U W rban Pro NEWS • COMMENTARY
ARTS
eekly
The CSRA’s
Building Community FREE
The CSRA’s FREE WEEKLY WEEKLY
Newspaper Newspaper VOL.2 NO.28 VOL.2 NO.18
ENTERTAINMENT MAR. 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
Photo by Vincent Hobbs
Ashley Watts’ long journey back home vPersonal and Business Income Tax Preparation vFees start at $55.00 vIRS & State Problem Resolution
The Wise Choice 2664 Tobacco Rd., Ste A, Hephzibah, GA 30815 www.taxwize.net
vIRS & State Audit Representation vLevy/Lien/Garnishment Release vOffers-In-Compromise And More
UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
2
CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority, Inc.
Inaugural Annual Golf Tournament Friday, April 19, 2013 Pointe South Golf Club 4324 Peach Orchard Road, Hephzibah, Ga 30815 706-592-2222
Prizes
Three Man Captain’s Choice
1st and 2nd First Flight 1st and 2nd Second Flight 1st and 2nd Third Flight Closest to Pin Male and Female Longest Drive Male and Female Under 60 Longest Drive Male and Female 60+
Fees: 70.00 per golfer; 200.00 per team Entry fee includes: 18 holes, green fees, cart fees, range balls, and lunch. Onsite registration: 7:30 a.m. Tee Time: 8:00 a.m. Shotgun Start Walk-ups Welcome For more information call: Conan Sanders 706-267-1302; Norris Rouse 706-836-1439 Gloria B. Lewis 706-722-0493
Checks payable to CSRA EOA,Inc. 1261 Green Street, Augusta, Ga 30901
Marian T. Ebron, M.D. Internal Medicine and Esthetic Medicine Board Certified internal MediCine Certified in Botox & derMal fillers
Specializing in: Hypercholesterolemia Hypertension Diabetes Connective Tissue Disorder Thyroid Diseases Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder
alSo Specializing in: Esthetic Medical Procedures Beauty and Wellness Enhancement Anti-Aging and Youth Regeneration Skin/Dermal/Rejuvenation Non-Surgical Face Lift Botox & Dermal Fillers
You are beautiful ~ Show the world Call For Free Esthetic Consultation Office Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. – 9 AM - 5 PM 2047 Central Avenue • Augusta, GA 30904
New Patients Are Welcome
706-738-7557
Participating Provider For most Insurance Companies
U W rban Pro
eekly
UrbanProWeekly LLC Mailing Address: 3529 Monte Carlo Drive Augusta, Georgia 30906
Publisher Ben Hasan 706-394-9411 Managing Editor Frederick Benjamin Sr. 706-836-2018
Sales & Marketing Phone: 706-394-9411 New Media Consultant Director of Photography Vincent Hobbs
email: Ben Hasan bzhasan54@yahoo.com Frederick Benjamin Sr. editor@urbanproweekly.com Vincent Hobbs photos@urbanproweekly.com
Could supermarket closing derail revitalization efforts?
A front view of Laney Supermarket (formerly Gurley’s) on Laney-Walker Blvd. The tenant was evicted from the building after failing to pay rent. Photo by Vincent Hobbs By Frederick Benjamin Sr. UrbanProWeekly Political Analysis AUGUSTA The trucks are gone; the parking lot is cleared and the Laney Supermarket at 834 Laney-Walker Blvd. sits empty in the heart of the city’s $34 million innercity revitalization zone. Within a stone’s throw of the vacant building sits property that the city recently purchased. Across the street, the city paid “above market” price for Mr. J’s Famous Door building late last year. Walk in any direction for a quarter mile and you will run into some cityowned, city-sponsored or city-financed development project. City, in this case, means the Housing and Development Department headed by Chester Wheeler. Given the intense and comprehensive effort the city has put forth to acquire property in the area, it would not be surprising to learn that the city development operatives saw this closure coming and have a plan ready to go to find another tenant. At this point, we don’t know if that’s the case because officials at the development department are not talking. Hawthorne Welcher, assistant director of Housing, told UrbanProWeekly that
he was not ready to make a comment at this time, but that Mr. Wheeler would address the problem at some point. What we do know is that the property, formerly the Gurley’s Supermarket, was the anchor tenant of the collections of shops, offices and restaurants known as the Armstrong Galleria. The most recent tenant, Il Ki Choi, of Sun and Food LLC operating as the Laney Supermarket, did not own the building, but was subletting from the owner, SunTrust Bank. Media accounts say that Mr. Choi owed $15,000 to the bank. District 1 Commissioner Bill Fennoy said that he was unaware of any city officials who might have had an idea that the property was in trouble. “As far as I know, no one in the city saw this coming. I didn’t know,” Fennoy said. But, he added, if the city did acquire the property, good things could happen sooner. “If the city had control, we would be in a better position to negotiate [with a new tenant]. I would love to see a Reid’s or a Super IGA located there,” he said. “We have too many seniors living in that area. We need a good quality grocery store in that area. We need a bank that opens on Saturday. We need the same types of businesses that other
neighborhoods have,” Fennoy said. Fennoy also said that he was aware that the store was not permitted to collect food stamps. Commissioner Marion Williams said that, if the city had known that the store was in danger of closing, it might have been able to step in and make sure that didn’t happen. He said that the city had stepped in once before and helped in a similar situation. Whether or not SunTrust has plans to sell the building or auction it off to the highest bidder is still unknown. SunTrust Bank representative Mike McCoy, contacted on Wednesday (Mar. 27), was not able to say what plans his company might have for the building. One area real estate professional tells UrbanProWeekly that the wrong tenant could be wrong for the city. Known as Phase I of the Armstrong Galleria, most of the shops and businesses were originally privately owned. Most remain in private hands, although the city has purchased some of the buildings. Here’s the big question: Which of the ten commissioners will be the first to come up with a plan to turn this unfortunate eviction into a positive move for the enrichment of the community?
Past troubles at Gurley’s for mishandling food stamps In 1999, the community rallied in support of Gurley’s Supermarket which was threatened with its ability to continue accepting food stamps. The U.S. Department of Agriculture pulled the store’s license due to alleged food stamp trafficking at the store. Eventually the store worked out its problems with the federal agency, paid $20,000 and got its license back.
