‘Sunday Best’ contestant to perform at local event SEE PAGE 3
EE FR
CHARLENE CROWELL: Abusive debt collectors target African-American consumers SEE PAGE 4
JETBLUE DONATES HUNDREDS OF BOOKS TO KIDS AT TURIE T. ELEMENTARY SEE PAGE 2
East Central Florida’s Black Voice JANUARY 7 - JANUARY 13, 2016
YEAR 41 NO. 1
www.daytonatimes.com
MLK banquet to draw attention to public health Health care injustice to be topic of Jan. 16 event in Daytona BY DAYTONA TIMES STAFF
“Injustice Redefined: The Health of the Beloved Community’’ is the 2016 theme of one of the area’s main Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. events. And speaking on the subject will be one of the country’s leading public health experts. Dr. Adewale Troutman is an accomplished leader in public
health who has dedicated over 40 years to improving health and health equity. He will be the keynote speaker at the MLK Scholarship Banquet, which will take place on Jan. 16 at the Hilton Daytona Beach Dr. Adewale Oceanfront ReTroutman sort (North Tower), 100 N. Atlantic Ave. The banquet begins at 6:30 p.m. He is the associate dean for
Health Equity and Community Engagement at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health. He has been at the university in Tampa since 2010.
Major policies, initiatives Troutman is the past president of the American Public Health Association, which has more than 25,000 members. He also was featured in the nationally televised PBS series, “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?” Troutman formerly was the director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and
Wellness, where he instituted policies and initiatives as a model for community health. He also introduced practical measures to encourage healthy lifestyles, including passing one of the strongest anti-smoking ordinances in the country and establishing the Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Movement to encourage residents to become more active; established the Center for the Elimination of Health Disparities at the department and initiated a partnership with the University of Louisville to research and identify the needs of the underserved in
‘All Lives Matter’ vigil targets violence
Louisville, Ky. “Dr. Troutman is an awesome advocate whose experience is a valuable tool for our community,” said the Rev. John T. Long III, president of MLK Celebration for Florida, Inc. “While we continue to pursue social, civil, and economic equality, health care inequality is an area of injustice that has been overlooked. This weekend’s events will celebrate the legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. while encouraging action to complete the work that still remains.” Please see BANQUET, Page 2
Local pastor among authors at weekend book festival BY PENNY DICKERSON DAYTONA TIMES
Derek T. Triplett is the founding pastor of Daytona Beach’s Hope Fellowship and the author of a new book for men aptly titled “When I Became A Man.’’ He will be one of the featured authors at the F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival to be held Jan. 8 and 9 at the Midtown Cultural and Educational Center, 925 George Engram Blvd. Triplett has spent over 20 years in pastoral ministry and over 25 years preaching the gospel. A native of East Illinois, he currently serves the Daytona Beach community in numerous civic capacities, including the Daytona Beach Rotary Club and the Civic League of the Halifax Area. He also is past president of the Daytona Beach Black Clergy Alliance.
Dropping Bishop title PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./ HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Krystal Brown of the Families United 4 Justice organization speaks at the “All Lives Matter’’ rally.
City ends 2015 with 10 murders after club shooting BY DAYTONA TIMES STAFF
D
Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood addresses the crowd.
aytona Beach residents and city leaders are coming together in hopes that 2016 will not be a repeat of the violence that occurred in the area last year. A candlelight vigil titled “All Lives Matter’’ took place the evening of Jan. 3 outside of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church. It was a call to end the violence in Daytona Beach. Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood and Commissioner Patrick Henry spoke at the event. Fresh on the minds of those attending the event was the New Year’s Eve shooting outside of the
Biarritz Club on Pearl Street. Two men were killed and a third injured in the shooting at the nightclub. The deaths marked the ninth and 10th murders in the city in 2015. Most of the murders were as a result of gun violence. According to authorities, a warrant for the suspect’s arrest was issued this week. Police were frustrated that the suspected shooter got away with the help of people at the club. Surveillance video shows the incident started as a verbal argument that turned violent. Organizers of the Jan. 3 vigil say similar events are being planned for DeLand and Palatka.
‘Space Cowboy’ Cleon Smith dies at 62 BY DAYTONA TIMES STAFF
Cleon “Fly’’ Smith, a local singer, songwriter and musician who also was known as the “Original Space Cowboy,’’ died Dec. 29 at age 62. Smith, who was born and raised in Daytona Beach, released “Space Cowboy’’ in 1976 and “Space Cowboy II’’ in 1978 under an independent label. He had shared the stage with a number of popular performers from James Brown to Kool and the Gang, his brother Edward Smith told the Daytona Times.
ALSO INSIDE
A memorial service for Cleon Smith will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 16 at Pinello Funeral Home, 1036 Derbyshire Road, Daytona Beach.
Mainland graduate Smith graduated from Mainland High School in 1971 and attended then-Daytona Beach Community College. “At the time, he was vice president of the Black Cultural Society and deejay for the campus radio station,’’ Edward Smith said. He added that his brother was a musician “all of his life’’ and
said the primary instruments he played were bass guitar and the keyboard. Smith came from a family of talented musicians. His grandfather was jazz musician Landis “Pops’’ Adams. Edward Smith, who lives in Orlando, also is a musician. Despite years of setbacks, Cleon Smith continued to perform and write music. His brother stated how he was amazed at the number of songs he had written, which were catalogued by BMI, a music rights organization.
“I choose to not use the title Bishop when promoting my book because we want to make sure the book doesn’t just address the church audience. It’s for men in general, one that every man should study and every woman should read,” said Triplett. Triplett’s book has taken on the challenges of all men through an analysis of their common challenges: balancing a professional, personal and spiritual life in this fast-paced world. From financial issues to dressing for success, Triplett is able to help men who want to get organized and on track spiritually.
Promoting literacy For the past five years, F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival director Donna GrayBanks has remained at the forefront of exposing Volusia County residents to books and promoting established and emerging authors. F.R.E.S.H. stands for fiction, romance, erotica, spiritual and health. “Literacy is the ability to read, view, write, design, speak and listen in a way
‘Creative musician’ Pamela Faison Kirdon, a Daytona Beach native who now lives in California, grew up with Smith. “I remember Cleon him as an aweSmith some, creative musician. Like so many others, he went to Hollywood with big hopes and dreams with his own book of original recordings. The music industry welcomed him under the guise of “a gifted musician” all the while filling his head with it’s just a formality so that your royalty rights are protected. “They made millions off his
Please see FESTIVAL, Page 2
music (“Space Cowboy,’’ “Ride the White Horse, etc.). They didn’t even give him a ticket home. He came back with some new threads, his suitcase, a drug habit and a broken spirit from which he never recovered.’’
Performed local Kirdon said she did recall watching Smith’s band perform years ago at the Daytona Beach Bandshell during a spring break festival. “He and his band were amazing. He introduced his band and told everyone he was Cleon Smith, the Original Space Cowboy.’’
