November 28th, 2019 Edition

More library books at County Justice Center

County Library and St. Louis County Justice Services, reading and learning are getting easier for those locked up at the Buzz Westfall Justice Center in Clayton.

The library now will provide a wide array of books to those in custody at the County Justice Center – a larger and more varied supply of library materials, available at different reading levels, that will be refreshed monthly.

The library also will supply library cards

upon release for those who want them. This includes ready access to other helpful library resources such as computer classes, the Career Online High School program and job search assistance, not to mention telescopes, musical instruments and Wi-Fi hot spots.

“This will be really beneficial for guys unfortunate as I am, as some people are,” Reuben Parker, an inmate at the County

20th Business Salute was a family affair

Michael B. Kennedy, Bill Bradley, Cassandra Brown Ray, Muny get top honors

was thoroughly a family affair. Kennedy’s two predecessors at the awards podium — 2019 Non-Profit Executive of the Year Cassandra Brown Ray and 2019 Corporate Executive of the Year Bill Bradley — both gave such moving tributes to their

Cassandra Brown Ray, chief financial officer at the Saint Louis Zoo, was recognized as 2019 Non-Profit Executive of the Year at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 20th annual Salute to Excellence to Business on Thursday, November 21.

By Chris King Of The St. Louis

By Rebecca Rivas

Of The St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Wiley Price

St. Louis County inmates Jeremy Williams and Tyler Schneider read books stocked in the County Justice Center by the St. Louis County Library on Monday, November 25.

Andrea Martin, mother of Terry J. Tillman

Bill Cosby speaks to Black Press from behind bars

In an exclusive interview with the National Newspaper Publishers Association for BlackPressUSA.com, Bill Cosby broke his silence, granting his first interview since beginning his sentence at SCI-Phoenix, a maximum-security Pennsylvania penitentiary near Philadelphia.

The 82-year-old was sentenced to serve 3-10 years in Pennsylvania’s prison system following his September 2018 conviction on charges of aggravated indecent assault.

Cosby said he fully anticipates serving his entire sentence, saying he’s not guilty and will never admit to something he didn’t do.

“I have eight years and nine months left,” Cosby stated. “When I come up for parole, they’re not going to hear me say that I have remorse. I was there. I don’t care what group of people come along and talk about this when they weren’t there. They don’t know.”

He said his trials were a sham, unjust and not fair.

“Look at the woman who blew the whistle,” he said, alluding to the potential juror who overheard a seated juror proclaim before the

trial that, “he’s guilty, we can all go home now.”

“Then she went in and came out smiling, it’s something attorneys will tell you is called a payoff,” Cosby stated.

Tyler Perry’s rescues couple stuck at hospital below the border

Tyler Perry has agreed to pay the $14,000 medical bill and travel costs of a couple stranded in Mexico.

The 50-year-old star stepped in after hearing about the plight of Stephen Johnson, who fell ill with pancreatitis and diabetes while onboard a Carnival Dream cruise ship with fiancée, Johnson was urged to seek treatment and spent three days in intensive care at a hospital in Progreso, Mexico, but when he was on the mend, he and his partner were presented with a huge bill which they were unable to pay as they had neither health nor travel insurance.

Austin said she asked if they could work out a payment plan once they were back home in the U.S., but claims staff locked

windows to stop them escaping and threatened to call police if they tried to leave.

According to KTRK-TV, Perry heard about their struggles on “Good Morning America” and reached out to help.

Were racism and sexism behind Gabrielle Union’s ‘AGT’ exit?

According to a source close to urban celebrity news and gossip personality B. Scott, actress Gabrielle Union was let go from NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” for being outspoken about alleged incidents of sexism and racism.

“[Gabrielle’s] contract was not renewed after being the #1 talent on the show, NBC and network TV. She set the record for her Golden Buzzer,” the source told LoveBScott.com. “They only replace the women and blacks at Simon Cowell’s whim. She wouldn’t walk away from $12 million because she’s ‘busy.’ ” The source used former host Nick Cannon as evidence to support the claims regarding the reason for Union’s contract not being renewed.

“The idea the network wants to ‘switch things up’ only applies to women and black folks,” the source said. “Nick Cannon wasn’t crazy. He walked away from 8-figures over how [AGT] operates.

Let’s just say they didn’t start the racism, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia etc. in season 14. They were quite comfortable with it by the time Gabrielle got there. Remember, Nick said ‘NBC stands for [n-word] Be Careful’.”

Richard Pryor Jr. discusses recent Paul Mooney allegations

Over the summer, a former bodyguard of comedy legend Richard Pryor brought forth explosive allegations against comedy and former Pryor collaborator Paul Mooney Rashon Kahn claimed during an interview that Mooney had allegedly seduced his teen son, Richard Pryor Jr.

Mooney’s camp continues to vehemently deny the claims. Without mentioning names, Richard Pryor Jr. discussed personal toll the recent revelations had on his life in a YouTube video.

“What was horrible about it is you are dealing with the victim being attacked,” Richard Pryor Jr. said. “You had people debating on what my age was and saying that I was an adult when this happened and all of these things that they wanted to say as far as how I allowed something like this to happen because I was a dude, and saying that I was close to an age where I could consent. And it was like, ‘come on now.’”

Sources: TMZ.com, YouTube.com, BlackPressUSA.com, LoveBScott.com, KTRK-TV.com

Gabrielle Union

Sumner students plant peace

‘Students are tired of gun violence and are no longer going to be silent on this issue’

By Calvin Carson For The St. Louis American

Every citizen has a duty to instill a positive change within their community and beyond.

This is what was shown by a group of freshman scholars at Sumner High School: Damarshay Carnes, Tykese Patton, Stephan Riggins, Robin Steed, Regina Washington, and Nick Ford, senior mentor. These students’ sense of leadership and willingness to make change has most adults in awe.

They first started by organizing the school to hold a Peace March on September 11. As a result of the march, the community has recognized that the students of Sumner High School are tired of gun violence and are no longer going to be silent on this issue. As an extension of the Peace March, the freshman organizers decided, with the support of adults, to continue their activism by starting a new project: the Peace Garden.

The Peace Garden was officially recognized by the Sumner Alumni Association, St. Michael and St. George Church and Better Family Life, Inc. at a groundbreaking ceremony on November 13. Phase 1 of the garden is to plant flowers around the Ethel Hedgeman Lyle memorial bench on the front lawn of the school. Ethel Hedgeman

Sumner High School students hosted

Riverview cheerleaders perform at Walt Disney World

Lyle was the founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a Sumner graduate, class of 1904. Miranda Jones, a current member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, gave a most inspiring speech, concluding with her high expectations for the garden. However, what left everyone awestruck was the announcement that the garden tools being used were

forged from donated guns. Student participants in the ceremony read their poems and one student even broke into a freestyle rap song. This astonishing feat was made

n What left everyone awestruck was the announcement that the garden tools being used were forged from donated guns.

possible by members of the St. Michael Church, St. George’s Church very own Dr. Judith Walker de Felix, and a loyal community volunteer, Dr. Cook.

Tykese Patton, a freshman organizer who served as emcee, said he hopes the garden sets an example for other communities. He further stated that these types of change in our community must not go unnoticed and we all must be ready to “challenge change.”

At the event refreshments were provided and students of the past came to meet and become friends with current students.

However, the big unknown looming is whether Sumner High School will stay open next year to see the garden blossom and come to fruition. Calvin Carson edits the Sumner High School student newspaper.

group of 9th to 12th grade captains, co-captains and officers who attended a Varsity Spirit summer camp this summer hosted

Cheerleaders Association, Universal Dance Association, National Cheerleaders Association, National Dance Alliance, United Spirit Association and Urban Cheerleading Experience. Williams, Pratt and Goodin performed in an exclusive preparade performance through Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park before of hundreds of fans. Besides enjoying a sunny trip to Orlando, performers had the opportunity to meet cheerleaders and dancers from across that nation and enjoy a visit to Walt Disney World Resort parks.

Photo courtesy of Sumner High School

Editorial /CommEntary

Giving thanks –and offering resistance

The Ga people of Ghana, West Africa, begin a celebration in August that continues as a monthlong thanksgiving known as Ga Homowo – the Harvest Festival. Many ethnic groups in Ghana and all over Africa have similar traditions.

Ceremonies and rituals vary, but the purpose is the same – remembering lean times, being thankful for present blessings, and praying for future abundance.

There are no written documents to account for the origin of Homowo. But, according to traditional stories, the Ga people emigrated from the Middle East and descended throughout the Sahara to Benin City in Nigeria. They settled there for a time before relocating to Accra, some time between the 14th and 16th centuries.

Legends say the Ga had only a bit of corn and palm oil when they landed, which women ground and mixed together to make kpokpoi. After the men caught fish, the clan enjoyed their first meal after landing – kpokpoi and fish soup.

The immigrants planted millet and corn seeds they had brought with them. Then, they endured a long, lean waiting period while crops matured. When the harvest came, the Ga held a feast and gave thanks to their gods.

The first celebration became the Hom Yi Womo meaning a “hooting at hunger.”

The vicious assault on Native Americans is not widely discussed anymore. The holiday has come to mean turkey and the trimmings, preChristmas sales and football. The history of the brutal process used by Europeans to dispossess Native Americans of their land is not pretty. And now it is almost completely ignored.

In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad had Marlowe define the “conquest of the Earth” as “taking from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves.”

In both sub-Saharan Africa and North America, the native people were mostly cooperative in the early days of European arrival. Nevertheless, conquest and colonization ensued later on both sides of the Atlantic.

Thanksgiving began in the United States in the 17th century as a celebration, a friendly coming-together of European settlers and the indigenous people of North America. The Native Americans had welcomed the Pilgrims to this land and shared the vast knowledge they had about the continent’s flora and fauna. They explained planting corn and plowing and taught the newcomers trapping and fishing.

According to tradition, both peoples slaughtered turkeys and made dressing and had a version of cranberry sauce at the first Thanksgiving. They feasted together. During those tough early days for the newcomers, Native Americans extended their hands and opened their hearts. Their hospitality and support helped Europeans survive in an unfamiliar land.

We know of the bitter and bloody relationship that developed when conquest and colonization replaced the spirit of sharing and cooperation.

Although some of us of African descent in this country now enjoy modest affluence, the overall status of our people must be defined largely in terms of the less fortunate.

For those without jobs, without hope or dignity in the ghettos of St. Louis or the squalor of Soweto or Port-auPrince, Thanksgiving can be meaningless as a holiday. It can be mostly a grim reminder of misery and powerlessness.

African Americans should not forget the early occasion that brought this particular holiday into existence in this country. We must dedicate ourselves to remember the “least among us” in a society that has effectively shut out so many of our people. Indeed, we are especially obligated to support policies and initiatives that strengthen family life and enable the poor to share in the nation’s bounty.

That is more true than ever, with a U.S. racist, misogynist, hate-mongering president who frequently stands with white nationalists and white supremacists, not to mention hostile foreign powers, while undermining and abandoning many of this nation’s strongest, most productive and protective alliances.

Let us all give thanks for what blessings we have – and commit ourselves to resisting resurgent white nationalism and white male supremacy and working toward a future with greater racial equity, where blessings are more equitably shared.

Neoliberalism and its discontents

By Mike Jones Of The St. Louis American

To understand American politics, you have to know what’s the current reigning American political religion. This is especially true of presidential politics. This political religion is rarely if ever spoken of by America’s political priestly class, national political leaders and the national commentariat, for much the same reason that theology is not often discussed in church.

So what’s this political philosophy that dare not speak its name? It’s called Neoliberalism, and for the last 40 years it has defined America’s economic, political and social reality. Everything that has happened or not happened in this country can be explained as a function of the tenets of Neoliberalism. While the term has its origin in 19th century classical economics, in today’s contemporary nomenclature it refers to a fundamentalist free-market philosophy that advocates and supports deregulating capital markets and corporations. It encouraged the unrestricted flow of capital and goods between countries (without regard for the consequences to those countries) and the maximization of profit at the expense of people. It advocates reducing the influence and role of the government in the economy by privatizing public functions (Neoliberalism wants public money but not public accountability) and reducing government spending on public works and infrastructure,

including education and scientific research.

To be a Neoliberal is to be somewhere between indifferent and hostile to the role that Thomas Jefferson assigned to government in the Declaration of Independence: “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men.” For the flawed Mr. Jefferson, government was the guarantor of the God-given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

If you are someone who believes health care, affordable housing, meaningful employment with livable wages, being secure in your person, and all children receiving a quality education that aligns with their needs and abilities are all manifestations of those inalienable rights, then what do you do in a society whose state political religion is Neoliberalism? No religion is monolithic. There are inevitably different denominations, movements or schisms, even as the adherents pledge fidelity to the founding principles. This is true with political philosophies like American Neoliberalism as well. So how many denominations are there in this American political religion?

St. Louis County needs an affordable housing trust fund

By Chris Krehmeyer For The St. Louis American

Just last year I asked the question, “What could be more important than investing in home?”

As I wrote in my previous editorial for The American, the power of “home” cannot be overstated. The home in which we live and the community where we grow up determine the trajectory our lives. If we recognize this as true for ourselves, how can we not recognize it as true for everyone else? How can this region – our collective home – succeed if we allow some of our neighbors to fail?

Over the last several years, Jason Purnell and his team at Washington University have published historic reports documenting the relationship between race and the health of our community. These include “For the Sake of All: A Report on the Health and Well-being of African Americans in St. Louis and Why It Matters for Everyone” and “Segregation in St. Louis: Dismantling the

Divide.” Both reports highlight the significant and troubling inequity in our region in all quality of life indicators, including health, education, income, and housing.

Importantly, each report also recommends strategic ways to address these concerns and move the region forward. The strategies are designed to promote health and equity in our neighborhoods and include establishing an affordable housing trust fund in St. Louis County. Bill 284, co-sponsored by St. Louis County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy (D5) and Councilwoman Rochelle Walton Gray (D4), currently before the St. Louis County Council, is aligned with Purnell’s research and recommendations. The legislation would create an affordable housing trust fund and align all housing and community development resources of St. Louis County – with the goal of making a greater impact on all families and neighborhoods. The bill would accomplish this goal by making two critical changes: securing more funds and aligning all existing resources under one entity to maximize the positive outcomes the funds can have throughout St. Louis. The public sector alone cannot fix inequity in our region, but it can be an effective and efficient allocator of resources and create new sources of available funds. Taken together, the policies proposed in this bill have the potential to drive real change in our community. County Council Bill No. 284 is good for families and neighborhoods in St. Louis County and good for the region. I ask you to join me, Councilwoman Clancy, and Councilwoman Walton Gray in supporting this important legislation. Chris Krehmeyer is president and CEO of Beyond Housing.

Letters to the editor

MCU demands MOUs

The incident that took place in Florida on September 24, was ridiculous. How a 6-year child acting out in a classroom merit an arrest and handcuffs? The presence of a school resource officer (SRO) with early childhood/ trauma training and a commitment to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) would have kept this from happening.

An MOU distinguishes when disciplinary action should take place and be handled by the school officials. This document is essential when there is an SRO assigned to a school. Proper procedures as well as training are a vital part of the MOU. Without a MOU to follow resulted in an absurdly inept response from the arresting officer.

of life and that the end justifies the means. The football scandal has no doubt emblazoned this lesson in the minds of CRCP students. So, CRCP and Catholic Church administrators are at a crossroads: one road leads to the realm of business as usual, the other to a recalibration of values and strict adherence to the school’s stated goals of faith development, academics and leadership. The road going forth into the future will most assuredly be the one demanded by parents served by CRCP. Will the businessas-usual low road be acceptable, or will they demand pursuit of a better future via the high road?

Michael K. Broughton, Green Park

Complicit in the deaths of students

between them, both build their churches serving the same economic interests. For purposes of identification, let’s call them the Fundamentalist Conservative Movement (Trump Republicans) and the Liberal Conservative Movement (Establishment Democrats). I will not spend any time dissecting the Republicans.

Democrats (our Liberal Conservative Movement) are problematic for black voters because they have the same commitment to Neoliberalism but talk a very different game. When they’re trying to get you to join church, the sermon is all about social justice. But when they win, our stuff never quite gets to the top of the list or even on the list. So what should we do?

You should learn to ask the right questions and understand what the answers mean to you. That starts with ignoring any candidate’s campaign speech; they’re worthless. There are two questions you want to ask and every candidate needs to answer. One is: “What do you believe is the role of government in improving my life and the life of my community?” And the second is: “How do you plan to oppose those who would stop the government from fulfilling that role?”

The ability or inability to answer these two questions will tell you everything you need to know about whether this person has the capacity and character to be trusted with your interests. To be continued. As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

For all practical purposes there are only two, and as much as they try to pretend there are consequential differences

The mission of an SRO program is to improve school safety and build relationships with law enforcement, not discipline or punish the students. Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU) stands against such injustices that have created the school to prison pipeline. MCU demands MOU’s in all school districts utilizing SROs. These MOU’s will implement respect for the rights of our young students, transparency and accountability of procedures, SRO training requirements, and promotion of non-punitive approaches to student behavior.

Fran Collier, St. Louis

Lying and cheating lesson

I. Casey (suggests that the administration of Cardinal Ritter College Prep (CRCP) missed a teaching opportunity regarding the termination of the school’s football program, and that racism factored in that decision. That racism continues to show its ugly presence in our society is indisputable. But the contention that CRCP administrators, including the football coach Brandon Gregory, missed a teaching opportunity is incorrect.

Unfortunately, the students at CRCP were being taught a lesson – not that of faith development, academics and leadership, as stated by CRCP’s president Tamiko Armstead, but rather the lessons being taught by President Donald Trump: that lying and cheating is a way

The child murders occurring throughout the region are simply symptomatic of the larger issue that the City of St. Louis is failing its black children, their neighborhoods and their families. Over $1 billion spent by the Saint Louis Public School District over the last three years and a district literacy rate of under 25 percent. Intergenerational poverty plaguing North St. Louis, from playground to church pew. Decades of systematic divestment north of Delmar.

A Public Safety director who refers to dead children (SLPS students!) as “sophisticated criminals” and complicit in their own demise. A mayor who seems (feigns?) oblivious to the fact that a city’s public school system is the bedrock of its relevancy and its success. Politicians who wear apathy like it’s the new black.

A school board, tasked with ensuring equitable education to all students, who are uncharacteristically eager to shutter schools in the areas where educational empowerment is needed most.

City leaders who excitedly support investing in a soccer stadium in downtown St. Louis, yet lament to SLPS students that it is not costeffective to keep their neighborhood schools/ historic buildings open, despite the impending end of the deseg program. All complicit in the deaths of SLPS students, in mind, body and soul.

