urban pro weekly

Roundtree, Kenner-McIntyre get salary boostMore commissioners named in ethics probe

NEWS • COMMENTARY ARTS ENTERTAINMENT

Newspaper

The CSRA’s

FREEWEEKLYUrban WPro

FEBRUARY 21 - 27, 2013

VOL.2 NO.18

BuildingCommunity

The CSRA’s FREE WEEKLYNewspaperVOL.2 NO.23eekly

Augusta Tutoring Center1-800-417-0968We at Augusta Tutoring Center pride ourselves in helping each child reach his or her true potentialWe offer: • Hands on Tutoring in All Subjects - Grades K-12• Homework Help • Test Prep

3090 Deans Bridge Road, Suite A, Augusta, GA 30906 • www.augustatutoring.com

1-800-417-0968

Augusta Tutoring Center

We at Augusta Tutoring Center pride ourselves in helping each child reach his or her true potential.

We offer:

Hands on Tutoring in All Subjects Grades K-12

Homework Help Test Prep

Photo by V

incent Hobbs

BUSINESS PROFILE Marian T. Ebron - M.D.

2

U

rban

ProW

eekl

y • F

EBRU

ARY

21 -

27, 2

013

706-814-5998

Criminal Defense Personal Injury Family LawWills

Inga N. Hicks, PC

4137 Columbia Rd., Suite C, Martinez, GA 30907

Attorney At Law

Uncompromised Representation and Unmatched ResultsJuly 4th – July 8th

Brand NEW 4 Night Packages!

Join us in “THE BIG EASY” New Orleans, La.

For a trip of a lifetime! Roundtrip transportation will be provided from Augusta, Georgia to New Orleans, LA. Enjoy four nights at the Holiday Inn French Quarters kicking the afternoon off with a Day Party at the world famous “Razoos” on Bourbon Street. Enjoy the evening with 4th of July Fireworks on the Mississippi River accompanied with your complementary souvenir companion “Travel Diva” Signature Bag!BOOK NOW! ONLY $175 DEPOSIT DUE MARCH 1ST, 2013

**Concert tickets are not included in offered travel packages

Travel Organizer: Cutno Dance Center

For More Information Contact:

Ferneasa Cutno-706-294-5007 or Cutno Dance Center-706-364-3442

July 4

UrbanProWeekly: Where were you born and where were you raised?

DR. EBRON: I was born in Durham,

North Carolina and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina.

UPW: We’re always pleasantly surprised when successful profes-sional people have graduated from the local school system. Is that your case?

DR. EBRON: No, I did however do my Internal Medicine Residency at the Medical College of Georgia.

UPW: We see that as a youth, you did volunteer work in hospitals. What led you to do that and was that experience the reason you decided to go into medicine?

DR. EBRON: I was a Candy Striper at Duke Hospital at the age of 11. My parents worked at the hospital and I was always interested in help-ing people. As a Candy Striper you get the opportunity to see some of what the doctors do, I thought it was interesting. I decided at that point that I wanted to be a doctor. I didn’t know what kind, but I knew I wanted to be one.

Urban WeeklyPro

Job #1133GRM13 • Job Title: GRM_Spine_NwsprPublication: Urban Weekly • Colors (include spots if used): CMYKTrim: Half Page Horizontal 10 x 7Date due to Pub: 2/19 • Run Date: 2/21

When it comes to spines, the world comes to us. People from all over the world come to Augusta forthe most advanced spine care. For specialized neuroimaging. For minimally invasive procedures andhighly sophisticated surgeries. For internationally recognized neurosurgeons and orthopedic spinesurgeons. For more about what makes Georgia Regents Spine Center a worldwide destination for thecare and treatment of the human spine, go to gru.edu/spine. And, like the rest of the world, come to us. gru.edu/spine

What does the rest of the worldknow that you don’t?

EGYPTALGERIA

INDIACANADA

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES MEXICO

NEW YORK PAKISTAN

MIAMI KUWAIT

SAUDI ARABIA DENVER

SÃO PAULOMINNEAPOLIS

3UrbanProW

eekly • FEBRUARY 21 - 27, 2013

UrbanProWeekly: Where were you born and where were you raised?

DR. EBRON: I was born in Durham,

North Carolina and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina.

UPW: We’re always pleasantly surprised when successful profes-sional people have graduated from the local school system. Is that your case?

DR. EBRON: No, I did however do my Internal Medicine Residency at the Medical College of Georgia.

UPW: We see that as a youth, you did volunteer work in hospitals. What led you to do that and was that experience the reason you decided to go into medicine?

DR. EBRON: I was a Candy Striper at Duke Hospital at the age of 11. My parents worked at the hospital and I was always interested in help-ing people. As a Candy Striper you get the opportunity to see some of what the doctors do, I thought it was interesting. I decided at that point that I wanted to be a doctor. I didn’t know what kind, but I knew I wanted to be one.

UPW: Where did you receive your medical training?

DR. EBRON: I graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

UPW: What influenced your deci-sion to go into Internal Medicine?

DR. EBRON: I had two interests, I really wanted to do something in Women’s Health and the other in Surgery. My initial residency was in OB/GYN. However, I was not inter-ested because the hours were insane and I did not have an opportunity to form a relationship with my patients. Our program did a rotation with Internal Medicine. I felt so much more in line with my dream as a physician, so I switched to Internal Medicine.

UPW: The American Health Care System has been criticized for its continued rising costs. Is that a fair criticism?

DR. EBRON: Not necessarily; improved technology will increase costs because we can evaluate more and treat more, which is more expen-sive, however, we may have to order

more unnecessary tests because we have the technology, and patients are more demanding at times because of the internet. Sometimes the tests may lead to an earlier diagnosis which will also increase costs to the sys-tem but at the same time this cause prevents litigation and the chance of miss-diagnoses. This is rare however, but no one wants the possibility of a lawsuit.

UPW: Do you feel that there is anything the average person can do to minimize the expense of staying healthy?

