The New Tri-State Defender - September 1-7, 2022

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September 1 - 7, 2022

VOL. 71, No. 35

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COMMENTARY

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Halbert claims ‘go-high’ stance in dispute with assessor’s office

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Alisha Williamson with the Black Business Association (BBA) addresses attendees during the Capital Conversations event. Also pictured are Bank of America’s Trevia Chatman and Herman Strickland with the BBA. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New TriState Defender)

Capital Conversations helps cap National Black Business Month

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Set in the Bank of America in East Memphis, about 70 business owners and aspiring business owners recently received valuable financial lessons during Capital Conversations, which was held in conjunction with the August observance of National Black Business Month.

The Black Business Association (BBA) of Memphis and Bank of America partnered in hosting the event. One segment featured financial mentors for small businesses talking with breakout groups for 10 minutes. Mentors rotated from group to group until everyone had spent time with each mentor.

The goal was to offer a high-level introduction of relevant services and information to small business owners. Those in attendance were members of the BBA and clients of Bank of America.

“Small business owners are students of growing their business,” said Bank of America’s Trevia Chatman. “They need to know about marketing, taxation, moving from an LLC to a corporation. There are so many moving pieces. We are connected with partners in the community to provide all those needed resources.

Attendees were able to make inquiries during an initial plenary session, where the mentors were introduced.

Orlandus Kirby, small business banker at Bank of America’s Germantown branch, discussed the advantages of cash management services offered through his office.

“There are several services that are very beneficial to the small business owner,” Kirby said. “We can help manage cash flow. We can help you focus on people, your employees. And no matter what kind of business it is, you will need people. We can assist with payroll.

“At any lending institution, you will get the question, ‘What is your credit experience?’ We have a bank card that will help you build credit for a small business.”

Mentors took a deeper information dive into the discussions during breakout sessions, answering more specific questions, regarding business ideas and issues.

“When we came up with the idea of having Capital Conversations, it was a team effort of BBA and Bank of America members,” said BBA President Ernest Strickland. “Capital means funding, so of course, the conversations would relate to funding, as well as other resources a small business would need

SEE BUSINESS ON PAGE 2

Already the chief financial officer for Memphis Shelby County Schools, Tutonial (Toni) Williams was named interim superintendent on Tuesday evening.

Our school board is missing a great opportunity!

by Curtis Weathers

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

A few weeks ago, Dr. Joris Ray resigned as superintendent of Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), and the school board ended the investigation into whether he violated district policy by having inappropriate relationships with district employees.

The board also just recently approved a severance package for Dr. Ray worth more than a half-million dollars, raising eyebrows throughout the community.

Tuesday (Aug. 30) night, the MSCS school board took another transitional step away from the leadership of Dr. Ray to the new interim leadership of Dr. Toni Williams.

Dr. Williams will replace Dr. John Barker and Dr. Angela Whitelaw, who Curtis were serving as interim Weathers co-superintendents.

Dr. Williams will serve in that capacity until the district, through a national search, finds a permanent superintendent to lead Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Surprisingly, the board wanted the interim superintendent to be someone “not interested in the job” permanently. This, supposedly, is paving a path forward for local candidates to apply for the position.

The announcement of an interim superintendent was the next step in the school board’s effort to find new leadership and restore the public’s trust in our school system.

This also was the current school board’s final decision as a group; the newly established board will begin its work Thursday (Sept. 1) week with two brand new members starting their terms in office.

Our school board and many advocacy groups here in Memphis are anxious to launch a national search for a new superintendent.

Over the last several weeks, I have shared my preference for a new leadership paradigm that involves two co-superintendents at the top of the leadership pyramid.

I will not repeat all the details supporting my suggestions, just that I believe we already have the leadership in place (or had the leadership in place) needed to maintain the consistency and stability our district desperately needs moving forward.

In summary, my recommendation was that the Memphis Shelby County Schools promote Dr. Barker and Dr. Whitelaw to the position of co-superintendents and continue the work that got our school system to a level 5 performance in 2022.

Someone asked me last week if I had shared my idea with Dr. Barker and Dr. Whitelaw before presenting it to the public.

Well, the answer is “no.” But I have not re-

SEE MSCS ON PAGE 2

Contentions between the Shelby County Clerk’s Office and the Shelby County Assessor’s Office came to a head as accusations and threats of ouster flew this week.

While Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert prepared for the county’s swearing-in ceremony Wednesday (Aug. 31) afternoon, she called a recent allegation that she is costing the county about $4 million annually “baseless and without merit.”

“I’m taking a page from Michelle Obama’s playbook,” Halbert said. “When they go low, we go high. I have ordered an independent audit of my office and the 77 sources of income we take in. My office is run with integrity and decorum. This audit Move to will answer all alleinvestigate gations.”

Javier “Jay” Bailey, County Clerk’s chief administrative office comes up officer for the Assesone vote short sor’s Office, said HalSee Community, bert’s decision to cut Page 8 off access to data is costing Shelby County Government $3 million to $4 million in lost revenue annually.

“Our county clerk has refused to allow access to records needed in the Assessor’s Office to tax new businesses,” Bailey said Wednesday. “I reached out to Halbert’s chief administrative officer Bill Cash in an Aug. 26 email to see if some agreeable resolution might be possible.”

Halbert took offense to the email, which notably excluded her.

“I never received that email,” said Halbert. “It was addressed to my CAO, but not to me? Shelby County Tax Assessor Melvin Burgess was copied on the email, but I was left out of the loop. I feel there is something disingenuous about that.”

Bailey, who is an attorney, said he will do everything in his power to de-escalate tensions and broker an amicable resolution.

“Today is a busy one for elected officials being sworn in,” said Bailey. “But next week, maybe Tuesday or Wednesday, I plan to reach out to Ms. Halbert and get Assessor

SEE HALBERT ON PAGE 2

At a press conference this week, Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert disclosed that she ordered “an independent audit of my office and the 77 sources of income we take in. …

This audit will answer all allegations.

(Screen capture)

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The New Tri-State Defender

September 1 - 7, 2022

Page 2

NEWS

MSCS

HALBERT

ceived any emails or text messages saying “stop the nonsense” either. At least not from Dr. Barker or Dr. Whitelaw.

The board had a situation in 2019 like what we are dealing with today, and we might use those circumstances to inform our decision-making going forward.

If you recall, Dr. Joris Ray was named superintendent in 2019 after our school board decided against doing a national search. Board members said at the time that Dr. Ray, who had been serving in the interim position for months, was an “exceedingly qualified candidate” and that a national search would be unnecessary.

I think the same can be said for Dr. Whitelaw and Dr. Barker. They both are “exceedingly qualified,” and a national search is simply unnecessary.

Instead, our school board and many advocacy groups in Memphis are anxious to launch a national search for a new superintendent.

Board chair McKissack made it emphatically clear after Tuesday’s board meeting that the school system will “definitely be conducting a national search.”

The school board is free, of course, to shop for new leadership whenever and wherever it pleases.

A new superintendent will surely want to bring in their own people and create systems and processes that suit their management style.

That, in and of itself, will create a certain amount of disruption.

My fear is that the search for and installation of new leadership at the top of the organization will create disruptions that will take time to adjust to, and we will lose the momentum and stability that is so hard to come by in urban school systems like ours.

Nevertheless, I want to extend my sincere congratu-

Burgess to sit down and talk with her. Hopefully, we can work out all points of contention amiably. I don’t want to pursue more aggressive measures.”

