HOOVER FIRE

Funeral services are scheduled for 1 o'clock tomorrow in the gymnasium of Dora High School in Walker County for two of the four college students who perished in a fire at a Hoover Motel last weekend.

Meanwhile a team of fire investigators say they believe the blaze was started by incense left burning at a makeshift Hindu shrine inside the room of the motel's maintenance man.

Authorities say it is unlikely that the maintenance man will be charged in connection with the fire, but instead will be deported after it was discovered he was in the country on an expired works visa.

BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL BOARD VOTES 7-2

Despite an attempt to get a court injunction by the group citizens for better schools, Birmingham board of Education members yesterday voted to officially approve the hiring of Dr. Craig Witherspoon as the systems new school superintendent.

Witherspoon comes from Edgecomb North Carolina.

MANDATORY PHYSICAL EDUCATION BILL

The Alabama House has passed a bill that would make it harder for students in kindergarten through eighth grade to get out of physical education classes.

The House voted 93-3 Thursday to approve a measure that would require students in grades K-8 to take physical education with exceptions allowed only for Junior ROTC and band.

WILLIAM BELL REPLACEMENT RULES

Confusion continues on how to replace William Bell on the Jefferson County Commission.

Governor Riley has appointed people in the past, but a new law calls for a special election to fill a vacant seat.

Bell was elected Mayor of Birmingham on Tuesday.