Watercooler Stories

YES, BUT THEY BOUGHT IT FOR A SONG

It's a new record for Memphis real estate ... an in-bankruptcy home estate snapped up for just $4.2 million. The founder of the national AutoZone chain and his wife paid that amount to get the Shady Grove Road estate home of Wilda Humphreys and some adjoining property.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal is reporting that Humphreys is the 80-year-old wife of the late founder of the Humko empire. He began the "edible oils" company in the mid 1930s.

Mrs. Humphreys has been in the house for more than half a century.

At one time the new owners, Mr. and Mrs. J.R. "Pitt" Hyde III, had offered Mrs. Humphreys $600,000 for the 9,000-square-foot home with a guarantee that she could live there as long as she desired.

The Hydes were instrumental in bringing the Grizzlies franchise to Memphis.

FORMER HIGH-LEVEL LAWMAKER SENTENCED

At one time, former congressman Edward Mezvinsky was one of the most outspoken men on Capitol Hill ... now he's headed to prison. After more than two years of work in the courts, Mezvinsky was sentenced to more than six and one-half years in a federal prison.

He was indicted on charges that he participated in a series of scams during a decade-long period. The scams reportedly cost his friends, family and several groups more than $10 million.

Mezvinsky, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, read a tearful statement of apology to the court, just before being sentenced.

There had been calls for his time to be spent in doing public service, claiming that the former congressman had emotional problems. On the other hand, the judge could have sentenced him to nine and one-third years.

GOVERNOR WANTS EARLY CHILDHOOD HELP

In his State of the State address, Mississippi's governor says his rallying call will be "early intervention" to build strong, healthy kids. Gov. Ronnie Musgrove says that a new early childhood education program should target kindergarten-age children.

The Clarion Ledger says that Musgrove called for a plan that would bring 5-year-olds into classrooms at least two months before the traditional start of kindergarten to help them better prepare for school days ahead.

The so-called Summer Start program, he told legislators, should go far to reduce the state's dropout rate and increase students' skills for future jobs.

He gave no hint in his 17-minute speech as to where he will find the funding for the concept.

Additionally, he called for $20 million in bonds to provide more job training in rural areas of his state. He proposed the creation of what he called the Mississippi Rural Economic Impact Authority to handle the training chores.

DIVERS THINK THEY'VE FOUND MISSING WOMAN

Underwater experts in Washington state think they have found the body of a missing 18-year-old woman. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer says that an autopsy will be performed on a body found in Columbia Slough, off Kelley Point Park, to determine if it is that of Cassondra Brown.

Meanwhile, police have told local media they suspect a former boyfriend of killing her in one location, then dumping the body into the remote backwaters of the slough.

Police used nearly two dozen divers in the search for the woman's body.

In some places they were hampered by visibility as low as 2 feet as they went deeper and deeper in their search.

The woman was reported missing by her parents this past weekend. Police detectives then focused on the woman's former boyfriend. He's now in custody awaiting identification of the body and possible legal action.