The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 74

The Orlando Sentinel When businesses use religious symbols on ads, experts on Christian ethics complain, D-5 SATURDAY, November 25, 1995 Mate Holidays bring with them a reminder that money is scarce Sentinel Santa provides toys to needy children and grants to agencies helping children. Evervcent Lawrence, 14 are used to meager holidays, she says. "I knew they weren't happy with what they got last year, but they put on a front for me," she says. "Denise never even says what she wants she probably thinks I can't get it, so she doesn't say." It's little Alan who's looking forward to Christmas. Janice knows what he'd like: "one of those little bitty basketball goals for children," the kind that stand on the floor.

She doubts she'll be able to buy him one. And, like any parent, she hates disappointing her child. Please see SANTA, D-8 ment no easy task considering that her income barely covers the rent on their two-bedroom unit. The holidays are the last thing on Janice's mind. "I haven't even thought about Christmas," she says.

Not that Christmas has ever been a major event. "Mostly I spend time with my mama and try to cook a little dinner for us." Janice's paycheck pays the rent and provides some of the basics. The kids' father helps occasionally but "not that much, not like a father's supposed to." Her older children Denise, 16, and solace and emotional support for this struggling family. "My father passed away a year and a half ago," says Janice, 31, a custodial worker and single parent. The diabetes and heart disease plaguing Janice's mother have meant repeated hospital stays this year.

"Sores broke out on her legs," Janice says. "They're trying to get her to walk. If she can't, all of us will have to move in together." And Janice will have to find a way to care for her mother, juggling that responsibility with her job and with the needs of her kids. She'll also have to find a larger apart A single mother of three struggles with paying the bills and helping her ailing mother. By Loraine O'Connell OF THE SENTINEL STAFF Her mother is back in the hospital, and Janice isn't sure what's going to happen next.

Janice and her three children live in one-half of a run-down duplex in Winter Park; her mother lives in the other half. It's her mother who has been a source of strength, donated helps children, and all administrative costs are paid by The Orlando Sentinel and the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation. Look for a Sentinel Santa coupon on Page D-8. Teens charged in officer death belong to gang Allen Rose BREVARD AT LARGE Turkeys do the trot in Mulletropolis Thanks a bunch.

It has been another quiet week in Mulletropolis, Brevard's secret city, where folks' corns don't hurt, the river doesn't stink and everybody wins the lottery at least once. Thanksgiving was observed here in town much like it has been every year since the Spanish-American War, when Gunther Fornblott came to town as an ex-soldier and started raising turkeys. Everybody went out early in the week and nicked up their home 1 "vf 3 I i ill if Wmm. in i i 1 I Lr HARl tei in! i Pierce Camacho thorities think Pierce was driving. Authorities on Thursday searched the home of a grandmother of one of the girls who lives in Bristol, ac- By Debbie Salamone OF THE SENTINEL STAFF Three Orlando teen-agers accused of killing a Tennessee sheriffs deputy this week are members of a southeast Orange County gang known for violence.

Lon Pierce and Sara Camacho, both 15, and April Worley, 16, had been in trouble with the law as recently as this summer in Orange County and participated in activities with a gang known for carjacking, drug dealing and criminal mischief, authorities said. "They the gang members are pretty violent people," said Mike Fewless, a corporal with the Orange County Sheriffs Gang Enforcement Unit. The teens were ordered held without bail Friday in the death of a Sullivan County sheriffs deputy who set up a roadblock to stop them near Bristol, on Wednesday. Authorities contend the teens led law officers on a high-speed chase from Virginia into Tennessee while driving a van stolen in Orlando. Investigators on Friday re-created the accident scene that killed Deputy Steve Mullins hoping to show the teens had enough room to avoid hitting him.

Mullins, 41, a 17-year law enforcement employee and associate church pastor, had just stepped from his cruiser after setting up the roadblock on Tennessee Highway 44. Mullins was standing in the opposite lane of the van when it turned in the officer's direction and struck the cruiser, which hit him. He was pronounced dead at Johnson City Medical Center. Au- 7 a r'J. i Worley cording to news reports.

The teens are charged with first-degree murder, theft over $10,000, evading arrest and felony possession of cocaine. Fewless said girls who belong to the Orange County gang generally follow male gang leader's orders without question. He said the gang is based in Miami and has at least seven chapters statewide. In May, Camacho and Pierce were charged with armed robbery and other crimes in connection with an attack on a pizza delivery man in Orlando. The victim was punched, kicked and robbed at knifepoint.

