Savannah

A Baltimore developer could reap a six-figure windfall by selling a vacant Mount Vernon building that the city gave her company nine years ago at no cost - even though she never carried out the promised apartment conversion that was a condition of the deal. Savannah Development Corp. President BettyJean Murphy hopes to get $1.2 million for 10 W. Chase St., a four-story building near Charles Street. Savannah legally must repay only the original $368,000, with no interest, that the city used to buy the building for her in 1995 so she could turn it into affordable apartments.

JAMES MICHAEL "Mike" NICKLES, 67, died February 11, 2004, at his residence. He was born April 15, 1936 in Savannah, son of the late James H. and Onie Ruth Hall Nickles. At a young age his family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he graduated from Mariemont High School and received an engineering degree from the University of Cincinnati. He was a member of Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church, Southbridge Country Club and Lamda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Mr. Nickles was retired from C.F.S.

Addie Byrd Byers, 97, a Savannah, Ga., educator who challenged a policy that kept black children out of the city's library's, died Tuesday in Savannah. Ms. Byers sought to help black children gain access to Savannah libraries in the 1950s and 1960s after a librarian claimed they weren't allowed to visit because the children "never asked." "I told the members of the library board that the black community didn't ask to pay taxes, either," she said in a 1985 interview with the Savannah Morning News.

Van Anthoren Price Sr., a chef and former Baltimore resident, died of complications from diabetes Tuesday at a hospital in Savannah, Ga. He was 45. Mr. Price was born in Baltimore and raised in the city's Wilson Park neighborhood. He attended Lake Clifton High School and was a member of the Job Corps in the 1970s. During the 1980s, he served with the Maryland National Guard. Mr. Price, who was a graduate of Baltimore International Culinary College, was a chef at Ocean Pride Restaurant and Carryout on York Road in Lutherville for nearly 20 years.

SAVANNAH, Ga. - For Morgan State to post back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 20 years, coach Donald Hill-Eley needed some spice in his offense. So he ordered a taco. Wide receiver Tommie Manus, known to his teammates as "Taco," posted his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game yesterday, leading the Bears (5-4) to a 45-14 victory over Savannah State (0-9) at Theodore A. Wright Stadium. The junior college transfer caught 12 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown. More importantly, he spread Savannah State's defense for a pair of Morgan State running backs.

Suddenly on October 17, 2003, in Savannah, GA., ALBERT ROSARIO ROMMAL, of New Windsor, son of Concetta Rommal Dupre', of Havre De Grace, and the late George Rommal, beloved husband of Carole (nee Kraus) Rommal, devoted father of Dawn Tringali, of Sacramento, CA., Bridget Beck (Joseph) of Elizabethtown, PA., and Eric Rommal of Savannah, brother of Raymond Dupre' of White Hall. Also survived by 4 grandchildren. Visitation at Hartzler Funeral Home, 11802 Liberty Rd., Libertytown, 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M., Tuesday with Christian Wake service at 8:45 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 A.M. Wednesday at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Libertytown.

On September 28, 2003 ELIZABETH "BETTY" JANE (nee May) beloved wife of the late George W. Coward; devoted mother of Sr. Donna Marie Coward of Savannah, GA, Sr. Pat Coward of Savannah, GA and William B. Coward; dear mother in law of Susan V. Coward; grandmother of Christopher, Megan and Patrick Coward; cousin of Mildred Zeller. Betty Coward was current president of the Rodgers Forge AARP Chapter, Active Member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sodality and was named to the Maryland Senior Citizen Hall of Fame in October 2000.

James Robert "Bob" Cassell, founder of a civil engineering firm in his native Baltimore, died Saturday of a cerebral hemorrhage at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Ga. He was 89, and had lived in Savannah since retiring in 1979. He was president of a civil engineering firm, Maryland Surveying and Engineering Co. Inc., which he founded in 1957. He sold the business in the mid-1960s, then became vice president of Lyon Associates Inc. in Baltimore. A registered professional engineer in 10 states, he served as president of the Maryland Association of Engineers in 1972.

Moves Auto racing NASCAR: Fined crew chief Chad Knaus $25,000 and penalized his team 25 Winston Cup driver points and 25 owner points for violations in the Pepsi 400 on Saturday. Fined crew chief Jason Ratcliff $2,000 for violations in the Stacker2/GNC Live Well 250 on Friday. Fined crew chiefs Scott Eggleston, Jimmy Elledge, Newt Moore, James Ince, Lee McCall and Chris Carrier $500 each for violations in the Pepsi 400 on Saturday. Baseball CUBS: Fired third base coach Gene Glynn. Announced minor-league field coordinator Dave Bialas will join coaching staff.