The Baton Rouge Weekly Press Week of March 1, 2018

BATON

SERVING THURSDAY, MARCH 1-7, 2018

Mayor Broome Proposes Cost-Effective Alternatives to TramLinkBR

ROUGE,

BAKER,

LOUISIANA

CENTRAL, AND

VOL. 42 • NO.07 • FREE

PEOPLE’S PUBLICATION GUN CONTROL PROTEST

Homestead Students to Walk Out of Class March 14 Ahead Of National Rally

EBR Metro Council Passes Ordinance to Reduce Penalties for Marijuana

BATON ROUGE, La—The East Baton Rouge Metro Council has passed an ordinance to reduce the penalties for marijuana possession in Baton Rouge.

The change means under Baton Rouge law, if you’re caught with less than 14 grams of marijuana, you face fines only based on the number of offenses: • $40 for first offense • $60 for second offense • $80 for third offense • $100 for fourth offense “We have a lot of violent crime that’s occurring in the city of Baton Rouge and if our officers can issue a summons and that would allow them to get back on the streets and investigate some of the violent crime, we see that as an opportunity for us to not waste, but to redirect those resources,” said Police Chief Murphy Paul.

Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome

B AT O N R O U G E , L A — Today, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome announced that her administration would not move forward with the TramLinkBR project as initially envisioned. Instead, she will work with CATS and other stakeholders to evaluate cost-effective alternatives to the tram, namely Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT).

“BRT offers similar features to modern streetcars, but at a much lower cost. It is considered a fast, reliable, convenient form of transportation and a proven driver of enhanced economic development,” said Mayor Broome.

“We believe that putting our efforts into BRT, as an alternative to the tram along the Nicholson corridor, will provide expansion opportunities and touch a greater part of our community by alleviating some of our traffic and transportation challenges.”

According to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), BRT systems operate in large cities like Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, and are growing in popularity among mid-sized metropolitan areas like Eugene, Oregon, Cleveland, Tulsa and Kansas City, Missouri.

“The vision for the tram was a progressive one, combining transportation with an opportunity for development along the proposed corridor. I am committed to being progressive, but we must be financially prudent with limited transportation dollars, and the BRT model accomplishes both,” said Mayor Broome. “I look forward to working with the FTA, HUD, and other agencies in a continued partnership to deliver enhanced mass transit solutions for Baton Rouge.”

BRT has advanced throughout the U.S. in the last decade as congestion has increased and community leaders have sought affordable transit alternatives. It is an innovative, high-capacity, lower-cost public transit solution that can achieve the performance and benefits of more expensive rail modes.

ZACHARY

High school students Mia Arrington, center, 18, of West End, and Cheyenne Springette, right, 17, of Mt. Oliver, lead chants as they march down Liberty Avenue during a walk-out in solidarity with other high schools across the country to show support for Parkland, Fla, students in downtown Pittsburgh.

MEQUON -- Students in Mequon are planning to take action to raise awareness of gun control issues after the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. on Feb. 14.

Homestead High School students plan to walk out of school for 17 minutes on March 14. That’s one minute for each of the victims of the Parkland school shooting, one month after the tragedy.

The Homestead group is part of the national “March For Our Lives.” The student-based organization is organizing marches throughout the country on Saturday, March 24.

“Yeah, I think our district has been incredibly supportive so far,” said Sophia Zhang, Homestead student.

“There should be no more of these atrocities that are happening in our high schools. We should not be afraid to go to a high school,” said Leianna Stanton, freshman at Marquette University.

SAINTS REPORTEDLY WON’T RE-SIGN KENNY VACCARO

Some of the hundreds of West Boca High School students arrive at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after they walked there in honor of the 17 students shot dead last week on February 20, 2018 in Parkland, Florida.

Police arrested 19-year-old former student Nikolas Cruz for killing 17 people at the high school.

Students in Mequon, Milwaukee, other areas in SE WI and across the country will take part in these protests. The larger rally on March 24 in Milwaukee will mimic a “March For Our Lives” event in Washington, D.C. Locally, students plan on starting their march at the Milwaukee County Courthouse at

STATE & LOCAL

10 a.m. and walk from there to City Hall.

Additionally, the MequonThiensville School District is preparing for the school walkout on March 14. A spokeswoman said students won’t face disciplinary actions if they are only out of See NATIONAL RALLY, on page 2

RELIGION

He added officers could still make arrests under certain circumstances.

