November 6th, 2014 Edition

20 years after his Million Man March pin, Demetrius Ball makes a ‘Hands Up’ pendant

Protestors disrupt Stenger’s party

Ferguson protestors were evicted from Steve Stenger’s campaign celebration on Tuesday, November 4 at the Sheraton Clayton Plaza. Protestors engaged in shouting matches with Stenger’s supporters about his support for St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert P. McCulloch.

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Stenger narrowly beats Stream Black Democrats send

Steve Stenger was surrounded by supporters, including former state Rep. Betty Thompson, when he celebrated his narrow victory over Rick Stream in the St. Louis County Executive race late on the night of Tuesday, November 4 at the Sheraton Clayton Plaza.

November 5, 1933 - November 3, 2014

Servant for women’s health passes

Services Friday for beloved physician, Jonathan Reed, MD

By Sandra Jordan

Of The St. Louis American

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 7 for longtime St. Louis obstetrician/gynecologist Jonathan Raymond Reed, MD, who passed away Monday, November 3, 2014 at age 80.

His career included nearly 50 years in women’s health, bringing newborns into the world and serving the community in private practice and in public health, retiring in 2006.

“It was truly an amazing experience,” Dr. Reed told The American in 2011. That year, Dr. Reed received the St. Louis American Foundation’s highest honor in health care, its Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Salute to Excellence in Health Care.

n “Through my practice, I realized that all people need access to medical care. Science doesn’t recognize skin color or socio-economic status.”

– Jonathan Reed, MD

“Through my practice, I realized that all people need access to medical care,” Dr. Reed said. “Science doesn’t recognize skin color or socio-economic status.”

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

opposition to Stenger), calling Erby “a profile in courage.” It was a narrow victory for Stenger, the Democratic nominee, to prevent him from surrendering the top county seat to a Republican

FAA, County police censor

sky

AP report shows ‘no-fly zone’ in Ferguson targeted at media See REED, A6

By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American

The Federal Aviation Administration approved a Temporary Flight Restriction over Ferguson in August even though FAA officials knew St. Louis County Police requested the “no-fly zone” to suppress aerial media coverage of protests following the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown Jr., The Associated Press reported on Sunday, November 2. Audio recordings obtained by The AP under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act show that local authorities privately acknowledged the pur-

FAA, A7

Jonathan Raymond Reed, MD

Photo by Wiley Price

and cheer Stenger on. However, once young black men – or young people in general – started entering the party, Stenger’s team got nervous.

“There are eight of them right behind me,” one man told a St. Louis County Police officer inside

n “Hey, Bob! Which side are you on?”

– Derek Laney of MORE to St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert P. McCulloch

Photo by Wiley Price

Kelly Rowland and husband welcome baby boy

Singer Kelly Rowland and husband Tim Witherspoon welcomed their son Titan Jewel at 1:30 pm on Nov. 4.

“We are thrilled to announce that today we are the proud parents of our first son,” the singer said in a statement.

“We are blessed to report everyone is healthy and happy!”

Baby Titan weighed in at a healthy 7.5 lbs.

The singer also said that the baby’s name was picked by his father and is family related.

Was there drama between Nicki and her secret ex-boo?

The celebrity news and gossip site says that over the summer Minaj and Samuels got into a screaming match and Minaj went bananas before chasing Samuels out of the house with a bat.

A source claims Minaj threw all Samuels’ clothes in the trash and then demolished his Mercedes Benz with the bat. Police were called to the house, but no charges were filed since the Mercedes actually belonged to Minaj. Samuels was reportedly escorted away from the property.

Last week there were rumors that Nicki Minaj and Safaree Samuels were no longer a secret couple.

TMZ is reporting that some serious drama went down before the two called it quits.

But when she had little Koi, she says Mathew Knowles refused to play any role in her life, not even making an effort to meet her.

“He does not want to be a father. He makes it very clear,” Branscomb said.

“How does that make you feel,” a reporter from Inside Edition asked.

“His loss,” she replied. “Yes, I slept with a married man and it was the wrong thing to do, but I have a beautiful daughter who came out of the situation.”

“He’s not financially supporting Koi?” Inside Edition asked.

“No,” she replied.

Two days after the segment aired, Mathew Knowles was ordered to pay

Taqoya speaks on Mathew Knowles, introduces child on ‘Inside Edition’

Last weekend, Taqoya Branscomb spoke with entertainment news program Inside Edition about her affair with Mathew Knowles – a relationship that resulted in the birth of her daughter Koi.

Branscomb says at the time of their affair, Mathew was the successful manager overseeing Beyoncé’s career. He was also married to Beyoncé’s mother, Tina.

Taqoya said, “He treated me like I was the love of his life.”

$1,500 a month in child support for the care of Koi Knowles

7 premiere of “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Apollo Nida downplays his charges – and soon-to-be-ex-wife Phaedra Parks speak on her decision not to attend Nida’s upcoming sentencing.

Nida says:

“I’m not a murderer. I’m not a child molester. I wasn’t the guy on the corner selling cocaine. I understand what I’ve done is illegal. It’s wrong, but it’s fixable.

Earlier this year Mathew Knowles received a 2-year reprieve on child support for his 3-year-old son Nixon (who was fathered by yet another woman during his marriage to Tina Knowles) after it was determined that he’d previously overpaid.

Apollo’s sentence among Phaedra’s storyline for ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’

In another juicy trailer for Sunday’s season

The charges that I plead to were wire fraud, bank fraud and mail fraud. I basically controlled shell corporations and I got caught because a co-conspirator got in a bind and decided to bring me in.

My wife and children, they left...and the woman who was supposed to love and cherish me is nowhere to be found.”

Meanwhile, Parks defends her decision not to attend the sentencing.

“As a mother, the biggest concern for me is to protect my children during this whole tumultuous time. Whether I go to court or not, it’s not going to change anything. Apollo’s actions constitute the ultimate betrayal because I trusted him and I thought he was a changed man.

I’m not going to subject my kids to any of this press stuff and I don’t want them to have any idea about the disaster that’s going on. I gotta be a parent first.”

Sources: TMZ.com, Inside Edition, Bravo.com, People.com

McCulloch defends grand jury process

Decision postponed to ‘midNovember at the earliest’

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

On Friday, October 31, St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert P. McCulloch released an op-ed that outlines, in brief, the grand jury process and claims that the grand jury review of the evidence underway in the killing of Michael Brown Jr. is uncorrupted and fair.

He said he is confident the 12 grand jurors, who were empaneled by a circuit judge before the August 9 shooting, will reach “a true and just decision that bears no sign of passion or prejudice.”

The grand jurors will decide whether to bring charges against Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, who remains on paid leave.

Both “passion” and “prejudice” have been much discussed in connection to the shooting, the investigation by St. Louis County Police –which has not yet released a detailed investigative report –and McCulloch’s handling of the grand jury process.

As for “passion,” the shooting and investigation sparked a protest movement that continues – and continues to further polarize the region. Regional and national media, and the local public, continue to speculate whether the grand jury’s decision will enflame larger protests and trigger militarized police response. Recent documentary reporting

revealed that area police departments have stocked up on the crowd dispersal weapons used in August.

upon confidentiality of our conversations.

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Bracing for Hurricane McCulloch

Wherever the published leaks came from, they were widely understood to “prejudice” public opinion in favor of the police shooter, who claimed that he shot the unarmed teen at least six times, including twice in the head, out of self-defense.

According to eyewitness testimony that supports

n Wherever the published leaks came from, they were widely understood to “prejudice” public opinion in favor of the police shooter.

As for “prejudice,” the local daily newspaper and the nation’s two most influential daily newspapers in New York and Washington all recently published anonymous third-party hearsay reports of alleged evidence that reportedly supports the police shooter’s account of the shooting. None of these reports claimed to derive from the grand jury, and McCulloch claims they do not.

There is a parallel Department of Justice investigation into the shooting. Justice officials also deny providing a source for the leaks and called for the leaks to stop. The American was offered similar evidence in August and September that derived from two separate police sources and a federal official who does not work for the Justice Department. Though The American did not report on the offered evidence, the paper joins the three publications that did publish leak stories in protecting the agreed

bringing charges against Wilson, the teen had surrendered at the time of the fatal shooting, regardless of whatever altercation preceded it.

In his op-ed, McCulloch stands by his public position that neither he nor the grand jurors are the sources of the reported leaks. He also reminded the public that media are not giving them the full range of evidence that the grand jurors will review in reaching their conclusion.

“Although the discussion is encouraged and must continue,” McCulloch writes, “we cannot prejudge the case based upon media accounts and bits of information.”

Wilson is white and Brown was black. The Ferguson protest movement is diverse, but it focuses on a national pattern of white police officers shooting and killing black males who are unarmed (or where there is controversy over whether they were armed). The group that has rallied around the accused police shooters is virtually all-white. This makes the racial composition of the grand jury an issue of concern. As previously reported, McCulloch confirmed that the grand jury hearing testimony in the Michael Brown Jr. case has nine white and three black members. Seven are men and five are women. Nine of the 12 jurors must agree on charges to hand down an indictment.

On Thursday, October 30, a representative from McCulloch’s office told The American the grand jury would reach its decision “midNovember at the earliest.”

The previous estimate was early to mid-November.

Though public speculation is rampant that the grand jury has finished reviewing evidence and McCulloch has been stalling until the November 4 general election has passed and colder weather has settled in, McCulloch claims in the op-ed, “The grand jury is still hearing evidence in this case.”

Read or download McCulloch’s op-ed: https://app.box.com/s/ mtun8cf99pl0uosb57n9.

Recently I ran across a 1988 letter from St. Louis Police Chief Robert Scheetz to an African-American clergy. It acknowledged a meeting with a group (of which I’m sure I was a part) around police-community issues and cited a number of documents the chief was including that had been requested in the meeting. These included the department manual, its policy on firearms, the current Academy curriculum for recruits, and stats on shots fired by police officers. I can’t tell you how many times groups that I’ve been involved with have requested the documents Scheetz referred to in his letter. It’s no wonder that informed citizens such as Mary Clemons are expressing both weariness and wariness at Governor Nixon’s announcement of the Ferguson Commission to explore the factors leading to a Ferguson uprising. Clemons’s recent commentary in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch states “that there is no new ground to be broken.” She asserts that we already “know many of the things that are wrong; they have been identified time and time again” and goes on to identify major reports and their important findings that have found little traction. And can we say 1968 Kerner Commission Report?

the last couple of weeks have only inflamed a community fighting for justice and real transparency. McCulloch and his enforcers are spending a lot of time and money preparing for what comes after the announcement of the grand jury. If only all this effort could be put on the front end to prevent the shooting death of the Mike Browns of the world and build processes that are fair and transparent.

The St. Louis County Police have ordered about $170,000 in weapons such as riot helmets, shields, teargas, grenades and headsplitting batons. It also ordered some new toys such as pepper balls, which are like paint balls except they explode with a powerful chemical irritant when it hits a protestor, and CS sting grenades, which shoot out dozens of rubber bullets and a powdered chemical upon impact. This is equipment that the department is willing to disclose; we don’t the full scope of its enhanced arsenal. St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson has ordered $325,000 in equipment to use on protestors but isn’t telling what his department purchased. We’ll know it when we feel it.

I suggest that the governor’s commission is cover for Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch, who’s been playing games with the grand jury from day one. The many leaks over

A no-fly zone has been requested by the County so that media won’t have access to an aerial view of the hurt about to be put on peaceful protestors.

Brace yourself, St. Louis. Hurricane McCulloch is coming.

St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert P. McCulloch

Jamala Rogers

Editorial /CommEntary

Black community waking up, seeking power

In late October 2010, when County Executive Charlie Dooley faced a spirited reelection challenge in the general election, Dooley’s senior policy advisor Mike Jones gave a candid interview with The American regarding Dooley’s performance in the black community and his perceived value to the black voter. What Jones said amounted to some of the most stinging comments about the boss that a public official in Missouri has ever made on the record. Ultimately, though, Jones’ indictment of his boss was only a reflection of the political disorganization of the black community in St. Louis County.

“One of the things missing in St. Louis County is the impact of the black community. It does not see itself as a cohesive political community that is organized to reach out and make alliances, as other interest groups do, to change or shift public policy. If Charlie Dooley looks like a black politician adrift, he is a politician who comes from a community that is also adrift,” Jones told The American in October 2010.

“It’s important that the center of gravity in the African-American community is no longer in the city, it’s in the county. The city is not big enough and the black community in the city is not robust enough to carry the day from a leadership standpoint. In the county, those leaders haven’t emerged, and a lack of political leadership allows conservative white business interests to dominate public

policy in the county.” Four years later, those leaders emerged. They started to emerge in the unlikely place of Ferguson, a North County municipality that came into international focus when a fatal police shooting of an unarmed teen sparked an unremitting protest movement. The courage of the black youth and mothers in Ferguson inspired and goaded new leadership in the County’s black political community. With some strategic counsel from Jones himself, whose boss is now a lame duck, Councilwoman Hazel Erby organized and led a dissident caucus among St. Louis County Democrats. The so-called Fannie Lou Hamer Democratic Coalition of St. Louis County came upon the scene too late to field a candidate in the November 4 election. The best they could do was to oppose the Democratic candidate who offended them enough for them to form the caucus in the first place, much as fatally bad police work and political insensitivity sparked the Ferguson protest movement: Steve Stenger. Stenger offended black Democrats by being a political creation and steadfast ally of County Prosecutor Robert P. McCulloch, whose controversial prosecution of the Michael Brown Jr. case further angered the community following the delayed, inadequate, opaque investigation by St. Louis County Police. Despite the fierce, unrelenting opposition from the African-American community,

McCulloch is still handling the Michael Brown Jr. case. He has announced his plans to release a grand jury decision in mid- to late-November. Despite more than 10,000 protest write-in votes against him, McCulloch believes he has a firm voter mandate to keep doing what he is doing between now and then and indeed for four more years. Stenger – who managed to win his election by a mere 2,000 votes – has that same time span to convince the Fannie Lou Hamer caucus – and the Ferguson protest movement – that he can lead St. Louis County in an inclusive and progressive manner. He can expect to be challenged every step of the way, because the black community in St. Louis County is awakened now, in a way it was not awake during Dooley’s tenure.

“A black politician, like a white politician, is a function of the pressures he gets,” Mike Jones told The American in October 2010. “If a community is not organized or coherent, its interests are always at a disadvantage in the competitive give-and-take that makes for American politics.” If this community continues to get better organized and coherent, we expect a new dynamic in St. Louis County and city politics in the next four years that will resonate statewide. And if the candidates of today don’t meet the raised expectations of this community, we are confident that this community can and will recruit and groom better candidates of its own.

no excuse for police?

Getting to uncomfortable

In his letter from the Birmingham jail, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. talked about creating tension to bring people to the table for real negotiation – not violent tension, but a degree of discomfort that cannot be ignored.

Today, protestors have shown that they are not going away and are willing to make all of us feel uncomfortable. The entire community cannot ignore the sentiment from some in the black community. Many are wondering if unarmed blacks can be killed without justice, what will protect them? We can argue “the facts,” as we may want to believe them; however, that will not change how people feel.

Many black leaders acknowledge that the community cannot push for a more equitable justice system from top to bottom without addressing the unacceptable level of black-on-black crime in our community. We as a region cannot be impatient to get past “all of this” without implying returning to the way it used to be – otherwise known as comfortable. Comfortable for whom? This significant disconnect on the perception of racial inequality has to be addressed.

There is a region-wide level

of discomfort and tension. Everyone is worried about what happens if the grand jury comes back and does not indict Darren Wilson. The disturbing part of this current discomfort is the absolute chasm between the perspectives of black and white people.

From the first day of this tragic situation, not one black person that I talked to had any confidence that our justice system was working effectively. This was exacerbated by the fact that law enforcement was involved.

Most of the white people I talked with spoke about details or speculations, relevant state laws and a host of other issues.

This drastic difference between perspectives illuminates our great need to find a new type of conversation that is honest, real and uncomfortable.

Statistics show that one in three black males born in 2001 will go to jail within their lifetime, and many simply chalk it up to poor decisionmaking. Furthermore, there’s a staggering 18-year differential in life expectancy between the 63105 Clayton zip code and the 63106 North St. Louis zip code.

Again, we must recognize that there are multiple systems at work that have been unjust, unfair and inequitable. As a region, we continue to struggle with our public education system, as well as our healthcare delivery system. Further, we recognize there are stark differences in the safety and character of our neighborhoods and communities across the

Letters to the editor

Contributions of our veterans

November is the month we recognize the many contributions our veterans had made to our country. The Missouri Veterans History Project helps identify and preserve these contributions. Audrey Mack, executive director, will provide details of this important project at the November 17 meeting of the Ferguson-Florissant branch (North County) of the American Association of University Women. Lorraine Hageman, World War II Navy Wave will also be present. The meeting will be held at Immanuel UCC Church Educational Building, 211 Church Street, Ferguson at 7 p.m. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information, call 314-921-5120, 314-831-6884, 314-831-5359.

Sylvia Miller, Ferguson

region. So where do we go from here?

As author Lisa Sharon Harper wrote recently, we must move “from the plateau of rage or the plain of apathy” if we are going to tackle the big problems in our region. To extend the metaphor, we need to find the valley of discomfort and live there together as a region. Can we create more opportunities to share the lived experience of black parents talking to their white counterparts? To share their daily fears and concerns and build a common bond of love for all children? Can we hear the stories of the people in our region and their interactions with law enforcement, no matter their station in life, and truly understand the significant frustration that has grown over time? Can we hear the stories from law enforcement about the stress they encounter every day because of the proliferation of guns in our community and people’s willingness to use them?

We cannot shy away from the race conversation; rather, we must meet it head on and know that we have to be uncomfortable if we are to move forward. Then, and only then, can we as a community tackle the systemic issues we face on a daily basis – education, housing, health care, jobs and economic development. Chris Krehmeyer is president and CEO of Beyond Housing.

All letters are edited for length and style.

inclusive. This decision is too important to be made without public input. Parents and other members of the public, including education organizations, should have the opportunity to provide input on the qualities and background needed to lead our public schools. An open and fair process builds trust in the community, something that has been sorely missing in the past few years. The next state education commissioner shouldn’t be someone from the Nicastro years.

Andrea Flinders, president Kansas City Federation of Teachers and School-Related Personnel

Stacy Reliford American Cancer Society

Joe Pierle Missouri Primary Care Association

Herb B. Kuhn Missouri Hospital Association

mately 17 percent. Although breast cancer may not be “curable,” it is generally treatable. The screening tool, a mammogram, is available at most clinics and hospitals throughout the state. Early detection makes the difference in survival rates of the disease. Moreover, awareness of the need for regular screening is increasing. Missouri has a program for breast cancer screening, ShowMe Healthy Women, which covers some uninsured Missourians diagnosed with breast cancer through its Medicaid program. It is helpful, but it’s just not enough. Individuals without health insurance are less likely to seek preventive care. And, routine screenings — especially among women with increased risk for breast cancer — are important to surviving breast cancer.

Like most people, Sergeant Matt Darisse believed driving with a broken tail light is against the law. He was wrong. On October 27, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments whether ignorance of the law is no excuse for police officers as well as private citizens. This is the first case of the Supreme Court’s new term.

Sergeant Darisse was on the look-out for guns and drugs in April 2009 when he spotted a Ford Escort with a broken brake light. Maynor Javier Vasquez and Nicholas Heien were on I-77, in Surrey County, NC. Vasquez drove. Heien, the car’s owner, slept in back. Darisse pulled them over and wrote a ticket for the tail light. But, Darisse said the men struck him as suspicious. Darisse asked to search the car. Heien and Vasquez agreed to it. That’s when officers found a cellophane wrapper with white powder residue in the driver’s door panel and burnt marijuana seeds in an ashtray. But, it was a duffel bag in the back hatch area containing cocaine that resulted in a sentence of two consecutive prison terms of 10 to 12 months for drug trafficking. Heien appealed. One broken brake light is not against the law in North Carolina. Allowing Darisse’s legal mistake to stand would “vastly expand police powers,” said Jeffrey Fisher, attorney for Heien. Darisse, sporting a sixinch salt-and-pepper goatee, sat in the far corner of the Courtroom as attorneys argued over his mistake and a law written back when brake lights were called automobile lamps. Heien argues his constitutional rights were violated. He wants the Supreme Court to throw out his conviction. Since Sergeant Darisse was mistaken about the law, there was no probable cause to stop Heien. The Fourth Amendment requires probable cause or reasonable suspicion. Darisse had neither. It also protects against unreasonable searches and seizures by police. Evidence from an unreasonable, or illegal, police search cannot be used against a defendant in court. Darisse found the cocaine after stopping Heien. So, if the stop is illegal, the cocaine found while searching his car must be excluded from evidence. Police must know the laws they are enforcing, Fisher said. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, even for police, he argued to the Court.

does not have to be perfect.” They can make mistakes in law and fact. Forcing police officers to be perfect would make it impossible for them to do their jobs, he said. North Carolina claims Darisse made a reasonable mistake. Courts have allowed reasonable mistakes by police in the past.

Even Chief Justice John Roberts thought a broken brake light was a moving violation. However, when Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked Montgomery if stopping Heien’s car for a broken brake light was mere pretext to search for drugs, he gave no response. Justice Sotomayor expressed concern that police would begin stopping cars, and people, based on their belief of what the law is and not the actual law.

“Knowledge of and obedience to the law” should apply to police officers and private citizens alike, says the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ in their amicus brief. The ACLU, Cato, and Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund are among the diverse organizations asking the Supreme Court to rule on behalf of Heien.

But, North Carolina’s attorney, Robert Montgomery, told the Court, “A police officer

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, an associate professor of Constitutional Law at John Jay College (CUNY), is the Supreme Court correspondent for African-American News & Information Consortium.

