Tennessee News Briefly

By Donnie Johnston

The Free Lance-Star

WARRENTON, Va. (AP) - This story is hard to write without some whistling in the background and a freckled-faced, barefoot boy with a fishing pole throwing a rock into Myers Lake.

To get yourself in the proper frame of mind, first picture that opening scene from "The Andy Griffith Show" and then recall Gomer Pyle screaming "Citizen's arrest!" as Deputy Barney Fife makes an illegal U-turn on Main Street in Mayberry, N.C.

Finally, fantasize that you are actually behind the wheel of a black-and-white police cruiser ("This baby's a real emergency vehicle!") like the one America's best-loved deputy sheriff was driving in that classic episode.

Ricky Brown doesn't need to fantasize. All the Warrenton man has to do is go into his garage, open the car door and crank the engine.

Brown made the purchase of a lifetime at a car show in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. After some quick consideration and, he admits, a couple of drinks, Brown bought a 1964 Ford Galaxy 500 that, if not an original, is an exact replica of the vehicle Sheriff Andy Taylor used to drive Ernest T. Bass to Mrs. Wiley's party.

"When I saw it down there, I just had to take it home with me," the proud new owner says.

While Brown has not completed a title search to verify the car's authenticity, he says the man he bought it from told him it was one of a number of vehicles used on "The Andy Griffith Show" set.

And the seller told Brown that the car had been in his family for 40 years.

While he knew some people will say anything to sell a car, Brown didn't really care about the authenticity when he made his dream purchase.

"I've been a fan of `The Andy Griffith Show' and `The Beverly Hillbillies' since I was a kid," Brown beams in boyish fashion. "I like all old cars but this one would never have come home if I hadn't been a fan of that show, which I still watch every chance I get."

At first, when told the cruiser was authentic, Brown figured the seller was just shooting him a line (like the one Mrs. Lesch gave Barney when she sold him that old 1954 Ford.) Now, after some checking, Brown isn't so sure.

"I had this thing checked out as soon as I got it home, and we found out that it has an original 352 interceptor police motor in it," Brown says.

The car has the Mayberry Sheriff's Department insignia (a star) on either side. It also has its original siren under the hood and a red flashing light on top â€" and both still work. The police radio, connected to the whip antenna on the rear fender, still works, too.

"It's the real deal," says Brown, who grew up in Culpeper County and now owns a large northern Virginia excavating business. "There's nothing out of place, and we've gone all over the body. It's immaculate. There's not a scratch on it."

Getting the car home was a real, pardon the pun, trip.

"My brother drove it up here from Pigeon Forge and boy, did he get some looks from the people in passing cars â€" including state troopers," Brown laughs.

Four men with gunshot wounds found dead in burned home

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A fire at a duplex where four bodies with gunshot wounds were found likely was set to cover up a quadruple homicide, Nashville police said Thursday.

The bodies were found by firefighters who quickly extinguished the fire reported about 7:30 p.m. CST Wednesday.

Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said investigators think the residence was being used to cut down and distribute large amounts of cocaine.

A bag of cocaine, a set of scales and plastic bags were found inside the home.

The victims were identified as Ryan L. Russell, 28, his brother Terrance Russell, 30, their uncle, Jimmy T. Eddings, 49, and Jeffrey Scott Wade, 35.

Terrance Russell had listed the duplex as his address.

Wade has an extensive criminal history with numerous drug and assault charges since 1989, police said.

Ryan Russell was reported seen about 1 1/2 hours before the fire, leading police to believe the shootings occurred shortly before the blaze.

Special session likely before regular session

By Lucas L. Johnson II

AP Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) â€" Gov. Phil Bredesen said Thursday that a special session to discuss making Tennessee's ethics laws more strict will likely start right before the regular session of the General Assembly begins in January.

"I have not set a date, but I think we're definitely on track to have a special session at the beginning of the convening of the Legislature," Bredesen said.

The 105th General Assembly is scheduled to begin Jan. 10. But if the special session on ethics occurs, the regular session will be pushed back indefinitely.

However, the governor has said he doesn't expect the special session to last that long because of the bipartisan support he's seen in the crafting of ethics legislation that will serve as a blueprint for discussion during the session.

"I feel that we have some bipartisan legislation and if that bipartisan coalition can be held together I think we can move fairly rapidly," Bredesen said.

Despite some partisan bickering early on, members of a joint legislative committee managed to put aside their differences and unanimously approved the proposed ethics legislation last month.

The legislation covers three broad areas: the creation of an independent ethics commission, increased disclosure and regulation of lobbyists and reform of campaign finance laws.

In preparation for the special session, House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh has sent a letter to the heads of three committees â€" Government Operations, State and Local Government and Finance Ways and Means â€" asking them to hold briefings this month to discuss the legislation.

"The purpose of these briefings is to allow members to become familiar with the provisions of the proposed legislation," wrote Naifeh, D-Covington. "I believe this will help streamline the process so that once the proposal is formally before us we can move it along at a deliberate but steady pace."

There won't be any conclusions at the meetings," said Rep. Michael Kernell, adding that his committee will focus on provisions of the independent ethics commission. "This is an open discussion."