Houston Defender: August 21, 2014

FIVE THINGS PARENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BACK TO SCHOOL, P5

FEATURE

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Volume 83 | Number 42

AUGUST 21, 2014 |FREE

NEWSTALK GOV. RICK PERRY indicted and booked

P2 ENTERTAINMENT JACINTE BLANKENSHIP plays James Brown’s wife

P8 SPORTS KEVIN SUMLIN gets A&M Aggies ready

P11 TOP EVENTS

Deavra Daughtry, Laurie Vignaud and St. Rep. Sylvester Turner at Ensemble gala

P12

SEEKING JUSTICE for Michael Brown H PAGE 6

Police shootings under fire The eyes of the nation are focused on Ferguson, Mo. as the quest for justice continues in the police shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, an unarmed Black man. In Houston (right) local activists and community members call for solidarity with the residents of Ferguson and the surrounding area. The focus has also shifted to educating Black males when stopped by the police. See “10 Things to Do.” H PAGE 6

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Perry booked for abuse of power Texas Gov. Rick Perry recently turned himself in at an Austin courthouse, where he was booked on two counts of abuse of power.

He had his fingerprints and mug shot taken and left the courthouse to get an ice cream cone.

“We don’t resolve political disputes or policy differences by indictments,” he told a crowd of supporters. “We don’t criminalize policy disagreements. We will prevail. We will prevail.”

A grand jury indicted Perry, a possible 2016 Republican presidential candidate, saying he abused his power by Gov. Rick Perry trying to pressure Democratic Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg to resign.

The two felony counts against Perry stem from his threat to veto funding for a statewide public integrity unit run by Lehmberg unless she stepped down.

Lehmberg pleaded guilty to a DWI in 2013. She tested at nearly three times the alcohol limit after police stopped her for swerving

on the road. Video showed her failing a sobriety test and being restrained in jail. She was sentenced to 45 days in jail and received a $4,000 fine.

Perry recruited a high-powered legal team to defend him.

“This indictment amounts to nothing more than an abuse of power and I cannot, and will not, allow that to happen,” Perry said.

“I intend to fight against those who would erode our state’s constitution and laws purely for political purposes, and I intend to win.”

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said Perry should resign.

“Governor Rick Perry has brought dishonor to his office, his family and the state of Texas.

Texans deserve to have leaders that stand up for what is right and work to help families across Texas…We call on Governor Perry to immediately step down from office,” Hinojosa said.

Houston City Councilmembers Robert Gallegos and Jerry Davis join State Sens. Rodney Ellis and Sylvia Garcia in their effort to encourage a higher voter turnout.

Ellis, Garcia promote larger voter turnout Houston State Sens. Rodney Ellis and Sylvia Garcia are working to get out the vote using their images on billboards.

They were joined by the NAACP, LULAC and Texas Civil Rights Project at an announcement to promote voter registration and engagement.

Forty billboards will be posted in English and Spanish in the greater Houston area encouraging citizens to register and vote. Advertising space is being donated by Clear Channel Outdoor and is valued in excess of $75,000.

The campaign will run for six weeks leading up to the voter registration deadline of Oct. 6 in order to vote in the Nov. 4 election.

Ellis said his billboard has a simple message – “We Shall

Overcome, Register and Vote.”

“This November, Texas will undergo a dramatic change in our state’s leadership, electing a new governor, lieutenant governor, and a number of other statewide officials,” Ellis said. “I want my constituents’ voices to be heard by making sure they’re registered to vote.”

Garcia echoed Ellis’ sentiments.

“I love Texas and am proud to call it home, but our voting rates in Texas are abysmal,” Garcia said. “We consistently rank lowest nationally in voter registration and actual voter participation in every election, and we need to work together to reverse that trend.”

In 2012, Texas’ voter turnout was barely over 50 percent, ranking 48th in the nation.

localbriefs HOUSTON’S EQUAL RIGHTS ORDINANCE will be addressed in court next year. A lawsuit filed by opponents against the city is scheduled to be heard Jan. 19, 2015. District Court Judge Robert Schaffer set the trial date, continuing suspension of the ordinance due to a disputed petition to put the measure to a citywide vote. The petition to repeal HERO fell short of having enough valid signatures to be placed on the November ballot. Ordinance opponents allege that the city’s petition certification process was unlawful and indiscriminate.

