June 1st, 2017 Edition

. LouiS AmericAn

STL police accused of excessive force, battery

UCity school board member files suit for tasing and arrest at Black Lives Matter protest

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Kristine Hendrix, a 36-year-old mother of three boys and an elected school board member in the University City School District, filed a lawsuit on Friday, May 26

started as a silent march by Busch Stadium at 8 p.m. The group had already moved to the sidewalk and were making arrangements to go back to their cars when the police “ambushed”

against three St. Louis police officers and the City of St. Louis for assault, excessive force/ battery, false arrest and imprisonment, and malicious prosecution. On Friday, May 29, 2015, Hendrix was leaving a Black Lives Matter demonstration on Washington Avenue, which had originally See POLICE,

Hendrix told the St. Louis American in a 2015 interview. She was already on the ground with one arm handcuffed behind her back when a police officer tased her body at least three times

Lezley McSpadden graduates in Jennings

Lezley McSpadden visited with Miranda Jones, a Jennings School District board member, at Jennings High School’s 2017 Commencement ceremony held at the Chaifetz Arena on Friday, May 26. McSpadden graduated through the district’s new Adult Education Program that she helped to develop with Superintendent Art McCoy Jr. McSpadden, 37, dropped out of Ladue Horton Watkins High School as a teen mother. She came to international attention in August 2014 while mourning the Ferguson Police killing of her son, Michael Brown Jr.

Half a century of service

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis turns 50

By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American

In the 50 years since it first opened its doors as the Herbert Hoover Boy’s Club in St. Louis, Flint Fowler, the president of Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, conservatively estimates serving well over 100,000 children and youth through after-school and summer programs to strengthen and support academics, increase recreation and develop character.

“We mesh well with what schools and families need. We are open at times when parents are more likely to need us,” Fowler said. “Research tells us the most dangerous time for a child is between the hours of 3 and 6, and that’s generally when they are out of school and their parents are still at work.”

n “We mesh well with what schools and families need. We are open at times when parents are more likely to need us.”

– Flint Fowler, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis

Rather than leaving the children on their own, the club provides structured, organized activities with adult supervision.

‘I just want people to know me for me’ Deja Brown, little sister of Michael Brown Jr., graduates with mom

By Sophie

Hurwitz

For The St. Louis American

On Friday, May 26, Lezley McSpadden, mother of the late Michael Brown Jr., made headlines for her graduation from Jennings High School. She wasn’t the only member of her family among the 160 Jennings students in cap and gown that day, though – her daughter, Deja Brown, graduated too. Though the two took classes during the same year, their schedules didn’t overlap much. While Brown took the standard senior classes, McSpadden was in the district’s Adult Education Program, established by Superintendent Art McCoy Jr. in consultation with McSpadden, who dropped out of Ladue Horton

Danielle Lee named National Geographic Emerging Explorer

American staff

Danielle Lee was named by the National Geographic Society to its 2017 class of Emerging Explorers comprised of “uniquely gifted and inspiring scientists, conservationists, storytellers and innovators who are changing the world.” As an emerging explorer, Lee will receive $10,000 for her research. She currently is a visiting assistant professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the Department of Biological Sciences. She is a mammologist, who studies

See LEE, A7

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Photo by Wiley Price

Deja Brown

Kristine Hendrix held up two candles of hope after marching from Canfield Green Apartments to the Ferguson Police Department on MLK Day 2015.

Details emerge from Tiger Woods’ arrest

Golfer Tiger Woods, arrested on Memorial Day in Florida on suspicion of driving under the influence, said alcohol was not involved and he had “an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications.”

According to a police report obtained by Espn. com, the officer said Woods “had extremely slow and slurred speech” and struggled with several roadside tasks. The report noted that the golfer changed his story about where he was going and where he was coming from, originally saying that he was coming from “L.A.” and on his way to “Orange County” before stating that he had no idea where he was.

Woods told police he was

taking several prescriptions, including two painkillers. Police said Woods was “cooperative as much as possible” and that he agreed to take a breath test and a urine test. He blew a 0.00 in the breath test.

According to a more detailed police report issued Tuesday afternoon, both tires on the driver’s side of Woods’ car were flat at the time of his arrest and there was damage to the front and rear bumpers.

Is Apollo attempting to nix Phaedra’s prenup?

According to TMZ.com, Apollo Nida is putting in work to have his prenuptial agreement with Phaedra Parks rendered null and void.

The entertainment news and gossip site says Nida filed documents suggesting that the court should cancel the agreement because soon after it was signed in 2009 Parks agreed to do “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” which

THE STUFF THAT HAS PEOPLE TALKING

came with celebrity status and increased revenue streams. In the documents that were

obtained by TMZ, Nida says that the increased cash flow should be taken into consideration as they attempt to settle the financial element of their divorce.

Parks, who is also an attorney, insists that the prenuptial agreement is iron clad.

Terrence Howard’s daughter exposes family drama on IG

Actor Terrence Howard’s daughter Heaven Howard put her dad’s current wife on blast with claims that Mira Howard is going out of her way to make things difficult for the children Terrence has with his former wife.

“Don’t let anyone steal your smile,”

Heaven wrote in a now deleted Instagram caption that was screenshot by Hollywood Street King. “My stepmother Mira tried to steal mine, but I won’t let her. She’s blocked my brother, sister and me from her phone – and also from my father’s phone. She has tried to tear my family apart. For what reason? Why did you act like you cared in the beginning? I was quiet and polite because I only wanted to bring us all together again, but now I can’t even text or call my father because of you, so I’m saying something. I have no reason to be quiet. I am not the one to be rude to or try to hurt anyone, because what’s the point. It’s truly a lesson for us all.”

“Sat down with my favorite person on planet earth to have one of the most healing conversations,” Alsina said as the caption for a video clip of an interview conducted by actress and producer Jada Pinkett Smith. “I hope it’s as healing for you as it was for us I pray that you not only hear me, but you feel me.” In the teaser, the two chat about the cost and expectation of fame. Alsina reveals his health crisis to Pinkett Smith –and why he chose to keep his illness close to the vest.

August Alsina

August Alsina is battling liver disease

Singer August Alsina used his Instagram account to disclose a serious health battle.

“I’m fighting liver disease,” Alsina said. “I’m sick all the time, but I don’t like to talk about it because I’m not looking for anybody’s sympathy or for people to treat me like I’m a [expletive] cancer patient, because I’m not.”

Sources: Espn.com, Instagram.com, TMZ. com, CNN.com, Diary of a Hollywood Street King

Tiger Woods

New St. Louis magnet school graduates first class

All 44 graduates are headed to college

By Camille Phillips Of St. Louis Public Radio

For the first time in more than a decade, the St. Louis public school district is celebrating the first graduating class of a new high school. The Collegiate School of Medicine & Bioscience, which opened in 2013 and is now located at 1547 So. Theresa Ave., gave diplomas to 44 seniors on Sunday, May 21. While still too new to have much of a track record, Collegiate’s high standardized test scores help the highly selective magnet school stand out from a crowded field of sciencethemed schools in the city. In 2015 and 2016 Collegiate had some of the highest English and Math scores in the region, on par with Metro High School, which is often ranked as one of the best schools in the country.

Principal Frederick Steele said this year’s graduates took a risk in choosing Collegiate when it was a brand-new school. “They are true ground-breakers and trailblazers,” said Steele. According to Steele, Collegiate’s

44 seniors will all be going to college in the fall, about half with plans to pursue medicine. Collegiate students achieved an exceptional 96 percent proficiency in English and 91.5 percent proficiency in math on the 2016 Missouri Assessment Program tests.

More than 250 students applied for the 2016-17 academic school year, nearly twice as many than the inaugural class applicants in 2013.

Mayor again?

Were it not for corruption, scandal, greed and the recycling of political leaches, the tiny village of Alorton, Illinois would only be mentioned in the context of some obscure Illinois trivia question.

Joann Reed, the current mayor of Alorton, represents all of those negative qualities. She recently returned to the position after being removed from office, back in 2013, following a guilty plea to a felony charge of

smuggling a cell phone and food to her niece at the village jail.

However, Reed took advantage of an Illinois law that allows a felony to be erased if an “independent evaluator” determines the crime to be the result of substance abuse and provided that the person completes drug treatment and probation. As a result, Reed completed her probation, just prior to the Alorton mayoral election, and won. But the only ones who are cheering are

Steele is trying to increase enrollment at the school and sees private schools and other college prep magnet schools as his main competitors.

Collegiate has similar entrance requirements to Metro. The district’s older science-focused magnet school, Gateway STEM High School, is less stringent.

Charter schools with a science, math and technology focus, like Gateway Science Academy and

probably her political sponsors, to whom she delivers votes, in Belleville and St. Clair County.

That would be the likes of St. Clair County Board

Chairman Mark Kern, Democratic godfather Bob Sprague, Belleville attorney Tom Keefe and attorney Mark Scroggins who, collectively, donated $11,500 to Reed’s campaign. And what was her first priority as the newly elected mayor? Being the true “public serpent” that she is, she begged for a new car. That’s right, in an impoverished village of 2,000 residents, the first agenda item at the village board meeting was some new wheels for the mayor.

The Collegiate School of Medicine & Bioscience, a St. Louis Public Schools magnet school that opened in 2013 and is located at 1547

So. Theresa Ave., gave diplomas to 44 seniors on Sunday, May 21. All 44 students have college plans.

Photo courtesy of The Collegiate School

Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls, can only legally give selection preference based on geography.

Gateway Science Academy held its first high school graduation last year, boasting a hundred percent college acceptance rate like Collegiate.

Collegiate’s partnership with some of the region’s major science and technology institutions also makes it unique, as does its narrow focus on

In a subsequent meeting, the village voted 4-2 to hire seven new, unbudgeted employees. Village trustee Gwen McCallum, who opposed the hires, stated, “We don’t know what they are going to be paid. And we can’t afford them anyway.”

But I do understand Mayor Reed’s sense of urgency. With the possibility of being booted out of office again, because of pending felony vote fraud charges (felony vote buying and electioneering during the November 4 general election), time is of the essence.

If she is convicted, St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly said that he will ask the judge to, once again, remove her from office.

life science.

An advisory panel that includes the Cortex Innovation Community, the Washington University School of Medicine and the Saint Louis University School of Medicine helped found the high school. The panel also helps shape curriculum, connects students to internships and provides financial support.

Cortex CEO Dennis Lower said the innovation district helped found Collegiate because a good educational foundation lays the groundwork for research.

“Our raw materials really are smart people,” said Lower. “It’s only natural that Cortex would be affiliated obviously and sponsored by multiple universities here in St. Louis, but also that we try to look to the future to the pipeline of talent.” Lower hopes the public magnet school will also help diversify the fields of science and medicine in St. Louis. The Collegiate student body is about 54 percent black, 28 percent white and 14 percent Asian. About 20 percent live in St. Louis County and enroll as part of the voluntary desegregation program.

Follow Camille on Twitter: @ cmpcamille.

Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

So the game of mayoral musical chairs continues in Alorton. In 2000, Mayor Callie Mobley pleaded guilty to filing false income tax returns and was sentenced to 30 months. In 2012, Mayor Randy McCallum resigned after pleading guilty to federal corruption charges stemming from his intent to distribute cocaine and lying to FBI agents. He received a 43-month sentence. Apparently Mayor Reed won’t be happy until she finally joins the rarified ranks of Alorton mayors to actually have been incarcerated. In that endeavor, I wish her much success because she has certainly earned it.

Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo. com; Twitter@JamesTIngram.

Columnist

James Ingram

Editorial /CommEntary

Move divisive Confederate Monument out of Forest Park Commentary

We have already spoken our mind on the matter of the Confederate Monument in Forest Park and, to us, the matter is very simple. We maintain strongly that it must be removed from our city’s jewel of a public park and given to the Missouri Civil War Museum where it belongs.

Concurrently, Confederate Drive, where this gross glorification of the defenders of slavery now sits, should be renamed Abolition Drive or Freedom Way or just about anything other than for the treasonous army that defended race-based chattel slavery.

Mayor Lyda Krewson said she is finalizing plans to remove the offensive monument. The longer it takes, the more needless protests, arguments and acts of vandalism will be staged around the Angel of the Confederacy, which was an angel of dehumanization and death for African Americans.

“There is a difference between remembrance of history and reverence of it,” New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said curtly in bringing down the last of his city’s public monuments to the defenders of slavery, and that is really all there is to it. We won’t forget slavery, don’t you worry about that, but we won’t tolerate the public reverence of the people who defended slavery. We commend St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones for starting a crowd-funding effort to remove the statue that will have passed $15,000 of its $25,000 goal by this time this editorial appears. We likewise commend Krewson for her unequivocal forthrightness in welcoming the assistance of crowd-funding to move the monument, even though it originated with her erstwhile political opponent. The rest of the money must be found in the interest of the civic good, and the monument must be moved to a museum where it belongs. This community needs to move forward by removing this symbol of racism and slavery.

The Confederate Monument in Forest Park was once again vandalized and tagged with anti-racist slogans on Tuesday, May 30.

Citizen input into police chief search is good, but … Mayor Krewson was wise to respond to the community call for input in the search for a new police chief. The Citizen Advisory Committee that she appointed is a mix of familiar faces and change agents. We were especially impressed by the appointment of Lisa Cagle, a member of the Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression, and Alderman Terry Kennedy to this citizen committee. The formation of this citizen committee belies the persistent political rumor that when Krewson negotiated Chief Sam Dotson’s exit she already had an inside candidate tabbed for promotion. We agree with the Ethical Society of Police that the police chief

that St. Louis needs is not in the department but must be found elsewhere, and under local control the mayor is not obliged to promote from within.

That said, we must not forget that the police chief reports to the director of Public Safety, a less public but ultimately more impactful position. In addition to supervising the police and fire chiefs, the director’s portfolio includes the Division of Corrections, possibly the Slay administration’s worst disgrace. We beg the community to place as much or more emphasis on the director of Public Safety as the police chief in demanding change from this mayor.

Greitens must veto SB43

Our new outsider Republican Governor Eric Greitens can save himself and our state a tremendous amount of shame by vetoing Senate Bill 43, which weakens workplace protections for women and minorities. If enacted, the law would require plaintiffs to prove claims of discrimination are “the motivating factor” in an action by an employer; existing law says the plaintiff has only to prove discrimination was “a contributing factor.” If he signs this noxious bill into law, Greitens invites on himself the stench and shame of the bill sponsor, state Sen. Gary Romine (R- Farmington), who owns a rental housing company in Southwest Missouri, Show-Me Rent-toOwn, that is currently being sued for race discrimination. “There is nothing more corrupt than someone getting elected to go to Jeff City to sponsor a bill that would directly benefit himself,” attorney Paul Bullman told KCUR. “That’s the definition of corruption.” If Greitens does not want to ally himself with the definition of corruption, he must veto SB 43.

Department of Justice is moving in the wrong direction

By Marc H. Morial National Urban League

Dear Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the 20th century called. It wants its failed, heavy-handed criminal justice policies back.

In a throwback to the George W. Bush administration, Sessions is widely expected to formally order all federal prosecutors to impose the harshest sentences for all drug offenses and offenders, including the return of the widely unpopular and discredited mandatory minimums.

This “dumb on crime,” bygone-era approach to criminal justice will catapult our nation back to the days of racially infected mass incarceration, warehousing black and brown bodies at a rate wildly disproportionate to their overall rate of population as a result of overzealously disproportionate law enforcement. It will perpetually ensnare nonviolent offenders, who have small chance of being rehabilitated while in prison, leaving them to face near-insurmountable obstacles and odds to fully re-enter society, while robbing already vulnerable communities of an ex-offender’s future potential as an employed and civically engaged citizen.

It comes with a heavy price tag for taxpayers – both in terms of safety and cost – with study after study revealing a cynically slim return on investment, if any.

Sessions’ reversal of Obama-era policies that sought to correct the egregious

Letters

America: still more melting pot than race war

By Esther J. Cepeda Washington Post

For the past decade, the narrative of an upcoming Hispanic demographic tsunami has been alternately energizing and scaring people into believing that America will eventually become Latinized beyond recognition.

Don’t worry, it isn’t going to happen.

I recently attended a Latino studies forum at an urban university boasting a student population that is 39 percent nonwhite. The diversity in the room was astounding: Latinos 17 to 60 who represented families living in this country since the 1600s, as well as those who have been here for only a few years.

There were Hispanics of every race, many that were biracial and more that were merely bicultural, with delightful combination names like Bruce Hernandez and Esmeralda Rosenstein or names that didn’t “sound” Latino at all. This is the trend.

The Pew Research Center recently released an analysis of census data showing that in 2015, one in six American newlyweds married someone of a different race or ethnicity. This represents a fivefold increase in the past 50 years, with Asian and Hispanic newlyweds representing the most likely to have intermarried – nearly three in 10 marry someone of a different race or ethnicity.

According to Pew, the most common intermarriages in 2015 were between someone of Hispanic ethnicity and someone who wasn’t Hispanic.

Those marriages accounted for more than half the total, with most of those Hispanics marrying non-Hispanic whites. These intermarriages are ushering in changes to how society perceives ethnicity and race.

“Demographers have not taken into account how the perception of race is likely to change in the coming years,” wrote Herbert J. Gans, a professor emeritus of sociology at Columbia University, in The New York Times, in reference to the U.S. Census predictions of a majorityminority population as soon as 2040. “For example, whites are already seeing the descendants of some Asian and Latino immigrants as being similar to them. Consequently, whites treat them as white. This ‘whitening’ process will only increase in the future.”

But if there’s such a thing as reverse-whitening, that’s happening, too. People are increasingly deciding for themselves what ethnicity or race they identify as.

For instance, a January 2012 Census Bureau report titled “The American Indian and Alaska Native Population: 2010” says 175,494 Mexicans (Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicano) self-identified as American Indian, making Mexican-American Indians the fourth-largest tribal group in the country.

There are other variations on this idea of ethnic identification fluidity. In 2015, Mark Hugo Lopez, the director of Hispanic research at the Pew Research Center, told me that there were approximately 2.1 million to 2.5 million people who say they have an ancestry that is Hispanic but don’t identify as such. And the opposite can be true: If anyone wants to be Hispanic, they need only say so. “There are no genetic tests; it’s a self-labeling thing,” Lopez told me.

There are even some who are starting to consider whether racial identity can, or should be, as changeable as gender identity. Writing in the spring issue of the academic feminist philosophy journal Hypatia, Rebecca Tuvel, an assistant professor at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, wonders whether it is possible or acceptable to change one’s race in the way some change their sex.

This dissatisfaction with the traditional ways to selfsegment and build identity is at the root of why, in the years to come, America will not be embroiled in a race war: The races will find a way to intermingle.

Just as was the case back in 1967, when the U.S. Supreme Court decided in the landmark Loving v. Virginia case, which recognized the right to intermarriage, some people will be open to and comfortable with the melding and mixing of different ethnicities and races.

Others will have no choice but to deal with the opportunities and challenges of a thoroughly interracialized society.

wrongs of our nation’s broken criminal justice system – such as reserving the harshest sentencing and enforcement resources for serious, violent, high-level offenders – flies in the face of promising consensus that has been steadily building among civil rights and social justice organizations, states led by conservative governors, and across the partisan divide in Congress.

It seems everyone, except the Department of Justice, understands that flooding our prisons –and keeping private prisons in business to warehouse the anticipated overflow from federal prisons – is not a solution that has, or will, make us safer.

