ISSN 1939-6899 ISSN 1939-6899

ALEXANDER CITY ● ANNISTON ● AUBURN-OPELIKA ● CAMP HILL ● DAVISTON ● FRANKLIN ● HOGANSVILLE ● LAFAYETTE ● LAGRANGE ● LANETT ● ROANOKE ● TALLADEGA ● VALLEY ● WADLEY ● WEDOWEE ● WEST POINT

Friday June 13, 2008 ISSUE NUMBER 152 © 2005-2008 The People’s Voice tpvmail@gmail.com $ .50 Cents

“NEWS WITH AN ATTITUDE”“NEWS WITH AN ATTITUDE”

WWW.PEOPLESVOICEWEEKLY.COMWWW.PEOPLESVOICEWEEKLY.COM

WEEKLY NEWSThe People’s

VOICEPresorted Standard

U.S. POSTAGEPAID PERMIT NO. 6Roanoke, AL 36274

INDEX...News ................................ A1 - A2Op/Ed...................................... A3Voices...................................... A4Poli cs & Govm’t .................... A6Business & Legal ...................... 05Ask Deanna............................. A8Puzzles .................................... A8Horoscopes ............................. A7Soul & Spirit ............................ A9Health & Beauty ...................... 10

INSIDE …THE PEOPLE’S VOICENEWS WITH AN “ATTITUDE”

• Do You Know Who’s Calling You?

• Greenville Area Alumnae of ΔΣΘ Sorority Award Scholarships Lo-cally• June is Black Music Month• Troup County Schools: Students Take Summer Opportunity to Move Forward• News Briefs (Page A2)

Go Ahead and EatThat Tomato ...That is, if it’s grown in Alabama

• Meriwether Ci zens Press To-ward Appeal Of Regional Landfi ll in Meriwether County• LaGrange: School Leaders Named for Middle and High School

ONE 1 Voice

• Carl Bloice: “The Black Jobless Picture: From Bleak To Bleaker & Out of Sight”

INSIGHTS AND OPINIONS

• L. C. Thornton: “What Do You See? What Do You Think?”• Another Case Study: “When Is Enough, Enough?”

Business & Personal Finance• Commentary: Judge Greg Mathis: To Reduce Loss of Black Wealth, We Need to Get Smart, Force Ac on on Sub-prime Lending

POLITICS

• Your Vote At Risk?

Steve Flowers:Alabama’s LeadingPoli cal Columnist

Alabama Poli cs:More Of The Same...

SOUL & SPIRIT

• Bap st Women in Roanoke Stage Hat parade at First Bap st Church

• MOTIVATIONAL MOMENT: Minister Denise Moseley: “Is This It?”

Restoration and Covenant Renewal

Sunday School Lesson Review for June: The lessons for June focus on the book of Hebrews, written to Jewish believers who were un-dergoing persecution. The author writes to bolster their faith by pre-senting images of who Jesus really is..

LESSON 3: JUNE 15 PERFECT REDEEMER HEBREWS 9:11 18; 10:12 18 .

HEALTH NEWS (A10)

Why Do Men Die Earlier Than Woman?

• Hispanics dying on job at higher rates

Baptist Women In Roanoke Stage Hat Parade at First Baptist Church

West Point City Councilwoman, Sandra Thornton Visits “Sweet Auburn” Spring Fest In Atlanta

West Point City Councilwoman, Sandra Thornton, seized the opportunity to enjoy a “Kodak Moment” during her recent Visit to the “Sweet Auburn” Festival in Atlanta, where she was photographed with Congressman John Lewis. Lewis, a Civil Rights Activist, who organized the historic Selma To Montgomery March in the 1960s, is the U.S. Representative from Georgia’s 5th District

African Americans Are More Often Targeted By African Americans Are More Often Targeted By Phone Fraud – Learn The Steps To Recognize And Phone Fraud – Learn The Steps To Recognize And Report A S-C-A-M.Report A S-C-A-M.

Who’s Calling You?DO YOU KNOWDO YOU KNOW

BLACK PR WIRE —Many types of fraud start with a phone call. Do you know who’s calling you?

If not, you may be putting your hard-earned money at risk.

Fraudulent telemarketing calls affect mil-lions of people every year. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) an-nounced the largest telemarketing fraud case sweep in their history, including 180 law enforcement actions by federal, state, and local agencies. The FTC filed federal district court complaints against 13 alleg-

edly deceptive telemarketing operations. The FTC estimates the companies involved defrauded more than 500,000 consumers, resulting in over $100 million in losses.

African American consumers may more likely be victims of fraud. FTC’s fraud sur-vey report, Consumer Fraud in the United States, noted that African Americans were more likely to have experienced fraud than non-Hispanic whites. For African Ameri-cans, the three most frequently reported frauds were paying an advanced fee for a promised credit card or loan; being billed for a buyers’ club membership the consum-er had not agreed to purchase; and fraudu-lent foreign lotteries.

Through its new Who’s Calling? Recognize and Report Phone Fraud campaign and Web site, (ftc.gov/phonefraud) the FTC provides three R’s that consumers can use to stop fraud:

1. Recognize. Learn steps to avoid telemar-keting fraud, including:

2. Check the clock. Calling times from le-gitimate telemarketers are restricted to the hours between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.

3. Ask why they are calling. Telemarketers

must tell you it’s a sales call, the name of the seller and what they’re selling before they make their pitch.

4. Know who you’re dealing with. Do busi-ness only with companies that clearly pro-vide their name, street address, and phone number.

5. Protect your personal information. Don’t give your credit card, checking account, or Social Security number to unknown call-ers.

6. Don’t be pressured to make an imme-diate decision. Just about any offer that’s good today will be good tomorrow, too.

7. Get the offer in writing. Get all informa-tion in writing before you pay. 8. Report fraud to the FTC.9. Register your phone number on the Na-tional Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov, or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the number you are registering.

For more information about specific types of telemarketing scams, and to learn addi-tional signs of fraud, go to ftc.gov/phone-fraud. The site is accessible in Spanish at ftc.gov/fraudetelefonico.

Sunday School Presi-dent To Convene 59th Congress Of Christian Education In LaFay-ette

Reverend L. B. Houston, PresidentEast Alabama Sunday School Congress

CALL NATIONALVOTER HOTLINE

1-866-MY-VOTE-11-866-698-6831

Is YOUR VOTE Is YOUR VOTE AT RISK?AT RISK?

June Is ...Black Music Month!

On May 31, 2002, President Bush pro-claimed the month of June to be Black Music Month to cel-ebrate the history and contributions of music created by African-Americans

throughout our country’s history.

Every genre of American music (and music world-wide) is continually influenced by African-Americans.

Citizens are urged to recognize this critical part of American heritage all month long with various events reveling in the many forms of music from gospel to hip-hop.

African-American musicians, singers, and composers have contributed an immense amount to our nation’s history. It should be acknowledged and celebrated. Take part in the celebration and learn some-thing new! Better Yet, Stage a Celebration in Your Community.

CelebrateBlack Music

Month!

TPV News StaffGreenville, Georgia—The Greenville-Manchester Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inchad a Scholoarship and Awards Banquet on June 7, 2008 at Total Faith Missionary Church of God in Luthersville, Georgia.

The community service awards was given to Dr. Al Kelly for (business), Commission-er Freddie Hines for (civic), Mrs. Brenda

Hudson for (education), and Mr. Willie Eugene Harrison for (humanitarian), and Rev. Charlie Glanton. The Scholarship Awards went to Ms. Mi-sha Copeland from Central High School, Ms. Brittney Dodson from Greenville High School, Ms. Hayley Henderson from Har-ris County High School, and Mr. Charles Bowles from Manchester High School.

Book Awards were received by Ms. Allisha Copeland from Central High School, Ms. LeKim Birts from Greenville High School, Ms Kristian Thomas from Harris County High School and Shakari Parker from Man-chester High School.

The contact person is Ms. Gladys Coverson at (770) 301 1125). The President of the chapter is Mrs. Denise Piagatt.

Greenville Area Alumnae of ΔΣΘ Sorority Awards Scholarships Locally

100 Women In Hats“A Colorful Affair”

The Women of First Baptist Church, in Ro-anoke recently staged a fund-raising pro-gram, featuring “100 Women in Hats”

Shown in the photograph above are Annie Lee Hill, Ethel Lee Tucker, Cotina Terry, and Gurtie Hill, who all participated in the program.

The program was held on last Sunday, June 8, 2008, at 3:00 p.m. at The First Baptist Church, where Reverend Gilbert E. Staples is Pastor.