Opponents of the ordinance include a large number of Houston pastors. One of the plaintiffs in the

lawsuit is Rev. F.N. Williams……..TEXAS WILL GET 16 new STEM academies. The Texas Education Agency has designated the academies for the 2014-2015 school year. There will be one school in Houston – Fallbrook College Preparatory Academy, 12512 Walters Rd.…….. ELECTRICITY CUSTOMERS in the state should beware of fraudulent activity. Scammers posing as employees have called customers threatening to disconnect their electricity due to an overdue bill. Customers should be suspicious of anyone claiming to be an employee who asks for money to be loaded to a prepaid debit card or directs a customer to pay via money order or

PayPal. When in doubt, customers should call their providers directly……..COMCAST announced it will include up to six months of complimentary Internet service for any new family that has not yet applied for Internet Essentials. Families who are approved between now and Sept. 20 will receive up to six months of service. Comcast also announced an amnesty program for certain low-income families who could qualify for Internet Essentials, but have a past due balance. Customers who have an outstanding bill that is more than a year old are now eligible for the program. For more information visit www.

InternetEssentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376.

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DEFENDER | AUGUST 21 | 2014

national

U.S.briefs Wade Henderson, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, is concerned about injustice and inequality.

U.S. falling further behind on race relations

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NNPA News Service

wenty years after signing a treaty titled the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the United States continues to struggle with racial disparities in every major sector of American

society.

A coalition of American civil and human rights groups submitted a report titled, “Falling Further Behind: Combating Racial Discrimination in America,” to the Committee on Ending Racial Discrimination (CERD) that governs the international convention.

The report detailed disparities that still exist in the criminal justice system, education, voting, education, housing and immigration.

Countries that ratify the CERD treaty must review federal, state and local laws and revise or repeal policies that perpetuate racial discrimination.

Wade Henderson, former Washington bureau director of the NAACP, is president and CEO of one of the groups

that submitted the report, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Henderson noted problems that exist in the criminal justice system and law enforcement.

“There seems to be a pattern of excessive use of force by some police officials in communities around the country, which has raised serious concerns about the level of training these officers have received in the course of the regular preparation to become police officers and the oversight of exercised by individual departments on the behavior of individual officers,” Henderson said.”

Henderson said the Justice Department should review and prosecute, where appropriate, the cases in which law enforcement used excessive force and deadly force against unarmed individuals and suggested cutting federal funding to state and local law enforcement agencies that continue to violate civil and human rights of the people that they have sworn to protect.

Henderson added that the U.S. ratified the international treaty in 1994 and joined the world community in its obligation under the treaty to take steps to reduce racial discrimination and disparities within our borders.

Police kill at least 2 Blacks each week NNPA News Service

In the past month, three names have been added to the list of Black men killed by police – Eric Garner of New York, Ezell Ford of Los Angeles and Michael Brown of Ferguson, Mo. According to statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Justice, an unarmed African-American died at the hands of an armed white police officer at the rate of nearly two per week from 2005 to 2012.

Over that eight-year period, 400 police killings were reported per year. White officers killed a Black

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person, on average, 96 times per year. Of those, 18 percent of the African-Americans killed were under the age of 21, compared to 8.7 percent of whites.

There are concerns that the number of deaths could be higher. The statistics are based on the voluntary reporting of local law enforcement jurisdictions. Currently, approximately 750 of 17,000 law enforcement agencies regularly report their figures to the FBI. That means if the ratio holds true for all 17,000 agencies, the annual 96 Black deaths at the hands of white officers could be as high as 2,170 a year or almost 42 per week – nearly six per day.

THE MOTHER OF TRAYVON MARTIN wrote an open letter to Lesley McSpadden, the mother of Ferguson, Mo. shooting victim Michael Brown. “Facts, myths, and flat out lies are already out there in Michael’s case,” Fulton wrote. “Theories, regardless of how ridiculous, are being pondered by the pundits. My advice is to surround yourselves with proven and trusted support.

Through it all, I never let go of my faith, my family, or my friends. Long after the overwhelming media attention is gone, you will need those three entities to find your ‘new normal.’ Honor your son and his life, not the circumstances of his alleged transgressions. I have always said that Trayvon was not perfect. But no one will ever convince me that my son deserved to be stalked and murdered. No one can convince you that Michael deserved to be executed,” she said……..THE NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION filed a lawsuit against the City of Ferguson, Mo. and the Ferguson Police Department, seeking any and all incident reports, investigative reports, notes and memos prepared by Ferguson police officers, in-dash camera video, photographs, cellphone video and recordings in connection with the shooting death of Brown. The NBA also sent a preservation of evidence notice requesting that both entities preserve the officers’ raw notes of all statements, observations and data collected from the scene of the incident……..

THE CDC now has more than 50 disease detectives and other experts battling Ebola on the ground in West Africa. The CDC deployed 14 people to Guinea, 18 to Liberia, 16 to Sierra Leone and seven to Nigeria.

The focus of the CDC effort is on stopping the outbreak. This means finding every person who is sick with Ebola and tracing their contacts. The Ebola virus can remain in the body for weeks before making a person sick.

