Florida Sentinel Bulletin

On Friday, June 22nd, President Barack Obama will visit the Dale Mabry Campus of Hillsborough Community College, 4001 W. Tampa Bay Blvd.

Doors will open at 1 p.m. Friday and the event is planned for late afternoon. The event is free and open to the public. However, tickets are required.

Tickets can be obtained from the Obama Ybor City Office, 1702 N. 14th Street in Tampa; Obama St. Petersburg Office, 951 Central Avenue, Suite A, in St. Petersburg; Obama Riverview Office, 11215 Bloomingdale Avenue, Riverview; and Obama Wesley Chapel Office, 29141 Chapel Park Drive, Wesley Chapel.

For more information about obtaining tickets visit the website at  www.BarackObama.com/FLGrassroots.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies have four men in custody after a SWAT Team standoff in Mango.

Deputies reported that at 1:15 a. m. Monday, a woman called 9-1-1 from the Carlton Arms Apartments on North Himes to report that she had been robbed of her purse and vehicle by a man with a gun.

An alert was released with a description of the vehicle and suspect. At 5 a. m., deputies spotted the stolen vehicle in the area of Lloyd Street and Old East Hillsborough in the Seffner area.

Patrol units followed the vehicle until more units arrived with the plan to initiate a felony vehicle stop.

Deputies said the vehicle pulled down a dead end road, and units blocked it in. The driver turned and rammed two patrol cars as it tried to flee the area, damaging both vehicles. No one was injured.

The suspect vehicle stopped and the driver bailed out, fleeing, while the passenger was held at the scene.

K9 deputies tracked the driver to a nearby residence on Grove Lane and Highway 579, where SWAT Team members surrounded the house. Deputies said with the passenger of the stolen vehicle in custody, two men inside the residence came out and surrendered. The fourth suspect came out later, and was also taken into custody. Detectives were interviewing all four to determine who was involved in the armed carjacking.

So far, only the driver of the stolen vehicle has been charged. He was identified as 25-year-old Marvin B. Davy (pictured).

Davy was charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer for ramming the patrol vehicles, and grand theft auto.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

In coming weeks, all registered voters in Hillsborough County will receive new Voter’s Registration Cards. The new cards will provide any changes that may have occurred since the last election.

Voters can use this opportunity to make any corrections prior to the primary elections. Ms. Evangeline (Van) Best, community activist feels another opportunity prevails itself during this time.

She feels it will also be the perfect opportunity for others to check on the status of his or her family. “I have gone to several of the meetings and everyone is doing a great job. However, we can all help if one person will take the time and check on the voters in his or her family.

“If we are going to win this election, then we have to take ownership. If we are committed to re-electing President Barack Obama, then we have to take action.”

Ms. Best said after the idea was laid on her heart, she decided to contact family members and ask them if their information was correct. What she discovered was little things that could prevent a person from casting a vote on Election Day.

“I contacted my family and discovered that one member’s Voter Registration Card was accurate, but her identification was expired. She didn’t realize that if the identification is not updated, then she could be turned away on Election Day.

“After she stopped driving, she never renewed her license. I explained that the identification must be current,” Ms. Best said.

She also said that things such as moving and not updating identification could also cause a problem. Ms. Best further said that the things a person does can be small, but make a significant difference.

“We don’t have to have a big thing, we just need to keep it simple and keep it real. If we don’t re-elect our president, we won’t have an opportunity for 100 years.”

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

On Saturday, a lifelong resident of West Tampa and former resident of the Bethune Hi-Rise, died following a brief illness. He was 70 years old.

Mr. George W. Green, a.k.a. “Mr. George,” was popular in the West Tampa area, where he lived his entire life, his sister, Mrs. Gwendolyn Williams said.

Mrs. Williams said her brother became ill and was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital two weeks ago. He remained in the hospital for a week and then transferred to Whispering Oaks Nursing Facility. He died a week later.

A Tampa native, Mr. Green attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. He began high school at Blake High School, but didn’t graduate. Mr. Green entered the workforce and worked for several companies during his lifetime.

Mrs. Williams said, “He was known for his fun-filled attitude among his family and friends.”

He also was a former member of New Life Missionary Baptist Church, where he served on various auxiliaries. At the time of his death, he was visiting churches in the area, but had not joined another, she said.

