10 15 2014

VOL. 63, No. 40

www.tsdmemphis.com

October 9 - 15, 2014

75 Cents

Kappas’ $50,000 deposit renews partnership with Tri-State Bank

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Special to the New Tri-State Defender

The two entities – Tri-State Bank and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – are no strangers. Both have for decades made significant impact upon the lives of countless people, particularly African Americans. Now the historic relationship is being renewed with the fraternity’s $50,000 deposit into a new Tri-State Bank account.

“We never really felt like the Kappas left us,” said Jesse H. Turner Jr., the bank’s president. “We’ve just kind of felt like they’ve been on a little vacation. But we are thrilled, of course, that the Memphis Alumni Chapter has chosen to make this gesture at this time. We trust that it will inspire others to follow suit.”

The $50,000 check was set for a Thursday morning (Oct. 9th) presentation to Turner during a press conference at the bank’s downtown Memphis location at 180 S. Main Street. The deposit, according to a

Employees working at the Tri-State Bank welcomed customers with a smile. The bank was orginally located at 386 Beale St. Jesse Turner Sr. (behind the counter) was the bank president. (Courtesy photos) Kappa spokesman, is the first of several transfers, totaling more than a quarter of a million dollars.

Alumni Chapter President Darrell

Catron spoke to the fraternity’s kinship with the bank during an interview with The New Tri-State Defender prior to the presentation.

Former Tri-State Defender editor was a ‘movement’ man

by Tony Jones Special to The New Tri-State Defender

by Wiley Henry whenry@tsdmemphis.com

SEE LEGACY ON PAGE 3

MEMPHIS WEEKEND FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

H-83o - L-65o H-72o - L-63o H-77o - L-67o T-Storms T-Storms T-Storms REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS

Friday H-86 L-64 H-81 L-67 H-88 L-70

Saturday H-71 L-59 H-71 L-59 H-87 L-69

Sunday H-78 L-67 H-77 L-65 H-86 L-69

SEE KAPPAS ON PAGE 3

From Memphis to Ferguson: Devin James – The whole story

LEGACY: McCann Leronius Reid

When the clarion was sounded during the civil rights movement for freedom and justice, a young journalist and photographer answered the call – McCann Leronius Reid. He would capture the movement and its aftermath through the lens of his camera and during his stint as editor of the Tri-State Defender.

Reid embedded himself in the movement during some of its most pivotal moments and recalled his experiences long after it had ended.

After serving more than a dozen years at the newspaper, he continued soundMcCann Leronius Reid ing off as a contributing writer well into the 1980s on issues germane to African Americans.

The sound of Reid’s voice, however, would eventually fade, and his film camera, now a relic of the past, would no longer capture the spirit of a people determined to break down barriers and overcome racism and injustices.

Reid died Sept. 20 at the Memphis VA Medical Center. He was 90. Relatives, friends and admirers bid him farewell on Sept. 29th during his funeral at Longview Heights SeventhDay Adventist Church, where he was a member.

Reid had been in ill health at a private nursing home receiving special care, his wife, Cora Reid, said. She’d hoped to move him to Nashville with

“We felt that it is important to reaffirm our support for Tri-State Bank in this present day as well as appreciate what the bank has meant to our com-

munity in the past,” said Catron. “At a time when black people couldn’t bank any place else, Tri-State Bank was there.”

Catron said it’s critical that a new generation takes a look at Tri-State Bank’s new banking tools and competitive online services.

“We want to help build wealth in our community by banking with an entity which has historically serviced those who were excluded from mainstream life through legal and social segregation,” said Catron.

Tri-State Bank was started with only $240,000. Today, it commands more than $146 million in assets.

“In 1946 when Tri-State Bank opened its doors, home ownership for African Americans was virtually impossible in the Mid-South,” said Turner. “Blacks in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi couldn’t get a loan at other banks. We have traditionally made loans that were consid-

Justin Ford

Walter Bailey

Democrats wage internal battle on Shelby County Commission ‘Surprise’ challenge to new chairman’s subcommittee picks

by Tony Jones Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Newly elected Shelby County Commission Chairman Justin Ford (District 9) faces a potentially bareknuckled debate over the makeup of subcommittees when the Commission meets on Monday (Oct. 13th).

Two weeks ago, after a unanimous 11-0 initial vote during the nomination process, Ford presented his nominees to the Commission for final approval. But then, much to his surprise and many others, a 7-5 vote forced the process back to the drawing board.

Commissioner Walter Bailey (District 13) orchestrated the baffling move. He requested that the two resolutions forming the nominee slate be moved from the “consent” agenda, where items considered a done deal are parked, to the regular agenda to allow a full vote.

With a deliberateness that reflected prior conversation, the six Democrats (not counting Ford) on the commission then nixed Ford’s subcommittee selections. Their surprising move took on decision-making weight when Republican commissioner Steve Basar (District 13) sided with them. Basar’s fellow GOP member George Chism (District 2) was not in attendance.

Bailey says he persuaded his fellow Democrats that Ford’s subcommittee selections were not strong enough for

Ebola and Africa’s untold stories

the greater good that he said the Democrats represent.

“There are seven of us that represent the urban community, all Democrats. Seven votes are required to get resolutions passed,” Bailey told The New Tri-State Defender.

“We (Democrats) feel we have a golden opportunity to control committees like Budget, Education, Law Enforcement, which have authority over the courts and Juvenile Court; critical committees that shape the direction, destiny and priorities for this county and the committee chairperson usually is the one who gives a committee the impetus to move forward. We need it to be individuals that can be consistent with our priorities.”

Bailey said Ford cut a deal with the Republicans to become chairman.

“They preferred him because I was up for chairmanship, but it was not something that I really coveted. They preferred him because they feel they can manipulate him.”

Ford said Bailey’s move was out of bounds.

“Traditionally, the chairman of the body is nominated by your peers and you are elected by your peers. As the chairman of the body I have to take a neutral position on most issues, and I have to chair the meetings, run the office and preside over the meetings for the people of Shelby County from that perspective.”

SEE BATTLE ON PAGE 3

Memphis-born public relations professional Devin James has steadied himself after getting wobbled as part of a public relations team assisting the city of Ferguson, Mo. with its public response following the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Michael Brown Jr. James and his company, the Devin James Group, were working out of the spotlight until a St. Louis newspaper, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, detailed James’ reckless homicide conviction resulting from a shooting in 2004. He served three months in prison and 10 years probation.

The newspaper followed up with a scathing editorial, presaging an Internet and media explosion excoriating James. Ferguson Mayor James Knowles was well aware of James’ past. He told St. Louis’ KMOV Channel 4 that he felt it would provide an additional connection “to counter criticism that city officials are out of touch with people who may have a criminal record but are trying to turn their lives around.

“My background was never an issue to anybody. It has no reflection on my ability to do public relations or be a strategic counsel for government entities,” James said during an interview with The New Tri-State Defender.

James was hired as a minority subcontractor by the St. Louis-based

communications firm Elasticity, which was contracted by the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.

Katy Jamboretz, vice president, Marketing & Communications, for the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, says the organization has asked Elasticity to release James from his subcontractor role, due to a lack of transparency.

“While we admire his personal growth from difficult circumstances and commend him for his high quality work in Ferguson, it was the lack of information about his background that prompted us to make this move,” Jamboretz said in a written release.

“Mr. James failed to inform us of his prior conviction. He also did not reveal this information to Elasticity when he was hired as a subcontractor.

As of today, we are developing new vendor due diligence policies which we believe will prevent similar incidents in the future.”

James said his company has always been forthright with all of its government clients.

“We told the partnership (when his firm was initially hired). We told the partnership and they thought it was a good idea when they recommended that we work with Ferguson. So every headline that you’ve read has been inaccurate.”

James has at least one public official, Tennessee State Rep. Barbara SEE JAMES ON PAGE 2

Building on his interest in computers and his graphic talents, Memphis-born Devin James has developed a small firm that serves him well. (Photo: www.devinjamesgroup.com)

A physican talks about containing the deadly virus on the African continent in a Q & A

Singer, songwriter challenges himself in gospel music and radio

2014 Blues Ball unites with the universal language of music

See Opinion, page 4

See Religion, page 8

See Entertainment, page 9

Page 2

Tri-State Defender

October 9 - 15, 2014

NEWS JAMES CONTINUED FROM FRONT Cooper, strongly on his side.

James’ family turned to Cooper for assistance after his conviction and subsequent prison term.

“What happened to Devin was ten years ago, if not longer. And I know because I helped him through it,” said Cooper. “What they’re trying to do to him is so unfair and typical, though it really comes as no surprise. Why don’t they tell the truth for a change? Yes, he was a felon; was. Look what he has become since. That’s the real story.”

A July 2014 article in the St. Louis American speaks to what James has become, reporting that he was class president of the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business Minority Business Executive Program.

Let him speak for himself “My firm was under contract with the St. Louis Economic Partnership for a brand assessment of North County, where Ferguson is located. About two days after we completed the assessment, Michael Brown was shot and killed and the Partnership decided that they needed to do something to protect the investments in the region,” said James.

“Contrary to what a lot of people think, we were not actually tasked to do PR (public relations). Our initial assignment was to assist the P.R. firm retained, Common Ground public relations.”

Putting the Ferguson area into context, James said, “It wasn’t a secret that the area lacked the investment that the non-African American areas had received. The highest ranking executive in the county is African American and has acknowledged that they had not done a good job in investing in the African American community.”

His core duty began as part of the team seeking ways to spur more economic investment in the African-American community. That involved dis-

cussion about topics that are issues in many other cities: How to challenge patterns of poverty and determining corporate responsibility.

“Like any other typical American city,” said James, including Memphis in the mix. “I have been doing business there (in Ferguson) for six years and never got a prime contract.”

Then the shooting occurred.

“The first thing that jumped out to me was that there was so much division between the city, the state and the county.

When something large like this happens in a small town like Ferguson they’re not equipped to handle something like this,” said James.

“My first concern was where were the resources to help them. The police chief immediately called the county in take over the investigation. The first couple of days it was amazing to me how little support they received. To me it was almost like they had left them out to burn. I think a lack of leadership from the state to the county level added to the confusion. It was chaotic.

We’re talking three or four days after the shooting and there was no clear plan.”

James said it is not his intention to criticize the initial PR firm that was hired.

“I just think something like this was outside their wheelhouse. The cultural sensitivity piece was missing. Nobody had really dealt with any kind of race related, international conversations. Of course in Memphis we’ve dealt with that kind of conversation for years so I understood what kind of conversations that needed to be had. As I was engaging the stakeholders I was concerned that no one understood the severity of the situation.”

By email, James detailed his responsibility following the shooting.

“The partnership was trying to use me and my firm to reduce unrest in the AfricanAmerican community. I told them that was impossible and that I would only help Ferguson in a strategic capacity to assist with communication and public outreach etc. … (Con-

sidering they already had two firms handling PR).

“We simply improved their ability to respond to inquiries by implementing project management software to manage internal and external communications, established a more effective and streamlined way to sort inquiries and lined up spokespeople with specific topics that they were knowledgeable about instead of sticking everyone in front of reporters, writers and correspondents to talk about stuff they shouldn’t be discussing due to lack of info.”

The widely derided video apology by Ferguson’s Police Chief was not his call, James said.

“The chief wanted to make an apology,” said James. “We simply distributed the video and coordinated follow-up interviews. We had not been driving the city of Ferguson’s media strategy because there was never one set up by either of the two prime firms.”

The St. Louis Economic Partnership extended the scope of the existing contract to include crisis communication for the city of Ferguson, James said.

“They wanted to leverage my credibility—street cred, if you will—to have an impact on what was going on and to mitigate it. I know what it’s like to feel uncomfortable around law enforcement, to feel uncomfortable in the court system, and to feel like you’ve been unfairly treated by the court system. I am well versed from being on the other side of all of those things, so the stakeholders thought it was very important to have me in the room.”

After coming into the fold officially, James said he hit the ground running, “having conversations with protest leaders, gang leaders, the clergy, elected officials, trying to get the conversation going about what the next steps needed to be enacted.”

James remains optimistic.

He’s faced a lot worse, as the story of his conviction reveals.

