Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 3-22-16 Edition

Features
Deadline Set For Candidates Seeking NAACP Offices
City Council Approves Proposed Marijuana Ordinance
The Hillsborough County Branch of the NAACP (Na- tional Association for the Ad- vancement of Colored People) elects new officers every two years. The election will be held in November.
Anyone wishing to have his or her name appear on the bal- lot must be a member of the Branch in good standing by April 1. The candidate must
also live and/or work within the Branch jurisdiction.
In order to run for Branch office unaffiliated Life Mem- bers and Members-At-Large must be actively affiliated with the Branch by April 1, 2016.
For additional information about the election or the or- ganization call (813) 234- 8683.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last Thursday, in a 5-1 vote, members of the Tampa City Council approve a proposed ordinance to change the penalty for possession of mar- ijuana. City Councilman Charlie Miranda voted against the proposal for the second time and Council- man Harry Cohen was ab- sent.
The proposal has been sent to Mayor Bob Buckhorn for his signature. If he signs it, it will go into effect only within the City of Tampa boundaries. Which means that those caught with marijuana in Temple Terrace, Plant City, and other areas of Hillsbor- ough County would still be ar- rested and charged.
The purpose of the pro- posed ordinance is to decrim- inalize possession of marijuana. Instead of it being an arrestable offense, the per- son would receive a citation.
If the proposal becomes law, the first time a person is caught in possession of less
Police Reunite
10-Year-Old Runaway
MARIJUANA LEAF
than 20 grams of marijuana, he or she would pay a $75 fine. The fine would increase to $150 the second time, $300 for the third time, and $450 the fourth time. The same fines would also apply for pos- session of drug paraphernalia. Under current law, possession of less than 20 grams of mari- juana is a first-degree misde- meanor, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, probation, or up to a year in prison. Those con- victed of misdemeanor pos- session of marijuana could also lose driving privileges for
CHARLIE MIRANDA
... Voted against proposed marijuana ordinance
up to a year.
Florida voters will also de-
cide on legalizing medical marijuana in November. Two years ago, Florida voters re- jected a Constitutional amendment that would have allowed doctors to prescribe marijuana for chronic ill- nesses.
If the ordinance passes the second reading at City Council and is signed into law by Mayor Buckhorn, it will only be affective in the City of Tampa boundaries.
With His Family
On Friday, Tampa Police an- nounced that a 10-year-old runway had been reunited with his family.
According to police, Carl- marion Preyton has a med- ical condition, and had run away from home. He did not take his medication with him.
Earlier Friday, police said they had found the boy, but later discovered it was another child. Acting on information on his whereabouts, they were able to locate Preyton and take him home.
CARLMARION PRETYON
Separate Accidents Claim Lives Of Four Bay Area Residents
Four people died this past weekend in separate traffic ac- cidents.
The first accident took place on County Road 39 south of Lewis Road last Friday morn- ing. Two women were killed in the accident.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Ms. Shaquada Nicole John- son, 36, of Lakeland, was driving a 2009 Dodge Charger southbound on County Road 39. For undetermined reasons, Ms. Johnson’s vehicle trav- elled partially into the north- bound lane.
The left side of the Charger collided with the left rear tires of a 1995 International Truck, driven by 47-year-0ld William Lee Keen, of Bab- son Park.
Ms. Johnson’s car contin- ued on in the northbound lane and collided with the front of a 2016 Honda HRV, driven by Ms. Jennifer Arlene Con- nor, 36, of Wimauma.
Both Ms. Johnson and Ms. Connor died as a result of the accident. Keen was not injured.
Pedestrian Killed
Tampa Police responded to the intersection of E. Dr. Mar- tin Luther King, Jr., Blvd., and 16th Street in reference to a traffic accident shortly after midnight Saturday morning.
Upon arriving at the scene, police learned that a Black male had been struck by a ve- hicle. The pedestrian died as a result of his injuries.
Police have not released his name pending notification of his next of kin.
Motorcyclist Killed
At approximately 1:35 a.m., Saturday, Tampa Police re- sponded to a traffic accident involving a car and a motorcy- cle. The accident took place on Kennedy Blvd., near Plant Av- enue.
The motorcyclist was trans- ported to Tampa General Hos- pital with life-threatening injuries. He later died as a re- sult of those injuries.
The name of the motorcy- clist has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3