Independent News | July 11, 2019 | Volume 20 | Number 28 | Photo Courtesy of UWF Historic Trust
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winners & losers
outtakes
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20th Anniversary Feature 7
He had four stars on his shoulder and 50 stars on his heart.
buzz
cover feature 13
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publisher Rick Outzen
graphic designer Michael Daw
editor & creative director Joani Delezen
contributing writers Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, C.S. Satterwhite, Stephanie Sharp, Sydney Robinson
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Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2018 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
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A few categories for your consideration: This guy for Best Chef: Blake Rushing Best Up & Coming Chef: Desmond Phillips Best Restaurant • Best Original Menu Best Restaurant–Downtown Best Desserts • Best Wait Staff Best Drink Menu • Best Cocktail: Bramble
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winners
ROBERT BENDER Beachgoers didn't have to pay the $1 Bob Sikes toll to Pensacola Beach over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. District 4 Commissioner Bender announced on the eve of the holiday that he would utilize District 4 discretionary funds to pay the toll from midnight Thursday, July 4, to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 7. Hooray! ROLLING HILLS & WEDGEWOOD NEIGHBORHOODS State Rep. Alex An-
drade announced that Florida Department of Environmental Protection has reported to his office that a task assignment was executed for the final closure of the Rolling Hills Construction and Demolition Debris Facility on Friday, June 28. Closure construction work should be completed within four months. Following completion of construction activities, the site will be closely monitored for several weeks to confirm site stabilization and adherence to the engineered design.
BARBARA PETERSEN After 25 years, the
president of the First Amendment Foundation in late June announced her plans to retire at the end of this year. Under her leadership, the First Amendment Foundation worked with Governor Charlie Crist in the creation of the Office of Open Government in the Executive Office of the Governor. Petersen has received many awards during her span as president, including the prestigious American Library Association's 2018 Eileen Cooke Award honoring those who champion access to government information and the public's right to know.
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Malcolm Thomas / Courtesy Photo
losers
MALCOLM THOMAS Once again, the
Escambia County Superintendent of Schools has put his ego and those of his administration ahead of the futures of the 40,000-plus students in his care. Though we knew Thomas didn't like the performance metrics of the $2.3 million vocational grant from Triumph Gulf Coast, we were still disappointed that he walked away from the agreement. He told the PNJ that he would rather do it myself. Like he promised to make Warrington Middle the highestperforming middle school in Florida? Last year, it was ranked as one of the worst in Florida. Inweekly has little faith that the school district will do much on vocational training without objective measurements. The Escambia County School Board needs to intervene or resign.
MIKE WEAVER In April, the former Escambia County public safety director told the county commissioner that the nearly $6 million write-off of uncollected ambulance bills was because of a "software glitch.” However, an internal investigation has revealed there was no such "glitch” after no testimony or documentary evidence was found to support the claim. The report also found that former Emergency Medical Services Chief Steve White violated a county ordinance by hiding the true cost of new EMS software from the Escambia County Commission two years ago by breaking up the cost into several invoices less than $50,000 each.
Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation
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outtakes
By Rick Outzen
UNTOUCHABLE THOMAS In June 2018, the Triumph Gulf Coast board of directors approved a $3.2 million grant for the Escambia County School District and Pensacola State College to train 1,145 high school and college students so that they would earn industry certifications in IT/Cybersecurity, Advanced Manufacturing and Aviation/Aerospace by 2024. PSC agreed to contribute $2.3 million, and a DEO Job Growth Grant would give $1.9 million in cash—$6.9 million in total. The only catch was School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas didn't like the "clawback” clauses, which would have required the district to repay Triumph if it failed to meet the performance goals. He negotiated with Triumph for over a year, only to walk away from the money—saying he would rather do it himself. I wasn't surprised because Thomas has a history of misusing grants and discontinuing programs before being held accountable for how he used the funds. In 2009, the district was awarded $945,000 for a Discipline Alternatives to Zero-Tolerance project. Thomas dropped out of the program in the second year because he disliked the performance metrics. The district walked away from $600,000. In 2010, Thomas and the school district accepted a Race to the Top grant, $8,373,647, to set up Warrington Middle and Montclair Elementary as the models for an instructional improvement system. Today, the two schools are among the lowestperforming schools in Florida. The question isn't why Thomas rejected
$2.3 million. It's why do the business community and other governmental bodies continue to let him get away with it. Where are the Greater Pensacola Chamber, First Place Partners, Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission, Mayor Grover Robinson, Pensacola City Council and Board of Escambia County Commissioners? We all know the dirty secret in Escambia County is our future is held back by our public education system. People are moving to downtown and West Pensacola. Where are their kids going to elementary school? Global Learning Academy? Not hardly. How about middle school? Warrington or Workman? Get serious. And high school? Pensacola High? Only if they can get in the IB program. Yes, the schools in white neighborhoods have thrived during Thomas' reign, but our schools in more impoverished areas have fallen further behind. Meanwhile, the district administration has become entangled with cronyism. Its purchasing department has been caught twice rigging million-dollar bids. The district leadership has no idea how to teach students from economically disadvantaged homes. Outside firms have been hired to run the lowest-performing schools. Thomas makes his decisions, and the school board rubber-stamps them with the knowledge that community leaders will be silent. No one will come to their meetings to protest. No resolutions of condemnation will be passed. And the children of Escambia County will continue to suffer because of it. {in} rick@inweekly.net
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Inweekly is celebrating our 20th anniversary this month. Rather than attempting to cram two decades of highlights into one week, we've decided to break it up and use all four July issues to cover the key moments from each five years of our history.
Last week, we covered our tumultuous first five years and our reporting on the fall of the powerful W.D. Childers. This week, we reprise the inside story of the Maritime Park referendum—the pivotal event that showed the world that Pensacola believed in itself and set the course for the area's
current renaissance. In the upcoming weeks, we will write about how Inweekly garnered its national reputation and our reconnection to our roots as a community advocate. We hope you enjoy this journey down memory lane.
THE REAL HISTORY OF THE MARITIME PARK
Photo Courtesy of City of Pensacola
By Rick Outzen In the months after Hurricane Ivan, Inweekly struggled to stay alive. The storm had destroyed my office, and we were booted from the Thiesen Building to make room for tenants willing to pay premium rates for the scarce office space downtown. We set up shop in a closed yoga clothing shop on Navy Boulevard with a reduced staff and fought to make sure the hurricane recovery helped all sections of our community, not just a chosen few. The paper became an early supporter of the Community Maritime Park because we had envisioned a downtown ballpark, maritime museum and university campus months earlier ("Ballsy Plan,” 5/21/04). Today, it's difficult to imagine downtown Pensacola without the Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park, and you might be hard-pressed to find many who would say that the park hasn't been the catalyst for the renaissance of the city. However, the project's approval wouldn't have happened without the perseverance of Quint and Rishy Studer, a handful of business leaders, the Pensacola Young Professionals, the African American community and this weekly newspaper. It's important to remember the 18-month war that was fought to make the Maritime Park possible.
REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN
In January 2005, four months after
July 11, 2019
Hurricane Ivan devastated the city of Pensacola, three men presented a waterfront development plan to the Pensacola City Council that began the long, arduous journey of revitalizing downtown Pensacola. Pensacola was recovering from a nearly direct hit by Hurricane Ivan. Most homes had roof damage and were covered with blue tarps. The storm utterly destroyed some residences, and FEMA trailers were parked in front yards to provide temporary housing. The Emerald Coast Utility Authority's Main Street Sewage Treatment Plant had overflowed, and raw sewage had backed into residences and businesses. The area struggled to regain some sense of normalcy, but normal for downtown Pensacola was very different in 2005. No outdoor dining existed on Palafox because owners couldn't predict when foul odors from the Main Street Sewage plant might drift in their direction. The only bars on Palafox were Jack & Ron's, Intermission and New York Nick's. Even fewer restaurants existed. Other than jewelers and art galleries, hardly any retail shops were on the town's main drag. The street was deserted on weekends. Across from Pensacola City Hall sat the so-called Trillium property, a former fuel terminal on Pensacola Bay that had sat vacant for over a decade. The 27.5acre parcel was overgrown with weeds and infested with cat-sized rats. The city had purchased the property in 2000 for $3.63 million. Two years later, the city council approved a $40 million plan for
the site that included a 16-acre public park and an $18 million auditorium to replace the ancient Bayfront Auditorium. That vote was overturned in March 2003 by a referendum led by Councilman Marty Donovan and businessman Charles Fairchild. After Hurricane Ivan struck, Mayor John Fogg and City Manager Tom Bonfield met with the community leaders to discuss how to rebuild the city and revitalize the local economy. The city of Homestead, which had faced a similar dilemma when Hurricane Andrew leveled it in 1992, suggested a large public project could be a catalyst. Quint Studer, co-owner of the city's baseball team, had been looking for sites to build a baseball stadium for the Pensacola Pelicans. Jack Fetterman, a retired admiral and CEO of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, had been pushing for a maritime museum and was looking at the Port of Pensacola as a possible location. Meanwhile, Dr. John Cavanaugh, the president of the University of West Florida, wanted to build a stronger presence in downtown Pensacola. Mort O'Sullivan, the managing partner of a local CPA firm, helped the city bring all three men together to look at the possibility of building their projects on the Trillium property. He later described the meeting for Inweekly ("The Story Behind Pensacola's Most Historic Vote,” 11/9/06), "I'll never forget Admiral Fetterman, when in the spirit of a Texas Hold 'em poker game, pushed his papers and notes into the middle of the table and said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I'm all in.'” A project team of Dick Appleyard (public relations), Bob Hart (legal counsel), Miller Caldwell (architect) and O'Sullivan (financial adviser) was assembled to begin pitching the proposal to the city council. "I knew it was not viable for 100 percent of our citizens to be in favor of the project,” O'Sullivan said. "But I knew we couldn't be frozen by fear. It was time for me to take a stand on something I believed in for the good of the community.” The plan the group developed was ambitious and proposed construction of a community maritime park that would have a public park, multi-use stadium, maritime museum, conference center, retail and commercial spaces. The price tag was steep $70.7 million plan, but $29.1 million would come from the private sector. Quint and Rishy Studer
committed $11.2 million, including $2.2 million in cash and an additional $9 million in cash and lease commitments, to the project. Fetterman pledged to raise $12.8 million for the maritime museum and research facility. Retail and commercial leases were expected to yield another $5 million. The public portion, $41.6 million, would come from a combination of refinancing city bond issues, state grants and additional tax revenue generated within the Community Redevelopment Agency. Pensacola Mayor Emeritus Vince Whibbs voiced his support for the maritime park because it blended the area's Naval heritage, waterfront, sports and entrepreneurial ideas. "I wish these three (pointing to Studer, Fetterman and Cavanaugh) were here 20 years ago,” Whibbs said. "The best is yet to come.” The Pensacola City Council approved the conceptual plan, 8-2, and asked for more public input to tweak it. That should have been the end of the story, but unfortunately, this is Pensacola.
SAVE OUR CITY PUSHES BACK
Studer met in February 2005 with nationally-known urban planner Ray Gindroz in Pittsburgh to find out what he thought of the project. Gindroz later was hired by Studer for $200,000 to lead meetings to get public input on the plans during a nearly three-month process. "We had meetings with all the city council members, and they all went really well, except the one with Mr. Donovan,” Studer recalled. "I asked (Gindroz) if it was a good idea, and he said it was exactly what progressive cities were doing around the country.” Still, after public input and getting city approval in March 2006—about 14 months after first being proposed—Save Our City chairman Charlie Fairchild led a petition drive to let voters decide the issue as he had done in 2003. Fairchild and Save Our City rented office space and collected signatures at the recycle bins on Summit Boulevard, the closed Exxon station at Ninth and Bayou avenues, Cordova Mall and the Barnes Supermarket. Their door-to-door campaign focused on the predominantly white neighborhoods east of Ninth Avenue ("Buzz: Don't Ask,” 4/6/06). By the end of May, the group had enough signatures to get a city-wide referendum on the September 2006 ballot. 7
Photo Courtesy of City of Pensacola
Unfortunately, two of the project's most prominent supporters, Fetterman and Whibbs, would die before seeing the voters approve the park. After months of failing health, Fetterman passed away in his home on March 24, 2006. Whibbs died two months later of a heart attack in his kitchen while he was leaving to give a speech to rally supporters for the park. In the speech that was later published on Rick's Blog, Whibbs expressed his belief that the community maritime park was "the best and only solution to the renaissance of downtown Pensacola.” Meanwhile, the Pensacola Young Professionals were formed with the help of the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce and Inweekly ("Young Professionals: Shaping the Future,” 3/9/06). Pensacola Chamber CEO Evon Emerson said at the time, "We both recognized that the status quo had to change. We knew that a partnership between the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and the Independent News could serve as a catalyst.” The group, led by its first president, John Hosman, announced its mission—"To strive to develop the bay area as a thriving and dynamic place to live and work, making our fellow young professionals and the community as a whole aware of issues shaping the area through proactive civic, social and professional involvement.” The PYP membership voted to make the maritime park one of its five top issues, along with better-paying jobs, improving public education, relocation of the Main Street Sewage plant and affordable housing for first-time homebuyers.
The other difference maker was Rick's Blog, which gave our newspaper a vehicle to challenge the many half-truths and misleading statements made by Save Our City to attack the Studers and defeat the park. Alternative weeklies have begun using blogs to crossover into daily news by posting news as it happened and sometimes faster than the daily newspaper and local television stations. "This is a way for weeklies to become dailies,” Max Brantley, editor of the Arkansas Times, told us in the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies convention held in June 2006 ("Blog, Blog, Blog,” 7/13/06). "It pushes the boundaries of interactivity. You have to have fresh content constantly.” With Councilman Donovan and Save Our City having almost daily exposure on WCOA's "Pensacola Speaks with Luke McCoy,” the area's top afternoon drive time radio call-in show, the blog, ricksblog.biz, served as a counter to McCoy's attacks.
ALI VS. FOREMAN
Studer told Inweekly that he briefly considered whether or not to continue pushing for the project when his wife, Rishy, questioned him about it during breakfast one day. "We had hit a wall, and she was looking at me and asking, 'Is this really worth it?'” he said. "It was one of those defining moments like God is or God isn't. People were saying some pretty hurtful things. But I looked at her and said, 'Yeah, it is worth it.' The last four months, I felt really strong.” Studer, Sullivan and other park pro-
ponents told us the hardest part of the summer battle was following the advice of campaign advisers to wait until the final three weeks to fight back against misinformation put out by Save Our City. "It was a little like the Muhammad Ali and George Foreman fight,” Studer said. "We let them throw everything at us during the petition drive and after that until the last three weeks. When we took a poll and it still showed us ahead, we knew we were in good shape.” Polls showed voters favored the park by four percentage points. The lead meant park proponents also had overcome what pollsters discovered was about a 40 percent rate of voters in Pensacola that would vote against any project no matter what. Typically, cities' negative voters hover around 20 percent. Still, it was a tough call to run the Chuck & Donno cartoons and TV ads that Appleyard developed that poked fun at Save Our City members as cranky old men in favor of doing nothing, O'Sullivan said. However, the ads turned out to be popular. As part of Friends of the Waterfront Park's campaign strategy, park supporters decided to go against campaign advisers and courted support among young and minority voters. Jeff DeWeese, Juanita Scott, Lumon May and Buzz and Debbie Ritchie coordinated door-to-door canvassing with the help of PYP. DeWeese told Inweekly that Friends of the Waterfront Park volunteers hit every house where citizens voted in most of the past elections. Every yes, no and undecided vote was mapped out by address. He also helped map every house that signed a Save Our City petition. In the seven city districts, park supporters found 3,198 residences in favor of the plan and 2,320 against, which means 58 percent were in support of the Community Maritime Park. "We had a real good feeling for who was going to the polls,” said DeWeese. On Election Day, Waterfront Park poll watchers were stationed at all of the city's precincts and periodically called campaign headquarters to report who had voted. A phone bank of six people then called voters, who said they approved of the project but hadn't voted, to urge them to go to the polls. "We had some people call us back and say we could stop calling them; they had made it to the polls,” DeWeese remembered, laughing. Studer refused to celebrate until all but two of the city precincts had reported their results on election night and the
lead looked insurmountable. Sitting in O'Sullivan's downtown office a block away from the waterfront site, he finally agreed to walk to the victory party in full swing at Seville Quarter. He had prepared remarks in case voters turned down the proposal but hadn't prepared a victory speech. "He was just a basket case. He refused to get joyous or angry,” O'Sullivan recalled. "We were on the internet and the phone constantly getting updates. Finally, I told him, 'C'mon, we got to go.' We got over to Seville, and he didn't want the limelight. We had our anxious moments, but we were pretty happy by then.” Studer later told Inweekly that despite barbs from Save Our City members who opposed the park, such as calling the park "Studerville,” he believed in the development. "I would have been disappointed if the project lost,” he said. "But I knew I could wake up the next day knowing I just wanted to make Pensacola a better place to live. We weren't trying to stop something. We were trying to build something. But I had no idea at the beginning what that would encompass in time, energy and money.” In the end, 9,842 approved the park (56 percent), and 7,701 voted no. Of 37,555 eligible voters, 17,500 cast ballots, a 46.6 percent turnout. Studer said the most significant turning point during the last 10 days of the election was a meeting with more than two dozen local black ministers. "That was really exciting,” he said. "They had always been supportive, but then they were really pushing it forward.” The margin of victory among majority black precincts, which made up 23 percent of the vote, was 1,112 votes. The margin of victory among majority white precincts, which accounted for 77 percent of the vote, was 1,045 votes. "When you look back, what do you see as the defining moments in Pensacola's history?” Studer said in an interview with our newspaper after the vote. "In Charleston, they'll tell you it was the development of its waterfront park. In Montgomery, they say it's when they put a ballpark in on the river. We don't have that one defining moment.” He grinned and added, "But years from now, I believe people in our community will say this was the defining moment in the history of Pensacola.”
