The Times

Graduation nears for Class of '76

More than 5,500 Coral Gables, Southwest and South Dade public high school students will graduate from area high schools in ceremonies scheduled June 11 through 14. Countywide, more than 13,600 students will be wearing their caps and gowns at 21 ceremonies which for the most part will take place at the Miami Beach, Dade County and Miami Dade Community College-South auditoriums — the only ones large enough to accommodate the big classes. Palmetto Senior High School Class of '76 is one of the largest in the county with more than 1,100 students graduating Monday, June 14 at MDCC-South at 10 a.m. Palmetto's valedictorian, Amy Poteet, will be addressing her class as will Palmetto Principal Dr. W. Ray Turner. U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles will address the 862 graduates of Southwest High School at their commencement Saturday, June 12 at MDCC-South at 2 p.m. School Board Member G. Holmes Braddock will be the speaker for South Dade Senior High School's 700 graduates on Sunday, June 13 at 1 p.m. at the MDCC auditorium. Coral Gables Senior High School's commencement ceremony will be held at the Dade County Auditorium Friday, June 11 at 8 p.m. Andrew Labbie, valedictorian at Gables, will address the 700 graduating students. Coral Park Senior High School's Class of '76 also numbers 700 and will receive its diplomas at Miami Beach Auditorium Saturday, June 12 at 2 p.m. Cynthia Flanigan, valedictorian of her class, will address the seniors. Nine hundred and fifty one seniors will graduate from Killian High School on Friday, June 11 at 8 p.m. at MDCC-South. Gary Kodel is Killian's valedictorian and will be speaking to his fellow graduates. South Miami Senior High School has the smallest graduating class in the south area with about 580 students. Julia Wetzel, the valedictorian, will speak during commencement ceremonies at MDCC-South on Monday, June 14 at 2 p.m.

40 Pages Vol. 50 No. 45 Wednesday, June 2, 1976 * 10 Cents

Her house a home for abused pets

By ELIZABETH OWEN Staff Writer One day Virginia Ackerly's neighbor stopped her and said she had a near-dying dog leashed to her car door. When Virginia ran out into the driveway, she saw a tan puppy suspended from a taut leash, choking for air. "His eyes were bulging, and his tongue was hanging out," she said. "I rubbed my nose on his and he licked me. You could lay your fingers in his ribs, he was so thin." It was not the first time a pet had been abandoned in Virginia's yard. For some 15 years, the blonde, matronly woman, who lives in a modest home in the Southwest area just off the Tamiami Trail, has been taking in homeless, unwanted cats and dogs. She has been associated with a number of pet organizations, but most recently, her life is Save-A-Pet. The charity-funded club was started in 1972 by a woman from Highland Park, Ill., Gertrude Maxwell. Three months ago, Virginia and a number of local women organized the first Miami chapter. Save-A-Pet, according to its members, is dedicated to stopping the practice of animal euthanasia, finding homes for abandoned animals and giving humane care to pets it has taken in. The immediate goal is to raise enough money to establish a pet adoption center in an adequate animal shelter, and open a spay and neutering clinic to all needy pets. In the meantime, Save-A-Pet members take stray animals into their own homes. Virginia, who is vice-president and chairman of adoptions, has 28 cats and 21 dogs living with her. When she gets an abandoned pet, she immediately takes it to a vet and has it attended to. "We take the cats and dogs to the vet, get them shots, worm them, get rid of their mange and have them spayed or neutered," she explained. "In the last two weeks, we've gotten two puppy litters — one left in a shopping center and the other in a box in the back of a car. "These things cost money. We are not subsidized by any organization. . . we accept contributions." To help with costs, a half dozen veterinarians in the southwest area give the pets inexpensive medical care, Virginia said. Lying beside Virginia's phone is a "cat book" and a "dog book." In the front of the tablets are names, addresses and phone numbers of people who want a pet, and in the back, those of people who want to give an animal away. Virginia's often-painstaking job is to match the lists. On her floor, tables, chairs and sofa, and in her back yard, cats and dogs of all sizes, shapes, colors and ages lie about. Newspapers cover the floors and the smell of damp fur permeates the air. Skip, a mixed Shepherd with a melancholy gaze, wagged his tail and laid his head in Virginia's lap. "I found this one 10 years ago. He was on the Palmetto Expressway near the airport exit just watching the cars See ANIMALS, Page 4

SD women spend year on budget; still not sure where money goes

By ANA MARIA ALVAREZ Staff Writer Understanding the complicated and lengthy Metro budget is no easy task. That is why two South Dade members of the Dade County League of Women Voters, who have been studying the Metro Budget for a year, shared their findings at the League's Cutler Ridge Unit meeting last week. Angela Ehrlich of 5944 SW 64th Pl., who heads the League's Metro Committee and Coral Gables unit director Dorrit Marks of 10715 SW 74th Ct., are just two of the 10 member committee who have deciphered the budget. But even after a year of work, the two women at the Cutler Ridge meeting admitted that they are far from being budget experts. "If you want to understand government, you have to understand the budget because it underlies everything that is done in this county," said Ms. Marks. And, after listening to the two-hour presentation, some members of the unit questioned whether even some of the county commissioners understood the complicated budget. "One of the things we would like to see happen is for Metro commissioners to See LEAGUE, Page 14

Perrine man saved cop's life

For his concern and alert action in shouting a warning to Homestead motorcycle patrolman William "Ticket" Taylor that may have saved the officer's life or at least prevented serious injury, Tommy Alford of Perrine has been presented a community service award and a $25 check by P. J. Valter president of the Barnett Bank of Homestead. Alford, of 10940 SW 184th St., was nominated for the award by Lt. J. L. Booker of the Homestead Police Department for his "commitment to law and order and service to his fellow man." Alford was waiting in line at the auto inspection station next to the Homestead Police Station on May 7 when a female driver crashed into three police vehicles. Officer Taylor was in the process of handling the accident and when he turned his back to the woman she attempted to stab him with a pocket knife. "If it had not been for the concern and alert action of Tommy Alford, Officer Taylor would have suffered serious injury. Mr. Alford yelled for the officer to "Watch Out" and consequently the officer threw his arm up and deflected the thrust of the knife and the officer only sustained a cut shirt from the incident," said Booker. "I only did what any concerned citizen should have done who happened to be in a position to see what was happening, " Alford said during the award presentation. Valter agreed but added, "Too many people today elect in such instances to look the other way and not become involved, which is why we are most pleased to recognize Taylor's committment to law and order and the service to his fellow man."

WM Memorial parade was a soggy success 1B

Young coin thief caught; gets a break from the law 2

inside

Classified | 24 Clubs | 4B Deaths | 17 Editorials | 6 Entertainment | 20 Gables news | 8 Gabriel | 1B Permits | 16 Police | 2, 3 Recipes | 1B Religion | 2B School slate | 6B Sports | 22 Weddings | 3B