University of South Florida Scholar Commons Newspaper collection The Weekly Challenger 2009-02-12 The Weekly Challenger : 2009 : 02 : 12 The Weekly Challenger, et al Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/challenger Recommended Citation The Weekly Challenger, et al, "The Weekly Challenger : 2009 : 02 : 12" (2009). Newspaper collection. 7. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/challenger/7 This is brought to you for free and open access by the The Weekly Challenger at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Newspaper collection by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Presort Std U.S. Postage PAID Permit #2271 St. Petersburg, FL LOCAL LOCAL SPORTS NATIONAL Community Beat with Jeanie Blue 3 Stars of Gospel perform at Sun Dome 5 Third time’s a charm for Mo Williams 8 Aretha Franklin’s hat requested by Smithsonian 9 50¢ We Value Diversity. We Value Education. We Value History. St. Petersburg • Clearwater • Tampa • Largo • Tarpon Springs • Safety Harbor • Bradenton • Sarasota VOLUME 41 NUMBER 24 FEBRUARY 12 - FEBRUARY 18, 2009 ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA Local Elementary School Celebrates Florida Native Honored Reading With NFL Players For Stimulating Growth And The NEA And Prosperity Of Mississippi’s Minority And Small Businesses Participants in the Read Across America Day BY BERNARD BALL group of students and faculty SPECIAL TO THE members. The students at CHALLENGER Maximo Elementary enjoyed a special guest appearance by the ST. PETERSBURG - More Dr. Seuss character the “CAT than twelve years ago, the IN THE HAT”; other distin- National Education Association guished guests included Kim (NEA) initiated its award- Black, president of the winning reading program, Pinellas Classroom Teachers “Read Across America,” to Association (PCTA), Andy improve literacy among school Ford, president of the Florida age children, and bridge the gap Education Association (FEA), between children of all ages and Jessica Tribble of and their parents through the Poisioned Pen Press. power of reading. “Whether it’s a classic by Last week, Maximo Shakespeare, or a football Elementary Microsociety and playbook, reading is the solid Visual Arts Magnet School was foundation to academic, as well one of two elementary schools as athletic success” said Andy Mirassa, Richard and Elaine Speights, Governor Harley Barbour, Dianne Speights, (Weekly Challenger G.M.) in the Tampa Bay area, that par- Ford. “These professional ticipated in a kick-off event for athletes can help students SPECIAL TO THE recognition honored Speights for business practices to help their A contributor to Speights’ “Read Across America Day”, a understand the importance of CHALLENGER his service during the past five business grow. Each week profes- success comes from the Jim national day of reading held on getting into the “game” of years as Mississippi’s director, sionals volunteer their time and Collins book “Good to Great” Mar. 2. In partnership with the reading.” JACKSON, MS - Florida Minority and Small Business skills to teach such classes which focuses on the distinct dif- NEA, the National Football When asked why this native Richard Speights, brother of Development in the state’s as Business Planning for ferences in business practices that League Players Association program is so important to the the Weekly Challenger’s economic development authority. Construction Management, are embraced by “Great (NFLPA), sent members of the educational system, Kim Black General Manager, Dianne A hallmark of the Mississippi Construction Accounting, Companies” that are not embraced Tampa Bay Bucs to excite responded “We know students Speights, was recognized by minority business outreach is its Building a Banking Relationship, by “Good Companies”. One of children to read. Wide receiver, need to know how to read, and Mississippi Governor Haley Model Contractor Development Marketing, Bidding and those practices Speights explained Cortez Hankton and Barbour for stimulating growth Program, a highly structured 9 Estimating, Project Management Quarterback Luke McCown, MAXIMO and prosperity of Mississippi’s week program that teaches small Field Operations and Claims and SPEIGHTS were on hand to read to a large continued on pg. 6 minority and small businesses. The minority contractors the essential Disputes Resolution. continued on pg. 4 2009 Black History Month Tour: Ersula Knox Odom Portraying Opinion..............................2 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Community News ...3, 4, 5, 6 TAMPA - Eckerd College scheduled for Frostproof, their visit of the BCC campus. graduate, Ersula Knox Odom, Tampa, Orlando, Leesburg and She then answers questions has completed the first leg of Fernandina Beach. in character. After Dr Bethune Church News....................6 her 2009 Black History Month Odom’s travels gives clarity leaves, Odom entertains Tour portraying Dr. Mary to why the Florida Humanities questions regarding her Black History .......................7 McLeod Bethune. Thus far, Council