DR. EBRON: Certainly – engaging in a healthy lifestyle is imperative and doing preventive screening can go a long way in maintaining good health and it helps to catch diseases in an early stage.

UPW: The Affordable Health Care Act championed by President Obama is still in its early phases. Do you see this as the solution to rising health care costs?

DR. EBRON: No – the reality is that some type of reform is needed. The number of uninsured people in this country is increasing rapidly for various reasons and a solution to

this problem is needed. But I do not expect a change in the cost of care.

UPW: Being a physician in pri-vate practice places one at the intersection of business, technol-ogy, the healing arts and science. Do you find it challenging to bal-ance all of those factors?

DR. EBRON: Of course, practic-ing medicine today is different than when I started 20 years ago. You have to understand improved technology and implement them in your practice to avoid the possibilities of being penalized by insurance companies.

UPW: Are you active in any reli-gious, civic or professional organi-zations?

DR. EBRON: I am member of Good Shepard Baptist Church with Reverend Clarence Moore and I am a member of the American College of Physicians.

Engaging in a healthy lifestyle is imperative and doing preventive screening can go a long way in maintaining good health and it helps to catch diseases in an early stage. – Marian T. Ebron, M.D.

2047 Central Avenue Augusta, GA 30904706-738-7557

BUSINESS PROFILE Marian T. Ebron - M.D.Urban WeeklyPro

Photo by V

incent Hobbs

See advertisement on page 6

4

U

rban

ProW

eekl

y • F

EBRU

ARY

21 -

27, 2

013

Harold V. Jones IIATTORNEY AT LAW

SHEPARD, PLUNKETT, HAMILTON & BOUDREAUX, LLP

429 Walker StreetUpper Level

Augusta, GA 30901

Phone 706-722-6200Fax 706 722-4817

[email protected]

Criminal Law • Divorce • Personal Injury • Employment Law

COLON HYDROTHERAPY{First Colon Cleansing Center In Augusta}CONDITIONS RESPONDING TO COLON HYDROTHERAPY

Cited by Rheumatologist, Arthur E. Brawer, M.D.

Enhances Weight Loss • Allergies • Acne • Constipation • Irritable Bowel • Gas/Bloating • Asthma • Chronic Fatigue • Spastic Colon • Potbelly • Body Odor • Headaches • Improves Sexual Health

706-733-5000coloncleansingaugusta.com • essentialcleansingcenter.com

ESSENTIAL CLEANSING CENTER 2045 Central Avenue, Augusta

Shanta Johnson

PublisherBen Hasan

706-394-9411

Managing EditorFrederick Benjamin Sr.

706-836-2018

UrbanProWeekly LLC

Mailing Address:3529 Monte Carlo DriveAugusta, Georgia 30906

Urban WeeklyPro Sales & MarketingPhone: 706-394-9411

New Media ConsultantDirector of Photography

Vincent Hobbs

email:Ben Hasan

[email protected]

Frederick Benjamin [email protected]

Vincent [email protected]

Roundtree salary set at level requested by outgoing sheriff

LOCAL NEWS

By Frederick Benjamin Sr.UrbanProWeekly Staff Writer

AUGUSTASheriff Richard Roundtree’s request

for a salary review was approved by the Augusta-Richmond Commissioners at Tuesday’s regular commission meeting (Feb. 19, 2013).

Following the review (in legal ses-sion), the city, by a 6-4 vote, decided to adjust the incoming sheriff’s salary from $110,000 to $126,500.00. That amount is about the same that former Sheriff Ronnie Strength recommended for the incoming sheriff before he left office in December, 2012.

Sheriff Strength’s recommendation was in keeping with the precedent set by former Sheriff Charlie Webster who made $92,700.14 when he retired. Strength came into office making the same amount as Webster.

However, when Sheriff Roundtree was sworn in, the recommendation of the former sheriff was ignored and his salary was set at $110,000, much lower than the amount that Strength recom-mended.

Solicitor General Kellie Kenner-McIntyre also requested a review of her starting salary. State law provides a formula for setting the salaries of certain officials and provides for supplements to be added to base salaries. Both Kenner-McIntyre and Roundtree qualified for these supplements. Some commission-ers did not want to give it to them.

When the salary review for Roundtree and Solicitor-General Kellie Kenner-Mcintyre came before the commission

a week ago, it failed by a vote of 5-4. Commissioners supporting the sal-ary upgrade included commissioners Alvin Mason, Bill Lockett, Bill Fennoy, Marion Williams, and mayor protem Corey Johnson. Those opposed, includ-ed commissioners Mary Davis, Donnie Smith, Joe Jackson and Wayne Guilfoyle. Commissioner Grady Smith was absent from that meeting.

When the matter was revisited at this week’s meeting, Commissioner Grady Smith voted in favor of the supple-ments to the salaries of Roundtree and Kenner-McIntyre. The vote was 6-4, the addition of Smith was the decid-ing factor. Kenner-McIntyre’s salary was boosted from $97,000 (the minimum) to $106,700.

Commissioner Grady Smith was very complimentary toward the new sheriff.

“We don’t know each other, but one day we’ll meet. I’m on the same side that he is. I’m pro law enforcement and I’m pro Richmond County. We need to get in behind Sheriff Roundtree and let’s move forward because I think he got some good ideas,” Smith said.

Commissioner Alvin Mason thought the salary increase was the right thing to do.

“The key factor for me is that this is what our outgoing sheriff was making. So why should we change this now. Clearly, no one asked for a raise -- this is appropriate compensation. This is the largest full service sheriff’s depart-ment in the state,” Mason said. “In the Solicitor’s case, their case load has almost doubled and she also has the credentials.”