Arthurine Harris, St. Louis

Parents as Teachers honors Trailblazers

St. Louis-based Parents as Teachers (PAT) recently honored a group of local luminaries as Trailblazers at a special Jubilee under the Gateway Arch following its 2019 International Conference in downtown St. Louis. They were recognized for their long-standing support of PAT. The Jubilee culminated the year-long celebrations of PAT’s 35th anniversary. From left are: Trailblazer former U.S. Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO); Dr. Henry Givens Jr., former president of Harris-Stowe State University and a member of the PAT Jubilee committee; Trailblazer Arthur Mallory, former Missouri Commissioner of Education; and PAT President/CEO Constance Gully. Not pictured are Trailblazers Carolyn Losos, former executive director of The Leadership Center of Greater St. Louis; the late PAT Founder Mildred Winter, former U.S. Sen. Dirk Kempthorne (R-Idaho) and William Mehojah Jr.

Ferguson monitor hosting hearings on Consent Decree

The monitor for the Consent Decree between the U.S. Department of Justice and Ferguson will host a community event on Wednesday, December 11 from 6-7 p.m. at the Ferguson Community Center (1050 Smith Ave), Room #4. All members of the community are invited to attend and to ask questions regarding the Consent Decree implementation process.

In addition, there will be a quarterly status hearing on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 10 a.m. in Courtroom 14-South at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, 111 So. 10th St. in St. Louis. Members of the

public, in addition to the monitor and counsel for the parties, will be allowed to speak at the hearing. Any member of the public who wishes to speak at the hearing may do so by appearing at Courtroom 14-South between 9:30 and 9:50 a.m. on the day of the hearing to register.

Counsel and parties to the case will be given the opportunity to speak first. Statements by members of the public will be taken in the order of the signup sheet and will be limited to five minutes each. All persons speaking must speak from the lectern, state their names, and direct their comments to the Court.

Why are federal financial regulators promoting predatory lending?

By Charlene Crowell For The St. Louis American

When triple-digit predatory lending is added to already financially challenged consumers, paydays become exchange days, swapping those hard-earned monies for the bills waiting to be paid. Too many times the terms of credit, including high-cost interest and fees wind up costing far more than the monies originally borrowed. Even worse, every loan payment deepens the debt and drives consumers further from financial freedom.

So why did two federal financial regulators take recent actions that promote predatory lending?

On November 18, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), proposed allowing banks to serve as a pass-through to predatory lenders. This change will facilitate schemes that consumer advocates term “rent-a-bank.” Participating chartered banks use their names and privileges on loans. A key privilege of the scheme is that unlike payday lenders, banks are exempt from state rate cap laws. The bank charter enables the payday lender to charge interest rates without regard to what safeguards were enacted by the states.

4,000 banks chartered by the states or by the federal government fall under FDIC’s supervision. It is also the back-up supervisor for uninsured banks and thrifts. Each regulator is governed by a fivemember Board of Directors, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

And now, both agency actions appear to run counter to their stated missions.

According to OCC’s website, the agency “ensures that national banks and federal savings associations operate in a safe and sound manner, provide fair access to financial services, treat customers fairly, and apply with applicable laws and regulations.” Similarly, FDIC “preserves and promotes public confidence in the U.S. financial system by insuring deposits in banks and thrift institutions for at least $250,000; by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to the deposit insurance funds; and by limiting the effect on the economy and the financial system when a bank or thrift institution fails.”

For consumer advocates, there is nothing safe or sound about predatory lending.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) followed OCC’s lead the following day, November 19, with its own version of facilitating renta-bank schemes and received approval at its same-day board meeting.

Allowing online predatory lenders to evade state interest rate caps will put people in debt and go against what the public wants. For example, California recently signed into law a rate cap of approximately 36 percent on loans of $2,500 to $10,000. Supporting rent-abank schemes would undercut this new law and could allow for abusive loans that could raise annual percentage rates or APRs well above 100 percent.

Beyond essentially rolling back interest rate caps in 16 states and the District of Columbia, the regulatory reach of these agencies is significant.

OCC supervises an estimated 1,400 national banks, federal savings associations and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks that operate in the United States. Approximately

“It is even more troubling that the OCC and FDIC proposals come as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is separately considering a proposal to repeal protections for payday loans, car title loans, and other high-cost loans,” said Diane Standaert, director of the Hope Policy Institute.

“In 2010 in the Dodd-Frank Act, Congress limited the bank regulators’ authority to preempt state consumer protection laws,” noted Lauren Saunders, associate director of the National Consumer Law Center, “yet the OCC and FDIC are ignoring those limits.”

“Voters of both parties overwhelmingly support limiting interest rates to 36 percent or lower, and we encourage all to speak up loudly against the proposal to let banks help predatory lenders charge rates that voters have said should be illegal,” said Rebecca Borné, senior policy counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending.

Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lending’s communications deputy director. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending. org

Charlene Crowell

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families, especially their spouses, that emcee Carol Daniel followed up both of their speeches by sending an imaginary love text to her husband.

Bradley, who is vice president of Community Affairs for Anheuser-Busch, even blew a kiss to his wife Tiffany in mid-speech. “He is putting the other men to shame!” Daniel said.

Daniel also made a family connection to the 2019 Corporate Diversity Award recipient, The Muny. The award was accepted by Managing Director Kwofe Coleman, a young black man. Daniel mentioned that her son is interested in theater. “It means so much for him to see himself in you in his hometown,” Daniel said to Coleman.

Along with family, the other theme that connected the event was God. That keynote was struck in the blessing of the meal by Pastor Larry Lee, leader of Agape Christian Center and a past Salute to Business award recipient (2016 Entrepreneur of the Year as CEO of Andy’s Seasoning).

Lee prayed for blessings from the “God of excellence,” a powerful spiritual reference to the Salute to Excellence program.

Ray, who is chief financial officer at the Saint Louis Zoo, made a biblical reference to her employer as the “Noah’s ark of the 20th century” trying to save animal species from extinction. Then she quoted from Ephesians 3:20. The banquet room at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac was transformed spontaneously into a church sanctuary as, from all corners of the audience, people recited along from memory: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

n

Kennedy also quoted from scripture (Mathew 17:20, a testimony to faith moving mountains). But even more spiritually powerful was his testament to the faith of his father, Michael Kennedy Sr., who founded KAI Enterprises and then handed the reins to his son (who since founded and also leads the UP Companies as well).

“I miss you, Dad. I wish you were in the office more. I need those prayers.”

– Michael B. Kennedy

“I watched my father every day get on his knees and pray

Books

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Justice Center, told The American in a phone interview. “The library card will be a good resource when guys get out, and more books will be great for guys in here as well. There are hardly any books in here. I love to read.”

Parker is serving 60 days for a DWI before he gets probation, according to his public defender, Megan

before he went to work,” Kennedy said. He then spoke directly to his father watching him from the audience. “I miss you, Dad,” Kennedy said. “I wish you were in the office more. I need those prayers.”

Four recipients of Excellence in Business

Beesley. With the most recent recidivism rate in Missouri at 43.9 percent, constructive resources are badly needed for people getting out of jail.

“We look forward to working with the Justice Center on efforts to reduce recidivism in St. Louis County,” County Library Director Kristen Sorth stated in a release. “Libraries offer important resources for and can be of particular help to those who are struggling.”

Performance Awards also were recognized: Tina Anderson, market head of Community Activation in Community Affairs for Aetna; Paris Forest, director of Strategy Operations Solutions for Information Technology and Data Analysis for Boeing; Kimberly HodgeBell, an associate fellow and senior toxicologist at Bayer Crop Science; and Darnell Sanders, director of the Archview Division of Ameren Missouri.

The Top 25 AfricanAmerican Businesses of the Year also were recognized in alphabetical order: ABNA Engineering, Andy’s Seasoning, At Home Care, BAM Contracting, Brown Kortkamp, Centrex Electrical Supply, Clay Piping Systems, CMT Roofing, Davis Associates, CPAs, Deer Valley Home Health Services, Emerging Wisdom, LLC, Hicks-Carter-Hicks, KAI Design & Build, Kwame Building Group, McKinney Group Wealth, Personal Touches by Jeanetta, Phillips Concrete Services, Premiere Production Choice, Real Estate Solutions, Regency Enterprise Services, Simms Building Group, TD4 Electrical, TW Constructors, The UP Companies and World Wide Technology.

World Wide Technology doubled as lead sponsor, along with the Steward Family Foundation. For all of the family love and spiritual depth of the event, a little business did get done. Ann Marr, vice president of Human Resources for World Wide Technology (and 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year), put the Salute to Excellence in Business in the context of the St. Louis American Foundation’s entire Salute program, including the Salute to Excellence in Education, through which millions of university scholarships have been facilitated.

“These are people we want to hire,” Marr said of Salute scholarship recipients. “Bring them over to us.”

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, whose office administers County Justice Services, developed the partnership along with Lt. Col. Troy Doyle, acting director of Justice Services., and newly announced director of Justice Services Raul Banasco will help to develop it.

“Making library assets more readily available will help ease some obstacles individuals face after being released from incarceration,” Page said in a statement. “It’s another way to treat those in our custody with dignity and respect and prepare them for a brighter future.”

Photo by Wiley Price

Michael B. Kennedy of KAI Enterprises and the UP Companies was recognized as 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 20th annual Salute to Excellence to Business on Thursday, November 21.

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Tillman’s reason for being dead is that he pointed a gun at an officer, at the end of the day, that gun should be in close proximity to where he was killed.”

Brandy showed the video at a press conference held jointly by several community organizations, including the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, International Black Freedom Alliance, Organization For Black Struggle, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Universal African Peoples Organization (UAPO) and others.

Apparently the police thought the bank was closed and didn’t know a salon was inside, Brandy said, because when the three women tried to leave the salon, police aggressively questioned them about what they saw. They even asked for their cell phones, which the women refused to surrender.

According to St. Louis County Police, at approximately 3 p.m. on August 31, a uniformed Richmond Heights police officer saw a man inside the St. Louis Galleria mall with a handgun protruding from his waistband. The officer approached Tillman and “advised him of the Galleria’s Zero Tolerance Policy on guns,” police said. While they were speaking, Tillman suddenly ran away from the officer and the officer chased him. Tillman had a felony on his record and was committing a Class D felony by carrying the firearm he had brought to the mall. At some point, Tillman

Cop

Continued from A1

Then-officer Bailey Colletta, who has pled guilty to lying to the F.B.I about Hall’s arrest and beating, was in the car with Hays. The two were in a romantic relationship, according to the federal indictment regarding Hall’s case.

On August 6, 2017 at 3 p.m., a police sergeant filed a complaint against Hays, who was a police lieutenant in St. Louis’ 6th Police District at the time, for “failing to notify anyone within his chain of command about his arrest.”

The complaint also states that Colletta, a police probationary officer at the time, also “failed to notify a supervisor after having police contact.”

A police spokeswoman said they are reviewing The American’s questions regarding whether or not Hays and Colletta were disciplined in the complaint.

Colletta’s last day with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department was September 20, and Hays’ last day was November 12, according to a police spokeswoman.

On November 8, Hays signed a guilty plea agreement with federal prosecutors admitting his involvement in unlawfully beating and

dropped his gun inside the mall. Police said Tillman reached down and picked the gun back up. However, family members believe Tillman kept running without retrieving the gun. The officer chased Tillman across the street of the Galleria to the parking garage for Simmons Bank.

“While at the parking garage, the Richmond Heights police officer utilized his department-issued firearm, striking the suspect,” police said. Police claimed that Tillman had his gun raised when the officer shot him.

The Clayton Police Department requested the assistance of the St. Louis County Police Department. The incident is now under investigation by the St. Louis

arresting Hall, who was working undercover during a protest against the acquittal of former city officer Jason Stockley of a murder charge in an officer-involved shooting.

In the plea agreement, Hays said that he and his colleagues saw Hall standing on the street — doing nothing criminal or suspicious — thought he was a protestor, threw him to the ground and beat him. Hall is permanently injured, it states.

The two other officers indicted in Hall’s case, Christopher Myers and Daniel Boone, have pled not guilty and are on unpaid administrative suspension.

Federal prosecutors plan on going to a grand jury sometime before Thanksgiving or early December to seek an indictment of others involved in Hall’s beating and arrest, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Hays sent a text message to Boone the day after Hall’s beating stating, “if it was a protester it wouldn’t be a problem at all,” according to his plea agreement. A class-action lawsuit filed in September alleges that more than 120 people were maced, beaten and arrested the same night as Hall. There have been no indictments in the civilian cases.

County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons Unit.

Sgt. Benjamin Granda, spokesman for the St. Louis County Police, reviewed the woman’s video and the comments made by Brandy. In response, he said in an email to The St. Louis American, “The actions taken by law enforcement on scene, including the securing of Mr. Tillman’s weapon after the shooting, were known and have been documented in the investigation.”

According to attorney Jerryl Christmas, Tillman had just been shot when the women started capturing video. The police officers should have been preserving the crime scene and waiting until

investigators arrived, he said. The people who are normally in charge of securing weapons are evidence technicians, he said.

“It’s clear that St. Louis County hasn’t arrived yet,” Christmas said.

The City of Richmond Heights city manager and police chief responded to the video in a statement late Monday evening, stating that the city has been aware of this bystander’s video.

“This footage is being used purely for conspiracy claims, to confuse, and to fuel distrust and anger in the St. Louis community,” it states. “The integrity of the crime scene is not in question. Mr. Tillman was alive after the shooting and officers quickly performed

Activists prayed over Andrea Martin, mother of Terry J. Tillman, at a press conference held on Monday, November 25 to show new video evidence of the aftermath of the police killing of the 23-year-old man on August 31.

“for nothing else, to form a relationship of trust.”

“This community does not automatically trust police,” Gray said. “Contamination of crime scenes is not new in this city, this region or in this country.”

Granda previously said police were seeking footage from the 158 surveillance cameras within the mall. The Ethical Society of Police, a police association that advocates for racial equity in policing, tweeted after the press conference, “The public has justified concerns. These incidents are always tragic. The shooting could be justified or not justified, but if there’s video to refute or prove the officer’s actions, it needs to be released.”

CPR trying to save him. It is well documented that his gun was secured during this time.”

Richmond Heights officials added: “The police-involved shooting of Mr. Tillman was a sad and tragic event. Our thoughts and condolences continue to go out to Mr. Tillman’s family. All involved are trying to emotionally heal.”

However, the family cannot heal without seeing the police investigation and footage from the incident, advocates said. Rev. Darryl Gray, a civil rights activist and Stockley verdict protest leader, said that law enforcement and St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell should have met with the family by now and been giving them updates –

When asked when those videos will be released, Granda said, “The video will be released when it’s appropriate to do so. The investigation remains ongoing, and we are optimistic that it will be presented to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in the near future.”

Andrea Martin, Tillman’s mother, said the holidays have been hard for her and the family.

“Terry was great young man,” she said. “He was expecting his first baby. Terry was a caring young man, and he was a good son to me.” Tillman’s stepfather, Darryl Martin, said the family wants justice.

“We can understand an officer protecting oneself,” he said. “But you can’t protect yourself if there’s no threat. And all I want is justice for my son because there was no threat to them. They could have just left him to come home to us but they took him instead.”

Photo by Rebecca Rivas

Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon

Over 400 guests attended the 20th Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon on November 21 at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac Hotel. World Wide Technology and the Steward Family Foundation served as lead sponsors of the event, which was co-presented by the St. Louis American Foundation, the St. Louis Regional Chamber and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. Michael B. Kennedy of KAI was honored as the 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year. Bill Bradley of Anheuser-Busch received the 2019 Corporate Executive of the Year award and Cassandra Brown-Ray of the St. Louis Zoo received the 2019 Non-Profit Executive of the Year award. Four individuals received Excellence in Business Performance awards—Tina Anderson of Aetna, Kimberly Hodge-Bell of Bayer, Darnell Sanders of Ameren Missouri and Paris Forest of Boeing. This year’s recipient of the Corporate Diversity Award was The Muny. KMOX 1120’s Carol Daniel served as emcee. Representatives from Missouri

Kel Ward, Kelvin Westbrook and 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year Michael B. Kennedy

Awardee Paris Forest chats with awardee Michael B. Kennedy.

Ann Marr spoke on behalf of lead sponsors World Wide Technology and the Steward Family Foundation.

Brown Ray.

Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis President & CEO Michael McMillan, with guests, including Top 25 awardee Darlene Davis of Davis and Associates, and Top 25 awardee Carlita Vasser of At Home

Emcee Carol Daniel, with Corporate Executive of the Year Bill Bradley, and Salute volunteer Claire Hay

Forest

All photos by Wiley Price

Representatives from 2019 Corporate Diversity Award recipient, The Muny, including President and CEO Dennis Reagan and Managing Director Kwofe Coleman (center)

Larry Lee, President of Top 25 awardee Andy’s Seasoning, gave the invocation.

Oscar Berryman, Lynell Boyd, W. Shaun Bell, Excellence in Business Performance awardee Kimberly Hodge-Bell, Daphne Dorsey and Daphanie Pointer

Brent Bantz, Alonzo Johnson, Ralph Smith and Michael Brown

of Ameren Missouri

Brian Murphy of BAM Contracting and guest

Emcee Carol Daniel presents the Corporate Diversity Award to Kwofe Coleman representing The Muny

Representatives and guests from Anheuser-Busch, who came to honor Corporate Executive of the Year Bill Bradley (left)

Nicole Fondren, James Whitfield and Kenya Brown

Brian Arnold chats with Paul McKee Jr. and Kelvin Westbrook

Spire representatives and guests: Candance Harris, Quentin Ray, Mark Darrell, Emily Romines, Kenya Brown, Rex Thompson, Nicole Fondren, James Whitfield and Vanessa Cooksey Entrepreneur of

Michael B. Kennedy

Awardee

Kimberly Hodge-Bell

Salim Kenyatta, Top 25 awardee Rebecca Bennett-Kenyatta of Emerging Wisdom, awardee Bill Bradley and Nicole Fondren

Representatives of Top 25 awardee Centrex Electrical Non-Profit Executive of the Year

Cassandra Brown Ray of the Saint Louis Zoo

Giving thanks for public service – and hisses for disservice

It’s Thanksgiving time, when Political EYE gives thanks to those politicians whose tireless service and disservice makes this column possible all year long.

President Donald Trump: Thanks for showing us how many Americans value their political party over national security and for showing us that millions of Americans will choose treason over relinquishing straight cis white male supremacy in our country.

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt: Thanks for recommending Jeff Jensen for U.S. attorney for Eastern Missouri. You sit silently while your president bankrupts our nation in thrall to a hostile foreign power, but you did get us a good man for the DOJ in STL. He brought back Hal Goldsmith, who punked and dunked Steve Stenger

though reflect on how well you cared for the cattle you raised back on the farm and ask yourself if poor people don’t deserve a minimum of health care and nutrition — just like cows.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt: Thanks for joining every single lawsuit on the wrong side — especially the one that would gut the Affordable Care Act’s protections for preexisting conditions — and thereby giving your Democratic opponent a paintby-numbers campaign platform.

