Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 1-6-17 Online Edition

FLORIDA SENTINEL
FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2017
B
2016 In Review
Continued From Tuesday, January 3rd Edition
JUNE
Pastor Theodis Lane, Sr., Senior Pastor of New Salem Primitive Baptist Church died. He was 61-years- old.
Charles F. Wilson, a World War II veteran and Florida lawyer, was posthu- mously presented the Congres- sional Gold Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of his services as one of the first Black Americans to enlist in the U. S. Marine Corps.
The presentation was made to his children, Charles R. Wilson, Valerie Wilson Reed, and Michael Wilson, by the Atlanta Chapter of the Montford Point Marines Asso- ciation.
Several members of the community expressed their grief over the loss of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. He died on June 3, 2016.
Brian Lamb, President of Fifth Third Bank Tampa Bay Region, was elected as the new Chairman of the University of South Florida Board of Trustees.
Longtime Tampa resident Percy Leroy Hodges died after a lengthy illness. He cele- brated his 90th birthday on May 19th.
Tampa native J. Oscar Simmons was cast in the new season of the “Haves And Have Nots.” Simmons was slated to appear in three episodes.
Dr. Omari Sheehy relo- cated to Tampa and opened the Bayshore Dental Center in Brandon. His goal was to dis- credit the phobia most people have about dentists by offering the personal touch.
Mrs. Juanita McPher- son, a popular foster parent who served the needs of chil- dren as a foster parent, died. She was 84-years-old.
JULY
Hillsborough County Judge Daryl Manning re- ceived the Florida Bar Presi- dent's Award of Merit. The award was presented to him at the Florida Bar’s 66th Annual Convention, held at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Or- lando.
Twelve-year-old Jordan Denise Williams released her debut single titled “That’s Me” via digital download at her CD Release / Back To School Roller Bash Party at the Skateland of Brandon. The event was presented by Derlie Records, Inc.
During a City Council meeting, a partnership be- tween the East Tampa Com- munity Revitalization Partnership and FDOT was re- vealed that proposed to install three roundabouts along the North 34th Street corridor in East Tampa.
A youth leadership confer- ence, designed to give today’s young people practical tools and ideas to help them with current as well as future issues was held at the Dream Center of Tampa, 2806 N. 15th Street.
It was offered to youth in the Tampa Bay community by The Center, Young Life Tampa Urban, and First Priority Tampa Bay. It was presented by Dr. Kim Moore, Principal of Middleton High School.
The Florida Department of Education released the school grades for the 2015-2016 school year. The grades were based on the Florida Standard Assessments (FSA) in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry.
In Hillsborough County, 51 schools earned an “A” grade and 43 others received a “B” grade. Additionally, four tradi- tional and two charter schools improved their grades from an “F” to a “C.” Those schools in- cluded Bryan Elementary, Desoto Elementary, and Ruskin Elementary Schools.
However, schools with large black populations scored Ds and Fs on state tests.
Ms. Alisha Granlee said she was humbled by the kind- ness of others. She and three children were stranded on the LeRoy Selmon Crosstown Ex- pressway after her car caught fire.
Ms. Latoya Carter was passing by, saw the flames coming from the car and stopped to help the young mother of three. She also set up a gofundme account that
resulted in Ms. Granlee being given another car.
Tampa resident Tare Floyd, a graduate of Alonso High School, was preparing to begin studies at the University of Pennsylvania as a biology major.
A cancer survivor, Tare, 18, said she wanted to help people overcome the devastating dis- ease – just as others had helped her.
God’s Pedal Power Ministry, a project designed to repair and distribute bicycles for peo- ple in need, moved to East Tampa.
Co-founders, Mike Olsen, Karen Olsen and Russell Johnson passed the organiza- tion’s torch to Bethesda Min- istries’ Dr. Maxine Woodside.
A student at Seminole Heights Charter High School, the 17-year-old Ashlyn for the past 7 years has dedicated her life to being the best she can be, competing as a blocker in roller derby.
During the Republican Na- tional Convention held in Cleveland, Ohio, Melania Trump, wife of Republican nominee Donald Trump, de- livered a speech on opening night.
However, a portion of her speech mirrored the comments made in 2008 by First Lady Michelle Obama, during President Barack Obama’s campaign for the White House.
The Florida Department of Health has granted permission to a dispensary to sell a strain of medical marijuana. The per- mission was given to Trulieve, a grower and dispensary based in Tallahassee.
Trulieve is the first dispen- sary to receive the approval.
Nearly 2,000 members of the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Club painted the Tampa Bay area yellow and black while visiting the area for the organization’s national convention.
Retired educator Mrs. Lorretta Cottman spent nearly 40 years in the Hillsbor-
ough County School System, slipped away to her heavenly home on Monday, July 25, 2016.
AUGUST
State Representative Ed Narain, in partnership with the 100 Black Women of Tampa Bay, Inc., hosted the Florida Farm Share Food do- nation. The event donated gro- ceries to 1,000 families.
It was held at St. John Pro- gressive Missionary Baptist Church, 2504 E. Chipco Street.
Ms. Theresa Manuel
was selected as the first hon- oree of “The Legacy Video Series. Members of the com- munity gathered at the Robert W. Saunders Library for the presentation.
Computer Mentors has 80 youth enrolled in information technology and video training as part of its STEM Corps High School Program who helped create the video.
The Tiger Bay Club of Tampa hosted the Florida House District 61 Luncheon Debate between candidates Dianne Hart, Sean Shaw and Walter Smith. It was held at the Ferguson Law Cen- ter, 1610 N. Tampa Street, in downtown Tampa.
A well known East Tampa wife and mother, Mrs. Car- men Brown Johnson, died suddenly. She was 60-years- old.
Chief Eric Ward and members of the Tampa Police Department held a series of Community Conversations in upcoming weeks. The meet- ings were designed to foster better relationships between the community and law en- forcement.
Members of the 1970 Bel- mont Heights Little League were honored with the filming of a documentary entitled, “Breaking The Color Bar- rier.” It was held at Game Time in Ybor City. The docu- mentary was part of the Tampa Bay Rays Baseball History Se- ries.