Owner Steve Gurley said at the time that the store’s inability to receive food stamps was costing it $10,000 per day. The USDA revoked the store’s permit to accept food stamps, saying they had evidence that a former manager illegally bought $65 worth of food stamps in February 1998. The governmental agency gave Mr. Gurley the option of paying a $40,000
civil penalty instead of disqualification, if he could prove his store had an effective employee policy and training to prevent violations. The USDA decided the policy in place wasn’t strict enough and revoked his license. Mr. Gurley then filed a request in federal court for a preliminary injunction, staying the revocation. — source Augusta Chronicle
Residents, charities upset at decision to dump food On Tuesday, city marshals conducting an eviction began placing merchandise from the former Gurley’s Supermarket building out in the parking lot. In one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods, the prospect of carting off food or other household items at no cost was irresistible. Sheriff Richard Roundtree was on hand to keep the peace and make sure that there would be an orderly distribution of the goods. Instead, the bewildered residents watched as the items were loaded on to trucks headed for the county landfill. Roundtree would later say that the move surprised him as well. SunTrust Bank, the company that ordered the eviction, is the owner of the building, but says that it did not own the merchandise. The company is being criticized for not making arrangements to donate the merchandise to organizations that serve the community. To the residents who waited and watched and then became upset, it was an insensitive and senseless gesture.
UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
Special Report: The Demise of a Community Anchor
3
UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
4
No unemployment benefits for seasonal workers under bill approved by Senate by Aaron G. Sheinin and Kristina Torres The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The state Senate approved a measure Monday that would make changes to Georgia’s labor laws, including a proposed ban on whether some employees such as school bus drivers would qualify for unemployment benefits. The 36-16 vote along party lines sends House Bill 361 back to the House for consideration because it was changed in committee. HB 361 would additionally allow workers to opt out at any time from automatic payroll deductions for union dues — although it exempts certain groups, including MARTA workers, teachers,
law enforcement officers and firefighters. Current law says workers must have only an annual option to opt out. The ban on jobless benefits in the bill affects seasonally unemployed bus drivers and other private sector workers whose employers contract with public sector entities such as school systems. Supporters said it is expected to save the state up to $10 million annually. Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler made a similar ruling last year, defying a federal mandate by refusing to restart jobless benefits to seasonally unemployed public school teachers and bus drivers. Federal labor officials have yet to respond to
that action. The state’s cash-strapped unemployment insurance fund has sought to cut spending and reduce its jobless roll — estimated at 423,337 as of January. Georgia owes Washington roughly $740 million for jobless assistance borrowed during the recession. Charlie Flemming, president of the Georgia State AFL-CIO, said the bill will hurt low-paid workers who drive the state’s children to school. “They’re trying to balance the shortfall in the unemployment fund on the backs of these workers,” Flemming said. Flemming also said if the proposal becomes law, veteran, safe bus driv-
ers could look for other work, leaving the state’s children in less experienced hands. Susan Smith is a crossing guard in Augusta, where she has received unemployment every summer for more than 20 years. “We were using the unemployment to help us through the summertime while we’re out of work because we had no other income coming in,” Smith said. Smith said the crossing guards work for the county, through the sheriff’s office, not the board of education. Each year before school ended, the sheriff’s office would tell them to go apply for unemployment, Smith said.
MEDICAL VILLA PHARMACY WE TAKE: •Georgia medicaid •Insurance plans •Charge cards •WIC vouchers Marshall Curtis, Pharmacist/Owner Baron Curtis, Pharmacist
FREE DELIVERY SERVICE
706-722-7355
You don’t have to live with BACK PAIN OVER AND IN:
Augusta State University’s Liv Pettersson returns the ball during a match against #6 ranked Columbus State University. The Jaguars, ranked at #46, were defeated 8-1 at Saturday’s matches, ending the Jaguars 10-game winning streak. Photo by Vincent Hobbs
Get Urban Pro Weekly at your local Circle K store In Augusta
or any other kind of discomfort, including headaches, neck stiffness, shoulder pain, muscle tension, sleep ������������������������������������ 706-736-5551
2 Locations: 1125Available! Druid Park Ave.•�� Road ACCEPTED M2583 OSTTobacco INSURANCE Drug Testing Now Augusta, GA 30904 Hephzibah, GA 30815 1132 Druid Park Ave, Augusta, GA
A Tribute to Excellence: On March 23, a portion of 15th Street is re-named in honor of Paine College alumna Dr. Ruth B. Crawford ’39. Georgia House Resolution 1643 was the enabling document. The Resolution was spearheaded by Representative Wayne Howard. Photo by Vincent Hobbs
EAST AUGUSTA COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
SUMMER CAMP
The East Augusta Community Organization will hold a Summer Camp at May Park Commujnity Center for students in grades 5-8 and 9-12 from June 10, 2013 - July 19, 2013. This Summer Camp will strengthen academic skills, promote community awareness, and provide participation in a team sport, such as basketball. The unique set of academic, cultural, and athletic experiences wil enhance the participants’ self-estem, expand their critical thinking skills, and improve their physical fitness. All students in the Augusta community are encouraged to apply. If you need additional information, please call (706) 231-4937 or (706) 860-9872. If no one answers, please leave your name and number and you will be contacted. Please sent you name, address, and telephone number to the address below: East Augusta Community Organization P.O. Box 6366, Augusta, GA 30916
AUGUSTA The Greater Augusta Arts Council is proud to partner with the Relay for Life Committee of Augusta for April’s First Friday to raise awareness about cancer research. Patrons are invited to wear purple garments to the event. There will be free family-friendly crafts, activities and information at the event headquarters from 5-9 pm at 10th and Broad Streets, staffed by Relay for Life teams. Events include: Pyroteque performing when the sun goes down. Witness fire-centered performance at its best as Pyroteque ignites the First Friday performance calendar with a Vaudeville-themed performance. 11th & Broad St. Around 9PM Belly dancing performed by the Eastern Star Dance Company. Come watch this hip-tastic performance that will feature purple garments in support of the Relay for Life’s PURPLE OUT event. Brigan’s Land of Enchantment. 912 Broad St. 7PM Schrodinger’s Cat hosting “eXtreme Theatre Games.” The adult-centered entertainment of this risqué improv troup is sure to thrill and delight! Head over for off-color, tongue-in-cheek giggles. Le Chat Noir. 304 8th St. 8-10PM
Sky City hosting ‘80’s Night, where they will feature a brand new art show featuring work from Lauryn Sprouse. 1157 Broad St. 5-9PM Big Day Cake Bakery hosting cake tastings. Come in for a sandwich, a cupcake and a chat with the one sweet bakery owner in downtown Augusta. 120 9th St. 5-7PM A PURPLE OUT event at Zimmerman Gallery. Lou Ann Zimmerman has agreed to donate 20% of sales of all purple items to Relay for Life! 1006 Broad St. The Greater Augusta Arts Council has also decided to feature a restaurant during each First Friday celebration. Join Arts Council staff at this month’s featured restaurant, Boar’s Head Public House at 1135 Broad Street, for dinner during First Friday! Check our Facebook afterward for pictures and a review! If you are interested in having your restaurant featured during a First Friday celebration please email the Arts Council intern Jamie Lowe at Jamie@augustaarts.com. First Friday is a family friendly event that is free and open to the public. For information on this event, as well as other events, visit www.augustaarts.com or contact Jamie Lowe by phone at 706-826-4702, extension 13.
