The St. Louis American: August 4, 2016 by St. Louis American

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CAC Audited AUGUST 4 – 10, 2016

Kimberly Gardner was congratulated by supporters at her election results watch party at Exodus Gallery after winning the Democratic primary for St. Louis circuit attorney on Tuesday, August 2.

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Political EYE puts into context the victory of Rochelle Walton Gray over entrenched incumbent Mike O’Mara.

See page A10

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Vol. 88 No. 17 COMPLIMENTARY

Gardner will be city’s first black circuit attorney Beats candidate endorsed by Joyce by nearly 10K votes By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

n “This is about building trust. This is about doing things differently.”

Kimberly Gardner will soon become St. Louis city’s first black circuit attorney. With 46.6 percent of the vote, Gardner won handedly in the four-way Democratic primary race for circuit attorney,

– Kimberly Gardner

beating her nearest challenger by nearly 10,000 votes, according to unofficial final

results. She will run unopposed in the November general election.

Her making history as an African American was not, however, what she emphasized. “This is about building trust,” Gardner said at her watch party, held at the Exodus Gallery, 5075 Delmar Blvd. “This is about doing things

See GARDNER, A6

News Analysis

Primary results show winds of change First black circuit attorney in city, new balance of power on County Council By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

Voting with granny

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Isabella Carute, 4, joined her grandmother Clara Jackson when she went to vote in the primary election at Nance Elementary School in St. Louis on Tuesday, August 2.

The August 2 primary election in Missouri brought a mix of change and status quo, with new alliances having at least partial success, hinting at more change ahead in future election cycles. In the City of St. Louis, the criminal justice infrastructure was changed by voters overnight with the Democratic primary victory of Kimberly Gardner, who will be the city’s first black circuit attorney – no one filed for the office for another party. She will be the first new circuit attorney since the beginning of the century, as she will replace Jennifer Joyce (who took office in 2000) after defeating Mary Pat Carl, who had Joyce’s endorsement, by a 2:1 margin – with two other opponents in the race.

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American Fox 2 St. Louis has fired reporter Bobby Hughes after he made a sick joke on Facebook about Michael Brown Jr.’s mother and her son’s shooting death. On Monday, July 29, Fox 2 spokeswoman Suzi Mahe confirmed unofficial reports, which The St. Louis American received earlier from employees, that Hughes was “no longer employed at the

n “It’s become a safety issue with our crews on the street, as we have seen threats against the crews posted in all sorts of social media,” one black employee at Fox 2 told The American.

See PRIMARY, A6

New superintendent makes intros to corporate and community partners By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American New Jennings Schools Superintendent Art McCoy peeked out the school-bus window on Monday, August 1, clearly enjoying himself. “I’m going to show you the house I grew up in,” McCoy said to the bus full of 30 new district teachers and staff. “My mother was so proud because we were one of the

station.” Sources said that station General Manager Spencer Koch met on Friday, July 29 with several black employees, who expressed their concerns about Hughes’ post and the impact it’s had on the See HUGHES, A7

In St. Louis County, there is a new balance of power on the County Council after the Democratic primary victory of Rochelle Walton Gray in District 4, who crushed incumbent

New Jennings staff tour district

Fox 2 fires Bobby Hughes Black staff stood up after reporter posted sick Mike Brown joke

n In St. Louis County, there is a new balance of power on the County Council after the Democratic primary victory of Rochelle Walton Gray in District 4, who crushed incumbent Mike O’Mara by more than 4,000 votes.

Bobby Hughes

See JENNINGS, A7

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 - 10, 2016

Tim Norman responds to Miss Robbie’s Sweetie Pie’s lawsuit

location. Over the weekend, Tim spoke with The YBF to give his side of the story. “In this turn of events, unfortunately, outsiders appear to be misguiding and manipulating my mother to sell our family business,” Norman said. “It’s complicated, to say the least, as we have joint interest in various facets of the Sweetie Pie’s brand. I have to stay true to our brand and our business and Toya I truly hope this disagreement can be Wright settled between my mother and me.” “I have always, and will always, want what is best for my mother, our family, and our people,” Norman continued. “This is the risk of doing business with loved ones, and I am hopeful for swift resolution.”

Last week, Robbie Montgomery, owner of the St. Louis soul food staple Sweetie Pie’s and star of the OWN reality series “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s”, hit son and business partner Tim Norman with a lawsuit for trademark infringement after he opened his own eatery called TJ’s Sweetie Pie’s NOHO. In the lawsuit filed last week, Montgomery claims “the fact Big Tigger blasts Ed Hartwell over Defendant Norman is identified as Keshia Knight Pulliam divorce a member of Miss Robbie’s family on the Sweetie Pie’s Show, along Keshia Knight Pulliam’s with his position on the Show, ex-boyfriend Big Tigger slams further increases the potential of her estranged husband, Ed causing confusion in the market Hartwell, for requesting a place,” The Grio reported. DNA test on their unborn The restaurateur’s suit went child. on to claim TJ is damaging Last week, Ed her brand because of bad Hartwell abruptly filed eatery reviews in addition Tim for divorce from the to stealing money from the former child star and Norman Montgomery, AL restaurant

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demanded a paternity test for their unborn child, prompting rumors Knight Pulliam may have slipped back into a romance with Tigger. Tigger shut down those rumors – and denied that he was the father of Knight Pulliam’s baby – on his radio show this week and calls Hartwell out for his actions “I find it incredibly unfortunate that any man would desert his woman, his pregnant wife,” Tigger said. “Furthermore to do so behind her back while publicly questioning her character by asking for a paternity test to me is corny. That’s my opinion.”

Brothers of Toya Wright gunned down in New Orleans

The deaths of reality TV star Toya Wright’s two brothers have led to a flood of condolences on social media. Ryan “Rudy” Johnson and Josh Johnson were fatally shot shortly after midnight on Saturday in New Orleans. New Orleans police told CNN they were called to an area just north of the French Quarter and found two males with multiple gunshot wounds inside a car. The pair died at the scene, police said. Investigators said they have not determined a motive for the killings.

live

Wright, who is the ex-wife of rapper Lil Wayne, appeared on two BET series, “Tiny & Toya” and “Toya: A Family Affair.” On Sunday, Wright shared a photo of her slain brothers with the caption “Help me Lord. I will never understand this. #stoptheviolence #ineverfeltpainlikethisbefore #riptomybrothers #icantbelievethis #prayformyfamily.” Several fans and celebrities reached out to Wright via social media. Her former co-star, Tameka “Tiny” Harris and her husband, rapper T.I. were among them.

LeToya Luckett’s secretly married, publicly divorced Back in January, former Destiny’s Child member LeToya Luckett secretly married relationship coach Rob Hill Sr., though the rumors that circulated claimed the couple was engaged. They were, in fact, married in January, but according to several reports Luckett and Hill finalized their divorce in March – just two months after they tied the knot. There was no community property to divide and no children between them. Both have agreed not to speak or provide photos, videos or recordings regarding their divorce to media outlets or blogs. Sources: Essence.com, CNN.com, TheGrio. com, TheYBF.com

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 - 10, 2016

From pain to purpose ‘Mothers of The Movement’ share stories of hurt, hope and activism By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American Stacy Castile, uncle of Philando Castile, had a question. What should he be doing to heal the community and keep his nephew’s tragedy from being lost in the headlines? Philando Castile, 32, was shot multiple times by St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota on July 6. The aftermath of the shooting was livestreamed in a gut-wrenching Facebook Live video by Philando’s fiancée, Diamond Reynolds. He later succumbed to his injuries. Philando had lived in St. Louis, and Stacy is part of his surviving family here. He attended the Mothers of the Movement Town Hall Meeting on July 20 at Greater St. Mark Church in Dellwood, seeking guidance from women who knew his heartache all too well. He was overwhelmed with grief as he sought advice from Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton, Jordan Davis’ mother Lucy McBath, Michael Brown Jr.’s mother Lezley McSpadden and Oscar Grant’s mother Wanda Johnson. McSpadden motioned Stacy to the front of the church. He broke down as they embraced. “You can’t keep thinking about how he died,” McSpadden said. “You just can’t.”

The event was organized by the National Bar Association as part of its annual convention programming in St. Louis. “Your nephew did everything right – he didn’t do anything wrong,” said National Bar Association President Benjamin Crump, who also served as attorney for the families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown Jr. Stacy said he knew his nephew did everything right because that’s how he was raised. “I have three boys of my own, and I taught my boys not to run from the police and act accordingly – and that’s what we taught Philando,” Stacy said. “That’s why I don’t understand. Why did he shoot him?” He said that his heart went out to the families of Trayvon Martin and

Photo by J.A. Salaam

Lezley McSpadden, the mother of Michael Brown Jr., counseled Stacy Castile, the uncle of Philando Castile, at a Mothers of the Movement forum organized in St. Louis on July 20 by the National Bar Association.

following his nephew’s killing. “It’s still so hard, I’m fighting back tears right now,” Stacy said. “It was wonderful to catch up with Lezley and

n “I taught my boys not to run from the police and act accordingly – and that’s what we taught Philando. That’s why I don’t understand. Why did he shoot him?” – Stacy Castile

see all of these women – and find out what I need to do to make sure they don’t slide Philando under the rug.” Toni Taylor – mother of Cary Ball

Michael Brown Jr., in particular, as their tragedies unfolded – and even more so after experiencing the same loss and subsequent media sensation

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pain? How can I turn this pain into purpose?” She sobbed as the mothers did their best to offer her comfort. “The pain will always be there,” said Fulton. “You just have to surround yourself with positive people – with praying people – and get a good legal team.” McBath – whose 17-year-old son Jordan Davis was killed by a civilian after he refused to turn down his music – told Hood she needs to speak her son’s name. “You’ve got to keep your son’s name alive. That’s how you will get through this – by keeping his name alive,” McBath said. “This is still so new for you. Take your time. But when you are ready, stand up and speak out.”

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Editorial / Commentary ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 - 10, 2016

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues Democrats and ‘the narcissism Black Power vs. Black Lives Matter of minor differences’ We owe to Sigmund Freud the fascinating concept of “the narcissism of minor differences.” He used it to explain the peculiar fact that people who have the most in common tend to have the nastiest and most cruel fights with each other. Freud figured out that we can most deeply despise that which we can most fully understand – and, in human terms, that is people most like ourselves. Among other things, this explains why people are far more likely to be killed by someone they know. In political terms, it explains why primary fights can turn so nasty and leave such deep wounds that continue to hurt long after the party is supposed to band together to defeat the ostensibly common enemy in the other party. Admittedly, this way of thinking betrays a binary opposition – Democratic versus Republican – that is under a more serious challenge in 2016 than at any time in at least a generation. We understand that many Republicans are defecting from their party’s bombastic presidential nominee, Donald Trump, and many are siding with the Libertarian candidate. And, yes, we suspect that there are Bernie Sanders Democrats who oppose Hillary Clinton so fiercely they will vote for the Green Party candidate in November. We also are familiar with the argument that the general election for president will be decided by how many Republicans vote Libertarian compared to how many Democrats vote Green. It is our deep conviction that the binary opposition of Democratic versus Republican remains essential to the reality of our political process – even though the narcissism of minor differences has left many of us hating our fellow party-mates so much that we would, for example, risk seeing Trump elected president rather than vote for Clinton. However little

By Eric E. Vickers Guest columnist

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Hillary Clinton campaigning at the St. Louis Carpenters Apprenticeship School in Afton, Missouri on March 12.

we may love Clinton – or, for that matter, Chris Koster, the Missouri Democrats’ nominee for governor – we believe either a Democrat or a Republican is going to win every major office in 2016, and anyone who does not vote Democrat in any race is yielding advantage to the Republican in that race. That said, Missouri Democrats make a dangerous mistake if they assume that the majority of their party base is going to come to its collective senses about these simple facts between now and November 8 without a tremendous amount of hard work and deal-making on their part. The smoldering fury of Sanders voters – rightly infuriated by clear evidence that the supposedly neutral Democratic National Committee colluded to defeat their primary candidate – is only the most flagrant national example of bitter divides within the Democratic Party. Here in the St. Louis region – which provides examples of “the narcissism of minor differences” that go beyond anything Freud ever pondered – we have profound divisions between labor and African Americans,

two of the Democratic Party’s traditional bases. Of course, our racial divide, and how that plays out most tragically in confrontations between the police and black citizens, remains a flash point that every Democratic candidate needs to understand and address. Democrats have less than three months before they try to convince voters to keep a dangerously unbalanced man out of the White House, maintain a Democrat in the governor’s mansion (by defeating a Republican who sells mock permits to hunt other human beings if they are affiliated with ISIS) and possibly unseat a veteran incumbent Republican (who has been a terrible vote on issues of concern to African Americans) in the U.S. Senate. This has proven to be an extremely unconventional election season, and Democrats must not make their conventional gestures of paying lip service to the party’s base while tilting as far to the right as Republicans can bend them. If they want to win, now is the time for Democrats to be creative and collaborative to an unprecedented degree – now.

Commentary

Obama invites sane Republicans to cross the aisle Democrats have done a remarkable thing this week in Philadelphia: They framed this election as an epic struggle not just to continue the policies of President Obama but to renew the sunlit, optimistic Americanism of Ronald Reagan. In his valedictory speech on July 27, Obama quoted Reagan’s description of the country as a “shining city on a hill” and contrasted it with Donald Trump’s nightmare vision of “a divided crime scene.” Obama also used famous words from another Republican president, Theodore Roosevelt, to praise Hillary Clinton as someone “who is actually in the arena, ... who strives valiantly, who errs, ... but who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement.” When Clinton came onstage and the president embraced her in a bear hug, he was passing along not just his own legacy as a two-term Democratic president but that of the consequential Republican presidents who preceded him as well. It was an audacious thing to do in a venue where no one, except possibly some of the security guards, shared Reagan’s conservative philosophy. But it was smart politics, and it also reflected objective reality: Trump is an alien, aberrational, dangerous force in American politics and must never be allowed to wield the awesome powers of the presidency. The back-to-back conventions in Cleveland and Philadelphia could not have been more different. The Republican gathering looked

thrown-together and lacking in both star power and historical resonance, largely because so many GOP luminaries refused to have anything to do with crowning the usurper Trump; the entire Bush family stayed away, including the last two Republican presidents, as did the party’s two most recent nominees, John McCain and Mitt Romney. The assembled Republicans did come away unified in their determination to defeat Clinton. But the pessimism and anger in Cleveland were extreme, putting the GOP on record as asserting that the United States is in grave crisis, teetering on the edge of some fathomless abyss. By any Guest Columnist objective Eugene measure, this is absurd. Robinson But many Americans are anxious about jobs and the slow-growing economy, and about terrorism, immigration and demographic change. Trump won the nomination by exacerbating these fears and presenting an all-purpose solution: himself. An all-star lineup of DNC speakers systematically sought to reveal Trump as an ignorant windbag full of incoherent bluster. Leon Panetta, who was CIA director when U.S. operatives killed Osama bin Laden, said Trump is manifestly unqualified to be commander in chief. Vice President Joe Biden said that “no major party nominee has

ever known less or been less prepared.” Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who is one of the wealthiest men in the country, blasted Trump as a poor businessman and implored voters to choose “a sane, competent person” in Clinton. It fell to Obama to make the larger philosophical critique not just of Trump but of Trumpism. Obama said Trump presented “a deeply pessimistic vision of a country where we turn against each other and turn away from the rest of the world. There were no serious solutions to pressing problems, just the fanning of resentment and blame and anger and hate.” Obama said that Trump is “just offering slogans, and he’s offering fear,” but would lose the election because he underestimates Americans. “We are not a fragile people, we’re not a frightful people,” Obama said. “Our power doesn’t come from some selfdeclared savior promising that he alone can restore order as long as we do things his way.” The president promised that “anyone who threatens our values, whether fascists or communists or jihadists or homegrown demagogues, will always fail in the end.” It was a Reaganesque defense of American ideals – clearly designed to appeal not just to Democrats but to independents and moderate Republicans as well. The progressive wing of the party might not be thrilled with all the uncritical flag-waving. But the Gipper would not recognize – or be welcomed in – Trump’s GOP. It is smart to invite his admirers to cross the aisle.

