Newspaper Page Text
6A Sunday, December 23, 2018
The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com
LOCA^NATION
Ref who told high school wrestler to cut dreads benched
MICHAEL FRANKELI Associated Press
In this image taken from a video provided by SNJTODAY.COM, Buena
Regional High School wrestler Andrew Johnson gets his hair cut courtside
minutes before his match Wednesday, Dec. 19, in Buena, N.J.
Associated Press
BUENA, N.J. — New Jersey’s
athletic association said Satur
day that a referee who told a high
school wrestler to cut his dread
locks or forfeit, which drew ire
from an Olympian, the state’s gov
ernor and many others, won’t be
assigned to any matches until the
incident is reviewed.
Michael Cherenson, spokesman
for the New Jersey State Interscho-
lastic Athletic Association, said the
organization had reached out to
groups that assign referees “and
they’ve all agreed” not to assign
Alan Maloney to any event until
further notice.
Buena Regional High School
wrestler Andrew Johnson, who is
black, had a cover over his hair
Wednesday night during a match.
But Maloney, who is white, said that
wouldn’t do. An SNJ Today reporter
tweeted a video of Johnson getting
his hair cut minutes before the
match. Johnson went on to win but
appeared visibly distraught.
The video was shared widely
on social media, with users calling
the incident “racist,” ’’cruel” and
“humiliating.”
Jordan Burroughs, a 2012 Olym
pic gold medalist and four-time
world champion, posted and spoke
on social media early Saturday
about the incident, saying he had
never seen anything like it in a
quarter-century of wrestling.
“This is nonsense,” a message on
Burroughs’ Twitter account said.
“My opinion is that this was a com
bination of an abuse of power, rac
ism, and just plain negligence.” In a
video posted on Instagram, he criti
cized parents and coaching staff at
the match for not intervening, call
ing it “absolutely shameful.”
Burroughs called Johnson “cou
rageous” for his performance in
the match despite “all of the adver
sity and racism that you were fac
ing in the moment.” The fellow
southern New Jersey wrestler said
Maloney had been the referee for
some of his high school matches
growing up.
Gov. Phil Murphy weighed in on
the issue on Twitter, saying he was
“deeply disturbed” by the story.
“No student should have to need
lessly choose between his or her
identity and playing sports,” he said.
The state attorney general’s
office has confirmed an investiga
tion by the Division on Civil Rights.
The school superintendent said in
a letter to the community that they
support and stand by all student
athletes.
SENIORS
■ Continued from 1A
after her husband died.
Britte said senior center
friends are more like family,
and everyone “tries to help
one another.”
Mary Bolden said she visits
the senior center about four
times each week, and encour
ages others to join her.
“I really enjoy it,” she said.
“It keeps me active.”
Nancy Simpson, program
coordinator at the senior cen
ter, says helping the elderly
stay connected, supported and
appreciated takes work, but it’s
a passion she’s been involved in
for more than 20 years.
“I stay on my toes all the
time trying to think of things
to bring into the center,” she
said. “It is so rewarding to plan
an event that brings happiness
and joy into their life. ”
Choking up, Simpson added,
“It just thrills me.”
Doug Hanson, a Gaines
ville resident who volunteers
for Meals on Wheels, said the
social aspect of the mission is
as important as delivering food
to those in need, particularly
the elderly and disabled.
“The relationships we build
are that critical,” he added.
“It’s something I look forward
to every week.”
Hanson said many of his
Meals on Wheels “clients”
have become dear friends.
Weekly visits give him an
opportunity to assess their
physical strength, or check in
Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times
Elvis tribute artist Mark Pitt hugs Janice Clark Thursday, Dec. 12,
as he performs a Christmas show for seniors at the Gainesville
Senior Center.
on someone who is in grief,
or even cheer and celebrate
goings-on in their lives.
Abating the sense of loss and
disjointedness some seniors
may feel during the holidays,
such as with those who have
little direct family, can be the
difference between life and
death. Literally.
“I’ve also been able to be
there when someone had a
stroke,” Hanson said.
Hanson described another
woman he visited who strug
gled with dementia.
Living alone, he said, this
woman began to speak of her
fear of falling and her forget
fulness. She once had to be
helped after locking herself
out of the house one day.
Hanson said he made sure
she received a medical alert
device she could wear around
her neck, with a push-button to
call for medical assistance.
“She is now in full nursing
care and I miss her weekly
check-up,” Hanson said.
And therein lies the real
impact.
Hanson, who is in his late
70s, recently went through
months of cancer treatment.
He’s doing well now, but he
was delightfully surprised to
find himself on the other end
of check-ups from his Meals on
Wheels family.
Hanson said he got get-well
cards, which was “quite incred
ible,” and was asked about his
prognosis along the way.
Hanson added that he has
been “deeply touched by their
interaction in my life. ”
Elvis tribute artist Mark Pitt puts a scarf around the neck of Adelaide Britte.
Warm &
From all of US at Jackson EMC, we wish you and your family a
very warm, safe and Happy Holiday Season and a wonderful New Year.
jacksonemc.com
