Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Since April 2007, the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership’s CRA has spent $1.699.355 million dollars in Tax Increment Finance (TIF) dollars purchasing properties in the East Tampa area.

To date, 14 properties have been purchased, with one still under negotiations and 5 with pending contracts.

East Tampa Development Manager, Ed Johnson, said their goal is the as it’s always been.

According to Johnson, $724,654.94 was spent in fiscal year 2007, $254,120.56 in fiscal year 2008, and $213,500 in fiscal year 2009.

One of the properties, 2808 Banza, was donated to the city.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a man they said was the driver in an armed robbery that left a man wounded outside a sports bar. The shooter is still being sought.

Deputies said Taylor Brinser, 18, was being held without bond on charges of armed robbery with a firearm and attempted murder.

TAYLOR BRINSER

A witness to the shooting outside Legends Sports Bar gave deputies a description of Brinser’s car and a tag number.

Deputies are still looking for the man who shot Lamario Kelly, 21, and told him to give it up before taking his jewelry.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

As a means of introducing his latest movie, a popular star is hosting a national contest. And, one Tampa restaurant hopes to get enough online votes to win.

The contest is entitled “My Favorite Family Restaurant Competition.” Tyler Perry’s latest movie, “Madea’s Big Happy Family,” is promoting the competition, known as “Madea’s Restaurant Wars.”

Two Tampa restaurants, Urban Culinary Cuisine, and Simply Good, are participating in the contest. Other Florida cities participating are Orlando and Miami. Cities in several other states and Washington, D.C., are also participating.

Those wishing to cast votes go on line to www.MadeasRestaurantWars.com, select the restaurant you wish to vote for, and cast your ballot. Those participating have an opportunity to win “The Ultimate Family Dinner,” valued at $500, if chosen.

The voting ends on Thursday, April 21st. The movie will begin showing in theaters on Friday, April 22nd.

Located in New Tampa, Urban Culinary Cuisine features heart-healthy southern cuisine. The Executive Chef and Co-owner, John Saxton, also conducts “Health & Wellness Lectures” to organizations interested in providing healthy cooking techniques to its members.

Saxton has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Science. His goal is to target the African American community to share information about healthy eating. During his lectures, he teachers about foods taste good, but that can help reduce cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

A 28-year-old man was charged with the death of his girlfriend after he took her to his mother’s home. The man reportedly told police the two quarreled over bills.

Shortly after 9 a.m., Wednesday, police received a 9-1-1 call and responded to 1515 N. 139th Avenue, in reference to a woman not breathing. Upon arrival of paramedics, the woman was “cold to the touch” and pronounced dead at the scene. Police identified the victim as 23-year-old Nakysha Hamilton.

After performing an autopsy, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death as blunt impact to the head.

LEON STEVENSON, JR.

According to police, Leon Stevenson, Jr., arrived at his mother’s residence, at which time, his mother (who was not identified by police) asked about the victim. She walked to Stevenson’s truck and observed Ms. Hamilton lying unresponsive in the passenger’s seat. She told Stevenson to bring her into the house, where she called 9-1-1 and began CPR.

Later on Wednesday, Stevenson met a detective at the intersection of Nebraska Avenue and Paris Street, and he agreed to provide an interview.

Stevenson reportedly told police that he and Ms. Hamilton became involved in a verbal dispute over bills at their home, 12802 N. 58th Street, Apartment, D.

At some point during the quarrel, Stevenson allegedly grabbed Ms. Hamilton by the neck and threw her on the floor. He also reportedly admitted to slapping and choking her several times.

After the fight, Stevenson told police he helped Ms. Hamilton take a shower and then placed her on the bed, but noticed she was having problems breathing.

He stated that he fell asleep and woke up at 8 a.m., on Wednesday, and observed that Ms. Hamilton was not moving and was gasping for air. He then took her to his mother’s house, police said.
Stevenson is facing a second-degree murder charge. He’s being held without bond at the Hillsborough County Jail.

After completing his education and becoming a pharmacist, Dr. Calvin W. Brown obtained employment with Wells Drug Store. It was during that time that the idea of launching a business began to take root.

The late Dr. “Doc” Brown decided to become an entrepreneur who provided a much-needed service to the African American community. In 1953, Dr. Brown opened the doors of the College Hill Pharmacy in the 3700 block of N. 22nd Street. An anchor business in the East Tampa community, the business offered more than prescription drugs.

