Florida Sentinel Bulletin

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

The next meeting of the “Save Our Youth” meeting will take place on Monday, March 11^th. The meeting will take place at Exciting Alive Church, 5705 E. 32^nd Avenue, in Grant Park, beginning at 7 p.m.

Earlier this month, Pastor Antonio Hawkins called on the community in response to an epidemic of gun violence. In the last month, two young men have been killed and five others injured. One person injured was an innocent bystander.

Pastor Hawkins is asking all residents who have an interest in stopping the violence to attend the meeting.

On February 15, John Brown, III, and Reginald Johnson, both 18, were shot. Brown died. Police arrested 16-year-old Kito Lamont Felton and 17-year-old Malik Jimer Williams in connection with the shooting.

On February 19^th, Dexter Gardner, 26, Thomas Causey, 41, and Bertran Sampson, 26, were in an apartment courtyard on E. 22^nd Avenue near N. 29^th Street, when a group of men walked up to them and opened fire.

Gardner died from his injuries, Causey was hospitalized with seriously injured and Sampson received minor injuries. The investigation into the shooting remains open, but no arrests have been made.

The first meeting was a spontaneous Intercessory Prayer Meeting that took place on February 21^st. Several members of Brown’s family attended the meeting. The second meeting was held on February 26^th, and a large crowd attended.

For additional information contact Pastor Hawkins at (813) 280-9861.

Pastor: ‘It’s Time To Revive The City!’

The Tampa community has experienced great sorrow due to the recent deaths of African American men. Violent shootings have captured the lives of sons, brothers, uncles, and even fathers in the East Tampa community. These events have stricken the community and left many in fear.

We must reclaim our community!, Pastor Randy Randolph says.

“Oppression is apparent throughout our community, but violence is an unwelcomed guest that must be evicted! It is time to rebuild our community and give notice to the enemy that he has no power here! We MUST strongly unite in prayer and bring a sense of hope to the young, middle-aged, old, and those broken in spirit. For God’s word tells us, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 – KJV

Pastor Randy Randolph of Abundant Life Enrichment Church in East Tampa believes that we must renew our minds in order to rise above these violent attacks. He further says, “We must always remember that with God, we win in the end! Through trials, tribulations, heartaches, pain and violence, God is our refuge — our safety net. But this mindset can only be achieved through Christ.”

Pastor Randolph and the Abundant Life Enrichment Church have gathered various community leaders, neighbors, and friends together in an effort to “Restore, Renew, and Revive” the city of Tampa through a community revival.

This Community Revival will take place from Monday, March 18, 2013 through Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 7 p. m. The guest evangelist will be Elder Christopher O’Bryant of Zion Hill Primitive Baptist Church in Lakeland. Abundant Life Enrichment Church is located at 4701 East Hanna Avenue.

Contact the church office at (813) 627-8400 if your ministry of arts (e.g., choirs, songstress, praise team/dancers, poet(s), and mimes) would like to participate or if you have questions.

Activists Hope Rallies Will ‘Stop The Violence’

Community Activists Clarence Jones and Michelle Williams are on a mission to do what they can to stop the gun violence that has threatened Black communities.

Through a series of “Stop The Violence” rallies, Jones and Williams hope that peace can be restored.

“We’ve had rallies in Robles Park and East Tampa, and we have others planned for West Tampa, Grant Park, and other areas.

“Someone needs to bring attention to the problems in our community, and try to get the troublemakers together to find out what’s going on.”

Jones said they are trying to establish unity and point out the ills of gun violence, and the impact it has on an entire family and the community.

“I think there are a total of four gangs involved in all the violence, and I want to sit down with the leaders and come up with a solution to stop it.

“It started with the females, but it’s about anything now. I also think the arrest of so many people involved in the drop scam has a lot to do with the violence.”

Jones said programs are needed to help the kids and get them off the streets.

“They need something to do, and our elected officials need to step in and make it happen. More funds need to be set aside to save our young people by giving them something productive to do, instead of being angry at each other over nothing.”

Reporter Leon B. Crews can be reached at (813) 248-0724, or e-mailed at lcrews@flsentinel.com, or  noelswerc@gmail.com.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

Tony Stinyard grew up in Tampa, but he spent a lot of time in Dade City and Zephyrhills. As a young adult, he found himself drawn to movies with settings in the 1930s.

Stinyard didn’t know at the time that his love of movies from that era, combined with experiences in rural Florida would have a profound effect on his future.

After graduating from Brandon High School, he enrolled at Hillsborough Community College, and took some classes. Stinyard discovered that he wanted to become an actor and began pursuing that goal in 2008.

