Florida Sentinel Bulletin

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

On Monday, June 27th, Rafael Lee, Manager of Walgreen’s at N. 56th Street and E. Busch Blvd., is inviting the community to visit his store. Those who stop by between the hours of 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., can take advantage of free testing for various illnesses.

The event is being held in recognition of National HIV Testing Day and in partnership with Tampa Bay Community Events. Lee said those who visit the store can obtain tests for HIV, STIs, pregnancy, A1C (for diabetes), blood pressure, and glucose.[private]

“We are trying to make the community aware that we are here to service their needs. It’s all about being well. Our motto is ‘Live Well, Stay Well.’

“Our community is our no. 1 focus and our goal is to educate the community about their health care needs,” he said.

A native of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Lee enrolled at the University of Tampa in 1997 and earned his B. S. Degree in Psychology. He continued his education at the University of South Florida, where he received his Master’s Degree in Family Counseling. He earned his Ph.D. degree in Family Counseling.

While searching for employment, he submitted an application to Walgreens for an Internship in 1999. He was offered an Assistant Manager position and has remained with the company since that time.

Lee has worked at several stores through the bay area and was promoted to Manager in 2001. He became the manager of his current store in 2003.

Having been with the company for more than 10 years, Lee said he plans on seeking a career. “It’s a good company. I take care of them and they take care of me,” he said.[/private]

On Thursday, Judge James Moody announced the sentencing of Grammy-winning reggae singer Buju Banton. Banton (real name Mark Myrie) was found guilty in February of conspiring to set up a cocaine deal in 2009.

Prosecutors and Banton’s attorney presented testimony during the sentencing phase.

A jury deliberated for 11 hours before finding Banton guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in futherance of a drug trafficking offense, and using a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.

Judge Moody sentenced Banton to 10 years in a federal prison on the charges.

When he was convicted, Banton appealed for a reduced sentence and despite the support he received from celebrities and entertainers, Judge Moody still handed down a 10-year sentence.

On Tuesday, the U. S. Department of Labor awarded 15 grants, valued at $20 million, to help formerly incarcerated individuals between the ages 18-24. The grants are to help young offenders reconnect with their communities and find pathways to success through community service and educational opportunities.

The Computer Mentors Group, Inc., was the only organization in the southeastern United States to receive a grant. It is valued at $1,007,149,000.

The Computer Mentors Program came into existence in 1997. Ralph Smith, founder and Executive Director of the program, began with five youngsters at the then Ybor City (now Robert Saunders) Library. In 2001, Smith moved the program to its current location at 2802 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd.[private]

“The grants will directly support young people looking to improve their skills and long-term employment prospects. The Civic Justice Corps includes learning through community service and valuable experiences that serve not only participants, but also the families and communities to which they are returning,” Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of Labor said.

Beyond service opportunities, the Civic Justice Corps offers post-secondary education and training, community connections, high staff-to-participant ratios, career development, and post-program support and follow-up, all of which help reduce recidivism rates.

Since its inception, more than 1,100 youngsters have gained computer skills through the program. Youngsters, ages 14 to 18, attend a 6-month course known as the Teen Computer Certification and Ownership Program. The youngsters are taught computer skills, learn how to build their own computer and take it home upon completion of the program.[/private]

BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer

On May 14th, Ms. Teresa Bynum and other family members gathered for her grandson, Da’Shuan’s, 3rd birthday celebration.

“We all put our money together and bought a sheet cake from Sweetbay Supermarket on Nebraska Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard,” said Ms. Bynum.

“The celebration was going fine until we cut the cake and found a knife. The party was stopped immediately, guests left, and we called the police.”

Ms. Bynum said because no one was injured, police told her there was no criminal act committed and that it was a civil matter.

***Look for full story in Tuesday’s Sentinel****[private]

“We called their corporate offices several times and never got an apology from anyone at the store. We did get an apology from their corporate office, and they told us they hadn’t gotten a report of the incident from the store.”

Ms. Bynum said a representative with their corporate office, Don Aikins, offered them a $50 gift card.

“I turned it down. I was hoping they would reimburse us for what we spent on the party. The party ended when we found the knife, and it was ruined. We feel the issue was never resolved and we’re not happy at all.”

Aikins confirmed the family was offered the gift card, and said it was all the store could do to resolve the incident.[/private]

When the school year begins in August, two East Tampa schools will have been converted to same gender academies. The two schools are Ferrell and Franklin Middle Schools.  Neither of the principals is African American.

