Florida Sentinel Bulletin

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 27-year-old man in connection with a murder that occurred nearly 10 years ago. The man was taken into custody on Wednesday.

William Henry Sanders is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Ms. Sabrina Hayes, 25, of Riverview. According to police, on June 9, 2001, Ms. Hayes was driving her vehicle in the subdivision at 82^nd and Bahia Drive, in Progress Village, when she was shot in the upper body.

SABRINA HAYES … Killed in 2001

Ms. Hayes continued to drive for 4 blocks, reaching the intersection of 86^th
Street and Bahia Drive. At that intersection, Ms. Hayes got out of the vehicle and collapsed on the street. She died at the scene.

[private]Detectives reportedly learned that in 2001, Sanders was allegedly selling drugs in the Progress Village area and the victim was “known to frequent the area for the purpose of purchasing illegal drugs. It is believed that the homicide was over a drug transaction,” police said in a news release.

After several years of investigating and conducting interviews in the area, police identified Sanders as the alleged shooter. Detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest and took him into custody on Tuesday.[/private]

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

“Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation.”

Taken from the speech, “I’ve Been To The Mountaintop” delivered by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., April 3, 1968.

As we approach the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday, things seem to be in more turmoil than ever. One incident recently in the news is the shooting in Arizona that left Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords critically injured along with 14 others. The gunman killed six other people.

Dr. King sought peaceful co-existence and felt violence was not the answer to achieving the dream he shared with America on August 28, 1963, nearly five years before his death.

Some citizens shared their opinions by answering the question, ‘Do you feel the world is becoming more violent, thus pushing the goal of accomplishing his dream further away?’

Ms. Ann Jenkins said, “I am very upset over the event that took place in Arizona. I blame the Republicans for what has happen, because of all the negative talk that they engaged in the media about destroying bills and how bad they talked about our president.

“There are people out there in the world that listen and take it the wrong way, make up their minds, and do what that young man did.

Dr. King’s fight was about injustice and for fairness and equality. Let’s drop the Republican or Democrat mumbo jumbo, [private]and think human beings and their lives. I fought for my country so that we all could be free and learn to love one another.”

James Tokley said, “America is a nation born in blood. The red in our flag and the history of our wars attest to our nature. Yet and still, this most recent example of American violence seems to have come with a moral disclaimer.

“By that I mean, not even those Americans who readily champion bloodshed are willing to stand up and applaud the killing of children, senior citizens, and public servants who, in all innocence, did not but represent their Democratic way of life.

“Yes, America has never been able to deny its bloodthirsty heritage. But amidst the blood are also vestiges of human kindness and common sense. Thanks to those ever-present concepts, America finally decided to put a Black man in the White House.

“No, doubt, if he could see us now, Rev. King would say, ‘Nobody said it would be easy. But, you’re still on your way to the Promised Land! Be careful. You’ll know you’re at the door when they refuse to let you in!’”[/private]

On January 4^th, Chantcey Williams, 35, and his fiancé, Seletha Jackson, were returning to Tampa after attending an Orlando Magic game in Orlando. They were traveling on I-4.

According to report from the Florida Highway Patrol, the vehicle with Williams and Jackson was heading west on I-4 at a high rate of speed. A witness reported that the vehicle changed lanes from the center lane to the outside lane, moving around a van.

At that point, Williams lost control of the vehicle, causing it to spin across the lanes and enter the center grass media leading with the passenger side. The vehicle then began to overturn, striking the metal guardrail.

The witness reported that the vehicle overturned over the guardrail, causing the top driver’s side to grate along the top side of the guardrail. It came to a final rest on its roof in the eastbound median side of I-4.

Williams was pronounced dead on the scene and Jackson was transported to a local hospital. [private]Williams would have turned 36 on January 16^th.

Jackson said she had fallen asleep during the return trip to Tampa, and when she woke up, they had been in an accident.

“All I remember is hearing the car screeching. That’s what woke me up. The car then felt like it flipped a few times.

“When it stopped, someone came up to help us. I remember being pulled out of the car. When they pulled Chantcey out, I thought he was still breathing. I was taken to the hospital, and after I arrived, they told me he had been killed.”

Williams and Jackson had been seeing each other for 7 months, and had attended a Magic game just before Thanksgiving. Ms. Jackson said they really had fun together.