Baton Rouge could be on its way to becoming a lot more lenient when it comes to marijuana if one member of the East Baton Rouge Metro Council has his way.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about I guess for three or four years at least,” said Councilman Chandler Loupe.

Loupe is proposing an ordinance that would allow those caught with a small amount of the drug to avoid arrest and jail time. “If you have under a certain amount, you will be given a civil penalty,” said Loupe. “You won’t be arrested, you won’t go to our jail, and you shouldn’t.”

Instead of the arrest, violaSee MARIJUANA, on page 2

Sen. Barrow To Host Event to Encourage Young Women to Pursue Stem Careers BATON ROUGE, La - District 15 State Senator Regina Barrow, along with her National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBELWomen) Louisiana colleagues Sen. Dorsey Colomb and Representatives Barbara Carpenter, Denise Marcelle and Patricia Haynes Smith, will host a special all-day event for young girls in middle and high school to encourage them to become engaged in science and technology, the Internet, and digital space. The Girls, Gigabytes and Gadgets event begins at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Louisiana Technology Park in Baton Rouge.

Participants will have the opportunity to attend multiple workshops featuring topics that range from app development to social media mastery. The message is simple – women are not to be just users of technology, but creators, designers, and influencers as well.

“Studies show that women

BUSINESS

State Senator Regina Barrow

and minorities are heavy users of technology; however they are underrepresented in IT development, management and STEM fields,” says Sen. Barrow. “As advancements in technology are made and continue to revolutionize the way we think and live, we must ensure that women and minorities are involved in the See CAREERS, on page 2

STATE & LOCAL NEWS

Send your news to the news departmet at the Baton Rouge Weekly Press by emailing it to: brweeklypress@ yahoo.com

INDEX State & Local.....................2 & 3

1953 BATON ROUGE BUS BOYCOTT The New Orleans Saints surprising 2017 defense may be losing one of its pieces, with safety Kenny Vaccaro reportedly hitting the open market on March 14. ..See Page 6

Baton Rouge is a city filled with a lot of history dating back to centuries. When you hear “bus boycott” during the civil rights movement; most people think of the boycott. ...Page 2

THIRTEEN CENTENARIANS

Recently St. Mark honored thirteen members with a Birthday Bash and the church is located at 62 Glen Oaks Drive under the leadership of Reverend Doctor Derrick Hills who is the Senior Pastor of St...

See Page 4

EXXON QUITTING RUSSIAN OIL

Exxon Mobil Corp. said it’s abandoning joint ventures with Russia’s Rosneft PJSC after international sanctions against that country paralyzed a historic drilling project. ... Page 5

Religion....................................4 Business....................................5 Sports.......................................6

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THEWEEKLYPRESS.COM Celebrating 42 Years Of Service To The Baton Rouge Community 225.775.2002

Page 2 • The

Weekly Press • Thursday, March, 1-7, 2018

STATE & LOCAL READER INFORMATION How to Reach Us General Information225-775-2002 Fax . . . . . . . . . . . 225-775-4216 Email Address brweeklypress@yahoo.com The office is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday and located at 1283 Rosenwald Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Correction Policy The Baton Rouge Weekly Press strives to be fair and accurate. The newspaper corrects any significant errors of fact brought to the attention of the editor. If you think an error has been made, call 225-775-2002

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Jeanie Pizzalato Named 2018 AmeriCorps Champion of Service BATON ROUGE, La – The Life of a Single Mom is proud to announce that Volunteer Louisiana named Jeanie Pizzalato 2018 AmeriCorps Champion of Service. As a single mom herself, Jeanie is an AmeriCorps VISTA member with The Life of a Single Mom who has served more than 1,500 volunteer hours with the organization and made an impact supporting programs and events that serve single moms all over the country. She has achieved and exceeded the goals set before her as a VISTA and is always seeking ways to make valuable changes to the organization’s programming.

“Jeanie has a beautiful transformative story of hope and has now chosen to use that hope to bless others,” said TLSM CEO, Jennifer Maggio. “Despite being a single mom, she recognizes that she has skills and talents she can use for her community, which is part of her beauty, strength and resiliency.”

