The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 77

Another Eastor Orthodox Christians will celebrate their Easter on Sunday, in keeping with a religious decree. Faith Values Page 6 Saturday, April 18, 1993 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE Send comments and tips through e-mail to: mkersmarkitampatrib.Gom MICHAEL KERSMARKI, Pasco News Editor, (813) 949-9310 Pasco fax, (813)949-4862 UMIi.m. nil nut i -V, A- a USF seeks money for Pasco classes Hernando Community College's campuses in New Port Richey, Dade City and Brooksville. "We expect a tremendous response," said Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey.

"It is very important because many individuals, especially younger people, will have the opportunity now to stay right there and get a four-year degree. They won't have to drive to Tampa every day." It will be the first time in 10 years that USF has offered classes in Pasco for students seeking a bachelor's or master's degree, said P-HCC President Robert Jud-son. Latvala, who spearheaded the plan, has received a lot of support from local leaders, including Pasco county commis NEW PORT RICHEY Officials are hopeful the Legislature will approve funding to provide University of South Florida classes in Pasco County. By JANET LEISER of The Tampa Tribune It's not yet a done deal, but legislators said they expect the University of South Florida to gel more than $2 million to pay for classes in Pasco County. The state budget still was being worked out Friday afternoon, but Sen.

Jack Lalvala, R-Palm Harbor, said he has been told that the college will receive more than $3 million to expand its satellite campuses in several counties with most of it earmarked for Pasco. USF plans to offer classes at Pasco- sioners. He said it was about time Pasco's 300,000 residents had easy access to a state university. Latvala said the state budget is expected to be printed today, and the House and Senate are expected to give it a final vote by midweek. But that vote is considered a mere formality, the senator said.

P-HCC's Judson was optimistic, but wanted to wait for the final results. "I hope Senator Latvala is right on target," Judson said. "But in dealing with the Legislature, you don't know until they've finished up and left Tallahassee." USF initially plans to rent classroom space from the community college, Judson said. Some USF professors will work in New Port Richey, while others will teach courses through interactive video. About $2 million of USF's money will pay for professors, employees and other costs associated with the Pasco classes.

P-HCC will receive $300,000 to pay for the equipment needed in offering interactive classes, Judson said. Latvala and Fasano plan to seek more money next year to build, classrooms and a larger library at P-HCC. Judson said a bigger library is a priority because "we're already out of space." In the meantime, the P-HCC president said he expects USF to help by offering a computerized library borrowing system where students can order library books that will be delivered to them. Staff writer Janet Leiser works In New Port Richey. Reach her at (813) 815-1083.

Laser optics maker opens Trinity office Police seek missing woman Break from the routine At- zK-- 'A -i- A AMY M. OTEROTnbune photos HUDSON Deputies are looking for a woman whose severed middle finger apparently was found along U.S. 19. By ANDY GOTLIEB of The Tampa Tribune A piece of a finger found along U.S. 19 apparently belongs to a mentally ill woman missing for a week, sheriff spokesman Jon Powers said Friday.

The department seeks the public's help in locating Diane Augat, 40, of 1700 Chesapeake. Drive, Odessa. Powers said there's the "distinct possibility of foul play," although detectives believe there's at least a remote chance a cruel Swinging down the monkey bars, above, Emerald Jackson, 7, left, Ashley Downs, 7, and Erica Moody, 8, enjoy a pleasant outing Thursday at James Irvin Civic Center in Dade City. The girls are involved in a free spring break program sponsored by the Pasco County Parks and Recreation Department. At right, Tevin Gant, 6, tries his skill climbing the chain ladder.

The program, for children ages 6 to 12, provides outdoor play but also includes indoor games and arts and i ri VLOC Inc. Friday celebrated the grand opening of its new headquarters in Trinity's commercial area with a ribbon cutting and tours of the 45-000-square-foot facility. The building was dedicated to J. Chris Oles, a VLOC manager who died earlier this year. VLOC is a subsidiary of II-VI a publicly held company based in Pennsylvania.

It manufactures laser optics for the medical, industrial, scientific and military industries, among others. New Committee of 1 00 member: The Pasco County Committee of 100 has announced that H.M. Shirley has been elected to its board of directors. Shirley, a 29-year-veteran of the banking industry, is NationsBank market president, Suncoast Division. He'll fill the position on the board left by the resignation of Daniel Ald-ridge last year.