Ronnie Strength’s Recommendation 126,075.56 Date: 12/21/12

City Law Department Override 110,000.00 Date: 1/2/13

Sheriff Webster Outgoing Salary 92,700.14Date: 12/21/12

Sheriff Strength Incoming Salary 92,700.14 Date: 1/2/13

City’s Salary Policy for the past 2 SheriffsNew Sheriff makes same salary as outgoing

Sheriff Strength recommended that RoundtreeSalary be equal to his, but city makes switch

Commission revises salary after review 126,500.00Date: 2/19/13

The Bottom Line

5UrbanProW


WE TAKE:•Georgia medicaid•Insurance plans•Charge cards•WIC vouchers

MEDICAL VILLA PHARMACY

Marshall Curtis,Pharmacist/Owner

Baron Curtis, Pharmacist

FREE DELIVERY SERVICE

706-722-7355

You don’t have to live with BACK PAINor any other kind of discomfort, including headaches, neck stiffness, shoulder pain, muscle tension, sleep difficulty or hand numbness/weakness.

2 Locations: 1125 Druid Park Ave. • 2583 Tobacco Road Augusta, GA 30904 Hephzibah, GA 30815

706-736-5551

1132 Druid Park Ave, Augusta, GA Drug Testing Now Available! • Most Insurance accepted

In honor of Black History MonthEvery new customer in February

will receive a FREE DETOX FOOTBATH

Judges, clerk also sought salary review

More commissioners named in “conflict of interest” ethics probe

By Frederick Benjamin Sr.UrbanProWeekly Staff Writer

AUGUSTAAugusta-Richmond County Civil and

Magistrate Court judges and the Clerk of Superior Court have joined the parade requesting salary reviews. And while their requests occurred within roughly the same time period as the more high profile requests made by Augusta Sheriff and Solicitor General, Richard Roundtree and Kellie Kenner-McIntyre, their requests did not draw the media attention nor the public rancor and outrage that accompanied the requests of the sheriff and solici-tor general.

Presiding Judge H. Scott Allen and Chief Judge William D. Jennings requested that the local legislative delegation consider raising their sala-ries. Also, Clerk of Superior, State & Juvenile Courts Elaine Johnson has asked for a pay increase.

Jennings currently makes $118,206 and Allen makes $116,706. Johnson

currently makes $115,665.The judges and clerk argue that

their salaries (which are set by state law) had not been upgraded since 1998 in the case of the judges and not since 2006 in the case of Johnson.

Johnson serves as clerk for three courts, Superior, State and Juvenile Court. She also assists with Jury Management. Johnson argues that she is underpaid. Her counterparts in Bibb County and Chatham County make $134,000 and $127,000 respec-tively.

Comparable judicial salaries in Bibb County and Chatham County are about $132,000 and $163,000 respectively.

In Augusta-Richmond, state court judges make $140,000 and even General Counsel Andrew Mackenzie makes $136,860.00.

Judges Allen and Jennings are requesting that their salaries be increased to $135,000 each, phased in over a 24-month period starting in January 2014.

AUGUSTALocal media reports have added

another commissioner’s name onto the list of those who may have tried to profit from doing business with the city while they were in office.

WJBF News Channel 6 report-er George Eskola named Commissioner Joe Jackson as another commissioner who may have violated city policy. Jackson took over ownership of Kirby Locksmith Inc. over 10 years ago. Jackson joined the Augusta com-

mission in 2006.According to Eskola, Jackson did

$1500 worth of business with the city between 2008 and 2010.

Commissioners already named as possible violators of the city’s ordinance forbidding city offi-cials and employees from profit-ing directly or indirectly from the city procurement process include Grady Smith and Wayne Guilfoyle. According to the WJBF report, Smith did $19,000 worth of city business starting in 2011 through Nov. 2012.

Guilfoyle admitted that his com-pany was a subcontractor on a proj-ect at the Augusta Regional Airport.

The conflict of interest issue involving sitting city commission-ers came to a head at a recent administrative services com-mittee meeting (Feb. 11, 2013) when an agenda item offered by Commissioner Grady Smith asked commissioners to consider a new ordinance that would make it legal for city employees and city officials to serve as subcontractors on city projects.

City Procurement Director Geri Sams is reviewing procurement purchase orders to make sure that there are no other commission-ers operating outside of city law. Her report is expected at the next round of committee meetings on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013.

At that time, the city must decide how it will deal with commissioners who have violated city ordinances forbidding city officials from doing business with the city. A discussion of changing the ordinance is also expected to take place at that time.

3-Night Revival at Gethsemane Baptist Church, 1485 Wrightsboro Road in Augusta, Ga., from Wednesday, February 27 to Friday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. nightly. Missionary Night will be held Wednesday and all missionaries are invited to attend. Guest minister and church will be Reverend Stevie Berry, pastor, New Exodus Missionary Baptist Church of Hephzibah, Ga. The public is invited. The pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church is the Rev. Dr. Ronald Strong. Practising the Habits of God; Matthew 6:33 KJV

Mason: Mayor’s $65,000 salary ridiculous;vows to take lead in salary upgrade bid

Commissioner Alvin Mason will ask state legislators to do salary review. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Commissioner Alvin Mason said that he will be the “point man” in getting the legislative delegation to make a comprehensive review of the salaries of any local officials who feel that they have justification for a pay increase.

Mason thinks that handling the requests on a case-by-case basis at the commission level is not the way to go.

“I think it should be done as a pack-age deal,” Mason said. “The legislators can take care of that all by themselves, but they need to hear from us.”

Mason was especially critical of the mayor’s salary. “Even the mayor’s seat – $65,000 for the second largest city in the state. That’s ridiculous,” he said. “You have smaller cities whose may-ors make twice as much as he does. There’s no way that he should make half the salary of the highest paid employee.”

6

U

rban

ProW

eekl

y • F

EBRU

ARY

21 -

27, 2

013

The Place . . . is the place to be!Your choice for comprehensive long or short term nursing care and rehabilitation services. Open for admissions 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week.

The Place At Deans Bridge3235 Deans Bridge Rd.

Augusta, GA 30906706-798-1430

The Place At Martinez409 Pleasant Home Rd.

