UPW Urban Pro Weekly

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She’s back!

Paine College’s Ashley Watts’ successful rehab spells trouble for opposing SIAC defenses.

URBAN PRO WEEKLY

NOVEMBER 12 - 18, 2015 VOL. 5 NO. 10

PAINE COLLEGE HOOPS, STAR ASHLEY WATTS, has rejoined the team after missing most of last season with an injury.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

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2 UrbanProWeekly - NOVEMBER 12 - 18, 2015

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Build it back Paine College hosted the Build It Back: Rally to Save Paine College on Tuesday.

The event encouraged residents, alumni, faith-based, business and corporate communities and friends to support Paine College in its efforts to overcome the financial challenges it faces to survive.

Attendees were asked to make contributions and to share why they felt Paine is an integral part of the community.

Contributions can be made on the Paine College website at www.paine. edu.

Paine College students and supporters attend a “Build It Back: Rally To Save Paine College” event to help raise funds for the college. Paine is currently facing financial challenges with a budget shortfall.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Business League event draws business leaders The CSRA Business League hosted its 4th Annual Women Empowerment Conference this week.

Presenters discussed topics of interest to small business entrepreneurs. Successful business women shared their personal and professional stories. Presenters included Dr. Faye Hargrove, Rep. Gloria Frazer (D-126), Yvonne Gentry (DBE Director), Brenda Brown, Teresa Smith, Nakeeta Tucker and Dr. Tina Moses, D.M.D. Fifth Third Bank officer Mary Mulaney discusses financing for businesses during the CSRA Business League’s 4th Annual Women Empowerment Conference, held at the Headquarters Library downtown. The event featured presentations by women in government, law, engineering, medical and other professions.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

UPW

URBAN PRO WEEKLY

Urban Pro Weekly

2746 Willis Foreman Road Hephzibah, GA 30815

Publisher URBAN PRO MEDIA 706-836-2018 urbanpromedia@yahoo.com

CEO / Sales FREDERICK BENJAMIN SR. 706-306-4647 editor@urbanproweekly.com

Contributors VINCENT HOBBS Photography & New Media KEN MAKIN contributing columnist

UrbanProWeekly - NOVEMBER 12 - 18, 2015

THE CITY NEWS

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Paine College senior Ashley Watts poses for a photo on the bleachers at the HEAL Complex on the Paine campus.

Watts, a powerhouse guard on the Lady Lions basketball team who averages 25 points per game, will return to the court for the new season, after suffering a debilitating foot injury during the start of the 2014-2015 season. After months of recuperation, Watts is fully recovered and will be starting against the Charleston Southern University Lady Buccaneers in the first game of the season on November 16th.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Paine’s star guard has fought back from injury and is ready to resume her All-Star antics Interview by Vincent Hobbs Let the fear begin. Women’s basketball players of the SIAC must once again go face-to-face with one of their fiercest opponents on the court – Paine College’s Ashley Watts. The young dynamo, who averaged 26.8 points per game before suffering a debilitating foot injury last November, is back on the courts, ready to bring the pain to opponents of the Lady Lions.

Watts’ foot injury occurred during a non-conference game against Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, which was the third game on the Lady Lions 2014-2015 season schedule.

“I was making a forceful drive with the basketball to the goal and I planted my foot on the ground the wrong way,” Watts explained.

The medical diagnosis was somber. Watts had suffered a Lisfranc (midfoot) injury, a very serious rupture of the ligaments at the top of the foot.

“I couldn’t bear weight on my foot for eight months. It took roughly ten months before I returned back to the court, doing rehab with a basketball.” Watts was in a cast for six months and a cast boot for four months.

Watts’ mom, Kathy Sellers-Owsley, had faith in her daughter’s recovery. “I was listening to the game online and my first thought was that it was a knee injury. Then we were told just a possible sprain. After doctors looked at the x-rays, we were told it was torn ligaments and it was pretty bad. But I know how hard Ashley works - so I knew she would be back stronger than ever.”

Head women’s basketball coach Willie Adams is pleased with Watts’ return. “It was devastating when we got the news Ashley would miss the remainder of the season last year. I think it helped her leadership skills, as far as communicating with her teammates and looking from another perspective (the bench). This year, Ashley has been better at communicating with our freshmen players and giving them advice on how to train, play well and make good decisions outside of basketball.”

Coach Adams also believes that SIAC Preseason AllConference team picks Tannasia Rhodes and Janisha Wilkerson, along with Watts, will “put more pressure on other teams and help our transition game to grow”.

UPW caught up with Watts during a rainy afternoon at the HEAL Complex on the Paine campus to discuss the upcoming season and her recovery from her injury.

What was the most frustrating aspect of not playing with your teammates on the court last season?

Last year’s team was very talented and we had a very good chance at winning it all, even with me out for the remainder of the season. It was frustrating and painful to see my teammates struggle, without me on the court to help. Numerous times I sat on the bench, watching with teary eyes. My teammates worked hard and they built confidence within, both as a team and individually, especially with point guard Tanashia Rhodes, who won MVP for the team last season.