A2 The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, Friday, June 13, 2008 The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, Friday, June 13, 2008

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NOTICE OF JOB VACANCYROANOKE CITY SCHOOLS

ROANOKE, ALABAMA

The Roanoke City School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inqui-ries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Mrs. Donna Hodges, Section 504, Title IX, and Special Education Coordinator, P. O. Box 1367, Roanoke, AL 36274, 334-863-6819.

POSITION LOCATION: Roanoke City Schools

POSITION TITLE: Elementary and Secondary Teachers Elementary Teacher Secondary Science Teachers Secondary Social Science/May Include Coaching Duties Reading Teacher Speech and Language Therappist

QUALIFICATIONS: Hold or be eligible to hold Alabama Professional Certi ication SALARY: Placement on salary schedule according to degree and experience

QUALIFICATIONS: · Hold or be eligible to hold Alabama Professional Certifi cation· Must be Highly Qualifi ed in Reading

SALARY: Placement on salary schedule according to degree and experience

APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED by: June 11, 2008

POSITION TITLE: Full-time Custodian

QUALIFICATIONS: · Must have ABI & FBI background clearance

· Must be neat in appearance and personal habits· Must work well with others· Experience relative to the position is desirable

SALARY: Placement on appropriate support salary schedule

APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED By June 4, 2008

SEND ALL INQUIRIES TO: Mrs. Chris Martin | Roanoke City School District

P.O. Box 1367 | Roanoke, AL 36274 Phone: 334-863-2628

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Kia supplier to build plant in west Georgia ATLANTA (AP) — Offi cials say a key supplier to Kia Motors will build a plant on 95 acres at the Kia factory being constructed in west Georgia, creating 600 more jobs. Glovis Co. will supply auto parts and inventory management for the Kia assembly line in West Point, along the Georgia-Alabama line. Gov. Sonny Perdue and other offi cials said Monday that production is expected to begin in December 2009 at the 558,000-square-foot Glovis plant.

Gas hits the $4 mark (Associated Press) — Gasoline prices have surpassed an unfortunate milestone.

According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded is now $4 a gallon. The jump was fueled by last week’s surge in oil prices, which neared $140 a barrel.

In Alabama, the auto club reports the statewide aver-age price for regular is almost $3.89 a gallon. Midgrade fuel is $4.15 and premium averages $4.28 a gallon. In Georgia, the auto club reports the statewide average price for regular is $3.99 a gallon. Midgrade fuel is $4.29 and premium averages $4.48 a gallon. Diesel was an eye opening $4.68 a gallon. In Alabama, the highest metro average was found in Mobile where mo-torists pay, on average, $3.91 a gallon for regular. AAA said the cheapest prices — $3.85 a gallon — were found in Tuscaloosa. In Georgia, the highest metro average was found in Atlanta where motor-ists pay, on average, $4 bucks a gallon for regular. AAA said the cheapest prices — $3.88 a gallon — were found in Augusta and Aiken.

Sparks says Alabama-grown tomatoes safe to eatBIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Alabama-grown tomatoes are safe to eat, so says state Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks. He said in a statement Monday that the Food and Drug Administration placed Alabama toma-toes on the ``safe to eat’’ list.

A growing number of restaurant chains and stores are stopping sales of some raw tomatoes because of sal-monella fears. The warning involves only certain types,

including red plum, red Roma or round red tomatoes unless they were grown in certain states or countries.

Agriculture offi cials also said the harvest season for Alabama tomatoes has begun and they expect the state’s supply to be in high demand.

Police: Heat wave pose a danger to children MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — The sweltering heat wave in Alabama has prompt-ed police to remind parents not to leave their children unattended in a vehicle. Mobile Police Chief Phillip Garrett said in a statement Monday that two women were arrested in separate incidents on Saturday _ each were booked into Mobile Metro Jail on charges of endangering the welfare of a child. Garrett said the stranded children were rescued by concerned citizens and were not injured. It will be a sauna again across the Southeast, where forecasters say the thermometer could top out in the low to mid 90s. State health offi cials urge people to avoid strenuous outdoor activity.

Former of icial sues NASCAR over harassment claims A former racing offi cial is suing NASCAR, alleging racial and sexual dis-crimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Mauricia Grant worked as a technical inspector responsible for certifying cars in NASCAR’s second-tier Nationwide Series from January 2005 until she was fi red last October. Grant, who is black, alleges she was referred to as ``Nappy Headed Mo’’ and ``Queen Sheba,’’ by white co-workers. She also claims she often was told she worked on ``colored people time,’’ and was frightened by one of-fi cial who routinely made references to the Ku Klux Klan. The lawsuit, which seeks $250 million, was fi led Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Political Play: Now, a word from Obama CHICAGO (AP) — Sen. Barack Obama gave four dozen 8th graders a graduation to remember Wednesday when he unexpectedly walked onstage in the middle of their cer-emony. The mostly black crowd of students, family and friends erupted in squeals of disbelief in seeing the Democratic presidential candidate, who had just fi nished a hastily ar-ranged economics forum across the hall at the Illinois In-stitute of Technology.

Screams and cheers nearly drowned out his brief remarks to graduates of the Young Women’s Leadership Charter School of Chicago. ``I’m proud that you graduated from the 8th grade, but it’s just the 8th grade,’’ Obama said. He urged the students, all girls, to read, turn off the TV and decide ``how can I make myself the best young woman I can possibly be.’’ Obama shook a few hands and walked off as those in the auditorium, still pinching themselves, chanted ``Change, change.’’

Juneteenth state holiday marks end of slavery MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont has become the 29th state to recog-nize the end of slavery in the United States with a state holiday. The third Saturday in June will be designated as Juneteenth National Freedom Day. The governor signed the bill into law on Tuesday. Although the law doesn’t take effect until July 1, the state will celebrate its fi rst Juneteenth on the Statehouse steps on June 21. On June 19, 1865, the last slaves in Texas learned that slavery was over, more than two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Texas is the only state where Juneteenth is a paid day off for state work-ers. Vermont’s new holiday will not be an offi cial paid holiday for state employees.

After guilty plea, Maine man apologizes for racial threat AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A 75-year-old Brewer man whose threats of violence prompted the Bangor chapter of the NAACP to cancel last year’s Kwanzaa celebration has pleaded guilty to terrorizing and offered an apol-ogy. “I’m deeply sorry for the incident and I’m regretting it every day,” Ken-drick Sawyer Jr. said Tuesday after he pleaded guilty in Augusta District Court to terrorizing. Sawyer’s lawyer, Richard Hall, said his client was raised by an openly racist father and grandfather and made the threats when he was despon-dent and distraught. Defense and prosecution lawyers, along with leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, recommended a sen-tence that calls for Sawyer to be placed on administrative release _ a form of nonreporting probation —for a year, with special conditions that include counseling. NAACP attorney Diane Khiel and chapter president Joe Perry will be al-lowed to to view Sawyer’s mental health records. Sawyer is banned from contact with NAACP members except when he is invited to meet them to hear how his actions affected them. ``This was quite a traumatic event and one we hope no other organiza-tion has to endure,’’ Perry told Judge Richard Mulhern. If Sawyer complies with the special conditions, he will be allowed to withdraw the guilty plea. Otherwise, the conviction will stand and he will spend a second year on administrative release. The complaint said Sawyer made his threat to murder NAACP members while he was meeting with medical professionals last October at the veter-ans’ medical center at Togus.

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LaGrange, GA – Summer school is underway in Troup County with more than 700 students taking advantage of the opportunity to increase learning in targeted areas. Elementary enroll-ment this summer is only slightly higher than last year; however the number of eighth grade students participating in summer school jumped approximately 50 percent. The increase is attributed to the higher standards taught in math and tested on the Criterion Refer-enced Competency Test (CRCT). Expectations for learning increase as the state raises the bar on math curriculum with the goal of making Georgia students more competitive nationally and internationally. “Every effort is being made to as-sist students in mastering higher math skills of the new Georgia Per-formance Standards,” said Edwin Smith, superintendent of Troup County School System. The summer school day differs somewhat from the regular school year. Summer school for elemen-tary school students started last week, while middle school students started Monday. The session lasts approximately three weeks and school days are slightly shorter. Despite increased numbers attend-ing summer school this year, stu-dents receive more individualized instruction and the curriculum is targeted to the specific subject weaknesses of each student. Eighty-six teachers are leading summer school instruction this year. While all of them are highly qualified teachers from the Troup County School System, each par-ticipated in additional training for summer school and spent time ex-amining student data in prepara-tion for the intense session. “The time is well-spent with stu-dents,” said Yashica Brooks, fifth grade math teacher from West Point Elementary School. “I am working with six students who came close to passing the CRCT. We are able to work one-on-one specifically fo-cusing on skills where the students need improvement.” Loretta Saucier, an accelerated math teacher at Gardner Newman Middle School who has taught dur-ing the regular school year for 30 years, is teaching summer school