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GAME CHANGERS IMPORTANT ISSUES: 2004-2009 "Gotcha! Crimefighters' New Toy"
By Duwayne Escobedo, 2/3/05 We obtained a videotape that showed a Pensacola Police Department officer pointing a taser gun at the forehead of a detainee when he refused to take a breathalyzer. PPD officers then took the man to an adjoining cell where he begged for mercy while he's shocked with 50,000 volts from the stun gun.
"The Death of Robert Boggon"
By Duwayne Escobedo, 10/13/05 "Pumpkin, they are going to kill me," Robert Boggon told his niece, who worked at the Escambia County Jail. Thus began the story of Boggon's death in the Escambia County Jail. Our reporting put our newspaper at odds with the powerful Sheriff Ron McNesby, who had to change his tune after jail deaths began to pile up.
"Inside the Sex Trade"
by Duwayne Escobedo, 4/6/06 A key witness in the bust of escort services in the region came forward to our newspaper. "Jennifer," whose real name was withheld for her protection, said unwitting sex workers were sent by their agencies to men known for abuse for extra cash.
"Left Behind Series" "Part 1: Healthcare" 8/3/06; "Part 2: Housing" 8/10/06;
"Part 3: Education" 8/17/06
By Duwayne Escobedo We focused on poverty for three weeks, showing just how far the Pensacola area's poor were being left behind when it came to vital issues, such as healthcare, housing and education.
"I Shot the Sheriff"
By Rick Outzen, 9/4/08 Few believed that David Morgan would beat Sheriff Ron McNesby in the 2008 GOP primary. McNesby had raised $229,381 to Morgan's $59,008. The incumbent had the endorsements of the News Journal and WCOA's Luke McCoy. Morgan had hardworking volunteers, BLAB TV and Inweekly. Morgan beat McNesby by 14 percentage points
"Who's the Man"
By Duwayne Escobedo, 6/14/07 The very first Power List was created on a cocktail napkin at the Atlas Oyster Bar. Who knew it would become one of our most popular annual issues? The original top five were, 1) Fred Levin, 2) Judge Lacey Collier, 3) Ted Ciano, 4) Jim Reeves and 5) Lewis Bear, Jr.
"ChaChing!"
By Duwayne Escobedo, 8/8/07 It took weeks, but we finally got the salaries of every county employee and posted the database on our website with this warning—"If you're feeling overworked and underpaid, you may want to stop reading this right here.” Our server locked up as thousands wanted to see who was making what.
"Bubbas on Patrol"
By Duwayne Escobedo, 3/6/08 Sheriff McNesby deputized the county's code enforcement officers, and it didn't go well. Federal civil lawsuits were filed alleging wrongful conduct that violated Escambia County business owners' and citizens' constitutional rights.
and the first home game would be at the Community Maritime Park versus Notre Dame. The UWF athletic department was flooded with calls for tickets.
"Rising Stars"
By Inweekly staff, 2/8/08 We created our first-ever Rising Stars issue, selecting 35 worthy young leaders from 109 nominations. The class included future state representative and Volunteer Florida CEO Clay Ingram and future city councilwoman and Pensacola MESS Hall founder Megan Pratt.
"April Fool's"
By Walker Holmes, 3/26/08 We had been publishing an April Fool's issue for years, but the 2008 version actually came true. We announced the UWF Board of Trustees had approved football and that the Argonauts would field a team in 2010. The first game would be at the University of Alabama,
"Ole Miss Wins Debate"
By Rick Outzen, 10/1/08 We were there for the historic moment for the nation, the state of Mississippi and the University of Mississippi when John McCain and Barack Obama took the stage for their first presidential debate. We even broadcasted our "IN Your Head” radio from the Ole Miss Student Union in a room next to Sean Hannity.
"How Do You Mend A Broken Mind?"
By Sean Boone, 4/12/09 The Escambia County Jail had become the county's largest mental healthcare facilities. Sheriff David Morgan unsuccessfully tried to get a mental health court established. {in}
TRANSFORMING B A P T I S T for the F U T U R E A New Hospital A Reimagined E Street Campus Baptist is building a new main hospital at the intersection of Brent Lane and I-110 in Pensacola. We plan to open in summer 2023. This new facility will keep us close to our current main hospital location and will offer greater access, enhanced technology and a concentration of related services, making it easier and more convenient to deliver better care to those we serve. More good news— Baptist will maintain a significant presence at our E Street Pensacola location. We look forward to working with community partners to ensure that the new version of this campus is designed to best serve local needs.
eB A PT I ST H E A LT H C A R E . O R G July 11, 2019
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SHERIFF RESPONDS Escambia County
Sheriff David Morgan called an "all hands" meeting last week to respond to allegations made by a woman who is serving a 25-year prison sentence for sex crimes involving her teenage daughter. "It's incumbent upon me as the head of this organization to put these rumors, innuendo and propaganda to rest," said the sheriff. Leah Manning claimed in a May deposition that she had sexual relations with the sheriff and offered as proof that she had his cell phone number in her contacts on her phone and had named her dog after him. She alleged there was a video of him half-dressed but had no idea who had the video. The deposition was part of her daughters' federal case against Morgan that alleged pressure from his administration may have deterred Internal Affairs personnel from fully investigating Leah and Doug Manning's sex ring that involved deputies. One deputy, Mark Smith, was acquitted of criminal charges, and the other, Walter Thomas, was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison. The stepfather, Doug Manning, was also convicted of abuse charges and sentenced to 30 years in prison. The sheriff's attorney had filed a motion to block him giving a deposition in the lawsuit, and if a deposition was conducted, that it would be sealed and unavailable to the public. At the press conference, Sheriff Morgan said that the investigation into the Mannings was conducted by the State Attorney's Office, not his agency. "You may ask, why, sheriff, are you bringing that up?" he said. "Because of the assertions and allegations have been made that the sheriff ran and/or manipulated the criminal case as well as the internal affairs investigation. That would be extremely difficult for me to do when I was not the head of the investigation." He added, "To the best of my recollection and knowledge, I have never met Leah Manning. To the best of my recollection and knowledge, I have never met Doug Manning. To the best of my recollection and knowledge, I'd have never met either child. Unequivocally, I say that's the best
of my recollection. I have never met any of these individuals." He said during the infancy of the case, investigators found Leah Manning's phone had several numbers, including his official cell. He said some have incorrectly reported on Facebook that it was the personal cell phone, but it wasn't, according to the sheriff. However, he wouldn't have been surprised. "During the conduct of my campaigns for Sheriff Escambia County, I routinely put my personal cell number on business cards and the flyer," said Morgan. "So for anyone in this county to have my cell phone would not be uncommon." He had his Intel department analyze the records of his official cell phone, personal cell phone and personal landline. The investigators found no contact with Manning. Sheriff Morgan said, "You would think that would put the issue to rest. Unfortunately, it is not, so we continue again with this case." Morgan said that he doesn't manage Internal Affairs investigations because it would be inappropriate to do so since he is the final review in the process. He said that only once in his 11 years as sheriff has he disagreed with the findings of an IA report.
"I will tell you that I'm somewhat baffled by this case ending up where it is." Sheriff David Morgan "I will tell you that I'm somewhat baffled by this case ending up where it is," said Morgan. "I will tell you that I'm making the statement today and meeting with the press and members of the Escambia County Sheriff's Office to let you know that you have a right as employees of this agency to know that you have someone who's leading you that believes in character and integrity." Later on July 3, Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Timothy denied the sheriff's request for a protective order that would shield him from having to give a deposition in the civil lawsuit on Friday, July 5.
"It is beyond question that any sort of personal relationship that Defendant Morgan might have had with Manning could have affected the fulfillment of his duties as sheriff in the investigation and supervision of his own deputies," the judge wrote. "Accordingly, the court finds that Plaintiff has met this burden to establish relevance." The judge also declined to seal the deposition, citing the press conference where the sheriff took questions from the media regarding the allegations made by Manning.
graders were two points higher than state average, but the district trailed the statewide averages for eighth grade and biology. In social studies, the US History and Civics End of Course Exam proficiency rates for Santa Rosa County ranked in the top seven highest among Florida districts. Escambia County trailed state averages by double digits—which may explain Mike Hill's election in 2018. Only four districts in Florida had lower percentages than Escambia County.