VOLUME 83 • NUMBER 42 AUGUST 21, 2014 Print Editor Publisher Marilyn Marshall Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Sports Editors Advertising/Client Relations Max Edison Selma Dodson Tyler Darrell K. Ardison Multimedia Coordinator Local Coordinator LaGloria Wheatfall Cierra Duncan Online Editor Interns ReShonda Billingsley Jazzi Black Art Director Michael Roman Tony Fernandez-Davila Velyjha Southern The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

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Back-to-school tips for parents Adding anything else to a child’s back-toschool to-do list may seem daunting, but Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital has five tips that can make returning to school this year easier.

1. Yearly exams mean healthier children.

Experts emphasize the importance of adhering to the recommended annual physical and vision exams as well as staying up-to-date on your child’s vaccine schedule.

2. Sleep is the foundation for good performance. On average, school-aged children should get nine to 11 hours of sleep each night.

3. Nutrition is a key to success. Nutrition is one of the most important factors in a child’s success in academics, behavior and physical activity. Whether sending off a packed lunch at the beginning of the day or encouraging children to make healthy choices in the lunch line, parents and caregivers play a key role in a child’s health and success during the school year.

4. Help prevent serious injuries. Injury is the leading cause of death in children and teenagers; however, it is preventable in most cases. Be sure that children know to obey all street signs and officers. Check the playground equipment at your child’s school by looking for hazards such as

rusted or broken equipment and dangerous surfaces. It is also important for your child to wear his or her backpack properly.

5. The heat is still on. The heat and humidity of August and September can be a danger to children and teens playing outside during recess, sports practices and other after-school activities.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that a child should drink between five and nine ounces of cold tap water every 20 minutes.

Law, justice high school changing The HISD Board of Education voted unanimously to rename the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice the High School for Law and Justice. The school will also move into a new facility in 2016.

According to Principal Carol Mosteit, the change will better reflect the school’s mission and provides a positive connotation for the school.

“This new name will help prospective students and parents understand the broadness of our magnet program. We offer a wide range of studies that span the law and justice field – much more than just the enforcement of laws.” said Mosteit.

“The change goes into effect during the 2016-2017 school year just as we are moving into our new facility.”

A new school is being constructed just outside of downtown as part of the district’s 2012 bond program. The location is along Scott Street between Pease and Coyle Street near Interstate 45.

The 104,866-square-foot building will be in close proximity to the Houston Police Department’s South Central station, which can serve as a resource to students in the magnet school’s criminal justice program.

Plans include a courtroom and law library in the center building. h

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DEFENDER | AUGUST 21 | 2014

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Forensic experts and Brown family attorney Benjamin Crump share results of a second autopsy (above), while unrest continues in Ferguson (right). Photos Ctsy. St. Louis American.

Search for answers continues in Ferguson The death of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-yearold Black man in Ferguson, Mo. killed by police, continues to spark outrage across the country, leading to demonstrations, riots and calls for justice from the Black community.

President Barack Obama recently announced that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder would travel to Ferguson to meet with the FBI and oversee an investigation into any civil rights violations in the shooting.

“It’s clear that the vast majority of people are peacefully protesting,” Obama said. “A small minority of individuals are not. Giving into that anger by looting or carrying guns or even attacking the police only serves to raise tensions and stir chaos.”

In another development, a Missouri grand jury could hear evidence on the Brown case at any time. They will determine if Darren Wilson, the officer who fatally shot Brown, would face criminal charges.

The National Guard was also called in to Ferguson to help ensure safety and security after previous attempts by local police to suppress protests and looting failed.

A private autopsy, performed by Dr. Michael M. Baden at the request of the Brown family, revealed that Brown was shot at least six times, including a fatal shot to the skull.

Baden, the former chief medical examiner for New York City, said the wound to the skull happened when his head was bent downward. “It can be because he’s giving up, or because he’s charging forward at the officer,” he said.

Wilson alleged that he and Brown struggled over his gun but, according to Baden, no evidence of a struggle was found on Brown’s body. There were abrasions on

the right side of Brown’s face but Baden believes those occurred when Brown fell to the pavement.

Many protestors contend that Brown was surrendering to police when he was shot, and have been marching with their hands in the air.

Brown family attorney Benjamin Crump said the autopsy “confirms our worst fear, that the witnesses were telling the truth.”

“What else do we need to give them to arrest the killer of my child?” asked Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, after autopsy reports were revealed.

SEEKING

for Micha

By CIERRA Defen

Houston activists call for soli Houston activists and community leaders have called for solidarity with the citizens of Ferguson, Mo. after the police shooting death of Michael Brown and subsequent protests.

Local vigils and rallies have been held following the incidents in Ferguson. Most recently, Texas Southern University students marched to the Martin Luther King Jr. monument in MacGregor Park in support of justice for Brown.