An old dispute was raised in Bailey’s email, charging Halbert with cutting access to a database which the assessor’s office has used to identify new businesses.

“In 2019, just months after I was elected, I discovered that there was free and open access to data which should have been kept private,” said Halbert. “Social Security numbers and other personal information was exposed. So, I cut off access. The assessor has access to needed data, including business names, owners, and addresses.”

Although excluded from the late Friday email, sent at 10:42 p.m., Halbert replied to Bailey, defending her actions as necessary to protect sensitive, “restricted data.”

Halbert said she cut access to the restricted information after consulting with the County Attorney’s Office.

Halbert said the assessor’s office was accessing highly sensitive information from a number of county offices, including the District Attorney General’s Office.

Halbert also referenced in her reply the “New Business List” that is available on the County Clerk’s website. Each

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

MSCS Board President Michelle McKissack answers questions about the appointment of an interim superintendent and the path forward. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

Interim Supt. Toni Williams included intermingling with students as part of her first, full day on the job.

(Photo: MSCS Twitter) lations to Dr. Toni Williams for being chosen to lead our school system at this time.

I do not know her personally, but people have profound respect for her leadership. I will be praying for her success as she tackles the work of leading our school system over the weeks and months ahead.

The transitional work that lays ahead will be significant and quite a distraction. Dr. Williams, however, will have a pretty good team supporting her. Our educators will need our support and prayers, espe-

cially the teachers and administrators in our schools.

Speaking of teachers in our schools, I want to congratulate Tennessee’s Teacher of the Year, Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ very own Dr. Melissa Collins from John P. Freeman Elementary School. What a great honor!

Keep up the GREAT work!

(Follow me, TSD’s education columnist, on Twitter @curtisweathers. Email me at curtislweathers@gmail.com.)

For MSCS Interim Supt. Toni Williams, Memphis is home TSD Newsroom With her nomination submitted by Memphis Shelby County Schools Board Commissioner Althea Green, Tutonial “Toni” Williams has stepped into the role of interim superintendent.

Williams is the chief financial officer for Memphis Shelby County Schools (MSCS).

The board voted unanimously for Williams, who will guide the district pending the selection of a permanent replacement for Dr. Joris M. Ray. Ray resigned last week, bringing to a halt an investigation into whether he had violated district policies regarding relations with employees. Dr. John Barker and Dr. Angela Whitelaw, deputy superintendents, had been guiding MSCS in the interim.

According to Greene, the board was focused on retaining an interim with no interest in seeking the superintendent’s position full time.

Moments after the board’s decision, Williams briefly addressed the media, sharing some of her thoughts on the road ahead, including academic momentum.

Later, this letter from her was posted on the MSCS Twitter site: Dear Memphis-Shelby County Schools Family, Tonight, I began my tenure as interim Superintendent of Memphis-Shelby Schools (MSCS), following the School Board’s vote at its monthly business meeting.

I look forward to working with students, staff, and families in this interim role as the Board begins its search for the next superintendent. The Board will share more information about the superintendent search in the coming days. While our elected leaders lead that process, I am committed to guiding my community through a smooth and successful

year.

Memphis is my home. A graduate of Whitehaven High School, earned master’s and bachelor’s degrees in accounting from Clark Atlanta University. I began my career in school leadership in 2014, helping with the first audits after the merger of legacy Shelby County and Memphis City Schools. I have worked with Millington Municipal Schools and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and I have held various roles at MSCS, now serving as chief financial officer and interim superintendent.

I also have been a New Memphis fellow, Leadership Memphis graduate, and Youth Villages mentor because I believe in the promise and power of volunteerism.

One of my most rewarding experiences since joining MSCS was mentoring my student intern, Kalen. The East High student served in my office this summer as part of the District’s Power 1,000 Internship Program, which is now enrolling new students and community partners. I shared with Kalen our auditing process and the importance of accountability, oversight and sound financial stewardship of public funds. These are values I hold dear.

As Interim Superintendent, I look forward to continuing to enhance education in our community by ensuring that the District provides effective resources and opportunities for all students. I can think of no greater honor at this moment than to serve our exceptional teachers, staff, and students as Interim Superintendent.

Thank you to the Board for its support, and thank you in advance to all in our community for uniting at this pivotal moment to show that now and always we are #MSCSTogether!

Sincerely, Tutonial (Toni) Williams Interim Superintendent and CFO Memphis-Shelby County Schools

BUSINESS

CONTINUED FROM FRONT to be successful. These were inclusive conversations.”

BBA Director of Operations Chasisty Jones said, “People want to work for themselves, and they have all kinds of ideas for a business. One lady wanted to run an online, women’s lingerie business. Even through the pandemic, people were starting businesses.”

Jones said during the pandemic, some eateries started.

“New restaurants can still be profitable. People started selling (food) plates out of their homes. There had to be so many orders before they would deliver to a certain location.

“I know of someone who started like that. They now operate a food truck, and the business is doing very well.

They have no desire for a brick-and-mortar establishment.”

Director of Pathway Lending for the Women’s Business Center Jarlecia Jones talked

Said Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert: “I’m taking a page from Michelle Obama’s playbook. … When they go low, we go high. … My office is run with integrity and decorum.) (Screen capture) entry lists the business name, product type, address, owner, and date the license was issued.

But more detail is needed, according to the Assessor’s Office, including business license account numbers and contact information, such as telephone numbers and email addresses, to efficiently identify new businesses and add them to the tax rolls.

Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower encouraged local authorities to oust Halbert in a statement released on Friday. Mumpower was responding to a request from the Shelby County Commission to temporarily seize control of the clerk’s license plate distribution operations.

The request was made after a months-long backlog in the issuance of auto license plates.

Halbert closed her office last week to resolve the back-

log but caused a firestorm of controversy for vacationing in Jamaica during the closure.

Mumpower blasted Halbert for vacationing while her employees worked to catch up.

Bailey’s email was sent three hours later.

Halbert defended her vacation during the office shutdown in an Aug. 29 news conference.

Halbert said she “will not tolerate anyone suggesting that my personal business, my personal life, should be played out before the public.”

Halbert reminded media that she is “not an employee with a job who has to ask a boss for approval to be out of the office.”

The Aug. 22-26 closure of the county clerk’s office cleared up two-thirds of the backlog, Halbert said.

Halbert is scheduled to close the offices again Sept. 19-23.

with attendees about accessing funds to expand their businesses.

“We are a CDFI, a Community Development Financial Institution,” Jarlecia Jones said. “That means if you’ve been turned down by other banks, we may be able to help.

We have an educational arm that can give you a cash flow analysis and identify trends in a particular business.

“Business loans are risky, so we do ask about collateral and assets. Your home, equipment, and inventory can all be used as collateral for small business loans.”

Stacy Yancey, the Memphis regional supervisor in the Tennessee Department of Revenue’s Taxpayer Services Division, said businesses, generally, are required to pay these taxes – business, sales and use, and franchise and excise.

Yancey advised small business owners to hire a certified public accountant (CPA) to ensure all tax obligations are met.

Bank of America’s Chatman

hopes future entrepreneurs will look at consulting with Bank of America.

“Bank of America is an excellent starting point for entrepreneurs,” said Chatman. “No matter what phase they are in, even if it’s just an idea in their head, we can help ...”