It wasn’t long after that that the young man came to realize he could also write and direct. One of his creations, “Sex, Love, & Consequences,” won an award in the “Most Popular Film” category in 2010 at the Your Indie Film Festival.

One of his next creations was the play, “Saul’s Junk Joint,” with a cast of 20 actors and 12 singers.

“It’s a dance musical that takes place in the 1930s. It’s about a place where Blacks and whites can go to get away from segregation. But the mayor of the town wants to close the joint.

“They club goers get together and raise the money to bring a famous group to town to save it, but then dark secrets start coming out,” he said.

The play will have its final showing in Tampa on Saturday, March 9^th. The shows will take place at 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., at the Main Stage Theater at Hillsborough Community College, Ybor Campus. He also plans to have a DVD recording of the performances.

After that, Stinyard plans to take it on the road. He hopes to have showings in several cities. His goal is to get to Broadway in New York City.

The 35-year-old said he wrote and directed the play.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

On Thursday, a federal judge sentenced the last of ten individuals to federal prison for distribution of drugs. A task force consisting of members of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, culminated an eleven-month investigation with the arrests of 54 suspects on state and federal charges. Ten of those faced federal charges. The investigation focused on an apartment complex at 14102 N. 20th Street.

Federal Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich sentenced Jaris Youngblood, 34, to 15 years and 8 months. He was the final defendant in “Operation Pandora’s Box.”

The investigation targeted two career criminals and led to the identification of dozens of others who were charged with crimes that included dealing in crack, powered cocaine, marijuana, pills, methamphetamines, selling of weapons, and prostitution, as well as other crimes.

The other nine defendants who received federal prison time were: Zavien Brand, 29, was sentenced to 31 years. He was charged with distributing crack cocaine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm during an in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Cuwissie Hamilton, 34, was sentenced to 16 years for distributing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine.

Bruce Kenyon Davis, 32, was charged with distributing crack cocaine. He was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months.

Victor Milliner, 25, was sentenced to 15 years. He was charged with distributing crack cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Terrill LaDaja Gainous, 32, and Tyrone Flowers, 50, were both charged with distributing crack cocaine. Gainous was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months and Flowers was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Kenneth Wayne Richardson, 46, and Shay John, 39, were also charged with distributing crack cocaine. Richardson was sentenced to 7 years and 1 month and John was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months.

Kimoy Prince, 22, was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months for distributing cocaine base. Aaron Petrus, 27, of Jacksonville, was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months for distributing crack cocaine.

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee said, “These arrests are another example of the positive results by local and federal agents working together to remove individuals off of our streets.”

UPDATE:

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victim as 40-year-old Tonya L. Daniels. 

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detectives are conducting a death investigation at 1407 East 127^th Avenue.

According to the report, on Friday at 4 a. m., a man called 9-1-1 to report he had just gotten home from work and found his fiancée dead in the living room of her apartment. Deputies responded, and confirmed that a Black female had been found inside the apartment with upper body trauma.

Deputies said foul play is suspected, but the official cause of death has not been determined.

BY GWEN HAYES

Sentinel Editor

A youthful Tampa minister stood in his pulpit (vacant of all chairs, podium, etc.) and shared with the community the outline that God had given him in an effort to save the youth in the Tampa Bay area.

Antonio Hawkins, 29, Senior Pastor of Exciting Faith Alive at Mt. Silla Church, called upon pastors, ministers, leaders of the community to come together and work on methods of reaching the young males in the community.

The meeting on Monday evening began at 7:10 with an opening prayer by Pastor Donald White, pastor of Mt. Carmel M. B. Church, Plant City.

Pastor Hawkins came forward with handouts, a power point presentation and then talked about the “Saving Our Youth Movement.”

He told the ministers, pastors and community leaders that the mission of “Saving Our Youth Movement” is to “change the mindset of our youth.”

In addition to the mission, he shared the vision: to save, re-direct, protect, guide and be examples for the youth.

In the target areas, he listed, Grant Park, Highland Pines, Robles Park, Belmont Heights, Sulphur Springs, West Tampa, Tampa Heights, Clair-Mel, and Progress Village. The audience added, Jackson Heights, Suitcase City, Sugar City, Palm River and Samson Park.

In order to accomplish the goals set forth, Pastor Hawkins said there has to be a partnership. “Saving the youth is not about any one group or individual; it’s going to take all of us. This will not be easy, but it can be done.”

The strategy has to be to meet the young people on their level – go outside of your regular environment, learn their language and don’t be so quick to judge.

Mentoring youth is another means of reaching them in an effort to understand their purpose.

