Council Members Grill Administration Over Budget
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www.mississippilink.com VOL. 22, NO. 29 MAY 12 - 18, 2016 50¢ Council members grill administration over budget By Othor Cain meeting with a question that played his frustrations with the serve deficit of approximately tend the special-called city coun- Contributing Writer set the stage for the balance of administration’s lack of trans- $4,187,367,” said Priester. “If cil meeting – a meeting that he It took less than 30 minutes the meeting; “I’m going to cut parency via his Facebook page the mayor wants to continue to requested – because of a previ- for some Jackson City Council through the chase, Mr. Crisler, didn’t stop with that question. ostrich, that’s on him. We need ously scheduled meeting with members to determine that they is it true that the city has spent “It’s my understanding that the to know how much money we the Rankin-Hinds County Flood had had enough excuses as to all of its encumbered general mayor has known for at least have in our reserve. We need to Control Group. why they haven’t been presented Yarber Priester fund balance and has spent more several weeks at this point that be able to have good information Instead, Yarber allowed Mar- with information concerning the Ward 2 City Councilman Mel- than $4 million of its emergency we have used up all of our fund that the council has been request- shand Crisler to sit in for him city’s budget during the May 9 vin Priester, who also serves as fund?” Priester asked. balance. We have zero fund ing for months at this point.” City Council meeting. council president, opened the Priester, who has publicly dis- balance left, and we have a re- Mayor Tony Yarber did not at- Council Continued on page 3 AT&T donates to 2 museums Honoring slain officers By Janice K. Neal-Vincent Contributing Writer Special week pays tribute to Tate, Deen, others Several key persons met at the famous Woodworth Chapel at Tougaloo College the morning of May 6, to announce a $250,000 donation from AT&T to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History for the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Mu- seum of Mississippi History. The event acknowledged long-standing contribu- tions of Judge Reuben Anderson, Mississippi Civil Rights Movement Chair and honoree with the nam- ing of the Black Empowerment Gallery inside the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Anderson is a Tougaloo alumn. AT&T Mississippi President Mayo Flynt stated, “It is fitting to Judge Anderson, a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, a trailblazer of many firsts in Mississippi, and a living example of this gallery’s story.” Flynt challenged the gatherers to remember those who labored for racial progress in Mississippi and to celebrate their achievements by thrusting forth ra- cial reconciliation in succeeding generations. Tougaloo College President Beverly Hogan re- ferred to the two Mississippi Museums’ project as important to the state socially, culturally and eco- nomically. Hence, she said, “This project will offer learning opportunities that will expand the historical and civic knowledge so important to the full separa- tion of our children as functioning and contributing AT&T Continued on page 3 Scholarship Hattiesburg police officers Liquori Tate and Benjamin Deen will be honored this week in Washington, D.C.PHOTO COURTESY OF NBC NEWS By Shanderia K. Posey attend National Police Week activities in named in Editor Washington D.C. Slain Mississippi officers to be recognized A year has passed since Hattiesburg “I have mixed feelings about attending • Benjamin Deen, died 5/9/2015, Hattiesburg Police Department police officers Liquori Tate and Benja- the event, but I definitely look forward to • Johnny Gatson, died 3/10/2015, Warren County Sheriff’s Holmes’ honor min Deen were killed in the line of duty, going. I hear that it’s a very good experi- Office By Janice K. Neal-Vincent and multiple events have taken place to ence,” said Mary Deen, mother of Officer Contributing Writer honor the men. Deen. “ I just hate the reason for going.” • John Gorman, died 1/21/2015, Mississippi Gaming Commission Their families have participated in sev- Supporters of a scholarship named in honor of Deen said many in her immediate and • Iris Smith, died 5/25/2015, Mississippi Department of eral events honoring the officers, and this Charles Holmes, retired chair and professor of the Corrections week they are planning to join hundreds Political Science Department at Jackson State Uni- Officers • Liquori Tate, died 5/9/2015, Hattiesburg Police Department of other individuals across the national to versity, met with him at the Dollye M. E. Robinson Continued on page 3 Building in the College of Liberal Arts at 3 p.m. May 6. Holmes was referred to as an innovator who had the