Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Hilrie Kemp, Jr. (right), President Emeritus of the Progress Village Civic Council said the storms that roared through their community on Thursday left tremendous damage.

However, he is thankful that through it all, no injuries have been reported and there was no loss of life.

The storms ripped trees from the ground, tore roofs from home, created localized flooding, and left some homes uninhabitable.

“Many of these homes were hit pretty hard. I have heard that one lady got into the bathtub to protect herself as part of her roof was taken off. Another lady had just moved when her roof collapsed. But, there have been a lot of people coming out to help us and we are grateful.”

Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller, Jr., visited the area on Thursday. “It was unbelievable the way neighbors were coming out helping neighbors. There were just so many different organizations out there doing what they could to help.

Commissioner Miller said donations can be made payable to the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners and the words Progress Village Relief should be printed on the memo line.

Tampa Police have charged a man in the shooting of his longtime girlfriend Saturday morning.

According to reports, Dorsey Sanders, 46 and Cassandra McCauly, 39, were involved in a domestic dispute at their home on East Curtis. During the dispute, Sanders reportedly shot McCauly. She was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.

According to police, hospital officials and family members, McCauly is on life support and not expected to survive her injuries.

A brother, Verrce Harris, said family members are trying to decide the next step.

Sanders has been charged with attempted murder at this time and the investigation is ongoing.

Estella Acree said she and her middle son, Christopher Harrington, had a very special relationship. Since he was born with Downs Syndrome, Harrington spent all of his time with his mother and siblings. Ms. Acree is President of the Rainbow Heights Neighborhood Association.

On Tuesday, Harrington was riding in the backseat of his caregiver’s car when the driver stopped to pick kumquats from a tree. When the caregiver returned to the car, Harrington was missing. He searched the area without any luck, then called 9-1-1.

Police searched for Harrington and reported finding his sandal near South River Boulevard Wednesday morning. His body was discovered a half-hour later in the Hillsborough River. He was 38 years old.

Ms. Acree said she wasn’t surprised that he wound up in the water.

Ms. Acree has contacted Harmon’s Funeral Home to help the family with arrangements for a service.

The Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners has launched a program that will help provide employment for approximately 200 new jobs. The program is aimed at employers with less than 10 employees.

Commissioner Les Miller, Jr., said, “This is a jump start for job creation. The county is offering up to $500,000 to help with salaries for three months. This will give the employer a chance to do more and he or she may be able to keep that person on staff.”

The Incentive Program for Small Business Reimbursement Program is designed to promote job creation by offering to reimburse 50% of an employee’s salary for 3 months.

Potential business owners wishing to take advantage of the program must attend a 4-hour business workshop or counseling sessions and meet other requirements. They cannot have more than 10 employees already on staff.

Anyone interested in obtaining more information can contact the Small Minority Business Development Office at (813) 914-4028.

Eric Darius is proud to be a member of Howard W. Blake’s first graduating class since the school reopened in 1997. While at the school, Darius was active in the school’s jazz ensemble, and that experience opened the door for him to embark on a very successful career.

On Tuesday, Darius returned to his alma mater to not just give them a free concert, but to empower the students to concentrate on their education, and spread the word for the need of more performing arts courses in all schools.

“This is and will always be home for me,” said Darius.

“I am honored to be able to come back and share my experiences with the students and get a chance to talk to them and help them in any way I can.”

While at the school Tuesday, Darius, who has become a renowned saxophone jazz artist, performed a solo act, and also played along with the school’s jazz ensemble. During rehearsals, he also spoke to them and encouraged them to keep working hard and practice, practice, practice!

Darius is on a worldwide tour, having just left the Middle East to return to the states for dates in Chicago, Phoenix, and Sarasota. He also said it is his mission to visit schools on every stop of his tour.

ST. PETERSBURG –The man accused of shooting and killing a 27-year-old woman last week during a home invasion made his first court appearance Wednesday.

Ronnie Betts is accused of being the shooter in the death of Ebony Stewart, 27, and the wounding of two others March 23rd at a home on 19th Street, South.

According to St. Petersburg Police, several family members and friends, mostly women, were playing cards inside the house when Betts allegedly came in and started shooting. Stewart was the first person shot and died at the scene. A 58-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man were also shot.

Their injuries were non-life threatening.

Betts, 21, has been charged with murder, attempted murder and armed home invasion.

Officers said Betts is homeless and was working with an accomplice; however he was identified by witnesses as the shooter.

Police have not located the other suspect at this time.

On March 25th, Tampa Police conducted an operation in the Sulphur Springs area to crackdown on two homes known for gambling, narcotics and firearm activity. The operation began as a result of citizen complaints about a home at 8317 North Marks Street and another at 8310 North 18th Street.

Police spokesperson Janelle McGregor said during the month long investigation, it was determined that two gangs, the Goyams and the Draks, were using the homes for illegal activities.

McGregor said both houses are within a block of the Tampa Police Department’s Hope House, a Safe House for kids in the community on the corner of Juneau and Marks Street.

Police said the arrests were very significant, because there are hundreds of kids who pass both homes on their way to the center, and now they can do so in a safer environment.

Of the 17 arrests made, two of them were juveniles on misdemeanor charges. It was also reported that some of those arrested were charged with operating a gambling house.

On March 13th, Royale McCoy Green, 11, was riding his scooter near his home when he was approached by two other boys. The boys punched and kicked Royale before taking his clothing and a blue Razor scooter.

Members of the Tampa Police Department’s ROC (Rapid Offender Control) and patrol units investigated the robbery. Three days later, police arrested an 11-year-old and a 12-year-old and charged them with robbery. They were both charged with strong-armed robbery, but the scooter was not recovered.

However, on Thursday, officers of Uniform District Two surprised Royale with the presentation of a new scooter. The presentation was made at the Tampa Police Department’s R.I.C.H. House, 8218 N. Marks Street.

Pictured: Royale McCoy Green is shown holding the new scooter presented to him by members of the Tampa Police Department. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eric (Rasheema) Green, and his little sister are shown with him. (Photography by BRUNSON).

Like a phoenix from the ruins, the Moses White Estates, a 69-unit housing development in Northeast Tampa, was the scene of a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, last Friday. Members of the Moses White family, accompanied by local, state and national dignitaries, including representatives from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller, and a representative from Representative Kathy Castor’s office, were on hand for the long-awaited occasion.

Named after Moses White, a Tampa businessman, philanthropist and social justice advocate, the rebuilt Moses White Estates replaces an original public housing complex of the same name, which was built in 1982.

The new complex includes first and second floor flats as well as townhouse units. Touting beautiful landscaping, brick wainscots, lively colored stucco sidings and wood column porches, the new units are also designed to be energy, water and resource conservative.