“The Black Power Movement provided the energy and talent for black progress for 30 years. Whether you’re talking about affirmative action for higher education, minority participation in economics or the expansion of black political representation, they are products of the sea change in black political and social thinking during the ‘60s.” These insightful words were penned by Mike Jones in a recent commentary in The St. Louis American. In comparing the now of the Black Lives Matter movement with the then of the Black Power Movement, Jones – a respected intellect and holder for decades of various positions of power – went on to state: “But the generation that produced that effort is now old and tired. Worse, we didn’t prepare the next generation of leadership.” Being of the generation of the Black Power Movement, I was struck by Jones’ analysis, and thought even more about his words while viewing a picture in the St. Louis PostDispatch of a Black Lives Matter protest. Holding protest signs and linking hands to stop traffic were seven individuals, four white and three black. This, I thought, is the difference between now and then that will make a difference. The Black Power Movement was an unadulterated black movement. Whites did not chant “Black Power.” The movement was a rejection of

the integration idea that was the foundation of the Civil Rights Movement, a rejection of Martin Luther King Jr.’s strategy of non-violence, a rejection of the belief and imagery of Jesus being white, and a rejection of the name “Negro.” It was a movement wary of white involvement, with one black leader going so far as to say that the only white man he could trust was one who would shoot another white man. The Black Power Movement was almost necessarily a black narcissistic movement. It was a generation that found pride purely in being black Columnist – countering Eric E. American Vickers culture instilling that white represented good and black evil – as opposed to the pride of succeeding in breaking through the color barrier. King’s dream was of blacks and whites living together in harmony, while the mission of the Black Power Movement – which King rejected – was for blacks to grab control of power from whites to determine their own fate. Its anthem was “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud,” not “We Shall Overcome.” The Black Power Movement remains the most in-yourface-to-whites movement in American history, having

Letters to the Editor Fund early childhood education For too long, we’ve turned a blind eye to improving education and increasing opportunity across Missouri, especially when it comes to communities of color. It’s time we take actions to help our kids and grow our economy by prioritizing early childhood education. As the Ferguson Commission report found, investments in early childhood education reduce crime, end the cycle of poverty, and improve graduation rates. What’s more, these investments help grow the economy and save taxpayer dollars down the line. That’s why 330,000 Missourians came forward and signed petitions to get a long-overdue early childhood education funding measure on the ballot this November. The Early Childhood Health and Education Amendment is the only proposal to fund early childhood education. It would raise over $300 million a year in dedicated funding to go to early childhood education, and Jefferson City politicians would not be! able to get their hands on it or divert it to their own pet causes. Now, special interests led by the cheap cigarette companies want to disenfranchise the 330,000 Missourians and deny us the right to vote on this critical measure. They’re putting their own profit margins before Missouri kids and Missouri’s economic future. We can’t let these companies silence our voice and extinguish the best chance we have to finally fund early childhood education. I’m making my voice heard and I hope every Missourian joins me in supporting this critical initiative and ensuring that we have the right to vote on it. Emmett Coleman St. Louis

Republicans already lost The Republican Party is slowly grasping the reality that they have already lost the presidential election. I’m not saying that Trump isn’t

even gone to the extreme of advocating armed resistance. The Black Panther Party openly displayed weapons, and when two policemen were killed by blacks in Baton Rouge in 1972, the mayor warned other cities of a planned takeover of their governments. The brazenness of the movement left white America with little choice except to crush it. And by the mid ‘70s, the loudest voices of the Black Power Movement had either been murdered, incarcerated or forced to flee overseas. As the Black Power generation evolved from its revolutionary aim and fervor, it focused on capturing positions of power, like mayors and police chiefs, by organizing the black population into a voting bloc. This led to a quantum increase in the number of blacks in elected positions, which led to expanded economic opportunities for blacks. I’m not sure if I agree with Jones that the Black Power generation didn’t prepare the next generation of leadership, because I’m not sure how you prepare a generation to handle being discriminated against. Do you teach them the proverbial “The Talk” – which is to surrender to racism for the sake of security – or teach them that change requires the risk of defiance? Maybe the only thing the Black Power generation can prepare the Black Lives Matter generation for is what Jones notes: “This is lifetime work.”

All letters are edited for length and style.

going to win. I’m saying that Trump is not, never was, and never will be a Republican. The Republican voters chose a non-Republican over 16 other Republicans. And I think the Republican Party deserves it. The Republican Party have been in a downward spiral for decades. It had degraded to where candidates were just puppets of special interests and crazy billionaires. This time Republican chose to go with the crazy billionaire instead of the puppet, and I can’t say I blame them. In fact, as someone who votes Democrat as the lesser of two evils I find myself just a little bit envious. And isn’t that just more than a little bit sad. Marc Perkel Gilroy, CA

Reform medical licensing laws Imagine you got a nasty cut that needed stitches while you were vacationing in Florida.

The largest weekly newspaper in Missouri 70,000 copies - CAC Audited 100% Independently owned & operated Continuously published, without interruption since 1928

Would you be concerned that you wouldn’t be able to see a Missouri-licensed doctor? Probably not. Whether the doctor was based in Florida or some other state, most of us would be confident in the care we’d receive. Indeed, an M.D. from another state is trained pretty much the same way as an M.D. here. That’s why for the benefit of patients, Missouri should reform its medical licensing laws and allow more licensed, out-of-state doctors to serve Missouri patients without undue government interference. More doctors available to Missouri patients should mean greater access not only for some of our most underserved communities, but for all Missourians. I hope policymakers will consider pursuing this pro-market, propatient update to our laws. Patrick Ishmael Director of Government Accountability Show-Me Institute St. Louis

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 – 10, 2016

But Rasheen Aldridge and Megan Betts failed in their bid to unseat Rodney Hubbard Sr. and Penny Hubbard in their Ward 5 committee posts. Overall, the insurgents counted six committee wins (the others were Sara Johnson, Bryan Walsh, Madeline Buthold, Annie Rice and Wendy Campbell) – that is, six out of 56. In a surprising battle between two veterans of

elected politics, state Rep. Karla May defeated St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones as Ward 26 committeewoman by a decisive margin of 13 points. May got a late-minute push by Clay, and Jones – who was not contested in her reelection as treasurer – is now viewed in the political context of a looming election for an open mayoral seat. The mayor, elected next year, will have appointing

powers over the police commissioner, completing a total re-set of the criminal justice infrastructure in the city (not taking into account the judges in the city, who are appointed by the governor via the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan). Though it’s much less important than circuit attorney or police commissioner, there is a new sheriff in town: Vernon Betts will be the city’s

first new sheriff since 1989. (Though there was a onecandidate Republic primary for sheriff, no Democratic primary victor in the city has a meaningful challenge in the general election.) Betts, who is African-American, beat Joe Vaccaro, 23rd Ward alderman, by 12 points, even with two other black candidates in the race. Though largely a patronage office, the sheriff’s office looms large in the black community because its staff transports people mired in the criminal justice, and because longtime Sheriff James Murphy – whom Betts nearly beat four years ago – was so complacent when two black deputies complained after white deputies hung a noose in the workplace in 2006. Steve Roberts made sure that Kim Gardner leaving the state Legislature did not leave the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus without a single attorney elected to office. He decisively won a four-way race for House District 77. Another promising newcomer – Cora Faith Walker, a public health and policy advocate from Ferguson – won the primary in House District 74. Two Ferguson protestors who ran for office – one running low for state representative, the other running high for U.S. Senate – lost by very tight and gigantic margins, respectively. Bruce Franks lost to incumbent state Rep. Penny Hubbard in District 78 by less than 100 votes. It’s a narrow loss that Franks will challenge. Cori Bush – running against Jason Kander, who surprisingly has managed to outraise the incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Roy Blunt in some

Community organizer Kayla Reed, 26, worked on Gardner’s campaign in the 22nd Ward with the Organization for Black Struggle. She said Gardner’s win means that “St. Louis is at a place where people

matter more than campaign contributions.” Gardner won this race without the endorsements from any police union, unlike the two circuit attorneys before her, Reed said.

“She has been endorsed by neighborhood associations, wards and grassroots organizations,” Reed said. “It is a testament to people’s dedication to pushing for change in the community.” Mary Pat Carl, who garnered the endorsement from the St. Louis Police Officers Association, received 23.6 percent of the vote. Patrick Hamacher, who had the endorsement from the Ethical Society of Police, earned 16.5 percent of the vote. Both Carl and Hamacher currently work under Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, who was first elected in 2000 and chose not to run for re-election. Steve Harmon, son of former mayor and police chief Clarence Harmon, received 13.3 percent of the vote. City Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones, who ran unopposed on Tuesday, said she helped Gardner develop a campaign strategy, which closely mirrored her own from her 2012 race. Being a state representative previously

elected in the district, as Jones had been, Gardner had a 3,500vote head start on the other candidates, none of who have been elected, Jones said. In total, Gardner earned 19,560 votes. “The country is paying a lot of attention to circuit attorney races in light of what’s going on with police brutality cases and cases where unarmed citizens are being killed by police,” Jones said. “We told Kim that she has to establish trust as a major factor in this race. And she did that.” Gardner also had a bump from mega-donor George Soros, who funded a television ad in July. The ad described her plan to focus on mental health care for non-violent offenders, increase public accountability and crack down on gang violence. Soros’ Safety and Justice Committee donated $67,000. Young activist Nabeehah Azeez, who has a degree in criminal justice and has worked as a corrections and parole officer, said Gardner earned

PRIMARY Continued from A1 Mike O’Mara by more than 4,000 votes. North County now has an unprecedented degree of African-American representation on the council, as O’Mara was first elected in 2000 and succeeded his father in the seat. O’Mara’s loss is a blow to the dominion of North County labor in North County politics and to St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger’s influence on the County Council. With Hazel Erby already serving in District 1, after the general election St. Louis County will – for the first time – have two black council members. In other races, however, change candidates were defeated, sometimes by crushing margins. U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay – who was featured on an O’Mara campaign mailer – handily defeated a challenge from Maria Chappelle-Nadal, the term-limited state senator who emerged as a community activist in Ferguson and on nuclear waste issues. Clay more than doubled her vote total, beating her by more than 30,000 votes. North County Labor thus retained its congressional ally in District 1. In the city, an attempt to take over the Democratic Party at the cellular – committeeman and committeewoman – level had mixed results. Brian Wahby, once the gatekeeper for city Democrats and still highly connected in the party at the state and national levels, lost his Ward 7 committeeman post to Marty Murray by a 10- percentage-point margin.

GARDNER Continued from A1 differently. This is about working together, all of us.”

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Bruce Franks greeted Police Officer Devin Jackson at his election watch party at Yaqis on Cherokee Street on Tuesday, August 2. Franks very narrowly lost to incumbent state Rep. Penny Hubbard in unofficial results that will be challenged.

quarters – lost by 56 points or nearly 200,000 votes. Not far behind her was Chief Wana Dubie, who has a marijuana leaf tattooed on his face. With his name at the top of ballots in Missouri, the cannabis legalization advocate lightened the mood of many Missouri voters. Another progressive who lost on Tuesday was Jake Zimmerman. Currently St. Louis County assessor, he had The American’s endorsement, but lost the Democratic primary to attorney general Teresa Hensley, from the west side of the state, by a six-point margin. In the general election she will face Josh Hawley, who destroyed Kurt Schaefer in the Republican primary by nearly 200,000 votes. The American’s endorsed candidate fared better in the state treasurer’s race, where Judy Baker soundly defeated Pat Contreras by nearly 20 points. She faces one of the most difficult general election challenges in Eric Schmitt, a state senator from St. Louis County who had no Republican primary opponent. Elsewhere on the top of the ticket, there were sure wins in the Democratic primary and drama on the Republican ticket. Chris Koster will face Eric Greitens – whose campaigns ads posed him as hunting for human beings (affiliated with ISIS) with an assault rifle – for governor. Russ Carnahan – vanquished son of a Democratic political dynasty coming out of retirement – will face Mike Parson for lieutenant governor. And former newscaster Robin Smith will face a son of a Republican political dynasty, John (Jay) Ashcroft for secretary of state.

her support because she was looking at the underlying factors that contribute to crime. “If we don’t address drug addiction and mental health issues before we start criminalizing people, we are never going to get to a place where the criminal justice system is beneficial for all communities,” Azeez said. Gardner arrived at the watch party with U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, who retained his seat with 60.6 percent of vote against State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal’s 27.2 percent. “I have faith in Kim Gardner,” Clay said to the crowd of about 50. “This is the young person we need to change criminal justice in the community.” Gardner said the competition was tough. ”I just put my head down and worked to win this election,” Gardner said. “This win is for all of us – north, south, east and west.”

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 – 10, 2016

New Jennings School District Superintendent Art McCoy welcomed first-year staff during a one-day orientation on Monday, August 1 at Gore Elementary School. The teachers also took a short bus tour to be introduced to corporate and community partners in the district.

JENNINGS Continued from A1 second black families on this street.” McCoy replaced the district’s former superintendent Tiffany Anderson, who is now leading public schools in Topeka, Kansas. And though McCoy is new to the leadership position in Jennings, he proved to be a knowledgeable tour guide. The new teachers visited every district building, as well as its community partners, including Emerson and North County Community Development Corporation. Emerson staff talked to the group about their initiative to teach students about cyber security, and Yolanda Austin of North County Community Development spoke about providing wrap-around services to families. Although new middleschool science teacher Shanae Tancy grew up in Jennings, she learned some new things, such as how the district’s food pantry and foster home work. But she felt the tour was particularly beneficial to the teachers who are completely new to the district. “It gives them some insight into what the students could possibly go through and the things that the community goes through,” Tancy said. McCoy began his tour with a pop quiz. “Who knows what the average cost of a home is in Jennings School District?” he asked. A few teachers came close. The cost has gone up slightly to $32,000 per house, from $27,500 a few years ago. “That means that our tax base is very low,” said McCoy, who was previously the superintendent of FergusonFlorissant Schools. “We don’t

HUGHES Continued from A1 community. “It’s become a safety issue with our crews on the street, as we have seen threats against the crews posted in all sorts of social media,” one black employee told The American. “No one wants to go in a news vehicle or live truck with a big bull’s eye on it.” Some black employees are still demanding that Koch publicly apologize on air for Hughes’ conduct. Mahe said she could not say whether the apology will be issued. “If the right thing isn’t done, then we will go to all the news outlets with the true story of KTVI and the way minorities are treated,” one black employee said. Black employees of the station spoke to The American on condition of anonymity,

Photo by Wiley Price

have a lot of corporations in the district, and our homes aren’t expensive. But our goal is to not raise taxes for our families.” All of the district’s 2,500 children receive free and reduced school meals. Their families are also fairly transient. In November, the district opened the Hope House, which is a foster home for Jennings children. Currently there are six children living there, ages 5, 7, 9, 15, 17 and 18. “I have been a foster parent

fearing reprisal from management. In a July 22 Facebook post about Lezley McSpadden being invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention, Hughes

n Some black employees are still demanding that Koch publicly apologize on air for Hughes’ conduct. Mahe said she could not say whether the apology will be issued.

commented, “She’s going to talk about the new lead diet she’s endorsed. Five servings and you can lose 200 lbs in two years easily.” On July 26, the Ethical Society of Police, an organization that represents

n “Our tax base is very low. We don’t have a lot of corporations in the district, and our homes aren’t expensive.”

for 25 years,” said Pam Price, the Hope House foster mother. “The home has been a great blessing. We are able to help children in Jennings. We are able to help them stay on track so they don’t have to worry about a place to live.”

The bus went through Canfield Green Apartments, where Michael Brown Jr. was killed and the Ferguson protest movement erupted. Brown’s siblings currently attend Jennings Schools, McCoy told the group. The teachers

took a moment to reflect on how Brown’s death and the Ferguson unrest impacted their students. At Fairview Elementary, the principal is centered on traumainformed instruction, McCoy said, and the students practice yoga and breathing techniques – “being a mindful learner and the art of mindfulness,” McCoy said. “This school is leading the way at the elementary level and setting some of those standards.” Other schools are now also implementing these practices.

200 minority police officers, released a statement demanding that Hughes apologize to the community and Brown’s family for his remarks. “The reference to ‘lead,’ the loss of ‘200 lbs in two years’ and other words in this statement are a clear reference to Michael Brown being shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson in 2014,” according to the society’s statement. “The trivial manner in which Mr. Hughes refers to the brutal death of Michael Brown is disheartening.” Aja J. Williams, president of the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists (GSLABJ), said the organization was closely monitoring the situation. She said they also notified National Association of Black Journalists Vice President of Broadcast Dorothy Tucker and NABJ Vice President of Print Marlon Walker. “Our organization was ready

to intervene and intercede with letters, calls, a meeting or whatever support would be needed, as the post was

unethical, nonobjective and simply unnecessary,” Williams stated. “As president of our organization, I’m pleased to

– Jennings Superintendent Art McCoy

The group visited the district’s alternative school and the Norwood Country Club, where the district holds its prom. The group also made house visits to two district families. “It is essential for our new staff to know who is supporting us and what resources they have to support our students,” McCoy said. “We keep students first, and we meet the needs each family has in order to succeed and do their best every day.”

hear Fox 2/KTVI has taken action and sent a message that irresponsible and unethical behavior won’t be tolerated.”