Parents United For Change honored by Illinois governor

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley: Thanks for providing a Missouri model for the next generation of theocratic authoritarian the GOP is engineering to succeed Trump now that Eric Greitens is damaged goods (but you had better spend more time looking into a mirror in the weight room if you ever hope to do more than talk tough like Donald “Bone Spurs” Trump).

U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay: Thanks for providing St. Louis’ only federal representation who votes consistently with compassion, humanity and patriotism.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson: Thanks for being less charismatic and therefore less dangerous than Eric Greitens,

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft: Thanks for not setting progressive ballot initiatives on fire on the Capitol steps while wearing a MAGA hat, but instead only dragging your feet hoping that inaction and the plausible deniability of your incompetence defeats the will of the people you swore to serve. Also, say hi to Daddy.

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway: Thanks for providing the only evidence of sentient, compassionate, patriotic human life in statewide office in the Show Me Misery State — and that evidence is voluminous and compelling.

Mamie Cosey of Parents United for Change, East St. Louis Police Chief Kendall Perry, Serve Illinois Commissioner Tiffany Mathis and Gloria Hicks of Parents United for Change celebrated Parents United For Change winning the 2019 Governor’s Hometown Award. Through the group’s advocacy, HB 5195 was signed into Illinois law to allow free transportation to students who live in high-crime areas within 1.5 miles of their school. The awards are presented by the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service. East St. Louis School District 189 recommended the group for the award.

St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell: Thanks for defying your many enemies and honoring your righteous campaign promises by building and expanding diversion programs and beginning to chart your office toward a compassionate and more productive vision of criminal justice than just locking (mostly black) people up and letting them rot. (But, next time, hold the lobster tail.)

St. Louis Assessor Jake Zimmerman: Thanks for great public service in an important but unglamorous office, but why try to put a stick in the spokes of Sam Page when he obviously is moving the county

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page: Thanks for hiring the right people to help you work behind the scenes to feed Steve Stenger to the feds and then to wrangle your appointment to succeed him, because since you took office you have been undoing the damage Stenger did and setting a high standard for progressive leadership in a county that really does appear to be willing to change.

in a progressive direction?

St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson: Thanks for putting your city’s historic black newspaper back on the media list that you removed us from and sparing us both an expensive law suit that would have shown your denial of honest public service to the majority-black readers who rely on our newspaper for information like the public information you distribute to the media, or at least (for a while there) to the white media.

St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green: Thanks for being the only vote on the city’s Board of Estimate and Apportionment calling for the closing of the Workhouse and a public vote before vultures

sell our airport to private and unaccountable concerns.

St. Louis Aldermanic President Lewis Reed: Thanks for ... uh ... thanks for ... um ... kind of drawing a blank on this one. Happy Thanksgiving, brother! Let us know when you will start answering questions for us and our readers. And don’t wait until campaign time comes around again! Because then you would just look like another status quo opportunist.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner: Thanks for standing up fearlessly to one of the most lawless, often vicious organizations in the United States, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Your owning up to your Brady List of cops who should not and will not be trusted to testify against a fellow citizen in a criminal court of law is a landmark in courage and truth-telling for a prosecutor. St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones: Thanks for hanging in there and staying in St. Louis despite overt local mainstream media racism and a shameless group of black sell-outs willing to dilute the power of your electability for a few crumbs at the trough of the plantation. Unfortunately, you can expect more of both if you keep fighting to serve this city and all of its citizens in a competent, fearless and progressive way.

Art, Music, and Games at the Art Museum

Discover the excitement of SLAM Underground with free, monthly celebrations featuring a variety of music from local performers, interactive games, and creative art making. Mark your calendar the last Friday of each month to join the Saint Louis Art Museum for everything art, from offbeat art tours to highenergy performances, all while enjoying a cash bar with signature cocktails. SLAM Underground has a different theme every month and offers something unique for everyone. This Friday, the SLAM Underground theme is “Rhythm” and you can enjoy a full night of rhythm and beats. Starting at 7 pm, DJ James Biko and drummer Will Robinson will spin records throughout the evening. Catch the high-energy step team of Gentleman of Vision in Sculpture Hall at 8 am and 8:30 pm, followed by St. Louis singer and songwriter, bassist, and poet Tonina, who will take to the stage at 8:45 in the museum’s Farrell Auditorium. During the evening, you can also have your picture taken in the Flip’n Sweet photobooth, try your hands at creating your own work of art in the Create Lab, and win a gift at

the Harlem Renaissance History prize wheel. Take this opportunity to view The Shape of Abstraction: Selections from the Ollie Collection exhibition in galleries 234 and 235. Join us in celebrating five generations of Black artists who have revolutionized abstract art since the 1940s. The exhibition includes Norman Lewis’s gestural drawings, Sam Gilliam’s radically shaped paintings, and Chakia Booker’s exploration in printmaking among many others. Ronald Ollie, who donated the works of art in the Shape of Abstraction exhibition, believes visual art and spoken word go hand in hand, so make sure not to miss the poets of UrbArts, who willperform at 7:15 pm and 9:15 pm. Now, your mission is to invite some friends to party at SLAM Underground on Friday, November 29 from 7 to 10 pm at the Saint Louis Art Museum. Most guests are in their 20s and 30s, but all adults are welcome. SLAM Underground takes a break in December, but we will return in January with a different theme and new lineup of happening events. For more information about SLAM Underground and other museum programs and activities, visit slam.org.

History Museum celebrates Human Rights Day on Dec. 10

Nominate an Unsung Hero/Shero by Nov. 30

By Ellen Kunkelmann

For The St. Louis American

On Tuesday, December 10, the Missouri Historical Society and St. Louis Coalition for Human Rights, together with the United Nations Association of St. Louis, will celebrate Human Rights Day 2019 at the Missouri History Museum.

First observed in 1950, Human Rights Day commemorates the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) at the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on December 10, 1948. The UDHR was a historic milestone: For the first time, representatives from different national, legal, and cultural backgrounds came together to establish universal protection for fundamental human rights. Although the 30 articles affirming individual human rights under the UDHR are not legally binding, they’re considered a standard for national constitutions, international treaties, and regional laws.

On December 10, local teenagers and adults who are “Unsung Heroes/Sheroes” of human rights will be honored at the museum. Because voting rights are the focus of Human Rights Day 2019, there will also be a panel discussion on the issue. Panelists include Demarco Davidson of Metro Congregations United, Rika Tyler of Missouri Faith Voices, and Janis Mensah of Organization for Black Struggle (OBS).

“Voting rights are part of what goes into Article 21 in the UDHR: the right to participate in government and in free elections,” says Mensah. “Article 21 does not just mean having the right to vote, but rather having equal access to exercise that right. OBS and the organizations participating in this event continue to fight to defend this right in the St. Louis community.”

She points out that there have been many incidents that have objectively suppressed the votes of African Americans and threaten to do so again in the future, such as closed voting sites and ballot shortages in predominantly African American neighborhoods.

“Oftentimes certain municipalities will have authorities present and running [license] plates when voters are on their way to the polls. It has

been noted at times that this has occurred while voters are at the polls,” Tyler said.

“Voter cards are no longer adequate to show identity. Active, state-issued identification must be shown in order to vote. This restricts the elderly who do not drive or may not necessarily have a need for a valid government-issued ID on a daily basis. This also truly affects poor people who can’t afford to replace lost or expired IDs. In addition, those incarcerated or completing probation or parole are not allowed to vote in Missouri. In St. Louis specifically, there have been times when there have been insufficient or underequipped polling stations that created more issues with voter turnout.”

“St. Louisans can support and protect the right to vote by knowing their rights, exercising their rights, and working with community organizations to fight for the rights we have always deserved and were promised in 1948,” Mensah said.

“This could mean a number of things: canvassing to register any member of your community who is at least 17½ years old, registering yourself to vote, voting in every available local and national election, bringing your friends to a political education event about voting rights put on by OBS, and signing a petition demanding voting-rights legislation.”

Mensah hopes that Human Rights Day attendees will leave with a deep understanding that the fight for human rights within their local communities is an ongoing effort.

“OBS sees voting as part of a larger strategy of community empowerment,” Mensah said. “It’s a road to the destination, not the destination itself. OBS will be involved in voter protection projects in 2020, and we will encourage attendees to participate in these or other efforts.”

“2020 will be a historic election year,” Tyler said. “We have a lot at stake, and we cannot come unprepared to the fight. We will need all hands on deck, and voting is a huge tool that creates so much power.”

Human Rights Day 2019 will take place at the Missouri History Museum on Tuesday, December 10, at 7 p.m. in the AT&T Foundation Multipurpose Room. For more information or to nominate an Unsung Hero/Shero, contact stlc4hr@yahoo.com or visit obs-stl.org by November 30. Nominees and nominators should be at least 12 years old.

Ellen Kunkelmann is associate editor at the Missouri Historical Society.

Human Rights Day at the Missouri History Museum

Clinical trials may treat the untreatable

Participant addresses historical abuse of black subjects in

By Sandra Jordan

At any given time, thousands of clinical trials are underway to advance medicine. While mistrust and skepticism about participation in medical research have historical roots among African Americans, participation by multiple racial and ethnic groups is the way to determine with greater accuracy the effectiveness of new medications for those same groups. Participation in medical research can extend and save lives.

Such is the case for St. Louisan Sheila McGlown, who has been living for several years with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. It is estimated that 154,000 women in the U.S. have metastatic breast cancer, characterized by its spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes to other parts of the body. Breast cancer had already spread to McGlown’s liver and ribs when she was diagnosed in 2009. She has undergone surgery and chemotherapy in the 10 years since and fought against four progressions of the disease.

n “I said, ‘Let’s go with the clinical trial,’ and she said, ‘Not many AfricanAmerican women participate in clinical trials.’”

– Sheila McGlown

“I was talking to my doctor and he said, ‘Well, I can put you on this chemo or that chemo or you can participate in a clinical trial,’” McGlown said. “I said, ‘Let’s go with the clinical trial,’ and she said, ‘Not many African-American women participate in clinical trials.’” McGlown said the clinical trial at Siteman Cancer Center she has participated in for almost a year and a half is making a difference in treatment.

“I’ve been in a clinical trial now for 16 months, and it’s working,” McGlown said. “They haven’t found any new spots or anything. It’s still stable, and that’s a good thing.” Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer for women of any race or ethnicity.

Susan G. Komen data estimates nearly 34,000 Black/African American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Additionally, diagnosis occurs at a younger age and can be at a more advanced stage, with lower survival rates.

McGlown served 25 years on active duty in the U.S. military and was stationed at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois when she found out she had breast cancer.

“I had to retire once I found out my

See TRIALS, A13

“I’ve been in a clinical trial now for 16 months, and it’s working,” Sheila McGlown said. “They haven’t found any new spots or anything. It’s still stable, and that’s a good thing.”

By U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay For The St. Louis American

As we enter this season of gratitude and thanks, I want to amplify a message of giving and the importance of caring for our neighbors.

Many of us take heed to the proverb of being our brothers’ keeper. But as your U.S. representative, I must express that I am continually disappointed by this current administration. I have been angered by the blatant disregard and mistreatment of immigrants, minorities, the disabled and the sick. But just when I believe this administration cannot sink to lower depths, another policy is proposed to benefit the rich and powerful and leave behind the truly vulnerable – our children.

n The Trump administration proposed a rule that would threaten more than a half-million children’s access to free school meals.

Recently, the Trump administration proposed a rule that would take away Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from over 3 million people and threaten more than a half-million children’s access to free school meals. My friends and constituents, be assured that I will fight this cruel, depraved plan with all that I have. The rising cost of food in America forces many parents to choose between putting food on the table or covering other expenses. Thus, continued access to SNAP benefits and free or reduced school breakfast and lunch is imperative. In St. Louis, over 32,000 children participate in free or reduced lunch benefits, and over 900,000 children in Missouri also participate. School meals help improve nutrition, fight obesity and assist kids in being successful in the school environment. Hungry children are not free to concentrate on the educational basics of reading, writing and arithmetic.

I am mindful this season of the many blessings and freedoms we have in our community. But unless all can partake in the

St. Mary’s Hospital opens expanded ER

SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital opened its newly expanded Emergency Room on Monday, November 18, featuring 9,000 square feet of additional space for patients and staff. The addition is Phase III of a seven-phase, $15 million project, which is still set to be fully completed in the summer of 2020.

The new addition features 11 treatment rooms, two large trauma-resuscitation rooms, two nursing stations, a new EMS lounge and a new ambulance entrance and canopy that increases ambulance parking space from three to five spaces. The addition also includes an eight-room Behavioral Health Observation Unit which will open in January 2020. With the opening of the new addition, work began on the existing emergency room to remodel the space into a new 10-room Quick ER to see, treat and discharge low acuity patients quickly as well as 20 treatment rooms which will be reconfigured to maximize visibility from nursing stations. When the entire project is completed in summer 2020, the total number of treatment spaces in the ER will have increased from 38 to 50 rooms.

A12

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • NOV. 28 – DEC. 4, 2019

Of The St. Louis American

Photo provided by Sheila McGlown

SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital leadership, including President Travis Capers (center), cut the ribbon on a newly expanded 9,000 square-foot emergency room on Nov. 15.

Wm. Lacy Clay

Photo courtesy of SSM Health St. Mary’s

St. Louis joins ‘Fast-Track’ to end AIDS

American staff

The City of St. Louis is getting on the fast track to end the AIDS epidemic.

The Fast-Track Cities Paris Declaration is a commitment by cities to reach 90–90–90 targets of 90 percent of people living with HIV knowing their HIV status, 90 percent of people who know their HIV-positive status accessing treatment, and 90 percent of people on treatment having suppressed viral loads.

“St. Louis becoming a Fast-Track City demonstrates a commitment of government leaders to leverage regional resources and critical scientific advances in HIV prevention and the continuum of care,

Adult Abuse

Hotline has new online portal

If you suspect abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of the elderly or an adult with a disability, call the Adult Abuse Hotline at (800) 392-0210 or visit www.health. mo.gov/abuse/ to report online. This is a new reporting system to ensure all concerns of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation of the elderly and adults with disabilities are reported quickly created by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).

All mandated reporters are encouraged to partner with DHSS by entering reports online and allowing greater accessibility to the hotline for the public.

The Adult Abuse Hotline is operational from 7 a.m. until midnight, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The online reporting system is available 24/7; however, it is only monitored by intake staff during the hotline’s hours of operation.

Initiative was launched on World AIDS Day 2014 in Paris

coordinate efforts across the local public health system, reduce stigma associated with sexual health screening and prevention of sexually transmitted infections, and implement evidence-informed culturally sensitive activities necessary to end the HIV epidemic,” said Fredrick L. Echols, M.D., director of Health for the City of St. Louis.

Mayor Lyda Krewson will sign the Fast-Track Cities Paris Declaration to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 on Sunday, December 1, joined by representatives from the St. Louis County Executive Office, International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, City of St.

Louis Department of Health, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Williamson and Associates, Doorways, Saint Louis Effort for Aids, and the St. Louis Regional HIV Health Service Planning Council.

“We can only address the AIDS epidemic effectively if we work together,” said St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, who is an anesthesiologist. “We look forward to working with the City to move St. Louis toward better public health for all our residents.”

Data from the end of 2017

reports 6,230 people were living with HIV disease (HIV/ AIDS) in the St. Louis region, with more than 3,400 of those persons (55 percent) living in the City of St. Louis and more than 2,300 (37 percent) living in St Louis County.

“St. Louis will benefit from the collective best practices and lessons learned from a network of more than 300 FastTrack Cities and other municipalities that are working in solidarity to end urban HIV epidemics by 2030,” said Dr. José M. Zuniga, president/CEO of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care

n “St. Louis will benefit from the collective best practices and lessons learned from a network of more than 300 Fast-Track Cities and other municipalities.”

– Dr. José M. Zuniga

(IAPAC), which is the core technical partner of the FastTrack Cities initiative.

Fast-Track Cities is a global partnership between almost 300 cities and municipalities, IAPAC, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, and the City of Paris that are collaborating to reach zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero HIV-related stigma/ discrimination. The initiative was launched on World AIDS Day 2014 in Paris. For more information, visit https://www.iapac.org/ fast-track-cities/about-fasttrack/.

In the name of AIDS

Women’s Blackout Brunch is Nov. 30

Some of the most important conversations to have with family and loved ones are sometimes the scariest ones to ever bring up.

On Saturday, November 30, in advance of World AIDS Day, volunteers from a number of St. Louis-area organizations that deal with public health have joined together to organize the second annual Women’s Blackout Brunch to help raise awareness about AIDS, how prevalent the epidemic is among women, and how to have difficult conversations regarding it.

Trials

n Imani Sharif said the brunch was started because of the compelling “need to do something in the region to raise awareness of World AIDS Day.”

The free event is funded by St. Louis City Health Department, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Williams & Associates, a local nonprofit for minority health, and is presented by The Women of

Continued from A12 diagnosis and, since then, I’ve been an advocate for [improving] racial disparities, especially in the St. Louis and East St. Louis communities,” McGlown said. McGlown said when she goes out to talk about clinical trials, she remains mindful of history.

Clay

Continued from A12 fruits of this rich nation, we have not fully evolved, and our work is not done. I fight every day to ensure

Color and Their Male Partners Subcommittee Imani Sharif, coordinator for psycho-social support at Williams and Associates, said that the Women’s Blackout Brunch was started because of the compelling “need to do something in the region to raise awareness of World AIDS Day.”

The brunch will be held 12:30-3 p.m. Saturday, November 30 at The

Engineer’s Club of St. Louis, 4359 Lindell Blvd., and includes a free screening of “90 Days: The Film”, which Sharif hopes will help raise awareness about having difficult conversations. Register at blkout2. eventbrite.com. For more information, call Imani Sharif at 314-267-9604.

Phases of patient clinical trials

“I tell them all the time, once we get out and start educating women, that there are so many laws now that hopefully, prayerfully, that will be prevented – and that we need to participate in clinical trials.”

For more information, visit clinicaltrials.gov.

“You’re reading about the Tuskegee Airmen project, where they gave men syphilis, or you read about Henrietta Lacks, where they took her cells and they are still using her cells. It’s a mistrust of the medical system as to why African-American women don’t want to participate in clinical trials,” McGlown said.

all children have a chance at educational opportunities. I fight for an increased minimum wage so more parents will not have to choose between bills and food. I will continue to fight for SNAP benefits and access to free and reduced lunches for our children.

In this economic climate, this administration’s goal should not be to ensure that children are hungry at home and at school. In the words of my dear friend the late Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, “We are better than this.”

