Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida • Page 1B

JJfrf i JjpTTmj 'frH' Indian BlUililfl Section Sunday, June 15, 1984 I Salaries take dip State news, Teacher salaries In Brevard dropped last year In comparison to statewide salaries tailing from fourth highest to eighth. Story. 10B Tracking dogs: sure or sham? 5 Th jjjjjJjSpaco Coast Balsiger seeking judge's post TODAY llolloo MmoAlPlllO VERO BEACH Assistant State Attorney James Balsiger has announced that he will challenge incumbent Indian River County Judge Graham Stikelether in the Sept. 4 judicial election. Balsiger, 49, said he filed qualifying papers Friday with the Secretary of State.

Until now, Stikelether has been unopposed. Three attorneys have announced plans to seek a second county judge post created this year by the state Legislature. Balsiger said he would resign from his assistant state attorney post this week to avoid any conflict of interest. He has been with the state attorney's office for four years, and currently works in Okeechobee. County records show Balsiger has contributed (20,000 toward his campaign and has spent nothing.

Balsiger is a former Broward County prosecutor. He served as Fort Lauderdale Municipal Court chief judge for Tt years. Stikelether, 54, was elected to his judge's post In 1972. He was re elected in 1876 and 1980. He announced his bid for the year post in April.

Running for the newly created county judgeship is former. Sebastian City Attorney Dan Kilbride, 40; former Assistant Public Defender Paul Kanarek, 34; sheriffs civil attorney Margaret Mann, 30; and Vero Beach City Attorney Charles Vitunac. Clammer drowns in Indian River GRANT A 27 year old Melbourne man drowned Friday afternoon while clamming with two friends in the Indian River near Grant, a Brevard sheriffs spokeswoman said. Richard David Pires of 13SS Pineapple Ave. had gone out in a small boat to an area of the river that was 4 to 5 feet deep, spokeswoman Maude LaPlante said.

As they were clamming, Pires' two companions went to the boat to sit and drink a soft drink, LaPlante said. But they did not see Pires when they turned around. The pair found Pires under water and headed for the shore, administering CPR along the way. Pires was taken to Sebastian Medical Center at about 3:08 p.m.. At 3:50 he was pronounced dead, LaPlante said.

There is no sign of foul play in the drowning, the spokeswoman said. Party official: Nelson won't be replaced SAN FRANCISCO' U.S. Rep. Bill Nelson, who resigned as a Florida delegate to the Democratic National Convention, won't be replaced, a party official said. Kathi Kossman, executive director of the Florida Democratic Party, said an alternate cannot take the place of a congressional delegate.

As a result, Florida's delegation will be reduced by one to 142 delegates. Nelson, a Melbourne Democrat, had said his time could be better spent with his constituents. Sunday Datebook F.Y.I. The Democratic Executive Committee of Indian River County wil meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Democratic Headquarters, 760 21st Vero Beach.

The committee will hear Chairman Charlie Caldwell report on state committee matters, Jess Brock will report on precinct staffing and Dorothy Elvis will report on headquarters volunteer staffing. The Young Adult Group from St. Helen's Catholic Church, Vero Beach, will sponsor a Mood drive from 5 7 p.m. Wednesday in the church parking lot, comer of SR 60 ad 20th Avenue. Death EUGENE BEATIIAM VERO BEACH Services for Eugene Beatham, 62, of 905 74th are scheduled for 3 p.m.

today at Stnink Funeral Home in Vero Beach. A Piper Aircraft worker and an Indian River County resident for 12 years, Mr. Beatham died Thursday at home. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Beatham of Vero Beach; children, John Beatham and Leta Loukides, both of Nashua, N.H., Jean Morrill of Carrier, Linda Morrill of St. Albins, Maine, Shirley Curtis of Vero Beach and Lousie Smith of Fort Pierce; three sisters living outside the state; 17 grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.

Calling hours are noon to 3 p.m. today at the funeral home. Indian River Movies puis 1 "Ghostbusters" (PG) 1:30, 7 and 9:30 p.m. riaia 1 "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" (PG) 9:45 p.m. and "The Muppets Take Manhattan" (G) 1 :30 and 7:30 p.m.

Florida Theater "Top Secret" (PG) 1 :30. 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. By LAURIN BRACEY TODAY ttoflWrttor To his supporters, dog handler John Preston is an irrefutable expert. To his detractors, Preston is a sham. The resulting debate has put the Pennsylvania dog handler and a shaggy haired German shepherd at the core of a courtroom controversy.

And it has left a Brevard County murder case on hold while court officials attempt to determine which group is right. In an unprecedented ruling last Wednesday, Circuit Judge Gil Goshom ordered Preston and his dog. Bear, to 'I can't explain to you how (the dog) does it. I can just tell you what I Dean Moxley. assistant state attorney undergo an independent tracking test.