RELIGION: HOW INMATE FOR 24 YEARS BECAME PASTOR AT MEGACHURCH | PAGE 5 SPORTS: BETHUNE-COOKMAN BASKETBALL PLAYER EARNS MEAC HONOR | PAGE 7
Please see SMITH, Page 2
7 FOCUS
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JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2016
Three-day event to focus on domestic violence Weekend will include Winter Wonderland fashion, dinner show BY PENNY DICKERSON DAYTONA TIMES
Lillie Wiggins is co-owner of Spa Dazzle Hair Salon & Day Spa in Port Orange. On any given day, beauty and style services are her specialty, but the local entrepreneur is combining philanthropy, domestic violence awareness, and style to present the second annual Winter Wonderland “ICE” Fashion and Dinner Show. The three-day event will be held Jan. 8, 9 and 10 at the Daytona Beach Resort and Conference Center.
Action after tragedy In 2013, a well-established client at the salon was murdered. The homicide was ruled domestic violence and like so many women whose lives are tragically claimed, Wiggins and her staff mistook her client’s appearance and demeanor to also mean the woman’s residential life was intact. “She was a well-educated woman who seemed to have found herself in a situ-
ation in which she was not able to break away,” said Wiggins. “After learning of her murder, we (staff ) began to put two and two together and realized there were signs flashing. Because we were not educated in domestic abuse, we missed them and often wonder, if we were knowledgeable, could we have assisted in saving her life? We don’t ever want to ask our self that question again,” Wiggins added.
Domestic violence training Last year, Wiggins hosted a three-day event educating the beauty industry on how to recognize the signs of abuse and safe resources to offer victims. This year she met with staff at Bethune-Cookman University, community leaders, a Daytona shelter and Daytona Beach police domestic violence program to learn strategies on how to best educate the community on domestic abuse. “We continue to strive to educate beauty professionals because many in the profession are deemed “unlicensed psychologists” and are often the frontline identifiers of domestic abuse,” said Wiggins. “Statistics suggest victims are more likely to share their most intimate concerns with their stylist before a legal professional.”
Deanna Brown
Thelma Wright
Jamarien Moore
Wiggins seeks to educate 1,000 beauty professionals and 1,000 students during her weekend initiative on issues related to domestic abuse.
Lady gangster, guest speaker To innovate the occasion and still give homage to their deceased client, Wiggins and the Spa Dazzle Hair Salon & Day Spa are offering the surrounding community two days of free festivities that are open to the public. On Friday, Jan. 8, there will be a gospel concert featuring BET “Sunday Best” finalist Jamarien Moore and a host of other talented guests. On Saturday, Jan. 9, Empowerment workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special guest speaker is Thelma Wright, who was a loving mother and entrepreneur by day. But by night, a notorious drug lord, dubbed by the Biography channel as “Philly’s Gangster Queen.’’ In the early 1980s, Wright met and fell “crazy in love” with Jackie Wright, who introduced her to the street life and the drug
game. After years of marriage, Jackie was brutally murdered leaving Thelma the challenge of taking over the drug game. While juggling a small business, hefty drug deals, and her son, Thelma quickly became susceptible to the dangers of her illegal side activities. She is reformed and now a motivational speaker and positive mentor to young women in the Philadelphia area.
Fun in the forest The culminating event is the fundraising component: Winter Wonderland “ICE” Fashion & Hair Dinner Show Vol. 2: The Enchanted Forest. Formal attire is required in the requested colors of winter blue and silver. Guests will enter a white carpet at 5 p.m. followed by a 6:05 p.m. dinner and the ultimate fashion show, which kicks off at 7 p.m. Guest speaker for the evening will be Deanna Moore, author of the best-seller, “I Think I Am: It’s All in Your Mind.” Moore is founder and executive director of the “I Think I Am Foundation,” an organization that helps foster care and adopted children along with at-risk youth and their families improve their self-image, selfworth, and self-actualization. Moore is a certified transformational life coach. Proceeds from the event will benefit preventive domestic violence certified programs for beauty professionals and programs for at-risk youth. For more information, visit www. spadazzlewinterice.com.
Author to discuss Bethune’s life, legacy
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
JetBlue employees, Turie T. Small Elementary staff and Anna Anderson, manager of Strategic Alliances at First Book, take a group shot.
The gift of books, time
Nancy Long will discuss her biography, “The Life and Legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune,” at 2 p.m. Jan. 16 at DeBary Hall Historic Site, 198 Sunrise Blvd., DeBary. Long is president of the Heritage Preservation Trust and a retired professor at BethuneCookman University. Her book is based on interviews with people who had firsthand knowledge of the civil rights and education pioneer. The free presentation is part of the Lemonade Lectures series, which is sponsored by the Enterprise Historical Conservancy and Volusia County. Light refreshments and lemonade will be served. Reservations are not required. For more details, call Amber Osmun at 386-668-3840.
Children and Families board meets Jan. 12
As part of JetBlue’s celebration to commemorate the launch of service to Daytona Beach, employees of the airline participated in a book reading and book donation on Wednesday at Turie T. Small Elementary School.
Above: Frank Manfredini, Ada Guillen and Michael Miles, JetBlue employees read to second-graders at Turie T. Small Elementary.
During the event, 500 ageappropriate books were presented to students in first and second grades. JetBlue employees took the time to visit with the students and read to them.
Left: Turie T. Small Elementary secondgrade teacher Nicole Irvis helps one of her students.
FESTIVAL
BANQUET
that allows you to communicate effectively,” she told the Daytona Times. “The power of literacy lies not just in the ability to read and write, but rather in a person’s capacity to apply these skills to effectively connect, interpret and discern the intricacies of the world in which they live.’’ Triplett looks forward to meeting attendees and offered the following: “Festivals like F.R.E.S.H. are a positive way to promote reading and literacy in a county where you have five institutions of higher education. It aligns with our producing a culture that seeks knowledge and I think that is critical.” The festival kicks off at 7 p.m. on Jan. 8 with an Author Meet and Greet at the Midtown Cultural and Educational Center, which will include a dinner. The cost is $25. It continues at
Awards, breakfast, march
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from Page 1
The banquet will include an awards ceremony, where eight local students will receive scholarships. An award will be presented in memory of slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin. The committee also has scheduled a breakfast and march on
“When I Became A Man’’ offers solutions for everything from financial issues to how to dress for success. 10 a.m. Saturday at the center. Admission is $3. For more information about the festival, email freshbookfestivals@gmail.com, visit the website ilasdiamonds.sharepoint.com or call 386-627-4353.
SMITH from Page 1
Kirdon’s sister, Debbye Faison Alexander, remembered Smith as “a good person. He never bothered anybody.’’ “We were raised up together. He had his own band, played the guitar and could sing,’’ Alexander told the Daytona Times.