Fewless said charges eventually were dropped. In June, Worley was charged with car burglary but details about the status of the case were unavailable Friday. grown bird at Fornblott Brothers Turkey Farm on Al Smith Road. Elmer Fornblott, who is Gunther's great-great-grandson (I believe), personally murders turkeys in the most humane manner known to man: He chops off their heads with a samurai sword once used by the late John Belushi on Saturday Night Live. "They never know what hits them," he tells newcomers to town, who, not having been brought up around poultry farms, tend to be squeamish about how turkeys meet their Maker.

Most folks in town ate at home Thursday with large family gatherings. Today, they're eating more of the same at home and sending doggie and kitty bags home with cousins and aunts and uncles all over Brevard and beyond. At Mabel's Diner, of course, leftovers as usual are being incorporated into various kinds of soup that the hostess is freezing to sell all winter. On the menu today: Turkey pizza, sweet potato and cranberry stew, breaded oyster cookies. "Something for everybody," says Mabel.

"Turkey talks, nobody Reporter Norma Thudberry at Mulletropolis Yesterday, the secret daily paper in Brevard's secret city, went up and down Main Street asking folks what they felt thankful for this year. Here's what she found out: Bradford Merch, retired can collector. "I'm especially thankful Please see ROSE, D-8 i A call for holiday light displays Sentinel readers are encouraged again this holiday season to contact our photo department about electric light displays that show extraordinary imagination and sparkle. Call (407) 420-5038 and leave a message with your name, telephone number and a precise street address where Sentinel photographers can find the lights. The SentinelwW publish a sampling of the most spectacular displays throughout the holiday season.

John Streck, 41 of Orlando, an outpatient at tern's Sand Lake Hospital. After a July motorcy-Easy Street, is helped by occupational cle accident, Streck spent 2Vfe months in a coma therapist Shannon Hungate. The therapy and woke to find his speech and sight impaired. program is offered by the Brain Injury Rehabilita- The program helps him get reacquainted with tion Center at Orlando Regional Healthcare Sys- familiar tasks, such as mailing a letter. nV Saving time Agreeing on a basic itinerary the night before can save time deciding which attraction to see next when you get to the LAST CHANCE If you're feeling nostalgic, stop by Epcot's Universe of Energy and World of Motion attractions for one last glimpse before they close for major renovations.

The Universe of Energy's current movie will be replaced and its audio-animatronic dinosaurs will get an upgrade. The World of theme park. Being safe Magic Kingdom 9a.m.-11 p.m. (407) 824-4321 Epcot Future World 9. a.m.-7 p.m.

World Showcase 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (407) 824-4321 Oisney-MGM Studios 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (407) 824-4321 Universal Studios 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (407) 363-8000 Sea World 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (407)351-3600 If you become lost, use a mobile phone or a pay phone in a brightly lighted public place to call for free directions or lit The weather Mostly sunny today.

Highs in the low 70s, low in the low 50s. The traffic Holiday shoppers clogged the streets Friday particularly near shopping malls and International Drive and will again today. If you'll be among them, leave early, be patient and plan to wait. The airport Flying home today? If you're staying at Disney World or in Osceola County, skip the Bee Line and try State Road 417. Take it to exit 17 and head north to Orlando International.

assistance. The number: 238-1234 or 333 for cellular phones. Getting around Motion is due for a makeover with a General Motors test-track thrill ride replacing the current slow-moving ride. SIMULATOR RIDES Movie simulator rides are no longer the exclusive domain of theme parks. The new Movie Rider on International Drive features two shows Dino Island and Supersonic Flight that use the same technology of big screens and moving seats.

The main show, Dino Island, takes you zooming through a land of screeching, winged creatures and a tyrannosaurus rex. Itlnf I TOM BUHTONTHE ORLANDO SENTINEL When driving, remember it's legal to turn right on a red light in Flcida, assuming there are no signs to the The Hayden family of Isle of Palms, S.C., spent the day after Thanksgiving taking in the sights and having fun at Sea World on Friday. The younger Haydens from left, Caroline, 8, Car Ripley's Believe It or Not! on International Drive. Information: ter, 11, Holly, 9, and Gregg, 3 watch for whales at the Shamu contrary and traffic is clear. Also, state law requires that you wear seat belts.

underwater viewing area..