The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 31

3 pu ties searci 77 I for suspect in i teen's shooting (' Walking for charity More than 4,000 people hit the road for the start of the annual March of Dimes WalkAmer-ica at Orlando's Loch Haven Park Saturday. The walk is about 8 miles long. Individuals and teams raise money to help the March of Dimes fight birth defects and infant mortality. i-. tom spitzthe Orlando sentinel Ancient faith draws converts By Mark I.

Pinsky OF THE SENTINEL STAFF worship and singing prayers in Greek, a they did not then understand. understanding of Scripture went hand in the historical church's tradition." Christian church split in 1054 over theology and papal authority, with the Church in Rome and the Eastern Orthodox in Constantinople. there are an estimated 250 million Christians in the world, 6 million in America. About 1 million, are affiliated Greek Orthodox Church. branches of Eastern Orthodoxy in the States include Russian, Serbian, Ukrainian, Coptic and Armenian.

Gordon Walker, an evangelist with the Orthodox Church, said that Christian to Orthodoxy are evenly divided between Episcopalians some of whom are joining whole congregations, complete with their Catholics and evangelical Protestants. is a nationwide, growing interest and toward Orthodoxy, which is still in its Walker said. is a former Southern Baptist minister of Campus Crusade for Christ who recently at Holy Trinity in Maitland. While some of the newcomers to Eastern Orthodoxy have married into the faith, and some are recent immigrants, the most striking growth in North America has come from converts from other Christian denominations. James Langston, 61, joined the Orthodox Church last December after a lifetime as a Roman Catholic.

He is now a member of the Orthodox Community of the Cross, which operates an ecumenical AIDS ministry in College Park. "The Orthodox Church is to me the unchanged church," he said. Tara Concelman of Longwood was raised in several Protestant denominations and most recently attended a Presbyterian church. She converted to Orthodoxy more than a year ago and is now a member of Holy Trinity. Since college, she said, she had been searching for what she called "the unbroken church." Concelman, 33, found this tie to earliest Christianity in Orthodoxy.

"This is the church that put together the New Testament," she said, "it hasn't broken off any other churches." When Concelman began attending services at Holy Trinity, she and her husband, who also converted, had to get used to standing during much As worshipers gather today throughout Central Florida to celebrate the Eastern Orthodox Easter, a growing number of faces in the pews will look nothing like the European and Middle Eastern immigrants who brought this ancient faith to the 4 United States. Converts from other Christian denominations say they are drawn by Orthodoxy's historic and theological authenticity, as well as the intensity of its rituals. "It's happening more and more," said Father Dean Gigicos, of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Maitland. There are other attractions as well, said Father John Hamatie of St George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Orlando. "Protestants are joining the Orthodox church because it is stable," Hamatie said.

"They don't like that their churches are changing their teachings on morality and scriptural authenticity, and they don't like the idea that their churches are so involved in politics. Church is a place to worship God." Black officials say Chapin, Hood back diversity A warrant is out for the suspected triggerman in the March slaying. By Tom Leithauser and Susan Jacobson OF THE SENTINEL STAFF Orange County deputies were searching Saturday for a man they say retaliated against a teenager from a rival faction by shooting him from a moving van. Tipsters identified Jarvis Davis, 18, as the triggerman who fatally shot Raymond "Shakey" Morris 17, on March 15 in a crime- plagued neighborhood south of Orlando. Detectives have a warrant charging Davis with first-degree murder.

On Thursday, deputies charged another Orange County teen with first-degree murder. Witnesses told detectives that Derrick Smith, 17, was one of the people in the slow-moving van that sprayed bullets at Morris. Smith is being held without bail Slaying is to family, By Susan Jacobson OF THE SENTINEL STAFF As relatives Saturday mourned the death of Busta Johnson, detectives turned to the public for help in finding his killer. Johnson, 34, was gunned down April 19 in front of his south Orlando home. Witnesses said two or three men were punching and kicking him before a single shot rang out With a gun in his hand, Johnson staggered half a block into a neighbor's driveway before collapsing.

The people who live there picked up the gun and threw it into the trash so children wouldn't get it, Orlando police Detective Barbara Ber-gin said. Experts are testing the weapon to deterrnine whether it was used to shoot Johnson. But investigators are not sure how to find the killer. "We've just not gotten a whole lot of leads," Bergin said. Authorities said the shooting may have been drug- or robbery-related.

2 critically injured in crash on U.S. 192 near St. Cloud ST. CLOUD Two people were critically injured, and third person was hospitalized when two cars collided on U.S. Highway 192 early Saturday.

Joseph B. Riviera, 21, of Melbourne was headed east on U.S. 192 at 5:30 a.m. when he veered into the westbound lanes, the Florida Highway Patrol reported. Riviera's car hit a car driven by Barry Scott Denton, 41, of Orlando.