Has there been any new insight that you’ve gained about yourself after going through this challenge?

Continued on next page

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“

It hurt me to see I wasn’t on the Preseason All Conference Team, when I made it two years straight before I went out with my injury. I got instantly motivated more by that and it made me want to show everyone that the injury didn’t stop me.

“

Paine College senior Ashley Watts, looks out from the entrance of the HEAL Complex on the Paine campus. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Watts from page 4 I learned that everything happens for a reason. I think the reason why I will come back 100% is because mentally I was very positive through it all, for the most part. I looked at it as God had another plan for me and with a slightly different group of girls - but the goal is the same - and that’s a championship.

Now that you are fully recovered for the new basketball season, what is your main goal for the Lady Lions?

My main goal is to bring back the championship and get the spirit back in my HBCU because Paine College is my second home and they show me so much love. So why not give back by working hard this season to win

the ring?

What excites you about the team this year?

From the seven returning players to the freshman and transfers we have brought in this year, it’s competitive at all times. It excites me to know that nobody can double-team me this year because everyone on our team is a threat on the offensive end, and we can find the open person to score as well. This season will definitely be an exciting and successful year and I’m anxious to get started.

How often are you training/practicing?

We have scheduled practice once a day with Coach Adams, six days a week. As far as individual and solo workouts, I do crunches, pushups, and a daily workout in the gym every

day. I go to the gym just about anytime I feel like it and the school supports my bad habits and make sure security opens the gym up for me. In the gym, with my speakers booming motivational music to get me through a two-hour workout, I meditate and get it done.

I’m my biggest critic. Coach Adams tries to kick me out the gym every day. He wants me to stay off my feet as much as possible but I’m so accustomed to hard work, I have to get my reps up. It hurt me to see I wasn’t on the Pre-season All Conference Team, when I made it two years straight before I went out with my injury. I got instantly motivated more by that and it made me want to show everyone that the injury didn’t stop me. I overcome the obstacle and I’m back pushing!

As a senior student this year, can you share some of your plans after graduation?

I plan to go overseas first and foremost. But after the ball stops bouncing, I want to find a coaching job for either boys or girls, I wouldn’t mind either one. I observed the game more as a player/coach last year and it helped my game as a player as well - because my IQ for basketball went higher.

The Paine College Lady Lions will face Charleston Southern University on November 16 in South Carolina, then will make their first home appearance at the HEAL Complex on November 18th in a game against Shaw. After that, cross-town rival Augusta University Jaguars will enter the Lions’ den on November 21st.

UrbanProWeekly - NOVEMBER 12 - 18, 2015

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Guitarist Mike Tanksley (L) and musician Karen Gordon perform a jazz set in front of the historic Miller Theater in downtown Augusta during a street party. The event marked the first phase of public fundraising to restore and reopen the theater, which will be the future home of Symphony Orchestra Augusta. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

UrbanProWeekly - NOVEMBER 12 - 18, 2015

COMMUNITY AS IT HAPPENS

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UrbanProWeekly - NOVEMBER 12 - 18, 2015

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MAKIN’ A DIFFERENCE COMMENTARY by Ken Makin

CHOOSING COMMUNITY OVER CRITICISM

Growing pains are a part of Paine’s rebuilding When I began to write this column about Paine College and its current state of affairs, I had a decision to make.

I could approach the school’s challenging financial situation from a skeptical perspective. I could talk about the community’s ambivalence about giving money to the school.

I could talk about how the shadow (READ: mistakes) of Paine’s former administration still looms large over the school.

I mean, it’s easy to be skeptical about historically black college and universities overall. Florida A&M University is dealing with infighting on its board of trustees. Close to a month ago, Tennessee State University dealt with an incident where someone was killed over a dice game.

Or, I could be hopeful. In light of recent events, I will choose the latter.

I watched a handful of AfricanAmerican football players at the University of Missouri as they effectively forced the ouster of a sitting university president. They responded to concerns about racial attacks and divisiveness on campus through the recognition of their economic influence.

The irony was that it happened at a “PWI,” or predominately white institution. I just simply remarked at the activism displayed in the midst of madness.

Here’s my question – in this era of hope and change, in the age of Obama – why not Paine?

As a community, as Black folk, we often talk about “Black Lives Matter.”

Well, if Black lives really matter, how can we let Paine fail? How can we let

down 300 students who want to better their lives and their communities?

That is exactly what is at stake here.

However you may feel about Paine, understand that if PC fails, we all fail. The school is responsible for the success of many community leaders. Paine has also put individuals through school who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to be a college graduate.

This is an important time in Augusta. As I type this, I am working on an idea to involve the community at-large to uplift Paine out of its current financial struggles. It’s called the “Church Challenge,” and pastors, you all will be hearing from me soon. The idea is to ask pastors to encourage members of their congregations to give a minimum of $10 to the school.