Phase 0 – Uses around 15 people with very low doses of drug for a short time to learn how drug affects the body

Phase 1 – Uses up to a few dozen people and finds the highest dose of a new medicine that can be given safely

Phase 2 – Has 25 to 100

I would encourage everyone who can, in this season of thanks, to give generously to local food banks and your houses of worship as they work to meet the needs of the less fortunate. I will continue my fight for the rights and needs of our most vulnerable

Missouri Foundation for Health is a resource for the region, working with communities and nonprofits to generate and accelerate positive changes in health. As a catalyst for change, the Foundation improves the health of Missourians through partnership, experience, knowledge and funding.

patients to determine if the drug treatment works (no placebo)

Phase 3 – Large number of patients in multiple locations – watched closely for side effects and stopped if too severe; or submitted to FDA for approval, who may require further studies

Phase 4 – FDA approved drugs are watched over long periods of time for possible long term safety and long term effects. This is typically the safest type of clinical trial because the treatment has already been studied a lot and might have already been used in many people.

populations – the sick, the poor, the elderly and our children. I believe we will ultimately be judged as a nation by how we treat our citizens who are deserving of special care. I wish you grace and hope that as you and yours gather,

Source: American Cancer Society

we appreciate and acknowledge not only all the sacrifices, but also the triumphs, as we bring this year to a close. God bless and Happy Thanksgiving. U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-Missouri) represents Missouri’s 1st Congressional District.

Your Health Matters is provided in partnership with

Frederick L. Echols, M.D.

People’s hosts Breast Cancer Awareness event

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‘Strong, smart and bold’ women and girls

13th annual Girls Inc. luncheon celebrates present and future of women leadership

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St.

Louis American

“Who runs the world?” master of ceremonies Rene Knott of KSDK-TV News channel 5 would routinely say to check in with the audience during Girls Incorporated of St. Louis’ 13th annual Strong, Smart and Bold Luncheon on November 14 at the Ritz-Carlton.

“Girls! – the 600 or so in the crowd shouted back – quoting the popular Beyoncé song “Run The World (Girls).” The lyric was a fitting call and response for the afternoon’s festivities, which celebrated “Women Who Inspire.”

“It gives me great pleasure to be here –because I am the father of a daughter, I am the husband to a wife, I am the son to a mother and I am the brother to a sister,” Knott said. “I understand the love and recognition that we need to give women in our world.”

n “Don’t be afraid to continue to learn. You have goals and aspirations, sometimes the only way to fulfill that is if you are a little bold and take some risks.”

– Ann Marr, WorldWide Technology

According to Knott, Girls Inc. inspires girls to be strong, smart and bold through life-changing programs and experiences that navigate gender, economic and social barriers.

That programming includes research-based curricula delivered by trained professionals that “equips girls to achieve academically, lead healthy, physical lives that are active and develop an interest in science, technology,

engineering and math.”

The national network of Girls Inc. serves more than 156,000 young women ages 5-18 each year across the U.S. and Canada.

Cheryl Jones, president and CEO of Girls Inc. St. Louis, said in her remarks that 8,000 young women are served annually through the local branch. “And I want to say thank you for being a champion for girls,” she said.

Current members of Girls Inc. were spread across the room with at least one of the young ladies in a smart red blazer situated at each of the 50-plus tables.

The afternoon’s speaker came from within the organization. Kayla Payne – a Girls Inc., member, Strong, Smart and Bold honoree and 12-grader at McCluer High School – delivered the afternoon’s keynote address. She conducted her speech as if it were a debriefing of a case.

See GIRLS, B2

Audit finds developer control of taxing districts with no public oversight

By Rebecca Rivas

Of The St. Louis American

When people spend money at Ballpark Village or Union Station, they are paying two percent more in sales tax — or 11.679 percent total, the highest in the state. This is because those retailers are located within “layered incentive districts,” explained state Auditor

People On

Tommy L. Davis Jr. joined the board of the Regional Business Council. The RBC is composed of 100 CEOs representing some of the region’s largest employers, employing over 120,000 people and generating over $65 billion in revenue annually. Davis is president of TD4 Electrical, which has grossed in excess of $200 million since it was founded in March of 2006 and is one of the largest African-American-owned electrical contracting companies in the United States.

Tiffany Davis joined St. Louis Community College as director of workforce and talent development, a role within the college’s Workforce Solutions Group. She is responsible for leading the development of comprehensive workforce training services and talent development strategies to business, labor and community organizations. Previously, she was the director of staff development and learning solutions for the State of Maryland judicial system.

Anthony Thompson received Washington University’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes a few Washington University alumni with outstanding professional achievement, public service and/ or exceptional service to Washington University. He is president and CEO of Kwame Building Group, Inc. and earned a master’s degree in civil engineering from Washington University.

Dionne Orr joined the Board of Directors of the Ferguson Youth Initiative. She is senior lead merchandiser supervisor at PepsiCo STL and a member of the Culture and Inclusion Committee at PepsiCo. The Ferguson Youth Initiative empowers teens from Ferguson and surrounding communities to become productive, positive, and contributing members of the community. For more information, email info@fyifergyouth.org.

Camrus Johnson was recognized by the 28th Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival for his film “Grab My Hand: A Letter to My Dad,” which he directed with Pedro Piccinini. It was awarded Best Short Short in the festival. Juries choose the winners of seven awards from among the shorts in competition. Johnson is an actor and producer, known for “Batwoman” (2019), “The Sun Is Also a Star” (2019) and “Safe Spaces” (2019).

Missouri state auditor Nicole Galloway presented an audit’s findings on the city of St. Louis’ local taxing districts on November 21.

Jo LeGard joined Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) as executive assistant. She will be responsible for providing administrative support to the senior leadership team and Board of Directors. ARCHS funds and strategically enhances initiatives that improve the lives of children and families facing disparities and disadvantages in St. Louis’ most impoverished communities. On the move? Congratulations! Send your good professional news and a color headshot to cking@stlamerican. com

Dionne Orr

Tommy L. Davis Jr.

Jo LeGard

Anthony Thompson

Camrus Johnson

Members of Girls Inc. St. Louis convened just ahead of the 13th annual Strong, Smart and Bold Luncheon on November 14 at the Ritz-Carlton.

Photo by Lance Omar Thurman

Tiffany Davis

Photo by Andrea Smith / St. Louis Public Radio

Louis with a “poor,” the lowest possible grade.

“It’s outrageous that, for too long, these districts have operated unchecked,” Galloway said. “Taxpayers deserve to know their money is being used efficiently, effectively and for the benefit of the entire community. It’s up to the city to put processes in place to protect taxpayers and ensure projects have meaningful oversight.”

Repeatedly, the city’s responses — which are included in the report — state they are in compliance with state law, which does not require any specific analysis to evaluate the merits of a proposed taxing district. To this Galloway said, “Approval by the city is required and would allow officials the ability to provide additional scrutiny. As a result of lack of oversight by the city, some districts have formed with vague purposes.”

Galloway found that none of the city’s 21 Special Business Districts (SBDs) — which largely collect additional property tax — were established in accordance with state law.

“What the audit found wasn’t a new kind of problem,” said Glenn Burleigh, a volunteer with the grassroots movement Audit STL. “This stuff has not been done correctly for a long, long time. Every single Special Business District was not put together correctly. This means multiple mayors, multiple city counselors, multiple clerks. Nobody has been doing that job.”

Galloway’s findings are a good example why the Audit STL urged the state auditor to conduct a citywide audit, Burleigh said. In addition to the SBDs, the report looks at Community Improvement

Districts (CIDs) and Transportation Development District (TDDs) projects. The majority of CIDs and TDDs are funded through increased sales taxes on purchases within the district, while SBDs are funded by increased property taxes and business license taxes. There are 138 of these districts located in the city. The audit found that the city does not have a comprehensive development plan or strategic approach

n “The city does not evaluate if the use of these tax dollars are in the best interest of the public.”

– state Auditor Nicole Galloway

to establish taxing districts. In response to this, Linda Martinez, the deputy mayor for development, stated that such a plan is not required by state law but one is expected to be completed by January 2020.

CID boards in the city are developer-controlled, and 92 percent of TDD boards in the city are developercontrolled.”

The report recommended that the city ensure these districts are formed to include independent oversight.

Nearly none of these taxing districts are located in North St. Louis — in areas that need to fund public improvements or private projects in run-down areas the most.

According to the state auditor’s 2018 report of Community Improvement Districts, only three out of the city’s more than 60 CID locations listed were located in North St. Louis. (There is a total of 86 CIDs as of June 2018.)

All three of these CIDs are governed by people associated with the Green Street St. Louis development company, according to the city ordinances establishing the CIDs, and those revenues are going towards Green Street’s development project costs.

The “rampant use of taxing districts in St. Louis,” as Galloway states, impacts citizens in various ways daily, advocates said.

n The audit found that the city does not have a comprehensive development plan or strategic approach to establish taxing districts.

Galloway also found that there is little transparency regarding what these districts are actually doing. “Lack of oversight in CIDs and TDDs allow spending decisions to be made by those that benefit the most,” according to Galloway’s press statement. “The city does not require anyone independent of the developer or property owner to serve on the boards that oversee the districts. The report found 96 percent of

“If I’m going into a coffee shop and paying extra cents — obviously that is coming directly out of my pocket,” Burleigh said.

However, many of the districts are also part of larger tax-incentive packages for developers, which also include Tax Increment Financing (TIFs) and tax abatements.

“That’s money not going to the school districts,” Burleigh said. “Kids aren’t going to get what they need. At the end of the day, what we have seen from the Board of Aldermen and various mayors is that there is little concern about saving taxpayers money, but there is a lot of concern about getting developers as much subsidies as much as possible in each project.”

UP Companies honored with Keystone Award for Hotel St. Louis

The Associated General Contractors of Missouri (AGCMO) honored The UP Companies (UPCO) on November 4 with a Keystone Award in the Specialty Contractor/Subcontractor

Building Construction on a Project $4 million or More category for its work on the Hotel St. Louis project.

Square UP Builders and Power UP Electrical Contractors, of minority-owned UPCO, helped to transform the abandoned and deteriorating 126-year-old historic Union Trust building at 705 Olive St. in St. Louis into an operating boutique hotel, Hotel St. Louis, under the Marriott Autograph Collection.

Developer Restoration St. Louis and its team were challenged with creating a newly renovated hotel within the constraints of the existing

Girls

continued from page B1

“I’ve spent the past 10 years at Girls Inc. gathering evidence,” Payne said. “The first piece of evidence was discovered – leadership –finding out about leadership skills and gathering information on what it takes to be a leader.”

Payne revealed that the structure of her speech was inspired by her desire to become an FBI agent. She plans to continue her studies at either Howard University or Alabama A&M.

“This case has been a 10-plus year process,” Payne said.

She also proclaimed that she will ultimately return to St. Louis to serve as CEO of Girls Inc.

“I want to thank Ms. Jones, who believed in me and pushed – and I mean pushed – and made sure that I knew the potential I had in me,” Payne said.

Women from several capacities were recognized at the event for their contributions to the region.

They included Catherine Gidlow, founding partner of Bearden, Breckenridge and Gidlow, LLC; Ann Marr, executive vice president of Global Human Resources for WorldWide Technology; Kathy Osborn, president and CEO of the Regional Business Council; Valerie Patton, senior vice president of Inclusion and Talent Attraction and executive director of the Saint Louis Business Diversity Initiative at the St. Louis Regional Chamber; and Judge Gloria Clark Reno, presiding judge of the 21st Judicial Circuit Court in St. Louis County.

“You shouldn’t let other people define you – you can define yourself,” Gidlow said.

“That’s what ‘strong’ smart and bold’ means to me personally. Thank you, Girls Inc., for inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold.”

Growing up, Marr didn’t have to look outside of her home to find a woman who inspired. Her mother served as the model for how she sought to live her life.

structure and space that had been previously designed for retail and office use. The general contractor on the project was BSI Constructors of St. Louis. The project was completed within 14 months, with Hotel St. Louis officially opening in December 2018. Square UP provided all the finish and trim carpentry on the project. Power UP provided the complete design and build of its electrical/data system. The UP Companies also exceeded the workforce minority participation on the project, which was set at a 25 percent goal, by providing 10,324.5 total minority hours or 30.1 percent. For more information, visit www. theupcompanies.com or call 314-865-3888.

“She was compassionate, she was talented and she was elegant,” Marr said. “She really believed in family, and she raised us with certain values.

Even though she’s gone and my daughters never knew her and my grandchildren never knew her, they know her through me.” Marr had words of wisdom for the young women of Girls Inc.

“Don’t be afraid to continue to learn,” Marr said. “You have goals and aspirations, sometimes the only way to fulfill that is if you are a little bold and take some risks. And you’ll feel good about the next time an opportunity presents itself. If you are prepared for that, then take the risk and see where it is going to take you.”

Patton and Reno said they hope that their work with the organization inspired the women as much as they were moved by being able to help shape the minds and hearts of tomorrow’s women leaders.

“It has been a joy in my life to have been able to participate with Girls Inc. St. Louis and the tremendous work they do in the community,” Reno said. “I just hope that I have been able to inspire participants as well.”

“I want to empower every young girl and to let them know that the limits are not there,” Patton said.

Each of the women were presented with a proclamation by St. Louis County Executive Sam Page.

“Girls Inc. provides safe spaces and educational and cultural opportunities for young women – and with these programs, Girls Inc. encourages

these young women to realize their potential and to raise their aspirations,” Page said.

“That dedication to women helping women and blending all of the knowledge and experience and unique perspectives into the next generation of young women is part of why I know the future of St. Louis’ young people is bright.” Girls Inc. members were also recognized as Strong, Smart & Bold Honorees, Rising Stars, Advocacy Scholars and Senior Scholarship recipients. The program included the recitation of Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Woman” by Ariel Gordon, a Strong, Smart & Bold Honoree and senior at Metro Academic and Classical High School as well as a performance of Beyoncé’s “Spirit” by the entire group of Girls Inc.’s current members.

“We are up here quoting lyrics to songs, and I can’t help but think about Kendrick Lamar’s song ‘DNA,’ I’m not going to give you the lyrics because they are not the best for a crowd like this – but primarily what the song says is that inside of you is the power to be whatever it is that you want to be because you have that DNA,” Knott said.

“If any of the young ladies in this room question that, just look at the ladies at these tables – who at one time were just like you: dreamers who kept believing, kept striving and stayed focused. Look at where they are today.”

For more information about Girls Inc. St. Louis, visit https://www.girlsincstl.org/ or call (314) 385-8088.

Cheryl Jones, president and CEO of Girls Inc. St. Louis, addressed the sold-out crowd of their 13th Annual Strong, Smart and Bold Luncheon on November 14 at the RitzCarlton.

Photo by Lance Omar Thurman

– Carmelo Anthony, on his return to the NBA

State championships begin this week

vs. Joplin in battle of unbeatens

We are down to the final two weeks of high school football in the state of Missouri. The Class 6 state championship will be up for grabs this weekend while the other five classes will have their semifinals games. Here is the schedule for this weekend’s state playoff games with brief capsules of the games involving St. Louis area teams.

Class 6:

DeSmet vs. Joplin, Saturday, 3 p.m.

Earl Austin Jr.

These two undefeated powerhouse teams have been on a collision course for several weeks and they will finally meet for the state championship at the University of Missouri. The Spartans defeated Raymore-Peculiar 37-0 in the semifinals. DeSmet features a strong running game with a trio of talented backs in Rico Barfield, Dez Snider and Taj Butts. The Spartans also have a stout defense, led by its talented defensive line. That defense will be put to the test against a potent Joplin offensive unit that features 225-pound running back Isaiah Davis and senior wide receiver Zach Westmoreland. Joplin defeated Fort Zumwalt West 41-20 in the state semifinals last Saturday.

Class 5 (Semifinals)

Carthage (10-2) at Fort Zumwalt North (12-0), Saturday, 3 p.m.

Undefeated Fort Zumwalt North is making its third Final Four appearance in the last five years. The Panthers are led by its dynamic duo of senior quarterback Cairo Payne and running back/receiver Izaiah Hartrup. They both scored a touchdown in the Panthers’ come-from-behind

Bombs away

Saturday night, Deontay

Wilder resembled a cat playing with its food. Though he was seeking to defend his WBC heavyweight title for the tenth consecutive time, it was clear that Wilder was in no rush. For seven rounds, Wilder allowed Luis Ortiz to dictate the pace of the fight. Wilder often circled left, to avoid the southpaw tactician’s powerful left hand. The champion threw pawing jabs – no malice –as if he was paid to spit bars over beats instead of trying to slobber knock opponents to sleep. Meanwhile, his crafty Cuban opponent parried the weak jab attempts. Ortiz came forward, often with stiff double jabs. He threw hard left hands to Wilder’s body. The few times Wilder managed to throw any punches of substance, Ortiz utilized his excellent head movement to avoid the incoming punch and usually returned a swift counterpunch before

deftly retreating out of range. Beginning in the fifth round, Wilder started to throw punches with more authority. The champion was still very measured. His approach was far from the wild, free-swinging one we’ve become accustomed to throughout his career. Still, even when Wilder decided to put some “oomph” behind punches, his opponent dodged or deflected them. For nearly seven rounds, Ortiz boxed a perfect fight. Then came the thunder. With less than 10 seconds remaining in the seventh round, Wilder feinted one of his pitty pat jabs. When Ortiz attempted to parry the punch with his right hand, the champion launched a monster straight right that detonated on the challenger’s face. From the vantage point of the original camera angle, the punch didn’t seem all that

Trinity’s Chris Moore (88) tries to intercept a pass for Lutheran St. Charles’ Seth Tucker (25) during Saturday’s Class 3 quarterfinal at St. Louis University High School

Photo by Wiley Price

The look on Luis Ortiz’s face after being dropped by Deontay Wilder was a blend of disorient and disbelief.

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Martin better get Mizzou’s hoops mojo working or he might be out of work

Missouri’s football team is in free fall and a loss to lowly Arkansas in Little Rock could cost head coach Barry Odom his job. He’s not the only Tigers coach under fire.

Three years ago, I thought Mizzou basketball coach Cuonzo Martin was in the right place at the right time and would be at the Tigers’ helm until he decided to leave for a more prestigious job.

It’s early, but following a beat down by Butler in Kansas City on Monday night in the Hall of Fame Classic tournament, Martin is officially on the hot seat list.

Butler roared to a 25-7 lead and a crowd jam-packed with Mizzou fans was forced to sit on its hands on the way to a 63-52 Tigers loss.

following the game.

“Even with fouls I wouldn’t have expected that.”

Unfortunately, it’s what many fans anticipate. Martin said, “We settled down in the second half, but you dug yourself such a hole in the first half. Give them credit for doing the right things.”