Must be transparent and inclusive

Students, educators, parents, education organizations and other community members must have a say in the selection of the next state education commissioner. The hiring process to replace Commissioner Chris Nicastro must be transparent and

Expand Medicaid for early detection

According to the National Cancer Institute, 232,670 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. in 2014. The American Cancer Society estimates that 4,610 of these diagnoses will be in Missouri. The death toll for women with breast cancer is approxi-

The solution to the problem of access to breast cancer screening and care for low income, uninsured women in Missouri is increasing access to Medicaid. Statewide, nearly 73,000 uninsured Missouri women could gain access to a breast cancer screening mammogram if the state accepts the federal funds already set aside for Missouri to increase access to the state’s Medicaid program. Tom Holloway, Missouri State Medical Association

Guest Columnist

Gloria J. BrowneMarshall

Guest Columnist Chris Krehmeyer

Kajieme Powell matters

Time for generations to come together

By Christi Griffin For The St. Louis American

The fight for civil and human rights has existed for centuries. Even the right to vote had to be won piecemeal by constitutional amendments for blacks, for women and then for anyone over the age of 18. Protection from slavery (“except as punishment for crimes for which the party has been duly convicted”), from unreasonable searches and seizure, from cruel and unusual punishment and from discrimination have all been won only after hard fought battles.

And today, even in the 21st century, humanity is still so unevolved in its moral and intellectual thinking that basic

human rights are won only after long and bitter fights. And so today we fight.

The young have protested for months on end. Through rain, hot days and even cold nights they’ve diligently held the line. Through tear gas, tanks and taunts of guns, they’ve expressed their intolerance of conditions existing for far too long. But unbeknownst to the young and energetic soldiers of today are the battles fought by the old. There are battles fought behind closed doors, fought in the courts, fought in board rooms and fought among friends. We may have dropped the ball but it wasn’t for the lack of effort. While the young were bopping heads to rap, our

generation were fighting wars. While these vibrant soldiers were cruising the streets, we were mentoring, feeding and lending a hand. While young bloods were busy gangbanging, churches were building community. We haven’t always gotten it right, but we’ve sure been trying. Fighting the racism that tightened its clench when civil rights were won has been an uphill climb. Hatred runs deep and the tools we were using only dug so far down. We won battles but we never won their hearts. The resistance to change

Christi Griffin

emerged in the War on Drugs. Prisons were not only tools to fill their coffers with billions but served as a means of tearing our families apart and controlling reproduction. Today it rakes in $72 billion a year, removes the right of millions to vote, and ravages entire communities.

While we were busy fighting fires on the left, they were busy setting blazes on the right. Job discrimination, segregation and denial of rights became politically correct when “criminals” were put in

the mix. We’ve been lured by welfare benefits and free phones. We’ve been distracted fighting for crumbs while overlooking the wealth. We’ve expending energy demanding the minimum while they gladly kept us jumping through their hoops. And still we fight –within.

The racism we face today has plagued us for years. The struggle is the purview of neither the young nor the old. Racist policies proliferated because the collective pain had not yet swelled. But swelled it has, and the eruption cannot and should not be quelled.

It’s time to stop pointing fingers at who didn’t do what and unite as young and old, black and white to end

the injustice that is killing us all. It’s time for an intergenerational community gathering to take plans to implementation. Join us on November 8 at 7 p.m. at Washington Tabernacle, 3200 Washington Ave., to do exactly that. It’s time.

Christi Griffin is the founder of The Ethics Project, a non-profit organization addressing the impact of crime, injustice and incarceration. She is the author of “Incarcerations in Black and White: The Subjugation of Black America.” Write TheEthicsProject@ gmail.com or visit www. TheEthicsProject.org.

Ferguson protestors temporarily blocked traffic at the corner of West Florissant Avenue and Riverview Boulevard on Wednesday, October 29.

The intersection is near the memorial for Kajieme Powell, who was shot and killed by two St. Louis police officers responding to a disturbance at that location on August 21. The family has filed a wrongful death suit against the city.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Continued from A1

the ballroom. They spotted Derek Laney, an organizer for Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment (MORE), and two police officers told Laney that the host of the party was asking him to leave. St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert P. McCulloch, who ran unopposed for re-election, shared Stenger’s watch party.

“The host of this party is asking me to leave?” Laney said. “Do you even know who I am?”

The Clayton Police officer responded, “I do, sir. I locked you up previously.” Laney turned to where McCulloch was standing, just about five feet away, and said, “Let me just ask my friend over here. Hey, Bob! Which side are you on?”

Soon after they escorted Laney out, police started targeting other attendees, mostly black men, and showing them the door.

When Stenger started his speech, the protestors started singing, “Which side are you on?” In what they now call

REED

Continued from A1

Dr. Reed said in his experience, financial issues were the reason that many patients in the AfricanAmerican community did not seek early prenatal health care or other preventative screenings.

“They were caught in the middle where they didn’t qualify for insurance or the government-supplemental programs,” he said.

“We would accept them, no matter if they had adequate coverage, partial coverage or full coverage.”

Reed was born on November 5, 1933 in Chicago,

“Requiem for Mike Brown,” Ferguson protestors have adopted the song, written by Florence Reece in 1931. It debuted at the St. Louis Symphony last month in protest of McCulloch’s handling of the case against Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. However, when the singing started, Stenger’s team promptly turned the music back up and his supporters started cheering. Protestors then took different tactics. One group locked arms, sat down and started shouting, “Shame!” during Stenger’s speech. Others engaged in shouting matches with Stenger’s supporters about Stenger’s support for McCulloch. As people were getting escorted out, the group then took to protesting on the hotel’s driveway and chanting, “Indict, convict, send that killer cop to jail.”

Five people were arrested, including OBS chair Montague Simmons, and charged with trespassing and disturbing the peace. Police lined up those arrested by the side of a police car. However, activist Elizabeth Vega was handcuffed and kept on her knees at the hotel entrance, looking like some sort of display.

“It’s shameful that Stenger,

Illinois, the first child of Jonathan and Sally Reed. He graduated from Wendell Phillips Academy High School and matriculated to Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he earned his B.A. in Biology. After graduating from college, Reed was drafted in the United States Army and he served in Korea.

Following an honorable discharge, he moved back to Chicago where Reed met and married his wife of 53 years, Bettye Walker. After graduating from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Dr. Reed began his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis.

“That experience at Homer Phillips was really amazing,”

After being evicted from Steve Stenger’s campaign celebration on Tuesday, November 4 at the Sheraton Clayton Plaza, Ferguson protestors remained on the hotel’s driveway, chanting, “Indict, convict, send that killer cop to jail.” Five people were arrested, including OBS chair Montague Simmons, and charged with trespassing and disturbing the peace.

a Democrat, stood by and allowed police to arrest local leaders instead of addressing the number one issue in St. Louis County right now: our broken policing system,” said Jamala Rogers, chair emeritus of Organization for Black Struggle.

Activists urge McCulloch to release a real timeline for

Dr. Reed told The American “The constant supervision, the good teaching, the excellent dispensing of medical care and the commitment of the entire staff were truly impressive.”

Dr. Reed started his private medical practice in the City of St. Louis and he later served as an assistant clinical professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine.

Fellow OBGYN Nathaniel Murdock M.D. considers Dr. Reed a very dear friend. He said they would cover each other’s practices when one or the other were away. Murdock described Reed as a fantastic physician and a very dependable person.

an announcement of the grand jury decision on indicting Wilson. They also contend that McCulloch continues to conduct the case without much transparency. Voters showed their discontent, as 10,870 residents voted for write-in candidates against McCulloch in the St. Louis County Prosecutor race. Stenger beat

“He was very trustworthy,” Dr. Murdock said. “If you asked him to do a task, you could forget about the task, because he would do it – it would be done.”

Family practitioner Denise Hooks Anderson, MD, medical accuracy editor for the American, said, “He was such an encouragement to me when I was president of Mound City Medical Forum. He was a true gentleman.”

After retiring from private practice, Dr. Reed served as head of the OB/GYN department at Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive Health Centers.

Dr. Reed was a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the National Association

Republican Rick Stream by a mere 2,000 votes.

“Bob McCulloch has failed the citizens of Ferguson and St. Louis by refusing to aggressively prosecute this case and hiding behind a confusing grand jury process,” said Jelani Brown, a member of OBS.

“The least he can do is give the public a date when this

for the Advancement of Colored People. He was also a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and a member of the National Medical Association, Mound City Medical Association, Eta Boule (Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity), the St. Louis Chapter of the National Association of Guardsmen, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and Washington Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church.

Dr. Reed was active throughout his retirement. He was an avid tennis player, golfer and world traveler.

Dr. Reed is preceded in death by his parents, Jonathan and Sally Reed, and his sister, Rochelle Reed Lester. He is

decision will come down in the interest of public safety.”

McCulloch told media at the watch party that the decision would be announced in “midto late-November.” Police sources told The American they expect the announcement to come on a weekend and consider Sunday, November 16 a likely date.

Several Stenger supporters watched the protest through the hotel entrance glass doors. But a few ventured outside, saying to their friends, “I want to experience this.”

Led by young and black residents, thousands took to the streets of Ferguson in August to demand justice for Michael Brown Jr. It is growing into a national movement against police shootings of black men and other patterns and practices of police misconduct.

“Millions stood in solidarity as protestors were met by a brutal and militarized response by local police departments,” the OBS statement read. “This action today was an extension of these ongoing concerted efforts to challenge local, county and state officials to take a stance on the issue of police accountability.”

Follow this reporter on Twitter @rebeccarivas.

Visitation takes place at 10 a.m. Friday, November 7 at Washington A.M.E.

Church, 613 North

St.

Avenue

noon at

by a 2 p.m. burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Meharry Medical College in the name of Dr.

of 1965.

survived by his wife Bettye, his daughters Stacy Reed Mevs, MD, Michelle Reed Arnold, MD (Kevin), Dana Maria Reed; and his grandsons Jonathan Reed Mevs, Christopher Michael Mevs, Davis Walker Munchus and Dylan Scott Munchus.

Zion

Garrison

in

Louis (63103). Dr. Reed’s funeral begins at

the church, followed

Jonathan R. Reed, class

Photo by Wiley Price

pose of the flight restriction was to censor the media.

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said the recordings obtained were of “informal conversations” and “taken out of context.”

“Had we just wanted to move the media away from this arena, we would’ve started that on the ground,” Belmar said at a press conference held Monday at police headquarters in Clayton. Of course, media were moved away on the ground. Journalists were arrested

STENGER

Continued from A1 for the first time in decades.

The margin – 137,638 votes (47.7 percent) to 135,870 votes (47.1 percent) – was within the 1 percent margin that mandates a recount, so Stream surprised many commentators by conceding defeat the moment the final tally was reported by the St. Louis County election board.

The previous report from the election board, with 72 percent of precincts reporting, had Stream ahead of Stenger. The election board struggled all night with a shortage of ballots, dysfunctional machines and resulting long lines at a number of polling places. The delay before the final tally was long enough to set off premature celebrations.

State Senator Maria ChappelleNadal, the Ferguson activist who also opposed Stenger and endorsed Stream, even declared the night “historic” for her candidate, before history turned against Stream with the final tally.

Mike Jones, one of the architects of the coalition that Erby led against Stenger, declared victory for the Fannie Lou Hamer Democratic

in Ferguson, and County police (and later the Unified Command) made many attempts to stage and control the media on the ground. PEN America has called for a separate investigation into treatment of the media by police in Ferguson. The “no-fly zone” affected more than 37 square miles and up to 3,000 feet of airspace surrounding Ferguson, and media were allowed to fly above restricted airspace. The AP reported that the flight restriction began on August 12 and lasted for 12 days. Belmar said the FAA recommended imposing the flight restriction due to concerns about the volume of air traffic

Coalition. Jones said the goal was never to deliver a victory to a Republican but rather to get the attention of the Missouri Democratic Party. The message was delivered. As the night dragged out due to slow vote reporting, the role of the coalition in the outcome was the dominant local narrative on an election night when a mid-term Republican surge that took back the U.S. Senate was the national story.

Stream watched vote returns with a party at the Frontenac Hilton, near a tony mall targeted by Ferguson protestors during Ferguson October direct actions. Perhaps Chappelle-Nadal was right that history had been made with the message sent, because for the first time in modern political memory St. Louis County Republicans were anxiously waiting for their candidate’s votes to come in from North County precincts that normally are majority-black Democratic enclaves.

Stream’s watch party made for strange groupings. State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, who protested in Ferguson, talked to James Knowles, Ferguson’s Republican mayor. Asked if she thought the Ferguson Police Department should be disbanded and its police chief dismissed, Nasheed said yes to

within the “no-fly zone” and only as a safety precaution. However, The AP reported that police made the request in response to shots fired at a police helicopter. Captain Kurt Frisz, a 25-year pilot, is the original commander who first spoke with the FAA and made the original TFR request, according to St. Louis County Police.

n

“An air ban singling out news aircraft is an unacceptable and unlawful abridgement of the rights of the free press.”

– ACLU

Belmar said “most of the problems” began on August 10, a day after the unarmed black

both. Knowles disagreed and quickly disappeared.

The insurgency against Stenger’s campaign was sparked most immediately by his handling of the Ferguson protests and the fatal Ferguson police shooting of Michael Brown Jr. on August 9, just days after the primary election when Stenger devastated incumbent Charlie Dooley, a black Democrat. The police shooting case is being handled by St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert P. McCulloch, who was the chief political sponsor of Stenger’s campaign.

McCulloch was a center of attention at Stenger’s election watch party at the Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel. He repeated his latest revised timeline for a grand jury decision in the case (“mid- to late-November”), defended his fitness to prosecute the police shooting of an unarmed black teen, and continued to praise Stenger.

McCulloch himself was on the November 4 ballot but with no opposition, having trounced his black Democratic primary challenger, Leslie Broadnax, who later joined McCulloch to campaign for Stenger against Stream. However, McCulloch’s opposition from

teen was killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. Belmar read a transcript from an unidentified caller to 911 Dispatch who reported shots being fired at a helicopter that day. Belmar also played audio from August 19 between a pilot and the Bureau of Communications regarding reports of a laser strike on an aircraft.

“When you laser a helicopter, it’s almost like looking in the sun. It disorients the pilots,”

the Ferguson movement was reflected in a large number of write-in votes against him –10,870 votes, nearly 5 percent of the vote in his race. By comparison, there were 3,665 write-ins for County Executive – where there actually was a write-in campaign – and only 399 in the County Assessor race.

Jake Zimmerman, the incumbent County Assessor who was endorsed by the Fannie Lou Hamer coalition, won handily over a Republican who didn’t campaign, Andrew Ostrowski, 167,067 votes (59 percent) to 114,911 votes (40 percent).

Tom Schweich, the Republican incumbent State Auditor, was reelected with no Democratic challenger.

Chappelle-Nadal defended her 14th Senate District on Tuesday. She easily defeated a write-in opponent who was sponsored by supporters of Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot Brown six times, including twice in the head.

Democrats prevailed in two other closely-watched Senate districts. In the 24th District, Jill Schupp defeated Jay Ashcroft, son of rightwing Republican John Ashcroft, the former U.S. Attorney General, 27,662

Belmar said. The audio clip documents that the laser strike on the aircraft occurred near Interstate 270 and W. Florissant at an altitude of roughly 2,200 feet and that notification had been sent to the FAA.

However, The AP transcribed candid conversations where FAA and police officials were clearly aware that the flight restriction’s main intent was not to protect pilots but rather to keep the media away from a close aerial view of the protests.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri objected to FAA’s handling of Ferguson in a letter to FAA counsel. ACLU stated that aerial newsgathering allowed for coverage that would otherwise be impossible to obtain on the ground, and as such the ban violated the media’s First Amendment rights. “An air ban singling out news aircraft is an unacceptable and unlawful abridgement of the rights of the free press,” the ACLU wrote to the FAA. “It is particularly alarming when implemented during events at which law enforcement may be engaging in practices that violate constitutional rights.”

votes (50 percent) to 26,030 (47 percent). In the 4th Senate District once represented by Jeff Smith, Joseph Keaveny defeated Republican challenger Courtney Blunt, 28,969 votes (72.2 percent) to 11,173 votes (27.8 percent). Erby was reelected to her 1st District seat on the County Council with no opposition.

Many black Democrat state representatives were elected or reelected with little or no opposition: Tommy Pierson (66th), Alan Green (67th), Courtney Curtis (73rd), Sharon Pace (74th), Rochelle Walton Gray (75th), Clem Smith (85th), Joe Adams (86th).

One black Republican was elected as state representative, Shamed Dogan (98th).

U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, who campaigned for Stenger and celebrated with him on Tuesday night, was reelected in the 1st Congressional District. Ferguson protestors were not silent on election night. They interrupted Stenger’s celebration with chanting. Their protest ended in a number of arrests by Clayton police, including Montague Simmons, lead organizer for Organization for Black Struggle. #FreeMontague was a hashtag in social media before the Stenger partyers – a mostly white crowd, with many visibly

Follow this reporter on Twitter: @BridjesONeil.

offended by the protestors –had finished clinking drinks in Clayton.

Ferguson protestors across the nation also celebrated the defeat of Jeff Roorda, the business agent for the St. Louis police union whose public remarks on the fatal St. Louis police shooting of VonDerrit Myers Jr. made him a national poster boy for bad cops. Despite an endorsement by Governor Jay Nixon, Roorda, a Democrat from Jefferson County, was defeated in the 22nd Senate District by Republican Paul Wieland, 22,208 votes (54 percent) to 18,773 votes (46 percent).

Mike Jones also claims a local victory for black Democrats on November 4.

“This was never about Steve Stenger and certainly not about Rick Stream,” Jones said. “This was about getting the attention of Claire McCaskill and Chris Koster for 2016. The name of this story is: ‘Now that we got your attention …’”

Full disclosure: Mike Jones is senior policy advisor for Charlie Dooley, the nowlame duck County Executive defeated by Stenger in the August primary.

Follow this reporter @ chriskingstl.

Slay loses third straight citywide surrogate race

Political consultant and sometimes Political EYE contributor Virvus Jones was unable to contribute any portion of this column due to unfortunate and unforeseen domestic circumstances.

The man developed sump pump issues on election day. That befits one of the former Comptroller’s favorite maxims about politics: when you go through sewage, you come out smelling like (an earthier word for “sewage”).

That brings us to one of Virvus’ major concerns on election day for Midterms 2014 in the City of St. Louis, and that is the successful election of Sharon Quigley Carpenter as Recorder of Deeds. Virvus – along with her many other supporters – succeeded in electing the Democratic challenger Carpenter over the Independent incumbent Jennifer Florida. Carpenter more than doubled the incumbent’s vote total, 35,971 votes (61 percent) to 15,918 (27 percent).

Why did this broad-based effort work to see Carpenter voted back into office when she had been removed from that same office earlier this year after admitting to fourthgeneration nepotism in the hiring of a summer intern? A peccadillo such as that – which Carpenter has assured the public she will never, never do

again – was seen as forgivable simply for the opportunity to create a little “mayhem,” as Virvus describes the work behind the scenes on this Recorder of Deeds race decided on November 4. The target of mayhem was not Florida, a former Alderwoman who underwent a surface-impressive white progressive makeover in order to campaign as an Independent against a Democrat (Carpenter) who won every ward in the city in her contested primary – after she had resigned from the office over the fourthgeneration nephew hiring disclosure. The target was Mayor Francis Slay, who appointed Florida to succeed the (temporarily?) disgraced Carpenter.

Why pick a fight with Francis over such a minor ministerial office? Carpenter supporters would argue that Slay picked the fight, then they just piled on after the

Sharon Carpenter

fact to give the Mayor a good, harmless whooping. Slay started this mess by his clumsy juggling of endorsements – and knives that would end up in people’s backs. What exactly happened depends on who you ask. This much is clear. Carpenter babysat for Francis when he was a boy. She was staunch political allies with the Mayor’s father, the late (and lamented) Francis R. Slay. That put Slay junior in an awkward spot when Carpenter was forced to resign from elected office with a primary election pending. Slay endorsed Carpenter in her primary, which she won easily, while hinting that he would make a different play in the upcoming

general election. Carpenter was apparently not sufficiently tainted for Slay to reject her in the primary in favor of one of two black men vying for the seat. That’s despite the fact that one primary challenger, Ed McFowland, was the citizen who went public with the information that brought down Carpenter. However, in the general election, Slay would pivot and endorse his hand-picked “reformer,” his appointee (Florida). Slay’s candidate ran as an Independent against the Democrat Slay himself had helped win the primary (Carpenter), who suddenly – instantly! – was attacked as being too corrupt to hold the office for which the Mayor had just endorsed her.

Did you follow all of that?

Now do you see how Francis Slay started the “mayhem,” and Carpenter loyalists just piled on later because they couldn’t resist?

What went wrong for the Mayor on this deal? The EYE has heard both Carpenter’s and Florida’s respective versions of the story, but we agreed to confidentiality with both sources so can’t go into all of that. Suffice it to say – as with most stories that have two sides – the mayor is the bad guy (the back-stabber) in one story, while Carpenter is called the back-stabber in the other. In both stories, Florida is a reasonably innocent bystander, guilty only of the most common opportunism – saying yes to a more stable and financially rewarding job when offered one by someone she thought she could trust. Yet whoever got stabbed in the back – whichever version of events you believe – Florida was the only politico who ended up on the electoral killing floor. Slay (who was not on the November 4 ballot) is still Mayor. Carpenter is the past and future Recorder of Deeds. Florida is all made-over as a progressive reformer with nothing to reform – or, at least, with no salary and benefits package for any reformation she might do. If you are keeping score, as many insiders are, Slay has now lost three straight surrogate citywide electoral battles to black opponents. Three strikes does not have a good ring to it in this baseball town. Most recently, Slay failed when he ran his hand-picked black surrogate (Jeffrey Boyd) against an incumbent black Democrat (Mavis Thompson) for License Collector. Before that, Slay dallied in making an endorsement in the Treasurer race – should it be Boyd, who was in that race too? Brian Wahby? Fred Wessels? – before knuckling under to late pressure from Wessels. The EYE was told that Wessels visited the Mayor to remind him that he could play stalking horse to Slay in a contested mayoral primary if he had the mind to. Slay then gave Wessels the belated nod. Wessels (and all of Slay’s preferred choices) lost to another candidate, who also happens to be Virvus’ daughter, Treasurer Tishaura Jones Side note: another loser in the Florida embarrassment is U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, who turned away from the Democratic nominee (Carpenter) to join the Mayor in his foolish endorsementjuggling act. In fact, Lacy keeps standing by Francis throughout this long run of hard luck and lost bets for the Mayor. After all, what are friends for?