“I was 21, right at 22 when that all happened. Prior to the home invasion that resulted in

my being charged (with reckless homicide), I had been robbed and shot at my workplace. All of it was based on the lifestyle that I was trying to escape from.”

On the night of the incident that led to his prison sentence, James said someone he knew called to say he was coming by.

“He wasn’t a friend, but we were acquaintances. It was a setup. When he came in the front door, a group of people busted in the back door. I was already partially disabled from the incident that had occurred before. My arm had to be re-

built with titanium rods.”

By self-description, James was “never a dope pusher, but I was a street entrepreneur. I ran the streets with the wrong crowd. My thing was to get the dope guys into legitimate businesses. I learned better.”

Building on his interest in computers and his graphic talents, James has built a small firm.

“I started my company while in my senior year in college, so no, I don’t have a degree; or a standard resume. But I think my work speaks for itself,” he said.

“It seems like no one wants

to give anyone a second chance unless they’re a ball player or a rap artist. This is a hardship that many AfricanAmerican people, not just in Ferguson, experience and that corporate America doesn’t understand,” said James.

“But we can’t continue to move this country forward and pretend it doesn’t exist. I tell people that if you know anything about that life you know what an accomplishment it is to make it out alive. In so many instances when one of our people do something you want to hold it over our heads for the rest of our lives.”

Tri-State Defender

Page 3

October 9 - 15, 2014

NEWS LEGACY CONTINUED FROM FRONT her to live with their daughter, Angela Kim Reid-Thompson, director of rehabilitation at Nashville Community Care and Rehabilitation at Bordeaux.

Though Reid could not join his wife and daughter, the two hold fond memories of a husband and father who lived life to the fullest and left behind an invaluable legacy and an indelible impression on those he’d encountered.

“I wasn’t too much aware of what was going on at that time until years later,” said Cora Reid, a retired Memphis City Schools teacher. “Then I realized how important of a person my husband was in the civil rights movement.”

What she remembers most was that her husband was away from home a lot, somewhere recording history as a journalist and photographer. “It didn’t dawn on me…but he contributed a lot to the civil rights movement,” she said. “[But] I don’t know whether I felt the danger until years later.”

Reid happened to be in the right places and at the right time as an eyewitness to history, she said. He met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when they were students at Boston University. Dr. King would go on to lead a “movement” and Reid would become an active participant and eventually document it.

For example, as a journalist, Reid put pen to paper and created a narrative detailing the African-American struggle. As a photographer, he captured the heart and soul of those in the trenches and others on the front line for justice. Then he transfixed it all for posterity.

Reid participated in a number of marches and documented his experiences, including the march that drew Dr. King to Memphis to demand better working conditions for the city’s sanitation workers.

“My father had a lot of integrity,” Reid-Thompson said. “The way he lived was in support and alignment with nonviolence. His writing was a statement, his voice.

He allowed his pen to be the power.”

Reid-Thompson also remembers her father as a quiet, gentle man with a wit humor. “He was very unassuming, but a renaissance man,” she noted.

Audrey McGhee, the former publisher of the TSD, also remembers Reid as being “quiet and unassuming.” What she remembers most, however, was that he was dedicated and devoted to his job and “always on top of things.”

Though Reid had left the newspaper before McGhee’s tenure as publisher, he’d followed a succession of editors, such as Lewis O. Swingler and Alex Wilson, who challenged the status quo by using the press to affect change.

Reid’s voice was succinct, deliberate, and he used it to get his point across. He also voiced his concerns about segregated conditions. And when restaurants were desegregating, he and William “Bill” Little, TSD’s sports writer, decided they’d test the law by making an entrance.

Not willing to bend under the weight of racism and discrimination, Reid filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming that the Memphis Press Scimitar and The Commercial Appeal refused to hire him because of his race and religion.

Reid eventually found employment at the Employment Opportunity Commission, where he served as editor of the E.E.O.C.’s union paper. He continued to ply his skills as a journalist and later spent his golden years with his family.

Cora Reid said she doesn’t have a lot of her husband’s work, but “I do have some of his most important photos.”

BATTLE CONTINUED FROM FRONT Not only are his appointments sound, Ford counters, there’s no way he would turn his back on his roots.

“I’m African American, and the chairman. I am the youngest chairman in state history and the youngest chairman to sit on any major government body in this country. I think it does a lot for African Americans, and espe-

cially young African Americans,” he said.

“I have also been appointed to the board of the National Organization of Black County Officials while I was at the Congressional Black Caucus.

So when we discuss the issues that are important to this community I think I am on the forefront, I think I am part of what is needed to bring solutions for the communities that I represent.

“My district includes Whitehaven, Boxtown, Mitchell

Road, the Florida street area.

There’s no way I’m not going to watch out for the interests of my voters.”

As chairman, he works for the entire county, said Ford.

“We can do more on the commission now than we have ever been able to do. I think we can do more than we ever did before because we have a commission that can work together.

We can transcend racial lines and we can move forward for the people of Shelby County,” said Ford.

“ We went on a three week tour of Shelby County … we went to Germantown, Collierville, Millington, Memphis, Arlington. What we are trying to do now is have a respectful, honorable government, a government for the people by the people that will be problem-solvers not problem-causers.”

But, said Bailey, if the Democrats can unify, there will be several key issues where Ford, as chairman, may become the deciding vote.

Tri-State Bank was started with only $240,000.

Jesse Turner Sr. (right), the bank’s president, observes as a customer affixes his signature to a document.

(Courtesy photo)

KAPPAS CONTINUED FROM FRONT ered too risky.”

In the first decade, more than $10 million in first mortgage loans was made. That represented home ownership for 2,000 families. Black business owners could come to the bank for signature and business loans when they could go to no one else,” Turner said.

“We have been there, but we don’t expect people to look at

Tri-State as their bank just because we have traditionally serviced the black community in generations past. Tri-State Bank is a community bank. It belongs to the community, and we continue to work at providing superior service, and that we will always strive to improve.”

The history of Tri-State Bank reflects its purpose from the very beginning – “to uplift our community,” said Turner.

“Through the civil rights era, I can remember the Walkers (Dr. J.E. Walker and A. Maceo

Walker) and my father (Jessie Turner Sr.) meeting in the boardroom with community leaders to plan sit-ins and other protests,” said Turner.

“In fact, one particular night, the vault was left open so that bail money would be available for protesters.”

In 1982, the Lorraine Motel was going into foreclosure, having declined drastically in the years following Dr. King’s assassination there on April 4th, 1968, Turner noted “We provided the $60,000 to

those trying to save it, and today, of course, it is the site of the National Civil Rights Museum.”

And years ago when Texas College, a CME institution in Tyler, Texas, was faced with the very real possibility of having to shut down, Tri-State Bank joined a coalition of seven minority banks in raising $4 million to save it.

“Tri-State is a community bank, and we look forward to serving future generations,” said Turner.

Page 4

Tri-State Defender

October 9 - 15, 2014

OPINION

To save our children… beginning right now!

John H. Sengstacke Publisher (1951 - 1997)

The Mid-South’s Best Alternative Newspaper

• Bernal E. Smith II President / Publisher • Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku Executive Editor

Powered by Best Media Properties, Inc.

(The Rev. Rodney Beard is pastor of The Living Word Community Church in Nashville.)

Q&A:

Ebola and Africa’s untold stories

Q: Please comment on the U.S. government’s response to Ebola. As you know, the U.S. is using military personnel to set up medical facilities in affected countries.

tends to be onestory line for a complex continent. Currently the storyline is Ebola and nothing else. In the past, the storyline was violent conflicts. It’s important for the media Dr. Noksazana to tell the many Zuma, chair of stories that are there in Africa so the African Union Com- that people can get a clearer indimission cation of what is going on.

However, it is not likely we will get more balanced coverage from other people if we do not do it ourselves. That’s why we think it’s very important to encourage the journalists and communicators in the (African) diaspora to communicate what is going on in Africa. We’re not trying to hide anything or minimize anything but we want to tell all our stories because we have very good stories to tell. We know there are stories about difficulties but we also want other kinds of stories told.

A: It would be great if the U.S. and other developed countries did more to help improve the health facilities in those countries. They need treatment centers … they need laboratory-testing facilities, they need protective clothing and they need more transportation [capacity] and personnel.

However, we need help beyond Ebola because we know now that a lot more people might die from illnesses that would not normally be fatal because there is so much focus on Ebola. Very few people in those countries are being treated for malaria or for injuries. We also need to strengthen the health systems in these countries so if there is another outbreak, there will be people ready to respond appropriately and quickly.

We saw this kind of response when Nigeria addressed and contained its Ebola cases. Nigeria has strong institutions that mounted a strong public health response.

Q: Can you talk about your work on energy and global warming?

A: There’s a lot of activity around energy because we realize it’s needed if we are to industrialize to process our mineral wealth. However, we have decided that even though we have enough fossil fuels to generate energy, we want to take advantage of new green technology and get a proper mix that will be both fossil fuels and renewable energy.

Africa is the continent that will suffer the most disproportionate impact of global warming because the continent is the smallest polluter. We must mitigate and adapt … With our huge tropical forests, Africa is the second lung of the world … and the Amazon is the other major lung. We have to preserve these forests for ourselves and for the world. The developed countries have to come to the table. Hopefully, in Paris next year, there will be a binding international agreement on emissions.

Q: What about the role of the United Nations and the World Health Organization in this crisis and the future of health care in Africa?

Q: The U.N. in 2000 created global Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on health, education, environmental sustainability and gender equality – objectives countries will be graded on in 2015. What will be the grades on the report cards of African nations?

by George White Special to the NNPA from New America Media

As chair of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma directs the staff and the work of the African Union (AU), the alliance of nations on the continent. In that role, Dr. Zuma – a physician – manages AU initiatives on education, the environment, economic development and health. She is currently overseeing the deployment of AU volunteers to help halt the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in the West African nations of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

In an exclusive interview with New America Media in Los Angeles, Dr. Zuma talked about the fight to contain Ebola, media coverage of Africa and the continent’s progress on the United Nations’ global Millennium Development Goals.

A: The U.N. is now responding.

It’s late but better than never…

Everyone needs to up their game – particularly the World Health Organization and the U.N. because they have the global responsibility for outbreaks such as this. We also should not forget those who are on the ground who have been doing this work from Day One – the local health workers, the (African_ governments, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and the Red Cross. We would like to express our appreciation to all of them … and to all the countries outside of Africa that have helped.

I think the world should look at the overall health situation in African nations. We are saying there should be universal health care for everyone in our countries. But some donor organizations think this is not very important for development and we think that is wrong… We think universal health care is very important. Of course, it won’t happen overnight but it has to be established as we grow and develop.

Ebola has shown that you are going to get more than health effects from the outbreak; you’re also going to get social effects. Even more important, there are going to be economic effects if efforts to stop the outbreak fail – ships not docking to take material in and take material out, mines and factories closing or working at low levels and farmland not being worked …

Health and education are the most important investments for economic growth; but this eludes some donors and some (government) ministers of finance.

Q: The African Union Commission (AUC) had planned to host a forum for African immigrant media in the U.S. and African-American media to discuss the coverage of development issues at the recent U.S.Africa Leaders Summit in Washington D.C. It was cancelled but the AUC has indicated that it still hopes to host such a meeting. Why is such a gathering needed?

A: I think it’s very important because we have seen that the coverage produced by media outside of Africa

A: Africa may not meet all the MDG goals … but Africa has made the greatest effort and has had the greatest improvement. In education, for example, a lot of the goals have nearly been reached. There are a lot more girls going to school. We have a campaign to keep the girls in school as long as possible because if we can keep them in school, they don’t get married early and they don’t get pregnant early.

As for the empowerment and participation of women, I think we are making real progress. There are a lot of women in (African) parliaments.

The level in Rwanda has reached 64 percent, which is the world’s highest. Others, such as Seychelles and South Africa, have levels hovering in the 40s and 50s. Parliament is a high-profile institution and these women are role models for other young women. We are also beginning to see chief justices that are women and governors that are women.

Q: What are the goals for the remainder of your term as head of the African Union Commission?

A: One of them is to help young people get the skills – especially in the areas of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) – to create a skills revolution on the continent.

The other area is infrastructure.