Mrs. Williams said her brother loved to play dominoes and he was an avid reader.

Mr. Green was the son of the late William “Buddy” Green and Mrs. Willie Mae Green, (who died six months ago).

Mr. Green is survived by two children, two brothers, two sisters, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

His funeral will take place on Saturday, June 23, at Mount Tabor Missionary Baptist Church at 11 a.m. Ray Williams Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrangements.

Henry Foster said his younger brother, Leon Davis, was a man that everyone loved and wanted to be around.

At 3:20 a. m. Thursday morning, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies said Davis was inside his apartment at the Palisades Apartments in Brandon when two men forced their way inside. Inside the apartment with Davis were three of his 7 children, ranging in age from 1 to 7, and their mother.

Deputies said the children and their mother were sleeping when Davis was confronted and shot several times. Awakened by the gunfire, deputies said the woman call 9-1-1 after locking herself and the three children inside a bathroom.

The woman and children were not harmed, but Davis was dead when deputies arrived. He was 49-years-old.

Mr. Foster said no one in the family understands why this happened to a man everyone loved.

Mr. Foster said Leon Davis, the 4th oldest brother, graduated from Plant City High School where he wrestled and played football. He was described as a real sports fanatic.

“We really missed not having him around this past Father’s Day,” said Mr. Foster. “There are 6 boys among the 13 children, and the boys always traveled together. We had planned a trip to Valdosta, Georgia for the 4th of July.”

Mr. Foster said the family has drawn closer, and everyone is concerned about the welfare of the children.

“The older children between 26 and 29 are taking it pretty bad. I don’t think the younger children have felt it yet.”

Mr. Davis had worked for 15 years for a trucking company before moving on to work for Enterprise Car Rental. “He got disabled later, but he constantly stayed busy building things like dog houses and things for children,” said Mr. Foster.

“He was really a great builder, and treated his children like he was the mother. I gave him the nickname of Buckwheat.”

Mr. Foster said their mother passed away 2 years ago, and they all remembered spending a lot of time with her.

“We were all with her when she passed way from cancer. We were always a close family, but Leon and I got closer after our mother passed.”
Jerica Cohen describes her uncle as a person who was around a lot.

“He was everyone’s favorite uncle. He had no enemies, didn’t hang out, and was a generally good person. That’s why this makes no sense to us.”

No arrests have been made in Mr. Davis’s murder at this time.

Winslow Honors Funeral Chapel in Plant City is assisting the family with arrangements for a service.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Oftentimes, the lives of some family members seem to mirror each other. In some instances, they even experience the same things at the same time.

This is the case with Tampa brothers, Vincent Campbell and Willie Campbell, III. Both men are single parents, entrepreneurs, and ministers.

The duo are the only offspring of Mr. and Mrs. Willie (Frances) Campbell and both are assistant ministers at Embassy International Christian Center. They are also graduates of Hillsborough High School.

Willie, 37, is self-employed as a Computer Technician.  As an entrepreneur, he has the opportunity to attend conferences and some of the functions his children may be involved.

Willie is the father of four children, Daveen, 17, Jordan, 15, Tia, 11, and 7-year-old Justin. He was by no means a stranger to fatherhood, but his experience was one of having two parents. He obtained custody of his two younger children after a divorce. “I was not really prepared for being a single parent. It’s a lot easier when you’re married,” he said.

However, for the last year, he has learned a lot about parenthood. One of the most obvious, “You can’t treat them all the same. You have to realize that each child has his or her own personality.”

Willie describes himself as somewhat of a flexible parent most of the time. However, when it comes to their education, his children know that school is important.

“Some things I’m strict about, and school is one of them. If they don’t pass, it’s my fault. They are not going to do their best unless you’re on top of things.”

As for single parenthood, Willie’s advice to others is, “It’s challenging, but keep your head up and have an idea in mind of how you want your children to be because what you produce is what you get.”

His brother, Vincent’s journey into single parenthood came about suddenly. He and his wife, the late Janice Campbell had a daughter, and she was pregnant with their second child.

Two weeks after Jonathan was born, his wife died. Vincent, 34, suddenly found himself raising a 2-year-old daughter and a newborn son.

