South Florida Sun Sentinel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Page 13

Sun-Sentinel I 1 Thursday, Jan. 25, 1S34 1 I ,,1 3 groups compete for new TV station license By Stephen J. Cohen Sun Writer A group of educators wants to bring college-credit courses into Palm Beach County and Broward County homes by offering classes on a new TV channel. But a Fort Lauderdale church and a Miami-based community action group are also vying for the license to UHF Channel 63, made available for non-commercial programming last year by the Federal Communications Commission. If the non-profit educational company, Involving officials from the College of Boca Raton and Palm Beach Atlantic College, wins the license from the FCC, at-home students may be able to study English as a second language, computer programming, facets of their lives," said ACORN TV Executive Director Janice Andersen.

The impetus and the financing are coming from several Miami residents, Mrs. Ander-' sen said. The FCC will hold hearings before awarding access to the channel, but none of the applicants knows bow long the decision process will take. Rhea said if the educational TV license is granted, area residents will be able to take courses for credit via Channel 63 on their home TV sets. "The combined talents and resources of Palm Beach County's educational and health care institutions would be utilized," Rhea said, including Boca Raton Commit-Please see TV STATION, 1SB in miracles.

It's in God's hands now. If be wants us to get the license, we will If not, then we won't" Church members have agreed to finance the entire project, estimated to cost about $628,000 the first year, Parks said. The third entry submitted by the Jan. 3, FCC-imposed deadline came from ACORN TV and Action for the Communities. The Miami-based group is a subsidiary of the New Orleans-based community action group Association of Communities Organizing for Reform Now, which caters to low-and moderate-income viewers.

"The programming will be geared toward educating low- and moderate-income persons, including many minorities, about their rights and about bow to deal with many nursing and counseling for the aged, plus basic accounting and business skills. "We might get 1 million watts of power, which would provide extensive coverage for most of the Gold Coast area," said PBAC President Dr. Claude Rhea. Rhea also heads the non-profit company, Palm Beach County Educators Broadcasting formed to handle the TV station. The project will probably cost at least $1 million, "but we have some private sources so I don't expect funding will be a problem initially," Rhea said.

"But keeping these programs on the air year after year is definitely one of the real problems Involved with this," he conceded. Competing for the license is the Full Gospel Church of the Living God of Fort If Palm Beach County Educators Broadcasting wins the license from the FCC, Broward and Palm Beach residents will be able to study college courses on their TV sets at home. Lauderdale. The Rev. Wayne Parks, pastor of the church, explained, "We felt it would be a good idea to carry locally generated religious programs on television.

We get good shows from California and Virginia, but none from the local community." Parks conceded the competition from the college group will be tough, but, "We believe 5 Boca man killed in crash on interstate if i By Charlie Brennan Staff Writer DEERFIELD BEACH A Boca Raton man was killed instantly Wednesday night when his car crossed a grassy median on Interstate 93 and was hit broadside by a van. The identity of the dead man, estimated to be in his 20s, was being withheld late Wednesday while the Florida Highway Patrol notified his family. Police closed 1-95 from Glades Road south to the Hillsboro Boulevard exit in Broward County for more than two hours while the accident scene was cleared. FHP Trooper Michael Fotl said the victim was northbound in the left lane of 1-95 at about 7:30 p.m. when, "for an unknown reason," the car veered across the 30-foot-wide grassy median into the southbound lanes.

The accident occurred about one-quarter mile north of the Hillsboro Boulevard interchange. Foti said the driver's side of the Staff ekote ly JOE WILLIS Car la which driver waa killed rests on its roof on Interstate 95 north of Hillsboro Boulevard interchange in Deerf ield Beach. car was hit by the van, hurling the Boca Raton man out of his car and onto the roadway. The car flipped on its roof and skidded to a stop facing north in the southbound lanes. "I believe he was dead on im pact," Foti said of the driver.

The driver of the van was identified as Charlene A. Dalo, 33, who lives in the 8500 block of Northwest 35th Street, Coral She suffered minor injuries, Foti said, and was taken to North Broward Hospital for treatment. A five-mile stretch of 1-95 was closed to southbound traffic until 9:45 p.m. because of the crash. Police and rescue personnel from the FHP, Deerfield Beach Fire De partment, Pompano Beach Police Department, Broward Sheriffs Department and Broward County Medical Examiner's Office worked to clear the accident scene.

