The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 53

I The Orlando Sentinel SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1996 Inside, K-4 Check out the sheriffs and police reports from your neighborhood. Drive time, K-2 Windermere Lake Buena Vista Dr. Phillips OR5 Extra 0 Grant fi pie leam read help peo Political Pulse BEHIND THE METRO SCENE Giving job as chairman a trial run A $46,500 grant from the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation will boost the Adult Literacy League. By Sandra Mathers OF THE SENTINEL STAFF John Depriest graduated from high school and community college in the Midwest before he moved to the Orlando area and eventually found a job at a time- Deputies say farewell to 'Old Reliable' By Michelle Martinez OF THE SENTINEL STAFF volunteer tutors teaching the phonics-based Laubach Method to "learners" such as Depriest, said league director Joyce Whidden. "The more volunteers we have, the more learners we can accept," Whidden said.

"We run a waiting list of about 10 people a month, but we've had as many as 20." And the waiting list is expected to grow next year as Florida's welfare reform program pushes more and more functionally illiterate workers into the job market, she said. Please see LITERACY, K-4 Ocoee to screen theater request AMC has requested permission to expand the project by 10 screens at the West Oaks Mall. By Craig Quintana OF THE SENTINEL STAFF OCOEE It depends on your definition of "substantial." Most would say that the 14-screen theater planned for the West Oaks Mall which would be the largest movie house in west Orange County would qualify. And if that is big, then tacking on another 10 screens would seem to make it huge. But AMC Entertainment Inc.

is asking Ocoee to approve the change as "nonsubstantial" at a hearing early next year. The word game is significant because anything other than a minor amendment could hold up completion of the mall's much-anticipated theater complex, scheduled to open in the fall. The entire mall project underwent vigorous review under the state's growth management law and had to pass muster before city, regional and state planners. As part of the review, the mall's impact on roads, sewers and other public services was studied, and planners proposed solutions to anticipated prob lems. Although the law allows minor changes to the approved plans, any "substantial" alterations can trigger another lengthy review.

Such an examination, which could take up to a year, could hold up the opening for the entire complex something the mall and city would like to sidestep. "It's really a screwed-up deal," said Hal Kantor, the mall's attorney for the project, who attributed the quandary to a bureaucratic glitch in the growth-management law. "I feel confident that things will work out The Florida Department of Community Affairs, the agency Please see THEATER, K-4 "I'm tired of being stuck in dead-end positions." Depriest of Kissimmee got lucky. Last summer, he stumbled onto one of Orlando's best-kept secrets: the Adult Literacy League. Depriest said he's ready to grow and to change his life.

The league, a small, low-profile agency that has taught reading to nearly 3,000 Orlando area residents since 1968, is poised to change with him. A recent $46,500 grant from the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation will allow the local branch of the national literacy organization to increase the number of TOM SPITZTHE ORLANDO SENTINEL Bethea rides 'Old Reliable' Arnie. Arnie is like the wimpy bully. Arnie is the one who likes to pick on other horses, and when the other horses start to fight back, he gets his butt kicked. Sgt.

Steve Lang SENTINEL ft A- share vacation resort. Like thousands before him, Depriest, 38, saw Central Florida as the land of opportunity. But unlike most new arrivals, his chances for success ranged from slim to none. John Depriest has a dirty little secret: He can't read. The single auto mechanic has never read a newspaper, much less a book.

He admits he can't even read his own mail. And, until recently, he had given up hope of ever finding a better job. "If somebody handed me written directions, I couldn't do them," Depriest said. K-4 Horse retires. Deputy Lynda 'h TOM SPITZTHE Golf By Cynthia OF THE SENTINEL my LMfcjz i in STAFF ORLANDO hi it i I For 12 years, "Old Reliable" Arnie has patrolled the streets entering unruly groups of people and helping with crowd control.

But next month, the 19-year-old quarter horse is retiring from the Orange County Sheriffs Office Mounted Patrol Unit. "It's depressing," said Sgt. Steve Lang of the Orange County Sheriffs Office Mounted Patrol Unit. "He has just been so reliable all of these years. It's nice to know there's a horse in the barn you can put anyone on any time." Workers at the unit gave Arnie, who has never been sick, the nickname Old Reliable.

"We'd always say if anyone's horse broke down, there's always Arnie," said barn manager Amy Hoffman, who has worked with Arnie for 6V4 years. But she revealed another side of the horse. "Arnie, you can't help but get attached to, even though he's a little ornery and cantankerous," Hoffman said. Hoffman said Arnie sometimes gives new riders a hard time by doing the opposite of what is asked of him, even though he understands their commands. And he refuses" io share his stall or paddock space with other horses.

"Arnie is like the wimpy bully. Arnie is the one who likes to pick on other horses, and when the other horses start to fight back, he gets his butt kicked," Lang said. Bob Finlay, a corporal in the Orange County Sheriffs Office Sex Crimes Unit, worked with Arnie for years. Commissioner Bob Freeman is considering a run for county chairman, a job Linda Chapin will leave in 1998 after serving two four-year terms. But to get there, he may want to practice.

