The Tri-State Defender - May 2, 2024

Week of: May 2, 2024

GRAND

PERSPECTIVE

ARMED AND READY . . . TO TEACH?

Despite ‘safeguards,’ allowing teachers to carry handguns at schools should be off limits. — Page 3

LIFESTYLE FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO SPAIN

‘Wanderlust’ carries senior adventurers from Cape Town to Barcelona. — Page 8

TRI-STATE DEFENDER

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Discover New Beginnings at the Life After 50: How to Reinvent Yourself Symposium

TSD Newsroom

e quest for personal and professional transformation doesn’t stop — at any age.

at’s the empowering message behind the “Life A er 50: How to Reinvent Yourself Symposium,” set for Saturday, May 4th at the Opulence Ballroom in Memphis. Tickets for the symposium are $99 and available at www.fspenterprises.net

Designed speci cally for female Baby Boomers and Gen Xers who are eager to explore new paths in their lives, this event provides a rich platform for change in careers, education, health, and hobbies. e symposium will run from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

“Many women think that approaching 50 means preparing for retirement. I believe it’s the perfect time to reinvent ourselves and embark on new adventures.”

— Sarita Robertson Price

ship, education, technology, mental health and more:

• Beverly Anderson, Entrepreneur Training Institute

• Celeste Jona Gay, Professional Actress

• Dr. Denise Lo on, e Doc Shop (Management Consultant)

• Tisch McDaniel, M&M Advisory Group, Inc.

• Janice Williams, JOW Consulting

• Tamatha Borkcom, ASAP Counseling & Services, PLLC

Attendees can also look forward to the “Wine and Wind Down Life A er 50 Networking Event” from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. is networking opportunity is a perfect setting to foster new connections. Price will also be discussing and signing copies of her latest publication, “Wisdom From Sarita’s Pen: For Daily Living and the Marketplace,” providing insights into thriving in personal and professional realms. Admission to the networking event is free with a symposium ticket.

is event will feature a keynote speech from Dr. Vikki Johnson, a renowned Life Strategist, Washington, DC Radio Talk Show Host, and Founder of Soul Wealth Academy. Dr. Johnson will share strategies and insights that encourage attendees to unlock their full potential and embrace the rich possibilities of their later years.

Sarita Robertson Price, a Board-Certi ed Master life, leadership and career coach, is the founder of the Life A er 50 event. rough her leadership at FSP Enterprises, she encourages individuals to develop skills that allow them to live and lead with boldness and con dence.

“Many women think that approaching 50 means preparing for retirement,” Price said. “I believe it’s the perfect time to reinvent ourselves and embark on new adventures.”

A panel of in uential women will also discuss a variety of topics including career development, entrepreneur-

President Calvin Anderson Interim Editor Lee Eric Smith

Sarita Robertson Price

Armed and ready . . . to teach? What have we become?

Despite ‘safeguards,’ allowing teachers to carry handguns at schools should be off limits

By Curtis Weathers TSD Education Columnist

Last week, the Tennessee legislature, both House and Senate, along with Governor Bill Lee, signed into law HB 1158, allowing teachers to carry rearms in schools. e bill would permit teachers and sta , a er completing 40 hours of training, to carry guns on public school campuses.

Tennessee will now join a handful of other states that allow teachers, under certain stances, to carry rearms in schools.

e bill has been controversial, with supporters arguing that it will improve school safety and allow teachers to defend themselves and their students in the event of a school shooting.

Opponents, including many teachers and education groups, have expressed concerns about the safety risks, potential for accidents, and the psychological impact of having guns in the classroom.

Over the years, public schools have undergone a signi cant evolution in their approach to school safety, prompted by tragic events and an increasing awareness of the need for comprehensive security measures.

From once primarily focusing on re drills and basic physical safety, schools now employ a multifaceted approach that includes measures such as security personnel, surveillance systems, controlled access points, and active shooter drills. Additionally, there’s a heightened emphasis on mental health support and interventions to prevent violence before it occurs.