Paradise West Realty Inc. has hired Jackie Janus, Lorrie Williams, Ray Johnston, Alexia "Cookie" Cooke, Donna Collett, Michelle Perkins and Joe Gibson. Paradise West Realty, a full-service independent real estate firm, has locations in Hudson and New Port Richey. BWest Pasco Chamber awards banquet: The West Pasco Chamber of Commerce's Business Development Week Committee will hold an awards and recognition banquet next week. It's scheduled, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday at Seven Springs Golf and Country Club. The chamber's monthly membership dinner is set for the same time and place. In addition to the awards presentations, Michael J. Leding Jr. of Michael J.

Leding and Associates a Tampa consulting business, will give a presentation on "The Importance of Local vs. Regional Economics." For reservations, call the chamber at (813) 842-7651. Psychotherapist has new office: Judy Dvorak has relocated her psychotherapy practice to the offices of Lifespan Services 5207 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey. Dvorak has been in the field of advanced psychiatric nursing since 1972. She's a licensed mental health counselor, advanced registered nurse practitioner and certified clinical specialist.

Bear Creek Nursing Center receives certification: Bear Creek Nursing Center in Hudson has received special recognition from its owner, National HealthCare Corp. The award recognizes the center and the performance of its staff as one of National Healthcare's best. The 120-bed Bear Creek is one of 33 National HealthCare Corp. centers to receive the Gold Excellence Certification. Family service agency earns accreditation: Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Mental Health Services Inc.

has been awarded a three-year accreditation by the national Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission. Gulf Coast was accredited for its mental health and psychosocial rehabilitation programs of case management, crisis intervention and outpatient and residential treatment serving Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Mental Health Services is a nonprofit organization offering services throughout central and southwest Florida since 1960. Compiled by Nicole Ruday of the Tribune staff. Send Kerns to The Tampa Tribune, 2020 Land O' Lakes Suite 1, Lutz FL 33549, or fax to (813) 949-4862.

-WVPWWMM Will II I -4 i '--rf i '-j I. 1 -J J- A tfi v-; -V" 1 i V.Ua uC-Hr A "When she did not take her medication correctly, her personality would change, and during those bouts she was known to hang out with a pretty rough crowd," Powers said. He noted that her previous disappearances lasted only a day or two. A woman walking to work about 4 p.m. Wednesday found what she thought to be part of a finger by the side of U.S.

19 near New York Avenue, Powers said. The nail was polished. The woman at first thought the finger was fake, but mentioned it to her boyfriend, Powers said. The next day he also found the finger, although his description differed. That led detectives to look for two fingers.

Only one was found. Using fingerprint comparisons, technicians traced the finger to Augat, Powers said. Augat's mother, Mildred Young of Hudson, had called the sheriffs office April 11 to report her daughter missing, Powers said. Augat left her sister's house on Cobblestone Drive in Hudson about 11 a.m. April 10.

Augat was last seen a couple of hours later near the Hayloft Bar at State Road 52 and Little Road. "She apparently did not have a vehicle," Powers said. "She either hitchhiked or got rides from friends." Augat's family clings to hope that she may be alive. "She always said she had a guardian angel," Young said. "I wonder if she still has that guardian angel.

It was her favorite expression." See WOMAN, Page 8 Isaac Alexander, 6, foreground, and Natasha Downs, 5, swing part of the day away at the James Irvin Civic Center playground. Teacher helps passage of drug'testing bill cerned about students' use of drugs and alcohol, she said. Their substance abuse probably helped get them into trouble and land under the authority of the state Department of Juvenile Justice. "She came to us last summer because she was concerned about these children," Fasano said. 'Talking to her did fire us up to file this bill." The bill, which would amend an existing statute, allows juvenile justice authorities to ask a judge to impose random testing at a child's sentencing or later if the youth is suspected of using drugs or alcohol.

It applies to only those teens being monitored by the juvenile justice department. Circuit Judge Lynn Tepper, who no longer hears juvenile cases, said she included random drug testing as a sentence condition for virtually every child who appeared before See TEACHER, Page 8 By MATHEW HORRIDGE of The Tampa Tribune A Pasco teacher is getting credit for a bill, awaiting the governor's signature, designed to help rein in troubled youths. State Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, and state Sen. John Grant, R-Tampa, helped push the bill through both houses of the state Legislature.

Vonnie Tornow, a behavioral specialist at Pasco Middle School in Dade City, was con Ridgewood baseball team is after top district seed, respect tonight against Tarpon Springs, Page 13..