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Local
Elderly Residents In East Tampa Neighborhood Fear The Outdoors
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
A host of elderly home- owners living in the vicinity of St. John Progressive M. B. Church have been complain- ing for years about the drug activity in their small neigh- borhood.
Ms. Queen Miller is one of those residents, and she said it has gotten to the point where she along with her neighbors spend very little time outside.
“We have boarded up houses that people are run- ning in and out of, boarded up houses that people are still liv- ing in, open-air drug sales, and
a lot of it is going on very close to the church.
“We don’t blame the po- lice, because there are patrols that come through this area. But, if they aren’t parked here 24 hours a day, it just doesn’t help.”
Ms. Miller said for years, she’s tried to get her neighbor- hood organized into a group that can speak out on the problems before the City Council and other elected offi- cials.
“We want something done about this problem. We’ve seen representatives from Code Enforcement in the area as well as police, but when they leave, it’s business as
MS. QUEEN MILLER
usual for these people.
“They know the area better
than the police, and with Machado Street coming to a dead end, it has become a fa-
vorite spot for people to just hang out.”
Ms. Miller said there are a couple of places she knows il- legal activity is going on.
“It’s just a matter of the po- lice catching them in the act. It doesn’t help when they get ar- rested, because they bond out and come right back to the same corner.”
Ms. Miller said she along with her neighbors have vowed to not allow anything or anyone force them to move away.
“I’ve lived in this area for more than 40 years, and I’m not going anywhere. If they (the drug dealers) think they can scare me away and take
over, they are mistaken.
“I have faith in the police department to sooner or later get rid of all of them, but I se- riously think Code Enforce- ment will be the best way to
get that done.”
On Tuesday, April 14th in the Annex of St. John Progressive M.B. Church, a Health Consumer Coun- cil meeting will be held from 9 a. m. until 10:30 a.m. Ms. Miller said that will be a great opportunity to address the problems in an open forum.
“I’d like to see all of the res- idents attend, but even more I’d like to see all of the area pastors in attendance.”
Tampa Bay Tech Alumni Donates $1,000 To The School’s Softball Team
On Friday, March 20th, members of the Tampa Bay Tech Alumni, aka “Titan Na- tion,” presented a check for $1,000.00 to the girls’ softball team.
The Titan Nation received a letter from a member of the softball team seeking sponsor-
ship for the upcoming year. According to Rick Kin- sey, “We felt honored and we knew immediately we would give back to our alma mater. “We themed this year as the year to give back, and what a way to start the year off! The softball team was only asking
for $250, but I knew we could do more. I immediately put out a net call to the Titan Na- tion and they responded within two weeks. The $1000.00 donation repre- sented our active role in com- ing together as classmates. The Titan Nation has pledged to give back every year to Tampa Bay Technical High
School. We have been meeting on the last Friday of every month for the past four years.”
Additionally, throughout the year, hosts the Titan Na- tion “World Famous Fish Fry” card parties, fundraisers for the elderly and bowling events with King and Hillsborough High School Alumni. Titan
Nation, in conjunction with King High School Alumni will be hosting the 1st Annual Sum- mertime Cookout on June 13th at Lowry Park. Kinsey said the event has been well re- ceived and is almost sold out. Titan Nation and Lions dead- line is May 15th to purchase tickets for the event.
“Titan Nation Rise Up!”
Front row left to right, Softball Coaches Brittany Diehm and David Sampson; Ordia Perez, Erma Chandler, Carol Lewis, Elaine Riggins, Rick Kinsey. On the back row are Kim Kenner, Michael Brown, Renee Brown, Theresa Lowe-Doby, Cleveland Jennings, Michele Jennings, Diane Ray, Tonia Bascom and Don Lee.
Titan Nation and Tampa Bay Technical High School Softball Team.
Front row left to right: Marva Hair, Carol Lewis, Ordia Perez, Elaine Riggins, Diane Ray, Kim Kenner, Theresa Lowe Doby, Don Lee. Back row: Rick Kinsey, Renee Brown, Erma Chandler, Michele Jennings, Concetta Baxter, Cleveland Jennings, Debra Jackson, and Michael Brown.
PAGE 10 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2015