Established in a community where not many people owned cars, “Doc” Brown offered items that catered to the entire community. The residents could purchase men’s handkerchiefs or the decorative laced handkerchiefs for women, socks, black baby dolls and skates, among other things.

After much consideration, the family decided the time has come to close its doors. They are in the process of selling the remaining inventory in the store.

The Brown and Harvey families said they are grateful for 58 years of loyal patronage and support of the community.

As part of an ongoing effort to address the issues that confront minority male students attending college, HCC is hosting a minority male summit on Friday, April 15, from 1 p. m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Dale Mabry Campus.

Statistically, minority male students rank the lowest in terms of college persistence rates, and HCC has been leading a national discussion to tackle the issues that lead to this population’s disproportionate drop-out rates.

Dr. Khalil G. Muhammad, the newly appointed incoming director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City and a history professor at Indiana University will attend the summit.

Other speakers include Victor Antonio, and will also feature Robert Jackson, a former player for the Minnesota Vikings and author of No More Excuses, Black Men Stand Up! and No More Excuses: The Workbook.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reports that a man was hospitalized in critical condition after a confrontation with a deputy Wednesday.

According to reports, deputies were called to Barnacles in Brandon on a report of a man who had been previously trespassed from the property.

Deputies said when they arrived, the man was behind the business, and when they tried to arrest him for trespassing, he resisted by grabbing one of the deputies and wrestling her to the ground. While on the ground, he tried to take the deputy’s taser, and was successful, but didn’t know how to use it.

The second deputy warned the man before firing a single shot striking him in the upper body. He was transported to a local hospital and is reported to be in critical condition.

The man has been identified as Evelio David Rodriguez, 20.

T’Keyah Crystal Keymah, a Florida A&M alumna who found success in Hollywood, has donated $150,000 to the University to establish an endowed scholarship.

Ms. Keymáh is most known from her television roles as an original cast member of the Fox sketch comedy series In Living Color, she is perhaps best known for her roles as Erica Lucas on the CBS sitcom Cosby, and as Tanya Baxter on the Disney Channel sitcom That’s So Raven.

She was a National Merit Scholar and was recruited to FAMU’s School of Business and Industry, before finding her love in FAMU’s Essential
Theatre. The actress says she struggled to make ends meet as a theater major and now she wants to pave the way for other aspiring actors at FAMU.

“It was a sacrifice,” said Keymáh, “If every graduate takes care of one student that would be a phenomenal thing and that’s what I would like to ask all of the alumni to do.”

The FAMU College of Arts and Sciences recently enshrined Keymáh and several other alums into its “Gallery of Distinction.”

On Saturday, April 9th at 1 a. m., Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies report that Courtney Yates, 32, and another individual got into a fight at 12743 North 19th Street. Yates reportedly felt like he was being disrespected by the other man. The two fought three times within a 15-minute span in front of witnesses. After the final fight, both shook hands and said they were done. Both left the area separately.

About 90 minutes later, deputies said both men came back to the area where they had fought.

Jontavis Williams, 23, a friend of the man that fought with Yates, was also at the location.

JONTAVIS WILLIAMS

Witnesses reported that Williams became upset when he found out that Yates was older than his friend. Williams reportedly pulled a gun, and without any hesitation, fired a shot at Yates from about 6-feet away striking him in the chest. Yates turned to run and witnesses said Williams shot him in the back.

Yates was able to run a few feet away and collapsed. Williams then reportedly walked over to Yates who was on the ground, and a witness told deputies Yates begged Williams not to shoot him anymore. At that point, Williams stood over Yates and shot him a third time, this time into his head at point blank range.

Williams fled on foot.

Later that night, Williams walked into the Sheriff’s District One Office and turned himself in. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Yates’ father and stepmother, Ronald and Tanya Yates, said they were both pleased to hear Williams had turned himself in.

Courtney Yates grew up in Tampa and was attending barber school and close to finishing at the time of his death.

“He really loved cutting hair and cooking,” said Mrs. Yates.

Mrs. Yates said Courtney was very popular in the community, because he would go around giving the kids haircuts.

“Right now, what’s most difficult for us is separating the facts from all the rumors going around. What we know for sure is that he was shot three times, and he begged Jontavis for his life.”

Ronald Yates said what makes the incident even more tragic is the fact that the two families know each other from West Tampa.

“We’ve spent time, and we’ve spoken to each other since the shooting. I assured them we have no hard feelings toward them.”

Courtney Yates has 9 siblings, and a 6-year-old son, Courtney, Jr.

The family is still in the process of making final arrangements for a service.