Florida Sentinel Bulletin

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

For several months, a member of law enforcement pondered the idea of retirement. But, after much soul-searching, he decide to bring his successful career of more than 30 years to a close.

When Louis Hollinshead, 61, walks out of his office today (Friday), he will become a private citizen and retired Major with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. “I feel as though I’ve accomplished a lot. God has been good to me. I’ve been planning to retire for the past two years.

“I’ve been able to work in so many different areas and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve never been hurt and I’ve had a very successful career. I absolutely have no regrets.”

Major Hollinshead joined the Sheriff’s Office on April 1, 1979, as a deputy patrolling the unincorporated areas of Hillsborough County. During his tenure, Major Hollinshead worked and was exceled under the leadership of Sheriff Walter Heinrich, Sr., Sheriff Cal Henderson, and Sheriff David Gee.

He credits all three with allowing him to broaden his experience in preparation for the next phase of his career.

After his promotion to Major, he was assigned to the North Tampa District and became the first African American in the department to head a District Office.

He leaves the department as the Major in Homeland Security. The areas of SWAT, K-9, Aviation, the Port Authority, the Environmental Enforcement Unit, the Reserve Deputies Program, and the Special Incident [private]Management Section were under the supervision of Major Hollinshead.

A Tampa native, Major Hollinshead graduated from Middleton High School in 1967. A member of Bell Shoals Baptist Church, he is the father of a 13-year-old son, Isaiah, whom he describes as “the best thing that ever happened to me.”

During his career, Major Hollinshead watched the city and county change. He said the African American community embraced Blacks because they felt they had a voice.

During the years he has observed the county become more urban as a result of the HOPE VI Project, and from a criminal element, a change in the way Blacks are perceived.

“These kids need to get back on track. They need to get an education, get back into church, and focus on bettering themselves.”

Now that his time is his own, Major Hollinshead plans to just enjoy life and accomplish some of the things he’s been too busy to do, such as going fishing and spending more time with his son.  [/private]

Some area neighborhood and civic association leaders gave their outlooks on the New Year and what their expectations are for their communities. These are their responses.

Barbara McGill, President, Florence Villa/Beasley/Oak Park Civic Association: “I’d really like to see more participation from the homeowners in this area when it comes to our needs and any problems they may be having. Overall, we need improved street lights, speed bumps and more services from the city.

“We’ve been cut off from the city by the interstate and all of us are still using septic tanks. There are mostly seniors out here, and we can’t afford the fee to get connected to the city. We’d like to get a grant so we can get connected to the city system. We went to City Council a couple of years ago, but nothing happened.”

Mrs. McGill said her area is a fairly old community and she’s been living there for 33 years.

“We’ve been denied for so long that trying to get things done has really been a struggle. I’m happy that we did pull together to stop the crime in our community.”

Betty Bell, President, Highland Pines Neighborhood Association and Crime Watch: “Our outlook for 2011 is for sidewalks, getting our streets resurfaced, and more unity between the churches, schools and law enforcement.

[private]“We are proud of the work the Weed and Seed group has done in our area. We’re getting upgraded lighting this year, and we’re looking forward to it.”

Ms. Bell said she was sad to hear that one of her neighbors who has been living in the community for 40 years was planning to move because of the crime.

“I called every agency I could think of to assist her so she won’t have to move. She decided to wait and see what’s going to happen. I hate to see people driven from their homes because of lawbreakers who have no history in this community.

“We need more police presence in our area, because we have certain families who are causing problems for everyone.”

Ruth Fleming, President, Woodland Terrance Neighborhood Association: “First, I’d like to say Mayor Pam Iorio has done a lot in East Tampa, but we still need updated street lights. I will work on that as well as trying to get our streets resurfaced. We want to reach out more to the unemployed and homeless. We want to increase our efforts and get more people involved.”

Mrs. Fleming said she, her husband, Levi, and other family members hand out 100 lunch bags a month to the homeless at the Salvation Army.