Jan. 18, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday. The breakfast begins at 8 a.m. at Allen Chapel A.ME. Church, 580 George Engram Blvd. Daytona Beach. The MLK Commemorative March will follow the breakfast. Community members are invited to take part in the 9 a.m. march that will start and end at Allen Chapel. For banquet ticket information, call 386-295-1947 or send an email to maria.long09@gmail.com.
Alexander recalled when Smith would play the local circuit and added that he drew crowds from “across the river’’ as well as in the local community. She added that he performed with a number of local musicians. “Everyone used to go hear them,’’ she noted. Cleon Smith is survived by two brothers, Gregory Lee of Kisimmee and Edward Smith of Orlando, and a host of other relatives.
The Children and Families Advisory Board will meet at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 12, in room 516A of the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County, 1845 Holsonback Drive, Daytona Beach. Members will establish scoring criteria for summer camp providers and review and score summer camp provider applications. The Children and Families Advisory Board assesses and evaluates strategies to meet needs, monitors program compliance, advertises funding availability, recommends appropriations for programs serving children and families, and provides recommendations to the Volusia County Council on children and family issues. For more information, call Brittany Scott, at 386-7365955, ext. 12959, or visit www. volusia.org/cfab.
Charter Review Commission to meet Jan. 11 Volusia County’s Charter Review Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 11 in the secondfloor Dennis McGee Room at the Daytona Beach International Airport, 700 Catalina Drive, Daytona Beach. Members will discuss the following topics: • Article III (Volusia County Council’s role as the legislative branch) • Article III-A (county attorney) • Article V (judicial system) • Article VII (adjustment, regulatory and advisory boards) • Article VIII (school system) • Article IX (elections) The next meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, at the same location. Reservations are not required. Attendees may bring their parking slips to the meeting for validation. For more information, call Dona DeMarsh Butler at 386-736-5955 or Tammy Bong at 386-736-5934. For more information about the commission and to view the County Charter, visit www. volusia.org/countycharter.
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JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2016 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006
M A YNEWS OR
Pastors lead discussion on Emancipation Proclamation A two-man team at First Church far outweighed others for a panel discussion to explain the relevancy of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Revs. Gillard S. Glover and G. Vincent Lewis appropriated the intrinsic value of being free, while engaging in interactive dialogue. This led a discussion for youth, parents, grandparents and community activists, who were Pastor Sims Jones, Flagler NAACP second vice president, and Jerusha Logan, membership chair. This exemplified celebrating Jan. 1 as the 153rd anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s enactment on Jan. 1, 1863, of having set the enslaved Blacks free. Revs. Glover and Lewis are not just talking Bible verses, but have each read 15 to 20 books yearly over the past 30 years, and they both can speed read. There’s a healthy competition among these best friends, where tabs are kept on each other for seeing who has read the most books. Rev. Lewis earned his B.S. degree from Edward Waters College and a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Union School of Theology. His post-graduate studies include Harvard University, Florida State University, South Florida Center for Theological Studies, and American Baptist University at Nashville. He is Pastor of Social Justice at the Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church of Decatur, Ga. Rev. Glover is founding pastor of the First Church of Palm Coast. He comes with extensive legal and business experience, as former chairman/CEO of the AfroAmerican Life Insurance Company and having practiced corporate and securities law in New York for a 600-member corporate law firm. He earned his B.A. degree from Lambuth College in Jackson, Tenn., and a Juris Doctorate from Boston University School of Law. His theological studies include the Reformed Theological Seminary, Harvard Divinity School, Virginia Union Theological Semi-
PALM COAST COMMUNITY NEWS JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY
nary, Special Studies in Homiletics, and the Interdenominational Theological Seminary of Atlanta.
JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY/DAYTONA TIMES
A discussion on the intrinsic value of being free was held for youth, parents, grandparents and community activists.
Message to youth
History lesson The Emancipation Proclamation did not cover all Black people enslaved in North America, “but only slaves in certain designated provinces; it did not happen all over,” said Pastor Glover. Other slaves did not learn they were free until sometime around June 19, 1865, in Texas, and that’s why “Juneteenth’’ is celebrated. “Back in the bayous of Louisiana, people never got the message and still are enslaved in America; so we have to be thankful for what God has done for us,” Pastor Glover said. “The most heinous form of slavery ever recorded was the North America Transatlantic chattel slavery,” said Rev. Lewis. “It meant that people were not only kept from making a better life for themselves and their families, but it meant that they were defined as property...it means another human being literally owns another human being...And so not only was that not justifiable in terms of legal, but Martin Luther King, Jr. said ‘that’s ontologically wrong’ because you are saying the being of a people is inferior to the being of another person... the being of human beings that God made, somebody is superior and the other person is inferior - (that’s) an absolute lie!” exclaimed Rev. Lewis. … “And, when God made us, the first human beings looked like us. “And every other being on the planet had to come from us,” Rev. Lewis said. “And so the whole notion that we were inferior to someone else was a notion that
Rev. Gillard S. Rev. G. Glover Vincent Lewis was put forth because there was an economic motivation attached to slavery.”
A.M.E. bishop’s role The discussion weighed in on President Lincoln’s founding the Freedmen’s Bureau, first headed by Henry McNeal Turner, who was of royal lineage, but was never enslaved – and who was an A.M.E. bishop “responsible for the expansion of the A.M.E. Church all throughout the South. He wrote a polity, Pastor Glover said. “He wrote the rules of government for the Methodist Church, that the United Methodist Church – and all White churches – have adopted as the politics of Methodism. He was a phenomenal man,” added Pastor Glover. “He was trying to ease the transition from slavery to freedom, but something happened because people forgot, and have still forgotten what it means to be free. “There’s a passage in Exodus 8:1, where God tells Moses to go to Pharaoh and say to Pharaoh, ‘Let my people go.’ That’s all we remember...but that’s not all that He said,” refrained Pastor Glover.
“He said: Tell Pharaoh ‘let my people go so that they can worship me..’..not let my people go so they can hang out...watch football...basketball...play video games...No! ‘Let my people go so they can worship Me,’” affirmed Pastor Glover. “… See, He (God) started out with people who looked like you, and everybody else came from you,” said Pastor Glover to the youth. “Don’t ever miss that. ...This is what God used to start out and He gave us a method of worshiping Him that’s been copied by Judaism, that’s been copied by Islam, that has been copied even by Christianity,” affirmed Pastor Glover. Everything of value in Western culture started in Africa. ...Plato and Aristotle went to Africa to study. Herodotus, the historian, said, “The wisest and the best – and the most beautiful people – are the African people. “Now, worship means a couple of things,” added Pastor Glover, which are indicative of praise and adoration. To adore God for all that He’s done, and for all the doors He’s opened...And He also deserves our service, the “obligation to excel, to maximize what God has deposited in you. That’s how you serve God,” Pastor Glover stated. … “He’s even given you people to remind you of who you are – even though there are people who try to erase the information.” “Everything that prevents me from becoming everything that God wants me to be, God opposes,” said Rev. Lewis, “even if it’s you! You can’t have God working
with you if you are not trying to be who He called you to be – you are working against God. “One of the problems is we are waiting for someone else to tell us who we ‘be,’ ” Rev. Lewis explained. ...Thank God for Pastor Glover, your parents, grandparents who brought you here...“so you will not be subject only to hiphop music or movies that are designed to turn you into property again, like you are enslaved. “I think we are on the right path,” added Rev. Lewis. … “So freedom is when you have the opportunity to become what it is that God has purposed for you to become.”