Another gathering was held at Lyons and Lockwood in Fifth Ward. One of the speakers was Nation of Islam Minister Robert Muhammad.

“Those young people in Ferguson stood up and showed the whole world what has been brewing in us this last 450 years,” Muhammad said. “They are fearless.”

New Black Panther Party Chair Krystal Muhammad

echoed his sentiments and linked the events in Fe local issues.

“What’s going on in Ferguson is not police bru is ethnic cleansing, it is genocide,” she said. “That happening in South Park, Sunnyside and across th These are human rights violations that are going o Days earlier, Krystal Muhammad and other com members clashed with members of the Open Carr the same location in Fifth Ward. The organization in the “safe and legal carry of firearms openly in t Texas.”

They had planned a demonstration in Fifth Wa Quanell X, National Black United Front Chair Kofi T and Fifth Ward residents stopped their efforts.

“We took exception to people from outside of

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Police STOP you?

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Stay calm. Don’t run, argue, or resist or obstruct the police, even if you are innocent or police are violating your rights. Keep your hands where police can see them.

Ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, calmly and silently walk away. If you are under arrest, you have a right to know why.

You have the right to remain silent and cannot be punished for refusing to answer questions. If you wish to remain silent, tell the officer out loud. In some states, you must give your name if asked to identify yourself.

JUSTICE

ael Brown

A DUNCAN nder

You do not have to consent to a search of yourself or your belongings, but police may “pat down” your clothing if they suspect a weapon. If you voluntarily consent to a search, anything the police find can be used as evidence against you.

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If you are stopped in your car, pull over in a safe place as quickly as possible. Turn on your cell phone audio or video to record what happens. Turn off the car, turn on the internal light, open the window and place your hands on the wheel. Upon request, show police your driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance. Explain where in the car you will be getting documents from.

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If the police come to your home, you do not have to let them in unless they have certain kinds of warrants. Ask the officer to slip the

Things to do

warrant under the door or hold it up to the window so you can inspect it. Even if officers have a warrant, you have the right to remain silent. If you choose to speak to the officers, step outside and close the door.

If an FBI agent comes to your home or workplace, you do not have to answer any questions. Tell the agent you want to speak to a lawyer first. If you are asked to meet with FBI agents for an interview, you have the right to say you do not want to be interviewed.

If you agree to an interview, have a lawyer present.

If you are arrested, do not resist arrest.

Don’t say anything, sign anything or make any decisions without a lawyer. You have the right to make a local phone call and police cannot listen if you call a lawyer.

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Prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested. Memorize the phone numbers of your family and your lawyer.

Make emergency plans if you have children or take medication.

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Remember: police misconduct cannot be challenged on the street. Write down everything you remember. If you are injured, take photographs of your injuries. File a written complaint with the agency’s internal affairs division or civilian complaint board.

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our community coming in with some type of armed demonstration,” Taharka said. “[Open Carry] said their motive was to educate our community on firearms. We said we are already educated on this subject.”

Loretta Brock, leader of the organization “The People Hold the Purse,” said the planned Open Carry demonstration had perceived racial undertones.

“My concern is that the majority of the people that are with the Open Carry movement are non-minority and for the most part males,” she said.

“So, if you are having an open carry demonstration for the purpose of empowering people so that they will understand that they have the right to bear arms, then you would not do that in a matter that can be perceived as intimidating, hostile or oppressive.”

he Houston area for over 80 years

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Kathy Blueford Daniels, Minister Robert Muhammad and Kofi Taharka gather in solidarity.

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DEFENDER | AUGUST 21 | 2014

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entertainment

Jacinte Blankenship

Houston native appears in ‘Get on Up’

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By VELYJHA SOUTHERN Defender

ome Houstonian-area residents might recognize a familiar face in the James Brown biopic “Get on Up.” Jacinte Blankenship, formerly of Missouri City, plays Velma Brown, the first wife of the “Godfather of Soul.”

Jacinte is the daughter of Sidney and Greta Blankenship.

After graduating from Elkins High School, she moved to Atlanta to attend Clark College. While in Atlanta she trained with acting coaches to perfect her craft.

She has appeared in such films as “Unconditional” starring Michael Ealy, and her TV credits include “Vampire Diaries.”

“Get on Up” is her first major film role. It stars Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Craig Robinson, Jill Scott and Dan Aykroyd, and chronicles Brown’s rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history.

Here, Blankenship talks about her life, career and the film.

Defender: Tell us about growing up in Missouri City.

Blankenship: I went to Quail Valley Middle School and Elkins, so I’ve been there just about all of my life. My family moved there when I was about six months so Houston is all I know. I have two brothers there and my nephew is there now; he goes to Lake Olympia Middle School. So all of my family is in Missouri City.

Defender? How did you get into acting?