Organization looking for foster parents Neighbor To Family Inc. is a sibling foster care agency with a new approach to foster care. They provide sibling groups with a nurturing foster home that enables brothers and sisters to stay together while in care. Along with providing a loving home, the children receive a comprehensive array of services that are coordinated by our agency program. Neighbor To Family is licensed to provide Foster Care within the State of Georgia.
Neighbor To Family, Inc. has unique components that contribute to the success of the program by providing professional foster caregivers who receive benefits and respite time. Foster caregivers are required to complete 50 hours of annual training and receive 24-hour support and consultation from our staff. If you are interested in becoming a Foster Parent with Neighbor To Family Inc., call 706-396-2180 or visit www.ntf.org
AUGUSTA BRANCH NAACP 39th Annual Martin L. King, Jr.
Freedom Fund Banquet Theme: “Your Power, Your Decision, Your Vote”
Williams Tire Service 3659 Peach Orchard Rd. Augusta Ga. 30906
(706) 790-5387 4 Car Tires $127.00 4 Truck or SUV Tires $137.00 Mount and Balancing Free
Keynote Speaker: Reverend Dr. William Barber, II, President, North Carolina State Conference NAACP; Chairman, NAACP National Political Action Committee; Member, National Board of Directors, Pastor, Greenleaf Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
Gordon Conference and Catering Club (FORMERLY THE GORDON CLUB) Building 180402-19th Street Parkway Fort Gordon, Georgia 30905
Friday, April 5, 2013
Meet and Greet Reception - 6:00 P.M. Banquet–7:00 P.M. Donations: $50 For ticket information call the Augusta Branch NAACP at 706-724-0390 or Lizzie Wilhite – 706-733-6242
5 UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
First Friday Events
UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
6
The Shoppe
The Computer Guy Computers Done Right, Free Diagnostic Check Clarence PC TECH
The Shoppe, located at 2101 Kings Way has serviced the Augusta, Georgia area for 20 years. We specialize in school uniforms for private and public schools, including jumpers, pants, sweaters, shoes, backpacks and whatever else would be required. We also offer embroidery, t-shirts printed for reunions, staff or any special event, group orders, and we have on site professional alterations. The Shoppe carries Ladies accessories, jewelry, handbags, scarves, and more. We are looking forward to serving the CSRA area for years to come. 2101 King’s Way • Augusta, GA, 30904 • 706-667-8016
2658 C Barton Chapel Rd. Augusta, GA 706.814.7188 computerguyaugusta@live.com
Aimee Pickett Sanders ATTORNEY AT LAW
General Practice with an emphasis on Domestic Litigation • Personal Injury & Business Law
FRAILS & WILSON 706-855-6715 211 Pleasant Home Road • Suite A1 • Augusta, GA
Augusta Tutoring Center Augusta Tutoring Center 1-800-417-0968
We at Augusta Tutoring Center pride ourselves in helping each child 1-800-417-0968 reach his or her true potential.