All of the security measures mentioned here have blended nicely with school environments, and, for the most part, school leaders, parents, and the general public have supported these measures.

Now, however, we seem to be taking the issue of school safety a bit too far, if that’s possible.

I am vehemently opposed to arming classroom teachers with rearms. My distaste for it stems from a fundamental belief that schools should be a place of learning, growth, and safety, not a place of fear, violence, and armed personnel.

While everyone wants to keep students safe, many believe that introducing guns into the classroom is the wrong approach and that there are better, more e ective ways to address school safety concerns.

Even in states where it is legal, many

school districts choose not to allow teachers to carry guns, and the practice remains controversial and not widely adopted.

As of today, at least ten states have laws that allow school employees, including teachers, under certain conditions to carry rearms on school grounds. However, the speci cs of these laws and the extent to which they are implemented vary widely.

It’s important to note that these states typically require teachers who wish to

See Page 4

Curtis Weathers

From Page 3

carry rearms to undergo specialized training, obtain a concealed carry permit, and meet other state or school district requirements. Some states, such as Ohio and Montana, leave the decision to allow armed teachers up to individual school districts.

e idea, however, of arming teachers in schools is deeply unsettling to many people because it fundamentally changes the nature and purpose of the educational environment.

Schools are meant to be safe havens for growth, learning, and nurturing young minds, not places where educators are tasked with the heavy responsibility of potentially using lethal force to protect themselves and their children.

The presence of guns in the classroom, even in the hands of trained teachers, can create an atmosphere of fear, mistrust, and violence that is antithetical to the goals of education. It shifts the focus away from learning and personal development

While everyone wants to keep students safe, many believe that introducing guns into the classroom is the wrong approach and that there are better, more effective ways to address school safety concerns.

and instead places an emphasis on security and the potential for armed confrontation.

Not only that, but arming teachers also raises signi cant concerns about unintended consequences and the potential for tragedy. Even with training, there is always the risk of accidents, mishandling of rearms, or guns falling into the wrong hands. e thought of a student gaining access to a teacher’s gun, or a rearm being discharged unintentionally in a classroom is deeply distressing.

Arming teachers is yet another example of our utter failure as a society to protect the innocence of our children. What have we become?

e fact that we are even considering arming teachers as a solution to school violence is a sobering re ection of the current state of our society and the challenges we face in ensuring the safety and well-being of our children. It highlights the need for a deeper, more nuanced conversation about school safety that goes beyond reactionary measures and addresses the root causes

of violence.

Ultimately, the decision to arm teachers is a deeply personal and divisive issue that elicits strong emotions on both sides.

In a very profound way, the fact that we are even having this discussion as a society speaks to the deep-seated fears, anxieties, and challenges we face in ensuring the safety of our children and communities. It is not a re ection we can take lightly but rather one that compels us to work together with empathy, reason, and resolve to nd a better path forward.

I’m having trouble imagining, as a school leader, seeing one of my math teachers standing in front of the classroom strapped with a 45-caliber pistol around his waist, teaching a lesson on Pythagorean theory.

Let the record show I am passionately against arming teachers in our children’s classrooms. We must stop and think carefully about what we are doing; there are too many other plausible solutions to this problem.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000865, Courthouse Restoration/ Records Renovation at 140 Adams (Support Services). Information regarding this Bid is located on the County’s website at www. shelbycountytn.gov

At the top of the home page, click on the dropdown box under “Business”, Click on “Purchasing” and “Bids” to locate the name of the above-described Sealed Bid.

SEALED BID-I000865 DUE DATE THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2024 AT 2:30 PM CST

(SB-I000865), Courthouse Restoration/ Records Renovation at 140 Adams (Support Services)

Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.