Blankenship: I’ve always wanted to do it. I’ve been in some type of performance all my life. I took dance and I have always been someone who loves to dance and sing. I was in choir in high school and college. I used to be in [gospel artist] James Fortune’s group in high school when he was just starting out. There are probably old tapes of all of us

floating around…

Defender: What was it like working with Chadwick Boseman, who plays James Brown?

Blankenship: It was great. He’s super open and warm and from the instant we met, there was an ease with him I felt immediately. In our scenes we communicated easily and had a really good working relationship.

He’s extremely talented so that also makes it easy because when you work with someone like that, your talent always meets them where theirs is. It’s great to work with someone like that who will allow you to work on that level.

He’s great and I’m so excited for him because he knocked it [the role] out of the park. He’s phenomenal. If you haven’t seen it you have to see it just for his performances.

Defender: Why else should people go see it?

Blankenship: Because it’s a great tribute to James Brown and his legacy especially through his music. The film features some great recordings and showcases his ability to cross lines of color and age.

Defender: What else can we look forward to from you?

Blankenship: Right now, I’m still here in Atlanta auditioning and training. As always, and even more so since this film, I just want to be the best actor that I can be. So I’ve gone to New York for a few days to study and I have taken workshops here with some really dynamic acting coaches. Training has been probably my utmost priority and always has been but now I just can’t get enough.

Aside from that, I had a small role on “Being Mary Jane.” I’m just working and auditioning a lot; the grind doesn’t stop as you’re trying to do this. You get lots of no’s, but when the yes’s come, it’s all worth it.

what’sup Celebrities such as KEVIN HART, OPRAH WINFREY, LEBRON JAMES and BORIS KODJOE have participated in Ice Bucket Challenge, which has raised more than $22.9 million for the ALS Association. With the challenge, people make a video of themselves dumping a bucket of ice water on their heads, post it on Facebook, Instagram or other social media sites, and challenge others to do the same within 24 hours or donate $100 to ALS. The challenge is raising money and awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease……..

“Scandal” co-star JOE MORTON was named Outstanding Guest Actor during the Creative Arts Emmy

Awards, held the weekend before the Prime Time Emmy telecast. Morton portrays Elijah Pope, the coldhearted father of KERRY WASHINGTON’S character Olivia Pope. Actress UZO ADUBA earned an Outstanding Guest Actress trophy for her portrayal of Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on “Orange is the New Black,” the Netflix series set in a women’s prison. The Primetime Emmy Awards air Monday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. on NBC. In addition to Washington, other nominees include DON CHEADLE of “House of Lies,” ANDRE BRAUGHER of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” IDRIS ELBA of “Luther,” CHIWETEL EJIOFOR of “Dancing on the Edge,” CICELY TYSON of

“The Trip to Bountiful” and ANGELA BASSETT of “American Horror Story: Coven”……..ROD MAN was crowned the winner of “Last Comic Standing,” NBC’s comedy competition featuring KEENEN IVORN WAYANS as a judge. Man is described as “a Georgia boy” with Southern charm and a laid-back style of storytelling. He has entertained audiences at the Apollo Theater, Caesar’s Palace and Atlanta’s Uptown Comedy Corner. Man was inspired by such comics as MARTIN LAWRENCE, CHRIS TUCKER and the late BERNIE MAC. “Watching comedy made me feel good, so I figured, why not try to be the one making other people feel good?” Man said.

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AUGUST 21 | 2014 | DEFENDER

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Texas campaign targets drunk drivers

In Texas, there is a traffic crash about every 20 minutes involving a driver under the influence of alcohol.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) hopes to lower this staggering statistic with its annual Labor Day campaign, “Drink.

Drive. Go to Jail.” The campaign runs through Sept. 1.

“Drinking and driving puts you and others at risk of being killed or injured,” said John Barton, TxDOT deputy executive director. “At the very least, you can face expensive fines, jail time and loss of your driver’s license. It’s just not worth it and it’s entirely preventable.”

In 2013, DUI-alcohol-related traffic fatalities accounted for one in three of all Texas roadway deaths, or nearly 1,100. During last year’s Labor Day weekend in Texas, nearly half of the 35 holiday traffic fatalities were caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol.

a law enforcement officer suspects than an individual’s driving is impaired.

A DWI arrest and conviction in Texas can cost up to $17,000. Offenders must pay a long list of costs, including vehicle towing and impoundment, bail, attorney fees, court and probation fees, fees to regain or retain a driver license, and a hike in auto insurance premiums.

Penalties get worse with every

DWI offense. A first conviction includes a $2,000 maximum fine, up to six months behind bars, a suspended driver’s license for up to a year, and $1,000 every year for three years to keep your driver’s license For drivers who have too much to drink, options include calling a taxi, using mass transit, asking a sober friend or family member for a ride home or staying put.