Singers needed for MLK event choir Choir members and community singers are wanted for the Ecumenical Choir, celebrating the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. Choir rehearsal will begin Jan. 16, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Palm Coast United Methodist Church, 5200 Belle Terre Parkway. Paige Long is the Minister of Music. For details, contact MLK Committee Chair Thea Smith at 386503-9414. ••• As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved.
Celebrations Birthday wishes to Miriam Pincham, Jan. 10; Marva Jones, Jan. 11. Happy anniversary to the Rev. Woodrow and Gloria Leeks, Jan. 10.
featured guests
Brian W. Smith
Allie Braswell
special guests Amy Alysia
Michael R. King
Devery Broox
Tanisha Renee
Bishop Derek Triplett
Malvin A. WilliamsTyson
Author Meet and Greet
F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival
Day 1 - Friday, Jan. 8, 2016 7 p.m.
Day 2 - Saturday, Jan., 9, 2016
Midtown Cultural and Educational Center
10 a.m.
925 George Engram Blvd. Daytona Beach, Florida Admission: $25 Dinner Provided by Tucker’s Catering
Admission: $3
And 12 other Renouned Authors Including International Artists Paul A. Hozell and Laurence ‘Blinky’ Walden
Tickets can be purchased through Paypal @ Freshbookfestivals@gmail.com or http://ilasdiamonds.sharepoint.com or by calling 386-627-4353
East Central Florida’s Black Voice
Also sponsored by: Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. - Daytona Beach Alumnae Chapter • Carolyn Hawkins - Realtor • Best Western Plus • International Speedway • Gary Yoeman’s Ford • Parkside Realty Group • White Sugar Brown Sugar • Author Michael Pyle
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7 EDITORIAL
JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2016
Abusive debt collectors target Black consumers An old adage teaches that one man’s pain is another’s gain. That adage is a truism when it comes to the debt collection industry. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), debt buyers pay just 3.1 percent on the dollar for defaulted debts. Additionally, 94 percent of these debts are sold with without documentation. So why would a business bother with buying old and potentially inaccurate credit claims? The answer is money and lots of it.
Suing consumers After paying pennies on the dollar for old accounts, debt buyers pursue consumers for the full dollar value shown. Ignoring whether the debt is already paid or even actually belongs to someone else, debt collection lawsuits have flooded courts across the country. If an affected consumer is unaware of a legal challenge, default judgments can and have been entered resulting in wage garnishment, bank account seizure and negative items on credit reports. This fall ProPublica, a nonprofit news organization specializing in investigative journalism, published a groundbreaking analysis that documents how debt collection lawsuits hit Black neighborhoods the hardest. Analyzing lawsuits over a five-year period in the metro areas of St. Louis, Chicago and Newark, ProPublica
CHARLENE CROWELL NNPA FINANCIAL WRITER
found that the rate of judgments was twice as high in mostly Black neighborhoods in each of these cities.
No attorneys The report states that “generations of discrimination have left Black families with grossly fewer resources to draw on when they come under financial pressure… Collection suits – typically over smaller amounts like credit card debt – fly across the desks of local judges, sometimes hundreds in a single day. Defendants usually don’t make it to court, and when they do, rarely have an attorney.” Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood, once a solid middle-class area in the 1950s and 1960s, was found to have the highest rate of judgments in all of Cook County, Ill. Nearby suburban Matteson residents with median household incomes of $76,055 suffered the most judgments – 700 – in all of Cook County. Similarly in Newark and Essex County, N.J., median household incomes greater than $52,000 were not enough to spurn debt collection lawsuits in Upper Vailsburg. This middle-class
Is Texas’ ‘open carry’ law for us? Beginning January 1, 2016, anyone holding a Texas Concealed Handgun License (CHL) will be allowed to openly carry his or her handgun in Texas. The law, passed by the Texas Legislature and signed in June by Gov. Greg Abbott, will allow people with permits to carry their handguns outside their clothes. Those who already have concealed handgun licenses will only need to renew their permits when it comes time for renewal. Everyone else will need new training on the new “open carry” law. The “campus carry” part of the law will begin on August 1, 2016, for all four-year colleges and universities and on August 1, 2017 for all two-year colleges. Business owners can ban open carry in their stores by posting a sign near the entrance.
JEFFREY L. BONEY NNPA COLUMNIST
What about us? The real question – will Black people receive the same level of respect and consideration when it comes to the application of this new law as non-Black people will? History shows us there is large element of risk that Black people have faced when it comes to dealing with law enforcement. There has been a consistent pattern of Blacks being viewed as the guilty aggressor, while Whites are typically viewed as “not guilty” and focused on protecting themselves. The overarching perception is
What you drive matters for employment, empowerment Ever since Henry Ford declared he’d pay $5 a day to workers in his factories, AfricanAmericans have had a love affair with the automotive industry in the United States. “The Great Migration” of Blacks from the South to the North was largely due to the demand for factory labor. In 1910, fewer than 600 autoworkers were African-American. By 1929, that number grew to more than 25,000. Unfortunately from then until now, the love we’ve had for the auto industry has gone largely unreturned. Making sure there is equity in our relationships with the auto industry drives my work on the Rainbow PUSH Automotive Project, the annual Global Automotive Summit and the Automotive Diversity Scorecard.
Brand-loyal According to IHS Polk, all people of color purchase 27 of every
GLENDA GILL NNPA COLUMNIST
100 new vehicles and represent 150 percent more growth than non-ethnic markets. Additionally, African-Americans lead the industry in brand loyalty with more than half returning to the same brand. Simply put, without ethnic purchases many automakers would go out of business. After 40-plus years of diversity talks, meetings and summits, it’s time to advance our agenda. We are trading partners. Our goal is to have equitable trade relationships that benefit all parties – our communities and automakers. With all the labor, money and expertise we have invested in the success of automakers,
VISUAL VIEWPOINT: UNHAPPY NEW YEAR
neighborhood with a large Haitian and West Indian community accounted for about 60 percent of Essex County lawsuits. In metro St. Louis, debt collection lawsuits have been filed based on a range of reasons including medical providers, public utilities, high-cost lenders and those unable to pay traffic tickets and/or court fines in several neighborhoods including Jennings, Normandy, Kinloch and Berkeley.
