Urban Pro Weekly

$Multi-million water-sewer bond battle heats up Millage rate hike directly related FEMA shortfall

U W rban Pro NEWS • COMMENTARY

ARTS

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ENTERTAINMENT

The CSRA’s FREE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER VOL.3 NO.45

AUGUST 7-13, 2014

A JAMES BROWN FAN dances while DJ Bizzo Beats (background) spins James Brown music in front of Pyramid Music on Broad Street during First Friday festivities. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

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UrbanProWeekly - AUGUST 7 - 13, 2014

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Masters of Clinical Research

Pearl Durand, clinical research coordinator at Masters of Clinical Research, poses for a photo at her computer. MCR conducts clinical trials with human test subjects in Augusta. Photo by Vincent Hobbs Ever think about participating in a clinical trial but unsure of what was involved. This week, Urban Pro Weekly paid a visit to Masters of Clinical Research (MCR) in Augusta. Their subjects participate in clinical trials.

When a person thinks of human test subjects and clinical trials, it’s easy to imagine an unwilling patient locked way in in whitewashed room, sweating bullets, as a bespectacled doctor approaches them with a giant syringe filled with a glowing green liquid.

Hollywood movies love that sort of thing. The actual truth is a stark contrast to the Tinsel town version.

Clinical trials with human subjects are an important tool in medical research and the findings can affect countless numbers of patients worldwide suffering from various illnesses. This area of research allows new drugs, new medical devices and new medical procedures to be brought safely to the healthcare community and to patients — and also fuels innovation in the medical field.

A significant clinical trial in which MCR participated resulted in the recent FDA approval of a new diabetes drug, FA R XIGA™ or Dapagliflozin, which is an oral treatment for Type II diabetes. Another drug, Lyxumia or

Lixisenatide, an injectable drug for Type II diabetes, also underwent clinical trials at MCR and has been approved by the European Commission in the European Union. The new drug will be submitted for FDA approval next year.

MCR is also participating in a large arthritis study whose results will be important in determining the safety of different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).

Pearl Durand, Clinical Research Coordinator at Masters of Clinical Research, provided UPW with some insight into the world of clinical trials with human subjects.

INTERVIEW BY VINCENT HOBBS UPW: How do you recruit human test subjects for clinical research?

Are they paid a fee?

DURAND: We use radio, movie ads, word-of-mouth, physician referrals, and partnering with pharmacies or with companies that specialize in subject recruitment. In general, subjects who meet the criteria for a study and who also agree to participate are paid a “stipend” per completed study visit.

UPW: What should a test subject expect when they participate in a clinical study? Are there differ-

ent levels of participation, such as in-clinic trials where subjects reside on-site for a period of time or are their home-based trials?

What about simple participation in a questionnaire?

DURAND: They can expect to find a happy staff that is willing to serve participants. We find great pride in helping people and making sure that they are a good fit for each study. We also ensure that the standard of medical care is continued, by following up with their primary care provider. Most of our visits are done in-office and is study-specific

based on a protocol. We also do telephone visits if the study’s schedule-of-events does not require an in-office visit.

UPW: How did you become interested in clinical research?

DURAND: I was getting ready to leave the Army at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and needed to find a civilian position. I saw an ad while job hunting for a position requiring someone with a PhD in Psychiatry Research — ­­ and I decided to apply, although I did not have a PhD. I got the interview and told

the interviewer that I would volunteer for two weeks — and if they liked my work, then they could hire me. He liked me and I was promoted to Senior Coordinator after four months, while working with the management to increase recruitment and to ensure quality assurance.

UPW: What sort of education and certification is required to become a clinical researcher?

DURAND: It depends on the level of the researcher. Most require preContinued on Page 7

3 UrbanProWeekly • AUGUST 7 - 13, 2014

Company’s efforts contributed to development of new diabetes drug

UrbanProWeekly - AUGUST 7 - 13, 2014

4

The City

Bond bid blocked

By Frederick Benjamin Sr. UrbanProWeekly Staff Writer

POLITICAL COMMENTARY

AUGUSTA A move put a $190 million water and sewage revenue bond issue out for competitive bidding was halted in its tracks by the Augusta commission at Tuesday’s regular meeting. With very little substantive discussion, the commissioners failed get enough votes to authorize the Finance and Utility departments to begin the process issuing the bonds.

