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I — s | PRSRT STD _ . US POSTAGE MS.JEANNIE I,LDN)P.Bn\; gt S PAID Ros CHIPS DEPT, MAIN L cOA AUGUSTA GA . ATHENS, GA 30602-1641 PERMIT NO 302 Serving Metro Augusta, South Carolina and The CSRA R August 19-August 25, 2004 : ; i . ¥ ! v i 1 ‘Soul sistah? Black Republicans angered by Teresa Heinz Kerry's asser tion that she’s an African American are taking to the air waves. Page 2A. NAACP heads south The South Caroli na NAACP is con tinuing its economic sanctions against the home state over the rebel flag. The group’s crossing the border, bringing its state convention to Augusta. Page 3A. OPINION Blueprint for bondage In Part 2 of a spe cial report uncover ing the root causes of the slave mentali ty that exists"among some African Ameri cans, the Augusta Focus reprints more of the writings of a British slave owner, Willie Lynch, for whom the term “lynching” is named. Page 9A ARTBEAT Laney Museum on a roll The Lucy Craft Laney Black History Museum pushes toward two decades of showcasing black arts and culture. Page 1B GOOD NEWS Calling Georgia’s brightest Georgia School Superintendent, Kathy Cox, is looking for some of the best young minds in the ~ state to serve on the Student Advisory Council. Page 5A m.t ...1......‘8 'u.lm“..-..;-.--“ m[m.-nua‘ Good New5......4A Happenings ....2B um m‘....“..'“ , ml‘ Jl‘".l'-'IIIIII”IO" Vol. 23, No. 1173 Nov. 16, 1933 - Aug. 14 2004 . w 4 A' ""’l”‘{4's " BTg : P fe ~ N y b ' W J F| * 3 ' Y & & _ ~ i A . L ._ - 3 ik Al ie S » ‘;:? A : e - . g 5-; ’r— ( ,a,: : :(;" 3 . % ‘ T, . ;{ S v N ey 4 : £ s ¥ e = ‘ e iy i” {K N. N r : a ; Loy e s - o £ " - v i e et o " i i A -Ll : e e N *r k ; : : ; 2 fuh .~ T . ’,;% £ : ‘ g ! L~ Y U okt & - K] RO i M%».flf. 5 %3 “ ‘ ! >‘. % "L : i ‘::.1 i : ; ,:‘ y ,-',’ Remembering Mclntyre By THERESA MINOR Augusta Focus Staff Writer It didnt seem to matter if those who were reminiscing knew him intimately or just in passing, the reaction was always the same. Edward Investigation clears Richmond County DFCS Low morale and ‘unstable’ workforce noted By THERESA MINOR Augusta Focus Staff Writer A state investigation into allegations of mismanagement an?a child endangerment against the Richmond County Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) has wrapped up with the agency being cleared, but not totally exonerated. The probe was sparked after the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) received several anonymous letters reportedly from DFCS employees and members of the community charging, among other things, that chil dren were placed in inappro priate foster homes and being sexually molested. The com plaints further alleged that caseworkers who brought the problems to the attention of Auf'usta educator elected national | Delta Sigma Theta Sorority president Standin%hon the moral prin ciples which undergird the 91- ear history of gélta Sigma 2E'heta Sorority, Inc., newly elected National President, Dr. Louise A. Rice, is poised to har ness the power of the over 200,000 members. “We have to be a catalyst for clmrge in the nation and the world. We have to affect public policy and its impact on the oppressed and disenfranchised, especially the mAufis"nc&s visited upon people of African Ameri can descent”, she commented during a recent interview. Com.mcniing o[n) Rtihe u elections, Dr. Rice stgfgd% election is very important to us. We have to be knowledgeable about the issues and prepared to mobilize our Subscribe to the Augusta Focus, Call (706) 722-4222, extension 225 Marlow Mclntyre, Sr. —the city’s first black county com missioner and only black mayor — had established him self in the minds of many as a revered Augusta icon. “He had one of the best political minds in Augusta,” managers were subjected to retaliation which included ter mination. A five member assessment team composed of staff from DFCS and the Office of Human Resource Manage ment and Development (OHRMD) began looking into the problem in late May. It characterized DFCS as “an agency with an unstable work force” and a perception by much of the community as being “in over its head.” “The staff is admittedly under a great deal of stress because ofgrrecent turnover and enormous caseloads... While the