According to data from The Sentencing Project, Louisiana has the highest state imprisonment rate, yet its governor recently announced a deal to reduce the state’s prison population by 10 percent – an initiative that will save Louisiana taxpayers an estimated $78 million annually. Right now, four of the 10 top states with the highest incarceration rates are pursuing “smart on crime” criminal justice reforms that safely reduce our bloated prison population by focusing on alternatives to punishment and improved re-entry programs that increases the chances of

to the editor

Trumpcare is a betrayal

The independent report from the Congressional Budget Office confirms what Missouri’s Republicans have been hiding from: Trumpcare is a betrayal of our working families that will spike costs for older Missourians and gut protections for individuals who’ve been sick before. But then again, Missouri’s Republicans in Congress knew weeks ago this would hurt our working families but shamelessly threw themselves a party when they voted for it anyway.

Stephen Webber, chair Missouri Democratic Party Columbia

Missouri budget hurts the permanently disabled

In Missouri, we’ve been told that our financial position is so bad that we must cut services for 20,000 citizens who are permanently and totally disabled. Changes in the levelof-care requirement for people utilizing Medicaid in-home services (originally proposed by Gov. Greitens) will leave our neighbors with spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, ALS and other disabilities without any support. Rather arbitrarily, politicians have decided that these vulnerable citizens do not need the services they have been receiving.

The General Assembly has floated ideas to ease the pain of the cuts for the permanently disabled. Eliminating a tax credit for elderly and disabled was one option they presented – essentially asking which vulnerable citizens we most preferred to reduce services for. That measure failed, so the budget will be “balanced” on the backs of people with disabilities who have both limited incomes and a need for in-home services.

The General Assembly doesn’t actually have to do this at all. Around $100 million of revenue will go unspent

ex-offenders never returning to prison.

And how about working to keep as many people as we can out of the clutches of our broken, racially and socioeconomically unjust criminal justice system in the first place? As a nation, we must agree to prioritize prevention and address crime before it happens. That means housing the homeless, removing the heavy price tag and stigma around mental health and mental health services, feeding the hungry, ensuring a quality education in every zip code, and providing work tied to living and gender equitable wages.

The Department of Justice is moving in the wrong direction, and a course correction is critical. The resistance, in all its forms and arenas, remains firm, especially among the states, which bear the fiscal brunt of policies that call for the indiscriminate filling of jails cells at a heavy cost to their budgets and the safety of their citizens. A growing number of states are reluctant to follow the Department of Justice’s lead, and we hope more states come to the realization that crime can be reduced through a variety of methods that don’t involve throwing the book at people who can be rehabilitated, while keeping the public safe. We must resist the rollback. We must retreat from the failed policies of the past, not return to them.

Marc H. Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

All letters are edited for length and style.

this year in the form of supplemental funding. That’s more than enough to ensure we are taking care of people who need it.

Aimee Wehmeier, CEO Paraquad, St. Louis

Scrap the pending disaster

The Congressional Budget Office score confirms what we already knew: TrumpCare is a disaster and if enacted, will kill thousands of Americans every year.

TrumpCare saddles older Americans with an unfair age tax, strips 23 million Americans of their health insurance and punishes victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

I remain deeply troubled by my Republican colleagues’ rush to pass this disastrous bill before the CBO completed its

analysis and we understood the impact of TrumpCare. Now I know why. I’m proud to stand with the countless Illinois families in opposing TrumpCare, a position supported by the American Medical Association, American Nurses Association, American Hospital Association, National Rural Health Association, AARP, March of Dimes and the Cancer Action Network. When it comes to TrumpCare, House Republicans need to put politics aside and listen to the American people; less than 20 percent of Americans support this disastrous bill. It’s time to scrap the pending disaster that is TrumpCare and get to work on making healthcare affordable and accessible for all.

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, chair Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust

Guest Columnist Esther J. Cepeda

Guest Columnist Marc H. Morial

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Running for scholarships in Hazelwood

More than 550 individuals registered for the 36th Annual Hazelwood PTA Council Scholarship Run/ Walk at Hazelwood Central High School on May 13. Since the program inception in 1959, Hazelwood PTA Council has raised more than $3 million and provided more than 3,200 scholarships to students.

Free Fishing Days are June 10 and 11

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) offers Free Fishing Days June 10 and 11. During Free Fishing Days, anyone may fish in Missouri without having to buy a fishing permit, trout permit, or trout park daily tag. Aside from not needing permits, other fishing regulations remain in effect, such as limits on size and number of fish an angler may keep. Special permits may still be required at some county, city, or private fishing areas. Trespass laws remain in effect on private property.

For information on Missouri fishing regulations, get a copy of MDC’s “2017 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations” where permits are sold or online at short. mdc.mo.gov/Z3C. For extensive information on getting started fishing, visit huntfish.mdc. mo.gov/fishing. MDC’s free MO Fishing mobile app helps anglers find the best places to fish in Missouri. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/contactengage/mobile-apps/mo-fishing.

Top Ladies of Distinction hosts SynLod June 23-28

Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. (TLOD), a nonprofit educational, humanitarian, and community service organization, will host its bi-annual national convention at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, June 23 - 29. During this meeting, called Syn-Lod, the national officers, committees and members will convene to discuss best practices, strategies for program implementation, and recognition of the investments that have been made in the communities that TLOD and its youth group Top Teens of America serve.

Institutes and workshops will be held that focus on the state of the organization, leadership development, membership recruitment/retention and personal growth. In addition, there will be a Community Beautification Nature Walk, Caregivers Forum and a Health Fair/Healthy Choices seminar. With Top Teens of America, a college and career fair will be held, along with a networking event. Other activities include the Lords’ Appreciation Luncheon (spouses of TLOD members) and “Jamming the STL”.

Over 500 members will be in attendance, including founder Major Ozell Dean (Washington D.C.) and national President Drema Lee Woldman (Chicago). For more information, visit www.tlodinc.org.

Children in adult prisons is a crime against humanity

By jusTizz Guest columnist

As a member of the Metropolitan Congregations United Juvenile Justice Task Force, I’ve spoken with families who have teens in the criminal justice system. A couple of months ago, I spoke with a father, who essentially said police interrogated his 15-year old boy without his knowledge and without proper council. Under Missouri law, there is no requirement to notify parents.

Just last week, a Francis Howell student was illegally searched without probable cause. Hazelwood seniors, including the student body president, were suspended without due process.

This is exactly why Break the Pipeline St. Louis exists to ensure student and parent voices are heard and that our community organizes for change. Despite the wave of progression in America towards Raise the Age, Missouri continues to fall behind.

In 1856, Missouri was the last state to decide it wanted to remain pro-slavery, leading our nation into further division. Admission of Missouri as a slave state would upset balance; it would also set a precedent as the expansion of slavery became acceptable for Congress. In 1819, during the organization of Missouri as a territory, U.S. Representative James Tallmadge of New York proposed an amendment that would ultimately end slavery there; this effort was defeated.

Fast forward to 2017. New York has raised the age. North Carolina is on the verge of raising the age. From 2009 to 2014, Connecticut, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Illinois and New Hampshire all raised the age to 18. Legislators and governors alike called for action again in 2016. Louisiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and South Carolina drew the line between the criminal and juvenile justice systems.

In 2016, Raise the Age efforts never even left the Missouri House of Representatives. In 2017, SB 40 and HB 274 “Raise the Age” bills still did not pass, leaving Missouri families without juvenile justice reform.

Although fiscal arguments remain unsupported (juvenile crime has dropped steadily in Missouri), antagonists contend Raise the Age legislature will cost Missouri millions, a flat argument given the more than 40 percent of juveniles being held for low-level misdemeanors and juvenile offenses. These children need rehabilitation and require community support, allotting Missourians fiscal room for 17-year old offenders.

It is time for Missouri to raise the age, not only for the empowerment of our children and parents, but also for general public safety. With concern for our children, state Rep. Nick Schroer (R-O’Fallon) has remained in the trenches, garnering support from both sides. Unfortunately, he ran out of time this year, with closure of the session.

I don’t need a law degree or corporate sponsors to see that leaving children in adult prisons is a crime against humanity. Parents indeed need to be told and have the right to be involved in their teen’s process. Raise the Age legislation is no longer an option; it is a necessity and hopefully a priority in 2018.

jusTizz is the literary pseudonym of the St. Louis-area blogger and poet Israel Collier.

BROWN

Watkins High School as a young mother 20 years ago.

“She would just go to afternoon class, so we never really interacted at school or in class or anything,” Brown said. “But I did help her on homework. Like, math, she was like, ‘I’m stuck! I don’t understand this!’ so I would try to help her the best I could, because it was Geometry, which I took already.”

Graduation was an emotional time for both mother and daughter. “I can’t really believe that I made it out of high school,” Brown enthused. Her mother, she said, had missed out, “having a baby early in school and stuff. I know it’s something that she’s wanted to do. She’s done it and she’s worked really hard, and she’s so excited and I’m excited for her!” Brown will attend Tennessee State University in the fall to begin studies to become a neonatal nurse. She is already working in healthcare, with a job at a Schnucks pharmacy and plans to become a certified pharmacy technician in June.

POLICE

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Continued from A1 all within less than one minute.

Officer Louis Wilson, who is white and is named as one of the arresting officers in the suit, kept telling her to put her hand behind her back, she said. However, she couldn’t move because the other arresting officer, Stephen Ogunjobi –who is black and also named in the suit – kept shooting debilitating electrical currents into her body, leaving her with no muscle control, she said. Hendrix was charged with resisting arrest and interfering with vehicular traffic, but she was later acquitted of both charges.

Given that her older brother was killed by a Ferguson police officer, sparked a national protest movement and became an international symbol

On December 1, 2016, Circuit Judge Nicole ColbertBotchway acquitted Hendrix of resisting arrest, concluding that the “evidence presented in this case does not establish that Ms. Hendrix was ever given an opportunity to comply before she was tased repeatedly and then handcuffed.”

During the arrest, another protestor had handed his phone to Hendrix, who continued to videotape as she walked away on the sidewalk in an attempt to disperse.

Colbert-Botchway stated in her judgment that it was clear from the video and from Officer Wilson’s testimony that he and Officer Ogunjobi approached Hendrix from behind. The judge further stated:

of police killing unarmed black males when she was a sophomore, Brown faced unusual challenges as a student.

“After what happened to

[T]he “pop” sound of Officer Ogunjobi’s taser clearly can be heard as he applies it to Ms. Hendrix for the first time. Within a couple of seconds of that Ms. Hendrix can be heard saying “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. Why did you do that? I wasn’t doing anything?” An officer can be heard saying “Put your hands behind your back,” but before he even finishes the sentence the sound of Officer Ogunjobi administering another cycle of tasing to Ms. Hendrix can be heard, and she screams. In response to the officer’s command, she then can be heard saying five times in succession “I can’t it hurts! I can’t it hurts!” then “It hurts so bad, please, please stop.”

supportive my support system was kept me going and kept me focused.”

She said her support system included her mom, aunt, grandmother, McCoy and a couple of teachers. “It was just a lot of people, even the people who I didn’t talk to on a regular basis, would just call me or text me, seeking me out to have conversations to let me know they would check up on me and everything,” she said.

Only this year did things settle down for her at school.

“To be honest, it felt like all four years in one, like I hadn’t had the chance to be in high school because there was so much going on,” she said.

“It was like, I was asleep the whole time and senior year I was awake, experiencing everything that I never experienced before.”

One highlight was traveling to New York with McCoy and the Jennings NextJenn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) team.

They met with CEOs and visited New York landmarks.

my family, it was hard for me to process, it was hard to be focused in class and continue to keep my grades up,” she said. “Just realizing how

She repeats this several more times, then Officer Ogunjobi tases her a third time. Again, Ms. Hendrix screams, then says, “Oh my God, why are you doing this, I’m on the ground.”

Ms. Hendrix was being electrified almost continuously before the officers handcuffed her. This Court believes Ms. Hendrix [sic] testimony—which is bolstered by the audio from the video recording—that she could not comply with Officer Wilson’s command that she put her arms behind her back. The Court finds this to be so because for much of the time she was on the sidewalk one arm was pinned under her, she was being tased repeatedly in

“I hadn’t done anything like that before, but I met a lot of different people, who are willing to help me with college tuition,” she said.

“She also got some New York pizza!” McCoy said.

quick succession, and between the tasings she was telling the officers repeatedly that “I can’t! It hurts!”

The lawsuit alleges that Ogunjobi and Wilson maliciously intended to cause Hendrix harm and seeks damages of excessive force/ battery and assault against both of the officers. It also alleges that Officer Daniel Zarrick “encouraged, promoted and instigated” Hendrix’s arrest. Although the protestors were walking on the sidewalk at the time of their arrest, Zarrick yelled, “Grab anyone. They were all in the street.” Therefore, the suit seeks damages of false arrest and imprisonment and malicious prosecution for Zarrick, Ogunjobi and Wilson.

McCoy expressed pride and enthusiasm for the leadership roles Deja took on in school.

“I just want to say I’m proud of Deja,” McCoy said.

“She was a major leader and helped to do a lot of the advocacy and systems learning work, all about social justice, and educate others.”

Brown has spent much of high school speaking up about her brother’s death, but this year she looked towards the future.

“At the end of the day, that’s my brother and I’m always going to be his sister, but that’s not my name,” she said. “I just want people to know me for me and who I am, as well. I want to be known for me and my accomplishments.”

McCoy also looked toward the future.

“I’m glad she has taken all of her skills to the next level to become someone who helps people on a professional level,” McCoy said. “We hope to maybe hire her here at Jennings as a school nurse or something, so she comes back home!”

Sophie Hurwitz is a St. Louis American editorial intern from John Burroughs School.

The suit seeks damages of negligent training and supervision against the city. ArchCity Defenders, a local nonprofit civil rights law firm, is representing Hendrix. Since 2014, the law firm has filed 13 cases alleging police misconduct and brutality and has represented non-violent protestors. Two of them have settled, and the rest are pending. Hendrix has explained why she participated in the nonviolent Black Lives Matter action that night. “I do it for my children,” she told the American. “I do it for the children in my youth group and for all children. They deserve an advocate.”

Deja Brown and her mother, Lezley McSpadden, both graduated on Friday, May 26 from Jennings High School. Brown’s older brother and McSpadden’s son was Michael Brown Jr., who became an international symbol for police violence after he was killed by a Ferguson police officer when Deja was a sophomore.

Photo by Brittany Chambers

animal behavior. National Geographic’s designation supports her research on the “behavior and biology of wild rodents, such as landmine sniffing African Giant Pouched Rats, to better understand how we can use them to save lives.” She has conducted this research in Tanzania.

“I was in complete shock upon hearing of this incredible acknowledgement. This means the opportunity to talk about my research on a grander scale. It boosts the credibility of my science activism and offers an international platform to demonstrate the importance of natural history in the sciences,” Lee said.

“We’re entering this new age of science research where we’re focusing on applied answers and how we address the world’s greatest problems. We think about biomed, translation, etc. – and all of that is amazing – but none of that applied information can be used if you don’t understand the basic systems.”

The African Giant Pouched Rat can be successfully trained to detect land minds – as well as tuberculosis. “They are biodetectors,” she said. “We can take advantage of their natural biology, which is that they’re good smellers and they’re trainable.”

Along with this ongoing research focus, she is uniquely interested in the study of rodents’ behavior and ecology across urban gradients. She will use SIUE’s expansive landscape to conduct field research focused on field mice.

“I am interested in how

BOYS

Continued from A1

“It’s more than just stopping kids from doing bad things; it’s really about equipping them with skills, ability and knowledge,” he said.

The club serves about seven thousand young people, ages 6 to 18, each year. Boys make up 60 percent of members, and 40 percent are girls.

Although girls have participated in competitive swim teams, family nights and other programs for many years, Fowler said it officially added girls to the organization’s name in 1993 to align with the national organization and its affiliates.

The club offers a variety of sports activities, including cheerleading, football, baseball, basketball, T-ball, tennis, and track and field. In addition, the children get to go on field trips. Kids have access to computers, homework help and can swim,

these animals have consistently lived in close consort with us,” Lee said. “We’re becoming more urbanized. So, given this increase in urbanization, how do they respond to us as things continuously change on our end? What makes them so successful across time and place and geography?” She is a strong proponent of the teacher-scholar model. This summer, an SIUE graduate student and undergraduates will have the opportunity to volunteer to assist in her field research on campus.

n “This boosts the credibility of my science activism and offers an international platform to demonstrate the importance of natural history in the sciences.”

– Danielle Lee

“We’ll be setting up research plots and doing a traditional capture, mark, recapture study where we’ll live trap animals and identify which species call SIUE home,” she said. “We’ll get an overall assessment of the different species’ community health, including their weight, sex, condition and species. Then we’ll return them. We’re not keeping any.” By summer’s end, Lee hopes to begin conducting pilot behavior tests on-site. This will involve capturing the animals, keeping them for about an hour to do testing, and then releasing them again.

“Science is a verb,” she said. “Being a part of the

play foosball, do arts and crafts and participate in leadership groups.

“Kids that attend more frequently are more likely to graduate from high school on time, have plans for postsecondary activity – either college or trade school, military or work – and are less likely to get in trouble or participate in delinquent behavior, and overall live a more healthy lifestyle,” Fowler said.

Club members get free oral health services at its main location and have since the club opened in 1967.

“Tooth decay is one of those things that you really don’t pay attention to until it’s almost too late and, by then, kids are missing days in school, they’re dealing with the pain, the embarrassment of not having a decent smile, which can affect self-esteem,” Fowler said.

“So not only is it not healthy but it is also detrimental to their self-image, and if you don’t have a positive selfimage, it’s difficult for you to

ecology, evolution and environmental programs in the Department of Biological Sciences means I can give students a handson opportunity to not only learn the concepts and gain a fundamental understanding of the scientific method, but also apply them. That’s why the act of scholarship of undergraduates is so important.”

The researcher emphasizes that she is ministering to her former self, the young girl who was curious about animals and science.

“I seem to have the personality for working with students during their formative stages,” Lee said. “I offer them opportunities to work by assisting me. In the process of helping with my research, if they find passion and excitement, and they want to do their own project within it, I help them cultivate that after they’ve learned the basic skills.”

Lee plans to use her $10,000 award from the National Geographic Society to travel back to Tanzania next summer to continue her research on the African Giant Pouched Rats. Along with forwarding her work, she plans to scout opportunities for SIUE students to travel with her in the future.

“Particularly, a strength of the Department of Biological Sciences is supporting students who are interested in wildlife,” she said. “An opportunity to learn and apply their skills, and experience wildlife/human interactions in a different ecosystem and cultural context would be an extremely valuable experience for our students.”

have the confidence you need to go out and try new things and take reasonable risks in terms of doing new things.”

Fowler said from 1967 to 2007, they operated out of one location, Herbert Hoover on North Grand Boulevard, and have been adding locations and partnerships each year since. Now there is the original location, O’Fallon Park in North City and Adams Park in South City. There are schoolbased locations in St. Louis County: Southeast Middle School and Grannemann Elementary, both in Spanish Lake in the Hazelwood School

n The club serves about seven thousand young people, ages 6 to 18, each year.

District; Ferguson Middle School and Lee Hamilton Elementary in FergusonFlorissant School District; and Highland Elementary in Riverview Gardens School District. The club operates high school dropout prevention programs at Normandy and Roosevelt high schools as well as Mentor St. Louis programs in five elementary schools.