Augusta, GA 30907706-863-6030

MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to provide excellent quality of care and services to our residents, families and community.

Nursingand Rehabilitation

To AdvertiseCall 706-394-9411

S & T Development & Learning Center LLC

Where Caring, Learning, & Sharing Come Together in A Loving Environment

Tasha Marrow, Owner

2115 Windsor Spring Rd.Ste. 150 (Next to SITEL)

(706)790-3911 or (706)790-3959Fax (706)790/0008

Marian T. Ebron, M.D. Internal Medicine and Esthetic Medicine

Board Certified internal MediCineCertified in Botox & derMal fillers

Office Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. – 9 AM - 5 PM2047 Central Avenue • Augusta, GA 30904 New Patients Are Welcome

Specializing in:HypercholesterolemiaHypertensionDiabetesConnective Tissue DisorderThyroid DiseasesGastroesophageal Reflux Disorder

You are beautiful ~ Show the worldCall For Free Esthetic Consultation

Participating Provider For most Insurance Companies

alSo Specializing in:Esthetic Medical ProceduresBeauty and Wellness EnhancementAnti-Aging and Youth RegenerationSkin/Dermal/RejuvenationNon-Surgical Face LiftBotox & Dermal Fillers

706-738-7557

Benefit for family of John Thompson, the 2-year old who died in fire

Commissioner Bill Fennoy is pro-moting a community Fish Fry to benefit the family of 2-year-old John Thompson who died on Saturday, Feb. 16, after succumbing to inju-ries suffered during a house fire in Harrisburg on Feb. 10, 2013.

The Fish Fry will be held on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013 at the East Augusta Community Center.

Proceeds from the event will be handed over to the family of Thompson to defray funeral costs. The child’s life was uninsured.

GRU symposium to explore women’s health, human rights The Women’s Studies Program,

Women’s Studies Student Association and Iota Iota Iota Honor Society of Georgia Regents University will pres-ent the third biennial Women’s Studies Symposium from Feb. 28 to March 2.

The symposium’s theme, “Our Bodies, Ourselves, Our Voices: Health and Human Rights in the Twenty-First Century,” references a book on

comprehensive women’s health, “Our Bodies, Ourselves,” first published in 1970, which was ground-breaking at the time, said Dr. Marie Drews, Director of the GRU Women’s Studies Program.

For additional information and to register for the symposium, visit h t t p : / / w w w. a u g . e d u / w o m e n s _studies/2013symposium.php

7UrbanProW


Laney WaLker enterprise Center

1378 Laney Walker Blvd.

Invites You To Shop Small BusinessesSUB STOP DELICATESSENGourmet Sub Sandwiches

GRAND OPENING TO BE ANNOUNCED

Manna from Heaven Served On Six

Inches of Freshly Baked Bread

Signature Sub Sandwiches

Garden Fresh & Flavorful Salads

Desserts and Snacks

Featuring “Breakfast On The Go”

OWNED AND OPERATED BY

AMBC MANAGEMENT GROUP

LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTIONOF LANEY WALKER & BLOUNT AVE

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!!!!

WINTER CLEARANCE

SALE!

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

Sales dates

Thursday and Friday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

WOMEN – MEN And CHILDREN

XSMALL TO PLUS Children clothes $4.00 and up Men’s and Boy’s Hoodies only $15.00 Tops AND SKIRTS $7.00 AND UP

- Sterling silver

Jewelry -

Scrubs and caps

ORIGINAL DESIGNS

GIFT CERTIFICATES

AVAILABLE

8

U

rban

ProW

eekl

y • F

EBRU

ARY

21 -

27, 2

013

Aimee Pickett SandersATTORNEY AT LAW

General Practice with an emphasis onDomestic Litigation • Personal Injury

& Business Law

FRAILS & WILSON

211 Pleasant Home Road • Suite A1 • Augusta, GA

706-855-6715

NezerHouse of Beauty

Specializing In:Relaxers, Perms, Precise Cuts, Highlights, Colors,

Short Hair Cuts, and the Latest Trends

Tumeka PorterMaster Cosmetologist

2439 Peach Orchard Road. Suite A, Augusta, GA 30906(706)814-6934 (Salon) or (706)284-8247 (Mobile)

Email: [email protected]

Where Your Hair Is My Care!

Stylist Wanted

“Making Your Feet Feel Like Your First Steps”

Fyne Foot Care Center

Ingrown Toenails • CornsCalluses • Spurs • Injuries

Hammertoes • Diabetic Foot Care • Foot Ulcer/Wound Care

Other Foot/Ankle Conditions

“Do you think you might have P.A.D. (Peripheral Arterial

Disease)? Not sure? Why not GET TESTED?!”

We now feature Vascular testing;

so wonder NO MORE.

1710 Central AvenueAugusta, GA 30904

[email protected]

1 blk from Family Dollar2 blks from Druid Park Ave.

Dr. Latanya P. FynePodiatrist

706-373-4402

Fax: (706) 364-8628

NEW LOCATIONMost major insurance accepted

Including Medicare& GA Medicaid

All Major Credit Cards Accepted

AUGUSTA Augusta will honor Frank Yerby

with a two day celebration of literary talent. There will be a small ceremony at the Yerby House on the campus of Paine College on Fri. March 1st, at 3:00 PM. The 5 finalists will be tour-ing the house and taking pictures with Frank Yerby’s nephew Gerald Yerby.

Later on that evening at 7:00 PM at the main library on 823 Telfair St., there will be an author’s reception for all participating authors in the Augusta Literary Festival. (Media is invited as well.) The program will fea-ture jazz by Karen Gordon, remarks by Gerald Yerby, and Yerby Scholar Dr.

Eugene Stovall from California will also be on hand to share his expertise on Frank Yerby. The highlight of the night will be the announcement of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of the Yerby Award for Fiction.

If you can’t make it to the festivi-ties for Friday night, then make sure to attend the 2nd annual ALF at the main library from 9:30-3:30 PM. This year will feature 100 authors from several states, genres and walks of life. Authors will be selling , sign-ing and talking about their books throughout the day.

