Florida Sentinel Bulletin

BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer

Candi Taylor has always been thrilled watching young people involved with dance and step teams. She said she’s seen so many of them perform, it’s a shame they don’t compete.

“That’s when I came up with the idea to create “Rep Yo School.” My plan was to give step and dance teams an outlet to compete.

“Along with the step and dance team competitions, “Rep Yo School” has a television and award show. The award show is voted on by students, teachers, and parents.”

This year’s awards show will be held Sunday, May 20th at Centro Asturiano, 1913 North Nebraska Avenue.

“I believe it’s important our teachers and students get the recognition they deserve,” said Ms. Taylor. “It’s also good to have the students, teachers, and parents nominate who they believe is deserving of an award.”

“Rep Yo School” has 19 awards that are voted on, and 2 awards that are voted on by the Rep Yo School staff.

“We also have award that is given to the football state champions,” said Ms. Taylor.

“We will be holding auditions for the new versus old school dance off for the awards. The new school dancers must be in kindergarten through 12th grade, and old school dancers must be over the age of 30. We are also having a singing/rap contest for the student who can come up with the best lyrics for the theme music. The winner will perform at the award show.

For more information, contact Ms. Taylor at (813) 850-4115.

Former Belmont Heights Little League coach, Andrew James, passed away Monday, March 19th after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 77.

Coach James was a 1954 graduate of Middleton High School, and went on to attend Florida A&M University. His wife, Jacquelyn, said her husband was a gifted athlete, even while attending Booker T. Washington.

Although he coached baseball, the sport he played in school was basketball.

Mrs. James said her husband got involved in little league baseball when his sons, Marlon and Darryl, started playing.

“He coached them, and Marlon was on the first team that went to Williamsport for the Little League World Series,” said Mrs. James. “He first started coaching in 1969, and coached Dwight Gooden, Gary Sheffield, Vance Lovelace, Floyd Youmans, Derek Bell and many others. He also coached PAL football with Bobby Wilds.”

Coach James retired as a truck driver after spending 13 years at the Westinghouse plant. Mrs. James said more than anything, he enjoyed visiting the sick and shut-ins as a deacon at First Baptist Church of College Hill.

“He was really deeply involved in church activities, and as an international mason, he was Worshipful Master of Jim Wilson Lodge #121.”

Mrs. James said her husband suffered from a series of ailments over the years, and over the past two weeks, he had developed a terrible cough. “He was told years ago he had a heart murmur, but it was treated and never caused him any problems.

“On the day he passed, we were sitting in our family room talking when he complained about his chest hurting. I asked if he wanted to go to the hospital, or have his granddaughter come over since she’s a nurse. Later we did call an ambulance, and he passed away at the hospital.”

Mrs. James said they were married for 54 years, and were looking forward to their 55th anniversary on April 28th.

Coach James’ eldest son, Andrew James, Jr. (Two Man) passed away in 2009. He was also a Middleton graduate (class of 1971).

Services for Coach James will be held Saturday, 2 p. m. at First Baptist Church of College Hill. A wake is scheduled for Friday from 5 p. m. until 8 p. m. at the church.
Aiken’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer

With this country still at war, and with the issue of the massacre of the civilian families in Afghanistan, many military personnel are returning to this country with a variety of problems or needs. The Tampa Vet Center is there to help them with array of services.

Jimmie L. Thomas, Supervisory Social Worker/Clinical Coordinator, said quite a few returning veterans know where to go.

“For the ones who may not know where to go, we do a lot of outreach in the community. Our Center and the staff at the James Haley Hospital tell the veterans about the services available to them, and 90 days after they return, we talk to them about everything. We go out to military installations and make them aware of what they can do to help themselves and their families.”

Thomas said they offer readjustment counseling for military personnel who have served in war zones.

“Among the critical issues they deal with are martial problems, and we have therapists who work with them specifically on those issues. Employment is also a critical topic, and we work with the Workforce Alliance to seek suitable employment for the returning veterans.”

Thomas said for the veterans returning with medical issues, they are referred directly to the James Haley Hospital so they can be seen and they are also treated for problems like post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“We are highly trained in dealing with that issue, and because of problems some incurred while on active duty, they may qualify for benefits. A new service we offer is counseling for military sexual trauma for individuals who have been sexually assaulted while in the military.”

Thomas said bereavement counselors for families who have lost loved ones is also available, and the Center is one of 5 nationwide that’s a pilot for homeless veterans.

“We locate them and give them access to housing and other life sustaining services.”