“We are also working to establish a teen center in Ferguson to serve as a program site for high school students from Ferguson-Florissant and Riverview Gardens and

Normandy high schools,” Fowler said. Fowler said the club is working on adding sites in Jennings and an additional site in Normandy, possibly by the beginning of the school year in 2018.

Twenty years ago, the club had an annual budget of about $800,000. Fowler said it is now just under $7 million. Like most nonprofits, Fowler said the Club tries not to charge parents the full cost of activities, which he says is about $5,000 per child. The cost for membership for children and youth is only $25 per year. The difference is made up through United Way donations and from individuals, corporate and business support, as well as fundraisers.

Among the many notable

youngsters who were part of the club over the years are many men and women who are doctors, lawyers, civic leaders, politicians and professional athletes. Many are still in St. Louis, making a positive impact.

“Fifty years is a long time and anybody would be proud of that,” Fowler said, “but I think it’s the impact that we’re having that is really the key.”

On Thursday, June 1, the Club will hold its 2017 Annual Recognition Event, celebrating distinguished volunteers, board members, supporters, alumni and Hall of Honor inductees. The event takes place at the Palladium at 1400 Park Place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.bgcstl.org.

Danielle Lee conducts field research on campus at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where she is a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. The National Geographic Society named her to its 2017 class of Emerging Explorers.

ACTivists bring St. Louis civil rights history alive

exhibit is open.

By Elizabeth Pickard

For The St. Louis American

When the Missouri History Museum prepared to launch the exhibition #1 in Civil Rights: The African American Freedom Struggle in St. Louis we wanted to add new, exciting components to make the experience complete. We commissioned portraits, murals, and other work from local African American artists, and we started the ACTivists Project as an expansion of our theatre programming.

The Missouri History Museum has been producing plays as part of our exhibitions for a decade, including one-person performances and short plays that are researched, written, and performed by MHM’s Teens Make History Players. But for #1 in Civil Rights, the Museum wanted to bring its theatre presence directly into classrooms.

Thanks in part to a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), MHM was able to hire four part-time actor-interpreters. Known as ACTivists, these actors portray leaders in St. Louis’s African American freedom struggle in the #1 in Civil Rights gallery almost every hour the exhibit is open. ACTivists Merlin Bell, Peggy Harris, Gregory Jenkins, and Linda Kennedy embody igures such as Margaret Bush Wilson, an attorney and NAACP leader; George L. Vaughn, the lawyer who argued the Shelley v. Kraemer case in the U.S. Supreme Court; David Grant, a civil rights attorney and leader in the March on Washington Movement; and Pearl Maddox, a widow who organized women to sit in at segregated department stores and restaurants in 1944. For school groups, ACTivists perform a play about the 1963 Jefferson Bank protests and teach students songs that were sung there, such as “We Shall Not Be Moved.”

trip funding – meaning the ACTivist visit was the only interaction a classroom would have with #1 in Civil Rights

The ACTivist visits aren’t done for the entire school – it’s one classroom at a time. The lesson plan introduces the concept of civil rights and explains St. Louis’s civil rights history. It also includes a performance by an ACTivist who portrays either Lucy Delaney, a 19th-century St. Louisan who sued for her freedom from slavery in the 1840s and won, or Charlton Tandy, another 19th-century leader who spurred the actions that led to the desegregation of St. Louis’s streetcars during the 1870s. (The Lucy Delaney and Charlton Tandy portrayals are also performed for the general public at the Museum on Tuesdays at 2 p.m.)

n “Having a person portray a historical figure in an intimate setting brings back to life the struggle of these profound individuals.”

– Merlin Bell

Perhaps the most important facet of the IMLS funding for the ACTivists Project is that it allows the museum to provide outreach visits to schools. The initial hope was that teachers would schedule an ACTivist visit as well as a museum ield trip in order to offer a more in-depth experience than what can be achieved in a two-hour ield trip alone. However, the museum found out that some school districts had entirely eliminated their ield

Visitors are responding positively to the experience – something the ACTivists themselves are seeing irst-hand.

Merlin Bell says, “I strongly believe that being an ACTivist for this exhibit has impacted and enhanced the visitor experience. You can read all day long on facts about history – which are important – but having a person portray a historical igure in an intimate setting brings back to life the struggle of these profound individuals.”

Linda Kennedy agrees. “Most of my one-on-one conversations with visitors are very personal and inspiring,” she says. “Last week a man told me that he and his son visit many museums around the country, but having live ACTivists helps make it more relevant.”

Peggy Harris says of the school program, “All of the students root for the 12-year-old character of Lucy Delaney as she wins her ight for freedom in court. Watching their eyes light up is worth the ACTivist visit for me.”

Teachers are also seeing the value in the ACTivist Project, and their evaluations have been overwhelmingly positive. One teacher told us that the storytelling helped engage her irst graders, and they asked so many thoughtful questions as a result.

#1 in Civil Rights: The African American Freedom Struggle in St. Louis is open at the Missouri History Museum through April 15, 2018, and ACTivist school visits will resume in August.

A rebellion is not a riot

By Jamala Rogers For The St. Louis American

Rebellion and riot are often used synonymously when it comes to violent disruptions wrapped up in race. They’re not the same. Different motivations, different roots, different players, different goals, different outcomes.

A race riot is when white people respond violently to the notion of blacks seeking economic and political power, making black folks the target of their wrath. Black and brown people rebel spontaneously in respond to the accumulation of persistent injustices. The target of our wrath is rarely individual white people, even though we are reacting to white supremacy and institutional racism; our own neighborhoods end up being the brunt of violence.

survivors were traumatized. The wealth and lives of the AfricanAmerican community were erased overnight. Efforts to erase the incident from history were almost successful. Any verbal discussions were discouraged; written accounts were suppressed, reporters threatened who wanted to write about one of Oklahoma’s darkest hours. I recently met a black woman who grew up in Tulsa and never heard a peep about the race riot. It wasn’t until 1996 that the state commissioned an official study of the massacre.

This week in 1921, death and destruction came to black citizens of Tulsa, Oklahoma. This race riot started out like most mob actions in this country. Sarah Page, a white woman, made an accusation against Dick Rowland, an African-American man. Since both Page and Rowland worked in the vicinity and knew one another, it is unclear what really happened, but what we do know is that the white press ran a story that whipped up white hysteria until all hell broke loose.

The growing resentment over time by whites of the successful community of Greenwood – dubbed “Black Wall Street” – fueled the white wage. But the real incendiaries were the bombs dropped from planes allegedly to quell the riots.

The casualties were tragically one-sided. Literally all the 35 blocks of Greenwood were burned to the ground leaving about 10,000 black people homeless. A reported 300 black folks perished, but establishing accurate counts was impossible. Homes and businesses were looted before they were destroyed; there were millions of dollars in property damage. About 6,000 black residents of Tulsa were detained in public facilities like the baseball stadium. Every black person was victimized, and black

Many of my readers told me that they first heard about the Tulsa bombing from my columns. Before the September 11 attack on the World Trade Building, I often referred to the only bombings on the continental U.S. soil targeted black communities – Tulsa and the 1985 bombing in Philadelphia supposedly to rid the city of the group named MOVE. Following World War I, 36 cities experienced race riots because of white opposition to the migration of Southern blacks to the North. In the first nine months of 1919 there were 38 documented race riots in this country. East St. Louis, was among them. Like Tulsa, the police and National Guard who were sent to protect the black communities openly and actively participated in the lynchings and lootings. This summer will be the 100th anniversary of the massacre in East Boogie. If you have the stomach for the savagery, read the transcripts from the Congressional hearings or Harper Barnes’ provocative book, “Never Been a Time.” Or talk to St. Louis Alderman Terry Kennedy whose kinfolks who fled the inferno and dodged bullets pushing across the Eads Bridge.

Racial violence is no stranger to this country. We’ve just gotten more sophisticated in the way violence gets carried out in the public domain, but haven’t spent sufficient time improving the quality of our relationships. It’s time to take some baby steps into a civilized society that honors and protects black life.

ACTivists, including Merlin Bell and Peggy Harris, portray leaders in St. Louis’s African-American freedom struggle in the #1 in Civil Rights gallery almost every hour the Missouri History Museum’s

Jamala Rogers

Redlining, tax abatement and why your property taxes are going up

Kim Franks feels blessed that she and her family were able to move into a rehabbed home in the Shaw neighborhood in South St. Louis. Her home was not taxabated. So when she opened up her new property assessment this May, she saw that her home was assessed at a higher value – meaning her property tax will be significantly higher as well.

This spring, she’s watched as rehabbed homes around her sold for $375,000 or more with tax abatements. That means for the next five to 10 years, these homeowners won’t have to pay a higher property tax like Franks and her family. Their homes will be assessed at the value it was before it was renovated.

The Shaw neighborhood is a highly sought-after real estate market, and rehabbed homes have no problem selling without any incentives. But despite this, rehabbed housing projects are getting five- to 10-year tax abatements as a standard practice.

“I want to make sure our schools are fully funded,” Franks told St. Louis aldermen at a recent community meeting about the budget. “We can’t tax people out of our homes. I’m concerned that’s what we’re going to do if we keep giving away unnecessary tax abatements on these rehabbed homes.” Shaw is one of the neighborhoods that saw the highest rise in property assessments. In the

neighborhoods around Tower Grove Park, single-family homes saw an average increase of close to 30 percent in assessed value. Some families saw their estimated property tax literally double.

This week, Team TIF, a group of residents who consider themselves watchdogs for tax abatements and other tax incentives, released a statement and an infographic illustrating how an abated new rehab in Shaw – or anywhere in the city – is raising the tax rate on the non-abated house next door.

“We are forcing non-abated homeowners to subsidize families that are wealthier than the average homeowner,” it stated.

The math to back up this equation is not that simple. Let’s start with the basics.

First, the Missouri Constitution’s Hancock Amendment limits the amount of tax revenue that a city can collect compared to the previous year. In terms of property taxes, this year the cap on the maximum additional revenue is about 2.1 percent. It’s set by the Consumer Price Index, which fluctuates with the state’s rate of inflation.

A majority of the property tax collected goes to the St. Louis Public Schools, as well at the Zoo-Museum District and the public library. But while St. Louis may have seen 12 percent growth in total assessed value on residential properties, the schools, museums and vital social services are only collecting 2.1 percent more revenue.

home? Homeowners take their assessed value – which is basically 19 percent of their appraised value. Divide that by 100 and then multiply it by the tax rate, which is $8.3818 for residential property.

How do abatements affect this formula? Team TIF argues that it’s in the tax rate.

Tax-abated assessed property value is frozen at pre-development costs. So, the luxury apartments and condos in the central corridor aren’t included in city’s overall assessed valued. And this messes with how the tax rate is calculated. If these fancy rehabs weren’t abated, Team TIF argues that the city’s overall assessed value would be higher, which would drive down the base tax rate.

How exactly? Well, think back to the Hancock Amendment. The tax rate is based on figuring out how to only collect 2.1 percent additional revenue from the previous year.

With fewer abatements, it would spread the burden of getting to this 2.1 percent additional maximum revenue more evenly. Let’s say you’re throwing a party for your parents, and there are 10 siblings to split the $1,000 cost. But two of those kids are exempt for being too young, so you and your seven siblings split the cost. Instead of paying $100, you pay $125.

The more people paying and the more they pay, the lower the rate would be.

Racism and redlining

St. Louis saw a total increase in reassessment growth of about seven percent for all real estate – and about 9 percent when new construction is included.

For residential property only, the total increase in reassessment value is approximately 12 percent on existing property and approximately 13 percent when new construction is included. About 17,000 properties saw an increase of 15 percent or more. Commercial property has

increased approximately 4 percent, mainly due to new construction.

But not all parts of the city saw the increase. While South City saw the highest increase, “many residents of the North Side are still seeing the effects of redlining continue to destroy housing values,” according to Team TIF’s statement.

“This pattern continues to devour black wealth and power, perpetuating the intergenerational cycle of poverty that traps so many St. Louisans,” it stated.

Allowing abatements to continue in largely white neighborhoods with strong real estate markets basically has the same effect as redlining. It reinforces continued market bias against majority black neighborhoods, the group said.

“This is an indirect form of wealth redistribution,” Team TIF stated. “As their properties are abated, they not only pay taxes on the lower value that the assessment was frozen at, but they also end up raising everybody else’s tax rate, due to the way the Hancock Amendment limits local revenue growth.” The abatements are also inflating sales prices in the Central Corridor and near South Side, which makes North Side neighborhoods relatively less attractive for investment.

Team TIF stated, “But at the same time the black families in North St. Louis are locked out of credit access necessary for home improvements and neighborhood upkeep, due to the declining values of their homes.”

The group is urging the Board of Aldermen to reconsider their “habit” of just rubber-stamping every tax abatement that comes before them as form of aldermanic courtesy. “If the board is serious about generating new revenues,” Team TIF stated, “incentive reform must be a key part of the equation.”

Trump’s EPA begins process to replace the Clean Water Rule

By Jordan Rasmussen Center for Rural Affairs

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has formally began the process to withdraw the Clean Water Rule, as prescribed by executive order. Meetings among the EPA, governors, and other state and local environmental regulators have begun.

Jordan Rasmussen

The issuance of a draft rule of repeal is only the first phase to withdraw and replace the 2015 Clean Water Rule. Before the rule can be rescinded, there must be a review of the rule, a public comment period, and justification for repeal as demonstrated through law and scientific evidence.

Additional time will be required to draft and review any new definitions and rules brought forth by the EPA.

As written, the Clean Water Rule, also referred to as the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule, seeks to protect streams and wetlands that provide water for drinking, farming, industry and recreation.

The rule defines protected bodies of water and retains existing exemptions from groundwater regulation and for normal farming and ranching practices like planting, harvesting and moving livestock.

n Ultimately, the Trump Administration seeks to only protect waterways that are “relatively permanent,” a narrower definition than guides the existing rule.

Ultimately, the Trump Administration seeks to only protect waterways that are “relatively permanent,” a narrower definition than guides the existing rule.

Due to a stay of the rule in the district court system, the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers have continued to operate under 1986 regulation and subsequent guidance documents to provide definition.

Much of the opposition to the Clean Water Rule stems from a concern of government over-regulation that was promulgated through the farm and ranch communities during the original rules process.

Jordan Rasmussen is a policy associate for the Center for Rural Affairs.

McCaskill calls Trump to hold Turkey accountable for beatings

The Turkish president’s bodyguards accused of beating Kurdish protesters in Washington on May 17.

American staff

A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators, led by Claire McCaskill, called on the Trump Administration to hold the Turkish government and its ambassador accountable for the violent assault on U.S. law enforcement officials and unarmed protestors outside the Turkish Embassy last week.

“In America, this isn’t how we do things—folks get to protest their grievances without fear of being attacked by government thugs,” McCaskill said. “It’s in our Constitution –

and if foreign governments and their body guards can’t respect that, they need to be held accountable.”

McCaskill is the top-ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and a senior member of the Armed Services Committee.

“It is wholly unacceptable for President Erdogan to bring his security personnel to our country and allow them to violently assault U.S. law enforcement officials, American citizens and U.S. residents engaged in peaceful

demonstrations,” wrote McCaskill and a bipartisan group of Senators to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

“It is clear to us that both the Turkish government and its representative in the U.S., Ambassador Serdar Kılıç, bear responsibility for the unjustifiable actions of the Turkish security personnel.”

The senators continued, “We write to you to ensure the United States will take all appropriate steps to hold the Turkish government accountable for this atrocious behavior. We request that you

call for Ambassador Kılıç and the Turkish government to provide their commitment to ensure all personnel involved in the assault of the demonstrators will have any claim to immunity waived and be made available for interviews with U.S. law enforcement.” McCaskill was joined in the letter by Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, and Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

Police looking for theft victims at construction job sites or new homes

St. Louis County Police

want to hear from anyone who has been burglarized at a construction jobsite or newly constructed home.

County detectives have apprehended four suspects who they say were burglarizing homes and stealing a variety of items from them. They would in

turn sell them for profit or

install them in other residences, police said. These incidents impacted the region, including St. Louis County, St. Louis City, Jefferson County, St. Charles County, and St. Clair County.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars of stolen property has been recovered in the 3700

block of Bates, within the City of St. Louis, police said.

The property ranged from thermostats and doorbells, all the way up to high dollar refrigerators and stoves. Much of the recovered property has been returned to the rightful owners who have been in contact with detectives.

The investigation continues, police said, and the case will be presented to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office as soon as possible. If any homeowners, contractors, or construction workers believe they have been a victim of such theft, please contact the lead investigator at (314) 615-4169.

Making sure lawmakers follow the law

By Nicole Galloway

For The St. Louis American

The Missouri Constitution limits the total amount of taxes and fees government can impose on Missourians before a refund is triggered. It also prohibits the legislature from passing major tax and fee increases without a public vote.

I recently released my annual review of the state’s compliance with this amendment. While no refunds are due this year, my report did find a potential violation. Legislation from last year may cause fees to increase beyond the ceiling set in the constitution.

My review covered two

separate provisions of the Hancock Amendment, which is the specific amendment that imposes these limits on government tax and fee collections. The first provision limits the total amount of citizens’ personal income that can be used to fund state government. My review found the state is well under that limit, which is why no refunds are due. It’s the second limit that raises concerns. The constitution prohibits the legislature from passing major tax and fee increases without a public vote. The Office of Administration reported to my office that legislation passed in 2016 could increase

taxes and fees imposed on Missourians by up to $127.7 million based on fiscal estimates. This exceeds the limit by $33 million. In other words, if the estimate is accurate, it’s a violation of the Missouri Constitution.

That’s a big “if.”

These calculations come from fiscal notes, which are prepared for the General Assembly, and are often unreliable. Much of the total increase comes from fees associated with the passage of one bill in 2016: Senate Bill 588. The bill amends the process and

increases the fee for sealing certain criminal records, including arrest records.

The legislation takes effect next January and is projected to generate up to $154 million in fees its first full year in place.

Missourians amended the constitution to protect themselves from the legislature raising their taxes and increasing fees beyond a certain limit. These constitutional protections are a key reason I am reviewing the cost lawmakers’ policy choices ultimately have on taxpayers.

ESL fine arts summer camp registering

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis After School Performing Arts Program hosted its Spring Recital Thursday, May 18 in Dunham Hall on campus. The recital showcased the musical talents of approximately 25 students ages six to 17. Performances included contemporary dance, piano, hip-hop dance, studio guitar, band and West African drumming and dance. The After School Performing Arts Program in East St. Louis was founded by Katherine Dunham and has been an integral part of the community for decades. After a five-year hiatus, it returned to the delight of community members.

now

The program also operates a six-week, full day fine arts summer camp for 80 youth ages six to 17. Participants experience dance and music classes, enjoy field trips and will be part of a large production on Friday, July 14. Enrollment is open for the camp, which runs Monday-Friday, June 5-July 14. For more information or to register, visit siue.edu/ summer/camps.

n Policymakers must follow the law – which is impossible without knowing what they’re passing and how much it will ultimately cost you.

As part of my Budget Integrity Series, I’m examining this process to determine why fiscal notes are wrong and by how much. These estimates are prepared for bills prior to passage, but have come under scrutiny for wide variations and inaccuracies. To have a truly balanced budget, legislators need accurate information when considering certain pieces of legislation. It’s more than sound fiscal policy and it’s more than just

good government – although it is both of those. Having a balanced budget is a requirement of the Missouri Constitution.