For more information, contact Sherryl James (706) 821- 2604 or Corey Washington (706) 664-8622

Second Annual Augusta Literary Festival high-lights finalists for Inaugural Yerby Literary Award

9UrbanProW


Region 3AA ChampionshipsBOYS - Westside 63 vs. Laney 59GIRLS - Laney 65 vs. Dublin 59Saturday, February 16, 2013

Laney’s Aliyah Collier (center) goes for the rebound during the Region 3AA championship game against Dublin Hgh School. The Lady Wildcats triumphed over the Lady Irish and won the Region 3AA Championship on Saturday night at the Laney gym. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Westside High school basketball coach Marvin Fields has a time-out with his team. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

BELOWLaney High School basketball fans show their support during the region 3AA championship game against Dublin Hgh School. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Laney High School cheerlead-ers rally the crowd during the region 3AA cham-pionship game against Dublin Hgh School. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Laney baskeballl guard Tommy Smith attempts to score during the Region 3AA Championship game on Saturday night at the Laney gym against the Westside Patriots. The Patriots defeated the Wildcats 63-59 to clench the 3AA championship. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

A Westside High School cheerleader watches the game during a cham-pionship match against Laney at the Laney gym. Photo by Vincent

10

U

rban

ProW

eekl

y • F

EBRU

ARY

21 -

27, 2

013

Pick up the latest edition of UrbanProWeekly

at a

Ben Crawford144 DAVIS ROADAugusta Georgia 30907706-305-1698 office [email protected]

If you’re looking for insurance, we will find the best Georgia and South Carolina insurance solutions for your needs.

PRODUCTS

Auto

Home

Business

Bonds

www.gacoverage.com

TBATrowell Builders & Associates

Designers • Builders • Planners

SanctuaryMulti-Purpose Buildings

Renovations

P.O. Box 211886 Augusta, Ga 309171.800.546.2685 • Fax 706.738.6328email: [email protected]

Tender Care Training School

Certified Nurse Asst. TrainingPhlebotomy Training

Pharmacy Tech. Training

1140 Druid Park Ave.Augusta, GA 30904

OFFICE HOURS

TUES-FRI. 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM

State Approved

Phone: (706)736-9225Fax: (706)736-0995

Say I Do With Bev Bridal Boutique, LLC

“When saying I Do is done with

Elegance and Simplicity”Beverly Maner

Manager

Tue: 10am - 5pmWed-Fri: 10am - 6pmSat.: 10am - 4pmClosed: Sun./Mon.

1724 Wrightsboro Rd.Augusta, GA 30904706-736-2202

Bridal Attire • Jewelry Sale • Special Events

• Wedding Consultation

Wed-Fri: 10am - 6pm

1724 Wrightsboro Rd.

Just Kids24-Hour Service

Child Development& Learning Center

2383 Tobacco RoadAugusta, GA 30906

DirectorChyvattee Vassar

790-1740

location near your home or

workplace.

Call 706-394-9411

to Advertise

1139 Druid Park Avenue Augusta, Georgia 30904-5849(706) 736-4601

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

438 Hampton AvenueAiken, South Carolina (803) 502-0149

11UrbanProW


vPersonal and Business Income Tax PreparationvAccounting/BookkeepingvIRS & State Problem ResolutionvIRS & State Audit RepresentationvLevy/Lien/Garnishment ReleasevOffers-In-CompromisevAnd More

The Wise Choice

2664 Tobacco Rd., Ste A,Hephzibah, GA 30815www.taxwize.net

AUGUSTAStudents in the Theatre Program at

Georgia Regents University have been invited to perform Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” at the 64thAnnual Southeastern Theatre Conference, the largest theatre convention in the United States, March 8 in Louisville, Ky. Conference officials invited 16 GRU students and four actors from Le Chat Noir, an Augusta theater company, to perform after watching a DVD of the university’s Spring 2012 adaptation of the play.

The production is directed by Doug Joiner, GRU Lecturer and Artistic Director at Le Chat Noir. A collabora-tion between the GRU Theatre Program and Le Chat Noir, the play is set in an action-filled, Mad Max post-apocalyp-tic world. Twenty percent of the play’s lines have been modernized so that “real people” can understand and enjoy Shakespeare. Last spring’s performance earned a standing ovation from hun-dreds of Richmond County high school students.

“I think this is the greatest opportu-nity to showcase Augusta student theater that the university has ever had,” said Dr. Walter Evans, GRU English Professor. “We’ll be appearing before the most knowledgeable and demanding audi-ence that has ever witnessed a theater performance at our university. President Azziz wants to establish the brand. This is going to be one big step in that direc-tion. People from all over will see an excellent production and come away really impressed with the kind of quality that we can produce.”

Charles W. “Skip” Clark, Dean of the GRU Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities

and Social Sciences, has funded the stu-dent conference registration fees, and GRU Vice President of Academic and Faculty Affairs Carol Rychly has sup-plied funds for the set and props. Le Chat Noir is donating material and ser-vices, and additional support is expect-

ed from the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship committee and the Pamplin Student Research and Travel Committee, but $2,000 is still needed to cover travel costs, Evans said.

To raise money for the trip, theatre students will perform “Julius Caesar”

at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 2 at Le Chat Noir, 304 8th St. Tickets are $15. The Theatre Program will hold free perfor-mances Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. in GRU’s Maxwell Theatre for the campus community and over 400 local high school students.

GRU theatre students to perform in Louisville, Ky.

12

U

rban

ProW

eekl

y • F

EBRU

ARY

21 -

27, 2

013 Urban WeeklyPro Commentary

These words are directed at the off-spring of the Civil Right’s Movement. The message I bring to you is this: “It is on us”.