The move quietly sent shock waves through the city’s financial bureaucracy. Never before had the commission taken a more than perfunctory interest in such dry accounting matters. What was different this time?

This narrative began forming back in May when a brokerage firm, IFS Securities, made a presentation to the Augusta commission. The IFS delegation, which included Craig Walker, a company vice president and Angela Avery, a relationship manager, announced that they could give the city a better deal through a “negotiated sale” process. They argued that the negotiated sale process could save the city significantly more than they had been saving through the tried and true competitive bidding process.

The city has traditionally put the bond underwriting contract out for competitive bids. That way, they hope to receive the most favorable terms.

The city’s finance bureaucrats and their financial advisor see no need to change the process which could amount to a savings of $23 million over the life of the bond issue.

Even though IFS suggested that they could save the city even more, they were “shown the door” by the city finance bureaucrats. The city’s finance experts appeared to take offense at the notion that IFS would have the audacity to make a pitch to the commissioners after being told that the decision to use competitive bidding had already been made. They proceeded to give IFS the “cold shoulder” and the city procurement director even asked them not to come back unless it was through the competitive bidding process.

The commissioners, on the other hand, liked what they heard and invited IFS back to make a more comprehensive presentation.

In the forefront of the bonding impasse is the debate about the relative merits of the competitive bidding underwriting process versus a negoti-

ated sale process.

However, there exists a significant racial component to the controversy. IFS Securities is a minority-owned firm in an industry where there are very few such firms. As is common with Craig Walker, VP, IFS Securities minority-owned firms, there are many hurdles and obstacles to be overcome. The biggest hurdle is size. Many times the smaller investment firms find themselves bidding against huge corporate entities with superior financial resources. They realize that insistence in using the competitive bidding process stacks the deck against them.

One of the ways that these smaller firms have been able to break into doing business with large cities and municipalities is through partnering with larger more experienced firms and through the instrument of the negotiated sale.

Some commissioners may have appreciated the irony of having a disparity study which they have been unable to implement and an unsolicited opportunity to do business with a

minority firm in a big way.

That irony, however, has been lost on the supporters of the status quo who are offended at the idea that the certain commissioners would consider doing business with a company based on their race.

While there is an undeniable racial component in this matter, that’s just “par for the course.” Nearly every aspect of Augusta politics, going back to the government’s formation as a consolidated entity, has a racial component.

The four commissioners who blocked the bond issue process all happened to be black. They included Alvin Mason, Bill Lockett, Bill Fennoy and Marion Williams. However, none of them suggested that the city must do business with IFS Securities. However, by their reluctance to “rubber-stamp” the usual bond underwriting process, they made it clear that they wanted more information and time to weigh the options that are out there.

IFS Securities may not ultimately do any business with the city, but the dissenting commissioners apparently wish to take the opportunity to decide whether or not the negotiated sale process has advantages that the city would be wise to consider despite the objections of the city’s finance bureaucracy.

Tax increase proposal directly linked to paltry amount of FEMA storm refund

By Frederick Benjamin Sr. UrbanProWeekly Staff Writer

POLITICAL COMMENTARY

AUGUSTA Augustans who are prepared to complain to commissioners about the proposed millage rate increase might first want to ponder just why this increase was necessary — and why now.

Those who have been paying attention can easily recall that back in December of 2013, commissioners were so indignant about the talk of a tax increase that they fired former city administrator Fred Russell. One can

U W rban Pro

recall Finance Committee Chairman Wayne Guilfoyle at a budget session during that period hollering at Russell who had the temerity to suggest that a tax hike could be the key to a balanced budget.

So what changed.

The massive ice storm in February wiped out the city’s emergency fund of $4.25 million and tore a $13 million hole in the city’s general fund. Faced with escalating costs in the municipal building renovation and on the heels

eekly

UrbanProWeekly LLC Mailing Address: 3529 Monte Carlo Drive Augusta, Georgia 30906

Publisher Ben Hasan 706-394-9411 Managing Editor Frederick Benjamin Sr. 706-836-2018

of a devastating SPLOST VII defeat, commissioners had to scramble to stop the bleeding.

There have been idiotic suggestions that the city could make up the shortfall by closing recreation centers and increased belt-tightening, but the only real solution was to go the route suggested by Russell eight months ago.

Although the city has been reluctant to link the tax increase to $17 million storm cleanup bill, there is no way to avoid the connection.

