Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 2-26-16 Edition

Local
Woman Needs Help To Find Missing Pet
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For the past four years, a Tampa woman has depended on her pet as her constant compan- ion. But on Tuesday night, the little Chiwawa named Thuger strayed from home and his owner is desperate for her re- turn.
Ms. Gail Rogers said she was told that Thuger had been hit by a truck. But a car that was behind the truck picked the dog up and drove away.
The incident took place around 7:30 p.m., Tuesday in the area of E. 17th Avenue and N. 22nd Street, she said.
“She normally won’t leave the yard, but she followed an- other dog into the neighbor- hood. When I went looking for her, I was told about the acci- dent. She got out of the gate and I have been looking for her.
“I keep her with me all the time. People see me riding her on my bicycle,” she said.
To some, Thuger may just be a pet. But to Ms. Rogers, she has been her constant com- panion, helping her to survive some very difficult times in her life.
A patient at Grace Point,
Ms. Rogers
said Thuger
was given to
her as part of
her therapy.
She doesn’t
have any
children and
served as the
caregiver for
both her
mother and
her husband. She obtained Thuger after they died.
She has checked with animal services, but no one has turned in the beige and white dog. She has also contacted several ani- mal hospitals, but no one has seen Thuger.
Thuger was wearing a pink collar with a bell on it at the time she disappeared.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Thuger can contact Ms. Rogers at (813) 525-3206.
THUGER ... Missing
Public Hearing
On Tuesday, March 1st from 5:30 p. m. to 7:30 p. m., a public hearing will be held on a pro- posed project to widen U. S. Highway 301 from Adamo Drive to I-4. The meeting will be held at Sheraton Tampa East Hotel, 10221 Princess Palm Avenue.
The hearing will allow inter- ested people an opportunity to provide comments concerning the location, conceptual design, and social, economic, and envi- ronmental effects of widening the roadway.
Meeting Planned For Women Founders Of Organizations
On Saturday, February 27th, Ms. Valansiar Key, of Soteria Foundation, Inc., will host a meeting for women heading non- profit organizations. The meeting will take place at the Econo Lodge Hotel, Tampa Palms Room, 4732 N. Dale Mabry Highway, begin- ning at 11 a.m.
Ms. Key is asking those plan- ning to attend to prepare a 2 to 3 minute presentation about her organization. The purpose of the meeting is to build a stronger net- work of support for women.
For additional information contact Ms. Key at (813) 770- 7368.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Announced On U. S. 301 Project
MS. GAIL ROGERS ... Hoping to have lost pet returned
KEILAH
This week’s Spotlight feature, Keilah, is ready for the stage, camera, and whatever else lies in the path of her success. This young lady has sacrificed so much for her career, and will only settle on the best. Congratulations to Keilah as this week’s Spotlight feature.
FYI
National
Teen Recants She Was ‘Gang-Raped’: Says It Was Consensual, And Says She Was Having Sex With Her Father In Park
BROOKLYN, NY -- Charges against five teenage boys who were accused of gang-raping an 18-year-old girl at a playground in Brooklyn last month have been dropped as she admits to having consensual sex with the boys and her fa- ther.
The unnamed girl has recanted her allegations of sexual assault against Denzel Murray, 14, Shaquell Cooper and Ethan Phillip, both 15, and Onandi Brown and Travis Beckford, both 17, Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson announced Wednesday afternoon.
'Working closely with the NYPD, my office has thoroughly investigated disturbing and very se- rious allegations of a gang rape at gunpoint last month inside the Osborn Playground in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn,' a statement from Thompson's office reads.
The complainant, as well as her father, pro- vided multiple inconsistent accounts to NYPD Detectives and to experienced Special Victims prosecutors about important material facts in this case.
'The complainant has recanted her allegations of forcible sexual assault and the existence of a gun, and she does not wish to pursue criminal charges against any of the defendants.
'She also refuses to cooperate with any prose- cution against her father, who was engaging in sexual conduct with her. That night, this young woman's father and the five young men engaged in conduct that was reprehensible and wrong, but because of the lack of reliable evidence, crim- inal charges simply cannot be sustained.'
Thompson said that he hopes the young woman 'gets all the support she needs going for- ward,' adding that victim advocates have been working with her and will provide any assistance she may need in the future.
Originally authorities charged the five teens accused - ages 14, 15, 15, 17 and 17 - as adults, each with one count of rape, two counts of crim- inal sex act, and one count of sex abuse in con- nection with the alleged assault.
The girl involved claimed that she was with her 39-year-old father in the park drinking at about 9 p. m. on January 7 when the group of teens approached them.
Denzel Murray, 14, Shaquell Cooper and Ethan Phillip, both 15, and Onandi Brown and Travis Beckford, both 17 were arrested in January on rape charges.
PAGE 12-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016