calls their scholars research. This is Odom’s third Odom has presented “Faith, ROAD Scholars. They are season performing as a chau- Scholarship, Service: Dr. Mary chartered with studying their tauquan for Florida Humanities Entertainment .....................7 McLeod Bethune” at The selected persons or area of Council Road Scholar program. Tampa Theater as a Tampa Bay interest and taking to the road Odom is also an author, Black Heritage Festival event, sharing humanitarian informa- essayist, freelance newspaper Sports .................................8 Plant City High School tion and sparking thought reporter, workshop leader, motiva- Community Center, Fort provoking conversation. tional speaker and prize winning State News ........................9 Lauderdale’s African-American Odom brings Dr. Bethune to life lyricist. She often reads from Research Library And Cultural life May 17, 1954, and shares her book “At Sula’s Feet.” Center, Homestead Center For her thoughts regarding Brown Odom was recently featured National News..................9 The Arts, North Miami Public vs. Board Of Education‘s in the Dec. 2008 issue of “Real Ersula Knox Odom as Dr. Library and Old City Hall in decision. She expounds upon Simple Magazine.” For addi- Mary McLeod Bethune Tampa City Council Chambers. what this means to the tourist tional information, visit her Church Directory .....10, 11 (above) with real Dr. Bethune Appearances still ahead are visiting with her concluding Web site at www.sulatoo.com. pictured in inset photograph How To Reach Us: News: [email protected] • Advertising: [email protected] • Phone: (727) 896-2922 • Fax: (727) 823-2568 2 THE WEEKLY CHALLENGER, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009 The Weekly Challenger The Weekly Challenger Newspaper Ethel L. Johnson . Publisher/CEO L. Dianne Speights . General/Advertising Manager We Value Diversity. We Value Education. We Value History. Lorrie Bellinger . Art Director • A knowledge of history brings a feeling of fellowship that runs through the ages — be it a territory, a village, a district, or a nation. • To live without history is likened to living without a form of memory. The Weekly Challenger Office: • To be without history is to live without roots or a past, with the present having no real foundation, and very little meaning for the future. 2500 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street South St. Petersburg, FL 33705 • To know the events of our past (can help us) to know what future events can be. (727) 896-2922 • The Weekly Challenger is committed to featuring articles of all ethnic cultures for the reading enjoyment of both the young and old generations. Fax (727) 823-2568 Email: [email protected] www.theweeklychallenger.com OPINION Readership: 100,000 monthly THE BLACK PRESS believes that America can best lead the world from racial antagonism when it accords to The GOP Finally Got Something Right every man, regardless of race, creed or color, his human and legal rights. Hating no man, fearing no man... the Black Press strives to help every man in the firm belief With Michael Steele Pick that all men are hurt as long as anyone is held back. BY EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON country’s fast changing ethnic vote parody ditty, and when he got some charm for four decades. It was the demographics will spell future mild flack for it not only defended path to the White House for Nixon, Two weeks ago this doom for a party that’s widely it but bristled at the thought that Reagan, Bush Sr. and W. Bush. writer wrote that an perceived as an insular party of others might not laugh it up too. W. Bush, and then political African-American was the last and nativist bent, Deep South, rural and Too many in the GOP, not kingpin Karl Rove and RNC chair best hope for the GOP. That meant non-college educated blue collar including the outgoing RNC chair, Ken Mehlman, bought some picking an African-American to whites. didn’t utter a peep of protest. insurance. They nakedly played the head the Republican National In the decade and a half Meanwhile, the Democrat’s GOP version of the race card and Committee (RNC). And I said that between Clinton’s presidential win expanding core base of voters, like dumped millions into a campaign that African-American had to be in 1992 and Obama’s win in 2008, Steele, is more moderate, socially to court Hispanic and black and former Maryland Lieutenant the number of black, Hispanic, active, and mildly pro government; Hispanic conservative evangeli- Governor Michael Steele. For its Asian and Native American voters the diametric opposite of what the cals, and younger black business sake, someone in the GOP didn’t soared to nearly one quarter of the GOP purports to stand for. and professionals. It worked in The Weekly Challenger listen with a metallic ear and nation’s electorate. At the same Ultra conservative talk show Ohio and Florida. Bush modestly picked Steele as the new RNC time, blue collar white voters shock jocks and a narrow band of bumped up the percentage of the is distributed chair.