www.mississippilink.com VOL. 26, NO. 15 JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 5, 2020 50¢ Basketball legend Kobe Bryant JHLS hosts MLK – constructing a 2nd act – Essay contests and transcended sports other activities Simone Garner, 1st place Dominic Dantzler, 2nd place winner winner By Jackie Hampton The older students read Publisher their essays competitively be- The Jackson Hinds Library fore a panel of judges. They System (JHLS) hosted several were judged on neatness, programs during the month of originality, clarity, content, January in recognition of the grammar, punctuation, cre- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ativity and oral presentation. Kobe and Gianna holiday. Such programs in- Simone Garner, a fourth cluded essay contests, MLK grade student at Dawson El- coloring contests, viewing of ementary came in fi rst place By Barrington M. Salmon 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, a players, fans, celebrities and just He later released a tweet that fi lms, reading of books and and was presented $100 in TriceEdneyWire.com budding basketball phenom. those who equated his name with critics observed was strikingly the reading of poetry about cash; Dominic Dantzler, a Sports fans in the United States In addition to millions of ador- excellence. A common theme of- similar to President Obama’s: the life of King. These special tenth grade student at Calla- and around the world – plus ing fans, he leaves to mourn fered by tributes is that he had “Kobe Bryant, despite being programs were held at various way High School came in sec- people who are not necessarily him Vanessa Laine Bryant, his transcended basketball and had one of the truly great basketball branches including Eudora ond place, was presented $75 sports-oriented – are mourning wife of 19 years, and three other become larger than sports. players of all time, was just get- Welty, Lois A. Flagg, Willie cash; Dynell Parnell, a 12th the sudden death of NBA legend daughters: Natalia Bryant, 17, “Kobe was a legend on the ting started in life. He loved his Morris, Margaret Walker Al- grade student at Murrah High Kobe Bryant at the age of 41. Bianka Bryant, 3 and Capri Bry- court and just getting started in family so much, and had such eXander, Bolden Moore and School came in third place, Two years removed from re- ant, 7 months. what would have been just as strong passion for the future. Medgar Evers Library. was presented $50 cash; and tirement after 20 years in the The group was on their way to meaningful, a second act,” tweet- The loss of his beautiful daugh- One of the libraries which Virtue Hill, a 12th grade stu- NBA, the fi ve-time NBA cham- Bryant’s Mamba Sports Acad- ed President Barack Obama. ter, Gianna, makes this moment hosted an essay contest was dent at Callaway High School pion and Los Angeles Lakers emy in Thousand Oaks, Calif., “To lose Gianna is even more even more devastating,” Trump the Medgar Evers branch, lo- came in fourth place, received superstar was settling into retire- where Bryant was to coach a heartbreaking to us as parents. tweeted. “Melania and I send our cated at 4215 Medgar Evers $40 cash. ment and immersing himself in game in which Gianna was to Michelle and I send love and warmest condolences to Vanessa Blvd. The branch manager The library was fi lled with sports, entertainment, his family play. Federal investigators are prayers to Vanessa and the entire and the wonderful Bryant family. is Anne Sanders. Students in well-wishers cheering and ap- and business ventures when he trying to determine what specifi - Bryant family on an unthinkable May God be with you all.” grades K-12 were eligible to plauding as the winners were was killed in a helicopter crash, cally caused the crash which oc- day.” Many struggled to fi nd deeper participate in the essay con- announced. Sunday, Jan. 26, near Calabasas, curred in dense fog. President Trump defl ected meaning in the sudden death of test. The theme was “Living Peggy King, a long time Calif. Bryant’s death has triggered from his tweeting on impeach- a person so beloved who had be- Dr. King’s Dream: Matters in Girl Scout troop leader, said The crash also killed eight an outpouring of grief, shock ment to call the reports on the 2020!” she was there to cheer the pre- other passengers, including his and disbelief among devastated basketball star “terrible news.” Kobe Continued on page 3 Preschoolers from various schoolers on but enjoyed all schools competed by present- the participants. ing posters focusing on what Rev. Hosea Hines, pastor King stood and fought for. of Christ Tabernacle Church, Winners representing the said a word of prayer and later preschools received joint cash gave an inspiring message to An important step forward prizes they could use for pizza the students. He told them that parties. they can dream, should dream Leaps and Bounds came and it is important to dream. in fi rst place winning $75; He asked them to shout out, “I Kids University, second place can dream” and together they for Rx prices winner, received $60; Tons yelled over and over again, of Fun, third place winner getting louder each time, “I received $25 and Jamboree can dream.” Hines told the By Kimberly L. Campbell tion drugs has increased much a new analysis in October 2019 in the program. These needed Child Development Center, students, “you can daydream AARP Mississippi State Director faster than infl ation. That’s why that showed Medicare (mean- investments would greatly im- fourth place winner, also re- MLK Contest On December AARP Mississippi thanks U.S. ing benefi ciaries and taxpayers) prove the health and well-being ceived $25. 