DATE: Monday, June 30, 1997                 TAG: 9706300079

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   72 lines

HAMPTON ROADS

A 39-year-old Ohio man was seriously injured when his personal watercraft collided with another in Linkhorn Bay, police said.

Richard A. Allen of Cincinnati was undergoing surgery at the Trauma Center at Virginia Beach General Hospital Sunday night, said Mike Carey, police spokesman. The accident, Carey said, nearly amputated Allen's foot.

The collision occurred about 1:30 p.m. on the bay, near the 1200 block of North Bayshore Drive. It was the fourth time someone has been hurt in a personal watercraft - also known by the trade name Jet Ski - accident at the Beach this summer.

Carey said Allen and Eric A. Hosek of the 1800 block of North Allenton Drive in Virginia Beach, were headed south on the bay on separate watercraft just before the accident occurred. Allen was just ahead and to the left of Hosek when he turned his 1996 Kawasaki north into Hosek's path and the two collided, Carey said.

Witnesses helped bring Allen ashore, rendered first aid and called paramedics and police, Carey said.

Investigators said the two men had all the required safety equipment aboard the watercraft and that alcohol and speed were not factors in the crash.

No charges have been filed. The investigation is being handled by the Virginia Beach Police Marine Patrol.

SUFFOLK

Police seek clues in finding lost man with Alzheimer's

Police are asking for help in the search for a missing man who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

Benjamin Davis, 80, left home about 11:30 p.m. Saturday in his gold 1988 Fleetwood Cadillac. The car's license plate bears his wife's initials and reads MAD 2, said police spokesman Mike Simpkins.

Davis is a former Suffolk schools superintendent who retired in 1979. He was spotted by a police officer about 1:30 a.m. Sunday on County Street. Simpkins said Davis lived near there years ago and had told his wife he was going home just before he left their home in the 2000 block of Timberlake Drive. Davis had not been reported missing when he was spotted by the officer, Simpkins said. Davis has gray hair and wears glasses. He is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. He was last seen wearing a beige polo shirt with a dark tie and khaki pants.

Simpkins said Davis had $3 with him when he left home, but had no identification. Anyone with information about Davis is asked to call Suffolk police at 925-6350.

PORTSMOUTH

TCC unveils new short-term

art courses in Olde Towne

Registration begins today for an eight-week course on 20th century art at the Visual Arts Center of Tidewater Community College in Olde Towne.

The course is one of two ``Looking at Art'' courses taught by George Tussing in a new group of 40 short-term courses scheduled to begin for the fall semester.

The classes include various forms of printmaking, photography, pottery, drawing, stained glass, woodworking and jewelry making.

Special classes in Web page design and desktop publishing also are scheduled.

The eight-week classes are aimed at people unable to commit for the 16-week semester, center director Ann Iott said.

``But these are serious classes,'' she said. ``They're not recreation programs.''

The eight-week courses offer two credits and cost $106 each. Many courses are divided into two parts, with the second eight weeks starting Oct. 16.

Registration for the courses is through Aug. 20. For information, call 396-6999. KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT JET SKI INJURIES MISSING PERSON

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