Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Claudia McFarlane was a woman who was very concerned about safety, especially when it came to her family. Even in her native Jamaica, she would constantly tell her 6 children to be careful.

At 6:30 a. m. Tuesday morning, Ms. McFarlane, 56, was walking on the north side of Hillsborough Avenue near 42^nd Street when she was hit by an SUV driven by Persylvia Singleton, 50.

Although Tampa Police said Ms. McFarlane was wearing dark clothing, her daughter, Suzette Clark, said her mother never wore dark clothing, and was wearing black pants, a bright floral top, pink shoes and carrying a pink purse at the time of the accident.

Police also said she had crossed six lanes of traffic when she was hit. Ms. Singleton reportedly told police she did not see Ms. McFarlane crossing the street when she hit her. Ms. McFarlane was pronounced dead at the scene, and according to police, Ms. Singleton had to be hospitalized.

Ms. Clark said her mother was on her way to work at University Village when the accident occurred.

“She left the same time every morning, and it was always dark. She didn’t drive, and walked everywhere.”

Family members said it’s unbelievable that this happened to her after she would be adamant about the dangers of crossing that area when it was dark.

Ms. Clark said her mother had been working at University Village for 5 years as a housekeeper.

Family members will remember her as a woman who enjoyed reading, doing puzzles, and listening to the traditional reggae music instead of the dancehall.

“She was a very happy woman who was free spirited and never let anything upset her,” said Ms. Clark.

“Her only social activity was going to a place where she could listen to her music.”

Police are investigating the accident, and have reported that it appears the driver was not at fault.

A 30-year-old Tampa man was arrested and charged with shooting another man. He is being held without bond.

Tampa Police arrested Marlon Anthony Stewart (pictured) and charged him with attempted second-degree murder; two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; and felon in possession of a firearm.

According to police, last Monday, Kevin Taylor, 35, and another man became engaged in an argument while inside the Sunocco Service, 3401 E. Hillsborough Avenue. The argument continued outside of the business into the parking lot.

During the argument, Taylor was shot several times in the lower torso. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was admitted in serious, but stable condition.

Police said a vehicle driven by one of the suspects fled the scene. It was later abandoned in the 3600 block of E. Comanche, after it had been involved in a crash.

Stewart was arrested last Thursday at 801 Twiggs Street. Police said the investigation into the shooting is continuing.

According to sources in the community, this shooting is the latest in a list of violent incidents. Several months ago, a dispute erupted between two groups at a downtown club and later spread to Ben T. Davis Beach.

It is also allegedly connected to a shooting in May that left Jynasis Ellis, 26, dead, and Malik Majied, 21, injured.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Tampa Pastor Tami Robinson and Samantha Gavin on October 7^th for Adverse Possession of a home abandoned in foreclosure. Deputies said Robinson had filed a notice of adverse possession several weeks earlier, and Gavin was living in the home.

Robinson had reportedly hand-served deputies a declaratory judgment lawsuit for related harassment at a different adverse possession home earlier. Both women were charged with burglary, and if convicted, they could serve prison sentences.

Robinson, a mortgage broker, pastors the Well Pavilion Ministry Church in the 3400 block of Sanchez Street.

In the lawsuit, it explains that the nature of the harassment as abuse of civil rights, and the legal basis of the adverse possessor’s rights. The pleading recognized the nature of such harassment against which most victims have little or no defense, owing to the high cost of legal assistance. It asks the court to declare Robinson’s rights with respect to adverse possession, and to enjoin the Sheriff and deputies to leave her alone, barring any court order or trespassing complaint from the actual owner.

Pastor Robinson said she’s never profited from adverse possession, but she knows people who have.

“My reason for doing this is because I’m a pastor, and I saw it as a benefit for misplaced families who could at least afford to pay off the liens.

“My vision is also for women with children who’ve been displaced to have a place to live. I think this can be very beneficial, and I don’t understand how they can say we’re misinterpreting the law.”

Pastor Robinson said all you have to do is ride around and look for these homes.

“These are homes that basically have been deemed vacant or abandoned by Hillsborough County Code Enforcement. The properties hadn’t been maintained, and these people move in, make repairs, clean things up, and pay the taxes. How can they be living for free?

“In the case of Ms. Gavin, she is a member of my church, and needed a place to live. She was in the first home when deputies came ad gave hr 24 hours to leave. I came out, showed them that I had filed the paperwork, and I was told adverse possession was illegal and unconstitutional.”

Pastor Robinson said she had contacted the actual owners of the property to let them know she was claiming them under adverse possession.

“The Property Appraiser’s Office is also supposed to contact the owners.

“As far as Ms. Gavin is concerned, there was another property I was working on for another family when she was displaced. I put that family on hold and allowed Ms. Gavin to move into that home. Now, she’s been denied access to that house and all of her belongings. When the deputies found out she was the same person I had helped before, that’s when we were arrested.”

Pastor Robinson said the lawsuit was filed prior to their arrests, and she doesn’t have a scheme going on.