The accident occurred north of Nova Road outside St Cloud. Denton and a female passenger were flown to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Denton was in critical condition, a patient-care coordinator said. The passenger, whose identity was not known Saturday night, was in critical condition, the FHP said. Riviera was taken to Orlando Regional Medical CenterSt.

Cloud, where he was in stable condition, a spokeswoman said. Rockledge woman injured in collision with patrol car COCOA A Rockledge woman suffered minor injuries Saturday morning when her car collided with a Brevard County sheriffs patrol car, troopers said Deborah Foxworth Minicus, 34, of 34 Barton Ave. was treated and released from Wuesthoff Hospital after the 2:47 a.m. accident, the Florida Highway Patrol reported. She turned left from State Road 520 onto Riveredge Boulevard, striking a patrol car driven by sheriffs CpL Jeffrey A.

Ludwig, 34, the FHP said. Ludwig was not injured Minicus, who was charged in the accident, was driving without headlights and ran a red light, the FHP said. Truck crosses 1-95 median in Duval County, killing 4 JACKSONVILLE Four people were killed on Interstate 95 in I i I i vi," 1 1 Benton Bryant Davis Smith at the Orange County Jail. Morris, who dropped out of school and had a lengthy arrest record, was shot at 12:40 a.m. as he stood in the front yard of his next-door neighbor's home at Lee-Avenue and 20th Street.

A Feb. 22 shooting for which' Morris was arrested led to his death, said Orange County sher-' iffs Cmdr. Steve Jones. Nobody" was injured in that shooting, but friends of the intended victim decided to retaliate, Jones said. The February shooting also was an act of retaliation, Jones said: The shooters suspected that the target, a 17-year-old from Orange County, had stolen from them.

mystery detectives But Johnson's sister, Ave, said her. brother was not a dealer. "My brother was no thug," said Ave Johnson, also of Orlando, "He liked to live close to the Earth. He. was a very peaceful person." Busta Johnson came to the United States two years ago from St.

Croix, the Virgin Islands, his sister said. He operated a leather business from his home at 610 Columbia St. and was fashioning a belt when he was killed, she said. Johnson led a quiet life, spending time with his dogs and buying ice cream and candy for children. "If you asked him for a dime and he had a $50 bill, he would reach into his pocket and give you $50," Ave Johnson said.

"My brother doesn't deserve this." Johnson's body is scheduled to be sent to the Virgin Islands tonight for burial. His funeral was Saturday. Anyone with information can call Crimeline, 1-800-423-TIPS or (407) 423-TIPS. Information leading to an arrest can bring a $5,000 reward, and callers can be anonymous. southern Duval County Friday night after a southbound truck crossed the median and slammed into another car and truck, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Both truck drivers and two people in the car were killed in the accident which occurred at 10:15 p.m. No one else was injured Curtis the goat must find a new home, judge says CLEARWATER Curtis is popular with the kids and neighbors, but zoning officials say the black goat has got to go. A judge Friday supported zoning officials saying the goat can't stay in a residential neighborhood. The goat's owner, Sally Bruynell, must pay an $80 fine and faces more fines if Curtis stays. Neighbors have signed a petition supporting Curtis.

Some said Friday they will back Bruynell in her plan to ask county commissioners for special permission to let Curtis stay in the Palmwood Drive home, where he has lived for the past four years. Heavy storms flood Tampa with about 5 inches of rain BRADENTON Thunderstorms dumped more than 5 inches of rain on Tampa and nearly that much on the St Petersburg area Saturday, flooding some homes. In Miami there was haiL uprooted trees and flooded canals. The most serious flooding was in Manatee County, south of St Petersburg. About 120 people were taken in at two shelters.

The deluge in the Bradenton area followed several days of heavy rain. There were unconfirmed reports that four tornadoes touched down. Rainfall was 5.4 inches in Tampa, 4.5 inches in St Petersburg and 3.5 inches in Lakeland. The storms helped Tampa top the rainfall record for the month. Only 0.88 inches of rain fell at Orlando International Airport.