We would like to work toward an Africa that is one economic market and one aviation market because that will increase the number of internal flights within the continent so that we can be better connected and integrated.

We also want to see the beginnings of real connections between our capitals and our commercial centers through rail, especially high-speed rail. We’re working toward eventually achieving a continental free-trade area. Even though this may not be achieved during my term, I can help plant the seeds of economic integration and see them grow when I’m gone.

Hillary Clinton and Ben Carson

Can you imagine a race between Carson and Hillary Clinton? Black voters won’t know whether they are pitching or catching if that happens. I can’t wait!

Hillary v. Ben Carson in 2016

by James Clingman NNPA News Service

I know you political junkies are on the edge of your seats now that Dr. Ben Carson has said he will likely run for president. I have been waiting to see what black folks will do when President Obama leaves office. Well, we are about to find out now, aren’t we? Can you imagine a race between Carson and Hillary Clinton? Black voters won’t know whether they are pitching or catching if that happens. I can’t wait!

What will the commentators say?

What will the current political insiders talk about? If the prospect of having the “first” black president was great in 2008, I would think the prospect of having the “second” will be just as fantastic, right?

“Not so fast,” some of you are saying. “Carson is black, but he is a staunch conservative; we can’t vote for him.” That would be the hue and cry from so-called liberal black folks.

On the other hand, to vote for a white woman over a black man, for some black voters would also be a big dilemma.

The possibilities are endless with this one, folks. To which candidate do you think black people would give the majority of their votes? Can you envision Obama supporters, who thought it was so important to elect a black person to the highest office in the world, saying in 2015-16 that it’s a bad idea this time around? The debates will be very interesting. All of a sudden politics is getting my attention. I am stocking up on popcorn now.

Carson dissed Obama at that prayer breakfast, you know. He is also the darling of Fox News commentators, who eventually said, “nein, nein, nein” to Herman Cain. Carson also rails against Obamacare and initiatives put forth by the president and, if Carson is nominated, there will be a pit-bull fight in 2016. How will black people justify their votes this time? Hillary and Wall Street or Carson and Wall Street? Hillary and no reparations or Carson and no reparations?

How will black folks fare economically under a Ben Carson administration as opposed to a Hillary Clinton administration? Carson is a free market guy, and Hillary has no problem with free market either. Carson made his millions after pulling himself up from nothing, and Hillary says she and Bill were dead broke when they left the White House. In fact, during their time in Arkansas they had no home other than the governor’s mansion. Talk about Horatio Alger stories; this is really going to be good. They can debate on whose situation was worse, and we can cast

our votes for the winner.

Black people have been so ensconced in having the first black president that for many, it’s really going to be sad to see Barack Obama leave. Politically, he is all James they have. What Clingman will Peggy Joseph do about putting gas in her car and paying her mortgage, as she said when he was elected? (See YouTube) What will Al Sharpton do? I guess he could get close to Hillary if she wins, but you know Carson will have nothing to do with him.

If Carson wins MSNBC and Fox News will trade places by changing their conversations about the president. MSNBC will constantly rail against Carson, and Fox will simply celebrate Carson as their messiah this time. Ain’t politics great!?

On a more serious note, elections have consequences. After six years of President Obama in office, black people are assessing our progress under his leadership. Some say he has done well, and others say he has done very little on behalf of black people.

The fact remains that he will exit his position in two years. What are we going to do, after reaching the ultimate symbolic high and staying there for two terms? As Peter said to Jesus, “To whom shall we go?”

Have we invested too much emotion in Obama’s presidency and not enough substantive content?

Whether it’s Ben Carson or another Republican, or whether Hillary, the odds-on favorite, moves into the White House in two years, we must decide where we will go and how we will get there. In my opinion, we have wasted six years of political positioning by not carrying our demands to Obama the way other groups did when he was elected.

Our political dilemma has never been the lack of a “Black” president.

It has been and continues to be our lack of political involvement beyond voting, our failure to build political power based on an economic power base, and our reliance on political symbolism over political substance.

Our political dilemma should move us to appropriate action; we must plan now for whoever moves into the White House in 2016.

(NNPA columnist Jim Clingman, founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce, is an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati and can be reached via Blackonomics.com.)

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I had an interesting conversation with the Vice President of our National Action Network of Greater Rev. Rodney Nashville Chapter, Beard Shelby County Commissioner Henri E. Brooks, (recently). She is praying about whether or not to start a chapter in Memphis, but in the meantime she is serving with us.

As we discussed local initiatives she began to lament what they are facing in Memphis. If you have not heard, read, or even seen in the media, there have been 4 violent acts committed by groups of black youth in the city lately that are quite disturbing, and cause for honest concern, so here’s the link: http://www.tsdmemphis.com/greatermetro/157-original/21208-what-s-upwith-memphis-youth We as African-Americans must ask ourselves, “what’s up with that?!” It looks like these kids are making more of a statement than committing acts of violence, and they probably don’t even realize the ramifications. Maybe for them enough is enough, and violence is the only way they express it because they have not been taught by “us” that violence is NOT the way.

What, you may ask is enough? Well maybe the facts will help us understand: 1. We are 30 percent of the United States’ population, 60 percent of the prison population.

2. One in three black men can expect to go to prison in their lifetime.

3. Our kids face harsher punishments in school than their white peers, and higher rates of incarceration.

4. Our kids are arrested far more often than their white classmates…70 percent black and brown arrested, are referred to as students.

5. Our youth (16 percent of the population) have higher rates of juvenile incarceration and are more likely to be sentenced to adult prison.

6. The number of their mothers, sisters etc., incarcerated, has increased by 800 percent over the last three decades, and are three times more likely than white women to be incarcerated, while Hispanic women (mothers, daughters, sisters) are 69 percent more likely than white women to be incarcerated.

7. The war on drugs was waged primarily in communities of color, and we are more likely to receive higher offenses.

8. We receive longer sentences than white offenders, 21 percent more likely to receive mandatory-minimum sentences, and 20 percent more likely to go to prison.

So maybe they just don’t care anymore.

These statistics are not Memphis statistics; they are national, and apply to all of our youth and communities of color.

What if these kids have just lost all hope because they have not ever seen hope demonstrated by our generation beforehand? What if the black community made the concerted effort to pull together, and teach all of our kids who we really are as a unique people? What if, because of media and viral video, the actions of these children begin to spread even to Nashville? Are we ready?

If we don’t take action to save our kids, no one else will. It is our responsibility to relinquish our fear of one another, embrace each other in our blackness, and show a united front, not a splintered group.

For instance, comments made by black Memphis Councilman Harold Collins, are destructive, inflammatory, and “unprecedented,” as when he spoke to a bunch of “them” recently at the Frayser Exchange Club, and said that this is “unprecedented urban terrorism.” I mean, who does that? Why would a black public official want to get the attention of the Homeland Security Department and the Patriot Act, by using the word “terrorist” in any form against his own people particularly, black children?

What if Councilman Collins has now sparked mass hysteria and fear aimed directly against all of us, as they arm themselves to the hilt and wait for their “stand your ground” moment? I will tell you what. We will see open season and one that never closes, not just on our men, but also on our youth, and you may be next whomever you may be.

Commissioner Brooks and I both agreed that we need to go back to basic teaching, and refreshing the memories of our people that we are amazing in all we do, even rescuing our kids and creating an atmosphere of success and not failure, giving them a hope and future that no man can take, and no man can give. But God...

Our uniqueness as a people is the salvation of our generations, our determination is the key to saving them, and our commitment to purpose because of who we are, will change the world…together.

Enough is enough…Let’s stand our ground and save our seed. Tell me what you think.

(The Rev. Rodney can be reached at pastorbeard@comcast.net.)

Tri-State Defender

Page 5

October 9 - 15, 2014

NEWS

Changing the culture of sexual assault on college campuses HBCUs join other schools in confronting the problem

by Lynette Holloway The Root

Kristin McCovery says she was about to end a date with a fellow Howard University student on a January night three years ago when things suddenly took a wrong turn.

After having consensual sex, the man wasn’t ready for her to leave his dorm room. He pushed her back onto the bed, where she hit her head on a windowsill. Frightened and held against her will, she screamed and banged on a wall in a plea for help, but he turned up the music so loud that no one could hear her.

The 21-year-old, who chose to be identified, told The Root during a recent telephone interview that she was then sexually assaulted. And the nightmare didn’t end there.

After reporting the incident to the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, no charges were filed because of missing information, she said. She also tried to get assistance from a student resident adviser, but to no avail. Her alleged attacker remains on the Washington, D.C., campus.

“It was stressful,” she says of life after the incident. “My grades tanked that semester, and I slept all of the time. I had my family, but it felt like I had no one to turn to for help.”

McCovery apparently is not alone. Approximately 1 in 5 college women is sexually assaulted by the time she graduates, but just 12 percent of students report the assaults, according to a report released this summer by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.).

In an effort to address the problem of campus sexual assaults, the White House last month announced the nationwide campaign It’s on Us. The initiative came after students across the country filed federal complaints that accused officials of mishandling their sexual assault cases.

“The good news is, now that this issue is really getting the kind of national attention, I don’t think you put the genie back in the bottle,” Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to the president, told The Root during a recent interview in New York City.

In early September, Jarrett met with 12 student-body presidents from universities in the New York area to hear how they plan to tackle the problem.

“They were sharing best practices and experiences that they’re having so that the students, particularly the studentbody presidents, are the conduit to the university,” she says. “They have a direct ability to talk to the leadership of the universities and share with them what they think makes sense.”

Peer intervention is a big part of the program. Student leaders and administrators will encourage students to report trouble to law enforcement and school officials.

“Listening to the students, you hear these stories of these parties where they see trouble brewing,” Jarrett says. “What can we do to empower people to feel that they should not be a bystander, and that they can actually intervene? The more people get in the habit of intervening, the more common it will become, and the more it begins to be unacceptable.

Intervention could simply come in the form of not allowing a drunken friend to leave a club with a stranger, Mary V. Pickford, student-body president at Spelman College in Atlanta, told The Root. If the woman does leave, friends are encouraged to get the man’s driver’s license number and other identifying information.

Pickford also recommends the buddy system, where friends who arrive at a club vow to only leave together. Additionally, she suggests texting upon safe arrival at a date’s home or even their own residences.

“Communication and education are the key to stopping sexual assaults,” Pickford, a senior, says.

One major study found that sexual assaults are reportedly lower on HBCU campuses than on others, primarily because of less alcohol abuse.

Morgan State University in Baltimore is the only HBCU

on a list of more than 70 universities and colleges that the Department of Education is investigating for how they handle cases of sexual assault, the report says.

Despite the low numbers, Tricia Bent-Goodley, professor of social work and director of the Interpersonal Violence Prevention Program at Howard, says education is important, especially programs like the White House’s It’s on Us. “It’s important because it will further the educational experiences of young people,” Bent-Goodley says. “It will promote equity among students and encourage students to become more aware” of the problem.

And schools that receive grant money, or Title IX dollars, from the Justice Department are supposed to design programs to combat sexual violence. This fall, Howard held a mandatory Title IX orientation session for freshmen.

McCovery will graduate in the spring with a degree in political science, and there is some encouraging news for her. After years of frustration, Howard’s Title IX coordinator is now investigating the incident, an announcement that came after her story was told on NPR, she said. Howard declined to discuss the incident because it’s under investigation.

McCovery said she was pleased about the news and praised the White House initiative, saying, “I wish it were in place years ago. But this is a

start.”

(Lynette Holloway is a contributing editor at The Root. The New York-based writer is a former New York Times reporter and associate editor at Ebony magazine.)

Agency Owner The Brassell Ins. Agy.Inc. 1255-A Lynnfield Rd Suite 111 Memphis, TN 38119

Approximately 1 in 5 college women is sexually assaulted by the time she graduates, but just 12 percent of students report the assaults, according to a report released this summer by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). (Generic image: Thinkstock)

Office 901-683-3130/Fax 901-685-3337 NediaBrassell@Allstate.com 24-Hour Customer Service

Page 6

October 9 - 15, 2014

national BOOK REVIEW

‘Culture Worrier’ ‘Reflections on Race, Politics and Social Change’

by Kam Williams Special to The New Tri-State Defender

“These pages represent some of the valuable lessons I’ve learned about people and media over the past three decades. Among them: “1) Politics is more than a game.

