Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 1-22-16 Edition

FLORIDA SENTINEL FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2016
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15 Members Graduate From Tampa Fire Rescue Academy
On Friday, the Tampa Fire Department added 15 new members during its graduation ceremony. Shown from left to right are: Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Logan Siben, Hunter Stephens, Elena Atenza, Demetri Scott, Andrew Toledo, Nicholas Pardo (back), Travis Williams, Natalee Allen, Noah Keene, Bruna O’Connor, Henry Ballard, Brittany Jackson, Alexander Diamond, Rafael Barrios, Justin Diaz, and Fire Chief Tom Forward. (Photography Courtesy of Tampa Fire Department).
On Friday morning, the Pinning Ceremony for 15 new members of the Tampa Fire Department took place. The graduation ceremony was held at the Fire Fighter’s Museum, 720 E, Zack Street.
Tampa Fire Chief Tom Forward said, “This is the most diverse class of newly hired Tampa Fire Rescue members during my tenure as the Tampa Fire Rescue Fire Chief. All fifteen were installed during their penning ceremony and given their duty assignment.”
Chief Forward said the academy consisted of 5 Blacks, (2 females and 3 males); 4 white males, 4 Hispanics males, and 2 Hispanic/white females.
The newly hired firefighters are: Natalee Allen, Elena Atenza, Henry Ballard, III, Rafael Barrios, Alexander Diamond, Justin Diaz, Brittany Jackson, Noah Keene, Bruna O’Connor, Nicholas Pardo, Demetri Scott, Logan Siben, Hunter Stephens, Andrew Toledo, and Travis Williams, who was also the Class Speaker.
Ms. Shirley Foxx-Knowles, City Clerk conducted the Swearing-In Ceremony and Mayor Bob Buckhorn congratulated the new employees.
During the Pinning Ceremony, mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, grandparents, uncles, and friends of the new recruits took part. Some of the participants are either retired or current members of Tampa Fire Rescue.
Future Of Radio Station Still In Doubt
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
The African American community was excited in 2015 over the news that WTMP 1150AM and 96.1FM was being put up for bid. Optimists saw a return to the “good old days” when WTMP stood as one of the main an- chors for the African American com- munity.
That optimism quickly turned to doubt once again when it was an- nounced that the auction had been completed, and no deal had been made.
Scott Savage, Receiver for Tama Broadcasting, Incorporated, WTMP’s parent company, said they are cur- rently in the process of negotiating with two parties interested in operat- ing the station. He said one of the two parties is Florida based.
“There is still a process that has to be followed, and I can’t speculate on anything else. Whatever deal is reached has to be approved by Tama and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC).”
WTMP 1150 AM & WTMP 96.1 FM serve the Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida market. The market ranks
#18 in population and radio revenue. The stations’ studios and offices are located in Tampa.
WTMP-AM is licensed to Egypt Lake, Florida, and the daytime signal reaches more than 1.6 million people in the metro area. The station pro- grams an urban format.
WTMP 1150 AM/96.1FM 407 North Howard Avenue
WTMP’s three AM towers and its transmitting facility are owned by seller and convey to the buyer. The real property at the tower site is owned by a local Tampa resident and is under lease through the year 2051.
Seller is selling 100% of the sta- tions’ assets, excluding cash, ac-
counts receivable, marketable securi- ties, and other like cash assets. The sale is subject to approval from the Federal Communications Commis- sion and the New York County Supreme Court/County of New York, which has jurisdiction over the Re- ceiver.