For more information on the services offered at the Vet Center for veterans who have fought in a war zone, call (813) 228-2621, or visit the Center at 3637 West Waters Avenue, Suite 600.

On Sunday night, Tampa Police officers said they were in the area of Ben T. Davis Beach when a 9-1-1 call came into their dispatch office.

As officers arrived, they saw a vehicle quickly leaving the area. Officers initiated a pursuit, and the suspect lost control of the vehicle, crashing it into a guardrail. The driver was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. The three passengers were interviewed and released, and the driver was not charged.

Police said they learned a large group of people were on the beach when a fight broke out.

According to reports, at some time during the fight, shots were fired, striking one person. Police said Rome Harmon, 21, was shot. He was treated and released from a local hospital.

Andre Meyers, 37, was hit in the head with a bottle, and another man sustained an injury to his arm. None of the injuries were considered life threatening.
The incident is still being investigated by police.

According to records, Harmon had bonded out of jail early Sunday after being arrested Saturday for reckless driving and not having a valid license.

Detectives are investigating to determine who was involved in the shooting.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

SANFORD — The family of a 17-year-old who was shot and killed by a Neighborhood Watch volunteer wants justice. Police have not arrested George Zimmerman, the man in connection with the February 26, shooting. Trayvon Martin was buried on March 3.

Mrs. Marion Spotford Evans, a Tampa native and grandmother of Trayvon Martin said, “We are only getting bits and pieces from the news. The police have not told us anything since the initial shooting.”

On the day of the shooting, Martin was visiting his father, Tracy Martin, in the gated community in Sanford. He had gone to the store and purchased a back of Skittles and an iced tea.

Mrs. Evans said Trayvon probably had his earpieces in because he was always listening to music. “I was told that it started to drizzle and he had the hoodie over his head coming back from the store.”

Mrs. Evans said he was about 70 feet from his destination when the shooting took place. “He had a reason to be in that gated community. Zimmerman must have started to follow Trayvon, but he was not the kind of kid that would bother anyone.

“Zimmerman called 9-1-1 and was told not to get out of his car, but he did anyway. A lady who said it happened in her backyard said she heard someone crying for help and then she heard the shot.

“It’s sad that in 2012, we still have to fight so hard for justice and equality. The police chief is making all kinds of excuses trying to justify it,” Mrs. Evans said.

She further stated that the family has appeared on several television shows talking about the death. Some of those shows including: “Inside Edition,” “Good Morning, America,” “The Al Sharpton Show,” “The Michael Baisden Show,” and “The Tom Joyner Morning Show.”

Trayvon was the youngest child of Ms. Sybrina Fulton, Mrs. Evan’s daughter. Ms. Fulton said, “I just want justice for my son. My heart is broken. I keep thinking he is going to walk through the door and the nightmare is going to end.”

His father, Tracy Martin, said, “People see what has happened and they know it’s wrong for the police to not arrest and charge this man for killing my son.”

Since his death, Trayvon’s parents have launched an online petition. The web site, which had 398,557 signatures Monday, is: www.change.org.

NAACP Calls For Action
The Seminole Branch NAACP President, Turner Clayton Jr, said, “It is time for the police department to give an account of its action in this case because we do not agree with this so-called self-defense finding.”

The NAACP does not condone the actions of the Sanford Police Department and feel that George Zimmerman should have been arrested based on the evidence of this case.

A town hall meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 20, 7 p.m., at the Allen Chapel AME Church, 1203 Olive Avenue, Sanford, Florida.

The Mayor, City Manager and Chief of Police have all agreed to attend this meeting.

The Rainbow-PUSH Coalition of Florida is joining the NAACP of Seminole County. “We believe that the town hall meeting is a healthy and timely vehicle to allow the family and community to express their grief and outrage constructively,” Rev. Charles S. McKenzie, Jr., said.

On Thursday, March 22nd, the City of Tampa’s Code Enforcement Agency will be holding a workshop at City Council Chambers. It is scheduled to begin at 10 a. m.

Citizens are encouraged to attend this workshop and bring their ideas and concerns.

According to City Councilman Frank Reddick’s office, citizens have brought to the attention of Council members the need for the policies and procedures of that office to be reviewed.

Councilman Reddick said something needs to be done to make the procedure of collecting fines levied against citizens and businesses in violation more expedient.

There will be discussions on the policy issues that deal with civil citation and foreclosure registration, and representatives from Code Enforcement, the city’s legal department and zoning staff have been requested to appear.