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 - 10, 2016

Homeless people fed as part of protest Local activists target board bill as part of nationwide ‘Freedom Now’ actions By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American At 3:30 p.m., the heat-index in St. Louis was 108, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky to hide the scorching sun from the 200 protesters who gathered at the Old Courthouse steps on Thursday, July 21. “We are among 80 cities in over three countries that are participating in a National Day of Action ‘Freedom Now,’” said Activist Kayla Reed, as the crowd cheered. “The movement lives. It is growing.” The day of action called for national reform to the criminal justice system, and many cities tacked on local issues they felt needed to change. The activist group TribeX organized the courthouse action, which was themed “Let Them Eat Cake.” The action criticized a bill currently in front of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, which would force people to obtain a vendor’s license to feed the homeless. Alderman Jack Coatar’s Board Bill 66 proposes to add “dispensing and distributing”

to the activities that require a vending license on any public sidewalk, street, park or roadway in St. Louis. It would also limit vending to the hours between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. The bill says nothing about feeding the homeless, but activists who help the homeless downtown said they can read between the lines. “Alderman Jack Coatar would have you believe that feeding the homeless encourages them to congregate downtown,” Alisha Sonnier of TribeX said. “We counter that to say that the poverty and lack of resources to address critical needs is what drives and feeds homelessness.” As part of the action, the group handed out food and water to the homeless in the park near Soldiers’ Memorial. Cathy Daniels, a stalwart Ferguson protestor affectionately known as “Mama Cat,” put together the brownbag meals. Three generations of Daniels’ family have served in the U.S. Navy. “Do you realize how many

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

St. Louis activists offered food and water to homeless people in downtown St. Louis as part of a nationwide Freedom Now protest on July 21.

people out here have served this country?” Daniels said of the homeless. “If you want to holler ‘All Lives Matter,’ let’s take care all the lives that matter out here. Don’t make it a crime to take care of the people who walk this earth like I walk this earth.” Ironically, while protestors

were shutting down the intersection at Tucker Boulevard and Market Street, a group had gathered to celebrate young people who were leaving for bootcamp after enlisting in the U.S. Navy in the green space nearby. At one point, some of the activists walked over to the Navy’s event

holding up their signs and chanting. Activist Dhoruba Shakur openly carries a gun at his waist, just as many Minutemen were seen doing in Cleveland protests outside the Republican National Convention this week. One African-American Navy officer dressed in his white uniform calmly told Shakur and others that the protests were “going to take away from what these (Navy recruits) are doing.

They don’t have anything to do with that.” Several of the recruits and other officers at the event were black. Bishop Derrick Robinson responded, “Yes, they do as U.S. citizens. As African Americans, we have to live this every day. I can’t wake up and say, ‘I’m not going to be black today.’” The confrontation ended quickly and peacefully. No arrests were made during TribeX’s action. The courthouse protest was the second local action that day. A smaller protest took place earlier at noon on South Grand Avenue, starting in Ritz Park. At both actions, the crowds shut down streets by forming lines and holding up “Black Lives Matter” signs. “I think people need to know that our voices are going to stay heard,” said Nicole Gipson, who attended the sit-in on South Grand. “We are here to recognize lives that have been lost way too soon and way too violently because of the systemic oppression that a lot of black women and men feel. This is not acceptable, and something needs to change.” The sit-in lasted about an hour, and the group of about 30 people shut down South Grand Avenue twice. The second time, police appeared and asked the crowd to get out of the street. No arrests were made, and the police left before the action was finished.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 - 10, 2016

By Melanie Adams

History of the Missouri History Museum

The executive committee of the Missouri Historical Society in 1916: Nettie Beauregard, archivist; Walter B. Douglas, 2nd vice president; Eliza Ware, assistant librarian; William K. Bixby, 1st vice president; Stella M. Drumm, librarian. Photograph by Frank M. White, 1916. Missouri Historical Society.

It all began 150 years ago with the Missouri Historical Society In 1866, it was becoming increasingly apparent to long-time residents of St. Louis that the city’s history was disappearing into the mists of time. St. Louis was a city in the throes of great change. Recognizing the need to preserve whatever they reasonably could, a group of prominent men gathered together in the Old Courthouse on August 11, 1866 and formed the Missouri Historical Society. With an eye not simply focused on what was already old but also historically valuable for future generations, the Society reached out to the community for assistance in gathering its first collections. Historically important individuals were asked to contribute their reminiscences and photographers were encouraged to go forth and document those places that were disappearing from the landscape. These items became the core of our present collections. Like many fledgling organizations, MHS struggled to survive in its early years. A shrewd reorganization effort allowed the institution to continue but its true salvation came in the form of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition. A renewed interest in the city’s history and the benefit of a revenue surplus generated by the World’s Fair brought new life to MHS. By 1916, the Society was celebrating its fiftieth anniversary in its new home in the Jefferson Memorial Building which had opened to great fanfare three years earlier. In a period that stretched from the beginning of the First World War until the Vietnam Era, the Missouri Historical Society experienced a Golden Age. It was a period of great expansion both in terms of the importance of its collections and its professional leadership. In 1913, Nettie Beauregard assumed the role of full-time curator for the Society. Miss Nettie, as she is affectionately known at MHS, not only greatly expanded the Society’s holdings, but worked hard to secure some of our most historically

important collections. In 1946 the Society passed an important milestone by hiring its first full-time museum director. Under Charles Van Ravenswaay the museum’s collections expanded further but he also instituted the Education Department and expanded the institution’s publications realm. Van Ravenswaay was highly esteemed in the museum field and did much to boost the professional reputation of the Missouri History Museum. A lot happened during this 50-year period. The Missouri Historical Society could have floundered or remained a small dusty afterthought of the community, but under the guidance of these dedicated individuals and many others like them, the Missouri Historical Society matured and established a standard of pursuing museum best practices that continues to this day. The modern institution that we recognize today as the Missouri History Museum really began to materialize in the 1970s. During this period the museum field in general was working to standardize best practices for collections care while a renewed effort to protect and preserve American history was prompted by the 1976 American Bicentennial. In the 1980s progress came to the institution in two forms. The first was a successful campaign to construct a new gallery space beyond the confines of the Jefferson Memorial Building. The second breakthrough was the passage of Proposition H in 1987 which brought the Missouri Historical Society into the Zoo-Museum District. This publically supported boost allowed the Society to continue and expand its mission to explore the history of St. Louis like never before. In 1991, under the direction of Dr. Robert Archibald, the Society celebrated the opening of the Library and Research Center in the former United Hebrew Congregation Temple on Skinker Boulevard. This facility was a new milestone for the Society and provided for a whole new level of collections care. Nearly ten years later, the Emerson Center provided a much needed expansion of the Jefferson Memorial Building and replaced the Lionberger Gallery. The final product of all this development was a modern, nationally recognized museum and research institution which continues after one hundred and fifty years to preserve our region’s history while using those collections and resources to educate and fascinate the visiting public.

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 - 10, 2016

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Success has many fathers

The bus is coming – got any change? Life is all about timing – or, as a very smart politician told the EYE back in the day, “you gotta have change when the bus is coming.” On Tuesday, August 2, the proverbial bus stopped in the Democratic primary in St. Louis County’s 4th Council District, where Rochelle Walton Gray had the right change and boarded the bus to the County Council. Incumbent Mike O’Mara, stalwart advocate of the interests of North County Labor, is now walking home. A four-term state representative, Gray put an impressive whupping on four-term councilman O’Mara, garnering 61 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary, winning by nearly 4,000 votes. What makes this victory even more impressive is that numbers like hers are indicative of a new, multiracial political coalition that has decisively broken the political chokehold of North County Labor in the 4th District. But, to paraphrase the late Fred Williams, I know what happened, but what does it mean? First, the African-American community has representation on the County Council comparable to its percentage of the county population. What that means is the whole public policy agenda and conversation should change – not just for African Americans, but for average citizens of all ethnicities in St. Louis County. St. Louis County government has long been captive to narrow, organized special interests, whether that was large construction unions, large real estate developers (different sides of the same coin) or other commercial rent seekers. This is a historic opportunity to shrink that influence. Looking past the obvious fiveto-two white/black split, there are real substantive political differences. The council will now have two Republicans and five Democrats, but two of the five Democrats (Hazel Erby in District 1 being the other) are black, and at least one of the white Democrats (Sam Page in District 2) has aspirations for higher political office. In this kind of mix, all bets

are off, and coalitions on the council will change based on changing circumstances. Among other things, this new internal dynamic could have a major impact on the county executive’s race in two years. Incumbent St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger did not arrive as advertised by his advocates, such as the St. Louis PostDispatch, St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Robert McCulloch and U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay. Power players in the Missouri Democratic Party, which is more organized than usual in this presidential election year, have begun casting about for a consensus candidate to unseat him. Among other things power brokers miss about former county exec Charlie Dooley – the goat of dozens of Post stories and editorials recycling rumors about alleged corruption for which he was never investigated – is his willingness to cooperate with the City of St. Louis in substantial conversations about consolidating government services and generally cooperating, rather than competing, for the region’s strained resources. The real challenge for Erby and Gray will be whether they can organize a serious progressive political coalition in St. Louis County that will represent the needs of average working people in the First and Fourth Council Districts – and that represent the crucial margin of victory for Democrats running statewide. It will not be enough that they are competent elected officials. They now have the additional responsibility of becoming black progressive political leaders. It goes without saying that the bus is coming again in November, when Gray will run unopposed, but when Missouri’s top-ticket Democrats will badly need an energized black base to compete against a fairly rabid band of Republicans.

Activists defeated One thing this primary taught those who didn’t already know from bitter experience is that the energy of activism does not translate easily into

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Rochelle Walton Gray conferred with a supporter at an election watch party in North County as they waited for primary election results to roll in on Tuesday, August 2. Gray unseated incumbent Mike O’Mara in the 4th District of the St. Louis County Council.

electoral success. Most flagrantly, Maria ChappelleNadal – whose name went national through Ferguson protests, and then pivoted to regional fanfare by spotlighting nuclear waste issues – did not put even a dent in incumbent U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (who lent his grin and handshake to an O’Mara mailer against Gray). Political professionals noted a hint of Clay running scared when he, as a 16-year incumbent, enlisted President Barack Obama to endorse him in a contested primary. But Chappelle-Nadal, who was term-limited in the state Senate, never galvanized the donor and volunteer support that her public acclaim must have led her to expect. “We need volunteers!” she posted, day after day, on Facebook, leaving the impression that there was no “we” with her. Clay beat her by more than 30,000 votes. Indeed, Chappelle-Nadal was closer in vote total to perennial candidate Bill Haas, who did not get even 10,000 votes, than she was to Clay. A trio of Ferguson activists who went after the Hubbard hegemony in North St. Louis also lost their races, though two of those elections were close enough to steal – and we almost certainly will hear allegations that they were, in fact, stolen. Bruce Franks Jr. came within 84 (absentee) votes of unseating state Rep. Penny Hubbard in House District 78, and Rasheen Aldridge came within

52 (absentee) votes of beating her husband Rodney Hubbard Sr. in the 5th Ward committeeman race. (Megan Betts, with much less name recognition and media attention than Franks or Aldridge, was beat by Penny Hubbard fair and square in the 5th Ward committeewoman race, losing by nearly 200 votes.) Aldridge and Betts were part of a movement – partly funded by Chappelle-Nadal’s state campaign treasury, and mobilized by the Bernie Sanders experience as well as Ferguson – to take over St. Louis’ moribund Democratic Party at its lowest organized cell, the committee posts. They counted, in all, six victories out of 56 committee seats on August 2, not a dramatic number, but certainly a number the Democratic Party would crow about if it took that many legislative seats from Republicans. The biggest thud came from the dinosaur that is Brian Wahby hitting the turf. Wahby ran the city Dems in the salad days before campaign finance restrictions were lifted, when the state party wielded real power in its capacity to funnel donations to candidates. When the Hillary Clinton campaign came to town, Wahby swaggered up to the executive room at campaign events as if he still owned the place, and he remains a DNC delegate. Yet, he lost his Ward 7 committee post to Marty Murray by 10 percentage points.

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Clay promptly claimed credit for Kimberly Gardner’s sweeping victory in the St. Louis circuit attorney primary, where she nearly won a majority of votes in a four-way race that included a better-funded white opponent who was endorsed by the 16-year incumbent, Jennifer Joyce, who decided to tour the country with her spouse rather than run for reelection. Failure is a bastard, whereas success has many fathers, and many are taking credit for Gardner’s victory. Among other factors, she can thank the combative Republican primaries at the top of the ticket that kept city Republicans from taking Democratic primary ballots to vote for Mary Pat Carl, who may be a good prosecutor but was a lousy candidate.

Hail Stephanie Karr? Gardner will certainly bring change to the criminal justice system in the City of St. Louis, but don’t get too excited about change coming to St. Louis County courts. McCulloch is as entrenched as ever as St. Louis County prosecutor, and Stephanie Karr – Ferguson protestors coined the term “Karr-uption” before she was removed as Ferguson’s municipal prosecutor – has now been hailed by her peers as a beacon of “accomplishment, professionalism and ethical conduct.” Yes, on July 16 Karr was honored with the Lou Czech Award at the Missouri Municipal Attorney Association annual meeting in Osage Beach, Missouri. The award honors the memory of Lou Czech, a founder of the association, who served as city attorney in Berkeley from 1954 to 1994 and Hazelwood from 1970 to 1994. “Karr is an attorney with Curtis, Heinz, Garrett and O’Keefe,” the award releases stated. “She serves as city attorney for a number of municipalities in St. Louis County and presented seminars as a lecturer for the Missouri Municipal League, the Municipal League of Metro St. Louis and many other organizations representing local government officials.” As Thomas Harvey of ArchCity Defenders is fond of saying, the system is not broken. It is functioning precisely as it was designed to function. How else is Stephanie Karr recognized as a professional model to be awarded and emulated?

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN â&#x20AC;¢ AUGUST 4 - 10, 2016

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 – 10, 2016

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Your Family Doctor

Words of wisdom

Photo by Wiley Price

Roy and Oceola Smith of St. Louis had their home inspected for the presence of lead, then had its windows and other areas remediated to maintain a safe and healthy environment for their granddaughter Torrie.

Dread lead

Living in older dwelling? Get tested for lead exposure By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American The beautiful architecture and charm of older homes is one thing that we love about St. Louis. However, an invisible, odorless health hazard may be lurking with it that can cause irreversible developmental and learning problems in children. The hazard is lead, an ingredient in paints until it was banned in 1978, in plastics (where it is not banned - it softens and makes plastic flexible) in porcelain, crystal, pottery and n “You can’t manufactured items. look at a If you live in a home that was built child and prior to 1978, where say, ‘Ah, children and pregnant they are women live or visit acting out regularly, the home should be tested inside – they have and outside for lead. an elevated Melba Moore, director blood level.’ of health for the St. The best Louis Department of way is to get Health, urges parents a blood test.” and guardians to advocate for their children and have them tested – Melba annually for lead Moore, exposure. director “When you go of health, into the doctor, say, St. Louis ‘I want to a lead test.’ Department Moore said. “I just of Health want to know, or my home environment has changed, my child’s daycare provider has changed – whatever the circumstance is, we want to continually empower those parents to make that request.” Lead Safe St. Louis (www.leadsafestlouis.com) identifies the entire City as a high-risk area. Its site has a hotline number and you can request a free lead inspection. State law requires lead testing for children if you live in a high-risk zip code.

“That’s determined primarily by the age of the housing stock and other environmental factors, so every child in St. Louis city is required to be tested every year,” Steiner explained, “but there’s not a whole lot of an enforcement mechanism to that law.” Very young children can get lead exposure through normal hand-to-mouth activities in the household. Tots may eat chips of old paint cracking on windowsills and lead can be found in dust, antique toys and in toys imported to the U.S.