End the abuse Following publication of these startling findings, on December 3, Missouri Attorney General (AG) Chris Koster proposed judicial reforms to curb abusive debt collection. Taking the opportunity to bring the issue to the attention of the state’s recentlyformed Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness, AG Koster outlined three specific ways that Missouri’s state courts’ rules could end this financial abuse: • Require debt collectors to establish the right to collect the debt in court with documents showing ownership; • Deny the issue of a default judgment until after a consumer has received adequate notice of the suit and additionally failed to appear at a trial setting; and • Require debt buyers to certify that cases are brought within the allowed time period with an itemized explanation of fees and
that Blacks are overly aggressive criminals who are inherently up to no good. This is troubling, especially when Blacks are identified as criminals to law enforcement officials – despite not breaking any laws.
Not for us Looking at the significant number of unarmed Black people killed by law enforcement, many people believe this new “open carry” law is not intended for Black people. When law enforcement’s constant narratives is that they thought the “suspect” was “reaching for his/her waistband,” or they were “in fear of their lives,” one can see how the law’s implementation has many Texas residents concerned. According to the law enforcement watchdog Mapping Police Violence, between January 1 and December 15, 2015, police officers in the United States shot, beat, used stun guns on or otherwise killed a staggering 1,152 people. Even more troubling is that 59
we should expect a reasonable return. What would our return look like? Well, here’s my take: • Employment with leadership roles to direct and allocate resources (dollars and people); • Appointing people of color to corporate boards; Fair representation of ethnic dealers and suppliers; • Advertising spending with ethnic media, ethnic agencies and vendors in line with ethnic sales; • Philanthropic resources to offset the lack of investment in communities of color What does this mean to you and me? It means having a dealer nearby that is part of the community. It means getting a fair deal and reasonable auto loan rates because you’ll see that salesperson in church on Sunday. It means more employment for our youth when they graduate. It means entrepreneurs can have healthy businesses and hire our neighbors, because they have profitable contracts. It means creative professionals of color can develop adver-
JOHN COLE, THE SCRANTON TIMES-TRIBUNE
costs sought. Commenting on the proposed rule changes, AG Koster wrote, “In Missouri and elsewhere, abusive litigation practices in the collection of consumer debts result in a disparate negative impact on racial minorities.” A few days later on December 7, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a complaint against a Massachusetts-based debt collection firm that was reporting and collecting on old cell phone debts that consumers disputed. Further, the debt collection firm, EOS, failed to correct information that it determined to be inaccurate.
Set standards Earlier this year, the Center for
lawsuits in order to address the issue and stop the behavior. Gun rights are civil rights and are not just for non-Black people. In Texas, any law-abiding, African-American citizen has the legal right to exercise “open carry” if they so choose, without harassment or without being racially profiled. There’s some form of legal “open carry” law in 43 states. Whether driving, walking down the street, or now legally carrying a firearm while Black, the skin color of Black people should not be used to stereotype and treat Black people like very few other races of people in America are treated. Time will tell how this law will impact the African-American community, but there is one thing African-Americans should always Get used to it be mindful of in Texas – don’t let In the end, “open carry” is the “open carry” get you carried away! law of the land and it will take Jeffrey L. Boney is an awardsome serious getting used to. For those law enforcement officials winning journalist for the Houswho violate the law and racial- ton Forward Times newspaper. ly profile lawfully carrying Black Contact him at jboney1@texaspeople, it may take several federal businessalliance.org.
tising for ethnic media outlets. It means rewarding automakers that behave like trading partners. In short, it means equity and justice.
Understand the issues Before we can claim equity and justice, we have to fully understand the scope of the issues. The automotive Diversity Scorecard is our first step towards identifying the issues important to us. It serves as a way to make sure that what auto companies promise in the boardroom actually happens on the streets. While the scorecard is a great tool for us to encourage positive change, we know there is more to the story. The rest of the story relates to ownership and decision making, whether as a dealer, a supplier, a vendor or as a person buying a new vehicle. You can make a difference! As you shop for your next vehicle, consider the information in the scorecard and the power you have in voting with your wallet. As you shop, ask the dealers where they advertise and if they have ads in local ethnic newspa-
CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS The Black Press believes that Americans can best lead the world away from racism and national antagonism when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person. The Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief...that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.
Dr. Glenn W. Cherry, Sales Manager
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Dr. Valerie Rawls-Cherry, Human Resources
Charles W. Cherry, Sr. (1928-2004), Founder Julia T. Cherry, Senior Managing Member, Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC Dr. Glenn W. Cherry, Cassandra CherryKittles, Charles W. Cherry II, Managing Members
Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. Contact her at Charlene. crowell@responsiblelending. org.
out of the 60 largest police departments killed at least one individual or let someone die in their custody; 100 percent of the people killed at 14 of those departments were Black. Only five of those U.S. police departments killed only White people. Because many in Houston’s Black community rely on public transportation, there should be some level of preparation and caution. Officials are allowing all passengers to openly carry holstered guns on buses and light rails if they have a permit. Light rail and bus operators are being trained not to ask passengers if they have a permit. If an operator or passenger notices someone acting suspicious, operators will have to call police.
Charles W. Cherry II, Esq., Publisher
Opinions expressed on this editorial page are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the newspaper or the publisher.
Responsible Lending (CRL) released a report on debt collection that recommended state reforms include protections that ensure people are not sued in connection with debt they do not owe, or for amounts they do not owe. At a minimum, CRL called for state protections to set standards for adequate information and documentation to collect a debt, and require documentation on it before obtaining a judgment against a consumer.
Jenise Morgan, Senior Editor Angela van Emmerik, Creative Director Cassandra Cherry Kittles, Willie R. Kittles, Circulation Penny Dickerson, Staff Writer Duane Fernandez Sr., Kim Gibson, Photojournalists
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pers, radio, TV or magazines.
Do research You have a right to know how their business actions impact your community. If you are financing, get at least one quote from your local credit union or bank to compare with the dealer’s financing. Last, tell your family and friends about the scorecard. Refer them to www.automotiveproject.org so they can do their own research. By sharing this information, we intend to start a conversation that leads to more empowerment within our communities and greater transparency from those automotive companies that value our dollars and want to establish an equitable trading relationship.
Glenda Gill is executive director of the Rainbow PUSH Automotive Project. For more information, go to www.automotiveproject.org.
Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC, P.O. Box 48857 Tampa, FL 33646, publishes the Florida Courier on Fridays. Phone: 877-352-4455, toll-free. For all sales inquiries, call 877-352-4455; e-mail sales@flcourier.com. Subscriptions to the print version are $69 per year. Mail check to P.O. Box 48857 Tampa, Fl 33646, or log on to www.daytona.com; click on ‘Subscribe’.