Impatient Tigers fans are giving more and more credit to Martin for his team doing the wrong things.

Martin can play it off and keep coaching with confidence.

The biggest excitement of the evening was when the Tigers would cut the lead to single digits. Butler would respond and Missouri would force a terrible shot or turn the ball over.

Martin’s team looked terrible for long stretches at a time.

After the game, a nonflustered Martin said, “They made plays, got to the rim, played with confidence and made shots.”

C’mon man. You gotta do better than that, Cuonzo. Jeremiah Tillman immediately got into foul trouble, scored no points and grabbed just two rebounds. His continued woes must be addressed by the coaching staff. Blaming the referees for his foolish fouls is a cop out.

“I wouldn’t expect Jeremiah to have the numbers he had in a game like this,” Martin said

But if the losses mount there will be serious calls for a change.

“You have to get past this as fast as you can,”

Martin said of the loss.

“Get over it. It’ll sting. You learn from it but you have to get past it.”

Missouri was scheduled to play Oklahoma on Tuesday in Kansas City. A bad loss could set the stage for a bad season. That would be dangerous because a lot of Mizzou fans are ready to be past him.

Locked in

Former Missouri Tigers quarterback Drew Lock could get his first NFL start on Sunday when the Denver Broncos host the San Diego Chargers.

“It’s possible, yeah. ... As far as this week goes, all options are on the table. ... We’re just going to make a decision in the next couple days,” said coach Vic Fangio when asked if Lock could be taken off the injured reserved list and start this week.

“Everything is on the table.”

Lock returned to practice two weeks ago and fans of the

3-8

Broncos are clamoring to see the second-round pick in action.

“I think we need to make the decision we feel is best, understanding everybody’s wants, from your group and the group outside, but we need to make the decision we feel is best for Drew and the team, and we will,” Fangio said.

I wonder if GM John Elway is wondering if he made the best decision in hiring Fangio, the former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator.

The Broncos fired Vance Joseph, one of few black NFL head coaches at the time, after two seasons. His 11-21 record obviously was not good, but all Fangio has brought to the table is continued mediocrity.

Also, injured quarterback Joe Flacco ripped Fangio and the conservative game plans before he learned his neck injury would end his season. Lock might get his first chance to right the ship on Sunday. Good luck with that.

Lion’s share of losing

The Detroit Lions had winning records in three of four

seasons and went 36-30 under respected African-American head coach Jim Caldwell. His team made the playoffs in 2016 and narrowly missed with a 9-7 record in 2017. He was fired after that season and GM Bob Quinn said the team “needed a new voice.”

Former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia was hired and what has followed has been a disaster.

The Lions went 6-10 in 2018 and, following the embarrassing loss to the pitiful Washington Redskins last Sunday, Patricia’s team fell to 3-7-1.

Detroit Free Press sports columnist Jeff Seidel said Lions fans should boycott the Thanksgiving game against the Chicago Bears.

“This team is bad and getting worse,” he wrote

“And you can blame Patricia for that. He has given no reason why he should keep his job, compiling a 9-17-1 record as head coach. We have seen no progress, just regression. We have seen no reason for hope, only disappointment.

“At this point, I just don’t see any reason why he would be the coach next year. Or even in December. Or even on Thanksgiving Day, to tell you the truth.

“Trying your hardest doesn’t make you a successful coach. And losing close games doesn’t make you a successful coach. Shoot, Jim Caldwell got fired because 9-7 wasn’t good enough.”

Maybe the Lions should

rehire Caldwell.

Wilder times

Heavyweight boxing champion Deontay Wilder retained his WBC title by knocking out Luis Ortiz in the seventh round of their rematch Saturday in Las Vegas.

The socially conscious Wilder also hammered NFL owners on behalf of Colin Kaepernick during the week leading up to the fight.

“Unfortunately, we live in a society where there are certain things that you can’t do because you’re not in a position to do so,” Wilder told the Sporting News

“In sports like basketball and football, there are owners who feel a certain type of way and may not want you to represent them in that manner because it doesn’t reflect who they are.”

Wilder explained he can be outspoken “because I don’t have a team or an owner to answer to.”

“It’s different in other sports and (Kaepernick) took responsibility and owned the consequences of his actions like a man. I wish nothing but the best for Colin Kaepernick and hopefully he gets on a team because I know he’ll do a damn good job. He deserves another chance to play.

“I’m not one of these people who is afraid to speak my mind. I have a platform and I’m going to use it. When you’re in a position that I’m in, why not use the platform for the greater good? That’s

exactly what I’m doing.”

Once again, more black professional athletes should follow this path and not shy away from fan or ownership concerns.

The Reid Roundup

After several dismal years, the Webster Groves football team pieced together a 5-5 record and will be a formidable opponent for Kirkwood during the annual Turkey Day Game at noon Thursday at Kirkwood. Eligibility scandals, mysterious coach firings and the fatal shooting of a young girl following a jamboree in the city make it a pleasure to say goodbye to this high school football season.

I guess Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson can play quarterback, after all. Give retired GM Ozzie Newsome loads of credit for recognizing Jackson is special. He and coach John Harbaugh saw the potential and weren’t afraid to draft him as a quarterback – not a running back or receiver.

That 45-6 complete and total behind whooping the Ravens put on the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night followed the 37-8 trashing the San Francisco 49ers laid on Green Bay the night before. This sets up a must-see game this coming Sunday when the 49ers travel to Baltimore.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones finally realized when most of us Cowboys fans have known for years. This team is at a coaching disadvantage with Jason Garrett at the helm. Should the Cowboys lose to Buffalo on Thanksgiving, Garrett might be

if

My

Rams

is

if

is

McVay said

to

during a week of practice. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk suggests a team sign Colin Kaepernick as backup quarterback so he can simulate what Jackson does. This seems like a move New England coach Bill Belichick would consider.

North Carolina A&T earned a berth in the Celebration Bowl for the third year in a row, and the fourth time in five years by blasting N.C. Central 54-0 to claim the MEAC title. Florida A&M, 7-1, was actually the conference’s best team, but is on NCAA probation…

Alvin A. Reid was honored as the 2017 “Best Sports Columnist – Weeklies” in the Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest and is a New York Times contributor. He is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook, a weekly contributor to “The Charlie Tuna Show” on KFNS and appears monthly on “The Dave Glover Show” on 97.1 Talk.” His Twitter handle is #aareid1.

Alvin A. Reid

Following a beat down by Butler in Kansas City on Monday night in the Hall of Fame Classic tournament, Cuonzo Martin is officially on the hot seat list.

From The easT side

With Maurice Scott Jr.

Football Flyers go for ninth championship

The wind has an autumn breeze to it. The Southwestern Conference flags at historic Clyde C. Jordan Memorial Stadium are still up.

Peering down the 89 blocks of East St. Louis, Illinois, you can look up and see the stadium lights still burning on the campus of East St. Louis Senior High School. Once again, the Flyers are the only football team still standing in the Metro East.

All other programs on this side of the river has closed shop and are preparing for basketball season.

However, East St. Louis Flyers coach Darren Sunkett, along his coaches and players are preparing for another State Championship game.

Last Saturday afternoon, the dynamic duo of quarterback Tyler Macon and running

back DaMonta Witherspoon put on an offensive show in front of more than 5,000, as the Flyers steamrolled Chatham Glenwood 50-28 to advance to the Class 6-A title game at Huskies Stadium on the campus of Northern Illinois University. Witherspoon rushed for 199 yards and five touchdowns, while Macon completed 24 out 27 passes for 316 yards. In addition, Macon rushed for 94 yards on 15 attempts. Senior wide receiver Lawaun Powell Jr. had eight catches for 110 yards and junior wide receiver Dominic Lovett had nine catches for 127 yards. Macon and Lovett connected on a 90-yard bomb in the second quarter, where Macon threw the ball 65 yards in the air, only to be called back on a holding penalty. East St. Louis amassed 592 yards of total offense on

the day. East St. Louis, the all-time winningest program in Illinois high school football history with a record of 791 wins 197 losses and 36 ties, will make its 13th title game appearance while attempting to bring back its ninth state championship in school history.

Their opponent on Saturday is Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge), located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. They play in the highly regarded Fox Valley Conference. The Wolves won their first state championship in 2011-12. In addition, the Wolves won back to-back state titles in 2016 and 2017.

Prairie Ridge pounded Deerfield High School last

Saturday 49-16 in the Northern Class 6-A bracket. Running Back Kyle Koelblinger rushed for more than 200 yards and had touchdown runs of 64, 62, 41, and 2. Quarterback Ryan Nagelback was 13-27 for 185 yards.

The Wolves run a triple option attack that the Flyers will have to deal with in Saturday’s title game.

Maurice Scott Jr.

Flyer Nation will be well represented as a couple thousand East St. Louis fans and several fan buses, including Centreville, Illinois Mayor Mark Jackson’s “RV Crew” and the Dwayne Sargent “Orange Crush Express” charter buses are expected to make the four hour trip for the title game Saturday afternoon.

Clutch

Continued from B3 dreams of avenging the only loss of his career vanished. Ortiz valiantly attempted to beat the count, but his wobbly legs failed him. Referee Kenny Bayless counted Ortiz out. With the loss, Ortiz fell to 31-2-0, with both losses coming at the heavy hands

of Wilder. Meanwhile, “The Bronze Bomber” improved to 42-0-1 (41 KO). According to Wilder, he was never concerned about the scorecards and knew that his fate would lie in the power of his now-legendary right hand.

“To be honest, I never worry about if I’m losing the fight or not,” Wilder stated during the post-fight press conference.

“I’ve been blessed with something these other guys haven’t been blessed with, and that’s

(12-1), Saturday, 1 p.m.

victory over Chaminade in the state quarterfinals. Carthage is in the semifinals for the third consecutive year. Running back Tyler Mueller rushed for 288 yards and five touchdowns in Carthage’s 64-34 victory over Glendale in the quarterfinals.

Jackson (12-0) at Staley (10-2), Saturday, 1 p.m.

Class 4 (Semifinals) Platte County (10-3) at St. Mary’s (11-2), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

The youthful St. Mary’s Dragons are on a tremendous run in getting to the state semifinals. They have big play people of offense in senior quarterback Cam’Ron McCoy and sophomore receiver Kevin Coleman. The star of last Friday night’s victory over Farmington in the quarterfinals was sophomore running back DeShawn Fuller, who rushed for 249 yards and two touchdowns.

(12-1) at Webb City

These two powerhouse teams are meeting for the third consecutive year in the state playoffs. Webb City won the first match two seasons ago in the state championship game while Ladue returned the favor in the semifinals a year ago. This is the rubber match. Ladue has a potent offense, led by quarterback Henry McIntosh, running back Jared Rhodes and receivers Mason Player and Marizon Cosby. Webb City has a powerful offense led by senior Terrell Kabala, who rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns in a 61-24 victory over Camdenton in the state quarterfinals.

Class 3 (Semifinals)

Trinity (10-3) at Cassville (11-2), Saturday, 1 p.m.

The defending state champion Titans stayed alive with a dominating 26-0 victory over Lutheran St. Charles in the quarterfinals. The defense was strong as Montez Poynter and Darion Smith combined for six sacks. Freshman quarterback Chris Cotton had a big game with 265 yards passing and two touchdowns.

tremendous power.”

“These guys I’m fighting, they have to be perfect for 12 rounds,” he added. “But I only have to be perfect for two seconds.”

Speaking of seconds, Wilder’s next bout will be another rematch. The WBC champ will attempt to avenge the only blemish on his unbeaten record. He is set to face off against the lineal heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury. The two fighters battled to a disput-

Cassville advanced by defeated No. 1 Blair Oaks on the road. Running back Bowen Petty rushed for 219 yards and three touchdowns and also returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown.

Odessa (13-0) at Kennett (13-0), Saturday, 1 p.m.

Class 2 (Semifinals)

Lathrop (13-0) at Lutheran North (12-0), Saturday, 1 p.m.

A tremendous matchup of undefeated teams, Lutheran North defeated Scott City 57-8 in the quarterfinals. The Crusaders are led by two-way standout Antonio Doyle, bigplay offensive threats Jordan Smith and Alli Wells and defensive stalwarts Travion Ford and Itavyion Brown. Lathrop has won 27 of its last 28 games and played for the state title a year ago. They are led by senior quarterback Blake Gordon and running back Tyler Paul, who had four touchdowns in a victory over Summit Christian in the state quarterfinals.

Clark County (12-1) at Ava (13-0), Saturday, 1 p.m.

Scott’s Prediction:

The Flyers will have to deal with the unusual Triple Option attack, something that’s not run much in this part of the state. However, Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge hasn’t run into anything like Darren Sunkett’s high flying offense.

The Flyers bring home their ninth state championship to the City of Champions! East St. Louis 48 - Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge 20

Scott’s Notes:

• When the Flyers win their ninth state championship on Saturday, it will mark the first time in history that the City of Champions will win four state titles in the same calendar year. Earlier this year, the Flyers won state championships in

ed draw last December.

Like Ortiz, Fury out-boxed Wilder for much of the fight. However, Wilder’s power turned out to be the ultimate equalizer as he dropped Fury twice to even the score. Now, two of the best, biggest and boldest fighters in the world will do it again in February to help determine a true king of the heavyweight division.

Mo’ Money?

In a shocking move that caught the boxing world offguard, Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced on Instagram that he intends to come out of retirement in 2020. No date or potential opponents have been announced, but Mayweather did hint that he was working with UFC President Dana White on a “spectacular event.”

If he’s working with White, the most logical oppo-

nents would be either UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov or a rematch with former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor

Others speculate Mayweather’s return would be in hopes of securing another $100M deal against either Canelo Alvarez or Manny Pacquiao. Heck, even WBO welterweight champ Terence “Bud” Crawford is shooting his shot for a showdown with “Money” Mayweather via Twitter.

boys’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ track.

• Former East St. Louis Flyer and Olympic Gold medalist Dawn Harper-Nelson is coming out of retirement and will continue her stellar career in track & field.

• Hats off to Flyer football Nation this season with over 5,000 in attendance on Saturday and over 9,000 during the Gateway Scholars Football Classic. There were large crowds on the road for three road games in Chicago. In addition, there were big crowds during the Southwestern Conference season.

Coach Darren Sunkett, the staff and the boys asked me to thank all of you for the support throughout the year!

While a Mayweather vs Crawford fight (which is the least likely to happen) would certainly peak my interest, there’s zero chance of me forking over a $100 PPV fee to see Mayweather in the ring with anybody. If I want to see Mayweather school overmatched opponents in bouts for which I already know the outcome, I can just head on over to YouTube.

To be fair, repeated retirements are not exclusive to Mayweather. It seems that more than any sport, boxers just cannot seem to stay away from the ring. That is the reason Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins are talking about staging a third fight despite both being over 50 years old.

Whether it is due to a need for attention, dire financial straits or simply boredom, it seems that it takes nearly every pro fighter a hand full of “retirements” before they get it right. Hopefully, Mayweather will call it quits “for real” before he starts looking like the old dude in the club ring, clutching at the long, lost memories of yesteryear.

Be sure to check In the Clutch online and also follow Ishmael on Twitter @ishcreates.

The bookend senior defensive linemen turned in dominant performances in the Titans’ 26-0 victory over Lutheran-St. Charles in the Class 3 state quarterfinals last Saturday. The two seniors combined for six of Trinity’s seven quarterback sacks on the afternoon. The 6’4”, 240-pound Poynter had six tackles and a career high four sacks. The 6’4”,

225-pound Smith added two sacks to bring his team high total to 12 on the season. Smith has committed to the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Trinity (10-3)

WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder connected with a vicious right hand in the seventh round against Luis Ortiz. Ortiz was unable to beat the count as Wilder defended his title for the tenth consecutive time.

Entrepreneurially Thinking posts 150th podcast

The Entrepreneurially Thinking podcast, co-hosted by Christy Maxfield and Cheryl WatkinsMoore, posted its 150th episode on November 27. The podcast, which celebrates the entrepreneurial mindset through the stories of the women and men building companies in the St. Louis region, has received nearly 40,000 plays and downloads with a regular monthly audience of 1,500 listeners. The 150th episode features Keisha Mabry, speaker and author of “heyFRIEND!”

n “Each episode gives us a chance to share the lessons we’ve learned coaching countless owners and founders.”

– Cheryl Watkins-Moore

Cheryl WatkinsMoore Christy Maxfield

room,” said Watkins-Moore said, who leads BioSTL’s STEM Entrepreneurship Inclusion Initiative and is co-founder of REAL Cannabis Co. “We are living our own entrepreneurial journeys, leading by example. And each episode gives us a chance to share the lessons we’ve learned coaching countless owners and founders on their own paths to build successful businesses.”

“Christy and I know what it is like to be the ‘only’ in a

Financial Focus

By Lucien C. Blackwell

podcast are released each Wednesday, and season 13 recording starts in January 2020.

Maxfield – president and CEO of Purpose First Advisors, a business advisory firm – said the podcast “provides inspiration, particularly for women and entrepreneurs of color who don’t often see themselves in the start-up headlines.”

The podcast is available on various platforms, including Spotify, Google Podcasts, iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox – and at www.entrepreneuriallythinking. com.

New episodes of the

Shop Black Week continues through Black Friday

National Shop Black Week is underway and continues through Black Friday, November 29. According to organizers, what started as a grassroots effort based on a pun on “Black Friday” is now a growing collective of more than 1.5 million members, from coast to coast, sharing information on social media requesting people to patronize black businesses and relay their purchases, business name and locations using the hashtags #shopblackweek and

#SBW2019.

Though the original organizers were black, the movement is diverse.

“We had no idea that so many different people from different backgrounds would want to get involved,” said Aysha Jackson, VP of Operations for The Nubian Network the lead in coordinating Shop Black Week activities.

Locally, the 4th annual Black Owned Black Friday will be celebrated with a popup market on Cherokee Street

featuring black makers, artists and creative brands from St. Louis.

Some of the vendors include: Feeling Moody, Dirty Blossom, Mahogany Citizen, Dail Chambers, Applettree Chic, Noir USA, Neo Zoe, Aims Moon Paperie, Eugenia Alexander, Butter Love by LC, Heaven’s Creations, N’Dea, Shine In All Shades, Sneaker Kyng, Cbabi and Nah I’m Just Pretty. Visit shopblackweek. org for information to participate as a business, individual or organization.

Katarra’s soul comes full circle

Singer/songwriter to celebrate debut album “Cocoa Voyàge” with release concert

By Kenya Vaughn

Of The St. Louis American

n “I want to take people to another place and to see that being vulnerable is okay.”