We at Augusta Tutoring Center pride ourselves We offer: in helping each child reach his or her true potential offer: Hands on Tutoring in All Subjects Grades K-12 We • Hands on Tutoring in All Subjects - Grades K-12 Homework Help Test Prep • Homework Help • Test Prep 3090 Deans Bridge Road, Suite A, Augusta, GA 30906 • www.augustatutoring.com
7 UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013 Photo by Vincent Hobbs
High Wattage – The Bright future of Ashley Watts By Vincent Hobbs Paine College Lady Lions basketball guard Ashley Watts has been named “Women’s Newcomer of the Year” by the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). The achievement was determined by votes cast by the SIAC Basketball Coaches Association. The 5’6” powerhouse sophomore guard finished second in the conference with scoring and assists. Her average points-per-game held at 20.4, with a total of 571 points scored for the 2013 season. Watts ended the season ranked # 4 in the country in Division II for points-per-game, according to the NCA A website. UrbanProWeekly decided to pay a visit to the Paine College campus to see what all the fuss was about. “I picked up a basketball when I was probably about five; I played on a co-ed team in Atlanta,” Watts said when asked about the first time she played the game. “My father played…he introduced it to me, and ever since, I never stopped playing.” Watts is smart and soft-spoken with a charming sense of humility — a characteristic of her personality that defies many of her more outspoken counterparts in the sports arena. Born in Atlanta and re-locating to Augusta at a young age, she became a star player at Butler High School, breaking school records for 3-pointers and total
points scored, five records in all. Those achievements remain standing to the present day. Watts originally started her college basketball at Lander University, but as a freshman, she didn’t get much playing time and was on the bench for many of the games. That didn’t sit too well with the ambitious basketball dynamo. It was a stark contrast for the young player who was used to playing ball on a multi-dimensional level, utilizing all of her positional skills out on the court. The Lander coach wanted her to just be a shooter. Watts eventually became disheartened, feeling the pressure of being boxed in by the coach’s mandate. “I really didn’t like the game as much anymore; he changed the love I had for the game…” Watts said. “It started messing with my grades.” She came to the conclusion that Lander was not the place for her, and giving consideration to her already established fan base back in Augusta, decided to come back home and attend Paine College. “Every since I’ve been here, I love it at Paine, school-wise and basketball-wise. I’m back loving the game again, I think that’s why my stats and stuff speaks for itself.” According to Watts, Paine is a place where she has the support and freedom to grow as a player. When she speaks of women’s basketball coach Willie Adams, the accolades are plenty. “Me and Coach Adams are very close, he lets me do what I want to
do…I love to work out again, I’m always in the gym, and I’m back to loving the game again.” Watts is currently studying Mass Communications, but is thinking about switching to Sociology, due to her keen interest in a possible career in Law Enforcement as a police or a parole officer. Watts attributes the wise influence of her parents to her success on the court – but also holds a quiet admiration and unflinching respect for a young Langford Middle-School basketball player, 6th-grader Cyan Scoggins, who passed away suddenly after a basketball practice in 2007, the day before a championship game. Watts was in 8th-grade at the time. “That’s a big motivation for me. She motivates me in basketball and in life.” A large tattoo featuring a cross, with Cyan’s name, adorns Watts’s right arm. “I feel like I play for her and me…I tell everybody that she’s my little sis. She looked up to me tremendously”. She met Cyan while playing AAU Travel basketball. Watts is poised to dominate the record books at Paine College. Her dedication and passion for the game of basketball will only be superceded by her big heart for the fans. Despite some tough challenges, Watts continues to make progressive moves toward her future. “My momma told me, don’t let nobody take the love you have for the game.” Good advice, indeed.
8 UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
Unique Baskets
Gift Baskets for all Occasions
2450 Windsor Spring Rd., Suite B, Augusta, Ga.,
Sabrina Brown, owner
(706) 832-5397
Daily Operating Hours Monday - Saturday: 11am 7pm.
POWER PLAY
Augusta State University’s Julie Fontaine puts some power into her backhand swing during a doubles match against #6 ranked Columbus State University. The #46 ranked Jaguars fell 8-1 at Saturday’s Peach Belt Conference matches, ending the Jaguars 10-game winning streak. Photo by Vincent Hobbs
Have Dinner, support Brayden On Friday, March 29, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a Spaghetti Dinner for Brayden Wendorff, the son of a Florida police officer. Brayden has chiari malformation. He and his family are at MCG children’s hospital from Jacksonville, Florida. Plates are $7 dollars each or $22 for a family of 4. The dinners will be served at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Range, Dining Hall at 2098 Greenland Rd. Blythe, GA 30805. The meals will be available from 6 pm until 9 pm. To buy advance tickets contact Krystle Harden (706-829-6991).
#JazzLives Collective Culture + Soul Celebration
April 21, 2013 @ 7pm Julian Smith Casino Augusta GA
Live music, art and movement hosted by Garden City Jazz, Humanitree House and Soul Center GA; open jam with local rising stars, visual artists interpreting the music; dance and spoken word; Snarky Puppy brings the heat! Info: (706) 495-6238 Tix: www.gardencityjazz.com
UniqueBaskets51@yahoo.com Facebook: Unique Baskets Got Skills? UrbanProWeekly is looking for writers who know the community • writers@urbanproweekly.com
9
Saturdays, Riverwalk Augusta March 23 - November 23 Small ensemble and community group performances throughout the season
DIVINE FITNESS FOR LIFE True Wellness is a Whole Body Concept Mind, Body & Soul Personal Training, Boot Camps, Group Fitness Classes, Corporate Wellness Programs, Diet Consults, Health and Diet Products Sold
Nezer
House of Beauty Where Your Hair Is My Care! Specializing In:
Relaxers, Perms, Precise Cuts, Highlights, Colors, Short Hair Cuts, and the Latest Trends
Tumeka Porter, Master Cosmetologist
Tomya Sweeper, Master Cosmetologist/Instructor Specializing in Natural Tresses, Hair Sculpting, Textured Chemical Services, & Color 2439 Peach Orchard Road. Suite A, Augusta, GA 30906 (706)814-6934 (Salon) or (706)284-8247 (Mobile) Email: tumekakporter@aol.com
U W rban Pro
eekly
THE CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES THAT APPEAR ON THIS DISPLAY SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY-ORIENTED MISSION
Abdul & Janice El-Amin Dylan Walker Asia Cates Aldrian Robertson Dwannette Pullings &Joshua Toran Halim & Wendy Yazid Willie & Brenda Aiken Yusuf Rashada & Family
ARTHUR L. PRESCOTT
PRESCOTT INDUSTRIES, INC. 706-231-0446
GALLOP & ASSOCIATES
Dr. FAYE HARGROVE Hargrove Leadership Services 706-364-4237
706-495-3796
PRESCOTT
Kreative Minds
DUSTRIES, INC. 1-0446
Childcare and Learning Center, Inc. 2542 Milledgeville Rd. 706-364-5627 Fax: 706-364-5628
OP & IATES
Dr. FAYE HARGROVE Hargrove Leadership Services 706-364-4237
5-3796
Kreative Minds
Childcare and Learning Center, Inc. 2542 Milledgeville Rd. 706-364-5627 Fax: 706-364-5628
706-814-6634
706-814-6634
Gloria J. Hamilton Cell: 706-341-1348
Divinefitnessforlife.com
216 8th Street Augusta, GA 30901
Save“Improve 25% off all your purchases of $50 or my morepersonal through February 1, 2013. game with training”
UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
Jazz @ The Market
UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
10 Art Hardy Memorial Golf Tournament
Annual Golf Tournament supports GRU students The Georgia Regents University Department of Respiratory Therapy will host the seventh annual Art Hardy Memorial Golf Tournament Friday, April 26 at Forest Hills Golf Club. The tournament honors Art Hardy, a neonatal respiratory therapist and GRU alumnus who died in 1993 in a medical transport plane crash while en route to GRU Medical Center with a critically ill infant. Proceeds support the Art Hardy Scholarship Fund and other respiratory therapy education resources. Last year’s tournament raised more than $5,000. Individual and company sponsorships are available from $100 to $1,000. Hardy, a former U.S. Army Green Beret with an impressive military career, was a respiratory therapy technician for 12 years before earning a respiratory therapy degree in in 1991. A shotgun start will begin at 9 a.m. with a captain’s choice format. The $75 per person registration fee includes lunch. For registration and sponsorship opportunities, contact Taft at 706-721-3554 or ataft@ gru.edu.