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JANUARY DECEMBER 7 – JANUARY 2016 14 - 13, 20, 2006
5 7
MRELIGION AYOR
‘From the pit to the pulpit’ Former inmate to become a pastor at megachurch in Kansas BY LAURA BAUER KANSAS CITY STAR (TNS)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Darryl Burton sits a few feet from his desk, where an open laptop waits. He’s got a research paper to write. At least 10 pages on the doctrine of Scripture and what the words in the Bible mean to him. After that, he has two more graduate papers and some reading to wrap up for seminary at Saint Paul School of Theology. Pretty heavy stuff for a man who never finished high school. And who not long ago was a skeptic, full of questions about God and the religion his late grandmother clung to so closely. Burton had stopped going to church as a young teen, unable to relate or see how God was working in his life — living in urban St. Louis, where he and his eight siblings, mother and grandmother were stifled by poverty. His grandmother’s words warned: “One of these days, boy, you’re going to need Jesus. I only hope you remember to call on him.”
Served 24 years Today, with the booming voice of a seasoned preacher, Burton tells his story across the country and abroad to prisoners and churchgoers, students and civic groups. And he recalls how his grandmother’s words echoed in his mind during the late 1990s as he faced life behind bars as Inmate 153063 inside the Missouri State Penitentiary. Eventually, he says, those words, along with a newfound faith and a team of people who believed in him, led him “from the pit to the pulpit.” “I just kept hearing, ‘One of these days, boy…,’ ” Burton says, sitting inside his office on the campus of United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. “I just couldn’t get that out of my mind. So I said, ‘OK, let’s learn about this Jesus.’ ” Part of Burton’s story has been talked about across the country for years, flashed in headlines and television newscasts. He served 24 years behind bars for the murder of a St. Louis man before a judge ruled that his 1985 trial was constitutionally flawed and overturned that conviction. It was based on the testimony of two men, one who kept changing his story and another who had more felony convictions than the jury was told.
Sought-after speaker Since his 2008 release, which lawyers and supporters fought eight years for, Burton has been asked to speak in venues from big halls to biker bars. Many have marveled at his ability to move beyond the nightmare of spending nearly all of his adult life in a prison cell for a crime he said he didn’t commit. As Burton sees it: “If I hadn’t forgiven them, I would still be in prison. A spiritual prison.” This month, he’ll start full time at the Leawood megachurch as an associate pastor in congregational care. He’ll continue some of the work he has done as a Church of the Resurrection intern and pastoral associate, helping families in need and working with a men’s group, showing people what true forgiveness looks like. “There’s no one who represents himself more humbly than Darryl,” said Kar-
en Lampe, the church’s executive pastor of congregational care. “He just wants to do the very best he can. I think he’s trying to make up for lost time. “He is one amazing gift for us.”
Letter to Jesus A gift the church wouldn’t have received if not for the letters Burton wrote and some of the answers he received. He estimates that he wrote more than 700 letters during his time behind bars, reaching out to legislators and attorneys, Oprah Winfrey and groups dedicated to freeing wrongly convicted inmates. He penned an especially memorable one in 1998, before his religious skepticism turned to conviction. “Dear Jesus Christ,” he wrote. “If you’re real and you know all things, you and I know I’m innocent. If you help me get out of this place, not only will I serve you, but I will tell the world about you.” “Sincerely yours, Darryl Burton.”
PHOTOS BY TAMMY LJUNGBLAD/KANSAS CITY STAR/TNS
Darryl A. Burton, right, and his wife, Valerie, raise a glass of sparkling grape juice and toast the holiday and Darryl’s upcoming graduation during family dinner on Christmas Eve morning at their home in North Kansas City, Mo. Burton later helped with six worship services.
Two-day trial On a June day in 1984, Burton had gone to see his parole officer. He was 22, had his GED and planned to start classes at Forest Park Community College in St. Louis. He wanted to study business administration and sociology. After a burglary charge, Burton was set on his future. He wanted to spend more time with his infant daughter. Then St. Louis police showed up and arrested him in the death of Donald Ball, a man who had been shot while filling his car with gasoline. Even as Burton was being booked into the city jail, he thought everything would be OK. The truth would come out. After all, he wasn’t even in the state when the murder happened. He’d been in Washington state, visiting a friend.
Darryl A. Burton, 54, who spent 24 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, holds a display board of Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, where he was incarcerated. Burton was speaking to a group of high school students on Dec. 10, 2015, in Olathe, Kansas.
Didn’t fit description Witnesses said the man who shot Ball was a lightskinned African-American. Burton has dark skin, tagged with many nicknames growing up, including Lights Out. The killer was described as 5 feet 5 inches. Burton is 5 feet 10. No physical evidence or suggested motive ever tied him to Ball’s death. “I thought I’d be let go within 24 hours,” Burton said. He said he saw his public defender just once before the trial, and no one worked to get receipts or other documents that would have proved he was in another state at the time of the shooting. Burton recalls the trial lasted two or three days. The prosecutor called two witnesses. One was a man he’d never met, the other a man he’d known in his younger days. Both said Burton killed Ball. “I couldn’t believe people would go in and lie on me,” Burton said. It took jurors less than an hour to come back with their verdict. Burton was sentenced to 50 years without the possibility of parole.
Didn’t want to live Before he left the courtroom, he had a message for the judge: “I don’t know how long it will take, but I’m going to fight this case until I prove I’m innocent.” Burton spent countless hours in the prison law library, researching and writing briefs and motions. He told other inmates that one day he would be freed. They told him he didn’t understand the system. “I had moments when I felt really sure I was go-
Hearing some music in the hallway, Darryl A. Burton joins members of the office staff who were dancing in the hall to celebrate the retirement of an employee at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. ing to get out,” Burton said. “And then I had moments when I was just depressed and wanted to give up. My mother would leave the visiting room and I would say, ‘That’s the last time I’m going to see her.’ I didn’t want to live.” In 1990, he heard back from Centurion Ministries, a small organization in New Jersey. Founder James McCloskey and his group were dedicated to taking on cases of inmates wrongly convicted. Because of the demand for help, it would be 10 years, the group told Burton, before it could take on his case.
Prayed for enemies He would wait. He wrote Centurion Ministries two or three letters a year to make sure the group didn’t forget about him. In the late 1990s, Burton picked up the Bible and focused on the words in red ink, signifying the words of Jesus. He related to the man and his stories. Some of Jesus’ edicts were harder. “Jesus said, ‘Love your enemy,’ ” Burton said. “And I’m like, ‘What?’ ” Pray for them. “And I’m thinking, ‘Yeah, right, I’ll pray a building falls on them.’ ” Forgive them — “That’s impossible.”
Through gritting teeth, Burton started to pray for the people who had lied about him, for the people inside the justice system.