THE TALE OF TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS
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At the end of June, the Florida Department of Education released the state assessment grades for the school districts. Santa Rosa County sent out a letter touting its successes. No announcement came from the Escambia County School District. "We would like to celebrate another outstanding year of state testing results, securing our place as a top academicallyperforming school district," said Santa Rosa's Assistant Superintendent Bill Emerson in a press release. In English Language Arts, the proficiency rates for all grade levels in Santa Rosa County ranked between third and fifth highest among Florida school districts. Escambia students, grades 3-10, trailed the state average, though slightly less than last year. Of the state's 67 districts, only 18 have lower percentages of students proficient in language arts than Escambia County. In mathematics, all grade levels in Santa Rosa County, except one, and both algebra and Geometry End of Course Exams had proficiency rates ranking between third and seventh highest among Florida School Districts. In Escambia County, students were 11 percentage points behind the state average. Only eight districts have lower percentages than Escambia County. In science, the proficiency rates for fifth grade, eighth grade, and the Biology End of Course Exam in Santa Rosa County all ranked in the top five highest among Florida districts. In Escambia County, fifth
& Traffic Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, in the Bowden Building, Room #1, 120 Church St. The Chappie James Museum is sponsoring a talk with Pensacola City Councilwoman Ann Hill at 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, July 13, at the museum, 1608 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh will hold a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 15, at Beulah Middle School, 6001 W. Nine Mile Rd. The Florida Department of Transportation is holding a public workshop regarding the U.S. 90 (West Cervantes Street) Pedestrian Safety Improvement project at 5:30-7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, at Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. De Soto St. The first meeting of the Medical Examiners Search Committee will be held at 2 p.m. on July 17 in the Multimedia Room located on the first floor of the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Center, 190 W. Government St. The purpose of this committee is to recommend an individual to the governor for appointment as the Chief Medical Examiner for the First District. Zoning Board of Adjustment will meet at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17, in the Hagler-Mason Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Pensacola City Hall. Architectural Review Board will meet at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, in the Hagler-Mason Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Pensacola City Hall. {in}
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"THOU SHALT NOT QUIT"
HONORING THE LEGACY OF GENERAL DANIEL "CHAPPIE" JAMES, JR. By C. Scott Satterwhite ficials. The black business community was strong, but segregation hurt and forced many black citizens into underfunded areas, such as East Pensacola. However, a counter narrative's often forgotten over discussions about segregation. Though the north section of Alcaniz where the future four-star general grew up was not paved, as opposed to the south section where future Governor Ruben Askew lived, this disparity did not equate to a weak black community. Quite the opposite is true, which is where the Lillie James Private School for Colored Children enters the story.
"A model teacher"
Photo Courtesy of UWF Historic Trust
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan dedicated The General Daniel "Chappie" James Center for Aerospace Science and Health Education on the grounds of James' alma mater, Tuskegee University. "He had four stars on his shoulder and 50 stars on his heart," said President Reagan. Reagan, who once narrated a 1944 film about the Tuskegee Airmen, described General James as "one of America's best." "All America depended on his judgement and his courage for our defense and survival," said Reagan shortly before he unveiled one of many posthumous honors on the first African American four-star general in U.S. history. "He loved America and America loved Chappie James." The same could be said of Pensacola. Chappie James loved Pensacola, and Pensacola loves Chappie James. Currently, there is a museum, flight academy, park, state office building and numerous smaller markers and monuments throughout various places in the area. By far, General Chappie James is Pensacola's most prominent veteran and arguably the most historic figure born and raised in Pensacola. For a man who only lived 58 years, his legacy is long. Recently, a grassroots campaign seized the opportunity to rename the Senator Philip D. Beall Bridge, commonly known as the ThreeMile Bridge, after James. Where one county commissioner sees renaming the bridge that's currently named for a supporter of segregationist policies after the most famous African American in Pensacola history as "re-writing our history," others see this an opportunity for a new generation to shape the city's narrative. To help everyone better understand the renaming debate, we decided to take a deep July 11, 2019
dive into James' life and legacy. The story of this local legend started in a small house on a street then called Alcaniz. His rise to fame was not predicted but, understanding his upbringing, is not surprising.
"Separate but Equal" Pensacola
Born in Pensacola, Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr. was the child of Daniel and Lillie Anna James. Chappie's father was a hardworking migrant from Alabama who met his future wife when he moved to Pensacola. He found work as a lamplighter in the days prior to electric streetlights and by all accounts was a dedicated family man. Unlike Dan Sr., Lillie Anna was a city girl, born in 1876 and raised in Pensacola. The city in which Lillie grew up was under rapid change. Like much of the South in the years following the Civil War, the direction would go briefly towards more rights and great possibilities, only to take a sharp turn in the opposite direction in later years. In the 1870s and early 1880s, Pensacola claimed an impressive black middle and upper class, with several prominent African Americans holding political office, including John Sunday and Salvador Pons. The collective wealth of the black community in the Reconstruction Era was growing, setting a standard for African American achievement—a feat difficult to imagine during Lillie Anna and Daniel James's parents' generation. With the end of chattel slavery, newly-won civil rights legislation and black representation, many African Americans likely saw the new post-Civil War years as a golden era. Lillie Anna was born into this Pensacola. Sadly, for those seeking change, the backlash known as white Redemption was about to eclipse the racial gains made under Reconstruction, nationally first and then locally. As
federal Reconstruction ended with the political compromise of 1877, Pensacola's black community continued to thrive for years after until Governor Edward Perry assumed office and ended what he saw as the "carpetbag government" of Pensacola following his 1884 election. Soon after Perry's administration rolled back many gains of Florida's African American population, won by political action and military might in the Civil War, Jim Crow segregation laws gradually took effect throughout Florida. Despite hardships, a growing sense of self-determination throughout black Pensacola led Booker T. Washington, among many other prominent African American voices, to heap praise upon Pensacola's strong black community. When Lillie Anna and Daniel James married in 1893, they started a family within the political confines and paradoxes of Pensacola's "Separate but Equal" policies. Daniel and Lillie Anna James had a total of 17 children, with only seven surviving into adulthood. Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr. is the youngest. A tragic story is told of two of Lillie Anna's children, twins who contracted pneumonia. When Lillie Anna took them to a physician's office, they were not seen until very late, as it was this doctor's practice to see Caucasian patients first. The twins died of their illness. This is one example of the many indignities faced by African Americans throughout the South, including Pensacola. The price of racism and white supremacist customs was not only relegated to insults but sometimes resulted in death. Lessons like this one shape a community and affect interactions for generations. By the time the James family's youngest son was born in 1920, they suffered unimaginable personal tragedies. The city was also far different than when Lillie was born. There were no more African American public of-
Partially as a means to educate her own children but also as a means to build the community, Chappie's mother opened the Lillie James Private School for Colored Children not long after her 1893 marriage to Daniel. Often referred to simply as "Miss Lillie's School," her school taught all of her own children but also welcomed her community. Hundreds of children in East Pensacola learned mathematics, spelling, reading, civics and other subjects in a firm but nurturing environment that she created. Mamie Hixon, a professor of English and Linguistics at UWF, lived blocks away and attended Miss Lillie's School during the early 1950s. Despite living under Jim Crow in segregated Pensacola, Hixon said her community offered a protection from the prejudice of the local white community. "Who knows about racism? We're all in the colored school together," said Hixon. Reflecting on the larger events taking place in the 1950s Deep South, Hixon asked "Who thinks about the peripheral situation of racism on the outside? We're in a comfortable place. We're not picketing. There are no white police officers around to arrest us. We're in an insulated school setting." Aware of outside racism, Hixon said her community and Miss Lillie's School made sure the hostility on the outside didn't take away from her experiences as a child in school. "We were insulated from all these things that were happening on the outside. It was a protective, protected environment," said Hixon. "There were no white people around to impose those restrictions on us, even though we knew of the restrictions … the restrictions of segregation never affected us." Hixon described Miss Lillie as a "model teacher" and credited her for much of who she is today. While her pedagogy was from a different era, Miss Lillie's School produced doctors, lawyers and professionals from many occupations—including one four-star general. Miss Lillie taught by "rigid, step-by-step sequences" and demanded discipline. She was 13
quick to punish those who misbehaved but gave love to all who met her expectations. When Hixon attended Miss Lillie's School, the educator was in her last days and had difficulty walking. Whether or not she could move quickly was of little consequence, as she commanded respect from all the children under her tutelage. According to Hixon, James sat behind her desk with dozens of children in neat rows, all waiting for her instruction. "I could call that desk a fortress," Hixon said laughing. "She choreographed everything from that desk … She handled everything." When Hixon was a student, the cost for her classes was 50 cents a day. Reflecting on her time at Miss Lillie's School, she was still amazed that these "little colored kids [were] going to a private school" in segregated Pensacola. "When you think of a private school having all the accoutrements of a boarding school, it might not have been a boarding school, but it was a private school," said Hixon. "A lot of parents in that neighborhood sent their kids to that school." Surprisingly, Hixon said Lillie James didn't speak much about her son except to say that he was a fighter pilot. To Hixon, the James family's example was a living demonstration that African Americans could do anything. Miss Lillie's famous 11th Commandment was one her students, from young Chappie to Hixon, carried with them—"Thou Shalt Not Quit." This demonstration of achievement was on full display in the skies over her school, even during playtime. "We didn't have nap time, but we had recess," said Hixon. She described how Miss Lillie planned and coordinated "recess with Chappie's flyovers. He'd do the flyovers, and we'd stand outside and wave. That's what I remember a lot … and that was something, to know that your teacher had a son who was a pilot." The shotgun shack schoolhouse—built by Dan Sr. at 1606 N. Alcaniz Street—no longer stands, but the original steps from the home with the words "Chappie's First Steps 1920" painted on the front remain. They sit next to the Chappie James Museum in the Memorial Plaza. The museum, located at 1608 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (Alcaniz Street north of Cervantes was renamed in 2000), was Chappie's birthplace. He lived in this house until he graduated from Booker T. Washington High
School and left for the famous Tuskegee Institute, one of the most prominent Historically Black Colleges in the South.
