People

L.A. STREET TO BE NAMED FOR CHICK HEARN

A member of the Los Angeles City Council says that the best way to pay tribute to the late broadcaster Chick Hearn is to name a street for him in the area around the Staples Center, where the Lakers play. Councilman Nick Pacheco tells all-news station KNX that he will offer Angelenos the chance to suggest names by going onto the Internet and casting their votes. Pacheco offers four of his own suggestions: Chick Hearn Lane, Chick Hearn Court, Chick Hearn's Place and Chick Hearn Dribble Drive. Pacheco's idea is that a section of 11th Street in Los Angeles -- between Figueroa (the city's drag in the Staples Center area) and Cherry Street -- be named in Hearn's honor. The great broadcaster died of a brain hemorrhage last week.

RAY CHARLES TO RETURN TO GOSPEL ROOTS

One of the true icons of American music, Ray Charles, says he's about to return to his early days in gospel music with a major presentation of sacred music next month. The entertainer's publicist tells United Press International that Charles will be joined by a 70-member choir in his first gospel music shows in decades. The singers who will provide the back up for Charles belong to the Voices of Jubilation Choir, based in Newark, N.J. -- considered one of the world's best large gospel choirs. The concerts will take place on the evenings of Sept. 5 and 6, during the week before the Sept. 11 anniversary, at the new Kodak Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The performances will be taped for presentation on a pay-per-view basis during the Christmas holiday season. A CD will also be produced of the concert, with the best of both nights combined into one performance.

ENRIQUE IGLESIAS TAKING SHOW TO VEGAS

International, second-generation pop singer Enrique Iglesias is about to mount a major show in one of the biggest showrooms in Las Vegas, the Grand Garden Arena of the MGM Grand. The hotel-casino says that Iglesias and his "Don't Turn Off the Lights" tour will be joined by Paulina Rubio and Soluna on the night of Oct. 19 for a major performance. The demand for tickets is anticipated to be so large that only eight tickets per person will be sold at ticket windows and through Internet sales groups. Additionally, a system of randomly called numbers will be used to manage the anticipated line outside the MGM box offices. Iglesias, still only 26, has already sold 30 million albums worldwide. He is also responsible for 13 No. 1 singles on international Latin music charts. His latest album, "Escape," has gone triple-platinum since its release.

PROMOTER ARUM SURVIVES PLANE CRASH

Colorful boxing promoter Bob Arum was able to walk away from a plane that crash-landed and eventually burst into flames at a mountain airport runway near Big Bear, Calif. -- about 90 minutes east of Los Angeles. Arum and at least six others were on board the plane. The group was headed to the famous mountain resort to visit the training camp of boxing champ Oscar De La Hoya, scheduled to make a defense of his title on Sept. 14. The 70-year-old promoter had flown out of Las Vegas with a group of entertainment executives from that city and a Las Vegas-based sports writer. ESPN says that Arum told it by phone that the plane quickly was engulfed in smoke and flame. "The only reason my clothing didn't catch on fire," he told the network, "was that I was moving so quickly." Arum calls the safe escape from the burning Cessna Citation 550, a twin-engine business jet, a "miracle."

LORETTA PUTS OUT THE 'YARD SALE' SIGNS

Popular country diva Loretta Lynn is about to thin out some of her many possessions. She is about to hold an old-fashioned yard sale. According to Country Music Television, Lynn, a long-time member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, will sell off clothing, furniture, dishes and other items in early October at her ranch at Hurricane Mills, in Tennessee. Many of the items have been in storage for years. Some of the merchandise served as major sections of the sets used in the movie version of her life, "Coal Miner's Daughter," to represent her childhood home in Butcher Holler, Ky., where she spent her early years. Lynn says she will use the proceeds from the sale to help restore her plantation home, which is now open to tours. Additionally, it is likely she will not be on hand personally for the sale, but will be back at the ranch several days later for a major concert.

MUCH-LOVED PHOTOGRAPHERS DIE IN CRASH

For decades nature lovers around the world have reveled in the incredible photographic work of husband and wife team Galen and Barbara Rowell. The two were internationally known for their stark photography of American wilderness areas, particularly in the San Francisco Bay area. Now, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, both have died in the crash of a plane near the Bishop, Calif., airport. They were on their way home from conducting a photographic workshop in Alaska when their plane crashed just shy of the airport at Bishop. Although both of the Rowells were seasoned pilots and had navigated in and out of some of the world's worst airports, at the time of the crash they were passengers in a plane they had chartered to go to Alaska. Galen Rowell was 62; wife Barbara was 54. An investigation into the cause of the crash continues. The pilot and a fourth person also died in the crash.

UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 393

In today's column we had two very different stories about planes. In one crash-landing the passengers walked away. In the other all perished. So, today's question: "What have been your experiences concerning flights in small planes, often called 'puddle jumper' planes?" Put PLANE in the subject line and send to [email protected] via the Internet.

RESULTS OF QUESTION NO. 388 (LETTER)

Last week we asked for your horror stories about letters going to the wrong place. Boy, did we get some interesting replies. The vast majority talked not about conventional "snail mail," but about e-mail. Many wanted me to relay a suggestion. Here it is. For heaven's sake make sure you check all the carbon copies and additional addresses on a letter before you simply push REPLY and send remarks. Several spoke of horrible situations in which you wrote a scalding reply to someone, mentioning a third party. Unfortunately, for some reason, that third party also got a copy of the letter. Donna K tells of an experience where she "spoke badly" of a supervisor ... who ended up getting her remarks through an e-mail carbon. Pat O had a horrible experience, sending an "extremely suggestive" e-mail to her boyfriend. It ended up going to her 8-year-old nephew (who had the same name). AntiM mentioned something that was mentioned by many others, sending the wrong check for the wrong utility bill in the wrong envelope. So, make sure if you send mail you know to whom it's going, especially if it's e-mail. TOMORROW: Rummage sales and auctions. GBA.