“One of our association members, Gloria Smart, got her church involved. We also sponsored a couple of families for Christmas and we plan to do more families this year. We really want to help people find jobs, because so many have lost everything.”

Mrs. Fleming said they need to reach out to their seniors who need assistance, and she’s proud to have so many men as a part of their association.

“We will get together and come up with a plan to see how we can help our seniors. We want to get our community in order, but we also want to have fun and fellowship more as a community.”[/private]

Tampa Police detectives were investigating the Wednesday night shooting of a man just east of Nebraska Avenue.

Police said at 10:17 p. m., officers responded to 1006 East 22nd Avenue on a call of a person being shot. When officers arrived, they found a man lying in front of the residence. A suspect [private]wearing dark clothing was seen running from the scene.

…..shooting victim reported to be in critical condition.

The shooting victim was transported to a local hospital and is reported to be in critical condition and his injuries are considered to be life threatening.

The victim was later identified as Walter L. Wright, 59.

Officers later arrested a suspect in the shooting and identified him as Eugene S. Harris, Jr., 34.

Harris was identified by a witness running from the scene following the shooting and was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Detectives have not established a motive for the shooting, and their investigation is continuing.[/private]

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

Last week, a former Tampa police captain was optimistic about his bid for the City of Tampa Mayor’s Office. However, recently, he decided to withdraw is name as a candidate.

In a written press release, Marion Lewis said, “Effective immediately, I regretfully withdraw my candidacy from the 2011 Mayoral Elections for the City of Tampa. I filed my intention to run for Mayor in March 2009, in order to get an early start on other potential candidates.

“I was hopeful that the pending litigation from February 2007 involving the City of Tampa and I would have been resolved long before now,” he said.

Lewis further stated, “This very emotional and expensive litigation is still going before the 2^nd District of Appeals. In order to mount a successful campaign for the Office of Mayor, it will take my undivided attention and all my available resources.”

In 2007, Lewis was a Captain with the Tampa Police Department when he decided to launch a campaign for the office. He said before filing for the office, he had contacted the state elections office and was told he did not have to resign his job to seek the office. However, Lewis alleges that after filing for the office, he was forced into retirement. “I was ousted from position on the Tampa Police Department.”

Lewis filed a lawsuit and Judge Marva Crenshaw ruled in his favor. The City of Tampa appealed [private]the judge’s decision and Lewis filed an appeal with the Second District Court of Appeals. That ruling resulted in a split decision with the courts handing it back to the lower courts.

Lewis said they amended their lawsuit and appealed the lower court’s decision on September 29, 2010. Now, they are waiting for a ruling from the Second District Court. At issue is whether the City of Tampa had the authority to oust him from his job.

“The 27 years I served as a law enforcement officer serving the Tampa community were the best times of my professional career, and I look forward to the opportunity to serve the Tampa community in the future in some public service capacity,” he said.

The six remaining mayoral candidates, two of which are African American, are Bob Buckhorn, Rose Ferlita, Dick Greco, Arthur Richardson, III, Rev. Thomas Scott, and Ed Turanchik.

The election will take place on March 1, 2011. [/private]

My name is Kevin Haney and I preside as the current chairperson on the Head Start Policy Council Committee within your district. I am also a parent of a child whom benefits from the services from the Head Start program, thus I wear two hats regarding my interest in the affairs of the Hillsborough County Head Start program. I write in regards to your recently distributed letter titled:

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

This letter, dated December 29, 2010, was initially presented to me during an informal meeting with Mr. David Rogoff, director of Family and Aging Services and representative of the Board of County Commissioners, and Mr. Louis Finney, Head Start Division Director.

It is with utter disgust that I write this retort to what I believe, as a parent and a member of the Head Start Executive Policy Committee, your letter conveys to those readers whom are under the guise that you represent them and their best interests in regards to the management and staff of the Head Start foundation. [private]This should not be considered surprising information since this same sentiment was shared with Mr. Rogoff and Mr. Finney during our informal meeting. This letter introduces several points of grave importance that I believe you have purposely eluded to discuss, but expect full support of:

– Accusatory language on an open investigation that still awaits affirmation of the suggested disciplinary action.

