Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 62

ALL EDITIONS 1KS-D The Arizona Republic Monday, November 14, 1988 from Our House to Your House Paralyzed ex-chief finds life in the law Visit our showroom for all your CERAMIC TILE dreams. We'll make them come true! See the best carefree ceramic tile fashions at. HOUSE OF TILES, INC. 81st A Grand Ave. 7962 W.

Market, Peoria 8-5, Sat. 8-12 979-0571 or 253-3389 4t K.mMrsmmiim, iflntnm i Professional Eye Care PERSONALIZED SERVICE SPECIALIZING IN HARD TO FIT CONTACT LENSES Fashion Eyewear 13 Yrs. in Glendale DR. MARK JAFFE DOCTOR OF OPTOMETRY 247-8878 NE CORNER 67th Ave. Peoria Doyle SandersThe Arizona Republic Virginia Akers is a retired Glendale Elementary School teacher and librarian.

Kotsur said. "I still have my head on my shoulders, and I can still talk and do things." Before the accident, Kotsur had often taught classes at the Mesa college. Early this summer, he was asked to return to the classroom. "I'll be honest with you," Kotsur said. "When I walked in here, I was afraid.

I thought I was going to fall flat on my face." Students have given the chief high marks on his teacher evaluation, and the college plans to keep Kotsur on for another semester, said Don Brown, the director of the public safety department at the college. Kotsur plans to stay. "This is what I wanted to do when I retired officially," Kotsur said. "I didn't plan on doing it this soon, but I hope it continues." After teaching his class, Kotsur works out at the college's gymnasium. He hopes someday to regain much of his lost physical ability, especially the use of his hands.

One of his his biggest frustrations has been his inability to use sign language to speak to his deaf son, Troy, who graduated from Westwood High School in June and is now attending Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., a liberal-arts college for deaf students. Kotsur said he also gets frustrated when he has to depend on other people for assistance. "One of my goals is not to be a burden on anybody," Kotsur said. "That's something that's bothered me ever since it happened. "I'm trying to live as normal life as I can, but that's difficult to do.

People tell me that I've made progress, but then when I see myself and know what my limitations are, I get kind of frustrated and say, 'I want to do a lot By Tina Daunt The Arizona Republic Former Mesa Police Len Kotsur, paralyzed when his car was hit by a drunken driver last year, is involved in law enforcement once again, only this time in the classroom. Kotsur, who struggled for months with depression' over his injuries, is teaching a class at Mesa Community College on how to supervise a police department. "I feel like a person again," Kotsur said, smiling. "It gives me a feeling I can still contribute to law enforcement. It was my whole life.

"It's really good therapy to get out of the house, and it makes me feel like I can do something worthwhile." The road back was not easy, he said. It began March 28, 1987, when Kotsur, who was alone in his car, was hit nearly "head-on on East Brown Road by a car that crossed the center line. Thomas Frecland, the driver of that car, was convicted of driving while intoxicated, driving on a suspended license and aggravated assault. lie was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences. It wi'l be 25 years before he can apply for parole.

Kotsur, who was not wearing his seat belt, was thrown from the car. His spinal cord was severed, and he suffered a fractured pelvis, six broken ribs, a bruised heart and lungs and fractured cheekbones. The doctors said he would not live. He did, but he was paralyzed from the neck down and in December had to retire from the department, where he had worked for 26 years. Kotsur said he was depressed for months as he struggled to regain partial use of his arms.

"Finally, 1 saw that there were a lot of people a lot worse off than me," 'If you can't go by elephant, go by library lover states JEWELERS 7A14 KinOTU 27TH AVE. (1 Blk. S. ol Northern) 864-6352 fV DESIGNERS I I'lf VJ GOLDSMITHS JJ Specialists In the classroom. "The children would take turns being the librarian," Akcrs said.

Even with the addition of the new Glendale Public Library, 5959 W. Brown Akers said she still patronizes the downtown library. "I feel more at home there," she said. "It's convenient and they have a wonderful book and reference selection." Her reading preferences now include historical novels, biographies and travel books. If foreign travel is in store for her, she like to read books about that country.

"I love the expression, 'If you can't go by elephant, go by she said. Some of her favorite authors include Catherine Marshall, Irving Stone and Lloyd C. Douglas. And, why does she continue reading? The city's population then was about 3,500. She recalls that a small wood-frame building at the downtown park served as a library.

"Mary, James and I would come to town with Mama when she did her grocery shopping," she said. The children stayed in the library wliile their mother shopped. Akcrs said she remembers that she read books picked out by her brother including Tarzan and Call of The Wild. "The library was one of the greatest enjoyments in our lives," she said. Akcrs said she also remembers Velma Tcaguc, city librarian at the time.