Troup Students Take Summer Opportunity To Move Forward

for the first time. “The students I have in summer school understand the seriousness of the situation and came in ready to work.” Sauc-ier says that she was motivated to spend the extra days this summer teaching because she knows many of the students and wants to as-sist them in clearing this hurdle. “These eighth graders were intro-duced to the new math standards in sixth grade, seventh grade and again in eighth grade. The expecta-tions for them are very high.” “Not all children learn at the same rate, especially considering the increased rigor of the math cur-riculum,” said Dr. Tonia Contorno, director of secondary curriculum. “Summer school offers targeted in-struction to student who may need just a little more exposure to the material to grasp the concepts.” While teachers admit that their students would rather be spend-ing these days in other places, they seem to be bringing the right atti-tude to their summer classrooms. “My students are receptive and really working hard,” said Brooks. “One student was supposed to be taking a trip with his dad to New Mexico during June, but they have changed their plans to visit Orlando when summer school is over.” The commitment of the students is matched by their teachers. “The teachers who work in summer school are dedicated to the suc-cess of each student,” said Dr. Pat Barton, director of elementary cur-riculum. “They have a ‘whatever it takes’ attitude.” Students in third grade must pass the reading portion of the CRCT in order to be promoted, and fifth and eighth grade students must pass both the reading and math por-tions. All students who do not meet proficiency levels on portions of the test required for promotion are en-couraged to attend summer school for differentiated and additional in-struction prior to taking the CRCT retest administered at the end of the session. Last year, the majority of students who attended summer school and retested were able to advance to the next grade. “Our goal is for each student to be successful after they have received targeted instruction this summer,” said Barton.

News In Brief …News In Brief …

TPV News StaffMeriwether County, GeorgiaSeveral concerned citizens of Northwest Meriwether County, Georgia are mounting a grow-ing movement to challenge a landfill that has been proposed by Greenbow, LLC, of Mont-gomery, Alabama.

On December 21, 2007, The Georgia Environmental Protec-tion Division (EPD) in Atlanta issued a permit to Greenbow LLC of Montgomery, Alabama for the operation of the Turkey Run Municipal Solid Waste Landfill in Northwest Meri-wether County. The Landfill will be located in a municipal water supply watershed, on 1500 acres along highway 54 near the town of Lone Oak, Georgia.

The issue became controver-sial approximately three years ago, when The Meriwether County Board of Commission-ers approved Greenbow’s ap-plication for the landfill. Many citizens expressed concern that the Meriwether County Com-mission acted in haste, and without due diligence, in ap-proving the application, with-out considering the full impact of their action on the citizens who live closest to area where the proposed landfill will be operated.

The community of Lone Oak is distinctly rural in character

Meriwether Citizens Press Toward Appeal Of Regional Land ill in Meriwether County

and land usage is zoned mostly agricultural, at least partially due to the insufficiency of local water and no countywide sew-er system. 90% of the citizens have wells and septic tanks. The citizens are outraged over EPD, and the Administrative Hearing Authority’s lack of regard for the impact this re-gional landfill will have on the quality of life for those who live nearby.

Growing concern over the land-fill prompted the reinstate-ment of Meriwether County’s NAACP, as well as the forma-tion of other groups who have now united in their effort to protest the landfill. In addi-tion, other organizations, such as Anniston based Community Against Pollution (CAP), have become involved and pledged to assist local citizens in chal-lenging the landfill.

The groups have formed a co-alition, called Eco-Action, that now exists as a 501c organiza-tion. Eco-Action is now ap-pealing for the support and help from other concerned cit-izens in the continuing effort to challenge the landfille, and keep their environment safe.

On May 19, 2008 at a recent Administrative hearing, a judge again ruled in EPD’s fa-vor, however Eco-Action has pledged to take their fight to the next level, which will mean filing an appeal in Superior Court.

With increasing financial obli-gations Eco-Action is appeal-ing for support from others who understand and appreci-ate this cause. Donations can be forwarded to Eco-Action on behalf of the citizens against the landfill ( Eco-Action is nonprofit 503c organization).

Mrs. Evelyn Zarate is one of several individuals who can be contacted for donations, and other information about the ef-fort to prevent Greenbow, LLC from constructing this landfill in their community.

Evelyn Zarate

A3 The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, Friday, June 13, 2008 Friday, June 13, 2008

Insights & Opinons

The PEOPLE’ ’ ‘‘S VoiceISSN 1939-6899

© 2005-2007 The Wilkie Clark Memorial Foundation, Inc. and The People’s Voice tpvmail@gmail.com

PUBLISHER INFORMATIONINTERIM MANAGER.............................................................................................Christopher Daniel

EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF......................................................................................................... Tony D. MaloneASSOCIATE EDITORS: T. Jeanetta Stevens, Reverend W.A. Dean, Sara Almond, Charlotte Clark-Frieson, Gene A. Thornton, Sarah Almond, Mayor Geneva BledsoeLAFAYETTE BUREAU........................................................................................................ Betty WoodyOPELIKA/AUBURN/LEE COUNTY.............................................................................Verlinda WhiteOPELIKA/AUBURN/LEE COUNTY ........................................................................... Apredee HarrisPHOTOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................. Gene A. ThorntonPRODUCTION & DESIGN ................................................Wilkie S. Frieson, Charlotte A. Clark-FriesonCONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Melvin Brown, James Clingman, Jr., Jacquelyn Cumberlander, Mike Ramey, Gregory O. Griffin, L.C. Thornton, Emmett T. JohnsonALABAMA STATEHOUSE ............................................................................................Steven FlowersPOLITICS ........................................................................................................................................Jerome A. Gray

____________________________________________

The People’s Voice and peoplesvoiceweekly.us and peoplesvoiceweekly.com are published weekly and managed by The Wilkie Clark Memorial Foudation, Incorporated, Post Office Box 514, Roanoke, Alabama 36274. Phone 334-375-7160. It is published each Friday.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This publication may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifi cally authorized by the copyright owner. However, we may make such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientifi c, and social justice issues affecting Africans specifi cally and mankind in general. We believe this constitutes a “fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this publication is distributed without profi t to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research, educational purposes and to further debate and understanding. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

If you wish to use copyrighted material from our publication for purposes of your own that go beyond “fair use”, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

To Submit News To The People’s VoiceEmail Your news item, and photos to: tpvmail@gmail.com, caclarkfrieson@msn.comblkrsinc@aol.com, or tonydmalone@yahoo.com Phone: 334-375-7160, 334-864-0981; Fax: 334-863-6062

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“We as individuals, are fast losing our reputation for hon-est dealing. Our nation is los-ing its character. The loss of a firm national character, or the degredation of a nation’s honour, is the inevitable pre-lude to her destruction.”

— Williams Wells BrownAbolitionist, Author, Playwright

Quote To Ponder

Precious Oil By Deng Coy Miel, Singapore

LaGrange, GA – At their Thurs-day meeting, the Troup County Board of Education filled four lead-ership positions for middle and high school. Hugh “Chip” Giles was named principal at Long Cane Middle School. Giles has been em-ployed with Troup County Schools since 1996. He received his Bach-elor of Arts degree from Georgia State University, his Masters De-gree from West Georgia College, and earned his educational lead-ership certificate in 1999. Giles serves in the Alabama Army Na-tional Guard. Tunisia Pullins has been trans-ferred to Troup High School as as-sistant principal. She has been em-

ployed with Troup County Schools since 2006 and currently serves as assistant principal at Long Cane Middle School. Pullins received her bachelor’s and master’s de-grees from the University of Geor-gia and her educational leadership certificate from Nova Southeastern University. Christopher “Topher” Byrnes has been named assistant principal at Gardner Newman Middle School. Byrnes is currently employed with the Douglas County School Sys-tem, but worked previously for Troup County Schools as a teacher and later as assistant principal at LaGrange High School. Byrnes earned his bachelor’s degree from

Chapman University and his mas-ter’s from the State University of West Georgia. Melissa Trimeloni, currently a sci-ence teacher and Freshman Acad-emy coordinator at Troup High School, has been named assistant principal at Long Cane Middle School. Trimeloni joined Troup County Schools in 1995 and has taught previously in Coweta County and Floyd County. She earned her bachelor’s degree from LaGrange College and her master’s degree from Troy State University. All four positions are effective July 1, 2008.

