NORTHEAST FLORIDA’S OLDEST, LARGEST, MOST READ AFRICAN AMERICAN OWNED NEWSPAPER The Florida Star Presorted Standard The Florida Star, U.S. Postage Paid P. O. Box 40629 Jacksonville, FL The Georgia Star! Jacksonville, FL 32203 Permit No. 3617 Food, Music, Impact Radio Can’t Get to the Store Fun Sat. Nov. 19 AM1360 (904) 766-8834 8808 Lem Turner Have The Star Delivered SINCE 1951 Veterans-B1&B3 Noon to 4 Read The Florida An Award and Georgia Star Winning Newspapers. Publication, Listen to IMPACT serving you Radio Talk Show. since 1951. WWW.thefloridastar.com Rated “A” by Still the people’s the Better choice, striving to Business Bureau www.thefloridastar.com make a difference. NOVEMBER 19, 2011 - NOVEMBER 25, 2011 VOL. 61 NO. 31 50 CENTS Operation Dot Com - $330K Seized Chris Tucker Losing Home Even though Chris Tucker is very talented and his wife is very giving, it has been reported that they are about to lose their $6 million 10,000 square-foot Florida estate. The home was pur- George E. Seldon Brown Albert Clarke Andrea Apollo Stewart chased in 2007. They Waziri Thompson presently owe $4.4 million to the bank and IRS has now placed a $11.5 million lien on the property that they claim Mr. Tucker owes them. This problem is really causing a ‘rush hour.’ Robbery and Police Chase Ends in Cameron Jeffery Kelsey Kenneth Crum Marta Gizaw McSwain Whitmore II Panagioutou Crash at Jenkins Bar-B-Que There was money flowing through Jacksonville but it was not legal. Sheriff Rutherford called a press conference on Tuesday advising that his office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the U. S. Postal Service Shaun and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Victor Zanders Richards were able to take down a drug smuggling opera- tion that was based in Jacksonville. Even though the operation was headquartered in Jacksonville, it reached from Mexico,California and across the country and sold in northeast Florida. The drug bust was called, Operation Dot Com but had nothing to do with the Internet. It was understood that it was named after its leader’s nickname-Dot. The leader was George Wazirim who is 29 years of age. They received a break in the operation with a traffic stop of the ringleader and found at that time, $72,000 in a hidden compartment of his vehicle. The drugs were smuggled in hidden panels of cars and in shipments through the U. S. Postal Service as well as private delivery services. The officers found nine guns, nine vehicles and $330,000 in cash as a result of the Jacksonville Police were chasing two men who were robbery suspects. The men investigation. were in a stolen pickup truck. Sheriff Rutherford stated that this was a very significant find as the ring smug- The chase began when the two men accidently rammed a patrol car. It ended when gled 200 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of $6 million through our city. the stolen pickup hit the car of a Jenkins Barbecue employee which was parked in With the economy the way it is, they were able to sell their product in northeast front of the restaurant. The restaurant is located at the corner of Edgewood Avenue Florida, Atlanta, Arizona and California. and Kings Road. This drug bust led to the arrest of the leader, Dot, whose real name is George E. As you can see, the restaurant and the employee’s vehicle suffered damage. Waziri, and 16 others on drug trafficking and conspiracy charges, mostly in The two suspects are now facing charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, Jacksonville. They have issued warrants for four other people on charges as a result possession of firearms, resisting, fleeing and eluding, as well as auto theft. of this operation being closed down. The officer who was driving the patrol car suffered a contusion but did not get hos- pital treatment at the time. Professor/Jazz Musician in Cain First Republican in Both Political Sides Agree that Jacksonville this Weekend Race to get Secret Service Debt Committee Must Not Fail Favorite son, trumpet Cal Thomas is a conservative columnist and Bob Three members of Herman Cain’s campaign team master, Professor Beckel is a liberal Democratic strategist. This week in apologized on Wednesday after a local police officer Longineu Parsons returns the USA Today, they both agreed that it will be painful who said he was there to protect the Republican presi- to Jazzland Cafe on for automatic cuts and that such cuts will be far, wide dential candidate manhandled a female reporter while Saturday, November 19. and dangerous but, a deal must be made, even if it in Florida.. This time he is bringing means tax hikes. Herman Cain became on Thursday the first his new group, the As of this week, the Supercommittee still have not Republican presidential candidate to receive Secret Longineu Parsons come to an agreement and both sides are now shifting Service protection, a spokesman for the presidential Quartet, which includes the blame. The