Newspaper Page Text
VOLUME 21 NUMBER 1053
R & .
‘f A 4 Studio el
1K N Art Gro hosts
% . § { "For Arts Sake"
-NSn 1A exnibit
2 P, Is the war on drugs
A al'# W /4 responsible for terror reign? See 4A
"Swing Our Song" by Sam Barnes
® ® 9
@
®
Divine’s dad
“They gave up”
Blt has been two years since 4-year-old Divine
Monroe was killed by a hit-and-run driver. Recent
news that the police have a lead on the possible
perpetrator does not give her father much cause
for optimism. He’s been down this road before and
believes the police have given up the search.
By Shun Norris
AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
: AUGUSTA
Richmond County investigators
may have a new
lead in the hit
and-run death of
five-year-old Di
vine Monroe, but
herfather Unique
claims something
could have been
done long ago.
“They had this
same lead when
this (accident) first happened. And
they didn’t follow up on it,” he said.
Leroy Crew is the lead. Actually
he’s the same man who gave tips to
deputies of Richmond and Columbia
Countiesbefore and nothing came of
it.
According toMonroe, thegirlfriend
ofthe suspect should have been ques
tioned and maybe the case could have
been put to rest.
“Itdon’t make sense wherelgoout
there everyday and clean off my
daughter’s grave and this thing has
been dwelling for two yearsnow,” he
said, gesturing with his hands. “The
Jefferson, Williams
enter mayoral race
Andrew Jefferson, president of the
Richmond County Board of Educa
tion, announced his candidacy for
Augusta’s mayoral election this No
vember on Tuesday, April 2, 2002.
“I’ve been thinking about it (run
ning) for a while,” said Jefferson. “I
felt that I was available todoit.” He
notes that he does not want to be
considered a black candidate. He
made his decision to be a mayoral
candidate when he hgard mayor Bob
Young make his State of the City
address.
Jefferson hasbeen amember of the
Board of Education since 1993 and
was elected last year to a two year
term asits president. He also serves
“Take back the Night” rally aims to educate women
By Shun Norris
AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
: AUGUSTA
When an Augusta jury decided to
free Aaron Leßlanc, parents, young
women, and protective boyfriends
became leery of the judicial system
but Anne Henry says the Augusta
Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Cen
ter is ready to help.
Serving as the director of the
agency, Henry notes that victims
need toreport the assault, regardless
of the height of fear.
Serving Metropolitan gulgusm, South Carolina and the Central Savannah River Area
same evidence that they had already
and the same guy that told them.
Had they followed up and did their
job the first time, it probably would
have been over with.”
Devine was struck by a small, gray
two-door car with tinted windows as
she ran across the street towards a
bus stop on March 13, 2000. She was
hospitalized for three months and
suffered severe brain damage and
injuries to her legs. Her father then
took her home for around the clock
care where she died August 8 from
complications due to the accident,
Thecasehasattracted wide-spread
attention throughout the commu
nity in which the Governor’s office
added $5,000 to the Richmond County
Sheriff’s office’s $2,000 reward for
information regarding the case.
The chief investigator on the case,
Calvin Chew, informed Mr. Monroe
when the case first started two years
ago that he should ‘forget about it’ if
nothingwasfound within seven days.
“Yeah, they basically gave up. It
was for publicity,” he stated.
The car that struck Devine has yet
tobefound. Ithas adamaged bumper
See DIVINE, page 3A '
Le e T
A o .
e S,
o N
. L
| .4
kv iSOO ”*’r'fl "“fii.
Y s
o)
-
Divine Monroe
announced candidates for the posi
tion of Augusta mayor include in
cumbent Young, Rev. Dr. Johnny R.
See MAYORAL, page 3A
“I think it’s extremely important
that they report it. They can report
thecrimeconfidentially, ifthey choose
to,” she says.
The center was started in 1975 by
men and women who were concerned
about adult rape victims and how
they were being treated. The center
started out as a non-profit agency
and, later in 1980 it moved under
United Way. Just five years later the
center joined with University Hospi
tal which is its current provider.
Themission of the Rape Crisisis to
provide crisis intervention and con-
TR 17,
on the faculty of
Augusta Technical
College.
Robin Williams,
former Georgia
House representa
tive for 10 years
before losing in a
re-election bid, also
announced his run
forthemayor’sseat
on April 2.
_Other previously
WOODS GOES FOR THIRD GREEN JACKET
f A
S
: . e / il .
SN B ;
;f\ fi‘i'. L‘¢ 74 & P ‘ :
W§o \i}\u\ Skt A ) i e pt’f £ SR L ' f"=
= A 4)h wi R {*}m‘ T- - b il ,1@ =
@ ) v 'y il - e
eSR Ml i 3 - B Y Fi% | y P PR LR T A'a oRN e ;, Ne Ve ee e fm— T o
Ny LWL T L sl B ey
VL V“g -‘;:-;.,_iz.{f“' i N N R ) . et fl»&gfi 3 ‘}fi'fi« SRR
3 & DAL e o SR ER R A ee T ¥
s ; ol VRS AR Re Rl
INLESS THAN AWEEK Tiger Woods will attempt to win this third Masters Tournament. The city and state
is starting to buzz in anticipation of the the annual golf championship. Above Woods competes at a recent
PGA event at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. AP Photo/Chris O'Meara
City revamp effort goes down
to wire as session nears close
By Shun Norris
AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
AUGUSTA
' The legislation delegation are still
up in arms about re-structuring the
city government of Augusta.