The BBA’s Strickland said the enthusiastic participation of so many attendees indicated that more such events are in high demand.

“The fact that people were so interested in the resources available to educate themselves just exceeded our expectations,” said Strickland.

“We are already in the process of planning the next event.”

August was first designated as National Black Business Month in 2004, when John William Templeton co-founded the observance to support and encourage African-American businesses across the nation.

(For information on getting started in business, call the BBA of Memphis at 901-6369300, or Bank of America at 901-433-6215.)

The New Tri-State Defender

September 1 - 7, 2022

NEWS

Jackson water crisis forces residents to find alternatives JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The water pressure at James Brown’s home in Jackson was so low the faucets barely dripped. He couldn’t cook. He couldn’t bathe. But he still had to work.

The 73-year-old tree-cutter hauled bags of ice into his truck at a gas station on his way to a job Wednesday after several days without water.

“What can I do? I’m just a pawn in a chess game,” he said, on one of multiple trips to and from the store. “All I’ve got to do is just try and live.”

People waited in lines at distribution sites and flooded stores for water to drink, bathe, cook and flush toilets Wednesday in Mississippi’s capital amid the failure of the the city water system after flooding exacerbated longstanding problems in one of two water-treatment plants.

President Joe Biden, who the day before approved an emergency declaration for the state of Mississippi, called Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba to discuss response efforts, including support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Beyond addressing the immediate crisis, Biden said he wants to provide federal support for the longer term effort to rebuild Jackson’s aging water infrastructure, which has been unreliable for years.

Lumumba said Jackson’s water system is troubled by short staffing and “decades of deferred maintenance.” He said the influx of water from torrential rain changed the chemical composition needed for treatment, which slowed the process of pushing water out to customers.

Even before the service disruption, the city’s 150,000 residents had been boiling their drinking water for the past month because officials said

Bobbie Fairley, owner of Magic Hand’s Hair Design in Jackson, Miss, had to cancel five appointments on Wednesday, Aug, 31, 2022, after she realized the barbershop did not have running water. She’s not sure how long she can afford to keep canceling appointments. (AP Photo/Michael Goldberg) it could cause digestive problems.

Brown said Wednesday that he’d stopped at the grocery store to buy four cases of water before picking up the ice.

A lifelong resident of Jackson, he said people there have been living without access to consistent water for years — even when there is pressure, residents often have to boil it to drink and cook.

Within the past two years, people have lost pressure entirely. A cold snap in 2021 left tens of thousands of people without running water after pipes froze. Similar problems happened again early this year, on a smaller scale.

“It will get right one day,” he said. “When, I have no idea.”

Like many cities, Jackson faces water system problems it can’t afford to fix. Its tax base has eroded the past few decades as the population decreased — the result of mostly white flight to suburbs that

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began after public schools integrated in 1970. The city’s population is now more than 80% Black, with about 25% of its residents living in poverty.

Lumumba said last week that fixing Jackson’s water system could cost $200 million, but Tuesday he said the cost could run to “quite possibly the billions of dollars.” Mississippi is receiving $75 million to address water problems as part of a bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Bobbie Fairley owns Magic Hand’s Hair design in South Jackson. The 59-year-old, who has lived in Jackson her entire life, said she had to cancel five appointments Wednesday because she needs high water pressure to wash chemicals out of hair during treatments.

She’s had to purchase water to shampoo hair to try fit in whatever appointments she can. When clients aren’t coming in, she’s losing money, she said.

“That’s a big burden,” she

Santonia Matthews, a custodian at Forest Hill High School in Jackson, Miss., hauls away a trash can filled with water from a tanker in the school’s parking lot, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. The tanker is one of two placed strategically in the city to provide residents non-potable water. The recent flood worsened Jackson’s longstanding water system problems and the state Health Department has had Mississippi’s capital city under a boil-water notice since late July. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

said. “I can’t afford that. I can’t afford that at all.”

Jackson State University, a historically Black university, had to bring in temporary restrooms for students and was

Jackson, Miss., Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba addresses the city’s partnership with the state to help address the water crisis in the Capital city during a news conference in Jackson Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022.

On Monday, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced state assistance to help with Jackson’s water issues.

(Barbara Gauntt/The Clarion-Ledger via AP) waiting on the delivery of portable showers Wednesday, a spokesperson said.

Shannon Wilson, whose daughter just started her sophomore year at Jackson State, said her daughter’s dorm regained some pressure, but the water coming out is brown.

Her daughter left to stay with a friend off campus. But Wilson, who lives in St. Louis, can’t help but worry about her.

“We are feeling helpless.

Being over 500 miles away from Jackson, there is nothing I can do but worry,” she said.

Wilson said she’s grateful that she and her husband are able to provide transportation and support for their daughter, but knows many families don’t have the means. She can’t help but think about all the sacrifices parents make to pay tuition and “give their child the opportunity to further their education only to be let down.”

“My heart goes out to the students that are forced to live

in those conditions and their families. The issue is much bigger than just JSU and the city of Jackson,” she said.

“Where is the governor that was elected to ensure citizens are protected? Somebody needs to answer to this and get it rectified.”

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency for Jackson’s water system Tuesday. The state will try to help resolve problems by hiring contractors to work at the treatment plant, which was operating at diminished capacity with backup pumps after the main pumps failed “some time ago,” Reeves said.

(This Associated Press story is by Michael Goldberg and Leah Willingham. Goldberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.)

PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, September 1 - 7, 2022, Page 4

Economic Development Forum provides a setting to make sense of ‘opportunity’

by Dena Owens

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Gov. Bill Lee and Mayor Jim Strickland talked “opportunity” at the “Power Breakfast” that opened the Wednesday session of the Mid-South Minority Business Council (MMBC) Continuum’s 15th Annual Economic Development Forum.

“It’s not the lack of ability people have, but the lack of opportunities to use their strengths and talents (to build wealth),” said Lee, the opening speaker at the Renasant Center downtown.

Lee thanked MMBC for the work done thus far to advance minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) and touted the state’s diverse-supplier record.

“We’ve increased the amount of minority- and women-owned business engagement with the state by 44 percent in four years. … We now do in excess of $1 billion of state contracts with minority- and womGov. Bill Lee en-owned businesses.”

Go-DBE, the website for the Governor’s Office of Diverse Business Enterprise, defines the term “minority” and provides DBE requirements and procurement opportunities.

“MWBEs make up an important part of the state’s economy as job creators,” said Lee, who acknowledged the difficulties MWBEs face with access to capital and professional services. He stressed being deliberate about removing barriers.

“If we’re ‘intentional’ and actually engage (MWBEs), we can make a difference.”

Fixing workforce transit issues During Strickland’s tenure, the City of Memphis increased MWBE contracts from

12 to 24 percent, but work continues as cities such as Atlanta boast 30-plus percent MWBE contracts.

At the “Power Breakfast,” Strickland called Memphis an “opportunity city” and gave a local jobs report.

“We’re at an all-time high on the number of jobs filled in Memphis in its history,” he said, detailing that the city gained 24,000 jobs on top of 40,000 restored after the pandemic.

Still, transportation issues complicate the view of Memphis as an “opportunity city.” About 15 percent of the city’s drivers can’t afford reliable cars, plus expenses.

“Our public transportation system is not good. That’s not breaking news,” said Strickland, who then touted Memphis’ first dedicated funding for Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) and a new transit plan that is projected to be fully completed by 2030.