Two out of four Missouri voters defeated two of the four proposed constitutional amendments on the November ballot, while passing the other two.

Amendment 3, which tied teacher tenure to a state evaluation system, was soundly defeated with more than a million (1,097,941) votes to 338,255, a margin of 23.6 to 76.4 percent. Teachers unions went all out against this one. Amendment 6, a dubious early voting measure intended to preempt more meaningful early voting legislation, was defeated by more than a twoto-one margin, 983,615 votes to 414,955, a margin of 70.3 percent to 29.7. The public smelled a rat on this one. Amendment 2, which allows for prior criminal acts by a defendant to be used against him as evidence in trial for sexual crimes against children, was passed by a huge margin of more than a million (1,015,996) votes to 395,812, a margin of 72 percent to 28. Anything that looks like going hard against a child sexual predator will be popular, even if it compromises guarantees provided for in our criminal justice system.

Amendment 10, which limits the governor’s ability to withhold money from the state budget, was passed by a margin on 789,000 votes (57 percent) to 600,033 votes (43 percent).

“The days of Gov. Jay Nixon, or any future governor, being able to hold our state budget hostage for political purposes are over,” said Bev Randles, chair of the group Missouri Club for Growth. The American urged voters to reject all four amendments.

Valerie Swann

Communications, and held management positions at Southwestern Bell and AT&T.

On October 31, 2014 at DePaul Hospital Valerie Swann (Pye), with her daughter at her bedside, went to join God’s heavenly choir. Valerie leaves to mourn her: Robert Swann, her husband of 29 years; son Maurice Pye (Smone); daughter Lydia Huston (Dressel); seven siblings, eight stepchildren and a host of grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, nieces and nephews. Valerie’s parents, Charles and Carrie Pye, preceed her in death. Homegoing service will be on Nov. 7, 2014, at Friendly Temple MB Church, 5544 MLK Dr. St Louis, Mo 63112. Visitation is at 9 am with the funeral at 10 am.

Annette Sanders O’Kelley

Annette O’Kelly Valerie Swann

Annette Sanders O’Kelley was born September 15, 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri to Christopher Sanders and Lena Hamilton. She answered the Lord’s call and returned home during the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, October 22, 2014. While identified as being a derivative of the French language, the name “Annette” has its origins in the Hebrew name “Hannah” which means “God’s Grace and Favor.” Throughout her life, Annette sought to bestow God’s Grace and Favor upon all she met. Annette was educated in the St. Louis Public School System attending Banneker School, and was a 1939 graduate of Vashon High School. She went on to business school and established her professional career as a secretary and clerk-typist in St. Louis medical and educational institutions including Homer G. Phillips Hospital and Charles S. Sumner High School. During her career and life, she made life-long friends. On August 8, 1952, Annette married the love of her life, Joseph O’Kelley. She loved and gave support to her family both immediate and extended. Upon entering into retirement, she and her husband celebrated their friends, relatives and enjoyed their lives even after Joseph’s being stricken with Alzheimer’s.

Throughout the onset of the disease, Annette loved and stood by her husband until his passing. Annette is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph O’Kelley, sisters: Ruth Cooper Harris, Christina Willoughby, and Bernice Thomas; and, brothers: Leon Sanders and Vance Cooper. Her memory will be cherished by her daughter Jonette O’Kelley Miller, son-in-law Rev. Earl Sanders Miller, grandson Isaiah Earl-Joseph Miller, a host of family and devoted friends. She will be buried with her husband in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. Jesse Brown

November 12, 1942— September 24, 2007

My brother and I most our dad seven years ago, but the hurt still resides in us. Nothing will bring him back. The saddest part is when we got that horrible phone call, I was being deployed to Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan. His presence will never leave my brother and me. One day, we will see our dad again. We have faith in God that wherever he is, he is watching over the two of us. Our dad will always be our dad, and we will forever love and miss him. God bless you, dad. Time does heal, but memories will always bring a tear.

Love, Your children, Retired Air Force Cheryl Raiford and Eric Brown Pictured: Cheryl Raiford, Jesse Brown, Eric Brown

James B. Webb,

James B. Webb, former President & CEO of the St. Louis Minority Business Council, passed away on Monday, November 3, 2014. During his 13-year tenure at the head of the council, he significantly increased corporate participation and increased the visibility of minority-owned business enterprises (MBEs).

“Jim was a passionate and visionary leader who understood that inclusion is a growth strategy for the St. Louis region,” said Jason Hall, a Vice President at the St. Louis Regional Chamber. “Our region has lost an incredible friend.”

Prior to joining the council, Webb was president of his own firm, Kataman

His business and community affiliations included St. Louis Development Council Fund, United Way of Greater St. Louis, ACCESS Education Academies, MoDOT Regional & State Diversity Councils, Governor’s Strategic Planning Committee, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Portfolio Gallery & Education Center, St. Louis Metro Sewer District Plan Amendment Commission, National Minority Development Council, Lincoln University Foundation, Central State University and St. Louis Black Leadership Roundtable.

He served as chairman of the Board of Directors for the Presbyterian Children’s Services and the George Washington Carver House Center. He served as a member of the Board of Directors for Epworth Children’s Home, the National Methodist Association, the Jazz Edge Orchestra, the Central Institute for the Deaf and the St. Martin’s Child Center.

Webb graduated from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Education Degree and continued his education by completing additional studies at Washington University, Wharton School of Business, and Bell System Institutes. A native of St. Louis, he was married to Margaret Dawson-Webb. They have a daughter Ann Webb Camp and granddaughter Brook.

Arrangements for Jim Webb’s funeral are as follows: Saturday, November 8, 2014 Memorial Visitation 9:30 – 11:30 am Manchester United Methodist Church, 129 Woods Mill Road, Manchester, MO 63101 Memorial Service 11:30 am, Manchester United Methodist Church

Open Medicare enrollment begins

By Marilyn Tavenner For The St.

Louis American

Fall is a wonderful time of year. Changing leaves. Cooler weather. It’s also the season for people with Medicare to review their current Medicare coverage, as Medicare Open Enrollment begins.

As we prepare for Medicare Open Enrollment, which began on October 15 and ends on December 7, Medicare wants everyone to know that quality continues to improve both in Medicare Advantage and in the Part D Prescription Drug Program.

Each year, plan costs and coverage can change. During open enrollment, seniors and people with disabilities across the country have the opportunity to review their current Medicare coverage and see if they want to make any changes for the next year. It’s important for people with Medicare to take the time to make sure their current situation still meets their health care needs best.

To help people choose a plan, Medicare calculates plan “star ratings” for Medicare health and prescription drug plans. Each plan gets a number of stars on a scale of 1 to 5—with 5 being the best—based on quality and performance. These ratings are designed to help people with Medicare, their families, and caregivers compare plans, in addition to information on their premiums and benefits.

This year, people with Medicare who choose to enroll in a Medicare health or prescription drug plan will have access to more high-rated, four- and fivestar plans than ever before.

Approximately 60 percent of Medicare Advantage enrollees are in a Medicare Advantage Plan earning four or more

stars in 2015, compared to an estimated 17 percent back in 2009. Likewise, about 53 percent of Part D enrollees are currently enrolled in standalone prescription drug plans with four or more stars for 2015, compared to just 16 percent in 2009. Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, enrollment in Medicare Advantage will increase to 42 percent to an all-time high of over 16 million and Medicare Advantage premiums will have decreased by 6 percent.

For people with Medicare, this is good news in how they receive care. Plans that are higher rated deliver a high-level of care, such as improving the coordination of care, managing diabetes or other chronic conditions more efficiently, screening for and preventing illnesses, making sure people get muchneeded prescription drugs, or getting appointments and care quickly. A high rating also means these plans give better customer service, with fewer complaints or long waits for care.

If you have Medicare and need assistance, you can visit Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-

633-4227), or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). You should have received the 2015 “Medicare & You” Handbook and important notices from your current plan, Medicare, or Social Security about changes to your coverage. If you’re satisfied with your current coverage, there’s nothing you need to do.

Better quality in Medicare health and prescription drug plans isn’t the only good news for people with Medicare. For most seniors who have Original Medicare, the 2015 Part B premium will stay unchanged for a second consecutive year at $104.90. This means more of seniors’ retirement income and any increase in Social Security benefits will stay in their pockets. The Part B deductible will stay the same as well. Medicare is working hard to make sure this good news continues so that seniors and people with disabilities will continue to get the health care coverage they deserve. Marilyn Tavenner is an Administrator for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

James B. Webb

Activists demand reforms in municipal courts

Reform committee announces December ‘amnesty’ program

By Rebecca Rivas

Of The St. Louis American

At the hands of Chesterfield police, North County resident Autumn Mae was thrown in an adult jail for five days when she was 17 because she didn’t have car insurance.

Her parents didn’t know where she was for the first 24 hours, she said, because she was not allowed to call them. She had to stay in jail because her family struggled to find the money to get her out.

Now at 21, she’s protesting the flawed municipal court system in St. Louis County, which has recently been criticized for profiting from their most impoverished residents in a landmark report by Better Together.

“There are people doing serious crimes out there,” she said. “How can you jail people for just traffic tickets?”

Mae and members of Missourians Organizing for

Reform and Empowerment (MORE) protested Thursday, October 30 outside the office of St. Louis Court Circuit Court Presiding Judge Maura McShane. They demanded that McShane meet with them about addressing the much-needed reform in the county’s 80-plus municipal courts. Activists said she did not respond to their letters or phone calls previously.

“These municipalities cannot be trusted to fairly deal with municipal ordinance violations, and McShane has not done enough within her power to hold the courts accountable,” said Julia Ho, an organizer with the MORE.

After about 30 minutes, McShane’s representatives invited the activists in to share their stories and present their demands.

“She took notes and didn’t cut them off when they shared their stories,” said Jeff Ordower, executive director

of MORE. “Those are all things that show the marks of someone who is trying to create dialogue. Whether she is willing to execute the power she has is a different question.” Currently, the court system has a reform committee that is considering changes to the municipal courts. Activists said that a resident – particularly someone who has experienced first-hand the effects of the bench warrant system – should be on the committee. McShane said she would consider it.

Derek Laney of MORE

‘Holiday Amnesty Project’

n “These municipalities cannot be trusted to fairly deal with municipal ordinance violations.”

– Julia Ho, an organizer with MORE

said the committee should also consider alternative ways to pay for fines, such as a time bank, where residents use work hours instead of dollars to pay for tickets. That would prevent warrants and arrests that lead to people losing their jobs and going into severe debt, he said.

Right now, municipal courts are “using poor people as an ATM,” he said.

McShane said a reform committee – headed by attorney Frank J. Vatterott, a municipal judge in the City of Overland –is working on these ideas.

The morning of the activists’ protest, Vatterott had sent out an email to municipal judges and administrators announcing the month-long “St. Louis County 2014 Holiday Amnesty Project.”

From Dec. 1 to Dec. 31, residents can pay $100 to get their warrants recalled and get back on the court docket without having to pay warrant fees. Local nonprofit Better Family Life helped the committee organize the program. In the letter, Vatterott urged the courts to participate. So far 15 courts have agreed, he said.

“Our community is undergoing difficult times, and there is a pressing need for the St. Louis County

together quickly and offer

strong relief and community service for the people in our region,” the letter from Vatterott stated. In an interview with The St. Louis American on October 31, Vatterott responded to some of the concerns raised by MORE and other groups, including Saint Louis University law professors and Arch City Defenders – a group of lawyers who represent low-income clients.

Arch City Defenders object to the use of the term “amnesty” when a $100 fee is required to benefit. In regards to MORE’s request of adding an affected resident on the St. Louis County Municipal Court Improvement Committee, Vatterott said he didn’t think it was a good idea.

Judge Maura McShane listened to Derek Laney while he voiced his concerns about St. Louis County’s municipal court systems in the County’s court building in Clayton on Thursday, October 30.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

“It is not a listening committee; it’s a working committee,” he said. “They want to be heard, but that isn’t doing the work. These are lawyers with legal backgrounds. We are all pro-bono. I’ll listen to them, but I can’t give them a task to do legal research or look up statutes – they can’t do that.” When asked about the make-up of the committee, he explained there are 16 members. James Clark, who heads up Better Family Life’s annual amnesty program, sits on the committee – as well as Annette Slack, vice president of the Mound City Bar Association. About five or six of the members are African American, he said.

‘Black hole’ of court debt

The Arch City Defenders have been advocating for the courts to charge fines according to the defendants’ income levels. With the court systems’ current bench warrant system, poor residents are often caught in a “black hole” of court debt, said Thomas Harvey, executive director of the Arch City Defenders.

First, they get tickets for traffic or other minor infractions. Since they can’t pay them, they don’t go to court for fear of getting thrown in jail –subsequently getting warrants for failing to appear. Having warrants, they can’t get jobs, drivers’ licenses or sometimes aid from homeless shelters, he said.

“The fines should not be as high as they are, and they should proportioned to income,” Harvey said. “You wouldn’t have near as many problems as you have now.”

One way to do this would be to hold a hearing to consider evidence of a defendant’s ability to pay fines and court costs prior to assessing fines, Harvey said.

Vatterott said this was unrealistic.

“If we held a hearing on whether or not they could pay, that would … we just can’t do that,” Vatterott said. “It would

take 10 times as long in court. These are people’s courts. If everyone had a hearing, you would be there until 5 a.m.”

And charging varying fines could potentially be unconstitutional, he said.

and SLU professors also asked McShane to address the fact that municipal courts were charging illegal fines.

Vatterott said the committee has already established “uniform court costs,”

n With the court systems’ bench warrant system, poor residents are caught in a “black hole” of court debt, said Thomas Harvey, Arch City Defenders.

“The constitution says equal protection, so everyone is treated the same,” he said. “Is that against the constitution? That’s what we are really studying. We are trying anyway.”

However, he said the committee is working on offering community service as an alternative to paying fines. Showing a food stamp card could be an easy indication that they qualify for community service, he said.

In Sept. 18 letter, Arch City

because some courts were in fact “charging fees that they weren’t supposed to.”

Harvey said the main issue that the committee should address is the fact that the cities are subsisting off of court revenues. At the state level, any court revenue above the costs goes towards education – not to the general state fund, he said.

Better Together reports Across all political

Judge Maura McShane shook hands with Reginald Rounds after listening to his concerns about St. Louis County’s municipal court systems in the County’s court building in Clayton on Thursday, October 30.

lines, elected officials and organizations are denouncing the county’s fine structure, Harvey said. Most recently, the nonprofit Better Together released a report showing that the 90 municipalities in St. Louis County rake in 34 percent of state’s all municipal fines and fees – $45 million in 2013. However, their combined populations only account for 11 percent of Missouri’s population.

In addition, municipal courts are used most frequently as a revenue stream in municipalities north of Olive Boulevard and within the boundary of I-270 – or areas that have high AfricanAmerican populations. In fact, 20 of the 21 municipalities that derive at least 20 percent of their general budget from fines and fees are located in that geographic area.

“It shouldn’t be the case that the generation of revenue is the goal of the justice system,” Harvey said. “Those two things should be divorced completely. Generation of revenue and administration of justice should be separate.”

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Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Ferguson activists protest coverage

Claim PostDispatch follow police narrative of ‘violent’ protestors

By Rebecca Rivas

Of The St. Louis American

Protestors stood outside the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Monday, November 3 dressed as old-time newsies and passed out mocked-up papers yelling, “Extra, extra! Read all about it! Post-Dispatch changes its name to Post Disgrace!”

The group said they are tired of the newspaper printing inaccuracies, pointing to the most recent article on Michael Brown Jr.’s autopsy that was written by crime reporter Christine Byers and medical news reporter Blythe Bernhard. For that story, Bernhard called San Francisco-based forensic pathologist Judy Melinek, asking her to analyze the official autopsy report as prepared by the St. Louis County Medical Examiner, Dr. Michael Graham.

“I read the report, and spent half an hour on the phone with the reporter explaining Michael Brown’s autopsy report line-byline, and I told her not to quote me – but that I would send her quotes she could use in an email,” Melinek wrote in a blog post.

“The next morning, I found snippets of phrases from our conversation taken out of context in her article in the Post-Dispatch. These inaccurate and misleading quotes were picked up and disseminated by other journals, blogs and websites.”

The reporters quoted Melinek as saying that the autopsy “supports the fact that this guy is reaching for the gun,

if he has gunpowder particulate material in the wound.” She added, “If he has his hand near the gun when it goes off, he’s going for the officer’s gun.”

Ferguson protestor Elizabeth Vega displays a parody of the PostDispatch reflecting what activists say is pro-police coverage of protests by the daily paper.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

David Carson talked with protestors on the street for about an hour, even though it was his day off, he said. He was the only newspaper staff member who spent any length of time talking with protestors.

Reporters Michael Sorkin and Jeremy Kohler also came out briefly.

East Boogie’s political calculus

After a history of political convictions and incarcerations over vote fraud in East St. Louis, you would think that they’d want to be above reproach (or at least appear to be) and not even create the perception of a corrupt electoral process.

reported as registered to vote using the addresses of The Casino Queen, boarding houses, vacant lots and the reluctance (of the election board) to purge the voter rolls of the deceased and those who have moved, the potential for corruption is immense.

reporting on the Michael Brown Jr. case.

n “Extra, extra! Read all about it! PostDispatch changes its name to Post Disgrace!”

Melinek said she said didn’t say he was going for the gun. She said, “The hand wound has gunpowder particles on microscopic examination, which suggests that it is a close-range wound. That means that Mr. Brown’s hand would have been close to the barrel of the gun.”

Protestors said these misleading quotes are just one of the many complaints they have with the newspaper’s

Activist Elizabeth Vega said Byers has tweeted false information that favored the police regarding eyewitness accounts.

“The Post-Dispatch needs to show some accountability and move her to a different beat,” Vega said of Byers. “Her articles are filled with narrative from the police’s perspective. We are not asking the PostDispatch to only show our side. We’re just asking to at least show our side as much as they show the police’s.”

Post-Dispatch photographer

Protestors brought up Carson’s shot of Ferguson protestors at a St. Louis Rams game. The photo that editors selected for the paper showed two women protestors who appeared to be hitting a white male on his back with the American flag. Though the caption stated that the protestors were reclaiming the flag after a Rams fan tried to steal it, the photo made protestors look violent, Vega said. Another Carson photo shows the white male fan holding the flag with an aggressive expression while a black woman protestor tries to grab the flag back.

Vega told Carson that there have been many opportunities for the newspaper to show protestors looking peaceful, but that “doesn’t fit with their violent protestor storyline.”

Carson disagreed, but said, “The great part is you have every right to come out here and hold us accountable.”

However, that was not the welcome that protestors experienced when they first stepped on the sidewalk on the side of the newspaper’s building at 900 N. Tucker Blvd. When the first protestors arrived at 11 a.m., a security guard told them to, “get the (expletive) off our property.”

However, when the ESL election board relocated to 301 River Park Drive (that’s ESL City Hall, y’all) back in 2012, it became abundantly clear that political expediency was more important than the appearance of impropriety. With cries to disband the ESL election board and a petition drive, led by activist Matt Hawkins, to place such a referendum on the ballot, city and election board officials quickly claimed that the relocation would save the city over $130,000.

But that’s pocket change when one considers that if the election board were absorbed by St. Clair County, the overall savings would be in excess of $400,000.

So, savings (even for a cash-strapped city like ESL) is not the real issue here but rather control of the vote, which ESL and St. Clair County Democrats rely upon in order to maintain control of St. Clair County “poli-tricks.”

Housing both ESL city government and the ESL election board under the same roof makes it even more convenient for the potential of collusion and corruption between the election board and the very politicians and process that they are supposed to regulate. And with a record number of absentee ballot applications being mailed recently (my family and friends have received multiple mailings) and a legacy of voters being

For example, back in the 1990s the Post-Dispatch revealed that of 40,253 ESL residents, including 27,829 eligible voters, 30,546 were on the election board’s rolls, a major disparity. Then, in 2010, according to the U.S. Census, ESL’s total population was 27,006, with an eligible voting population of 19,098. Yet, the ESL election board’s voting rolls were reported as being at 22,000.

How does a city consistently have more “registered voters” than eligible voters? It is a mathematical impossibility unless you live in East Boogie and employ a distorted form of political calculus.

It is this sort of “fuzzy math” that ESL and St. Clair County officials rely upon to create the election outcomes which keep the reins of power firmly in their political clutches.

Hopefully, federal agents and prosecutors, given the recent heated mid-term, gubernatorial, state and county elections, have been paying attention and, just maybe, some of our political operatives, in their greed and zeal to manipulate the process, will soon find themselves having to explain these disparities and political outcomes to a federal judge.

Email: jtingram_1960@ yahoo.com; JamesTIngram@ Twitter.

James Ingram

‘Mike Brown vs. Board of Education’

Clergy, educators renew call for equity in education

By Camille Phillips Of St. Louis Public Radio

St. Louis community and faith-based organizations

renewed a commitment to increasing equity in public schools at an education summit on Saturday, October 1 sponsored Metropolitan Congregations United, United Congregations of Metro East and the St. Louis chapter of the American Federation of Teachers.

A mix of educators, faith leaders and community members spent the day in discussion, worship and planning for a November 20 walk-in in support for community schools.

Called “Mike Brown vs. Board of Education,” the summit drew connections between the 60th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education, and the troubled school district where Michael Brown Jr. studied prior to his death on August 9.

“It harkens back to another Brown family that faced inequalities in education,” said MCU Education Chair Carolyn Randazzo.

“IN many of our underserved communities, such as our North County communities, the education funding that’s available is not equitable, and the education services that are available are not equitable,” Randazzo said.

About 18 school districts in both Missouri and Illinois were represented at the summit.