The Ferrell Girls Preparatory Academy, located on the site of the old Middleton High School, will cater to girls entering 6th through 8th grades. Ms. Karen French will serve as the new principal for first time same gender school. Hillsborough County School Board Chairperson Doretha Edgecomb said Ms. French is the former principal of Franklin Middle School. She was interviewed for the position and wanted to serve as the principal of the single gender school.

The Franklin Boys Preparatory Academy will cater to boys entering 6th through 8th grades. John Haley will serve as the new principal for first time all-boys school.

***Look for full story in Tuesday’s Sentinel****[private]

“She did an outstanding job working with the students at Franklin. Ferrell is going to have a very diverse student body although it is in East Tampa. When I went to the parent orientation meeting, I saw students from several different ethnic backgrounds,” she said.

Ferrell currently has the distinction of being one of only 10 schools in Florida, and the only one in Hillsborough County to be recognized as a SMART Showcase School. The SMART technology offers high quality, interactive lesson activities, content, assessment material and teaching resources.

Franklin focuses on new technology and has several computer labs. It also focuses on Math, Language Arts, Reading, and Business Applications.

Haley is the former principal of Madison Middle School, was also screened for the position. “I believe John Haley has great insight about the needs of male students. For one, he is the father of five boys, besides that, he is committed to the success of this school,” Ms. Edgecomb stated.[/private]

Tampa Police were called to Columbus Drive and Massachusetts Avenue Sunday night on a report of a hit and run incident.

Police reported that Benjamin York, 47, was hit by a vehicle as the driver was leaving a party. The driver was involved in a fight with several people at the party and was trying to leave the altercation, police said.

Police said York followed the driver to his car to calm him down, but as the driver fled from the scene, he struck York. York fell to the pavement and was caught and dragged under the rear of the vehicle for 420 feet before being dislodged.

***Look for full story in Tuesday’s Sentinel***[private]

The suspect fled north on Ola Avenue. York was hospitalized and is reported to be in stable condition.

Police said the vehicle that hit York is described as a white Mercury with a broken windshield and a broken tail light lens with red tape over the damage. That vehicle was later found in the 7400 block of South O’Brien.[/private]

Last Friday, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office initiated a program targeting former prison inmates. The purpose of the program is to provide assistance to help those recently released from prison to transition back into society.

Col. Jim Previtera stated that the program uses counselors to match the former inmates with resources already in existence. “We act as a bridge to those resources.” After learning about the program nearly two years ago, Sheriff David Gee became interested in instituting it in Hillsborough County.

Col. Previtera said he visited Jacksonville and observed the manner in which that program was conducted. He then returned home with ideas, but also had to be aware of budget restraints. He was able to have some personnel reassigned and found existing housing for the program.

***Look for full story in Tuesday’s Sentinel****[private]

He stated they also waited to see if Governor Rick Scott and Edwin Buss, the new Secretary of the Department of Corrections, would embrace the program. After receiving their approval, the next step was to work within the budget restraints.

In March, the Hillsborough Re-Entry Center came into existence. Col. Previtera said the program would reduced the number of former inmates who return to jail and reduce the number of victims.

In October 2010, the Sheriff’s Office began receiving inmates from the Polk County Correctional Facility in Polk City. Since that time, more than 100 people have voluntarily been processed through the center. Of that number, only 8 individuals have re-offended, which is well below the average, he said.

“Several years ago, Rev. Abe Brown had this vision, but he didn’t have a government agency that would undertake it. It is not costing any additional money because all we are doing is serving as a bridge between the ex-inmates and the resources that are available.”[/private]

BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer

The story of former Tampa Bay Buccaneer running back, Warrick Dunn, captured the hearts of the entire nation.

In 1993 Dunn’s mother, Baton Rouge Police Corporal Betty Smothers, was shot to death during an ambush at a bank.

At a very young age, Dunn found himself raising his four siblings, sacrificing a personal life or time he would have otherwise spent with friends.
In Tampa, Javay Macelus faced a similar scenario.

In 2000, Macelus’s sister died after being diagnosed with pelvic cancer. She left behind seven children and her mother, Judy Macelus, took them into her home.

In 2009, Ms. Macelus passed away after suffering a heart attack, and once again the fate of seven children rested in the hands of the judicial system.

At the time of her death, Ms. Macelus was living in public housing (North Boulevard Homes), and one of her children, Javay, had been sent off to the Job Corps to get him away from the trouble that prevailed in the area at the time.

With just 37 days left, Javay had to return to Tampa from Kentucky to attend his mother’s funeral. After the funeral, once again the fate of seven nieces and nephews rested in the hands of the court.