university and students at heart. Those who spoke of his ingenuity gave him high marks. Mario Azevedo, dean of the College of Liberal Islamic Heritage Festival celebrates culture Arts, likened Holmes to a man who always likes to explore things. “He is very active in preparing stu- By Janice K. Neal-Vincent of the art garden. Contributing Writer Various professionals addressed In celebration of its 15th year an- individual and community improve- niversary, the International Museum ment. Mississippi Move Program Di- of Muslim Cultures culminated its rector Mack Epps placed heavy em- month-long festivities with the Islamic phasis on mental health and behavioral Heritage Festival. health. He made it clear that individu- The event which was held at the als should be good stewards over their Mississippi Museum of Art/Art Gar- minds and bodies. den prompted excitement and pro- “Sometimes it’s a spiritual move and moted wellness on April 30. Sprightly sometimes you have to separate your- speaking was Khalid Abdullah Hud- self from others to obtain your goals,” Displaying JSU Development Foundation $25,000 son, IMMC staff/festival coordinator. Epps said. The speaker then pressed Holmes Endowed Gift are (from left) Sandra Hodge, “This is an opportunity to share the rest the need to vote in the upcoming elec- Mario Azevedo, Charles Holmes, Evelyn Leggett, By- of our selves with the greater commu- tion and reminded the crowd to know ron Orey; (back row) Ricky Hill, Chair, Department of nity,” he said. their heritage and history and wok out- Political Science. PHOTO BY JANICE K. NEAL-VINCENT While numerous Islamic exhibits side their comfort zones. were on display inside the Mississippi Scholarship Museum of Art, informed sessions and Festival Abdul Rasheed, local Mississippi Blues artist, performs Lou Rawls’ “To- Continued on page 3 entertainment occurred on the grounds Continued on page 3 bacco Row” at Islamic Heritage Festival. PHOTO BY JANICE K. NEAL-VINCENT Hinds Drug Court E-cigarette Is D.C. still the Share this issue with a friend graduation set for poisonings surge Chocolate City? by mailing it to: May 18 in young children, Inside study says Page 6 Page 12 Page 19 LOCAL 2 • THE MISSISSIPPI LINK MAY 12 - 18, 2016 www.mississippilink.com MDE announces expanded ADVERTORIAL eligibility for special needs Your vote counts so you can count on me scholarship program Special to The Mississippi Link Dear Fellow Democrats, Mississippi Link Newswire This newsletter is to seek your support The Mississippi Department of Education announced May and vote for me for National Commit- 9, changes to the Education Scholarship Account program, tee Woman, representing Mississippi to which will expand the pool of students who qualify for the the Democratic National Committee. My program. concerns are yours and as National Com- Established by the Equal Opportunity for Students with mittee-Woman I will continue to work for Special Needs Act of 2015, the ESA program provides up to you, the state party and the state of Mis- $6,500 per school year to parents of students with disabili- sissippi. ties who want to remove their child from a public school to During my tenure, I have been very ac- seek educational services elsewhere. The law provides for 434 tive on the national level from day one ESA accounts. with a 97 percent attendance record. I The expanded eligibility criteria for ESAs allows parents was appointed to the Credentials Com- of children with an active Individualized Education Program mittee by then Chairman Dean, and now within five years from the date of application to apply for the the current chair, Debbie W. Schultz. ESA program. The original legislation required applicants to I have served as the Secretary of the have an active IEP within 18 months of the date of applica- Black Caucus for twenty years. Because tion. of my commitment and dedication I have To participate in the program: earned the respect of many of the mem- one day a week as a pharmacist for Wal- • Dedicated, Proven Leadership, Ac- The applicant must be a Mississippi resident; ber-organizations such as the Women mart and Sams Club. Houston and I have countable, Dependable The student must have had an active Individualized Educa- Caucus, the Black Caucus, the South- a 14-year-old granddaughter named Han- • Mississippi Democratic Party mem- tion Program within five years of the date of application; and ern Caucus and the Senior Caucus of the nah who is a strong little democrat al- ber/1988 with impeccable representation the parent must sign an agreement to adhere to the rules of DNC. ready. participation. I participated in the delegate selection Thank you for your continued support Personal vita: Interested parents are encouraged to apply now for an ESA process whereby I represented Mississip- and I hope to COUNT ON YOU on Sat- • Wife of Retired Judge Houston J.