Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 1-24-17 Edition

Local
Artists To Be Rescheduled:
Threat Of Bad Weather Forces Cancellation Of 2nd Day Of Heritage Festival Music Fest
Police Investigate After Child Left In Daycare Van
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
With the threat of in- clement weather looming over Hillsborough County on Sun- day, Tampa’s Mayor Bob Buckhorn cancelled Sun- day’s event of the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, planned for Curtis Hixon Wa- terfront Park. In addition to local artists, national artist, David Sanborn was sched- uled to appear on Sunday.
“We had a good flow of multi-culture residents on Sat- urday,” William Sanders, co-chairman of the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival said. “With the weather we had on Saturday, we knew on Sunday we’d just build on that. But, with the threat of bad condi- tions of the weather, the City had to go ahead and cancel our event,” he said. “It was all for the best.”
C0-Chair, Ruby Jackson said she was disappointed in the decision to cancel Sunday’s
event. “But I do understand the importance of safety. With the Festival, safety is always first and foremost, especially when it comes to high winds, and thunder and lightning.”
Sanders said they are al- ready in the process of rescheduling Sanborn for March or April. All VIP tickets previously purchased will also be honored.
Sanders stated that the 2017 events have been very successful – from the gala to Saturday’s music festival. A
crowd estimated at more than 9,000 was in the park on Sat- urday. “It was a super day,” Jackson added.
The Festival committee posted a ‘thank you’ and apol- ogized for the cancellation on its webpage after Saturday’s event.
Sanders and Jackson
said they went to the park on Sunday morning and persons were already beginning to gather with their picnic bas- kets. They were informed of the cancellation.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation Friday after a child walked into a building and appeared to be lost.
When deputies arrived at the Hillsborough County School District Transporta- tion Building, they observed a white van parked in front of the business with the door open. The vehicle also had a flat tire. The van had the flat tire at 9455 Harney Road, around 9 a.m., Friday.
Police learned that the vehicle was registered to Orient Road Child Develop- ment Center, 5708 Orient Road. When police con-
tacted the center, Ms. Erica L. Donaldson, As- sistant Director, responded to the scene and confirmed the child was from their cen- ter.
Ms. Donaldson said the bus broke down and the little girl must have been left behind when the other chil- dren were transferred around 9:30 a.m.
There were a total of 4 children on the bus. Three of them were in car seats and the little girl was in the back- seat asleep, police said.
No charges have been filed, however, the investiga- tion is continuing.
WILLIAM SANDERS
RUBY JACKSON
PAGE 10 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2017