It has been requested that the city’s Budget Office provide a report on the amount and allocation of funds collected through the satisfaction of liens or fines, and that they conduct a cost benefit analysis of the effectiveness and cost of services currently outsourced to private companies when it comes to securing properties, mowing, and demolition.

The problem with snipe signs will be discussed that are along the city’s right-of-way, and that those in violation be fined.

The process of selecting a jury for a first-degree murder case that took place in 2010, began on Monday. The shooting left one teenager injured, one dead, and a third charged with murder.

The shooting took place in the Belmont Heights Estates on August 12, 2010. Several young men were on a back porch when a masked man approached, demanded money, and allegedly began shooting.

Alonzo Jones was struck by one of the bullets. His injuries were not life threatening. However, the bullet that struck Jones passed through his body and struck Byron Patty, Jr. (pictured), in the back of the head. He died from his injury.

Police arrested Reginald Tyrone Jenkins on September 9, 2010, and charged him with first-degree murder after Patty died. Jenkins was also charged with attempted first-degree murder, and being a felon in possession of a handgun.

A U. S. District Judge sentenced a former U. S. Postal employee to prison for his role in income tax fraud. He entered a guilty plea on October 13, 2011.

Judge Susan C. Bucklew sentenced Carmelo Rosado, Jr., 40, of Riverview, to 37 months in prison for conspiracy to commit theft or receipt of stolen mail matter and bribery of a public official.

According to court documents, Rosado was employed as a U. S. Postal letter carrier and working in Orlando, when Yudheiris Janga, 33, allegedly recruited him to participate in the “drop scam.”

Several checks were delivered to addresses throughout the United States, including to the Middle District of Florida. Using identity theft, the names and Social Security numbers of Puerto Rican residents were fraudulent used to file the income tax returns.

Investigators said Puerto Rican residents were chosen because they are not required to file a federal income tax return if all of their income was derived from sources in Puerto Rico.

The Internal Revenue Service accepted the returns, and mailed refund checks. On March 7, 2011, Rosado intercepted 68 checks mailed to the Chapel Trace Apartment Complex in Orlando. He delivered them to Janga and received payment for his role in the scheme, court documents said.

The 68 checks were valued at $509,017. However, officials learned of the scheme and used decoy checks to prevent the loss of funds.

Investigators said Janga contacted Victor Manuel Pena, 42, and 25-year-old Grievy Nehemias Sanchez-Villar, who arrived in Orlando from New York to the apartment complex on April 4, 2011. Pena took possession of the checks the following day, and Sanchez-Villar gave Janga $9,000 in cash as  partial compensation, court records showed.

All four defendants were arrested.

Janga entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit theft or receipt of stolen mail on November 18, 2011. However, she fled after entering the plea and is currently a fugitive.

Pena, of Bronx, New York, entered a guilty plea on December 13th, and was sentenced to 18 months for his role in the conspiracy.

Sanchez-Villar, also of Bronx, New York, entered a guilty plea on February 2, 2012. He will be sentenced on April 30th.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Last month, in honor of African American History Month, the cadets at West Point Academy produced and performed on stage at Robinson Auditorium. The theme of the performance was “The Influence of African American Women on Culture, Society, and the Military, told through the Arts.”

Although the cadets knew that they would have different roles to fill, Tampa native Cadet Katherine Kylila Bullard (pictured), was surprised when she was given the task of producer. As producer, Cadet Bullard learned that in addition to creating a script that would be entertaining, it also needed approval from the Pentagon, her father, Arthur Bullard said.

Her classmate, Cadet Sarah Locke, was responsible for all of the choreography.

The guest speaker for the event was Major General Marcia Anderson, the first African American female to earn the rank of major general in the Army. She was promoted in September 2011.

A Tampa native, Cadet Bullard is the only child of Arthur and Katherine Bullard. She graduated from Middleton High School in 2010 and accepted a full scholarship to West Point Academy. Her father said she plans to pursue a career in the military.

Her major at West Point is Computer Science and she her minor in Foreign Relations.

“She was recruited by all of the major military colleges, but she decided on West Point. She’s in the top 10% of her class,” Bullard stated.

He further stated that Cadet Bullard has accomplished several goals and when she comes home, she visits Middleton in an attempt to motivate other students.

Bullard further said his daughter enjoys writing, playing basketball, and outdoor sports. Cadet Bullard has also sought out and joined an African American Church in West Point.

“She has worked so hard and has always done the right thing for the right reason. She is such a good kid,” he said.