United Congregations of the Metro East President Charles

Burton said one of the major problems in Illinois public schools is inequity in funding.

“Our current system is unequal and we believe unfair. It’s unjust,” Burton said. “So how we fix that’s important and having people engaged in that work’s important. Having people not only involved in the school district, but engaged in the envisioning of the school district – that’s important.”

Schott Foundation for Public Education President John Jackson delivered the summit’s keynote address, a passionate speech that inspired clapping and stomping from the audience.

Jackson told summit-goers that those fighting for equity in education were rightfully weary, when today’s children were still not free to fully grasp educational opportunities despite no longer being shackled by the restraints of segregation.

“When we still see the opportunity gaps that exist in education, in health disparities, in voter engagement, these are all indicators of some level of de jour segregation or de facto segregation that still exists,” Jackson explained after the speech. “Our goal is to create a society where the good or bad indicators are not identifiable by race or ethnicity and we all have an opportunity to fail

John Jackson, president of the Schott Foundation for Public Education, delivered the keynote address for the Community Summit to Address Racial Inequality in Public Education on Saturday, Nov. 1 at St. John’s United Church of Christ.

Photo by Philip Deitch

and an opportunity to succeed equally.”

Jackson told participants that the public education system had followed a standardsbased agenda for too long, and needed to switch over to a support-based agenda, where parents, educators and faith-based communities come together to insure the success of all students.

He also said it was time for schools to end out-of-school suspensions except in federally mandated cases, such as those involving weapons.

“Students can’t learn when they’re not in school,” Jackson said.

Breakout sessions during the summit focused on developing action plans for school governance and funding, discipline methods, early childhood education, and increasing school –community interaction. They hope to present those plans to area schools on November 20 during a scheduled “walk-in” to support community schools. As the name suggests, community members are invited to walk students to school on the day of the walk-in as a show of support.

Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

Follow Camille Phillips on Twitter: @cmpcamille.

Take Your T ime!

What Fits?

Nutrition Challenge:

It seems that all of us are usually in a hurry. But when it’s time to eat, sit down, relax and focus on eating. With each bite, set down your fork and chew your food completely before swallowing. This allows your

Exercise Challenge:

Is biking your thing? Or do you like to play basketball? The best “exercise” you can do is through an activity you enjoy. Make a list of 10 activities that you like to do, that are active enough to be considered exercise. Some possibilities include kickball, baseball, football, dancing, biking, running, skating, jump rope,

Standard Time

Healthy Kids Kids

stomach to “catch up” with your eating, and you’ll know when you’re full. Eating slowly allows you to know when you’ve had enough and you can stop eating before you become uncomfortable from overeating… and you’ll eat less!

Try this Practice chewing each bite 30 times before swallowing.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

walking or playing Frisbee. Make it a goal to do one of these activities each day of the week (at least five days a week).

Exercise can be fun!

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

On November 2, Daylight Savings Time ended. What does this mean? Well, it means that it gets dark a lot earlier than it used to! So plan ahead when you have outdoor activities or if you have to walk or bike somewhere. You may want to leave a little earlier in order to get home before it’s too dark. Also, wearing light colored clothing and carrying a flashlight can help keep you safe.

Standards: HPE 5, NH 5

Ingredients: 4 wheat or sun-dried-tomato tortillas, thinly sliced ham (or turkey), lowfat flavored cream cheese (scallion, chive or garlic), pickle spears

Directions: Spread the cream cheese onto the tortilla, top with ham and pickle, roll up the tortilla and slice into pinwheels.

Healthcare Careers

Dr. Josiah O. Ekunno MD, Gynecologist

Where do you work?

I am the owner of my own private practice, Josiah O Ekunno Inc. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Onistsha Denis Memorial Grammar School, Onistsha, Nigeria and received my medical degree at the Medical University of Ibadan in Nigeria.

What does a gynecologist do? I take care of women’s gynecological issues; from 1975 to 1998 I was also delivering babies. Now I just work with women’s gynecological health concerns.

Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I come from a family that was medically oriented. My grandmother was a selfmade midwife. As a kid, I observed her doing things that even trained doctors could not do. My grandfather was also involved in the community, making rounds and going to people’s homes helping them with injuries and helping them to heal. Therefore, I became interested in the medical field.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I love what I do and I wake up every morning hoping to make life better for anybody that I can help. I want to encourage youth to have a positive outlook on life. Each day, think of a better tomorrow and be positive about your future.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Ham Pinwheels

Healthy Snacks

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 7,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

Airport Elementary School 3rd Grade

Teacher Nicole Binion works with students Jakayla Willams, and Kenav Washint-Scruggs on a STEM project using the newspaper. The Airport Elementary School is in the Ferguson-Florissant school district.

Louis American

SCIENCE CORNER

Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas under normal conditions. It is a chemical element represented by the letter N on the periodic table. Nitrogen is in all living things, including people and plants. It makes up approximately 78% of the air that we breathe. What is the purpose of nitrogen? It is used to keep packaged foods fresh and for making electronic parts. Nitric acid is used in

SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

Background Information:

In this experiment, you’ll witness what happens when a positive charge and a negative charge meet—a spark!

Materials Needed:

• Wint O Green or Pep O Mint Lifesavers®

• Dark Room • Mirror Process:

q Go to a dark room and let your eyes get accustomed to the lighting.

fertilizers. Nitrous oxide (also called laughing gas) is used in hospitals and dental offices to help reduce pain; it is also used in canned whipped cream. Finally, nitrous oxide can also be used to increase the power and speed of an automobile.

Learning Standards: I can read non fiction text for main idea and supporting details.

Make Lightning in your mouth!

e Use your teeth to quickly bite the lifesaver into small pieces as you look in the mirror to observe what happens.

Analyze: If performed correctly, you should see a spark that is bluish in color. This is the result of sugars being released from the lifesavers, which carry a positive charge. When these sugars react with the nitrogen in the air, which have a negative charge, a spark results.

w When your eyes adjust to the darkness, look in the mirror and put a Wint O Green or Pep O Mint Lifesaver® in your mouth.

MATH CONNECTION

Chemists use a variety of math in their day to day operations, including probability, measurement, algebra, and ratios. In this activity, you will practice ratios. Ratios are used by chemists when mixing solutions.

Ratios show the relationship of two numbers as a compared quantity. A colon “:” is used to show the relationship. For example, if there is one girl for every two boys in your classroom, the ratio would be listed as 1:2. This number can also be written as a fraction: 1/3 are girls, 2/3 are boys, as a decimal: .33 girls, or a percent: 33% girls. Use this information to answer the following questions.

Learning Standards: I can follow sequential directions to complete an experiment. I can analyze results.

Out of the past 30 days, five of them have been rainy. Write this comparison as a ratio ______:______

Twelve of the 36 cars in the parking lot are red. Write this comparison as a ratio ______:______

Out of the past 14 days, seven of them have been snowy. Write this comparison as a ratio ______:______, write this comparison as a fraction ______/______ , write this number as a decimal __________, and write the number as a percentage _________%.

Learning Standards: I can use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to solve mathematic word problems.

Did you know the letter J is the only letter that doesn’t appear on the periodic table? Pner ese cemstry facts….

Did you know that tooth enamel is the hardest chemical in your body?

AFRICAN AMERICAN PHYSICIST AND EDUCATOR: Edward Alexander Bouchet

SCIENCE STARS DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know water expands when it freezes?

An ice cube will take up approximately 9% more space than the water that was used.

Edward Alexander Bouchet was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1852. In 1870, he graduated as valedictorian from Hopkins Grammar School. Racial segregation made it very difficult for African Americans to pursue an education, but Bouchet was persistent. Bouchet’s father, William, was a former slave and worked as a servant at Yale College (which is now Yale University, an Ivy League School). Because of this working arrangement, Bouchet was able to attend Yale College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1874, graduating with highest honors. He was the first African American ever elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Two years later, he earned his PhD in physics, becoming the first African American to earn a doctorate degree.

Bouchet wanted to work as a college professor, but had trouble finding a job, due to his race. He went to work at Philadelphia’s School for Colored Youth, where he taught chemistry and physics. After leaving that job, Bouchet also taught at other schools, including Sumner High School in St. Louis. When he retired, Bouchet moved back to New Haven, where he passed away in 1918. Bouchet has received several honors, including a tombstone at Yale University. Yale also established the Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society and the Bouchet Leadership Award, which is used to help minorities receive advanced degrees.

Learning Standards: I can read a biography about a person who has made significant contributions in the field of science, technology, or math.

MAP CORNER

Use the newspaper to complete these activities to sharpen your critical thinking skills.

Activity One —

Problem and Solution:

As a class, read through the newspaper and make a list of problems and concerns presented in stories, pictures, editorials, etc. Pretend you are the president and you are preparing a State of the Union address. What problems/concerns will you mention in your speech? What are your proposed solutions?

Activity Two — Place

Value: Use the newspaper and select five single-digit numbers. What is the largest number you can make with those numbers? What is the smallest number? In each of these numbers, identify the number that is in the 10s place.

Learning Standards:

I can use ratios to show comparison and numerical representation.

Photo by Wiley Price/ St.

NOVEMBER 6 – 12, 2014

‘Save Our Sons’ through workforce development

Monsanto, Emerson partner with Urban League on job training

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Before the Ferguson unrest, Michael McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, had never spent an hour in jail.

After trying to shut down Interstate 70 in an act of civil disobedience on Sept. 10, he spent eight hours in a jail cell with more than a dozen other protestors who demanded justice in the Michael Brown Jr. case.

McMillan had also never experienced the agony of tear gas. One night on the streets of Ferguson, he was talking with three young men about the Urban League’s programs when he saw a can fly through the air in their direction.

n ‘The agency will only be successful by continuing to engage each generation and evolve with every single one of them.”

– Michael McMillan

“The name ‘tear gas’ does not do it justice,” he said, cringing at the memory. “I felt it in my skin. The struggle is real.”

The Urban League will to do whatever it takes to support the community, he said, and its staff is working hard to implement real solutions. Organization leaders heard the voices of the young men on the street saying they needed jobs, McMillan said, and they created the Save Our Sons: Workforce Development Initiative.

The four-week job-training program will help economicallydisadvantaged African-American men living in Ferguson and surrounding St. Louis County communities find jobs and earn livable wages. The program will launch soon.

Monsanto and Emerson each donated $200,000 to support the program’s launch and implementation. The St. Louis County NAACP also recently joined as a donor.

Deborah Patterson, president of the Monsanto Fund, said the initiative “will help meet some of the critical long-term development needs of young men in our community.”

Patrick J. Sly, executive vice president at Emerson, said the program will help Ferguson citizens graduate from high school and begin careers.

Urban League staff also heard clergy members and residents who asked for more assistance organizing, and they hired a director of community organizing, Marlon Lee. Lee has been on the job for one hectic month.

McMillan wants the community to know that they will continue to adapt to their needs – and that the Urban League plans to be here for the

Execs at WWT, Ameren Illinois, BJC awarded

Excellence in Business Performance honored at November 14 Salute

By Sandra Jordan and Bridjes O’Neil

Of The St. Louis American

Three Excellence in Business Performance awardees will be recognized on Friday, November 14 at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 15th Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon: Juanita Logan, Senior Business Development Manager and Advisor to the Chairman, World Wide Technology; Shirley A. Stennis, Director Customer Service, Ameren Illinois; and Dierdra J. Yates, Manager of Communications, BJC HealthCare.

“Working at WWT, I’ve always felt that the company has been sincerely committed to its employees, our core values and our corporate culture,” said Juanita Logan, Senior Business Development Manager and Advisor

to the Chairman, World Wide Technology. Logan advises the chairman on business opportunities, as well as customer and partner briefings.

She also manages special project engagements. Prior to that role, Juanita was responsible for helping the WWT sales organization capture new market company capabilities, define and manage the sales process and mitigate company risk.

“Every company has unique and varying degrees of complexity in the business processes required to manage the flow of their product-related material,” Logan said.

Logan has been with WWT since

1998 in various leadership roles managing different aspects of the business, including business consulting, IT & marketing. Prior to WWT, she held various roles managing and supporting international business in the state of Missouri. Logan has a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Kansas and a master of international business degree from Saint Louis University. She is also a graduate of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Program.

Shirley Stennis was named director of customer service at

Debra Denham was appointed interim president and chief executive officer of the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club. She succeeds retiring chief executive Martin Luther Mathews who will serve as a consultant to the organization he co-founded as its emeritus president. Most recently Denham was vice president of community affairs for BJC HealthCare. The search for a permanent CEO continues.

The Reverend Starsky D. Wilson was chosen by Xavier University of Louisiana as one of the recipients of their inaugural Forty Under Forty Alumni Awards. Wilson (Xavier University, Class of 1999) is president & CEO of Deaconess Foundation and pastor of Saint John’s Church The awards recognize alumni who have made significant contributions in their respective fields and made a lasting impact in their communities and the world.

Ameren Illinois Company (AIC) in September 2013. Stennis oversees customer service areas in Decatur, Peoria and Pawnee, Illinois, as well as a call center vendor operation in Raleigh, N.C.

With her home office in Collinsville, Ill., Stennis travels extensively between customer service areas because she says visibility is crucial.

“The staff need to know that I am connected,” she said.

Stennis said she brings strong leadership skills and a customer focus to the organization. She takes pride in helping Ameren Illinois Customer Service achieve its goals to be in the top-tier in employee engagement and customer satisfaction.

“We’re all somebody’s customer,” she said. “We have to make certain that we are putting out there what you would like to have for yourself.”

Tiffany Franklin, of St. Louis, was appointed by Governor Nixon to serve on the 22nd Circuit Judicial Commission. The 22nd Judicial Circuit covers the City of St. Louis. When a vacancy occurs, the judicial commission nominates three people who meet the statutory requirements to serve as a judge. Those names are submitted to the Governor, who appoints one to the vacant position. Franklin is a systems engineer for Boeing Company. Emmanuel Lalande was appointed the new dean of student success for Harris-Stowe State University. A native of Brooklyn, New York, he comes to HSSU with 10 years of higher education experience. Previously he served as assistant dean/director of student involvement at Bethune-Cookman University and director of student activities at Washington College in Chestertown, Md., He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Delaware State University.

Mattie Davis was named an Ageless Remarkable St. Louisan by St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System. Davis, 80, has devoted her life to encouraging others to accept the word of God and live their lives according to his teachings. She continues to lead by example by visiting the sick, organizing a food pantry and mailing spiritual messages to individuals who are unable to attend Sunday church services.

Capt. Ron Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol will receive a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Missouri Community College Association. The award is presented to exceptional individuals who have attended a Missouri community college and made outstanding contributions to the community. Johnson was selected by Gov. Nixon to coordinate law enforcement agencies amid the unrest in Ferguson following Michael Brown’s death. On the move? Congratulations! Send your good professional news and a color headshot to cking@stlamerican. com.

Rev. Starsky D. Wilson

Tiffany Franklin

Emmanuel Lalande

Mattie Davis

Debra Denham

Photo by Wiley Price

Capt. Ron Johnson

Michael McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, visited with Capt. Ron Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol at the jobs fair the Urban League hosted at St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley on Sept. 13.

Juanita Logan Shirley A. Stennis Dierdra J. Yates

Are extended warranties worth the cost?

By Jason Alderman

Are these costly add-ons worth the expense or simply a sucker bet intended to boost the seller’s bottom line? It depends on whom you ask.

According to consumer watchdog organizations like the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Reports, extended warranties and service contracts often don’t make strong financial sense. However, some people find extended warranties reassuring, especially for large purchases with electronic components that can go awry and are expensive to repair or are easily broken. Before you buy an extended warranty, do your research and consider these points:

• Does it overlap with the manufacturer’s warranty? Don’t pay twice for duplicate coverage.

• Many credit cards automatically extend the manufacturer’s warranty for up to a year on purchases – for free.

• Before purchasing, check the company’s track record with your state’s Department of Insurance, the Better Business Bureau and independent reviewers like Angie’s List.

• Service contracts might not cover specific product parts or repairs. If the terms don’t list a part or function as specifically covered, assume it’s not.

• Carefully review the contract for deductibles, limits on the number of allowable service calls, exclusions and clauses that allow the company to deny coverage – for example, if you

don’t follow their instructions for routine maintenance.

• Ask whether the retailer handles repairs itself. You may be required to mail the product to a repair center, so factor in shipping costs if they’re not included.

New cars typically come with a basic factory warranty that covers most components for at least 3 years or 36,000 miles (sometimes more), as well as separate warranties for items like the powertrain, corrosion and roadside assistance.

Before purchasing an extended car warranty from the dealer or a third-party vendor, consider:

• If you plan to sell the car before the basic warranty expires, an extended warranty probably doesn’t make sense; however, if you’ll likely keep the car for many years, it may.

• Don’t feel compelled to buy an extended warranty immediately. Policies can usually be purchased months or years later – although the cost will increase as the car ages.

• If buying an extended warranty through the dealer, find out whether it’s backed by the manufacturer (which means you can go to any dealership throughout the country) or by a third party, which could limit your repair options considerably.

• Most carriers sell a variety of plans at varying costs, duration and mileage limits – everything from basic powertrain-only policies to comprehensive bumper-tobumper coverage.

• Ask whether the warranty can be transferred to a new owner – that’ll boost resale value.

• Extended warranties are also available for used cars. They’re more risky to buy than new cars and thus may be better candidates. However, the older the car, the more expensive – and limited – the coverage likely will be.

As an alternative, consider putting the same amount into a savings account. That way, if the product breaks, you’ll have enough money on hand to replace it. If not, you’ll have a nice chunk of change.

Bottom line: If it will make you sleep more soundly, consider extended warranties for your major purchases. Just do your homework first and realize that peace of mind may cost much more than any repair bills you ultimately need.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www. twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

TRAINING

Continued from B1

“immediate and long term.”

“We will adjust our programs, policies and procedures to deal with what they need,” he said, “because the agency will only be successful by continuing to engage each generation and evolve with every single one of them. We are looking to recruit them so they can become part of the Urban League movement. And their voices will be heard.”

The Save Our Sons program is an expansion of the Urban League’s already existing Workforce Investment Act program (WIA), a federallyfunded initiative that has reached 6,000 local high school students. Save Our Sons will specifically reach out to young men between the ages

SALUTE

Continued from B1

Stennis had more than 29 years of service at Ameren Missouri. In her former role as manager of municipal and public accounts, she led a team of employees who were liaisons for Ameren Missouri’s 91 municipalities, community public officials and key community leaders.

Stennis said she shuns the spotlight and prefers to lead from the background, helping others attain their personal and professional best. She is a second-term president of the Ameren Network of Minority Employee resource group. Within the employee resource group, she served on a sevenperson committee that initiated the first formal mentoring program at Ameren Missouri.

“That has always been my passion: to be what I could be for those who aspired to move up,” she said.

BJC Communications Manager Dierdra Yates uses public relations savvy to develop and execute communications strategies to

Schnucks gives boost to bakery in Ferguson

Schnucks Westfall Plaza (8037 West Florissant) and Schnucks Cool Valley (1225 South Florissant) are now selling two signature bakery items from Natalie’s Cakes and More (100 South Florissant) with all proceeds from Caramel Cake slices and Cinnamon Raisin Pound Cake slices (both $3) going back to Natalie’s start-up business.

“We want to help her get started and raise awareness of the struggle she and other area businesses have encountered over the past two months,” said Schnucks Vice President of Bakery Bill Mihu.

DuBose opened her shop in this past June right in the heart of downtown Ferguson and a short distance from the Cool Valley Schnucks store. Her shop is open 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. weekdays and from 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit www.facebook. com/pages/Natalies-Cakes-More/274915157402 or email Nataliescakesandmore@yahoo.com.

FUSE launches campaign for Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America has named the St. Louis-based marketing agency FUSE to handle its efforts targeted to African-American consumers. FUSE’s first task for the automaker is a new advertising campaign entitled “Hyundai Smarter,” which focuses on everyday women and issues of importance to them.

More than 80 percent of automotive purchase decisions are influenced by women, and the ethnic consumer market represents 1 out of 4 new car buyers, according to research firms Auto Alliance and IHS Automotive.

“The growth of this segment is significant, and it is critical that we address its important needs of safety, reliability and value,” says Zafar Brooks, Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Hyundai Motor America.

African-American business centers moves in with BFL

The Center for the Acceleration of African-American Business has moved. It is now located in the Better Family Life Cultural, Educational and Business Center, the newly renovated Emerson School building at 5415 Page Blvd. The center is partnering with BFL and Justine Petersen to develop a Business Support Center to provide business acceleration and consulting services, technical assistance and access to capital to African-American business owners. The third floor of the building will be renovated to offer rented space and a setting for shared resources and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs to grow and develop their business. “We are excited about the opportunity to strengthen our abilities to continue to support the business community.” Said Eddie G. Davis, president and executive director of the center. Call 314-322-9542 or visit www.caaab.org.

of 21 and 40 and help them pass General Educational Development (GED) tests, receive workforce training and make sure they are well versed in financial literacy and leadership strategies.

The Save the Sons model isn’t much different from what the Urban League already has been doing with youth, starting at age 14, said Herta Shikapwashya, vice president of the Urban League’s youth services division.

The training sessions will include everything from public speaking and team-building to emergency financial preparation and health care. However, with this group, Shikapwashya imagines that case managers will be having more conversations on how to work through certain barriers, such as child care and warrants. Shikapwashya will oversee

engage employees and support the health care organization’s overall vision and objectives. She has been with BJC since 2011.

As 2014 graduate of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Program, Yates said the experience allowed her to see herself also as an individual and leader in the community. “Through a holistic approach, the program creates a safe and stimulating environment for us to receive valuable feedback, selfreflect, acquire effective leadership strategies, and build relationships essential to our professional and personal growth and success,” Yates recently told BJC Today. She is also a graduate of the CORO St. Louis Women in Leadership Program.

Yates has more than 13 years of communications experience, previously working for Solae LLC, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Mercy, Common Ground Public Relations, Bryan Cave LLP, the American Liver Foundation and FleishmanHillard. Yates earned a

the program, and courses will be held in North St. Louis County locations.

