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OBSERVANCE DAY ASSOCIATION PRESENTS
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Savannah. GA
Permit No. 923
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“GEORGIA’S BEST WEEKLY”
abamtah tribune
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Week of January 6,2010 - January 12,2010 • Vol. 37 No. 46 • www.savannahtribune.com • 912-233-6128 • Fax: 912-233-6140
Georgia to Receive $25,323,893 In
Grants From Obama Administration
WASHINGTON - The
Obama Administration
recently announced that the
U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development
(HUD) is renewing grant
funding needed to keep 137
local homeless assistance
programs throughout
Georgia operating. The
funding is part of nearly $1.4
billion that will help an
unprecedented 6,400 exist
ing programs nationwide to
continue offering critically
needed housing and services
to homeless persons and
families.
The grants announced
are being awarded through
HUD’s Continuum of Care
programs . For the first time
ever, HUD is quickly provid
ing renewal grants to local
programs to prevent any
interruption in federal assis
tance and will announce
funding to new projects in
early 2010.
“As we move into the
coldest time of the year, it’s
critical that no program risk
running out of money to
keep their doors open,” said
HUD Secretary Shaun
Donovan. “These grants will
President Barack Obama
make certain that those pro
grams on the front lines of
helping the homeless have
the resources they need to
house and serve persons who
might otherwise be forced to
turn to the streets.”
HUD’s Continuum of
Care Grants provide perma
nent and transitional housing
to homeless persons. In addi
tion, Continuum grants Hind
important services including
job training, health care,
mental health counseling,
substance abuse treatment
and child care.
Continuum of Care
grants are awarded competi
tively to local programs to
meet the needs of their
homeless clients. These
grants fund a wide variety of
programs from street out
reach and assessment pro
grams to transitional and per
manent housing for home
less persons and families.
HUD’s homelessness
grants are reducing long
term or chronic homeless
ness in America. Based on
the Department’s latest
homeless assessment, chron
ic homelessness has declined
since 2005. This decline is
directly attributed to HUD’s
homeless grants helping to
create significantly more
permanent housing for those
who might otherwise be liv
ing on the streets. However,
data also indicates that fami
ly homelessness may be on
the rise, particularly in sub
urban and rural areas.
Earlier this year, HUD
allocated an additional $1.5
billion through its new
Homeless Prevention and
Rapid Re-housing (HPRP)
Program.
Made possible through
the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009,
HPRP is intended to prevent
persons from falling into
homelessness or to rapidly
re-house them if they do.
New Atlanta Mayor Takes On
String of Issues
By David Stokes
Special to the NNPA from
the Atlanta Inquirer
After a contentious bat
tle for mayor of Atlanta, M.
Kasim Reed has nearly
cemented his administration
and energized civic and busi
ness leaders before becoming
the city’s 59th chief execu
tive this week.
A 40-year-old former
Georgia state senator, Reed’s
inauguration was set for
Monday, Jan. 4, at Atlanta’s
Civic Center. He ultimately
won the election after Mary
Norwood, the White at-Large
city councilwoman who led
the race for the majority of
the year, sought a recount of
votes upon discovery of Reed
possessing less than one per
cent of the electorate.
With the vote recount
six days following the runoff
election, on Dec. 1, Reed, an
Atlanta native who was
unknown at the race’s entry,
was victorious by 714 votes,
with 42,839, against
Norwood’s 41,124. Norwood
Mayor Kasim Reed
conceded the race on Dec. 9.
Reed’s success sustains
the string of African-
American mayors of Atlanta
since 1974. His no-nonsense
and “non-cuddly” demeanor
might prove worthy of the
challenges the city faces.
Reed, a Howard
University graduate, started
facing the issues head on 24
hours after runoff election
night.
Reed has shown con
cern to communities, includ
ing his attendance at a can
dlelight vigil for a 21-year-
old liquor store clerk who
was fatally shot during a rob
bery. Recent robberies and
other crimes led to Reed
immediately naming Deputy
Chief George Turner as
Atlanta Police Department’s
interim chief. Richard
Pennington retired as
Atlanta’s police chief on Dec.
31.
“He will not have
tolerance with aggressive
panhandling, and [adminis
tering policies] will be done
with compassion and human
ity,” McCranie stated.
For public safety, the
mayor-elect has named
George Turner, an APD
deputy chief, as interim
police chief until a search
committee identifies a per
manent candidate. Another
crucial issue will be to collect
revenue effectively in order
to enhance city services.
Re-opening recreation
centers and increasing the
police department with more
officers are among the priori
ties.
Stephens is Top
Lady of the Year
Lady Dr. Jacquelyn W. Stephens
The Savannah Chapter
of Top Ladies of Distinction,
Inc. are honored to present to
the Savannah Community
our Top Lady of the Year, Dr.
Jacquelyn W. Stephens, Ed.
D.
Dr. Stephens is
Professor Emerita at
Armstrong Atlantic State
University. She has earned a
B.S. in Elementary Education
from Savannah State College,
M.S. in Reading Education
from Illinois State University,
and an Ed. D in Reading
Education from the
University of Oklahoma.
Dr. Stephens profes
sional experience includes
the following: Elementary
School Teacher, Savannah-
Chatham Schools, Corrective
Reading Teacher, Savannah-
Chatham County Schools,
Acting Head and Profession
of Elementary Education.,
Savannah State University,
and Professor of Education,
Armstrong Atlantic State
University.
Professionally, Dr. Stephens
is the Organizer and Advisor
of Bibliotherapy and Reading
of the International Reading
Association, Creator and
Host, Teens On Target
Television Show Founding
President, Reading and
Speech Communication
Institute of Savannah, Inc.
Dr Stephens has written
a book and several articles on
Bibliotherapy and Reading
Scholarly presentations on
the national and international
levels on reading education.
Over her extensive
career Dr. Stephens has been
awarded the National
Kellogg Fellow, The
Southern Fellowships
Foundation Fellow, National
Defense Education Art
Fellow (NDEA), Inductee of
the Georgia Reading Hall of
Fame, Outstanding Professor
of the Year Award Armstrong
Atlantic State University
Alumni Association,
Regional Education Service
Award, Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority, Inc., Regional
Community Service Award,
Lambda Kappa Mu sorority,
See Top Lady, page 2
Inside This Week’s Edition:
West is Liberty County’s First Black Female
Bailiff, Page 2
Chinese Delegates Visit Hinesville, Page 3
MemoriaFs Breast Care Program Receives
Accreditation, page 4
Top Ladies of Distinction Sponsor Kiddie
Kotillion, Page 7
City Urges Residents to Take Cold Weather
Precautions, Page 8
Autumn Place Subdivision Holds Ribbon
Cutting, Page 9
Big Brothers Big Sisters Needs Your Support,
Page 14
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Vita Davia
Employee of Lhc Veer for 2601
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