February 8, 2004

Old Mill Cemetery in Thomaston, Ga, is one of thousands in South being swallowed by development and neglect; Mississippi Heritage Trust, alarmed by destruction and distintegration of so many historic burial grounds, includes handful of them on list of state's most endangered places; weak laws and lax enforcement allow developers to bulldoze them and prevent vandals from being prosecuted; little money is available in state and county treasuries for upkeep; preservationists say most imperiled burial grounds are those historically used by blacks; poorly marked graves, neglected when people moved away, and lost tradition of cemetery tending are to blame, together with less vigilance by authorities in maintaining black cemeteries than white ones; photos (M)

Article on controversy raised by recruiting diaries of highly sought-after star high school football linebacker Willie Williams; Williams, chronicling his recruiting trips to big-time college football schools in Miami Herald, described what may be considered recruiting excesses or violations by universities; criminal complaints have been filed against Williams for incidents that occurred during visit to University of Florida; photos (M)

Joe Lapointe All-Star Game column reflects on death of legendary coach Herb Brooks and NHL's concerns about second half of season; photos (M)

Interview with Danny Simmons, artist and collector, on his Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, carriage house, where he recently converted one of apartments into gallery; photos (Habitats column) (M)

Anemona Hartocollis Coping column on Dr Rong-Bao Lu, Chinatown acupuncturist who has helped Anne Wolfson conceive baby after three miscarriages; drawing (M)