NATIONAL State to Weigh Punishment of Teacher in "Buckwheat" Case CENTRAL FALLS, R.l. { AP ) ? A state education official said that he will decide whether to pun ish a Central Falls teacher who allegedly directed a black student to dress up as Buckwheat Frank Pontarelli, director of administration and finance for the State Department of Education, said the case is heading to his desk fol lowing an appeal of Superintendent Maureen Chevrette's ruling on the matter. Pontarelli would not discuss Chevrette's decision, saying the teacher at the center of the case, Kevin Ornazian, has asked for a closed hearing. Pontarelli is acting as special state administrator for the district He said he will consider Ornazian's s appeal at a closed-door hearing Dec. 9. Omazian allegedly told an unidentified black high school senior to pose as Buckwheat, the' young black boy in the 1930s tele vision series "The Little Rascals. " The teacher allegedly made the request as part of the school' s Spirit Week. One of the week's activities is Auction Day, in which teachers pay seniors to perform chores. The money goes to the senior fund for events such as the prom. The Providence Journai reported the student paraded through the school cafeteria with a serving tray covered with cotton balls and condoms, calling, "Where's the back of the bus?*' Omazian, head of the indus trial arts department at Central Falls Junior-Senior High School, was suspended with pay Nov. 5. If Omazian is dissatisfied with Pontarelli's decision, he can take the matter to Education Com missioner Peter McWalters, Pontarelli said. Disciplinary action against a teacher can take the form of suspen sion or revocation of his teaching certificate, said Forrest Avila, legal counsel for the state Department of Education. Pontarelli's decision will be made public at a' Central Falls School Advisory Council meeting Dec. 13. V Defendant's Lawyer in Jordan Murder Raps Prosecutor's Handling of Evidence Larry Demery LUMBERTON (AP) ? Lawyers for one of the two Robeson County men accused of killing James Jordan have filed a motion in court assailing the local prosecutors for the way they've handled the evi dence in the case. Attorneys for Larry Martin Demery filed the motion last week in Superior Court, requesting an order to compel the prosecution to produce all evidence against their client, as required by law. Attorneys Hugh Rogers and John Campbell complained in their motion that, to date, they have Daniel Green Dye Voted To N. Y. Supreme Court Winston-Salem native Luther Dye has won a seat on the state Supreme Court in Queens, N.Y. Dye is a 1950 graduate of Atkins High School. He graduated from N.C. A&T State University in 1955. Dye, 60, has been a Civil Court judge and has served four years on the Criminal Court bench. He was also an Associate Counsel with New York Life Insurance Co. for 12 years, specializing in Hous ing Law and Nursing Home issues. He is an active member of the Guy R. Brewer United Democratic Club. Supreme Court justices in New York earn an annual of $99,000 and the salary is slated to rise to $113,000 in October. A * received 103 copies of "unidenti fied, unlabeled photographs, and a portion of the defendant's alleged statement." "The State has either failed to attempt to obtain these materials from the law enforcement agencies who have such items," the attorneys said. "If the State has obtained these items, it has failed to provide same to defendant" Demery was arrested Aug. 15 with co-defendant Daniel Andre Green for the July 23 murder of 4* T'ii.T Tii ? ??? fr OjPNM? WNV show James Jordan, the father of former basketball superstar Michael Jordan. James Jordan's body was found in a South Carolina creek. District Attorney Richard Town send has said he will seek the death penalty. The defense filed motions to review the evidence in September. A hearing was set for Oct. 5, but Townsend asked for and received a 30-day extension. Rogers and Campbell also complained that investigators have released selected information to the media without furnishing the same information to them. They requested an immediate hearing. It was not clear when the judge will rule on the motion. Demery and Green have been held in the Robeson County Jail without bond since their arrest. "Home ownership builds stability in the family, the neighborhood and the community." When It comes to buying a house, everyone has reservations about the financial responsibilities. But Wilbert Lee, executive director of Oakland Neighbor hood Housing Services, is changing all that. By building and refurbishing homes, the ONHS has placed 59 families in homes they never dreamed they could afford. Eighteen houses are currently under construction. Half of the ONHS homes are bought by single parents who are generally the most hesitant about home ownership. Not ofSly does the ONHS build housing, but they hold home buyer workshops to educate those who have their doubts. Wlibert's goal Is to empower people and not let them fall victim to circumstance. For most people, buying a home is fulfilling the American Dream. Thank you Wilbert Lee for your dedicated efforts toward providing quality housing to the Oakland community. A donation of $5,000 has been awarded to ONHS in recognition of your efforts.

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