Word is that Freeman hopes to build his resume for the job by winning election as chairman to the Metropolitan Planning Organization. The MPO spends public dollars in its role as a transportation planner for the county and municipal governments of Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. Former Orange County Commissioner Bill Donegan was MPO chairman until he left his job after a failed bid for the job as tax collector. The new chairman, to be elected Jan. 8, will serve until July, when Donegan's term expires.

An MPO chairman presides over the organization's meetings and helps to lobby for transportation money. Six of the MPO's 18 voting members i come from Orange County. But Freeman can't count on taking all six votes; Orange County Commissioner Mary Johnson also wants the job. A WONDERFUL LIFE ORANGE COUNTY Young Republican Club leader Robert Hartley has much to be thankful for at the close of 1996. Hartley, who was instrumental last year in rejuvenating the political club for younger than 40, was diagnosed in May with a large malignant brain tumor.

Surgery and radiation therapy have created an excellent long-term prognosis. "Family and friends, through calls, cards, flowers, prayers, assorted gifts and visits, provided strength to my family and me during me cancer fight," Hartley Hartley's battle was balanced by good news: his Aug. 27 engagement to fellow club member Barbara Brennan. Hartley said the experiences reminded him of the 1946 holiday classic film It's a Wonderful Life. "All of this reminds me that I live a truly wonderful life," Hartley said.

a committee fight ORLANDO POLITICAL consultant Douglas Guetzloe has successfully fought efforts by members of the Orange County Republican Committee to remove him from the board. The battle began in September when Guetzloe sent out 6,000 postcards urging Republican voters to support certain precinct committee candidates. Party leaders were angered by the endorsements because they contained the words "Orange County Republican Executive Committee." Party leaders claimed the cards misled voters into thinking the candidates were endorsed by the committee. Guetzloe scoffed at the accusations, saying that the postcards listed the source as Republican committee candidates. Party Chairman Gerald Braley told Guetzloe that proceedings to remove him would be Dec.

16. Guetzloe filed a court action, asking for a temporary restraining order. Circuit Judge Jeffords Miller denied the restraining order. The committee failed to get enough votes to begin proceedings against Guetzloe, who remains on the committee. "I've made mistakes before, and this wasn't one of them," Guetzloe said of the postcards.

"I would do it again." Compiled by Kevin Spear and Gerard Shields. Inside Extra Anniversaries K-5 Public record K-6 Births K-5 Reunions K-3 Calendar K-2 Weddings K-5 EiiizsnnsiEn Shopping for fitness Some folks have found a new spot to get in their morning walk: area malls. They say that they get their exercise in a safe, climate-controlled atmosphere. The Orange Extra Please see arnie, Farewell march. Arnie and Deputy Sheriff Lynda Bethea ride in Apopka's Christmas parade.

Arnie, 19, is retiring after more than a decade with the Orange County Sheriff's Office Mounted Patrol. ft a course loan awaits appeal Gleason sets sights on Vandergrift's job Conlin 'iff Brent McCaghren said. Kessler has been against the purchase since residents voted overwhelmingly in June to increase property taxes to pay for the 24.6 acres that wind through downtown. The city wants to buy the land to preserve it as open space. Kessler said the voters were misinformed tion to fill his commission seat, which can appear on the Kallnt Huriner WINTER PARK The Winter Park City Commission has approved an ordinance for a short-term $5.1 million loan through bond sales to purchase the Winter Park Golf Course.

the regularly Vandergrift scheduled election in February. That will save the city the cost of a special election. Gleason will step down when a successor to his commission seat is The city wants to buy the land to preserve it as open space. Kessler said voters were misinformed of the full purchase price, which is $8 million. of the full purchase price, which is $8 million.

The $5.1 million in bond issues which will be paid back with higher property taxes will finance a portion of that The remaining $3 million will come from But complicating the deal is former commission candidate and resident Martin Kessler's appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. Kessler delivered the appeal earlier this month in protest of the purchase, which is to be made with bond The Ocoee commissioner made it official and announced his bid to unseat the mayor. By Craig Quintana OF THE SENTINEL STAFF Ocoee Commissioner Jim Gleason made official last week what most everyone in city politics had taken for granted: He's running for mayor. The formal announcement sets up a potential loser-leaves-office showdown with current Mayor Scott Vandergrift Since Gleason announced earlier this year that he would consider a bid for mayor, Vandergrift and the commissioner have become frequent sparring partners at meetings. In announcing now, Gleason opens the way for a special elec- sworn fice into of Gleason at which sales.

The court may the city's reserve fund and a special trust fund set up for the golf course purchase. The city is currently leasing the acreage from its owner, the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation. In November the city extended the lease to December 1997 in hopes that by then the legal issues will be settled. time he will either be mayor or off the commission. The announcement came as no surprise to Vandergrift, who said he was "probably about 80 percent sure" to seek re-election.

Qualifying for office begins in January. take months to resolve the appeal. The city will have a second public hearing to approve the loan Jan. 14. If the loan is approved, the city will move forward to issue short-term notes.

However, it is unlikely bonds will be issued until after Kessler's suit is resolved, City Attorney.