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VOLUME 1 7 No. 853
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A TOOTHY ARRIVAL: Janice Jackson, of McComb, Miss., displays the two teeth in the mouth
her newborn daughter Kristina Thursday, April 23, 1998, at Southwest Mississippi Reglonal
Medical Center in McComb. Kristina was born on April 23, 1998, weighing 5 pounds, 9
ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. (AP PhotoMcComb Enterprise-Joumal, Aaron Rhoads)
Criticism of Detroit hospital
grows over no-blacks vote
EBlacks told not to enter
white patient’s room.
. DETROIY
(AP) Critics say Sinai Hospital"
should have fired a nursing super
visor who posted a note saying no
blacks should enter a white
patient’s room.
The City Council was expected
to vote today to condemn the ac
tion. About 30 pickets gathered
outside the hospital this morning
chanting and carrying signs in
protest of the hospital. The groups
later moved inside the hospital to
seek a meeting with hospital rep
resentatives.
Relatives of the 90-year-old
white man said he was senile and
feared black people. They asked
that no black nurses, housekeep
ing staffers or other workers be
allowed to enter his room.
Inside
Test bour l
See Page 2B
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Serving Mefropolitan g Augusta, South Carolina and the Central Savannah River Area
“Until further notice, please as
sign the patient ... to white staff
members,” the white nursing su
pervisor said in a note posted April
14 in a nurses’ break room. “This
is per family requests in an at
tempt to decrease his confusion
and agitation.”
The patient’s sister said a black
man attacked him several years
ago, the note said.
The Detroit Medical Center,
which owns the hospital, said the
note was removed the next day
and the patient’s request never
was honored. It later apologized
for the nursing supervisor’s ac
tion and said cultural sensitivity
training for all employees began in
November.
But critics say the hospital
should have done more.
“I find it insulting. It’s ridicu
lous, it's truly ridiculous,” City
Are you OK?
BF'ire Department’s
“Are You OK?” program is receiving
the commynity’s appreciation.
By R.B. Woods
AUGUSTA FOCUS Correspondent
AUGUSTA
At 7 am., Hattie Jones’ phone rings. When she
answers, she hears, “Hello, this is Chief Few with the
Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department, and we
want to know, are you OK? If you need help, please
hang up and dial 911. If you are OK, hang up and have
a nice day.” Those reassuring words allow Jones to
knowu.ththerwdlbeingilnotbeinghkmbr
gran
“I think it's wonderful that someone checks up on
me everyday to see how I’m doing,” Jones said. “I live
alone. I am glad the fire department is doing this for
u'-"
The “Are You OK?” Computerized Telephone Reas
surance program is a free service, initiated on April 1
by the ARCFD, which contacts senior citizens and
individuals with disabilities living independently
throughout Augusta-Richmond County. A computer
ized telephone system makes routine, daily telephone
calls to each subscriber at precisely the same time each
day. Subscribers choose the time to receive their calls.
“We have had over 200 participants to sign up so
far,” said ARCFD public information officer Katrice
Bryant. “The system can also be adjusted to provide
-
Councilwoman Brenda Scott said.
“To be told that the DMC has
characterized what has occurred a
mistake is not going far enough,”
said City Councilwoman Sheila
Cockrel, sponsor of the resolution
condemning the action. “It really
ought to be condemned by DMC as
horrible.”
Hospital spokeswoman Julie
Nemeth did not return messages
seeking comment Wednesday on
critics’ demands that the supervi
sor be fired.
Ms. Cockrel’s resolution said the
council viewed the event “notas a
‘mistake’ but as a sorry commen
tary of the current state of race
relations in southeastern Michi
m'n
The Anti-Defamation League
also condemned the supervisor’s
See HOSPITAL, page 2A
APRIL 30 - MAY 6. 1998
Books: Alice Walker’s
activist call to ams rae
brake on emotions
BThe GBI has managed
to do what “peace”
rallies and meetings
have been unable to do
— calm the public rage
over the killing of a
young black man. Their
probe is about to enter
its 11th week and talk
about the Davis killing
is losing its edge.
By Frederick Benjamin sr.
AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
AUGUSTA
Even the most wary conspiracy
theorist could not have predicted
that the investigation into the
shooting of Alfaigo Davis on Feb
ruary 21 would still remain unre
solved at the beginning of May.
Transit planners hopeful,
despite revenue plunge
BThe Augusta bus
system has been
winding down over the
past decade. Abandoned
by the feds and prodded
by city budget jockies to
trim the fat, the system
somehow manages to
make strides.