“There are other routes of exposure other than being in the home,” said Matt Steiner, epidemiologist with the St. Louis Department of Health. “There is daycare, there is school, there is grandma’s house – and so what we really want to see is every child tested every single year.” Children with lead poisoning can have a lower IQ, learning and behavior problems and health effects – central nervous system dam-

See LEAD, A13

Recently I attended a beautiful ceremony where incoming first year medical students are cloaked with their new white lab jackets signifying the beginning of their medical careers. Each student stands in front of an audience full of their fellow classmates, upper level students, family, friends, and medical school faculty and receive this symbolic piece of clothing for which they have dreamed for many years. All of their late night study sessions, MCAT tutorials and missed parties culminated in that moment when they donned the white coat. During this event, I was honored to be one of the faculty “cloakers.” As each student approached me, it was so refreshing Denise Hooks- to see that look of joy, Anderson, MD innocence, and excitement in their eyes. I could only imagine the many thoughts racing through their heads as the reality of their medical education was coming to fruition. As I was enjoying this sacred, annual tradition, I began to reflect upon what advice I would give to incoming students as they begin their medical odyssey. First Piece of Advice: Remember why you first wanted to be a doctor The first two years of medical school are by far the hardest. These years are filled with massive amounts of data being thrown at you at warped speeds. In addition, before you can even start your clinical years, you have to pass the first part of your boards, which is essentially a test comprised of information you are supposed to know and a host of other useless information, like the Krebs Cycle, that you will never need to care for patients. Because there is so little patient interaction during those didactic years, I vividly remember wanting to quit. However, through encouragement from faculty, family, and clergy I persevered and made it to the end. I wanted to help people be well, therefore I had to endure the process by remembering why I entered medical school in the first place. Second Piece of Advice: Patients are not doctors If you are ever in a room full of doctors and they start talking doctor talk, it sounds like a bunch of “mumbojumbo.” However, as health professionals, we cannot expect our patients to understand such lingo. It is our duty to treat them with the utmost respect and ensure their understanding of what is going on with their bodies. And just because they

See DOCTOR, A13

Very young children can get lead exposure through normal hand-to-mouth activities. Tots may eat chips of old paint cracking on windowsills and lead can be found in dust, antique toys and in toys imported to the U.S.

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

Your Health Matters is provided in partnership with

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MFH seeks applicants for board of directors Applications will be accepted until Monday August 8 at 5 p.m. for the Missouri Foundation for Health 2017 Board of Directors. The MFH Community Advisory Council identifies, screens, and nominates individuals to serve on the Board. Current Board members elect individuals from among the nominees. Terms expire for five members of its 15-member board each year. Persons

selected for the volunteer positions serve three years and are eligible to be re-nominated for a second three-year term. Applicants must be at least age 18 and live in St. Louis or within the 84 Missouri counties served by MFH. Among several qualifications, board members must have expertise, education, or experience in one or more of the following areas: provision of health care; asset manage-

ment and investment strategy; philanthropic administration or public health care. Applicants must complete their application and submit it along with a CV/resume by Monday, August 8, 2016. The CAC will review applicant responses and select candidates for personal interviews in early September. For more information and to download an application, visit http://bit.ly/2aulmzz.

These are some of the products of flour being recalled by General Mills.

Rare E.coli widens flour recall Do not to eat uncooked dough or batter made with raw flour General Mills has expanded its flour recall to add additional production dates from those announced in May. E.coli (several sub-types) was found in a small number of General Mills flour samples and some have been linked to new patient illnesses that fell outside of the previously recalled dates. Flour is a raw ingredient that is intended to be cooked or baked. No illnesses have come from properly baked items. In order for severe E. coli illness to occur from flour, the

company said all three of the following factors are present: 1. The flour a consumer is using has to contain the rare sub-types of E.coli that can make you sick. 2. The consumer has to eat raw dough, batter or other uncooked food made with the flour, or handle the raw dough and not wash their hands. 3. The consumer’s individual health characteristics will impact if they get sick and how severely. Some consumers have mild symptoms and others get very sick. It is not always known who will get

sick and who will not. Previously announced recalled flour production dates ranged from November 4, 2015 through December 4, 2015. The expansion includes select production dates through February 10, 2016. Consumers are asked to throw away any flour in their possession that is part of this recall. A full list of retail products included in the flour recall since May 31, 2016 can be found at www.generalmills.com/flour.

LEAD Continued from A12

Annual Health Literacy Summit receives support Health Literacy Missouri (HLM) received a $12,600 grant from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City (HCFGKC) to support the 7th annual Health Literacy Missouri Summit and the 3rd annual Health Literacy Kansas Summit. The combined events take place in Kansas City on Oct. 20-21 at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center. The grant will sponsor local health professionals to

take part in panel discussions and learn from state and national leaders in health literacy. Dr. Catina O’Leary, HLM president and CEO, said, “The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City has always been a health literacy leader, and this support underscores their commitment to clear communication in health care.” Pre-conference work-

shops will start at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20, and feature five in-depth training sessions where participants will build health literacy skills, such as plain language writing and health-literate design. The daylong summit on Friday Oct. 21 starts at 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and includes panel sessions and keynote speakers. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/29JRjYp.

DOCTOR

engaged in everything we do and say.

Continued from A12

Last Piece of Advice: Always show compassion Patients may not always remember how incredibly smart you were but they will remember how you treated them. They will remember if you genuinely displayed care and concern for them as a per-

son and not a disease. It is a privilege to practice medicine and I hope future generations of doctors never forget that.

do not have a medical degree, does not mean they are incapable of participating in the decision making surrounding their health. We, as their trusted health team, are responsible for ensuring they are fully

Denise HooksAnderson, M.D., is assistant professor at SLUCare Family Medicine. You may contact her at yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com

age, anemia, speech and hearing problems, kidney damage and slowed growth and development. Even more troubling, the effects of lead exposure cannot be reversed. “It causes learning disabilities, behavior problems – at very high levels of exposure, children can suffer from seizures, they can be in a coma, and even death,” Moore said. “And the other thing – you can’t look at a child and say, ‘ah, they are acting out – they have an elevated blood level.’ The best way is to get a blood test.” Steiner said in 2015, 11,674 children were tested for lead poisoning. Of that number, 998 children had lead in their blood that needed case management according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention benchmark of 5 micrograms per deciliter. However, no level of lead in the blood is safe. “Age 1 has really good, high testing rates – the child comes in for their 1 year appointment and the doctor does a lead test,” Steiner said. “Unfortunately, what we see in years that follow that is decreasing rates of testing.” He said if environmental conditions have not changed, some doctors might not test for lead. It is really important for children under the age of six to be tested very year, Steiner explained. “The reason for that is – that is the time that their brains are developing most rapidly and they are most susceptible.” “Even if your doctor or your provider or whomever doesn’t want to or doesn’t offer a lead test, you can always bring your child into the health department , get a free lead test,

Steiner added. “And you can get a free lead inspection from the building division.” Renters should also take advantage of lead testing for their children and for where they live. “Sometimes renters might feel that there might be some reprisal – we’ll interface with the landlord of the property,” Moore added. “We go in – we identify there is an issue, we interface with the property owner.” If a child has lead in their blood, the health department acts to help reduce lead levels. “We have nurses that will case manage the child, who retest them, help with dietary needs – to get more iron in their system, which reduces the lead levels,” Steiner added.” There is kind of a whole team that kicks into place.” For families living in apartments were lead is found, the city offers tenants education and cleaning supplies to assist. Moore said, “We’re not saying people don’t take care and don’t know how to do – we gave them extra tools to be able to do.” If you live in city of St. Louis and want your child tested for lead exposure, call Yvonne Franklin, RN at the St. Louis Health Department at 314-657-1515. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (cpsc.gov) recalls toys containing lead. Find some of the latest recalls at http://bit. ly/2ahTEet. The city Building Division tests the home structures for lead exposure. The inspections are free of charge where children under six or a pregnant woman live. Schedule a lead inspection in the city by calling 314-622-4800. If lead hazards are found, remediation services are available and some may qualify for financial assistance to get their homes remediated. More on that next week.

Your Health Matters is provided in partnership with

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UL grant to assist youth in justice system The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Inc. has been selected to receive a Red Nose Grant Award for $150,000 from the National Urban League. This grant serves 50 youth and young adults between the ages of 14-24 beginning now until the end of the year. The goal is to recruit young people involved with the justice system, but not convicted yet, and to provide case management, mentoring, educational interventions, occupational training and workforce activities instead of sentencing. For more information about the Urban Youth Empowerment Rise Program, please call (314) 6153650. (Left to right: National Urban League President Marc Morial, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Michael McMillan, Alderwoman Marlene Davis.)

Advocates say problems persist in County Family Court By Rachel Lippmann Of St. Louis Public Radio A U.S. Department of Justice report released last year raised concerns about how well St. Louis County protected the civil rights of kids in the juvenile justice system. “The Justice Department found reasonable cause to believe that the St. Louis Family Court fails to provide constitutionally required due process to juveniles appearing for delinquency proceedings,” said Vanita Gupta, the head of the Civil Rights division in July 2015 at a press conference announcing the findings of a 20-month investigation. “The Justice Department also found the court’s administration of juvenile justice discriminated against black children. They are less likely to be given diversion, more likely to be detained, and more likely to be committed to state custody than white children.”

Juvenile justice advocates say little has changed in those 12 months. Some judges are paying more attention to things like notice, or letting a child know about a court hearing, said Mae Quinn, the former head of the juvenile law clinic at Washington University who was recently named director of the new St. Louis office of the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center, a public interest law firm. “But in terms of the right to counsel, the number of lawyers over there, the issues around probable cause findings, it’s all still problematic,” Quinn said. The biggest problem, she said, is that nothing has been done to untangle the conflicts of interest that exist in the juvenile justice system. Across Missouri, the main actor in the system is a deputy juvenile officer (DJO). These people do everything from issue Miranda warnings to supervise

children whose cases are being handled informally. They are victim advocates, conducting investigations and recommending whether a child should be certified to stand trial as an adult. “DJOs have the authority to make arrests, but are likewise charged with protecting the interests of the children with whom they work,” the report said. “I think there is real pressure from the probation arm [the juvenile officers] to retain their role as a sort of third arm in the court system that has the power that it does,” Quinn said. “Until that role is changed, I think we’re going to be very limited in terms of the changes we can make.” A spokeswoman for Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, who represents the county, said negotiations are ongoing. The Department of Justice did not comment on the story. Reprinted with permission from news. stlpublicradio.org.

Governor Durbin? 2018 run on table for U.S. Senator from ESL “an exemplary record of public While all political eyes were service” and would be “uniquely glued to the pageantry of the qualified.” recent Democratic National Madigan is right. Durbin, an Convention, Illinois Democrats East St. Louis native, is the No.2 were concurrently focused on the question of who they would like to Democrat in the Senate, lives in Springfield, owns another home run against incumbent Republican in Chicago, has statewide name Governor Bruce Rauner in 2018. recognition, is extremely popular Despite talks of potential runs with labor unions and wouldn’t by former Governor Pat Quinn, have any problems fundraising. Illinois Attorney General Lisa The big question for Durbin Madigan and Chris Kennedy is one of legacy. He’s (son of the late Robert 71 years old, and F. Kennedy), the most being elected governor excitement was generated would be the crowning by rumors that U.S. achievement for an Senator Dick Durbin may already stellar career. It be pondering his own run could allow Durbin to be against Rauner, of whom remembered as having he has been particularly rescued his state from critical as of late. financial catastrophe, In recent months, James particularly given his Durbin has sharply Ingram close working relationship criticized Rauner for the with Speaker Madigan. state’s budget standoff, And since Durbin was recently saying, “When I go downstate, denied the top Democratic what I’m finding is that position in the Senate, following communities are being devastated the retirement of Senate Minority by the budget crisis.” He went Leader Harry Reid (that went even further in declaring that “I to U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer don’t see anything in (Rauner’s) of New York), it might be good turnaround agenda that will political timing for Durbin to help the economy of this state.” make such a bold move. In reference to unions, Durbin Senator Durbin has little else accused Rauner of having “a passion against labor unions, has a to prove at the Senate level, especially when he has the passion about lowering the wages opportunity to revive a state which of working people.” has been on political life support Sounds like campaign talking for the past several years. points to me or to anyone who And, on a personal note, I’d follows this sort of political love to see an East St. Louis posturing. However, Durbin very homeboy in the governor’s seat, adroitly dodged any declaration reaching back and impacting his of his intentions, in remarks to the hometown in a positive manner Chicago Tribune: “Well, all I can say is I’m focusing on my positive instead of East Boogie continuing to be the neglected stepchild of the responsibility that the voters gave state. me in the last election.” This is Durbin’s opportunity Durbin’s biggest cheerleader to achieve state hero status. If may be Illinois House Speaker not now, when? And if not Dick and Democratic Party of Illinois Durbin, who? Chairman Mike Madigan, who Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo. said he discussed the possibility com; Twitter@JamesTIngram. with Durbin and that Durbin has

Business

AUGUST 4 – 10, 2016

Regions opens St. Ann location

People On The Move Mark A. Styles Jr. was appointed circuit judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit in Jackson County by Gov. Jay Nixon. He had been deputy probate commissioner, where he presided Mark A. over the division’s Styles Jr. mental health docket, guardianship and conservatorship docket, and miscellaneous probate docket. He was one of three applicants submitted to the governor for consideration by the 16th Circuit Judicial Commission under the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan. Melva Pete is the new vice president of human resources at SAK Construction, one of the fastestgrowing pipeline rehabilitation and tunneling contractors in the U.S. Her responsibilities Melva include leading Pete and enhancing the company’s strategy and partnerships in all areas of human resources, with a focus on talent acquisition and retention, compensation and benefits, performance management, organizational development and employee relations.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Garry Conner and Janet Watson help staff the new Regions Bank facility at 10906 St. Charles Rock Rd., which replaced its 40-year-old St. Ann branch.

New North County branch offers Video Banking By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Ramonda Harris joined HOK as a project accountant in St. Louis. In her new role, she will work with the corporate accounting team and regional offices to maintain accurate and timely Ramonda accounting records. Harris Harris joins HOK from Corrigan Co., where she was an accounts payable manager. Prior to that she worked at TSi Geotechnical, Inc. and Metropolitan Build, Inc.

Regions Bank has opened a new facility at 10906 St. Charles Rock Rd. to replace its 40-year-old St. Ann branch. The branch serves St. Ann and neighboring areas in North St. Louis County. “This new location is a reflection of our commitment to the St. Louis region and the investments we are making to reach more people with a wide range of financial services,” said Mike Hart, Midwest area president for Regions Bank. The new branch is part of the redevelopment of the former Northwest Plaza shopping center, now called the Crossing at Northwest, said Keith Crissman, Midwest consumer banking executive for Regions. It is a full-service facility that isn’t just there to open accounts or cash checks, he said. “Rather, we build relationships with our customers, we find out what’s important to them, and we listen to what they want to accomplish financially,” Crissman said. Crissman said they believe the bank has a responsibility to address the issue of unbanked and underbanked populations in the region. African Americans make up the vast majority See REGIONS, B6

The St. Ann facility is one of the first Regions branches in St. Louis to offer Video Banking service.

Banking on catalytic change Midwest BankCentre goes beyond DOJ settlement to address racial disparities in lending By Alex Fennoy For The St. Louis American Access to banks and mortgage loans is an undeniable marker of community vitality. When banks fail to make loans in low- and moderateincome neighborhoods or in areas populated mostly by minorities, working people have a hard time building wealth, and neighborhoods lose the stability that widespread home ownership brings. A recent study by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition on mortgage originations from 2012-2014 in three Midwestern cities – St. Louis, Milwaukee and Minneapolis – calculated the numbers for what we see with our eyes as we travel the streets of St. Louis. While African Americans make up 18 percent of the metro St. Louis population, only four percent of all home purchase loans here were made to African-

Patrick R. Brown was appointed chief resilience officer for the City of St. Louis by Mayor Francis Slay. He will oversee the development and implementation of a comprehensive resilience strategy Patrick for the city in R. Brown responding to catastrophic events, as well as slow-moving disasters like aging infrastructure, homelessness and unemployment. This is the next step in the city’s membership in 100 Resilient Cities, pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation.