Glasses. Medicine. Dentist visits.

Peace of mind. $50 or less covers all your children for one year.

Even small amounts of alcohol can impair a person’s ability to safely operate a vehicle. Alcohol slows reaction time, reduces the ability to properly gauge speed or distance and impairs vision.

All 50 states have established a threshold making it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Drivers can be arrested with a BAC below .08 when

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DEFENDER | AUGUST 21 | 2014

sports

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Coach Kevin Sumlin of Texas A&M University depends on players such as receiver Ricky Seals-Jones.

The beat goes on for A&M Aggies

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By MAX EDISON Defender

wo years ago, there was a great deal of anticipation as the Texas A&M University Aggies prepared to begin SEC football competition.

They had been woeful underachievers in the Big 12. They had a brand new head coach and a vacancy at the quarterback position, and there were doubts about the Aggies’ ability to compete in college football’s most competitive conference.

Fast forward two years and all those questions have been answered. Head coach Kevin Sumlin has clearly shown that he can mix Xs and Os with the very best in the SEC. He discovered a little fellow named Johnny Manziel who turned out to be a pretty decent QB. The Aggies have back-to-back bowl victories and they’ve beaten the nation’s No. 1 team, on the road no less.

The 2014 season will have question marks, but they certainly won’t revolve around whether the Aggies belong in the SEC. Now the question is how quickly can they compete for an SEC championship?

With a multi-million dollar stadium expansion project in full progress, Aggie football is riding an unprecedented wave of popularity. Sumlin has the unenviable job of managing expectations.

“We have our own expectations. I’ll put it that way,” Sumlin said. “We have to because year one, nobody expected anything out of us. Last year, we were expected to beat the Green Bay Packers…

“What we try to do is be the very best team that we can be on Saturdays. Even though [some of] these guys are young, they’re talented players. It’s our job to get them in the right place, to have them playing at a high level.”

The Aggies led the SEC in passing offense, scoring offense and total offense the past two seasons. With such an explosive sports car, the biggest question in the off season was who gets the keys?

Sumlin selected sophomore quarterback Kenny Hill to lead the postManziel era. Hill came to A&M from Southlake Carroll High School near

Dallas, where he was named the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year and Class 5A Offensive Player of the Year throwing for 2,291 yards and 20 touchdowns, along with 905 yards rushing on 102 carries and 22 touchdowns in 2012.

Hill played in four games for A&M in 2013 as a true freshman. He completed 16-of-22 passes for 183 yards and one touchdown.

He also rushed for 37 yards on seven carries.

A high-octane offense like the Aggies needs a rock solid offensive line and the Aggies have had one the best in the country. A&M had tackles selected in the top 10 picks of the NFL draft for two consecutive years and senior Cedric Ogbuehi, an All-American candidate, should continue that legacy. Along with junior center Mike Matthews, he will anchor a solid offensive line.

The Aggies are stacked deep at running back and prominent in that group is former Dekaney All-Star Trey Williams, a junior.

The anticipation is that talented Sealy redshirt freshman Ricky Seals-Jones will fill the void at wide receiver now that Mike Evans has moved on to the NFL. Defensively, the Aggies had their woes in 2013.

Many of the young players who were forced into action last season due to injury have matured.

“I think the key to our defense will be the rotation up front, the maturity of the guys who played last year, and getting better safety play,” Sumlin said.

Expect junior Julian Obioha, sophomore Daeshon Hall, junior Alonzo Williams and senior Donnie Bagg to be key contributors in the front seven.

Two seniors, cornerback Deshazor Everett and safety Howard Matthews, will lead an experienced group in the secondary.

The Aggies enter the season rated No. 21 in the AP preseason poll. They open the season Aug. 28 on the road against conference rival South Carolina.

Quarterback Kenny Hill follows in the footsteps of Johnny Manziel at A&M.

Running back Trey Williams of Spring attended Dekaney High School.

classified HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

The Houston Independent School District located in the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center at 4400 West 18 th Street Houston, Texas 77092 will accept proposals, until the stated date and time deadlines, in the Board Services Office, Level C1 

Project 14-05-10 – Translation and Interpretation Services – with a deadline of 3 P.M. September 17, 2014. The pre-proposal conference for this project will be in Room 3C12 at the above stated address on September 9, 2014 at 1:00 PM.

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Project 14-07-01 – RFI/Holistic Feedback Survey Instrument (s), with a deadline of 3:00 PM; August 27, 2014. A pre-proposal conference will not be held.

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Project 14-07-02 – Drug and Alcohol Testing and Employment Physicals Administrator – with a deadline of 3 P.M. September 3, 2014. Any questions regarding this bid please contact Renée L. Brown, Senior Sourcing Specialist, Procurement Services at (713) 556-6517 or rbrown30@houstonisd.org.

