Augusta focus. ([Augusta, Ga.) 198?-current, July 18, 1996, Image 1

Augusta focus., July 18, 1996, Image 1

About Augusta focus. ([Augusta, Ga.) 198?-current | View Entire Issue (July 18, 1996)

Page of 24

Prev Issue Next Issue

Text PDF JP2 (3.7 MB) Clip/Print Image

Page of 24

Prev Issue Next Issue

Return to Top

Newspaper Page TextA Modern Classie i R W , s . A YDU W Ilme' g ' Tim Civic-center candidate won’t take the position B Rocked by a divisive selection process that sparked charges of racism and collusion, the Coliseum Authority may still unite around Roberts. By Frederick Benjamin Sr. é_[_{gUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer : -AUGUSTA - Followingarollercoaster like 36 hours that threat ened to sink the Coliseum Authority board to its low est depths ever, the general manager candidate selected by a controversial 6-5 vote that split mostly along ra cial lines, has declined the $70,000" offer to eome to Augusta. ' o John Rhamstine, who manages the civic center complex in Norfolk, Virginia has notified the Authority on Wednesday that he will not be coming to Augusta. “After careful thought by. both my family and myself, I must officially decline the. Authority’s offer for employ ment,” Mr. Rhamstine said in a letter to Authority at torney Sam Nicholson. The only reason that Mr.. Rhamstine gave was, he felt it was in his best interest to remain in Virginia. = Mr. Rhamstine commu nicated with Authority members moments afterthe raucous Tuesday vote and asked how the vote went, but he did not make his de-- cision known until late. sz g ‘i e ' B -LTRR L e - Ene W Y Lo, < S it B i.* > W o\t , . § g e o e ‘ g N e N Norman Brown offers Betior Bays Ahead. See p. 7. W World/National News ...........ccccovnnnnin 2 M Local/Regional News ............ccooevvvneen. 3 WM ERODHE .. S riiiiin i WMARTBeat . il hnite BT W BREIRL i i A e e WACIONYLOOK .........ivniisisiiiunsrine D WL it ainmnieiut b o 300 WMBaowte il e 8 Church News s s oo A e 1 MONTenal 0 T WOlassifieds: i vntii e i 2598 3 ; 3 R°w § 5 ) A D) s L. T o ' . p e i e L e bPP : L 4 “ s g e 3 @ S"r%’.' q : A 3 3 e posera s & RS ¥l ks, " o R % A\x S 5 > A »::g: 3 Nk ‘ A = v%*( P " % Sy " 3 e " b k 4 ," N e o E % % T SRR o S Coas & % % < - N o s ] TR 5 {“ o % i “1 ABSTAIN!” Billy Holden (left). Jordan Wright (R) and Henry Ingram (center-rear) look on. - Wednesday (July 17). ; The unexpected move thrusts acting general man ager Linda Roberts back into the picture and places Authority member Billy Holden back into the spot light. - Mr. Holden was a sup porter .of Ms. Roberts up until Tuesday when he sur prised everyone by abstain ing in the most important vote ofthe year. Mr. Holden is seen as possessing the swing vete that could hand the general manager posi tion to Ms. Roberts, or any other candidate. Coliseum Authority Will iam Calhoun said on Wednesday that he would soon call a meeting to de Kian factions unite in wake of federal probe of church arsons @ Hate groups that have traditionally been divided in various factions have discov ered that there is strength in numbers. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) As federal and state au thorities work totry and solve a rash of church fires, white su premacist groups-also are unit ing to defend a Klan organiza tion accused of conspiring to burn black churches. South Carolina’s Christian Knights of the Ku Klux Klan faces a lawsuit accusing mem bers of conspiring to encourage the burning of black churches in Clarendon and Williamsburg counties last June. People claiming to be mem bers of the Keystone Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, the Chris tian Identity Movement and the Aryan Nation showed up at a recent rally to show support for the Christian Knights,The (Co- l RV RE P YIRL eIR A (oL | ey - T LT g SO { ,_ AYEDHE :: ¥ : -~ ‘:\";‘_-v . " j’ ™ . o g -; i | _ ; v Y :i b B | T ———— METRO AUGUSTA’S FINEST LA SRR 1R N 4 cide the course of action. “We can review the re maining candidates or open the selection process back up,” Mr. Calhoun said. The wvote for Mr. Rhamstine left Authority members embroiled in a ra cially-tinged tug-of-war over the manner in which Mr. Rhamstine was selected in place of Ms. Roberts. Mr. Rhamstine is white and Ms. Roberts is black. The vote had prompted one black community activ ist to call for a boycott of all civic-center events. Ironically, the motion to hire Mr. Rhamstine was apparently defeated 6-5. But after the count, one of the Rhamstine supporters W P challenged the v;)é of Billy Holden who quickly — some saytoo quickly — withdrew his vote. That actionledtoa 5-5 tie that was broken in favor of Mr. Rhamstine by Authority board chairman William Calhoun. R e s s 2al family atmosphere. We're just good Christians who study the f“igf’ﬁ?