June Unite Page 12
JaNae Hornsby, Third Grader Among Oklahoma Tornado Victims BlackNews.Com— 9-year old JaNae Hornsby was one of 24 people killed in the recent Moore, Oklahoma tornadoes, which caused an estimated $1 billion in damage. Her father rushed to her school to get her when he realized where the storm was touching down, but he didn't make it in time. According to the Associated Press, the tornado had already slammed through the building when he arrived. He franticly combed through the rubble with the help of other students and first responders looking desperately for JaNae. Slowly, more and more children were pulled from the rubble. Many children, still alive, were rescued, but none of them were
JaNae. It wasn't until two days later that JaNae and several other children were found at the very bottom of all the debris. All of them suffocated beneath the debris, and died from mechanical asphyxia. Her dad says that JaNae loved to draw, sing, and be a big sister and cousin to her younger relatives. He commented, "JaNae was the life of the party. If JaNae was there you were having a good time." Other children who died in the storm include: - Sydney Angle, 9 - Antonia Candelaria, 9 - Emily Conatzer, 9 - Kyle Davis, 8
June 2013 Volume 23/ Number 6 • A Monthly Publication by Unite. of Southwest Missouri, Inc •
www.unitenewsonline.org
UNITE. Building Empowering Connections In Our Diverse Community
Springfield Public Schools Coordinator of Cultural Diversity Dr Nate Quinn Is Retiring 9-year old JaNae Hornsby - Case Futrell, 4 months - JaNae Hornsby, 9 - Christopher Legg, 9
- Nicolas McCabe, 9 - Karrina Vargyas, 4
- Sydnee Vargyas, 7 months Dr. Nate Quinn
“I hope I have shown others that if you work hard there will be ups and downs but you will make it.”
See story on page 2
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Building Empowering Connections In Our Diverse Community
Join Us In Celebrating Father’s Day June 16th
Board Awards Wes Pratt And Juan Meraz Excellence in Public Affairs
Wes Pratt
Juan Meraz
See story on page 4
Springfield Reunion Club Launches Their New Website The Springfield Reunion Club is happy to announce their new website: parkdayreunion. com. You will be able to see updated information on Park Day 2013, photos from Park Day 2012-2011, along with a lot more information.
JUNETEENTH A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
Springfield, MO—Missouri State University will partner this year with the NAACP to co-sponsor the Juneteenth Celebration. The observance of June 19 as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a time celebrated across the country when, people of all races, nationalities and religions acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Many cities, including Springfield, are recognizing this day as an opportunity to celebrate everyone’s freedom! Springfield’s celebration will include spoken word, praise
dances, poems, gospel rap and other local talent. This year’s activities will include performers from Columbia and Kansas City. Pack a picnic lunch and join the community in celebrating Juneteenth. The Juneteenth celebration will take place at Silver Springs Park on June 15, 2013 from 12:00 to 5:00 P.M. If you are interested in performing or having a booth to educate the community about your organization, please contact Francine Pratt at fpratt@missouristate.edu or 916-541-1675. This event is one of two initiatives under consideration in the City of Springfield’s Strategic Plan. The other initiative is an annual Jazz Festival the first Friday of October each year.