caseload is tremendous, the work expectations of the different units and the staff are ... guided by policy. .. Recent turnover in staff exacerbate the workload and make the smooth transitioning of cases R ’ ’ ‘ " ‘-’ l " f /"_ 4871\ 7 B Dr. Louise A. Rice membership to get out the vote.” And finally, with an initiative to increase the “heart and soul” of Delta sorors, the sorority’s 23rd national president intends to continue her pioneering ini said Augusta Focus Publisher Charles Walker, who worked with Mclntyre in the political arena extensively over the years. And because of that keen political wit, the “Morehouse man” as he so proudly referred difficult,” states the report obtained by the Augusta Focus. That report was pre pared by Dr. Janet Oliva, DHR Division Director and addressed to William Hillis, Manager of DFCS Field Operations. The investigation further concluded that the workload had much to do with low morale among DFCS work ers. The assessment team urged DFCS management to immediately address the per ception of the agency’s leader ship as being “uniformed, uninvolved or not being in control.” Since the controversy first broke in April, the agency’s director, Carolyn Beard has been reassigned and several staff members have been ter minated. tiative of reclamation and retention. The PASS program (Preserving and Sustaining Our Sistedlr::% pairs collegiate and alumnae members in a rela tionship of mentoring, with a follow-up community out reach program involving mem bers, parents and youth. A native of Augusta and a uate of Lucy Craft Laney ly. School wl;lcn: s(lile former taught En?hs and Reading, Dr. lfi:c holds a B.A. degree from ka%fi: University, a MA. from Columbia Univer sity in New York, and a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. Having taught at Paine College for 11 years, she is now an Associate Professor Emeritus at Augusta State University. www.augustafocus.com to himself, seemed destined for greatness early in life. He cou&i move the masses with his charismatic personality and resonating bass voice. Among his %itical accom plishments, I\/Yc(intyre is credit ed for being the mastermind behind the development of sakuein o b R R T . 0N ; g T -y T S ’Ff t.; A ;, { eb6s & ’ A »\_' Pi 6 .i : ‘» B : A 4 S A 5 m > ’,l f""\’" 2 s ook . .fi,;%éfi ‘ By HALEY A. DUNBAR Augusta Focus Staff Writer Smokers and non-smokers alike are weighing in on a pro posed ordinance that would ban smoking in all public places, including restaurants and bars in Richmond County. The debate over the Smokefree Air Act has been spirited, rais ing the ire of groups on both sides of the issue. Each group is racing to have their side heard before the county commission makes a final decision in the matter. ‘ “The real issue here is national and constitutional freedoms and that’s what C.O.S.T (Citizens Opposing Socialist Tyranny) stands for. We have things like freedom of assembly, equal pro tection under the law, private property rights, no taxation with out representation, unfair trade practices to protect those,” said Michael D. Pirtle, founder of CO.S.T. Pirtle’s comments followed a presentation from Dr. Frank M. Rumph, Director of the Richmond County Health Depart ment, during the August 17 convening of the commission. Dr. Rumph explained to the near standing-room-only crowd that the adverse effects of exposure to second hand smoke are serious enough to make them a threat to public health. He told the group that exposure to second hand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death — a statistic that his office cannot, in good conscience, continue to feed. “When lives are placed in harms way, I think it becomes my responsibility as health director and commissioner of public health to recommend the implementation of a non-smoking policy in public places. Sometimes in order for the public to be healthy, it is necessary for government to intervene and protect. Historically, government has done this. That's why you have See Smoking, page 10A FIFTY CENTS the Riverwalk, the construc tion of via ducts to ease traffic on major city thoroughfares, reducing property taxes and at the same time increasing the wages of city workers. He worked to blur the city’s racial See Mcllntyre, page 12A