Florida Sentinel Bulletin

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

On Saturday, March 31st, chartered buses from throughout the country will converge on Sanford, Florida. The purpose of the visit is the Florida State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People March and Rally.

Ms. Adora Obi Nweze (pictured), Florida State NAACP President, in conjunction with Turner Clayton, Sanford NAACP President, and Ben Jealous, NAACP National President and CEO, have called the rally for several reasons.

Turner Clayton

The rally is a cry for justice in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The teenager was shot and killed by 28-year-old George Zimmerman, on February 26th. Zimmerman is claiming self-defense, and although he was taken into custody the night of the shooting, he has not been charged.

Upon learning of the death of the teenager, Turner Clayton, First Vice President of the FSC NAACP, and President of Sanford Branch NAACP, contacted the State President and conducted his preliminary investigation. Afterward, he submit a letter to the State President requesting that she forward the letter to the Department of Justice to come to Sanford and initiate an outside investigation for justice to prevail.

President Clayton Turner felt so strongly, because of the experiences he has encountered over the years, and the evidence, or the lack thereof, in his hometown. His concerns were heightened because of his law enforcement career.

The fact that Sanford City officials have limited time and experience in their positions was also pointed out. Mayor Jeff Triplett has been in office for approximately one year.  City Manager Norton Bonaporte, Jr., who is African American, has been in his position for six months.

Benjamin Jealous

Dr. Carolyn Collins, President of the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP said, “Now is the time for the citizens of Hillsborough County to accept this clarion call, get on the NAACP bus or plan your bus, make your signs, and go to the Crooms Academy at 2200 E. 13th Street for the 8 a.m. line up for the March. Or, go to the Sanford Police Department, 800 E. 13th Street, where the rally will take place at 11 a.m.

“Let’s ‘Stand Our Ground On Justice’ for Trayvon Martin and the Martin Family in Hillsborough County, Sanford, Miami, Florida, and all Trayvons around the world.

The bus will leave from the NAACP Office, 308 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd., at 7:30 a.m. The seats are available on a first come basis. Everyone occupying a seat must sign up to confirm your trip’s reservation. For more information, contact the NAACP Office at (813) 234-8683.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

For the past three years, Mrs. Andrea Lee-Mingo (pictured) has battled health issues. But, unlike some illnesses, doctors are unsure of how to treat her.

Mrs. Lee-Mingo and Ms. Zakia Teagle are best friends, and until three years ago, were average young women, who were relatively healthy, and had plans for the future. However, after a decision to enhance their assets, what took permanently changed their lives.

From the onset, their stories are identical, and only differ in the aftermath. Mrs. Lee-Mingo and Ms. Teagle said they learned that Ms. Sharhonda Lindsay was giving butt enhancement injections from a friend of a friend.

Prior to having the procedure, the women said they researched it on the Internet and learned the chemical, Hydrogel, was supposed to be a water-based solution. They felt it was safe.

They said Ms. Lindsay had injected four people the week before and had to obtain more of the solution. It also had to be mixed with other chemicals.

On January 29, 2009, They met at Mrs. Lee-Mingo’s home. Ms. Teagle had ten injections in each hip and Mrs. Lee-Mingo had twenty injections in each hip.

Zakia Teagle

“She did Zakia first and by the time she finished with me, Zakia got sick and started vomiting black stuff. I called an ambulance. Later, I was in the middle of taking my shower when I started getting sick,” Mrs. Lee-Mingo said.

Both were transported to Town N’ Country Hospital within a half hour of each other. “They asked for a urine sample and when I looked, I saw nothing but blood. At the hospital, they told us we had to make a police report,” Mrs. Lee-Mingo said.

“I asked them to take me to where Zakia was and they did. I thought they were going to treat and release us. We didn’t realize it was that serious,” she said.

Both women were in the hospital for a month. From that point, their stories differ.

Mrs. Lee-Mingo said, “The doctors were afraid to touch us because they didn’t know what she had injected us with and it was still in our bodies. All of my organs shut down and I was placed on life support. The hospital told my mother to make funeral arrangements because I wasn’t going to make it through the night.”

Mrs. Lee-Mingo said that instead of making funeral arrangements, her mother went to church and she survived.

Three years later, she said the injection areas are hard to the touch and she’s taking a lot of medication. She is in a lot of pain, but the medication makes her sleep. She said the doctors are afraid to remove the objects.

In an attempt to go on with her life, Mrs. Lee-Mingo married in September 2009 and has since adopted a baby. She stated that she has been turned down for disability and continues to try and work.

Once a month, she must go to the emergency room to receive muscle relaxer injections.

“We are trying to get our story out because people are still doing it. We want everyone to know what happened to us,” she said.

Ms. Teagle said that although she was in the hospital for a month, she did not suffer renal failure in the beginning. However, renal failure for her came about three years later. She was recently released after a month in the hospital.

“I had the renal failure due to the toxins in my body. You don’t know what kind of affect those toxins will have or how long it will take before something happens. I’m telling everyone not to do what we did. I don’t recommend any type of cosmetic procedure even by professionals.”