Your parents, like mine, probably grew up during a period in which there was no such thing as equal opportunity for blacks in the south. If not for the courage and bravery of a few strong-willed leaders and visionaries, perhaps we would still be enduring such injustice today. Our parents accepted the responsibility to become catalysts in bringing forth equality. They realized that it was on them to be the change they wished to see.

Our parents then gave birth to us, a new generation of black boys and black girls that were born with the freedom and equal opportunity

By Adam Liptak

EVERGREEN, ALA. Jerome Gray, a 74-year-old black

man, has voted in every election since 1974 in this verdant little out-post of some 4,000 people halfway between Mobile and Montgomery. Casting a ballot, he said, is a way to honor the legacy of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a civil rights landmark born from a bloody confrontation 70 miles north of here, in Selma.

The franchise remains fragile in Evergreen, Mr. Gray said. Last sum-mer, he was kicked off the voting rolls by a clerk who had improp-erly culled the list based on utility records.

A three-judge federal court in Mobile barred the city from using the new voting list, invoking Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires many state and local gov-ernments, mostly in the South, to obtain permission from the Justice Department or from a federal court in Washington before making chang-es that affect voting.

That provision is also at the heart of one of the marquee cases of the Supreme Court’s term, Shelby County v. Holder, No. 12-96, which will be argued on Feb. 27. It was brought by Shelby County, near Birmingham, and it contends that the provision has outlived its pur-pose of protecting minority voters in an era when a black man has been re-elected to the presidency.

The Voting Rights Act was a tri-umph of the civil rights movement. It was a response, the Supreme Court said in upholding it in 1966, to “an insidious and pervasive evil which had been perpetuated in certain parts of our country through unre-mitting and ingenious defiance of the Constitution.”

Congress was entitled, the court went on, “to limit its attention to the geographic areas where imme-diate action seemed necessary.” Lawmakers chose the areas to be covered based on a formula that considered whether they had used devices to discourage voting, like literacy tests, and data from the 1964 election.

The court in Mobile this month said the case before it, concerning Evergreen, was simple: because the city had not obtained preclearance from federal authorities, it could not revise its voting list using utility records. Nor could it use a municipal redistricting plan enacted by the City Council that had concentrated black voters, who are in the majority, into just two of the five districts, limiting black voting power.

It is not clear when the municipal

election, originally scheduled for last August, will be held.

A lawyer for Evergreen, James H. Anderson, said the ruling was jus-tified. “The way the voter list was recomposed was improper,” he said. He added that the redistricting plan “could possibly be adopted by the Justice Department, but we need to tweak it a little bit.” In a court filing on Feb. 11, the city announced that

it would create a third majority-black district “to have a total black popula-tion in the vicinity of 65 percent.”

Critics of the Section 5 preclear-ance requirement call it an unwar-ranted and discriminatory federal intrusion on state sovereignty and a badge of shame for the affected juris-dictions that is no longer justified.

But Mr. Anderson said he wel-comed the process, to a point. “I think it plays a very valuable role, and I think we need it,” he said. “Personally, I think we need it nationwide.”

The problem, he said, is that the provision applies in only some parts of the country. “I think it’s dis-criminatory because it picks on us Southerners,” he said.

Congress has repeatedly renewed the law, and for a while it used fresher data with each renewal. But when Congress renewed the law for 25 years in 2006, it made no changes to the list of jurisdictions covered by Section 5 and used data from the 1972 election as a baseline.

The law applies to nine states — Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia — and to scores of counties and municipali-ties in other states.

Should the Supreme Court rule that Congress was not entitled to rely on old data to decide which jurisdictions should be covered, law-

makers could in theory re-enact the law using more current information. In practice, a decision striking down the coverage formula would prob-ably amount to the end of the pre-clearance requirement.

In the rest of the country, objec-tions to changes in how elections are run take the usual course, with after-the-fact lawsuits under anoth-er part of the law. “In many plac-

es,” said Debo P. Adegbile, a lawyer with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, “the case-by-case method of vindicating voting rights for minority citizens was not up to task.”

Section 5, he said, “shines daylight on the dark rooms where these polit-ical redistricting decisions are hap-pening” and “it makes sure you’re dealing the cards off the top of the deck.”

Mr. Gray is a slender, intense man with wiry gray hair and a slight goa-tee. He served for almost 30 years as state field director of the Alabama Democratic Conference, and he has seen his share of history.

He lives across the street from the high school he graduated from in 1955, when it was reserved for blacks. The movie theater was segre-gated, too. “You had to go down an alley and up the stairs” to a balcony reserved for blacks, he said. “We called it the buzzards’ nest.”

“We had no black elected offi-cials anywhere,” he said. To vote, he said, “blacks had to get a written statement from a white businessman to say they were ‘a good Negro.’ ” Whether the statement was thought adequate was up to the whim of a white sheriff.

Things are better now, of course, but Mr. Gray says intimidation can take many forms. “As recently as

the 2008 municipal runoff election between a white candidate and a black candidate for mayor,” Mr. Gray said in a recent court filing, “I wit-nessed white men standing in the beds of pickup trucks systematically photographing black voters as they approached the polls at each voting location in Evergreen.”

The challenge in the Supreme Court was brought by Shelby County. It is 90 percent white and as prosper-ous as Evergreen is poor.

In its brief in the case, the county acknowledged that “the Voting Rights Act of 1965 changed the course of history in the covered jurisdictions” but said the disputed parts of the law “have accomplished their missions.”

In a supporting brief, Alabama said it had “more than earned its spot on Section 5’s original coverage list in 1965” through “violence and willful defiance of federal law.”

“But that was a long time ago,” Alabama’s brief said. Black voter reg-istration and turnout are high, it said, and the racial mix in the Legislature reflects the state’s population.

In 2009, when the Supreme Court last considered the issue in Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Holder, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. made sim-ilar points. But that 8-to-1 decision did not end up ruling on the larger questions in the case.

Instead, the court ruled on a nar-row statutory ground, saying the utility district in Austin, Tex., that had challenged the constitutionality of the law might be eligible to “bail out” from being covered by it. Still, Chief Justice Roberts seemed skep-tical about the continued need for Section 5.