The test, which has not been completed, delayed the first degree murder trial of four men accused of suffocating' an elderly Titusville woman. During pretrial hearings, Preston testifed that Bear found the scents of the four defendants in the victim's home and tracked their escape route six months after the crime. It is the key evidence linking the men to the crime. But dog trainers testifying for the defense said it is impossible for any dog to track a scent after three days. Through his ruling, Goshom essentially ordered Preston to prove Bear can accomplish the trainer's contentions.

The dog will have to track a 4 day old human scent along a 1 Venule route over "vegetation, streets and sidewalks." Baring it all Sun buffs take stand By PHIL WILLIAMS TODAY WrHOT Scores of sunbathers journeyed Saturday as they have done so often before to the northernmost section of Playalinda Beach, where they cast off their inhibitions and their clothes in search of a total tan. But the one thing they could not shed on this National Nude Weekend was their concern that the Brevard' County Sheriffs Department soon may begin making arrests for such activities on this, one of Florida's last de facto nude beaches. U.S. National Parks Service rangers, who have no right under federal law to arrest people for public nudity, have been spreading the word that they expect a sheriffs crackdown late this month or in early August, District Ranger John Breen said Saturday. And Sheriff Jake Miller confirmed that arrests are likely because nude sunbathing violates existing public decency laws.

The sheriff recently said beachgoers had complained of "perverted activity" in the area. But most of those basking In the buff Saturday agreed with the statement of a 33 year old Orlando television producer. Preferring to remain clothed in his anonymity, he asked, "Where's the perversion?" "Why don't they go out and get the murderers and the rapists?" asked a 33 year old female dental technician from Orlando. "I don't see anything lewd going on. It's very natural; it's not obscene." Several sunbathers said the most overt sexual activity 40 Mum I nil BL "4 rfsLWv' LLMsBTanWk mKrh i A t't IODAV Photo, by Roneo HDimnl Sunbathers gather at Playalinda Beach despite words of warning on the beach was an occasional couple kissing.

"If, there were a lot of sexual activity going on, I'd be one of the first to go complain to the sheriff to close it down. But I have seen nope of that whatsoever," said William E. Newton, a 60 year old retiree from Kissimmee. "This seems to be a better behaved group than you would find at a normal beach. You don't have anyone throwing beer cans or playing loud music," Newton added.

George Holmes, a 58 year old machine operator from Titusville, said the public should not be concerned. "I don't think they understand nudity. They think we come down here and have orgies and all that. I've never seen any of that stuff." And this was a group as determined as it was naked. "I don't want to be arrested, but if I'm charged I might just fight the hell out of it," Holmes said.

"I think this is an infringement of our constitutional rights." "That's right," added Stan Danek, a 49 year old Daytona Beach laborer. "We're taxpayers and voters, too. We have our rights, too." Dave Johnson, a 27 year old electrical distribution foreman from Titusville. said authorities would be "goofing up" if they tried to crack down on the arlfo. "If I knew some people would stand behind me, I'd go for it and fight this in a heartbeat," Johnson said.

"When they start arresting people, I'm going to be out here. I'm not going to let these threats stop me." A 20 year old female student at the University of Cen tral Florida in Orlando suggested like most of the other beachgoers that signs be posted to warn there are nude sunbathers in the area. "That way, if people are offended, they don't have to come in," she said. And Sheriff Miller agreed that is the solution to the controversy. "What those folks need to do is to have the County Commission designate that area of Playalinda as a nude beach," he said.

"But until that is done, they're violating the law." Under Goshorn's order, a person soon will fake a l' mile route through woods and over streets and sidewalks. The person and the route are being kept secret. But four days later, Preston and Bear will have to find that route and follow it to the person's destination. "If Preston does it, it'll be because somebody told him the way," said Rock ledge dog expert and author Mito Pear sail. "It's impossible." But according to 'Brevard Sheriffs Lt.

Jim Bolick, Preston and Bear "can doit. "I've seen them do it too many See DOGS, 3B Special squad nabs 19 By LISA BACKMAN TODAY stall wnter Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Brevard County Sheriff's deputies arrested 19 suspected drunken drivers on Brevard roads in the first night of a weekend crackdown aimed at slowing the county's rising highway death rate. A special' 14 man Florida Highway Patrol team, called a Special, Response Team, pa Jrolled Brevard's roads Friday Wht, picking up 15 drunken uming' suspects. They continued their work Saturday night. A Brevard Countv Sheriff's Department breathakver unit, stationed at the corner of SR 520 and SR A1A, arrested the remaining four Fridav nighl "This was a concentrated effort to help cut down on fatalities," Trooper R.L Cloud said.