Young men who participated during the meeting: front, left to right: Deputy Willie Edom, Sam Oxendine, Horace Drew, Rechi Butler (Get It Right Foundation), David White and Deputy J. Footman. In the back, Pastor Antonio Hawkins, Tyrone Walker (Miracle Outreach) James Cole, Minister Rosson Hamilton and Pastor Donald White.

He talked about the gifts that God has equipped each with and he’s hopeful that inner city schools will be adopted by some of the churches, businesses or non-profit organizations.

His outline includes an Events Team that will plan and execute events in the targeted neighborhoods. “We need to be able to have a kickball game without a shootout. And, we will need the support of law enforcement.”

In his outline of Jail/Prison Outreach, Pastor Hawkins talked about reaching those 18-25. However, a young man in the audience, said that he works in the Juvenile Justice system and asked that the age includes those who are in elementary to middle school. He sees them every day.

Those who will join the Street Team will have to be trained. “You cannot go up to young people talking ‘church.’ You have to find a way to get to know who they are,” he said, “and then offer them salvation.”

The Grief Recovery Team will help hurting youth, who may be dealing with issues of not having a father in his/her life, or losing a loved one at a young age. “One has to be trained for this team because ‘hurting people, hurt people,’ he said.

He shared with the audience how he cried uncontrollably at a funeral last weekend, thinking of a friend he lost about 8 years ago. Even though he has preached or presided at numerous funerals since the death of his friend, this was the first time he ‘attended’ a funeral and sobbed so much.  That let him know he, too, had some grief issues.

A series of Youth Crusades will also be set up in the targeted areas  — maybe like tent revivals with local gospel groups performing. However, one respondent explained that tents and gospel music will not draw young people, either.

One woman in the audience commended the number of “strong, dedicated men who stood up” and want to give back to their community. She emphasized the need to be committed, especially to those you choose to mentor.

Tyrone Walker, who was accompanied by his wife, Michelle Walker, both of Miracle Outreach Ministries, told of a program, Saving Our Sons, where he has a barbering program to teach young men how to cut hair and have their own profession.

Chloe Coney, who is an evangelist, told the audience that the churches and groups need to come together.

James Cole asked the audience (without showing hands), ‘how many of you know your neighbor across the street, down the street or next door?’ He added that we need to get back to being a neighborhood. 

“You know whether your neighbor is here or not. Go back and talk to them about this meeting; engage them in conversation about this meeting; serve as the voice of the community,” he said.

Minister Rosson Hamilton of Divine Worship Center, told of the double life he led as a young person. Of mixed race ethnicity, he never knew his dad and his mother died when he was a youth. He had been drinking alcohol and smoking weed since the age of 12, but those who raised him didn’t find out until he was about 17 years old. He knows the power of God. At age 29, he’s been married for 10 years and has 2 sons.

His suggestion to reach the young people: “talk English, don’t talk church; start with those around you; and be creative in your methods.”

On Tuesday, Pastor Hawkins reflected on and assessed the meeting. He thought, “things went very well. I am motivated to push harder and go deeper because there’s a great work to be done.”

Although many of the area’s pastors and ministers could not attend personally, he was pleased with those who sent representatives and those who had contacted him before the meeting to say they would send someone.

Apostle Mark Jones of Center For Manifestation sent a representative; Pastor Charles Patrick of Christlike Ministries stopped by before the meeting, but had a representative present;  Pastor Evan Burrows of First Baptist Church of College Hill sent one of his deacons, Albert Bell as a representative; Dr. T. W. Jenkins of New Hope M. B. Church, left a message of support; Pastor Jeffery Johnson, Youth Pastor at 34th St. Church of God, was on his way, but got caught in traffic coming out of Manatee County. There were also representatives from Pastor Alfonzo Broughton, Genesis Worship Center; and Pastor LayTecia McKinney, Victory Temple Outreach.

Minister/Coach Kenneth Muldrow, who Pastor Hawkins knows from his days at Blake High School, told him about an organization, “Fishermen 5,” for men 18-35.

Those in attendance were treated to a spaghetti dinner prepared by the church’s Culinary Ministry.

The next meeting is Monday, March 11th, 7 p. m.

Those whose names appeared on the sign-in sheet were: Aja Hawkins, Alma Kelly, Alysia McClendon, Annie Glover, Belinda Flavien, Brittaney Henderson, Charles Perry, Cheryl Webb, Cherylene Levy, Chloe Coney, Christy Crawford, Consuela Williams and Cookie Lee.