I know institutions and organizations will ask for $50 or $100, but all I’m asking is $10. You’ll spend more than that on gas. You’ll spend more than that at the drive-thru window.

But here’s the power of 10 – if a thousand people give $10, that’s $10,000. That’s a significant contribution.

The winning church – and really, any church that gives to Paine should be recognized – would get a plaque from the school and an allotment of tickets for a Paine College home basketball game.

It’s bigger than the game, though, as we saw at the University of Missouri.

It’s understanding the power of unity and economics to promote a righteous cause.

And yeah, I hear the complaints from people on the outside looking in. My response is simply to ask the

Magnet School applications available Richmond County School System Magnet Schools and Programs Applications are available for the 2016-2017 school year. Applications can be picked up at any Richmond County school or completed online at www.rcboe.org. The application process will be open until December 18th. Magnet Schools and Programs will be holding open houses through

December 18th.

The Richmond County School System will be hosting a Magnet Fair on Saturday, November 14th at the Augusta Mall from 10am until 2pm.

The Magnet Fair will be an opportunity for prospective students and parents to learn about each of the Magnet Schools and Programs from the Principals and current students.

community to look inward, and then responding by giving out support for Paine College.

Ken J. Makin is the host of “Makin’ A Difference,” an online radio program available on iTunes and

Soundcloud (soundcloud.com/makinadifference). Updates on the show are available at facebook.com/makinadifferenceshow. You can also reach Ken by email at makinadifferenceshow@gmail.com, or via Twitter @differencemakin.

Reader doesn’t think Smith is good for the NAACP

I felt compelled to write this letter after reading the article, “Smith ready to run for old job at NAACP” in the last edition of Urban Pro Weekly. The members of the Augusta Chapter of the NAACP will do a grave disservice to the Augusta Chapter and the community at-large if Charles J. Smith Jr. is re-elected.

First, let me establish the fact that I served in administrative and leadership positions my entire professional career in local respected institutions.

The vast majority of my career was in the area of quality management.

I had been asked to come to meetings by several members as they were trying to increase the attendance of financial members.

It took my attendance at one meeting to ask myself if I would return because of the vast chaos that I witnessed. I decided to keep coming to see what the root cause of so much chaos was. I determined the root cause to be Charles J. Smith Jr. The first observation was his leadership style which is that of a dictator.

Secondly, there was no respect shown to members that did not bow at his feet. I witnessed members, including myself, being told that we could not speak unless he gave his personal

permission. I witnessed him yell at members to shut up. I witnessed members that insisted on their right to speak and have input subjected to law enforcement being called on them.

Mr. Smith is stated in the Urban Pro Weekly article as calling these members “disgruntled”. It is true. Many

members were “disgruntled” and for legitimate reasons.

I will vote for the current President, Dr.Beulah Nash-Teachey on November 17th. I observed Dr. Nash-Teachey and found her to understand and implement solid leadership principles. She understands that the secret of any

successful organization is to surround that organization with good people and allow them to perform.

I implore you to cast your vote for Dr. Nash-Teachey. Respectfully Submitted,

Juanita L. Burney, Chapter Member

9 UrbanProWeekly - NOVEMBER 12 - 18, 2015

LETTERS

UrbanProWeekly - NOVEMBER 12 - 18, 2015

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City of Augusta announces new utilities customer service options

Gospel Explosion

Emmanuel Temple Fellowship of Faith presents a Gospel Explosion on Sat Nov 14, 2015 at 4:00 PM. It The Augusta Utilities Department and to opt in for payment notices will be held at Victorious Ministries announced today enhanced web- and reminders.

705 Richland Ave. East, Aiken, based service options for utilities cus “This is great news for our res- South Carolina. tomers. These new services eliminate idents and those considering reloThere will be performances the vendor transaction fees for online cating to the city. Many of us utilize bill payments made by debit/credit online services to pay bills and I’m card and streamline the process of glad to see Augusta Utilities move paying bills online. in this direction,” said Mayor Hardie “We are excited to offer our cus- Davis, Jr. “Leveraging technology as tomers around the clock services. an additional option for our residents Our customers have told us they want also helps us get a better sense of more payment and service options what our residents want and utilize and we’re glad to provide them,” said data they provide to enhance our Tom Wiedmeier, Director of Augusta decision making,” Davis added.

Utilities Department. “We’re extremeAdditional features will be ly pleased with the opportunity to made available to Augusta Utilities provide our customers debit/credit Customers in 2016 to include a card payment services without the mobile application with the same vendor transaction fees.” functions as the online portal, pay Service features presently avail- bills and receive payment reminders able also include an online portal via mobile device, global messaging offering access to 24 month billing alerts for mobile application users, and payment history, registration and the option to pay using a credit option to receive paperless billing card at Customer Service locations.

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