The new plan promises reliability.

MATA has secured $140 million in federal and local grants to help patrons get to and from jobs. One $54 million grant from the Department of Transportation will be used to buy new buses and renovate MATA’s old operating facility in North Memphis.

Another $22.3 million grant will help MATA transition from gas-run buses to quiet, energy-saving electric vehicles.

Funds will also cover charging stations and construction.

Earlier this year, MATA received a $46 million federal grant to launch Memphis Innovation Corridor – a rapid transit hub designed to reduce bus wait times.

MATA expects the monies to create 100,000 new jobs.

EV jobs training on the way In early August, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded $21.5 million to Workforce MidSouth – the nonprofit replacing WIN (Workforce Investment Network). At Wednesday’s MMBC luncheon, Kyla Guyette, Work-

Board will ensure access to Blue Oval City opportunities for everyone, Guyette said.

So far, 295 employers have pledged support for the $21.5M project.

Annually, Workforce MidSouth receives about $10 million from the state to support job training for adults and youth and ex-offender re-entry programs.

The agency also provides free services to business owners, including job posting and candidate sourcing, reimbursement for up-skill training, repayment for on-the-job training, and funding for apprenticeships.

Sustaining jobs and MWBE growth

Back in stride … The Economic Development Forum hosted by the Mid-South Minority Business Council (MMBC) Continuum was back live and in person at the Renasant Convention Center this past week.

Jozelle Booker, president and CEO, welcomed attendees. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender) force MidSouth president, discussed the award and agency services.

EDA funds will benefit West Tennessee, East Arkansas, and North Mississippi through Opportunity Now! – an accelerated four- to 24-week program to train the Mid-South’s electric vehicle workforce.

“Whether or not (Ford’s) Blue Oval (electric vehicle plant) is in Stanton (Tennessee), it’s still going to have a tremendous impact on Memphis, said Guyette.

“Blue Oval City cannot be successful without Memphis.”

While Guyette knows Ford’s EV (electric vehicle) plant needs Memphis for its large populace and supplier base, she had this warning: “It’s absolutely possible for the entire West Tennessee to be booming and us to not move the needle on poverty an inch.”

The State Workforce Development

In May, a $25-million grant was awarded to the University of Memphis to help low-income citizens increase their wealth.

The UofM partnered with Workforce MidSouth to implement GROWWTH (Growing Relational and Generational Wealth for West Tennessee Households).

Implementation includes managing $50,000 MWBE microloans (forgivable if the entrepreneur completes program steps and UofM business mentoring).

Through grants, the nonprofit will also help citizens open new childcare centers.

Guyette says the agency will support transportation needs through low-interest, down payments for car loans (despite credit score), free gas cards, and reimbursement for six to eight months of car notes.

“We want to have alternatives that put people in control of their own destiny,” she said.

For better access to services, Workforce MidSouth will erect kiosks where people live and work, and support the MidSouth Opportunity Center – the proposed onestop site for job seekers and business owners.

The site will replace American Job Centers and expand to include business resources and incubator space, job training, and childcare.

(For more information, visit www.workforcemidsouth.com.)

Reading, Writing and... Vending Machines?! How Read901 is working toward 100% literacy in the Mid-South

by Sam O’Bryant

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

If you can read this article without trouble, it’s because someone invested in your literacy.

More than 20 percent of adults in Tennessee can’t say the same, according to the National Institute for Literacy. Literacy isn’t just about reading books. Some folks might also have trouble with everyday tasks, like reading the label on a drug prescription or filling out a job application.

Adults, who have trouble with literacy — reading, writing, and communicating clearly — are likely pass that struggle down to their children, according to research from “Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal.”

They won’t be able to help with their homework or teach them how to use recent technologies. This is what keeps many families in a cycle of generational challenges.

This crisis has been escalating for a long time in the Mid-South, and no one person alone can solve the problem.

My personal journey into literacy began with my mother and my Aunt Jean. In addition to being a middle-school history teacher, my mother also was a certified reading instructor.

Using this skill, my mom made sure I was reading beyond grade level before I stepped into a first-grade classroom.

My mom included weekly trips to the library, during the summer, to mitigate any sort of learn-

ing loss. My Aunt Jean, who was a librarian, made sure I was registered for summer reading programs.

Aunt Jean also made it her mission to have me read books that were above my current grade level.

Because of the work of my village to position litSam eracy as a vital part of my O’Bryant upbringing, I was able to function in the classroom at a high level.

It takes hard work and a village to raise an empowered community, but the good news is that Memphis always has been a place where neighbors lend a helping hand.

If we apply that same grit-and-grind energy toward reaching 100 percent literacy, I know that we can do it.

That’s why at Literacy Mid-South we’re launching a new campaign called Read901 to make sure everyone, regardless of zip code, financial status, or background, has the resources they need to learn.

Our new online portal has free resources for children, parents, teachers, and friends to start their literacy journey, and continue it.

These resources will help educate people from birth to late adulthood. Many of the people, who need these resources for themselves or their children, are working late nights at multiple jobs while juggling child or parent care.

Getting more children to feel as comfortable reading as these two is part of the goal at Literacy Mid-South. (Courtesy photo) That’s why we’ve also installed Read901 vending machines for convenience, beginning at Scenic Hills Elementary and For The Kingdom in the Raleigh community.

These vending machines will house books for all ages and learning abilities, everything from children’s books to test guides to adult tutoring resources will all be available directly in the community for free.

It’s important to us that we make these resources accessible and convenient for everyone.

Poor literacy rates have been an issue for decades in Memphis and across the country. But together, we can help each other not only boost our reading levels, but build healthier, more educated communities where all our families thrive.

Information • Inspiration • Elevation Published by Best Media Properties, Inc.

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The New Tri-State Defender

September 1 - 7, 2022

Page 5

RELIGION

Memphis District Laymen set to tee up with Penny Hardaway TSD Newsroom The Memphis District Laymen, which is composed of 72 Baptist churches in the City of Memphis, has joined with University of Memphis Tigers Men’s Basketball Coach Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway to host the official golf tournament of the Southern Heritage Classic.

The debut of the Penny Hardaway Memphis District Golf Classic will be at Tunica National Golf & Tennis on Sept. 10, with a tee time of 8 a.m.

The Memphis Laymen took over the golf tournament in 2019 after the Ed “Too Tall” Jones Golf Classic concluded. Jones is a Tennessee State University alumni athlete and retired NFL Dallas Cowboys player.

He’s excited about this collabora-

tion with Coach Hardaway.

“We always knew we wanted to affiliate our tournament with a successful athlete like the previous one,” said Charles L. Ewing Sr. of Ewing Moving & Storage, Inc. and president of the Memphis District Laymen.

“When one of our committee members, Don Holmes, suggested Penny we all agreed that he was the perfect person. He’s an accomplished athlete and coach and an avid golfer with a deep-rooted love of the Memphis community. We appreciate his willingness to attach his name and efforts to ours as we continue to make a positive impact in the lives of youth.”

Each year, approximately 100 players hit the greens to play golf for a great cause. Cigna global health service company returns as the title

sponsor for the third year.

“Sports are a great way to stay physically fit while learning valuable life skills,” said CIGNA President Tri-South John Webb.

Charles L. Ewing Sr. “We here at CIGNA are proud to be able to say we have been here since the very beginning of this tournament, and we’ve watched it grow each year.