– Katarra

When singer/songwriter Katarra Parson, known professionally as “Katarra,” began performing before a live audience three years ago, her hands shook so badly that she couldn’t play her keyboard. Her voice trembled to the point where she couldn’t sing. She was invited by her friend Richard Washington to join his collective of artists that present the open mic Lyrical Therapy each Sunday at UrbArts. According to her, he chased her down nonstop for four years after they graduated from high school asking that she be a part of the Lyrical Therapy team – and attempting to convince her that her music had the potential to connect with people in a special way. After he spent two-hours making his case, she gave in. “He was like, ‘Just try it. Just see what you can do,’” Parson said. That first time, she couldn’t do anything. “I was immediately defeated, but I just kept going,” Parson said. “The only way to describe it is that something inside of me just told me to keep going and keep working at it.” The more she performed, the more she realized people really connected with her performances.

“It was like, ‘Okay, the feelings that I feel when I hear my music and when I play it, other people are feeling it too,’” Parson said. “I felt like, ‘This is going to be something greater than just me getting over my anxiety and expressing myself.’” She was right. Three years later she’s releasing her debut album - and performing selections from “Cocoa Voyàge” during a special album release

See Katarra, C4

‘I will never forget where I’m from’

Sterling

K. Brown talks ‘Frozen 2’ and always representing

The Lou

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

When Disney’s “Frozen 2” opened in theatres at the top of the box office this past weekend, the St. Louis region had yet another reason to be proud of native son Sterling K. Brown.

For the follow-up to the blockbuster that became a global cultural phenomenon, directors Chris Buck and Jennifer looked to Brown to add diversity to the franchise as Lieutenant Destin Mattias, a protector of the people of Arendelle.

“I was really excited to lend my voice to Lt. Mattias,” said Brown, a star of film and television. “As a person who grew up watching Disney all of their life, to look up and see a character and hear your voice coming out of that character is probably one of the bigger ‘pinch me’ moments of my career.”

That’s saying a lot if you’re Sterling K. Brown, who grew up in Olivette. After an Emmy-winning breakthrough performance as Christopher Darden in the FX Network limited series “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson” in 2016, the career of the MICDS, Stanford and NYU Tisch School of the Arts grad skyrocketed.

He landed a starring role in NBC’s “This Is Us.” The show was an instant hit and is currently television’s number one drama. He has won two of the four Emmy nominations he has received for appearances on three different television shows – both in drama and comedy – since 2016.

He also became the first African American to win a Golden Globe for “Best Lead Actor in a Television Series Drama” and the first African American to win an “Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series” for his portrayal of Randall Pearson in “This Is Us.”

The SKB train shows no signs of slowing as his star shines brighter than ever with his presence on the big and small screen. In addition to “This Is Us,” he’ll have a recurring role on the upcoming season of the Amazon Prime comedy “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and as a star in Trey Edward Shults’ emotionally charged film “Waves,” which opens in St. Louis on December 6.

The whirlwind overnight success was something he spent 15 years preparing for.

Love on the run

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

As with film dramas involving fugitives on the run and in love, “Queen and Slim” is being billed as an urbanized “Bonnie and Clyde.” But the similarities between these two pairs end with a male and female running from the law. Actually, comparing the fictional experience of anti-heroes in the film – which opened in theaters nationwide on Wednesday, November

“Even though it’s been about four years now that things have been miraculously wonderful, my career was wonderful before that,” Brown said. His resume features steady work on a host of popular network television shows, including

a five-year run on the acclaimed Lifetime drama “Army Wives.”

may not have been recognized on the

See Frozen, C4

Daniel Kaluuya and Sophie Turner-Smith make the most of their roles in the problematic drama “Queen and Slim,” which opened in theaters nationwide on Wednesday, November 27.

that African Americans suffer through on a daily basis. Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker were homicidal criminals who traveled the country killing and stealing at will. Nearly a dozen

See Film, C4

Singer, songwriter and Kranzberg Music Artist in Residence Katarra Person, also known simply as “Katarra,” will celebrate the release of her debut album “Cocoa Voyàge” with a special release concert on Friday, November 29 at The Dark Room.

27 starring Daniel Kaluuya and Sophie TurnerSmith – to the often romanticized, yet reallife exploits of the outlaw couple speaks to the weaponization of blackness

police officers and four innocent civilians were allegedly among the couple’s body count before their lives came to an end in a hail of bullets during a police ambush just outside of Gibsland, Louisiana in 1934. A 1967 film starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway

Television and film star and St. Louis native Sterling K. Brown is among the star-studded cast of Disney’s “Frozen 2,” which opened in theaters nationwide on Friday, November 21.

How to place a calendar listing

1. Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican. com OR

2. Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing

Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.

holiday haps

Thur., Nov. 28, 8:45 a.m., Ameren Thanksgiving Day Parade. 20th Street and Market Street, 63103. For more information, visit www. christmasinstlouis.com.

Fri., Nov. 29, 12 p.m., Black Owned Black Friday/Pop Up Market. Vendors include Sow Tea Company, Neo Zoe, All Props Deserved, Hop Shop, Butter Love by LC, and more. Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Nov. 29 – 30, Cirque Dreams Holidaze. The Fabulous Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand. www. fabulousfox.com.

Sat., Nov. 30, 7 p.m., 7th Annual Holiday Toy Drive. Hosted by Stephen Gray. Performance by Kenny Black, with special guests BJ the DJ & DJ D-Nice. Proceeds benefit the Alton Housing Authority & The Catholic Children’s Home. KC Hall, 405 E. 4th St., Alton, IL. 62002. For more information, visit www. purplepass.com.

Sat., Nov. 30, 8 p.m., Urban Vibe Entertainment presents the Thanksgiving Soul Jam feat. The Whispers, The Dramatics, Enchantment, Bloodstone and Blue Magic. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www. stifeltheatre.com.

Sun., Dec. 1, 5 p.m., Northern Lights Festival. Parade, carriage rides, holiday vendors, food, and more. Ferguson Citywalk, 501 S. Florissant Rd., 63135. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Sun., Dec. 1, 10 a.m., St. Louis Children’s Choir Holiday Concert and Toy Drive. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.

slccsing.org.

Wed., Dec. 4, 6 p.m., Disney Junior Holiday Party. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www.stifeltheatre.com.

Dec. 4 – 5, COCA presents a Joyful Vocal Concert Celebrate the holidays with a festive repertoire of musical theatre, from COCA’s vocal companies, Allegro & Adagio. 524 Trinity Ave., 63130. For more information, visit www. cocastl.org.

Wed., Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., Big Band Holidays: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, 718 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For mor information, visit www.slso.org.

Sat., Dec. 7, 8 a.m., Sassy Divaz of Missouri invites you to Breakfast & Pictures with Black Santa. Letter writing to Santa and breakfast options available. 12518 Lusher Rd., 63138. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

Sat., Dec. 7, 9:30 a.m., City of Bridgeton invites you to Breakfast with Santa. A yummy breakfast, crafts and Santa will be onsite for everyone to enjoy. 4201 Fee Fee Rd., 63044. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Sat., Dec. 7, 11 a.m., St. Louis’ Original Wintermarket 2019! Expect to find vendors selling jewelry, art, pottery, clothing, home decor items, photographs, candles, Christmas ornaments and locally produced honey. Greg Freeman Park, 6008 Kingsbury Ave., 63112. For more information, visit www. skinkerdebaliviere.wordpress. com.

Sat., Dec. 7, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., Free Holiday Photo with Santa! Come meet Santa, enjoy some holiday

Kenya Vaughn recommends

refreshments, and enter to win a shopping gift card. Northwest HealthCare, Entrance B, 1225 Graham Rd., Florissant, MO 63031. To register for this free event, please call 314-747-WELL (9355) or register online at ChristianHospital.org/Santa.

Dec. 7 – 8, International Institute of St. Louis invites you to the 5th Annual Holiday Bazaar. Kick off your holiday shopping with unique treasures from local artisans and crafters. 3401 Arsenal St., 63118. For more information, visit www.iistl. org.

Sun., Dec. 8, 8 p.m., Smino’s Kribmas Concert, The Pageant, 6161 Delmar. For more information, visit thepageant.com.

Mon., Dec. 9, A Very Postmodern Christmas starring Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, The Pageant, 6161 Delmar. For more information, visit thepageant.com.

Dec. 13 – 15, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents Mercy Holiday Celebration. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. slso.org.

Fri., Dec. 13, 6:30 p.m., Cookies and Cards. We will have cookies galore for families to decorate and we will also have a card making section. Ferguson Parks & Recreation, 1050 Smith Ave., 63135. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

Fri., Dec. 13, 7 p.m., Central Baptist Church Christmas with Israel Houghton. 2845 Washington Ave.,63103. For more information, visit www. cbcstl.org.

Fri., Dec. 13, 7 p.m., St. Louis Historically Black Colleges and Universities Alumni Association invites you to the Alumni Holiday Party. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, call (314) 746-4599 or visit www.mohistory.org.

Sat., Dec. 14, 10 a.m., Saint Louis Art Museum presents Winter Celebrations. A family-friendly extravaganza of performances, art activities, and festivities. One Fine Arts Dr., 63110. For more information, visit www.slam. org.

Sun., Dec. 15, 2:30 p.m., Saint Louis Ballet presents The Nutcracker, proceeds to benefit Foundry Art

Urban Vibe Entertainment presents An Evening of Soul feat. Anthony Hamilton, Eric Benet, and Vivian Green. For more information, see CONCERTS.

Thur., Dec. 19, 7 p.m., The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical. When the top Scout Elf is sent to a disconnected family struggling to rediscover Christmas spirit, he has to find a way into their hearts. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www.stifeltheatre.com.

Thurs., Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m., St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus presents A Gospel Christmas starring Kennedy Holmes, Powell Hall. For more information, visit www.slso.org.

Fri., Dec. 20 – Sat., Dec. 21, 8 p.m., 11th Annual Holiday Bass-Trava-Ganza, Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar. For more information, visit www. thepageant.com.

concerts

Sun., Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m., Urban Vibe Entertainment presents An Evening of Soul feat. Anthony Hamilton, Eric Benet, and Vivian Green. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www. stifeltheatre.com.

Centre, Sheidegger Center For Performing Arts, Lindenwood University. For more information, visit www. foundreyartcentre.oerg/saintlouis-ballet

Through Dec. 15, Metro Theater Company presents It’s a Wonderful Life. The Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or www. metroplays.org.

Tues., Dec. 17, 6 p.m., Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club Annual Kwanzaa Expo featuring an arts festival and poetry focusing on the “’1619’ Slavery Project.” Cafeteria of Building B, at the SIUE-East St. Louis Higher EducationCenter, 601 J. R. Thompson Drive, EStL, IL 62201. For more information about the EBR Writers Club, contact SIUE English Dept.: (618) 650-3991, email eredmon@siue.edu, or write EBRWC, P.O. Box 6165, EStL, IL 62201.

Wed., Dec. 18, 12:30 p.m., Santa’s Little Workshop. Children ages 1 – 5, can help with letters to Santa, ginger bread houses, Christmas cards, and more. Ferguson Parks & Recreation, 1050 Smith Ave., 63135. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

Dec. 4 – 8, Jazz at the Bistro presents Alicia Olatuja. Jazz St. Louis, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.jazzstl. org.

Dec. 18 – 22, Jazz at the Bistro presents Nate Smith + Kinfolk. Jazz St. Louis, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. jazzstl.org.

Sun., Dec. 22, 7 p.m. Ginuwine Live at Ballpark Village, Midwest Live Stage. For more information or tickets, visit https:// www.facebook.com/ events/2374869879289539/ Fri., Dec. 27, 8 p.m., G-Rated Entertainment presents Nle Choppa feat. Plot Da BigHomie, Buddy Luv, and Derr Derr. The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

local gigs

Sat., Nov. 30, 8 p.m., A Smooth Evening with Jeanette Harris and Althea Rene. The Queens of Soul Jazz. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information,

visit www.metrotix.com.

Dec. 10 – 11, Sheldon’s Coffee Concert Series

feat. Charles Glenn. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sun., Dec. 15, 6 p.m., Ntegrity Presentz: Ty Brasel, 1kPhew, Torey D’Shaun & Ntegrity Music. .Zack, 3224 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Wed., Dec. 18, 7 p.m., Renaissance Hotel presents Sean Coray. 9801 Natural Bridge Rd., 63134. For more information, visit www. bandsintown.com.

special events

Fri., Nov. 29, 12 p.m., Black Owned Black Friday/Pop Up Market. Vendors include Sow Tea Company, Neo Zoe, All Props Deserved, Hop Shop, Butter Love by LC, and more. Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Sat., Nov. 30, 4 p.m., Grambling State University National Alumni Association STL Chapter’s 3rd Annual Bayou Classic Watch Party, Show Me’s in Florissant, 1792 N. New Florissant.

Mon., Dec. 2, 8 a.m., December 2019 Metro

Reduced Fare Bus Passes.

SLAAA will distribute Metro Passes to St. Louis City Residents 65 years and older. St. Louis Area Agency on Aging. 1520 Market St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 612-5918.

Tues., Dec. 3, 11 a.m.,

National Career Fairs presents St. Louis Career Fair Live Recruiting/Hiring Event. Doubletree Hotel Westport, 1973 Craigshire Rd., 63146. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Central Baptist Church Christmas with Israel Houghton. See HOLIDAY HAPS for details.

comedy

Kenya Vaughn recommends tax breaks that take away from our schools. St. Louis Public Library – Carpenter Branch, 3309 S. Grand Blvd., 63118. For more information, visit www.slcl.org.

Fri., Dec., 6, 12 p.m., St. Louis County Library presents a Small Business/ Non-Profit Expo. Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, visit www. slcl.org

Dec. 14, 6 p.m., 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis Inc. presents Winter Royale Fundraiser and Black Tie Gala, Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel, 800 Washington Ave. For more information, call (314) 367-7778 or visit www.100blackmenstl.com.

Sat., Dec. 14, 7 p.m., The Outsiders presents Masquerade & Sneaker Ball.

The Marquee, 1911 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Saturdays, 8 a.m., The Ferguson Farmers Market Plaza at 501, 501 S. Florissant Rd., 63135. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Fri., Nov. 29, 7 p.m., SLAM Underground, St. Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Sat., Nov. 30, 2 p.m., Abstract Art by Black

Dec. 5 – 7, Helium Comedy Club presents Godfrey. 1151 St. Louis Galleria St., 63117.

Dec. 20 – 22, Helium Comedy Club presents Bruce Bruce. 1151 St. Louis Galleria St., 63117.

theatre

Dec. 5 – Dec. 29, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, LorettoHilton, 130 Edgar Rd. Tickets are available at www.repstl. org or by calling The Rep Box Office at 314-968-4925.

Through December 15, Metro Theater Company presents It’s A Wonderful Life, The Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square, St. Louis, MO 63108. Tickets are available now at 314-534-1111 or www.metrotix.com. For more information, visit www. metroplays.org.

lectures and workshops

Artists: A Collector’s Journey. Art collector Ronald Ollie will discuss his influences and the individuals who have inspired him. St. Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., 63110. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Through Dec. 29, Art St. Louis presents Art St. Louis XXXV, The Exhibition. Featuring 52 artworks in all media, themes, subjects, techniques, and styles by 52 artists from Missouri, Illinois & Indiana. 1223 Pine St., 63013. For more information, visit www.artstlouis.org.

Thur., Nov. 28, 7 p.m., John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics presents When Islam Is Not A Religion: Inside America’s Fight for Religious Freedom. A lecture by Asma Uddin, followed by a panel discussion. Knight Hall, Washington University, 1 Brookings Dr., 63130. For more information, call (314) 935-9345 or visit www.rap.wustl.edu.

Thur., Dec. 5, 6 p.m., SWAT & Militarization of the Police. Come hear Alex Vitale, author of The End of Policing. Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being, 1000 N. Vandeventer Ave., 63113. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Sat., Dec. 7, 10:30 a.m., What Our Students Lose. Tackling

Sat., Dec. 14, 1 p.m., Community Conversation: The History of Reproductive Oppression in Black and Brown Communities Uplifting voices to expose the truths and explore solutions. Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being, 1000 N. Vandeventer Ave., 63113. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

health

Thur., Dec. 19, 7 p.m., Medicare for All to the Rescue. Dr. Ed Weisbart will define the healthcare crisis, discuss costs, the disruption to business and the economy, how the US compares to other countries and how to support effective change. Venture Café, 4240 Duncan Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Wednesdays, Weekly Free Health Fair. St. Gabriel Clinic, 6113 Ridge Ave., 63133. Free health screenings include blood pressure, weight, height, BMI, hearing and vision screening and counselling. For more information, visit www. stgabrielstl.com.

spiritual

Sun., Dec. 15, 11, Kennerly Temple of Church of God in Christ 1st Pastoral Anniversary. The theme is “A Shepard Who Cares.” 4307 Kennerly Ave., 63113. For more information, call (314) 535-6708 or (314) 566-3304.

film

Fri., Nov. 27, Queen & Slim starring Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Bokeem Woodbine and Indya Moore opens in theaters nationwide.

same level, but I was able to pay bills, support my family and live comfortably doing what it is that I love to do –which is illuminate the human condition,” Brown said.

“These past four years have been something that I never anticipated. And that has made the experience all the more special – and what I feel more than anything is an abundance of love.”

He has handled fame with grace and intention.

“You feel a responsibility to do yourself, your family and your community justice,” Brown said. “The easiest way for me to do it is to always be true to what it is that got me here and try not to change. You evolve and you try to be a better version of yourself, hopefully, over time, but just remember who you are and remember where you’re from. If you get caught up in Hollywood – in folks wanting to take your picture and say your name – you can lose sense of the humanity that allowed you to get there in the first place.”

‘Frozen 2’ and its truth about history

The natural charm, poise and comedic timing that helped make Brown a household name bleeds into his Lt. Mattias.

“I think he’s a character that is imbued with a high degree of integrity,” Brown said. “I also thought he had a wonderful sense of humor. He is someone stuck in this enchanted forest for over 30 years and has had no contact with his homeland. Everything is new to him. When he meets Elsa and she is magical, he has never encountered someone with magic. There is something very fun about someone seeing something like that for the first time.” Brown isn’t the only St. Louis connection to “Frozen

concert at 10 p.m. Friday, November 29 at The Dark Room.

The album grew out of Parson pouring the feelings for someone she was in love with into her music, and the songs became an outlet for expressing her feelings for the person –and herself.

“It was a journey of me loving others and me loving myself,” Parson said.

Love was what drew her to the idea of becoming a singer in the first place. In 5th grade, she fell in love with a boy and became so infatuated with him that she wrote ballads about him because she didn’t have the nerve to tell him how she felt. It was the beginning of her lifelong practice of expressing through music what she couldn’t with words.

“We were in the adult choir at 8-years-old, so I got a pretty big head start as far as being a singer.”

Bored as her mother fellowshipped with members following worship service and choir rehearsals, Parson would tinker around on an old upright piano at her church.