Each year, Volunteer Louisiana selects only one AmeriCorps VISTA throughout the entire State for the Champion of Service awards to recognize and honor their hard work and dedication to the citizens of Louisiana. On Wednesday, April 18, 2018 in conjunction with National Volunteer Week, Volunteer Louisiana and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser will host the Champions of Service Awards Gala. The event will be held at the Capitol Park museum and will feature a special address

A Baton Rouge Story: 1953 Baton Rouge Bus Boycott

Rev. T.J. Jemison (left) shakes hands with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Jemison’s leadership during the 1953 Baton Rouge bus boycott served as a model for King’s spearheading of the more publicized Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott of 1955.

Jeanie Pizzalato

from Governor John Bel Edwards.

Tickets will be available through the Volunteer Louisiana Foundation at www.VolunteerLAFoundation.org.

The Life of a Single Mom is a national nonprofit, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that exists to see that no single mom walks alone by providing programming that establishes single mom support groups and focuses on education in critical areas, such as parenting, finances, and health and wellness.

To date, the organization has worked with more than 1,300 churches and community groups to establish or enhance a single mom’s support group. More than 70,000 single mothers are connected to the program with plans of significant expansion over the next 5 years.

For more information, visit www.thelifeofasinglemom.com or contact Tiffany Temple the Business & Community Relations with The Life of a Single Mom at 225-341-8055.

La. Radio Network To Honor ’18 Inductees BATON ROUGE, LA – The Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction honors this year’s inductees on Thursday, March 22. Ceremonies begin at 7 p.m.

STORY CORRECTION

at L’Auberge Casino Hotel in Baton Rouge.

The Hall of Distinction honors those who have made significant contributions to the state’s agriculture community in farming, ranching, forestry, aquaculture, education and agribusiness. The 2018 inductees are Margie Jenkins, a nationally recognized expert on cultivating landscaping plants, and the late Pierre “Pete” Lanaux, one of the state’s most successful sugarcane farmers.

Jenkins has been a fixture in Louisiana’s landscape and nursery business for the past 60 years. In addition to her knowledge of grow-

ing hundreds of varieties of plants, her expertise includes timber harvesting, along with dairy cattle and sheep ranching. At the age of 96, Jenkins is the first woman inducted into the Hall of Distinction.

Lanaux, a sugarcane grower in St. John the Baptist Parish, farmed for more than 70 years and was still active in daily operations when he passed away on Feb. 12 at age 93.

When Lanaux began his career, much of the fieldwork was accomplished by hand or with the help of mules. Today, the farm uses a number of modern innovations, See INDUCTEES, on page 3

Marijuana from page 1 tors would be given a summons.

It would then be left up to a city judge to decide what punishment is appropriate. As for the possible penalty, the ordinance still matches state law. Those with less than 14 grams could face up to a $300 fine and/or 15 days in jail, while those with more than 14 grams or any amount of synthetic marijuana could get hit with a $500 fine and/ or six months in jail.

“You’re going to reduce it to a citation, a fine, a ticket, more like a civil fine rather than an actual criminal penalty,” said Loupe.

He says the goal is to cut down on the number of folks who land behind bars after lighting up and to stop one bad decision from ruining lives. “It’s decriminalization.

That’s the effect I want it to have is not to ruin anyone’s life,” Loupe added. “It’s more of something I’m doing because I think it’s the right thing.”

Loupe also believes if police officers are arresting fewer people for small possession, they could instead focus on more serious crime. It’s something he says he has already taken to the police chief.

“I had a great meeting with the chief of police,” said Loupe.

“Although we may not agree on everything, we agreed on one thing. We have a lot of serious crime problems in Baton Rouge and simple possession of should not be a priority.”

The council is expected to take up the measure on Wednesday, February 28 at its regularly scheduled meeting.

Careers from page 1 process.”

The innovative event is made possible through strategic partnerships with companies, nonprofit organizations and advocacy associations dedicated to improving the lives of young women and their communities through the limitless possibilities of modernday technology. There are a limited number of slots still available for interested young girls in middle and high school. Eligible students may sign up by contacting Kenyatta Morris at 225.342.0752 or going to the event website – www.girlsgigabytesandgadgets.com.

BATON ROUGE, La - Baton Rouge is a city filled with a lot of history dating back to centuries.

When you hear “bus boycott” during the civil rights movement; most people think of the boycott in Montgomery back in 1955. However, before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, there was Reverend TJ Jemison and many others during the Baton Rouge bus boycott in 1953.