Americans in that span. In the same 2012-2014 period, Midwest BankCentre approved nearly 80 percent of all home purchase applications and nearly 70 percent of all home refinancing applications from majority-African-American census tracts in St. Louis city and county. Including home Alex improvement loans, our total Fennoy mortgage loan applications in that span totaled 677. That was a dramatic change from 2009-11, when we took fewer than 65 applications in those same census tracts. We made a sober decision to embark on changing past patterns in ways that were sustainable and would jointly help our local community, our customers, our employees and

n We made a sober decision to embark on changing past patterns in ways that were sustainable and would jointly help our local community, our customers, our employees and our shareholders.

our shareholders. We fully acknowledge that the impetus for this action was our discussion with regulators and ultimate agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) beginning in 2011. Any business entering into a government agreement has two choices: 1) do the bare See MIDWEST, B2

Troy Doyle is the new president of St. Louis Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). He is a lieutenant colonel in Troy the St. Louis County Doyle Police Department and founder of the St. Louis County Police Department Police Athletic League. NOBLE’s mission is to ensure equity in the administration of justice and in the provision of public service to all communities, and to serve as the conscience of law enforcement. Julia Allen joined Crown Center for Senior Living in the position of social service coordinator. Her responsibilities include providing information, referrals, advocacy and supportive Julia counseling to clients Allen to ensure client access to government and community resources. Her previous work includes the State Health Insurance Program CLAIM and the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging. On the move? Congratulations! Send your good professional news and a color headshot to cking@stlamerican. com

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 – 10, 2016

Personal Finance

Making financial literacy fun By Nathaniel Sillin What important lessons will you teach your child this summer? Riding a bike? Sharing with others? How about teaching them important financial skills. Financial literacy may not immediately come to mind when parents think of essential skills for students, but what children know about money at a young age can shape the way they manage money in adulthood. In fact, a 2015 study by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) found that credit scores among young adults improved in states with mandatory financial education. However, not all states implement financial education. So how do we close the gap between what American students currently know about money and what they need to know? Edutainment – one of the key personal finance instruction tactics that Visa uses to reach people of all ages – is an innovative learning method that strikes a balance between education and entertainment. Students can learn financial lessons without feeling like they’re studying, and edutainment can help them retain the information better. According to a 2013 study commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, students who played educational games in addition to the standard curriculum performed better on tests than students who didn’t. Here are a few simple ways your child can learn about money this summer. Learn together: Mymoney. gov offers activities and lessons for all ages, ranging from fun cartoons about American coins to guides on how to budget effectively. The website features World of

MIDWEST continued from page B1 minimum and check the boxes that satisfy the letter of the agreement or 2) openly explore how to create lasting, viable and profitable changes.

Marvel Custom Solutions to create a Guardians of the Galaxy comic that promotes saving and smart spending and introduces young children to the difference between wants and needs. The comic, “Rocket’s Powerful Plan,” features an exciting storyline where saving money in an emergency fund is crucial to helping the Super Heroes. If your children are fans of Rocket, Groot and Ant-Man, they’re bound to love this comic featuring the same iconic characters. Bring it to life: Jump$tart Clearinghouse offers a variety of games and resources that demonstrate how money skills transfer to real life. Children are challenged to plan their budgets, stretch their money, and be financially responsible. The website also provides a range of educational materials for both parents and teachers. Additional edutainment resources include:

Visa’s Practical Money Skills initiative has developed a game, Peter Pig’s Money Counter, which helps children improve basic financial skills such as sorting and counting coins to learn their monetary value. The free game is available online, as an Android app and from Visa’s Practical Money Skills website. Cents, a child-friendly game for ages 5 and up designed to help teach the value of money through the concepts of earning, saving and spending money, while incorporating basic math concepts. Begin with the basics: Knowing the value of money is essential to financial literacy. The sooner children learn how much everyday items are worth, the better.

Realizing the power of rising together, we chose the latter. In so doing, our DOJ agreement became the beginning, not the end, of our story about the catalytic power of banking upon local communities. What has happened since our decision? After exploring and building local

makes finance fun with songs about interest, savings accounts, paying bills, and more. Dynamic animation and catchy songs help children learn basic financial facts while having fun. Search for clips on YouTube or pop in a DVD to teach your children these important and practical lessons in a fun and memorable way. Play the market: The

n Any business entering into a government agreement has two choices: 1) do the bare minimum and 2) openly explore how to create lasting, viable and profitable changes.

partnerships, we opened a new full-service bank in 2012 in Pagedale, a community never before served by a bank, in collaboration with Beyond Housing. More than 200 mortgages and home improvement loans have been booked at our Pagedale bank, and we are not stopping there. By listening to community members and sharing our expertise, we have developed new products that serve local needs and help build strong credit records. These tools

work and have given many the chance to realize their dreams of home ownership. We have developed new loan products and accessed other assistance to further help local citizens build wealth through home ownership. We haven’t done this alone. In Pagedale, members of our 24:1 Community Advisory Board help us develop unique financial solutions tailored to a traditionally underserved region. These local business leaders, public officials, educators, faith-based leaders and community advocates are invested with us in helping near North County to thrive. We are grateful for all they contribute.

Stock Market Game is an online simulation of the global capital markets that engages students grades 4-12 in the world of economics, investing and personal finance, and has prepared 15 million students for financially independent futures. The game is part of a program provided by the SIFMA Foundation. Make it comical: Visa recently teamed up with

Also backing our efforts are Midwest BankCentre Chairman & CEO Jim Watson, our diverse legal board of directors, our majority shareholder and our 300 bank team members, who invest thousands of volunteer hours each year, working handin-hand with nonprofits and community organizations on everything from completing tax returns and teaching financial classes to building new homes and making neighborhood improvements. In addition, our active leadership in the St. Louis Regional Unbanked Task Force and its Bank On Save Up St. Louis initiative is generating positive, lasting change throughout the region. In October 2016, we will open a new full-service branch in partnership with Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in the 5500 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. This partnership will

• MyMoney.gov Youth Resources • TreasuryDirect Kids MoneyMemory and Perry’s Pennies • The United States Mint H.I.P. Pocket Exchange games • Visa’s Financial Football and Financial Soccer Bottom line: It’s important to teach your children about finance, and edutainment is both an effective and engaging way to do so. Use these summer months to teach your children important basic personal finance skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www. twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

serve a part of North St. Louis that is severely underbanked and ripe for expanded home ownership and greater business investment. When it opens, the bank will become our sixth location in the City of St. Louis. Our recent purchase of Bremen Bank & Trust Co., completed July 15, gives us a new base in North St. Louis on which to build a business banking hub within St. Louis city. A new St. Louis City Advisory Board, modeled on our 24:1 board, will be invaluable to helping us spur economic success and business reinvestment in St. Louis. It is this model of bankingcommunity partnership that can change St. Louis for the better, one person at a time. We look forward to more rising together. By Alex Fennoy is executive vice president and Community & Economic Development director, Midwest BankCentre.

n “We just have to keep our mouths closed when the water sprays up.” – Afrodite Zegers, Olympic sailor, on competing in Brazil’s sewagecontaminated Guanabara Bay

Sports

INSIDE

Journeyman Jerome Williams cracks Cardinals roster ~ See ‘Sports Eye’ page B4 ~ B3

AUGUST 4 – 10, 2016

Inside Sports

Tyron Woodley crowned champion

With Earl Austin Jr.

Tate joins SLU staff Pattonville, Mizzou standout won titles as coach at Mineral Area College

Former McCluer star wrestler wins UFC World Welterweight title

St. Louisan Corey Tate has been tabbed as the new assistant basketball coach at Saint Louis University. Tate joins the staff of new SLU men’s coach Travis Ford. Tate has spent the past year as an assistant at the University of Missouri, where he was a standout player in the late1990s. He was also a former star player at Pattonville High. Tate was also a very successful head coach at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Missouri. While at MAC, Tate directed the Cardinals to a pair of National Junior College Athletic Association District 16 championships and berths in the NJCAA National Tournament. If my memory serves me correctly, Tate becomes the first person from St. Louis to become a member of the SLU coaching staff in 25 years. The last one that Earl I recall was the late Lee Austin Jr. Winfield, who played a huge role in helping fellow St. Louisan Rich Grawer rebuild the Billikens’ program. To see a St. Louis native on the Billikens’ staff is very exciting news to me. The St. Louis metro area has produced many talented players over the years, and it is great to have an assistant coach who has built some relationships around the area. I have known Corey since his sophomore year in high school back in the early ‘90s, and I am very excited for him to have this opportunity in his home town.

By Earl Austin Jr. Of The St. Louis American

Orlando heads into the Hall Congratulations go out to former St. Louis Rams’ star offensive tackle Orlando Pace, who will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend in Canton, Ohio. As a lifelong fan of The Ohio State University, this is exciting because big Orlando is probably my favorite Buckeye of all time. What I’ll be looking forward to the most about Pace’s enshrinement is that he will be presented by his son Justin Pace, a 16-year old junior at MICDS. Justin is a See INSIDE, B5

Photo by Brandon Scheldt

Corey Tate was a very successful head coach at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Missouri. While at MAC, he directed the Cardinals to a pair of National Junior College Athletic Association District 16 championships and berths in the NJCAA National Tournament.

It has been a good month for former standout athletes from McCluer High School. At the beginning of the month, former McCluer track and field star Gwen Berry qualified for the upcoming Summer n Woodley Olympic won his first Games in Rio world title in de Janiero Brazil in the spectacular throw. fashion with hammer The opening a first-round ceremonies knockout of will be held on Friday, August defending 5. champion At the end Robby of July, it was Lawler in the another former Comet star main event who provided of UFC some big-time 201 last fireworks. Saturday in Tyron Woodley, a former star Atlanta. wrestler at McCluer, rose to the top of his profession in mixed martial arts by becoming the UFC World Welterweight champion. Woodley won his first world title in spectacular fashion with a first-round knockout of defending champion Robby Lawler in the main event of UFC 201 last Saturday in Atlanta. Known for his terrific punching power, Woodley caught Lawler with an overhead right hand which dropped the former champion. Woodley quickly pounced on Lawler and landed five more punches before the bout was stopped at the 2:12 mark of the first round. See WOODLEY, B5

In The Clutch With Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Tuning in to find Cardinals in familiar place n The good ol’, reliable Cardinals are right where I expected them to be – in playoff contention.

In the hunt for the playoffs again as September approaches I admit it. I’ve taken the St. I closely watched the drafts, Louis Cardinals for granted. hoping the team would finally Since the year 2000, the find a breakthrough player. I Redbirds have been one of tuned in at the start of the seathe premier teams in Major son, knowing the team could League Baseball. In sneak in a few early victhat span, the Cardinals tories before the rest of have earned two world the league remembered championships, four it was the league’s World Series appearmost-reliable punchline. ances, nine division Even though it was a titles and 12 playoff virtual certainty that St. appearances. As a Louis’ former football fan, I began expecting team would be left out excellence from the of the postseason each Cardinals. Regardless Ishmael H. year, something about of who was sent to the the NFL drew me in Sistrunk plate, thrown on the close. Perhaps it was mound or out in the the 16-game schedule field, it was always a safe bet that meant each game was that the Cardinals would be important. Perhaps it was the appearing in postseason play inclusion of fantasy football, and could be a legitimate threat which is leaps and bounds to the title. ahead of other fantasy sports Before fleeing to Los because nearly all of the games Angeles, the football team that occur over the course of one formerly resided in St. Louis day. Regardless, I was dialed rotated between awful and in deep with the NFL and then awfully mediocre for a decade. it was gone.

Photo by MLB.com

St. Louis Cardinals rookie shortstop Aledmys Diaz may not be a wizard in the field, but he’s wielded a magic stick to help keep the Cards in playoff contention. Following the NBA season, it’s time to shift back into St. Louis sports mode. The good ol’, reliable Cardinals are right where I expected them to be – in playoff contention. No,

the Cards aren’t the bullies of the NL Central anymore. The team currently sits 8.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the division standings. However, the club is only a half game out

of the second Wild Card spot. With 76 games remaining in the regular season, it seems like the perfect time to get plugged into the day-to-day of baseball. After a rough start to the

season, it appears that Adam Wainwright is back to being Adam Wainwright. Waino posted a 1.77 ERA during the month of July. In five starts, he gave up just seven runs the Cardinals were victorious every time Wainwright was on the mound. It’s clear that the 34-year-old Wainwright hasn’t been the dominant pitcher that we’ve known him to be for most of his career. However, his outstanding July performance shows that he’s still capable of stringing together some gems. It’s (almost) time to get my See CLUTCH, B5

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 – 10, 2016

Sports Eye With Alvin A. Reid

Journeyman Jerome Williams cracks Cardinals roster Hooray! The St. Louis Cardinals have an African-American player on the 25-man roster. Let’s all welcome Jerome Williams. Williams, 34, pitched in relief on Saturday at Miami and surrendered one hit over four innings of work in a blowout loss to the Marlins. He didn’t give up an earned run, but two inherited runners did score. A tip of the cap to the journeyman hurler for protecting the Cards’ bullpen by lasting so long in a game that was over by the fifth inning. “He has the ability to throw a lot of pitchAlvin es,” Cardinals manager Reid Mike Matheny said. “I’d love for our starters to go out there and sail, but the likelihood of needing some arms down there is pretty high, and he’s a guy with some experience that has been around a while.” After signing with the Cardinals in June, Williams posted a 5-3 mark with a 4.89 ERA in nine starts at Triple-A Memphis. While those aren’t stellar numbers, keep in mind Williams has not been a starting pitcher for several seasons. The Cardinals are his 8th MLB team, following the Giants, Cubs, Nationals, Angels, Astros, Rangers and Phillies. He also pitched a season in a Chinese professional baseball league. It was in Taiwan that he obtained a pink glove that he

wears each game in honor of his mother, who was taken from him at 43 after a bout with breast cancer. The story behind the glove is not heartwarming, though. Unable to deal with his mom’s illness, Williams admits that as a teen he neglected her. He simply stayed away from his Honolulu home if one of his two brothers or his dad were not there. His father had to force him to spend time with the woman who had faithfully taken him to practice and help mold him into a potential MLB pitcher. “I really didn’t worry about it or care. I just cared about myself,” he told espn.com. A. When he did enter his mother’s room, “The first words out of my mom’s mouth were, ‘What are you doing here? Get the hell out of my face,’” Williams said. “That blew me away. I left for like three days and didn’t come home.” He was 19 when the terrible realization of how shamefully he had treated his mother hit him. He would spend more time with her before she passed in 2001. “It kind of still hits me to this day, all the stuff I didn’t do that hurt her,” Williams said. He now wears the pink glove as a tribute, and also remnants of a pukka-shell necklace she left him inside his spikes and glued to his cap.

The Cardinals are his 8th MLB team, following the Giants, Cubs, Nationals, Angels, Astros, Rangers and Phillies. MLB draft shows promises The New York Mets drafted African-American pitcher

Justin Dunn from Boston College 19th overall in the June amateur draft, which is a rarity. Few black pitchers are selected in the first round. Over the past five years, according to MLB, 34 of 168 first-round draft choices have been black. That’s 20.2 percent. Only five of those 34 were pitchers. There is good news. Twelve of the 77 players (15.5 percent) selected on the first day of the draft were African-Americans. Black players accounted for 25 percent of first-round picks in 2015, which was the most since 1992. I’m one who believes any black player at any MLB position is cause for celebration, and it would be great to see more black starting pitchers.

Why? According to USA Today, only 14 of the 449 pitchers on 2016 opening-day rosters — or the disabled list — were African-American. Most famous black athletes ESPN recently comprised a list of the world’s “Most Famous Athletes.” It is based on analytic information that includes endorsements, Twitter followers and Facebook likes. Yeah, that kind of gives me the yips, but I’m 55. Of the top 20, most hail from Europe and few are African-Americans – but the names are quite recognizable. Here are the top black athlete’s

2. LeBron James (Selected before he led Cleveland to NBA title. 6. Kevin Durant (List compiled before he left Oklahoma City for Golden State) 7. Tiger Woods (yes, the guy who hasn’t played in more than a year) 10. Kobe Bryant (yes, post-retirement) 14. Usain Bolt. Excuse me, but the numbers must be off if Serena Williams is not included. By the way, soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal was No. 1. Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows. His Twitter handle is #aareid1

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 – 10, 2016

Youth of Year throws first pitch

Tyron Woodley, a former star wrestler at McCluer, rose to the top of his profession in mixed martial arts by becoming the UFC World Welterweight champion.

Shaila Jones, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Youth of the Year, threw out the first pitch during the Cardinals’ game on Sunday, July 31. As part of the Build-ABear Workshopthemed night at Busch Stadium, which included a bear giveaway, the Build-A-Bear team was also offered the chance to throw out the first pitch. Rather than have one of their staff accept the honor, they extended the opportunity to one of the club’s youth. Build-ABear also made it possible for Shaila’s parents and family to enjoy this experience and the game with her as well.

WOODLEY Continued from B5 What makes Woodley’s victory even more impressive

is that it was his first bout in 18 months. Woodley’s professional record now stands at 16-3. Woodley was a former state championship wrestler at McCluer, where he compiled

a 48-0 record as a senior in 2000. He went on to wrestle collegiately at the University of Missouri where he was a two-time All-American for the Tigers.

It appears that Adam Wainwright is back to being Adam Wainwright. Waino posted a 1.77 ERA during the month of July. In five starts, he gave up just seven runs the Cardinals were victorious every time Wainwright was on the mound.

cess of the franchise. It’s a wonderful thing to know that I can tune in late July/early August and know the Redbirds will always be within striking position.