committee’s deadline is November 23, guard agency said. FSU grad students 2011, and the 12-member committee are not acting as Cain requested the security and Homeland Security Delorean Fullington- if they know that the deadline is next week. Secretary Janet Napolitano and congressional leaders Bass, Evan Powell-Piano, and Gerald Law-Drums. Boehner’s spokesman is stating that the latest approved his request Thursday, Secret Service It has been some time since Parsons played with Democratic proposal is ‘a step backward.” The spokesman Ed Donovan said. a steady group of musicians. With the new LPQ, Democrats said that their offer to lower the Republican Elite agents were expected to begin protecting the for- Longineu feels free to play the extensive repertoire of figure for increased tax revenue was met with further mer pizza company executive sometime Thursday. music inspired by his experiences and travel around the stonewalling. Death threats against Cain, who had been experiencing world. With more unemployed Americans and Occupy a bounce in the polls, triggered his request. Wall Street, what are they praying for next? Opinion/Editorial............A-2 Wish to give us a News Story? I Church...........................A-3 Looking for customers to patronize your Talk of the Town...............A-4 business or utilize your services? If you Call (904) 766-8834 or Send it to: N Around the Area............A-6 S Caribbean News.............A-7 answered YES, then you need to place an ad [email protected] Local...................B-1 I Columns........................B-2 in The Florida Star or Georgia Star! [email protected] Sports...........................B-4 D Crime & Justice..(A).C&J-1-4 CALL 904/766-8834 to place your ad TODAY!! Prep Rap...........(B).PR-1-4 E Classified & Business...B-7 Check, Money Order, or Credit Cards Accepted PAGE A-2 THE STAR NOVEMBER 19, 2011 OPINIONS THE FLORIDA STAR THE GEORGIA STAR HEALTHY LIVING YOLANDA KNUCKLE, COLUMNS CLARA JACKSON McLAUGHLIN Is Modern Technology Hurting Your OWNER/PUBLISHER LIZ BILLINGSLEA Eyes? LONZIE LEATH, RINETTA M. FEFIE MANAGEMENT OFFICE/ACCOUNTS MANAGER SALES & MARKETING G. ABRAMS, DENNIS WADE, DAN EVANS TIA AYELE, SPECIAL SECTIONS (StatePoint) A world full of personal com- puters, hand-held video games, smartphones MAY E. FORD - LAYOUT EDITOR GEORGIA MARKETING KEVIN KIM - CRIME & JUSTICE and e-readers is increasing the risk of eye-relat- ARTHIA NIXON - CARIBBEAN NEWS ANGELA FAVORS MORRELL ed problems in many Americans. ALLEN PROCTOR DESIGN AND WEB SITE PARTNER This isn’t surprising, as children and BETTY DAVIS DISTRIBUTION LIFESTYLE/ SOCIETY COLUMNIST teenagers are now spending 7.5 hours a day MIKE BONTS, SPORTS EDITOR HERMAN ROBINSON, DAVID SCOTT consuming electronic media, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Investigative Reporter: Lonzie Leath, Features: Dementrious Lawrence Computer vision syndrome, or digital eye strain, is an increasingly common medical ailment and can Reporters/Photographers: Marsha Phelts, Carl Davis, Laurence Greene, affect learning and work productivity. It is now the number one computer-related complaint in the United F. M. Powell III, Michael Phelts, Richard McLaughlin, Andrea F. K. Ortiz, Angela Morrell, Joseph Lorentzon, Scott Jurrens, Cheryl Williams States -- ahead of carpal-tunnel syndrome. Columnists: Ulysses Watkins, Jr., M.D., Ester Davis, Lucius Gantt, “The eyes function best when looking at something about 20 feet away. Looking at something close-up, Deanna, Cynthia Ferrell, Delores Mainor Woods, Farris Long like a computer game, text message or e-reader requires more focus, and over time, can lead to blurry vision, Distribution and Sales: Dan & Pat Randolph, Abeye Ayele, Cassie Williams, Angela Beans, Tony Beans, Herman Robinson, David Scott eye strain and headaches,” explains Dr. Leanne Liddicoat, a VSP optometrist in California. TEL: (904) 766-8834 And VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit eyecare benefits providers in the United States, recently FAX: (904) 765-1673 reported that nearly one-third of VSP patients suffer from symptoms of computer vision syndrome. [email protected] (912) 264-3137 Georgia However, there are easy steps parents and children can take to prevent these symptoms: Serving St. Johns, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Alachua, Flagler, Marion, McIntosh, Camden And Glynn County TheFloridaStar.com • Get the right lighting. Keep bright lighting overhead to a minimum. Position your computer screen in a The Florida and Georgia Star way that reduces reflections and glare from windows or overhead lights. Newspapers are independent newspapers published weekly in • Stay back. The closer the eyes are to an object they’re looking at, the harder they have to work. A good Jacksonville, Florida rule is to apply the Harmon Distance (the distance between the elbow and first knuckle) when viewing any- SUBSCRIPTION RATES One Year-$40.00 thing on screen.