To date, there are two bills that
have been introduced that make
changes to the city’s government
structure, includingchangingthe way
commissioners vote and increasing
mayoral power. Three unofficial pro
posalsand oneamended bill are alsoin
discussion.
There have been numerous forums
and meetings regarding the changes
in government. Some are in complete
support of the changes while others
arein favor of thegovernment staying
thesame.
The delegation itself are still dis
agreeing on various issues concern
ing the changes. ;
Rep. Ben Allen, one of the black
authors of a proposed bill, stands firm
by his “good people make for good
government” speech.
“Anytime you have a large segment
of the community not in favor of
change, weneedtogoslow. Weneed to
sultation services 24 hoursaday and
7 days a week. The program also
provides legal advocacy, community
education, short-term counseling,
support groups, and children’s pre
vention program.
“Our goal is to make sure we pro
vide appropriate service to sexual
assault victims, nomatter what their
age,” says Henry. “We also try to
provide services that meet the diver
sity of our community.”
Despite the numerous organiza
tions in the community and other
cities, statistics show that sexual
IVERSITY CF GA RN -
NS GA 30602 e
Z R e """‘f""’l"":’—;:v;,""“ i:. e H o oTR 3
ey 1Y .. . eV
HEN LR F: 4 fi,‘f? N -
. S TOOKS %Q v
SR R TR T NTh 4 = P o
R e Tl ? ¥,
~w{_&{j:'g::f{. o i b i ;
e Do e ;
A R o N i
Ti i
s oUW
L R
- A
e T
¢ .
ALSO: Beße Winans offers solo effort
know why they are opposed to change
and we need to address those con
cerns,” he said in a telephone inter
view. “Only after we fully listen toand
addresstheconcerns, should webegin
in a direction. Government is a pro
cess that must move slowly.”
Rep. Allen’s bill, similar to other
bills, includes giving the mayor veto
power and allowing the mayor to ap
point members toboards and commis
sions.
Rep. Sue Burmeister whosebill pro
poses the most changes to the city
government says race is not an issue.
“This is about what’s good for Au
gusta. Itruly believe that the majority
of the people in Augusta will get be
yond this,” she said.
Rep. Alberta Andersonsaysthatshe
doesn’t think thereis goingtobe abill
presented or drafted.
“Iftheblack ministers organization
andall 10 county commissionerssend
me aresolutionsaying ‘we agree with
and support the changes,’ I have no
problem. That’s the only way I would
sign a bill,® she said. “It’s all about
compromise.” = - )
Her plan involves getting all of the
elected officials together in one room
assault is the most under reported of
all crimes. Henry is adamant that
people speak up and out.
“There are people in rape crisis
who are very concerned. Not for just
the physical needs, but also the emo
tional needs as well. We need to be
able to share information with them
(victims) so they’ll know how to take
care of themselves,” she said.
The Rape Crisis and Sexual As
sault Centeris available at any time.
Call the hotline at 706.724.5200 or
thetoll-free number at 800.565.4673.
50 CENTS
PRSAT STD
US POSTAGE PAID
AUGUSTA GA
PERMIT NO 302
to agree on a change.
" “I have pounded on the desk and
said ‘why can’t we all meet?’ We can
not seem to get the commission and
the delegation together in one room.
And that’s not fair to the people.”
Rep. Jack Connell is standing by
his bill which has been amended,
stating that both Senator Don
Cheeks and Senate Majority Leader
Charles W. Walker (D-22) have dis
cussed the bill.
“You always want to do something
people are in agreement with. The
problem we have is so much informa
tion has transpired to the public and
everyone has a different opinion.”
Rep. Connell noted that he sent a
copy of his bill to the commission and
hopes they will appreciate and adopt
the bill.
“I hope that the public will have a
maximum input from a voting stand
point,” he said. s
Regardingthelocal legislativedel
egation, a majority of four signa
tures must accompany any bill that
isdrafted.
_ Sen. Cheeks, Rep. George DeLoach,
Rep. Henry Howard, and Sen. Walker
could not be reached by press time.
about rape
Rape Crisis will host ‘Take Back the
Night Rally’ on Thursday, April 25,
2002 at Augusta State University
from 6:30 to8:30 p.m.‘Fhepurpose of
the program is to let survivors cel
ebrate their triumphs while raising
the community’s awareness of sexual
assault.
Sexual assault is defined as any
type of sexual activity that is un
wanted and not consensual. A sexual
assault may include the use of physi-
See RAPE CRISIS, page 3A