The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • Page 33

August 25, 1996 PagelD MARILYN SNEAD: A well-placed death changes the way a family operates. PAGE 20. DAVE BARRY: Did you know that bees can count? PAGE 8D. INSIDE Time Travels 2D Ask Us 2D Weddings 4-50 Crossword 7D Features Page Editor 235-9236 big-time move end smalhtowni newsZ 5 l1 A wr 1 5 V. '-'-'KV 1 i The changing face of local news could soon have impact on reports like this one by TV 40's John Mangum.

By Helen Parr Star Staff Writer aome viewers of WJSU-TV 40 are I worried about where to find their nr 4iinrtta natitinrls clAHit KJrt Awtfii lavuiiiv niinuih oiiuna. nj 'When you havo yctsr own television station thoro Is a scnso of prldo, also community soo local people, which Is a lot moro "It was our dream. A local station where we called all the shots," said Malcolm "Now they will be voting decisions out of New York City or anywhere else." What that distance will mean for the community is still up in the air. Dr. William Koehler is the public relations officer for the Calhoun County Medical Society.

He helped to coordinate a weekly medical segment featuring physicians from the society on WJSU's noon community affairs program, "By the Way." Like many who have depended on WJSU for public service programming, Koehler expressed more bewilderment than distress regarding the future of the society's relationship with the station. "Frankly, I think it is too early to tell," said Koehler. "We have to wait and see while they sort out what programming they are going to have." See Station3D recent deregulation of the communications industry. "It is not unique, but it is still quite rare," said David Bartlett, president of the Radio and Television News Directors Association, about the recent changes at WJSU. "I expect with the new laws allowing more consolidation, we will see it happening in other parts of the country." Being on the front end of a trend means there are no self-help manuals for communities trying to recovep from the loss of part of their own identity their TV self.

According to H. Brandt Ayers, the founder of the television station then called WHMA and publisher of The Anniston Star, the station was founded in 1969 partly to ensure a strong sense of community identity in northeast Alabama. 'The reason I fought and filed for our license was to have a voice that projects that this community is the center of a region," said Ayers. "An electronic voice radiating, saying this is the center of affairs for the northeast region of Alabama. You can come here and enjoy all an urban area has to offer: capital, banking, culture, theater, concerts, entertainment, movies, restaurants, retail, shopping, and a fine center for medicine." According to Paul McMasters, a First Amendment ombudsman with the Freedom Forum, a nonprofit foundation focused on issues in the media, "Losing an independent voice is a point of pride.

It is a sad thing when any news outlet is removed from the community." Malcolm Street was the president of the Anniston Broadcasting which operated the station until 1983 when it was sold to comply with federal legislation regarding communication monopolies. (No single individual or organization was permitted to own both the sole newspaper outlet and the sole television station in one town, as Ayers did at the time.) one seems certain about what kind of local news coverage will be aired once northeast Alabama's television station moves its operatfons to Birmingham. But perhaps more difficult to get a handle on will be the effect of the departure of a purely local television outlet on community spirit. "When you have your own television station there is a sense of pride, also community awareness," said Larry Sylvester, executive vice-president of the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce. "You see local people, which is a lot more meaningful." By losing a locally operated television station to a larger market, Anniston has joined an emerging media trend set off by Larry Sylvester, executive vice-president, Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce These tips may help end your child's homework hangups By Sandi Kahn Shelton Working Mother take on different roles at various times throughout their school careers so just when you think you've got a grip on a Procrastinator one year, he goes overboard and becomes a Perfectionist the next.

WHAT WORK'S? If your child is in first or second grade, obviously you.Ul have to be more involved in the prpcess'than if you have a fifth-grader, but the hassles of homework can be much alleviated if you follow these simple rules: 1. Talk to the teacher. As most parents know, the beginning of the school year is the time to find out what the teacher's homework policy is that is, how frequently homework is assigned, what See Homework1 OD tion the next day. He doesn't even mind admitting that, yes, he's known about this assignment for the last six weeks. And while you may, spend the next several hours at the sewing machine, furiously stitching up miniature dresses and capes till you're bleary-eyed, he doesn't break a sweat, knowing you won't fail him.

The Speed Freak: If you've dealt with the Procrastinator, you might think it a blessing to have a Speed Freak around. He's finished with his homework 10 seconds after he begins, or so it seems. But don't be fooled. Most of his work is illegible, he didn't do questions nine through 27 because he has to ask the teacher about them and he claims he did his math and social studies homework on the school bus. Whenever you want to check anything, he gets huffy and says you never trust him and, besides, you're always finding things wrong that the teacher couldn't care less about.

The Perfectionist: This kid feels she must do everything perfectly and can't handle it if anything goes wrong. If she spells one word incorrectly and you gently point it out, she falls apart. Everything feels to her like criticism; and most of it comes from within herself. This kid doesn't have a problem with settling down to work she wants to get it right! but all too often, the night grows long while she's still sitting there, erasing her science homework yet again because she thinks her cursive writing is too sloppy. The Forgetter: Beware this character! When you say, "What homework do you have tonight?" he'll look blank, scratch his head as if he can't quite translate the meaning of your words, then mumble something about not remembering anything about homework.

The Codependent: This kid just loves to tackle her assignments, as long as she doesn't have to do them herself. She needs constant encouragement along the lines of "OK, pick up your pencil. Let's look at No. 4." Don't think you're going to get away with cooking supper while she cracks the books; she needs your full attention to stay on track. While any of these characters can drive you crazy, the thing about kids is they may There is no end to the ways children can turn homework into a major ordeal.

In fact, on any given night a kid can transform into one of five possible characters to avoid getting schoolwork out of the way, or to at least turn it into a grueling, whiteknuckle event. The Procrastinator: The Procrastinator hits his stride whenever he has a major project due. That's because he waits until the last possible minute to let you know he needs help with it. He'll saunter in from soccer practice late one afternoon and inform you that he needs to create authentic medieval costumes for a family of clothespins for a special presenta.