“We moved to make a change,” said Johnnie Jones, attorney during the Baton Rouge bus boycott. “Not a change just for one situation, but for a change we thought the power of creation.

What the lord had in mind.”

Segregation was the law of the land and separation by race was a way of life.

If you were white, you sat in the front. If you were black you were forced to sit in the back, and if all seats were occupied; African Americans were forced to stand.

“If you sat on the front seat of the bus; you may not make it home that day,” said Niles Haymer, attorney for Haymer Law Firm. “We’re talking about the time where Emmett Till was murdered in Mississippi.”

For blacks the choice to sit in the front, they say, was a choice to live or die.

“I couldn’t rest,” said Attorney Jones. “I couldn’t rest. I just could never put up with it and I never did.”

A plan to protest began despite the consequences.

“Two crosses were burned on the lawn at the house and the phone calls were, ‘you keep this up we’re going to kill you,” said Ted Jemison Jr, son of Reverend TJ Jemison.

According to Ted Jemison Jr, Reverend Jemison was tired of watching “his people” suffer from the harsh treatment of the city’s bus company.

“He first approached the city council to officially say, ‘this was not fair,’” said Jemison. “At that time a black man had never approached a city council for anything.”

The council finally re-

sponded to the protest and passed a city’s seating code allowing black riders to sit in the front under certain circumstances: Ordinance 222. However, the new law went unenforced.

Organizers then developed a new strategy: a boycott against the city bus company. The reverend asked all black residents to stay off of city buses and offered a free car lift service.

“It had a dispatch system,” said Jemison. “We had gas stations and we had drivers by the hour so that anybody that needed a ride; they would get one.”

These efforts financially affected the Baton Rouge Bus Company.

“Economics always gets someone’s attention,” said Michael McClanahan, NAACP State President of Baton Rouge. “If you really want to get my attention, mess with my money. When there was no one on the bus to ride; they were losing money. The management felt it as well as the bus drivers. We knew at some point in time it was going to pay off.”

The boycott lasted only 8 days. City officials and protest organizers reached a compromise without bloodshed. Although not everyone was satisfied with the outcome, these efforts captured the attention of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “When he got to Baton Rouge, he wanted to know how was this successful,” said Haymer.

“We hadn’t seen a movement this successful in the south. [The reverend] laid out the blueprint for him and he said you have to go after their pocket books.”

Conversations between the two inspired Dr. King to lead the historically known Montgomery bus boycott in 1955. It was the first large-scale demonstration against segregation, mimicking the work done by Reverend Jemison and many others here in Baton Rouge.

Ted Jemison Jr has confirmed he is working on a film about his father’s work.

National Rally from page 1 class for those 17 minutes.

Students are calling for tougher background checks and said they want lawmakers who take money from the NRA to be shamed, but gun rights advocates say this is an issue that could take rights away from law-abiding citizens and they question why we should be listening to students who aren’t even old enough to vote.

“We can understand why people who know very little about the issue can draw conclusions that are inaccurate. As far as the kids are involved, it’s always a bad idea that we could set national policy upon the opinions of people who are still in high school. There isn’t much you can do about making the background check any

stronger. (Bump stocks) are a little bit faster than if you just used your trigger finger alone, but not that much faster,” James Fendry with the Wisconsin Pro Gun Movement said.

“I demand that our federal, state and local politicians put forth more of an effort in putting forth bills banning assault rifles.

Not just putting them forth, but passing them,” said Reed.

Students are planning an organizational meeting Wednesday night at Bounce Milwaukee to discuss plans for the March 24 rally. They said a big component will be pre-registering students who are 17 to vote.

They said if elected officials won’t act, they’ll vote them out once they can enter the voting booth.

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Thursday, March 1-7, 2018 • The Weekly Press • Page 3

Girl Scouts Louisiana East Announces 2018 Women Of Distinction Award Luncheon Set for April 5 in Baton Rouge

Betsy Stoner

Donna Britt

BATON ROUGE, LA—Girl Scouts are taught leadership and social skills that help them become the ultimate Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker and Leader (G.I.R.L.), but, there are also women who unleash their inner G.I.R.L. Girl Scouts Louisiana East will host its seventh annual Women of Distinction luncheon on Thursday, April 5, at the Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel to honor four women who have dedicated themselves to making their community a better place.