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

CLUTCH Continued from B3 introduction to Aledmys Diaz, the Redbirds lone All-Star and Rookie of the Year candidate. The rookie shortstop is currently on the 15-day DL with a fractured thumb. However, he leads the team in batting average (.316) and hits (110) and total bases (183). He’s no wizard in the field, but as long as he continues to be the team’s best lumberjack, he’ll be an important asset for the ball club. Diaz’s injury could be a blessing in disguise. Rookies are known to hit a wall during the latter stages of the season. Diaz is expected to miss a month or so, which could enable him to be fresh during the club’s stretch playoff run. Surprising turns of my mid-season reintroduction to the Cardinals are that former Rookie of the Year candidate Randal Grichuk has been optioned to Memphis for the second time this season. The 24-year-old has been lost at the plate with a terrible batting average (.216), OBP (.280) and OPS (.694). Grichuk’s demo-

INSIDE Continued from B3 delightful young man who I have gotten the chance to know over the past couple of years. What a wonderful opportunity for him to salute his father in this very special way. Stars make it six in a row The St. Louis Stars basketball team has continued its dynasty when it comes to winning championships at the Show-Me State Games. The Stars won the championship in the Men’s Competitive Division for the sixth year in a row at the annual ShowMe Games in Columbia. The team members are Terry Evans, Corey Hill, Kwamain Mitchell, Mike Smith, Lance Harris, Cleve Woodfork, Kenny Williams, and James Washington. The Stars are coached by Rashad White. River City Pro-Am League Playoffs The River City Pro-Am

tion means that center field will now be handled by committee, which is never a good thing. Unlike in recent years, the Cardinals seem to be led by a strong offense. The team leads the National League in both

batting average (.257) and home runs (147), and is second in runs scored (538). The pitching has been middle-ofthe-pack, but Wainwright can and should continue to show improvement over his so-so

first-half. The addition of relief pitcher Zach Duke at the trade deadline should help to solidify the bullpen. While the Cardinals organization is often criticized for the moves it didn’t make, it should

be applauded for continually producing a playoff-caliber roster. We’ve watched greats come and go through St. Louis and have all been spoiled by success. However, I’m now coming to appreciate the suc-

Summer League playoffs got underway this week with first round games, which began on Wednesday and continue on Thursday at Cardinal Ritter College Prep. The quarterfinals will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. The semifinals will be held on Sunday afternoon

at 2 and 3:30 p.m. The championship game will be held on Monday night at 7:15 p.m. All of the playoff games will be held at Cardinal Ritter. The St. Louis Stars are the top seed in the upcoming playoffs after winning the regular season with a 7-1 record.

Area players make commitments

eight rebounds and two blocks while shooting 62 percent from the field. Henderson spent the summer playing for the St. Louis Eagles 17U team that qualified for the Nike EYBL Peach Jam. Forward Mamoudou Diarra of St. Louis Christian Academy has given a

Pattonville High standout Richard Henderson has given a verbal commitment to Austin Peay State University. The 6’5” Henderson is one of the area’s top athletes. As a junior, Henderson averaged 16 points,

Love for the Blues too The St. Louis Blues are also underrated in St. Louis. Outside the brief Mike Kitchen and Andy Murray eras, the Blues have been a perennial playoff team since the team’s inception. The elusiveness of the Stanley Cup is understandable frustrating. The team often fields a championship-caliber roster ‘on paper,’ only to watch the paper get crumbled and crushed by a familiar foe during playoff time. Yes, the Blues watched captain David Backes and Troy Brouwer skate away in free agency, but who really believes Head Coach Ken Hitchcock won’t guide the Blues back to the postseason in 2017? The Blues will retool the roster and be back in contention this season. Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk

verbal commitment to the University of Washington. The 6’9” Diarra enjoyed a big summer while playing for the Gateway Basketball Club. He helped lead Gateway to the championship of the Adidas Three Stripes Alliance Tournament in St. Charles three weeks ago.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 – 10, 2016

People’s buys Gateway Classic building American staff Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Center’s purchased the St. Louis Gateway Classic Foundation building, located at 2012 Martin Luther King Dr., on Wednesday July 27. This transaction included only the purchase of the building and has no connection to the foundations’ other business interests, People’s said in a statement. The terms of the sale were not disclosed.

REGIONS continued from page B1 of the unbanked population in St. Louis, according to federal statistics. Thirteen percent of African-American households are unbanked, as opposed to a much smaller proportion of white households. These numbers have decreased since the last FDIC survey in 2011. Crissman said the bank works with several community partners, including Justine Petersen, Urban League and Jennings School District, to offer financial literacy assistance in surrounding neighborhoods. They also work to help families build credit and move towards home ownership. “We believe what is good for our community is good for Regions,” Crissman said. The St. Ann facility is one of the first Regions branches in St. Louis to offer Video Banking service. Video Banking ATMs connect customers with a Regions representative via two-way video. Along with processing most teller transactions, Regions video bankers can help customers with account maintenance, general inquiries

“People’s Health Centers is excited about this purchase and recognizes the profound importance of its legacy in our community,” said Dwayne A. Butler, CEO of People’s. “As directed by the Board of Directors, operations will be repurposed for adult behavioral health services. Our intention is to preserve, wherever possible, the unique qualities of the building that has been a source of community pride for decades, including the Classic Walk of Fame and the Boxing

Hall of Fame. The Amanda Luckett Murphy Hopewell Behavioral Health Center, a People’s agency, will assume control of the building. “Providing high quality, gold standard behavioral health adult services in this new facility is the goal,” Butler said.

and more. The St. Ann location also offers a DepositSmart ATM. In addition to dispensing cash, Regions’ DepositSmart ATMs can accept deposits and cash checks for customers at any time, day or night. The DepositSmart ATM is located in the drive-through area of the branch, along with two Video Banking ATMs.

using safe deposit boxes. This system employs several layers of technology designed to enhance security surrounding safe deposit boxes while also improving efficiency of access for Regions customers. “Certainly, we see growth in our online and mobile channels, but we find our digital customers continue to use branch locations as well,” Hart said. “This branch is the latest example of how Regions is working to serve people when, where and how they want to be served.” The new branch replaces Regions’ previous St. Ann branch space near the intersection of St. Charles Rock Road and International Plaza Drive. The previous branch space had been in operation by Regions and its predecessor companies for over 40 years. By the end of the year, Crissman said Regions will also open a new facility for its Jennings branch with all the same bells and whistles.

n The new, modern branch replaces Regions’ previous St. Ann branch space near the intersection of St. Charles Rock Road and International Plaza Drive. An additional Video Banking ATM is located in a 24-hour vestibule at the front of the facility. After branch hours, the vestibule is accessible through the swipe of a Regions ATM or debit card. Outside of Video Bankers’ hours, the machine functions as a standard ATM. Other new technology includes Regions’ facial recognition and fingerprint technology for customers

Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers has provided comprehensive primary care to underserved and uninsured residents for the past 44 years.

Video Bankers are available during extended hours on weekdays (7 a.m. – 8 p.m. ). They are also available on Saturdays (8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ), as well as Sundays (11 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and during most holidays (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) as well.

Financial Focus By Roger Macon, AAMS

Diversification is still important for retirees During your working years, your primary investment goal is generally growth – you need your money to grow so that you can eventually afford the comfortable retirement lifestyle you’ve envisioned. But when you retire, should you change course and adjust your investment strategy from “offense” to “defense”? Actually, it’s not quite that simple. To begin with, even while you are working, you don’t want your portfolio to be completely filled with growthoriented investments, such as stocks. If it were, you would likely be taking on a degree of investment risk that’s too high, because, as you may know, stocks will fluctuate in price – sometimes significantly. And if you only own stocks, you could take a big hit during a market downturn. That’s why you need to have an array of investments – stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs) and so on. By spreading your investment dollars this way, you can give yourself more opportunities for success while reducing the impact of volatility on your portfolio. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification, by itself, can’t guarantee profits or protect against all losses.) Now, let’s fast-forward to your retirement date. Once you retire, you may need to look at your investment portfolio somewhat differently – instead

lower your overall investment of “building it up,” you may now risk. want to think of “making it last.” So, But to defend your your first impression might be that purchasing power, you instead of maintaining the diversified will still need some growth portfolio you had when you were potential in your investment working, you need to switch to portfolio during your predominantly “safe” investments, retirement years. Your exact such as CDs and Treasury bonds, to percentage of reduce the risk of stocks and other losing principal. growth-oriented And such a n Once you investments will strategy might indeed depend on a be effective – if your retire, you variety of factors retirement were only may need to – your projected going to last a year or longevity, other so. But the chances look at your sources of income, are reasonably good investment family situation, that you could be risk tolerance and retired for two, or portfolio so on. You may possibly even three, somewhat want to consult decades. If that’s the differently with a financial case, then you will professional to have to deal with a – instead of ensure that your threat to your lifestyle “building it portfolio mix is that you might not have considered: up,” you may suitable for your needs. inflation. We’ve had now want Many things low inflation for to think of may change in several years, but that your life when you could change in the “making it retire – but the future. Consider this: last.” need for investment Even at a relatively diversification is low 3% inflation rate, not one of them. prices double roughly every 25 years. This article was written by And depending on your personal Edward Jones for use by your needs and spending patterns, your local Edward Jones Financial personal inflation rate might be even Advisor. higher. To protect yourself against For further information inflation, you will find that contact Roger Macon, investments such as CDs and Treasury AAMS at (314) 481-3962 or bonds are typically not much help. In 1-800-EDJONES fact, in a low-rate environment, your returns on these investments may not Copyright © 2015 Edward D. even keep up with inflation, much less Jones & Co., L.P. All rights keep you ahead of it. That’s not to say reserved. Member SIPC. they have no value – they can provide you with an income stream and help

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C1 • ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 - 10, 2016

Cedric celebrated for ‘investing in minds’

Michelle Williams stars in the title role in the Muny production of Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida,” which runs August 8-14 in Forest Park.

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

Local UNCF scholarship recipients were given sound words of advice from Cedric The Entertainer just before the start of the inaugural UNCF Evening of Stars St. Louis event Sunday night at The Sheldon Concert Hall.

Grammy winner Michelle Williams reprises ‘Aida’ role for Muny season finale

Ledisi stirs souls as headliner for inaugural UNCF Evening of Stars STL By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American “Congratulations, you guys. Are you all excited about going off to college?” Cedric The Entertainer asked a group of 2016 United Negro College Fund Scholarship recipients on Sunday, July 31. “Yes,” they said in unison. What started as a simple photo op with Cedric The Entertainer and about three dozen students at the inaugural UNCF Evening of Stars – St. Louis, held at The Sheldon Concert Hall, turned into a 15-minute exchange. “What school are you going to? What’s your major?” Cedric asked as he went down the line of students. The list of institutions included Iowa State, Morehouse College, Washington University, Jackson State University and his alma mater, Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO). “Fisk is in the house right now,” he said as a handful of students said they would be attending the

historically black university in Tennessee this fall. They will disperse around the country in the next two weeks, thanks in part to the Cedric The Entertainer Charitable Foundation. It’s the reason why he was chosen as the first Keeper of The Flame Award at the first of what will be an annual event presented by the regional affiliate of UNCF to raise funds for additional scholarships. Regional director McFarlane Duncan announced later in the program that the award would forever be known as “The Cedric The Entertainer Keeper of the Flame Award.” Cedric said he started his scholarship program in 1996 – before the students who stood before him were even born – to do his part in building a community of young people who live up to their potential of greatness. But he also wanted to make sure they’re imbedded with the spirit of giving back. “You can do it on any level,” Cedric told See CED, C4

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

Grammy Award nominated soul singer Ledisi brought down the house as the featured entertainment for An Evening with the Stars St. Louis.

Rainbow ‘Tosca’ Elena O’Connor stars in Union Avenue’s diverse presentation of Puccini Opera By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

Union Avenue Opera’s production of Puccini’s “Tosca,” starring Elena O’Connor and directed by Jon Truitt, continues August 5-6 at 733 Union Blvd.

Destined for the stage

When Giacomo Puccini composed the opera “Tosca” at the turn of the 20th century, surely Elena O’Connor was not the dark-haired, darkeyed beauty he had in mind for his title character. Yet it’s difficult to imagine anyone else in the role after seeing the statuesque African-American soprano assume the role for Union Avenue Opera’s 2016 season. She was a force to be reckoned with onstage – and had to bow three times before the standing ovation in her honor subsided on Saturday, July

30. While O’Connor was indeed the warranted main attraction of Union Avenue’s staging of Puccini’s seminal opera, the diversity represented in the production didn’t end with her. In fact, three of the four leading performers were minorities. Baron Scarpia, the opera’s antagonist, was played by Jamaica-born, New York-bred baritone Neil Nelson, and Asian bass Wayne Hu rounded out the principal characters as Angelotti. Tenor Mathew Edwardsen also stars as See TOSCA, C4

• Only Online •

Curves unleashed at The Lux Famed fashion designer and St. Louis native Qristyl Frazier will bring her talents back home with the “Live Your Curves” fashion show at 6 p.m. on Saturday (Aug. 6) at The Lux. The event will be hosted by Gwen DeVoe, founder of New York’s Full Figured Fashion Week.

www.stlamerican.com

“I’m like, ‘Okay, God, is this what you want me to do?’ Because I’m having so much fun,” singer/actress Michelle Williams told The American back in 2011. At the time she was preparing to debut her acting chops before St. Louis audiences as the star of the urban play “What My Husband Doesn’t Know.” As her Destiny’s Child group mates Kelly Rowland and Beyoncé held their own in the music industry, Williams felt as if the musical theatre stage was somehow tied to her purpose as an entertainer. Next week she’ll return to St. Louis in a full-circle moment – she’ll make her Muny debut with the role that started it all for her in the arena. She’ll star as the title character in the Muny’s 98th season finale “Aida,” which opens n “We’re thrilled on Monday, August 8 and Michelle will star continues as our Aida. through August 14. I can’t wait to see “We’re her create her thrilled particular brand of Michelle will star as our musical magic on Aida,” said Muny artistic the Muny stage.” director and – Mike Isaacson executive producer Mike Isaacson. “It is one of the most iconic roles in contemporary musical theatre, and I can’t wait to see her create her particular brand of musical magic on the Muny stage.” More than a decade ago, Williams made her theatrical debut when she replaced Toni Braxton, who followed role originator Heather Headley in the Tony Award-winning Broadway run of the Elton John and Tim Rice smash musical. In a 2003 interview with MTV News, she likened the experience of filling the shoes of Headley and Braxton to when she joined Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland as a new member of Destiny’s Child in 1999. “Taking over for someone else, it was like, ‘Wow, what are people’s expectations? Are they gonna like me?” Williams said. “I kind of have to put all that behind me. I’m here for a reason.” The play centers around a love triangle involving an exiled Nubian princess named Aida, an Egyptian princess named Amneris and a soldier by the name of Radames. “She is such a strong young lady,” Williams told MTV News about preparing for the role. “She’s not afraid to stand up and say what she has to say and yet be sweet about it. See MUNY, C4

Calendar

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 – 10, 2016 Sun., Aug. 14, 9 a.m., As You Ago Events presents its 6th Annual Show Off Auto Show. Roll in with your classic car, truck or motorcycle for the all vehicle classic car show. There will also be a school supply giveaway, food trucks, a blood drive, and much more. Bridgeton Machinist Hall, 12365 St. Charles Rock Rd., 63044. For more information, call (636) 492-1750 or visit www. asyougoevents.com.

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 Wed., Aug. 17, 7 p.m., Merry Jane presents Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa: The High Road Tour. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, 14141 Riverport Dr., 63043. For more information, visit www.thehollywoodcasino amphiteatre.com. Fri., Aug. 26, Lumiere welcomes Betty Wright, Lumiere Live Theatre. Visit www.ticketmaster.com for tickets. Sat., Aug. 27, 7 p.m. An Evening with Chaka Khan and El DeBarge, a benefit concert for Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club, The Fox Theatre. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

local gigs Sat., Aug. 13, 9 p.m., J.A.M. Consulting Co. presents Murphy Lee & Friends Live Show. Mandarin House Banquet Hall, 8004 Olive Blvd., 63130. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

special events Sat., Aug. 6, 8:30 a.m., Full Gospel United Spiritual Churches of Christ Inc. Community Job Fair, New Northside Community Center, 5939 Goodfellow Blvd., St. Louis Mo. 63147. Sat., Aug. 6, 10 a.m., St. Louis Howard University Alumni 9th Annual Scholarship Benefit Jazz Brunch. The event will benefit the local Frankie Muse Freeman & Wayman F. Smith, III Scholarship Fund. This year’s program will feature keynote speaker,

The Honorable Alphonso Jackson, Former and 13th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Howard University Trustee. Enjoy a full buffet brunch, silent auction with live music by saxophonist Chad Evans and friends. Hilton St. Louis Frontenac, 1335 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, visit www. brownpapertickets.com. Sat., Aug. 6, 11 a.m., St. Louis Dream Center presents the Back 2 School Blast. Join us as for food, fun, rides, games, haircuts, backpacks, and much more. For more information, call (314) 381-0700 or visit www. stldreamcenter.org. Sat., Aug. 6, 5 p.m., Purple Reign! A Summer Fashion Affair. This is an upscale summer fashion event showcasing a series of swimwear, couture and luxury fashion designs from St. Louis’ top designers & boutiques, displaying their individual style and creativity while giving their take on “Purple Reign.” The show will also feature live performances, vendor booths, art exhibits, and more. The Rustic Goat, 2617 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 372-9134 or visit www. purplereignfashionaffair. eventbrite.com. Sat., Aug. 6, 5 p.m., 6 th & Madison’s 1 st Annual Girl Power Gala & Awards. The purpose of the event is to honor the achievements of girls aged 7 – 17, who are changing the world through their local communities. Danielle Scruggs of Fox 2 News will host the event. The Sun Theatre, 3625 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www.6thmadison.com. Sat., Aug. 6, 6 p.m. Alpha Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. will host the Annual “Midwest Marchdown” Scholarship Step Show, The Pageant, 6161

2016 Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour featuring Karen Clark Sheard. For more information, see SPIRITUAL.