The frame on the left side of the victim's vehicle was demolished. Tutors help Boca students make grade Woman guilty in knife slaying By Diane M. Goldie Staff Writer A Lake Worth grandmother was convicted Wednesday of stabbing her daughter's boyfriend to death. Jurors deliberated about two hours before announcing the verdict in the manslaughter trial of Bernice Mueller Schmid, 65. A previous jury deliberated for nearly two days in December before declaring it was unable to reach a verdict in the case.

Mrs. Schmid faces up to 15 years in prison for fatally stabbing Thomas Leon Roark, 30, in the chest with a kitchen knife during an argument outside her home on May 3. In closing comments to the Palm Beach County Circuit Court jury, Assistant State Attorney Bettye King said, "Thomas Roark was no saint, but he was still a human being. He didn't deserve the death he died at the hands of Mrs. Schmid.

She took his life because she was fed up with him." Mrs. Schmid testified she was "fed up" with Roark's yearlong lre loading at her home. Roark, Mrs. Schmid's daughter, Barbara Daywalt, and her two young sons lived in the defendant's home in the 4400 block of Marilyn Drive. The night of the stabbing, Mrs.

Schmid said she couldn't stand any more fighting and drunken incidents involving Roark, and she demanded he leave. After going out for a while, Roark and Ms. Daywalt returned about 11 p.m. to take the children with them to a motel for the night Angered by their intentions to rouse her 5- and 7-year-old grandsons, Mrs. Schmid stormed outside the house wielding a knife to confront Roark, Ms.

King said. "She went out there and held that knife in an attack position; she went out there to attack Thomas Roark," Ms. King told the jurors. "Mrs. Schmid was obviously tired of living in this situation.

She had had enough; she struck out in anger, and Thomas Roark was the victim." Although Ms. King said the defendant "did not intend to kill him, she certainly intended to stab him." Defense attorney Lome Robinson -argued that it was an accident and Mrs. Schmid was merely protecting herself and her grandchildren. "Mrs. Schmid acted lawfully and was motivated by the defense of herself and those children," Ms.

Robinson said. "The way he ended up stabbed was an accident" Ms. King contended that defense was flawed. "That it was a freak accident and self-protection is inconsistent" she said. "Either it was an accident which she had no control over, or a deliberate act of self-defense." Ms.

Robinson said Mrs. Schmid, who was chopping meat in the kitchen when she heard her daughter trying to break into the house, did not realize she was brandishing a knife during the argument with Roark. "She's a nice lady who finds herself in a situation that is unbelievable," Ms. Robinson said. "The lady led a good life for 65 years It's a tragedy that the whole thing ended up in the bizarre fashion it did; do not compound the tragedy by convicting that lady because she is not guilty." Mrs.

Schmid will remain free on $15,000 bail until she is sentenced in March. By Matt Scallan Edacatto Writer At first, the answer to the long division problem eluded Boca Raton High School student Chantelle Cummings. But she stubbornly pursued it, rapidly scratching figures on a yellow legal pad. "I got it, Mr. Outram!" she said at at last, a note of triumph in her voice.

Bob Outram, a Dekay Beach engineer and businessman by profession and math tutor for two hours a week, didn't let Miss Cummings rest on her laurels, but urged her on to the next problem. Outram and others like him are helping students with their math and other basic skills in order to help them pass the functional literacy test that is a requirement for a high-school diploma. "I did this last year. I thought I could help," said Outram. The Urban League of Palm Beach County is sponsoring the tutoring classes from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

every Wednesday at Carver Middle School through March 7. There is no charge, and the tutors volunteer their time. "I figure I've got two hours a week," said Catherine Newkerk, a substitute teacher and volunteer tutor. Chip and Collette Blach, both employed by IBM, also volunteered. "My wife heard about it and wanted to sign up.

And I love to teach, so here we are," Blach said. Only 10 students, all of whom did not pass some portion of the test in October, showed up for the first session on Jan. 18. The number grew to 23 for the second session on Wednesday. "We expect it to grow a lot more as time goes on," said John Martin, the Urban League's south county director.

