expecting a lot of fights over here. We don't want that." As a precaution, four unarmed security officers will be hired to work at both the Russell and College Park campuses and at Westlake and Banneker high schools.

"Their" function will be to have a police presence on campus," said Benjamin H. Harris, Fulton County's executive director for student services. The officers new to the Fulton school system Metro Voters Likely To Settle At Least Four Races in Runoffs ISglf: lllll Vj 7 mmmsmm wmmmmm wrnms -imam a mm lV; vrr7 i 4 Murphy's Supporters Taste a Win Barbecue Crowd Toasts Speaker's Experience ByALMay StaffWriler BUCHANAN, Ga. The signs leading to Sea Breeze Lake and Buchanan City Park said, "Keep the gavel in the 18th," and as motorists entered the amusement grounds Sunday they were handed little pencils with gavel-like erasers. In case anyone missed the point, Sen.

Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) waved one of the little totems of power as he urged voters in the 18th District to re-elect Thomas Bailey Murphy to a 15th two-year term in the Georgia House, where, for almost half of his legislative tenure, he has reigned with a heavy gavel as speaker. For the first time in his political career, Mr. Murphy has a Republican opponent Kenneth R. Smith, a popular former city councilman from Bremen and the leader of the conservative wing of the state Democratic Party is taking no chances. Although Sunday's chicken barbecue is the 11th such event Mr.

Murphy has staged for the folks of Haralson County, it had the. flavor of an old-time political rally, complete with a horse-drawn buggy, country music and helium balloons. Mixed in the crowd were a fair number of Atlanta lobbyists and state bureaucrats. "I'm here to tell you that Tom Murphy has remembered where he comes from," said Mr. Nunn with a beaming "Mr.

Speaker" behind him on the stage. The state's other U.S. senator, Wyche Fowler of Atlanta, offered similar testimony, although his red Izod shirt offered a contrast to Mr. Murphy's white straw hat 1 Gov. Joe Frank Harris, who won the executive mansion with Mr.

Murphy's help, said it was important for the "team to remain intact," and even Lt Gov. Zell Miller, who has feuded with Mr. Murphy, had only kind things to say about his rival. Indeed, as he gazed at more than 2,000 people who turned out for Mr. Murphy's party, Mr.

Miller noted the presence of enough legis- 9m tliiii If A lawyer R.L. Jacobs or former Smyrna Mayor J.M. "Hoot" Gibson faces current Commissioner Harvey Paschal, a Democrat, in the November general election. Vying for the school board Post 5 are Republicans Laura Dingier, Probate Court administrator, and John C. McClure, a former school board member who is retired from the Air Force.

DeKalb County: The Republican runoff for the District 1 County Commission post will be decisive because there is no Democratic opposition in November. Incumbent Jean F. Williams is facing Dr. Bob Williams, southeast medical director for General Motors. Douglas County: A Democratic runoff will decide whether James J.

Mayfield Jr. or Thelma J. Turley, the incumbent, is the nominee for the school board's District 2 post. The Republican nominee is Jackie Christopher. Forsyth County: Politicians are attributing high voter interest and the resulting runoffs to some spicy headlines about county contracts and the replacement of the county administrator.

Democrat incumbent Commissioner Leroy Hubbard is being challenged by builder Jeffrey W. Heard for the opportunity to take on Republican Michael J. McGaughey. Another Democrat incumbent, Commissioner David Gilbert, is in a runoff with Jacqueline Thomas Collins, who hopes to become the county's first female on the board. One of them will face Republican Barry D.

Hillgartner. Republicans Dr. William "Bill" Prescott and Peggy Walker are vying for the post of school superintendent, as are Democrats Dr. Dennis Whittle and Rick Case. Fulton County: A non-partisan race for the school board District 7 post pits incumbent Ora Jean Gun-nin against Michael T.

Rast Mrs. Gunnin supports Fulton's plan for consolidation and renovation while Mr. Rast contends that some consolidations create districts that are geographically too large. Henry County: Two Democratic runoffs for County Commission posts are on tap. In District 2, Janet Honea and Tommy Palmer are vying for the nomination in order to face Republican Jim Abbott in November.

For District 3, incumbent Paul Smith is being challenged by Nick Lewis, with the winner facing Republican Dave Crawford. Newton County: Since there is no Republican in the race, the runoff between Democrats Richard Johnson Jr. and Leonard Standard will settle the issue for the District 2 school board post. Rockdale County: Republicans will decide between CM. "Bud" So-sebee and Philip E.

Mathis for the November candidacy against Democrat Ronnie Conner for Commission Postl. Staff writers Katie Long, Jim Newton, Anne Cowles, John Brady, Julie Miller and Lori Boyer contributed to thty article, By Gary Hendricks Staff Writer At least four local races are likely to end with Tuesday's runoffs, as voters in several metro counties cast ballots to decide those contests without opposition in the November general election. By the time the polls close at 7 p.m., Clayton and DeKalb citizens will declare who will sit in commissioner posts, while Cobb residents will either have elected a new commissioner or decreed that they will have to return to the voting booths yet again in September. Cobb and Fulton have school board races that also will be decided Tuesday. The runoffs from the Aug.