A strange, new world The world changed without him. His first day at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, Mo., he had walked under a massive welcome banner with the words “Leave all your hopes, family and dreams behind.” He walked out of prison in August 2008, unsure of the freedom and hopes and dreams he could have. At TGI Fridays that night, he asked Cheryl Pilate, a Kansas City attorney who worked with Centurion Ministries since 2000 to free him, if the restroom was an area where he could go. “It was obvious he was overwhelmed,” Pilate said. “When you haven’t been in the outside world for 24 years, everything is new, everything is different. It takes a while to come to terms with it.”
‘Learning to walk’ Technology flustered him. Laptops and cell phones. The Internet was new to him. He would struggle getting a job, with
a 24-year gap in job experience. He had no driver’s license, no set plan for the future. Initially, he would tour around telling his story. After reuniting with his daughter, the two of them would sometimes speak to groups together. When Burton’s future wife first heard him tell his story, she remembers thinking how gifted he was. She had grown up six doors down from Burton’s family in St. Louis and knew his younger siblings. She wasn’t surprised when he wanted to go to seminary in 2012. But the couple didn’t know how difficult it would be. For Darryl, it was like being “flown to Japan and just dropped off.” “I didn’t know the language, anything,” Burton said. “It was like learning to walk.”
Kept studying Everything about the campus was foreign. Taking notes. Studying. Understanding heavy theology. “He needed complete silence some days,” said Valerie Burton, who married Darryl in 2011. “I had to be quiet, no TV. … All of his books were spread out on the dining room table. He’d stay up late, overnight sometimes. He’d fall asleep in the chair. … Some days he wanted to give up.” But he always went back to one thought, she said: “If I can make it through prison, I can make it through something like this.” When Burton sat down to write his first research paper — he’s cranked out many 15- to 20-page papers in the past three years — he grabbed a yellow legal pad and a pen. He planned to write it out longhand and turn it in. His wife laughs at the memory now and how she explained to him they needed to get a computer. “I remember him coming in,” said Margaretta Narcisse, associate dean
of students at Saint Paul School of Theology. “He sat in my office and talked about where he has come from and how he wanted to make sure he would be able to finish what he started. He knew that he was coming into a foreign land and he wanted to be successful.” And despite having lost more than two decades of his life, he never expected anything, said Stan Basler, visiting professor of restorative justice and prison ministry at Saint Paul. The student’s work on the long papers is what impressed him. Basler tells students he doesn’t want a book report — he wants to hear their voices in the paper. But he also wants to make sure they’re engaged with the material and understand it. Some papers come in with few sources and little focus on the material. With Burton, Basler would see papers where two-thirds of the content was on the material. “He wasn’t asking anyone for a free ride,” Basler said. “He really applied himself. It was obvious to me in every course that he was working hard.”
Rapt attention On a recent Friday morning, Burton’s voice filled a classroom inside a Johnson County high school. “All of you have been on this earth long enough to have someone say something about you that wasn’t true,” he said, dressed in sharp dark pants and shirt, a sparkling cross around his neck. “Imagine being put in a closet, in a box, for 24 years, and you can’t get out because someone lied on you.” For nearly an hour, the two dozen high school students sat fixed on Burton’s words. No one yawned or doodled. No one tried to pass a note or talk to a friend. It’s what Burton typically gets when he speaks. No matter where he goes, no matter what crowd he’s talking to, everyone understands injustice, he says. And his message of hope and forgiveness? Very powerful, says Lampe, the minister. At Church of the Resurrection, where Burton started as an intern in 2013, he’s visited homes to talk with families going through rough times. Before Lampe’s son had surgery last year, she wanted Burton to be the one to give him a blessing — “I knew it would be beautiful.” Burton also leads a men’s group at the church where members have experienced problems from addiction to incarceration to relationship woes. “He’s helped people in our congregation that have forgiveness issues,” Lampe said.
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JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2016 SPORTS DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006
MAYOR
NBA players shoot to score against gun violence BY FREDERICK H. LOWE TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE
The NBA has some great shooters but they do it without guns and they are urging others to follow their lead. As part of the “End Gun Violence” campaign, some of the sport’s top stars, including Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry, Chris Paul and Joakim Noah, have begun focusing on the 88 Americans killed every day by gun violence and the hundreds of others who are injured. The campaign is a series of PSAs that began airing during NBA games played on Christmas Day. Writer, actor and director Spike Lee directed the “End Gun Violence,” public service announcements for gun violence survivors from the Everytown Survivor Network. The PSAs make clear that high profile professional athletes have become involved in pressing social issues.
Players protest After police shot and killed Michael Brown, athletes wore warm up jerseys that boasted his name. After a New York cop used an
illegal chokehold to murder Eric Garner, athletes wore “I can’t breathe” jerseys, the last words Garner uttered before he died. NFL and NBA players also wore warm up jerseys that said “#Black Lives Matter.” Recently, the University of Missouri football team refused to play a game until Tom Wolfe, the school’s president resigned. Students, including student athletes, charged Wolfe with ignoring blatant racism on campus. Wolfe stepped down. “All over America people are tired of daily gun violence,” said Carmelo Anthony of the New York Kicks. “But I’ve spoken with people about this in Baltimore, in New York, and across the United States and I know people are ready for their voices to be heard. Basketball brought me to a different route in my life, but every kid should have an outlet to reach his or her full potential. Using this platform to speak out, I know we can keep guns out of the wrong hands and save lives.” Anthony, who plays forward or strong forward, averages 21.8 points per game.
HECTOR AMEZCUA/SACRAMENTO BEE/TNS
The New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony is participating in the NBA’s “End Gun Violence’’ campaign. He’s shown above in a game against Sacramento in 2014.
Survivors featured Stephen Curry II, who plays guard and point guard for the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, said a shooting death shocked him. “I heard over the summer about a shooting that killed a three-year-old girl, and I
immediately thought about my three-year-old daughter, Riley.” Curry averages 30.8 points per game. John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, said the organization is proud to join with these NBA stars and Spike Lee to highlight stories of gun vio-
lence in America and bring people together to address the problem. The campaign features 35 gun violence survivors from all across the country, from Boston to Chicago to New York City and includes stories of everyday gun violence in urban com-
munities to mass shootings in Newtown, Conn., Aurora, Colo., and Tucson, Ariz. Survivors will share personal stories about gun violence.
This story is special to the Trice Edney News Wire from NorthStarNewsToday.com.
Miami Dolphins name Chris Grier as general manager BY CHRIS PERKINS SUN SENTINEL (TNS)
Chris Grier was officially named Miami Dolphins general manager on Monday. Grier, promoted from director of college scouting, will oversee the draft and personnel departments and report to Mike Tannenbaum, the executive vice president/football
operations. “I want to thank Stephen Ross and Mike Tannenbaum for this tremendous opportunity,” Grier said in a statement. “I love this organization and feel I am the right man for this job. South Florida is very important to me and my family and I look forward to working with our personnel and coach-
ing staff to add talent to the roster.” Grier replaces Dennis Hickey, who served in that role since January 2014. Hickey oversaw the 2014 draft that was filled with small-school players such as guard Billy Turner (third round/North Dakota State), defensive end Terrence Fede (seventh round/Marist), safety Walt
Aikens (fourth round/Liberty) and linebacker Jordan Tripp (fifth round/ Montana). Those picks have been so-so. However, the picks in the first two rounds of 2014 — right tackle Ja’Wuan James, the first-rounder from Tennessee, and wide receiver Jarvis Landry, the secondrounder from LSU — have been strong picks.
