Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Steven Oats, a 16-year- old high school student at Sickles High School is an aspiring pastry chef. Steven has been baking and decorating cakes since the age of 10. Steven was creative as a young child, always sketching out his visions of things he wanted to make or design.

While helping his great-grandmother, Callie Crawford prepare cakes for her late brother’s barbeque restaurant, Big John’s Alabama BBQ, Steven thought to himself, “I can do that!”

He chose Sickles high School because of the history of its culinary department and the culinary teacher, Chef Rick Ceglio.

Chef Rick will be taking Steven along with 12 other students to Europe this summer for a tour of Italy. They will have the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful, historic parts of Italy while learning about their food and techniques of cooking and pastries.

Steven will be having a fundraiser this Sunday, May 15, 2011 at Big John’s Alabama Barbeque, 5707 N. 40th Street, to help raise money for his trip overseas. The event will start at 4 p. m. and a small donation (tax deductible) is requested.

Steven’s mother is Paula Stevens-Jones, and his grandmother is Martha Stevens.

On the morning of May 1st, a fire was reported at the Terrace Square Apartments on 59th Street and 122nd Avenue. When firefighters arrived, they reported seeing flames at the building. They were also told a man managed to escape the fire that broke out at 6 a. m., and they didn’t know until after the fire was out that a woman and a dog were dead inside.

The woman was identified as 37-year-old Katrina Colbert, and the incident is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Family members of Ms. Colbert said they believe there’s more to what happened, and the true story hasn’t been told.

Sheriff’s Office spokesman, Deputy Larry McKinnon, said they are currently conducting an active death investigation.

Dep. McKinnon asks that anyone who has information about the fire, please call (813) 247-8651.

Family members of Ms. Colbert have asked for assistance in making arrangements for a funeral.

West Riverfront resident Edwin Narain won the Top Performance Manager Award from AT&T’s Greater Florida market for the second year in row. He was presented with the award at the market’s annual All-Hand’s Employees meeting at the Rosen Shingle Hotel in Orlando by Vice President and General Manager Richard Guidotti.

Narain attended the University of South Florida where he was elected Student Body President and was USF’s first Fall Homecoming King. He holds a Master’s of Business Administration degree from Saint Leo University.

A part time student at Stetson University College of Law, at AT&T he manages a six person team that is responsible for $24 million in lifetime subscriber revenues. “There is no way I could have won this award without the support of my family. I believe that when you want to achieve something, you have to stop thinking and simply do it. Don’t pay attention to the naysayers. You can be and do anything you set your mind to.”

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

On Saturday, May 21st, Ms. Swiyyah Muhammad will host a book signing to introduce her true story to the community. Entitled “Don’t Call Me Crazy! I’m Just In Love,” the book as created to inspire others to recognize and accept the changes that takes place in life.

The book signing will take place at Candy Lowe’s Tea Time, 904½ E. Henry Avenue, Tampa, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Ms. Muhammad said, “I want to tell people that it is okay to take medication for mental illnesses. I was 28 years old when I had my first episode, but I refused to accept it.”

Ms. Muhammad earned her B. A. Degree in Psychology with a Business minor from the University of South Florida. After graduation, she earned certification as a TV Producer and has produced several shows in the bay area.

Ms. Muhammad said, “I always thought I was a normal person and normal people don’t get mental illnesses. After being diagnosed as a Schizophrenic, I didn’t believe it and refused to take my medicine. I knew what the symptoms were because I had earned my degree in Psychology and had studied Parapsychology as well.

“But, I finally accepted it after being hospitalized 6 times. Now, I feel that by telling my story, I may save someone’s life.”

She hopes that others having this problem will attend the book signing.

A jury last Friday found Cedrick “Woogie” Salter, 30, guilty of the September 2009 shooting death of his girlfriend, Saquanda Simon, 29. On Thursday, Judge Emmett Battles sentenced Salter to life in prison.

Saquanda Simon

Salter was found guilty of shooting Simon twice as she held one of their twins in the hallway of her Grant Park home. She was the mother of four children.

An attorney for Salter had said the shooting was an accident and not premeditated murder.

Salter was once a popular DJ in the area and a member of a group known as the U-Haul Boyz.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Mrs. Arlene Johnson said in February, she called police in reference to a theft at her home. The call led to the arrest of both she and her husband, Lester Johnson, Sr.

Mrs. Johnson feels that if different action were taken her husband would not be in critical condition now. At approximately 3:15 a.m., Sunday, May 1st, Mrs. Johnson made another call to police.

LESTER JOHNSON JR.

Her son, Lester Johnson, Jr., reportedly broke into their Sulphur Springs home on E. Crawford Street, through the sliding glass doors and began allegedly stabbing his father as he slept in bed.