Ms. Teagle said they are still trying to receive restitution and although Ms. Lindsay was ordered to pay restitution, they receive $7 or $9 a month.

“The latest thing that happened in court is that she (Ms. Lindsay) is trying to get out of paying restitution,” she said.

Ms. Lindsay was arrested after the police reports were filed. She was charged with two counts of practicing medicine without a license.

Last year, Ron O’neal Morris, 30, was arrested in Broward County and charged with practicing medicine without a license. Last month, Morris was arrested again after 3 other victims came forward.

On Tuesday at 4:20 p. m., Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies were called to 1915 Erin Brooke Drive in Valrico.

Deputies learned that one of the homeowners, Linda Partin and her son, Samuel Partin, Jr., arrived at the house and discovered what they thought was evidence the house had been burglarized. They immediately left the house and called the Sheriff’s Office.

When the first deputy arrived and searched the house, he found a man dead in one of the bedrooms. That man was later identified as Samuel Lee Partin, Sr., 61.

At 11:30 p. m. after a search warrant was secured, detectives entered the house and examined Partin’s body. They reported he had suffered trauma.

Detectives said their initial investigation has revealed that Partin’s murder was not a random act, and he knew the suspect or suspects. They also reported there was no forced entry into the home.

Samuel Partin, Sr. was a 1969 graduate of Howard W. Blake High School.

The investigation is continuing to determine a motive for Partin’s death, and to identify possible suspects.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Recently, Mayor Bob Buckhorn introduced major changes that will impact women and minority businesses. The initiatives introduced are in three components.

The changes came about after the City adopted the Equal Business Opportunity Ordinance No. 2008-09. The five industry categories outlined in the ordinance are construction, construction-related services, professional services, non-professional services, and goods.

Gregory Hart, Manager of the Small Business/ Minority Business Development Office said, “The Ordinance was adopted after the City completed its Disparity Study. Subsequent to passing the ordinance, we developed new methodologies.”

He stated that under the new guidelines, the City was required to obtain 4 to 5 years of information under the Data Management Information System. “It allows us to have a complete breakdown of all monies spent.”

Hart further stated the first initiative is the expansion of the sheltered market procurement. This allows Black-owned businesses to be evaluated on a 5% bid preference that is not to exceed $20,000. This will all the inclusion of underutilized WMBEs and SLBEs.

The second initiative pertains to the sheltered market for formal and informal contracts. The initiative will allow goal setting for underutilized WMBEs and SLBEs who apply for subcontracting. The selected task or trade can be represented by either a WMBE or a SLBE, the City can set a goal of inclusion, and require good faith effort compliance.

The third initiative increases the rating points given to prime W/MBE companies from 5 to 10 points for RFPs and RFQs.

Hart said, “The rating is usually on a 100 point scale. Now that we have identified the underutilized businesses, they can receive 10 points in the evaluation process. … Those points can make all of the difference.”

The changes are significant in that under the current disbursement of funds none of the goals for African Americans were met in the Sub-Contracting Category.
In the Formal Contracts, one goal was met for African Americans and two were met for Hispanics.

In the Informal Contracts Category, only one goal was met for African Americans. He further stated that the initiatives are based on the current laws and guidelines.

The initiative will be presented to City Council. If approved and after having public meetings, the initiatives can be implemented as early as the fall of 2012.

For more information about the proposed changes, contact Hart at (813) 274-5522.

Tampa Police homicide detectives are investigating a shooting that occurred early Sunday morning, leaving a young woman dead, and a young man with life threatening injuries.

Police were called to Nicks Gyros at 3501 East Hillsborough Avenue at 3:30 a.m. on a report of a shooting.

Police said a man approached the vehicle in the restaurant’s parking lot and fired into the driver’s side window, severely wounding Jynassis Ellis, 26. The driver, Malik Majied, 21, was also shot, but managed to drive one block to 34th Street and East Hillsborough where an off-duty officer was getting gas. He immediately began CPR on Ellis, and called for backup and an ambulance. Ellis was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Majied was hospitalized and is reported to be in stable condition.

Detectives have determined the shooting was not a random act of violence, and they are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call (813) 231-6130.

The suspect is described as a Black male, 6 feet tall, wearing a baseball cap and a scarf around his face.

A source has reported that this shooting, and a shooting near 34th Street are connected to an incident that occurred at Ben T. Davis Beach a week ago. Police have not been able to substantiate these allegations.

On Tuesday, March 27th (today) Tampa City Councilman Frank Reddick will host a rally for a slain teenager. The rally will take place at the 34th Street Church of God, 3000 N. 34th Street, beginning at 6 p.m.

Cedric McCray, Administrative Assistant for Councilman Reddick stated that some members of Trayvon Martin’s family plan to attend the rally.

Councilman Reddick has invited local leaders and members of the community to join him in requesting the Florida Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Justice take action in this case.