And like the Hancock Amendment, policymakers must follow the law – which is impossible without knowing what they’re passing and how much it will ultimately cost you.

Nicole Galloway (D-Columbia) is Missouri state auditor.

Gary Turner is

2017

Father of the Year at Fathers Support Center

The voters have spoken, and Gary Turner is 2017 Father of the Year at Fathers Support Center. Turner got word on Tuesday, May 23, from his facilitator, Willie Streeter, that he had won the honor and that he will be receiving celebrity treatment.

Turner will be the subject of a feature video, will throw out the first pitch at the June 14 St. Louis Cardinals game, and will receive free services from SuperCuts for himself and his family over the next year.

Turner’s video debuts at the 2017 A Toast To Fathers Annual Dinner on 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 15 at Windows on Washington, where he and his family will be recognized in an official presentation. The dinner is an important way for the center to educate the community about its impact, recognize accomplishments and provide an important source of income. The center is nearly at 70 percent of its $185,000 fundraising goal.

To reserve tickets or a table, visit https://tinyurl.com/ kyhskx9.

Nicole Galloway

American staff

Jada Washington-Holt, Jackie Parker, Jade Washington-Holt, Gysai Sylla and instructor Tyler Elder perform “Aura Lee” during the East St. Louis After School Performing Arts Program Spring Recital.

Gary Turner

John Pritchard Noble Sr.

John Pritchard Noble Sr. was born on May 31, 1931 in West Palm Beach, Florida to Floyd Grafton Noble Sr. and Aurelia Cecil Pritchard, and subsequently grew up in Albany, Georgia.

At the age of 19, he enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Korean

Arthur Michael Washington Sr. made the transition to his next experience in living on March 20, 2017. “Mike” (or “Big Mike”), as he was affectionately known, was a passionate defender of those who were

War. He was honorably discharged in 1953 as an Airman Second Class. He specialized in psychological operations (PSYOS) as a photolithographer based in the Philippines. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal. In 1956 while attending Florida A&M University (FAMU), he met and eventually married Barbara Willafrank Norwood, from Tallahassee, Florida on August 30, 1958, the start of a 58 year

romance. He graduated from FAMU in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business and was a life member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

In 1962, he went on to graduate from Columbia University with a Master’s degree in Health Administration. It was that year that the love birds were blessed with their first son, John Pritchard Jr. affectionately nicknamed Chip, as in “a chip off the old block.”

That same year he packed up the family and moved them to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. He became the first black executive of the Arabian-American Oil Company (ARAMCO) and was the hospital administrator for the hospitals in Dhahran and Ras Tanura. He was personally interviewed and approved by King Saud as they were to be the first AfricanAmerica family to live in the kingdom.

While living in Dhahran, the couple was blessed with

in need of counsel, whether in matters of law, or in matters of life. Along with Emory Clark, he was a partner in the law irm Clark and Washington, P.C. in Atlanta. Although formally retiring in 2015, Mike continued to work part-time in fulilling his calling of helping people in need.

another bundle of joy, Michael Warren. After seven years in Saudi Arabia, he became the hospital administrator at Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

In 1973, the final stop on the adventure was St. Louis where he became the last hospital administrator for Homer G. Phillips, a historically black teaching hospital where hundreds of young black doctors did their internships and residencies.

After the untimely closing of Homer G, he became the

Hospital Commissioner of St. Louis. Finally, after personally overseeing the expansion of the

Airport, he retired as the deputy airport director. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Barbara Norwood of 58 years; his sons John P. Noble, Jr. and the Honorable Michael Warren Noble and two grandchildren, Michael Warren Noble,

and Sydney Alexandria Noble. He was a good man who deeply loved his family, country and friends. He will be missed.

He began his life’s journey on January 25,1947 in St. Louis. He was the irst child of seven born to the late Arthur L. and Rita L. Washington. He was baptized and raised in the Roman Catholic faith, attending parochial schools. Mike was an ever-present and strong big brother to his younger siblings. He had a rich social life, was an excellent student and star football quarterback. He arrived Atlanta in 1964 to attend Morehouse College and chose math as a major. He loved Atlanta and his introduction to the Civil Rights Movement and the enlightenment he gained from the philosophies and teachings of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. He was a serious jazz lover; his favorite musicians were John Coltrane and Pharaoh Sanders, among others. Following in the steps of his father, Arthur L. Washington, he pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in St Louis before arriving at Morehouse, where he was an active member of Alpha Rho

Chapter. He later participated in the graduate chapter of Alpha, Eta Lambda Chapter. He earned his law degree at Atlanta Law School in 1974 and joined the Atlanta Bar Association. He was a founding partner of Lawson and Washington, Attorneys at Law with longtime friend George Lawson. Later, Charles Thornton joined the irm and they became Lawson, Washington and Thornton, P.C. He eventually left this irm to join Clark and Smith, P.C., which later made him a name partner, creating Clark and Washington when Hoke Smith left the irm. The irm named his daughter, Celia, a senior partner in 2016. While at Morehouse, aMike met Barbara Lynn Buckley, a student at Spelman College, and they married in 1970.Their marriage of 24 years produced three beautiful children: Lynn, Celia and Mike Jr. As co-parents, Barbara and Mike maintained their loving guidance for their children together and shared great memories and friendship until the end.

Mike found joy in cross-country road trips with his family and family reunions, and he relished every opportunity to spend time with his

parents, siblings and friends. He was also an avid tennis player, with the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association team as co-captain. He also became an avid runner, participating in numerous Peachtree Road Races. In later years, Mike was beset by numerous health challenges that presented him with very painful and debilitating experiences. He often said he was eternally grateful to his second wife, Julie Brown, who lovingly cared for him and was his strongest advocate throughout his numerous ailments while they were married. He is survived by his loving children: Lynn Michele Washington, Celia Roxanne Cherry (Chris), and Arthur Michael Washington, Jr., and also Telique Morris, siblings, Rita Washington, Robert Washington, Susan Washington, Richard Washington (Clementine), Ronald Washington (Sheri), sister in-law, Pamela Washington (Rodney, Sr.), nieces, Nicole Sweets (Mary Jane), Ashley Washington, and Erin Washington, nephews Eric Washington and Rodney Washington, Jr. and a countless host of aunts; uncles, cousins and friends.

Mike was preceded in death by parents Arthur L. (2001) and Rita L. Washington (2003) and brother Rodney D. Washington, Sr. (2004).

Lambert International

Jr.

Arthur Michael Washington Sr.

Business

STL-TV turns 25

Government-access television at St. Louis reaches quarter-century mark

By Tavia Gilchrist

For The St. Louis American

If you watched STL-TV this week, you may have seen host Ben Province interview up-andcoming bands on the city’s music scene. You also may have found a show called Ovdje I Sada, featuring the food, business and culture of Bosnians who now call St. Louis home. Or maybe you tuned in to exercise along with the Spin Class that airs at 12:30 p.m. most days. This is St. Louis’ government-access television in 2017. You can still tune in to see how your alderman voted – the station has broadcast the Board of Alderman meetings since 1991. Now in its 25th year on the air, STL-TV

n “We’re not ad-driven. We’re able to do programming that impacts lives by telling stories that help people and are representative of the community.”

– Donna Brooks-Sanders

what their local government is doing on their behalf,” said Donna Brooks-Sanders, the city’s communications commissioner. “Over the years, we’ve tried to make the programming reflect the community as a whole, with diverse programming about specific demographics in the city for everybody’s benefit.”

Most St. Louisans remember the station as City 16 and, later, City 10. In 2005, the channel was rebranded and named STL-TV.

The station operates as an arm of St. Louis’ city government – city services and resources, including health fairs, programs for seniors and events planned by various departments,

Arnold Donald was named the top-ranked global executive in the EMpower 100 Ethnic Minority Leaders list, presented by the Financial Times, for his strong leadership and commitment to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace and for serving as an inspiring role model. He is CEO of Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest leisure travel company.

Christina Dancy was promoted to assistant vice president at U.S. Bank. As president of the U.S. Bank’s African American Business Resource Group, she leads a team of employees who volunteer to foster diversity and inclusion by creating opportunities for employees to engage in professional development and volunteerism. She is a member of the Regional Business Council’s Leadership 100 cohort.

Willie J. Epps Jr. has been selected to serve as Missouri Western U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Central Division based in Jefferson City. He is currently associate general counsel and head of Litigation at Edward Jones in St. Louis, where he is responsible for all lawsuits, arbitrations and complex disputes involving the firm.

“STL-TV offers transparency in government and allows citizens to be really engaged in

See STL-TV, B6 has varied its programming over the years, with a lineup of locally produced shows that reflect the diversity and dynamics of the city.

Mayor asks businesses to help with youth jobs

1,000 youth are wait-listed for city’s summer jobs program

By Sophie Hurwitz

For The St. Louis American

The STL Youth Jobs program will provide employment to about 700 St. Louis-area young people this summer through a $297,000 grant from Citi.

n “If your company can contribute and/ or hire a young person, please contact us. It costs $2,500 to fund a young person in a job.”

– Mayor Lyda Krewson

Most of the money will go towards financial literacy education for the young people, ages 16-24, in the program. STL Youth Jobs will also be funded with $300,000 allocated from the city budget. The 700 young people enrolled in the program this summer will work for over 200 employers, though there is still a waiting list of about 1,000 for whom there was no room in the program.

“There are very few things that a good job won’t cure, and young people in our city want to work, they want to make money,” Mayor Lyda Krewson said in a May 23 press conference.

See MAYOR, B2

Kashina Bell was appointed to serve as assistant superintendent of Student Services for the School District of Clayton. She is leaving a position as principal of Parkway Northeast Middle School, where she was recently named the St. Louis region’s 2017 Middle School Principal of the Year.

Djuan C. Coleman is the new vice dean of Finance and Administration at Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-

Lackland as U.S.

Force Airman 1st Class. She graduated in 2015 from Cleveland Junior Naval ROTC Academy in St. Louis. She is the daughter of Zameita Nunn and niece of Coleita Sherrill and Stanita Burton, all of New Orleans.

Arnold Donald

Djuan C. Coleman Christina Dancy

Zanijah M. Nunn

Willie J. Epps Jr.

Kashina Bell

STL-TV staff. Front row: John Richter, Todd Blackstock, Donna Brooks-Sanders, Andre Holman and Jerry Berwin. Back row: Anthony Mueller, Gilberto Pinela, Ivy Hutchison, Cassandra Walker-Suggs, Joseph Brown and Ken Roberts.

Hillary Frye, executive director of STL Youth Jobs; Jared Boyd, chief of staff for treasurer Tishaura O. Jones; Tyson Pruitt, spokesman for Comptroller Darlene Green and Michael Holmes, executive director of SLATE, joined Mayor Lyda Krewson for a May 23 press conference about funding summer jobs for local youth.

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Wiley Price

Food waste is money down the drain

By Nathaniel Sillin

How many times have you gone to pour milk in your coffee, only to see that the date on the carton was yesterday?

Some people will instinctively throw it away, but chances are that’s not what the label is intended to convey. It’s likely a marker for when the food might taste its best, not if it’s safe to eat.

By some estimates, as many as 91 percent of consumers may misinterpret food date labels. It’s no surprise as there are dozens of different lables in use, but the misunderstanding and lack of meal planning are contributing to a larger problem. Between 30 and 40 percent of the U.S.’s food supply winds up in the trash or a compost container. The benefits of reducing food waste are numerous.

You’ll save money, which may be reason enough. You could also be lowering your carbon footprint by keeping spoiled food out of landfills and cutting down on the growing and transportation of food that doesn’t get eaten.

Cutting back on this waste could start with understanding what food labels actually mean.

Don’t misinterpret food dates as expiration dates.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), aside from on infant formula, food label dates aren’t an indication of whether or not the food is safe to eat. For example, “best by” may mean the food will taste, look and feel its best if its eaten by that date. It could still be good for days, weeks or even months (for non-perishables) after that date.

Some states do require expiration dates on milk or meat and food labeling could

become less confusing across the country. But for now, you may need to rely on your judgment. The USDA writes that if foods don’t show signs of spoilage, such as changing colors or giving off an unpleasant smell, they could still be safe and wholesome.

Quick tips for keeping fruit and vegetables fresh for longer. Regardless of the date,

proper food storage can impact a food’s longevity.

• Wait to wash food until you’re about to cook or eat. Otherwise, the moisture could spur bacterial growth.

• Strategically store items in your refrigerator. Your food will typically last longer if you put the least perishable items on the door, meat near

the bottom back (unless there’s a meat drawer), veggies in the crisper and dairy or drinks near the top.

• Generally, you want to keep fruits and vegetables away from each other because many fruits produce ethylene gas and exposure to the gas could cause vegetables to spoil more quickly. There are also vegetables that produce the gas

MAYOR

continued from page B1

“Many of our kids live in neighborhoods where there are very few job opportunities, and St. Louis youth have a higher unemployment rate than any other group.”

The program counters that trend by often providing youth with their first jobs.

“Over 50 percent of our youth from year to year indicate that this is their first job,” said Hillary Frye, executive director of the program. “By developing and fostering their career interests, we are developing the workforce of the future of St. Louis.”

STL Youth Jobs doesn’t just provide steady summer employment-- it also provides financial management assistance to those in the program. First Financial Federal Credit Union will be partnering with STL Youth Jobs to set up bank accounts for these young people, as well as give them financial advising services, free of charge.

“Over 96 percent of all participants opened a bank account and established direct deposits” last summer, Krewson said. “Together, they saved almost $130,000. That’s a significant amount of money.”

The program hopes to use the grant from Citi to overcome another hurdle that often prevents youth from finding employment: the lack of a photo ID.

“A photo ID card is often a required component to getting a job and opening a bank

and fruits that are sensitive to it.

• If you’re storing a fruit or vegetable that gives off and is susceptible to ethylene gas, wrap it in aluminum foil or store it in a paper bag rather than using less-breathable plastic wrap or bags.

You can look for more tips about particular foods online.

account,” said Frye. “Through this investment, we have the opportunity to provide that to the youth who are part of our program, as well.”

Tony Gunn Jr., a Missouri State University junior who was formerly employed by STL Youth Jobs, said that the IT job he had through STL Youth Jobs contributed to his decision to major in Computer Information Systems.

Michael Holmes, executive director of SLATE (the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment), said that there are over 10,000 young people

n “By developing and fostering their career interests, we are developing the workforce of the future of St. Louis.”

– Hillary Frye, STL Youth Jobs

in the St. Louis area that need jobs.

“In St. Louis Public Schools, if you look at the high school alone, that’s maybe 10,000 kids,” Holmes said. St. Louis Public Schools students are now out for the summer this Thursday. “We could offer those kids employment, if we had the money,” Holmes said.

In addition, Holmes said, “College kids sometimes don’t come home, because they don’t feel there’s employment here for them.”

SLATE, which provided about 1000 summer jobs for St. Louis youth last year, is down to 150 this year due to budget

There are also apps that can automatically connect to your supermarket loyalty programs to track what you buy (or you can upload a picture of your receipt), warn you when something may be going bad and recommend recipes that incorporate those foods.

Find creative uses for foods that are on their way out. Whether you use an app to sync shopping lists and schedule meals or use a paper list, meal planning can help cut down on waste as well. But even with great intentions sometimes things get forgotten, or meals get pushed off until it’s almost too late.

You can save vegetables from the trash by roasting them, making soup or turning them into a casserole. Carrots, potatoes and other root veggies (plus zucchinis) can be grated and fried to make fritters. You could bake fruits into breads, throw them into smoothies or freeze them for later. In the end, the goal is to use everything you buy.

Bottom line: Food waste could be draining your wallet, hurting the environment and in some cases, may be completely unnecessary. Learning to correctly interpret food labels and performing a sight and smell test before throwing something away could help. Taking the time to prepare before you shop, having a plan for how you’re going to use the food you buy and being okay with a last-minute backup plan can help even more. In the end, taking the extra time to evaluate the true condition of your food can save you money.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www. twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

cuts, according to Jared Boyd, chief of staff for treasurer Tishaura O. Jones. The 700 jobs provided by STL Youth Jobs will offset that some, but not completely. The jobs will pay $10 per hour, but since they are mandated to pay minimum wage, the STL Youth Jobs workers’ wages could shift back to $7.70 per hour on August 29 if the measure that reversed the St. Louis city minimum wage increase to $10 per hour is signed by the governor.

Krewson also discussed the recent surge in gun violence and emphasized the necessity of jobs programs like this to create alternatives to violence.

“I think all St. Louisans are sad and outraged by the tragedy, by the gun violence that exists in our community,” Krewson said. “And certainly, the more young people that have the opportunity to develop their skills in other areas, the fewer young people will make decisions that are not good for them. These kinds of issues get pieced together a little bit at a time. This is one piece.”

Krewson hopes to expand the program, but needs help from the private sector.

“If your company can contribute and/or hire a young person, please contact us. It costs $2,500 to fund a young person in a job, including salary, their job training, financial literacy education, and job coaching, but any amount will help.” For more information, visit http://stlyouthjobs.org or call 314-499-8176

Boeing holding hiring event on June 6

Boeing is holding a hiring event in St. Louis on Tuesday, June 6 to support approximately 200 engineering jobs in the region. At the event,

potential applicants can meet with Boeing recruiters to learn more about the company’s hiring opportunities for systems, software and electrical

engineers. To learn more about the event, go to Boeing.com/ careers and join Boeing’s Talent Network at https:// tinyurl.com/yalatbrj.

n “I just can’t wait for the challenge.”

– Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Kyrie Irving, on the upcoming NBA Finals against the powerful Golden State Warriors

traCk and FIeld notebook

Local teams roll

Edwardsville, Burroughs, Summit all win state

The Edwardsville Tigers, John Burroughs Bombers and Rockwood Summit Falcons all brought home state championships last weekend. Edwardsville won the Illinois Class 3A state championship for the second time in three years last weekend in Charleston. The Tigers’ edged Southwestern Conference rival East St. Louis with 42 points, three more than the Flyers.

Senior A.J. Epenesa capped his brilliant high school career by winning the discus with a throw of 197 feet 11 inches. Travis Anderson swept the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter intermediate hurdles. His winning times were 13.79 in the 110-meter high hurdles and 37.83 in the intermediate hurdles.

The highlight for East St. Louis was its first-place performance in the 4x400-meter relay as the team of Deonte Anderson, Reyondus Estes, Willie Johnson and Joshua Tolton posted a winning time of 3 minutes 14.76 seconds. Senior Chris Conrad of O’Fallon won the 800-meter run with a brilliant time of 1 minute 49.9 seconds.

John Burroughs won the Missouri Class 3 state championship with 62 points, edging second-place Reeds Spring by two points. Freshman phenom Brandon Miller won the 800 in a near state-record time of 1:50.84. Teammate John Henry Wagner was second to Miller. Miller, Wagner, Liam Donovan and Diego Santa Cruz won the 4x800-meter relay in 8:00.25. Miller, Wagner, Xavier Miller and Luke Lamb won the 4x200 in 1:27.65. Miller, Wagner, Jake Bain and Luke Lamb won the 4x400 in 3:20.01 to clinch the state title on the last event.

n Edwardsville edged Southwestern Conference rival East St. Louis with 42 points, three more than the Flyers.