Jennifer Norman-Dixon Independent Cruise & Vacation Specialist
Trust the experts
for your income taxes •Outstanding Service •Same Day Tax Preparation •No wait Express Drop-Off Service •One Day Refund Anticipation Loans •Electronic Filing Service with NO up-front fees •Free State Tax Return Preparation with Federal Return
TBA Trowell Builders & Associates
Hephzibah, GA 30815 Phone 706-925-2929 Toll Free (877-790-6082 Fax 404-601-4492
Email:jdixon@cruisesinc.com www.cruisesinc.com/jdixon
Designers • Builders • Planners
Sanctuary Multi-Purpose Buildings Renovations
1139 Druid Park Avenue Augusta, Georgia 30904-5849 (706) 736-4601 438 Hampton Avenue Aiken, South Carolina (803) 502-0149
PRODUCTS
Auto Home Business Bonds
If you’re looking for insurance, we will find the best Georgia and South Carolina insurance solutions for your needs. Ben Crawford 144 DAVIS ROAD
Augusta Georgia 30907 706-305-1698 office bcrawford25@gmail.com
Tender Care Training School State Approved
Certified Nurse Asst. Training Phlebotomy Training Pharmacy Tech. Training
P.O. Box 211886 Augusta, Ga 30917 1.800.546.2685 • Fax 706.738.6328 email: tbamakedreams@aol.com
Pick up the latest edition of UrbanProWeekly at a
1140 Druid Park Ave. Augusta, GA 30904 OFFICE HOURS TUES-FRI. 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM Phone: (706)736-9225 Fax: (706)736-0995
location near your home or workplace.
www.gacoverage.com
11
2013 SPONY SPECIAL “Choose Your Own Price . . .” Come in for any of our services and choose the price you pay for: Relaxers, Colors, Blowouts, Demi, Shampoo & Style, Cuts, Thermal Press, Massage services...
Tuesday and Wednesday ONLY!! Call now for your appointment
Attorney At Law Uncompromised Representation and Unmatched Results
Criminal Defense Personal Injury Family Law Wills
706-364-6413 or visit us at 712 Bohler Avenue, Augusta, GA 30904 (located directly behind GA Power on Walton Way) Walk-ins welcomed
706-814-5998 4137 Columbia Rd., Suite C, Martinez, GA 30907
Put Your Stuff Out In the Street • Call 706-394-9411 to Advertise
UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
Inga N. Hicks, PC
UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
12
Commentary America’s other dark legacy in Iraq by Joy Gordon When the United States, the United Kingdom, and the “coalition of the willing” attacked Iraq in March 2003, millions protested around the world. But the war of “shock and awe” was just the beginning. The subsequent occupation of Iraq by the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority bankrupted the country and left its infrastructure in shambles.It’s not just a question of security. Although the breathtaking violence that attended Iraq’s descent into sectarian nightmare has been well documented in many retrospectives on the 10-year-old war, what’s often overlooked is that by far more mundane standards, the United States did a spectacularly poor job of governing Iraq. It’s not that Iraq was flourishing before the occupation. From 1990 to 2003, the UN Security Council imposed economic sanctions on Iraq that were the harshest in the history of global governance. But along with the sanctions, at least, came an elaborate system of oversight and accountability that drew in the Security Council, nine UN agencies, and General Secretary himself. The system was certainly imperfect, and the effects of the sanctions on the Iraqi people were devastating. But when the United States arrived, all semblance of international oversight vanished. Under enormous pressure from Washington, in May 2003 the Security
Council formally recognized the occupation of Iraq by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Resolution 1483. Among other things, this resolution gave the CPA complete control over all of Iraq’s assets. At the same time, the Council removed all the forms of monitoring and accountability that had been in place: there would be no reports on the humanitarian situation by UN agencies, and there would be no committee of the Security Council charged with monitoring the occupation. There would be a limited audit of funds, after they were spent, but no one from the UN would directly oversee oil sales. And no humanitarian agencies would ensure that Iraqi funds were being spent in ways that benefitted the country. Humanitarian concerns In January 2003, the UN prepared a working plan anticipating the impact of a possible war. Even with only “medium impact” from the invasion, the UN expected that humanitarian conditions would be severely compromised. Because the Iraqi population was so heavily reliant on the government’s food distribution system (a consequence of international sanctions), the UN anticipated that overthrowing the Iraqi regime would also undermine food security. And because the population already suffered from extensive malnutrition, this disruption would be
quite lethal, putting 30 percent of Iraqi children under five at risk of death. The UN noted that if water and sewage treatment plants were damaged in the war, or if the electrical system could not operate, Iraqis would lose access to potable water, which would likely precipitate epidemics of water-borne diseases. And if electricity, transportation, and medical equipment were compromised, then the medical system would be unable to respond effectively to these epidemics. During the occupation, much of this came to pass. A June 2003 UN report noted that the postwar water and sewage systems for Baghdad and other central and southern governorates were “in crisis.” In Baghdad alone, the report estimated that 40 percent of the city’s water distribution network was damaged, leading to a loss of up to half of the city’s potable water through leaks and breaks in the system. And direr still, the UN reported that neither of Baghdad’s two sewage treatment plants was functional, leading to a massive discharge of raw sewage into the Tigris River. The food situation was similar. The UN found that farming had collapsed due to “widespread insecurity and looting, the complete collapse of ministries and state agencies—the sole providers of essential farming inputs and services—together with significant damages to power supplies.”