 Project 14-08-01 RFP – Bus / Vehicle Painting & Body Repair with

deadline of 10:00 A.M., September 17, 2014. The pre-proposal conference for this project will be in Room 3C04 at the above stated address on September 10, 2014 at 9:00 A.M.

 Project 14-08-03 – Purchase of HVAC Parts and Supplies – with a deadline of 2 P.M. September 17, 2014. The pre-proposal conference for this project will be in Room 2NE32 at the above stated address on September 3, 2014 at 9:00 A.M.

Proposals are available on the HISD web-site at www.houstonisd.org.

The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, or, to accept the proposal that is most advantageous to the District.

The District sells obsolete assets on-line at www.PublicSurplus.com.

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Texas Stallions Track Club encourages youth

By MICHAEL ROMAN Defender

Y

oung athletes in North Houston are learning the importance of dedication, determination and discipline through participation in the Texas Stallions Track Club.

Since 2006, more than 300 youngsters ages 6-18 have been involved in the club. They reside in such areas as Spring, Tomball, Klein and The Woodlands. They participate in indoor-outdoor track and field, and cross country.

Elijah Wright, Dectrick Edwards, Jonathan Carnes and Ethan Houlston of the Texas Stallions Recently, 13 track club Track Club earn medals at the AAU Junior Olympic Games. members were among thousands dence through regularity of practice and finding out what of athletes who competed in the motivates each athlete individually,” Carnes said.

Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympic Games at Carnes, an Army veteran who played briefly in the Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

NFL, is married to the Stallions’ assistant head coach, Gavin Story placed sixth in the decathlon for Lavoxkeia.

Their four children – Christopher, Brittany, 15-16-year-olds. Lavoxkeia Carnes placed sixth in the triple Lavoxkeia and Jonathan – all run for the Stallions. jump for 13-year-old girls.

Mrs. Carnes, who ran track at Southern University, Other track club members who finished in the top 20 also stressed the importance of the club’s schedule. included Abena Ofori (high jump), Elijah Wright (high “We are one of the few clubs jump), Camren Petersen (high jump), and Ethan Houlston that operate year around,” (3000-meter run). she said. “We are able Houlston and Wright were also members of the Stalto maintain closer lions’ 4x-800-relay team (which relationships, placed eighth), along with monitor personal Dectrick Edwards and progression and Jonathan Carnes. improve overall Character buildfitness. ing, citizenship and The club’s academic achieveobjectives include ment are emphasized challenging by the club’s coaches. youth to strive for The young athletes excellence, teaching have fun as well. fundamental principles Paul Durisseau, the Abena Ofori that will equip them with skills Stallions’ head coach, is to compete on a national level, and encouraging leadera graduate of Prairie View ship and discipline.

Lavoxkeia Carnes A&M University and is working Its “graduates wall of honor” includes members who toward his doctorate at Texas A&M University. He said went on to earn college scholarships, such as Christopher the club’s staff is comprised of former pro and college Collins, Prairie View; Christopher August, Xavier Uniathletes who are NCAA certified. versity; and Christopher Byas and Lamont Grow, Pratt “Our athletes become prepared for the next level of Community College. track by experiencing college training techniques, great The Stallions’ cross country season begins in Sepconditioning habits and the avoidance of overexertion,” tember, indoor track season in December and outdoor Durisseau said. track season in February.

Registration fees vary from Head field coach James Carnes noted the importance season to season.

For more information visit www.texasof the club’s year-around regimen. stallions.org.

“The coaching staff instills proficiency and confi-

AUGUST 21 | 2014 | DEFENDER

sportsbriefs Yates awarded two titles The UIL recently announced that it was stripping Dallas Madison of 3A basketball championships the team won in 2012 and 2013. The move was the result of an investigation that discovered an ineligible student played both seasons for Madison. As a result, Yates High School, the runner-up both seasons, has been awarded the official titles.

The player who was ruled ineligible, Jonathon Turner, has been arrested and charged with the murder of his friend and fellow basketball player, Troy Causey. The two championship games will be listed as 2-0 wins in favor of Yates in tournament records, and all state tournament records set by those games will be expunged.

Garrison academy needs help The Zina Garrison Tennis Academy (ZGA) has been chosen to compete with nine other cities in a contest that will award $10,000 to the city program with the most Twitter votes. The USTA Foundation and JP Morgan Chase’s #ReturnTheServe program recognize the top 10 National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) programs across the country. The ZGA is the only NJTL program in the city of Houston selected to compete for the award. ZGA supporters can vote daily on Twitter to help the academy win and continue supporting local youth. Participants must have a valid Twitter account to vote. You can vote directly on the program’s website by clicking the “support” button for Houston at USTAFoundation. com/ReturnTheServe or tweet #returntheserve + #Houston on Twitter. You can vote once every 24 hours until Sept. 3.