Troup County School Leaders Named For Middle And High School

Hugh “Chip” Giles Melissa Trimeloni Christopher Byrnes Tunisia Pullins

Knight Enloe Kinder-garten RegistrationJune 18, 19, 20, 23 & 24From 8:00am- 11:00am & 12:30pm-2:30pm each day

A child must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2008 in order to register for Kindergarten this coming school year. Please bring ALL of the following for each child:

1. Original Birth Certificate with state seal and number (no copies)2. Social Security Card3. Current Alabama Immunization certificate4. 2 Proof of residency documents. Documents must have legal guardian’s name and 911 address. Post Office Box address shall not be accepted.

The following documents can be used as proof of residency. You need 2 of the 7 listed.

1. Property Tax Records2. Mortage Documents or Property Deed3. Apartment or Home Lease4. Driver’s License5. Automobile Registration or Tag Receipt6. Power, Water, Gas Utility Bill (Current)7. Voter Precinct Identification

L.C. Thornton

L.C.’s COMMENTARY

What do you see?What do you think?

While working in my yard a few days ago, I noticed a group of young black men walking through the neighborhood. One of them just happened to have his pants dangling off his butt.. really dangling. To top it off, he

had removed his top so all could see the way he was wearing his pants. I kept thinking, “what am I looking at and what do I think about what I see. I spent several minutes just watching him and his hommies sauntering down the street apparently oblivious to what his dress conjured up in the minds of many people-including me. It has to be more than just a passing fad. The very same day, I noticed a young man at a bus stop. His pants were dangling off his butt, and he was topless. Cuddled up to him was a young lady who was properly dressed. I could not help but ponder why she would be showing affection, publically with someone wear-ing his pants in such an embar-rassing and obscene manner.

Has it ever crossed the minds

of these young men that by go-ing topless in the heat of sum-mer expose them, unnecessarily to skin cancer? Have their par-ents thought about it? There is a strong undercurrent tugging at our young men. Something in this undercurrent whets their appetite for laziness, stupidity, ignorance and an almost total lack of concern for themselves and those around them. Notice-ably absent from their makeup is any desire to be anything but what they currently are. This is the reason many turn their backs on education. They do not wish to know. A willingness to learn something of value may well persuade them to take actions that changes their behavior-be-havior that demand they pull up their pants, get an education and stop gang-banging.

Education is one of the main ingredients needed to right the ship. Wisdom is also an integral part of the solution. Lia Burton coined a short poem in the Na-tional Library of Poetry titled Wisdom Plus Education. It goes as follows: Wisdom is not an old person telling wise tails. Wis-dom is all of what you know. Knowledge is the key to every-thing, but you can gain wisdom on your own. Education is not just books; it is testing what you know and how well you know it. It takes educated people to run our cities and make our laws. So you are educated for a good cause. Without these two, you wouldn’t know a thing. You would have nothing to teach the youth tomorrows brings. With-out wisdom and education there wouldn’t have been a more im-

proved nation. There would be no one to attend the sick; there would be no one to teach in our schools. There would only be a lost nation with uneducated fools. So you see, we need wis-dom and education in so many ways because when you have them both you’ll see it pays. Can one truly say with any sincerity that wearing their pants dan-gling off their butts is one way our boys exhibit a burning de-sire to become men?

L.C. Thornton is a native of Ran-dolph County, Alabama who now hails from Stone Mountain, Geor-gia and a regular contributor to The People’s Voice Weekly News. To read previous columns visit his blog at lcthornton@wordpress.com. email L.C. atmrzekeO@aol.com.

School BriefsSchool Briefs

LaGrange, GA – Some 100 members of the administrative and leadership staff of Troup County School System spent two days this week together at the new Administrative Services Center on Davis Road engaging in professional develop-ment. On Wednesday, author and educator Dr. Thomas Guskey led staff members in a workshop focusing on grading practices. Guskey, who is a member of the emeri-tus faculty at the University of Kentucky, has published 13 books and over 100 ar-ticles on education and grading. “This is a re-invigoration and self-ex-amination of the grading process,” said Jack Morman, principal of Hollis Hand Elementary School. “I can’t remember a single class during my undergraduate

Troup County School System Leaders Study Grading

education that focused on grading. It is exciting that we are moving as a system to address this component influencing student achievement.” The group spent the day Thursday exploring the new concepts and strate-gies proposed by Guskey as they apply to Troup County schools and students. Guskey will return in November to ad-dress the topic with the entire faculty. “These have been two dynamic days of learning for all of us,” said Edwin Smith, superintendent of schools. “How we grade and why we grade can have a great impact on student motivation and, ultimately, student learning. If we can embrace all that we’ve learned and put it into practice, it will surely pay off in terms of student success.”

A4 The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, Friday, June 13, 2008 The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, Friday, June 13, 2008

Wedowee Arrest Report For Week of May 2 – May 8, 2008Race-Gender Composition

CHARGE BLACK (Male) BLACK Female WHITE (Male) WHITE (Female) OTHER

Criminal Littering 0 0 0 1 0

Driving Without License 1 0 1 0 0

Insurance Violation 1 0 2 0 0

Negotiating Worthless Negotia-ble Instrument 0 0 0 9 0

Possession of Drug Parapherna-lia 0 0 0 1 0

Reasonable and Prudent Speed 0 0 1 0 0

Reckless Endangerment 0 0 1 0 0

Speeding 0 1 3 2 0

Violation of Noice Ordinance 1 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 3 1 8 13 0

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THE PEOPLE’S VOICE READ AND REACTWe welcome letters to our editors and STRONGLY ENCOURAGE OUR READERS TO WRITE TO US. Your letter may address the editor-in-chief, any of the associate editors, or the general public.

HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL GUIDELINES1. Letters must be signed and provide your mailing address and telephone number for verifi cation purposes.2. Please be brief. This is not a matter of not wanting your voice to be heard, the issue is one of space, and the cost involved in providing you space to comment. 3. We will edit your letter for grammar and spelling4. Email: tpvmail@gmail.com 5. Fax: 334-863-60626. U.S. Mail: The People’s Voice | P.O. Box 514 | Roanoke, Alabama 36274 7. Get involved by participate in our Internet-based PodCast. Details are availabe at www.peoplesvoiceweekly.com. Listen to live interviews, or call in and be a participant in a discussion.

While The People’s Voice is committed to present-ing diverse points of view, every viewpoint ex-pressed in any article is the expressed opinion of its author and is not nec-essarily the viewpoint of the publishers or staff at The People’s Voice.

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The Black Jobless Picture: From Bleak To Bleaker & Out of SightBy Carl Bloice

The Jobless Rate for Afri-can Americans rose from 8.6% in April to 9.7% a month later.

When I heard there was a sizable increase in black community job-lessness between April and May I mentioned it to a few people and in return got that so-what-else-is-new? stare. “Every month, when un-employment rate data are released, the news for African Americans is bleak,” wrote educator Julianne Malveaux four years ago. Some things change, that doesn’t. The figures that tell the story are found in the eighth or ninth paragraph of a story on the government’s jobs re-port. But not much further is said about it and the matter disappears. “Out of Sight,” was the way New York Times columnist, Bob Her-bert, put in last week.

It helps - or hurts - to put faces and lives on the numbers, however. If nearly 10 percent of African Ameri-can are out of work that means one out of every 10 black people has no reasonable means of earning a liv-ing and if they have dependents no way to adequately care for them

I am constantly reminded that the Bureau of Labor statistics are not particularly reliable, that the situ-ation is usually worse than they evidence. This is particularly true when it comes to the number of people who have given up looking for work and dropped out of the ac-tive labor market.

Still, the official statistics do tell a story, an ugly one - and one that’s getting worse as the country’s econ-omy slip further into disrepair.

The nation’s official jobless rate leaped from 5.0 percent in April to 5.5 percent in May, far outstripping the expectation that the increase would be to 5.1 percent. It was the largest percentage increase in 22 years. The jobless rate for African American rose from 8.6 percent in April to 9.7 percent a month later.

The Rate For Young Afri-cans Rose Even Sharper.

Robert Brusca, head of Fact and Opinion Economics, told the Los Angeles Times that while the rise in the jobless rate from April to May was being blamed largely on an in-crease in teenage unemployment, “the fact is that unemployment - for just about every category - [was] up in May, just not as sharply as for teenagers.” The rate for young Africans rose even sharper. While

overall teenage unemployment increased to 18.7 percent, African American teen unemployment re-mains more than six times the na-tional rate, rising on a seasonally adjusted basis from 24.5 percent to 32.3 percent.

“When the dismal unemployment numbers were released on Friday (at the same time that oil prices were surging to record highs), I thought about the young people at the bottom of the employment ladder,” wrote columnist Herbert, “Below the bottom, actually.”