"Victory in the fight for democracy"
Although Chappie was not the first sibling to attend college, he was of the first generation. Located in Macon County in Alabama's "Black Belt," Tuskegee was founded on July 4, 1882, by Booker T. Washington and was a popular school for Pensacola's college-bound African American population. When James arrived at Tuskegee in 1937, Washington's presence still hovered above. Washington's well-known philosophy of self-reliance and self-determination aligned with what young Chappie learned from his mother. Though clearly gifted, James' college career was far from stellar. Outside of sports, he largely lacked direction. He met his future wife, Dorothy, here at Tuskegee, but little else kept his attention. During James' Tuskegee years, the U.S. government was actively preparing to enter the World War. Japan invaded Asia while Germany plowed through Europe. President Roosevelt would not declare war until after the attacks on Pearl Harbor, but the government ramped up military production and training knowing war was coming. At the urging of President Roosevelt, and, in particular, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, flight cadet training soon began at the Tuskegee Institute. This gave James the purpose he needed. As a young man, James saw pilots fly the skies over Pensacola and knew he wanted to do what they were doing. The reality of his time was that there were few opportunities for African American pilots and certainly not in the U.S. military. But the war changed everything. James quickly applied for admission into Tuskegee's new flight program for African American pilots. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1943, James became part of one of the most famous fighter groups in American military history— the Tuskegee Airmen. After mastering flying techniques, the Army assigned James to instruct new fighter pilots in the all-black 99th Pursuit Squadron, the Red Tails. From Tuskegee, the Army transferred James to Selfridge Field, Michigan, to become a bomber pilot. Far from Jim Crow Alabama, the treatment of black servicemen was not much better in the North. The U.S. military was a segregated in-
Ellis Jones, president of the Chappie James Museum board of directors / Photo by C. Scott Satterwhite
stitution. Many African Americans wearing the uniform of the United States, fighting against fascism in Europe and Asia, strongly objected to second-class citizenship back home. Many African Americans called for a "Double V Campaign"—victory in the fight for democracy overseas as well as in the United States. Racial tensions rose on many U.S. installations, including Selfridge Field. In James McGovern's biography of Chappie James, he recounted an incident. "In 1943 a drunken white commander shot and wounded a black soldier without reasonable provocation. He later was court-martialed and retired from the service, but the incident must have stirred bitter feelings." The black officers felt particularly angered by the numerous daily slights. In an interview for an Air Force oral history project, James described a squadron commander as having a deep mistrust of African Americans. This general ordered a line painted on the floor of the base movie theater to prevent black soldiers from sitting with white soldiers. To combat this racist move, "we, with the full cooperation of most of the whites (who were not in authority and did not agree with this sort of enforced segregation), decided to go on what we called 'Operation Checkerboard' after the lights went out in the movie." James said the projectionist would stop the movie, "and made us go back to our segregated seats." This would happen "two or three times a night." A more serious incident occurred when his unit left for Freeman Field, Indiana. A group of black officers attempted to integrate the base officer's club. Once again, neither their location
outside of the segregated South, nor their officer ranks, changed their second-class status in the military. The base commanders had the men arrested and charged with mutiny. The arrested officers needed support, and they needed it quickly. To curb further racial situations, base commanders ordered black officers to sign a document stating they understood the base's Jim Crow-type rules and would oblige. Those arrested knew if the black officers refused to sign, they too would likely be charged with mutiny, but hoped they could fill the jails and force a positive outcome. Their hope was that if enough officers refused to sign the discriminatory order, word of their plight would reach a sympathetic black press and they could beat the charges and possibly end segregation at the officer's club. Receiving legal assistance from Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP, the men found reason for hope, despite the uncertainty of their situation, especially after the recent death of President Roosevelt. With James' help, the imprisoned officers were able to relay their dire situation to the black press. The gamble paid off. The War Department, possibly at the behest of Eleanor Roosevelt, stepped in and freed the 101 African American officers. The charges of mutiny were dropped. Shortly after, the Secretary of War reviewed the case and issued an order effectively ending segregation in military facilities, including officers' clubs. This action, and others like it, paved the way for President Harry Truman's Executive Order 9981 ending racial segregation in the Armed Forces.
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James, along with other brave Tuskegee Airmen and African American officers, could take credit for this momentous event in American history as well as their role in the larger struggle for equality. Through the actions of black service personnel, both on and off the battlefield, the environment ripened for direct action, which led to the modern Civil Rights Movement. James' determination echoes his mother's 11th Commandment—"Thou Shalt Not Quit."
"I am not a second-class citizen"
After the war ended, James was lucky enough to have his wishes granted and remain in the Army Air Corps as it transitioned into the U.S. Air Force. In 1949, the Air Force stationed James in Manila where the pilot joined his first integrated squadron, the 18th Fighter Group. Ellis Jones, the president of the Chappie James Museum board of directors, spoke of another important moment in James' life that happened an officers' club. "He walked into a nightclub in Manila, and he was maybe the first black officer to walk into this club. All the music stopped. All the chatter stopped. He said to himself, 'Guess who's coming to dinner.'" Jones said that the uncomfortable situation "didn't deter him. He still walked in and sat down and said he wasn't going to be dissuaded by people's attitude. He was just going to keep pushing forward." Later, the band started playing again, and all went back to normal. After the band finished their set, the leader of the band, First Lieutenant Claude "Spud" Taylor, stepped down from the stage and introduced himself to James. The two officers, one African American and one Caucasian, instantly became close friends. Once the Korean War began, James' squadron was positioned to move quickly into action. Though he didn't see combat in World War II, he made up for this in Korea with over 100 combat missions during the short but costly war. In one combat mission over Korea, James and Taylor flew together, but Taylor was shot down. He survived the crash by parachuting to the ground, where after, he crawled into a ditch and hid while James and his fellow pilots circled above to provide cover. James tried to get helicopters into the area to extricate his friend, but all helicopters were assigned to protect General Douglas MacArthur as he flew over the battlefield. The following day, U.S. soldiers occupying the area found Taylor lying in a ditch, his body riddled with bullets. Chappie and Dorothy James named their third child Claude as a tribute. After Korea, James served all over the world, and like many service members of his era, the Vietnam War became the one that defined him. Militarily, James served with distinction, flying over 70 combat missions, including one in which seven MIG fighter jets were shot down. During this tumultuous time in history, James' star began to rise, in particular for his response to unrest at home and overseas. Sensing a political shift in the younger troops, James wrote an essay entitled "Freedom—My Heritage, My Responsibility." Republished in a 1967 edition of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, James' essay reads, "I am a citizen July 11, 2019
of the United States of America. I am not a second-class citizen, and no man here is unless he thinks like one." According to a 1967 edition of Jet Magazine, this essay caught the eye of Congress, which urged the Pentagon to send James on a "barnstorming tour throughout the country." The purpose was to debate Stokely Carmichael and other African American radicals publicly about the merits of black service in the Vietnam War. According to the article, James "had no desire to get involved in political controversy" so the idea of a tour was nixed. James earned his first general star not long after returning from the war. Earning each star in quick succession, by 1975, the Air Force gave him his fourth star, and with it, James was now the highest ranking African American officer in U.S. history. One of his final posts was commanding the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). "He became the commander of NORAD. Back in the day, that was a really big deal," said Cris Dosev, a vocal champion of protecting James' legacy. "He was literally in charge of the nuclear defense, and offense, of our nation, no small deal at the height of the Cold War. That's what his last duty was. To think that this man, who came from the time of segregation, was now defending the whole nation's mode of living, our whole system, that one man was in charge," Dosev said. General Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr. retired on January 31, 1978. He died three weeks later of a heart attack on February 25, 1978. He was 58 years old.