By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §675-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property:

River City Builders

Tax Parcel #: 02202000000140

Tax Sale #: 1904

Price Offered: $2,300 Terms: Cash

Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on 6/11/2024, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §675-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property:

River City Builders

Tax Parcel #: 02701100000490

Tax Sale #: 1904

Price Offered: $2,300

Terms: Cash

PUBLIC NOTICES / CLASSIFIEDS

Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10 a.m. on 6/11/2024, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §675-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property:

River City Builders

Tax Parcel #: 07508500000140

Tax Sale #: 1703

Price Offered: $5,600 Terms: Cash

Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:30 a.m. on 6/11/2024, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §675-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property:

River City Builders

Tax Parcel #: 04004200001610

Tax Sale #: 1902

Price Offered: $8,000 Terms: Cash

Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 11 a.m. on 6/11/2024, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION,

BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY

SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §675-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property:

River City Builders

Tax Parcel #: 04003600000040

Tax Sale #: 1702

Price Offered: $8,000

Terms: Cash

Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 11:30 a.m. on 6/11/2024, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §675-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property:

River City Builders

Tax Parcel #: 04003300000020

Tax Sale #: 1804

Price Offered: $4,500 Terms: Cash

Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9 a.m. on 6/12/2024, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150

COMMUNITY Opening of Orange Mound Library greeted

Fun Facts (Courtesy of City of Memphis):

• This building was originally constructed for $137,000 in 1938 using funding from The New Deal under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

• The original width of the first-floor corridor has been maintained.

• The new light fixtures in the main corridor are replicas of the original school fixtures.

• The new windows were made by the same company that did the windows for Crosstown Concourse.

• The interior color scheme is based on the official school colors of Melrose High School –maroon and gold.

• The accent walls with orange stripes were inspired by the Osage orange trees that once dotted the area and from which the neighborhood gets its name.

• There had never been a branch library of the Memphis Public Libraries in the Orange Mound neighborhood – until now.

By Lee Eric Smith lesmith@tsdmemphis.com

It’s not really like alumni of Melrose High School need a reason to show up and show out; they kind of do that anyway, and in numbers. But on April 26, a long neglected Melrose High School Building opened its newly renovated hallways as the Orange Mound branch of Memphis Public Libraries. And so — with an actual reason to show up and show out — Melrose High alumni and Orange Mound residents turned out by the hundreds on Friday to cheer and show their love for their neighborhood — which has been through a lot lately.

e April 20 shootout at a local park that le two dead and seven others injured was still on everyone’s minds. And indeed, even as the celebration at the library unfolded, Memphis Police were responding to another shooting on nearby Barron Ave in Orange Mound. How does the saying go? “It was the best of times and the worst of times . . .”

But let’s stick with the optimism and hope that was palpable at a building that had set dormant since 1979. While only the rst oor is open now, continuing renovations on upper oors will eventually open up an assisted living facility for seniors — a perfect complement to both the library itself and the nearby Orange Mound Community Center.

e Historic Melrose School Revitalization project has secured a $17.25 million budget for Phases 1 and 2, focusing on preservation and the new Orange Mound Library. Phase 3, which will add residential units, is currently in pre-development. Funding for the project includes $10 million from Accelerate Memphis, $4.15 million from a Community Development Block Grant, $2.1 million from the City’s Capital Improvement Program, and $1 million from a federal grant championed by

Congressman Steve Cohen. An additional $2 million from the federal grant is earmarked for Phase 3.

More than just books, too. ere’s also a slick genealogy center, aimed at empowering people to trace the steps of their ancestors.

Wearing school colors, Golden Wildcats of all generations crowded in and around the tent that o en felt more like a old fashioned revival than a ribbon-cutting. As it turns out, “revival”

is indeed the perfect word. at’s what Mayor Paul Young wants the project to kick o .

“Certainly over the past week, we’ve seen some tragic events unfold,” Young said before the celebration. “ is is a time of healing for this community and it’s great to see a bright spot that’s focused on the next generation of Orange Mound residents. It’s absolutely going to be a hub for this community.”

I was wise enough to prop up my phone to livestream the ceremony; I was NOT wise enough to fully charge my phone and/or have a backup battery handy. Meaning, I only caught the rst 20 minutes of the program.

But with the opening prayer and a performance by the Melrose High Singers — not to mention a crowd of Melrose alums with a REASON to shout — you’ll see what I mean when I say it felt like a revival.

