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Garland
MY TRUTH By Cheryl Smith Publisher
A lie is a lie is a lie When you are in a position of power or influence, or fortunate to have a bully pulpit; you have an obligation to be conscientious and responsible. In essence you have to know what you are talking about and when to speak. If you're fortunate to have an audience that respects you and has an expectation that the words coming out of your mouth are based on truth, are thought-provoking and trustworthy; it is imperative that you never do anything to violate that trust. Folks are depending on you to be honest and you can't let them down.
Over the past week I have heard so many lies and innuendoes that it has been so disheartening. Talk about fake news or whatever you want to call it. No, I am not talking about the president of these United States of America. I am talking about the constant commentary, speculation, gossip and mess involving the murder case of Amber Guyger But guess what, that is what happens when you lie. Have you ever had someone tell you something so far-fetched and prepos- terous that you feel like a fool repeating it? Well, thatís how I felt this past week. As I received calls from across this country asking, "What the heck," I felt stupid on so many accounts because I know I have been lied to. I know that there's more than meets the eye. I know that there has been preferential treatment. And then, guess what? I don't know a thing! And that brings me to my truth. I grew up being told that my word was my bond. I was told that all I had to stand on was my honor. I would tell the children that they should tell the truth and they definitely shouldn't lie to me. I would say, "If there is anyone in the world you want to believe what you say, it should be me, because I will fight with you until the end if you are telling the truth." Didn't work, but it sounded good! I also knew that if you teach a child to lie, guess what? They will lie to you! Anyway, years ago, as I hosted a show on KKDA-AM, to get folks interested in KwanzaaFest, the cultural event celebrating Kwanzaa, I talked about the baking contest and encouraged participation. I said I was cooking my sweet potato pies and they are the best. Well as weeks led up to the event, I got really busy and didn't see how I was going to cook those pies. So I got on the radio and told this elaborate tale about how all that week I had been getting threats that I better not enter that pie contest. I was having fun with it, until Dear Mrs. Coleman, a long time listener called in and said she was appalled! The nerve of someone threatening me, she said. I could tell that my See MY TRUTH, page 6
JOURNAL
OFFICER FIRED
OCTOBER 3, 2018
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VOL XVIII ISSUE 3 OCTOBER 3, 2018
LCHsS alum returns home
Guyger charged with manslaughter
November 2013 and was assigned to the Southeast Patrol Speaking at a town Division. hall meeting at Paul The news provided little Quinn College, Dallas comfort for the Jean family, Police Chief U. Renee back in Saint Lucia, where the Hall asked for support, funeral was being held for the time to do her job and 26-year-old analyst. to let the process work While some cheered the as investigators work news, others asked for answers, to find out what hapand still others asked for murder pened on the fateful charges to be filed against the September night when former police officer. off-duty Dallas Police “The firing is a step in the Officer opened fire, killright direction,” said Min. ing Botham Jean in his Dominique Alexander, who apartment. gathered outside the Dallas Amber Guyger “You said you didn’t Police Department Headquarmurdered Botham Jean trust the police departters Monday night, with othment, so we brought in er demonstrators. “So many the Texas Rangers,” she times we have to get delayed said, adding that citizens justice, that’s why we must said they didn’t trust continue to fight for policy the police to investigate changes.” their own. “Give me a Those changes, he said, are chance. Let me do my many, and include instituting job!” a citizens/police review board As she spoke to the with subpoena power. “Laws crowd, some in the auhave to be changed,” he condience said they didn’t tinued. “We can’t let anybody trust the Rangers etiher. stop us from getting justice in The chief said she is this city!” aware of the frustration Joined by former Dallas and that’s why it is imDeputy Mayor Pro Tem Diane portant that the process Ragsdale, Dr. Jeff Hood, and be followed and those four of the nine who were entrusted to do a job be arrested during a protest given time to conduct a Chief U. Renee Hall with City Councilmembers at outside the Dallas Cowboys Paul Quinn College Town Hall Meeting thorough investigation. game in Arlington, on Sun“If we just hand over day, Sept. 16., Min. Alexander Hall terminated Police Officer the information we gathencouraged demonstrators ered and they (Rangers) use that Amber