16 years with team
ARE YOU FEELING GAS HIKES AT THE PUMP? IS YOUR WALLET FEELING IT TOO?
Hickey was also largely in charge of the 2015 draft that included wide receiver
DeVante Parker, the firstround pick from Louisville, defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, the second-round pick from Oklahoma, and guard/center Jamil Douglas, the fourth-round pick from Arizona State. Regardless, Hickey, a longtime front office man in Tampa Bay, agreed to mutually part ways with the Dolphins on Jan. 2. Grier has been with the Dolphins for 16 years, the last nine as director of college scouting. Grier, who spent his first five NFL seasons with New England,
was an area scout for the Dolphins from 2000-02 before serving as national scout/assistant director of college scouting. “I am really proud that Chris will lead our player personnel at both the college and pro level,” Tannenbaum said. “Chris is a passionate personnel executive that is highly respected throughout the NFL. His experience within the organization, background and approach to building a team made him the unquestioned choice to be our next general manager.”
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Miami Dolphins new general manager Chris Grier, left, poses with Mike Tannenbaum, executive vice president of Football Operations, after a press conference at the Miami Dolphins’ training facility in Davie on Jan. 4.
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Bethune-Cookman University’s LaRon Smith has been named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of The Week, it was announced Monday. The 6-8 redshirt junior, a product of Heritage High School in Palm Bay, totaled 18 rebounds, three assists, 11 blocks and four steals against Brown, Jacksonville and Grand Canyon last week. For the season, Smith is averaging 6.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per
Youth basketball leagues set in DeLand Girls and boys ages 4 to 15 can sign up for winter basketball leagues that will begin playing in January at two locations in DeLand. The rookie division, for ages 4 to 6, will play Tuesday and Thursday nights in the Chisholm Community Center gymnasium, 520 S. Clara Ave. The junior league, for ages 7 to 9, will play Monday and Wednesday nights in the old gymnasium at DeLand High School, 800 N. Hill Ave. The senior league, for ages 10 to 12, will play Tuesday and Thursday nights in DeLand High School’s old gymnasium.
game. He’s leading the MEAC in blocked shot per game (18th nationally), is third in rebounding and tied for second in doubledoubles with four. Bethune-Cookman (411) concludes a sevengame road swing with key MEAC games at Hamp- LaRon ton Saturday and Norfolk Smith State Monday.
This information was courtesy of BCU Athletics.
The teen league, for ages 13 to 15, will play Monday and Wednesday nights in the Chisholm Community Center gymnasium. The fee is $50 per child. Head coaches are needed; they will receive one free child’s registration. The registration deadline is Jan. 9. Parents may register their children at the DeLand Parks and Recreation office, 230 N. Stone St., DeLand, or during open registrations from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 5 or 9 to 11 a.m. Jan. 9 in DeLand High School’s old gym. The leagues are co-sponsored by the City of DeLand and Volusia County. For more information, call 386-626-7280 or email rhodesc@deland.org.
R8
7HEALTH
JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2016
Having trouble sleeping? It could be your dusty bedroom BY ALISON BOWEN CHICAGO TRIBUNE (TNS)
It’s cold and flu season, but if you have the sniffles and feel exhausted, the culprit might not be a germ. When was the last time you dusted everything in your bedroom? It’s a question Dr. Neeta Ogden, an adult and pediatric allergist and immunologist at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in New Jersey, finds herself often asking patients. “People complain about the cough that they can’t shake in the winter,” she said. “Many times that can be due to indoor allergies.” Allergens on bedroom surfaces can disrupt sleep, causing exhaustion and even irritating symptoms like coughing or sneezing that people might not realize are rooted near the bed. “I think the bedroom is really the No. 1 place that they may not be aware of that’s harboring allergens,” Ogden said. The bed is a main source to examine. Dust mites hide in the mattress and pillows “because they actually feed off of our skin cells,” she said. The best solution? She suggests a barrier between the mattress and you, like an AllerEase mattress protector. “For some people, it can be a real problem,” she said. Also, check your furniture. Perhaps the last time you cleaned for guests, you skipped the bedroom, knowing you could close the door. Or maybe that became skipping the last few cleanings. A thin layer of dust often
Pertussis: What to look for and when to be treated MAYO CLINIC NEWS NETWORK TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Pertussis is a contagious bacterial illness spread when a person coughs or sneezes. Those at greatest risk of medical complications include infants less than 1 year old; patients with chronic respiratory illnesses, including moderate to severe asthma; women in the third trimester of pregnancy; and patients with compromised immune systems. Symptoms are similar to a common cold such as runny nose, nasal congestion, red, watery eyes, fever and cough. However, the cough gradually becomes a severe hacking cough. In young children, this can lead to repeated coughing followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like a “whoop.” Mayo Clinic experts advise if you or your child has had a cough for seven or more days, contact your medical provider. Individuals who are suspected to have pertussis must be tested and, if diagnosed, will be treated with antibiotics.
Contagious without treatment
FOTOLIA
The source of that sniffle might be dust collected on surfaces in your bedroom. collects on a lamp or dresser or windowsill. And below the bed, dust balls gather, and they can include dust mites. “You might find dander or even roach residue or pollen,” she said.
Wash and wipe Have wipes available, she suggests, or even make a
cleaning solution at home with vinegar and water. “Wipe down these surfaces on a regular basis,” she said. Bedding isn’t exempt: Throw it in laundry with hot water and a hot dryer cycle once a week, she said. Same with stuffed animals. “Anything that’s stuffed is going to harbor dust mites,” she said.
Wash them, or freeze them for 24 hours to get rid of any dust mites. Don’t forget pillows: Wash pillowcases, she suggests, in 130-degree water. Consider protectors for those too, and as a last resort, replace your pillows. After all, as she noted, “once sleep is affected, it’s affecting quality of life.”
Dr. Robert Jacobson, a pediatrician at Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, advises, “Those exposed to pertussis should stay home and away from friends, neighbors, school and work until the tests results are negative. If a person is tested positive, he or she should remain quarantined for five days while he or she is being treated with antibiotics.” Those diagnosed with pertussis who have had the illness fewer than 21 days should be treated with antibiotics to prevent the spread. Without antibiotic treatment, the patient will be contagious for up to 21 days, says Jacobson. He adds that the best way to prevent pertussis is with the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. Those 11 years and older who have not had the Tdap vaccine should receive it now. Also, all pregnant women should receive additional doses of Tdap during each pregnancy between 27 and 36 weeks.