Having Coach Hardaway involved makes what the Memphis District Laymen are doing for youth even more special.”

The Memphis District Laymen mission is to “unify men in their purpose of mentoring, evangelizing, and nurturing others to help our communities and strengthen churches.”

The Southern Heritage Classic is a multi-day, annual cultural celebration in Memphis built around an annual HBCU football game at what now is Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

Proceeds from the golf tournament are used to provide college scholarships and sponsor a one-week summer golf clinic for youth (K-8) at the Links at Whitehaven golf course.

Registration for the golf tournament is at capacity but hole sponsorships are still available.

Additional sponsors include Gossett Motor Cars, Nike, FedEx, MLGW, City of Memphis, Regional

Penny Hardaway at TPC Southwind during an event prior to the start of the FedEx St. Jude Championship. (Photo: Terry Davis/The New Tri-State Defender) One Health, Ewing Moving & Storage, Methodist Lebonheur, Principle Toyota, Paragon Bank, Old Fashion Way Organics, Renasant Bank, The Compass Circle, Paragon Bank, Memphis Rebounders, New York Life, Tate Computer Systems, Memphis Tourism, and the Memphis District Association (MDA).

(For more information, visit memphisdistrictgolfclassic.org or call 901-265-4886.)

Annual Women’s Day …

“Learn how to believe God” was the theme for Annual Women’s Day 2022 hosted

by Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, 394 Vance Ave. (O.C. Collins Sr. Avenue), on Aug. 28. The chairpersons were Angela Mays and Marsha Stepney. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

Speaking of …

The Rev. Keith Kimble, associate minister at St. Luke Baptist Church on Keating, was a recent featured speaker at the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association. His topic was “God’s House.”

(Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New TriState Defender)

Tea time …

The Memphis/ Shelby County section of the National Council of Negro Women held its annual tea at Middle Baptist Church on Whitehaven Lane last Saturday (Aug. 27).

(Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New TriState Defender)

The New Tri-State Defender, September 1 - 7, 2022, Page 6

Queen Riders create rolling spectacle on their way to a weekend ‘day party’

by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The Queen Riders closed out the season with an end-ofsummer-day party Saturday (Aug. 27), and it was “fire.”

“The pandemic is over, summer has gone, and so we said, ‘Why not?’ said Bridgette Askew. We do lots of charitable work with Salvation Army safe houses and the Memphis Union Mission’s Moriah House.

“We’re not just styling and profiling in our Corvettes.

Queen Riders work hard and play even harder. Stan Bell was our DJ. Our party was fire.”

The ride-out by Memphis’ all-female Corvette club stopped traffic as custom vehicles cruised through South Memphis streets to the Pound 4 Pound Entertainment Center, a popular motorcycle clubhouse.

“It goes down in the clubhouse,” said Askew. “When we were planning our ‘Queens-N-Heels’ day party, there was only one venue live enough for us. No question, Pound 4 Pound was it.”

Queen Riders President DeSharon Plummer said the day party was simply a day of fun for the queens and their guests.

“The party on Saturday was not a charitable fundraiser this time,” said Plummer. “It was a day of fun. Catching up with old friends and enjoying an old-school party with grown folks and good music – what a way to close out the summer. The pandemic is over. Life is good.”

Queen Riders grew out of another club called Strictly Vettes. Maurice Woodard Sr. is the founder of both.

“When I was a little boy, about 8 or 9, I remember seeing a Corvette for the first time,” said Woodard. “There was a group called the Vette Sette. I’ve always loved automobiles. So, when grew up and bought my first Corvette, I joined the Beale Street Corvette Club.”

Woodard, however, felt there was something more he should be doing. So, he left the Beale Street organization and started his own.

“I left the Beale Street club in May of 2008,” Woodard said. “In August 2008, I started Strictly Vettes. And the women rode along with their husbands and boyfriends.

“Then, ladies started joining with their own Corvettes. I told them they needed their own club. That was the beginning of Queen Riders, in November 2020.”

Both Plummer and Woodard say Corvette clubs do so much more than just ride around, looking cool. Many members have two Corvettes in the family because there are two club members in the household.

“We work with the ladies in these shelters, getting them some of the things they need,” said Plummer. “We made 124 ‘blessing bags’ full of toiletries because we want to work and make a difference in our community. Queen Riders have broadened the clubs’ reach into the community, working with women in need.”

Woodard said there is more purpose to the clubs than people realize.

“The social aspect of belonging to a Corvette club is fun,” said Woodard. “And a party maintains balance in a well-rounded person. But we have raised so much money over the years for various causes, hundreds of thousands of dollars. As we have been blessed, I believe we are called to be more and to do more.”

Woodard said Corvette club members are role models for young boys and girls.

“I use my car as a conversation starter,” said Woodard.

“I let young boys know that I got an education and worked hard for what I wanted.

“We are older men, and we can let these boys know that

we didn’t make it selling drugs, and we are not rappers.

We made it through education and years of hard work. We tell them that they can do the same.”

Woodard said he stands on the shoulders of Vette Sette members, who inspired him with the message that with hard work, you can buy whatever you want.

The New Tri-State Defender

September 1 - 7, 2022

Page 7

ENTERTAINMENT

National gospel artist Zacardi Cortez to highlight the 47th WLOK Stone Soul Picnic TSD Newsroom Local gospel greats, along with some of the nation’s most prestigious gospel singers, will headline the 47th annual WLOK Stone Soul Picnic this weekend.

Set for 3 p.m. to 9 p.m on Saturday (September 3) at the Overton Park Shell, 1928 Poplar Ave., the WLOK Stone Soul Picnic is one of the oldest and largest outdoor events in Memphis and the Mid-South, offering musical entertainment and fun for the entire family.

Admission is free and open to the public.

The six-hour event will feature gospel performers familiar to WLOK listeners, including The Mellowtones, Uncle Richard’s Puppets, The Spiritual Soldiers, and Charisse’.

Other star performers include Annie & the Caldwell Singers, the Melodic Truth, Roney Strong & the Strong Family, Josh Bracy & Power Anointed, Memphis Baptist Ministerial Choir, and the Sensational Wells Brothers.

“Generations have enjoyed WLOK

Stone Soul Picnic since it began in 1974, mostly because it’s an event filled with music, fun, and fellowship tied together by the heartfelt and uplifting sounds of pure gospel,” said Art Gilliam, president and chief executive officer of WLOK Radio and the Gilliam Foundation.

Zacardi Cortez, a national gospel artist, will be the show’s headliner.

Food truck and entertainment for children will be at the Overton Park Shell throughout the event.

Sponsored by the Gilliam Foundation,

where the chief operating officer is Dorrit Gilliam, the WLOK Stone Soul Picnic serves as a tribute to music-loving Memphians and their support for WLOK, which has graced the Memphis radio airwaves for nearly half a century.

WLOK is Memphis’ first Black-owned radio station and the city’s only Blackowned FM radio station.

(WLOK broadcasts a gospel format on AM1340 and FM105. For more information, contact Art Gilliam, 901-527-9565, or wlokradio@aol.com.)