All proceeds support the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in southeast Louisiana.

This year’s honorees are:

Donna Britt, News Anchor, WAFBTV; Dr. Rebekah Gee, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health; Julie LeBlanc, Supervisory Civil Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and Elizabeth “Betsy” Stoner, Executive Director, Board of Elections, Orleans Parish.

“We are honoring these women because of their extraordinary achievements as business women and public figures, community and civic leadership, and the positive impact they continue to have on girls and women in our communities,” said Mary Patricia Wray, event committee chair. “Although all of our awardees were

Julie LeBlanc

Rebekah Gee

not Girl Scouts growing up they are, however, leaders who support us and demonstrate the Girl Scout mission in all they do.”

Girl Scout alumna, volunteers and friends are invited to attend and help the council honor the 2018 Women of Distinction. A champagne reception will begin at 11 a.m. with lunch from 12 to 1 p.m.

Pre-registration tickets for the award luncheon are $60 per person until March 15 and $75 after. Tickets may be purchased online at www.gsle. org/wod. Buy one-get-one tickets are also available to currently registered members of the council’s Man Enough to Be a Girl Scout

and FOREVER Girl Scouts clubs.

Luncheon sponsors include DeCuir, Clark & Adams, LLP, Top Drawer Strategies LLC and WAFB. Additional event and table sponsorship opportunities are available.

The Girl Scouts Louisiana East council began its Women of Distinction recognition program in 2012 during the Girl Scout Centennial, and has recognized 38 amazing women thus far as Women of Distinction.

For more information, please contact Girl Scouts Louisiana East Chief Development Officer, Jill Pollard at 225-927-8946, ext. 2238 or jpollard@gsle.org.

Office: 225-578-5388 Cell: 225-772-7373 dianneward34@gmail.com

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Baton Rouge General Expands Services in Mid City BATON ROUGE, La. – Beginning March 1, Baton Rouge General’s (BRG) Mid City Medicine Clinic will expand its services to accommodate walkin patients while continuing to offer traditionally scheduled appointments. Patients can visit the clinic without an appointment between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The clinic, located on North Boulevard in Baton Rouge, provides internal medicine and primary care services, chronic disease management, treatment of acute illness, well woman exams,

Inductees from page 2 including state-of-the-art planting and harvesting equipment, satellite technology and tablet computers to coordinate operations.

Louisiana Radio Network presents the annual Hall of Distinction induction ceremony in cooperation with the LSU AgCenter, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.

Monsanto serves as title sponsor, and First South Farm Credit is the presenting sponsor.

Founded in 1974, Louisiana Radio Network provides 63 radio stations throughout Louisiana and parts of Mississippi with news, sports and agri-news. Louisiana Radio Network also publishes Tiger Rag, known as the “Bible of LSU Sports” since 1978 and the new Tiger Rag Extra magazine, and presents the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction award. Like Louisiana Radio Network on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for breaking news @laradionetwork.

laboratory testing, adult immunizations, preventative healthcare and pre-operative clearance.

“Our roots are in Mid City, and we are committed to growing the services we provide to the community,” said Edgardo Tenreiro, President and CEO of Baton Rouge General. “Appointments make a lot of sense, but there is no substitute for convenience when a problem arises unexpectedly. And walk-in patients will get the same, high-quality care you expect from BRG.” This service adds to BRG’s expansions and growing regional presence with two hospital campuses at Bluebonnet and in Mid City, a neighborhood hospital planned for Ascension Parish next year, 20 Baton Rouge Gen-

eral Physician clinics throughout the region, and two affiliated urgent care clinics in Baton Rouge and Prairieville. Last year, the organization also announced the 30,000-square-foot expansion of BRG’s Pennington Cancer Center and expansion of BRG’s Critical Care Tower and Regional Burn Center in 2019.

Baton Rouge General has received an ‘A’ for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group six years in a row, more than any other local hospital. And Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana has repeatedly recognized Baton Rouge General Physicians for quality for its treatment of patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease and heart disease.

Nurse Practitioner Leola Carter will join the team at the Mid City Medicine Clinic, located at 3401 North Boulevard, Suite 130. For more information, call (225) 387-7900 or visitmidcitymedicine.com.

For more information, visit BRGeneral.org, find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/ BatonRougeGeneral and follow us on Twitter at @BRGeneral.