– Suspicious language that suggests to its readers (the parents) that faulty leadership exists within the Head Start Program, thus they should be weary of those whom hold managerial positions on whether they are performing in an exemplary fashion. This point is cemented within your inclusion of the concern for the potential loss of Federal grant dollars.

– Fallacious insinuations that the rumored “privatization” talks were orchestrated by those whom are currently under some point of investigation due to alleged dereliction of duty, when in-fact substantial information from reputable sources show that these rumors regarding “privatization” should be of great concern to the parents, faculty, and staff involved with Head Start.

– (And Lastly) your cavalier expression in suggestion of the “Head Start children and parents” to consider an increased collaboration with the Hillsborough County School District. Yet you fail to expand the knowledge-base of your readers by explaining the potential ramifications of such an increased relationship, which is inclusive of lessened support services for the parents and the potential reduction of County dollars paid into the program that directly affects the jobs of staff members within the program, which the County would no longer be required to comply to because the Head Start program would no longer be a “County-run” program. And not to fail to mention the covert introduction of Mr. Don Dixon, whom is already slated as an agenda item, to approve the hire for, at the next BOCC meeting scheduled for January 5th. As it is detailed in your letter, Mr. Dixon is to serve within an advisory capacity, although, other extenuating circumstances currently exist that would suggest that Mr. Dixon would have to take a much more integral part in the management and administrative responsibilities, especially in-lieu of the pending “disciplinary actions” of current managerial staff.

Mr. Merrill, your behavior is egregious at best! Your overseeing of behavior that is devoid of sensitivity regarding sensitive matters, and acting as a catalyst to evoke undue concern to the benefactors of the Head Start program (the parents and faculty) by leaking sensitive information to the media, leaves very little of you to be comfortable with. As a member of the BOCC, you should be fully aware and overly expressive in your effort to apply the general courtesy of Shared Governance with the Head Start senior staff members and the inclusion of sensitive material with the Executive Policy Committee, of whom are directly responsible with educating the full Policy Council  and parents of Head Start of what affects the Head Start program.

Any one with an inkling of intelligence can see that a fiasco-of-sorts is being instigated and manipulated. I caution you to take a more candid look at the people whom you claim to be an advocate for. The parents and the Head Start staff deserve better leadership from you. We cannot continue to condone this kind of behavior from you and your staff. We request “Full Disclosure”, but will be content with being aptly informed regarding matters affecting Head Start.

I look forward to addressing your council (The Board of County Commissioners) on January 5th, 2011.

Respectfully,

Kevin Haney
Chair[/private]

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

A 19-year-old man is recovering from a gunshot wound at a local hospital. He was attending a party when someone began shooting into the ceiling and he was struck in the head.

According to police, Eric Jerrod Allen was attending a party in the Clubhouse at the Waterford Apartments, 4733 N. Waters Avenue, in Wesley Chapel, Thursday night.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene around 10:21 p.m. Upon their arrival, they learned that more than 200 people were attending the party when someone began shooting. Once the shooting began, the attendees fled.

However, one of the bullets struck Allen in the head. He was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he was admitted in serious condition. Allen, who was alert and talking to deputies, told them he did not know who shot him.

A spokesperson for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said, “Someone talked about the party on Facebook and just told people to come. There were more than 200 people attending the party.

“But when the deputies arrived, there weren’t many people left and nobody saw anything. We learned that there may have been more than one person shooting at one point. The investigation is [private]continuing,” she said.

Great Young Man

Raymond Williams, who is Allen’s uncle said, “He is just a great kid. He’s very mannerable. After he got to the party, he knew that wasn’t where he wanted to be and he was trying to leave. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. He’s just a great young man. These kids just need to stop with these guns.”

Williams said his nephew is a sophomore at Florida A & M University, where he is a Business Administration major. Allen attended summer school because he wanted to graduate early, his uncle said.