WLOK, host of the annual Stone Soul Picnic, celebrated its 45th anniversary of Black ownership in February. Said WLOK Radio President Art Gilliam: “It is vitally important to our community for Black Businesses to be able to have continuity over the years.” (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender Archives) Zacardi Cortez, a national gospel artist, will be the headliner at this year’s Stone Soul Picnic. (Courtesy photo)

WLOK Stone Soul Picnic will be at the Levitt Shell in Overton Park. (Courtesy photo)

COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, September 1 - 7, 2022, Page 8

Move to investigate County Clerk’s office comes up one vote short

by James Coleman

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert once again dodged county commissioners’ accountability efforts when a resolution to have her office investigated failed to gain the seven votes needed to start the process.

Only six commissioners voted to adopt the resolution at the commission’s final meeting of their four-year terms Monday (Aug. 29). A new commission, with six new members, takes office Thursday (Sept.1).

The add-on item was the latest chip added to the pot in a battle between frustrated commissioners and Halbert, who recently returned from a Jamaican vacation that coincided with the first week of closures so the office could “catch up” on outstanding services.

“This body at a previous time, actually passed a resolution asking the State of Tennessee to help us deal with the clerk’s office and the disruption of services. We always speak by resolution. That passed and a letter was sent on our behalf to the Governor and to Comptroller (Jason) Mumpower.

“Recently, they have opined that this is a local issue…,” said commissioner Mark Billingsley. “I respect the position of the state to say this is not their issue. If it isn’t their issue, it’s our issue.”

The resolution requested that the Shelby County Attorney engage special counsel to investigate the disruptions in services in the clerk’s office, as well as an alleged breach of fiscal responsibilities and failure to perform duties by Halbert.

It was sponsored by Billingsley and commissioner Brandon Morrison.

Last week, the co-sponsors asked the county’s attorney to explore a possible recall vote. During Monday’s meeting, both also suggested that citizens continue to suffer from undelivered license plates, tags, handicap placards and other parcels.

The backlog began in May and eventually grew into a bottleneck of

“All of this would eventually lead, eventually, to ouster proceedings. But again, it brings out someone to evaluate what is happening and why we continue to have disruptions in the clerk’s office.”

— Mark Billingsley undelivered items. In late July, the commission bailed the office out with a $540,000 resolution to cover the costs of delivery.

By late July, Halbert said the office had “caught up.”

On the heels of a commission vote asking Mumpower to take over operations, she announced closures for the weeks of Aug. 22-26 and Sept.

19-23 so her office could “catch up” with outstanding services.

Halbert sent out a press release shortly after announcing the closures, saying “all hands are on deck” to catch up on critically outstanding services, most urgently auto dealer packets.

She left for a vacation in Jamaica during the first round of closures.

Last week, Mumpower accused Halbert of being AWOL from her duties.

On Monday, the beleaguered county clerk called the attention to the widely criticized vacation “disrespectful.”

In the past, Halbert has warned of corruption in the clerk’s office, including vanishing records. To guard against reprisals, she invoked the Federal Whistleblowers Act. An audit conducted by Shelby County CAO Harold Collins found no merit to the allegations.

Billingsley said, “All of this would eventually lead, eventually, to ouster proceedings. But again, it brings out someone to evaluate what is happen-

ing and why we continue to have disruptions in the clerk’s office. I think we’ve done everything we can do. I’ve been advised this is the next step.”

However, not enough of their fellow commissioners were ready to move forward. Voting in favor of the investigation were David Bradford, Amber Mills, Michael Whaley and Mick Wright, Billingsley and Morrison.

Commissioners Edmund Ford Jr., Eddie Jones, Mickell Lowery and outgoing Chairman Willie Brooks abstained. Commissioner Tami Sawyer was absent.

Before the vote, commissioner Morrison hinted at a possible recall election, by referencing a 180-day hurdle before voters could address the problem themselves. Halbert was recently re-elected on Aug. 4 count general election.

Commission attorney Mary Ingram said the requirement was in the County Charter. She also said Halbert could be ousted for “willing and knowing neglect of duty.”

Morrison said, “The only other possibility to encourage the clerk’s office to function better would be from the people who elected her. We require 15 percent of the people. Of course, I’d love to see the Shelby County Clerk’s office functioning where we could commend her, but that hasn’t happened and then we continue to get these complaints.”

Commissioners also honored several outgoing members including the term limited Reginald Milton, Van Turner Jr., Jones, Brooks and Billingsley. Sawyer opted not to run for re-election. Jones won the race for Probate Court clerk Aug. 4; Brooks won the election for Register of Deeds.

They will be replaced by new commission members Erika Sugarmon, Britney Thornton, Henri Brooks, Shante Avant, Charlie Caswell and Miska Clay-Bibbs.

Incumbents Bradford, Lowery, Wright, Mills, Whaley, Ford Jr., and Morrison will begin their final terms Thursday. The Democrats hold a 9-3 majority.

Winners of the Tennessee Press Association’s 2022 newspaper contest were announced during a luncheon at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville on Friday. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender)

Multiple State Press Awards reflect TSD’s core-level commitment to serving its readers TSD Newsroom The New Tri-State Defender won six top awards, including three firstplace finishes, in the Tennessee Press Association’s 2022 newspaper contest co-sponsored by the University of Tennessee system, which has been part of the annual event since 1940.

The awards were announced last Friday (Aug. 26) during the annual TPA luncheon, which this year was held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville.

“The New Tri-State Defender’s editorial model relies heavily upon an evolving cadre of contributors,” said Associate Publisher/Executive Editor Karanja A. Ajanaku.

“They are linked by the 71-yearold tradition of community service that extends from the newspaper’s founding as a weekly to its present-day status as the anchor for the multi-platform delivery of news and more. My thanks and appreciation to all who labor alongside me for the greater good, especially for the African-American community.”

TPA newspaper contest winners are determined by reciprocal judging with another state’s association. This year, the Hoosier State

Press Association of Indiana judged 1,130 entries from 67 of the Tennessee Press Association’s 133 member newspapers.

First place *Coronavirus Features: Contributors – Candace A. Gray, Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell, Jerome Wright (deputy editor), Karanja A. Ajanaku. *Best Personal Column: Lee Eric Smith – “Why I couldn’t stop crying on Inauguration Day” *Best News Photograph: “Spirit of Gratitude” – Gary S. Whitlow/ GSW Enterprises Second place *Best Feature Photograph: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises – “Brrr! It’s cold” Third Place *Best News Reporting: Karanja A. Ajanaku – “Getting a handle on gun violence” Fourth Place *Best Personal Column: Lee Eric Smith – “After the Capitol siege, will we even be able to talk to each other?”

Pervis Payne, who faced the death penalty for 34 years, hugs his attorney, Kelley Henry, after a Shelby County judge vacated his death sentence during a Tuesday hearing. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender) Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris was in attendance as the the LeMoyne Owen College Alumni Association installed new officers. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

Three fatal shootings by police justified, Shelby County D.A. rules (AP) – Police officers involved in three fatal shooting incidents in Memphis won’t face criminal charges, according to Amy Weirich, the outgoing Shelby County District Attorney General.

Amy Weirich said the shootings of fleeing felons last year were justified.

The decisions were based on evidence, facts and statements in reports compiled by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. A review team that in-

cluded Weirich then examined the reports, Weirich said in a news release.

In August 2021, a suspect in a narcotics investigation struck a Shelby County sheriff’s lieutenant with his car. The officer fired two shots, one of which hit the suspect in the chest.

A stolen pistol, marijuana, cocaine and fentanyl were found inside the car and the suspect had $1,900 in his pockets, the statement said.