Events like the opening of a library, the sound doesn’t carry the way semi-automatic gun re does. A library won’t un re any bullets. But as Young said in his remarks, “You can’t tell them

ON THE COVER: Melrose Alums were out in numbers for the opening.

Mayor Paul Young greets the next generation of learners at the Orange Mound Library. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/Tri-State Defender)

There had never been a branch library of the Memphis Public Libraries in the Orange Mound neighborhood – until now.

with pride and optimism despite tragedies

to put the guns down and not give them something else to do.”

From its very origins, Orange Mound was built on resilience, on bouncing back, on turning adversity to advantage. No, a library won’t un re any bullets — but it might just keep a few more kids from picking up a gun in the rst place.

at won’t make any noise . . . but if the people of Orange Mound have anything to do with it, it WILL certainly resonate.

Reading is fundamental -- and now possible at the Orange Mound Library.

Pastor Donald Davis of Spiritual Union Abide in Christ Ministries delivered a passionate prayer for healing and hope.

Memphis City Councilwoman Jana Swearengen-Washington couldn’t hide her excitement during the ceremony.

The Orange Mound Library is finally open!

■■ LIFESTYLE

From South Africa To Spain

‘Wanderlust’ carries senior adventurers from Cape Town to Barcelona

By Juanita C. Richardson Special to The Tri-State Defender

As we mature, my husband Walter and I nd ourselves with a growing wanderlust for traveling to unique historical places that we have only read about, dreamed of, or seen on television. is past month, that wanderlust took us up the Eastern Atlantic, on a 21-day adventure cruise from South Africa to Spain. ey say an airline can transport you to the top of the world, but only a cruise ship can bring you up close and personal to many interesting and dynamic places along the way. We learned that rst hand on our rst stop. Our rst stop was Cape Town, South Africa, the city where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 29 years. At the international airport, we were greeted with the sign, “Welcome to the Motherland.”

During our pre-cruise stay in Cape Town, we felt welcome from day one as we explored the city by walking, shopping, and taking excursions to notable places: Table Top Mountains with the 12 Apostles Mountain Range lingering in the background, Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope, Robben Island—one of the three places Mandela was imprisoned. We are history bu s and were quite amazed to be standing near the Cape of Good Hope, the place where Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias rst reached the cape in 1488. en, it was on to Cape Point where we took a funicular to the top of the Point, where we witnessed majestic views across Cape Town.

During our Antarctica trip this past winter, we saw various species of penguins, but not as up close and personal as the ones we saw at Boulders’ African Penguin Colony. We could really reach out and touch the penguins as they stood or moved about their colony. We ended our three-day pre-cruise in Cape

Town with a wildlife safari some 80 miles from the city.

Mind you: Our Cape Town adventure was fantastic at every turn — and we hadn’t even boarded the cruise yet!

Walvis Bay was our rst port of call. Namibia is located along a natural deepwater harbor by the Namib Desert and is an ideal location for both migrating and resident birds, especially amingos and pelicans. is city claims to be a bird lovers paradise where more than 150 species have been recorded in the area.

Day 6 took us to Luanda, Angola, the largest and capital city. On our guided tour, we saw the Portuguese in uence across the colonial architecture and numerous new buildings that have been part of the city’s revitalization following the end of the Angolan Civil War in 2002.

On Day 8, we landed in Sao Tome

and Principe, the port that made national news because six cruise passengers, while on an unauthorized Norwegian excursion, were le ashore because they did not return to the ship at the expected time for departure.

Sao Tome and Principe, the second smallest nation in Africa, were invaded by the Portuguese in 1485. e cities are known for their colonial architecture and brightly colored buildings. Principe is almost an entirely untouched island close to the equator with a population of less than 10,000. Sao Tome, the capital city, has many marquee attractions including the national museum, many churches including a 16th-century Catholic cathedral, presidential palace, and lively city markets. is was the only port where we had to take a tender boat.

e next stops were in Côte d’Ivoire

(Ivory Coast), Senegal, and the Canary Islands were our next adventures on the cruise. Abidjan is the country’s largest city and the economic capital of Ivory Coast — a major hub for commerce. Our tour guide reminded us that in the 1990s, the city was deemed the “Paris of West Africa” and the “Manhattan of West Africa” due to being a destination for fashion and culture.

