Augusta focus. ([Augusta, Ga.) 198?-current, November 25, 1999, Image 1

Augusta focus., November 25, 1999, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextR T RNV Ry & Au’usta Focus Jaguuis ' § / N cap perfect season! -t Handy defeated in runoff ~ p.3a Miracle season | - B §NT i MIEE captured ~p.lßß 4| g J ] :’ a Al ‘g ) z : ; jng Metropolitan ™™ Auqusta, South Carolina and the Central Savannah River Area Did racial slur lead to school assault? By Eileen Rivers AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer AUGUSTA In the wake of the horrific classroom attack on Monday, November 22 which left Murphy Middie School special cducation teacher Linda Gail Hendrick, in eritical condition, invest) gators are attempting to piece together the events that led to the bloodshed What 1« certainis that police are holding a 14-year-old wheelchair bound student imphcated in the attack, but what 1s not so certain 1s whether the alleged assailant has confessed to the crime and whether a raciallv-tinged rebuke led to the assault Suurces close to the investigation said on Tuesday that the student interrupted the teacher while she was in the bathroom In response she blurted out a racist epithet that angered the student and caused him to lose control. He then punched her in the face, stabbed her several times in her head, neck and torso, cutting off an ear and puncturing an eye This report, however, has been disputed by ...on a spiritual high note . e . ) ,‘ A:}‘a‘&%'r.‘\«, 7"“ E . 4"3‘?.\« ? -"‘ i ‘- Susan Taylor signs copies of her book for admirers. The Essence Magazine editor-in-chief struck a positive chord with Augustans as she shared her triumphs and trials with the African-American business community. Pholo by Chartes Jones Richmond County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Ronald Strength “Ourdepartment has not officially released any information on the interview with the student.” Deputy Strength explained “All we have sofaris a positiveidentification from the victim " The investigation has also revealed that the teacher was found lying in a pool of her own blood on the bathroom floor, and that the student’s clothing was alse covered lin blood The ewghth grader, who suffers from spinainfida, was arrested by Richmond County Sheriff's deputies on Monday. According to police, he imitially told them a masked man crawled in threugh the bathroom windew, pushed him on top of his teacher, stabbed 11 repeatedly, then fled He was one of =i« students in Mls'agicndm'k's class, and said he waited until thé dther students left, then asked if he could use the restroom, according to Deputy Strength. Police found no evidence to corroborate his story “There was no blood on the window, outside the bathroom window, or leading to the bathroom window,” explained Major Micheal BT L P ana LD EEH Essence editor inspires Augustans By Eileen Rivers AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Wniter AUGUSTA In this day of “renewed” spin tual empowerment, Essence magazine editor-in-chief, Susan Taylor, emerges as a long stand ing voice for the black commu nity, using her magazine as a platform to encourage intellec tual progress, spiritual develop ment, and personal growth. Her monthly column, “In the Spirit,” brings to the fold a fresh perspec tive on old ideas of black faith. It, along with her books, has reached millions of black men and women all over the world, and on Satur day, November 20, Taylor's Au gusta admirers showed up in mass during a book signing at Barnes and Noble Booksellers. That evening, even more showed up, to listen to her message of individual growth, and self-reliance, during the CSRA Business League's an nual banquet, as she revealed , ironically, last year at this time she hit rock bottem, and struggled to get out of her own spiral of self-doubt, and depres sion. “I was ready to end a second marriage because | wasn't taking time to take care of me,” re vealed the journalist, to the crowd of more than 400, gathered at the bangquet. “I was burning the candle at both ends. There were moments that | was walking out of the house with my braids in Farrell, director of Richmond County Board of Education Public Safety The student, whe has been held in the Richmond County Youth Detention Center since Monday, has no history of mental dis ability, or previous criminal record, stated Major Farrell The police department re fused to release the student’s name at this time Miss Hendrick, who was admitted to the Medical College of Georgia trauma unit Mon day afternoon, positively