"Some students are having transportation problems, but we're trying to work that out" Most of the students who showed up for help were having trouble with the math portion of the test "I only missed it by two points last time. I know I'm going to make it this time," said Boca Raton High student George Ferguson. "Coming to the classes Is not too much trouble. You just have to make time for it" "I've got to pass this thing so I can get out of school," said Brian Brent who plans to work full time in a bicycle repair shop when he does. "The math has been giving me problems," said Tard McCoy, a Boca High student Spanish River High School student Thomas Huntley also has math problems, but be knows he has to overcome them if be wants to fulfill his dream of becoming an engineer.

"I missed 23 of the questions the first time, but only eight the second time. I'm getting up there," he said. Staff peolo by CARL SE3BERT Program tutor Dan Slutsky helps student Thomas Huntley. Bustling South Florida Fair opens today 1 p.m. Beefmastera livestock tent.

tJO p.m. Creetnaven Minstrels town square. 4 p.m. Children's puppet show town square. 7:30 p.m.

Thorn and Thletle Begplpe Band town square. I p.m. Ed Bruce a The Tennessee Cowboy entertainment tent. 30 Renshnkel Karate Kudo town square. p.m.

Exhibit building close, midnight Midway closes. Daily events 10 1 Dm. Sundays. Before becoming manager of the fair grounds four years ago, Christian spent 25 years as a meteorologist Though much of the success of the fair depends on the weather, Christian said he puts his forecasting talents aside. Instead he hopes for good weather and trys to pay as little attention as possible to Mother Nature.

"There is really nothing I can do about the weather, so I try to Just worry about getting the fair ready," he said. "I think it would be almost torturous to spend my time thinking about all this hard work we've been putting in being mined by the weather." Today's events: em. Open sngus show Iheeloek tent 10JO a.m. Opening parecle featuring Thorn and Thistle Sag- pipe fiend main concourse. neon, 1 and m.

Guy lomberdo' Royal Canadian entertainment lent. said. "We've got something for everybody." The fair will boast more rides, games, shows and displays than ever before, Christian said. Among the fair's dally attractions are the carnival midway, petting zoo, Hanneford Family Circus and the Great American Lumberjack Show. There also are agricultural, livestock and crafts shows.

Today Is Senior Citizens' Day at the fair, and all seniors will be admitted for fl. Events feature an opening-day parade, livestock displays, a karate exhibition and the music of Ed Bruce The Tennessee Cowboys. But Christian said the fair is more than a place to go for a good time. "The South Florida Fair has an atmosphere of entertainment, but it is an educational event, too," he said. "One of the oldest educational Institutions in our country Is the fair.

We think this fair is that and more." By Mike Connally Staff Writer As the 11-day run of the annual fair begins today, fair manager Buck Christian says all 150 acres of the fairgrounds west of West Palm Beach are alive with the hustle and bustle of a regular metropolis. "South Florida Fair Grounds" doesn't sound quite right to Christian. "South Florida Fair City" is more like It "Everything is just a hub-bub of activity," Christian said Wednesday. "It is like we are setting down a new city here." And this city just off Southern Boulevard, with its main street a midway of carnival rides and games, is expected to have more than 500,000 people pass through its gates during the fair's run to Feb. 5, Christian said.

That is, if the weather doesn't turn bad. "If we don't have any bad weather, we will probably have the biggest, best fair ever," he 1 -SiL-iZ Korky the Clown: 11 30 am. 630 p.m., 7:30 p.m.; 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7 30 p.m. Sundays. Ait psnlllsm 10 a ut.

White Mouse repMeai 10 a p.m. Aortmritvre pwMdmgt 10 a m. -10 p.m. LhieeloekpeuNryrabbN tents: 10 a m. Honnolord femlly Clrouet 1 1 a.m., 1 p.m., 7 p.m.: i p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.

Sundays. Cemmertsrd Petting toot 10 a -noon Oreet Anuria on Lumherfee howi p.m., 8 30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.: 3 p.m., ft 30 7 30 p.m. Sundaya. nj. Reynold's Cerevant 10 a p.m.

Cenoenratloni 10 a am. (AM of the above deity events open at 1 on Sunday untee otherwise noted. Alt event! ere subject to change.) Family awarded damage Principal's firing upheld Appeal Court cays board acted legally For circulation Call 738-1777 north of Delray Call 094-6501 In Boca Raton County bar owner ruled liable in shooting Pegs 120 1.