APRIL 2007 • Vol. 31 No. 9 • 30,000 Circulation www.monitorsaintpaul.com Serving the Midway, Como, and North End Communities of St. Paul Group forms out of commitment to community... What’s INSIDE ‘God Squad’ is on the job By JAN WILLMS come and be a part. The commu- Whether it’s hosting a group nity we serve is not just African of children for a magic show, American.” Ed. Column....4 driving some gang members He said the group is trying to home from the potential scene of include other community organi- a crime or calming victims after a zation leaders. shooting, the God Squad is on The God Squad primarily call 24-7. started in the Frogtown-Dale- The group, which includes Summit area. In the late winter ministers, corrections officers, ex- of 2006, the group moved to the gang members and laypersons, is North End and has opened the trying to reach out to include Hut. more volunteers in its core. “The Hut is our latest ven- Rev. Darryl Spence, assistant ture,” Rev. Spence said. It is locat- Now in your pastor of the First Covenant Bap- ed at 846 Rice St., the site of the neighborhood tist Church, said the God Squad old Flower Hut floral shop. developed out of a commitment “Our goal is to have the Hut to the community. open Monday through Friday,” “I would like to credit Chiefs Rev. Spence said. It currently Finney and Harrington for em- opens about 12:30 or 1 p.m., News..................7 bracing some African American and generally stays open until ministers who were doing inter- about 6 or 7 in the evenings. vention work,” he said. Rev. Spence said the site of- Rev. Spence and Rev. Devon fers a space for boys and girls, Miller developed the group. Rev. where they are taught discipline. Miller has since moved on. Volunteer Damon Drake and Rev Darryl Spence are often called out at 2 Computers have been donated, “We started in the early a.m. to an early morning crime scene as part of their role on the God and the group is trying to get 1990s,” Rev. Spence said. He said Squad. (Photo by Terry Faust) them hooked up to the Internet. the name God Squad was placed “One of our members has a on the group in about 2001. the God Squad.” because we know it’s our call- dad who is a boxing trainer, and They were arriving at the “The name stuck,” said Rev. ing,” he said. “We are looking we are trying to get a boxing gym Java Train scene of a crime, and someone Spence. and seeking to recruit people stalled by vote looked up and said, “Here comes “This is a volunteer effort, from different nationalities to CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 Police assure neighbors that they are safe... News.................8 Triple homicide shakes St. Paul By JANE MCCLURE Police also have two other Candles, flowers and teddy persons of interest they are Study examines bears outside of a Burgess Street questioning in connection with home are a sad reminder of the the triple homicide, but have traffic options loss of three North End commu- not released those names yet. nity members. St. Paul Police There are as many as seven continue to pursue leads in the investigators working on the in- March 23 homicide of three vestigation. St. Paul Police are family members. But police and also receiving help from the FBI, News..............10 community leaders also are Ramsey County Sheriff’s Depart- quick to assure North End resi- ment and other agencies. dents that they are safe and that At a March 28 community the crime was not a random act meeting that drew more than of violence. 150 people, St. Paul Police Chief In early April St. Paul Police John Harrington said he is car- identified a career criminal as a rying a photo of 15-year-old “person of interest” in the slay- Brittany Kekedakis, one of the ings. Tyvarus Lindsey, 25, is al- three murder victims. While it’s ready being held in the Ramsey too late to save Kekedakis and County Jail in connection with a the other murder victims, the Central girls 2005 murder. Lindsey has a police chief said it's time to take win State title Cheyanne Patterson held a picture of her half sister, Brittany Kekedakis, and lis- long criminal history and is a action to keep the community tened to St. Paul Police Chief Harrington assure an overflow crowd at Rice suspect in other homicides. He safe. Street Library that the triple homicide would be solved. (Photo by Terry Faust) also has been convicted in the past on drug and theft charges. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 1885 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55104 651-645-7045 everything from Chevrolets to dent was that if a person could runs heating and cooling systems Hupmobiles sold here. At times kill an animal in such a cruel for much of downtown St. Paul, Publishers: there were more than a dozen fashion, it would not be difficult would be plant operator. Calvin deRuyter, Tim Nelson Midway Chev to close dealerships operating along Uni- for that person to hurt another District Energy uses wood versity. Even though Grand Av- person. waste downtown but the Green Managing Editor: its doors on University enue and even downtown St. Anthony A. Gomez was ar- Institute report noted that is a Denis Woulfe Paul had their share of new mo- rested in late March in connec- limited resources. A recent Ram- University Avenue’s last new mo- tor vehicle dealerships, no neigh- tion with Chevy's death. St. Paul sey County study of wood collec- Advertising: tor vehicle dealership is closing its borhood came close to Universi- Police found he took videos of tion at neighborhood cleanups Denis Woulfe doors. Midway Chevrolet an- ty Avenue in terms of number of the killing with a cell phone indicates there isn't enough clean Dennis Stern (651-452-5324) nounced April 3 that it will merge dealerships and variety of vehi- camera. Gomez was an admirer wood for both plants. with Merit Chevrolet and began Photographer: cles. of Crystal's and family members Green Institute looked at va- an inventory reduction sale. The But tough times in the Amer- suspected he may have been in- riety of biomass fuel options for Terry Faust merger is effective May 1. ican auto industry have taken a volved after Crystal told him she the plant, including yard waste, Merit is at I-94 and Century Production/Illustrations: toll, and several Twin Cities area didn't want him to be her agricultural products or wood Avenue, on the eastern edge of St. dealerships have closed or boyfriend. waste. The report indicates that Bob Wasiluk Paul. merged in recent years. Gomez was put in the Ram- these options are either too ex- Midway will close its new ve- Contributing Writers: sey County Jail. He made his first pensive or need further study. hicle dealership at 1389 Univer- appearance in Ramsey County One idea that has been Iric Nathanson, Deborah Brotz, sity Av. It will continue to sell District Court in late March. He raised for the plant is that of Jane McClure, Nancy Giguere, used vehicles at 1333 University North End teen faces possible charges of animal burning refuse-derived fuel. But Jessica Flannigan, Tom Conlon, Av. The move comes about a year cruelty and terroristic threats. that is controversial because Jan Willms, Sherri Moore, after Whitaker Buick moved its receives support burning garbage has the poten- Nate Hamilton, Deb Robinson, new and used vehicle sales oper- tial to release pollutants in its Benita Warns, The Cheapskate, ations to Forest Lake. Not long A North End girl has received an The Food Snob, and The Bachelor emissions. Residents of neigh- before that Ron Saxon Ford left. outpouring of support from Alternative Rock-Tenn In a news release Midway around the world, after her thera- borhoods around the plant have Chevrolet owner Tom Krebsbach py dog was stolen and beheaded fuels may not be easy raised objections to burning said the merger will allow his by a former admirer. Seventeen- garbage. Much remains to be business to better serve its long- year-old Crystal Brown and her A recently released study of ener- learned about current burning term customers and gain new family were horrified in February gy options for the Rock-Tenn pa- technology and how it could be when the dog, named Chevy, was per recycling plant shows that used to ease community fears. Now, communicate with the customers. A larger inventory, Monitor electronically! longer service department hours, stolen February 7 from the fami- use of alternative fuels to keep more parking and freeway access ly's yard. The dog was then be- the plant and its 400 jobs going Now it’s easier than ever to keep in headed and its head placed in a may not be easy. The study, re- touch with the Monitor. Letters to are some of the incentives for the Public hearing on Home the editor and news releases for move. decorated gift box after it disap- leased in late March by the Green publication can be sent via e-mail at However, about 20 people in peared. The box was then left on Institute, examines various ways Depot postponed [email protected]. parts and services will lose their the family's doorstep February to fuel a larger power plant for Be sure to send copy in the body of jobs.