“2) Nothing lights a spark under news media or politics like race.

“3) New media and targeted marketing have reversed the traditional role of media as a cultural unifier.

“4) Political polarization encourages a new moral tribalization.

“5) Many of the most talkedabout news issues since the 1960s have been what I call gaffe scandals.” – Excerpted from the Introduction (pages 20-21) Fans of Sunday morning TV talk shows undoubtedly recognize Clarence Page as a regular on “The McLaughlin Group” where he participates in the program’s spirited banter about the prevailing political issues of the day. But he is also a Pulitzer Prize-winning

syndicated columnist in his own right who has been on the staff of the Chicago Tribune since 1969.

Over the years, Clarence has opined on everything from Thurgood Marshall to Clarence Thomas; from the use of the Nword to political correctness; and from Dr. Martin Luther King to President Barack Obama. Now, he has compiled an opus containing selected opinion pieces published over the past three decades.

Clarence takes pride in the fact that his articles enjoy a broad appeal, a reflection of his sterling reputation as an impartial pundit willing to criticize folks on either side of the aisle as he sees fit. On the one

hand, he might indict Ronald Reagan for playing the race card by invoking the image of “welfare queens” to curry the favor of rednecks during the 1980 presidential campaign.

On the other, he’ll point out how, during the 2008 campaign, Obama declared, “Race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore,” only to proceed to do just that once he got into office.

Again and again, the insightful author weighs-in in a pleasant fashion reflective of an introspective, enlightened than one with an ax to grind. A refreshingly-mellow, measured and moderate voice of reason all too rare in these divisive days of snarky, gotcha political rhetoric.

“Culture Worrier Reflections on Race, Politics and Social Change”

by Clarence Page Bolden Books Paperback, $17.00 448 pages ISBN: 978-1-932841-92-3 To order a copy of “Culture Worrier,” visit: http://www.amazon.com/exe c/obidos/ASIN/193284192X/r ef%3dnosim/thslfofire-20.

Tri-State Defender

Tri-State Defender

Page 7

October 9 - 15, 2014

BUSINESS ON OUR WAY TO WEALTHY

So, you want to be a landlord?

Real estate, according to many experts, is an excellent way to build wealth. It may take some folks many years to acquire their very first home and they are content to have their piece of the “American Dream.”

For others, however, real estate represents investment opportunities along the way to wealthy. Perhaps it started with the purchase of a starter home and then the owner upgraded to a larger home. And instead of selling the home, the owner decided to maintain the original home and rent it out.

Maybe a property was inherited and rather than live in the home, the recipient decided to lease the property. While there are various ways to enter the market as a landlord, understanding the basics to renting is a must to survive in business.

how” and can DIY “do it yourself” the repairs on a fixer upper.

This is a skill that comes in handy in the real esCarlee tate busi- McCullough ness. But if one does not possess such skills, it is just as acceptable to employ the services of contractors or “handymen,” depending upon the level of repair needed.

Beware of unbonded contractors that are unlicensed or uninsured. Aside from the initial purchase of the property, the repairs will surely be a close second in order of funds expended.

Fixer upper

Turnkey

Some entrepreneurs are equipped with building “know

If the entrepreneur is not interested in making repairs,

then purchasing a turnkey property is the next best thing. Turnkey means the property is already repaired and ready for a tenant. Although the price will be higher initially, it very well may balance out depending upon the repairs required in a fixer upper.

Companies exist that specialize in purchasing properties that require repairs.

They not only repair the real estate, but they also find suitable tenants for the units.

Those companies then sell the real estate to an investor.

The first property Discounted properties are available from a number of sources, including cities and counties in possession of property seized for nonpayment of taxes. Deals also can come from short sales or banked-owned properties. Real estate agents can assist in negotiating with banks, if this

is a challenge for the investor.

Property can be obtained from foreclosure, probate and estate sales.

While price is important, it should not be the deciding factor. Location, neighborhood, schools and condition of the surrounding properties should all be taken into consideration.

ly if an accident occurred on the premises. Property and liability insurance is a must on the investment property.

Management

It’s a good idea to have a contractor review the property before you buy it. Paying a contractor a consultation fee to tour the potential purchase and provide an estimate to repair can save the investor in the long run.

Once a property has been purchased, the hard part begins. An owner has to decide whether to manage it or outsource the management to a firm that will be responsible for maintenance, repairs, renting the property, collection of rent and evictions, if necessary. Management companies will typically charge a percentage of the rent collected as their fee.

Limit your liability

How to find tenants

Liability can be limited by forming a limited liability company (LLC) to hold the real estate. If a LLC or other corporate structure is not created, the landlord could be exposed personal-

Start with an application for each tenant. Tenants should be screened to see if they fit your needs as a landlord. Most landlords – with permission – will order reports to research the tenant’s

Evaluate first

payment history or criminal background.

Lease After screening and choosing a tenant, the next step is to execute a lease, which at a minimum should require the payment of a deposit and first month rent. The lease should be prepared by a lawyer in the local market place and not obtained online. The problem with online documents is that frequently key clauses are omitted and the owner will not realize it until it is time to go to court with the online lease. The lease protects the landlord and the tenant to some extent as it describes in detail the expectations and requirements of both parties.

(Contact Carlee McCullough, Esq., at 2887 S. Mendenhall Road, Suite 2, Memphis, TN 38115. Call her at 901-795-0050 or email her at jstce4all@aol.com.)

MONEY MATTERS

Catch up for a more comfortable retirement Seven out of 10 workers aged 50 and older are confident that they will have enough money to cover basic expenses in retirement. When it comes to the prospect of living comfortably in retirement, however, the percentage expressing confidence drops to 53 percent — and only 14 percent are “very confident.”

If your retirement account balance is lagging and you are 50 or older, you can give your savings a boost by taking advantage of catch-up contributions that are available for IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans.

In 2014, the IRA federal contribution limit is $5,500. Investors 50 and older can also make a $1,000 catch-up contribution for a total of $6,500. An extra $1,000 might not seem like much, but it could make a big difference by the time you’re ready to retire. You have until the April 15, 2015, tax-filing deadline to make IRA contributions for 2014. Of course, the sooner you contribute, the more time the funds will have to pursue potential growth.

The 2014 contribution limit

Healthy roadwork…

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee rolled its Blue of TennesseeSM mobile consumer information center into Memphis for its first trip into the Mid-South last Saturday. Camped at Healing Cathedral Christian Church, 4523 Elvis Presley Blvd., the center was part of the Healthy Church Fairs presented by BlueCross. Fair attendees listened to a free presentation on the expandable mobile center and learned about coverage options on the Health Insurance Marketplace. More Memphis visits are planned. (Photo: George Tillman Jr.)

for most employersponsored retirement plans — including 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans — is $17,500.

Charles Sims Investors aged 50 Jr., CMFC, and older LUTCF can also make a $5,500 catch-up contribution for a total of $23,000.

However, some employersponsored plans may have maximums that are lower than the federal contribution limit, so be sure you understand your plan’s rules. Unlike the case with IRAs, 2014 contributions to employer-sponsored plans must be made by the end of the year, so now would be a good time to adjust your contributions to take advantage of the catch-up opportunity.

Contributions to a traditional IRA are generally tax deductible (income limits apply to active participants in employersponsored retirement plans);

your contributions and any earnings accumulate tax deferred. Distributions from traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans are taxed as ordinary income.

Early withdrawals taken prior to age 59½ may be subject to a 10 percent federal income tax penalty. Generally, required minimum distributions from tax-deferred plans must begin once you reach age 70½.

The information in this article is not intended as tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.

(Charles Sims Jr., CMFC, LUTCF, is President/ CEO of The Sims Financial Group.

Contact him at 901-682-2410 or visit www.SimsFinancialGroup.com.)

Page 8

Tri-State Defender

October 9 - 15, 2014

RELIGION Stevenson Clark challenges himself and succeeds in gospel music and radio

RELIGION BRIEFS Brown Missionary Baptist Church to host race for life The Women’s Ministry and Men’s Ministry at Brown Missionary Baptist Church, one of the largest congregations in the Memphis metropolitan area, will host the second annual Race for Life 5K Run/Walk Saturday, Oct. 18, at Snowden Grove Park’s main pavilion, 6450 Getwell Rd., in Southaven, Miss.

Check in begins at 7 a.m., followed by the race at 8 a.m.

The Race for Life 5K Run/Walk is designed to raise awareness and funds for the fight against all cancers that affect Mid-South residents. All proceeds from the race will benefit the American Cancer Society.

Individuals and groups can register for the race at www.racesonline.com and enter the name “D.I.V.A.S. and D.U.D.E.S.” The registration fee is $20 and includes a race t-shirt. Families interested in a $100 or more patron sponsorship or that would like to make a donation in memory or honor of a loved one should email women@brownbaptist.org.

Checks from patron sponsors should be made payable to the American Cancer Society.

Brown Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1882.

It’s membership now exceeds 6,000 and has over 40 enriched ministries, a foreign missions team, a church in Ghana, Africa, two campuses in Southaven, increased fellowship, service projects and diverse membership. For more information about the church, visit www.brownbaptist.org.

by Wiley Henry whenry@tsdmemphis.com

Reunion celebration...

The Fairley High School Class of 1979 celebrated its 35th reunion banquet at Hotel Memphis on Oct. 4. A booksigning of author Levita Jones’ book, “By Rochell’s Bedside,” was also included among the reunion activities at Union Grove Baptist Church. Standing from left: Antonio Jones, a Fairley alumnus and the author’s husband, and Lynwood Powell, his mother.

Jones, the author, is seated. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley)

The Church Health Center hosts community events The Church Health Center will present its Fall Culinary Series from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each Thursday from Oct. 2 through Nov. 6 at 1115 Union. This fall’s series will feature cooking demonstrations and wine tastings with Chef Jennifer McCullough, Chef Brown Burch, Chef Melissa Petersen, Chef Gary Williams, Chef Felicia Suzanne Willett, and Chef Mac Edwards. Each class costs $45. Seats are limited so please call 901-701-2236 to register.

Stevenson Clark loves a challenge. He took the reigns of a fledgling Christian radio station in Southaven, Miss., retooled it to compete in the marketplace, and increased the ratings significantly after three months.

“I proved that I could do what I’d never done before,” said Clark, the general manager and program director at AM 1240 WAVN Radio. “People didn’t believe that I could to it.”

Clark was a neophyte in radio to some degree, but it didn’t take him long to adjust and learn everything that he needed to know about the business – including sales, administration and management. He even cut his teeth as an on-air personality from 3 p.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

“I had no idea that I would be where I am today,” said Clark, 47, who first started with a 30-minute, three-day show on WAVN until Dr. George S. Flinn Jr., the station’s owner, offered him the management position in 2009.

He has been at WAVN for 8 years now, 5 ½ in his current position.

“I wear several hats,” Clark said, including those of a prolific songwriter, arranger and singer.

Clark started singing when he was 2 years old and dropped his first cd in the marketplace when he was 5. “I still have a copy of the two songs,” he said, “‘I Believe There’s a Heaven Somewhere’ and ‘God is Able.’”

In 8th-grade, the spritely youngster started playing the piano. Also during that time, he directed and taught adults vocal lessons. He is the oldest of the Rev. Denville and Verdie Clark’s six children, who blended their voices as “The Clark Family.”

Clark attended Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Miss., his hometown. He sang with the Hamilton High School Choir and, after graduating, received a scholarship to attend Ittawamba Junior College in Fulton, Miss.

Clark didn’t finish Itawamba. He had other plans, opting to sing instead with the renowned Grammy Awardwinning Mississippi Mass Choir, one of the most successful traditional gospel choirs in the music industry.

“I sang my way through high school and college,” said Clark, who toured with the choir for five years. In 1993, he headed to Memphis and took jobs at Methodist Hospital as a lab technician and at the Marriott Hotel as a server.

“After I arrived in Memphis, I furthered my singing in

“I love the challenge,” said Stevenson Clark. “I want to eventually own my own FM gospel station and reach the top in my singing career.” churches. It’s my life and I de- now ranked one of the Top 5 cided I’d pursue it more,” said most-listened radio stations in Clark, serving then as the min- the Memphis and the Midister of music for Mt. Ararat South area.