Likewise, the health system deteriorated dramatically. Less than 50 percent of the Iraqi population had access to medical care, due in part to the dangers associated with travel. Additionally, the report estimated that 75 percent of all health-care institutions were affected by the looting and chaos that occurred in the aftermath of the war. As of June 2003, the health system as a whole was functioning at 30-50 percent of its prewar capacity. The impact was immediate. By early summer, acute malnutrition rates had doubled, dysentery was widespread, and little medical care was available. In August, when a power outage blacked out New York, the joke going around Baghdad was “I hope they’re not waiting for the Americans to fix it.” The CPA gave responsibility for humanitarian relief to the U.S. military—not to agencies with experience in humanitarian crises—and marginalized the UN’s humanitarian relief agencies. Over the 14-month course of the CPA’s administration, the humanitarian crisis worsened. Preventable diseases like dysentery and typhoid ran rampant. Malnutrition worsened, claiming the lives of ever more infants, mothers, and young children. All told, there was an estimated 100,000 “excess deaths” during the invasion and occupation— well above and beyond the mortalContinued on next page
The day that television news died by Chris Hedges I am not sure exactly when the death of television news took place. The descent was gradual—a slide into the tawdry, the trivial and the inane, into the charade on cable news channels such as Fox and MSNBC in which hosts hold up corporate political puppets to laud or ridicule, and treat celebrity foibles as legitimate news. But if I had to pick a date when commercial television decided amassing corporate money and providing entertainment were its central mission, when it consciously chose to become a carnival act, it would probably be Feb. 25, 2003, when MSNBC took Phil Donahue off the air because of his opposition to the calls for war in Iraq. Donahue and Bill Moyers, the last honest men on national television, were the only two major TV news personalities who presented the viewpoints of those of us who challenged the rush to war in Iraq. General Electric and Microsoft— MSNBC’s founders and defense contractors that went on to make tremendous profits from the war—were not about to tolerate a dissenting voice. Donahue was fired, and at PBS Moyers was subjected to tremendous pressure. An internal MSNBC memo leaked to the press stated that Donahue was hurting the
image of the network. He would be a “difficult public face for NBC in a time of war,” the memo read. Donahue never returned to the airwaves. The celebrity trolls who currently reign on commercial television, who bill themselves as liberal or conservative, read from the same corporate script. They spin the same court gossip. They ignore what the corporate state wants ignored. They champion what the corporate state wants championed. They do not challenge or acknowledge the structures of corporate power. Their role is to funnel viewer energy back into our dead political system—to make us believe that Democrats or Republicans are not corporate pawns. The cable shows, whose hyperbolic hosts work to make us afraid self-identified liberals or self-identified conservatives, are part of a rigged political system, one in which it is impossible to vote against the interests of Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, General Electric or ExxonMobil. These corporations, in return for the fearbased propaganda, pay the lavish salaries of celebrity news people, usually in the millions of dollars. They make their shows profitable. And when there is war these news personalities assume their “patriotic” roles as cheerleaders, as Chris Matthews—who makes an estimated $5 million a year—did, along
with the other MSNBC and Fox hosts. It does not matter that these celebrities and their guests, usually retired generals or government officials, got the war terribly wrong. Just as it does not matter that Francis Fukuyama and Thomas Friedman were wrong on the wonders of unfettered corporate capitalism and globalization. What mattered then and what matters now is likability—known in television and advertising as the Q score—not honesty and truth. Television news celebrities are in the business of sales, not journalism. They peddle the ideology of the corporate state. And too many of us are buying. The lie of omission is still a lie. It is what these news celebrities do not mention that exposes their complicity with corporate power. They do not speak about Section 1021 of the National Defense Authorization Act, a provision that allows the government to use the military to hold U.S. citizens and strip them of due process. They do not decry the trashing of our most basic civil liberties, allowing acts such as warrantless wiretapping and executive orders for the assassination of U.S. citizens. They do not devote significant time to climate scientists to explain the crisis that is enveloping our planet. They do not confront the reckless assault of the fossil fuel industry on the ecosystem. They
very rarely produce long-form documentaries or news reports on our urban and rural poor, who have been rendered invisible, or on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or on corporate corruption on Wall Street. That is not why they are paid. They are paid to stymie meaningful debate. They are paid to discredit or ignore the nation’s most astute critics of corporatism, among them Cornel West, Medea Benjamin, Ralph Nader and Noam Chomsky. They are paid to chatter mindlessly, hour after hour, filling our heads with the theater of the absurd. They play clips of their television rivals ridiculing them and ridicule their rivals in return. Television news looks as if it was lifted from Rudyard Kipling’s portrait of the Bandar-log monkeys in “The Jungle Book.” The Bandar-log, considered insane by the other animals in the jungle because of their complete self-absorption, lack of discipline and outsized vanity, chant in unison: “We are great. We are free. We are wonderful. We are the most wonderful people in all the jungle! We all say so, and so it must be true.” When I reached him by phone recently in New York, Donahue said of the pressure the network put on him near the end, “It evolved into an absurdity.” Continued on next page
IRAQ: Dark Legacy from page 12
The Day TV News Died from page 12
13 UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
ity rate under Saddam Hussein, even under international sanctions. The CPA’s priorities were clear. After the invasion, during the widespread looting and robbery, occupation authorities did little to protect water and sewage treatment plants, or even pediatric hospitals. By contrast, they provided immediate protection for the oil ministry offices, hired a U.S. company to put out oil field fires, and immediately provided protection for the oil fields as well.