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{Register} for Brec Summer CAMPs! EBR PARISH RESIDENTS

MARCH 24

OUT-OF-PARISH RESIDENTS

APRIL 3

For more information or to register:

225-272-9200

brec.org/summercamp

Page 4 • The

Weekly Press • Thursday, March, 1-7, 2018

RELIGION

St. Mark United Methodist Church Celebrated Thirteen Centenarians

Alice Stepter

Daisy Jarrell

Doris Thompson

Eleanor Miles

Ella Pitts

Emily Marshall

Mary Matthews

Mildred Bowie

Vertlee Washington

Natalie Holloman

Ruth Eby

Ruth Myers

By: Marian Griffin

The annual “Birthday Bash” was held in the church’s fellowship hall which included the work of several persons of the church: Deidre Vincent was the decorator, Daryl Bell was the photographer and Edna Hickman was the Mistress of Ceremony.

Marian Griffin introduced the special guest speaker Mayor President Sharon W. Broome and the theme of the program was “Honoring God’s Sheep.” The mayor

of thirteen children in her Family; Ella Pitts, 100 a retired elementary school teacher; Alice Stepter, 98 a member of St. Mark for over forty years; Vertlee Washington, 98 a retired elementary school teacher, who moved to Baton Rouge after Hurricane Katrina; Natalie Holloman, 98 was a nurse/receptionist in a local doctor’s office; Ruth Myers, 96 a retired Sunday school teacher; Emily Marshall, 92 retired from Baton Rouge hospital, Communion

steward and served for over 60 years at the church; Daisy Jarrell 91, a retired music teacher and lives with her cousin Mildred Bowie; Milton Grayer, 91 a retired truck driver, served in the United States Army during World War II in the Pacific Theatre, a thirty three degree Mason and father of thirteen children, and Ruby Eby, 90 a member of St. Mark for over 23 years.

Several members of Broadmoor United Methodist church,

Camphor Memorial United Methodist church, First United Methodist church, Mt. Carmel Baptist, and Mt. Pilgrim Baptist church were in attendance. In addition, there were friends and Family members that came from as far as New York and as near as Mississippi for this occasion.

Special thanks to the St. Mark Cherubim Choir, the Youth

BATON ROUGE, La – Recently St. Mark honored thirteen members with a Birthday Bash and the church is located at 62 Glen Oaks Drive under the leadership of Reverend Doctor Derrick Hills who is the Senior Pastor of St. Mark United Methodist Church. This is the brainchild of Mrs. Marian Griffin, who enjoys celebrating the birthday of the seniors at her church.

equated longevity of life with the Biblical version of “Honoring Thy Father and Thy Mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord God giveth thee.”

The thirteen honorees are as follows: Mildred Bowie, 102 a retired school teacher, real estate agent and Sunday school teacher; Eleanor Miles, 101 a widow of the ministerial; Doris Thompson, 101 a retired school teacher and Sunday school teacher; Mary Matthews, 100 is one

See ST. MARK, on page 5

CHURCH DIRECTORY

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. - Hebrews 10:25

Advertise Your Church Services In The Weekly Press CHURCH DIRECTORY Reach Thousands Weekly. Call 225-775-2002 to take advantage of our special rates Advertise with us for as little as $10 each week!

Hour of Power ..............................................12 Noon Each Wednesday Sunday School............................................................................ 8:00am Church Service ........................................................................... 9:00am Communion Service .............................................. 2nd Sunday 9:00am Bible Study Wednesday .............................................................7:00pm Sister/Brotherhood Meeting...................................................... 6:00pm

Give us a call at 225-775-2002 To dchedule your ad today!

Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church OF SCOTLANDVILLE

1414 Sora Street • Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70807 Telephone: 225-775-7372 • Fax: 225-774-1767 Website: www.gmcbc.org Reverend Clee E. Lowe, Pastor Sunday Morning Worship................................................10:45am Lord’s Supper..............................................................4th Sunday Sunday School..................................................................9:30am Mid-Morning Prayer Service.................................. Wed. 10:30am Prayer Service......................................................... Wed. 6:00pm Bible Study.............................................................. Wed. 6:30pm

NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH 5856 Greenwell Springs Road • Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806 Telephone: (225) 926-0246 • Facsimille: (225) 925-8022 Toll Free: 888-700-6174 Websites: www.newhopebr.com