"If Chappie James isn't good enough, none of us are"
In June of 2018 the Chappie James Museum opened, its located in the house where he was born and lived until he left for Tuskegee. Walking in the front room, one sees giant portraits of the general with artifacts from his military career. In the back of the house is a makeshift classroom, made to resemble Miss Lillie's School. Ellis Jones is one of the founders of the museum and the board president. Like James, Jones is a graduate of Tuskegee and heard James speak while a cadet in the college's ROTC program. "I really feel special that I'm able to participate in this project," said Jones. "I'm really impressed by the fact that [James] demonstrated, throughout his life, that he had a strong belief system that his parents inculcated in his being." "When you think of a person's success, you think about their perseverance and their confidence and their courage," said Jones. "But he had this inner belief system that was expressed by his vision. He used his intuition, his attitude." "We think that he epitomized the values that everyone should be thinking about," said Jones. Dosev, a former Marine Corps pilot, agrees. He, as well as a number of local veterans, were instrumental in bringing about the proposal to rename what's commonly known as the ThreeMile Bridge after James. "He not only served in three wars but World War II. He was part of the Greatest
Generation," said the former Marine. "He spent the next 35 years in the uniform of our country and passed away within days of serving. I don't know what more a man could do." Jones and Dosev are far from the only supporters of the renaming project. In a poll conducted by a joint naming committee between Escambia County and the City of Gulf Breeze, James was the overwhelming winner, beating the bridge's current namesake, Senator Phillip D. Beale, Sr. The margin was roughly 7 to 1 in James' favor. Dosev and Jones were happy about the poll and hope the renaming committee will act in their favor, if for no other reason than to inspire local youth. "We want to elevate [and] remind the community who this man was," said Dosev. Giving credit for James achievements where so many do, with his parents, Dosev said, "His mother and father persevered during a very significant time of struggle. They imbued upon him …what it meant to be an American. In spite of color or race, he understood that fundamentally. That's the most important lesson. That's what we're trying to convey to this generation of children." "Our concern right now is that we do not want to forget the name of General Daniel 'Chappie' James," he added, "I think this would do a lot to bring this community together." Teniade Broughton, organizer of the Black Pensacola Oral History Project, works with the Chappie James Museum. Like many Pensacolians, Broughton counts many veterans in her family and has long admired James. Broughton led an effort to try to save a house once owned by prominent African American veteran John Sunday in 2016. Although the house was ultimately demolished, she still focuses her energy towards preservation of historic homes and Pensacola's African American history in general. She shared a sentiment that she said many hold within Pensacola's black community—"If Chappie James isn't good enough, none of us are." Quincy Hull lives one block away from the Chappie James Museum. A popular Pensacola poet, Hull said he feels these discussions around James right now are important for the city.
"It makes me want to always remember where we come from, so we can continue to teach the little ones where we can go." Quincy Hull "I feel the energy, the ancestral energy," said Hull, pointing out the home's location behind the Leroy Boyd Center for Social Justice and its location on Martin Luther King Jr Drive. Harkening back to Miss Lillie's example, Hull teaches classes on black history and youth empowerment out of his home. He said naming the bridge after James would be a major achievement that people in the Pensacola community could hold as a source of pride. Reminiscing about General Chappie James' accomplishments, Hull said, "It makes me want to always remember where we come from, so we can continue to teach the little ones where we can go." {in}
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WEEK OF JULY 11-17
Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...
Pony Up By Savannah Evanoff
Courtesy Photo
It's a Tuesday afternoon, and Tina Collins and Quetzal Jordan are firing up the charcoal grill for an excuse to eat outside. When it comes to grilling, anything is on the table—veggies, the remnants of their fridge, even Peeps (the marshmallow duck candy, Jordan clarified with a chuckle). Jordan approached naming their folk band, Tina & Her Pony, back in 2010 with the same outdoorsy spirit and a hint of humor. While listening to their first record, they closed their eyes, entered a dreamy state and an image appeared—Ponies. "I thought if (the name) created a story, it would be more memorable, so I added '& Her Pony,' so people would get a visual automatically and a sense of who we are," Jordan said. "We're pretty playful people and pretty small, muscular and nature-y. We love running in fields of grass." "If you listen to the music, it totally makes you feel that way, too," Jordan continued.
Keeping that in mind, it's no surprise their music summons nature-filled visions. The couple first developed their indie Appalachian folk sound in Taos, New Mexico, a city with only 7,000 people and plenty of square footage for more. "It was a really rich time for us when we were there, because the landscape was just so wide open," Collins said. "You get a lot of space to yourself, even if you're in the community a lot, because of the structure of the land—a lot of epic sunsets and gorgeous nature, which we're both really, really inspired by nature. We both wrote a lot of songs during that time." They met while Collins was in a five-piece feminist bluegrass band, Over Under Yonder, with Jordan's sister. "I, on a whim, invited her to come on tour with us," Collins said. "The timing happened to work out. [Jordan] is a great improvisationalist on the cello. It was really on that tour we discovered that we had a synergy on our own." When the tour dissolved, Tina & Her Pony was born. Collins (tenor banjo, tenor ukulele, guitar and vocals) and Jordan (cello, guitar and vocals) are now married and live together in Asheville, North Carolina. "We're equal but opposites," Jordan said. "We have similar tastes in music, but the way our aesthetic comes out is very different. [Collins] has a traditional, salt-of-the-earth way of songwriting, and I really love more nuanced works. I'm a huge fan of Radiohead, orchestral music and world music and only got introduced to old-time Americana roots mountain music when I moved to Asheville when I was 18." The two are both classically trained musicians, though Collins dropped out of conser-
for younger generations and for people who vatory for vocal performance. After all, she are experiencing something similar," Jordan wanted to be a folk singer, not an opera singer. said, "so they understand they're not alone and But their studies still influence their music. there's a beauty that can be extracted from "It has that simplicity that folk music has, their daily experiences and put into something but also when it comes to the production and that can be really healing and connecting. layering of what we do—as far as harmonies That's my greatest hope for my music." and other instrumentation goes—it lends Personally, Jordan sees how being a musiitself to be very rich," Jordan said, "a little bit cian changes some of their social interactions. more complicated and less straightforward "At the end of a performance, no matter than you might assume." what your beliefs are, most of the time, the Much of Jordan's songwriting is inspired by hearts are turned; people are open," Jordan dreams—recently one of Collins' dreams. said. "They come to me with smiles, hugs, com"It was a really neat dream where she was pliments and invitations to whatever is going walking down the street of her old suburban on. That wouldn't have happened otherwise. neighborhood where she grew up in Ohio, but The difference between me walking into a everything was covered in vines," Jordan said. room having not performed yet and me walk"We were musing on the idea of never being ing out of that room having performed is two able to return home in that way ever again, becompletely different experiences." cause time goes on. Even if you go back, there's But Collins also sees the vulnerability that always something that changes, but there's a comes with that connection. part of it that stays the same in your mind." "It's just a richer experience, because you Jordan explores a myriad of nostalgic topics, such as young love in the song "Right Time." do have all that affirmation afterward of connecting with people and feeling kin with them," "When you're young, it feels so important Collins said. "But it's also a bigger vulnerability, and pertinent for you to hang on to the love going into certain towns, rooms, spaces. We you have as a teenager," Jordan said. "Most of don't know how we're going to be received, and the time, if you fall in love as a teenager, it isn't there's such a great vulnerability in that." {in} the right time to do that." While the music is imaginative, it has an even deeper purpose. Jordan is half Guatemalan, half Canadian and identifies as a WHAT: Tina & Her Pony with Del Suggs and non-binary person. Smithfield Fair at RadioLive "Being a gender queer in the WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday, July 11 public eye and also a mixed-race WHERE: Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. person and in a mixed-race relationCOST: $10 ship, and being from the South, I DETAILS: radiolive.org, tinaandherpony.com think it's really important to show up
TINA & HER PONY
It’s Pet Pic Time! Inweekly is working on our 8th annual Pet Issue and we want to include your pets. Please send pictures of your furry, scaly &/or feathered friends to joani@inweekly.net by Friday, July 19 for a chance to be featured in the issue. Make sure you include the pet and owner(s) names.
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Bella / Owner Brandi Rodriguez 17
calendar THURSDAY 7.11
WORK ON THE FLORIDA TRAIL 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Every Thursday. Three miles north of Deaton Bridge Road. meetup.com/ftawesterngate YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org PILATES MAT 12:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org PENSACOLA BEACH AIR SHOW 2 p.m. Practice flight demonstration with the Blue Angels. visitpensacolabeach.com SUSHI 101 COOKING CLASS 6 p.m. $64.50. Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com RADIOLIVE 6 p.m. $10. Tina and her Pony, Smithfield Fair, Del Suggs. Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. radiolive.org MEDITATION AND ENERGY HEALING 6 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org END OF THE LINE THURSDAY DINNER 6-9 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road. AWM WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. facebook.com/ aragonwine BLUE WAHOOS VS. MONTGOMERY BISCUITS
6:35 p.m. $5 and up. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com
BLUES ANGEL SCHOOL OF MUSIC ROCK RECITAL 6 p.m. Free. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S.