“Things have changed in the South,” he said.

“The statute’s coverage formula is based on data that is now more than 35 years old,” he added, “and there is considerable evidence that it fails to account for current political conditions.”

In the last presidential elec-tion, courts relied on Section 5 to block voter identificationrequire-ments and cutbacks on early vot-ing in covered jurisdictions.

Mr. Gray, for his part, said recent events in Evergreen proved that there was still a vital role for the Voting Rights Act’s central innova-tion.

“Section 5 allowed us to stop an election that would have been a disaster,” he said. “We need Section 5 because there are still bad actors, and Evergreen is one. They had removed almost 800 people from the voting rolls, including Jerome Gray.”

Has the South outgrown the need for the Voting Rights Act?

Voting Rights Act of 1965“No voting qualification or prerequisite to vot-

ing, or standard, practice, or procedure shall be imposed or applied by any State or political sub-division to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color.” ~ Section 2, Voting Rights Act of 1965

“We had no black elected officials anywhere,” he said. To vote, “blacks had to get a written state-ment from a white businessman to say they were ‘a good Negro.’ ” Whether the statement was thought adequate was up to the whim of a white sheriff.

13UrbanProW


RICHMOND COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION RENOVATIONS AND NEW GYMNASIUM Bond Issue Program FOR WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION INVITATION TO BID

Sealed proposals from contractors will be received for Renovations and a New Gymnasium for Westside High School by the County Board of Education of Richmond County at the address below until 3:00 p.m. local time, Tuesday, March 26, 2013, at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read. No extension of the bidding period will be made. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. local time in the gymnasium at Westside High School, 1002 Patriots Way, Augusta, Georgia 30907. Drawings and project manual on this work may be examined at the Department of Maintenance and Facilities, Richmond County Board of Education, 1781 15th Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901. Bidding documents may be obtained at the Office of the Architect, Harley and Associates Architects, P.C., 718 Broad Street, Augusta, GA 30901 (706-724-2475). Applications for documents together with refundable deposit of $350 (payable to the Architect) per set should be filed promptly with the Architect. Bidding materials will be forwarded (shipping charges collect) as soon as possible. The full amount of deposit for one set will be refunded to each prime contractor who submits a bona fide bid upon return of such set in good condition within ten (10) days after date of opening bids. All other deposits will be refunded with deductions approximating cost of reproduction of documents upon return of same in good condition within ten (10) days after date of opening bid. Contract, if awarded, will be on a lump sum basis. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of thirty-five (35) days after time has been called on the date of opening. Bid must be accompanied by a bid bond in an amount not less than 5% of the base bid. Personal checks, certified checks, letters of credit, etc., are not acceptable. The successful bidder will be required to furnish performance and payment bonds in an amount equal to 100% of the contract price. The Richmond County Board of Education reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities. BID LIST: The Richmond County Board of Education maintains a bid list for many categories that are let for bid each year. Contact Amy Bauman in the Business Office (706) 826-1298 or at [email protected] if you need additional information concerning the bid list. To promote local participation, a database of sub-contractors, suppliers, and vendors has been developed by the Program Manager, GMK Associates. Contact Jeanine Usry with GMK Associates at (706) 826 -1127 for location to review and obtain this database. Bids shall be submitted and addressed to: Dr. Frank G. Roberson, Superintendent County Board of Education of Richmond County Administrative Office 864 Broad Street Augusta, Georgia 30901 c/o: Mr. C. Gene Spires, Controller

These words are directed at the off-spring of the Civil Right’s Movement. The message I bring to you is this: “It is on us”.

Your parents, like mine, probably grew up during a period in which there was no such thing as equal opportunity for blacks in the south. If not for the courage and bravery of a few strong-willed leaders and visionaries, perhaps we would still be enduring such injustice today. Our parents accepted the responsibility to become catalysts in bringing forth equality. They realized that it was on them to be the change they wished to see.

Our parents then gave birth to us, a new generation of black boys and black girls that were born with the freedom and equal opportunity

our United States Constitution guar-antees. We also identified with the struggle vicariously through the first hand accounts of our parents. The tremble of their voices and the tears in their eyes reflected the horror of being chased by blood thirsty canines and being at the receiving end of a hate-filled police officer’s wooden club. Intertwined in these tales would also be fond memories of strong families, united communities, optimism, and hope.

Once we entered into adulthood and accepted the responsibility of becoming parents, our parent’s charge was passed on to us. It then became our responsibility to ensure that our offspring could relate to our parent’s plight. It was on us to continue to stress the importance of

education. It was on us to desire a better life for our children than that of our predecessors.

However, current trends reflect many of us do not own up to our obligations. The destruction of the black family accounts for many of the issues that currently plague our people today. By failing to share our parents’ stories with our chil-dren, by failing to inform them of the many contributions our forefathers made to society, and by failing to show them what true love looks like, we have practically squandered the entire cause in which our ancestors shed blood for. For the current state of our youth, I say we take responsi-bility. We must admit that it is on us to repair what has been destroyed and to help restore all that has been

lost. This can be done by re-estab-lishing bonds with our own children and by being mentors for those less fortunate. We can be role models for an entire generation by handling our responsibilities and by loving our mates and children. We must honor and respect the elderly and see to it that our children do the same. We must become involved in our com-munities as it truly does take a village to raise a child.

The escalating trends of today may seem impossible to reverse, but we must view life through the eyes of our predecessors. They saw no mountain that couldn’t be moved. Now, it is on us to break these self-destructive cycles and play our parts in restoring our people to their original positions of greatness.

GUEST COMMENTARY By Brother Trav

It’s On Us!

Making Black History with 10-10-50

In an effort to make Black History every month, to celebrate the legacy of community service by this nation’s first African-American President, and to follow the example of our Ancestor’s works, to liberate us from oppression, we submit the monthly community ser-vice action plan of 10-10-50. This action plan represents a golden opportunity to put people building principles into a perpetual practice.

