www.mississippilink.com Vol. 21, No. 48 September 24 - 30, 2015 50¢ Papa! Pope stirs excitement in Deadly impact of domestic violence D.C., calls for climate action weighing on Leggett family XXXX Pope Francis arrives in the popemobile at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Wash- ington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. Tony Gentile/Pool Photo via AP Linda Leggett’s mother Elizabeth Lacey lays a final flower for her daughter Monday, September 21, 2015 PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE R. JONES By Julie Pace And Nicole Winfield The 78-year-old pontiff’s whirl- national anthems of the Holy See The Associated Press wind day in Washington enlivened and the United States. By Stephanie R. Jones violence cases which have tragic Contributing Writer WASHINGTON - Cheered by the often stoic, politically polar- The pope’s remarks were brief, endings. Before, she had tried jubilant crowds across the nation’s ized city. Excited crowds lined yet pointed. The family used Linda’s maid- leave and her husband found her. capital, Pope Francis forged com- streets near the White House to Speaking in soft, halting Eng- en name - Linda Yvette Leggett This time, she had saved mon cause Wednesday with Presi- catch a glimpse of the smiling and lish, Francis said that as the son of - on the funeral program because enough money - $1,600 - to move waving Francis as he passed by an immigrant family, he was “hap- dent Barack Obama on climate they didn’t want the name of the to another place, away from her in his open-air “popemobile.” He py to be a guest in this country, change, immigration and inequal- man (Montson) who is charged Bristol Park apartment on County ity, as the popular pontiff signaled seemed to draw energy from the which was largely built by such with killing her anywhere to be he would not sidestep issues that cheering spectators, particularly families.” Line Road. But Bobby Monston - have deeply divided Americans. the children his security detail The Argentine pope was born to seen, though he was her husband. her family calls him by his middle On his first full day in the United brought to him for a papal kiss and Italian parents who left their home Linda Leggett Montson’s death name, Dwayne - thwarted her at- States, the pope also reached out blessing. country before he was born, and was reported in the local media tempted escape, allegedly shoot- to America’s 450 bishops, many of In keeping with his reputation he has been a forceful advocate in five to six sentences. All you ing her multiple times in the early whom have struggled to come to as the “people’s pope,” Francis for humane treatment of migrants. learned from those reports was morning hours on September 12. terms with his new social justice- kept Obama and other dignitaries Francis was enthusiastic in that she was 40 years old, was There was a restraining order at the White House waiting so he his embrace of Obama’s climate minded direction for the Catholic shot multiple times and that police against her husband, barring him could spend time greeting school- change agenda, specifically prais- Church. He gently prodded the were searching for her husband, from coming near Linda, fam- bishops to forgo “harsh and divi- children gathered outside the Vati- ing the president for taking steps victim of domestic violence, Bobby Montson, 44. sive language,” while commend- can’s diplomatic mission where he to reduce air pollution. In a firm ily members said. Police are still Linda Leggett ing their “courage” in the face of spent the night. message to those who doubt the But there’s more to Linda’s searching for him. Linda’s fam- the church’s sexual abuse scandal With flags snapping, color guard science of climate change, he said story. She was a mother of four ily members said he is originally Awareness month, Jones said. - rhetoric that angered victims he at attention and a military band the warming planet “demands on children, ages 17-22. She also from Yazoo City. And this case, like so many oth- may meet with later in his trip. playing, Francis stepped from his our part a serious and responsible left behind a mother, a father and Linda’s mother Elizabeth Lac- ers, reveals the need for aware- Late in the day, Francis - the modest Fiat onto the South Lawn recognition” of the world that will grandmother and a grandchild -a ey said family members did what ness that domestic violence can first pope from the Americas - on a crisp fall morning that felt be left to today’s children. 