Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 10-8-21

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Solid Waste Promotion Leads To Bigger Responsibilities
Businessman Killed In Shooting Was Newlywed
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
Update: As we went to press on Wednesday, the Sen- tinel was contacted about the
resignation of Mark Wilfalk, Solid Waste Director for the city of Tampa. As a result, Larry A. Washington was named Interim Director, the Department of Solid Waste & Environmental Management
for the City of Tampa.
In last week’s edition, we an-
nounced the promotion of Washington to Chief of Op- erations for the department of Solid Waste for the city of Tampa.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
By all accounts of those who knew him, Mr. Levi Jones, Jr., was a business- man, a husband, father, com- munity activist and dedicated friend. Mr. Jones died last Thursday after being shot fol- lowing an altercation. He was 54-years-old.
A Tampa native raised in East Tampa, Mr. Jones at- tended the public schools of Hillsborough County. After graduating from Chamber- lain High School, he entered the workforce.
His wife, Mrs. Royale Ed- wards Jones, said they opened the doors of E & J Party Services in 2000. They have been a couple for the past 27 years. However, they are newlyweds having been married only a month at the time of his death.
Mr. Jones was the father of 7 children and numerous grandchildren. He was a member of St. John Progres- sive M. B. Church, and a member of the International Free & Accepted Masons Pride of West Tampa Lodge #1. He also volunteered with the L.I.F.E. (Ladies in Full Ef- fect) Motorcycle Club.
Mrs. Jones said when time allowed, he enjoyed fish- ing, but his greatest joy was spending time with his fam- ily.
Hills. County School Board Votes To Remove Mask Mandate
At Tuesday’s School Board Meeting, the Hillsborough County School Board voted to remove the medical exemp- tion opt-out requirement of the face-covering mandate and default back to the origi- nal mask mandate prior to August 18th, that allowed for a parental opt-out with no medical documentation re- quired. In an effort to give school administrators, teach- ers, and staff time to imple- ment this new policy, it will begin on Thursday, October 7th.
In making this decision, the Board reviewed the most re-
cent COVID rates for Hillsbor- ough County, as well as the rate of isolations and quaran- tines of students and staff over the past seven weeks. The rates and number of cases have de- creased significantly since the most recent face covering man- date, providing the Board some insight into the impact that the previous decision had in our schools.
The district will continue to follow mitigation strategies on campuses and in district facili- ties as recommended by the CDC, including the availability of hand sanitizer throughout our buildings, encouraging
hand washing throughout the day, making face coverings available for use, and working with our health partners to provide opportunities for vac- cination clinics.
Parents will be asked to complete the online opt-out form and staff will work dili- gently to honor the intent of that declaration. The link to the online opt-out form can be found here http://web.hills- boroughschools.org/maskopto ut. All parents who wish to opt their child out of the mask mandate must resubmit the parental opt out form, even if they filled one out previously.
MR. LEVI JONES, JR. 5/19/1967 --- 9/30/2021
“He was a real family man. He was a very good person, always willing to help and he liked helping in the commu- nity.
“He always tried to avoid trouble. He was always trying to teach the kids to avoid trouble at all cost. So, I really don’t understand what hap- pened. It’s just unbelievable. They must have really, really pushed him. They had to have really pushed him,” Mrs. Jones said.
Funeral Services for Mr. Jones were incomplete at press time. Aikens Funeral Home is in charge of han- dling arrangements.
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021