*’@’g’::%“f%;f ¢ $ 6 % a' i' ; ISRI %'vizi";m?,; o live out wh : : e W, G lumbia)Statereported Wednes day. Klan watchers say the rare unity from the traditionally factionalized groupsis unnerv ing. “Hate groups know there’s power in numbers,” said Jack Levin, director for the study of Violence and Social Conflict at Northeastern University in Boston. ; State Law Enforcement Di vision Chief Robert Stewart said none of the four groups have more than 100 members right now. But, “it’s kind of like cancer,” he said. “Whether you've got a little cancer or a lot of cancer, it’s cancer.” Gary Christopher Cox, 23, and Timothy Welch, 24, have been arrested in connection with the June 21, 1995, burn ing of Macedonia Baptist At Left: B.J. Blackwood questions Mr. Holden'’s right to vote for position of general manager. Black Authority members believe that Mr. Holden’s defection was orchestrated and that the unusual pres ence of four white county commissioners at the begin ning of the voting was de signed to ensure that Mr. Holden would not support Ms. Roberts. The Rhamstine rejection has rendered unnecessary the planned challenges to his selection on the part of some black Authority mem bers. Ms. Roberts’ chances for the position are still unclear. See COLISEUM, page 16 Church and the June 20, 1995, burning of Zion A.M.E. Church. The Southern Poverty Law Center, on Macedonia Baptist’s behalf, has sued the Klan, alleging that the Chris tian Knights conspired with Cox and Welch to cause the fire. “It isn’t like that anymore,” said John Dellinger, 26, of Bessemer City, N.C., one of those atthe recentrally. “It’sa real family atmosphere. We're just good Christians who study the Bible and try to live out what it teaches.” Klan watchers say the group increasingly use the Bible to legitimize their message of hate. “It really works in an era where people are looking for See KLAN GROUPS, page 2 IRYSIS ; i AT RLY BT i T e | NLI L - w; Sée Page 9 . Jeburk to appeal ‘life’ sentence Severity of sentence is worst he’s ever seen, attorney says. By Timothy Cox AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer AUGUSTA The recent sentence handed down to Christo pher Lawrence Jeburk is much too harsh, according to the convicted felon’s at torney. Jack E. Boone, Mr. Jeburk’s defense lawyer, said the July 11 ruling that landed the Columbia County man life in prison without parole is the most severe he's ever witnessed in Augusta. Mr. Boone said the sen tence was the most severe he’s ever witnessed in Au gusta. The decision was served by U.S. District Court Judge Dudly H. Bowen Jr. Though Judge Bowen has a reputation for being fair, “this (decision) was unex pected,” the said the attor ney. “He (Judge Bowen) de parted upward and gave him more time than the fed eral guidelines called for — generally 25 to 35 years,” Mr. Boone said. Based on federal legisla tion enacted about 10 years ago, judges have options to “depart upward or down ward” or increase or de crease sentencing time pe riods. In this case, Judge Bowen exercised his up ward options. “Hedidn’t hurtorkill any one. I didn’t expect this,” said Mr. Boone, who has until July 21 to appeal the decision. Y —————————— S — Photos: Frederick Benjamin Groups target Olympics visitors in protest against Confederate flag B Protest groups planto addressrac ism, the Olympic police presence in black neighbor hoods and the Georgia flag on the opening days of the Olympics. ATLANTA (AP) A human rights group and advocates for the poor will spend two days on the steps of the Georgia Capitol telling Olympic passersbhy about racism in Atlanta. Black Autonomy Interna tional and the Atlanta Olympic Protest Coalition plan toset up a microphone outside the Capitol July 19 and 20 to “stop this scam to fool the world about what a wonderful place this cityis,” BULKRATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID NO. 302 AUGUSTA, GA ' i B S o g k- R TV Lawrence Jeburk. Few sentences were more severe. Locals offer opinions on severity of sentence On Broad Street not far from the federal courtroom, sentiment regarding Mr. Jeburk’s fate was wide ranging. “I feel anyone who takes from other hard-working people should suffer all con sequences,” was artist Annette Bush’s response to the sentencing. Down the street near Pyramid Records, Arthur Jacobs talked about the murderers who often escape with lighter sentences. “That’s too much time,” said Mr. Jacobs. “He hasn’t killed anyone,” said the Augusta-Richmond County employee. ; “I don’t condone what he. did, but what about reha-" bilitation? They shouldn’t: Jjust write him off. He’s still young,” contemplated record store clerk Camille: Lipscomb. : Bartender Mike Dawking said the 20-year-old Mr; Jeburk deserved a strong sentence for his second es+ cape, Life-long confinement, he said, was “a bit much,” he said. 3 See JEBURK, page 3 said Lorenzo Komboa Ervin of Atlanta, one of the orga nizers. Opening ceremonies for the Olympics are July 19, less than a mile from the Capitol. Dubbed a two-day “speakout,” the groups are encouraging residents of Atlanta’s black neighbor hoods — and anyone who agrees with their cause — tostepuptothe microphone. The groups plan to ad dress racism, the Olympic police presence in black neighborhoods and the Georgiaflag, which contains the Confederate battle em blem and is perceived by many to be a racist symboi. “The average person as well as the political activist can tell what is on their mind without police intimi dation,” Ervin said. The groups have permis sion touse the Capitol steps from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days. " - f ;