6-month-old boy. they could to support her daugh- happen in any family and victims as optimistic as his own persona. “Accepting the urgency, it canonized Junipero Serra, the fa- She worked at Penn’s Fish ter. Lacey said she often had to need to seek help before it be- Pope and president stood on a red- seems clear to me also that climate mous 18th century Spanish friar House on Lakeland Drive, as does “back away” because she didn’t comes fatal. who brought the Catholic faith to carpeted platform bedecked with change is a problem which can one of her oldest sons Marquis Wendy Mahoney, execute California. red, white and blue bunting for the no longer be left to a future gen- want to lose all contact with her eration,” said Francis, who has Lindsey, the twin to Stepfon. Her daughter. director of the MS Coalition been pressing his environmen- daughter Nakia Davis and son It is common that abusers iso- Against Domestic Violence said tal message ahead of climate Cordarius Fear huddled with the late their victims from family and Mississippi’s domestic violence change talks in Paris later this family at their mother’s gravesite friends, said Eva Jones, of Butter- homicide ranking has dropped A golden friend will year. this past Monday, September 21, flies by Grace Defined by Faith, a from 5th place in the nation to 2015. group at lends support to victims Pope Sadly, Linda’s life follows of domestic violence. Domestic violence be missed at 2659 Continued on page 8 the storyline of many domestic October is Domestic Violence Continued on page 3 PICTURE OF THE WEEK The staff and employees of The Mississippi Link, Socrates Garrett Enterprises and GarrettECI.Iv mourn the loss of fellow friend Levi Adam Jr. who passed away on September 16, 2015. He was one of our staunch supporters and will be sorely missed. The memory of his quick wit and energy will be The Sanders family of Jackson, Miss. are joined by family members from other states to participate in the Cental Mississippi Walk among our fond memories of him. Our prayers and to END Alzheimer’s in memory of mother and family matriarch Bessie Sanders. The Gail Brown family of Clinton, Miss. also makes sympathy go out to his family. See ‘In Memoriam’ Cel- the Walk annually in memory of her late father Howard H. Hargrove. PHOTOS BY GAIL BROWN ebrating the Life of Levi Adams Jr. on Page 5. See more on page 17 When all’s said Jackson State AMR medic saves eight Share this issue with a friend and done, Yogi University lives in two months as by mailing it to: Berra was 1 of a awarded $2.9 company’s “Save Rate” Inside kind million rises 150 percent Page 16 Page 6 Page 4 2 • the mississippi link september 24 - 30, 2015 www.mississippilink.com LocaL www.mississippilink.com sEpTEmbEr 24 - 30, 2015 THE mississippi link • 3 Letter to the e d i t o r Domestic violence Continued from page 1 ‘Let’s get the story correct’ 34th - a good sign, “but one is too many.” “That is indicative of the strides By Dorsey R. Carson Jr. for a fair story, but that’s not hap- be surprising that we have made, but one is still Attorney pening with some media outlets. if they did too many,” Mahoney said. “There Let’s get the It has been reported that some- not. Synagro is help for you if you are in an story correct re- one has been making robocalls to has no factual abusive situation. We want you garding Denali city officials and others regarding basis for its to know that you are not alone - Water Solutions/ the contract discussions. I know allegations of you are never alone. call the Do- Socrates Gar- nothing of this matter, so I cannot bias, or Wil- mestic Violence Hotline at 800- rett Enterprises comment on their contents or spec- son carroll 799-SaFE (7233) or go to http:// Inc.’s proposal ulate on who ordered them. would have mcadv.org/get-help/.” to handle dis- Regarding Synagro’s tactics: provided that Lacey said she nor other fam- Linda Leggett’s family: mother, Elizabeth Lacey; sons Cordarius Fear and posal of biosolids for the city of Garrett These seem obvious. Wilson car- information ily members ever thought Bobby Stepfon Lindsey; daughter Nakia Davis; and son Marquis Lindsey. Jackson. Lots of misinformation is roll’s - who had no involvement months ago. Monston’s abusive tendencies circulating because of lack of fact- with the evaluation process and after a judge ordered that Syna- would rise to the level of murder. ing to get her cousin to leave the Jackson Police Department checking and other reasons. did not participate in company in- gro return Denali/Garrett’s ille- “We just never thought this would situation for the last three years.