Richmond Free Press September 13-15, 2018 Edition

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Richmond Free Press © 2018 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

VOL. 27 NO. 37

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

www.richmondfreepress.com

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New Miss America wins competition with outstanding talent B2

SEPTEMBER 13-15, 2018

Menaced by Florence Changing forecast for hurricane keeps Virginians on alert

Carolina, North Carolina and Maryland all declared a state of emergency, while President More than 1 million people along the Virginia Trump on Tuesday ordered federal emergency and Carolina coast fled toward higher ground aid to be available to the affected areas. this week in a mass evacuation ordered just days Virginia’s emergency operations chief, Jeffrey before the expected arrival of Hurricane Florence, Stern, told reporters that residents should brace a Category 3 storm and the most powerful to for “something that no one in Virginia has experienced in their lifetimes.” Currently, 24 local shelters are open for people across the commonwealth, including two in Richmond. Mayor Levar M. Stoney announced that Linwood Holton Elementary School, 1600 W. Laburnum Ave. in North Side, and Blackwell Elementary School, 1600 Everett St. in South Side, will be open 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, for people who need assistance. Pets are welcome to accompany people Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press at the Holton Elementary shelShoppers at Farm Fresh supermarket on East Main Street ter, officials said. in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom fill up on bottled water and GRTC is providing free supplies Tuesday as Hurricane Florence threatens Virginia transportation to each location. and at least three other states. Routes 14 (Hermitage/East menace the region in nearly three decades. Main) and 91 (Laburnum Connector) will go to Virginia Gov. Ralph S. Northam issued an Holton Elementary, while Route 87 (Bellemeade/ emergency evacuation order for residents of low- Hopkins) will go to Blackwell Elementary. lying areas of Hampton Roads and the Eastern Additionally, two state-managed shelters are Shore. The order, effective 8 a.m. Tuesday, affects available at the College of William & Mary 245,000 people, who piled into vehicles and in Williamsburg and at Christopher Newport headed for areas outside of the coastal zones, University in Newport News for evacuees including Richmond and Williamsburg. from Virginia and elsewhere, Gov. Northam Gov. Northam and his counterparts in South announced Wednesday. Free Press staff, wire reports

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Dominion Energy’s Dennis McDade of Fairfax packs his truck Wednesday morning as he prepares for the job ahead of restoring electric power to homes and businesses in the wake of Hurricane Florence. Mr. McDade said this is the 13th or 14th hurricane he has worked through.

Shelter information is available by calling 211 statewide, 311 in Richmond or visiting the City of Richmond website, www.richmondgov.com. Weather updates and other information also are available on the state Department of Emergency Management’s website, www. vaemergency.gov. Forecasters and officials continued to issue warnings and maps showing the broad swath Hurricane Florence is expected to cut along the

East Coast with wind speeds exceeding 120 mph near the center and prolonged torrential rains and menacing storm surges. Early Wednesday evening, the National Hurricane Center said Florence was expected to slam into the coast around North and South Carolina as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane sometime on Thursday or Friday. The center of the massive Please turn to A4

Conflicting accounts emerge in bizarre case of cop killing man in his own apartment Free Press wire report

DALLAS A Dallas police officer charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a man she mistakenly thought was in her apartment may face a more serious charge, prosecutors said this week. “The grand jury will be that entity that will make the final decision in terms of the charge or charges that will come out of this case,” Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson told reporters on Monday. “We prepare to present a thorough case to the grand jury of Dallas County, so that the right decision can be made in this case.” Many puzzling questions remain in the case against Please turn to A4

Ava Reaves

Closed in December, the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club on R Street in Church Hill is undergoing a $6.1 million renovation and expansion that is expected to be complete early next year.

Changes creating upheaval at Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club Shaban Athuman/The Dallas Morning News via Associated Press

Allison Jean leans on her son, Brandt, during a prayer service last Sunday at Dallas West Church of Christ for her 26-year-old son, Botham Jean, above, who was shot and killed in his apartment Sept. 6 by Dallas Police Officer Amber Guyger.

Serena loses U.S. Open to Naomi Osaka after challenging umpire Free Press wire report

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Naomi Osaka, 20, of Japan holds the single’s title trophy after defeating Serena Williams last Saturday in a game that will long be remembered.

NEW YORK Serena Williams’ behavior in last Saturday’s U.S. Open final divided the tennis world after she called the chair umpire a “liar” and a “thief” and said he treated her differently than male players during her loss to 20-year-old Naomi Osaka. Osaka, the daughter of a Haitian father and Japanese mother, became Japan’s first Grand Slam singles champion by thumping Serena 6-2, 6-4 in the controversial final in which Serena challenged the umpire after being given a code violation. It was drama-filled conclusion to a match rich with storylines that will go down as one of the most controversial Grand Slam finals of all time. There was much riding on the outcome for both players, with Osaka bidding to become the first man or woman from Japan to lift a Grand Slam singles title and Serena trying to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 major titles. In the end, it was Osaka making history but on a day of bizarre events her victory will only be a footnote to what is sure to go down as one of the most infamous matches ever played at Flushing Meadows.

Serena was handed a warning for a coaching violation before being deducted a point for smashing her racquet. She then had a heated argument with Portuguese chair umpire Carlos Ramos, which cost her a game. The six-time U.S. Open champion, who has since been fined $17,000 — to be deducted from her $1.83 million prize — by the United States Tennis Association for the violations, vigorously disputed each during the match. The chaotic finish, filled with screaming, tears and jeers, cast a cloud over what should have been Osaka’s shining moment. Standing on the podium waiting to be handed her trophy and a winner’s check for $3.8 million, Osaka heard only boos as an angry crowd took out their frustration on Ramos, who stood to the side. Serena hugged and congratulated Osaka. She said at a later news conference that she didn’t want the incident to take away from Osaka’s victory. “She played an amazing match,” Serena said of Osaka. “She deserved credit, she deserved to win. At the end of the day, Please turn to A4

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club in Church Hill is undergoing the biggest upheaval in the nearly 70 years it has offered programming. The participation of children and teens has plummeted dramatically in the months since the nearly 50-year-old building at 3701 R St. was closed to undergo a yearlong, $6.1 million renovation and expansion. Officials now say it could be mid-February to March before the work is completed and the space fully outfitted for its grand reopening. Instead of serving 100 children daily, the club had fewer than 30 children and youths signed up for fall programs that temporarily are being offered at Franklin Military Academy and had even fewer to attend summer programs at a Fulton church, club officials said. But the biggest upheaval appears to involve staff as the religious group and its local leader, Capt. Donald Dohmann, and club director Hugh Jones prepare to overhaul programming that will be offered when the club returns to its Church Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press Hill home with space to daily serve 200 or more young people ages 6 to 18. Isaac Williams, 5, goes The new programming has into high-flying motion on led to the loss of two veteran emthe Big Bomb Bounce last ployees whom many regarded Saturday at the Church Hill as the “glue” that helped make Reunion at Ethel Bailey the club a safe and inviting Furman Park on North 28th place for the children in the Street. This was the 35th year for the annual event mostly black community the celebrating fellowship and club serves.

Big bounce

community uplift. Please see more photos, B2.

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