NEW RISING SUN BAPTIST CHURCH

16444 Highland Road • Baton Rouge, LA 70810 Church: 225.302.5062 Home: 225.654.8947 • Cell: 225.572.7036

Bishop Ernest Mills & Evangelist Yvonne Mills

Sunday School..........................................11:00 am Worship......................................................12 Noon Communion.......................................... 4th Sunday Bible Class Tuesday.................................. 7:00 pm Saturday Prayer Service.............................7:30 am

VISIT US ONLINE @www.theweeklypress.com

Rev. Leo Cyrus Sr., Pastor Order Of Services Sunday Worship...................................................... 11:30 A.M. Holy Communion................................3rd Sunday 11:30 A.M. Sunday School..........................................................9:30 A.M. Bible Study................................................Thursday 7:00 P.M.

Thursday, March 1-7, 2018 • The Weekly Press • Page 5

BUSINESS

LET US PUT YOUR BUSINESS IN THE STREETS

Exxon Quitting Russian Oil Ventures Frozen by Sanctions Exxon Mobil Corp. said it’s abandoning joint ventures with Russia’s Rosneft PJSC after international sanctions against that country paralyzed a historic drilling project.

“In the latter half of 2017, the U.S. codified and expanded sanctions against Russia,” Exxon said in a 10-k filing on Wednesday.

“The corporation and its affiliates continue to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.”

Exxon decided to exit the ventures in late 2017 and will be formally implemented this year, resulting in an after-tax loss of $200 million, the Irving, Texasbased company said.

Under former CEO Rex Tillerson, Exxon made Russia one of its largest exploration targets, amassing rights to drill millions of acres on land and offshore from the

St. Mark from page 4

Milton Grayer

and their coordinators, as well as Dollene Sims, Eunice Simmons, Karen Phenix and Sophia Ennin for serving as Hostesses for over 200 people. Furthermore, Mrs. Marian Griffin wishes to acknowledge the church caterers who were Lloyd Northern, Dorothy Collins, Mandy Avila, the Lottons and Reverend Glorious Wright. She also wishes to thank everyone who helped to celebrate the Birthday Bash and making it such a success.

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Call The Baton Rouge Weekly Press TODAY! to place your business card in our BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 225.775.2002 Exxon Quitting Russian Oil Ventures Frozen by Sanctions

Arctic Ocean to the Black Sea. But the investment came to a standstill

in 2014 after the Russian energy sector was targeted by U.S. and

European Union sanctions amid conflicts in Crimea and Ukraine.

BRG Lymphedema Clinic Marks 20 Years of Service Louisiana’s only certified lymphedema treatment center offers immune-boosting pain relief.

Baton Rouge, LA – This year, the Lymphedema Clinic at Baton Rouge General celebrates 20 years of services as the only comprehensive treatment program in Louisiana, bringing much needed relief to more than 500 cancer patients and others with lymphedema last year alone.

Lymphedema, an abnormal buildup of fluid under the skin, can cause extreme and painful swelling in the arms, legs or other parts of the body. Lymphedema affects up to 10 million Americans and is common after cancer surgery or radiation of the head, neck, breast and legs. The resulting swelling – edema – can also occur after severe trauma, kidney disease, orthopedic surgery or stroke.

Baton Rouge General’s Pennington Cancer Center boasts the state’s only comprehensive lymphedema program recognized by the National Lymphedema Network. Though there is currently no cure for lymph-

edema, symptoms can be treated with a combination of physical and occupational therapy, manual massage, compression bandages and garments, exercise, skin care and pump therapy.

“When lymphedema goes untreated, it can cause long-term physical, psychological and social problems,” said Christine Perkins, Licensed Registered Occupational Therapist at BRG’s Lymphedema Clinic. “But when patients get proper treatment,

they can start feeling more like themselves and get back to life as they know it – and their immune systems get a much-needed boost to help fight future issues.”

BRG’s Lymphedema Clinic includes prevention and screening process, certified licensed therapists who manage physical, occupational, and speech therapy and support groups. In addition, BRG’s program has a therapeutic exercise and movement program that boosts the immune system and is free to anyone who has had cancer, radiation, chemotherapy or any chronic disorder.

For more information on lymphedema and treatment options, call (225) 763-4050 or visitbrgeneral.org/medical-services/ cancer/diagnosis-and-treatment/ rehabilitation/lymphedemaclinic.