"Fnda night there were only three or four minor accidents so this helped some or at least we hope it did." Officers liegan at 4 p.m Fndav, and ended their search "at 4 a.m. Saturdav Sixty five people have died on Brevard roads this ear, compared to XI for the vime period las' yar Throughout the slate. 1,463 people have died in car accidents this ear F.or the same period last vear, 1,373 motorists died on Florida's roads. Brevard officials brought in the squad from surrounding counties. State and local law enforcement officials estimate 70 percent of Brevard's fatal accidents are alcohol related.

This 'Weekend's crackdown is the second attempt this year at curbing the death rate. The statistics prompted local FHP officials to bring in a' squad during the Memorial Day weekend to look for drunken drivers, picking up 38 suspects. Brevard's Space Week clear for liftoff Brevard launches its celebration of Florida Space Week on Monday with the commemoration of America's first moon mission, Apollo II. The weeklong observance of the space program focuses on the 15th anniversary of the historic three man mission to the moon with programs at Kennedy Space Center, libraries, museums and shopping malls. Florida Space Week, proclaimed a state holiday by Gov.

Bob Graham, runs from July 16 24 and includes the dates of the Apollo Soyuz spacecraft rendezvous, the Gemini 10 mission, and the launch of several planetary probes. Following is a list of upcoming activities: MONDAY Spaceport U.S.A., Kennedy Space Center visitors bureau. 10 a.m. A short program and cake cutting in the east wing to celebrate the anniversary of Apollo 11. Visitors will receive cake and refreshments.

Chief test supervisor of the Apollo 11 mission, William Schick, and U.S. Rep. Bill Nelson, a Melbourne Democrat, will attend. Merritt Square Mall. SR 520, dunng mall hours Monday through Friday Space Fair One with youth activities including space murals, a poster contest and a C4K computer show during mall hours.

Cocoa Public Library, 430 Delannoy Ave. Displays on the Apollo 11 lunar mission and the Space Shuttle, during library hours. Continues through July 31. Brevard County Historical Museum, 635 K. New Haven Melbourne Special exhibits and activities on the Apollo 11 mission from launch to splashdown and other space events, in the Space Room of the Ruth Henegar Building, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.

to 4 Saturday and Sunday. 1 to 4 p.m. TUESDAY Merntt Square Mall Space Fair One with youth activities including space murals, a poster contest and a C4K computer show during mall hours. Cocoa Public Library, 430 Delannoy Ave. Displays on the Apollo 11 lunar mission and the Space Shuttle, during library hours.

Brevard County Historical Museum, 635 E. New See WEEK, 3B Launch of mini Apollo 1 1 planned The same intrepid crew that recently celebrated the 23rd anniversary of Alan Shepards sub orbital ride aboard Freedom 7 is going to repeat the honors. This time it's for Apollo ll's 15th anniversary. On May 5, at 9:34 a.m., members of the Air Force's 6555th Aerospace Test Group successfully launched a 2 foot high model of Shepard's launch vehicle from the original pad, now part of the Air Force Space Museum. Tomorrow, at 9:32 a.m., they'll light off a l100th scale model, about 3V4 feet tall, of the Saturn that hurtled astronauts toward man's first moon landing.

"The model is exact to the nth degree of detail," says Capt. John London, who refers to his fellow 6555th of fleers as "a bunch of space history buffs." "Greg Winter, who works for Harris in Palm Bay, built the Saturn V. And Lt. Jim Ramsey built the Apollo launch tower from scratch." Using NASA plans, Jim constructed the working swing arms, hammerhead crane, mobile launcher, and a pad surface with stainless steel flame deflectors. The rocket will be launched on an open grassy area at the Space Center's press site.

"We have NASA's countdown tape," John said. last 60 seconds of the Milt Salomon TODAY Columnist original countdown will be put on the PA system' and synchronized with the countdown clock there." NASA cooperated fully in the effort, John said. But because explosives are involved, the event is not open to the public. Attendance is limited to those badged for access to the Cape or Space Center. "NASA felt it would be safer without a crowd we might or might not be able to control," John said.

Why the special effort? "Primarily, we felt that something a little special something more than just the same cake and speeches would be appropriate for the 15th anniversary of Apollo ll's success." (As noted above on this page, an open to the pubhc celebration of Apollo ll's launch begins 10 a.m. tomorrow at Spaceport USA, the renamed Visitors Center.) WRONG! The Brooksville sculptor who calls himself "El Rosso" (real name: Chuck Russo) just didn't figure on an attractive New York blonde outlawing Dolly Parton for the v.p. slot! LET'S SAY the Democrats win and Geraldine Ferraro someday becomes president. "What would we call her husband?" muses Bob Preston of Rockledge. "The 'first gentleman'? "Or what? Now in England he'd be prince consort." LaB taKaaaB BaaaaaaaaaaaaaWBaaaaaaaBaaaaaaaaBaaaaaaBBQt,.