By Mark Ofiphant
AUGUSTA FOCUS Correspondent
AUGUSTA
Despite the elimination of rider
transfers, the trimming of bus
utes, and reduced hours of ser
L i
e
,' ’ . ,‘._l' .
.\ T
\ N
“Mamie Mobley-Schultz, 94, and great
grandson David Williams Jr., 8, in the lobby
of the Peabody Towers discussing her per
sonal safety with the “Are You Ok” program.
Photo by R.B. Woods
N 4 1
I E
Richmond County Sheriff's
deputies Gary Clark Jr. (L)
and Nicholas Capoblanco (R)
shot and killed Alfaigo Davis
on Feb. 21. Hours and days
after the shooting, family
members of Davis were
calling for the officers to be
tried for murder.
But here we are. And while fears of
a public insurrection shortly after
the killing were, at best, wishful
thinking by sensation-seeking
media types, the talk and mood of
many in the black community was.
caustic and laced with condemna-
vice, the Augusta Public Transit
department is not content merely
to exist, but seeks to prove that it is
an efficient transit system that is
working harder to better serve the
community.
Nevertheless, transit officials ex
pect to get an earful at a transit
hearing on May 4, where the public*
will learn of a new round of auster
ity measures.
In March, the Augusta Commis
sion approved the department’s
proposal to eliminate the 35-cent
transfer in a cost-cutting move.
Cutbacks in federal dollars is leav
ing the system in the awkward po
sition of having to collect a full 75
cents each time a rider changes
buses.
According to Augusta Public
special messages which allow individuals to know
about dangerous heat indexes, chemical spills, special
health awareness or whatever public safety message is
necessary for the community.”
If a subscriber does not answer the phone after two
attempts, the automated system goes into “alert”
mode. “At that point, we will contact a neighbor who
has previously agreed to assist in the case of an
emergency, and a fire official will be sent out to the
individual’s home and check out a possible emer
gency,” Ms. Bryant said.
The department’s communication center can tem
porarily suspend calling services whenever subscrjb
ers plan to be away. They can also change their calling
times whenever necessary. The department alsohasa
coordinated coverage system to ensure that all other
services are fulfilled while handling special “Are You
OK?” calls.
Oneappreciative subscriberis Mamie Mobley-Shultz,
94, of the Elbert Peabody Apartment Tower. Mobley-
Schultz explained that she suffered a stroke about a
year ago and is happy to have this emergency service
available. She said that she has known of people who
were unable to call anyone for help and believes they
“If they didn’t die, they did not receive the emer
gency attention that they needed,” continued Mobley- -
Schlutz. “I would rather live alone. I don't feel like
being bothered all the time. I think it's a useful
program and will provide the attention I need.” .
Mobley-Shultz made these comments while seated
inside the lobby of the Elbert Peabody Apartment
Tower on Walton Way, accompanied by her great
grandson David Williams Jr., 8. Williams said he only
gets to see her on weekends. The apartment complex
caters to senior citizens.
“I'm happy that someone else can help look out for
: 5 -
See FIRE DEPARTMENT, Page 13A :
50 CENTS
BULK RATE
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
V. 302 AUGUS GA
tion for the cops.
Ten weeks later, it is as if it had
never happened. The Davis family
hasshunned publicgatherings and
statements on advice of legal coun
sel. Many who stepped forward
and were thrust into the glare of
media attention shortly after the
killing are no longer commenting
on the matter. The Alfaigo Davis
Defense Fund (beginning admin
istered by the family) has not been
heard of since its initial offering of
T-shirts. The Nation of Islam,
which hosted arally with the Davis
family about three weeks ago, has
turned its attention to black-on
black crime and the discussion of a
police review board has dried up
completely.
The calm, however, belies the
magnitude — legal, financial, and
social —of the impact of a report
that might show that the officers
acted improperly. If that happens,
See POLICE SHOOTING, page 3A
Transit planner Juriah Lewis, the”
FTA cut its funding to the depart
ment by 81 percent over a two year
span (1997-98), from $312,000 to
$58,000.
“The federal government is cut
tingback on our operation expenses,
and at the same time expect us to
extend our routes,” said Lewis.
“With the new work elemeht that
now exists in Georgia, such as Wel
fare to Work, new industry isn’t
coming to downtown. They’re go
ing to outlying areas. We are ex
pected by the government to find
ways to get our people to work and
hardly have enough to do so.”
The total annual operating bud
get for the APT is $2.6 million, with
See TRANSIT SYSTEM, page 3A --