“I was trying to help out a family, and this is what happened.

“As far as access to the homes is concerned, no one has to break into these houses. There was a sliding glass door open to Ms. Gavin’s house, and that’s how she gained access. The locks were changed after she moved in. All of the houses I’ve seen have been vandalized, or the doors left unlocked or open.”

On the Adverse Possession statute, Assistant State Attorney, Ada Carmona, said filing paperwork doesn’t give anyone rights to the property.

“That only shows that documents were filed through the clerk’s office, but is not a legal process,” said Carmona.

“The same thing applies to abandoned and foreclosed homes. In either case, the home is owned by either an individual or a lending institution.”

Carmona said in modern times when the law has been applied, it’s been in cases where there was a lot of land connected to a sub-division.

“The way the adverse possession is being applied right now is outright theft,” said Carmona.

“You can’t take over a house that’s been abandoned or foreclosed under adverse possession. That’s not what that law allows you to do. There is a huge misunderstanding of what this law says, and the problem is people are interpreting it to suit their own purpose.”

Residents can apply for assistance with electric bills through a local program The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will provide help to any residents who qualify.

LIHEAP of Hillsborough County is a federally-funded program that provides energy assistance payments to low-income households. The Hillsborough County Department of Family and Aging Services administers the program.

Qualifications are based on income, family size, be a resident of Hillsborough County, be a U. S. citizen, qualified alien, a permanent resident of the U. S.

Applicants must provide proof of gross income for all family members within the last 30 days, proof of home energy obligation, photograph identification for all adult household members; identification for all other household members, social security cards for all household members, and proof of residency.

Anyone interested in obtaining an application can visit any Hillsborough County Neighborhood Service Center Office.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

A popular Tampa resident who served as one of the Florida Sentinel Bulletin’s photographers, died early Sunday. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

A native of Wake County, North Carolina, Mr. James Rogers McAllister attended the public schools of Wake County. After graduating high school, Mr. McAllister served in the U. S. Marines Corp. He was honorably discharged after completing his tour of duty. After his military stint, relocated to New Jersey, where he was employed at a Veteran’s Hospital. During the late 1960s, Mr. McAllister moved back to North Carolina, and eventually decided to make Tampa his home.

After moving to Tampa, Mr. McAllister obtained employment with the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, after it opened in 1972. He retired in 1999, after 35 years of service.

After moving to Tampa, Mr. McAllister met Ms. Brenda Derr and the two were married in 1984. His youngest daughter, Mrs. Brittany McAllister Morris said.

Mrs. Morris said her father became interested in photography as a young man. “He saw a camera on the back of a cereal box and saved up his money to buy it.”

What began as a hobby, became a part-time profession for Mr. McAllister. In addition to photography, he also enjoyed fishing and sports.

She said her father’s vision began failing in 2008 and he stopped driving. She also stated that Mr. McAllister had been diagnosed with dementia. She further said that his condition had deteriorated in recent weeks.

On Sunday morning, around 5:15 a.m., Mr. McAllister shot himself in the chest. He died at the scene, police said.

In addition to his wife of 27 years, Mr. McAllister is survived by 5 children, 9 grandchildren, and other family members and friends.

Funeral services for Mr. McAllister were incomplete at press time. Everett, Derr, & Anderson are in charge of handling arrangement.

Tampa Police are looking for three men who were involved in a shootout at a strip club early Monday.

According to detectives, a gold chain was stolen from a patron inside the Playpen Gentlemen’s Club around 4:30 a. m., and a fight broke out. During the fight, police said two suspects pushed the door attendant and stole money from a tip jar and cash register.

A security guard at the club followed the suspects outside and when they saw him, detectives said they started shooting.

The security guard and an armed patron returned gunfire at the suspects, who got into a Chevrolet Impala and fled.

Police said a bullet grazed the guard, and three vehicles in the parking lot were damaged.

The suspects are described as Black males in their 20s, one 6 feet tall, and weighing 220 pounds.

The club is located at 1715 North 50^th street, and anyone with information is asked to contact police at (813) 231-6130.

BY TAMECA JOHNSON

Freelance Writer

The Get Out The Vote campaign is hard and fierce across the country.  Politicians are pushing it.  Civil Right leaders are pushing it and even television news personalities, who are supposed to remain unbiased, are pushing the importance of casting a vote this election year.

Some people will listen, but for those who won’t, maybe the story of Mrs. Carrie Blount Williams will light a fire under you.

Mrs. Williams is a feisty and spry 103-year- old, born in Eleck, Alabama in the year 1909.  She became a registered voter in the late 1920s and has voted in every election since the years of President Calvin Coolidge.

Mrs. Williams moved to Tampa from Los Angeles nearly a year ago, but was determined not to let a move clear across the country prevent her from voting in the upcoming Presidential race.  “I’ve always voted,” she says, “and I definitely wanted to vote this time.  I didn’t want to miss it.”