Services for Chantcey Williams will be held this Saturday, 1 p.m., at Northside M. B. Church on 40^th Street.[/private]

WINTER HAVEN – Winter Haven Police report that Christina Voltaire, 22, continues to be considered missing and they believe she could possibly be traveling with Dieuseul Pierre-Gilles, 29.

If anyone has seen or  heard from Voltaire or Pierre-Gilles, please contact Det. Rod Esteve at 291-5694,or call the Winter Haven Police department Tip Line at 291-5699 to remain anonymous.

Christina Voltaire is described as a Black female, 5’2” tall, weighing 110 to 115 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

She was reported missing by a friend who told police on January 8^th at 7 p.m., she left her apartment and returned an hour later and Voltaire was gone. She has not returned or been heard from since.

Mrs. Martha Hepburn Cail was devastated when her sister, Camille Hepburn Williams passed away suddenly in July, 2010. A little less than 6 months later, Mrs. Cail has joined her sister in death. She was 81 years old.

Better known as “Hep Cat,” Mrs. Cail passed away Friday morning at Accentia Re-Hab Nursing Home. She has battled colon cancer.

Mrs. Cail grew up in Tampa and attended Middleton High School. She retired from the University of South Florida 19 years ago.

Mrs. Cail loved working in the community, and especially for her church, Mt. Siani AME Zion. She was a member there for over 75 years.

After the death of her husband, Frank Cail, Mrs. Cail would take public transportation or walk to collect [private]ads/money from the many customers she solicited ads to help raise funds for special events at the church. She took pride in the ads she solicited and faithfully made sure her customers saw their ads in print.

Mrs. Cail is survived by 5 children, Alva, Veronica, La’Sharn, Frank and George; 2 brothers, Henry and Harold Hepburn (South Carolina) and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Funeral services for Mrs. Cail will be held Saturday, January 15, 2011, 2 p. m. at Mt. Sinai AME Zion Church, Nebraska Ave. and 21st Ave. Aikens Funeral Home will handle arrangements.[/private]

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

In Friday’s edition of the Sentinel, some comments about the Head Start Program were attributed to the wrong commissioner. The Sentinel has since learned that Commissioner Kevin Beckner, nor Commissioner Sandra Murman made the statements.

On Wednesday, when contacted by the Sentinel,
Commissioner Les Miller, Jr., referred to the last 30 minutes of the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners regular meeting held earlier during the day. On Friday, Commissioner Miller contacted the Sentinel and stated that the comments had been erroneously attributed to the wrong person.

Upon further inspection of the transcript, it was determined that the comments had not been made by Commissioner Kevin Beckner, but to Commissioner Sandra Murman, as the transcript indicated. The Comments were taken from the County’s video of the meeting and presented verbatim.

Terry McElroy, who is the Technical Manager for HTV for Hillsborough County said, “The Closed Caption Transcriber types about 300 Real Time words per minute. She just didn’t change the name of the person speaking when she turned the page.

Kevin Beckner

“The statement attributed to Commissioner Beckner was by Commissioner Les Miller. The file has been corrected with a highlighted paragraph identifying the correct speaker.”

The following statement is now correctly attributed to Commissioner Les Miller, Jr.

“Les Miller, Jr.: “I appreciate what all has been said by Commissioner Beckner and Commissioner Sharpe concerning Head Start, and there are some concerns in the community, there are some concerns of rumors  going around concerning privatization, and I think that a lot of this started before I got here.

“But I heard it in the community, and I think that one of the things that is a concern and — I might [private]as well be up front, there is a concern that there is an effort between the Children’s Board and this county to privatize Head Start.

“That is a major, major concern out there …I think that one of the major problems has been that the Policy Council feels that there’s information that has not been shared with them.

“That’s a concern they have, and before I got here you talked about some language that you asked that the Children’s Board work with the — with the county.

“…That wording or that discussion that appears to be the thorn in the claw is that there’s an effort to privatize the Head Start Program with another entity, being the Children’s Board.

“And, if that happens, the efforts that this county puts forth, (not the readiness part of it because the readiness part is done by the Hillsborough County School District). But, the holistic approach of how you have families working with their children and the families getting educated to raise the children to have a holistic approach is a concern that if privatization will not occur. That’s the major concern…

“Something has to be corrected because we’re in a situation now that this whole thing can mushroom and explode before we even can put our hands on it. So I think one of the major, major issues that we’ve got to take a handle on and make it perfectly clear, that Head Start, the Head Start that this county operates, will not be privatized, that’s the major issue – it’s not going to be privatized.