In the days after the ice storm hit the city was buoyed by the prospect that it would recoup up to 85 percent

Sales & Marketing Phone: 706-394-9411 Photography and Social Media Courtesy of Vincent Hobbs

of the debris removal costs through refunds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Projected costs of $8 million for the cleanup, quickly rose to over $17 million after the city hired Ashbritt and Leidos, two disaster recovery firms that sold the city on the idea that FEMA refunds were almost automatic.

A week ago, the city received $5.5 million from FEMA — far less than what was hoped for.

Suddenly, a tax raise made a lot of sense. Homeowners have already received benefits from the proposed tax hike — the storm cleanup.

email: Ben Hasan bzhasan54@yahoo.com Frederick Benjamin Sr. editor@urbanproweekly.com Vincent Hobbs coolveestudio@gmail.com

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Good Shepherd Baptist Church

Rev. Clarence Moore, Pastor 1714 Olive Road / P. O. Box 141 (mailing address) Augusta, GA 30903 706/733-0341- Telephone/706/667-0205 – Fax E-mail address: admin@goodshepherdaugusta.org Web address: goodshepherdaugusta.org Rev. Clarence Moore Church Service: 7:45 & 11:00 a.m.

Church School: 9:45 a.m. / Prayer Service: 11:00 a.m. – Wednesday Bible Study: 9:00 a.m. - Saturday / 7:00 p.m. - Wednesday

Everfaithful Missionary Baptist Church

314 Sand Bar Ferry Road Augusta, Georgia 30901 (706) 722- 0553 Church School Sunday 9:25am Morning Worship Sunday 11am Evening Worship 6pm (1st & 3rd Sunday) Midday Prayer 12pm Wednesday Intercessory Prayer/Bible Study 6pm Wednesday

Bishop Rosa L. Williams, Pastor

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Pearl Durand (R), clinical research coordinator at Masters of Clinical Research, looks over paperwork with Dr. Yeini Thompson (L) at the facility. Dr. Thompson is the director of clinical trials. MCR conducts clinical trials with human test subjects in Augusta. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Masters of Clinical Research from page 3 vious experience in a clinical setting or research setting. A clinical researcher will usually have a Bachelor’s degree, training in phlebotomy, BLS certification, communication skills and the ability to handle high stress, attention to detail, and be able to prioritize time - due to strict deadlines.

Several associations also provide certification for clinical research coordinators. ACRP, the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, requires at least four years of experience in clinical research and the passing of a certification test. Masters of Clinical Research employs two full-time certified clinical research coordinators.

UPW: The Journal of Women’s Health released a study in 2013 that African-American women, ages 29-39, suffer the most complications from uterine fibroids. Also, the Office of Minority Health (DHHS) states that African-Americans are “twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes as non-Hispanic whites” and they also suffer more complications from diabetes. MCR has conducted clinical trials in both of these areas of health. Are you seeing more research being conducted in diseases that disproportionally affect blacks? If so, what do see as the long-term goal for this type of research?

DURAND: I have not seen studies mainly that affect blacks but I have seen an increase in studies to support chronic disease management and a push to decrease high morbidity rates. Our long term goal at Masters of Clinical Research is to make the community aware of the support that we provide in

getting care for many of the chronic and debilitating diseases like diabetes, gout, fibroid/heavy bleeding and improving treatment for these diseases. We also want to shed light on how far research has come. We believe that partnering with participants’ primary care providers, and increasing clinical trials, can successfully help in finding treatments for many of the chronic disorders until cures can be developed.

UPW: What role does government oversight play in conducting clinical trials?

DUR AND: I had the privilege of working with the United States Army, NCI (National Cancer Institute), and DOHS (Department of Health & Safety) and I do believe that they provide a huge role in providing funding for research, general oversight, and ensuring highest standards of care in research.

The Federal Drug Administration is the primary government entity that oversees all of the clinical trials in which we participate.

UPW: What are some of the clinical trials you are currently working on?

DURAND: Diabetes Type 2 with stage 2-3 kidney disease; Diabetes Type 2 with state 3 kidney disease; Endometriosis Gynecological; Fibroid/ Heav y Bleeding- Gynecological; Gout with Cardiovascular risk- Internal Medicine; Gout without Cardiovascular risk – Internal Medicine For more information, visit www. mastersofclinicalresearch.com or www.clinicaltrials.gov

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FRONT ‘N’ CENTER

AUGUSTA GOES HOLLYWOOD

Actor Chadwick Boseman, star of the upcoming James Brown biopic “Get On Up”, walks the red carpet at the movie’s premiere in Augusta, GA, home of the legendary soul singer. The film earned $14 million at the box office opening weekend, coming in third place behind “Guardians of the Galaxy” ($94 million) and “Lucy” ($18.3 million).

