Black Juvenile Court judges speak out The ouster of Ben Allen and Willie Saunders removes African-American presence from the Juvenile Court in Richmond, Burke and Columbia counties. The CSRA’s FREE WEEKLY Newspaper rbanPro eekly VOL.2 NO.3 UNEWS • COMMENTARYW ARTS ENTERTAINMENT SEPTEMBER 20-26, 2012 10,000 babies delivered and counting • Dr. Calvin Hobbs MATH TUTORING www.virtualmathtutoring.com • Guaranteed Improvement or Your Money Back No Travel Work From Home FREE TRIAL Set Your Own Schedule Skills Recovery 1-800-417-0968 Targeted Remediation $9.99 After Free Trial &Interventions 3090 Deans Bridge Road • Augusta, GA 30906 Personalized Lessons www.facebook.com/virtualmathtutoring • Like us on Facebook 2 LOCAL NEWS & Commentary Blacks removed from youth court By Frederick Benjamin Sr. Chris Thomas. “For a number of rea- “In essence making it an elective UrbanProWeekly Staff Writer sons, I can tell you and the commu- juvenile as opposed to an appointive • SEPTEMBER 20-26, 2012 nity just what kind of public servant juvenile court,” Allen said. AUGUSTA that he is — how tirelessly he worked, Saunders suggested that there are a When blacks broke the color barri- not just for the African American number of things that superior court er on the Richmond County Juvenile community, but for all the commu- judges should do. Court, they did so in a big way. nity. It was shocking because the “Supreme court judges needed to Before 2007, there had never been people who made the decision didn’t step down and feel the community any blacks to serve as juvenile court know anything about what he did or more. I hope this is not indicative of judges. That year, two were appoint- how he did it,” Saunders said. Ben Allen Willie Saunders their impression of the general com- ed to part-time positions. Attorneys Allen told UrbanProWeekly on munity because based on the feed- UrbanProWeekly Ben Allen and Willie Saunders, both Tuesday (Sept. 18) that he had no a brain in better than a whole brain. back that I have gotten, the decision African American, were appointed to reason to believe that we wouldn’t be That is the message that we have didn’t go too well,” Saunders said. the Juvenile Court bench. reappointed. been given,” Allen said. Saunders added that, the absence of In 2008, they were reappointed for “It was a big surprise, but anytime Both judges feel strongly that the an African American on the Juvenile four-year terms — again part-time. you are in politics, you understand situation should not go unchallenged. Court bench shows a lack of respect This year, three full-time positions the political ramifications,” Allen said. They firmly believe that they will not for the entire African-American elec- have been created, but neither Allen “Actually, I never wanted to be a be reappointed no matter what, but torate. He also suggested that judges nor Saunders has been appointed to judge. I took the position because I that the lack of diversity should be need diversity training just like other fill them. The positions went to two thought that a black presence was addressed. members of the community. white women and one white man. needed,” Allen said. “It makes a dif- Allen outlined a number of things “You’d be surprised with the Saunders and Allen will serve until ference. My mental makeup tells me that the community could do includ- attitudes you bring to the bench,” the end of this month and then be that, there must be diversity.” ing urging the Augusta-Richmond Saunders said. gone. Both judges feel that racial insensi- county commission to mandate diver- According to Allen the overwhelm- Earlier this year, Saunders ran tivity may have had a role in their not sity on the court. ing majority of the youth that are against his boss Carlisle Overstreet being invited back to the bench. “You can tell your county com- served by the Juvenile Justice system for Superior Court judge. He didn’t “You have got to have diversity,” missioner that until we have diver- are black. win and so was not surprised when Allen continued. “It means a great sity, perhaps the funding source “From 85-90 percent in Richmond he was not reappointed, but the sack- loss to our community because no should dry up,” he said. According County, 60-40 in Burke County and ing of Allen caught everyone by sur- one race has the brain trust on how to Allen the county controls some about 50-50 in Columbia County. prise. to deal with children. No one race $600,000 of the budget for the Both judges indicate that the issue “I was shocked to find