Skyscrapers tower above the existing buildings near the harbor—all evidence of the booming success of the region

Our adventure started with 3 days in Cape Town, where we eventually made it to the Southernmost point of the Continent!. (Courtesy photos)

A selfie at Capetown.

My Husband, Walter Richardson, after we docked in Luanda, Angola.

■■ LIFESTYLE

before the Ivorian Civil War occurred. Dakar is the cultural and economic center of Senegal. As we toured the city, we observed that there is still a great need for education and job training throughout the city.

e seven Canary Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands only about 67 miles from the coast of Africa. Over 16 million people visit the islands every year. You would think that the Canary Islands would be a part of Africa instead of Spain. It was interesting to learn that the Canary Islands’ name comes from the word “canaria,” which means dog, not canary birds. Some historians believe that the original inhabitants worshiped dogs.

We toured Lanzarote and Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the islands. In Lanzarote, most of the houses are painted white to re ect the sun’s rays and prevent the interior temperatures from rising too much. Our local excursion took us up to Timanfaya National Park, a natural museum of unique beauty, bizarre craters, streams mixed with elds of ashes that create a nearly unrealistic lunar landscape. ese formations were caused by the volcanic eruptions in the 18th century. Our tour continued up to

Fire Mountain, one of the most visited attractions on the island.

en, it was on from Tenerife to Mt. Teide, the highest point in Spain and the highest point above sea level in the islands of the Atlantic Ocean. I had the opportunity to take a cable car up almost 10,000 to one of the highest points to the top of Mt. Teide. From the top, I saw incredible views of the crater of the volcano and the im-

pressive volcanic cone of the mountain from which lava descends with numerous textures and colors.

On Saturday, April 18, 2024, we were so excited about sailing through the Strait of Gibraltar that we remained awake until 2 a.m., observing the twinkling lights of the cities all along the strait as we sailed toward Spain. Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean

Sea and separates Europe from Africa.

A er leaving the strait, we visited three cities in Spain: Motril (Granada), Alicante, and Barcelona. In Granada, we visited the Alhambra, a palace fortress complex that is one of the Seven Wonders of the Muslim World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

e Capilla Real and the Cathedral of Granada were our next tour in the city. Inside the Cathedral are 15 unique gold-laden chapels that house true masterpieces of mostly local artists.

e Capilla Real ( e Royal Chapel) next door to the Cathedral houses the remains of Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II, the people who nanced Christopher Columbus’ expedition to the Americas. It was truly amazing to be standing in the presence of royalty, although deceased. e co ns are remarkably tiny—a reminder of how short they must have been.

Walter and I call the gorgeous city of Alicante the “Miami of Spain” because of the numerous beautiful long public beaches. People come from all over the world just to visit the seafront beaches. While shopping, we took long strolls on the famous La Espanada de Espana, the famous pedestrian walkway almost a mile long and runs parallel to the port. We disembarked the Norwegian Dawn in beautiful Barcelona, Spain. We found that the Hop On Hop O Tour Bus was the best way to see and get the feel of the city since we only had three days in town. We actually took the tour bus around twice. Walter and I took a cable car to tour the fort at Montjuic Castle and to observe the amazing sights of Barcelona for miles and miles around. Truly amazing views.

Banjul, Gambia was on our scheduled cruise, but we had to bypass it due to extreme high winds and other safety reasons. But all was not lost because Africa in April saluted Gambia in Memphis, Tennessee.

It is good to visit other lands to see up close and personal historical places that we have read about, but there is no place like Beale Street, Radio Station WDIA, Memphis BBQ, and the home of the “King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis Presley— my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.

We stopped at Chapman ‘s Park on the drive to Boulder ‘s Penguin Colony and Cape of Good Hope. So many beautiful and picturesque places!

Walter and I enjoyed taking in the culture of Luanda including these street performers playing African drums.

PUZZLES