As part of his duties as community organizing director, Marlon Lee will serve as a liaison for the initiative. A Harris-Stowe State University graduate, Lee is also a board director of the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. Lee was only on the job for six days when McMillan was arrested. The St. Louis American interviewed Lee moments before the I-70 protest began. He told The American that he was ready to go to jail that day. However, before he knew it, McMillan was linking arms with other activists and marching towards the highway on-ramp. McMillan was snatched up soon after. Lee didn’t end up going to jail. Lee said, “Someone had to take care of the car and get him out of jail.”

master’s degree in media communication from Webster University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. Yates is also a recent volunteer member of the United Way allocation panel for youth development.

“In that role, I’ll participate in site visits to help determine how United Way funds are allocated,” Yates said. “As I consider opportunities for board position roles, this kind of experience will be instrumental in teaching me how to evaluate an organization’s effectiveness, efficiency and ability to deliver results.”

The 15th Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon will be held Friday, November 14 at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, networking reception at 11 a.m., luncheon program at noon. Tickets are $100 for VIP/Preferred seating, $75 for general admission. Call 314-533-8000 or visit www. stlamerican.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

n “Who would ever have thought it of us Hamiltons turning up at the track the first year in karting, the only black family there, it was almost like everyone thought ‘what are they doing here’?”

– Lewis Hamilton

PreP Football Notebook With Earl Austin Jr.

Everything on the line

District championships this weekend

District championships are on the line this weekend as the Missouri high school playoffs continue. Here is a preview of this weekend’s district finals.

Class 6 District 1: Lafayette (6-5) at Kirkwood (9-1), Friday, 7 p.m. – The two teams met on September 6 with Kirkwood taking a 49-28 decision. However, the game was tied at 21-21 late in the third quarter before the Pioneers pulled away. Kirkwood has a multifaceted offense with quarterbacks Will Hadler

and Reece Goddard leading the way. Jerod Alton and Robert Columbus are standout backs while Armonte Mason is the leading receiver. Lafayette’s senior quarterback Cameron Scales is having an excellent season with 19 touchdown passes. His top target is younger brother Brendan Scales, a 6’4” 240-pound tight end, who has nine TD receptions.

District 2: Hazelwood Central (11-0) at CBC (11-0), Friday, 7 p.m. – The clash of unbeaten area titans who will renew their spirited playoff rivalry. The host Cadets are averaging 51 points a game while giving up only eight. Running backs Tre Bryant, Calen Taylor and Lamar Anderson are big play threats,

as is receiver Mike Million. Junior quarterback Blake Charlton is at the controls. The Hawks are led by senior quarterback Mike Glass, who has thrown of 2,185 yards and 17 touchdowns. Junior athlete Xavier Sneed leads a talented group of receivers while senior running back Kevin Batt is also back from a broken foot injury that sidelined him for several weeks.

District 3: Jefferson City (9-2) at Francis Howell (10-0), Friday, 7 p.m. – The perennial powers from Mid-Missouri will pay a visit to a powerful Francis Howell team that has been dominant on both sides of the ball. Senior

ams rouNduP

With Palmer L. Alexander III IN the ClutCh

With Ismael Sistrunk

The NBA season is back in full swing. Despite an impressive array of star power throughout the league, when it comes to championship contenders, most prognosticators have a very short list. A quick survey of analysts’ preseason predictions shows that most people expect the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers or Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy at season’s end. While those three teams

Rams win defensive duel

NFC West division leader Arizona Cardinals are next See PREP, B5

Picking apart the NBA

certainly make sense as favorites, they are all far from assured a spot in the NBA Finals, much less a shiny new ring.

The way I see it, each of these teams has a long road ahead to live up to the enormous expectations. Yes, the Spurs are the defending champions, but Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are getting long in the tooth. Sure we’ve been saying that for the last four or five years, but Father Time has got to win a battle at some point right?

The defense that many thought that would propel the St. Louis Rams this season showed up on the road as the Rams beat the San Francisco 49ers 13-10. The maligned Rams defense came to life, harassing 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and hitting him repeatedly. A Rams defense that has only six sacks in their first seven games exploded for eight sacks and recovered a couple of fumbles. The win put the Rams at 3-5 with another road game this weekend against NFC West division leader Arizona Cardinals, whose record sits at 7-1.

n The maligned Rams defense came to life, harassing 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and hitting him repeatedly.

But, back to the win against the 49ers. The game had that rugged type of feel to it, which plays right into the hands of Coach Jeff Fisher and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. The 49ers went 3 for 12 on third down conversions and the run game was neutralized. Frank Gore, who has amassed over 1,200 career yards versus the Rams, was held in check with only 49 rushing yards on 14 attempts. With the 49ers marching downfield late in the fourth quarter and practically standing on the goaline, they decided not to give their running back the ball. Was I surprised about that? Yes. That last possession the 49ers had the Rams on their heels. I had that feeling the Rams will find another way to lose. And it almost became a reality. The Rams defense pitched a shutout in the second half. This game was something that this defense can learn and build from. Gregg Williams called a great game and this victory might very well be the one most remembered by the right to tip my cap to them as well. This team never gives up and they play hard. But, can they be consistently good instead of ragged? For more Rams Roundup please subscribe to youtube.com/stlamerican video.

Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers are trying to find their way to the NBA’s promised land.

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Earl Austin Jr.

Palmer L. Alexander

CLUTCH, B5

Trinity’s Jordan Griffin (7) tries to slow down Lutheran North running back Carl Thomas (8) during the Class 2 state championship district semifinal at Lutheran North Saturday afternoon. The Crusaders defeated the Titans of Trinity 35-0.

Photo by Wiley Price

There was some news that slipped by the eyes and ears of some earlier this week that would have had an impact on the sports market back in the day. That news was that KFNS 590 AM was shut down, thus ending the longest run of the all-sports format on the AM dial.

The reason? Nonpayment of its electric bill. While some would say that would be sad, I would say good riddance, as the station today was a shell of what it used to be. Few people that were on the air during its demise made a difference these days, as the station was more of a comedy for its embarrassing antics than known for having good programming. From where I sit, it was a good run but it was now time to put away childish things. I was part of the first all-sports format that was started by Rich Gray back in 1991. The station at that time was KASP. It was new for all of us, and when we signed on in April of 1991 with Bob Ramsey and Rick Wallace, little did we know what was in store. That station lasted for almost two years. During that period we the saw the likes of Kevin Slaten, Jay Randolph Jr. and others introduce themselves to St. Louis via the radio. KASP also carried events for the first time, such as a golf tournament on the radio (I know, but we were just throwing things on the wall to see if they would stick), charity

Claib’s Call

With Mike Claiborne

R.I.P., KFNS The Fan

Anderson hit a home run.

drives and – one thing that is a constant today – coaches’ postgame press conferences. We carried them live, which always proved to be an adventure.

One night comes to mind was the night a St. Louis Blues coach was ask about one of his player’s defensive abilities. The coach responded “that guy could not check his (expletive) hat at the (expletive) Waldorf Astoria Hotel.” Priceless! There were other memorable rants and moments that put us on the map, too many to name. Once KASP went under, many were out of work until one day in the spring. Another station in the market had a sports show. Their hosts were in spring training and got stranded by a storm on their way back. Their station manager asked Bob Ramsey and me to fill in for a couple of days, and at that point it was

game on. Bob Burch and Roy Anderson were running the show at that time. They like the show so much, they offered us the jobs of the current hosts. We respectfully declined, because we thought this would be a good time to expand the sports programming with another show. They agreed, and a few months later they decided to go all sports. Say hello to KFNS. During that time the likes of Frank Cusumano joined us, and the format continued to grow with more legitimate talent and programming. There were player shows and games being carried live. Callers could call and mount attacks on players,

n KFNS 590 AM was shut down. The reason? Nonpayment of its electric bill.

teams and even hosts. KFNS was a player in the market, and all the teams and athletes started to pay attention. During that time, KFNS was sold and bought three times in one day as government deregulation created a feeding frenzy for a while. Nothing changed other than the name on the paycheck and the benefit packages. When the Rams arrived, KFNS landed the Jerome Bettis show, a real coup considering that the station that had the radio rights to the Rams at that time thought they also had the rights to the players too. After a few letters and phone calls to let them know just what they had, Bettis’ home was 590 AM KFNS. Burch and

Anderson, who is still in the radio business at Clear Channel Radio, was ingenious in keeping the station afloat and profitable. So much so that local businessman Greg Marecek decided to put a group together to buy the station. Marecek had vision. He stocked the station with very good talent on and off the air. He made programming more local, and that included high school and college events. KFNS continued to be a player until Greg got the offer he could not refuse.

A bunch of know-it-all chaps from Atlanta bought KFNS and decided to reinvent the wheel. They poured a ton of money into the station. They enhanced the talent even more, and yet they got little in return. Having lost millions, they got out and sold it to a local group, and things started

to go downhill. An FM station got in the ball game, and KFNS could not compete with their strong signal. KFNS sacrificed talent for revenue. Instead of amassing a sales staff, they decided to let anyone with cash buy their way onto the air. One clown act after another took over. No matter what time of day or night, you could find someone making a complete fool of themselves on the air. At that point, KFNS was in a downward spiral. Some were able to get out and find other jobs. For the rest it was like being on the South Vietnam Embassy roof watching the last American helicopter fly off for good. KFNS continued to flounder, until last week when it was finally put out of its misery on Monday – despite the fact that new programming was set to begin on Monday. So much for advanced notice. I had so many great memories of KFNS. I worked with countless people that I enjoyed. They made sports talk radio fun, and there are times I really miss them. Here are just some of the difference makers: Rich Gray, Roy Anderson, Bob Birch, Bob Ramsey, Rick Wallace, Jay Randolph, Rob Fisher, Kevin Williams, Kenny Strode, Tony Hubert, John Rabe, Bernie Miklaus, Earl Austin Jr., Dave Greene, Greg Marecek, Kevin King, Charlotte Tate, Brian Burwell, John Marecek, Chris Nupert, Demetrious Johnson, Caller Lou and Rich from Maryland Heights. I am grateful for the great people and memories it provided me – and, hopefully, you.

Mike Claiborne

Frank Cusumano, left, was a mainstay at KFNS 590 and Bob Ramsey, right, was one of the station’s originals signing on in April of 1991.

Strong finishing strong ESL phenom shows potential at next level

middle school for head coach

East St. Louis Senior High running back Nate Strong is finishing his high school football career for the Flyers like the running back he was heralded to be. He was one of the most heralded athletes ever in the state of Illinois coming out of middle school, and fighting injuries has hampered him throughout high school. Finally healthy, Strong is providing all of us glimpses of his true potential at the next level.

The University of Missouri recruit provided big runs during the Flyers thrashing of No. 3 seed Peoria Richwoods in the opening round of the Illinois class 6-A state football series Saturday in Peoria, Illinois.

Strong, along with Marvin

PREP

Continued from B3

tailback Sutton Smith leads Howell’s offense with more than 1,800 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns. The Howell defense is experienced and one of the best in the state.

Class 5 District 1: Vianney (7-4) at Jackson (10-1), Friday, 7 p.m. – A rematch from early September, where Jackson came to St. Louis to take a 30-23 victory. This time, the venue is at Jackson’s home field, known as “The Pit.” The Indians barely squeaked by Oakville in overtime last weekend. Vianney has been led by freshman quarterback Tionne Harris, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and passed for more than 1,000 yards with a total of 25 TDs.

District 2: Ladue (10-1) at Webster Groves (7-1), Friday, 7 p.m. – The host Statesmen held off McCluer North 42-35 to advance to the finals. They are led by senior quarterback Rob Thompson, who has thrown 23 TDs, and Mizzou recruit Cameron Hilton. Ladue is having an excellent year in

CLUTCH

Continued from B3 side, the backups will be forced into action, which could prove beneficial during the playoffs. Still a broken foot (Durant) and a broken hand (Westbrook) are pretty worrisome injuries in a sport where running, jumping, shooting and dribbling is 90% of the game. Who says that both superstars will return at full strength? So if all the favs have vulnerabilities, who are the lowkey contenders who could creep up into contention? First off, the Dallas Mavericks are in a prime position to make noise this season. The return of Tyson Chandler is a big deal. The

“Beast Mode” Young, combined for 425 yards on the ground. Young had 25 carries for 261 yards and 1 touchdown. Strong had 12 totes for 164 yards 2 touchdowns. With the game in the balance in a very hostile environment, tied 7-7 with 2:11 left in the 3rd quarter, Flyers coach Darren Sunkett called on his 5’11” 203-pound speedster to go to work.

Strong took a handoff from Flyers quarterback Reyondus Estes, turned up field and galloped 70 yards to give the Flyers a 14-7 lead.

But on the ensuing kick-off, Richwoods’ Steve Covington took it to the house with a 85 yard return that pulled the Knights within reach, 14-13 (PAT was no good ) with 1:56 to go in the third.

Switching ends of the field going into the wind, Sunkett dialed Strong’s number quickly on the first series in the 4th quarter.

The MIZZOU recruit

its move up to Class 5. The Rams are led by quarterback/ kicker Jack Fox and big play threat Daylen Edwards.

District 3: Fort Zumwalt East (8-3) at Fort Zumwalt North (9-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

The two teams played a barnburner on September 18 with North taking a 28-27 victory. The host Panthers are led by running back Deon Lewis, who has rushed for more than 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns. East has one of the area’s top offensive threats in quarterback Shane Barrett, who has more than 3,400 yards of total offense and 44 touchdowns.

Class 4

District 1: Hillsboro (9-2) at Cape Girardeau Central (10-1), Friday, 7 p.m. – A rematch from last year’s district championship game, which was won by Cape Central. Hillsboro advanced with a tough 21-10 victory over Jefferson County rival Festus last weekend. Senior Chris Walsh has scored 23 touchdowns for the Hawks.

District 2: Gateway STEM (7-4) at Affton (11-0), Friday, 7 p.m. – Host Affton has been rolling along all season. The Cougars are led by

former Defensive Player of the Year has proven that he can be disruptive enough on the defensive end to lead a team to a title. He was the difference in the 2011 championship team.

Mark Cuban’s silliest move to date was to let Chandler walk to go on a wild goose chase for Dwight Howard or Deron Williams. Speaking of Chandler, Dallas pried Chandler Parsons away from the Houston Rockets. Chandler, Dirk Nowitzki and Monte Ellis make up a triple threat on offense that will give any defense nightmares. J.J. Barea is also back. Is Dallas?

The Los Angeles Clippers organization has completed its meteoric rise from the floor mat to the top floor. Owner Steve Ballmer takes over the reins to a team that has finally

romped from 14 yards out to quickly to give East St. Louis some breathing room 21-13 with 11:54 to play.

The Flyers outscored the Knights 26-6 in the final quarter to advance to the 2nd round Saturday at “The House of Pain” Clyde C. Jordan Stadium. Kick-off is at 2 p.m.

Having amassed over 3,000 total yards during his high school career. Strong has rushed for 1,247 yards and 14 touchdowns this year for East St. Louis.

Strong has also had plenty to overcome as a kid. His mom passed away due to cancer at an early age. Strong quickly got involved in sports and has dedicated his hard work and faith to her.

Strong was treated like a rock star throughout the state. He had a man’s body when he was in middle school. He never lost a football game in

running back Jordan Siegel’s 25 touchdown and athletic quarterback DeVontae Burse. Gateway advanced with a 7-6 upset over top seed Miller Career Academy. Dominique Holman has rushed for 1,372 yards.

District 3: Jennings (9-2) at St. Charles West (9-2), Friday, 7 p.m. – The host Warriors are riding a ninegame winning streak behind senior tailback Drew Lauer and his 31 touchdowns. Dre Kelly is also a big play running back. Jennings has a stout defense led by linebacker Marcus McGhee and defensive lineman Jabriel Green. Nicholas Hally and Bobby Sanders have combined for 27 TDs on offense.

District 4: Borgia (101) at Westminster (10-1), Saturday, 1 p.m. – The two teams met three weeks ago with Westminster taking a 35-14 victory at Borgia. The host Wildcats are led by senior quarterback Brendan Bognar (2,292 yards, 22 TD passes) and sophomore skilled players Steve Webb and Dyllan Conway. Borgia advanced to the finals with a dramatic 50-43 victory over Union last Friday. Borgia trailed 37-14 at halftime before pulling off the stunning

escaped the massive shadow of the Los Angeles Lakers.

While Kobe Bryant steams in the locker room, wondering what happened to his Lakers dynasty, the Clippers franchise is busy trying to build its own. Blake Griffin has developed his game beyond just dunking on everybody. Chris Paul is the best point guard talent in the league. He just needs a ring to solidify his legacy. Jamal Crawford is a beast off the bench. DeAndre Jordan and Matt Barnes provide the gritty defense that championship contenders need.

The Chicago Bulls are back in the mix with the addition of Pau Gasol and the return of Derrick Rose. Rose missed the bulk of the past two seasons with knee injuries but is now perfectly healthy. Oh wait,

Mike Hill, averaging over 250 yards per game. Hill is now the running back coach at East St. Louis, and a father figure to Strong for years.

Hill is the brother of the only man whose Flyers jersey was retired, former Flyers head coach Terry Hill. Terry and NFL Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow were teammates at East Side and Missouri.

In addition, Mike Hill was Strong’s middle school coach when strong ran a blazing 10.92 100 meter and a blazing 22.03 200 meter as a 7th and 8th grader.

Topping that off, Strong led his middle school basketball team to a 22-7 record and the class 8-3A state championship over Teutopolis Wooden Shoes in front of 5,000 people.

Fans wanted autographs.

Strong posed for pictures and held babies. He has always had

second-half rally.

Class 3

District 2: DuBourg (7-4) at John Burroughs (10-1), Saturday, 1 p.m. – Perennial power John Burroughs is led by senior running back John Moten, who has scored 27 touchdowns. Senior quarterback Tre Moore has passed for 31 touchdowns. DuBourg advanced to the finals with a exciting 57-50 victory over Soldan. Maurion Warren rushed for 315 yards for the Cavs.

Class 2

District 2: Herculaneum (8-3) at Cardinal Ritter (5-6), Friday, 7 p.m. – The host Lions have a pair of 1,000yard rushers in Naeem Moore and Jaylen McLemore. They have combined to scored 25 touchdowns.

District 5: Hermann (9-2) at Lutheran North (10-1), Saturday, noon – The host Crusaders are led by senior running back Carl Thomas (19 touchdowns) and senior quarterback Justin Baker (19 TD passes). Hermann defeated unbeaten Brentwood to get to the finals. Garrett Leimkuehler has scored 25 touchdowns.

Rose has already go down with an injury again. No way he makes it through the season healthy. Without Rose at full strength, the Bulls will fail. That leaves the Washington Wizards as the key threat for the Cavs in the East.

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk and on Google+

stardom all over him.

He has been the first to admit to many who have earned his trust that he is not perfect and has to mature in many ways. As a young man who has been through a lot, losing his mother at such a young age, he has not trusted many.

But the Mike Hills, Don Spencers, and a few others

really know this young man. We are so proud of him, and not only for his accomplishments as an athlete. But it couldn’t happen too a better kid who will have a chance to go to college for his mom. And for you adult haters, I ask: What were you doing during your high school days?

Maurion Warren

Brendan Scales

Maurice Scott

Nate Strong

Financial Focus

By Veronica Coleman, financial advisor

Jeweler for the movement

20 years after his Million Man March pin, Demetrius Ball makes a ‘Hands

Up’ pendant

By Kenya Vaughn

Of The St. Louis American

“This is something that had been fueling in me for months,” said jeweler Demetrius Ball. “I felt compelled to create this piece.”

Although he’s been an acclaimed local jeweler for nearly 30 years, Ball’s name has gained recognition and popularity with a new generation thanks to his “Hands Up” pendant. The silver pendant garnered exposure in the wake of Michael Brown Jr.’s death at

the hands of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. But Ball had the blueprint formed in his head because of a previous fatal officerinvolved shooting. Ball’s nephew Cary Ball Jr. was shot 25 times by St. Louis police officers last April.

The circumstances of the shootings were different, but there was one striking similarity – witnesses reported Ball raising his hands in surrender before officers shot and killed him.

“That’s what really fueled me to make this piece,” Demetrius Ball said.

Ball said even as a child he wore a ring.

“I’ve always enjoyed fashion, and I would wear what I wanted to wear – well, at least what I could afford,” he said. “Even if it meant me going to the thrift store and putting it together; I was that kid.”

While Ball feels jewelry is an extension of fashion, finding his life’s work was

See JEWELER, C7

The newest pendant in Demetrius Ball’s Aieche line of jewelry is a “hands up” homage to Michael Brown Jr. and his own nephew Cary Ball Jr.

Local style star Shan Keith shares latest collection

By Danie Rae, Style Broker

usually encountered from some local designers, he completely shocked me with his retail-ready garments. And like that, I fell in love with his brand, Shan Keith Designs. With his recent success as one of the finalists in “Under the Gunn,” the Lifetime spin off of “Project Runway,” Shan has finally received the national attention that he deserves. He has been under the gun to produce and showcase a line of his own.

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

Disney’s latest animated feature “Big Hero 6” is definitely a break from the mold of their traditional format. Opening in theatres this weekend, the film showcases a diverse group of unlikely heroes who use their brains to develop their own power. The premise for the film took shape when “Big Hero 6” co-director Don Hall visited Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute several years ago. Inspired by an inflatable robotic arm and

By Jami Ballentine Dolby

That day arrived with the debut of his Fall/ Winter 2014 collection titled “Boundless.” “Boundless” unfolded on Sunday, October 26 at the Plush event space. With about 100 of the area’s most fashionably inclined in attendance, the fashion show also offered its patrons a glimpse of other brands that compliment Shan Keith’s Designs, including

See FASHION, C5

hand developed at CMU in Chris Atkeson’s lab by Siddharth Sanan during his Ph.D. thesis research, Hall knew instantly that the Baymax character in the film he was co-directing with Chris Williams for Disney would also be an inflatable robot.

