Additional Information from ISAC: Randall Hinton's Most Recent Bio As Copied From the White River Adventure Web Site ISAC Note: Every program cited as a reference is/was affiliated with the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS)/Teen Help and/or Robert Lichfield. Randall Hinton is a husband to a beautiful wife and a father to two daughters and one son. He was employed by Brightway Adolescent Hospital to serve as a Psychiatric Technician under Dr. Goates, Child Psychiatrist for two years. He then went to Cross Creek Programs to work with Students in their Youth Leadership Program for one year. He assisted in establishing Spring Creek Lodge, Montana; Tranquility Bay, Jamaica; and Carolina Springs Academy, South Carolina, as the Assistant Director for each facility. He has worked in the Marketing Department (Teen Help) for 3 years helping parents place their children into the WWASPS Programs. Randall, as the Director, organized the facility and staff of The Academy at Dundee Ranch in Costa Rica. Randall left Dundee Ranch and the WWASP Organization June of the year two thousand and two. He has worked with at risk youth for the past ten years. Randall studied Psychology at Dixie State College. He has now dedicated his life to producing a better atmophere for young men and serving families in need.

City officials in Boonville, Mo., have received a "serious" offer to purchase the former Kemper Military School.

The bid was made by a group led by Robert Lichfield, founder of an association of boarding schools that has attracted controversy. The World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, based in St. George, Utah, provides service and guidance for a network of seven schools in the United States and Jamaica.

Some schools affiliated with the organization have been accused of abuse, and one congressman asked the Department of Justice to investigate the association and its members.

"There will be considerable due diligence," said Steve Tillman, a member of the city's Industrial Development Authority. "We live in this town. We definitely want whatever we do to turn out right."

Lichfield would not operate Kemper but would sublease it to Randall Hinton, Hinton has said, and the school would be operated independently of the network. Hinton is not affiliated with World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, he has said.

Neither Lichfield nor Hinton could be reached.

Ken Kay, president of the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, has denied allegations of abuse at its schools. The priority of the association and its members is "the safety and well-being of the children," Kay said.

Hinton said he would like the school to operate much as Kemper Military School did, with a military theme and uniformed students adhering to a regimented schedule.

Kemper, the oldest military academy west of the Mississippi River when it closed in 2002, has been owned by the city since April 2003.

City officials have been in discussions with the Lichfield group for several months.

They declined last week to answer most questions regarding the process, including those pertaining to financial specifics and time lines. A news release said the offer was accompanied by an "earnest money deposit."

Lt. Bob Welliver of the Boonville Police Department said his office had reviewed background information on the Lichfield group and had given the city "a very preliminary report."

He said his office also had advised city officials on how an expanded background check should be conducted.

"I believe a major, thorough investigation should be done on any major sale of city-owned property to any group," Welliver said. "That's just common sense. "This is a major piece of property, and we need to do it right."

To reach Steve Rock, call (816) 234-4338 or send e-mail to srock@kcstar.com.