10-10-50 is a monthly way for con-cerned individuals to gauge monthly community participation by volunteer-ing time, making a donation, and spend-ing in cooperative economics. It is a standard by which we can measure and calculate our personal responsibility and collective progress. This basic plan of action is detailed below:

10: volunteer a minimum of 10 hours each month with an organization or institution of your choice and interest area.

10: donate a minimum of $10 each month to whom you give your time or to some good work being done to enhance our community.

50: re-direct a minimum of $50 from your monthly budget that you normally spend outside of our community, to a black-owned business or service pro-vider.

+Imani (Faith): exercise your faith, to play a role in self-improvement and com-munity development.

Envision the massive growth and energy created, with millions of our peo-ple united around working and promot-ing a clear plan, to realize the change we believe in and can achieve.

The ultimate objective is, to create a reality where vital areas are consistently supported and everyone does a little, then no one has to do a lot.

We encourage you and your leader-ship, members, partners and supporters to see the value and immediately adopt the monthly practice of 10-10-50.

Stephen BikoProblem Solvers United /404-625-8872706-590-0682, [email protected]@yahoo.com

14

U

rban

ProW

eekl

y • F

EBRU

ARY

21 -

27, 2

013

PAINT & BODY SHOP

Ms. Adrian Wright

706-733-7115Fax: 706-733-7143

BODY SHOP

1850 Gordon Hwy. Suite A Augusta,

GA 30904

PAINT & BODY SHOPDeductible Assistance Available

1850 Gordon Hwy., Suite AAugusta, GA

30904

706-733-7115Fax: 706-733-7143

Ms. Adrian Wright

The Computer GuyComputers Done Right, Free Diagnostic Check

2658 C Barton Chapel Rd.Augusta, GA

ClarencePC TECH

[email protected]

RtStJTrinity

I pay cash for unwanted

cars, batteries, aluminum and

more

Reginald Sweatman Sr.

706.832.6422

Jennifer Norman-DixonIndependent Cruise

& Vacation Specialist

Hephzibah, GA 30815Phone 706-925-2929

Toll Free (877-790-6082Fax 404-601-4492

Email:[email protected]/jdixon

We’re On Board With

GALLOP & ASSOCIATES706-495-3796

ARTHUR L. PRESCOTTPRESCOTT INDUSTRIES, INC.

706-231-0446

Kreative MindsChildcare and Learning Center, Inc.

2542 Milledgeville Rd.706-364-5627 Fax: 706-364-5628

Dr. FAYE HARGROVEHargrove Leadership Services

706-364-4237

706-814-6634

THE CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES THAT APPEAR ON THIS DISPLAY SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY-ORIENTED MISSIONUrban WeeklyPro

URBAN PRO [email protected]

706-836-2018

TRIBE MEDIA [email protected]

706-836-2018

Abdul & Janice El-Amin

Dylan Walker

Asia Cates

Aldrian Robertson

Dwannette Pullings &Joshua Toran

Halim & Wendy Yazid

Willie & Brenda Aiken

Yusuf Rashada & Family

15UrbanProW


Debra H. McCord

CALL NOW . . . TAX TIME IS NEAR!Small Business / Individual

23 Years Experience

®

Email: [email protected]: www.dollarsandsense-augusta.com

2016 Highland Avenue; Suite C Augusta, GA 30904-5352

Dollars $ Sense Bookkeeping LLC

Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor

706/564-4898

DESIGN - BUILD LLC“One-Stop Construction”

2016 Highland AvenueAugusta, Georgia

30904-5352Office: (706) 733-2931

Cell (706) 267-7998 Email: [email protected]

LARRY L McCORD LLC

Our Office Provides:Architectural Drafting & Construction

House Plans • Church PlansRenovation Projects • Metal Buildings

Larry L. McCord Can Provide All Your Design and Construction

Needs All Under One Roof

Requirements:At least 18 years of Age

High School Diploma or GEDPass the Candidate Physical Ability Test

Meet the NFPA 1582 Medical Requirements

Firefighter Opportunities Available with the Augusta Fire Department

Apply online at www.augustaga.gov. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2013

(tobacco products prohibited)

Be a Team PlayerValid Driver’s License

For additional information contact the Human Resources Department at 706-821-2303.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

16

U

rban

ProW

eekl

y • F

EBRU

ARY

21 -

27, 2

013 THE LAW OFFICE OF

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

Experienced Representation

Real Estate TransactionsPersonal Injury

BankruptcySocial Security

DisabilityProbate • Domestic Criminal Defenses

706-855-6715211 Pleasant Home Road • Suite A1 • Augusta, GA

Randolph Frails Edwin Wilson Aimee Sanders

Frails & Wilson

Providence Place706-793-2664

2205 Southgate Dr. • Augusta,GA 30906

1 bedroom/1 bath $4152 bedroom/1 bath $4752 bedroom/1 bath $475energy efficient

2 bedroom/ 1 1/2 bathTownhome $550*Certain restrictions may apply Call office for details

•Fully equipped kitchens•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

$150.00 OFF FIRST MONTH’S RENT

DIRECTIONSTake I-520 to Deans Bridge Road North. Turn right on Richmond Hll Road. Property is on the left.

OFFICE HOURSMon-Fri 9-5:30; 1st Sat of month 10-3

Need Credit Help?

Don’t Let A Low Credit Score Close The Door To Your Future!!!

NACCURATE · INACCURATE BANKRUPTCIES · INCOMPLETE INFO · TAX LIENS · STUDENT LOANS · INCORRECT INFO · CHARGE OFFS

· OUT OF DATE INFO · JUDGMENTS · MEDICAL BILLS · COLLECTIONS · INQUIRIES · & MORE……….

www.jsearscompany.com

Don’t Let A Low Credit ScoreClose The Door To Your Future!!!

J Sears Company LLC

urban pro weekly

Documents