Guyger, #10702, during a to remain vigilant. information then they aren’t hearing held September 24, 2018. Dr. Hood pointed out that An Internal Affairs investi- “justice is a community effort,” conducting an independent ingation concluded that on Sep- and not just for those who can vestigation,” she pointed out. On Monday it was announced tember 9, 2018, Officer Guyger, afford it. #10702, engaged in adverse conthat the officer had been fired. “We are fighting against an induct when she was arrested for stitution that keeps telling us we Manslaughter. The release read: don’t matter,” he said. “We have Officer Guyger was terminated to stay focused because there Dallas Police Chief U. Reneé for her actions. She was hired in are so many issues.” By Cheryl Smith
Ember Moon with Principal Maresa Bailey by Tiffany Veno
Special to the Garland Journal
Juniors and seniors at Lakeview Centennial High School received a special surprise when LCHS alumna and WWE star Ember Moon, also known as Adrienne Reese, spoke to students about having a dream and working hard to achieve it despite any challenges life See LCHS, page 6
Hamilton Park churches unite Unity in the community is bringing four inter-denominational churches of the Hamilton Park community together for an exciting series of Thursday Rev. Dr. Sheron Patterson night revivals during October. Hamilton Park United Methodist Church is celebrating its 61st anniversary, and the Thursday night series is one of their celebratory events. The four churches participating are, on Thursday, Oct. 4, Dr. Gregory Foster of First Baptist Hamilton Park Church, Oct. See UNITY, page 6
Investigation of Mavs complete By Dorothy J Gentry Sports Editor
Two days after results of an investigation into the Dallas Mavericks organization, characterized by the NBA as "disturbing and heartbreaking," were released, Head Coach Rick Carlisle walked into a packed news conference in the bottom level of the American Airlines Center and promptly addressed the elephant in the room. "I am in awe of the women that have worked in this organization for the past 20 years. I am inspired by the victims who had the courage to come forward and tell their stories to ensure an accurate investigation," Carlisle said to the reporters assembled for the Mavs annual Media Day before the start of the NBA season. "My heart goes out to those victims that were affected and how difficult that situation was for them and will probably continue to be." Carlisle's comments came after a press conference Wednesday in the same room in which the results of a seven-month investi-
Earl Sneed, former beat writer for the Dallas Mavericks
gation into sexual harassment allegations within the organization were released. As a result of the investigation, the NBA announced that Mavs owner Mark Cuban will donate $10 million to women's organizations "committed to supporting women's leadership and development in sports and combating domestic violence." The NBA also issued a statement on the investigation's findings which found no evidence of workplace misconduct by Cuban personally. The investigation substantiated numerous instances of sexual harassment and other improper work- place conduct within the
Chris Hyde, former Mavericks senior ticket sales employee
Mavericks over a period spanning more than 20 years and found Mavericks management was ineffective, including a lack of compliance and internal controls, and the shortcomings permitted an environment in which acts of misconduct and the individuals who committed them could flourish." NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement, "The findings of the independent investigation are disturbing and heartbreaking and no employee in the NBA, or any workplace for that matter, should be subject to the type of working environment described in the report." The investigation, conducted by Krutoy Law P.C. and Lowenstein Sandler and which
was overseen by the NBA, followed a Feb. 20, 2018 Sports Illustrated article titled, "Exclusive: Inside the Corrosive Workplace Culture of the Dallas Mavericks." The report described a culture in the Mavericks' front office "rife with misogyny and predatory sexual behavior" and chronicled multiple allegations of sexual harassment and other workplace misconduct by current and former employees on the business side of the Mavericks. In the Sports Illustrated article, allegations were made against Terdema Ussery (former President and CEO), Buddy Pittman (then-Senior Vice President of Human Resources, who was subsequently suspended), Earl Sneed (then-beat writer for the Mavericks, who was immediately terminated), Paul Monroe (former Vice President of Marketing), and an unnamed former employee later identified in a May 27, 2018 article in The Dallas Morning News as Chris Hyde (former senior ticket sales employee). Over the course of the investigation, additional allegations against some of these same individuals was uncovered. Sexual harassment allegations against Ussery surfaced less than See MAVS, page 3