Baptist Church and the musi“I love the challenge,” he cal director for Pilgrim Baptist said, adding, “I want to evenChurch. tually own my own FM gospel Clark eventually recorded station and reach the top in my his first cd in Memphis enti- singing career. I want to tled “All the Praise.” A pro- record songs that will bless moter in Italy heard the cd, people in life and keep tradiand the group, Stevenson tional gospel music alive.”

Clark and Friends, would cut a swath across Italy from 1996 Fall Fest Saturday… to 2009 spreading the gospel through their music.

On Saturday, Oct. 11, from During his travels abroad, noon – 5 p.m., Stevenson Clark was ascribed the Clark will present “Fall Fest” moniker “The Little Prince of on the grounds of WAVN, Gospel Music.” His second cd 1336 Brookhaven Dr., project, entitled “My God is Southaven, Miss.

James Truly Blessing Me,” was Chambers, an on-air personalirecorded at Brown Missionary ty with WLOK Radio Station, Baptist Church in 2000. and Telisa Franklin, senior serClark has sung with gospel vant of The Servant’s Circle in artists such as the late Frank Memphis, will host the event.

Williams, Leann Fayne, VickThe artists scheduled to perie Winans, Evelyn Turrentin- form are Preacher Man, Pam Agee, Lee Williams, and most Armour and the Shop, Echo recently on the cd of one of Aires, Memphis Teens with a Memphis’s most re-known Dream, the Cork Singers, Vinquartets, “The Mighty Kings cent Tharpe and Kenosis, Carof Harmony,” singing “I’m la Tolbert Taylor, Melodic Not Tired Yet” and “Touch Me Truth, Supreme Harmonettes, Lord.”

Moments of Joy, Andrew Broadcasting is now Clark’s Know, Miracle Temple Choir, portal through which his voice and Stevenson Clark himself. is heard. After assuming the A Kidz Zone and lots of duties as general manager and food will also be available. program director, he has For more information, call pumped up WAVN to a level (662) 280-9599 or (662) 280of respectability. The station is 9809.

PRAISE CONNECT -A WEEKLY DIRECTORY OF MINISTERS & CHURCHESMETROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH Dr. Reginald L. Porter Sr., Pastor 767 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126

901-946-4095 fax 948-8311

ASSOCIATE MINISTERS Rev. Davena Young Porter Rev. Linda A Paige Rev. Luecretia Matthews

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES SUNDAY Sunday School .....................8:30 am Morning Worship Service ....10:00am WEDNESDAY Bible Study .........................10:30 am Mid-Day Prayer Meeting .....12 noon Evening Prayer Meeting........7:00pm FRIDAY Cable Channel 17 ............... 8:00pm

Dr. & Rev. Mrs. Reginald Porter

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

– Psalm 55:22

Attend the Church of your choice

ENTERTAINMENT Tri-State Defender, Thursday, October 9 - 15, 2014, Page 9

2014 Blues Ball

unites with the universal language of music

by Nona Allen & Nina Allen-Johnson Special to the New Tri-State Defender

Downtown Memphis was all in a tizzy. The streets were blocked off from MLK Boulevard to Second Street, and George W. Lee to Third Street. Some local citizens may have assumed the worse, but no worries. No disharmony or discord here. It was a night for celebration – Blues Ball 2014!

Celebrating 60 Years of Rock ‘N Roll, 50 Years of the Bar-Kays, and 50 Years of the Beatles, the Blues Ball (Oct. 4th) boasted of “awesome silent auction items, spectacular fireworks, award winning cuisine, knock out libations and musicians unparalleled.”

Never a more true statement uttered than “musicians unparalleled” – North Mississippi Allstars, The Local Saints, “American Idol” contestant Jackie Wilson, Memphis’ own Preston Shannon, Ruby Wilson (the Queen of Beale Street), Susan Marshall and Memphis rapper Al Kapone.

The evening’s headliners were living legends – the Rev. Al Green and The Bar-Kays!

How’s that for a diverse line up?

On an unusually chilly evening (with temperatures in the low 60’s), the atmosphere was electric! At the gates, attendants with warm smiles greeted people of all races who strolled into the venue dressed to the nines. The lobby of the Gipson Guitar Factory was the nucleus of the evening’s activities. News media outlets and publications snapped pictures and conducted interviews with the attendees as though

they were the night’s stars.

Everywhere you went was a musical adventure. Music flowed inside the lounge where the silent action was held and where awards were presented to the families of Elvis Presley and Sun Studio’s founder, Sam Phillips.

Outside, food was displayed like works of art along the perimeter of the building. Each end of the street was flanked with two Main Stages. Guests were seated at beautifully fall décor tables and helped themselves to the buffet at their leisure. And the moment that the first chord struck of Al Green’s famous “Love & Happiness” the guests literally ran to the West end of the Street.

The “Reverend” did not disappoint. He performed with that Al Green flair and the crowd rolled right along with him. The fireworks

started toward the end of his performance, and no one even remembered that they were cold!

As the crowd dispersed following Green’s exit, the introduction for the Bar-Kays began at the east end of the street. The dash of guests began anew.

The Bar-Kays joked, sang and danced as they engineered a trip down memory lane with a selection of their most popular hits from the past 50 years –1964 to 2014. At the journey’s end came an award to the group whose career has been marked by tragedy and triumph.

A harmoniously beautiful night of music and Memphis pride culminated with a rooftop performance by Al Kapone. One left wondering if even more of a concentrated push was needed to make use of music to help solve some the city’s nagging social ills.

Gibson Guitar Lobby was the first stop on the journey of the 2014 Blues Ball – Celebrating 60 years of Rock ‘N Roll, 50 years of the BarKays, and 50 Years of the Beatles. (Photos: Nina Allen-Johnson)

Larry Dodson (left) and James Alexander, the only surviving original members of the Bar-Kays, preparing to entertain the eager audience and receive the award in celebration of their 50th anniversary.

Blues Ball attendees celebrating together harmoniously and grooving the night away.

Blues Ball attendees in the Gibson Guitar lounge during the Silent Auction.

Priscilla Presley accepts the honor for Elvis Presley on behalf of the Presley family.

The Rev. Al Green saluting the crowd as he concludes his performance and blessing for the city of Memphis.

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Tri-State Defender

October 9 - 15, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam’s Kapsules:

Actor Ben Greene stars as Marvin Chambers in “Black Soap.”

(Courtesy photo)

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

by Kam Williams Special to The New Tri-State Defender

For movies opening October 10, 2014 BIG BUDGET FILM “Addicted” (R for nudity, profanity, graphic sexuality and brief drug use) Screen adaptation of Zane’s explicit page-turner about a successful businesswoman (Sharon Leal) who repeatedly risks losing her family and career in the pursuit of forbidden pleasures. Cast includes Boris Kodjoe, Tasha Smith, Tyson Beckford and William Levy.

“I Am Ali,” a reverential biopic about Muhammad Ali from the perspective of his many friends and fellow boxers.

(Courtesy photo)

“Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day” (PG for crude humor, reckless behavior and mild epithets) Disney adaptation of the children’s book of the same name about a calamitous day in the life of an overwhelmed 11 year-old (Ed Oxenbould).

With Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner and Dylan Minnette.

“Dracula Untold” (PG-13 for intense violence, disturbing images and some sensuality) Origins horror tale about the Transylvanian prince (Luke Evans) who would one day morph into a mythological demon with an unquenchable thirst for human blood. With Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon and Charles Dance.

“The Judge” (R for profanity and sexual references) Crime drama about a big city lawyer (Robert Downey, Jr.) who returns to his tiny Indiana hometown for his mother’s funeral only to end up defending his estranged father (Robert Duvall) accused of murder by an overzealous prosecutor (Billy Bob Thornton). With Vera Farmiga, Dax Shepard and Leighton Meester.

“Kill the Messenger” (R for profanity and drug use) Jeremy Renner delivers an Oscarquality performance in this true tale recounting the valiant effort of an intrepid journalist to expose the CIA’s role in infesting inner city neighborhoods across the country with crack cocaine. A-list ensemble cast includes Ray Liotta, Barry Pepper, Tim Blake Nelson, Andy Garcia, Oliver Platt, Rosemarie DeWitt, Michael Sheen, Robert Patrick, Paz Vega, Michael K. Williams and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

“Whiplash” (R for profanity and some sexual references) Wunderkind Damien Chazelle wrote and directed this semi-autobiographical drama which won both the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Coming-of-age drama revolves around the strained relationship of a promising, young jazz drummer (Miles Teller) and his perfectionist, studio band teacher (J.K. Simmons). With Melissa Benoist, Paul Reiser

and Austin Stowell.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS “Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead” (R for profanity, sexual references, graphic violence and pervasive gore) Horror sequel finds Norway invaded by another battalion of nasty Nazi zombies. Co-starring Vegar Hoel, Orjan Gamst, Ingrid Haas, Jocelyn DeBoer and Martin Starr. (In Norwegian, English and German with subtitles) “I Am Ali” (PG for mature themes and mild epithets) Reverential biopic about Muhammad Ali as revealed by his personal archives and confirmed by the reflections of many friends, family and fellow boxers. Featuring commentary by George Foreman, Mike Tyson and NFL great Jim Brown.

“Kite” (R for sexuality, drug use, grisly images and pervasive graphic violence) Revenge thriller about a young orphan-turned-merciless assassin (India Eisley) who tracks down her parents’ killer with the help of her police officer father’s former partner (Samuel L. Jackson). With Callan McAuliffe, Carl Beukes and DeVille Vannik.

“One Chance” (PG-13 for profanity and sexuality) Overcoming-the-odds musical recounting the real-life exploits of Paul Potts (James Corden), an aspiring opera singer who went from nerdy underdog to serious contender as a contestant on the reality-TV series “Britain’s Got Talent.” With Alexandra Roach, Julie Walters and Colm Meaney.

“The Overnighters” (PG-13 for mature

themes and brief profanity) Dream deferred documentary chronicling the generosity of a Christ-like pastor who opened up his church to alleviate the suffering of over 1,000 oil workers unable to find affordable housing in North Dakota.

“St. Vincent” (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, smoking, mature themes and substance abuse) Bill Murray plays the title role in this unlikely buddies comedy as an alcoholic misanthrope who befriends the pint-sized son (Jaeden Lieberher) of the divorcee (Melissa McCarthy) next door. With Naomi Watts, Chris O’Dowd and Terrence Howard.

“Stuck” (Unrated) Gridlock dramedy about a couple (Madeline Zima and Joel David Moore) forced to get to know each other while stuck in traffic the morning after sharing a passionate one-night stand. Support cast includes Abraham Benrubi, Logan Agayan and Gaby Alcazar.

“Waiting for August” (Unrated) Child abuse documentary, set in Bacau, Romania, revolving around a 14 year-old girl left in charge of her half-dozen siblings while their migrant worker mother spends the winter and spring employed elsewhere. (In Romanian with subtitles) “You’re Not You” (R for sexuality, profanity and drug use) Bittersweet drama about the unlikely bond forged between a classical pianist (Hilary Swank) with ALS and the brash, aspiring rock singer (Emmy Rossum) hired as her caretaker. With Ali Larter, Josh Duhamel, Marcia Gay Harden, Ernie Hudson and Frances Fisher.

‘Black Soap’ set to stage season ender The 2014 season of Flo Roach’s “BLACK SOAP,” Memphis’ own black soap opera, has given audiences an up close and personal look at the hijinks of the family and friends of millionaire patriarch Marvin Chambers, who introduced his new fiancée, threatened to change his will, and was hospitalized after being found unconscious the next morning.

Marvin, it has been revealed, is seriously allergic to shrimp. Now his new fiancée – a former stripper – is about to make a life-changing confession to his son, M.J., with whom she shared one night of booze and passion some 15 years ago.

Is this a case of chickens coming home to roost? And who poisoned Marvin? The answers will be revealed in “BLACK SOAP VI,” the concluding episode in this season’s threepart storyline.