“The challenges of raising a newborn were new to me. I really had to learn about programs such as WIC and Head Start, which helped a lot. I’m doing a lot better, but it was a challenge at first.

“I’ve always been in the youth industry as a mentor. But fatherhood is a whole different ballgame,” he said.

Vincent describes himself as a kind of “laid-back, but disciplined type father.” For him, each day is a learning experience.

Both men credit their parents with helping them when possible. Vincent said, “The only way you can really make it, is through the help of God,” and his brother agreed.

Vincent works 40 hours a week, and when time allows, he spends time repairing computers and creating graphic designs.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Garrett Johnson and his partner created an electronic generated messaging vehicle with the idea of helping his nephew’s charter school. At the time, Johnson never realized that the idea had the potential of a universal application.

He and his partner raised $2 million in funding after completing YCombinator for institutions such as Menlo Ventures and for public figures such as Jeb Bush.

Last month, Johnson was featured in Black Enterprise Magazine advising others on how to raise venture capital funding.

“The original idea was to help my nephew’s charter school communicate more efficiently. Many minority or poor families have limited access to computers and emails, but everyone has a cell phone. We made SMS a serious organizational business utility, which has attracted a lot of early interest,” Johnson said.

The website entitled SendHub, was created and introduced last summer, designed to help improve teacher to student communication.

The idea that has received enormous support is a group texting platform that enables someone to send one text message to groups of 10, 20, or even 200 people they may need to reach. Each user creates his or her own contact database and controls the messages they send and the program is free.

Johnson said, one person who uses the new electronic tool is Ricky Sailor, founder of UnsignedPres.

“Every summer Ricky takes high school students on a tour of colleges to meet with coaches, other athletes and potentially try out for scholarships. We have more than 40 parents worried about their children, the need for updates can be incredibly time consuming.

“Our platform enables anyone to create cell phone databases and send group text messages.”

A Tampa native, Johnson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Nate (Carmen Brown) Johnson. He graduated from Tampa Catholic High School with honors. He continued his education at Florida State University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a double major in Political Science and English. He was also a member of the school’s track team and set several records as an athlete.

Johnson earned the Florida State Golden Torch Award given to the FSU student athlete with the highest grade point average.

Following graduation, Johnson completed his Master’s Degree in Migration Studies in 2006 as a Rhodes Scholar at Exeter College, Oxford University in England.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 25-year-old man Tuesday for the murder of another man in April.

Deputies said Nigel Shakes has been charged with second-degree murder.

According to reports, on April 23rd at 10 p. m., George Sherry, 38, was in his apartment on 42nd Street with four other people when someone knocked on the door. Two men, one of them identified as Shakes, barged inside and reportedly pistol whipped and shot Sherry.

Sherry was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A warrant has been issued for the second suspect, identified as Nigel’s cousin, Kuran Shakes, 30.

Shakes is being held without bond.

Tampa Police have arrested one of two suspects responsible for a home invasion Tuesday night.

According to the report, two suspects knocked on the front door of Desmond Pringley’s house in the 10,000 block of Highland Avenue at 8 p. m., inquiring about his ice cream truck that was parked in the front yard.

Police said the suspects eventually forced their way into the house and started beating Pringley. They reportedly produced handguns and tied Pringley up.

Pringley’s 9-year-old son, Desmond, Jr., reportedly hid behind a couch and called 9-1-1, giving police a description of the suspects.

As police arrived they arrested Luis Morales, 18, in the front-yard of the residence. The second suspect, described as a Hispanic male fled the scene.

Pringley sustained several bruises as a result of the beating. The investigation is continuing as police search for the second suspect.

Desmond, Sr. said the suspects were well dressed, both wearing a shirt and tie.

“When they forced their way inside, I snatched the tie off one of them. I think they targeted my house because they saw the ice cream truck in the front-yard.”

Desmond, Sr. said he’s relieved they came when he was home instead of his wife.

“My wife told me they had knocked on the door the day before this happened, but she didn’t answer. She described them to me over the phone and I knew they weren’t from this area.” As far has his son is concerned, Desmond, Sr. said he’s a real hero.

“I’m very proud of him. He handled himself under some real pressure, and in spite of me being attacked, he did the right thing.  I want other kids out there to know that if they are ever faced with the same situation, to call 9-1-1 instead of getting involved. That’s the right thing to do.”