In “Big Hero 6,” Baymax, a gentle robot designed as a healthcare aide for humans, is transformed into a warrior. He joins a band of high-tech heroes – led by robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada – to fight against a plot that threatens to destroy the fast-paced, high-tech city of San Fransokyo. See FILM, C4

Jami Ballentine Dolby

Haus of

owner DeArika Binion

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.

concerts

Fri., Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m., Pop’s Nightclub presents Bone Thugs N Harmony. 401 Monsanto Ave., East St. Louis, IL. 62201. For more information, call (618) 2746720 or visit www.stubhub. com.

Sat., Nov. 8, 2 p.m., Scott Joplin & W. C. Handy Birthday Party. Celebrate ragtime & early blues with The Ragged Blade Band in Old North St. Louis. Handy was born in November, and no one’s sure when Joplin was born, but we all say November. Old North St. Louis Restoration Group, 2800 N. 14th St., 63106. For more information, call (314) 2415031.

Sat., Nov. 8, 8 p.m., The Ready Room presents Ty Dolla $ign. 4195 Manchester Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www. thereadyroom.com.

Sun., Nov. 9 & Dec. 14, 6 p.m., The Jazz Edge Orchestra, Kirkwood Station Restaurant and Brewing Co., 105 E. Jefferson Ave. For more information, visit www. thejazzedge.com.

Sun., Nov. 9, 8 p.m. (7 p.m. doors), Kwame Foundation presents The Affordable Concert Series with Vivian Green and Kindred The Family Soul. The Pageant,

6161 Delmar. For more information, visit www. thepageant.com

Nov. 10 – 11, The Sheldon Concert Hall presents Wine, Women, and Song. Featuring St. Louis Women’s HOPE Chorale; harpist Megan Stout; horns Roger Kaza and Thomas Jöstlein. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 533-9900 or visit www. grandcenter.org.

Wed., Nov. 12, 8 p.m., Unleashed Imagination Studios and Xclusive Management Group present The By Any Means Necessary feat. Kevin Gates, Chevy Woods, and Repatallion. Fubar, 3108 Locust St., 63101. For more information, call (314) 2899050 or visit www.fubarstl. com.

Fri., Nov. 14, 8 p.m., The Ambassador and 210’s Entertainment present Willie Clayton and Sir Charles Jones Live. The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, call (314) 869-9090.

Nov. 14 – 15, Jazz at the Bistro presents Tia Fuller, Sean Jones, and Warren Wolf. In a one-of-a-kind grouping, three of the hottest young artists on the scene will take to the Bistro stage. Alto saxophonist Tia Fuller is a veteran of the bands of Beyonce and Esperanza

Calendar

Spalding’s Radio Music Society. Trumpeter Sean Jones previously held the lead trumpet position in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Vibraphonist Warren Wolf is a member of the SFJazz Collective, and has worked with artists like Christian McBride. 3536 Washington Blvd., 63101. For more information, visit hwww. grandcenter.org.

Sun., Nov. 16, Community Women Against Hardship presents the all women jazz ensemble JaZz in P!nk for their 2014 Circle of Support Gala, Sheldon Concert Hall For tickets contact Metro-tix, Community Women Against Hardship’s website www. cwah.org (PayPal) or call 314289-7523.

Tues., Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m., Jazz at the Bistro presents SIUE Concert Jazz Band and SIUE Alumni Jazz Band. The St. Louis area is home to many great university jazz programs. The SIUE jazz department, now under the leadership of guitarist Rick Haydon, consistently produces swingin’ musicians. This big band showcase will feature your favorite charts from Basie, Ellington, and beyond. 3536 Washington Blvd., 63101. For more information, visit www. grandcenter.org.

Wed., Nov. 19, 8 p.m., The Ready Room presents Shaggy. 4195 Manchester Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.thereadyroom.com.

Nov. 28 – 29, Broadway Oyster Bar presents Javier Mendoza. 736 S. Broadway, 63102. For more information, visit www.javiermendoza.com.

Thur., Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.,

A Gospel Christmas with Oleta Adams. Oleta Adams joins the STL Symphony and IN UNISON Chorus led by director Kevin McBeth for a night of soul-stirring Gospel music to celebrate the most joyous of seasons. Powell Symphony Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, call (314) 534-1700 or visit www. stlsymphony.org.

local gigs

Fri., Nov. 7, 8 p.m., PureHeart Management, KlassHouse Music and Pennyworth Enterprises present: The Last Men Standing: Bring Back the R&B. Rollyn K. Moore and Justin M Hoskin feat. The Band of Brothers. Voce, 212 S. Tucker, 63102. For more information, call (314) 4433172.

Wednesdays, 6-10 p.m., Lexus Len’s “Winedown Wednesdays,” Live Band featuring: Cheryl Brown, Jeremiah Allen, Jeff Taylor, Gerald Warren & Amos Brewer, The Loft, 3112 Olive.

Sat., Nov. 8 & Dec. 13, 9 p.m., Troy’s Jazz Gallery presents Ladies Sing the Blu’zz Masterpieces. Come experience the smooth and sultry vocal styles of Mary Dyson & Diane Vaughn. 4519 Olive St., 63108. For more information, call (314) 9231120.

Nov. 18 – 19, Sheldon Concert Hall presents Brian Owens: A Tribute to Nat King Cole. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more

information, visit www. sheldonconcerthall.org.

special events

Thur., Nov. 6, 6:30 p.m., AmeriCorps St. Louis hosts Share the Warmth. Each winter, AmeriCorps St. Louis partners with Winter Outreach and the City of St. Louis to provide emergency shelter for homeless guests when the temperature drops below 20 degrees. Please join us to help us kick off our winter shelter. We will have live music, a chili cook off and an auction with some great prizes. To participate in the chili cook off just bring a crock-pot full of your best chili. Others can come and try some of the best chili St. Louis’ service minded individuals have to offer. AmeriCorps St. Louis UAC, 1315 Ann Ave., 63104. For more information, call (314) 772-9002.

Fri., Nov. 7, 5:30 p.m., National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Metropolitan St. Louis Chapter presents 6th Annual Wine Sip for Scholarship. Please join us as we support women and their education. The proceeds from this event will be used to provide free programming to the St. Louis community and scholarships for women who return to college to complete their education. Norwood Hills Country Club, One Norwood Hills Country Club Dr., 63121. For more information, visit www.ncbwstl.org.

Sat., Nov. 8, 6 p.m., ALIVE Magazine presents Well Crafted. A carefully curated experience for the reined St. Louisan. Enjoy interactive programming throughout the space including discussions and speakers on the topics of food, active living, craft goods, and style. Bourbon tasting from Knob Creek will be paired with appetizers from award winning restaurant, Element. A shopping experience with a selection of curated vendors focusing on well-crafted goods and services will be open in The Machine Hall for attendees to peruse throughout the event. The Power Plant Building, 1419 Carroll St., 63104.

Nov. 7 – Nov. 8, Dance St. Louis welcomes Dance Theatre of Harlem, Touhill Performing Arts Center Tickets are available at the

Dance St. Louis box office at 3547 Olive St. in the Centene Center for Arts and Education in Grand Center, by calling 314-534-6622, or by visiting dancestlouis.org.

Sat., Nov. 8, 7 p.m., STL Village hosts USO Canteen Party. Celebrate Veteran’s Day 2014. Swing the night away dancing to the sounds of Second Generation Swing and a seventeen-piece big band. Enjoy light refreshments, cash bar, 50/50 rafle and live music. Advance tickets only online, by phone at 314802-0275 or by mail to: STL Village, 6633 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis 63130 (include $25 per ticket and names/phone for attendees). Mahler Ballroom, 4915 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.stlvillage.org.

Mon., Nov. 10, 5:30 p.m., Four Seasons Hotel hosts 2014 St. Louis Veterans Day Gala. This event is to honor veterans from all branches and components, past and present, and celebrate their selless service to our nation. The evening will consist of a social hour, silent auction, dinner and formal program. Appropriate attire: Dinner Dress/Mess Dress encouraged for military, tuxedo/suit and tie for men, evening gown/cocktail dress for women. Proceeds will be donated to Soldiers Memorial, St. Louis Honor Flight and the CG Enlisted Memorial. 999 N. Second St., 63160. For more information, visit www. stlveteransdaygala.org.

Fri., Nov. 14, 11 a.m., World Wide Technology presents The St. Louis American Foundation’s 15th Annual Salute to Excellence in Business. Four Seasons Hotel, 999 N. 2nd St., 63102. For more information, call (314) 533-8000 or visit www. stlamerican.com.

Sat., Nov. 15, 8:30 p.m., Soldiers Memorial Park hosts Girls on the Run 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run. A community event to support the Girls on the Run Scholarship Fund. 1315 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www. girlsontherunstlouis.org.

Sun., Nov. 16, 4:30 p.m., The St. Louis Metropolitan Chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc. present 2014 Reactivation Reception: A Legacy of Sisterhood and Service. Brentwood Recreation Center, 2505 S. Brentwood, 63144. For more information and to RSVP, email

Dance St. Louis welcomes Dance Theatre of Harlem. See SPECIAL EVENTS for details.

akastlreactivation@gmail.com.

Fri., Nov. 21, 7 p.m., Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition hosts A Sizzling Celebration. Help us celebrate our 25th Anniversary and the 2,500 children and teens who have found forever families thanks to you and the hundreds of foster and adoptive families who have given them A Place to Call Home. Moulin, 2017 Chouteau Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. foster-adopt.org

comedy

Fri., Nov. 7, 8 p.m., Chaifetz Arena presents The After Dark Tour feat. Mike Epps & DeRay Davis. One S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. thechaifetzarena.com.

Through Dec. 13, Satori presents STL Up Late. This is an interactive late night talk show featuring the most talented & engaging guests that St. Louis has to offer. STL Up Late takes all of the best elements of your favorite televised late night talk shows, like live music & famous personalities, and adds interactive audience games, sketch comedy, and a spontaneity that you can’t ind on FCC regulated TV shows. 3003 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www. stluplate.com.

theatre

Nov. 6 – 23, Boo Cat Club presents Stairs to the Roof. A rarely produced gem by Tennessee Wiliams that is at once a comedy and a love story with a touch of early science iction. 812 N. Union Blvd., 63108. For ticket information, visit http://www. brownpapertickets.com/ event/760846

Nov. 6 at 10 p.m. & Nov. 8 at 4 p.m., Willi Ray Productions & Foundations of Truth C.O.G.I.C. present Gossip.

This gospel stage play offers lots of laughs and lessons on white lies and rumors. Ferrara Theatre, The America’s Center, 701 Convention Plaza, 63101. For more information, call (314) 276-4879 or visit www. cogic.org

arts

Sat., Nov. 8, 7 p.m., FriendsbyChoice presents Choice Art 2014: 5th Anniversary Celebration. Mark your calendars for auction to benefit Planned Parenthood. Come celebrate with a juried art selection, hors d’ oeuvres, signature drinks, and a fantastic opportunity to meet new and like-minded people. Contemporary Art Museum, 3750 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. choiceart.org.

Fri., Nov. 14, 8 p.m., Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis presents Art:314. Don’t miss this silent auction and party in support of CAM’s Open Studios STL program and Front Room exhibition series. Bid on work by a variety of St. Louis artists—at a range of prices—and enjoy dancing and an open bar throughout the evening. 3450 Washington Blvd., 63108. For

more information, visit www. grandcenter.org.

lectures

Sat., Nov. 8, 9:30 a.m., Truth and Lies: Love, Sex & Relationships. This HIV/ STD Forum is a collaborative event between Washington University, Project Ark, The Spot, Harris Stowe State University and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Omicron Eta Omega Chapter. This will be a day illed with education, awareness and conversation concerning HIV/Aids and STDs. It is open to high school as well as college students. There will also be workshops available for parents/adults. Onsite HIV testing will also be available. Harris Stowe State University – Clay Early Childhood Center, 10 N. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 535-7275 or visit www.akaomicronetaomega.org.

Mon., Nov. 10, 7 p.m., Fontbonne University hosts Rev. Bryan N. Massingale. Rev. Massingale will speak on the topic of “Unconscious Racial Bias and the Challenge of Solidarity: Catholic Social Teaching Post-Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and… After the lecture he will sign his

new book, Racial Justice and the Catholic Church. The Reverend’s approach to social ethics focuses upon the impact of religious faith as both an instrument of social injustice and a catalyst for social transformation. Doerr Chapel, Ryan Hall, 6800 Wydown Blvd., 63105. For more information, call (314) 7193554 or visit www.fontbonne. edu/infocenter.

Wed., Nov. 12, Missouri Business Development Program presents The Basics of Writing a Business Plan. If you are a dislocated or laid off worker registered with jobs. mo.gov, you could attend this workshop at no cost. SLATE – Missouri Career Center, 1520 Market St., 63103. For more information or to make an appointment, call (314) 657-3547 or visit www. missouribusiness.net.

Wed., Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m., Urban League Young Professionals of Metropolitan St. Louis presents The State of Black St. Louis Part II: Education, Employment, Empowerment. Attend a discussion on the current state of Black America, with particular focus on St. Louis, as our panelists engage in action provoking conversation on topics such as economics, education and other areas

in which discrimination, historically, has been known to permeate. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, email civicdevelopment@ulypstl.org or president@ulyp-stl. org.

health

Wed., Nov. 12, 8:30 a.m., Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis presents Champions for Children Summit 2014. This twopart event brings together passionate people of all stripes — families, agencies, subject experts and donors — to discuss how we can continue to build a better world for children with disabilities. Leading speakers in the fields of childhood disabilities and nonprofit management highlight the morning session, followed by a luncheon program. The Chase Park Plaza Hotel, 212 N. Kingshighway Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 720-7707.

Sat., Nov. 15, 8:30 p.m., Soldiers Memorial Park hosts Girls on the Run 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run. A community event to support the Girls on the Run Scholarship Fund. 1315 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www. girlsontherunstlouis.org.

spiritual

Through Nov. 11, The Church of God in Christ 107th Holy Convocation Event highlights include COGIC Health Fair, 5th Annual Job Fair, “Christmas in November,” and Annual Presiding Bishop’s We Care Banquet. The America’s Center, 701 Convention Plaza, 63101. For more information, call (314) 342-5036 or visit www.cogic.org.

Sat., Nov. 15, 8 a.m., St. Joseph’s Academy Mission Week Garage Sale. All proceeds will beneit the mission work of the Sisters of

St. Joseph of Carondelet in Peru and Uganda. Household items, formal dresses, toys, games, books, furniture, accessories and more will be available for purchase. Please come and support the CSJ Missions. 2307 South Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63131.

Nov. 13 – 23, 23rd Annual St. Louis International Film Festival. The festival will screen 389 ilms: 89 narrative features, 76 documentary features, and 224 shorts with more than 69 countries represented. In response to the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson this summer, SLIFF is featuring a stream of programming titled “Race in America: The Black Experience.” To maximize outreach, about three-quarters of those programs are free. For more information about the ilms and theatre locations, visit www.cinemastlouis.org/ilmcategories. Films in the series include: Nov. 14: The Homestretch (7 p.m.) Nov.

Fri., Nov. 14, Beyond the Lights starring Gugu MbathaRaw, Nate Parker, and Danny Glover opens in theatres in nationwide.

Kirkwood Station Restaurant and Brewing Co. welcomes the Jazz Edge Orchestra. For more information, see CONCERTS.

Opening in theatres this weekend, the “Big Hero 6” showcases a diverse group of unlikely heroes who use their brains to develop their own power.

Continued from C1

Wasabi, a character portrayed by Damon Wayans Jr., offers his take on the unique role of using the wonder and mystery of science as one’s primary weapon for fighting crime. How does it feel to be among a group of superheroes known for their brain instead of brawn?

I did not set out to become a superhero. I’m a nerd. I mean—who in his right mind goes up against a seriously bad guy in a kabuki mask? Me, right? (What was I thinking?)

My buddy Tadashi always told us to think our way out of a tough spot—and that’s the truth. If you’ve got it going on upstairs, there’s nothing you can’t do. Brain power makes us all super. You and the rest of “Big Hero 6” present the notion that science is cool to young people – including Hero. Why was that important?

n Science is everywhere. It’s the basis for the phone you use—the car that gets you to school every day

Uhhhh—because science IS cool.

What’s the most fun thing about science and robotics?

You have the power to make crazy ideas not so crazy anymore. I mean, I’m running around with plasma blades all over the place—who’d believe THAT was possible?

But the absolute best thing about science is that it pays to be organized—I get chills just thinking about it. The Big Hero 6 crew essentially uses science to save the day. How have you applied elements of the subject within your everyday life? Science is everywhere. It’s the basis for the phone you use—the car that gets

you to school every day. The toothpaste you brush your teeth with was made with science—and you should brush at least twice a day, by the way. And floss. Flossing’s good for your gums. What would you tell a young person who said they want to be a scientific superhero just like Wasabi? What kinds of things would they need to accomplish and/or master to achieve at particular goal?

First of all—you have to have a plan: what do you want to figure out and what do you need to do to solve your very own mystery? Next, you break it down: take that giant goal and bust it into a whole bunch of smaller goals that don’t seem too scary. Then you just dive in and go for it one step at a time. Have fun! (But be careful, too. Always wear safety goggles and try not to blow anything up.)

Big Hero 6 opens in theatres nationwide on Friday, November 7. The film is rated PG with a running time of 105 minutes.

By Melanie Adams

Skating on the big screen

History Museum shows local documentary about skating rink culture

A few months ago I mentioned to my boyfriend that we were invited to a rollerskating fundraiser at Steinberg. Thinking it would be kind of fun to rollerskate outside, I suggested we attend. He said he didn’t know how to rollerskate.

I must admit I was a bit surprised. Who doesn’t know how to rollerskate? Isn’t rollerskating an elementary school rite of passage for people over 40? I spent most of my Saturdays at the roller staking rink with my friends eating junk food and trying to stay on my feet. Rollerskating for me was a childhood pastime that was soon replaced with middle school dances and evenings at the movies.

Upon moving to St. Louis I discovered that rollerskating was more than a pastime for some and a passion for others.

The Missouri History Museum will be showcasing the St. Louis and East St. Louis rollerskating culture in the film The Rink: Rebooted by Ron “G. Wiz” Butts followed by a Q and A. The film captures the rollerskating culture stating in the 1960’s and bringing it up to the 1990’s.

I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Butts to learn a little more about the film and the importance of rollerstaking culture to the region.

Why is rollerskating such an important part of the African-American experience in St. Louis and East St. Louis?

Due to the fact that it is considered one of the most economical forms of family entertainment, rollerskating is an important part of the black experience not only in St. Louis and East St. Louis but most of the urban areas of the nation.

The admission fee per individual along with the video games and concession snacks that are available provides a fun filled afternoon or evening for the entire family. Along with plenty of exercise!

Did you learn anything new while making this film?

Being that I have been skating for over 40 years myself (with over 30 years as a rink deejay) there weren’t too many things that I didn’t have knowledge of about the activities inside the skating rink. Although I was intrigued by the story from Matthew Foggy (owner of Skate King Skating Center) of how Skate King in Pine Lawn came about.

Why do you think today’s young people didn’t embrace roller skating the way their parents and grandparents did?

I believe the activities of the 1990s (video games, cable TV, mobile devices, lock-in dances, division of the family, drug infestation, gang activity, etc.) took a major toll on the up and coming generations on their lack of interest in continuing the trend of roller skating the way their parents and grandparents did.

What do you hope people will learn from your film?

I hope people will understand that roller skating is more than just an activity or something to do, it’s .... “a way of life”.

The Rink: Rebooted Sunday, November 9 3:00pm in the Lee Auditorium

This documentary film captures the rollerskating culture of St. Louis and East St. Louis from the 1960s through the 1990s. Q&A with filmmaker Ron “G. Wiz” Butts follows.

The State of Black St. Louis: Part II Panel Discussion Education Employment Empowerment Presented by the Urban League Young Professionals Wednesday, November 12th 6:30pm in the AT&T Foundation Multipurpose Room

Join the Urban League Young Professionals for a panel discussion on the current state of Black America, with particular focus on St. Louis. Panelists will engage in action-provoking conversations on such topics as economics and education.

Color Matters: Skin Tone Bias and the Myth of a Postracial America Sunday, November 16th 3:00pm in the AT&T Foundation Multipurpose Room

Washington University professor Kim Norwood delivers this talk based on her book, which explores how colorism touches every corner of society, especially the law.

Celebrations

Katherine Nicole Moore of St. Louis, MO and and Rick Vaughn of Dallas, TX were united in marriage during a beautiful ceremony on October 11, 2014 in the East Ballroom of the Airport Marriott in St. Louis. Bishop Henry J. Phillips, Jr. presided over the nuptials. 2011 BET Sunday’s Best winner Amber Bullock was a guest soloist at the reception. Over 250 family members and friends from all over the country gathered to help them celebrate their special day.

Reunions

Beaumont Class of 1968 will meet on Nov. 22, from 2- 5 p.m. at St Louis County Library, 7606 Natural Bridge, to organize and plan the 47th Class Reunion. For more information email bhsco1968@att. net or call (314) 869-8312.

Beaumont High School Class of 1970 is looking for team

Raynell and JoAnn Banks of Rock Hill, MO would like to announce the marriage of their daughter, Brittney Alexandria-Nicole Banks, to Jasper Aaron Lovett. Jasper is the son of Phyllis Lovett and the late Steven Herrod of Alton, IL. Jasper and Brittney Lovett were married on October 11, 2014 at Central Baptist Church of St. Louis. Brittney is employed at St. Joseph Hospital in Wentzville, MO and Jasper is employed at the Pepsi Cola Company.

members to plan its’ 45th year reunion. Lets’ avoid the rush, plans are underway to celebrate starting with you. Interested? Please email Beatrice Palmer (Vanzant-Smith) at bvanzantsmith@yahoo.com or bsmithrealtor@att.net.

Beaumont High School Class of 1984 can stay updated via our Facebook page “Beaumont Class of 1984” for class information. The class meets the last Friday of every month. Contact Rochelle Williams at rochellewilliams001@yahoo. com.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri District 3 would like to invite you to an Alumni Event. We are looking for anyone who worked in or was a member of

Anniversary

On October 29, 2014 Dr. Robyn and Mr. Donnell Drake celebrated 20 years of marriage. We would like to congratulate them on their 20 years of a marriage that started out as high school sweethearts. You represent what many young couples are seeking when entering into marriage. May God continue to bless you through many more years!