Mrs. Johnson told police that on Sunday morning, her husband was asleep and she had fallen asleep in a chair in the living room. Mrs. Johnson heard her husband screaming and went to investigate. She attempted to stop the attack and her son allegedly began stabbing her.

Mrs. Johnson told police her husband jumped on her son’s back to stop him from stabbing her. The fight moved to the front yard. Mrs. Johnson said her son ran away toward a wooded area as she got the cell phone to call police.

After using Air Service, and K-9 units, the younger Johnson, 26, who is the youngest of their 4 children, was located and arrested. He was charged with 2 counts of attempted first-degree murder; armed burglary; and 3 counts of violation of a domestic violence injunction.

Johnson is being held in the Hillsborough County Jail without bond.

Son Arrested
Ms. Janelle McGregor, spokesperson for the Tampa Police Department said, “She had called about her son violating the injunction. We issued a local pickup for him and he was arrested on March 30th.”

According to jail records, Judge Walter Heinrich sentenced Johnson to 30 days in jail. He was released April 23rd after serving 24 days.

BY TAMECA JOHNSON
Freelance Writer

There are many books on the market claiming to offer helpful tips on child rearing.  Psychologist say they have answers, members of the clergy feel they have insight and even every day people of society  have put pen to paper claiming they have tips on getting the job done; but what does it really take?

The Sentinel talked to three women who literally have hands on experience on the subject.  They all married, had kids and by all accounts have considerable success in the area.  They share what they know for sure about the job of a lifetime: MOTHERHOOD.

Mamie Floyd Family

Mamie Floyd:  Married more than 50 years to the late Wesley Floyd.  Mother of two, grandmother of five and great-grandmother of three.

Casey Curry & Family

Casey Curry:  Married 28 years to Bruce Curry.  Mother of three (their fourth child Tori Rose passed away 13 years ago).

Pictured: Bruce, Taylor, Shannon, April and Casey Curry.

Shirley Porter & Family

Shirley Porter:  Married 25 years to the late Nathaniel Porter.  Mother of two, grandmother of five, great-grandmother of two.

Pictured: Grandchildren, Ta’Vianna Billingslea-Sanders, Edward Washington, III, Kyndall Johnson, and Ahvaney Porter; children, Aveanna Porter and Tameca Johnson.

Nearly two weeks ago, eight American soldiers and a U. S. contractor died in Afghanistan. Funeral services for one of those soldiers will take place on Monday in Tampa.

The attack is attributed to the actions of an Afghan military pilot who began shooting during a meeting at the Kabul International Airport. The attack has been called the deadliest of an Afghan turning on coalition partners.

A 20-year veteran of the U. S. Air Force, Maj0r Raymond Estelle, II, 40, was stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and deployed to Afghanistan on April 21st as an advisor to the Afghan Command and Control Center under NATO Air Training Command Afghanistan.

Major Estelle is survived by his wife, Major N’Keiba Estelle, and their 2 children, Shayla, 8, and newborn son, Raymond, III, who is 6-weeks-old.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family established a college fund for the Estelle children. Those wishing to make a contribution can send them to the Air Warrior Courage Foundation, “Estelle Family 529 College Fund” ? P. O. Box 877?Silver Spring, MD 20918,?(877)921-2923. http://www.airwarriorcourage.org/

Funeral services for Major Estelle will take place on Monday, May 9th, 10 a.m., at Bell Shoals Baptist Church, in Brandon. Burial will take place at the Florida National Cemetery on Monday. There will not be a wake, but visitation will take place on Sunday, May 8th, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Ray Williams Funeral Home.

Walkers will go around the clock in the battle against Cancer when the 2011 American Cancer Society Relay For Life® of East Tampa gets underway with teams of residents gathering at Middleton High School, 4801 N. 22nd Street, Tampa, Florida 33610.

The Relay For Life event will be held overnight May 20-21, 2011, 6 p. m. – 12 noon, as individuals and teams camp out at the athletic track at Middleton.

Against the backdrop of live music, Relay participants complete hourly laps around the track during the evening into Saturday morning.  Highlights of the event include the survivor lap and the luminaria ceremony.

The Relay starts with the survivor lap, an inspirational time when survivors are invited to circle the track together and celebrate the victories we have achieved over cancer.

The Relay For Life’s Luminaria Ceremony takes place after sundown honoring the community’s cancer survivors and remembering those lost to the disease.

Participants will circle the track that is surrounded with glowing luminarias, bearing the names of individuals who have battled and are currently battling cancer.

Luminarias may be purchased through donations by calling 813-319-5932 or by visiting http://main.acsevents.org.

Funds raised at Relay For Life of East Tampa are enabling the American Cancer Society to impact the lives of those touched by cancer within the community.  These include support, early detection, education, cancer risk reduction, research, and advocacy programs.

To locate a Relay For Life event and find out how you may get involved, please call 1-800-227-2345 or visit RelayForLife.org.