“That’s the swirl of information out there in the community. I know it. I hear it every day almost. …We’re not going to privatize, we will continue to have a Head Start Program just as it is now…

“…We’re going to have to do something to let the people know that we are not looking at privatizing Head Start, and if we are, I’m going to be the first one to start jumping on this table screaming and hollering why we should not,” Commissioner Miller said.

Commissioner Miller said during a telephone interview that his major concern about the Head Start Program is to preserve the services that it offers to families in Hillsborough County.

“The County educates not only the child, but the parents and the entire family. It gets them ready for school and for the world. I feel that if this program is privatized these families will not be offered those services.

“This is a major, major concern. The services will not come to the people who deserve and need them the most and I will continue to fight for these people. Turning the program over to the Children’s Board is privatization to me.”[/private]

A 26-year-old man was arrested early Monday and charged with attempted murder. He allegedly struck one woman with his vehicle and attempted to strike another.

According to police, Ms. Tiara Jelks, 21, was at her residence in the 5600 block of Williams Grant Way, when she heard a vehicle approach. She told police an acquaintance, Devin Scriven, was in the vehicle.

Ms. Jelks walked outside and told Scriven he needed to leave. However, Scriven is alleged to have revved the motor of his vehicle and attempted to strike Ms. Jelks with it, but she jumped out of the way, police said.

Scriven is alleged to have remained outside and a few minutes later, Ms. Jelks’ mother, Ms. Debra Jelks, reportedly went outside and asked him to leave and they reportedly exchanged words.

Scriven is accused of again revving the motor of the [private]vehicle and is alleged to have struck Ms. Debra Jelks with it. He is also accused of then jumping out of his vehicle and jumped on Ms. Debra Jelks. At that point, her daughter came out of the house with a crowbar and Scriven fled the scene, police said.

The women contacted police and Scriven was arrested in 11600 block of Grove Lane. He was charged with attempted premeditated murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and battery. He is being held at the Hillsborough County Jail without bond. [/private]

Early Friday evening, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested Robert Fordham, 39, on a charge of strong armed robbery of the Bank of America on U. S. Highway 301 South in Riverview.

On January 5th, detectives said Fordham allegedly approached a bank teller inside the bank and passed a note demanding money. Fordham then fled the bank.

Through the investigation, detectives identified Fordham from fingerprints and surveillance photos taken from the crime scene.

After his arrest, Fordham reportedly told detectives he tried to rob the bank after falling on hard times.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

A popular Tampa native died in traffic accident on Tuesday. The accident took place in her hometown of Houston, Texas.

Mrs. Ida Campbell said her sister, Mrs. Sheryl Williams Fennie, was driving in the rain and apparently lost control of her vehicle. The vehicle was struck by oncoming traffic after she apparently overcorrected in an attempt to gain control of the vehicle. She was leaving her doctor’s office for a wellness check up when the accident occurred.

Mrs. Fennie, 59, who was known since childhood as “Tiny,” was the daughter of Mrs. Almeeta Williams and the late Charlie Williams.

She attended the local schools of Hillsborough County. While attending Middleton High School, Mrs. Fennie was crowned “Miss Middleton High School” in 1968-69.

After graduation, she married Tony Fennie and obtained employment at Honeywell Inc. Mrs. Campbell said during [private]the early 1970s, her brother-in-law obtained employment at Texas Instruments and moved to Houston, Texas. Mrs. Fennie was offered a position with the company and the couple made their home in Houston.

They became the parents of two daughters, Natasha and Toni, and joined Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Houston. Mrs. Fennie served on the Usher Board, the General Mission Society and Sisterhood. She enjoyed reading, cooking, talking on the telephone, and spending time with her family.

Mrs. Campbell said, “Tiny and my sister, Almeeta, share the same birthday in October and they would always celebrate together. They always celebrated in Tampa and Tiny came home for her birthday.

“We were very close. We talked on the telephone at least 3 times a week and they always stayed at my house when they came to visit,” Mrs. Campbell said.

Mrs. Fennie was a member of a large family. In addition to her husband, daughters, and mother, she is survived by six brothers, six sisters, and a host of other family members.

Funeral services for Mrs. Fennie will take place in Houston. The arrangements were incomplete as of press time.[/private]