Last December, a Memphis police officer shot a woman who put a stolen car in reverse at a restaurant drive-thru lane, striking another officer’s police cruiser, the statement said.

And an Arkansas state trooper was cleared in the December 2021 fatal shootings of two men in a fleeing vehicle after the driver had fired multiple rounds at the trooper, hitting him in the chest. The chase ended in Memphis, the statement said.

Jamal Hampton had his hands full playing in the snow. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

The New Tri-State Defender

NEWS

September 1 - 7, 2022

CLASSIFIEDS

Page 9

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NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property:

Grammy intentions …

Tennessee State University’s Aristocrat of Bands has its sight on winning a Grammy. The world-renowned marching band submitted an application to the Grammy nomination committee for their album “The Urban Hymnal.” Submitted in the Best Gospel Roots Album category, the album has 10 tracks filled with organic sounds that were created on the TSU campus and features trailblazers within the gospel music industry. Executive producers include assistant director professor Larry Jenkins, Grammy award-winning songwriter and artist Dallas Austin, two-time Grammy award-nominated songwriter and artist Sir the Baptist, and platinum recording artist, Dubba-AA, a TSU alum. (Courtesy photo)

TSU houses a record 5,000plus students for the fall TSU News Service NASHVILLE – Tennessee State University President Dr. Glenda Glover recently spent the night at one of the university’s off-campus housing facilities to ease concerns regarding the safety and quality of rooms.

Glover helped check students in at the Best Western and later checked in herself.

The hotel is one of six locations the University is using for overflow housing and has already housed 5,000 students on and off campus.

“I would not put students in a place I would not be willing to stay myself,” said Glover.

“While I wish my stay could have been longer, we needed the bed for a student.”

Rising senior Derrion Boyce, an electrical engineering major from Chicago, is housed at the Best Western.

“I was able to move into my hotel room in a timed ordinarily fashion, everything was clean and up to par. Also, they have brought over food and a school supply kit to us since I been there.”

Sophomore Laila Spencer said she had reservations about being at one of the off-campus housing facilities but was pleasantly surprised when she arrived at her room at Candlewood Suites.

“I wanted to be on campus because everything is easy to get to and convenient, but with the lack of on-campus housing I was put into Candlewood,” said the Memphis native and agriculture major.

“My parents had their concerns with being at a hotel, but the room has been nice. It was a pleasant surprise to have so many amenities onsite.”

The University is facing an unprecedented demand for on-campus housing due to a large incoming freshmen class, projected at over 2,500 first-year students, and the high cost of housing in Nashville.

“The demand for housing is related largely to Nashville’s increased cost of living and prevents many of our students from living off campus,” said Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Frank Stevenson.

“Staff has been committed to implementing a workable

TSU President Dr. Glenda Glover helps with student check-in at the Best Western, one of the TSU overflow housing facilities. (Courtesy photo)

Sophomore Laila Spencer (from Memphis) with her mother and TSU President Dr. Glenda Glover during check-in at the Candlewood Suites. (Courtesy photo) solution to meet the demand for TSU housing and have assigned rooms to all upperclassmen who have paid a deposit.

However, we also understand everyone is not happy about the arrangements.”

Stevenson noted that parents have voiced concerns regarding safety and the quality of some of the rooms.

Naomi Taylor, a sophomore, had issues with her room at the Ramada Inn but said they were resolved right away.

“I am content with my stay here. It’s not too bad. I would’ve liked to stay on campus, so I could be a part of it, but I prefer this over the dorms,” Taylor said.

“The move-in experience was a little hectic, at first they put us in a room that was already occupied but they resolved it. When we got here the shower drain would fill over and we told the front desk about it and they fixed it. Then the toilet wouldn’t flush properly so we had to tell the front desk and they’re fixing it right now.”

Stevenson said any concern regarding the condition of a room is “being addressed immediately whether on campus or at an off-campus housing facility. Hotel management is expected to resolve all issues right away upon notification at our off-campus sites.”

With students’ safety a top priority on and off campus, Stevenson said a comprehensive 24- hour security plan has been implemented for each off-campus location.

“TSUPD, Metro Police, armed and unarmed security personnel, along with residence hall staff will monitor the inside and perimeter of all off-campus housing as they have in the past. It is our hope that these intentional safety measures will bring a level of comfort to our students and parents.”

Glover said she understands the frustration of many students and parents.

“Many universities across the country and even here in Tennessee are experiencing the same demand for campus

housing. Some sent students homes without any options. We provided our students with options because we know many of them will not come without a place to stay. TSU students could attend online for free if they paid a deposit or live in off-campus housing.”

Some parents have also voiced concerns regarding the cost of off-campus housing. The university said it will continue to assess the financial needs of students and take necessary steps to give them the best off-campus housing experience, including shuttle service, extended library hours, on-site meals, and activities.

TSU will use the off-campus housing facilities for the fall and spring semesters and officials are already looking to expand the campus housing inventory “TSU is working closely with appropriate state agencies to add more residence halls on our campus, hopefully starting next year to address our future housing needs,” said Glover.

“We are excited that this is the largest first-year class in the history of TSU. This growth is quite positive for TSU as more and more students seek to attend our university.”

ToDario A. Harris Tax Parcel #: 03406800000410 Tax Sale #: 1802 Price Offered: $34,200.00 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 1:00 p.m. on October 4, 2022, 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 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Tina Mulrooney Tax Parcel #: 06003300000060 Tax Sale #: 1703 Price Offered: $4000.00 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 October 4, 2022, 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 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Lennisha Johnson Tax Parcel #: 03401300000060 Tax Sale #: 1204 Price Offered: $2500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher,

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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 10:00 a.m. on October 4, 2022, 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 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Thomas J. Conover Tax Parcel #: 06008600000470 Tax Sale #: 602 Price Offered: $1500.00 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 October 4, 2022, 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 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Thomas J. Conover Tax Parcel #: 06008600000460 Tax Sale #: 1304 Price Offered: $$1500.00 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 9:00 a.m. on October 4, 2022, 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 584 Adams Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 (901)222-2400

SPORTS

The New Tri-State Defender, September 1 - 7, 2022, Page 10

Hamilton wins a football game after a multi-year drought

by Terry Davis

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

It has been nearly five years since the Hamilton Wildcats football team has won a game. They entered the season with a 40-game losing streak.

First year head coach Jerel Blanchard knew he had to do things a little different in order to change the direction of the team.

The Wildcats opened the season with a 20-6 loss to the Mitchell Tigers. You could see that some things did not look the same with this team.

They have more players in uniform than in previous years. They were bigger as a unit and there were flashes of more skilled players.

The key reason for the opening game loss was because the 26 penalties the team had. In their second game against the Wooddale Cardinals the team was only called for 6 violations. They led to their first win in 41 games with a 24-0 win over the Cardinals on August 26.

Some of the standouts in the game were Kevonte Rodgers he scored two touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and another on a reception. Quarterback Marcell Ward threw and ran for a touchdown and Jordon McKinley rushed for a touchdown.

Another thing that Blanchard started was a new t-shirt. On the shirt it simply said SMU. There were no explanations needed for the shirt. It meant South Memphis University.

This was done to give the players some self-esteem and to raise the expectations of the players.

The road to getting better did not start in the heat of the brutal Memphis summer, it started in the spring.

The schedule all road games against some of the tougher programs in the city in order to improve.