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

A band of musicians entertain the crowd with New Orleansstyle jazz on Broad Street during First Friday festivities.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

9 UrbanProWeekly • AUGUST 7 - 13, 2014 A view of Artist’s Row on the 10th Street block in downtown Augusta. The arts district, located on Broad Street, will begin managing and promoting First Friday events beginning in September. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

First Friday 2.0

POPULAR DOWNTOWN ATTRACTION REVERTS TO ITS ARTISTIC ROOTS

by Vincent Hobbs First Friday is about to get a new attitude. After being managed by the Greater Augusta Arts Council for the past seven years, the monthly arts and entertainment event will be now be coordinated by Artists Row, starting in September.

The struggling arts event, currently characterized by a heavy police presence and few performers and artists, is in dire need of a re-boot. First Friday 2.0 aims to be that solution.

First Friday originally began in 1994 when a group of gallery owners on the upper end of Broad Street, known as Artists Row, held gallery receptions on the first Friday of each month. The casual event grew larger as new businesses opened up in the area, and eventually Main Street Augusta, an event promotion organization, took over the reins to manage the festivities. Adding vendors and street performers was the perfect catalyst to ignite interest in the event and the crowds coming downtown numbered in the thousands.

A crowd-sized street brawl in 2002 changed all that. After business windows were broken during a night of chaos in which fights were breaking out along Broad Street and the police were tear-gassing citizens, the heyday of First Friday was done. People were afraid to venture downtown and the crowds dwindled.

The Downtown Development Authority took over First Friday in 2006

and Main Street Augusta was disbanded. Little progress was made under the DDA and the event received no support. A year later, the Greater Augusta Arts Council took over management of First Friday. In its limited role, the GAAC promoted the event and coordinated vendors and street performances.

The year 2012 saw six people shot on First Friday in July by an assailant in the 900 block of Broad Street. Once again, the event faced the challenge of maintaining interest from citizens concerned about their safety downtown. It also faced the challenge of retaining artists, vendors and performers to support the event.

But there is renewed hope to make First Friday a top-tier event, to bring a big-city atmosphere of arts and entertainment to the concrete sidewalk blocks of downtown Augusta.

Syd Padgett, president of Artists Row, has big plans for the revamped event.

“It’s going to be amazing!” Padgett said.

Remember the old Miller Theater?

The historic stage will come alive once again as live music will be on tap for Augustans on First Friday. Just bring your folding chair. Alternative Artworks will also have an exhibition of visual artwork in front of the theater.

There will also be an invasion of “Porkchop’s Robots” (volunteers dressed in robot costumes based on artist Leonard “Porkchop” Zimmerman’s design) descending upon Augustans with happy stickers and happy buttons,

as well as volunteers to direct festival-goers to venues and performances.

Like books and music? The open area in front of The Book Tavern will be host to live music performances and artist exhibitions.

“I think it’s going to grow quickly,” Padgett said. “We’re starting off small but it’s already ballooning past where I thought it would be. It’s got nowhere to go but up! “ Most of the performances, art demos and vendors will be concentrated along the 900 and 1000 blocks of Broad Street in the initial plan.

Padgett is hoping to increase the numbers of street performers, including magicians and musicians. There will also be live paint demonstrations by local artists. “I’ve been working behind-the-scenes for the past couple of weeks talking to people. As soon as people find out what we’re doing, they’re lining up to get involved.”

Augusta artist Xavier Jones, vice-president of Artists Row, is optimistic about First Friday’s future. “We simply wanted to keep a great thing going and we look forward to breathing new life into downtown Augusta,” he shared. “We hope to add to what we believe could be a signature mainstay of downtown Augusta. It is also an opportunity to expose more visitors and the local community to this exciting event.

“We’re bringing back some of the old venues that people loved and introducing new events with innovative fresh spins to make for an even more enrich-

ing experience,” Jones said. “We are grateful to keep First Friday going and are delighted that we have more community volunteers than ever to launch the new First Friday.”

Jones is encouraged by the community response. “I always hoped that the CSRA would be willing to invest their time and efforts into something that they helped create and can be proud of.”