Deacon Albert Bell, Deacon James Glover, Sr., Delores Hillman, Deputy J. Footman, Deputy Willie Edom, Felicia Westbrook, Fran Tate, Horace Drew, Jacqueline Herring, James Cole, Lutonja Best, Mae Bennett, Margaret Little, Marie Tarver White, Mary McDaniel, Michelle Walker, Minister Antoine Knight, Minister James Glover, Jr., Minister James Johnson, Officer G. A. Neal, Pastor Charles Patrick, Pastor Donald White, Pastor Paul Buster, Redi Butler, Rev. Phyllis Council.

Rosa Santos, Rosalie Jones, Sabrina Brown, Sam Oxendine, Samantha Randall, Sarah Hall, Shameke Freeman, Sylvia Brown, Tara Barnard, Tonya Lewis, Tyrone Walker, Victor Hawkins, Willie Cyrus and Willie Monroe. (Photos by Cherylene Levy)

BY GWEN HAYES

Sentinel Editor

Two of the coaches in next Friday’s UNCF All Star Basketball Game were stars in the same game when they were high school seniors.

Both of the coaches played for the West squad. Natanya LaShon Miller played in the game for Jefferson High School in 1992. She was the MVP of the game and scored 25 points. Eric Hayes (pictured) played in the game for Tampa Catholic High School in 1993. He scored 13 points and had many assists. Both are now Varsity Team (girls and boys basketball) coaches for Jefferson High School.

Natanya is a native Tampan and a graduate of Jefferson High School. She is the daughter of Nancy Miller and the late Walter Miller. Her grandparents are Anna Mae and Arizona Jenkins (deceased).

Ms. Miller attended Barber-Scotia College, Concord, North Carolina, on a full athletic scholarship and earned a B. S. degree in Mass Communications. She has a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Nova Southeastern University.

Today, Coach Miller is a 6th grade teacher at Roland Park (K-8) School of International Studies.

Coach Hayes is also a native Tampan. He is the son of James and Gwen Hayes.

Upon graduating from Tampa Catholic, he accepted a full basketball scholarship to the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), where he became a starter on the basketball team as a freshman. After 4 years, he received a degree in Information Systems, with a minor in Finance.

Hayes’ love for basketball led him into being a high school coach. He has assisted Tampa Catholic with AAU teams. He was the head coach at the International Preparatory School in Cleveland, OH, Brookville Central High School (Brooksville, FL), and Dunnellon High School (Dunnellon, FL).

Both coaches consider it an honor to coach in a game they both played in and to coach the game in the gymnasium they both call ‘home court.’

“It is definitely an honor for me,” Coach Miller said, “because I’ve at the school and in that gymnasium for so many years.”

Coach Hayes said, “It’s an honor for me to be asked to coach the game my first year at Jefferson.”

The 28th UNCF All-Star game will be Friday, March 8, 2013, 6 p. m. at Jefferson High School. The game was started by the late Dr. Sam Horton, who was principal at Jefferson at the time, to give great players who may not be super players an opportunity to be seen by college scouts, explained John Glenn, coordinator of the game. “At that time, Dr. Horton said the super stars would always get the calls, but he was concerned about the ‘good players’ getting an opportunity.”

Coaches for the East teams will be LaTosha Lewis (girls) of Strawberry Crest and Adrian Johnson (boys) of Tampa Bay Tech.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

Four inner-city schools with the “high poverty” moniker will add another level of nutrition for its students. The four schools will begin to provide free dinner, as well as breakfast and lunch for those who qualify.

Last week, Hillsborough County School Board members approved the program as part of a national effort by anti-hunger organizations.

The schools are: Just Elementary, Sulphur Springs Elementary, Potter Elementary, and Booker T. Washington Elementary Schools. 

All four of the schools chosen have a student population that is more than 95% low-income, as measured by the participation in the free or reduced lunch program. The schools offer tutoring, academic enrichment, and cultural programs after school, which keeps a large portion of their populations on campus.

To qualify, students must be enrolled in both the school and after-school programs. Parents are not required to complete any forms for the children to receive the meals free of charge.

Mrs. Doretha Edgecomb, member of the Hillsborough County School District said, “This is a pilot program and it is important for us to support it. If our students are in need of being well fed so that they can be prepared better to learn, then it is important that we give this program a chance. No child should go to bed hungry if we can make a difference.”

Mrs. Edgecomb further stated that the four schools chosen all have the after school ED Venture Program on campus that lengthens the school day and the students, teachers, and staff are already on campus. The program is being funded on a federal level, she said.

Bread for the World, one national anti-hunger organization said a new analysis revealed that “African American children suffer more hunger and poverty than U. S. children as a whole.

