Newspaper Page Text
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Zouth Carolina and The CSRA
April 28- May 4, 2005 Vol. 24, No. 1206
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Have police gone too far?
The arrest and hand
cuffing of a 5-year-old
girl has raised some
questions of how far
should authorities go
in their arresting pro
cedures.
Page 2A
Death row statistics fall
Death sentences have
come to an all time low
since the 1976 rein
statement by the
Supreme Court.
Page 2A
Down with the Union
Dr. Watkins shares a
walk down memory
lane with the Black
Student Union at
Augusta State Univer
sity.
Page 8A
Power Weekend
Power Fest 2005
gathered local and
mainstream entertain
ment for at Augusta
Exchange Fairgrounds
for more than 2,000
geoplc.
age 1B
Teens increase com
munity involvement
Top Teens of Augus
ta host a meet and
greet with the com
munity and its neigh
bors.
Page 4A
INDEX
ARTbheat ..........1B
8u5ine55..........6A
City/Regi0n......3A
Good New5......4A
Happenings ....2B
Living ..cosinnennallA
Nation/World ..2A
m !”.1..1..11u
w..'1...1.1itti1”
Augusta to honor James Brown with statue
The city of Augusta is
giving world-famous
entertainer James Brown a
birthday present in the
form of a downtown life
size bronze statue.
Mayor Bob Young said
through this statue the city
is paying tribute to Mr
Brown's many good deeds
to Augusta citizens and his
loyal support of the Augus
ta area where the enter
tainer has his worldwide
base.
“All of Augusta should
be proud of the profession
al accomplishments of
James Brown. He is truly
an icon in his profession,”
noted Mayor Young.
The statue, designed by
August physician and
sculptor Dr. John Savage,
will be dedicated in the
School tattling policy dumped by board
By JESSICA BAPTISTE
Augusta Focus Staff Writer
A proposed new policy in
which students would be
rewarded for “ratting” was
voted down by the Rich
mond Board of Education.
The policy if enacted
would pay for information
of the misdeeds of their fel
low classmates. Mechelle
Jordan, Director of Public
Information and Human
Relations says that princi
pals were asked if they
would like to have this pol
icy in place at their respec
tive school.
“We surveyed the princi
pals. We have 10 that would
be in favor.” she said.
Richmond County
schools have had some
issues this school year with
its students. Bomb threats
were as common as a pop
quiz and in November of
last year a school bus brawl
resulted in one student
being injured in a bus acci
dent. Jordan states that the
policy would be in effect to
allow students to warn
Congress and the Senate grapple over bankruptcy bill
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Subscribe to the Augusta Focus, Call (706) 722-4222, extension 225
middle of the 800 block of
Broad Street in front of the
Augusta Common at 5
p-m. on Friday, May 0, just
three days after Ms:
Brown’s 72nd birthday.
The statue is being fund
ed by friends of Mr. Brown
and support from the
Augusta Downtown
Development Authority.
“This statue 1s a gift to
the people of Augusta from
those who love and sup
port Mr. Brown,” Mayor
Young said. “It will be a
magnet for tourists.”
Besides Mr. Brown, spe
cial guests will include Mr.
Brown's former road man
ager, the Rev. Al Sharpton,
who will give the dedicato
ry prayer.
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teachers and principals if
they know about a bomb
threat or any other school
violation to maintain
school safety.
“Our overall concern is
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The Godfather of Soul finally gets his props in his own hometown. The legendary singer has been
honored all over the world for contributions made to the music industry.
the safety of our students
and staff. Board members
considered the award sys
tem, which board member
Joe Scott brought to the
table after learning of the
By JESSICA BAPTISTE
Augusta Focus Staff Writer
The new bankruptcy bill
has raised some eyebrows
among senators and con
gressmen.
It would essentially make
it harder for Americans to
declare bankruptcy.
Legislators such as Con
gressman John Barrow (D
--GA), have sounded off
because the bill, he believes
will make it harder for
minorities to declare Chap
ter 13.
“The bankruprey bill was
bad for working families,
bad for the middle class,
bad for minorities, and bad
for small businesses - and
that's why | voted against
it.” Barrow said.
Even though Barrow
voted the bill down with
www.augustafocus.com
same type program imple
mented in Cobb County.
The issue may arise again,
as we scarch for other ways
to maintain order and a safe
learning environment at
some of his colleagues fol
lowing him, the bill was
passed through the House
and now is on the floor of
the Senate. Barrow believes
that all Americans should
be responsible to pay their
debts, but there are some
citizens who legitimately
cannot afford to pay.
“l believe everyone has a
responsibility to pay their
debts.
And declaring bankrupt
cy should never be an easy
way out of debt - it should
always be a last resort.
Unfortunately, the bank
ruptcy bill passed by Con
gress last week left few
options for people whose
financial problems were
caused by circumstances
beyond their control, such
as high medical bills or job
loss.” he said.
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our schools.” she said.
A pilot program will test
the policy. It is the decision
of the board where such a
program will be enforced.
Joe Scott, a representative
from district 5, suggested
that schools like Murphey
Middle, Lucy Laney High
and Gracewood Elementary
carry out this test. There
can also be negative conse
quences to this plan. Stu
dents may want to tattle on
someone because of ulterior
motives or as a joke. Jordan
believes this is one concern
some board members
expressed at the meeting.
“Some Board members
have expressed that they are
concerned with the lack of
anonymity that may result
from such a system. The
fear is that those causing
trouble will retaliate against
the students choosing to
turn in the trouble makers.
This is just one concern.”
she said.
The delayed motion will
be presented to the board
again next month at their
regular meeting.
Blacks and Hispanics who
own their own home will
see the down side of this bill
more than Whites. Barrow
believes that they need help
from the federal govern
ment to stop this from hap
pening,.
“Studies show that
women are more likely to
declare bankruptcy than
men, that seniors are now
the fastest growing group in
bankruptcy filing, and that
African-American and His
panic homeowners are more
likely to file for bankruptcy
than white homeowners.
Instead of passing unfair
legislation that will end up
punishing Americans when
they are most vulnerable,
we need to find ways to
help all Americans succeed
financially - in good times
and bad.”«the Congressman
said.