The long-range goal of First Friday 2.0 is to expose established and upcoming artists to patrons and customers, with the hope that artists and performers will eventually open their own galleries and studios along Broad Street, thereby sparking more economic growth in the urban core.

An important factor in the success of the renewed event is to provide free and easy access for college students, tourists and locals to attend FF 2.0. There is a proposal in the works with SouthStar Trolley to make trolley runs from GRU’s Summerville campus to Broad Street, with stops at The Partridge Inn, Paine College and GRU’s Medical District campus. The free trolleys will run from 5pm to 10pm every hour on First Fridays.

“Artists Row is looking forward to providing a clean safe environment for people to come enjoy the best in Augusta’s arts and entertainment.

Our hope is that a revived First Friday becomes the engine that drives downtown’s artistic and economic revitalization,” Padgett said.

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Augusta to host 14th Annual Georgia Literary Festival

UrbanProWeekly • AUGUST 7 - 13, 2014

Philip L. Williams

11

Kate Sweeney

The Georgia Center for the Book and the Georgia Humanities Council are pleased to announce that the 14th annual Georgia Literary Festival will take place in Augusta on November 7-9, 2014 at Georgia Regents University.

Situated along the banks of the Savannah River and home to the world-famous Masters Golf Tournament, the second oldest city in Georgia is sure to be a picturesque location for the Georgia Literary Festival. Hometown authors Frank Yerby and Berry Fleming will be honored along with Tobacco Road author, Erskine Caldwell, for their contributions to Georgia’s literary heritage. The Festival will also feature various authors from around the state of Georgia participating in readings and panels, a children’s area, and a street fair featuring book related vendors and merchandise.

The Georgia Literary Festival will kick off on Friday, November 7, with a reception at the Morris Museum of Art, followed by the Keynote Address from native Augustan and internationally-renowned opera singer, Jessye Norman, at the Jessye Norman Amphitheater on the Augusta Riverwalk. Festival activities will take place throughout the day on Saturday on the beautiful Georgia Regents University Summerville campus. Festival speakers will include Terry Kay, Philip Lee Williams, Deron Hicks, Raymond Atkins, Carolyn Newton Curry, Martin Harmon, Gould Hagler, Collin Kelley, Megan Sexton, Kate Sweeney, and Jodi Helmer.

ANTIOCH’S COMMUNITY AND FAMILY FUN FEST DAY

CALLING ALL BARGAIN HUNTERS !!!

COME JOIN THIS FESTIVE OCCASION ON THE GROUNDS OF ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH LOCATED AT 1454 FLORENCE STREET. IT PROMISES TO BE A FUN-FILLED EVENT WITH PLENTY OF BARGAINS FOR ALL AGES.

COMMUNITY WIDE PTA Back to School Kick-Off The Richmond County Council of PTAs will hold its annual Community Wide PTA Back to School KickOff on Saturday, August 9 from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. at the Butler High School Gymnasium.

1100 bags of school supplies will be distributed and valuable resource information will be provided to parents and students. Opportunities for parents to join the PTA from their child’s school, the school in their neighborhood, or any school they prefer will also be provided.

Assistance is sought for volunteers and from those who wish to donate items. Call 706.284.3680 for further information on how to participate.

Annual Fun Fest

 BARGAINS! AND MORE BARGAINS!  BACK TO SCHOOL GIVE-A-WAY  CONSESSION STANDS

 JUMPS & WATER RECREATIONS

 DISCOUNT CLOTHING

 PLENTY OF GREAT SINGING

 GAMES

DON’T MISS OUT ON ALL THE FUN. MEET US AT THE PARKING LOT OF ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH ON THE CORNER OF FLORENCE STREET AND AUGUSTA AVENUE.

FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE USED TO BENEFIT ANTIOCH’S HELPING HANDS FOR THE HOMELESS PROGRAM

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL CASETTA HEARD AT (706) 724-0995 DAILY FROM 9:00AM TO 1:00PM

Date: Saturday, Augusta 9th, 2014 Time: 10:00AM Until 2:00PM "A Builder Of A Better Community"

AFFORD ABLE HOUSI NG ECONOMI C D EVELOPMENT

UrbanProWeekly - AUGUST 7 - 13, 2014

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Commentary

Get On Up

Writer recalls uncomfortable truths about James Brown’s incarceration.