Featured Event Sat., Aug. 6, 10 a.m., St. Louis Howard University Alumni 9th Annual Scholarship Benefit Jazz Brunch. Hilton St. Louis Frontenac, 1335 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, visit www. brownpapertickets.com.

Delmar in the Loop. Sun., Aug. 7, 11 a.m., St. Louis Bride & Groom Magazine presents The Wedding Show. Your onestop wedding shopping with over 200 vendor booths, a professional New York-style runway show, live musical entertainment, wedding transportation displays, DIY Bride Stage, free food and drink samples, prize drawings, and discount vendor coupons. America’s Center, 701 Convention Plaza, 63101. For more information, visit www. stlbrideandgroom.com. Sun., Aug. 7, 3:30 p.m., Black Women with a Purpose Sisterhood presents School Supplies Giveaway & Skate Party. Bring the family out for our end of the summer skate party and collect school supplies to for the 2016-2017

school year. St. Louis Skatium, 120 E. Catalan St., 63111. For more information, visit www. bwwpurpose.com. Wed., Aug. 10, MathewsDickey Boys & Girls Club invites you to Achievement Avenue Transformation Plan Reception. Enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and learn about the new strategic direction of our organization. Attire is business. For more information or to RSVP, call (314) 6795228 or (314) 679-5234. Aug. 12 – 13, Louis Armstrong Festival of St. Louis. The festival will feature St. Louis’ finest musicians of our times, recreating the style and feel of Louis Armstrong’s All-Stars. Appearing will be Randy Holmes-Trumpet, Brett Stamps-Trombone, Scott Alberici-Clarinet, Mary Ann Schulte-Piano,

Kevin Gianino-Drums, Bob Lowe-Bass & some surprise guests. Ozark Theatre, 103 E. Lockwood Ave., 63119. For more information, call (314) 962-7000 or visit www. www. YesLouis.com. Sat., Aug. 13, 1 p.m., 3rd Annual St. Louis African American Artifacts Festival and Bazaar. The festival will cultivate awareness and appreciation of the significant contributions made by people of African descent through artifacts, art, music, dance, and literature with diverse people throughout the Saint Louis region. Crown Square Plaza, 14th & Saint Louis Ave., 63106. For more information, call (314) 243-1021. Sat. Aug. 13 – Sun., Aug 14, Craig Blac’s 16th Annual Community Cuts for Kids, Saturday August 13th 10a – 2p, The Lessie Bates Davis Family Development Center 1045 State Street, East St. Louis, IL. Sunday August 14th 2p – 6p, The O’Fallon Park Rec Complex (YMCA), 4343 West Florissant, St. Louis, Mo. To Pre-Register Your Kids & Beat the Line.. (HAIR MUST BE WASHED) Log on www. thecraigshieldsfoundation.org, email craigblac@gmail.com or call 314 – 514 – 5762.

Aug. 19 – 27, St. Lou Fringe Festival. 2016 will see the premiere of microtheater (short performances for an audience of no more than 13 patrons in an intimate, immersive setting), spin rooms (post show talk backs an workshops), and an incubator program (a specialized collaborative showcase setting with more support for emergent artists). Over half of the Festival performances will focus on stories of individuals underrepresented in the mainstream performing arts based on ethnicity, gender identity, language, dialect, age, physical ability, BMI, or other barrier. Past favorite programs like Fringe Family and the Artica sculpture garden will again enliven Strauss Park. Grand Center, 3526 Washington Blvd., 63103. For more information, call (314) 643-7853 or visit www. stlfringe.com. Sat., Aug. 20, 2 p.m., 2016 Rise Up Festival – Celebrating Revitalization. A wide variety of musical performances will take place at the festival, including The Original Wailers (Reggae), Platinum Rock Legends (Rock), Roland Johnson and Soul Endeavor (Blues), and Dr. Zhivegas (Dance Music). Local restaurateurs will be providing a generous sampling of food and Urban Chestnut Brewing Company will provide the microbrew. Other attractions at the festival include a Kids Carnival and Circus Area including face painting, games, and juggling. 1627 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 333-7008 or visit www. riseupfestival.org. Sat., Aug. 20, 4 p.m., Paint it Like You Mean It presents Her Natural Beauty Paint Party. 3351 N. Highway 67, 63033. For more information, visit www. paintitlikeyoumeanit.com.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 – 10, 2016

literary

The Truth Telling Project & The Michael Brown Chosen for Change Foundation presents Youth Speak Truth: Responding to Racial Violence in America. For more information, see LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS.

Mon., Aug. 8, 6 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts authors Phil Hunsberger, Billie Mayo, and Anthony Neal authors of Becoming a Social Justice Leader: Using Head, Heart and Hands to Dismantle Oppression. The book includes classroom activities and facilitation tips to help prompt systematic changes in schools through improving instruction, supporting inclusiveness, and strengthening student engagement. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 3676731 or visit www.left-bank. com. Mon., Aug. 8, 8 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Mychal Denzel Smith, author of Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching. In his book, Smith chronicles his own personal and political education during these tumultuous years, describing his efforts to come into his own in a world that denied his humanity. Sat., Aug. 21, 1 p.m., The Story of Tweed Webb: The Most Prominent Black Baseball Historian in America. Negro League baseball historian Phil S. Dixon looks at the life and extraordinary accomplishments of St. Louisan Normal “Tweed” Webb. Dixon will sign copies of his book, Wilber “Bullet” Rogan and the Kansas City Monarchs, following the program. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. mohistory.org.

comedy Sat., Aug. 6, 8 p.m., Comedian Willie C presents Back of the Bus Funny feat. Frank L. The In Spot, 5854 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

theatre Sat., Aug. 6, 7 p.m., Still – a stage play. The play speaks to the business of relationships and will cause you to question how you handle marriage, friendships, and faith in God when life happens. JC Penny Building, UMSL, 1

University Blvd., 63121. For more information, visit www. iamtheatre-srd.com. Aug. 8 – 14, The Muny presents Aida. Set in ancient Egypt, this timeless saga of forbidden love between the Ethiopian princess Aida and her Egyptian captor has been re-envisioned for this enchanting production. Expect to be captured yourself by Elton John’s soaring melodies including “Written in the Stars,” “The Gods Love Nubia” and “Elaborate Lives.” 1 Theatre Dr., 63112. For more information, call (314) 3611900 or visit www.muny.org. Through Aug. 21, Stages St. Louis presents The Drowsy Chaperone. It all begins when a die-hard musical theatre fan decides to play his favorite cast album in his small brownstone apartment – a 1928 smash hit musical called “The Drowsy Chaperone.” The show magically bursts to life before him as audiences are instantly transported to an earlier time and place and immersed in the glamorous and hilarious tale of a celebrity bride and her uproarious wedding day. Robert G. Reim Theatre, 111 S. Geyer Rd., 63122. For more information, call (314) 821-2407 or visit www.stagesstlouis.org.

art Sat., Aug. 6, 1 p.m., Contemporary Art Museum presents RE: Debtors’ Prison. Using Mark Bradford’s exhibition, Receive Calls On Your Cell Phone From Jail, as a point of departure, this program examines debtors’ prisons—the practice of jailing people who are unable to pay fines for minor offenses. Blake Strode, Skadden Fellow and staff attorney for ArchCity Defenders, leads a lively discussion on this issue, which affects the lives of a number of St. Louis citizens. 3750 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 535-4660 or visit www.camstl. org/calendar.

lectures and workshops Fri., August 5, 5 p.m., The Truth Telling Project & The Michael Brown Chosen for Change Foundation presents Youth Speak Truth: Responding to Racial Violence in America. The event will provide a space to bring forth and amplify the voices of young people who have experienced racialized violence. Greater St. Mark Family Church, 9950 Glen

Owen Dr., 63136. For more information, call (314) 8687967. Tues., Aug. 16, 5 p.m., Grace Hill Women’s Business Center presents Small Business Legal Clinic. Attorneys will be available for 30-minute one-on-one sessions to discuss legal topics relating to new and existing small businesses. Even if you do not have specific questions, come and tell the attorneys about your business– they can help spot legal issues and give you general guidance. Grace Hill Water Tower Hub, 2125 Bissell St., 63109. For more information or to RSVP, call (314) 584-6700 or visit www. gracehillwbc.org. Thur., Aug. 18, 10 a.m., U.S. Small Business Administration presents Encore Entrepreneur. A panel of experts (SBA district director, banking manager, Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Center (MoPTAC), SBA lending

C3 specialist, SCORE, AARP, IRS and an encore small business owner) will provide information on starting a business as a second-stage career, followed by a Q & A session. Gary Alexander will be the moderator. St. Louis County Library, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.eventbrite.com. Sat., Aug. 20, 1 p.m., African American History & Genealogy Series: One Journey Back to the Motherland with John Wright. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.mohistory.org. Sat., Aug. 20, 2 p.m., EETechnologies presents Online Banking Seniors Educational Workshop. Conquer all your fears of Online Banking at this free workshop, which will answer all your questions about the advantages and disadvantages of online banking and so much more. Thomas Dunn Learning Center, 3113 Gasconade St., 63113. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com. Thur., Aug. 25, 8:30 a.m., Saint Louis University School of Law presents an Entrepreneurship and Small Business Workshop. This event is open to individuals who live or operate business ventures in St. Louis city/ county and will provide training on business and legal topics. Youth and Family Center, 818 Cass St., 63106. For more information or to register, call (314) 977-2778 or visit www.eventbrite.com.

health Wed., Aug. 10, 4 p.m., St. Louis County Library presents Healthy People 2020: Older Adults. Join the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater St. Louis to learn about Healthy People, a federally led plan that aims to improve the health of our nation. Learn how older

adults can take advantage of programs available to lead longer and healthier lives. Registration required. Thornhill Branch, 12863 Willowyck Dr., 63146. For more information, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl. org. Sat., Aug. 13, 10 a.m., Sickle Cell Association presents the 2016 Sickle Cell Educational Symposium. Washington University Occupational Therapy, 4444 Forest Park Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 833-6751 or visit www. sicklecellassociation.org. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., Get Sexy Movement Boot Camp. Station styled boot camp with 1 minute at each station for three rounds. North County Recreation Center, 2577 Redman Rd., 63136.For more information, call (314) 898-8898.

spiritual Fri., Aug. 12, 7 p.m., 2016 Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour. Hosted by syndicated radio personality Lonnie Hunter, you’ll experience renowned gospel artists Karen Clark Sheard, Charles Jenkins, Canton Jones, Jonathan McReynolds, and Doug Williams (of the Williams Brothers). Friendly Temple MB Church, 5515 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., 63112. For more information, call (314) 367-9700 or visit www.eventbrite.com. Aug. 19 – 20, Memorial Tabernacle Christian Life Center presents Empowered to Emerge with Supernatural Power 2016. There will be workshops for leadership development, music, young adults, and more. Guest speakers include Timothy Alden, pastor of City of Praise Christian Church, and Min. SShemetris Vital, radio host. 1350 S. Lafayette St., 63031. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 - 10, 2016

C4 Sharita Kyles Wilson was on hand to help celebrate her brother Cedric The Entertainer, who was honored with the first-ever Keeper of the Flame Award at the UNCF Evening with the Stars St. Louis Benefit. The ceremony and concert featured a performance by nine-time Grammy nominee Ledisi. Photo by Lawrence Bryant.

MUNY Continued from C1 She knows the game [and how] to play it.” Much like her tenure with Destiny’s Child – which included a Grammy Award (“Best Performance by a Duo or Group” for “Survivor” in 2002) and worldwide album sales of more than 50 million – “Aida” would be just the beginning. Williams became

Continued from C1

them. “It’s not about having a lot of money, but being able to contribute to someone else’s life. It’s all about that spirit of community and understanding – how you can serve other people with your skill sets and gifts.” Since its inception, more than $150,000 in scholarships has been awarded. The scholarship has partnered with UNCF since 2002. He then drew upon his own experiences at SEMO as he offered a brief speech that was equal parts pep talk and reality check. “Take pride in yourselves and your families and the pride that should go into you getting to this day,” Cedric said. “There can be a lot of distractions – it’s that first place of freedom where you don’t really have your parents monitoring everything you do. You can get off-track by so many things. But you’ve got to stay dedicated.” He told them about how he still uses his Broadcast degree

Know,” which came to the Fox Theatre five years ago. “Every time I hit the stage, it’s such an incredible experience,” Williams said. “It’s hard to describe how amazing it is.” The Muny’s 98th season closes with Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, which runs August 8- August 14, #1 Theatre Drive, in Forest Park. For tickets, a full schedule and additional information, visit www.muny. org or call (314) 361-1900.

TOSCA Continued from C1

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

CED

an accomplished stage actress while she simultaneously released four solo albums. She starred as Laura Isadore in the national Broadway tour of “Fela!” When she assumed the role of Roxie in 2009, Williams became the first African-American lead on the London stage in a UK production of “Chicago.” And she also assumed starring roles in the Broadway national tour of “The Color Purple” and the popular touring urban stage production of “What My Husband Doesn’t

from SEMO on the writing and production side of his career. “You’ll be able to take that knowledge and experience of college and apply it to your life in many different ways,” Cedric said. “Just know that it’s not going to be a waste of time.” His words fell in line with the familiar UNCF catch phrase “a mind is a terrible thing to waste” – and the less recognizable second half of its official slogan: “but a wonderful thing to invest in.” “The idea of defining what you want to be is not something you have to put a stamp on at this moment,” Cedric said. “Just know that environment and those educators, they are all there to help you discover who you are and use it to your advantage.”

Soul at the Sheldon After a brief program hosted by Rochelle “Coco Soul” Walker that honored SEMO as “Organization of the Year” and Kielah Harbert and Wilgory Tanjong as “Youth of the Year,” nine-time Grammy Award nominated soul singer Ledisi brought down the house as the featured entertainment

To get the latest News, Sports and Entertainment, go to

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for An Evening with the Stars St. Louis. She kicked things off with a rendition of the standard “Summertime” that channeled Ella Fitzgerald and proclaimed that she was “old school meets new school.” Ledisi proved it to be true during her hour-long performance. “Happy Feelings” by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and the Same Cooke classic “Change Gonna Come” were woven into the vocal powerhouse’s stage show. “Y’all don’t want me to take you to church,” she said, as she brought the capacity crowd to their feet while trying to quell a spirit-filled full-on shout during the selection. She lighted up the tenor of the evening with a few of her mid-tempo hits, including “Stay Together,” “Like This” and “I Blame You.” In an evening organized to offer educational support to students of color pursuing higher education, Ledisi spoke of her struggles in music and the support system she found in her mother – who inspired her breakthrough hit “Alright.” The song put her on the mainstream soul music radar and earned her the first of her nine Grammy Award nominations. She closed the show with “Pieces of Me,” encouraging the women in the audience to chime in on the bridge and embrace and own their power. “I’m a woman … woman … woman” echoed from the brilliant acoustics of the Sheldon until the crowd danced out the door.