Carter AL Player of Week Major League Baseball announced that Houston Astros infielder/outfielder Chris Carter has been named the American League Player of the Week for Aug. 11-17. For the week, Carter hit .321 (9x28) with four home runs, nine RBI, a .750 slugging percentage and a 1.083 OPS. Among AL players during the week, Carter led the league in home runs, RBI and total bases (21), while ranking second in slugging and tied for fourth in hits. Carter had a career day on Aug. 12 against Minnesota, going 2x4 with two home runs and a career-high-tying five RBI in the Astros 10-4 win over the Twins. This marked his ninth career multi-homer game and his sixth this season, which ties him for the Major League lead. His six multi-homer games this year also tie a franchise record, set by Lance Berkman in 2006.

Rams assist in Ferguson Give the St. Louis Rams an “A” for effort. With the chaos surrounding Ferguson, Mo. in wake of the tragic police shooting of Michael Brown, the Rams contributed football tickets for their third preseason game. Three Ferguson high school football teams will receive tickets to see the Rams take on the Green Bay Packers. “In light of everything going on, it just kind of hit me,” Kyle Eversgerd, Rams manager of fan development and alumni relations, said. “I can’t imagine, with all that stuff going on, how tough it must be to practice. We were able to get them away from it all.”

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DEFENDER | AUGUST 21 | 2014

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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com

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HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE…..The HAUL and Comcast Summer RoboCamp UT Health Science Center, UT Dentistry, UT Physicians, Harris County Precinct 7 (Constable tackled the summer learning loss slide which results in children losing up to three months of May Walker), Wells Fargo Bank, Kroger and Baylor College of Medicine. Present for the ocknowledge from the previous school year. For 10 weeks, 45 students between 7 to 14 years of casion were Vernita Gaston, Pamela Greenwood, Carolyn Williams, Tawanda Usher, Dr. age focused on learning, and not in the form of the traditional classroom. Parents, families and Kimberly Johnson-Baker, Wanda Adams, Yvette Adams, Cheryl Solomon and more….. friends joined together to celebrate the progress the students made during the summer. ApENSEMBLE THEATRE…..The Ensemble’s “Anchor of Inspiration” Black Tie Gala was plauding the students’ progress were HAUL President & CEO star-studded with glitz and glamour throughout the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Judson Robinson III, Paula Ware, Naomi Carrier, Jeff WalWith the combination of honorary chair Sylvester Turner and gala chairs Defender TOP EVENTS lace, Sylvia Brooks, Michelle Barnes, Phyllis Bailey and a host Laurie Vignaud and Deavra Daughtry, the event was destined for More photos on defendernetwork.com of others…..TEEN SUMMIT…..The All the Way LIVE Teen success. Congrats to Janette Cosley and Eileen Morris for all their hard See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s ‘Crossroads’ Summit in Sunnyside was jumping as students, HISD School work throughout the theater season. The occasion kicked off with Ron with Melanie Lawson Sunday Morning @ 5:30 and 11:30 a.m.

Board Trustee Wanda Adams and the UT Health Prevention Johnson and the Ensemble Young Performers singing “Happy,” which set Center hosted a We Can Do More Campaign at Worthing High the tone for the night. The celebrity honorees were Hal Williams, Robert School. The event included health screenings, games and live DJ with special guest 97.9 Townsend and Letoya Luckett. Corporate and individual honorees were Jerelyn and Rev. The Box and I Am Me Foundation. The empowerment sessions were on point: “Staying on DeFarris Gooden, the Lawson Family, BP and McConnell Jones Lanier & Murphy. It Track: Navigating Life’s Obstacles,” “Manhood,” “Dating Violence,” “Crossing the Line: was a packed house with KHOU’s Debra Duncan, Ensemble Board chair Argentina James, A Discussion About Consent,” “Finding Your Passion” and “I’m Classy: Proper Etiquette, Judge Vanessa Gilmore, Dee Coleman, Demetrius McDaniels and Dr. Melanie Belt, ShaBody Language, Attitude and Confidence.” Some of the organizations participating included ron and Doug Owens, Carolyne Oliver and Leonard Spearman Jr. to name a few.

John Robinson Sr. and Judson Robinson III

Tawanda Usher, Dr. Kimberly Johnson-Baker and Trustee Wanda Adams

Sylvia Brooks and granddaughter Alannah

Dr. Stacey Crandall and Tarik Elie

Deavra Daughtry, Laurie Vignaud and State Rep. Sylvester Turner

The Lawson family and friend

Paula Ware and Michelle Barnes

Delysa Whitlock, Cheryl Solomon and Amber Hargrove

Ashley Turner, Sylvester Turner and Ebone Stowers

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