The current downtown library, located at 7010 N. 58th is named after her. "I remember she (Teaguc) was so vivacious and kind," Akers said. "Later, Velma helped me when I was working on my library certificate. I started the Sine School Library." For a time when Akers was a teacher, Tcaguc would let students in her class take out 30 to 40 books to By Thelma Heatwole Special for The Republic Virginia Akcrs has patronized (he cily libraries in Glendale for more than 60 years.

And, she slill does. Akers, 74, can remember when, as a child, she and her brother and sister went- to (he library and each could check out only three books. Those books would last a week for the children on the McAllister ranch west of Glendale. Then, come Saturday, they would go back for more. Akcrs, a retired Glendale Elementary School teacher and librarian, said that she remembers losing a library book at her home.

She said she paid the library 15 cents for the missing book, Arabella Chick. "It was a traumatic thing to lose a library book," Akers said. "Later, I found it under a mattress and when I took it back, they returned my 15 cents. Was I glad to get the 15 cents back." Akcrs said she came to the Glendale area with her family in 1923. Diamond Setting Remount Work Jewelry Repairs Special Orders Stones Replaced Engraving 3 Jewelers On Premises WINDOW 1 I TINTING I ALMOST ooo everything In Complete Home Interiors Wallpaper Counter Tops Verticals Carpet Draperies Shades Tile MiniBlinds Upholstery Professional Design Staff rSls" Free Estimates GLORIA or SANDY 973-5299 7114 N.

35th Phoenix 5 YEAR WARRANTY FREE ESTIMATES 10 OFF COMPLETE TINTING with this ad' Exp. Nov. 23, 1968 'cash or check Bell Window 1 am intensely interested in stories," she said. "When I go to the hairdresser or travel, I always have a Tinting 2216 w. Ben book with me." 993-6996 Cortez gala to feature crafts, shows and food Thanksgiving Arrangements Mayor seeks clean-air title LL Smith's Serving The Valley For Over 46 Year On Sale Now in ceramic vases 19.95 in baskets 24.95 MAYOR, from page A work.

Mm 30 Off Ledge Plants IUHOWAHI S10RFS Employees participating in the city's program will fill out a coupon for each day they don't drive their car decorated wreaths, jewelry, nccdlc-craft and ceramics. There will be a children's area with games and crafts. Entertainment begins at 1:30 p.m. with the Kelly Dancers. At 2:15 p.m., the Southwest Brass Quintet will play classical music, followed by the Green Tomatoz female musical comedy group at 3:15 p.m.

Ethnic food to be sold includes Indian fry bread and Italian and Vietnamese dishes. More information is available at 256-3294. The fifth annual Cortex. Festival of the Arts will be held Nov. 19 from 9:30 a.m.

to 4 p.m. at Corlez Park, 35th and Dunlap avenues. There will be handmade crafts, children's games, entertainment and ethnic food. The first 100 people who stop by the Phoenix Parks, Recreation and Library Department Northwest District information booth at the festival will receive gifts. Craft items to be sold include W(xkIcii toys, fabric bunnies and bears, painted saw blades, silk plants, many varieties Sale Price 17.95 up Free Anniversary Drawing $75 Gift Cert-register now to work, Liebcrman said.

FOR ALL YOUR HARDWARE SPORTING GOOD NEEDS WEST PLAZA SHOPPING CTR. 35th Avt. Bethany Home Road 973-0175 The coupons make the employee eligible for the grand prize and enter them in drawings for gift certificates Expire 1 1-23-88 donated to the city. The certificates arc from restau kfPlamatioti 3416 W. BELL RD.

Safeway Center 993-2897 HOURS: 10-6 rants and merchants. "Wc should win," Liebcrman said HOURS: M-F 9-6 Sun. 1: 1 WW.f' 1 ii mi 1 Diet Center can change your life. J' I iT Ijdscwvlil IK'W Hilkk'iKX" hiikIs ami iiu IicmIimpixmi. il.iy Dirl (X nii r.

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New skills need to be developed to help children adjust to sharing a parent and to stcpsiblings, deal with a nonresidential parent, build a new couple relationship, and to handle discipline, conflicts and issues relating to past relationships. Join us for a professional presentation that offers positive approaches that can be taken by stepparents and stepchildren to establish emotional bonds and build positive relationships. A () Center Tlx' uvighl loss fmfisi Hulls' I'WlKHlllMI ll Offer Expires 11-19-88 i W'hi Vl Charter Counseling Center of Glendale 6151 W. Olive Bldg. 1, Suite 4 Space is limited, so please reserve at 435-2193 PHOENIX GLENDALE SUN CITY SUN CITY WEST 375-0378 938-9894 972-6378 972-6378 10419 N.

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