2.” Marlon West, veteran Disney animator, returned to the franchise as head of animation.

“I’ve run into Marlon on a couple of different occasions,” Brown said. “For a brother from Olivette to be working hand-in-hand with a brother from U. City on the highest level possible is pretty awesome.”

Of the many messages within the film, Brown was particularly struck by one.

“There’s all kinds of stuff,” he said – “there is female empowerment, there is having to work together with people who are not like you – but something that really touches me with this film is who tells your history.”

“Frozen 2” features the experiences of the people of Northuldra and the people of Arendelle – which is the kingdom of Brown’s character and the main characters Anna and Elsa.

“The Arendelle have a very particular perspective of the Northuldra and the Northuldra have a very specific way of seeing the people of

Arendelle,” Brown said.

“We often think of history of being this objective recording of the past, but it’s not. Whoever gets a chance to record that history gets to put their perspective into that history. Once you learn to see things from other perspectives, you recognize that history may not be exactly be what you’ve been taught all along – and you that you have to see things with a fresh set of eyes.”

Brown is thrilled that his history is tied to the St. Louis region – so much so that his newly formed production company, Indian Meadows, is named after the Olivette stomping grounds of his youth.

“I’ve been gone for a while, but I will never forget where I’m from,” Brown said. “I say, ‘Please’ and ‘thank you’ and ‘yes ma’am.’ people are like, ‘Where are you from?’ I tell them, ‘It’s just the way we do it in The Lou. Thank you [St. Louis] for shaping your boy.”

Disney’s “Frozen 2” is currently in theaters nationwide. The film is rated G with a running time of 103 minutes.

As she sang these songs to herself, she imagined being a singer delivering her music to the masses. It was a coping mechanism to deal with the constant bullying she experienced daily. While it was a wonderful fantasy, Parson wouldn’t allow herself to fathom that it could be a reality.

“My anxiety was so bad that I had convinced myself that a billion things were wrong with me and nobody would care what I had to say,” Parson said.

“My skin tone, my hair texture, my personality and me being introverted and quiet. I felt that I didn’t have the qualities that I needed to be the singer/ songwriter that I wanted.”

She may not have had the nerves, but she certainly had the talent. Both sides of her family are musically inclined, and her mother was choir director for their church.

“I didn’t have any choice but to sing,” Parson said laughing.

Film

Continued from C1

cemented the romanticizing of Bonnie and Clyde in the love for each other as opposed to their lust for robbery, mayhem and murder.

The life experiences of Queen and Slim couldn’t be more different from Bonnie and Clyde. The pair meet up for a first date in Cleveland, where they both live. Things are going well enough between them –until they are pulled over by police. Because of her line of work, Queen is well-versed in their rights. Slim is a lawabiding citizen looking to make the least waves possible so he can live through the traffic stop. Their seemingly mundane lives take a drastic turn when they are forever bonded upon meeting after an encounter with a police officer motivated by racial profiling turns from bad to worse.

A life-altering moment as Slim fears for his life forces them to leave everything they know. They come to agree that running from a racist justice system that they feel will certainly presume their guilt and protect the implied

“I started fiddling with it, and the next thing I know I was making sounds that made sense to me,” Parson said.

“And they sounded like the music that I was influenced by. I kept practicing and finding that emotional outlet to express myself.”

After conquering Lyrical Therapy, she hooked up with Owen Ragland to play for rapper Mvstermind at LouFest 2017. Then she joined his group when he became a Kranzberg Music Artist in Residence Fellow in 2018. In 2019, she decided to take the leap to apply herself.

“The more I got confident and able to perform in front of people as a singer, I was like, ‘Wait a minute, I need my own residency. Let me show people what I can do,’” Brown said. She was accepted. She has been able to take full advantage of the platform and feels extremely blessed for the opportunities that have come because of it, including recording her first album,

innocence of law enforcement in officer-involved situations is their only option.

The story by James Frey and Lena Waithe is the feature film debut by popular music video and episodic television director Melina Matsoukas.

And while likening Queen and Slim to Bonnie and Clyde is problematic, so is the messaging for the wellintentioned film – some of which runs the risk of deepening the divide as far as the complicated relationship between law enforcement and the African-American community.

The film is effective in capturing the righteous anger of a community that is unjustly targeted and preyed upon by law enforcement. But “Queen and Slim” goes too far left in its implications that black people condone, protect and are inspired by reciprocating violence against police as a result of their experiences with law enforcement.

Matsoukas is bold with her cinematic choices. Some risks are rewarded – particularly the moments of passion and pure connection between her two lead characters. Others fail, particularly when she hovers over certain scenes and toys with the dubbing of the

which she sees as a full circle moment from the days as a lovesick 5th grader to present day.

An album that seamlessly fuses soul, R&B and hip-hop, “Cocoa Voyàge” is reminiscent of the height of the neo-soul era made famous by Maxwell, Lauryn Hill, D’Angelo and Jill Scott.

“I feel like it’s a good introduction to who I am as an artist,” Parson said. Her goal was to blend the classic with the modern to create something timeless, and she can’t wait to let people hear it on Friday live and in the flesh.

“I’m excited to release all the buildup that I’ve had over the past three years,” Parson said. “I want to take people to another place and to see that being vulnerable is okay. I also want people to know that great music – soulful, open and incredibly human music – is out there and being made right here in St. Louis.” Katarra will perform a special release show of “Cocoa Voyàge” at The Dark Room at the Grandel (3610 Grandel Square) on Friday, November 29 at 10 p.m. For more information about the artist visit https://www.facebook. com/katarramusic/ or e-mail: katarramusic@gmail.com.

actors’ voices for an arthouse effect. But her potential as a filmmaker – if given the proper narrative to tell –is vividly clear. The actors also make the most of the flawed story. Turner-Smith and Kaluuya exude a natural chemistry as they come to know each other over the course of their heart-pounding interstate chase that sees them taking extreme measures to stay one step ahead of the law. Turner-Smith is even more hollow than the detachment her character has been forced to develop over the years to cope with extenuating family circumstances. But Kaluuya perfectly tugs at heartstrings with his attempts to get Queen to open her fiercely guarded heart.

Bokeem Woodbine lends a certain charm and finesse as Queen’s Uncle Earl – the Iraqi war veteran-turned-hustler whose mental and emotional health became collateral damage because of the atrocities he witnessed while serving his country.

“Queen and Slim” opened in theaters nationwide on November 27. The film is rated R with a running time of 132 minutes.

Sterling K. Brown, his wife Ryan Michelle Bathe and the couple’s two sons at the red-carpet premiere of “Frozen 2” recently in Los Angeles.

Birthdays

and Rhyian. Jerri is a Dance Plus Mom, world-class auditor and a believer of continuous acts of kindness.

Reunions

All reunion announcements can be viewed online!

Beaumont High Class of 1970 is planning its 50-year reunion! We want to reach as many classmates as possible, so please share this info with other class of ‘70 alumni. Please email your current contact info to: Beaumontclassof1970@gmail. com.

Central High School Class of 1970 is in the process of planning its 50-year reunion in 2020. We are trying to locate former classmates. If you would like to receive additional information as we plan this momentous occasion, please provide your contact information to either Lillian McKinney at mamajoyce314@ icloud.com or (314) 335-9760, Eric Armstrong at elarmstr@ yahoo.com or (918) 6503385, Sabra Morris-Pernod at Saboots@centurytel.net or (314) 703-0812.

Sumner High School Class

Celebrations

Pageant Winner

Congratulations to Tim Person, who celebrated his birthday November 18 and was awarded the MOKAN 2019 Minority Business Enterprise of the Year on November 23!

On November 25, 1998, God blessed us with an amazing gift! Happy 21st birthday to our beautiful daughter Janae! We love you to life and are so proud of the woman you’re becoming! Janae is a junior at Murray State University and is rocking it! Your future is spotless and the best is yet to come!

of 1957 will sponsor a Holiday Social on Friday, December 27, 5-8 pm at the Creve Coeur American Legion Hall (behind Bristol) 934 E Rue Del La Banque Dr., 63141. DJ will play oldies and line dance music for dancing. Tables available for card players. Chicken and fish dinners available for $10, cash bar.

Sumner Class of 1976 Annual Christmas Party Friday, December 21, 2018, 7pm at DEJAVU II Cafe, 2805 Target Dr., St. Louis, MO 63136. 2 for 1 Drink Specials (5:30-7:30pm), free

Cyan Kelley, 13, is the National American Miss STL Preteen and will represent the city in Anaheim, CA over Thanksgiving in the national pageant. Cyan won the “Heart of Service” award, with over 500 hours of service including her organization, SUNN – Serving Up Nutrition and Necessities. She prepares and delivers meals to the homeless. Cyan attends GCAA, participates in NSBE, Girl’s Inc. Eureka and is an active member of End Times Christian Assembly.

parking, band performs from 7:30-9:30pm. No cover charge; classmates and guest each pays $5 for the catered food served during intermission, whether you partake of it or not. Limited reserved seating available until 10pm. Doors open 5pm/close 1am. For more info, call B. Louis at 314.385.9843.

Vashon High School Class of 1974 is planning for its 45th reunion. We are in the process of rounding up all classmates. To provide or update your contact information, please email ljbady@gmail.com or

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican.

contact: Joe Verrie Johnson 314-640-5842, Jordan Perry 314-724-4563, or LaVerne James-Bady 314-382-0890.

Vashon High School Class of 1975 is planning for its 45 year class reunion. We are in process of getting all classmates to provide or update your contact information. Please email Millicent, centbyme1@aol.com or Elvis, elvishopson@att.net. You can also send information by mail: Vashon High Class of 1975, P.O. box 8735, St. Louis Mo. 63101. Keep this date open: August 7-9, 2020.

Happy Birthday to Jerri Crawford-Carrier, who celebrated her birthday on November 21. She is the epitome of graciousness, never-ending love and making every sacrifice for her princesses, Jaidyn

Photo by Rosalind Guy

A delightful night of soul music overload. I knew that Angel Patterson was not going to be playing games with the birthday edition of her Night of Soul Searching monthly concert series when I saw her look serving a cross between Rihanna and a throwback to Vanity as Laura Charles in “The Last Dragon.” I was right. She served up a performance mashup that let the folks know she can get down on the microphone too. Then she opened the doors of the Ready Room to friends who proceeded to sing the stage down to the studs Friday night. But before we get to the singers, let’s talk about that band and the background saingas (yes, saingas)! Yo, I would probably sound like I needed a record deal if they were leading me through a musical selection – and I barely carry a tune down the street in a bucket. So, imagine you have some of the best voices you’ve heard playing off that magical mix of musicians. They were so sickeningly good that host Darius Bradford had to get in as a musical contributor, and I’m not mad. I had never heard of anybody on the bill but Angel, Terry Rogers and headliner BJ The Chicago Kid, but this show is almost certainly a shoe in for my top live shows of 2019. After Angel tore it up, Rolynne Anderson and her sultry contralto set the tone for type of singing that compels you to slap fives with your seat neighbor. When she blended “Brown Skin,” “Simply Beautiful” and “Old Town Road” I was ready to start a record label just so I could sign her. Then Keisha Renee came through with a mix of R&B remixes to country classics and gospel sound that took me up yonder. Terry Rogers repped well for the local singers too. And just when I thought when I thought I couldn’t be any more impressed, Isa Elliott said “watch this rich tone and these ridiculous runs!” And I did. I was sick when I saw the band breaking down, because I had already envisioned me getting my whole entire life from the pairing – and even more concerned when BJ The Chicago Kid took the stage with no introduction and dressed like he just finished putting up drywall in the basement. But he is not Grammy nominated for nothing! And he showed up and showed out. Beats and bass with Enoch. Because Night of soul searching set a record for late starts, I barely got over to Sophie’s to see what my boy Enoch Raavi and his Indigenous Groove served up with “Untrapped.” Nothing but death could have kept me from it and I’m so glad I came through. It takes a special type of talent to slay turntables and an upright bass at the same time, but Enoch is exactly that. It was a splendid mix of sights and sounds that even saw Eneezy backed up by a Roaring 20s style tap dancer. All the black to basics were in the building – and it was so cool to catch up with them. There were also a handful of general population folks who looked like they wandered to the second floor of the .Zack building after enjoying a malt at the Fountain on Locust. But they didn’t seem uncomfortable or look to be unwelcomed in the least. It was quite the opposite.

Dos Salas to Africa. Since I’m talking about beautiful blackness, I might as well let y’all know about the Afro-fusion wave happening at Dos Salas Saturday night in honor of celebrity guest Michael Blackson, who was closing out a weekend engagement at Helium Comedy Club. Watching him juke to Burna Boy in that checkered suit was a whole entire vibe. I hear that him cutting a rug in the VIP was more entertaining than his stage show that was burdened with recycled material, but since I wasn’t there, I will keep quiet about it. I’ll keep it on the high note that was that pulsating beat that had the folks breaking it down in the name of the Diaspora. It was quite epic for a medium sized crowd.

A spotlight on St. Louis funny. I was going to start with the bad news since I was already talking about comedy flops, but I’m going to get right into the bright side of the Night of Love and Laughter Sunday night at The Pageant starring Jess (Allegedly) Hilarious. Anybody in that building left knowing for sure that St. Louis breeds some of the best comedy. Periodt. (yes, with a t on the end). I was gasping for air and in need of a sip from somebody’s Inogen One portable oxygen tank after Jessie Taylor, Hot Sauce, Jovan Bibbs and Maurice G. If I had never laughed again after Jessie got to talking about how folks have punished R. Kelly, but let Keith Sweat off the hook by breaking down the lyrics of “Right and a Wrong Way” the whole night, it would have been worth my time. And when the DJ played a New Orleans music track, Jessie told him that no music from that region was allowed until Master P. and ‘nem came back and made things right, my soul left my body. Then Hot Sauce got up there talking about a savage Uber driver that is still about that life as he picks up and drops off riders. It was a wrap. Jovan and Maurice did their things too and JuJu gave a decent R&B snippet. But funny ended with the locals as Jess proved that her second time was not a charm for her as a comedy headliner in St. Louis. Now before I get too deep into, I will say that the internet sensation turned actress/comedienne is as down-to-earth and personable as she can possibly be. But that has nothing to do with her properly slanging jokes on stage. She’s funny when she does her little reads and whatnot on the internet. No lie. But a full-length routine is a whole ‘notha matter. I thought she would have learned that lesson from the last visit. The best she could do was talk about roaches and how she got arrested in Cleveland. Girl show me the funny. Once I laid my eyes upon Lady Re’s St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup Winning commemorative electric blue mohawk, I kept hoping with all my might she would tag herself in, take the stage and tear the whole house down. I would not be so lucky. But I did leave there with a word for all the up-and-coming comedians and the veterans who haven’t broken through on a national level yet. If you can make people laugh here on a consistent basis, there is not an audience in the world that you can’t handle.

Jessie Taylor, R&B singer JUJU, and comedians Maurice G and Jovan Bibbs with promoter Deandre Garden of Drip ENT after headliner Jess Hilarious took the stage @ The Love and Laughter Comedy Explosion Sunday@ The Pageant

The sun was setting as Raven and Andrea caught the tail end of the Brunchish Day Party Sunday @ Quattro

La Tanya was shopping local and stopped by Mena Darre’s booth to pick up a signed copy of Darre’s book Saturday during the GIRLPRENEUR Expo

Rico Da Mac and Super Human Shuffles @ The Small Town Big Dreams Core DJ meet and Greet Saturday @ Blank Space

Felicia Harris, Marla Dunbar and Vanessa Townsend Saturday @ Better Family Life’s Unity Ball @ The Renaissance Airport

Nene and Dre were in chill mood as they waited for A Night of Soul Searching to start Friday @ The Ready Room

Marcell and Brandon Williams showed their support for Mathews-Dickey Saturday @ the organization’s 60th Anniversary Jewels and Jerseys Gala

Vendors Alesha Hinton, Denise Kirby, and Kameelah Robinson of Prime Top Boutique @ Trap Paint Soul Sunday evening @ The House of Soul

Dos Salas was the place to be as Mustapha welcomed Comedy veteran Michael Blackson Saturday night

Al and Marsha Mitchell made their way to Mathews-Dickey’s Jewels and Jerseys 60th Anniversary Gala Saturday @ The Hyatt

Angel Shields Patterson, Rolynne Anderson, Terry Rogers, Keisha Renee, and Isa Elliot opened the show and set the stage on fire and Grammy-nominated headliner BJ the Chicago Kid brought down the house as Angel celebrated her birthday with A Night of Soul Searching Friday at the Ready Room.

Photos by V. Lang

The School District of Jennings encourages qualified persons interested in running for a position on the Board of Education to file for candidacy in the April 7, 2020 election. Interested persons may file at the St. Louis County Board of Elections at 725 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann, MO, 63074. Candidates must present a valid Missouri Driver’s License or State Identification Card.

Candidates can file between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday from December 17, 2019 through January 21, 2020. (On the last day of filing only, candidate filing ends at 5:00 PM). The St. Louis County Board of Elections offices will be closed on the following dates: December 25, 2019, January 1, 2020 and January 20, 2019. Offices may also close as a result of inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Further information can be found via the following website: http://www.stlouisco.com/YourGovernment/Elections

First day filers will select a number by random drawing to determine placement on the ballot. After the first day, candidates will be placed on the ballot in the order of their filing. At the time of filing, a copy of a notarized affidavit declaring no delinquency of local and state taxes shall be provided. The affidavit form can be found online at http://dor.mo.gov/forms/512.pdf .

There are three positions available with three-year terms. These positions are currently held by Mrs. Miranda Jones, Mr. Johns Schlereth, and Mr. Terry Wilson. For additional information or questions regarding filing, please contact the St. Louis County Board of Elections at 314-615-1800.

The Brentwood School District seeks to hire the following positions Night Custodian-FT

Director, Maintenance and Facilities

Position will plan, direct, supervise, and evaluate the maintenance and custodial staff of the school district.

Duties include:

• Building Maintenance and Repair

• Personnel Management

• Policy, Reports, and Law

• Budget, Inventory, and Administration

• Safety

For complete description and minimal qualifications, please visit our district website www.brentwoodmoschools.org Click on the Join Our Team tab at the top of the page, review the Q and A section and proceed to the link in the middle of the page, Employment Opportunities. Positions are open until filled, however interviews will begin once sufficient applications have been received. Only online applications are accepted. If you have applied previously for the Night Custodian position there is no need to apply again. Please No Phone Calls. EOE. TO ADVERTISE JOB OPPORTUNITIES CAREER FAIRS AND

at ahouston@stlamerican.com

JOB OPENINGS

St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund has job openings for the following positions: program officer and executive secretary. Interested applications should visit www.KeepingKidsFirst.org, and click on the link in the banner for more information, or contact KeepingKidsFirst@stlouisco.com with any questions.