By Jerry Smith, LCSW, LMSW

M

y girlfriend and I went to see the movie Get On Up on the opening day August 1, 2014. The movie is a good snapshot of the life of Mr. James Brown. This was the first time I have gone to the movies in nearly two decades and I am very pleased that I chose Get on Up as the movie to get me into a theater.

The entire cast gave a stellar performance, which probably would have earned the approval of Mr. Brown.

The movie brought back many wonderful memories of both my childhood and young adulthood. I grew up as an avid fan of Mr. Brown and I had memorable flashbacks of standing in line at the Uptown Theater in Philadelphia anxiously waiting to get inside to see “Mr. Dynamite.”

When I began my monthly drives from Philadelphia to Augusta to visit my family in the 70s, I played many of Mr. Brown’s songs on my cassette player during the twelve-hour drive each way. During my initial trips, Mr. Brown had a radio station, which I stayed tuned in while in Augusta. I was surprised that many of my family and friends did not share my excitement of being in the hometown of the Godfather of Soul.

While watching the movie I reflected on my professional interactions with Mr. Brown during his incarceration in the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC). I was the Social Worker Supervisor at the “Lower Savannah Work Release Center” in Aiken, South Carolina during his incarceration there and I placed him on my caseload.

Mr. Brown told me during our initial sessions that some White Deputies from both the Augusta, Ga. and the North Augusta, South Carolina law enforcement were intent on killing him by firing numerous shots into his pickup truck. Because of this, he said he did not feel that it was safe for him to end the high-speed chase any sooner than he did.

In reviewing his arrest record, including looking at the photos of both him and his pickup truck at the time of his arrest, I was in total agreement with Mr. Brown’s assessment. His truck had many holes that appeared to be the results of gunshots. In addition, the photos revealed that there were bruises on both wrists, caused by the handcuffs being too tight.

Mr. Brown talked about the ups and downs of his career and how his incarceration was a “Godsend.” He felt his incarceration enabled him to get much needed rest. He said, on several occasions that his arrest was the best thing that could have happened to him, because once released, he would skyrocket back to the top - which he

Chadwick Boseman as the Godfather of Soul in the new James Brown biopic GET ON UP. The movie has received rave reviews from Augustans who knew Brown the best.

Mr. Brown told me during our initial sessions that some white deputies from both the Augusta, Ga. and the North Augusta, South Carolina law enforcement were intent on killing him by firing numerous shots into his pickup truck. did. Throughout our sessions, Mr. Brown remained Regal, yet humble.

He was both articulate and intelligent in a worldly way. In other words, Mr. Brown was very wise and he shared some of his wisdom with me.

The one thing that will always remain at the forefront of my thoughts in regards to Mr. James Brown was the negative treatment he received from the state of South Carolina regarding his offense. Fortunately, for both Mr. Brown and myself, I held the position of Social Worker Supervisor at that correctional institution and I was able to intervene on his behalf. The Warden (White male) instructed me to put in my report that before Mr. Brown would be eligible for parole he would have to participate in both Alcohol & Drug Education and Treatment groups, which I emphatically refused to do.

During the time of Mr. Brown’s incarceration, the SCDC policy stipulated that all inmates who were under the influence of any legal or illegal substance at the time of the commission of their offense “must” participate in the two above-mentioned groups. I steadfastly refused to place in Mr. Brown’s record an order for him to participate in either of these groups because at the time of Mr. Brown’s arrest, his blood test indicat-

ed that he did not have any legal or illegal drugs in his system.

The Warden and several members of his staff repeatedly tried to convince me that since Mr. Brown was a “known drug user,” (which I had no knowledge of, nor did I have access to any records attesting to this), he needed to complete both of these groups prior to his parole. Instead, I wrote in Mr. Brown’s official record that he had successfully completed all psychosocial requirements for parole and I was not recommending that he participate in Alcohol & Drug Education or treatment groups. It goes without saying, the warden was livid, yet, there was nothing that he could do because I was the “professional expert” in this matter and he could not override my recommendations because they were in compliance with the SCDC policy.

In watching the movie, the inference was that Mr. Brown was under the influence of some drug when he confronted the White woman for using his bathroom, which again was untrue. However, this scene did point out the real reason they targeted Mr. Brown to be murdered; he reportedly threatened a White woman in Augusta, Georgia.