“The young people I’m talking about wouldn’t have noticed,” he wrote. “These are the teenagers and young adults - roughly 16 to 24 years old - who are not in school and basically have no hope of find-ing work. The bureaucrats compil-ing the official unemployment rate don’t even bother counting these young people. They are no one’s constituency. They might as well not exist.”

“This is the flip side of the American dream,” wrote Herbert on June 10. “The United States economy, which has trouble producing enough jobs to keep the middle class intact, has left these youngsters all-but-com-pletely behind.”

Herbert was writing about both the nearly 260,000 African American teenagers actively seeking employ-ment in May 2008 and didn’t find any and what he estimates to be a total of 4 million black kids out of work and on the streets and fodder for the so-called criminal justice system and the prison-industrial complex it enriches.

One reason the teenage unemploy-ment rate is so high is because the availability of summer jobs is lower than it’s been in 50 years. Most of the young people go out looking for work and after knocking on door after door many just give up. For African American youngsters there is the undeniable fact that racial discrimination in hiring remains a fact of life. Given the current tra-jectory of the national economy the situation for them will no doubt only get worse.

In This Election Year, Job Creation Should Be Issue #1.

Those on the political right won’t accept that it’s the system that’s failing these working class kids, opting instead to place the blame on the African American communi-ty itself, And those in the commu-nity that echo such nonsense won’t acknowledge it either; it would mean standing up to the forces and policies that have produced the ob-scene social and economic inequal-ity that has grown over the past couple of decades.

“America needs to dream bigger, and in this election year, job cre-ation should be issue No. 1,” wrote Herbert. “If I were running for president, I would pull together the smartest minds I could find from government, the corporate world, the labor movement, academia, the nonprofits and ordinary work-ing men and women to see what could be done to spark the creation of decent jobs on a scale that would bring the U.S. as close as possible to full employment.” The problem is that isn’t happening and it won’t unless and until there is a move-ment demanding it.

I was at a conference a couple weeks ago where there was a lot of talk about the reality of socio-economic class in the contemporary U.S. and the necessity of progressives and organized labor to speak up for the unorganized, the marginalized and the unemployed. A good place to start would be with a program to organize and aid those young peo-ple behind the monthly stats, who are mentioned briefly in the media and then rendered out of sight.

Carl Bloice is a writer in San Fran-cisco, a member of the National Coordinating Committee of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism and formerly worked for a healthcare union. Click here to contact Mr. Bloice.

When Is Enough, Enough?

On Friday morning, Shannon Stevens laid in a Wedowee Hospital bed, waiting to see if he was going to be ordered back to the Rad-nolph County jail, for charges he says he doesn’t even understand.

Tallapoosa County Man claims he’s been repeat-edly charged, and paid for the same offense.

TPV NEWS STAFFWedowee, Alabama

33-year-old Shannon Stevens spent this week in the Randolph County Jail, deprived of his medications, and medical supplies, which led to a medical emergency that again landed him in Wedowee Hospital.

In an interview on Friday, while lying in Wedowee Hospital, wait-ing to learn whether he would be returned to the jail, or allowed to leave the hospital, Stevens told The People’s Voice that in reality, he doesn’t even know why he is being held, or why he was even picked up.

Stevens, has had open-heart sur-gery and back surgery, and has hardware in his back, including pins and screws. He takes three different medications: One to keep the artery behind his heart open; another for his breathing, and the last is a nerve medication for his back. In addition, he has to use breathing equipment at night be-cause of a condition called sleep apnea. Stevens says without these medications, his heart and breath-ing suffer adverse effects.

Many recall Stevens, who was featured in a series of articles ap-pearing in the early editions of The People’s Voice in 2005 after being released from the Randolph County Jail. In the series, Shannon shared his concerns about racial profiling, inhumane jail conditions, and gen-eral mistreatment while detained in Randolph County’s jail.

But, after his release, times got bet-ter – or so he thought. And Shan-non moved on with his life… He told The People’s Voice, “After that happened, I made a commit-ment to be a contributing member of my community, and find ways to “give something back.”

Stevens became active in the church, as well as an active partici-pant in the school life of his daugh-ter, LaGeisha.

Just last month, (May 23) he was

featured in a front page story, as the spokesman for a group of con-cerned parents having grievances with the Horseshoe Bend School.

“It all started out with me taking my 15-year-old daughter LaGeisha out on a father-daughter outing. It was Monday, June 9. I took her to Opelika to get her learner’s permit. At the same time, I was going get my driver’s license reinstated. And afterward, I was going to take her out to eat, there in Opelika. We had the day all planned, what we were going to do that day.”

But, when the State Trooper at-tempted to process Stevens’ li-cense, he called Stevens back to a back room, and asked him, “Did you know Randolph County had a “hold” on you?”

Stevens explained, “I was shocked. How could I have known? Why would I have been down there trying to get my driver’s licenses straightened out if I had even thought that?”

“I asked what the “hold” was for. The trooper told me it looked like it was for some checks, but, then, he also said, he didn’t understand be-cause he could see that I had been to court on these charges.”

“It couldn’t be. We have paid for that years ago. That couldn’t be right.”

As the day pressed on, Stevens said, the trooper then told him, that it looked like the hold might be for child support.

Stevens said, he couldn’t see how that could be, because his child support payments are deducted monthly from his disability pay-ments.

Unbeknownst to 15-year-old LaGe-isha, Stevens was held in a back room, until a Randolph County Car could drive to Opelika to pick him up and transport him back to the county jail.

15-year old LaGeisha was left be-hind, unsupervised, to fend for herself with no way to get home. Luckily, she did had a cell phone and was able to call her mother, and tell her that she was stranded in Opelika.

Stevens’ mother, Sarah Phillips of Roanoke said, “Now, I really didn’t like the way they just took him, and went off and left that child down there stranded, with no way to get back home… That just wasn’t right.”

Stevens said, when they arrived in Randolph County, that is where the real drama started.“They want me to pay for these checks AGAIN. At first they lied and said they would take a lesser amount. But, they reneged on that. So then, they were demanding $2,500.00. I had to try to get my wife and my mother to see if they could get up $2,500.00 -- AGAIN. Plus, they lied and said I signed a paper agreeing to pay $10,000.00 in child support, and they are talk-ing about holding me in jail until I pay it. I have not even seen DHR. I have not signed anything agreeing to pay $10,000.00. They haven’t shown me the document I suppos-edly signed or anything. Where am I supposed to get that kind of money from? It’s unreal! On top of all that, they kept me in jail all week, and I didn’t have my medi-cine. They finally let them bring the breathing machine, but they won’t even let me use it in the jail...”

“They said I had two seizures. I don’t remember. But, I do remem-ber that when I came to, there was a female deputy standing over me, telling them not to take me any-where, not to let me out because I owed twenty-five hundred dam dollars, that they were going to get before I leave that jail.”

In an interview with both Phillips and Stevens’ wife, Sophia, The Peo________________________

Continued On Page A6

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A5 The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, Friday, June 13, 2008 Friday, June 13, 2008

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By: Judge Greg Mathis Special to BlackAmericaWeb.com

Homeownership is one of the best ways for African-American families to build wealth and lay a solid foun-dation for the future. In the last few years, many of our own have been able to buy a piece of the American dream, thanks to a booming real estate market and an increase in subprime mortgage loans, loans that are generally utilized by those who have a less-than-stellar credit history. At first, these loans seemed like a dream come true; now, those who previously thought they couldn’t buy a home are struggling

Commentary: To Reduce Loss of Black Wealth, We Need to Get Smart, Force Action on Subprime Lending

to sustain the high-inter-est loans they originally believed were the an-swers to their prayers.

According to data report-ed by The National Urban League, African-Ameri-can homeownership climbed to nearly 50 per-cent in 2004, the highest number ever. However, in 2006, African-Ameri-can homeownership slipped to just over 47 percent, largely because of foreclosures of homes purchased with high-in-terest, subprime loans. Additionally, along with millions of other Ameri-cans who had adjustable rate mortgages, their in-terest rates have nearly doubled, creating a na-tional housing crisis.

Subprime lending has al-ways had its opponents, who say these lending companies intention-ally loan to borrowers who could never meet the terms of their loans, leading to default. Activ-

ists have for years tried to curtail the spread of high interest personal loan companies in black commu-nities, and subprime auto lenders have been also been on the hot seat in recent years. It’s the subprime mortgage lenders, however, who are destroying black wealth.

A recent study shows that more than 2 million homeowners who purchased homes with a subprime mortgage loan between 1998 and 2006 will lose their homes to fore-closure. Ten percent of them will be African-American.

Many critics of the subprime in-dustry say blacks are intention-ally directed towards these types of loans. A 2005 Chicago Reporter in-vestigation revealed that even Afri-can-Americans earning more than $90,000 a year -- who could qual-ify for a traditional loan -- chose subprime lenders 40 percent of the time. The result? More of our fami-lies -- black families, hardworking families -- are falling prey to loans that were never any good.