Written, produced and directed by Florence (Flo) Roach, “Black Soap VI” stars Ben Greene (Marvin Chambers Sr.), Carolyn Kent (Renee), Lonnie Coleman (M.J.), Laverne Bobo (Aunt Trudy), Rick Bobo (Richard), Nadine Burton (Pastor Hopson), Patrice Campbell (Tina), Brenda Deener (The Maid), Kenneth Farmer (Mason), Derek Hunter (Anthony the Butler), Mose Yvonne Nicholson (Pam), Sandra Bray (Detective Anderson), Aundra M. Segrest (Detective Lancaster), Wanda Shaw (Ms. Frankie) and others. Courtney Franklin is music director.

“Black Soap VI” will be on stage Oct. 1719th at the Buckman Performing and Fine Arts Center at St. Mary's Episcopal School, 60 Perkins Extended (38117). Show times are 7 p.m. on Oct. 17-18th and 3 p.m. on Oct. 19th.

Tickets for the stage production, which is presented by Ettaro Theater Company and Ettaro Fine Arts Foundation, are: Advance, $20 for general admission; $35 for VIP reserved seating. Tickets purchased at the door are $25 general admission and $40 VIP. VIP tickets are only available for the opening night performance and the ticket price includes both the show and a reception with food and drinks.

The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 17th.

Tickets also are available online at www.floroach.com. For more information, call 901-331-3515.

(The two previous episodes in the 2014 storyline can be viewed online at www.blacksoapopera.com.)

Tri-State Defender

October 9 - 15, 2014

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Tri-State Defender

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October 9 - 15, 2014

nEwS

In Georgia’s midterms, the ‘cold war’ against black voters gets hot The increasingly purple state is a 2014 test case in Republicans’ war on black voting

by Jason Johnson The Root

There are plenty of clichéd metaphors we apply to elections and warfare.

Getting out the vote is the “ground war,” hotly contested states are “battleground states” and any campaign commercial in which candidates aren’t hugging each other is an “attack ad.”

And there’s another cliché to add to the mix that’s never been more apparent than in this year’s midterm elections: With control of the U.S. Senate within the grasp of Republicans for the first time in almost a decade, the “cold war” of voting has suddenly gone “hot.” And if you look across the nation, African Americans are the most likely to get burned.

Passive-aggressive war A cold war is a passive-aggressive war. For years the United States and the Soviet Union fought each other indirectly, through proxy wars in Africa, South America and Asia, through rock-and-roll songs and the Olympics.

Eventually President Ronald Reagan just called Russia the evil empire and things went hot in the 1980s.

Likewise, the war on voting – or, perhaps more precisely, the war on black voting – had been cold for years, and the blatantly racist chants of politicians seeking to suppress black votes had given way to subtleties like racial gerrymandering by Republican and Democratic incumbents, voting-machine fraud and paying off pastors on Sundays.

No one came out and said, “We have to stop blacks from

Board of Elections Customer Service Supervisor Sabrina German hands out absentee ballots during early voting Oct. 23, 2008, in Savannah, Ga. (Photo: Stephen Morton/Getty Images) voting,” but all that changed once President Barack Obama was elected twice by a coalition of voters no one had ever seen before. Young people, Asian Americans, Latinos and African Americans turning out at higher rates than any other racial group in the country scared the hell out of Republicans who feared a stable voting bloc that might turn blue states indigo and red states purple.

After 2012, suddenly the GOP was concerned about “voter fraud,” and swing states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida passed laws intended to suppress the vote. In the last month alone, backed by a right-leaning Supreme Court, early voting has been

curtailed in Ohio and onerous voter-identification laws have been upheld in Wisconsin. But nowhere has the war on voting been more apparent than in the state of Georgia.

Making John Lewis angry In September, Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp launched an investigation directed at a nonpartisan voter-registration organization, the New Georgia Project, and Rep. John Lewis (DGa.), speaking at an Atlanta press conference on Monday, knew exactly why.

“There is a systematic and deliberate attempt on the part of some states,” Lewis charged, “to limit the vote of

minorities, seniors and young people. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Arizona ... it violates the spirit of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.” Georgia’s growing AfricanAmerican and Latino populations, along with an influx of young people from the Northeast, has turned it into a “trending purple” state in Democratic circles. Obama got more votes in Georgia in 2008 and 2012 than President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore or former Sen. John Kerry did when they ran for president.

Encouraged by these trends, Democrats have fielded a record five AfricanAmerican female candidates for statewide office. In addition, the governor’s race be-

tween Republican Gov. Nathan Deal and Democratic state Sen. Jason Carter, and the Senate race between Democrat Michelle Nunn and Republican David Perdue, have been neck and neck all summer. A historic win in any of these races puts Georgia within Democrats’ sights for 2016.

With so much at stake, the forces of voting oppression had to get busy to cover their Southern flank. The New Georgia Project registered more than 85,000 new voters and submitted the applications to the Georgia secretary of state’s office in April 2014 in time for the May primaries, but none of those voting applications were processed in time for the primaries. And with early voting starting in a week, more than 40,000 registrations still have not been processed.

After months of the New Georgia Project asking for an explanation for the delays, Kemp responded in September – by slapping them with an injunction based on 25 “fraudulent” applications his office found. It doesn’t take a voting-war vet like Lewis to figure this out.

Georgia Republicans got blindsided by 85,000 new Democratic registrations in a midterm year, and now the secretary of state is playing Bull Connor to stop them from voting.

Republicans are “just scared because they just found out we quietly registered 100,000 single women, blacks, Asians and Latinos right under their noses and they didn’t see it coming. Now they’re throwing the book at us at the last minute,” says a votingrights activist who asked to remain nameless. It’s hardly

a far-fetched conclusion.

Losing battles and losing wars It would be great to end on an optimistic note about the tide of war on voting, but the reality is that the forces of voter suppression and disenfranchisement are winning.

Last-minute voter-ID laws in Ohio, Wisconsin and other states won’t be legally changed in time for November elections. That means more Republican statehouses and, likely, a Republican-controlled U.S. Senate during President Obama’s last two years in office.

If there’s any good news, it’s that, in the long term, this is a losing strategy for Republicans that will backfire in 2016. It’s easy to discriminate against poor people, blacks and college kids and get away with it. But when a wave of middle-class, swing-voting white women want to vote two weeks early for Hillary Clinton, voting restrictions will be a much harder sell for the public.

For now, the only way to counter the war on voters is to go out and vote – against elected officials who seek to restrict early voting and against elected officials who target students, minorities and seniors. This fall, regardless of your party affiliation, if you are eligible to vote, you’re a target in this war, and the best way not to end up a casualty is to go into the booth and pull the lever.

(Jason Johnson is a professor of political science at Hiram College in Ohio and an analyst for CNN, MSNBC, AlJazeera and Fox Business News. Follow him on Twitter.)

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Tri-State Defender

October 9 - 15, 2014

CLASSIFIEDS Legal Notices NOTICE TO BIDDERS Bids are to be received no later than 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, November 5, 2014.

Sealed bids are to be marked “STP Funded Project – Kirby Whitten Parkway Resurfacing—City of Bartlett”.

Bids are to be addressed to the attention of Mayor A. Keith McDonald and delivered to the following. The reading of the bids will begin at 2:00 PM. CITY OF BARTLETT 6400 STAGE ROAD P.O. BOX 341148 BARTLETT, TENNESSEE 38184-1148 The City of Bartlett reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any informality in the bidding process. The City of Bartlett is an equal opportunity employer, drug-free with policies of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.

Plans and specifications can be picked up at the City of Bartlett Engineering Department, 6382 Stage Road, Bartlett, TN 38134. A $100.00 non refundable deposit is required. Make checks payable to City of Bartlett. If further information is desired, please contact Ms. Becky Bailey with City of Bartlett Engineering Department at 901-385-6499.

PROPOSAL CONTRACTS WILL BE ISSUED UNTIL THE TImE SET FOR OPENING BIDS A Prime Contractor must prequalify with the Department of Transportation in accordance with Section 54-5- 117 of the “Tennessee Code Annotated” and Tennessee Department of Transportation Rule 1680-5-3 prequalification of contractors before biddable proposals will be furnished.

The City of Bartlett hereby notifies all bidders that a 7.6% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal has been set for this project and must be met or exceeded.

The City of Bartlett hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation, and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex or disability in consideration for an award.

The bid will be accepted and reviewed by the City of Bartlett and then submitted to TDOT for review and concurrence prior to the final selection of the successful bidder.

REQUEST FOR BIDS Legal Notice mSCAA Project Number 13-1371-01 mUFIDS – Procurement/Installation Sealed bids for the MUFIDS – Procurement/Installation, MSCAA Project No. 131371-01, will be received by the Staff Services Division of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA), 3505 Tchulahoma Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38118, until 2:00 Pm local time on Thursday, November 6, 2014, and immediately thereafter will be opened and publicly read.

No bids will be accepted after the stated deadline. BIDS WILL NOT BE RECEIVED AT ANY OTHER LOCATION. The scope of work generally consists of the construction of a multi-User Flight Information Display System (mUFIDS), which includes Baggage Information Display Systems (BIDS), a Visual Paging System, and capabilities for a future expandability. The project includes, but is not necessarily limited to, procurement of systems equipment (including monitors, workstations, touchscreen displays, mounting hardware, cable, and other equipment); software licensing, installation, testing, and commissioning; installation of all equipment and components; removal of existing displays, wiring, and associated fixtures; and other services necessary for a complete and working system as de-

TRI-STATE DEFENDER CLASSIFIEDS 203 Beale Street, Suite 200 Memphis, TN 38103 PH (901) 523-1818 FAX (901) 578-5037 HOURS: Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm DEADLINES: Display ads Monday 5 p.m.

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RATES: Standard rates: $9.50 per line for 1 column ad.

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tailed in the construction documents.

Bid Documents may be obtained and found on our website (www.mscaa.com) on or after Thursday, October 9, 2014. Bid documents may be examined at the following locations in Memphis, TN: Builder’s Exchange Plans Room, McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge Plans Room, Memphis Area Minority Contractor’s Association, Mid-South Minority Business Council, National Association of Minority Contractors, and Renaissance Business Center Bid Room.

All Respondents are hereby notified that all updates, addenda and additional information, if any, shall be posted to the MSCAA website (www.mscaa.com) and Respondents are responsible for checking the MSCAA website up to the time of the Bid submission deadline.

A mANDATORY Pre-Bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 10:30 Am local time at the Airport Project Center, located at 4225 Airways Blvd, memphis, TN. Only Prime Contractors who attend the Pre-Bid meeting will be permitted to submit a bid.

The MSCAA hereby notifies that it will review and award contracts in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4a and Title 49, Part 26, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act. MSCAA further notifies all Bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, Disadvantaged, Business Enterprises (DBE) will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of age, race, sex, color, national origin, creed, religion, sexual orientation or disability in its hiring and employment practices, or in admission to, access to, or operation of its programs, services and activities. The DBE participation goal for this contract is 7% in accordance with the requirements of the Contract Documents. Therefore, the only participation that will be counted toward meeting this goal will be participation by certified DBEs, the owners of which have been certified as having a personal net worth less than $1.32 million.

Each bid must be by a contractor licensed in Tennessee and accompanied by a 5% Bid Guarantee. In accordance with TCA §62-6-119, the Bidder, and where applicable, one contractor/subcontractor performing electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or masonry work must have its license number, expiration date of the license, and that part of the classification applying to the bid shown on the outside of the envelope containing the bid. Failure to supply all information on the outside of the envelope will result in the return of the unopened envelope to the Bidder. The successful Bidder will be required to execute a Performance Bond and a Payment Bond, each in the amount of 100% of the Contract Price. Liquidated damages for delay in contract completion shall be as stated in the Contract Documents.

No Bidder may withdraw an opened bid within the defined period following actual bid opening without MSCAA's consent.

Award will be made to the lowest and best responsible qualified Bidder, if any contract is awarded, based on the best combination of base bid plus individual add-alternates deemed, at MSCAA’s sole discretion, to be in MSCAA’s best interests regardless of whether the individual add-alternates are ultimately constructed or not constructed.