Palafox. vinylmusichall.com
FRIDAY 7.12
ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP 10 a.m. Pensacola
Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com
EVER'MAN COOKS WITH BACKYARD BOHEMIAN 11 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center,
327 W. Garden St. everman.org MILTON HAMFEST 12-7 p.m. $6. Hosted by Milton Amateur Radio Club. Santa Rosa County Auditorium, 4817 Birchwood Court. miltonarc.org PENSACOLA BEACH AIR SHOW Noon. Dress Rehearsal with civilian acts and Blue Angels Rehearsal begins at noon. Blue Angels fly at 2 p.m. visitpensacolabeach.com GARDEN AND GRAIN CRAFT COCKTAIL LAB 5 p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco HAPPY HOUR COOKOUTS 5 p.m. Drink specials, free cookout. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com WINE DINNER 6 p.m. $86. Bodacious, 407D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com EVER'MAN COOKS: VEGAN COOKING 6 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SET IT OFF 6 p.m. $18-$20. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox vinylmusichall.com LIVE MUSIC WITH RACHEL OF WAYWARD SISTER 6-9 p.m. Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th
Ave. facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola
BLUE WAHOOS VS. MONTGOMERY BISCUITS
6:35 p.m. $5 and up. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com 818 1
OPEN MIC 7-11 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook.com/cafesinglefin MICHAEL JACKSON: A THRILLING TRIBUTE
7 p.m. $28-$68. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com
Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco BRUNCH WITH LIVE MUSIC 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Café Single Fin, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook. com/cafesinglefin
SATURDAY 7.13
TRANSMISSION GROUP WORLD SERVICE MEDITATION 10:30 a.m. Free. Ever'man
MILTON HAMFEST 7 a.m.-1 p.m. $6. Hosted by Milton Amateur Radio Club. Santa Rosa County Auditorium, 4817 Birchwood Court. miltonarc.org PARKRUN/WALK MEETUP 7:30 a.m. University of West Florida, Rec Plex North Field, 11000 University Parkway. parkrun.us/ recplexnorth 2019 NATIONAL SINGLE MOMS CONFERENCE
8 a.m.-2 p.m. $29 for adult, $5 childcare. Olive Baptist Church, 1836 Olive Rd. thelifeofasinglemom.com SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road. PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com YOU SELL IT HERE FARMER'S MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free admission. Every Saturday. 8600 Pensacola Blvd., facebook.com/yousellithere OCEAN HOUR CLEAN-UPS 9-10 a.m. Bay Bluffs Park & Chimney Park, 3400 Scenic Highway and 5500 Scenic Highway at Langley Ave. oceanhourfl.com FLORIDA'S FLORA: NATURE TOUR OF ARCADIA MILL 10:30 a.m. $2-$4 admission for
kids. Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site, 5709 Mill Pond Lane. historicpensacola.org CAT ADOPTIONS 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Pet Supermarket at 6857 N. 9th Ave. aaflorida.org HUMANISTS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA 11 a.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org DRAG BRUNCH 11 a.m. $8 cover. The Vineyard, 1010 N. 12th Ave. facebook.com/ pensacolavineyardbistrowinebar PENSACOLA BEACH AIR SHOW Noon. Show begins at noon. Blue Angels fly at 2 p.m. visitpensacolabeach.com NATURAL HEALING 2 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org WALKING CEMETERY TOURS 5:30 p.m. $12 plus tax. St. John's Historic Cemetery, 301 N. G St. goretro.us BLUE WAHOOS VS. MONTGOMERY BISCUITS
6:05 p.m. $5 and up. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com
CHRIS THOMAS KING: KING OF NOLA BLUES 7 p.m. $10-$35. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S.
Palafox. vinylmusichall.com
SAENGER CLASSIC MOVIE SERIES: SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND 7
p.m. $6. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com
SUNDAY 7.14
THEMED BRUNCH AT PERFECT PLAIN
10 a.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E.
Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org VEGAN BRUNCH 11 a.m.-2 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com SUNDAY BRUNCH AT H20 11 a.m. $28.95 for adults. Free valet parking and 15 percent off with local ID. H20 Hilton, 12 Via de Luna Drive. facebook.com/hiltonpensacolabeach SOL FOOD SUNDAY 12 p.m. $12. Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 7 E. Gregory St. facebook.com/asherandbee BLUE WAHOOS VS. MONTGOMERY BISCUITS
5:05 p.m. $5 and up. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com BASTILLE DAY DINNER 5:30 p.m. $75 per person. Five-course meal with selected wines. Reservations required. Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox. jacksonsrestaurant.com
MONDAY 7.15
RESUME HELP 11 a.m. Molino Branch Li-
brary, 6450-A Highway 95A. mywfpl.com
PILATES MAT 1:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educa-
tional Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org
SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 6 p.m. Runners
meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com CARIBBEAN CUISINE COOKING CLASS 6 p.m. $60. Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com CROHN'S AND COLITIS SUPPORT GROUP
6:30 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org
BLUE WAHOOS VS. MONTGOMERY BISCUITS
6:35 p.m. $5 and up. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com
TUESDAY 7.16
YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org BLUE ANGELS PRACTICE 11:30 a.m. National Naval Aviation Museum viewing area, 1878 S. Blue Angel Parkway. Use West Gate Entrance. TRYON FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT 4 p.m. Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave. mywfpl.com COMPLIMENTARY WINE TASTING 4-6 p.m. Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com WALKING CEMETERY TOURS 5:30 p.m. $12 plus tax. St. John's Historic Cemetery, 301 N. G St. goretro.us NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ACADEMY 5:30-9 p.m. Escambia County Sheriff's Office, 1700 West Leonard St. escambiaso.com/ prevention/neighborhood-watch LADIES CHARCUTERIE AND WINE NIGHT 6 p.m. $64.50. Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com FUNKY YOGA 6 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road.
APOLLO ANNIVERSARY WITH PENSACOLA MESS HALL 6-9 p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing
Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/pensacolabrewingco COUNTRY TWO-STEP DANCING 6:30 p.m. $12. Whiskey Runners Saloon. 610 East Nine Mile Road. dancecraftstudios.com
BLUE WAHOOS VS. MONTGOMERY BISCUITS
6:35 p.m. $5 and up. Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com
BUILT TO SPILL: KEEP IT LIKE A SECRET TOUR 7 p.m. $25-$30. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S.
Palafox. vinylmusichall.com
BANDS ON THE BEACH 7-9 p.m. Free.
Emerald Gold. Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach. visitpensacolabeach.com COMEDY NIGHT 7 p.m. Swan Neck Meadery, 2115 W. Nine Mile Road. swanneckwinery.com
WEDNESDAY 7.17
PILATES FUSION 10:30 a.m. Free. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP 3 p.m. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com WAGGY WEDNESDAYS WITH PENSACOLA HUMANE SOCIETY 4-7 p.m. Pet themed games
and prizes. Through Sept. 18. Island Culture Tiki Bar, 17 Via De Luna Drive. $1 from every Tito’s Vodka sale benefits Pensacola Humane Society. pensacolahumane.org VEGAN AND VINO SUNDAYS 4-7 p.m. Skopelos at New World, 600 S. Palafox
A JACKSONIAN DINNER: A FOOD AND WINE EVENT 5:30 p.m. Reservations required.
Period dishes, Spanish wines and presentation from local historian John Appleyard. Jackson’s Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox. jacksonsrestaurant.com AFRICAN DANCE FITNESS 5:30 p.m. Every Wednesday. Henny Penny’s Patisserie, 4412 W. Jackson. facebook.com/ facebook.com/ hennypennyspatisserie GREATER PENSACOLA AUBURN CLUB DINNER 5:30 p.m. $25-$50. Skopelos at New
World, 600 S. Palafox St. greaterpensacolaauburnclub.com YOGA FLOW 6-7 p.m. Free. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org
FULL THUNDER MOON MEDITATION PRACTICE 6:30 p.m. Asher & Bee Apothecary
and Tea House, 7 E. Gregory St. facebook. com/asherandbee WEST COAST SWING DANCING 6:30 p.m. $12. Whiskey Runners Saloon, 610 E. Nine Mile Road. dancecraftstudios.com FRENCH BOYS CHOIR: LES MOINEAUX 7 p.m. Free. Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1212 E. Moreno St. shc.ptdiocese.org THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD 7 p.m. $5 (cash only). The Rex Theatre, 18 N. Palafox. TRANSMISSION GROUP WORLD SERVICE MEDITATION 7:15 p.m. Free. Ever’man
Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org LITTLE BLACK DRESS MUSICAL 7:30 p.m. $27-$69. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com
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free will astrology WEEK OF JULY 11 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): You're in the Land of Green Magic. That's potentially very good news, but you must also be cautious. Why? Because in the Land of Green Magic, the seeds of extraneous follies and the seeds of important necessities both grow extra fast. Unless you are a careful weeder, useless stuff will spring up and occupy too much space. So be firm in rooting out the blooms that won't do you any good. Be aggressive in nurturing only the very best and brightest. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Eight years
ago, researchers in Kerala, India, went to the Padmanabhaswamy Temple and climbed down into centuries-old vaults deep beneath the main floor. They found a disorganized mess of treasure in the form of gold and precious gems. There were hundreds of chairs made from gold, baskets full of gold coins from the ancient Roman Empire, and a four-foot-high solid statue of a god, among multitudinous other valuables. I like bringing these images to your attention, Taurus, because I have a theory that if you keep them in your awareness, you'll be more alert than usual to undiscovered riches in your own life and in your own psyche. I suspect you are closer than ever before to unearthing those riches.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Children
need to learn certain aptitudes at certain times. If they don't, they may not be able to master those aptitudes later in life. For example, if infants don't get the experience of being protected and cared for by adults, it will be hard for them to develop that capacity as toddlers. This is a good metaphor for a developmental phase that you Geminis are going through. In my astrological opinion, 2019 and 2020 are critical years for you to become more skilled at the arts of togetherness and collaboration; to upgrade your abilities so as to get the most out of your intimate relationships. How are you doing with this work so far?