These predatory lending practices are chipping at the hard-earned

wealth our people are building. If the subprime lending industry is not regulated quickly, the wealth gap between whites and blacks will only grow, and the economic de-velopment of the black community will be set back several decades.

Many national civil rights groups have called for a moratorium on subprime home foreclosures while the lending practices are investi-gated thoroughly. The federal gov-ernment must step in and quickly regulate the subprime mortgage in-dustry. A special task force charged with investigating why blacks are being steered towards these loans should also be established. Without immediate action, the foreclosures resulting from these subprime loans will seriously deplete the re-sources of the African-American community. We cannot afford to let this happen.

---

Judge Greg Mathis is nation-al vice president of Rainbow PUSH and a national board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Confer-ence.

NAACP pushes for tougher scru-tiny of police shootingsCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) —

The president of the North Carolina chapter of the NAACP says he’ll push for a new law to force mandatory investigations of police shootings.

The Rev. William Barber II said the civil rights group is upset over a rash of police shootings _ especially a recent case in Charlotte in which a 21-year-old man was fatally shot in the back.

Aaron Winchester was being pursued by officers who had stopped him for questioning. Authorities have said he had a gun, but witnesses dispute the police account.

Barber made his comments after he met with Charlotte and Mecklenburg County offi-cials to request more training for officers to prevent the use of deadly force. He said police shootings should automatically be referred to the State Bureau of Investigation.

A6 The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, Friday, June 13, 2008 The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, Friday, June 13, 2008

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The famous and beloved New York Yankee, Yogi Berra, who was renowned as a dugout philosopher is credited with the saying, “It’s like deja vu all over again.” That yogism is an accurate assessment of both this year’s and last year’s legislative sessions. They are deja vu all over again. However, this year could be worse.

Unlike last year, the Senate did manage to avoid hitting each other but in an amazingly unconscio-nable and reprehensible display of neglect they failed to pass the education budget. This is the only requirement they have to ac-complish in the three and a half month session. A special session was necessary to pass an education budget. In the meantime, young untenured school teachers were being given pink slips and moving to Florida or Georgia to teach and superintendents were grasping for ways to determine next year’s school plans. All because of the petty childlike antics in the Ala-bama Senate.

The session was wasted by mundane partisan bickering and juvenile pettiness that defi es logic. The Governor, in a display of bipartisan leadership, arrived on the scene six hours prior to adjournment to try to reason with both sides. He shook his head in disbelief at the impasse over $25 million in a $6.8 billion budget, which they were fi libustering over. That amount is meaningless in the budget. The Senate simply wanted to disagree for disagreement sake. They killed the budget and session the same way third graders on a school playground would have a spat then decide to walk off and take their ball home with them.

The partisan battle that has been waged in the Senate for the past two years has translated into not only gridlock but chaos for state government. Much of the stale-mate is caused by overt and covert obstructive tactics employed by the Senate Republican minority. These GOP Senators have always

been in the minority. Therefore, they have become masters at kill-ing legislation. This works well for most issues, but if you want to have input into the process and get any money for your district and constituents it is counterproduc-tive.

If you are going to play the fi libus-ter game and dilatory card, you should play the card all the way to the end. Last year they fi libustered the session away. Then on the last day they chickened out and let the budgets pass. They were afraid to go home and face their constitu-ents without passing the budgets. Thus, relinquishing any input into the budget process. The Republi-cans basically relegated their input and power to the omnipotent chairmen of the budget commit-tees, essentially establishing Hank Sanders and Roger Bedford as czars of the budget.

This year, the Senate Republicans played the game of chicken all the way to the end. The Democrats thought they would blink, but they stayed the course and killed the entire session. Only time will tell if their constituents appreciate their resolve.

In the meantime, the Alabama party battle royale will move to Washington for the summer. We will soon see if the showdown between Don Siegelman and Karl Rove will play out before the House Judiciary Committee. Alabama Democrat Artur Davis

sits on the panel and has advised Siegelman not to appear or testify. Davis is concerned Siegelman is setting himself up for a GOP at-tack. Siegelman would be forced to defend any and all allegations lodged against him during his administration and would not be able to hide behind his constitu-tional right allowed by a trial to not testify to all inquiries.

Rove has been adamant in denying that he had any part in Siegelman’s demise or prosecution. Rove has vehemently taken his accusers to task, claiming that his alleged use of Rainsville attorney, Jill Simp-son, to take incriminating photos of Siegelman is ludicrous. Rove seemed to make a good point, regarding whether Simpson’s alle-gations have any credibility, when he wrote, “Didn’t it strike you as foolish for me to ask someone with no particular surveillance skills to follow Siegelman? Did you even consider that the Governor’s secu-rity detail might have taken note of an ample-sized, redheaded woman who kept showing up at his events with a camera?”

It should continue to be an inter-esting year in Alabama politics.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s lead-ing political columnist. His column appears weekly in 70 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the State Legislature. He may be reached at www.steve lowers.us.

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE

By Steve Flowers

Politics and Government

Folks You Need To Know (Organizations to Join and Support— Causes To Champion)

Project Hope to Abolish the Death PenaltyMs. Esther Brown; PO Box 1362; Lanett, AL 36863Phone: 334.499.0003www.phadp.org

Project Hope is run by death row inmates and their allies on the outside. Coordinator Esther Brown has tirelessly traversed the state seeking moratorium resolutions from local governments, with great success!

The Randolph County Branch #5053, NAACPReverend W. A. Dean; Roanoke, Alabama 36274334.863.6810

The NAACP is the oldest and largest civil rights organization in our nation. Founded in 1909.

The Randolph County Chapter, Alabama Democratic Conference (A.D.C.)Tamara Taylor, Chairman; Roanoke, AL 36274334.863.4673

The A.D.C. is Alabama’s Black Political CaucusThe oldest and strongest organization of its kind in Alabama

The Troup County Branch, NAACPMrs. Ann D. Gray, President; LaGrange, Georgia706.412.7940 or 706.884.5867

The NAACP is the oldest and largest civil rights organization in our nation. Founded in 1909.

The CHAMBERS County Chapter (ANSC)James Taylor, President, Lanett, Alabama334.576.2664

The Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC) is a predominantly blackpolitical caucus.

The HEARD County Branch (NAACP)Horace Turman, President Franklin, Georgia706.675.2284

The NAACP is this nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization in our nation. Founded in 1909.

The MERIWETHER County Branch (NAACP)Shirley Grier Hines, President Grantville, Georgia706.675.2284

The NAACP is this nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization in our nation. Founded in 1909.

BROTHERS UNITEDJerry Addie, President, Hogansville, Georgia 770-583-9096, 770-583-9096, 706-416-8801

Brothers United is an organization of men who have vowed to give back to their community through service to seniors and youth.

People struggled and sacrificed to win the right to vote. If you are a citizen - no matter where you were born, no matter who you are - you deserve to vote the same as any other American. Voting is very important. It lets you decide who will represent you and who you trust with important offices. In this way, you help guide the future of this country. Your vote is your voice and we will help you protect your right to be heard by voting.

Voting should be simple and easy, but that’s not always the case. Former Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris made un-fair partisan decisions which re-moved qualified voters from the registration rolls and prevented votes from counting. Voting problems in Florida led to weeks of confusion which ended with Bush’s appointment as President by the Supreme Court in 2000. In 2004, Ohio’s partisan elec-tions procedures prevented many African Americans and voters in poor neighborhoods from voting. Difficulties were reported nation-wide. Machine and human error as well as corruption, manipula-tion and partisan actions endan-ger your vote.

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) was supposed to help voters, but didn’t fix many of the worst problems. Some people say it’s made matters even worse. This law uses federal funds to push states into adopting elec-tronic voting machines. Despite proven security flaws, the voting machine companies have priva-tized our elections. Bob Ney, convicted former congressman from Ohio, sponsored HAVA. He resigned under investigation for having unsavory ties to the Diebold voting machine compa-ny and accepting improper dona-tions. Many people question Ney’s role in writing this legislation which uses tax money to fund private industry in this drastic change. Computer experts express grave concerns about the voting ma-chines. Limited testing consis-tently exposes insecurity in the electronic voting machines. Elec-tion machines should be certified by federal and state officials, but serious questions remain. Ma-chine companies influence and control the regulation and testing processes!

Most local elections officials lack the experience, resources, or staff to run elections on these machines without bringing ven-dors into their internal opera-tions. Local officials must rely on the vendors to run key aspects of elections. Most voters remain un-informed about the known flaws and vulnerabilities, and elected officials lack access to complete testing data. It’s up to you to pro-tect your voting rights.