MSCAA reserves the right to reject any or all bids in whole or in part and to waive any informalities, technicalities or omissions therein. MSCAA also reserves the right to reject bids from bidders that have pending litigation or claims with MSCAA, or if such bid includes a proposed subcontractor or supplier that has pending litigation or claims with MSCAA, if MSCAA determines, in its sole discretion, such litigation or claims may adversely affect the ability of the parties to work efficiently and effectively under this contract, or for any other reason as determined by MSCAA. Any such bid will be returned to the bidder. See Instructions to Bidders in the project specifications for a further description of this and other reservations of rights. mEmPHIS-SHELBY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY

By Scott A. Brockman, President & CEO

ALL INTERESTED BIDDERS The Shelby County Board of Education will accept written proposals (RFP) for Administration of Healthcare Services.

Visit our website for additional information: http://www.scsk12.org/uf/procurement/bids.php Questions concerning proposals should be addressed to Gwen Johnson, Buyer, Procurement Services at (901) 416-5376.

Thank you for your interest and responses.

Cerita Butler, Director Shelby County Schools – Procurement Services

NOTICE TO BIDDER(S) Shelby County Government is soliciting Seal Bids for the construction of the following project. The Seal Bid is located on the County’s website at www.shelbycountytn.gov, click the link “Department” at the top, then P for the Purchasing Department, and then click on the link “Bids.”

DUE THURSDAY, NOVEmBER 13, 2014 AT 2:30 Pm SEALED BID #SBI-000281 CONGESTION mANAGEmENT PROGRAm, SIGNAL SYSTEm, SET 1 PIN# 115241.07 Pre-Bid Conference: Bidders are encouraged to attend a pre-bid conference to be held at 9:00 AM, on October 16, 2014 at the following location:

Shelby County Roads, Bridges and Engineering Conference Room, 6449 Haley Road, Memphis, TN 38134.

Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.

THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS IS RESERVED By order of mARK H. LUTTRELL, JR., SHELBY COUNTY mAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNmENT

Hereby issues a Request for Proposal for VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEm for the memphis Cook Convention Center and the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts (mCCC) Bids may be obtained at the office of the Memphis Cook Conention Center, 3rd Floor Southwest, 255 North Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38103 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Bi also be retrieved at http://m.memphistravel.com/open-rfps.

CRITICAL DATES: Issue Request for Proposals: Thursday, October 9, 2014 Mandatory Tour and Inspection of Facilities Thursday, October 16, 2014.......9:00 a.m.

NOTICE TO BIDDER(S) Shelby County Government is soliciting Seal Bids for the construction of the following project. The Seal Bid is located on the County’s website at www.shelbycountytn.gov, click the link “Department” at the top, then P for the Purchasing Department, and then click on the link “Bids.”

DUE THURSDAY, NOVEmBER 13, 2014 AT 2:30 Pm SEALED BID #SBI-000282 CONGESTION mANAGEmENT PROGRAm, SIGNAL SYSTEm, SET 2 PIN# 115241.08 Pre-Bid Conference: Bidders are encouraged to attend a pre-bid conference to be held at 10:00 AM, on October 16, 2014 at the following location: Shelby County Roads, Bridges and Engineering Conference Room, 6449 Haley Road, Memphis, TN 38134.

Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.

THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS IS RESERVED By order of mARK H. LUTTRELL, JR., SHELBY COUNTY mAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNmENT

NOTICE TO BIDDER(S) Shelby County Government is soliciting Seal Bids for the construction of the following project. The Seal Bid is located on the County’s website at www.shelbycountytn.gov, click the link “Department” at the top, then P for the Purchasing Department, and then click on the link “Bids.”

DUE THURSDAY, NOVEmBER 13, 2014 AT 2:30 Pm SEALED BID #SBI-000283 CONGESTION mANAGEmENT PROGRAm, SIGNAL SYSTEm, SET 3 PIN# 115241.09 Pre-Bid Conference: Bidders are encouraged to attend a pre-bid conference to be held at 11:00 AM, on October 16, 2014 at the following location: Shelby County Roads, Bridges and Engineering Conference Room, 6449 Haley Road, Memphis, TN 38134.

Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.

THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS IS RESERVED By order of mARK H. LUTTRELL, JR., SHELBY COUNTY mAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNmENT

memphis management Group, LLC (mmG) on behalf of the memphis & Shelby County Convention Center Commission

Due Date for Proposals: Thursday, October 30, 2014.......4:00 p.m.

Evaluate Proposals: Friday, October 31, 2014 Announce Apparent Successful Proposer: Week of November 3, 2014 All times are CST. AWARD OF CONTRACTS WILL BE DETERMINED BY MMG AND WILL BE BASED ON THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN THE RFP. MEMPHIS MANAGEMENT GROUP (MMG) ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION OF MBE AND WBE BUSINESSES - AS DEFINED BY THE CITY OF MEMPHIS - IN THE BID PROCESS. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS Bidders are required to have a minimum of five (5) years’ experience providing Video Surveillance System to facility or Convention Center comparable to the MCCC. A request for an exception to this or any other requirement must be approved in writing by MMG prior to the bid deadline.

Unsigned bids will be considered nonconforming. Bids containing terms and conditons other than those contained herein, may be considered nonconforming.

BID BOND REQUIRED: A bidder’s bond or certified or cashier’s check on a solvent bank payable to Memphis Management Group, LLC in the amount of 5 % of the bid must accompany the proposal.

Said instrument to remain in effect until (and will be returned only after) the contract has been fully executed and secured. Questions regarding the Bid Bond should be directed in writing via email to Chuck Jabbour cjabbour@memphisconvention.com.

All bonds shall be issued by asurety company licensed to do business in the State of Tennessee.

MMG reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any informality in bidding.

Request for Bid The Shelby County Board of Education will be accepting written bids for – CENTRAL NUTRITION CENTER FOOD WAREHOUSE COMMERCIAL CANNED AND POUCHED FRUITS & VEGETABLES II BID #103114 FOR THE 20142015 SCHOOL YEAR. Visit our website for additional information: www.scsk12.org-Departments, Procurement Services link, click on Bids & RFPs. Questions concerning proposals should be addressed to Procurement Services at (901) 416-3508.

Thank you for your interest and responses.

Shelby County Schools – Procurement Services

Retail merchandisers needed for store remodel in (City name). Reset and POG experienced needed. This position is as an Independent Contractor. Contact Cheryl Erie at 404-474-0223.

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October 9 - 15, 2014

COMMUNITY BRIEFS & THINGS Memphian now on National PTA Board of Directors Charles Scott of Memphis has been elected to the Board of Directors for National PTA®, the largest volunteer child advocacy association in the nation.

He is one of 29 members.

“Charles is a passionate advocate for Charles education and issues Scott affecting children, and we are proud to have him on our Board of Directors,” said Otha Thornton, National PTA President.

“His leadership, dedication and passion will be tremendous assets to National PTA, our members and our Board as we work together to support and take action for children and families across the country.”

Scott has been actively involved in PTA since 2004. He has served as a member of the National PTA Nominating and Leadership Development Committee and National PTA Strategic Planning Committee; vice president of child and youth advocacy, board member and diversity chair for Tennessee PTA; president, vice president, treasurer and membership chair for the Memphis Council PTA; and president of the Whitehaven High School PTSA. He has been recognized for his service with the Tennessee PTA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Outside of PTA, Scott is a board member for the Whitehaven High Leadership Council and the Save One Foundation, which oversees Memphis Little League Baseball. He also has served as a board member for the Memphis City School Parent Assembly and Memphis City School WATCH D.O.G.S. and has served on numerous community volunteer committees.

As a member of the Board of Directors, Scott will serve a two-year term. The position is a volunteer role.

Two exhibits to feature ArtsAccelerator finalists The creative works of 16 local artists who applied for 2013 ArtsAccelerator grants from ArtsMemphis will be featured at two concurrent exhibits, Oct. 15th through Nov. 8th at the Fogelman Galleries of Contemporary Art at the University of Memphis, 3715 Central Ave. and at the Memphis College of Art’s Hyde Gallery, 477 South Main.

The Fogelman Galleries of Contemporary Art exhibit opens October 15, with an opening reception Oct. 31 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Artists featured include: Susan Maakestad, Alex Paulus, Cat Pena, Karen Golightly, Carrol McTyre, Adam Farmer and Anthony Lee. The MCA Hyde Gallery exhibit opens Oct.

22, with an opening reception on Oct. 24th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Artists featured include: Terri Phillips, Mary Jo Karimnia, Ben Butler, Betsy Brackin, Stephanie Cosby, Nancy Cheairs, Laurel Sucsy, Hamlett Dobbins and Eszter Sziksz.

The exhibits are designed to showcase Memphis artists and raise awareness for ArtsAccelertor, the ArtsMemphis incentive grants program for the visual arts, which awarded $15,000 in ArtsAccelerator grants in 2013. The grants are designed to help local artists offset expenses related to a specific project that will enhance the artist’s overall work or career. The ArtsAccelerator

grants support painting, sculpture, drawing, installation art, performance art, video or media art.

The exhibit and exhibition catalog are made possible by the support of Metropolitan Bank. The catalog, which doubles as an art poster, will contain images of the exhibitions’ work, artist biographies and statements, a brief history of ArtsAccelerator, and an exhibition essay written by Ellen Townsend, the art critic at The Memphis Flyer.

(For more information, contact Lauren Boyer at 901-578-2787 or lboyer@artsmemphis.org.)

Outreach center to help flood victims Area residents who were affected by the flooding that took place in the region on Sept. 11 now have access to a new Disaster Loan Outreach Center operated by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

The Shelby County outreach center, which began operations on Wednesday, will provide one-on-one assistance to citizens applying for federal disaster damaged real estate recovery loans of up to $200,000 and disaster damaged personal property loans of up to $40,000. It is located in Building C, Room 133 of the Shelby County EOC at 1075 Mullins Station Road.

“Every Ninth District citizen who was negatively affected by last month’s floods should take advantage of this opportunity and ensure they don’t miss out on recovery assistance they are eligible for,” said Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), who announced the loans on Tuesday.

Businesses and non-profit organizations may also be eligible to apply for up to $2 million to repair or replace damage or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

The outreach center’s hours of operation are: Oct. 9-10th, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Oct. 11th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Oct. 14th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center, which will not be open Oct. 12-13th in honor of Columbus Day, will close at the end of business on Oct. 14th.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

City sets benefits info session for retirees The City of Memphis Human Resources, Enroll America and Seedco will host a series of meetings starting next week for retirees, age 65 and over, to share information about benefit plan changes, plan choices, federal healthcare exchange options, the City’s Healthcare Assurance Plan and open enrollment.

The times and locations are: Oct, 1516th from 10 a.m.-noon and 1p.m. to 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church-Broad, 2835 Broad Ave.; and Oct, 21st from 10 a.m.noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Middle Baptist Church, 801 Whitehaven Lane.

For more information visit www.benefitsmemphis.com.

BRIEFLY: The Tennessee State Library and Archives has been a partner with online genealogy giant Ancestry.com for several years, digitizing many of Tennessee’s historical records.

Now, according to State Librarian and Archivist Chuck Sherrill, that partnership is being extended so that Tennessee will be the first state to offer access to Ancestry.com in every K-12 school classroom.

Schools can register for access at www.ancestryk12.com by providing their IP address ranges. The subscription will include access to 14 billion records across the 30,000 databases on Ancestry Institution (U.S. version), such as U.S. Census records from 1790 to 1940, as well as military records available on Fold3 and Newspapers.com, another Ancestryowned website. Ancestry is offering access to the records free of charge.

The work of artist Anthony Lee will be on display at the Fogelman Galleries of Contemporary Art exhibit, which opens October 15th. (Courtesy photo)

‘Village’must adopt education or perish, says SCLC’s Montgomery

by Tony Jones Special to The New Tri-State Defender

SCLC Memphis Chapter president the Rev. Dwight Montgomery says youth violence gripping the city is a direct result of not enough community involvement to ensure more children in Memphis have better education opportunities and structure.

With the intent to continue to spur active community involvement for kids needing education support, the SCLC is sponsoring a rally Montgomery hopes will spur major participation.

The event will bring together actress Elise Neal, former Memphis mayor and lifelong education professional Dr. Willie W. Herenton, former Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools board member the Rev. Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum Jr., state Senators Reginald Tate and Lee Harris, Minister Shawn Anders and Yolanda “Quiet Storm” Gates.