identified the stu dent as her attacker that evenming “She was on her way in to surgery,” ex plained Deputy Strength “The investigator had time to ask her one quick question and siie stated her attacker s name ” The incident occurred around 2:15 Monday afternoon, and several parents rushed to the middle school, after they heard about the stabbing, to pick up their children “As far as | know there were about a dozen concerned parents that came to the school,” explained Dr. Charles Larke, superintendent See SCHOOL ATTACK, page 3A “There were moments that | was walking out of the house with my braids intact, nails polished, dressed to the nines, but inside I was falling apart.” tact, nails polished, dressed to the nines, but inside | was fall ing apart.” Then she took a trip to Africa with her husband, got back into her routine, and got back on track. “I literally kissed the ground when 1 was there,” Taylor ex plained. “] saw the places where our people had heen taken into slavery. | saw the ground on which they struggled and said to myself ‘how dare you,’ these people struggled through a life {"MHI\ even imagine, and anguish over personal unlngpunu 1 don't have the nﬁiumu of real can dor she revealed her secrets to inner-peace, success, and happy “In the morning, every morn ing, | take 45 minutes just for me,” Taylor explained. “Even if that just means rolling back over to my sweetheart and tell- |Book signing ;ﬁi”\.:” >_ - ::-v = e | ) 00M g | ) ! e - - State senator Charles W. Walker (R) was on hand to greet author Susan Taylor (C) on Saturday, Nov. 20 at Barnes ond Noble Booksellers. Ms. Taylor, editor of Essence Magazine, was in Augusta as the keynote specker for the CSRA Business League’s Annual Awards banquet. League board member Charles Walker Jr. (L) introduced Ms. Taylor at the affair. ty hanes Jones Chitlins score big during holiday season ®often denigrated for health and nutrition reasons, chitterlings are embraced by many as *® a delicacy worthy of sharing with your closest family and friends during the winter months. By Timothy Cox AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer - ome pronounce them as “chithns,” although thev're officially spelled “chitterlings " Bottom lLine, for many 1n the African American community, the subject of chitlins typically generate lots of conversation Whether taking a pro or con stance, there's no in between, when it comes to the food that's actually the intestines of a pig You either like them, or vou don't For Carolyn Reynolds of south Augusta, she proudly rolled her buggy with the red and white bucket of chitlins as she left the Bi-Lo cashier's line “1 love them. | grew up on ‘em. My father raised hogs, so, we butch ered the hogs and helped take the intestines out,” reflected Reynolds with a smile Although some people refrain from cooking chitlins in sum mer months (due to heat and odor) Reynolds said she cooks what's sometimes considered a delicacy year-round “That's why I pay to have air condition ing,” said the Phenix City, Ala native. For Maureen “Denise” Phipps, she acquired her taste for chitlins during her forma tive years in San Antonio, Tex. “They have a different taste. Unique. It's a taste our people have come a long, long way to enjoy. Our great grandmothers passed it on." Meanwhile, Phipps' two teenagers aren't interested in the chithn legary. “They don't like the smell and knowing that it's animal guts, turns them off,” said Phipps. Vinegar heips cut the grease, she adds. At the Bi-Lo on Tobacco Road, chitlins cost $4.90 per 10 pound bucket. Marcus Bradley, Bi-Lo assistant manager, said his store orders more chitlins in November and December. And African Amen:- cans purchase the food more than other ethnic group, he said Sheeinee Goss, a self-described “country girl” from Beech Island, S.C., said she usually buys chitlins during winter holidays. “It takes a while to prepare, but you must be sure they're nice and clean,” said Goss. She also describes chitlins as “bonding” food. “Many times, people in my family comment on the different tastes,” said Goss, which often leads to friendly competition. “Everyone thinks they can make the best chitlins,” she said. Although a Chitlin Strut festival is held annually in Sally, SC,, about an hour from Augusta, none of the participants in this story See CHITLINS, page 2A 50 CENTS Clouds, sun mid 60s See Page 68 U S POSTAGE PAID NO 302 AUGUSTA GA "o U “‘s‘z ux\:‘m m qw,}. L uwéf:g. i > , | :'M v"‘b’*‘ B - i "- ‘ s, M" it's M 5 i - health, M m - evoke conversation. (Phow by Charies Jones)