We can protect our voting rights through:

· public education and involve-ment;· closely monitoring elections; · demanding new laws to protect elections; · filing lawsuits to investigate and remedy unacceptable activity; · maintaining real security for pa-per ballots and paper records; · requiring strong audits of elec-tronic voting results to ensure their accuracy;· demanding voter verifiable pa-per ballots for all elections, start-ing November 2006.

We strongly suggest you demand paper ballots when you vote on Election Day!

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ple’s Voice learned that altogeth-er, the family has paid out more than 10,000.00 over a period of time, to satisfy these 8-year-old charges, and don’t understand why they keep coming up.

Ironically, even though Shan-non was supposedly picked up for owing money on these previ-ous charges, his mother, Phillips produced a receipt which The People’s Voice reviewed, dated

When is Enough, Enough.. Continued from A4

in September of 2007, in the same amount. $2,584.91. Yet, nobody can explain to her satis-faction why Shannon still owes this money.

Sarah Phillips stated, “I know I have paid for these same charges at least three times.” And every so often, they come back up. I have had to go out and borrow money to pay these fine off. So-phia Stevens said, we have even had to borrow from Sarah, and of course it was only right that we pay her back.

Numerous African Americans in the immediate community, who have had charges against them have stated that around this time of year, when the county gets low on money, it is not uncommon for old charges to mysteriously “re-appear.”

But, there comes a point where

enough is enough. How many times will Shannon Stevens be forced to pay for the same 8-year-old charges, that he has invested enough money in, to have satisfied three or four times over?

Obviously, Stevens has medical concerns that are aggravated by the jail environment. We pray that nothing more serious will happen to him while detained in Randolph County’s Jail. But, it is difficult to predict, when per-sonnel with no medical training whatsoever, are making the deci-sions about a person’s health and well being. Late Friday afternoon, The Peo-ple’s Voice learned that Stevens had been taken back to Randolph County Jail from Wedowee Hos-pital, to be held until court con-venes.

A7 The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, Friday, June 13, 2008 Friday, June 13, 2008

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This Week In Black HistoryThis Week In Black HistoryJune 13, 1967 - Thurgood Marshall nominated to the U.S. Su-preme Court by President Lyndon Johnson.June 14, 1864 - Congress rules that African American soldiers must receive equal pay.June 15, 1913 - Dr. Effi e O‛Neal, fi rst Black woman to hold an executive position in the American Medical Association, born.June 16, 1970 - Kenneth A. Gibson elected mayor of Newark, N.J., fi rst African American mayor of a major eastern U.S. city.June 17. 1775 - Minuteman Peter Salem fi ghts in the Battle of Bunker Hill.June 18, 1863 - The 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry at-tacks Fort Wagner, S.C.June 19, 1865 - Black in Texas are notifi ed of Emancipation Proclamation, issued in 1863. “Juneteenth,” marks the event.June 20, 1953 - Albert W. Dent of Dillard Universality electedpresident of the National Health Council.

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Attention Grandparents!Are You Raising Your Grandchildren?

If so you are not alone! The Alabama Cooperative Extension Sys-tem will be conducting a workshop called GRAND RAPP to address some of the key issues facing grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Call to join our GRAND RAPP support group and have the opportunity to learn how to deal with common concerns reported by grandparents in this role as well as take home a host of information and education.

GRANDRAPP will be held monthly. If you are interested in start-ing a support group in your community, please give me a call or drop me an email. For more information please contact Debra Ward, Regional Extension Agent in Family & Child Development at (334)750-1253 cell# or email dward@auburn.edu

If you are a relative raising a relative, this is an event you would want to participate in!

To pick up an application, please stop by your local Cleburne Coun-ty DHR Of ice.

HHoroscopesoroscopesBy MinervaBy Minerva

June 15 — 21June 15 — 21ARIES: MAR 21 - APR 20Don’t lose any sleep over your love life. You can’t be bothered worrying about things that only time will re-solve. Just remember: the relation-ship you have with your self comes irst and it’s the one thing you can

control.

TAURUS: APR 21 - MAY 20Being too sensitive to what others think and feel will be an issue for a while. Don’t even try to analyze this. When every button is getting pushed the best thing to do is unplug and re-mind your self that none of it is per-sonal.

GEMINI: MAY 21 - JUN 20Recent disillusionments have burst a bubble or two. As disappointing as this is don’t spend too much time wondering how you could have been so naive. It’s hard to tell truth from lies when you only see to good in people.

CANCER: JUN 21 - JULY 20You need to accept the fact that it takes two to tango. Whoever you think is the problem happens to be sharing it with you! As soon as you let go of your end of the deal, they will either drop theirs, or ind a way to resolve it.

LEO: JULY 21 - AUG 20The chip on your shoulder is gain-ing weight. You need to lighten up and stop being so defensive. Others appear to be hurt. They won’t stick around if you continually refuse to hear their side of the story. It wouldn’t kill you to open up.

VIRGO: AUG 21 - SEP 20All your dif iculties will slowly im-prove. People who have been caus-ing you trouble may even ind some-one else to hassle. When things start to ease up you’re energy will return and you’ll remember what it means to be happy.

LIBRA: SEP 21 - OCT 20You’re in the middle of a huge tran-sition. It would be great if you could own the right to break every rule. The new growth that’s taking place will happen easily and naturally if you stop needing to take the conser-vative route.

SCORPIO: OCT 21 - NOV 20Stop soliciting advice. You have all the knowledge you need to igure this out for your self. Even the peo-ple who know you don’t know what you’re up against. This isn’t some-thing anyone but your higher self can help you with.

SAGITTARIUS: NOV 21 - DEC 20You’re getting hammered with such explosive forms of energy what you thought would be there forever is going bye-bye. It should be obvious why you can’t keep doing this. If it isn’t, maybe it’s time for a good real-ity check.

CAPRICORN: DEC 21 - JAN 20You have just gotten the word that it’s OK to go forward. Those close to you don’t have to understand what’s going on so don’t expect them to. With so much about to pop, even you don’t quite understand this. That’s OK. You will.

AQUARIUS: JAN 21 - FEB 20The fact that you are upset with oth-ers is an overreaction to things that should have been mended long ago. Apologies have been in order for a while. If you can ind a way to say I’m sorry the next month will be more fun for everyone.

PISCES: FEB 21 - MAR 20You have a few things that are about to come full circle. Your eff orts to make this work have been challenged by people who won’t budge. No mat-ter how you try to enlighten them it will take much stronger medicine to wake them up.

Why Advertise In A Black Paper?Newspaper Advertising provides a way for your busi-ness to build a strong relationship and connection with the particular consumer groups who read that speci ic publication.

Many business-owners take the black consumer mar-ket for granted. But, this market should never be tak-en for granted because there are more and more black consumers who now fall into the middle-class echelon of society, who are discriminating about where and with whom they spend their money.

Advertising with us affords you a way to let this con-sumer market know that their business is important to you.

The People’s Voice also offers a way for African Amer-ican Business owners, to pool their resources in promoting their products and services, to the ideal consumer group… Those who are most likely to do business with you.

Give It A Try!

CONCEIVE BELIEVEACHIEVE IT!

William Luchi

Overcoming The Crisis

I can always count on someone asking the question, “What’s the solution to our problem?” This is the ques-tion that African Americans ask more frequently than any other. I always caution that the question is as absurd as is the attempt to answer it. There is not and cannot be any one solution to the 400-year-old American racial confl ict that is tightly entangled in a complex web of social, cultural, econom-ic, and political issues that are as old and as puzzling as time itself. The root of the black and white confl ict lay in the need of America’s corporate and politi-cal elite to preserve and expand its power, profi t, and control. The best that anyone or I can do is suggested a few strategies and tactics for change that might work.