Love, Karen Mitchell

Work anniversary

Congratulations to CEO Glenda White BSN, RN, MBA for 17 years of service, from the teams at New Beginnings In Home Service, New Beginnings-CDS, Medi-Plex Healthcare Professionals, Medi-Plex Hospice, At Home Private Pay and TRP Communities Resources and Development.

Girl Scouts in St. Louis City. If you would like to participate, please contact Essie Harrison at essie.harrison@att.net or call (314) 400-4602 with your name, address, phone number, and email address.

Soldan Class of 1975 (40th ) reunion planning committee will be hosting a fun illed evening of activities, and music. Friday, October 24th, 5pm-til, Legacy Cafe & Books, 5249 Delmar/Union, Contact AnnieSue Preston 314 606- 5618 or email SOLDANCLASS1975@ gmail.com for additional information.

Sumner High School Class of 1965 is planning a 50th year reunion for June 12-14. 2015. Please join us via Facebook:

Class of ‘65 Sumner High School St. Louis, MO.

St. Louis Community College needs your help identifying the 1.5 million STLCC alumni. Alumni are encouraged to visit the website: www. stlcc.edu/foundation/, to become members or update information. For more information, contact Ashley Budde, coordinator of alumni relations, at abudde6@stlcc. edu, or 314-539-5145.

Sumner High School Class of 1965 is planning its 50th Reunion on the second and fourth Mondays at 7 p.m. at the Lower Level of Ronald L. Jones Funeral Chapel. For updates and/or to leave your contact info--visit our Facebook group

Sumner Class of ‘65.

Sumner High Class of 1975 has started planning its 40th reunion. Please provide contact information to sumnerclassof75@gmail.com or C. Jackson 314-477-6785 for more information.

Upward Bound (Webster University ) Class of ‘66 thru ‘70 of Kinloch, Beaumont, Vashon, Summer, Central, Soldan, Northwest, McKinney and Laboure, we are the process of planning a reunion around June/ July 2015. Please respond by contacting via email or Facebook Lawrence (Larry) Lewis: lewis3936@gm.com or Kenneth W. McClendon irisingridarlene@aol.com.

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, graduation, 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. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO 63103 FREE OF CHARGE

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us!

However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103

Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@ stlamerican.com

something he stumbled upon. His mother wanted him to learn a trade, so he transferred from Sumner to O’Fallon Technical High School, where he took up auto mechanics.

The summer after his sophomore year, his mother gave him a reality check. “She was like, ‘Auto mechanic –who are you fooling? You don’t even like getting your hands dirty,’” Ball said.

Set on proving her wrong, he went into the garage to find something to do and he stumbled across some jewelry books left there by a cousin who went to school for it in Texas. He started reading.

“It said, ‘The number one tool that will make a great jeweler is trust and loyalty,’” Ball said. “I thought, ‘I am trustworthy and I am loyal. I can do this.’” When he was finished with his class projects, he would take leftover scraps of brass and glass and use the most intricate detail in carefully shaping them into jewelry pieces.

“I had a physics teacher say, ‘You should be an engineer,’” Ball said. “He and I didn’t have that understanding at the time, but being a jeweler is engineering. Technically, I am an engineer.” Ball was still a teen when he sold employers of Vincent’s Jewelers (then located in the now demolished River Roads Mall) on the idea of him working as an apprentice and salesperson. His career as a designer began at the tender

age of 17. At the time, the store had clients from the St. Louis Cardinals football and baseball teams and was looking to woo Ozzie Smith.

The store manager had a particular piece of jewelry that they thought may be to Smith’s liking, but Ball disagreed.

“I said, ‘Ozzie’s not going to like this,’” Ball said. “It was crazy. I was 17 years old talking like that to the boss.”

Terry Pendleton and his wife

Kathy were faithful customers. Ball showed them the piece and asked that a sketch of his signature design be passed along to Smith.

“He ended up showing it to

n “People always point out their celebrity clients, but my 9-5 folks are my famous clients.”

– Demetrius Ball

stores.” He also has a host of customers throughout the area.

“People always point out their celebrity clients, but my 9-5 folks are my famous clients,” Ball said. “My A-list are my everyday hardworking clients – they are my stars, and I treat them as such.”

He also launched his own Aieche line of jewelry.

“It includes watches, bridal and everyday jewelry,” Ball said. “Aieche is all about where fashion and jewelry meet.”

His latest creation is his “Hands Up” pendant, but making a statement on behalf of the community through his jewelry is nothing new to Ball. Ball was inspired to make the Million Man March lapel pin almost 20 years ago.

“It’s the only lapel pin Minister Farrakhan has ever worn on his suits,” Ball said. “It was featured on the cover of Essence magazine.”

Through his craft, Ball hopes to speak to the next generation – those currently marching for justice and an end to what he calls “blue on black crimes.”

Denise Smith – Ozzie’s wife at the time – and she loved it,” Ball said. “Nikko was a baby back then, and she brought him in the store with her. When I got that sale, I was like the big dog on campus.”

It’s been more than 25 years since Ball was the boy wonder of Vincent’s Jewelers River Roads location. He left there in 1988 and started working out of his aunt’s basement before opening his own establishment in Jennings at 6815 W. Florissant Ave.

He designs, repairs and services jewelry, working for Jared, Zales, Helzberg “and some of the mom and pop

“There have been other kids, my nephew, Mike Brown and others who have fallen victim to police brutality,” Ball said. “That really made me say, ‘I need to make something that’s going to last forever and people will not forget’ – and pray and hope that the right movement comes out of it.”

For more information, visit www.aieche.com

Ministering to victims of abuse

Dionna Latimer is founder of Moving 4ward Ministry

By Erica R. Van Buren For The St. Louis American

Dionna Latimer is the founder of Moving 4ward Ministry, created to support victims of sexual abuse.

“We hold on to these secrets and they ruin us,” says Latimer regarding her own personal experience dealing with being sexually abused as a child.

Latimer’s ministry provides a safe environment for healing and is free from judgment. “Your Voice Has A Right To Be Heard!” is their motto.

“We pray for them and provide whatever else they need,” says Latimer.

According to the mission statement, Moving 4Ward is a Christian support ministry designed to provide well needed, non-judgmental support for survivors of sexual abuse 16 years of age or older.

“We believe that through the word of God, survivors can begin healing, be delivered and set free from the bondage that has hindered them, in some cases for many years,” according to the mission statement. “Our goal is to provide them with a safe environment to share their experiences so they can move forward with their lives, be overcomers through Christ and

walk in purpose for the rest of their lives.”

Latimer thanks Raymond Horry, Pastor of Ark of Safety Christian Church, for being the overseer of the Moving 4ward Ministry. The ministry currently holds its meetings and support groups at the Ark of Safety Christian Church located at 2529 Charwood St. in St. Charles.

n

Latimer admits that she isn’t a therapist and says anyone seeking help should obtain help from a professional as a part of the healing process. There is often such a stigma attached to seeking professional help in black families, she said, that some suffer in silence after being abused.

admitted that she didn’t plan on telling anyone because she didn’t want to be pitied. Later she realized that she had to push past what people would think regarding her story. There are also cases of people who may not want to share their stories for fear of breaking up their family.

“We hold on to these secrets and they ruin us.”

– Dionna Latimer, “Moving 4ward Ministry”

Once Latimer opened up about it after struggling with the secret for 30 years, she realized that most of the people in her circle had encountered someone who had suffered a form of abuse or were themselves victims. Latimer

When Latimer’s not being a crusader for victims of abuse, she spends time with her three teenage children. Latimer struggled with sharing with her children what she endured as a child. But after speaking to them about her experience, she felt that they handled it well and they often encourage their peers to seek help from the Moving 4ward ministry if they’re in need of someone to speak to.

“It provided an open door as far as communicating,” says Latimer regarding her kids. Before speaking with them she realized that she was

Moving 4ward Ministry, founded by Dionna Latimer, holds its meetings and support groups at the Ark of Safety Christian Church located at 2529 Charwood St. in St. Charles.

Come home

Have you ever thought about just thanking God for being God? I mean I know at times, I must get on His last nerve and it’s just nice to know that He forgives.

overprotective when it came to her children. She was always careful about allowing them to stay the night at friends’ houses and who they hang out with.

Now her kids understand why.

“If someone says, ‘Don’t tell your parent,’ then tell me immediately,” Latimer says to her kids, explaining the signs to look for when someone may be intent on doing them harm.

For fun she hangs out with her kids and spends time with her girlfriends. She also loves watching the show “Martin” starring Martin Lawrence and “Living Single” starring an all-black cast that aired in the ‘90s. As a member of Ark of Safety Christian church a huge chunk of her time is given to her church.

The following link shows the video clip of Latimer sharing her story of how she was abused as a child and how important it is to talk about your experience with someone: http://vimeo.com/40726570.

For more information on Moving 4Ward Ministries, visit http://www.moving4wardstl. com/founder.php.

One of the truths that I’ve referenced before is that Jesus’ frustration with the apostles sometimes took on a whiff of righteous indignation. After all, how many times did He have to explain, what to Him was so simple and basic? He was the truth, the light, and the way. What His first followers questioned really must have tried His patience, as I’m sure I do today. Couple that with a behavior that is not always spiritual in direction and, well, you get my point.

Plain and simple, I’m a sinner. We all are. I’ve sinned with the best of them and at the end of the day, it’s hard to accept that God indeed still loves me.

As my mother might have said, “you come home with your tail between your legs” because you know that she knows that what you been doing is something that you really had no business doing at all. You instinctively find the place where you feel the safest, a place where love supersedes your horrible judgment, home. My point is a true believer must come home. However difficult it might be, confession is what I’m talking

about. It continues to be the key to understanding the depth and breadth of God’s love for us, unless you think Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice was a minor detail of salvation. The act of confession seems to give us sinners hope that our missteps, our indiscretions, our out and out failures to comply have a spiritual home to go to. Daddy is waiting up when you get home and He expects you to eventually show up. “That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess you are saved.” Romans 10:9-10. My point is you must act after you confess. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. Guys, we must at least attempt to recognize and learn from our mistakes with the certainty that we are already forgiven. That’s the part about being thankful that God is God. Believe it or not God expects us to make mistakes as you expect your children to. You know they will. But, when you get knocked down or you stumble on your own, you’ve got to get up. God expects you, upon confession, to seek His helping hand.

The American is accepting Inspirational Messages from the community. Send your column (no more than 400 words) as a Word document and pasted text to cking@stlamerican. com and attach a photo of yourself as a jpeg ile. Please be patient; we will run columns in the order received.

James A. Washington

Keeping Ebola in perspective

Since the US acquired its first Ebola patient, people have been on high alert - watching the news, listening to NPR, and obtaining information from wherever they could obtain it. Do not even think about mentioning that you have been vomiting, having diarrhea or a recent fever because as of late, that has a whole new meaning. Recently, I was on a plane headed to Atlanta and was making polite conversation with my seat mate. Unfortunately, I made the grave error of discussing a recent mission trip to Africa. I should have known that a faux pas had occurred when this particular passenger looked at me as if I had the plague. I had been in Southeast Africa, which has not been affected by Ebola, but I’m sure to the general public the name Africa conjures up images of hazmat suits and body bags.

As of the time of my preparing this column, the United States had four confirmed cases of Ebola and only one death. On the other hand, Liberia had 6,535 cases and 2,413 deaths. Sierra Leone and Guinea are affected tremendously as well by this deadly virus.

Breaks in the skin, mucous membranes and via the blood vessels are all possible entry sites for the Ebola virus. Once infected, a cascade of events occur that

could cause a person to bleed uncontrollably, experience electrolyte imbalances and develop multi-organ failure. The onset of symptoms is typically between eight to 10 days after exposure but can range from two to 21 days.

High fevers, muscle aches, poor appetite and headache are other potential symptoms as well. Because these symptoms mirror other less virulent diseases initially, patients could be misdiagnosed, as in the case of the Liberian man who died at a hospital in Dallas. Although the stories surrounding the Ebola epidemic have elicited fear in the general population, I want us to keep in the forefront of our minds more common health issues that we battle every day. We have to keep Ebola in perspective so that we will not ignore the more present threats to mankind.

Denise Hooks

Cancer Society, smoking kills more Americans than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide and illegal drugs combined. Tobacco use not only causes lung and throat cancer, but also increases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, smoking worsens respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. Finally, although it may be minor to you but extremely important to me, tobacco use seems to accelerate the aging process. Compare the skin of a smoker versus that of a non-smoker. Smokers on average look 10 years older!

tes to 6,000 times more people affected than the number of Ebola cases worldwide. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the highest age-adjusted rates of obesity were for African Americans at 47.8 percent.

Therefore, though the Ebola infection wreaking havoc in West Africa is causing quite a stir, it cannot compare to the damage caused by many self-imposed conditions here in the U.S. Diabetes, hypertension, tobacco use and obesity are all contributors to devastating outcomes such as strokes, heart attacks, and end stage kidney disease. Warning signs are occasionally present but often ignored until it is too late.

For example, in the United States, one in five deaths can be contributed to tobacco use. Unlike genetic disorders which are passed down to us whether we want it or not, tobacco use is self-inflicted, making it the number one preventable cause of death. Per the American

Currently, there are a little over 13,000 known cases of Ebola worldwide as compared to the 37.3 million outpatient visits between 2007 and 2010 for diabetes. Furthermore, 7 million people are unaware that they have the disease. African Americans are disproportionately affected with 18.7 percent of all African American people over the age of 20 with diabetes as compared to 10.2 percent of whites.

Similarly to tobacco use and diabetes, obesity rates pose an even greater disparity when looking at the total population affected. In the US, 78.6 million or 34.9 percent of adults are obese, which equa-

Yes, by all means stay current on the latest news as it relates to Ebola, but don’t forget to also stay just as concerned about your present health conditions. The likelihood of contracting Ebola is far less than your chances of developing diabetes or hypertension. Therefore, I would suggest that you exchange some of the time you spend watching CNN and MSNBC to time spent walking, lifting weights, or line-dancing.

Yours in Service, Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D. Assistant Professor SLUCare Family Medicine yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com

Your Health Matters

A bi-monthly special supplement of the St. Louis American November 6, 2014

Your Health Matters provides up-to-date information, from an African-American perspective, about one of the most important subjects in evryone’s life – their personal health.

Donald M. Suggs, President and Publisher

Kevin Jones, Senior Vice President, COO

Dina M. Suggs, Senior Vice President

Chris King, Editorial Director

Denise Hooks Anderson, M.D., Medical Accuracy Editor

Sandra Jordan, Health Reporter

Debbie Chase, Director of Health Strategy & Outreach

Onye Hollomon, Barb Sills, Pamela Simmons, Sales

Michael Terhaar, Art/Production Manager

Angelita Jackson, Cover Design

Wiley Price, Photojournalist

Anderson, M.D.

“We are strongly encouraging people to actually re-enroll, not just letting things automatically enroll but to go back into the marketplace.”

– Nancy Kelley, director of Expanding Coverage at Cover Missouri

Open enrollment for health insurance begins Nov. 15

By Sandra Jordan

Of The St. Louis American

With twice as many health insurance options for Missouri in the federal marketplace in 2015, Cover Missouri said even if you have insurance now, it is would be worth it to see if you are getting the most for your hard-earned dollar.

“We are strongly encouraging people to actually re-enroll, not just letting things automatically enroll but to go back into the marketplace,” said Nancy Kelley, director of Expanding Coverage at Cover Missouri. “Look at the new

n Open enrollment begins November 15 and runs through February 15, 2015. Each of the eight plans available for coverage offer catastrophic, bronze, silver, gold-level options, with different services, deductibles and premiums.

choices… We are hoping the new choices will equate to more competitive pricing.”

Open enrollment begins November 15 and runs through February 15, 2015.

Each of the eight plans available for coverage offer catastrophic, bronze,

silver, gold-level options, with different services, deductibles and premiums.

In its first year, Kelley said 157,000 Missourians enrolled for health coverage.

“Over 80 percent of them got some level of financial help, whether it’s through tax credits or cost-sharing or

both,” Kelley said.

However, Kelley said there is another 700,000 Missourians who don’t have health insurance from an employer or government plan, which is where most people get their health coverage.

“We are strongly encouraging them to look at what the plans are because the reality is that most people in the U.S. by this point need to have insurance coverage,” she said.

The penalty for not having health insurance coverage in 2015 is 2 per-

See HEALTH, page 5

Photo by Wiley Price

HealtH Briefs

The Sugar Association donates salad Bars to SLPS

The Sugar Association did something really sweet recently, for students in St. Louis Public Schools. In recognition of National School Lunch Week and ongoing national attention around the healthfulness of school meals, group donated salad bars to 10 schools. The donation was in conjunction with the United Fresh Start Foundation, a founding partner of the national Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools campaign, which supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s broader Let’s Move! initiative to end childhood obesity in a generation. The salad bar donations will benefit 3,500 students, providing increased access to a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, while empowering students to make healthy choices every day at lunch.

“The Sugar Association is pleased to partner on this effort to support healthy school meals. Sugar in moderation can be part of a balanced, healthful diet and lifestyle, but there is no debate that the centerpieces of a diet should be fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other fiberrich and calcium-rich foods,” said Andy Briscoe, president and CEO of The Sugar Association. “We want children to practice healthy eating behaviors and a key to this is ensuring that these options are readily available,” Briscoe added.

The ten schools receiving salad bars from this donation include Ashland Elementary, Columbia Elementary, Dunbar Elementary, Fanning Middle School, Hamilton Elementary, Nance Elementary, Oak Hill Elementary, Sigel Elementary, Vashon High School and Yeatman-Liddell Middle School.

The district is currently requesting additional salad bars to assist with serv-

Ashland Elementary students select fresh fruits and vegetables from the school’s new salad bar, which was donated today by The Sugar Association in conjunction with the United Fresh Start Foundation.

ing more fresh fruits and vegetables.

According to Althea Albert-Santiago, Director of Food and Nutrition Services for the Saint Louis Public Schools, “Together with our foodservice manage-

ment company, Southwest Foodservice Excellence, we have a goal to expand salad bars to additional schools. With the new federal nutrition standards, we are serving more fresh produce and the salad

bars are helping encourage our students to select these options.”

For more information, visit www.saladbars2schools.org.

Medication errors: Children frequently given medicine incorrectly

According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital researchers, 63,000 children under the age of six experienced out-of-hospital medication errors annually between 2002 and 2012. One child is affected every eight minutes, usually by a well-meaning parent or caregiver unintentionally committing a medication error.

The most common medication mistakes in children under the age of 6 occur in the children’s home, or another residence and school. The most common medicines involved are painkillers and fever-reducers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

“This is more common than people may realize,” said Huiyun Xiang, MD, MPH, PhD, director of the Center for Pediatric Trauma Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, principal investi-

gator at the hospital’s Center for Injury Research and Policy. “The numbers we report still underestimate the true magnitude of these incidents since these are just cases reported to national poison centers.”

The most common medication mistakes in children under the age of 6 occur in the children’s home, or another residence and school. The most common medicines involved are painkillers and fever-reducers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

Instances in which these mistakes can occur include caregivers giving one child the same medication twice, misreading dosing instructions or administering the wrong medication.

“We found that younger children are more apt to experience error than older children, with children under age 1 accounting for 25 percent of incidents,” said Xiang, senior author of the study published recently by Pediatrics online.

“There are public health strategies being used to decrease the frequency and severity of medication errors among young children,” said Henry Spiller, director of the Central Ohio Poison Center and co-author of the study. “Product packaging needs to be redesigned in a way that provides accurate dosing devices and instructions, and better labeling to increase visibility to parents.”

For more information, visit http:// tinyurl.com/mpkoz58.

HEALTH

Continued from page 3

cent of your income, or $325 per adult ($162.50 per child), whichever is higher. There are hardship exceptions.

By government standards, to be considered affordable, a qualified employer health plan cannot cost you more than 9.5 percent of your household income.

“If it is affordable and it’s a quality plan, you can shop anywhere you want for health insurance, but you will not qualify for any of the financial help on the marketplace if your employer is offering an affordable plan,” Kelley said.

Cover Missouri held training sessions for certified application counselors at six locations around the state in advance of open enrollment.

“All of those assistors are certified through the federal program and are all trained and knowledgeable to help people go on the website, look at plans and then choose the option that is best for them and their families,” Kelley said.

CACs who were certified last year must go through training for recertification.

And their help is at no cost to enrollees.

“Also, part of their job is to do outreach and help people know what this is all about,” Kelley added.

For Michelle Davis of St. Louis, contacting a CAC changed her life in more

Special Enrollment Period

Persons who have experienced qualifying life changes may enroll for health insurance outside of the open enrollment period. Those major circumstances include marriage, birth, adoption, foster care, job loss, COBRA expiration, loss of eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP, death, divorce, a change of residence, gaining citizenship for release from incarceration.

Got to healthcare.gov to see if you qualify.

ways than one. After losing her full-time university teaching job in 2012, Davis was uninsured and dealing with a potentially life-threatening health condition that requires constant attention.

“I was distraught,” Davis said. “I’m diabetic, so it was not just a concern about being secure with having insurance, but being able to get medicines.”

Having to revamp her lifestyle, Davis went to the Family Care Center in her neighborhood to see the clinic doctor. While there, she read information that told her Affordable Care Act open enrollment would be closing soon, so she looked into getting health insurance.

“I was able to get the tax credit which helps pay for the premium every month; that’s the way I chose to do it—or you can get it at the end of the year when you file taxes,” Davis explained. Davis was working part-time as an adjunct professor. “Being under-employed, I needed help with the premium monthly as well as to be covered, because I needed medications, it covered the pharmacy to a certain extent.”

She said the sliding scale at the clinic was still a little costly. “I was able to get affordable care at the nick of time. It’s been a blessing in my life.”

After the credits, Davis said her monthly premiums cost her “twenty-something and some change.”