His father, Rene “Calvin” Allen, said his son is a Tampa native who attended the local schools of Hillsborough County. He played football while attending Hillsborough High School and graduated in 2009.

Allen said his son was raised in a single-parent home, along with his sister. The family attended First Baptist Church of West Tampa until Eric went to school.

Allen said his son is in stable condition and the family has been told that he lost his right eye. He is able to communicate, but the hospital is keeping him sedated, his father said.

“My son takes a lot of pride in the way he looks. And that is the one thing I’m worried about how the shooting is going to affect him,” Allen said.

A popular young man, Allen said Eric told him just last week that he was thinking about changing his major. “He said he was going to change his major to the medical field. He was looking into becoming a Nursing major.”

Allen said friends from Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and Miami have been arriving in Tampa after learning of the shooting.

“Eric really enjoys being around people and he is very popular. His friends have been coming in from all over the state.”[/private]

A family gathering turned tragic after a man was arrested for stabbing his 6-year-old son. The family had gathered at a Palm River apartment complex for a New Year’s celebration.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, around 11:30 p.m., Friday, the family was at 11726 S. 58^th Street, for the celebration. The family was in the parking lot lighting fireworks. When the family went inside, Xavier Dequan Thomas, Sr., 23, allegedly took his son, Xavier Thomas, Jr., 6, to a nearby playground.

About twenty minutes later, the family discovered that the two were missing and began looking for them. The father reappeared at the apartment, but without the child.

Police said when family members started asking questions about the child, Thomas ran away without answering them. One of the family members contacted the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in reference to the missing child. However, as deputies arrived at the scene, the child appeared in the parking lot of the complex. He was covered in blood and was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.

He had been stabbed more than twenty times in his back, chest, neck and arm. None of the wounds appeared to be life-threatening, police said.

[private]Police located Thomas walking on 50^th Street near 1-4, but did not give a motive for the attack.

The child’s mother, who police did not identify, was not at the party, police said.

Ms. Terenesha Thomas said her family is devastated by what happened. “I’m hurt on both ends. I’ve lost my brother and my nephew is hurt.”

Ms. Thomas said, “I saw my nephew staggering down the street and drenched in blood. I ran to him and asked him who did that to him and he said, ‘my daddy, my daddy. I just held him in my arms.”

She stated that Thomas first began having problems after witnessing his best friend’s murder. “He would just laugh, talk to himself, and pace. He said he was talking to the dead boy’s spirit. He’s been in and out of MHC (Mental Health Center). He had just been released a week before this happened.

“We are all just trying to stay strong for one another. I just hope he (Thomas) finds peace with God within himself and gets the help he really needs.”

When asked about her nephew’s condition, Ms. Thomas said, “He’s in stable condition. He’s a strong little boy and we’re just trying to stay strong.”

Stabber Witnesses

Murder

Ms. Thomas said her brother first began talking to the spirit of a dead man after a shooting in 2003.

On December 9, 2003, a shooting involving several East Tampa men took place. The young men were at N. 32^nd Street and E. Ellicott when someone fired three shots at the pickup truck. Ramon Filer, 19, was a passenger in the truck. Filer was hit in the head by one of the bullets and died. Thomas was listed as a witness in that incident. Thomas was 16 years old at the time of the shooting.

No Bond

Thomas was taken to the Hillsborough County Jail and charged with attempted murder. He appeared before a Hillsborough County judge on Sunday, but was denied bond.[/private]

BY GWEN HAYES

Sentinel Editor

Throughout her interview, Ms. Shirley Norman kept referencing the year 2010 as the year for her family. She gets overjoyed when she thinks about the goodness of the Lord and his blessings upon her.

“I’m speaking from a mother’s point of view,” she says of her 39-year-old son, Diaad Numan, who is still going through the infant stages of a double lung transplant 4 months ago.

At 71-year-0ld, she chokes back the tears when she thinks about she may not have been here to see her son get better from the ailment that he suffers.