out that has the brain trust to deal with any Juvenile Court. is not personal. Judge Allen was not reappointed,” issue facing this community. If you Allen also suggested that state leg- “It’s about what is best for this com- Saunders said during a radio inter- close the door and do not have diver- islators could look into separating munity. What’s best for our commu- view on KISS96.3’s Inside Story with sity, what you are saying is that half Juvenile Court from Superior Court. nity is diversity.” Legendary Laney Coach Remembered AUGUSTA players to the NFL. Georgia Sports Augustans said farewell to leg- Dupree coached the wildcats endary Laney High School coach for 35 years. He was inducted into Hall Of Fame David Marion Dupree on Monday the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame (Sept. 17) this week at a service in 1992, the first black coach to at Tabernacle Baptist Church. He be so honored. He retired in 1983 was 88. He died on Wednesday, with a record of 210-73-12 after Sept. 12. 26 years as a head coach. David Dupree was a legend- In all, Dupree coached at Laney ary football coach for the Laney for 35 years. He was an assistant Wildcats for 26 years. Early coach for 9 seasons under Laney’s Wednesday morning he passed first football coach John Tutt. away at the age of 88. Dupree also coached the school’s Although it may not be quite track team from 1949-1970. accurate to characterize the brand Coach Dupree has a Paine new Laney Stadium as “the House College connection as well. After that Dupree built,” that wouldn’t retiring from Laney, he coached be too far off the mark. track at Paine College. Laney’s football field was Dupree had been on dialysis named after Dupree (also known for a couple of years, prior to his as “Duke” Dupree), perhaps the death. most storied football coach in the Dupree grew up in Clemson, Coach David Dupree: school’s history. S.C., and went on to become a A real urban legend More than just an athletic football star at Johnson C. Smith. Year Inducted: 1992 coach, those that knew him best In 1949, he was hired by Laney. Category: Coach were aware of the hundreds of Nine years later, he succeeded Born in Clemson, South men and women whom he influ- John Tutt as head football coach. Carolina. enced. Among the former Laney player In a coaching career that When it comes to accolades and who Dupree coached were NFL spanned 35 years, Dupree superlatives, it may be difficult to players Emerson Boozer, William spent the majority of his career point to just one thing that stands Banks and Curtis Rouse. In all, at Lucy Laney High School... out above all of the rest. eight former Laney players under Won over 300 dual meets as Perhaps it was the undefeat- Dupree went on to the NFL. head track and field coach and ed season in 1966 when the Boozer was a member of the two state championships... school landed its second Georgia New York Jets. He was a member Guided the football program Interscholastic Association title. of the Wildcats’ 1961 state cham- to a 209-79-12 mark over 26 Dupree led the Wildcats to the pionship team and a member of years... Named the 1962 and title in 1961 as well. Perhaps it the Jets’ Super Bowl III winning 1966 Georgia Coach of the was his record of sending six squad. Year. 3 UrbanProWeekly Blacks removed from youth court • SEPTEMBER 20-26, 2012 Dr. Calvin Hobbs, an OB/GYN doctor who has delivered over 10,000 babies, poses for a photo near the baby delivery surgical suite at University Hospital. Also pictured is Yolanda Leverett. Photo by Vincent Hobbs Dr. Hobbs has practiced Calvin Hobbs OB/GYN Obstetrics and Gynecology Legendary Laney Coach Remembered for nearly 30 years. He practices at Academy Of Womens/Childrens Health 2803 Wrightsboro Rd Suite 45 10,000 Augusta, GA 30909 Babies delivered UrbanProWeekly: Let’s start right This estimate does not include the UPW: What is the most number of cant advancements in pain manage- out with an amazing fact. Is it 100 plus deliveries I did as a medi- babies you delivered in a single ment during labor making it in many true that you have delivered over cal student in Texas, the thousand day? instances pain free. 10,000 babies? or so I did as a resident, nor the There are many more regulations, numerous I’ve done for other phy- Dr. Hobbs: Seven or eight. My record protocols and authorizations that Dr. Calvin Hobbs: That is correct. sicians. The 10,000th number was for a weekend is 15. we as healthcare providers have to certainly surpassed by November deal with. Some good, some bad.