9 primaries also will crystallize hotly contested county commission races throughout the area in the November general election, especially the one to determine the successor to Clayton Commission Chairman J. Charley Griswell, who is retiring from office after 12 years in power. Clayton County: High school Principal Dal F. Turner, a self-proclaimed underdog, surprisingly led the Republican primary over former county Commissioner Ernest Wright three weeks ago for the nomination in the commission chairman's race, forcing Tuesday's runoff. One of the two will face Democrat James O.

Stewart, who was endorsed by Mr. Griswell. The runoff includes a special non-partisan election to decide whether airline captain Louis W. "Lou'? Hisel or Terry J. Starr, an insurance agent who is the son of state Sen.

Terrell Starr (D-Forest Park), will become a District A-l commissioner. The winner will fill out the two-year unexpired term of Mr. Stewart, who resigned to run for chairman. In school board races, Republicans Marjorie L. Sheffield, a home-maker, and Gary T.

Welden, a Delta Air Lines employee, will square off to see who will face Democratic incumbent Andrea Callaway to represent the LovejoyPanhandle District on the school board. GOP voters will choose either Linda Barrett, a former teacher's aide, or John E. Brooks, a Vietnam veteran, for the opportunity to challenge Democrat Robbie Lee Moore for his Riverdale Post 2 school board seat Cobb County: In a special nonpartisan election, there's a three-way race for the western district County Commission seat vacated by Charles Clay in July. The candidates are Harriet Smith, Wayne Bishop and Harry Ingram. If no one wins a majority Tuesday, a runoff is scheduled for Sept.

20. Mr. Clay, a Marietta lawyer, faces Kennesaw veterinarian Frank Boone in a runoff for the 37th District Senate seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Carl Harrison (R-Mar-ietta). On the Republican ballot is a runoff for the county's second western district commission post Either A A RENEE HANNANSStaff Speaker Tom Murphy (right) kisses his first- honor Sunday at Buchanan City Park.

Mr. Mur-grade teacher, Helen Waddell from Bremen, phy is running for his 15th term in the Georgia and says 'I love during a barbecue in his House of Representatives. lators "to have a joint session." If the voters re-elect him, Mr. Murphy said, he already has lined up enough votes among Democratic House members to re-elect him to another term as the House's presiding officer. "The choice is whether you want the speaker of the House or a freshman member of the minority party who would have to ask where to go to the restroom," Mr.

Murphy told the crowd. Mr. Smith could not be reached for comment. The betting among the bigwigs, was that the choice would be made easily despite Mr. Smith's signs that dot the countryside saying, "Time for a change." "The voters of the 18th District have a lot more sense than that" said Mr.

Fowler, who publicly thanked Mr. Murphy for supporting his long-shot Senate campaign two years ago. "He'll beat the tar out of the fellow," said state Sen. Roy E. Barnes (D-Mableton), who was one of five potential candidates for governor in 1990 who turned out for the event.

"I couldn't imagine him losing," said Rep. Terry L. Coleman (D-East-man), a veteran House member who simply has trouble envisioning anyone else as speaker. "I just don't see him ever quitting." Runoffs incumbent's first re-election bid following allegations that he beat his wife. The winner will face Republican Hugh Wright in November.

Mr. Baker has declined to publicly criticize Mr. Workman over the battery charges, which were later dropped, but said voters frequently ask him about the subject on the campaign trail. In southeast Georgia, John Jay Ellington, 27, a Soperton lawyer, is facing retired grocery store chain executive Fisher Barfoot in a runoff for the House seat being vacated by Rep. Mary Ida Phillips, who Is not seeking re-election.

Mrs. Phillips succeeded her husband, L.L. "Pete" Phillips, after the legislator's death in 1987. In Clayton County, marketing consultant Douglas Warner and community activist Gail Buckner are vying for the Democratic nomination to succeed Rudolph Johnson, who resigned earlier this year to become executive director of the Georgia State Employees Retirement System. The winner of that runoff will face Jonesboro lawyer John Davis, the Republican nominee, in November.

Voters in Cobb County and portions of Cherokee County on Tues-'. day will name a successor to the late Sen. Carl Harrison, who June 30. Chuck Clay, a Marietta lawyer who resigned from the Cobb County Commission to run for the seat, is up against Kennesaw veterinarian and fellow Republican Frank Boone. The only other state Senate runoff pits Joseph Hamill, a Brunswick medical supply company executive, against Liberty County's school superintendent, Edgar M.

Edwards, in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Glenn Bryant (D-Hinesville). Mr. Edwards submitted his resignation as school superintendent, effective Dec, 31, following his decision to seek the Senate post There is no Republican candidate. From Page 11 A rassingly low" voter turnout Tuesday.

But in one Gwinnett County legislative race, the adage that every vote counts has already been vividly illustrated. Rep. Ron Pitt-man (R-Duluth) and challenger Keith Breedlove ended up in a tie after the Aug. 9 primary and must face each other again in a runoff Tuesday. In DeKalb County's 51st District, Rep.

Ken Workman (D-Deca-tur) is in a runoff with Decatur lawyer Thurbert Baker in the J..