Rockwood Summit won the Class 4 state championship with 53 points, edging Parkway North, who finished second with 48 points. Star senior Rayvon Allen led Summit to the state title with his dominant performance in the jumps. Allen won the triple jump with an effort of 50 feet 4 ½ inches and the long jump with a leap of 24-0 ¼. Bryce Edwards won the shot put with a heave of 55-11 ¾. Allen also finished fourth in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles and joined La’Darius Reed, Jacob Brunsman and

NBA Finals Preview

Great trilogies are a staple of boxing lore. Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Robinson vs Jake LaMotta and Erik Morales vs Marco Antonio Barrera are just a few legendary championship trilogies in the sweet science. The NBA is far different. Thursday night, the Golden State Warriors face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers for the NBA Championship. It will mark the first time in NBA history that two teams have battled for the crown three years in a row. The Warriors took the crown in 2015. King (LeBron) James snatched the title back 2016, when his Cavaliers pulled the greatest comeback in NBA history, rebounding from a 3-1 deficit. Now, two stacked teams that have dominated their divisions for the past three seasons will meet again in a rubber match to determine who shall stand on the mountaintop. This matchup between the Cavs and Warriors was inevitable. The Warriors’ return

ticket was punched when the team added Kevin Durant to a 73-win squad. The Cavaliers re-entry stamp was always good to go as long as James was present and healthy. The Cavaliers chances at defending the title were bolstered when the team added former AllStars Kyle Korver and Deron Williams via trades during the season. Enough about the history and the buildup for this epic matchup. We all know why these two teams are meeting in the Finals. They have the most-talented teams. I believe both teams have legitimate paths to victory. Here’s what they need to do if they want to raise the Larry O’Brien trophy after the dust has cleared. Cleveland Cavaliers There’s never been a question of who makes the Cavaliers go. James has

Earl Austin Jr.

James’ only poor game of these playoffs.

for James, his

Sistrunk

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

LeBron James and Stephen Curry battle for the NBA Championship for the third straight season. Can James and the Cavs block the Warriors attempt to steal the crown?

Photo by Wiley Price

McCluer South Berkeley’s Antonio Nelson hands the baton to teammate Devon Blanchard as Reeds Spring’s Kelly Newton hands off to Ransom Allphin during the Boys Class 3 4x100 meter Relay at the Mo. State Track Championships in Jefferson City Saturday. Reeds Spring won the event with a winning time of 42.86 to Berkeley’s 43.15.

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Tatum could be NBA’s top pick as ‘perfect fit’ for Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum remains among the Top 10 picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, but his destination depends on which one you’re reviewing.

While it has been two weeks since he made this bold prediction, Reid Forgrave, CBSSports.com College Basketball/NBA writer, has Tatum going first to the Boston Celtics.

He labels Tatum, the St. Louis native and Duke oneand-done, “the perfect fit for Boston.”

“I know what you’re thinking,” writes Forgrave.

“Why not slot Markelle Fultz (Washington) or Lonzo Ball (UCLA), who conventional wisdom have going No. 1, here?

“Well, the Celtics have a shorter but more experienced version of Fultz already in Isaiah Thomas, an incredible shot-maker whose defense leaves plenty to be desired. And I’m not sure if Brad Stevens is the type of coach who wants to deal with (Ball’s father) LaVar Ball’s distractions.”

going one round earlier to the Sacramento Kings.

SBNation says Tatum could end up in Phoenix after being selected fourth if the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers both pass on Ball – and his loudmouth dad.

The word around KU basketball circles is that former Jayhawk Josh Jackson has the interest of Lakers’ new head man Magic Johnson. Johnson has known Jackson for many years and helped Michigan State’s recruiting effort for the talented player.

Will St. Louis watch?

Forgrave goes on to call Tatum “a mature, high-character guy who gives the Celtics a guy who can score on all three levels. It’s a win-now pick for the rare title contender that has a top pick in the draft.

Bleacher Report has Tatum being selected No. 6 by the Orlando Magic – but it lists him third in “Most Star Potential” behind Ball and Dennis Smith Jr. (North Carolina State).

ESPN NBA pundit Chad Ford calls Tatum “the most NBA-ready freshman in the draft.”

Ryan McCrystal of Bleacher Report writes, “It’s rare for such a young player to impact the game in so many ways. During his freshman year, Tatum proved he could score (16.8 points a game), hit outside shots (34.2 percent from three-point range) and protect the rim (1.1 blocks per game).

Last year’s seven-game epic between Golden State and Cleveland was the mostwatched NBA Finals since 1998 – and most St. Louis viewers found something better to do. While the nation was riveted to the dramatic series, St. Louis came in 54th in viewership out of 56 markets, according to Nielsen. A paltry 7.6 percent of St. Louis residences (or businesses) had The Finals on per average over seven games compared to 11.3 percent nationally.

The Cavaliers Game 7 victory was viewed on average by 15.8 percent of residences nationally, compared to 11.7 percent here.

n Last year’s seven-game epic between Golden State and Cleveland was the mostwatched NBA Finals since 1998 – and most St. Louis viewers found something better to do.

While Warriors Cavs III begins tonight in Golden State and there are predictions it will easily outdistance last year’s viewership, it will be interesting to see if St. Louis joins the party. I doubt it. If the Washington Wizards and local product Bradley Beal ever got over the hump and reached the Finals, St. Louis could find more viewers turning in. Hopefully, that will be sooner rather than later.

Soccer by the numbers

“Unlike a more onedimensional player, Tatum appears to be the type of prospect who could play multiple roles depending on the teammates around him.”

Doug Haller of the Arizona Republic, the Phoenix Suns beat reporter noted for his draft expertise, also has Tatum slotted sixth.

NBAdraft.net has Tatum

community and the AfricanAmerican community. In some cases, there will be some pilot programs.

Last July, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said during was asked during a conference call how outreach to black and Latino youths could be increased to improve America’s national team.

He responded:

“You will see, probably in mid-Fall, us roll out some programs in those two areas. There will be some different approaches in the Hispanic

“We have some resources ourselves that we’re going to put against it and we’ve started some very gentle discussions with some key people, whether it’s a parks and recreation department or an influencer that might be involved in the entertainment industry, whatever.

“I’m not ready to go into more specifics but it’s a high-priority issue for us. It’s not a short-term fix, but I think we’ll see the benefits of that in two, four, six, eight, 10 years down the road and it’s something that has to get done.”

I was unsuccessful at find-

ing any evidence that any new program was rolled out last fall – or this year.

Gulati’s comments also make me wonder why those that supported the flawed MLS soccer stadium proposal, were so quick to abandon the effort to increase black participation in the sport. The tax proposal failed, and that was that.

Also, why have the youth groups that would have gained financial support to increase soccer participation not wondered aloud why, if there was true interest in developing the sport in urban areas, the plans were trashed as soon as the final vote tallies were in?

Two years ago, NBC News compiled statistics on who plays and/or watches soccer in

America. Some of the numbers add up – and some are surprising.

Almost 25 million people play soccer at some level in the U.S., which is second to China, according to FIFA (I wonder if this counts gym class soccer in elementary schools).

U.S. Soccer reported that there were 3,055,148 youth players officially registered with U.S. Soccer programs in 2014 – up by 89 percent since 1990, the first year the U.S. qualified for the World Cup final round since 1950.

YouGov Research concluded that 56 percent of Americans who identify themselves as Hispanic, Latino or African-American, who were

polled, said they follow soccer in non-World Cup years. Nielsen reported that 34 percent of MLS viewers identify themselves as Hispanic and/or Latino.

An ESPN/Luker poll found that 25.5 percent of Americans who identify themselves as Latino or Hispanic name professional soccer as their favorite spectator sport.

Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows, including Frank Cusumano’s “The Press Box” on KFNS. His Twitter handle is #aareid1

Deko Ricketts

Washington University– Men’s Track and Field

The senior middle distance standout from Kansas City won the national championship in the 800-meter run at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Nationals in Geneva, Ohio. Ricketts concluded his excellent career by winning the national championship in a photo finish. He also became a two-time national champion as he also won the 800 at the NCAA Division III Indoor Nationals earlier this spring.

Natalia Alfonzo

Missouri Baptist – Women’s Track and Field

The senior from Valencia, Venezuela finished second in the 5,000meter race walk at the NAIA Outdoor Nationals in Lewiston, Idaho. Alfonzo posted a time of 24 minutes 35.08 seconds to earn NAIA All-American honors for the third time in her career. She was the national champion in the 3,000-meter race walk at the NAIA Indoor Nationals earlier this year. Alfonzo was also the American Midwest Conference champion in the 5,000-meter race walk.

Alvin A. Reid

Jayson Tatum remains among the Top 10 picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, but his destination depends on which one you’re reviewing.

Repeat for McCluer South-Berkeley

By Earl Austin Jr.

Of the St. Louis American

The McCluer SouthBerkeley Bulldogs reigned supreme once again as they won the Class 3 state championship for the second consecutive year. McCluer SouthBerkeley scored 60 points, followed by Cardinal Ritter with 57.

The dynamic duo of Raheema Westfall and Octavia Cato powered the Bulldogs to the state championship with their work in the sprints. Both finished first and second in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, respectively.

Westfall won the 100 in a time of 11.76 seconds,

CLUTCH

Continued from B3

co-stars, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, are also shining during the postseason. Irving has become the Cavs’ closer. When the Cavaliers need a big shot or seem to be stuck in an offensive rut is when Uncle Drew seems to shine the brightest.

When Cleveland found itself down to the Celtics during Game 4, Irving went bananas and dropped 21 points in the third quarter, all in spectacle fashion. Last season he proved to be a severe problem for Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry as he torched the Warriors for 25.2 points and 4.7 assists during the Finals.

Love is sometimes seen as the odd superstar out in Cleveland. He seems to be thriving during this postseason however. Love is not only knocking down his open three-pointers (which he’s always done). He’s also attacking the basket more often and effectively. He also leads the team in rebounding (10.4), which is a surprise considering that Tristan Thompson seems to gobble up every board possible.

Cavs Wildcard

The Cavaliers’ wildcard is Thompson. While he may not lead the team in total rebounds, he dominates the offensive glass. Thompson is averaging 4.2 offensive rebounds per night during the playoffs. To put that in perspective, Deron Williams is second on the team with 1.3.

The Warriors have a reputation for being soft in the middle. If Thompson can bully them underneath the basket and give the Cavs shooters second and third chances, he can help his team defend its

TRACK

Continued from B3

Daniel Hopkins to win the 4x400-meter relay to clinch the state title.

Parkway North was led by its strong crew of hurdlers as Jalani Williams won the 110meter high hurdles in 14.26 while Jakeel Suber was second with 14.37. Suber came back to win the 300-meter intermediate hurdles while David Buckner finished in seventh place.

Senior Austin Hindman of Lafayette finished a stellar career with a spectacular performance at the Class 5 state meet. Hindman won the 800 in 1:55.0, the 1,600 in a Class 5 record time of 4:09.69 and the 3,200 in an all-class record time of 8:54.92. Hindman also anchored the Lancers’ 4x800-meter relay team to a state title.

Other boys’ highlights from the state meet include:

• Kamryn Babb of CBC won the Class 5 long jump with a leap of 23-4.

• CBC’s 4x100 relay team

Girls Track and Field wins Class 3 state championship

followed by Cato’s 11.85. Westfall also won the 200 in 24.92 with Cato finishing second in 24.94. Both were also on the Bulldogs’ 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay teams that won state titles. They were joined by Brianna Taplin and Jeresha Barber on the 4x100 and Barber and Tiffany Blakley in the 4x400. Cardinal Ritter was led by Valarie Whitted and Britney Mosby, who each won individual state titles. Whitted won the 100-meter high hurdles in 14.57 seconds while Mosby won the triple jump with an effort of 37 feet 4 inches. Whitted also finished second in the 300-meter low hurdles. The team of Mosby, Shayla Davis,

Sydney Mitchell and Mecca Hamm-Bey won the 4x200 in 1:42.89. Freshman phenom Alicia Burnett of Fort Zumwalt South pulled off the sprint triple as she won the Class 4 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes. Burnett won the 100 in 11.5 seconds, the 200 in 24.5 and the 400 in 58.19.

n The dynamic duo of Raheema Westfall and Octavia Cato powered the Bulldogs to the state championship with their work in the sprints.

Mikayla Reed of Washington won the Class 4 800 and 1,600meter runs in times of 5:02.52 and 11:04.06, respectively.

MICDS finished second in

the Class 4 girls team standings with 56 points, just one point behind state-champion Camdenton’s 57 points. The Rams’ 4x100 relay team of Jhordin Gilmore, Zionn Pearson, Krysten Holmes and Cara Johnson won the state title. The Rams also got second-place finishes from Pearson in the long jump and the 4x800.

Nia Lyles of Webster Groves won the Class 4 shot put title with a heave of 41 feet 8 ¼ inches. Lyles also finished second in the discus.

title.

Golden State Warriors

I said it before, but it needs to be mentioned again: The Warriors took a 73-win team and added former MVP Kevin Durant. Durant isn’t a former MVP like Dirk Nowitzki, who’s clearly at the tail end of his career. KD is in his prime. He’s arguably a better play now than he was during his MVP season.

People can whine and complain all they want about Durant joining the Warriors, but he didn’t usher in the super team era. James’ Heat and Cavaliers teams already set the bar for the talent needed to win an NBA championship these days. Durant got max money and a chance to play on an excellent team in a large market. It’s was a no-brainer.

In Golden State’s defense, the team’s pre-Durant AllStar trio, Curry, Thompson

of Austin Malden, Brandon Douglas, Cameron Brown and Babb won the state title in 41.68.

• Lamont Allen of DeSoto won the Class 4 high jump with by clearing 6’10.

• Deric Purcell of Union won the Class 4 100- and 200-

and Draymond Green, were all drafted by the Warriors. The Durant signing was the Warriors’ first big free-agent signing since super sub Andre Iguodala signed back in 2013. Speaking of Durant, the best thing that could’ve happened to the Warriors was the knee injury he suffered towards the end of the season. Up until that point, Curry seemed to be cruising along. He was shooting the ball just fine, but the dynamic plays that made him seem like a suped-up video game character were few and far between for Curry.

After Durant went down, Curry didn’t feel the need to defer to make his new superstar teammate comfortable and returned to alpha dog status. Now, Durant has returned healthy but Chef Curry is still cooking. The two form one of the most lethal scoring duos in NBA history.

If that wasn’t enough, Thompson (now the most over-

meter dashes.

• Corey Carter of Principia won the Class 3 100-meter dash.

• Jameson Williams of Cardinal Ritter won the Class 3 300-meter intermediate hurdles in 37.28.

Parkway West won the Class 4 4x800 as Teresa Allgeyer, Emily Dickson, Natalie Butler and Chloe Hershenow posted a time of 9:34.93.

Hazelwood Central finished second in the Class 5 team race behind state champion Lee’s Summit West. Deja Ingram won the 100 with a winning time of 11.7 while teammate Brittney Johnson was third in 11.89. Ingram was second in the 200 while Danielle Frank finished in third place. Frank also finished second in the 400. The Hawks also won the state title in the 4x200 with a sizzling time of 1:38.06. Shauniece O’Neal finished third in the discus. Other girls’ state meet high-

lights include:

• Jade Moore of Pattonville won the Class 5 200-meter dash in 24.51 and finished second in the 100.

• McCluer North won the Class 5 4x100 relay as the team of Michelle Owens, Sydney Rogers, Azyairiah Griffin and Lauryn Taylor circled the track in 48.6 seconds.

• Madison Leigh of Francis Howell won the Class 5 1,600 in a time of 4:58.33.

• Diamond Riley of Ritenour finished first in the triple jump with an effort of 39 feet 6 ½ inches.

JaVale McGee will be a wildcard for the Warriors title chances. If he can defend the rim against the Cavs, he could go from Shaqtin’ A Fool to hoisting a title.

looked Warriors player) finished the season ranked second in three-pointers made (behind Curry). He’s been down a bit in the playoffs, but is liable to drop 50 on any given night. Green is the heart of the Warriors. His defensive efforts this postseason has been second-to-none. There’s no way that Green will shut down James on the defensive end, but he will bother him more than any player in the game. Green is also shooting a remarkable 47.2 percent from behind the arc during the playoffs. Some of that is due to hard work on

his jumper, but a lot of that has to do with the fact that he’s often wide open because teams know that Curry, Durant and Thompson and automatic without a hand in their face.

Warriors Wildcard

Javale McGee has been on the brink of being out of the league for the past several seasons. He career was resuscitated when he was signed by the Warriors to add rim protection.

There’s no coincidence that the Warriors’ collapse last year happened the same time that

The senior hurdling standout led the Tigers to the Illinois Class 3 state championship last weekend in Charleston. Anderson swept to victories in the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. He posted winning times of 13.79 in the 110-meter high hurdles and 37.83 in the 300-meter intermediates.

As a junior in 2016, Anderson

Andrew Bogut was lost for the rest of the Finals with a sprained knee. With Bogut out of the middle, the Cavs gashed the Warriors in the paint for the rest of the series. For McGee to be effective though, he’ll have to stay out of foul trouble.

Prediction

I have tremendous respect and admiration for James and the fact that he’s been able to reach the Finals for seven consecutive seasons. When it’s all said and done, he has a chance to go down as the GOAT. However, the firepower by the Warriors is simply too much. The Warriors are a great team on both ends of the court. Last season, the Cavs were able to be physical and bully Curry, who was already injured and his teammates couldn’t quite pick up the slack. This season, instead of searching for signs of life from Harrison Barnes, Durant will be left to feast if the Cavs go all-out on defending Curry. In Game 3 of the ECF, Boston showed that Cleveland can be vulnerable when an opponent moves the ball around the court quickly. Nobody spreads the ball better than the Warriors.

This series could very well be a sweep, but I’ll spot the Cavs two games based on James’ greatness.

Golden State Warriors in six.

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk

won the 110-meter high hurdles and finished third in the 300meter intermediate hurdles. He finished second in the 110-meter high hurdles as a sophomore as he helped

and field

Where to find STL-TV

are promoted and broadcast on the channel. STL-TV has nearly eight hours of programming daily, including news and feature shows about organizations and businesses in St. Louis, and stories about parts of the city many people may know little about.

“We want to use the channel to showcase all of St. Louis, because we know that a lot of St. Louis residents don’t cross Delmar,” said Andre Holman, who has managed the station for 10 years. “I always tell my staff that we are focused on telling stories that can have a positive impact on the city of St. Louis.” FOX 2 News reporter Kim Hudson remembers working on community news projects at the station that really made a difference. “The junior varsity league football games provided a lot of civic pride for families,” said Hudson, who worked as a technician and a reporter for STL-TV from 2005 to 2010.

“We had a media day where we followed these nine- and ten-year-old players around like athletes. We used their names and graphics on the reports, we had a production truck and several cameras in the stands, a sideline reporter and anchors, and it was a big deal for those young athletes.” Louis Neal, a producer for

On the Internet, live streaming at www.stltv. net.

On Charter Cable: Channel 992.

On AT@T U-Verse Channel 92. https://www.facebook. com/STLTV https://www.youtube. com/SAINTLOUISTV

ESPN, remembers working on STL-TV’s Inside Sports show when the biggest story of his career just “fell in his lap.”

During a black history edition, he told the story of Luke Easter, the first AfricanAmerican from St. Louis to go into professional sports. Easter’s descendent, a nephew named Reuben Easter, was a city employee, Neal said, and “he brought in original contracts and pictures about his uncle in a box.” The story resonated with viewers; Neal and STL-TV won an EMMY for the report. And while most people equate government-access broadcasting with ribbon cuttings and meetings, STLTV has evolved. “We’re not ad-driven,” said BrooksSanders. “We’re able to do programming that impacts lives by telling stories that help people and are representative of the community.”