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Vantablack is a material made of carbon nanotubes. According to the "Guinness Book of World Records," it is the darkest stuff on the planet. No black is blacker than Vantablack. It reflects a mere 0.036% of the light that shines upon it. Because of its unusual quality, it's ideal for use in the manufacture of certain sensors, cameras and scientific instruments. Unfortunately, an artist named Anish Kapoor owns exclusive rights to use it in the art world. No other artists are allowed to incorporate Vantablack into their creations. I trust you will NOT follow Kapoor's selfish example in the coming weeks. In my astrological opinion, it's crucial that you share your prime gifts, your special skills and your unique blessings with the whole world. Do not hoard! LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Hi, my name is 222 2
By Rob Brezsny
Rob Brezsny, and I confess that I am addicted to breathing air, eating food, drinking water, indulging in sleep and getting high on organic, free-trade, slavery-free dark chocolate. I also confess that I am powerless over these addictions. Now I invite you to be inspired by my silly example and undertake a playful but serious effort to face up to your own fixations. The astrological omens suggest it's a perfect moment to do so. What are you addicted to? What habits are you entranced by? What conditioned responses are you enslaved to? What traps have you agreed to be snared by? The time is right to identify these compulsions, then make an audacious break for freedom.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): When cherries are nearing the end of their ripening process, they are especially vulnerable. If rain falls on them during those last few weeks, they can rot or split, rendering them unmarketable. So cherry-growers hire helicopter pilots to hover over their trees right after it rains, using the downdraft from the blades to dry the valuable little fruits. It may seem like overkill, but it's the method that works best. I advise you to be on the lookout for similar protective measures during the climactic phase of your personal ripening process. Your motto should be to take care of your valuables by any means necessary.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Please don't try to relax. Don't shy away from challenges. Don't apologize for your holy quest or tone down your ambition or stop pushing to get better. Not now, anyway, Libra. Just the opposite, in fact. I urge you to pump up the volume on your desires. Be even bigger and bolder and braver. Take maximum advantage of the opportunities that are arising, and cash in on the benevolent conspiracies that are swirling in your vicinity. Now is one of those exceptional moments when tough competition is actually healthy for you, when the pressure to outdo your previous efforts can be tonic and inspiring. SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): I can't decide whether to compare your imminent future to a platypus, kaleidoscope, patchwork quilt or Swiss army knife. From what I can tell, your adventures could bring you random jumbles or melodic mélanges—or a blend of both. So I'm expecting provocative teases, pure flukes and multiple options. There'll be crazy wisdom, alluring messes and unclassifiable opportunities. To ensure that your life is more of an intriguing riddle than a confusing maze, I suggest that you stay closely attuned to what you're really feeling and thinking and communicate that information with tactful precision. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Every year, thousands of people all over the world go to hospital emergency rooms seeking relief from kidney stones. Many of the treatments are invasive and painful. But in recent years, a benign alternative has emerged. A peer-reviewed article in a scientific journal
presented evidence that many patients spontaneously pass their kidney stones simply by riding on roller coasters. I doubt that you'll have a literal problem like kidney stones in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. But I do suspect that any psychological difficulties you encounter can be solved by embarking on thrilling adventures akin to riding on roller coasters.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): In
his book "The Histories," ancient Greek historian Herodotus told the story of a six-year war between the armies of the Medes and the Lydians in an area that today corresponds to Turkey. The conflict ended suddenly on a day when a solar eclipse occurred. Everyone on the battlefield got spooked as the light unexpectedly dimmed and commanders sought an immediate cease to the hostilities. In the spirit of cosmic portents precipitating practical truces, I suggest you respond to the upcoming lunar eclipse on July 16-17 with overtures of peace and healing and amnesty. It'll be a good time to reach out to any worthwhile person or group from whom you have been alienated.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): My astro-
logical colleague Guru Gwen believes that right now Aquarians should get scolded and penalized unless they agree to add more rigor and discipline to their rhythms. On the other hand, my astrological colleague Maestro Madelyn feels that Aquarians need to have their backs massaged, their hands held and their problems listened to with grace and empathy. I suppose that both Gwen and Madelyn want to accomplish the same thing, which is to get you back on track. But personally, I'm more in favor of Madelyn's approach than Gwen's.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): As a self-
taught rebel poet with few formal credentials, I may not have much credibility when I urge you to get yourself better licensed and certified and sanctioned. But according to my analysis of the astrological omens, the coming months will be a favorable time for you to make plans to get the education or training you're lacking; to find out what it would mean to become more professional, and then become more professional; to begin pursuing the credentials that will earn you more power to fulfill your dreams. THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: What symbol best represents your deepest desire? Testify by going to freewillastrology.com and clicking on "Email Rob."
freewillastrology.com
freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2019
inweekly.net
news of the weird BRIGHT IDEA Arby's has turned the trend toward plant-based "burgers" on its head with the new Marrot: a carrot made out of meat. Vice reported that Arby's has definitively rejected the plant-based meats movement. "(W)hat Americans really want ... is great, tasty meat," said Jim Taylor, Arby's chief marketing officer. "So we said if others can make meat out of vegetables, why can't we make vegetables out of meat?" The Marrot is made by rolling raw ground turkey breast into a carrot shape, cooking it sousvide for an hour, covering it with a special "carrot marinade," and then oven-roasting it for another hour. Bon appetit! THE LITIGIOUS SOCIETY Tommy Martin, 58, of Mount Holly, North Carolina, hopes to see Hardee's in federal court after a "humiliating" incident at a Belmont store in which Martin was given just two Hash Rounds on his breakfast plate, rather than the half-dozen or so depicted on the company's website. Martin, who is black, told The News and Observer that he felt like he was in a scene from the segregated 1960s when he asked for more. "The manager came back and said that what you get. Got home with tear in mine eye," Martin said in the handwritten lawsuit filed June 24 in U.S. District Court in Charlotte. The cashier was prepared to give him more Hash Rounds, Martin said, but the manager, who is white, stepped in and gave him a refund instead. CULTURAL DIVERSITY A cafe in Bangkok, Thailand, is encouraging customers to "experience the death awareness" and reflect more on their lives by inviting patrons to get into a coffin and spend some time with the lid closed after finishing their coffee. Death Awareness Cafe owner Veeranut Rojanaprapa told United Press International that the practice encourages people not to be driven by greed. "When the lid of the coffin closes...they will realize that eventually they cannot take anything with them." (Hope there are air holes.)
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
GOVERNMENT IN ACTION Health Canada has issued a seemingly obvious warning to consumers of Venus Simply3 razors: They pose a potential cutting hazard. CTV News reported that the four-packs, sold at Walmart, have been recalled because "the blades...can become misaligned ... and pose a higher risk of cuts during use." No one in Canada has reported being cut. TECHNOTOT Two-year-old Rayna McNeil of San Diego is an early adopter of online shopping. In late June, as Rayna played with her mom's mobile phone, she managed to purchase a $430 couch from Amazon. Mom Isabella McNeil told KNSD she had been scrolling through some couches on her phone before handing it off to Rayna, but she didn't realize the toddler had made the purchase until a few days later, when she got a "Your couch has shipped" alert. "I didn't remember ordering a couch," she said. It was too late to cancel the order, so McNeil plans to resell the item locally. "Lesson learned," McNeil said. She will make sure apps are closed in the future. THE CLASSIC HEADLINE Police officers in Manchester, New Hampshire, were called to a local hotel on June 28 after Matthew Williams, 35, of Nashua was reported to be behaving "erratically"—shouting, throwing things and "acting aggressive," according to Fox News. Officers called in a K9 unit, and when the dog entered the hotel room, Williams allegedly "wrapped his arms around the dog and struggled with him," eventually growling and biting the dog on the top of the head, police said. Williams was charged with resisting arrest, simple assault and willful interference with police dogs; authorities said the dog was not harmed. {in}
From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird Š 2019 Andrews McMeel
Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com
July 11, 2019
23
ABIGAIL DOWD
presents
RadioLive adioLive THE FIRST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH at the Museum of Commerce in Historic Pensacola
Featuring
GOVE SCRIVENOR ABIGAIL DOWD LYNN DRURY
08/01/19
6:00 p.m. Doors 5:00 p.m.
Broadcast LIVE on 88.1 FM
Tickets $10
available at wuwf.org 850.474.2787
Independent News | July 11, 2019 | inweekly.net