The rally will be held Oct. 14th at 6:30 p.m. at the Greater Mount Moriah Baptist Church, through the courtesy of the church’s pastor Dr. J.L. Payne, and will feature the church’s mass choir and the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association Male Chorus.

Montgomery said it is important for those who may plan to attend to understand that the

night’s focus will be on what the everyday citizen can do to help spur educational growth in Memphis.

“SCLC supports education, period. We have been making this call and will continue to make this call,” he said.

“In 2001, I coordinated a luncheon at the Rev. Dwight Archie L. Rice Center Montgomery inviting representatives of the Chamber of Commerce at the time. There were about 150 pastors from throughout the city there, many elected officials and others. (As SCLC president) I made the statement then that we need to do more to help Memphis city schools,” said Montgomery.

Thirteen years later, he continued, “after calling for people to come forward to be mentors and tutors to children that needed help in our public schools, very few have come forward, especially when your consider the number of churches, organizations and corporations we have in this city. Very few stepped up to the plate.”

Now, some of the same people who voted to give up the (Memphis City) schools charter are speaking out against providing vouch-

ers to help children get into private schools, Montgomery said.

“What they must first understand is that the money does not come from the schools budget, it comes from the Department of Education, so it does not hurt the schools budget.”

With “trillions of dollars” spent to build new schools and educate children in other countries, “We would be less than infidels not to try to use public dollars to educate poor black children whose parents cannot afford to send them to a private school because they are not learning in the public schools,” said Montgomery.

“Education by any means necessary must be our priority. ” Montgomery offered what he said is proof that the public can have a positive effect. The backdrop is that SCLC is headquartered at the Annesdale Baptist Church, where Montgomery serves as pastor.

“In 2001, SCLC and Annesdale was called upon to help Airways Middle School. It was on the schools takeover list at the time. We were already diligently working with Cherokee Middle School to try to provide mentors and tutors, but we reached out to Airways as well. …

“We raised money, provided mentors and tutors and helped the school come off the list.”

Ebola, no; EV-D68, yes in Shelby County Social media “reports” notwithstanding, there are no cases of Ebola in Shelby County, Elizabeth Hart, the public information officer with the Shelby County Health Department said Wednesday night.

There are, however, two confirmed cases of the enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) in Tennessee, including a patient that lives in West Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.

Hart said EV-D68 is sickening children throughout the country. The West Tennessee patient is from Shelby County, she said.

EV-D68 is one of more than 60 types of enterovirus, which commonly cause coldlike symptoms in people. Some 10 to 15 million such infections occur annually in the United States, with most infections occurring in summer and fall when children return to school.

Calls about the Ebola virus have been streaming into the local Health Department since last week when it first was learned that a patient in Dallas had been diagnosed with Ebola, Hart said. That patient, Thomas Eric Duncan, 42, died Wednesday morning.

At a media briefing Wednesday morning, the Health Department shared that it is prepared to deal with major disease scenarios such as the one posed by the Ebola threat.

“We have been communicating with the hospitals, with local health care providers, the EMS teams, those individuals that drive ambulances and pick up patients in emergency situations making sure that they are aware of all the protocols that the CDC, the Tennessee Department of Health and then us (the local Health Department) have put out for dealing with patients who may be show-

ing signs potentially of symptoms of Ebola,” said Hart.

“Of course, the No. 1 question to ask is, ‘Have you traveled outside the country? If so, where? If not, have you been around anybody who has traveled outside the country, specifically in the region of West Africa where we are seeing the current epidemic proportions of death in the West African area.’”

The Health Department, Hart said, actually has a social media push to keep area residents informed.

“The Shelby County Health Department is very active on Facebook and Twitter. Because I am fielding so many phone calls, that is a fast way to get the information out. It’s factual, it’s coming from us. Our Facebook and Twitter can be found by searching for Shelbytnhealth.”

SPORTS Tri-State Defender, Thursday, October 9 - 15, 2014, Page 16

Down go the Bearcats, up come the Cougars Memphis at home against Houston on Saturday

by Anthony Sain Special to The New Tri-State Defender

If there was any doubt about the University of Memphis Tigers bouncing back after a hard fought loss against Ole Miss two weeks ago, they ended that on the road against Cincinnati Memphis trampled the Bearcats (41-14). Cincinnati came out scoring early as quarterback Gunner Kiel connected with Mekale McKay for an 80-yard pass on the first play of the game. The Tigers answered with a Paxton Lynch touchdown pass less than two minutes later when Tevin Jones found the end zone.

The exchange of touchdowns ended the back and forth scoring pace of the game. Memphis scored 17 unanswered points and 24 points total in the first quarter alone to lead 24-17 after one quarter.

The Tigers continued their dominance in the second quarter, holding the Bearcats scoreless and allowing only 59 yards of total offense. The Bearcats also lost Kiel to an injury, which occurred on their final play of the half as Tank James landed a massive tackle on Kiel after a pass attempt. The Tigers cruised the rest of the game.

The Tigers, who were without leading rushers Doroland Dorceus and Brandon Hayes, both due to injury, placed the ball in the hands of sophomore running back Sam Craft, who also plays wide receiver. He handled the responsibility, gaining 170 yards on 38 carries.

“Coach told me to be prepared to play running back. When he told me, I got my mind right and was prepared to play that role,” said Craft.

“I just knew I could play the role and when he asked me, he asked me with a serious face was I tough enough? I said, ‘yes sir.’ I knew he had faith in me to do it. I came into the game ready to play and take care of the ball.”

Memphis gained a massive 610 total yards against the Bearcats, whose porous defense bore out the criticism that the preseason American Athletic Conference favorites had gained so far this season. The Tigers found little to no resistance on offense and were able to score almost at will.

Memphis plays Houston this Saturday and likely will see a much harder challenge in the Cougars.

“We have a fantastic challenge ahead of us,” said Fuente. “We are turning our attention toward Houston and all of the problems that they can create. They have played fantastic defense.”

Rookie Jarnell Stokes said before Grizzlies training camp that he didn't know what to expect. He shared his thoughts about the team and being in the league with the media on Monday following an open-practice. (Photos: Marcus Jones)

Newcomer and NBA veteran Vince Carter lost a tie-breaker after a three-point shootout against teammate Courtney Lee during the Grizzlies open practice on Monday (Oct. 6).

Grizzlies preseason now in session

by Kelley D. Evans kdevans@tsdmemphis.com

The preseason has officially started for the Grizzlies. On Wednesday (Oct. 8), Memphis fell to a Bucks comeback in Milwaukee, 86-83, before heading on to Houston to face the Rockets the following night.

The Griz geared up for preseason on Monday, with fans welcomed to check out the team’s skills at FedExForum during the first open practice of the season. More than three hundred people were in the building to watch what began as an hour-long practice session with shooting drills and ended in a dynamic three-point shoot out.

It is no secret that outside shooting has been a growth area for the

Grizzlies. The winners of the three-point contest were newcomer and NBA veteran Vince Carter and Courtney Lee. Each tallied 16 points.

The tiebreaker was the first to Kelley D. hit a half-court Evans shot. Lee won the shootout with his first half-court attempt after Carter’s miss.

“I didn’t think Courtney Lee would just shoot from half court and call it a day,” said Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger.

The three-point contest started

with Quincy Pondexter (13) vs. Jon Leuer (11), Carter (17) vs. Zach Randolph (9), Beno Undrih (12) vs. rookie Jordan Adams (11) and Marc Gasol (16) vs. Lee (18).

After the open-practice concluded, players signed a few autographs and took photos before making their way onto the practice court, where they completed more drills and went through a rigorous, almost two-hour routine.

“We’re trying to develop guys,” Joerger said. “All of October is training. It’s all part of the preseason. I think guys are getting better each and every year.”

As for Joerger, during training camp he spotted things that need to get better.

“We’ve got to continue to do a better job getting back in transition

defensively. We have to do a better job talking, on the pick-and-roll, the weak side defense has to get better, the on-ball pressure has to get better, we need to consistently run better and we’ve got to turn the ball over a lot less with better fundamental passing.”

As for the newcomers, rookie Jarnell Stokes said, “It’s definitely tough. I’m definitely realizing that I can play with these guys. But I’m mostly realizing why some of the All Stars are All Stars and why they are such a championship-contending team. They play tough but they run the offense to the tee.”

The Grizzlies will host their first preseason home game on Saturday (Oct. 11) against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Four P.A.W.S. Possibilities: It has been reported that Houston will have a change at quarterback this Saturday as John O’Korn, who impressed last season, has been replaced by Greg Ward Jr. It’s possible that Ward may be able to provide more scoring punch than what O’Korn had been providing so far this season. The Tigers will have to plan differently for Ward, who Coach Fuente said “can certainly cause all kinds of problems.”

Assumptions: Assuming that they play up to their production so far this season, the Cougars will be a much better challenge defensively than Cincinnati. Houston has the 18th ranked defense in the nation in points allowed.

Weaknesses: With Dorceus out for the season and still no word on the status of Hayes, it’s hard to gauge if Craft will be able to be the primary running back against a more competent defense. Until Craft is able to prove that wrong you still have to consider the Memphis rushing attack against Houston’s proven defense as a weakness.

Strengths: Memphis’ defense against Houston’s pedestrian offense could possibly be a mismatch at home this Saturday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Memphis also has a highly ranked defense, allowing only 19.4 points per game against considerably better competition so far this season than Houston, whose best opponent this year has been No. 25 BYU. Houston starting a new quarterback in his first start of the season may make this an even bigger strength advantage for the Tigers.

Michael Beasley has the size and skills to be an asset to any team, if he is focused.

Michael Beasley aims to stick and stay

by Kelley D. Evans kdevans@tsdmemphis.com

The Memphis Grizzlies welcomed free-agent Michael Beasley to training camp on a non-guaranteed contract and the rest is up to him.

“He has to be as good as he can be on the court and off the court,” said Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger.

And Beasley is looking to do just that.

“What do I bring to the team? I have no idea at this point,” Beasley said during a Media Day. “All I can tell you is I’m going to bring my blood and sweat into it.”

Beasley rose to stardom as a freshman at Kansas State University in 2007. He was recognized as an AP All-American, National Freshman of the Year, as well as a Big 12 Player of the Year. Basket-

ball fans all over recall him being selected second overall by the Miami Heat in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Somewhere along the way, he experienced a shift stemming from off-court issues. He’s now with his fourth NBA team and hopes to find his way back to doing what he knows best – basketball.

“I’m coming to play. I’m coming to sweat. I’m coming to bleed.

Hopefully I will be here in October.

Honestly, my main focus is just playing hard and getting in tip-top shape. I’ve made mistakes just like everybody. But I’m me. Everybody is different. Everybody’s perception of life and understanding is different.”

The six-foot-nine, 235-pound forward still maintains a level of potential that can be an asset to any team. He’s super comfortable with the ball on offense and can contend with the best of the best defensive-

ly.

Beasley comes to Memphis after averaging 7.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in 15.1 minutes and shooting a career-high .499 from the field in 55 games (two starts) last season for the Miami Heat. He owns career averages of 13.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24.9 minutes in 409 games (199 starts) for the Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns. The 25-year-old native of Prince George’s County, Md. led the NCAA in rebounds per game as a freshman.

If Beasley can impress the powers at be during training camp, he can add an element to the team that could be quite beneficial. For starts, he offers size. He was a scorer when he had the proper playing time. He can join in with the second unit to bring a spark off the bench.

So far, his latest teammates have nothing but the utmost respect for his game, including veteran NBA player and Grizz newcomer Vince Carter.

“In the weeks being here and just talking to him and his knowledge of the game, he should be in this league,” Carter said. “I want to remind him of who he was when he was drafted. I think this is humbling for him. I just watch him play and the game is natural. It’s easy for him. I’m hoping he’s willing to open up and just listen.”

Memphis' bench already has depth with Quincy Pondexter returning, Kosta Koufos, Beno Udrih, Nic Calathes and rookie Jarnell Stokes.

“I think he’ll be tremendous playing at the elbow, playing pick and rolls,” Joerger said. “He's the kind of athlete that we don't really have since the Rudy Gay trade.”