Tosca’s smitten lover Mario Cavardossi. In addition to the rainbow cast, Union Opera reimagined “Tosca” with a setting in the 1940s that reflects Italy’s wartorn state under the reign of Mussolini and the tumult of World War II. Though Tosca and Cavardossi are artists, they still become casualties of the chaos. Cavardossi has a chance encounter with Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner in hiding, as he paints a portrait of Mary Magdalene for the church. The incident spoils the couple’s plans for a rendezvous and catches Scarpia’s eye of suspicion, as he believes the two are aiding and abetting Angelotti. Scarpia becomes infatuated with Tosca’s beauty and her magnificent singing voice. He decides that he will use the circumstances to force Tosca to compromise her morals and fulfill his desires in an effort to save her beloved Cavardossi. Aside from a slow sequence near the end of the first act, there is a whirlwind of action and emotion that will keep the most casual opera theatre fan engaged. But those with a passion for the music will be immersed in the rich blend of voices that vividly color the drama. O’Connor’s performance is the most striking. Though she is more conservative, as far as vocal runs, the sheer tone of her voice elicits awe and splendor. She delivers just enough flare to appease the audience – and let them know what she’s capable of. O’Connor obviously performs with the preservation of her voice in mind and is preparing for a lengthy career. Her reserved singing style doesn’t subtract from the richness of or vocal charisma

Mathew Edwardsen as Cavaradossi and Elena O’Connor as Tosca in a scene from the Union Avenue Opera’s presentation of Puccini’s “Tosca.”

within her self-imposed limits – which sets O’Connor apart from the rest of the cast of strong singers. Edwardsen compliments her magnificently as he reaches from both ends of his tenor range. The production value of “Tosca” is as impressive as the singing. Aside from one small window towards the end of the first act, director Jon Truitt keeps the drama and suspense full throttle. Scenic Designer Kyra Bishop had her work cut out for her with the contrasting settings within the three acts – and the limits of the Union Avenue Opera stage that has to be built

within a church pulpit. Completing extreme set makeovers during the entire duration of the two intermissions was the only solution, and the tech crew deserves a nod for working feverishly for 15 minutes to provide the scenic design required for the drama to unfold, equal to the caliber of the performances. Union Avenue Opera’s presentation of Puccini’s “Tosca” continues August 5-6 at 733 Union Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information, call (314) 361-2881 or visit www. unionavenueopera.org.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 – 10, 2016

Celebrations Scholarship winner

Anniversaries

FREE OF CHARGE

Congratulations to Taylor Symone’ Harris, who received the St. Louis Chapter #13, Montford Point Marine Association, Inc. Annual Scholarship Award. Taylor will be attending Hampton University in the fall to pursue her undergraduate degree. Pictured: Chapter members are joined by Taylor and her grandfather, along with the Honorable Mayor Theodore Hoskins of the City of Berkeley, MO.

Terrance Bright and Tara Jamison Bright will celebrate their first wedding anniversary on August 8, 2016 with a Caribbean cruise. The couple currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia. Congratulations to the Brights!

Reunions All reunion announcements can be viewed online! Cardinal Ritter College Prep Class of 1987 is hosting an “Old School Hip Hop” party September 24, 2016 from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Omega Center, 3900 Goodfellow Ave., St. Louis, 63120. Tickets: $20 at door, $15 in advance. Call April Brown at 314-446-5500 for more information.

Congratulations to Tobias and Tish Haynes Keys, who celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary on August 4. Five down and forever to go!

East St. Louis Lincoln High Classes of 1966 will celebrate its 50-year reunion August 19 - 21, 2016 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Fairview Hts., Ill. The cost is $100 for classmates and $50 for guests. A late fee of $25 pp will be assessed after May 31. Please contact John Cunningham for details and reservations at: 618-692-6610. East St. Louis Class of 1971 will celebrate its 45-year reunion Sept. 2-4, 2016 at the Casino Queen. For more information, please contact Opal at 314-952-4729, Sandra at 314-249-7295 or Glenda at 618-781-4888 or email timac48@aol.com. Hadley Technical High

Birthday Bernd Marion will celebrate his 64th birthday on August 7. Happy Birthday and many more! Love always, Your family and friends

School Class of 1961 will celebrate its 55th class reunion, September 16-18, 2016 at the Renaissance Airport Hotel. For more information, contact Ralph Johnson 477-2042, Shirley Woods 361-5351, or Jeffery Raybon 382-1875. Send updated contact information to celiajteach@gmail. com. Our Annual Picnic on Sunday, September 4th at John L. Brown Park, 4300 Calvert Ave 63134 (off Woodson Rd.). Harrison School All Class Reunion Saturday September 10, 2016, 6:30 pm-10:30 pm at Ambruster Great Hall (6633 Clayton Rd. Tickets are $60 per person. For more info contact; Judy

Darris at 314-443-6741, Yolanda Beck at 314-3468103 or Làshell Tolliver at 314-420-3566. Ritenour High School Class of 1976 is having its 40th reunion on October 1, 2016. For more information please see our Facebook page, Ritenour Class of 1976 or email ekbyers58@gmail.com. Soldan is having its 11th AllClass Alumni Picnic August 13, 2016 at Tiemeyer Park, 3311 Ashby Rd., St. Ann, MO 63074 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. The picnic is free. Bring your own basket or grill. T-Shirts will be sold for $15. For more information call 314-413-9088.

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available. Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO 63103

Sumner Class of 1966 has scheduled its 50-year reunion for August 26-28 at the St. Louis Embassy Suites Hotel located off Lindbergh Blvd. For complete information, please contact Ida Harris at ezmaxx2@sbcglobal.net or Ella Scott at Els12188@ sbcglobal.net. Vashon Class of 1967 is planning its 50-year reunion and is need of contact information for all interested alumni. Please contact JoAnn Alvoid at alvoidjoe8@gmail. com; Sarah (Taylor) Robinson at srobinson647@hotmail. com; or Sonya (Walker) Smith at 314.381.8221, with your address, email and phone number.

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

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 - 10, 2016

Comedy legend Martin Lawrence made time to meet and greet with fans like the lovely Linda Robinson when he returned to St. Louis Friday night for a show at Chaifetz Arena.

Swag Snap of the week Ariel was one of a few lucky fans that got a chance chop it up with Dru Hill after their show Friday as District Rhythms’ latest headliner @ BPV

Cory and Briana tried to stay dry during the District Rhythms Dru Hill concert Friday night @ BPV

Kay and Liyaow weren’t the least bit bothered by the rain during the District Rhythms presentation of Dru Hill Friday night @ Ballpark Village

Destiny, Jaida, Amari, Kylie and Lex loved the mix of music and visuals of the Vibes Art Showcase Saturday @2720

Melanie and Aja were in their element Saturday @ The Marquee

Tanjii and Britt were all smiles @ Mood Friday

www.stlamerican.com

Martin’s major comedy mishap. I don’t know what Martin Lawrence was going through, but he had me seriously reflecting whether or not he deserved my 25 years of fandom after that mess he made me suffer through Friday at Chaifetz Arena. Somebody asked me what I thought of the show and I had to steal a line from Bernie in “Waiting To Exhale”… and say “it was like watching paint dry.” I guess maybe he thought since we enjoy the “Martin” TV show reruns so much that we wouldn’t mind a stand up repeat. He was dead wrong. The set was so verbatim that I started to think the Chaifetz Arena had been turned into a portal that warped me back to 2011 when he told ALL those jokes the last time he came to town. Seriously, I gave him the same side eye as when I watched Melania Trump try it with her First Lady Michelle Obama copycat mission. In all fairness to Martin, plagiarizing yourself is not nearly as bad as what Melania did. I knew what I was in for when he talked about hearing “I Ain’t Never Scared” in the club. I was like “the last time I heard Bone Crusher at the club, I was at the Monastery.” And it went from bad to worse to sad. There’s really nothing safe enough for me to recite to let you know, but take my word for it. That being said, even in the midst of mess I have a few items of good news to report. The first is that Martin still looked good. Secondly, St. Louis didn’t boo or get belligerent when he didn’t deliver– which we are known to do when it comes to comedy shows. Lastly, it was quick. Just as I had settled in to how awful it was, the show was over. People didn’t quite know it at first. He was like “I love you St. Louis” and they were like “we love you too…wait, was that it?” I knew the general consensus was that people were unbothered by the show because instead of booing at the abrupt early finish, folks were like “well, that was quick.” Indeed it was. I was out of there in time to catch Sisqo and ‘nem pour their soul into “The Thong Song.” I do want to shout out Melanie Camarcho for making my face her with her filthy hilarious set. And congratulate Jovan Bibbs on what must have been fulfilling a life dream by opening for one of his comedy idols. 2016 District Rhythms is a wrap. The annual summer soulful pair of concerts at Ballpark Village we’ve come to know as the District Rhythms closed out its 2016 with Dru Hill Friday night. Thanks to Martin’s microwavable set, I was able to catch the tail end of the show. That’s the only thing I’ll be thanking him for as it relates to that performance. Okay, I’m really over it and I’m totally moving on. Anyway, it was packed to the gills. But what else is new? I’m telling you, the promoters behind that series deserve a round of applause because they seem to be able to bring the masses no matter what. If Kashif and Mel’isa Morgan were the headliners they would probably still pull 2000 folks. But this is about Dru Hill, so I’ll get right to what I saw. Sisqo was scooting around that stage for dear life, so I know that they gave the folks what they came to see. Y’all seemed to be thrilled with the finale, but honestly I don’t ever need to hear him utter “let me see that thong” again my life. Feeling the Vibes. Saturday night I made my way to the The 5th Annual Vibes Art Showcase at 2720 Cherokee and I am so glad I did. For some reason I hadn’t heard of the collective visual arts and music showcase until this year. But trust that I will be keeping my eyes and ears open for year six – and every year from here on out. They said it was going to be “100 percent fresh” and they meant that. The event was so lit that it trickled out onto the street and had it looking like a straight up gallery walk. Actually the event itself was like a concert and a gallery walk had a baby, except that it was indoors. I really get a kick out of rubbing elbows with the creative young folks. It brings joy to my soul to see the 90s babies doing something other than twerking and turning up. Don’t get me wrong, they were turnt (yes, with a “t”) but the energy was so electric because the group was full of natural born creators. And I’m glad the turnout was so nice because these young artists were paying it forward with some of the proceeds benefitting The Black Rep and The Finesse Center, which is named in honor of Tyrell Thompson (R.I.P). Abundant life from Ledisi, Ced and UNCF. Because I absolutely live for Ledisi, I was perched twenty minutes early for the inaugural UNCF Evening with the Stars St. Louis Sunday night at The Sheldon. I ran into people I hadn’t seen in ages. Niecy Davis and Mz. Janee (who is doing the midday slot in Columbus, Georgia), Mousie from 100.3 The Beat, Naretha Hopson and a bunch of other folks who’ll be mad at me because I didn’t call them out by name. I had a quite the time I do say so myself. When I tell you that was the swiftest awards ceremony I’ve seen in a minute. There was barely time for a bathroom break and I was by no means mad. It would have been nice if they had spent a little more time setting up why Cedric The Entertainer was honored – including his 20 years of providing scholarships and 13-year partnership with the UNCF to give funds to worthy students. That’s about the only note I have. I do wish that Ledisi would have performed more of her original material, but I was thrilled with her renditions of “Summertime” and “Change Gonna Come.” As usual, she sang her face off. And the acoustics of The Sheldon made it sound even better. But I guess keeping it brief was the theme for national acts who rolled through the Lou this past weekend. Somebody asked me “is this intermission?” I said, “no boo, this is the end.”

Tino and Kass took a picture after their poetry set @Floetic Friday @ KDHX

Fawn and Anjali waited patiently for Dru Hill after they tore down the stage Friday @ BPV

Becky and Cort came through VIP @ Mood Friday

Brooke and Alexis basked in the energy of the Vibes Art Showcase Saturday @ 2720 Cherokee Photos by Lawrence Bryant & John Scott

Religion

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 4 - 10, 2016

Gospel music tribute coming to Harris-Stowe On Saturday, August 13, Evelyn and the Warriors starring Evelyn Turrentine Agee, The Silver Wings, Rev. William Rainer, The Caesars, and Dello Thedford leading the Shalom Symphonic Choir will perform at Harris-Stowe State University to pay tribute to gospel music and radio.

National Black Radio Hall of Fame event in St. Louis on August 13 By Bernie Hayes For The St. Louis American Do you remember Inez Andrews, Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, The Caravans, Rev. Julius Cheeks and the Sensational Nightingales, The Swan Silverstone’s, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Wings Over Jordan and The Five Blind Boys of Alabama or Mississippi? Can you recall listening to the songs of Martha Bass, The Davis Sisters, Cassietta George, Delores Washington, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Marion Williams, Brother Joe May, Thomas Whitfield and Edna Gallmon Cooke? Do you like hearing the glorious sounds of Dr. Bobby Jones and the Nashville Super Choir, The Mississippi Mass Choir, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Andre Crouch, The Winans with and without BeBe and CeCe, and Edwin and Tremaine Hawkins? Did you ever see in person Mahalia Jackson, Rev. Shirley Caesar, Jessy Dixon, Albertina Walker and Dr. Thomas A. Dorsey? Do you reminisce while listening to Joshua, Geneva or Marybeth Gentry, Rev. James Cleveland, Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith, The Soul Stirrers, Lou Rawls with The Pilgrim Travelers, Dorothy Norwood, The O’Neal Twins, Dr. Ken

Billups, Clara Ward or Rev. Cleophus Robinson? The National Black Radio Hall of Fame will honor these groups and individuals, and the radio personalities that filled the airways with spirituals and inspirational music. Forerunners

at 6 p.m. at Harris-Stowe State University, Evelyn and the Warriors starring Evelyn Turrentine Agee, The Silver Wings, Rev. William Rainer, The Caesars, and Dello Thedford leading the Shalom Symphonic Choir will perform to pay

n I am afraid that most of our traditional and

most cherished music and the artists will be lost or forgotten, as well as the deejays that were responsible for of our beloved memories.

and radio pioneers Wynetta Lindsay, Leonard Morris, Minister Hosea Gales, Columbus Gregory, Virginia White, Zella Jackson Price, Ruby Summerville Dixon, Devan Strong, George “The G” Logan, Steve Love and too many others to name will be honored and remembered. On Saturday, August 13

tribute to gospel music and the developers of inspirational radio. Gospel music has the power to move people, and the National Black Radio Hall of Fame understands that religious music’s ecstatic possibilities have been recognized in all cultures. People of African heritage have made enduring contributions to society

throughout history, and gospel music has been enriched by Africans and African Americans as long as it has existed. I am afraid that most of our traditional and most cherished music and the artists will be lost or forgotten, as well as the deejays that were responsible for of our beloved memories. I am afraid they will fade from remembrance and from the history books. Let us not forget them or The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama doing “The Sermon,” or Dorothy Love Coates and the Original Gospel Harmonettes singing “When I Reach My Heavenly Home”? Let’s pay respect to The Rance Allen Group and The Staple Singers and to artists and announcers that developed and produced what we call “gospel music.” Support the National Black Radio Hall of Fame and come to Harris-Stowe State University on August 13 at 6 p.m. Please watch the Bernie Hayes TV program Saturday night at 10 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m. on KNLC-TV Ch. 24. I can be reached by fax at 314-8373369, e-mail at berhay@swbell. net or on Twitter @berhay.

The Message

Life and death game How often do you recognize that you’re in a battle every day? For me, sometimes I forget that I am the trophy in the war between God and the devil. That’s good versus evil for some of y’all. It has been hard for me to believe I could be that popular, or that valuable to anyone. My understanding is that it’s a life and death game down here and my only weapon is my faith. It’s also a 24/7 conflict, but I’m not as relentless as Satan and my guard is not always up. On some of my best days, focusing on the Word is next to impossible, and I’m sure that’s when the devil is on top of his game. On other days, when I’m on top of my game, I understand the devil wants to embarrass, humiliate and, like a scorned lover, hurt the Lord. What better way to do that than to steal, degrade, ruin something that God loves… me. Or you. It’s hard to think of myself as being that important. It’s hard to consider myself as the pivotal piece in an eternal game of spiritual chess. So, without always knowing it, I am vulnerable. Like a child who unknowingly wanders off into a swamp, he or she has no idea Columnist of the dangers lurking there. Injury and James death are but steps away. Washington That’s how I feel sometimes. I get lost. I know if I’m not diligent and consistent, the devil will take me out and celebrate at the wake. Hence, I know in order to at least be competitive I must train. But, like the weekend athlete, I don’t really want to work that hard. I just want to be left alone. I don’t want to play today. Can you see how that frame of mind can get you killed? Can you see how your reluctance to step foot on the field of faith can spell trouble? The Bible is full of references about those who would be seduced, abducted, tricked and persecuted for not being true to the Word of God. God himself expresses frustration at times about those who would willingly forget who He is and who they belong to. The consequences can be catastrophic. So what’s the answer when you just not feeling it? Get into the Word. What’s the answer to being lost in the world? Get into the Word. This does require a real sense of understanding about the dangers of being vulnerable. When I’m out of sync, I acknowledge that I’m actually out of sync. At this point, I can become deliberate in my efforts to regain my spiritual balance. Sometimes, it just takes the will to win.