JANITORIAL - HIRING

Full & Part-Time positions, 3 Shifts

Background check. Steady work history preferred. Apply at 314 N. Jefferson at Olive. M - F, 9A to 5P. Must have two forms of I.D.

SENIOR CONSTRUCTION SPECIALIST

Supervisory or Lead Responsibilities. Involves the preparation and/or review of sketches, drawings, designs, specifications, schedules, requests for proposals and other documents related to the design of building construction, renovation and maintenance. Works closely with St. Louis Housing Authority staff, HUD Officials, residents, construction contractors, consultants and others to assure that design and subsequent construction are appropriate and properly constructed. Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university in Architecture, Mechanical or Civil Engineering and be familiar with general building construction. Five (5) years’ experience in the construction industry, preferably, as a craftsman and one (1) year or more trades applicable to general building construction may be substituted for a degree and at least three (3) years of this experience must be in construction inspection. Starting Salary $59,540 Annually. Apply or send resume to: St. Louis Housing Authority, HR Division, 3520 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63106 by 5:00 p.m., December 23, 2019 via website www.slha.org or email athomas@slha.org. A Drug Free Work Place/EOE.

LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITION

This is a responsible law enforcement position in the protection of life and property through the enforcement of laws and ordinances. Work involves responsibility for the protection of life and property, prevention of crime, apprehension of suspected criminals, and the enforcement of laws and ordinances. Work involves an element of personal danger in the pursuit of duties. Must have graduated from high school or GED, supplemented by the state-approved course of law enforcement training. Must have possession of a valid Missouri driver’s license and Certification as a Police Officer by the State of Missouri. Contact HR@Fergusoncity.com for full job description or to submit an application.

ASSISTANT BRANCH MANAGER

The St. Louis County Library is seeking applicants for a full time Assistant Branch Manager at the Bridgeton Trails Branch. This position will assist the Branch Manager with the operation and maintenance of the branch to provide quality Library services to all Library customers. A Master’s degree in Library Science is required. Must possess excellent communication and organizational skills. Salary: $53,810 plus paid health insurance and vacation. Apply online at www.slcl.org. Equal Opportunity Employer.

SPECIALIST- CLAIMSCLAIMS ASSISTANT

Responsible for various technical support tasks related to claim assistant duties and the processing of primary claim data

To apply, please visit: https://www. safetynational.com/careers-page/

HEALTHCARE COALITION AND READINESS & RESPONSE COORDINATOR

East-West Gateway Council of Governments has an opening for a Healthcare Coalition and Readiness & Response Coordinator. Starting salary is $59,316 annually. Please follow the link to view post at http://www.ewgateway.org/careers/.

www.stlamerican.com

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

The City of Jennings is accepting applications for the position of Administrative Assistant in the Building Department. Duties include assisting with administration of city programs, preparation of agendas and reports, transcription of minutes, assisting the public by phone & in person, understanding and interpretation of building and zoning codes and review of applications. Minimum 3 years office experience required, with excellent clerical, computer and customer service skills and attention to detail. Experience with building and zoning codes preferred. Starting salary $32,538 (GS-11-C). Applications available at Jennings City Hall, 2120 Hord Ave. or at www.cityofjennings. org. NO RESUMES ACCEPTED WITHOUT THE COMPLETION THE APPLICATION! Completed applications may be delivered to City Hall, mailed, emailed to jobs@cityofjennings.org or faxed to 314-388-3999. Applications accepted until November 21, 2019 at 5 p.m.

JOB POSTING

DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT

The administrative & professional work in planning, organizing, directing, and supervising of the building department, including code enforcement, new construction, economic development, environmental, and public health and safety programs. Must have a thorough knowledge of City building, housing, zoning requirements and ordinances; considerable knowledge of safety and sanitation features and practices; working knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering, as well as of building construction and maintenance. Bachelor’s degree in planning or related field or five years equivalency in the field. ICC certified. Starting annual salary $55,897 (GS23). Applications available at Jennings City Hall, 2120 Hord Ave. or at www.cityofjennings.org.

NO RESUMES ACCEPTED WITHOUT COMPLETION OF OUR APPLICATION! Completed applications may be mailed, emailed to jobs@cityofjennings.org or faxed to 314-388-3999. Applications accepted internally until December 6, 2019 at 5:00 pm.

LETTING #8707

CHLORINE BUILDING MAKE-UP AIR UNIT REPLACEMENT AT THE CHAIN OF ROCKS AND HOWARD BEND WATER TREATMENT PLANTS CITY OF SAINT LOUISWATER DIVISION

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on December 17, 2019, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps. org (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on December 6, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. in Water Division Service Building Lunch Room, 10450 Riverview Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63137.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies).

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is accepting proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00 a.m. on January 3rd, 2020 to contract with a company for: Lawn Care Services for River Des Peres. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). The bid document will be identified as 10221 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for James S. McDonnell Boulevard Resurfacing, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1552, will be received at the Office of the Director of Procurement for the County of St. Louis, County Government Center Administration Building, 41 South Central Avenue, 8th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105, until 11:00 a.m. on December 18, 2019.

Plans and specifications will be available on November 18, 2019 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouisco.com), or by contacting County Blue Reprographics, Inc., 811 Hanley Industrial Court, Brentwood, MO 63144, (314) 961-3800.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will receive Sealed Proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 11:00 a.m. on January 7, 2020 to contract with a company for: SERVICE AWARDS.

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). The bid document will be identified as 10218 RFP. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314-768-6254 to request a copy of this bid. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Missouri Historical Society is seeking RFP bids for a graphic designer to lay out and design the cover for a book on suffrage, tentatively titled Groundbreaking St. Louis Women.

Please visit https://mohistory.org/ about/requests-for-proposal/ for details.

Submission Deadline: December 16, 2019

An Equal Opportunity Employer

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT ST. LOUIS MISSOURI

LEMAY 1 – COOLING TOWER REPLACEMENT (IR) CONTRACT LETTING NO. 13322-015.1

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Lemay 1 Cooling Tower Replacement (IR) under Letting No. 13322-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on January 14, 2020. All bids are to be deposited in the bid box located on the First Floor of the District’s Headquarters located at 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103, prior to the 2:00 p.m. bid deadline.

A general description of the work to be done under these contract documents can be found in Section 01 01 00 of Part 5 – Specifications of the Bidding Documents.

The work to be done under these contract documents consists of:

· Removal of 4 Cooling Towers and replacement with 2 Cooling Towers at Lemay Pump Station P-301.

· Removal and replacement of valves and piping associated with the cooling towers.

· Associated electrical and controls replacement to support the installation of the new Cooling Towers.

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: Building Construction or Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing.

The Engineers Opinion of Probable Construction Cost is $624,000.00.

Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

A non-mandatory

SEALED BIDS

BidstoModernize Elevator,Hoctor Building, Southeast MissouriMental HealthCenter, Farmington, Missouri,Project No.M1814-01 willbereceived byFMDC,State ofMO,UNTIL 1:30PM, 12/19/2019via MissouriBUYS. Biddersmustbe registeredtobid. Forspecificproject informationand orderingplans,go to:http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

foraNew Pavilion,Missouri StateFairgrounds, Sedalia,Missouri, ProjectNo.F200101willbereceived byFMDC,State ofMO,UNTIL 1:30PM, 12/19/2019via MissouriBUYS. Biddersmustbe registeredtobid. Forspecificproject informationand orderingplans,go to:http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

l, CentralRegion, StateofMissouri, Project No. ZASIDIQ-0024, willbereceived byFMDC,State ofMO,via MissouriBuys UNTIL1:30 PM,Thursday, December 12,2019 For specificproject informationand orderingplans, goto:http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: SERVICE CONTRACT-CLARIFIER ALGAE SWEEPS 2020. The District is proposing single source procurement for this service because FORD HALL COMPANY is the only known available source for this service. Any inquiries should be sent to gjamison@stlmsd.com.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Advertisement for: REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The City of St Louis Department of Health is seeking proposals to link individuals identified as high risk for hypertension with healthy foods, health education, cooking demonstrations, and referrals to hypertension programs incorporating Self-Monitoring Blood Pressure (SMBP) and diabetes programs incorporating Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to optimize health outcomes. Requests for Proposals may be obtained beginning November 22, 2019, from the City of St. Louis Department of Health, Bobie Williams, 1520 Market Street-Suite 4051, St. Louis MO 63103, williamsb@stlouis-mo.gov, (314) 6571475. Proposals may also be downloaded from the City of St. Louis website at http://www.stlouis-mo.gov/. All questions must be submitted in writing no later than December 13, 2019, to Bobie Williams at the information listed above. All questions will be addressed through addenda posted on the St. Louis City website at http://stlouis-mo.gov/. The deadline for submitting proposals is December 20, 2019, by 5:00 P.M. to Bobie Williams at the address listed above. The Department of Health reserves the right to reject any or all responses with or without cause.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT

OF HUMAN SERVICES CONTINUUM OF CARE PLANNING GRANT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The St. Louis County Department of Human Services is seeking proposals for the St. Louis County Continuum of Care Planning Consultant Grant. The total funding available is approximately $88,294.00. Proposals are due by 11:00 a.m. on December 16, 2019. Request For Proposal details and specifications can be obtained on November 25, 2019 at the St. Louis County Bids and RFPs webpage located at http://www.stlouisco.com/ YourGovernment/BidsandRFPs

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for Graham Road –St. Ferdinand Street Resurfacing, St. Louis County Project No. CR-1804, will be received at the Office of the Director of Procurement for the County of St. Louis, County Government Center Administration Building, 41 South Central Avenue, 8th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105, until 11:00 a.m. on December 18, 2019.

Plans and specifications will be available on November 18, 2019 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouisco.com), or by contacting County Blue Reprographics, Inc., 811 Hanley Industrial Court, Brentwood, MO 63144, (314) 961-3800.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for RE-BID Edna-Thursby, Essex, Treasure Cove, Wayfarer East and Yarnell

ST. LOUIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES HOUSING URBAN DEVELOPMENT FY19 EMERGENCY SOLUTION GRANT

The St. Louis County Department of Human Services, Homeless Services Program, is seeking proposals for the Housing Urban Development FY19 Emergency Solution Grant. The total funding available is $475,671.00. Proposals are due by 11:00 a.m. on December 12, 2019. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on November 25, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. at the Department of Human Services @ 500 Northwest Plaza, 1st floor Training Room, St. Ann, MO 63074. Request For Proposal details and specifications can be obtained at the St. Louis County Bids and RFPs webpage located at http://www.stlouisco.com/ YourGovernment/BidsandRFPs

ST. LOUIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES 2019-2020 WARMING AND COOLING SHELTER

The St. Louis County Department of Human Services, Homeless Services Program, is seeking proposals for the 2019-2020 Warming and Cooling Shelter. The total funding available is $131,900.00. Proposals are due by 11:00 a.m. on November 22, 2019. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on November 12, 2019 at 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Department of Human Services @ 500 Northwest Plaza, 8th floor Conference Room 1, St. Ann, MO 63074. Request For Proposal details and specifications can be obtained at the St. Louis County Bids and RFPs webpage located at http://www.stlouisco.com/ YourGovernment/BidsandRFPs

#8708

BIDS

Soliciting bids on 3315 Berrywood-Medical Center Renovation, UMC, Columbia, MO. Bid date 11/21/19; bids due 11:00 a.m. Qualified disadvantaged subcontractors or suppliers contact Reinhardt Construction, Centralia, MO; 573-682-5505; fax 573-682-3322.

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on JANUARY 14, 2020, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stlbps.org (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held DECEMBER 17, 2019 at 10:00 a.m., City Hall, 1200 Market Street, Room 305, St. Louis, Missouri 63103.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies).

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements). (Announcements).

INVITATION FOR BIDS

Sealed bids for the City of Webster Groves, Missouri (hereinafter “Owner”) Marshall Avenue Improvements, STP-5540(604) (hereinafter “Project”) will be received by Webster Groves City Hall, 4 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves, Missouri 63119, until 2:00 p.m. local time, on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. The Scope of Work includes improvements to Marshall Avenue in the City of Webster Groves and provides for pavement milling and resurfacing, concrete sidewalk with integral curb, driveway approaches, and pedestrian ramp improvements, pavement striping, traffic control and other incidental items and work described in the Project Manual, or reasonably inferable therefrom. Webster Groves anticipates issuing notice to proceed in the spring of 2020. Bid packages will be distributed electronically via an ftp link at no cost to the bidder. Hard copies will not be available for purchase. Bidders may make printed copies of the bid documents (plans, project manual, and a bid packet) at their own expense. When requesting the ftp link, you will be required to provide your company name, a contact person and phone number, a complete company address and an e-mail address to be added to the Plan Holders List and for receiving official bidding communications and addenda. If you are not on the Plan Holders List, you will not receive any addenda issued. To request the electronic ftp link, email Mike Spalding at mspalding@cochraneng.com. Project and bidding questions shall be conducted exclusively via e-mail. Any questions regarding this project must be submitted to: mspalding@cochraneng.com, by 4:00 pm local time on January 7, 2020. No written questions after this date or any verbal questions will be recognized. A bid security in the amount of five percent (5%) of the bid amount must accompany each bid, in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. For a contractor to be awarded this project the contractor must have a fully responsive contractor questionnaire on file with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission at least 7 days prior to the bid opening date. All bidders must be on MoDOT’s Qualified Contractor List per Section 102.2 of the current Missouri Standard Specifications for Highway Construction. No Second Tier Subcontracting will be allowed. The wage rates applicable to this project have been predetermined as required by law and are set forth in this specification. When Federal wage rates are applicable and included, this contract is subject to the “Work Hours Act of 1962”, (P.L. 87-581: 76 Stat. 357) and implementing regulations. When state and federal wage rates are both required the higher of the two for each job classification shall be used. Effective January 1, 2009 and pursuant to RSMo 285.530 (1), No business entity or employer shall knowingly employ, hire for employment, or continue to employ an unauthorized alien to perform work within the state of Missouri. The successful bidder must submit a sworn affidavit and documentation affirming the business entity’s enrollment and participation in the federal work authorization program and that all of its employees working for the contracted services are not illegal immigrants. Upon signing the contract, the successful contractor and any subcontractor performing the work shall provide a ten-hour Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) construction safety program for their on-site employees within sixty (60) days of beginning work on the construction project. The City of Webster Groves, Missouri hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, ancestry, or national origin in consideration for an award. The DBE Contract Goal for this project is 16%, and DBE firms must be certified by MoDOT to attain credit towards this contract goal. There is no On the Job Trainee goal. The owner intends to award the contract to the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder. The owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids, and to waive any irregularities in the best interest of the owner with MoDOT’s consent

Declaring ‘Spiritual Warfare Against Crime’

COGIC

bishop calls for 40 days of fasting and prayer

By Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten For The St. Louis American

Nearly every day, I hear of someone being killed as a result of gun violence. Gun violence does not discriminate; it has been said that bullets do not have eyes. Statistics show one Missourian dies every 8 hours from gun violence and that Missouri has the 6th highest gun death rate in all 50 states. But it is the killing of our precious children that has shaken our community and is so heart-wrenching. In the St Louis area, the number of children fatally shot in the St. Louis area in 2019, as of September, is 23. Gun violence is the second leading cause of death for Missouri children ages 1 to 17. The police are doing what they know to do, but the deaths of our children continue. I know how to combat this attack on the Lord’s souls. In the scriptures He has given us a method: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray,

and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:14).

The Lord has laid on my heart to conduct a 40-day citywide prayer and fasting effort, “Spiritual Warfare Against Crime: Fasting and Prayer.”

The prayer and fasting will begin Monday, December 2 at 9 a.m. and continue through January 10, 2020, at midnight. We are asking the clergy and their congregations from all over the St Louis area to join us in this effort. We will convene at the Williams Temple COGIC, 1500 N. Union in St. Louis. We will be praying and

fasting against crime for 40 days and 40 nights in our main sanctuary. God answers the prayers of the righteous. Feel free to come by and pray and fast with us during this timeframe, day or night. Should you need more information regarding this effort, feel free to contact Lady Shirley Wooten at 314-5830610.

Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten is pastor of Williams Temple Church of God in Christ, a general board member of the Church of God In Christ and prelate of Eastern Missouri Western Illinois.

Church hosts Fair Trade Market

Manchester United Methodist Church will host a Fair Trade Market 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. November 29 – December 1 at the church, 129 Woods Mill Rd. in Manchester. The Fair Trade Market offers unique holiday gifts, international crafts, and exquisite foods. Organizers stated, “We have items that will delight and surprise. We are the nation’s largest Fair Trade Market with over 3,000 square feet of merchandise from around the world. Enjoy food samples, educational presentations, and giveaways. By choosing Fair Trade products, you get great value, and ensure equitable wages and treatment for farmers, artisans and their communities.”

The Message

Drop that stone in your hand

One of the key tenets of our faith as prescribed in the New Testament is forgiveness. Time and again Jesus reminds His disciples that although the laws of His Father are crystal clear, God is always receptive to a repentant heart. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation…” 2 Corinthians 7:10.

Some have called Him the God of another chance, as opposed to a God of a second chance. Myself, I blew through the secondchance warning sign ages ago. Without another but yet another chance and still another chance, the opportunity to gain entrance into the kingdom would be chalked up in the lost cause category.

and heart

of the Old Testament, was to bring mercy into a new realm. It seems that we too have an obligation (however difficult) to hold sacred this thing called forgiveness.

“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” From Jesus’ mouth to your ears. We must exhibit mercy and forgiveness in our own lives, if we are going to at least try to accept the challenge of living a Christian life.

The whole point of Christ’s crucifixion was to forgive us our sins, thereby freeing us from the impossible prospect of “earning” our way into heaven. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:7. No matter how hard we try, there is absolutely nothing we can do to earn the favor of God. It comes with who He is and not who we try to be. Just deal with it.

Forgiveness is a focal point of the Christian experience and deserves our study and internalization. Even though Jesus died for us, His purpose, besides fulfilling the promise

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13. That “turn the other cheek” stuff really is hard to do. We are not built to hold grudges but we do. Not supposed to seek revenge, but we do. And we’re not supposed to get even when slighted and our ego gets tested, but we do. Isn’t it so much easier to just operate under the edict of an eye for an eye?

Yes, it is, but then Jesus comes up with the ever-present “He who is without sin (go ahead) cast the first stone” (John 8:7). We walk around with rocks in our hands as well as our hearts. It is a hard lesson learned by true believers that the world is more easily navigated when we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. The road to heaven is still navigated by the one who will let go and drop that stone in his or her hand.

Columnist

James Washington

Photo by Wiley Price

Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten speaking at Holy Convocation in St. Louis in 2017.