Historically and traditionally, nothing drives southern White men into

an insane rage quicker than the thought that a Black man posed a threat to their precious White women. The law enforcement in both Georgia and South Carolina decided to have an old-fashioned lynching using legal mobs wearing badges and guns instead of illegal mobs carrying ropes and torches.

What struck me, as being a very sad commentary regarding the movie about “Soul Brother #1” was the fact that all of the producers of this movie were White men, including Mick Jagger. In the movie, they forced Mr. Brown to yield to the Rolling Stones (Mick Jagger a member of the group) at the start of his career because the promoters wanted them to be the closing act and Mick Jagger is still the closing act on Mr. Brown’s career by producing the movie. Where were all of our wealthy Black people when we needed them to produce the life story of Mr. James Brown?

Finally, to add insult to injury the producers decided to film this movie in Natchez and Jackson Mississippi, which is two states away from Mr. Brown’s beloved hometown - Augusta, Ga. My brother-in-law, Mr. J.R. Riles was instrumental in renaming the street running through the neighborhood where Mr. Brown grew up to “James Brown Blvd.” He was also instrumental in getting the city officials to rename Augusta Civic Center to the “James Brown Arena,” where Mr. Brown’s funeral was held. In addition, there is a life-size statue of Mr. Brown on Broad Street, downtown Augusta. All of these honors took place during Mr. Brown’s lifetime.

These name-sake honors should have been included in the movie.

MIXED SIGNALS:

Lessons learned from the Ray Rice fallout

U

nless you have been sleeping under a rock for the last few days, you have probably already heard about the uproar surrounding the relatively light sanction imposed on Baltimore Raven’s running back, Ray Rice, by the NFL following his involvement in a highly publicized domestic violence incident last year. Apparently, the athlete and his then fiancé (current wife) got into a mutual altercation and she was consequently knocked out cold by Rice.

Some of this was caught on tape.

Both parties have apparently served some low level of restitution. On last week the NFL announced its sanction, which is a two game, unpaid suspension. Many people believe that

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Lesson #1: The Green Team Always Wins Domestic violence is always a serious matter, whenever and wherever it happens. And it’s not a problem that is exclusive to the NFL or any other group of individuals.

WE TAKE: •Georgia medicaid •Insurance plans •Charge cards •WIC vouchers

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this punishment is pretty lenient, considering the fact the league has levied much harsher sanctions for violations much less egregious than hitting your partner so hard that they lose consciousness. Everyone has an opinion on this one and I’m no different. From my perspective, there are three very specific, hard truths about society that the Rice situation teaches us.

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Relationship abuse happens in all occupations, races, religions, sexual preferences, and socioeconomic strata. However, the Rice situation sadly reminds us that the size of your bank account all too often dictates the shape and size of your punishment. Men (and women) of very little means are prosecuted and convicted everyday on a variety of domestic violence charges. Millionaires? Not so much. Our severely lopsided criminal justice system sends the worst possible message to our youngest, most impressionable, most vulnerable citizens. That message is that you can get away with nearly anything if you make enough money. The message sent particularly to young, impressionable women is even worse. They learn that even something as precious as their personal safety and well-being has a price tag and many readily line up to take the risk because the lure of lifestyle is just that great.

responsible as men for their actions.

As a feminist and as a mother of two sons, I have to agree.

Before writing this reaction, I asked my youngest son “What should you do if a girl hits you?” Without any hesitation, he replied “Hit her back.”

I have always taught both of my children that under no circumstances, is it okay to start a fight. But, in the words my very animated grandmother, you have every right to finish one. I teach them that nobody has a right to violate their personal space by hitting them and if a person chooses to cross that line, they are entitled to defend themselves. In light of the Rice incident, I asked my son to offer a female offender one small liberty before hitting back. I told him to do everything in his power to subdue the young lady without escalating the situation before engaging in in a fight.

In layman’s terms, try to get her off of you. Which brings me to the third, most obvious, and final lesson…

Lesson #2: Culpability Cuts Both Ways In the aftermath of the Rice story, Whoopi Goldberg and Stephen A. Smith have come under fire for suggesting that women have to be just as

Lesson #3: KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF! If we could all remember this simple but powerful lesson that most of us learned in kindergarten, what a wonderful world this might be…

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY The Richmond County School System will accept bids and request for proposals until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13, 2014, for the following: 1. Electronic Sign/Kiosk System RFQ #14-677

Bid specifications may be obtained by contacting Amy Bauman in the Business Office at 706-826-1298, on our web site at www.rcboe.org, or at the Richmond County School System, Central Office, 864 Broad Street, 4th Floor, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

The Richmond County School System reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities.