“Different family members said they’d take some of them, but not all seven. I didn’t want them split up, so I petitioned the court to give me custody.”

After some counseling, a judge agreed to give custody to Javay, and at the age of 19, he found himself being responsible for seven people.

“A lot has happened over the past two years since I took up raising them. I can tell you it hasn’t been as hard as a lot of people think.”

Javay said the downside of accepting this responsibility is he has to get up early in the morning to make sure they are ready for school, and he constantly has to visit their schools for conferences and other events.

Javay said now he has 8 to look after, because his niece recently gave birth.[private]

“The time I spent in the Job Corps helped me mature enough to deal with this great responsibility. My family is always there to help whenever I need them, and that’s been a plus.”

Javay said now he has 8 to look after, because his niece recently gave birth.

“My oldest niece will be 19 in November, and the youngest child is 11. Discipline is not a problem, because we grew up in the same house together.

“I don’t have children of my own, but I feel I know what it’s like to have a family of my own.”

Javay said what he’s most happy about is that they’ve moved out of public housing and are now living in a nice house in West Tampa.

“I hated living in public housing, and I had to get out of that area. I didn’t like it when my mother was living there.

“When we moved it was a big surprise to the kids, because public housing was the only home they knew. Now, they have more room, and we have a yard. We really feel like a family now.”

Javay said he’s taken the test to get his GED, and he’ll try to apply for scholarships to attend Hillsborough Community College. He wants to become an elementary school teacher. [/private]

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Last Friday afternoon, an accident on Interstate 4 left two women dead and two seriously injured. The survivors are recovering, but the emotional injuries have left the driver of the vehicle devastated.

The four Tampa women, Ms. Shantel Lawton, 47; who was the driver, Mrs. Amanda Evans Coleman, 48; Mrs. Brenda Evans Richard, 56; and Mrs. Windelon Tolbert Seymore, 66, were going to Orlando for the weekend.

When travel ahead slowed, Mrs. Lawton slowed down as well. However, police said Joshua Russo, 36, of Deltona, failed to observe traffic slowing down ahead of him. The 2006 Ford truck he was driving collided with the back of Mrs. Lawton’s vehicle. Mrs. Richard and Mrs. Tolbert, seated in the back, died at the scene.

Mrs. Lawton was admitted to South Florida Baptist Hospital in serious condition. Mrs. Coleman was taken to Tampa General Hospital, in critical condition. Both women are recovering from their injuries at home.[private]

Mrs. Rona Roberts Pryer, sister of Mrs. Lawton, said Mrs. Lawton and the other three women were very good friends. “She is still undergoing flashbacks and is deeply saddened by this tragic accident that claimed the lives of two of her friends. Our family would like the community to know how this has affected our loved one.”

Her family has endured four deaths in the last two months. They have lost their father, Homer Hemmingway, Charlie Everhart, Sr., who was the grandfather, and two cousins in the last two months,” Mrs. Pryer said.

Mrs. Pryer further stated that although her sister, affectionately known as “Shine,” knows it wasn’t her fault, she is deeply hurt.

Mrs. Lawton and Mrs. Coleman became childhood friends and were always together at social events and church functions. Mrs. Coleman was a bridesmaid in Mrs. Lawton’s wedding, Mrs. Pryer said.

“One thing that will be remembered is that the four ladies always spent time together during the Labor Day Weekend in Daytona with family and friends.”

A Tampa native, Mrs. Lawton grew up in West Tampa and attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. She graduated from Tampa Technical High School.

After graduation, Mrs. Lawton earned her B. A. Degree from St. Leo University in Human Relations. She continued her education at Argosy University, where she earned her Master’s Degree. Mrs. Lawton has been employed with Hillsborough County for more than 20 years. She is the mother of two sons, Wayne, II, and Ryan.

Mrs. Pryer said there has been an outpouring of love from Mrs. Lawton’s co-workers who are wishing her a speedy recovery.

Mrs. Pryer said her sister suffered injuries to her neck and left side of her body. However, the emotional scars will last long after her body heals.

“She is so devastated because there was nothing she could have done to prevent the accident. She is having a very hard time and has been very, very distraught.

“We are praying for the other families and we’re just at a loss for words. We’re very, very sorry. We all have suffered a great loss, but God is too wise to make a mistake,” Mrs. Pryer said.

A longtime member of First Baptist Church of West Tampa, Mrs. Lawton enjoys traveling, shopping, cooking, reading, and spending time with family and friends.[/private]