One month ago, on February 26th, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed while walking from the store in a gated community in Sanford, Florida. Although George Zimmerman, 28, has been identified as the shooter, no arrests have been made.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Eckerd Youth Alternatives (EYA) and the University Area Community Development Center, 14013 N. 22nd Street, will host the second Community-Based Child Welfare Community Forum. The forum will take place at 6:30 p.m., and will target families residing in 33612 and 33613 zip codes.

This is the second of several planned community-based Child Welfare and Foster Care Community Forums.

EYA was awarded the contract after nine children in custody of HKI died during a two-year period. Beginning on July 1st, Mrs. Lorita Shirley, Executive Director, of EYA, and her staff at Eckerd Youth Alternatives, will replace Hillsborough Kids Inc.

Mrs. Shirley will be on hand to discuss the transition of child welfare services from one agency to the other. She will also discuss how the transition will affect parents or legal guardians whose children are in the system.

She is encouraging those families to come out and share their concerns about how to improve the services offered.

Mrs. Shirley stated that the first meetings are going to take place in the zip codes with the highest number of children removed from homes. She feels that in order to address the problem, the agency must not only be connected to the community, but it must also accept feedback from the residents on how to remove obstacles for improved performance.

For more information, email hillsboroughcbc@eckerd.org, or visit the web site at www.Eckerd.org/Hillsborough.

Tampa Police were called to Baker’s Mini Market, 2504 North Armenia Avenue, on report of a shooting Monday afternoon.

Police spokesperson, Laura McElroy, said a man walked into the store at 10:45 and asked for change. The same man returned 30 minutes later, allegedly armed with a handgun, and tried to rob the store.

McElroy said the store’s owner, Taquanda Baker, 32, shot the suspect, then went outside and flagged down a passing police officer.

The suspect has not been identified, but police said his injuries are considered life threatening.

According to reports, Ms. Baker is the mother of three children, and has held a weapons permit for 3 years.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

More details surrounding the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin were revealed during a telephone conference. The conference call, hosted by the National Newspaper Publishers Association and included Ms. Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the parents of Martin; NNPA Chairman Cloves Campbell, Attorney Benjamin Crump, Rev. Al Sharpton, George Curry, Rev. R. B. Holmes, and numerous others.

Tracy Martin gave the following account of how he learned of his son’s death. He had last spoken with him earlier in the afternoon on Sunday, February 26th.

Martin stated that he had gone out to dinner that evening. When he returned home and Trayvon was not there, he assumed that his 20-year-old nephew had picked him up. “I called his cell phone and it went to voice mail. Then I called my nephew’s phone and it went to voice mail. I assumed he was with my nephew.

“The next morning when  he hadn’t made it home, I called my nephew and he said Trayvon wasn’t with him. The first call I made was to Department of Juvenile Justice to see if he had been arrested.

“The third call I made was to the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number to file a missing person’s report.

“We were supposed to be leaving that morning (returning to Miami). The dispatcher asked a few questions and about five minutes later, called back and asked about the clothes he was wearing. The dispatcher said someone would be coming out to me.”

Martin said three police cars came to the residence. The detective spoke and asked if he had a recent photograph of his son. “I had just taken one of him a earlier, and showed it to him. He went to his car and retrieved a folder and asked if we could go inside.

“He pulled out a photograph of my pride and joy laying on the ground dead. His eyes weren’t all the way closed and his mouth wasn’t all the way closed. From that point, it has been a nightmare,” Martin said.

Trayvon’s mother, Ms. Sybrina Fulton, said it seems like an awful dream. “The pain goes and then it comes back. My heart is heavy and I still cry. It’s just difficult each day to get by.”

Attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing the family, said three independent witnesses, two white women and a Hispanic woman, all gave accounts of the shooting and said they heard Trayvon crying for help.

“The police are trying to intimidate the witnesses. … The police said the witness statements were inconsistent. “They never did a drug or background check on Zimmerman,” Attorney Crump said.

Attorney Crump further stated that George Zimmerman was questioned for about two hours after the shooting before he was released. But the police had not released any additional information about the case. He also said drug, alcohol screenings, and a background check were done on Trayvon. However, no such tests were performed on Zimmerman.

Former Governor David Patterson also pointed out that no one checked to see if Zimmerman had a permit to have the gun that night. However, he said the rules of the neighborhood watch is that the person cannot carry a gun while on duty.

Attorney Crump stated when asked if anyone knew where Zimmerman was, he said they were not sure.

Rev. Al Sharpton said he believes people from all over the country are reacting to the death of the teenager because, “We all see Trayvon in ourselves. We are born as suspects instead of citizens. Trayvon was executed as a suspect. This brought to the surface what we fear for ourselves and our children.”

Rev. Sharpton further stated that no one has asked for rallies to be held. But feel that the people are marching for themselves because they can identify with Trayvon.

Rev. Sharpton further said, “They (city officials) think it’s a small town and they are playing games. We’re here to let them know they (Trayvon’s parents) they have people all over the country and we’ve got their backs.”

Wednesday night, three of the City Commissioners cast no confidence votes against police Chief Bill Lee.

On Monday, a signed petition calling for justice bearing more than one million signatures will be presented to the Sanford City Commissioners during their regular meeting.