“Nearly 30% of African American households with children are food insecure, and 27.6 live in poverty. The poverty rate for all children in Florida is 24.9%. However that number pertaining to African American children in Florida is 41.2%.

The school district is able to offer the program as a result of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act passed by Congress in December 2010. It authorizes the service of after-school meals or dinners in all states through the Child Care Food Program.

The program will go into effect early to mid April 2013.

On Monday evening, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies were called to an apartment at 7017 San Ramon Place. When they arrived, they found Dametrius Edwards, 43, dead from a gunshot wound to the upper body.

According to reports, Edwards was found in his bedroom by his mother, Cynthia Felton, who became concerned when she was unable to reach him by phone for three days.

During their initial investigation, deputies discovered that Edwards’s truck, a 2005 Nissan pickup truck, was missing. Later that night acting on a tip, deputies found the truck parked outside an apartment on Banyan Bluff Drive.

Inside the truck, deputies found 22-year-old Demetrius Edwards, Jr. hiding. He was arrested on outstanding warrants for burglary, grand theft and violation of a domestic violence injunction. He is being held without bond on those charges as the investigation into his father’s death continues.

According to City of Tampa Human Resources Director, Kim Crum, Edwards, Sr. had been a lifeguard with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department since 1986. He came on as a regular employee in March 1994, and was an Aquatic Leader 4 Senior Life Guard at Cyrus Greene Pool.

CaShondra Edwards said her brother was an all-around nice guy who really loved helping others.

“Dametrius, Jr. was his only child. Before he reached his teenage years, he spent all of his time with us. We have tons of photos of he and his dad doing all kinds of activities together.

“As he got older, he spent more time with his mother.” CaShondra said because their father wasn’t around when they were growing up, her brother wanted to make sure he was always there for his son.

“When Dametrius Jr.’s mom kicked him out, he moved in with his dad. My brother always had forgiveness for the mistakes his son made, and tried to steer him in the right direction.”

Julio Barrera, a Team Supervisor at Cyrus Greene, said he’s known Edwards since they were 7 years old and played baseball together with the Bayshore Little League.

“We became friends as little kids, and actually started working together with the city. We were both park kids, and got summer jobs in aquatics at Cyrus Greene.

“Our roles took different paths later, but we remained friends, and talked all the time.”

Barrera said as a kid, Edwards, Sr. was a great athlete, and excelled in all sports.

“He attended King High School and I was at Plant. I’m two years older, but I remember at the age of 7, he was knocking homeruns over the wall. He was a true God-fearing man who loved his friends.

“Working in East Tampa meant we had to assume the position of being role models, and he really loved it, and the kids related to him very well. On Tuesday, they were asking where he was, because they really looked forward to being round him.”

Barrera said Edwards was also a role model to his family, that included three sisters, his mother, and his son, Dametrius, Jr.

“I remember his mother coming to the aquatic center several times to be with her son, and he was the provider for the family.

“I did meet his son, and he was a good kid. Dametrius was lost for words when he was born, and he actually grew up around the pool with his dad. His son was the love of his life.”

Barrera said as is the case with most children, when Dametrius, Jr. got older, he got his own place, and went his own way with his life.

“We didn’t see as much of Dametrius, Jr. after he became an adult.

“I do know that when his son started having problems, he moved him in with him to help in any way he could. That’s the kind of person he was. He wanted to make sure all the kids had a future.”

Barrera said Dametrius, Sr. is a young man that will be missed by co-workers and a lot of kids who looked up to him.

Aiken’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

BY GWEN HAYES

Sentinel Editor

State Representative Darryl Rouson won the confidence of his fellow legislators last week when he was elected minority leader of the House of Representatives. He represents House District 70 (St. Petersburg) which includes a portion of southwestern Hillsborough County.

The Legislative session opens in Tallahassee on Tuesday, March 5th. Rep. Rouson said his first order will be to meet with his fellow Democrats during the first week to “give them a pep talk and wrap up the November 2012 election so that we may start on preliminary strategy for 2014 elections.”

The party picked up 5 seats in 2012. “Our job will be to keep those 5 and add to that number.

“Our goal will be to expand  the base of Democrats in the House of Representative; get energized to recruit good candidates for 2014 and raise sufficient funds with the idea of increasing seats and holding onto them,” he explained.

An attorney professionally, Rep. Rouson became an elected official in 2008 and has been re-elected in each cycle.

The Hillsborough County Democratic Party has said it is ready to begin working with Rep. Rouson.

“The people of Florida can rely on Rep. Rouson to make sure their voices are heard,” stated Chris Mitchell, Chair of the Hillsborough County Democratic Caucus.