Blanchard said, “It is the small things we had to clear up. The kids are hungry. We have a relationship with every kid. That is how we were able to get and keep the kids believing in the future of the program. We have a family atmosphere here.”

On keeping the team level Blanchard said, “In my book we are

The Platform Basketball Camp featured area prep athletes trying to catch and/or maximize the attention of college scouts.

(Photo: Terry Davis/The New Tri-State Defender)

Return of high-profile basketball camp includes focus on team success

by Terry Davis

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Hamilton’s Kevonte Rodgers, who scored two touchdowns, one rushing and another on a reception against Wooddale, also drew attention in the opening-game loss against Mitchell. (Photo: Terry Davis/The New Tri-State Defender) still 0-10. We have not won a district game yet. That is how we are going to approach it. We are a hard hat team.

We are not going to be flashy. We come to work. My seniors on the way home were already trying to scheme for next week.”

On preparing for Sheffield next week Blanchard said, “We biggest thing is we want to stay confident in whatever we do. We don’t want to be cocky for confident. We scheme for other teams, but at the end of the day our athletes are going to be athletes and that is what we depend on.”

On the emotions of getting that win Blanchard said, “I was just someone that we were the butt of everyone’s jokes. I feel good not only for Hamilton, but for the entire community.

People all through South Memphis were rooting for us and we were rooting for them. No one really talks about it, but the Alumni has been a really big push for us. They have done everything possible for us to be successful.”

On how to keep the team focused Blanchard said, “We are still 0-10 in my book. We have not won a district game. That is how we are going to approach it. I got four kids that have never won a football game before this win.”

The Wildcats will look to get their first district win on Friday September 1 in their first home game of the season at Crump Stadium at 7 pm against Sheffield High School. It was Sheffield that started their losing streak on October 14, 2017.

MASE explodes into 2022 season with rout of Harding Academy

by Liaudwin Seaberry Jr.

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The opening contest of the 2022 high school football season for the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering Phoenix could not have been scripted much better for the squad. Led by first-year head coach Cedric Miller, who transitioned over from now-closed Memphis Academy of Health and Sciences program, the Phoenix (1-0) stormed, pushed, and mauled the Harding Academy Lions (0-2) 46-0 Friday night.

The score tends to be slightly deceiving; MASE led 30-0 at the end of the first period, prohibiting the Lions from even crossing midfield until late in the 2nd half. By that time, the game had long been decided, with the starters from MASE sitting comfortably on the sidelines. With Harding Academy featuring a large number of freshmen and sophomores, the experienced Phoenix pounced on the opportunity to make a statement in their first contest of the season.

To open the contest, MASE quarterback Demetrius Vizor threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to put the Phoenix up 8-0. That was all they needed, but to further accentuate their dominance, MASE wound up putting up 3 more touchdowns on the board during the period.

Defensive tackle Kristian Miller was hesitant to marvel at his team’s performance after the game, but thinks that it represents a sign of things to come in the long season.

“We started off slowly, but we built momentum which allowed us to execute our assignments.”

Execution played a huge role in the dominating performance, as MASE scored on offense, defense, and special teams during the game. Harding Academy, undermanned and outnumbered at many key positions on the offensive and defensive lines, simply lacked the talent to keep par with the Phoenix.

Coach Miller was impressed by his team’s performance, but he does not want the game to get to his players’

heads. He knows they have the potential to do even better.

“We want to get better every week of the season. I don’t want us to peak too early! We got to stay humble and injury free.”

MASE star running Kumaro Brown, who’s received interest from many colleges, racked up chunks of yardage on the ground, forcing an already overwhelmed Harding defense to seem almost helpless in attempting to corral him. With fellow running back Christopher Watson also finding the end zone later in the contest, Brown realizes that this team features the potential to make a deep run.

“We have one of the biggest lines in the city, and that certainly helps us out,” he said. “I am already looking forward to next week, and getting another win.”

MASE faces Middle College next Saturday as they attempt to continue their winning ways, while Harding Academy seeks to capture their first win of the season against First Assembly Christian School.

Platform Basketball Camp recently hosted its third annual invitation-only camp that featured area prep athletes trying to catch and/or maximize the attention of college scouts.

This camp featured some of the best players from Memphis, Arkansas, Georgia and Mississippi. The players are from the 9th thru the 12 grades. Nearly 90 percent of the elite talent from Memphis was at the camp and three of the top five players in the state of Mississippi were there.

This was on opportunity for some of them to be seen by some area coaches and to move up on the radar. The event limited the total participation to only 80 players. The players were divided equally into teams where all ages were mixed on every team.

This is the third time the event has taken place and had been on hiatus the last several years because of the pandemic. In prior years the camp featured over 200 players and both boy and girls. The camp hopes to return to that format next years.

The players not only got to play multiple games they are also had skill session to hone their skills.

After the games the players got to have some fun and entertained the crowds and their fellow players with a dunk contest.

All of the sessions were led by either former high-level players or current high school head coaches.

It is an opportunity for the coaches to assist in developing young talent and also to build relationships.

A couple of the coaches led the camp were Kellon Lawson coach of Wooddale High School, Dion Reel Bartlett High School coach and other coaches It is not like it was 20 years ago where most neighborhood kids went to the high school that they live close to, but it is more of a relationship to either a coach or teammate that decides where they will play prep basketball at.

The camp tries to set the tone that players should want to play as a team and go one-one to showcase their abilities. The camp don’t magnify individuality, but playing as a team. They celebrate teamwork, taking charges and hustling for loose balls.

Tarik Mabon the Director of the camp on showcasing the Memphis talent said, ‘That is why we call it the Platform. We want the best of the best to be tested by the best.

Iron sharpens iron. We don’t hide in Memphis. With this Platform we are putting guys on the stage to showcase their talent at the highest

level.”

Mabon said, “This is an opportunity to give our young men in the Mid-South a platform. We try to do it the right way. We Terry want to give Davis them the right coverage and competition.

Most importantly the right coaching. I feel like we have some of the best coaches in the city working in this camp.”

Chan Douglass the Event Coordinator on how the event can get better said, “In the first year we had 250 players in the camp between three camps. We are looking to go back to the original format. We want to go to a multi-day camp and include the ladies. We want to have a 9th and 10th grade session and an 11th and 12th grade session. On the third day have an elite session.”

Player Profiles Jaye Nash (Class of 2024) – Briarcrest Christian High School 6’2” guard He is compact and tough. He is strong and gets to the basket at will.

He has a high-level IQ. He is a great finisher. He is being recruited by some of the top teams in the country.

Eric Paymon Jr. (Class of 2024) – Raymond HS (Mississippi) 6’9” center With his size, not only can he bang inside he can also pass the basketball. He has great vision. He has truly stood out among the rest during the camp. He is the number one rated player in the state of Mississippi next year.

Marcus Gray (Class of 2024) – St. Benedict High School 6’1” guard During one game he put up 7 three-pointers. Not only being a good shooter he playmaking ability has been an eye opener.

Keeper Jackson (Class of 2026) – Christian Brothers High School 6’7” He was seen at the CP3 (Chris Paul) camp last week and was invited to the camp this week. He is a freshman and he is holding his own with some of the more experience players in the camp.

Javar Daniels (Class of 2023) – Bartlett High School 6’9” He missed the 2020 season because of the covid restrictions. He also missed his junior year because of an injury. He is a big man that can also make the outside shot. He has great vision and ball handling skills. He is one of the player that has the most to gain this season.