Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 9-9-22

Local
Ladies Attend 3rd Annual Rodeo Fest
Veterans Resurgence Program Graduates 10
Ten incarcerated vet- erans have graduated from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Veterans Resurgence Program.
Launched in 2019, the veterans stay to- gether in a special pod just for them and offer help with substance abuse, mental health and employment.
The program aims to ease the transition to life outside of jail and give the veterans resources.
HCSO Chad Chronister with Graduate.
These ladies, adorned in their ‘cowgirl’ gear, had loads of fun at the third annual Rodeo Fest, hosted by horse owner and trainer, Gus Trent. The event was held Satur- day, August 27, 2022, at the Florida State Fairgrounds. They are: Katline Royce, Linda Brady, A. Renee, soloist, who sang the national anthem; Vivian Love and Karlina Drummer. (Photograph by Julia Jackson)
Researchers Confirm More Than 300 Graves From Black Cemetery Found On Clearwater Property
The Site Is Where A Church Cemetery Once Stood
Last Wednesday, archae- ologists confirmed the dis- covery of at least 328 graves from a Black cemetery un- derneath a business property in Clearwater, Florida, ex- tending to an adjacent road.
The graves are from the St. Matthews Baptist Church Cemetery, established in 1902 and was in operation through the 1940s. The church sold the property in the mid-1950s for $15,000. The graves were found at the Black cemetery last May.
Currently, a business, FrankCrum sits on the site, but owners said in May they had no idea that a Black cemetery was there.
After the discovery, the state announced it would re- serve $30 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan to create the “Aban- doned African American Cemeteries” Task Force after first discovering the cemetery under the office building.
Senior archaeologist Erin McKendry presented the team’s findings at the Clear- water African American Cemeteries Memorial Com- mittee meeting hosted by the local NAACP branch.
The Clearwater/Upper Pinellas NAACP is now work- ing with the committee, the city of Clearwater, and FrankCrum to determine the
best way to honor those buried at the cemetery and facilitate decisions concern- ing the cemetery moving for- ward.
PAGE 10-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022