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY By: Dr. Frank G. Roberson, Secretary

UrbanProWeekly • AUGUST 7 - 13, 2014

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

downtown • down town • downtown?

UrbanProWeekly - AUGUST 7 - 13, 2014

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Dr. Abiodun Akinwuntan

Akinwuntan named GRU Asso. Dean AUGUSTA Dr. Abiodun Akinwuntan, A ssociate Professor of Physical Therapy, Neurology, Ophthalmology, and Graduate Studies; and Director of the Driving Simulation Laboratory at Georgia Regents University, has been named Associate Dean for Research in the College of Allied Health Sciences.

He has served as Interim Associate Dean since October 2012.

“Under Dr. Akinwuntan’s energetic leadership, our college has seen remarkable growth in research productivity, value, support, and financial sustainability,” said Dr. Andrew Balas, Dean of the College of Allied Health Sciences. “I am delighted to support the review committee’s unanimous decision to make his position permanent.”

Akinwuntan’s primary research interest is rehabilitation outcomes after neurological impairment. He has received numerous grants to investigate the use of driving sim-

ulation and virtual technologies to evaluate and improve function in patients with Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, stroke, and other neurological disorders. In 2013, he was named a U.S. Fulbright Foreign Scholar to the College of Medicine at the University of Lagos in Nigeria. He is a mentor for student research projects focused in neurophysiology and neurology.

“Under Dr.Akinwuntan’s continued guidance, our college will further align with the institution’s research mission and goals by fostering research growth, external funding, recruitment of high quality research faculty, and comprehensive support for faculty development,” Balas said.

Akinwuntan received doctoral and master’s degrees in neuromotor rehabilitation from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Catholic University of Leuven) in Belgium, a master’s degree in public health from Georgia Regents University,

MYSTERY ART - An artistic stencil, created by an unknown artist, has the message, “AUG Leaders, Listen To Your People”, incorporated into the design. Several of these art stencils have appeared virtually overnight on vacant downtown buildings. The art is remniscent of famed artist Banksy.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Events at Augusta Common/Riverwalk SUNSET ON THE SAVANNAH Jessye Norman Amphitheater on Riverwalk

7:00 p.m.

August 9th Concert performed by the U. Army Signal Corps Band Free Admission Sponsored by Augusta Recreation, Parks & Facilities, City of Augusta Special Events, & Garden City Jazz For more information, please contact City of Augusta Special Events Office 706-8217-1754.

VENDORS interested in joining First Friday should contact Syd Padgett at 706-513-0916 for an application and more information. Artists Row is currently only accepting applications for locally created arts and crafts.

FIRE CHALLENGE Fire officials warn public about dangerous “entertainment” AUGUSTA A growing number of teens across the country are participating in a dangerous challenge that can be deadly.

It’s called the “Fire Challenge.” It encourages teens to douse themselves in an accelerant and then set fire to their bodies. The process is videotaped and posted on social media sites to challenge the bravery of others and encourage participation. Recently, a 15 year old boy in Buffalo, N.Y. died due to injuries sustained while participating in the challenge.

As the videos grow in popularity so does concern by local fire leaders. So much so, the Augusta Fire Department is taking a proactive approach to saving the lives of area teenagers who may watch the videos and consider yielding to the temptation to participate. “A teen has died and several have received 3rd degree burns from participating in this fad,” says Chief Chris James of the Augusta Fire Department. “Please educate your teen on the dangers of this activity and discourage them from participating in this fad.”

3450 Peach Orchard Rd Augusta, GA 30906

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Pick up the latest edition of UrbanProWeekly at a

location near your home or workplace.

Designers • Builders • Planners

Sanctuary Multi-Purpose Buildings Renovations P.O. Box 211886 Augusta, Ga 30917 1.800.546.2685 • Fax 706.738.6328 email: tbamakedreams@aol.com

Stress Physical Inactivity Family History of Cardiovascular disease Obesity Diabetes High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Cigarette Smoking HEART ATTACK • BRAIN ATTACK • PREVENT ATTACK East Central Health District Hypertension Management Outreach Program

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UrbanProWeekly • AUGUST 7 - 13, 2014

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IRS or State Tax Problems?

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