Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 1-1-16 Edition

Features
Two-Alarm Fire At East Tampa Recycling Plant
Tampa Fire Rescue responded to a report of a fire at Blue Money Re- cycling, 1603 North 43rd Street, at 7 p.m. Monday.
When units ar- rived, they noticed heavy smoke and flames coming from a metal warehouse and immediately called for a second alarm response.
Blue Monkey Recycling Plant.
Firefighters
made entry into the building and inside they found common com- bustibles such as wood, paper and plastic burning on the floor of the building.
According to a sign on the building, Blue Money recycles Class III waste and construction and demolition debris.
The fire was contained before it extended to buildings close by, and was under control at 8 p.m.
Firefighters reported extensive roof damage to the building, and in- vestigators from the Fire Marshal’s office wee on the scene to determine the cause and origin of the fire which they said does not appear to be suspicious.
Police Find Body Of Young Man In Abandoned House
Tampa Police report that on Friday, December 18th at 3 p. m., officers were called to a house at 5204 North 45th Street. Inside, they found the body of 24-year-old John Pratt. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and suffered upper body trauma.
Police are investigating Pratt’s death as a homicide, and ask anyone with informa- tion to contact Crime Stoppers.
Pratt’s mother, Vanessa Staten said, she’s more than distraught over her son’s death, and she wants justice.
“I have six other children, and we all are very much dis- turbed by this.
“John had been living with me the past two weeks, be- cause he was having problems with his girlfriend. I saw him that morning, and I overheard him arguing with someone on the phone before he left. I be- lieve someone called him and told him to come to the house where he was found. I think it was a setup.”
JOHN PRATT
Ms. Staten described the house as a place where young people hangout, and she be- lieves it didn’t really have elec- tricity. She also said when she looked inside the house, it looked like there had been a struggle.
“Now, I think I’m being stalked, because strange cars have been pulling up in front of my home. One of them told me
John sent them, and I told them that’s not possible, be- cause John is dead.
“I plan to stay in close con- tact with detectives until they found out who killed my son.”
Harmon’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements for a service, and a wake will be held on New Year’s Eve at the funeral home, 5002 North 40th Street.
Senator Named ‘Woman Of Year’ By National Organization
TALLAHASSEE – State
Senator Arthenia Joyner
(D-Tampa) was named “Woman of the Year” by the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL Women). The award was presented last month at the group’s Annual Legislative Breakfast in Beverly Hills, CA by Representative Mia Jones (FL) and Representa- tive Raumesh Akbari (TN).
“Senator Joyner is a woman of many accomplish- ments and has remained com- mitted to serving the greater good since the start of her ca- reer. She is a force and serves as a role model for women everywhere," noted Rep. Laura Hall (AL), NOBEL Women National President.
Senator Joyner is the National Vice President of NOBEL Women and is cur- rently the Senate Democratic Leader in the Florida Senate. She was first elected to the Leg- islature in 2000 and is about to enter her final year of service due to term limits.
Founded in 1985, to in- crease and promote the pres-
SENATOR ARTHENIA JOYNER
ence of Black women in gov- ernment, NOBEL Women cre- ates programming to advance the participation of Black women in the fields of public policy, public service and civic engagement; provides a net- work and support system for Black women in leadership; serves as a medium for thoughtful dialogue on issues of public interest between elected officials and stakehold- ers; and trains and educates women to assume government and/or corporate leadership roles.
Police Vendor Delivers New Computers To Non-Profits That Got Burglarized
Last Tuesday, the Tampa Police Department Crime fighting software partner NC4 Street Smart delivered new computers to two non-profit organizations. The computers were donated to replace some stolen during two burglaries.
Computers were taken during burglaries at Stepping Stones and the Sulphur Springs Museum.
They occurred on December 14th and December 17th. In each burglary, the suspects took items vital to the operation of the organizations. The items included computers, printers, a TV, cameras, tools, and cash.
Both organizations offer programs for at-risk youngsters.
Last Tuesday, the software company surprised the organizations by delivering new, gift-wrapped laptops to both establishments.
Street Smart is a software program used by Tampa Police on the streets. It provides officers with valuable crime data while they are on patrol. The technology provides offers with continuou8sly up- dated crime maps, high speed crime bulletins, and the ability to share information through an officer blog.
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