Numan suffered from Sarcoidosis for the past 10 years, which led to pulmonary hypertension. His ailments started when he was 29 years old, but it took 2 years to diagnose his condition, his mother explained. His life expectancy was 2 years. He was put on Floan (medication he took intravenously), that he took for 7 years.

“When they told us what it was, none of us knew what it was or how to treat it,” she says. Since then, Mrs. Norman has spent numerous hours researching the disease, and has even connected with the local support group after reading about it in the Sentinel. That was in February, 2010.

[private]She met Emma Carroll, who she says has been a blessing to all of her family. Ms. Carroll established a foundation after the death of her daughter from Sarcoidosis. Just as she found out about the support group, Ms. Norman would like for others in despair or don’t know where to turn to know about Janine Sarcoidosis Outreach Foundation (out of Houston, TX) and to reach them at 832-248-6621.

Mrs. Norman’s birthday is on August 4th. Her daughter, Michelle Whittington, wanted to take her mother to Orlando’s Holy Land. She knows I’ve talked about going to ‘the’ Holy Land. That visit was such a blessed, anointed event. The praise was in the air – I felt it and so did Michelle,” she explained.

The following morning, Tampa General Hospital called and said they had the lungs for her son. Dr. Cedric Sheffield was the surgeon.

Diaad stayed in ICU for a month, flat on his back. Eventually, he was moved to the 8th floor. A mother’s constant prayer and the prayers of others, along with her faith, saw her son get up and begin to take steps.

“This has been a blessed year for us and a mother’s prayers were answered. I didn’t know if I’d make it to see my son recover, but I prayed that the Lord would heal him. He’s not out of the woods, yet,” she cautions, “because his surgery is in infant stages, but he’s much better than he was.”

Diaab is the father of 2 daughters, Derrielle and Janae.[/private]

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

Each year, people throughout the world decide on a task or tasks they wish to accomplish before the year ends. Some are successful while others find themselves falling short of their goals.

Some residents have taken the time to share their resolutions for the upcoming year.

Ms. Louise Vincent, President of the Black Public Relations Society of Tampa said, “I wish to complete my Christian Communication, Th.D.”

Joe Robinson said, “The one thing I am working on is to make a difference by helping increase the number of Black contractors and businesses that get work on the upcoming Florida High Speed Rail Project from Tampa to Orlando, so that in 2011 and beyond, we can begin the great economic comeback that right now seems so far away.

“However, with hard work, faith and perseverance the Black community will find and make a way starting New Years Day!”

Mrs. Antonia Barber said, “My desire is to continue to touch as many lives in this community with activities and programs that help them live better. Feeding men fish is easy but teaching them to fish is worthwhile.

“2011 should be a year for making sure we capitalize on all our resources to make it a profitable year physically, economically and otherwise.”

Dr. George Foxx said, “I hope to eliminate the chaos that potential clients have [private]before coming to me with their tax and mortgage issues in the New Year. Once they become more astute regarding taxes and mortgages, they will save more money for themselves.”

Mrs. Joanna Tokley said, “My New Year’s Resolution is to take the personal time needed to complete an inspirational book for women that I’ve been working on sporadically.”

Danny Green said, “I hope the Lord will continue to bless me to travel all over the world again in the New Year again! The Lord has blessed me, and most of the time, I accomplish everything I want to do and more. I just want the Lord to keep blessing my health and family.”

Howard Harris said, “I am going to get back to walking at least 10 miles per week, and going back to the YMCA at least three times a week. But, my main goal is to work with the kindergarten students at least twice a week.”

Ms. Ann Porter said, “First, I will continue to walk that Christian walk. I also plan to get with my Voter’s Registration Committee and register as many people as possible, especially the young voters.

“I feel that if we educate and encourage our young people to become more active and involved in their communities, then they will become more serious about the future.

“During the Civil Rights Movement, a lot of us participated in the sit-ins. Now, there is another call and if we educate and encourage them, then they can answer the call for the next generation.”[/private]