12, 2019, the Rep. Bennie G. Thompson on spent an eXtra $110 billion in of older Americans and help re- Continued on page 3 House of Rep- behalf of our 285,000 local recent years on drug price in- duce health care costs down the resentatives took members for voting “Yes” to creases that exceeded infl ation. road. a vital step to rein in the out-of-control prices Imagine how those savings The fact that the House lower prescrip- of prescription drugs. could have been used to protect passed legislation on prescrip- tion drug costs and passed The It should come as no surprise Medicare for years to come. tion drugs – and that the Senate Elijah E. Cummings Lower that many AARP members tell The passage of the Lower is considering a related bill – is Drug Costs Now Act. This bi- us they can’t afford the medica- Drug Costs Now Act could a major step forward. Thought- partisan bill offers real relief to tions they need, and are forced be of great benefi t for seniors. ful efforts to help reduce pre- the millions of Americans who to make diffi cult choices as a According to the non-partisan scription drug prices and cover struggle to afford their needed result. In a recent survey of vot- Congressional Budget Offi ce, needed services could save medications. The bill would al- ers age 50 and older, four out of allowing Medicare to negotiate billions of dollars for patients, low Medicare to use its buying ten people responded that they prices for high-cost drugs with taxpayers and our health care power to negotiate lower drug did not fi ll a prescription their no competitors – rather than system. prices, create an out-of-pocket doctor ordered them to take due being forced to pay whatever We thank Rep. Thompson for cap for seniors in Medicare Part to the cost. sky-high rates Big Pharma sets his vote to lower prescription D, and crack down on excessive It’s not just patients who pay – would save a staggering $345 drug prices and make health drug price increases. for greedy Big Pharma practices billion. The House bill would care more affordable. AARP has been tracking drug that help keep drug prices high invest those savings back into AARP is determined to win prices for 12 years. For each – it’s also taxpayers. The AARP Medicare by creating new den- this fi ght on behalf of older year, the price for prescrip- Public Policy Institute released tal, hearing and vision benefi ts Americans, and we stand with Hines Brown Citizens rally By and By Share this issue with a friend against deadly by mailing it to: conditions at Inside Parchman Prison Page 18 Page 17 LOCAL 2 • THE MISSISSIPPI LINK JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 5, 2020 www.mississippilink.com Visit Jackson welcomes full Board of Directors Burger Branson Brennan Burton Cochran Davis Junior Miller Williams Rojas Mississippi Link Newswire representative and board chair & Lodging Association repre- representative of the Jackson Convention zation,” said Rickey Thigpen, The Mayor of the City of Susan Branson – director of sentative Pamela Junior – director of Complex, JCC representative/ president/CEO of Visit Jack- Jackson has recommended, and External Affairs & Marketing at Shawn Cochran – general the Two Mississippi Museums, ex offi cio member son. the City Council of Jackson has the Mississippi Children’s Mu- manager of the Downtown Arts Community representative “The talent, diversity and “We are pleased to have such confi rmed, the fi nal seat on the seum, Attractions Association Convention Center Hotel (soon John T. Miller – owner of passion that is represented as committed tourism and busi- Visit Jackson Board of Direc- representative to be rebranded as the Delta by Johnny T’s Bistro & Blues, a collective body on the newly ness professionals that are ded- tors. Blake Brennan – general Marriott), Hotel & Lodging As- Mayor’s At-Large representa- appointed Visit Jackson Board icated to identifying goals and Visit Jackson’s completed manager, Drago’s Jackson/Hil- sociation representative tive of Directors fosters the for- policy to achieve the highest board is: ton Jackson, Restaurant Asso- Monique Davis – Mississippi Enrika Williams – owner of ward momentum and expecta- return on the economic benefi t Carol J.