it hordes of ORANGE COUNTY Byron Brooks, deputy, County Administrator's Office Ceretha Leon, deputy, County Administrator's Office George Rodon, staff director, County Chairman's Office Sharon Laisure, director, Fiscal and Human Resources Division BAjit Lalchandani, director, Public Works Division BEd Royal, co-director, Corrections Division (pending) Ella Gilmore, deputy director, Health and Community Services Division Jessie Allen, deputy director, Convention Center Sam Anderson, manager, General Services Department Nancy Tallent, manager, Human Resources Department Jacqueline Miller, manager, Professional Standards Department Fitzhugh Long, manager, Business Development Department BMelvin Pittman, manager, Zoning Department Ruby Rozier, manager, Traffic Engineering Department BM. Krishnamurthy, manager, Stormwater Management Department Jacqueline Torbert, manager, Water Department David Diggs, manager, Direct Supervision Department, Corrections Division Joe Gray, manager, Community Affairs Department Charles Middleton, manager, Fire Rescue Services Division Dr. Sashi Gore, medical examiner SHERIFF'S OFFICE Malone Stewart, major Clarence Cain, captain Raymond Permaul captain Herman Martinez, captain Victor Thomas, commander Kenneth Wilson, commander Rodolfo Vinas, commander ORLANDO Walter Hawkins, special assis tant to the mayor "I've seen indications of change, and I've also experienced the old school, if you will, in terms of attitude," Washington said. Because of such lingering attitudes, some blacks think a black executive director at a high-profile agency such as Lynx wouldn't last long unless he gets tangible support from local leaders. Lynx's executive director would be interacting with the business community, which black officials of the language "My hand with The early issues of Catholic Church Today Orthodox North with the Other United Antiochian, Father Antiochian newcomers in priests "There movement infancy," Walker and official appeared Fennell Hope Royal Stewart Long Pittman 'V LfLl RACE from B-1 Employment figures support Chapin's position that diversity exists in county and city government.

At the county level, minorities hold 26 percent 20 of the 77 highest-ranking positions administrators, directors, deputy directors and managers, said Nancy Tallent, manager of the county's Human Resources Department. This includes two black deputy county administrators Byron Brooks and Ceretha Leon. They are the highest-ranking minorities in county government and the only two deputy county administrators. Orange County's population is about 31 percent minority, according to a 1995 estimate by the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research. Minority representation also is high with the city.

Two of four special assistants to the mayor are minorities: Hawkins and Ana Oloane. Also, 25 percent of the 53 directors and bureau chiefs are minorities, according to Tony Blanca, director of human resources. The figure includes two of four deputy police chiefs Charlie Wright and Reinaldo Rivera, he said. The figures are strong even when distinctions are made between top-ranked and supporting managers. Four out of 12 county directors 33 percent are minorities.

In Orlando, five of 17 directors 29 percent are minorities. In addition, two minorities hold positions that are rough equivalents of a Lynx executive director: W.D. Morris, executive director of the county Housing Finance Authority; and Vivian Bryant, executive director of the Orlando Housing Authority. The record is mixed in agencies such as the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Lynx and the Sheriffs Office. At the airport authority, 20 people fill the top three layers of management and six, or 30 percent, are minorities.

There are 14 positions at the top three echelons at Lynx and four, or 28 percent, are held by minorities. The Sheriffs Office has 46 top-level law enforcement officers and seven, 15 percent, are minorities. Black officials agree that the city and county specifically Chapin and Hood have consistently championed diversity. "It's been my experience working in the city of Orlando for nint years that the city nas always wk-n a nrn-active accroach." said t' BAna Oloane, special assistant to the mayor Tony Blanca, director, Human Resources Department BMarcia Hope, Office of Neighborhood Services BAI Nelson, director, Office of Human Relations Kevin Walsh, director, Minority Business Enterprise Herbert Washington, director, Community and Youth Services Department Charles Walker, deputy fire chief Charlie Wright, deputy police chief Reinaldo Rivero, deputy police chief Daisy Staniszkis, assistant director, Downtown Development Board Kevin Edmonds, bureau chief, Solid Waste Management Bureau Dr. Juan Boudet, bureau chief, Occupational Medical Clinic Lelia Allen, bureau chief, Housing and Community Development Bureau Conrad Cross, bureau chief, Systems and Network, Information Systems Department AVIATION AUTHORITY C.W.

Jennings, senior director BCarolyn Fennell, director, community relations Jorge Hierro, director, staff services Reginald Coar, director, human resources BDerryl Benton, director, disadvantaged business enterprises Ronald Lewis, director, operations LYNX Judith Ray, director, finance Belinda Balleras, manager, grants Blanche Harley, manager, financial systems Joe Saldana, manager, maintenance 1 8 minority supervisors Sources: Orange County, city of Orlando, Sheriff's Office, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and Lynx. say has a poorer track record of placing minorities in executive positions. It is expected to be several weeks before a decision is made on the Lynx job. "Historically, people who don't spend a lot of time communicating and working with each other don't have effective communications," said Morris of the housing authority. Jim Stratton of the Sentinel staff contributed to this story.

Kevin Walsh, director of Orlando's Minority Business Enterprise. The diversity story doesn't get told, according to Deputy Police Chief Wright. "A lot of people don't know all of this information," said Wright, an African-American who thinks the department is more diverse today than ever. But numbers alone are not a gauge of public sentiment or attitude the kind Butler was alluding to, some black officials say. More important, they add, numbers don't always change attitudes.

Herbert Washington, director of Orlando's Community Youth Services, tells of finding his tires slashed four years ago when he attended a legislative conference for parks and recreation directors. He also said he has received threatening calls filled with racial slurs. 1.