STL-TV’s wish list for the next 25 years is long. Upgrade the station to full HD production capabilities. Add a satellite studio closer to city government downtown. Generate revenue to market the channel more effectively. Extend programming throughout the metropolitan area. Expand the internship program to more high school seniors.

STL-TV’s annual budget averages $750,000. Funding cuts over the years have placed limits on the station; there are only seven full-time video production staff and engineers. A robust team of 45 freelancers record b-roll, write scripts, run teleprompters and create graphics for the various shows. More budget cuts are always a possibility, but the public service STL-TV provides should not be overlooked, said Tom Villa, president of the St. Louis Board of Alderman from 1987-1995.

“When we had a controversial stadium proposal in the last year-and-a-half, [STL-TV staff] went out on Saturday afternoons in front of big crowds and got testimonials for and against it and televised it,” Villa said. “Their work helps bring government a little bit closer to the people paying for it.”

For information about the internship program, contact Andre Holman at holmana@ stlouis-mo.gov or 314-5522988.

Financial Focus

By Ana Stringfellow

STL-TV engineers Ken Roberts, Jerry Berwin (on computer), Andre Holman, John Richter and audio engineer Anthony Mueller.

Photo by Wiley Price

Living It

Full circle at Circus Flora

Arches alum Iking Bateman returns, primes tumbling troupe for ‘Time Flies’

By Sophie Hurwitz

Of The St. Louis American

Wednesday, May 24 was the first official rehearsal of Circus Flora for their 2017 summer show “Time Flies,” which runs from June 1-25. As the performers rehearsed, they were still in the process of setting up the big redand-white tent in the heart of the Grand Center Arts District. The sound of hammers on metal echoed through the cavernous space, as some of the seats for future audiences were built in.

As they prepare for the show, The St. Louis Arches – the youth circus troupe that performs with Circus Flora each summer – were first in the ring. They rolled out and taped down practice mats, stretched and began to practice their tricks.

n “This is my hometown, and I wouldn’t want to showcase my new act anywhere else.”

– Sidney “Iking” Bateman

The kids ranged from elementaryschool age to high school seniors. They first ran through an act in which they twirl umbrellas, toss them to each other through the air, and even balance them on their noses.

Sidney “Iking” Bateman, a St. Louis Arches alum from North St. Louis, was acting as their coach. He balanced the umbrella on his nose carefully to demonstrate how it was done. Then, he hopped over the side of the ring to introduce himself. He recently returned from touring the world with the French-Canadian circus Seven Fingers (known in French as Les Sept Doigts), to rejoin his hometown circus. “I’ve been all over,” he said. “I’ve been to Germany, France, Russia, Austria, Istanbul, Israel (that was with the Arches), Spain, South America...”

Now that he’s back in St. Louis, he’s not only a coach for the other performers, he’s also debuting his own brand-new Chinese pole act.

“It’s just a long metal pole, and I do acrobatic flips on the pole off the pole on the ground to the pole, things like that,” Bateman said. “It’s very different from anything I’ve ever performed, but I’m very excited to be performing it in St. Louis this summer.”

The new act is a way to keep things fresh.

“I’ve been performing hoop diving and diablo for four or five years now, so I wanted to do something different just to change it up,” Bateman said. “As an artist, you always want to challenge yourself to learn new things and do

new things and be creative, and I really wanted to do something new for this year. This is my hometown, and I wouldn’t want to showcase my new act anywhere else.”

Circus Flora is full of history for Iking Bateman. He started with The Arches troupe when he was 11. He was so involved in circus by the time he graduated from Beaumont High School that he went to the competitive professional circus college National Circus School in Montreal, Canada.

“I studied hoop diving and acrobatic loop diablo. Those were my two majors,” he said.

Bateman considers being home training the new generation of Arches a special experience.

“This is more traditional circus, and I can say this is my family,” Bateman said. “Seven Fingers is my family as well, but you know, this is my hometown. This show performs in St. Louis, and this is home. The people here are the ones that first gave me the shot to perform

St. Louis Arches alum

Sidney “Iking” Bateman, now a veteran circus performer, helps current members of the tumbling troupe prepare for Circus Flora’s 2017 production “Time Flies.” Bateman will also debut his own Chinese pole act in the circus’ 31st annual season production, which runs June 1-25 under the big top in Grand Center.

in circus. Without Circus Flora, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to perform with Seven Fingers … this is where it all started. So it has a very deep place in my heart for sure.”

As Bateman spoke, The St. Louis Arches began stretching in the middle of the ring, to prepare for their next round of tricks. Bateman says there’s a lot to look forward to in this year’s show.

“It’s always a great pleasure – a privilege – to watch the Flying Wallendas [the circus’ world-famous high-wire act] perform,” Bateman said. “We have a guy that I went to school with, Kyle Driggs, he’s performing his juggling act this year. He’s a silver medalist at the Cirque Du Demain festival, which is a big circus festival. There are a lot of cool acts.” Bateman said that The St. Louis Arches are

See CIRCUS, C4

The art of hair, not protest

This year’s Congressional Art Competition winner not as controversial as last year’s

American staff

U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.) recently congratulated 19 talented high school artists from Missouri’s 1st congressional district who competed in the 17th annual Congressional Art Competition in the district. This year’s 1st place winner, who was honored at the Saint Louis University Museum of Art, is Santia Maderios, a sophomore at McCluer High School. Her winning entry, entitled “Bound,” is a mixed media work in pencil, marker and acrylic. Her colorful and thought-provoking

work will be on display at the U.S. Capitol complex. She will travel to Washington, D.C., courtesy of Southwest Airlines, to unveil her winning entry.

“This piece displays a young woman being forced to do her hair,” she said. “Three ghost-like hands tug on her hair, forcing her to do things in order to fit society’s beauty standards. She is visibly not willing to do this.”

It’s not likely to cause the same stir as Clay’s choice last year, “An Artistic Discovery,” an acrylic painting by David Pulphus, then a recent Cardinal Ritter College Prep graduate. This intense visual response to the Ferguson unrest and resulting police response was described by Clay as “the most creative expression” he’d seen in the 16 years he had hosted the contest in the district as of last year, which is now in its 33rd year nationally .

U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., whose office is next to Clay’s in the capitol, did not share Clay’s appreciation of the piece. Offended

Making the connection

Hot 104.1 FM’s Boogie D named among radio’s best PDs two years in a row

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“It’s an honor to get voted on something like that,” said Jowcol “Boogie D” Dolby, Operations manager of Urban One’s Radio One St. Louis, programming director and mid-day radio personality for Hot 104.1. FM. “And to be selected two years in a row – I think it’s kind of cool.”

Last week he was named one of the nation’s best radio programming directors by trade magazine Radio Ink, just as he had been in 2016.

He was clearly excited about the personal recognition, but the few moments he spent speaking about it were reserved for props to the whole staff and the company he works for.

“I would say the team is doing it,” Boogie said, sneaking away to chat during the breaks on his show. “With both stations we are trying to be vibrant, fun radio stations that people want to turn on and listen to us – not just for the music, but for the personalities. What we preach is how we need to be connected to our audiences and our audiences need to be connected to us.”

He’s been in the St. Louis market off and on for more than a decade – with a stint in Philadelphia before returning to St. Louis in 2011. He has more than 20 years of radio experience across the nation.

n “What we preach is how we need to be connected to our audiences and our audiences need to be connected to us.”

– Jowcol

“Boogie D” Dolby

He’s watched the industry change over the years –particularly with technology and social media, which allows consumers of music to curate their own tastes in a way that presents a challenge to radio.

“I feel like radio is a living, breathing thing and if we don’t treat it as such, then why listen?” Boogie said. “I think our job is to make radio still matter at a time where things are evolving and you can control your own entertainment. It’s about going from a 20th century mindset to a 21st century mindset. It’s about how to keep our industry moving in the right direction.”

Connection is key, which is why he feels blessed to be in St. Louis.

“St. Louis unique is how engaged the city is with the radio.” Boogie said. “And they are not afraid to tell you how they feel – about whatever.

Iconic St. Louis urban radio station returns to the airwaves as Majic 103.7! Listeners can tune into the format

Photos by Wiley Price

Boogie D on the airwaves with his son Cole Ballentine Dolby in the Hot 104.1 FM studio.

See BOOGIE, C4

“A Study in Values” by Hannah O’Brien, Metro High School

How to place a calendar listing

1. Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican. com OR

2. Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing

Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.

concerts

Thur., June 1, 7 p.m., Hot 104.1 Super Jam presents Future: Nobody Safe Tour. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, 14141 Riverport Dr., 63043. For more information, visit wwww. ticketmaster.com.

Sun., June 4, 7 p.m., National Blues Museum presents Soulful Sunday with Sharonda Rice. 615 Washington Ave., 63101. For more information, call (314) 925-0016 or visit www. nationalbluesmuseum.org.

Wed., June 7, 7 p.m., Jermaine Dupri presents the SoSoSummer 17 Tour. The tour features acts seen on the first three seasons of Lifetime TV’s “The Rap Game” including winners Miss Mulatto and Mani. Peabody Opera House, 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www.peabodyoperahouse. com.

Sun., June 11, 5 p.m., The Ambassador presents Southern Soul Bluesfest Featuring performances by Jeff Floyd, Ms. Jody, LJ Echols, and Pokey Bear 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Thur., June 15, 6:30 p.m., The Fox Theatre presents John Legend. 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Fri., June 16, 6 p.m., Eta Boule Foundation, Inc. presents a Salute to Fathers/Mentors feat. Gerald Albright. Special guest appearance by Tim Cunningham, comedian James Stephens III, and Denise Thimes. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Fri., June 16, 7:30 p.m., Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre presents Bell Biv DeVoe. 14141 Riverport Dr., 63043. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Sat., June 17, 7 p.m., FUBAR presents Afroman 3108 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www. ticketfly.com.

local gigs

Sun., June 4, 3 & 6 p.m., JPEK Creative Works Theatre presents A Legends Revue – First Up: Sam Cooke. Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 n. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Sun., June 4, 4:30 p.m., Harmony for Peace Foundation presents Peace Concert in St. Louis: Hope and Love for Tomorrow Featuring additional performances by the St. Louis Concert Choir, STL Rising Generation Youth Chorus, and others. Powell Hall, 718 N Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. harmonyforpeace.org.

Tues., June 6, 6 p.m., Missouri History Museum presents Twilight Tuesdays: A Musical Revolution Tribute to Prince. Featuring Karl Holmes and the All-Star Band. 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. mohistory.org.

June 9 – 10, 2nd Annual Miles Davis St. Louis Festival feat. The Randy Holmes Quintet. Webster Groves Concert Hall, 103 E. Lockwood Ave., 63119. For more information, call (314) 962-7000 or visit www. websterconcerthall.org.

Sat., June 10, Lumiere Place presents Kim Massie 999 N. 2nd St., 63101. For more information, visit www.

Featured Event

ticketmaster.com.

Sun., June 11, 3 p.m., St. Louis Symphony presents Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald & Ladies of Swing feat. Dee Daniels. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. stlsymphony.org.

special events

Fri., June 2, 7 a.m.

registration, CWAH Ambassadors are sponsoring a golf tournament at The Links at Dardenne O’Fallon, MO to benefit Youth Opportunity Programs at Community Women Against Hardship. Fee of $125 per golfer includes lunch. Registration 7:00 a.m. Make checks payable to CWAH Ambassadors, PO Box 440005,

63119. For more information contact Ron Bradley at ron. bradley.hf16@statefarm.com.

Fri., June 2, 7 p.m., New Leaders Council presents Be You Ball – Party for Progress. The Ball is a celebration of self-expression and progressive values. Come out for dinner, a reception, and a silent auction. Proceeds will go towards training the next class of Fellows. T-Rex, 911 Washington Ave., 63101. For more information visit www. stlouis.newleaderscouncil.org.

Sat., June 3, 9 a.m., Isaac Bruce Foundation Free Football Clinic. More than 500 youth from the St. Louis area will have the opportunity to join former St. Louis Rams wide receiver Isaac Bruce for a free football clinic. Gateway STEM High School, 5101 McRee Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Mark Church, 9950 Glen Owen Dr., 63136. Sat., June 24, 11 a.m., Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc., Omicron Theta Omega Chapter presents Pink Pizzazz Jazz Brunch: Pearls in Paris. Featuring Donald Gill & Smooth Jazz. Norwood Hills Country Club, 1 Norwood Hills Country Club Dr., 63121. For more information, call (217) 369-5936.

Wed., June 28, 1 p.m., Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. presents the 2017 SYNLOD College Fair. St. Louis Union Station Hotel, 1820 Market St., 63103. For more information, email ncaldwell@maryville. edu.

comedy

Sun., June 4, 7 p.m., Halalrious Muslim Comedy Tour. Featuring Moses the Comic and Azeem. Westport Funny Bone Comedy Club, 614 W. Port Plaza, 63146. For more information, visit www. brownpapertickets.com.

Mon., June 5, 10:30 a.m., Kingdom House Golf Tournament & Dinner Auction. Come out for golf, a dinner auction, entertainment, and more. Forest Hills Country Club, 36 Forest Club Dr., 63005. For more information, visit www.kingdomhouse.org.

June 5 – 9, Ozzie Smith’s Sports Academy Mini Hitters Baseball & Softball Camp. Instruction will include hitting, throwing/fielding, base running, sliding, and daily scrimmage time. For ages 4 – 6. Brentwood Park, 9100 Russell Ave., 63144. For more information, call (314) 963-8689 or visit www. brentwoodmo.org.

Wed., June 7, 6 p.m., St. Louis Chapter of American Association of Zoo Keepers presents Bowling for Rhinos and Silent Auction. Proceeds will benefit three conservation programs conserving four species of rhino and their habitats. 1 Government Dr., 63110. For more information, visit www.stlaazk.org.

Fri., June 9, 5 p.m., Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis invites you to Salute to Women in Leadership. Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel, 800 Washington Ave., 63101. For more information, call (314) 615-3668 or visit www.ulstl.com.

June 9 – 11, Fair U City

2017. Come out for carnival rides, music, activities, and more. Olive Blvd. and Midland Blvd., 63130. For more information, call (314) 5058696 or visit www.fairucity. com.

Sat., June 10, 10 a.m., Nu Beginnings Employment Organizers’ Community Event. We will have food, entertainment, pony rides, petting zoo, and more. 10716 New Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, call (314) 355-5627 or visit www. mynubeginnings.com.

Sun., June 18, 10 a.m., Juneteenth Holiday Parade & Celebration. Join us in saluting father, homelessness awareness, and world Sickle Cell day. Enjoy music, poetry, and a parade. Beckett Park, 4400 Page Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 769-6067 or visit www.sliccce. com.

Thur., June 22, St. Louis County NAACP 81st Freedom Fund Leadership Dinner: Rise Together. St. Louis Ritz Carlton Hotel, 100 Carondelet Plaza, 63105. For more information, visit www.naacpstlcounty.org/ freedom2017.

Sat., June 24, 10 a.m., CREF presents A Listening Session. To address abuse, neglect and juvenile offenses for juvenile justice change. Greater St.

Thur., June 8, 8 p.m., The Boom Boom Room presents Harlequin Comedy Night A stand-up comedy showcase with the city’s funniest comedians. We will also have an open mic portion. 500 N. 14 th St., 63103. For more information, visit www. theboomboomroomstl.com.

literary

Thur., June 1, 7 p.m., Calvary Missionary Baptist Church hosts author Johari Jabir, author of Conjuring Freedom: Music and Masculinity in the Civil War’s “Gospel Army.” Jabir analyzes the songs of the 1st South Carolina Volunteers, a regiment of Black soldiers who met nightly in the performance of the ring shout. 2822 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., 63106. For more information, call (314) 533-9880.

Mon., June 12, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts author Ken Ilgunas author of Trespassing Across America: One Man’s Epic, Never-Done-Before (and Sort of Illegal) Hike Across the Heartland. Ilgunas’ travel memoir asks what is our personal responsibility as stewards of the land? 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, visit www. slcl.org.

Mon., June 12, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Michael Wallis, author of The Best Land Under Heaven: The Donner Party in the Age of Manifest Destiny Wallis explores the frontier mindset that fueled westward expansion, and gives a riveting account of the wrong turns sensationalized the world. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www. left-bank.com.

Tues., June 13, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts author Dr. Michelle Stevens author of Scared Selfless: My Journey from Abuse and Madness to Surviving and Thriving. Now a successful psychotherapist, Stevens shares her own journey from child sexual abuse and mental illness to healing and happiness. 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. Mon., June 19, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts author Victoria Bruce with Jim Kennedy to discuss Sellout: How Washington Gave Away America’s Technological Soul, and One Man’s Fight to Bring It Home. 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. Mon., June 26, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Cleve Jones, author of When We Rise: My Life in the Movement. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www.leftbank.com.

June 2 – 4, Webster Arts Fair. Featuring works from local and international artists, musical performances, art

The Pageant presents the Strictly Strange 17 Tour feat. Tech N9ne, Brotha Lynch Hung, Krizz Kaliko, Ces Cru, and more. See CONCERTS for info.

Eta Boule Foundation, Inc. presents a Salute to Fathers/Mentors featuring Gerald Albright. See CONCERTS for details.

demonstrations and creative family activities. Grounds of Eden Theological Seminary, 475 Lockwood Ave., 63119. For more information, visit www.webster-arts.org.

lectures and workshops

Sun., June 11, 1:30 p.m., University City Library presents Capturing Truths: A Youth Storytelling Workshop. Youth ages 13-15 will explore the basics of conversational interview and smartphone photography. Participants will produce a digital portrait with accompanying quotes. 6701 Delmar Blvd., 63130. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Wed., June 14, 7 p.m., Missouri History Museum invites you to Civil Rights and Restorative Justice in the Age of Polarization David Cunningham, Ph.D., Washington University, will examine the relationship between campaigns to resist civil rights gains and today’s polarized political system. 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63110.

Wed., June 28, 6 p.m., Left Bank Books and St. Louis Public Library present Reflections on Race & Justice. A Conversation with Carol Ruth Silver, Harper Barnes, and Aaron Layton. Moderated by Dr. Sandra Weissinger. Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

theatre

June 2 – July 2, Stages St. Louis presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Follow the ragsto-riches story of Joseph, his eleven brothers, and the miraculous coat of many colors. 111 S. Geyer Rd., 63122. For more information, visit www.stagesstlouis.org.

June 8 – 11, Gitana Productions presents Between Worlds: An American Journey. This contemporary dance theater performance challenges us to look within and at our shared history to rediscover the power that fuels “We the people!” Grandel, 3610 Grandel Square, 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Through June 18, The Black Rep closes its 40th Anniversary Season with a revival of the hit musical Crossin’ Over. Conceived and directed by Black Rep

Founder and Producing Director Ron Himes. The Emerson Performance Center on the campus of Harris Stowe State University, Tickets are available at www.theblackrep. com, 314-534-3807, or pick them up at our box office located at 6662 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63130.

June 23 – 24, COCA presents Disney’s The Lion King Jr The African Savanna comes to life with Simba, Rafiki and an unforgettable cast of characters on their journey from Pride Rock. 524 Trinity Ave., 63130. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www. cocastl.org.

health

Fri., June 2, 7:30 a.m., The Lung Force Expo. A one-day program designed for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to learn more about the latest information and resources surrounding lung diseases. Clayton Plaza Hotel, 6650 Carondelet Ave., 63105. For more information, call

(314) 645-5505.