“I picked the silver plan, which was affordable for me as well as met the essential needs that I needed it for and the medicines,” she said.

When Davis was signing up for health coverage, she found out the clinic was hiring more certified counselors. Davis put in her application and now she works at Family Care Health Centers as a CAC.

“I was in that situation,” Davis said, “and my little portion of helping people get insured – it’s a scary thing without it.”

CoverMissouri.org has a zip code locator (the Find Help tab) to help you find a CAC enrollment site near you as well as payment calculators through the Kaiser Foundation to get an estimate of

premium costs. Costs vary by state and are based on income, and the number of persons enrolling.

To prepare to enroll for health insurance coverage, the U.S. Health and Human Services office says to have the following documents with you:

• Mailing addresses for everyone applying for coverage

• Social Security numbers

• Employer and income information for household members

• Best estimate of income for 2015

• Policy numbers for any current health insurance plans

• Your current plan ID if you had health coverage in 2014

• A completed Employer Coverage Tool for every job-based plan you or a household members are eligible (see Healthcare.gov/downloads/employer-coverage-tool.pdf) even if you don’t enroll

• Document information for legal immigrants

For more information, visit covermissouri.org and to enroll for health insurance coverage beginning November 15, visit www.healthcare.gov.

HealtHy Q & a

What is the monthly amount of disability benefits I am entitled to under Social Security?

The answer comes from the US Social Security Administration, www.SSA.gov.

The definition of disability under Social Security is different from other programs. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability.

“Disability” under Social Security is based on your inability to work. You are considered disabled under Social Security rules if:

• You cannot do work that you did before;

• We decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s); and

• Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.

This is a strict definition of disability. Social Security program rules assume that working families have access to other resources to provide support during periods of short-term disabilities, including workers’ compensation, insurance, savings and investments.

The amount of your monthly disability benefit is based on your lifetime average earnings covered by Social Security.

To qualify for Social Security disability benefits, you must first have worked in jobs covered by Social Security. Then you must have a medical condition that meets Social Security’s definition of disability. In general, it pays monthly cash benefits to people who are unable to work for a year or more because of a disability.

Benefits usually continue until a person is able to work again on a regular basis. There are also a number of special rules, called “work incentives,” that provide continued benefits and health care coverage to help you make the transition back to work.

If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits when you reach full retirement age, your disability benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits, but the amount remains the same.

BJC CEO elected to Institute of Medicine

BJC HealthCare President & CEO Steven Lipstein is among 70 new members and 10 foreign associates elected to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2014. Election to the IOM is considered among the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

“It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome our esteemed colleagues to the Institute of Medicine,” said IOM President Victor J. Dzau. “These leaders’ tremendous achievements have contributed significantly to advancing health and medicine. The expertise and knowledge they bring to the IOM will encourage and enhance its success.”

New members are elected by current active members through a selective process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health.

Lipstein has served as BJC HealthCare President and CEO since 1999. He is active in local, state and federal health policy issues, serving as vice chair of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and a member of the St. Louis Regional Health Commission.

“I am humbled by this recognition and look forward to serving with my fellow IOM colleagues to advance the Institute’s work, increasing our knowledge and understanding of how best to improve human health” Lipstein said. “The ability to learn from other leaders, help shape public policy and apply those learnings and policies to our region is a wonderful opportunity.”

Steve Lipstein, president & CEO of BJC HealthCare

Thurs. Nov. 6, 6-7 p.m. “You Don’t Have to Live with Chronic Pain” Lecture at Northwest HealthCare Community Room, 1225 Graham Rd. Florissant, Mo. Speaker is Dr. Chris Beuer, medical director, Christian Hospital Pain Management Center. Register by calling 314-747-9355.

Sat. Nov. 8, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Christian Hospital Diabetes Health Fair, Detrick Building Atrium, 11133 Dunn Rd. Free glucose screening, and education on the dangers of diabetes. Persons with elevated glucose, or prediabetes, are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Register by calling 314-747-9355 or 877-747-9355.

Mon. Nov. 10, 6 p.m., St. Louis College of Pharmacy Sesquicentennial Gala, Starlight Room at the Chase Park Plaza. For more information, call 314-446-8349 or visit www.stlcop.edu/150

Tues. Nov. 11 -Dec. 16, 9:30 a.m. –11:00 a.m., Dancing for Birth Prenatal fitness class, Mercy Hospital St. Louis. $36 for six-weeks. For more information, call 314-961-2229 or register at http:// tinyurl.com/q5plqlu.

Sat. Nov. 15, 8:30a.m. – 10:00 a.m., 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., SSM DePaul Stroke Screening and Seminar, May Center, 12303 DePaul Drive. Screenings are $20 and by appointment. Screenings are most appropriate for those ages 50+, as well as those with a family history of stroke or who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or arterial fibrillation. Register by calling 1-866-SSM-DOCS (1-866-776-3627) or register online at ssmhealth.com/neuro.

Sat. Nov. 15, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Free Electrocardiogram (EKG) Screening, by Health Protection and Education Service at University City Library, 6701 Delmar Blvd., 63130. Doctor consultations and free lunch for all screening participants. Depending on screening results, follow-up appointments are referred to People’s Health Centers. For more information, call 314-448-7373.

Sat. Nov. 15, 6 p.m., CHIPS Health and Wellness Center Night at the Savoy Benefit Gala and Charity Auction, Hilton St. Louis Frontenac. Music by Theo Peoples; attire is AfterFive or Roaring 20s. For more information, call 314-652-9231 or visit www. chipsstl.org.

Sat., Nov. 15, 6 p.m., AAFA 10th Annual Trivia Night at JCC Chesterfield, 16801 Baxter Rd, Chesterfield, Missouri. For more information, call 314-645-2422 or visit aafastl.org/trivia.

Tues., Nov. 18, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., SSM Mental Health Symposium at SSM St. Mary’s Health Center, 6420 Clayton Road, Richmond Heights, Mo. Local and national expertise include keynote speaker Susan Dreyfus, president and CEO of the Alliance for Children and Families, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The cost of registration is $25 and CEUs will be provided and are payable the day of the event. For more information, contact Heather Rich at hrich@providentstl.org To register, go to www.providentstl.org.

Wed., Nov. 19, 5 p.m. Provident’s Annual Dinner, Windows on Washington, 1601 Washington Blvd. St. Louis, 63103. No cost to attend; donations encouraged as all proceeds benefit Provident’s mental health services. RSVP to Maggie Bauer at 314-802-2581 or email mbauer@provident.org.

Fri. Dec. 2, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Blood Drive at Christian Hospital, Detrick Building Atrium. Register by emailing slm9123@bjc.org or using the sponsor code “christian hospital” at www.redcrossblood.org.

Fri., Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m., Brain Works: Your Mind on Life, The Sheldon Concert Hall by Barnes-Jewish Hospital/ Washington University in St. Louis; tickets $17.50. For more information, visit Metrotix.com.

Wed. Dec. 17, 12 Noon – 4 p.m., Northwest HealthCare Blood Drive, Entrance A, Community Room (lower level), 1225 Graham Rd. Register by emailing mlm7458@bjc.org or using the sponsor code “northwesthealthcare” at www.redcrossblood.org.

Sundays, 10 a.m. – Alcoholics Anonymous Group 109 meets in the 11th floor conference room at Christian Hospital, 11133 Dunn Road at I-270/ Hwy. 367. This is an open meeting for alcoholics, drug addicts and their family and friends.

Mondays, 7 p.m. – “Tobacco Free for Life” support group – free weekly meetings at St. Peters Mo. City Hall. Supported by SSM Cancer Care; RSVP initial participation to 636-947-5304.

Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Alcohol and Drug Informational meeting, Christian Hospital, Professional Office Building 2, Suite 401. For information, call 314-839-3171.

Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. –STEPS Schizophrenia Support Group This nationally recognized program provides education and support for those with schizophrenia. Group is facilitated by an experienced STEPS nurse. For more information, call 314-839-3171.

African Americans are critical to helping fight ALS

By Janel Johnson

By now, we have all probably seen the Ice Bucket Challenge. It is wonderful that people from all walks of life come together to use social media for such good. The unity and generosity of hundreds of thousands of participants from different backgrounds has done even more than lead to donations of tens of millions of dollars to non-profit organizations in the name of ALS, it has raised awareness of this devastating condition.

Many people now know about ALS – amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a devastating condition in which patients develop progressive muscle weakness leading to paralysis and death by respiratory failure, typically within two-three years of the first symptoms. The urgency of finding a cure is nationally recognized. How do researchers intend to cure ALS? One of the first steps is to figure out what genes are damaged and lead to the disease. To find these genes, scien-

tists are comparing the DNA of people with the disease to the DNA of people who do not have it. After genes are identified, the hope is that therapies will be developed to target what is damaged. In several diseases, it has already been shown that some people will respond better to one treatment over others because of the DNA they carry.

Janel Johnson

A troubling fact is that African Americans do not often volunteer for genetics research studies. As an African American and an ALS researcher at the National Institutes of Health, I rarely receive and study DNA from African Americans. Without African-American DNA in research studies, it is unclear how often we get ALS. That, frighteningly, has the potential to leave African Americans out of the equation when effective treatments for the disease are developed. It also hinders us scientists from learning every-

Asthma

Free asthma and allergy clinic by Saint Louis University students at the HRC, every other Wednesday afternoon 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. by appointment with SLU physician Dr. Raymond Slavin. The clinic offers allergy skin tests, pulmonary function tests and asthma and allergy education. It is located in the Victor Roberts Building, 1408 N. Kingshighway, between Martin Luther King Drive and Page Blvd. For more information, call 314-720-1522.

Behavioral

Christian Hospital offers free and confidential psychiatric and chemical dependency evaluations at the Christian Hospital Center for Mental Health. For more information, call 314-839-3171.

Christian Hospital Key Program offers support and education to patients with chronic mental illness to prevent increased severity of symptoms and to reduce the need for inpatient re-hospitalization. Call confidentially to 314-8393171 or 1-800-447-4301.

Crime Victim Advocacy Center provides no cost support for persons affected by criminal acts. Email peggy@supportvictims.org, visit or call the 24-hour hotline 314-OK-BE-MAD (652-3673) or visit www.supportvictims.org.

Bike helmet safety

The St. Louis County Health

thing about the disease regardless of ethnicity. We need comprehensive information about DNA from all backgrounds to know more precisely how the disease works.

So, what can African Americans do to help take us toward a cure for ALS? Here are a few steps to consider:

1) Enroll in a genetics research study if you are suffering from ALS or a disease like ALS. Donating DNA is quick and simple. It can be a blood donation. If you are scared of needles, you can donate saliva.

2) If you are not suffering from ALS, educate yourself about the disease so that you can disseminate the information to help others make informed decisions about study enrollment.

3) Volunteer with non-profit organizations on outreach initiatives.

HealtH ResouRces

Department provides free bicycle helmets to St. Louis County residents between ages 1 and 17 by appointment only. Proof of residency is required. For the location nearest you, visit www. tinyurl.freebikehelmets.

Breast Cancer

Gateway to Hope offers no-charge medical and reconstructive treatment for uninsured breast cancer patients in Missouri. Contact 314-569-1113.

Dental

Free Dental Hygiene Clinic - No charge dental exams, x-rays, cleanings and other dental services for children and adults provided by dental students at Missouri College. Patients needing more extensive dental work (fillings, crowns, etc.) will be referred to local dentists. For information, call 314-768-7899.

Diabetes

CHIPS Diabetes Support Group is open to anyone and meets on Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. For more information, call 314-652-9231.

SSM St. Mary’s Health Center provides free, Diabetes Support Group sessions the second Tuesday of every month from 6 – 7 p.m. to address health management issues. It’s located at Meeting Room 1 on the second floor, 6420 Clayton Rd. in St. Louis. To register, call toll free 866-SSM-DOCS (866-7763627).

The last several months have shown that the spread of information and action can allow us to bond as human beings and have a profound impact on others. The ALS community is grateful to have seen a range of people—from our sisters and brothers, to our neighbors, to athletes like Lebron James, entertainers such as Lady Gaga, and political leaders such as President George W. Bush, take up the Ice Bucket Challenge and take notice of ALS.

I’m now challenging African Americans to help us continue on the path to a cure by doing what it takes to make sure we are included in genetics study of ALS. My research team is conducting a study. If you or a family member are affected with ALS or a related disorder, we hope to hear from you. You can e-mail us at cc100h@nih.gov to find out more.

Janel Johnson, Ph.D. Laboratory of Neurogenetics National Institute on Aging National Institutes of Health

Fresh Food Coop

Community Helpings Coop sells fresh fruits, vegetables and other foods at wholesale prices in locations throughout the St. Louis area and Metro-East. For more information, visit www.communityhelpingscoop.com.

Health Partnerships

The Center for Community Health and Partnerships: Building Bridges for Healthy Communities works to develop and support beneficial community-academic partnerships to address the health needs of the St. Louis. For more information, email publichealth@wustl.edu; phone 314-747-9212 or visit publichealth. wustl.edu.

Information

Missouri 2-1-1 offers referral and information on a wide range of social service and helpful resources. Call 2-1-1.

Lupus

A Lupus Support Group in North St. Louis County meets the third Thursday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Community Room #1 at Northwest Health Care, 1225 Graham Rd. in Hazelwood. RSVP to the Lupus Foundation of America at 314-644-2222 or email info@lfaheartland.org.

Medical CHIPS Health & Wellness Center offers no cost medical, dental, psychiatric, chiropractic health care for uninsured

children and adults by appointment only. $25 annual fee requested. For more information, call 314-652-9231 or visit www.chipsstl.org.

Boys & Girls Clubs Dental & Vision Clinic at Herbert Hoover Club, 2901 N. Grand, St. Louis. Open yearround for members at no additional fee by appointment only. Teeth cleaning, braces, x-rays, root canals, some extractions; vision mobile unit, comprehensive exam and glasses, if required. Make an appointment by calling 314355-8122.

Salam Free Saturday Clinic, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Isom Community Center at Lane Tabernacle CME Church, 916 N. Newstead, St. Louis, Mo. for those who are uninsured. For more information, call 314-533-0534.

Nutrition

Food Outreach provides food, meals and nutritional education/ counseling to eligible persons living with HIV/ AIDS or cancer in St. Louis. For more information, call 314-652-3663 or visit www.foodoutreach.org.

St. Louis Milk Depot - SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital is a breast milk depot for the Indiana Mother’s Milk Bank. Milk Depot staff will store and ship your milk to IMMB. For more information, call (314) 242-5912.

Macy’s, AHA offer Go Red Multicultural Scholarships

Macy’s and the American Heart Association are continuing their concerted efforts to increase the number of minority women in medical schools through the Go Red™ Multicultural Scholarship Fund.

For the fourth consecutive year, the partners are offering sixteen $2,500 tuition-focused scholarships for minority women pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in healthcare fields. The deadline to apply for 2015 scholarships is Dec. 31, 2014.

The Go Red Multicultural Scholarship is made possible by the Macy’s Multicultural Fund, created in 2009 to focus on increasing diversity in the medical field. Macy’s is a founding national

sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women and Go Red Por Tu Corazón, raising more than $48 million since 2004.

“Each year, these scholarships help to support multicultural women pursuing their education in the healthcare industry, which benefit not only the students, but also the communities they will serve,” said William Hawthorne, Macy’s, Inc. seniorvice president Diversity Strategies.

Studies show that patients who receive culturally-sensitive care from doctors

of the same background are more satisfied and engaged in their treatment.

African-Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans comprise more than 26 percent of the U.S. population, yet they represent just 6 percent of practicing physicians, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Additionally, of the 17,364 medical school graduates in 2011, 719 were black women (4.1 percent); 659 were Hispanic women (3.8 percent); and 1,918 were

Asian women (11 percent).

The disparity also exists among U.S. medical school faculty, where 2.9 percent are African American, 4 percent are Hispanic , 13 percent are Asian and 60 percent are Caucasian. The gap is even greater among higher-ranking faculty, according to the AAMC.

Breaking cultural and language barriers are crucial because AfricanAmericans, Hispanics and other ethnic groups are at higher risk for heart disease and experience worse health outcomes than Caucasians.

For more information about the scholarship and to complete an application, visit Go Red For Women at http://tinyurl. com/my7owxu.

Healthy living. Less cancer.

Cancer is a complex disease. Your risk of developing cancer isn’t based only on genetics or family history (although they do play a role). The things we do every day affect our risk of developing cancer. Wondering how much lifestyle affects cancer risk? Research shows that half of all cancer today could be prevented by not smoking, reducing obesity and maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, and being physically active.

The Norfolk family decided to act on this knowledge. They incorporate cancer prevention

strategies into their everyday lives. They eat a healthy diet (choosing fish instead of red meat), stay physically active (family walks around the neighborhood), they don’t smoke, and they’ve talked with their doctors about when to start important cancer screening tests.

The Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities – called PECaD for short – wants to empower you and your family to make important changes in your life that will lower your cancer risk. In addition to doing community talks and participating in St. Louis area health fairs, PECaD has many online resources (listed below) to help you learn about the 8ight Ways to Stay Healthy and Pre-

vent Cancer and tips for starting. Or use mailing address below to request printed information.

No one likes to think about getting cancer. But thinking about preventing cancer could save a life.

To learn more about cancer screening and prevention, visit: PECaD: http://www.siteman.wustl. edu/pecad.aspx

Cancer Screening Guidelines: http:// www.siteman.wustl.edu/ContentPage. aspx?id=4535&content=165

8 Ways to Stay Healthy and Prevent Cancer: http://www.8ways.wustl.edu

The Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities (PECaD) at the Siteman Cancer Center is working to eliminate local and regional disparities in cancer education, prevention and treatment through community outreach, research and training. To learn more about cancer or to get involved with PECaD, call 314747-4611, email PECaD@wudosis.wustl.edu or write to us at SCC-PECaD, Campus Box 8100, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110. Look for future articles in Health Matters.

Position/Where:

Kelley M. Humphries, DC, MS, LP

Fellow, Human Performance Center at Logan University

Career Highlights:

My career highlights include authoring several articles that have appeared in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine and Topics in Integrative Health Care, and presenting at the 2013 American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians’ Chiropractic Sports Symposium, where I focused on topics ranging from lower cervical spine manipulation impact on basketball performance to women in sports chiropractic. This year, I also worked at the United States Olympic Committee and was the first chiropractic student to work in the Sports Medicine Clinic under the direction of Dustin Nabhan, DC, DACBSP, CSCS.

Awards:

Outstanding Graduate Student – Exercise and Human Performance – University of Houston, Clearlake International Federation of Sports Chiropractic (FICS) Student Scholarship – FICS

Keller Award – Texas Chiropractic College

Several clinic, service and research scholarships - Texas Chiropractic College

Full athletic/academic scholarship from Texas Women’s University

Future Champion of Chiropractic – F4CP National Campaign Omega Psi – Texas Chiropractic College

Hyde Research Award – ACA Sports Council McNair Research Scholar; Honors Program Graduate – Texas Woman’s University

JoKuhn Leadership Award – Texas Woman’s University

Arthur Ashe Award, 1st and 2nd Team Honors – Texas

Woman’s University

ESPN The Magazine, 2nd Team Honors – Texas Woman’s University

Lone Star Conference, 1st Team All Academic Honors– Texas Woman’s University

Education:

May 2007, Bachelors of Science, Biology, Minors in Chemistry and Kinesiology, Texas Women’s University - Denton, Texas

Personal:

I have a wonderful family in my home state of Texas. My mother and father have made me the woman I am today. My three brothers are my support system. My sister-in-law is truly my sister and one of the greatest friends a person can have. My niece and nephew run me and are the light of my life. To know me is to know my family. They are everything to me and I owe my success and happiness to them.

April 2014, Doctor of Chiropractic, Texas Chiropractic College - Pasadena, Texas

August - May, 2014, Current University of Houston, Clear Lake - Clear Lake, Texas Master of Science, Fitness and Human Performance, Current University of Houston, Clear Lake - Clear Lake, Texas

May 2010, Emergency Medical Technician-Basic Licensed Paramedic, University of Texas San Antonio Health Science Center, San Antonio and Temple Community College, Temple – Texas

May 2008, Master of Science, Kinesiology (concentration on physical activity/sport in special populations), Texas Women’s University - Denton, Texas

St. Louis Connection:

In May 2014, I began a three-year fellowship at Logan University’s Human Performance Center.

Your journey to success:

Ten years ago, I had every intention of becoming an orthopedic surgeon, given my strong interest in medicine and human performance. But through an incredible journey to discovering a passion for chiropractic and sports medicine, that would all change. As a woman’s NCAA Division II basketball team captain, I was certain of one thing: my future career would have to involve my love of sports, the human body and athletic training.

During my time working in the 9-11 system as an EMT, I started learning about chiropractic. One of the surgeons I was shadowing suggested I should look into physical therapy, but it felt limiting to me. Chiropractic came up and sparked some interest. I headed to Austin, Texas, where I shadowed a chiropractor working with professional athletes, and immersed myself in the practice, absorbing as much information as I could. That is when it all really clicked in my brain – this is what I need to be doing. Chiropractic married my passion for kinesiology, sports, exercise physiology and medicine into one profession.

An opportunity to participate in an internship with Dr. James Kurtz, DC, chiropractor to the Seattle Seahawks, took me to the west coast during the 2014 NFL Playoffs, where I worked in a strong sports focused practice and loved every minute of it. Subsequently, that experience led me to an internship at the U.S. Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, watching and learning at the sports medicine clinic during the Sochi Winter Paralympic Games. As I began researching residencies that would allow more clinical experience in chiropractic, as well as an interest in sports medicine, I stumbled upon Logan.

Today, as a fellow at the Human Performance Center, I am responsible for clinical duties and managing the clinic floor, the interns and their education path. I am also involved in helping with community outreach initiatives, working with high schools in the area and providing support locally. I love treating patients, working together to relieve pain and improve their wellness. It gives me true joy. I also love teaching, spending time with interns, instructing techniques and watching them grow in their abilities. One thing I know for sure is that I will always work at the forefront of human performance – that is my future.