For more information, visit BRGeneral.org, find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BatonRougeGeneral and follow us on Twitter at @BRGeneral.

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Page 6 • The

Weekly Press • Thursday, March, 1-7, 2018

Former Catholic High, LSU Star Retiring After 14 Years In The NFL

Donnie Jones

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Donnie Jones is going out on top, announcing his retirement three weeks after winning the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The former Catholic High, LSU and Philadelphia star played 14 years in the NFL, his final five with the 2018 Super Bowl Champions.

“After 14 seasons in the NFL, I have decided to retire so that I can spend more time with my family,” Jones said in a statement. “I will truly miss my teammates, coaches, friends, and the best fans in the NFL. Although I am retiring, I will always be an Eagle and will forever have a special place in my heart for the City of Philadelphia. It is a great honor to be a part of the first Super Bowl championship team in Eagles history and there is no

better way to finish my career.”

After graduating from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, Jones punted for LSU from 20002003, averaging 42.1 yards per punt. He was part of the Tigers 2003 National Championship team.

Jones was drafted in the seventh round by the Seattle Seahawks (2004) and also had stops in Miami (2005-2006), St. Louis (2007-2011) and Houston (2012), before settling down in Philadelphia.

He retires as the Eagles alltime leader in both gross punting average (45.37) and net average (40.5). He owns the team records for most career punts inside the 20 (138), most single-season punts inside the 20 (34, 2014) and best net punting average in a season (41.6, 2015).

SPORTS

Saints Reportedly Won’t Re-sign Kenny Vaccaro The New Orleans Saints surprising 2017 defense may be losing one of its pieces, with safety Kenny Vaccaro reportedly hitting the open market on March 14. According to The Times-Picayune’s Josh Katzenstein, the word around the NFL Combine is that the Saints have no plans on re-signing the 2013 first round pick.

Vaccaro has played his entire career with the Saints, and had previously expressed a great deal of interest in re-signing with the team.

According to Katzenstein, however, he was resigned to a March 14 free agency in a phone interview.

“It kind of frustrated me a little at first,” Vaccaro said on a phone interview with The TimesPicayune on the Saints not offering an extension over the course of the 2017 season. “But I understand it is what is.”

Vaccaro has been a versatile plug-and-player safety for the Saints. He’s played strong safety, slot corner, and he’s excellent in run defense around the line of scrimmage. His versatility will likely net him a lot of interest come free agency, with teams always looking for that wild-card player. Although there was frustration in New Orleans with his amount of penalties -- he was flagged nine times in 2017 on a defense that had a huge problem with giving up automatic first downs -- he can immediately bolster a defense.

Vaccaro had surgery in December to repair groin and core muscles that plagued him all year,

Kenny Vaccaro

and he said that he’s completely healthy now.

“I feel better now than before the season started,” he told The Times-Picayune.

In his career, Vaccaro has 385 tackles and eight interceptions. It’s not a particularly deep safety draft, which will also help the interest in Vaccaro. As for the Saints, they can feel comfortable with young picks like Marcus Williams and Vonn Bell at the safety position -- although some players like Michael Thomas have bigger dreams, openly recruiting former

LSU safety Tyrann Mathieu to New Orleans.

That might not happen, but stranger things have. As for Vaccaro, despite being streaky during his time in New Orleans, he should draw significant interest on the open market. A team like the Cowboys or Titans would be a solid fit for him, or the Lions might continue their pipeline with New Orleans and try to give Glover Quin a complement. However, as always, the money will do the talking come free agency.

Pelicans Rally For Second Game In A Row To Net SixthConsecutive Win One night after allowing Jrue Holiday to take the scoring spotlight, Anthony Davis returned to the top of the Pelicans’ scoring ranks with 53 Monday against the Suns in a 125-116 victory. The sixth-straight win for Alvin Gentry’s team improves their record to 34-26, good enough for 5th place in the Western Conference.

It wasn’t smooth sailing initially as Phoenix’s young team led by as much as 17 in the first half, just as Milwaukee did Sunday. Davis’ frontcourt mate, Emeka Okafor, tallied 14 points, the most in his recent stint with the team. John Ehret High product Elfrid Payton scored 16 in his first game in New Orleans as a member of the Suns.

New Orleans will depart for a 4-game road trip Tuesday and will start the West Coast swing Wednesday at San Antonio.

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