Sat., June 10, 6:30 a.m., 19th Annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Proceeds help support local breast cancer screening, breast health education and patient support programs. Soldiers Memorial Park, 1315 Chestnut St., 63103. For more information, visit www.komenmissouri.org.

Wed., June 13, 11 a.m., Washington University Lupus Clinic and the Lupus Foundation, Heartland Chapter invite you to Dine Out for Lupus A portion of the sales from your meal will go to support those living with lupus. For more information, call (314) 747-4179 or visit www. lupus.org.

Wed., June 14, 8 a.m., Project AWARE Youth Mental Health First Aid Training. Risk factors and warning signs of mental

health and substance abuse problems, information on mental disorders, and much more. Behavioral Health Response, 12647 Olive Blvd., Ste. 200, 63141. For more information or to register, call (314) 628-6229 or visit www. bhrstl.org.

Sat., June 17, 8 a.m., St. Louis Magazine presents the 2nd Annual Be Well STL Boot Camp. We will motivate women to continue or adopt healthy lifestyles with workout classes, speakers, and a marketplace. Westminster Christian Academy, 800 Maryville Centre Dr., 63017. For more information, visit www.sites.stlmag.com/events.

Sat., June 24, 6:30 a.m., The Epilepsy Foundation invites you to Seize the Day 5K. Join us as we raise funds to continue the fight against seizures. Kirkwood Park, 111 S Geyer, 63122. For more information, call (314) 781-4949 or visit www.

Rev. Dr. Earl Miller Street in Kinloch, MO.

Tues., June 13, 6 p.m., Washington Park Cemetery Gospel Celebration Performances by St. Louis Legend Singers, Zella JacksonPrice, Show Me Arts Academy, Tish Haynes Keys and special guests. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

July 24-July 28, Missouri Midwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, under the leadership of Bishop Elijah Hankerson III, presents its COGIC Second Annual Holy Convocation, Theme: “In This Changing World, Let Us Hold On To Our Unchanging Faith” 1 Corinthians 15:58;Colossians 1:9-23; II Timothy 3:1-17; Jude 3-4 Kennerly Temple Chruch of God In Christ, 4307 Kennerly Ave. St. Louis, Missouri 63113. For more information Call Pastor Travis J. Cox 314-761-5148.

film

Thur., June 1, 7 p.m., Missouri History Museum presents A Place Worth Saving: The Story of the Central West End Film Screening. Weaving together firsthand accounts, photos, and footage, the film chronicles the rise of a neighborhood whose existence was threatened for urban progress. 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. mohistory.org.

SeizetheDaySTL.kintera. org/2017.

Through July 9, Small Business Majority’s Missouri Healthy Business Healthy Community Workplace Wellness Challenge, FREE communitybased competition where small businesses in southwest Missouri l compete against St. Louis area businesses to win special prizes, which will be awarded at the end of the competition and provided by local sponsors. Visit http:// smallbusinessportal.org/ benefits/wellness or call 314718-0377 to register.

spiritual

Sun., Jun. 11, 10 am. & 3 pm., Second Baptist Church of Kinloch will present the Fourth Pastoral Anniversary for Pastor and First Lady, Rev. Alfred and Mrs. Agnes Washington, Second Baptist Church of Kinloch, 5508

Fri., June 16, All Eyez On Me opens in theatres nationwide. Mon., June 19, 6:30 p.m., St. Louis Public Library presents From the Ashes Film Screening. The film follows Americans in communities across the country as they wrestle with the legacy of the coal industry and what its future should be under the Trump Administration. Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid St., 63108. For more information, call (314) 644-1011.

Thur., June 22, 7 p.m., Missouri History Museum presents Soundtrack for a Revolution Film Screening The story of the civil rights movement through the songs activists sang in picket lines and marches. 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112.

Fri., July 21, Girls Trip starring Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith, Tiffany Haddish and Queen Latifah opens in theatres nationwide.

Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre presents Bell Biv DeVoe. For more information, see CONCERTS.

always a fan favorite because they’re hometown kids – but also because they are amazing performers.

“We have a lot of talented people in this group, and you most definitely do not want to miss it,” Bateman said.

The theme of this year’s show, “Time Flies,” is the idea of time travel – jumping, leaping and flipping backwards into the past and forwards into the future. This seems especially appropriate for Iking Bateman, who is returning for this show to the place his circus journey began, long ago.

“Circus Flora – circus in general – saved my life,” he said. “I was going down the wrong path, and Circus Harmony and Circus Flora played a huge role in steering me in the right direction.

Circus Harmony was my family, a place for me to escape. I wasn’t having the best time at school, at home, in my neighborhood, and I could always count on these guys in this tent to be here for me.”

As Bateman coached The Arches through their act, the audience seats, band risers, and trapezes were assembled around them. And the future of the upcoming show began to take shape.

Circus Flora’s presentation of “Time Flies” will open June 1 and continue through June 25 at their tent adjacent to Powell Symphony Hall in Grand Center. Tickets are available through metrotix.com, Metrotix outlets or by phone at 314-534-1111. Tickets can also be purchased at the Fox Theatre box office. For more information, call Circus Flora at (314) 289-4044 or visit www.circusflora.org. Sophie Hurwitz is a St. Louis American editorial intern from John Burroughs School.

Nineteen high school artists from across Missouri’s 1st congressional district competed in the 17th annual Congressional Art Competition hosted by U.S. Rep. Wm.

battle to return the painting to public view and to uphold the artist’s constitutionally protected freedom of speech.

by Pulphus’ depiction of police officers with boar heads, Hunter took the piece down from the Capitol wall where it was displayed. Stephen Ayers, the architect of the Capitol, later ordered it permanently removed from view following a barrage of right-wing attacks on the painting and Clay.

Clay has been fighting –and, thus far, losing – a court

BOOGIE

Continued from C1

Neither is he. His nod to the city’s special connection to the radio and the power of the medium became apparent when a hometown hero became the subject of one of his on-air debates. Listeners were connected – and quietly heated – when he argued that St. Louis native son and king of comedy Cedric The Entertainer was lacking when it comes to classic movies.

According to him, “Barbershop,” “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins” and “Cadillac Records were it as far as films worth watching.

The phone lines lit up like fireworks on the 4th of July.

This year, the other winners are Hannah O’Brien of Metro High School, who took second place with a charcoal portrait of a young woman titled “A Study in Values,” and Grace Ray of Lutheran South High School, who placed third with an ink drawing titled “Metamorphosis.”

“We are celebrating our seventeenth year of recognizing outstanding young artistic talent,” Clay said, when

“Nobody said anything about him not being a king of comedy. Nobody said anything about him not making it out of St. Louis to become one of the funniest comedians,” Boogie said. “All that is true – but we are talking about his movie career.”

Everyone who called in –and even his co-host Ms. Pooh – disagreed.

“’Barbershop 1’ and 2, ‘Johnson Family Vacation,’” Ms. Pooh shouted as Boogie attempted to make his point.

Neither side backed down.

Even though listeners called in repeatedly to let him have it with accusations of slandering Cedric, the intense reaction his comments sparked are a win for Boogie and what he’s trying to do with the direction of the radio.

“We made a connection. We got people to react,” Boogie said. “Everyone has an opinion – and lucky for us they are willing to share it. Now the conversation will continue all over the place for the rest of the day.”

Radio looks much different than when he started more than 20 years ago.

“Radio as a whole saved me from possibly making very bad mistakes at the time,” said Boogie, a native of New York City. “I fell into it. It wasn’t

recognizing the young artists at SLU. “ As you can see from the artwork on display here, the level of talent is truly impressive.”

Clay made reference to the ongoing battle over the right to display Pulphus’ protest painting.

“Young Americans have a right to express themselves without censorship,” Clay said. “Your art is true to you. Your voices and ideas should be respected, welcomed and protected … at the U.S. Capitol, and everywhere else.”

something I thought about doing or something I thought I could do.”

As a college intern for Maximum T’s “St. Ides Saturday Night Rap Show,” he fell into his professional destiny. “Radio veterans were like, ‘Yo, you’re good at this,’” he said. “And I just went with it.”

He’s still on the air, but these days the biggest joy is giving others the same opportunity that was afforded him.

“I’m in coach mode,” Boogie said. “I still play a little bit, but it’s about allowing others to grow and get their weight up and get their radio journeys started. I like seeing the tree grow – and people I’ve worked with go on and experience success in radio for themselves.”

Boogie D can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on WHHL Hot 104.1 FM. For more information, visit www. hot1041stl.com.

Lacy Clay (D-St. Louis).

Celebrations

Anniversary

Delores and Victor Roberts will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on June 7. They plan to celebrate with their children, Michael (Jeanne), Steven (Eva), Mark and Lori, along with seven grandchildren, seven greatgrandchildren and many friends.

Showtime

Atif S. Mahr, Jr. (aka Martin Hermes) will be performing on June 6 at Showtime at the Apollo in Harlem. Atif is a 2011 graduate of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis and received his BA in acting from Columbia College in Chicago in 2016.

Reunions

Beaumont Class of 1967, if you have not received a letter or e-mail, call 314-533-6087 or Beaumontclassof67@ sbcglobal.net with your contact information. Several activities are planned for the week of June 6-11, 2017. Meet & greet on 6-9-17, banquet on 6-10-17, church services 6-11-17 at Greater Mt. Carmel

and a brunch after services. Our scheduled meetings are 4-15-17 and 5-20-17 at the Normandy Library at 1:30 p.m.

Beaumont High School Class of 1972 is celebrating 45th class reunion August 11 -13 2017. Activities have been planned for a fun illed weekend you don’t want to miss. Please direct all inquiries and registration request to Sharon Webb Steele at (314) 757-2799 or Linda Howard at (314) 397-5570. You may also use Facebook , BHS72 Reunion Committee.

Beaumont High School, Class of 1978 will celebrate its 40-year reunion in 2018. For further information, please contact: Marietta Shegog

Shelby, 314-799-5296, madeshe@sbcglobal.net.

Cleveland High School is hosting a reunion for all attending 1980-1984 on August 19, 2017 at Catering To You Banquet Center (12775 New Halls Ferry Rd., Florissant, MO 63033) For information, please contact Babette Perkins-Anderson at 314-345-0939.

East St. Louis Lincoln Sr. High Class of 1967 celebrates its 50th Class Reunion, June 23-25, 2017 at The Renaissance Hotel, 9601 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO. Activities include Friday night meet & greet, picnic cruise on the Becky Thatcher and banquet. Please

Birthday

Happy 90th Birthday to Charles Gillespie on June 5! Showers of blessings on a proud father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.

contact Deborah Davis Holmes at deehom50@aol.com or call 314-280-3711 for more information.

Hadley Tech Classes of 1962-1963 are having their 55th year reunion on October 13-15, 2017 at the St. Louis Airport Marriott. For more information, please contact Hellon (Merritt) Jefferson at 314-307-3681, Ora (Scott) Roberts at 314-222-3662, Wilhelmina (Gibson) Baker at 314-630-9647, Pearl (Tillman) Holden 314-685-0466 or Virdell (Robinson) Stennis at 314-773-8177.

Mr. Eldridge Bryant, Sr. is hosting a reunion for his students at Lafayette and Monroe Elementary Schools

in SLPS from 1999-2000. For more information, please contact him at: 314-489-0532 or eldridgbrya@sbcglobal.net.

McKinley Goldbugs Class of 1987 is planning their 30-year reunion, July 7-8. 2017. For details please contact Freddie Clemons at freddieclemons568@yahoo. com or go to McKinley Goldbugs Facebook site for more information.

Soldan High School Class of 1977 celebrating its 40-year reunion on Friday June 2-4, 2017 at the Crown Plaza Hotel located at 11228 Lone Eagle Dr. in Bridgeton, MO. For further information, please contact Debbie Marshall at 314-831-8831.

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to:

MO 63103 FREE OF

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis,

Nuptials

Congratulations to newlyweds Kim and Darrel Key!

The high school sweethearts were married on May 13, 2017 after a long courtship. The ceremony was held at The Polish Heritage Center in St. Louis, MO. The couple spent their honeymoon in Las Vegas, NV.

Religion

First Church worships under first lead black pastor

Minister Sonya Vann serving as sabbatical pastor for Rev. David Denoon

American staff

On Sunday, May 21 at their 9:55 a.m. worship service, the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves (First Church), located at 10 West Lockwood Avenue in Webster Groves, made a little history, as a black woman was brought aboard to fill a role which had always for them been assumed by a white man.

Rev. David Denoon, the church’s pastor, departed for a months-long sabbatical.

Minister Sonya Vann, a minister on staff of Christ the King United Church of Christ in Florissant, was chosen from a wide field of candidates to become the sabbatical pastor.

While First Church has a long history of advocacy for racial equity and social justice, based in their Christian faith,

Would you do as Jesus in the desert?

It’s been some time ago but I again heard one of the most powerful sayings a friend of mine used to say often right before he was about to be installed as the new pastor of his own church: “‘When Satan knocks at the door, let Jesus answer it.”

Maybe you had to be there.

Rev. David Denoon, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, has handed his flock over to Minister Sonya Vann, a minister at Christ the King United Church of Christ in Florissant, during his months-long sabbatical.

Minister Sonya Vann is only the second African American they have called to a pastoral role, and she is the first to do

so as their lead staff person. In June, Denoon and his family will be journeying to West Africa to explore the

cultures and traditions there, to experience Christianity in various contexts, to come to a greater understanding of the roots of American slavery, and to discover further the historical connections between the United States and West Africa.

While Denoon is gone, the church will embark on a renewal of its own. Under the theme, “Renewing Our Mission – Learn, Explore, Partner,” the church’s renewal is taking shape in sermons, workshops and planned activities on the intersection of faith, race and social justice. This, they believe, will help them to understand more deeply their past and become an even stronger congregation in the present and the future.

These efforts are made possible, thanks to a Pastoral Renewal Grant awarded by the Lilly Endowment through the Center for Pastoral Excellence at Christian Theological Seminary (Indianapolis). The funds provided to First Church are enabling this pastoral

sabbatical and congregational renewal.

For more information on First Church, visit http:// firstchurchwg.org.

Midwest COGIC Convocation July 24-28

The Missouri Midwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction COGIC will host its Second Annual Holy Convocation July 24-28 at Kennerly Temple Church of God In Christ, 4307 Kennerly Ave. The theme: “In This Changing World, Let Us Hold On To

I mean, what if you knew for a fact every time the devil was responsible for the temptation, the trial, the sinful suggestions, the weaknesses of flesh and spirit. The reality

But I found the thought behind this saying still absolutely awesome. I try to imagine actually being able to do this. Can you imagine if you really could?

would be that you would see the devil coming from miles away and no matter how slick or innocent the approach, you could never be fooled again. Would you really do as Jesus did in the desert? Would you renounce the promise of riches, fame, and power? For you, would it be as easy as “Away from me Satan!” (Matthew 4:10). According to scripture, after three times, the devil left and the angels came to attend to Jesus and soon thereafter He began to preach. In today’s world I’m simply asking if you knew where damnation was

coming from, would you still live a damned life. The real question I’m asking is: Do you know Jesus well enough to ask Him to answer your front door? When life and the devil deal you a bad hand, can you get the Lord to sit at the table and play it for you? Is your relationship to the Almighty current enough, casual enough, familiar and habitual enough to take His presence in your life for granted? In times of great anxiety, do you need to whisper to God to take over or, are you screaming at the top of your lungs hoping He’ll hear

your plight? I don’t get the impression that Jesus was screaming at the devil in the desert trying to keep His courage up in the face of temptation, the likes of which most of us will never see, let alone experience firsthand. At every turn, it was the devil who was way out of his league because when he came calling, Jesus merely let His father answer the door.

“Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord…Do not put the Lord your God to the test…Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only” (Matthew 4:4-11).

I can only imagine, because I’m not there yet (I’m working on it), what it’s like to be able to call upon Jesus so regularly that His presence in my daily life is second nature. I must admit there are times when I recognize that the turmoil in my life has been or is being manufactured by pure evil. That recognition allows me the privilege to simply tell the devil to back up because I don’t really have time. If you get my perspective, it’s okay to ask Jesus to handle the situation because your time is better spent trying to do the work He would be proud of. When you’re that busy, I truly believe Jesus doesn’t mind getting the door.

Legal

family program known as the Lasting Solutions Program, in all substantive aspects of family law in Missouri. For more information and instructions on how to apply, visit www. lsem.org. Submission deadline is June 4, 2017.

DIRECTOR OF STUDY ABROAD

Webster University seeks an experienced, collaborative and entrepreneurial leader to serve as Director of Study Abroad. Please apply online at http://webster.peopleadmin.com/postings/2440. No phone calls please. Webster University provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, ethnicity, age, protected veteran or disabled status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

needed for Home Health Agency. Proicient in Microsot. Fax resume to 314-395-7932

MARKETING COORDINATOR

he Saint Louis Art Museum’s marketing coordinator is primarily responsible for media buying and managing relationships with advertising representatives. his position also assists in the management of the Museum’s advertising, marketing, and promotional activities to enhance the image of the Art Museum, and to increase attendance, membership and donations. Project management and administrative skills are also essential. For a complete description of the position, visit http:// www.slam.org/AboutUs/employment. php.

COMMISSIONER OF FORESTRY (Term Appointment)

his is the top level management/administrative position in the Forestry Division responsible for planning, directing, coordinating and supervising maintenance and removal of trees on right-of-way; public space; properties in violation of City ordinance; weed eradication; debris removal; compost programs and emergency requests. For an additional description of this position, please refer to the classiication speciication for Commissioner of Forestry at: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/ personnel/documents/classiication-speciications.cfm

his position will be illed on a term basis while the former incumbent is on an in-service leave. At the completion of the in-service leave, the former incumbent has the right to return to this position.

To receive consideration for this position, candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Forestry, Public or Business Administration, or a related ield; plus ive years of recent full-time paid progressively responsible experience managing/directing forestry and/or parks programs. At least two years of this experience must include supervising/ managing staf involved in forestry/parks operations and maintenance. OR, an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Normal entry salary is $82,914 with an excellent beneit package

To apply, visit the City web site at http://stlouis-mo.gov/jobs or contact, as soon as possible: City of St. Louis Department of Personnel 1114 Market Street, Room 700 St. Louis, MO 63101 (314) 622-4308

Position requires City residency within 120 days of completion of initial working test period.

An Equal Opportunity Employer.

POLICE OFFICER (TRAINEE)

his is a Police Oicer (Trainee) position with the St. Louis Police Division. Incumbents perform duties to patrol a speciic area to protect life and property and enforce laws and ordinances using tactful and courteous treatment of the public and conscientious and eicient performance of duties. he Police Division is a 24-hour per day, seven days a week service; therefore, work involves shit, weekend, holiday, and overtime assignments.

Applicants must be twenty-one years of age at the time of iling the Employment Application. United States citizen. High school diploma or equivalent. No prior police or law enforcement experience is required. Applicants must possess and maintain a valid Missouri driver’s license while employed by the City of St. Louis. Applicants must meet eligibility standards for licensing as a peace oicer, as determined by the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Peace Oice Standards & Training (POST) Program. Bi-weekly rate of pay for a Police Oicer (Trainee) is $1,539.00. For Police Probationary Oicer, the annual rate is $41,815.28. To apply, visit the City web site at http://stlouis-mo.gov/jobs. Additional information concerning the Police Oicer (Trainee) process can be found on the St. Louis Police Division’s website at http://stmpd.org.careers.shtml Or contact: City of St. Louis Department of Personnel 1114 Market Street, Room 700 St. Louis, MO 63101 (314) 622-4308

Applications will be accepted until a suicient number are received to ill the anticipated vacancies. Applications can be submitted on the Internet. Please submit Employment Application as soon as possible.