With the help of her 71- year-old nephew, Willie Lovejoy and family Attorney Jeraldine Williams-Shaw, Mrs. Williams registered as a Florida voter late Tuesday afternoon, just in the nick of time.  That day was the deadline to register in order to be eligible to vote in the November General Election.

“She watches all politics,” says Mr. Lovejoy.  “All she does is watch CNN, and she loves President Obama.  She never thought she’d see a Black President in all her life.  I’m almost 40 years younger and I never thought I’d see it either.”

Mrs. Williams was the third child in a family of 12 children.  She never had any kids of her own, but helped raise Mr. Lovejoy.  She’s outlived three husbands and all but one sibling.  She lived on her own in California prior to her move to Tampa.  She’s a member of Bible-Based Fellowship Church in Temple Terrace and according to her nephew, actively participates in the church’s senior activities.

“She gets around very well.  Don’t take her shopping, ‘cause she’ll wear you out!”

Mr. Lovejoy and State Representative Betty Reed will personally escort Mrs. Williams to the polls on Election Day November 6.

BY LEON B. CREWS

Sentinel Staff Writer

After practicing his craft, at the age of 13, Milliner became known as Randall C, and was playing music for Mr. Charles “Gay Pappa” Miles.

Since WTMP went off the air in 2011 after 57 years of broadcasting, all of its staff members had to find something else to do.

Randall C was no different. He is now employed as a cook at a local hospital, and also has his own entertainment company.

“Since WTMP closed, things have picked up tremendously for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love radio and I miss it, but I’ve had a lot of working coming in.

“To still be in demand at this age (55) is a blessing.

“I really started working at WTMP in 1972 at the age of 15. I moved from station to station, always coming back to WTMP. A lot of people who opened doors for me aren’t around anymore.”

Randall C said his love and passion for music is why he’s stayed with it all these years, and he’s proof that hard work does pay off.

“I’ve collected a lot of classics along the way. Jim Murray was my mentor, and I remember him telling me to develop my own personality and not try to copy his. He told me to be my own man, and that meant a lot.”

Randall C said the journey hasn’t come without a lot of pitfalls along the way.

“Because I had become so popular at the station, I found myself partying with a lot of celebrities, and that meant using drugs. That mistake nearly ended my career, because I was at the top.

“I left for a while to get myself together, and I eventually worked my way back to the top. I started doing some Gospel music, and I really enjoyed that.”

Randall C said when he did return, he discovered technology had changed everything, so he had to enroll into the Columbia School of Broadcasting to learn how to use all of the new equipment.

“I remember when I started at WTMP, Louis Muhammad was the manager, and he allowed me to intern there and later gave me my own show.

“When I started cleaning up my life and got off the streets, they gave me a second chance, and I will forever be grateful for that.”

Randall C said he believes Tampa will have an African American radio station again, and it may or may not be WTMP.

“We were a powerful voice in the community for a long time, and now all that’s left is the Florida Sentinel Bulletin.

“Looking back, I remember Tom Hankerson and Tracy Collins had just left the station, and the ones that remained gave me great guidance.

“It’s important to leave a legacy for the next generation.”

Randall C said he gives a lot of thanks to St. John Progressive M. B. Church and Pastor Bartholomew Banks for their support through his ups and downs.

“I will end by saying this. Never look down on a man unless you’re going to reach down and help him up.”

About 6 months ago, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s detectives rounded up a group of people who had allegedly seized homes in the area under the state’s Adverse Possession law.

Some of the homes had been burglarized and the locks changed, and in at least one case, a home had been seized under adverse possession, then put up for sale.

Last Sunday, deputies arrested two women they say were squatters who were using the adverse possession law in a scam to take over ownership.

Samantha Margas (pictured), 39, and Tami Robinson, 43, were charged with two counts of invasion by false personation, organized fraud, burglary, and grand theft. Their bails were set at $69,500 each.

Tami Robinson

Deputies were called to the 11,000 block of Laurel Brook Court on September 26^th. The homeowner reported that strangers were living in his house.

That homeowner had left the home vacant due to a problem with the drywall. When he returned, Robinson had moved in, detectives reported.

Last Sunday night, deputies were called to a home on Crestlake in Riverview and found Margas, who said she had just moved into the home. She reportedly told deputies she had not purchased the home and wasn’t paying rent. She also allegedly reported that Robinson was filing for adverse possession, and she had a locksmith change the locks on the house.

In that case, the homeowner was serving at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas, and had closed up the house before leaving town.

Deputies said what has been happening is someone breaks into an unoccupied house and then files paperwork with the court in hopes of using adverse possession to assume ownership.

Under Florida statutes, people can ask a judge to award them title of the property if they fix it up and occupy it for seven years while paying the taxes.

Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, Debbie Carter, said in some cases, the paperwork doesn’t catch up with the process of actually taking over ownership of the houses.

“In these days of so many abandoned and foreclosed homes, people are finding these houses, and claiming adverse possession.”