$6.75 million in cash, and was ordered He continued: “We were told we had to movie that shows the pain, I want to to spend it one week before the interim have two conservatives for every liberal make a movie that shows up close Iraqi government took control of Iraqi on the show. I was considered a liberal. what war really means, but I can’t do funds.” I could have Richard Perle on alone but it without your permission,’ ” Donahue U.S. officials were apparently unconnot Dennis Kucinich. You felt the tre- remembered. “Tomas said, ‘I do too.’ ” cerned about the gross abuses of the mendous fear corporate media had for But once again Donahue ran into funds with which they were entrusted. being on an unpopular side during the the corporate monolith: Commercial In one instance, the CPA transferred ramp-up for a war. And let’s not forget distributors proved reluctant to pick some $8.8 billion of Iraqi money without that General Electric’s biggest customer up the film. Donahue was told that the any documentation as to how the funds at the time was Donald Rumsfeld [then film, although it had received great critiwere spent. When questioned about the secretary of defense]. Elite media cal acclaim, was too depressing and not how the money was spent, Admiral features elite power. No other voices uplifting. Distributors asked him who David Oliver, the principal deputy for are heard.” would go to see a film about someone financial matters in the CPA,replied that Donahue spent four years after leav- in a wheelchair. Donahue managed to Corruption he had “no idea” and didn’t think it was ing MSNBC making the movie docu- get openings in Chicago, Seattle, Palm In addition, the U.S.-led CPA was particularly important. “Billions of dolmentary “Body of War” with fellow Springs, New York, Washington and deeply corrupt. Much of Iraq’s reve- lars oftheir money?” he asked his interdirector/producer Ellen Spiro, about Boston, but the runs were painfully nues, from oil sales or other sources, locutor. “What difference does it make?” the paralyzed Iraq War veteran Tomas brief. Auto Home Life Health Bonds Commercial Auto Home went to contracts with U.S. companies. In the end, none of this should be Young. The film, which Donahue fund“I didn’t have the money to run fullOf contracts for more than $5 million, terribly surprising—the corruption, the ed himself, began when he accompa- page ads,” he said. “Hollywood often 74 percent went to U.S. companies, indifference to human needs, the sinnied Nader to visit Young in the Walter spends more on promotion than it with most of the remainder going to gular concern with controlling Iraq’s oil National Military Medical Center does on the movie. And so we died. Auto Home LifeReed Washington, Health Bonds U.S. allies. Only 2 percent went to Iraqi wealth. It was obvious from the moment in D.C. Commercial What happens now is that peace groups companies. that the Security Council, under enor“Here is this kid lying there whacked are showing it. We opened the Veterans Over the course of the occupation, mous pressure from the United State, on morphine,” Donahue said. “His for Peace convention in Miami. Failure huge amounts of money simply dis- passed Resolution 1483. mother, as we are standing by the bed is not unfamiliar to me. And yet, I am appeared. Kellogg, Brown, and Root By systematically removing nearly looking down, explained his injuries. stunned at how many Americans stand (KBR), a subsidiary of Halliburton, every form of oversight from their self‘He is a T-4. The bullet came through mute.” received over 60 percent of all contracts imposed administration of Iraq, the the collarbone and exited between the Copyright © 2013 Truthdig, L.L.C. paid for with Iraqi funds, although it United States and its allies laid the shoulder blades. He is paralyzed from was repeatedly criticized by auditors foundation for the looting of an entire the nipples down.’ He was emaciated. Chris Hedges writes a regular colfor issues of honesty and competence. nation’s wealth, abetted by their own His cheekbones were sticking out. He umn for Truthdig.com. Hedges graduIn the last six weeks of the occupation, wanton indifference to the needs and was as white as the sheets he was lying ated from Harvard Divinity School and the United States shipped $5 billion rights of Iraqis. Ten years after the start on. He was 24 years old. … I thought, was for nearly two decades a foreign of Iraqi funds, in cash, into the counof the war, the CPA’s disastrous gov‘People should see this. This is awful.’ ” correspondent for2636-C The New York Times. C Tobacco Rd JyNelle Handy, Agent Tobacco R try, to be spent before the Iraqi-led ernance of Iraq stands alongside the Donahue noted that only a very He is the author of many books, includibah, GAtook 30815 GA government over. Auditor reports country’s horrifying descent into viosmall percentage of Americans have ing: War Is AHephzibah, Force That Gives Us 30 INFO@INS-PROS.COM indicated that Iraqi funds were sys- lence as a dark legacy in its own right. a close relative who fought in Iraq or Meaning, What Every Person Should tematically looted by the CPA officials: Afghanistan and an even smaller num- Know About War, and American “One contractor received a $2 million Joy Gordon, Ph.D., is a philosophy ber make the personal sacrifice of a Fascists: The Christian Right and the Tobacco Handy, payment in a duffel bag stuffed with professor at2636-C Fairfield University. She isRd Tomas Young. “NobodyJyNelle sees the pain,” War on Agent America. His most recent shrink-wrapped bundles of currency,” the author of Invisible War: The United he said. “The war is sanitized.” book is Empire of Illusion: The End of Hephzibah, read one report. “One official was given States and the Iraq Sanctions.GA 30815“I said, ‘Tomas, I wantINFO@INS-PROS.COM to make a Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle.
I nsurance Professionals I nsuran ip I nsurance Professionals i p nsurance? Need Insura
Can Help!
We Can Hel
Need Insurance?
60.9990
706.560.99
We Can Help!
60.9997 fax
706.560.9997 fa
706.560.9990 706.560.9997 fax
ip
I nsurance Professionals
Auto Home Life Health Bonds Commercial
COLON HYDROTHERAPY nsurance? nsurance rofessionals {First Colon Cleansing Center In Augusta} Auto Home Life Health Bonds Commercial
I P Can Help!
CONDITIONS RESPONDING TO COLON HYDROTHERAPY Cited by Rheumatologist, Arthur E. Brawer, M.D.
ip
I
I nsurance Professionals
Auto Home Life Health Bonds Commercial
I nsuran i p We Can Help!
Need Insurance?
Enhances Weight Loss • Allergies • Acne • nsurance? 60.9990 nsurance
Auto Home
Need Insura 706.560.9990 P rofessionals I nsurance P rofessionals We Can Hel
Constipation • Irritable Bowel • Gas/Bloating • 60.9997 fax 706.560.9997 Auto Home Life Health Bonds Commercial fax Can Help! Asthma • Chronic Fatigue • Spastic Colon • Potbelly
C Tobacco Rd Shanta Johnson bah, GA 30815
Handy, Agent Sexual Health • Body OdorJyNelle • Headaches • Improves
2636-C Tobacco Rd Hephzibah, GA 30815
JyNelle Ha
ESSENTIAL CLEANSING NeedCENTER Insurance? 60.9990 706.560.99 INFO@INS-PROS.COM
2045 Central Avenue, Augusta
We 706-733-5000
Can Help! coloncleansingaugusta.com • essentialcleansingcenter.com
60.9997 fax
C Tobacco Rd ibah, GA 30815
INFO@INS-
706.560.9997 fa
JyNelle Handy, Agent
2636-C Tobacco R Hephzibah, GA 30
706.560.9990 i I nsurance Professionals I nsurance P rofessionals p 706.560.9997 fax INFO@INS-PROS.COM
Auto Home Life Health Bonds Commercial
nsurance?