Position requires City residency within 120 days of completion of the initial working test period. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

CHURCH !

A Professional Organ Player/Accompanist, Piano, Pipe Organ, Teacher, Minister of Music is seeking an open Church Position. All churches of diferent faiths, Please make Inquiry: 314-652-1107

TRANSPORTATION PLANNER I

East-West Gateway Council of Governments has an opening for a Transportation Planner I position. Starting salary is $36,756 annually. Please follow the link to view post at http://www.ewgateway.com/ AboutUs/JobAds/jobads.htm

Equal Opportunity / Airmative

PUBLIC ENTITY UNDERWRITING DIRECTOR

Responsible for underwriting multi-line public entity new business and renewal accounts as part of Safety National’s Public Entity vertical. Underwriting focus includes evaluation and development of requested forms and endorsements; consistent application of underwriting appetite, including retention levels and pricing approach, as related to public entity individual accounts and self-insured groups. his position is an integral part of a growing and proitable business unit that is working to expand Safety National’s dominant position in the Excess Workers Compensation market into the multi-line public entity market space. Working with the Public Entity Underwriting Manager, this role will drive broker and risk manager understanding of Safety National’s public entity multi-line capabilities. To apply, please visit: www.safetynational. com and click on the Careers tab.

FACILITY COORDINATOR

he Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is seeking a Facility Coordinator. he position is responsible for facility related activities, project management and day to day facility activities of the Community Empowerment Center of Ferguson. Interested persons should submit a resume with cover letter and salary requirements to: Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Human Resources Department, 3701 Grandel Square, St. Louis, MO 63108 or email to hr@ urbanleague-stl.org, EOE, No Phone Calls Please. For more information, visit our website www.ulstl.com

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Learning & Development Manager manages all activities in support of training, education, and employee development, under the supervision of the Vice President-Human Resources. Designs, implements, and evaluates the organization’s learning and development courses and programs which support key business functions. To apply, please visit: www.safetynational.com and click on the Careers tab.

CODE ENFORCEMENT INSPECTOR

he City of Jennings is accepting applications for a code enforcement inspector. Duties include conducting interior and exterior inspections, writing reports, issuing citations and testifying in court. Must be familiar with ICC codes and have current valid drivers license. hree years of experience as an inspector and ICC certiication preferred. Starting annual salary $31,590. Applications available at Jennings City Hall, 2120 Hord Ave. or at www.cityojennings. org.

ACCEPTED WITHOUT COMPLETION OF OUR APPLICATION! Completed applications may be mailed, emailed to jobs@cityojennings.org or faxed to 314-388-3999. Applications accepted until position is illed.

Special

and are set forth in the Bidding documents. When federal wage rates are applicable and included, this contract is subject to the “Work Hours Act of 1962,” (P.L. 87-581, 76 State. 357) and implementing regulations.

By virtue of statutory authority, preference shall be given on other than Federal Aid Projects, to materials, products, supplies, provisions, and other articles, produced, manufactured, made or grown within the state of Missouri, where same are of a suitable character and can be obtained at reasonable market prices in the state and are of a quality suited to the purpose intended and can be secured without additional cost over foreign products or products of other states.

he Commission hereby notiies all bidders that it will airmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be aforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, ancestry, or national origin in consideration for an award. he Commission reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Plans and speciications may be inspected in the oices of the

MWBE Pre-bid Meeting Notice

he SITE Improvement Association is hosting a Pre-bid meeting for Qualiied and Certiied MWBE contractors to discuss working on MSD’s University City I & I Reduction East Project Contract Letting No. 11671-015.

A pre-bid meeting is being held on behalf of the following SITE contractor members:

Fred M. Luth & Sons Bates Utility Company 4516 McRee Ave 841 Westwood Industrial Drive St. Louis, MO Weldon Spring, MO 63304 314/771-3892 636/939-5628

J.M. Marschuetz Construction Company 15 Truitt Drive Eureka, MO 63025 636/938-3600

he meeting will take place at 10:00 a.m.

hursday, June 1, 2017

SITE Improvement Association 2071 Exchange Drive, St. Charles, MO 63303

Project plans are available from MSD. For questions regarding this prebid meeting, Contact the SITE Improvement Association oice at 314/966-2950.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

PELICAN BUILDING AND DOMINOS RESTAURANT

Notice is hereby given that FiCON, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., General Contractor, will receive proposals for the Renovation of the Pelican Building at 2254-56 South Grand Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 63104, including Shell and Exterior Work, New Dominos Restaurant Tenant Build Out, and Construction of hree Second Floor Apartments, until Monday, June 19, 2017, at 5:00 pm CDT.

Proposals will be accepted at FiCON, Inc.’s oice at 10630 Midwest Industrial Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, 63132, (314-427-4099), by mail, fax (314-427-6646), email (seisenbeis@iconinc.com), or hand delivery.

Plans and Speciications can be viewed at FiCON, Inc.’s oice planroom, OR by contacting Cross Rhodes Reprographics at 1712 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63110 (314-678-0087), OR electronic drawings can be obtained by contacting FiCON, Inc. at (314-427-4099), or seisenbeis@iconinc.com .

Visits to the site can be arranged by contacting FiCON, Inc. or by attending either of the Jobsite Open Houses, held on Tuesday, June 06, 2017 and Wednesday, June 14, 2017 between 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm CDT. All Are Invited.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State, and Federal laws including MBE/WBE/DBE policies. All MBE/WBE/DBE entities are encouraged to submit proposals for the project. FiCON, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity and Airmation Action Employer.

St Louis Celebrity Seniors, Inc. Invitation for Bid FINANCIAL AND/OR VOLUNTEER SUPPORT

St. Louis Celebrity Seniors, Inc is accepting written narrative applications from St. Louis Metropolitan area 501(c)(3) nonproit organizations that seek volunteer services and/or inancial assistance for social service, scientiic or educational programs for the year 2017/2018. Narratives must not be more than 500 words and include proof of nonproit status.

Applications accepted June 1 through June 30, 2017.

St. Louis Celebrity Seniors, Inc. P.O. Box 4113 St. Louis, MO 63136

BID NOTICE

Ackerman Toyota is looking for contractors for a Demolition project at the site of our new location at 2020 Hampton ave, St Louis Mo. Please email your bid for the demolition of the old building to Bill@ackermantoyota.com

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for Missouri Bottom Road – ARS Infrastructure, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1448, will be received at the Oice of the Director of Procurement for the County of St. Louis, County Government Center Administration Building, 41 South Central Avenue, 8th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105, until 2:00 p.m. on June 21, 2017. Plans and speciications will be available on May 30, 2017 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouisco.com), or by contacting County Blue Reprographics, Inc., 1449 Strassner Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63144, (314) 961-3800.

DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is accepting proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 631032555 until 10:00 a.m. on June 30th, 2017 to contract with a company for: Writing Services.

Speciications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). he bid document will be identiied as 8983 RFP. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Doane Drive #1719 Storm Sewer under Letting No. 11251-015.1, at this oice, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on hursday, July 06, 2017, at a place designated.

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualiied by the District’s Engineering Department for:

SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required Plans and Speciications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Speciications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1712 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and speciications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid. he Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that he Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for DC-09 WEST I/I REDUCTION (S LINDBERGH BLVD AND LADUE RD) under Letting No. 11997-015.1, at this oice, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Wednesday, June 28, 2017, at a place designated.

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualiied by the District’s Engineering Department for:

SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required Plans and Speciications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Speciications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1712 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and speciications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid. he Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

BIDS

he Parks Department for he City of Webster Groves is accepting bids for Barbre Park Master Plan Implementation at City Hall, 4 East Lockwood, Webster Groves, MO 63119 until 10:00 AM Friday, June 9, 2017 at which time they will be opened and read aloud. Bids must be in a sealed envelope marked “Barbre Park – Master Plan Implementation.” Bid packages are available at County Blue, 1449 Strassner Drive, St. Louis, MO 63144 for the non-refundable cost of reproduction, or on the City of Webster Groves’ website. A ive (5) percent security in the form speciied must accompany each bid. A pre-bid meeting will be held at 1:00 PM, June 1, 2017 at Barbre Park, 411 N. Elm Avenue, Webster Groves, MO 63119. All rights reserved.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is accepting proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00 a.m. on June 29th, 2017 to contract with a company for: Heavy Construction Equipment Transportation Services. Speciications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). he bid document will be identiied as 8982 RFQ.

If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: Inlet Stones. The District is proposing single source procurement to K&P Concrete. Any inquiries should be sent to dlegrand@stlmsd.com

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: Customized Electronic Training and O&M Learning Modules for Certification Training. The District is proposing single source procurement to 360Water for this service because this is the third year of a continuing project. Any inquiries should be sent to ameyer@stlmsd.com

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will receive RFQ’s in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 631032555 until 10:00 a.m. on June 30, 2017 to contract with a company for: Primary Tank Inventory. Speciications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). he bid document will be identiied as 8974 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will receive RFQ’s in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 631032555 until 10:00 a.m. on June 30, 2017 to contract with a company for: Primary Tank Inventory. Speciications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). he bid document will be identiied as 8974 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SEALED BIDS for Various Facility Renovations, Missouri Veterans H o m e , M e x i c o , Missouri, Project No. U1608-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 6/29/2017. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

for Various Facility Renovations, Missouri Veterans Home, St. Louis, Missouri, Project No. U1611-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 6/15/2017. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

www.stlamerican.com

BID REQUEST

KCI Construction requests subcontract proposals from MBE, WBE, DBE, Veteran Supplier Diversity and SDVE businesses for the Hasselmann Alumni House & Temporary Facility A Renovations Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla, MO. Plans and speciications are available

•To view electronically at no charge from: http://adsmo.net

•To view at our Camdenton oice

•By a Dropbox from jmorrow@kciconstruction.com

Subcontractor bids are due by 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, 2017. You may email bids to jmorrow@kciconstruction.com or send a fax to 573-346-9739. Please call if you have any questions: 314-200-6496.

LETTING #8645

TERMINAL 1 BAGGAGE CLAIM DRIVE TO TICKETING DRIVE STAIRCASE at

St. Louis Lambert International Airport Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on June 27, 2017 then publicly opened and read. Plans and Speciications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies). ). Mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at 10:00 AM in the Ozark Conference Room at the Airport Oice Building, 11495 Navaid Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044.

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Airmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Speciications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

INVITATION TO BID:

E.M. Harris Construction Company (EMH), 2600 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63103 seeks subcontractor bids for Bryant Walkway I-Gut Renovation located in Columbia, MO. Scopes of work include, but are not limited to: Gut renovation of 54 existing apartment units, including demolition, concrete, masonry, metal fabrications, carpentry, thermal/moisture protection, inishes, specialties and MEP work, plus associated site work. (Note: Bryant Walkway II-Moderate Renovation is a separate project bid prior to Bryant Walkway I.) his is NOT tax exempt. PREVAILING WAGES (set by USDOL and MHDC immediately prior to start of construction) MUST BE PAID TO ALL WORKERS; CERTIFIED PAYROLL REPORTS REQUIRED. Section 3, Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises are strongly encouraged to bid. EMH is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Project plans & speciications are available for viewing online through an Invitation to Bid and at: • MOKAN Plan Room, 4666 Natural Bridge, St. Louis, MO 63115 • EMH Plan Room, 2600 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103 PLEASE ill out Bid General Information sheet. All bids due to EMH oice by 6 pm, Wed., June 14, 2017, fax: 314-436–6691. Project contact: Vic Hofmeister: vic@emharris.com.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Restoration Advisory Board Membership Solicitation for the Former St. Louis Ordnance Plant

he Army is exploring public interest in forming a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) to address ongoing environmental restoration activities for Operable Unit 2 at the former St. Louis Ordnance Plant, Hanley Area #2, located at 6400 Stratford Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri. A RAB is designed to promote community involvement by giving interested citizens an opportunity to regularly review and discuss the progress of the environmental cleanup activities with St. Louis Ordnance Plant decision-makers. Participation in a RAB is voluntary and the Army does not provide any form of inancial compensation to community members who choose to participate. Members will be asked to attend regular meetings related to ongoing activities. If you want to take part in this process, please contact Barry McFarland between June 1 and June 30.

Barry McFarland Environmental Protection Specialist Phone: (316) 681-1759, extension 1419 Email: barry.l.mcfarland2.ctr@mail.mil

LETTING #8646

TERMINAL 1 CONCOURSE A GATE ELECTRIFICATION at St. Louis Lambert International Airport Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service, Room 208, City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103 until 1:45 PM, CT, on June 20, 2017, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Speciications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City and State laws (including DBE/MBE/WBE policies). Mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at 10:00 A.M. in the Ozark Conference Room (AO-4066) at the Airport Oice Building, 11495 Navaid Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044. All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Airmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Speciications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Virtual Plan Room).

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Lemay Housing Partnership, Inc. (“LHP”) is soliciting bids from qualiied irms for the construction of sidewalk and curbs in the 9800 block of Linn Avenue, St Louis, Missouri 63125

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE:

Need to sell your car, furniture, clothes musical instruments, or motorcycle? Place an ad in the Service Directory. Advertise your yard sale, auction or service here today for as little as $29.50.

Swag Snap of the Week

Smitten by Smino. Y’all have never heard me mention St. Louis rapper/singer Smino before now. And after checking out his live show at the Delmar Hall Sunday night, I feel that I have done the ultimate disservice by not being hip to him. It’s a good thing that he saved his hometown show for last. Because had there been any other dates on his “Swanita” tour, I would have stopped my life in its tracks to follow him across the country like a Grateful Dead fan. The show was sold out – as it should have been – and by the time he dropped the microphone I was a devoted “Sminohead.” His band had me at that glorious sound check that proved they have the range. And then Smino hobbled out on crutches with baby Air Force Ones that matched his own footwear. With a fractured ankle, he served up a show that clocked every rising hip-hop star’s early stage offering that I’ve seen in the past ten years. He sings, he raps and he utterly slays a stage. Even when he should’ve been on the sick-and-shut-in list, he gave St. Louis a reason to be super proud that he reps for us on the national rap scene. I know I haven’t said anything about him until now, but Smino already has the momentum going to be the next big thing for St. Louis hip-hop and the talent to back it up.

The Time for District Rhythms. Morris Day and The Time were the perfect way to pop off the 2017 urban summer concert series known as District Rhythms. As per usual, the folks came out in droves to fill up the back lot of Ballpark Village for the start of the summer concerts presented by 95.5 The Lou FM. When I tell you that Morris and ‘nem had it lit, trust that I’m keeping it real. I would say you had to be there to see how they’ve still got it, but just about everyone in the city was there. Morris was the delightfully arrogant front man we’ve loved for nearly 40 years and The Time was beyond on-point as a band. I was also gonna say that you know you cater to an audience of a certain age when the leader of the band gets freaked down by a woman named Cathy – but since all ages came through, the joke doesn’t quite work. Soul for a cause. Neither death nor Morris Day’s silky hair game could’ve kept me from the Mandarin House to show support

By Delores Shante dshante@stlamerican.com

to the special benefit concert for Café Soul co-founder Nichol Stevenson, who is battling cancer. It was like a Café Soul reunion full of folks who paid forward the worthy cause of helping curb some of the medical and living expenses as Nichol and son Max fight to win (as the t-shirts say). And to top it off, supporters got an earful of beloved soul crooner Eric Roberson in addition to new faces and seasoned vets from the St. Louis soul scene Angie Brown and Nichol helped sow into. For those who missed the show, you can still give by visit www.cafesoulstl.com. It’s the least you can do after she’s worked so hard to give us an outlet for good music and a great time – and Friday night proved she’s going to continue!

Day Party at Delmar Hall. Memorial Day weekend used to be known for being the kickoff of outdoor pool season. Nowadays club goers know it as the official start to the summer day party festivities. I know the Day Party STL crew was thrilled with their choice of venue as they kicked off their season of sets on Saturday (which is also against the Sunday Day Party grain). When the weather acted as if it was going to sweep us all up and carry us to Kansas, all they had to do was take the party from the patio to the performance area. It felt like a night party on the inside, but it was still a good time. This appears to be the year that everybody actually got their body ready for shirtless summers and

two-piece beach frolicking everyone except me. One of the hard bodies I bumped into was former Rams player Derek Stanley I forgot how fine he was. I don’t know if he’s parlayed into a career as fitness model or what, but he was more ripped than ever. But enough of me lusting, I also chatted it up with my girls Mocha Latte and Mousie Haley and my boys Eddie Holman, Robert Hughes and Teddy BFree Blackett. It was on the eve of Teddy’s “Rock The Block,” but he still came through to support. And despite the weather, the Day Party STL crew still clocked a win.

Suite Soul Spot’s second coming. I was so thrilled to see the return of alternative soul concert series The Suite Soul Spot return Saturday night with a couple of my favorites. I was so happy for Vanita “Applebum” Thompson because the revival kicked off on the highest of notes with Anthony David and special guest Tiffany Elle. The Dark Room at The Grandel is the perfect spot for it too. I’ve been checking for Anthony David since he was doing background for India.Arie and was happy to see him back in our city serving up his own batch of hits. I was also thrilled to catch Tiffany bless the crowd with her angelic tone with some original music that would cycle right in with the latest R&B on the radio. Vanita should be pleased with how things turned out and how the city showed up to welcome her back. I can’t wait for her to hip me to the new, now and next on the soul scene!

The block was hot. Since I’m already talking about Teddy, I might as well jump right into the 2017 installment of Rock the Block Sunday afternoon at The Marquee. The fear of funny acting weather kept the set from being as epic as it was the last go round, but the folks still had a ball. I got there much earlier than I would have otherwise because I was heading over to check out Smino – and from what I hear I missed the peak hours. However, what I saw was enough for me to be confident that Teddy and the whole crew that helped him pull Rock The Block together should be patting each other on the back.

Photos by Lawrence Bryant & John Scott

Café Soul co-founder Nichol Stevenson with soul crooner Eric Roberson, who headlined a special benefit show in her honor Friday night @ Mandarin House

Spoken word artist Real T@lk preparing to recite his latest works @ Poetic Justice Open Mic series Sunday @ The Ready Room

Keysha, Elaina and Melissa got their Rock The Block on in style Sunday afternoon @ The Marquee

Sisters Danielle, Alex and Meghan came to check out Morris Day and The Time Friday night @ Ballpark Village

Vanita Thompson welcomed St. Louis’ own Tiffany Elle and national recording artist Anthony David for the Suite Soul Spot concert Saturday @ The Grandel

Kristen and Yusef made a date night of the Café Soul Benefit show starring Eric Roberson Friday night @ Mandarin House

Donna and Sandy got their groove on thanks to District Rhythms concert series’ presentation of Morris Day and The Time Friday night

Curstan, Lenora and Mahranda stopped through the Day Party STL set Saturday @ Delmar Hall

Nakyria and Brittany came from Memphis, TN to hang in The Lou with Lashonda for Memorial Day weekend

Photo by Victoria Said It/ Radio One Saint Louis

Photos by V. Lang