Can Help!
I
Need Insurance? 2636-C Tobacco Rd JyNelle Handy, Agent We Can Help! Hephzibah, GA 30815 INFO@INS-PROS.COM II
Harold V. Jones
60.9990 nsurance
Professionals ATTORNEY AT LAW
• Personal Injury • Employment Law AutoCriminal Home Life• Divorce Health Bonds Commercial 60.9997 fax Law
SHEPARD, PLUNKETT, HAMILTON & BOUDREAUX, LLP
C Tobacco Rd bah, GA 42930815 Walker Street
nsurance?
Upper Level CanAugusta, Help! GA 30901
Auto Home Life Health Bonds Commercial
JyNelle Handy, Agent
INFO@INS-PROS.COM Phone 706-722-6200
Fax 706 722-4817 hjones@shepardplunkett.com
ip
706.560.9990 706.560.9997 fax 2636-C Tobacco Rd Hephzibah, GA 30815
I nsuran Auto Home
JyNelle Ha
Need Insura
INFO@INS-PROS.COM
INFO@INS-
We Can Hel
UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
14
Laney WaLker enterprise Center 1378 Laney Walker Blvd.
Invites You To Shop Small Businesses WOMEN – MEN And CHILDREN XSMALL TO PLUS Children clothes $4.00 and up
WINTER
SUB STOP DELICATESSEN Gourmet Sub Sandwiches
CLEARANCE
SALE!
Men’s and Boy’s Hoodies only $15.00 Tops AND SKIRTS $7.00 AND UP Sterling silver Jewelry Scrubs and caps
Sales dates
Thursday and Friday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
O WNED AND O PERATED BY AMBC M ANAGEMENT G ROUP
ORIGINAL DESIGNS
Visit my boutique at Laney Walker Enterprise Center
1378 Laney Walker Blvd. Suite 105 Augusta, GA 30901 Office: 706.364.4438 Cell: 706.799.9749 Vanessa Merriweather
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
Sweets “R” Us Life Is Sweet * Specialty Baskets
* Gift Bags
*Balloons
* Custom T-Shirts
* Candy Handbags
* And Much More
Store Owners: Sheryl & Francine Chappell
Office: 706-364-4602
Location:
1378 Laney Walker Blvd.
Store Hours: Monday – Friday (7am-4pm)
Suite 103
Delivery: By Appointment Only!!!!
Manna from Heaven Served On Six Inches of Freshly Baked Bread Signature Sub Sandwiches GRAND OPENING TO BE ANNOUNCED
LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF LANEY WALKER & BLOUNT AVE
Garden Fresh & Flavorful Salads Desserts and Snacks Featuring “Breakfast On The Go”
15
Dollars $ Sense Bookkeeping LLC
Debra H. McCord
DESIGN - BUILD LLC
“One-Stop Construction” Our Office Provides: Architectural Drafting & Construction
Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor ®
House Plans • Church Plans Renovation Projects • Metal Buildings
706/564-4898
Larry L. McCord Can Provide All Your Design and Construction Needs All Under One Roof 2016 Highland Avenue Augusta, Georgia 30904-5352 Office: (706) 733-2931 Cell (706) 267-7998 Email: llmccord@comcast.net
• Invoicing • Accounts Receivable • Accounts Payable • Payroll
CALL NOW QuickBooks Classes Available Seating Limited 23 Years Experience Email: d.mccord25@comcast.net
Website: www.dollarsandsense-augusta.com 2016 Highland Avenue; Suite C Augusta, GA 30904-5352
Firefighter Opportunities Available with the Augusta Fire Department Requirements: At least 18 years of Age High School Diploma or GED Pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test Meet the NFPA 1582 Medical Requirements (tobacco products prohibited)
Be a Team Player Valid Driver’s License For additional information contact the Human Resources Department at 706-821-2303. Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
The deadline to apply is March 31, 2013 Apply online at www.augustaga.gov.
UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
LARRY L McCORD LLC
16 UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2013
THE LAW OFFICE OF
Frails & Wilson ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Experienced Representation
Real Estate Transactions Personal Injury Bankruptcy Social Security Disability Probate • Domestic Randolph Frails
Edwin Wilson
Criminal Defenses
Aimee Sanders
706-855-6715
211 Pleasant Home Road • Suite A1 • Augusta, GA
Need Credit Help? Providence Place 706-793-2664
2205 Southgate Dr. • Augusta,GA 30906
J Sears Company LLC
$150.00 Off firsT MOnTh’s renT 1 bedroom/1 bath $425 2 bedroom/1 bath $475 2 bedroom/1 bath $475 energy efficient
DireCTiOns Take I-520 to Deans Bridge Road North. Turn right on Richmond Hll Road. Property is on the left. OffiCe hOUrs Mon-Fri 9-5:30; 1st Sat of month 10-3
Don’t Let A Low Credit Score Don’tThe LetDoor A Low Credit Score Close To Your Future!!!
2 bedroom/ 1 1/2 bath Townhome $550 *Certain restrictions may apply Call office for details
•Fully equipped kitchens NACCURATE •Mini-blinds •Pool •Laundry facilities •Total electric central heat and air •Washer and dryer connections in some •On-site courtesy officer •Near Ft. Gordon •Gas heat/hot water heaters •Playground •Picnic area/grills •Prices are subject to change
Close The Door To Your Future!!!
· · · · · ·
INACCURATE BANKRUPTCIES INCOMPLETE INFO TAX LIENS STUDENT LOANS INCORRECT INFO CHARGE OFFS
· · · · · ·
www.jsearscompany.com
OUT OF DATE INFO JUDGMENTS MEDICAL BILLS COLLECTIONS INQUIRIES & MORE……….