This fi rst entails getting rid of the faddish idea of who is a leader and what constitutes a program. The whimsy that sprouted in the post-1960 civil rights meltdown, and helped generously along by the star-and tabloid-struck media of the 1990s, was that any black who had a loud voice, TV camera charisma, and could get whites infuriated at him was a leader. Many blacks confused media

popularity with leadership. They forgot that leadership is earned. It could be earned by anyone who is positive and productive in whatever has been done to make a solid contribution to the enrichment of his or her com-munity, and infl uences others to do the same. This could be anyone, a parent, trades person, professional, businessperson, artist or a scholar-anyone. They are tired of some black shouting racism to excuse black crime and fabricate fantastic tales of conspiracies to explain all black ills. They are tired of propping up celebrities and sports icons as leaders and role models. They know that when they fall from grace, much of America and that includes many blacks too, swiftly and brutally turn on them. They are fed up with the name calling and bashing by blacks in a servile sidewalk scrape to black political correct-ness of other blacks who think and act differently than them. They have little patience with those who reach back millen-niums in the past and invent a feel-good history that ignores the proud history of black struggles and accomplishments in America. They are stumped by those who turn black separateness into a linguistic fashion state-ment by pretending that blacks cannot speak or learn English without special props. They are bitterly disappointed that the radiant warmth of the Million Man March quickly turned to desolate cold. They wonder if some blacks get their kicks off bashing gays because they are the softest targets, and are hated almost as much as blacks

are by many bigoted Americans. They are enraged that some black rappers, fi lmmakers, and writers fi nancially gorge them-selves by making the world believe that the ghetto experi-ence is every African-American’s experience. They are concerned that some Afro-American intellectuals seek anointment as black experts on TV shows, churn out shallow books on race, and collect massive hono-rariums rather then producing quality works on contemporary history. All the while, they ask, “Where are the Afro-American leaders that once fought the tough fi ghts against poverty and racism?”

The crisis in black and white of a quarter century ago has today turned into even more murky and potentially danger-ous internal crisis and confl ict between and among African-Americans. This not only raises the Mount Everest size prob-lems that face many African-Americans even higher, but also the crisis within makes them harder to combat. I will share with you one ex-ample to make my point: When the California Commission on the status of African-American Males in March 1997 issued a report on the dreary plight of many young black males, a friend shrugged and quipped that “It is more of the same old story”, she was right. The Commission’s report was a virtual carbon copy of the report it issued four years earlier. It found then and now that Afro-American males in California have a shorter life expectancy, fewer educational opportunities, higher levels of unemployment and poverty, lower income, and much higher incarnation rates than whites. Although it was California, the same report could have been issued in any other state in the Union with a signifi cant Afro-American population. Now here we had another report from a government com-mission on the “endangered Afro-American male” or worse that told how Afro-Americans are on the verge of extinction. They can and should be blamed for the scrap heap of false or broken promises, indifference, or fl at-out hospitality toward Afro-Americans. However, how can an effective battle be waged for the timeless laundry list of needs that include more funding

for jobs, health, and education, social services, child care, drug and treatment programs, crimi-nal justice and non-punitive welfare reform, with some in the army going in one direction some in another, while some raise the white fl ag of surren-der? Now keep all that you have read in mind, that we all are infl uenced by one spirit or an-other, and whether you believe or do not believe, you are being infl uenced by an evil spirit or the Holy Spirit. Now just because you are being infl u-enced by the Holy Spirit, does not mean one is fi lled with the Holy Spirit. Again, I say, this is a religious statement. What I did not say, was that you were being guided be an evil spirit or guided by the Holy Spirit, I said you were being infl uenced. Through the years, we all have some kind of crisis in our lives, but it is how we handle the crisis, that causes us to grow stronger and wiser. Just the other day, an indi-vidual that I know and respect, sent me an instant message giving me some words of en-couragement, which at the time I really needed, but they didn’t know it, but my Father knew that I needed it. You see, they are attending school to become an accountant. They informed me that they were having their ups and down, but they were go-ing to conqueror that challenge. I was very proud of them. They also shared with me that, in times of challenge in their mind, they would read my column and it would cause them to get through that obstacle, I needed to know that. Is God good? Just when I needed Him most, He sent me words of encourage-ment through someone I have not heard from in a long time. I have been writing for the “The Peoples Voice Weekly News” going on two years, and the pleasure that I receive is when I hear how someone was encour-aged to think through the words I have written. Therefore, if you think that the Father doesn’t care about you or what you are going though, you needed to get a clue.

Contact: William L. LuchieConceive, Believe, Achieve It, Inc., P.O. Box 675, Evans, Georgia 30809-9998, Phone: 706-631-1268. Email: william-rluchie@msn.com

History and Culture

TPV News StaffAtlanta, GA -West Point City Councilwoman Sandra Thornton and her children were among the half million people who attended this year’s Sweet

Auburn Springfest 2008 in At-lanta. Springfest is known as “the Grandest Festival of the Year on the Greatest Street on the Planet.” Staged on historic Auburn Avenue, the event includes many exciting

venues and attractions.

The three-day event started Friday, May 9, and lasted through Mother’s Day Sunday, May 11. Thornton and her family were in attendance at the event on Mother’s Day. While there, she was photographed with Civil Rights Activist, Congressman John Lewis, from Georgia’s Fifth District.

The Sweet Auburn Spring Fest is an annual festival and family gath-ering centered on Auburn Avenue, the spiritual and historical heart of Atlanta’s African American com-munity. For three days, visitors can walk the mile-and-a-half his-tory-laden avenue as they choose from 10 stages of entertainment, an artists’ market, a Fantastic Fun Zone for kids, a Health and Fitness Pavilion and Home Buyers Show-case.

Not to be overlooked is the literary market for readers, published and aspiring authors and vendors, plus

a Food Court for needed fortifica-tion. You can also enjoy ribs and fish and chicken dishes at venues located throughout the Festival. In addition, the International Cam-paign For Victory Over Violence hosts several events, in an ongoing effort to help children cope with a fear of any form of violence.

In addition to traditional festival offerings, the Spirit of Sweet Au-burn highlights world cultures with such attractions as “Taste of the World,” which includes foods from the seven Continents, and an In-ternational Film Festival featuring African-American, American, His-panic/Latino, Asian/Indian and African films.

Also expanded in 2008 was the Classic Car and Bike Show: Cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles were featured, with trophies awarded to three winners in each category; ________________________

Continued On Page A9

Mother’s Day Excursion Lands West Point City Councilwoman In Presence of Distinguished Company

West Point City Councilwoman Sandra Thornton is photographedWith Congressman John Lewis

A8 The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, Friday, June 13, 2008 The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, Friday, June 13, 2008

CRYPTOGRAM SOLUTION“America will always side with those whom she can direct, give

orders to and have those orders obeyed.”

— The Honorable Minister Louis FarrakhanNational Spokesman for The National Of Islam

CrosswordAcross 1. First name in scat 5. Miscalculates 9. Reprimand 14. Rude person 15. Metal fastener 16. Off-limits 17. Small child 18. Implying the same idea 20. Not rough 22. Hawaiian acacia 23. Sneaky guy? 24. Old Italian money 26. School orgs. 28. Talking 32. Willows 36. Convert into leather 37. Gold bar 39. Stigma 40. Famous last words 42. Strange and mysterious 44. Sea.going eagle 45. Wharves 47. Rod used to reinforce concrete 49. Compass pt. 50. Fruit ice 52. Mayhem 54. On 56. Verdi opera 57. Shower 60. ___ carte 62. Stinging plant 66. Support 69. Salver 70. Actress Berger 71. Fastens a knot 72. The Emerald Isle 73. Despised 74. Old cloth measures 75. Staffs

Down 1. Recedes 2. Rich soil 3. Timber wolf

4. Ring of color 5. Cherish as sacred 6. Narrow beam of light 7. Skating area 8. Yacht 9. Eye infection, pig house 10. Suitable place for camping 11. It’s blown among the reeds 12. Oaf 13. Prescribed amount 19. Western pact 21. Polynesian carved image 25. Ire 27. Donkey 28. Paces 29. Courtyard 30. Register as a participant 31. Pierced with horns 33. Like some seals 34. Wash lightly 35. Facial expression used by Elvis Presley

38. Leg bone 41. Resident of a city 43. Facility 46. What the sun does in the west 48. Sat on the back of a horse 51. Exactly 53. Hunting cat 55. Shallow circular dish 57. Skin eruption 58. On or towards the Mediterranean, for example 59. “___ She Lovely?” 61. Indigo 63. The Stooges, e.g. 64. Hog fat 65. Organs used for sight 67. Sorrowful 68. Animation unit

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Ask Deanna! Isan advice col-umn known for its fearless ap-proach to real-ity-based sub-jects!

Dear Deanna!I’m a single parent and just learned my teenage daughter strips at the club. I’m losing my mind over this heart breaking ordeal. No one in-cluding the police or social services will do anything to help me and I don’t know how to get her out of there. She doesn’t know that I found out about her secret and I’m clueless about my next steps.Joanne, Oklahoma City , OK

Dear Joanne:If no one else will help then as a mother you need to go to the strip club and handle your business. If that means you jerk her behind off the pole butt naked, then oh well, that’s the way it’ll be. Trust me, your teen daughter will be so em-barrassed she’ll think twice before she wants to shake it again. Of course, put the fear of God in that club that if they let her dance again, you’ll sue them for every dime and take the building and turn it into a fl ower shop.

Dear Deanna!I work in an offi ce of all women and always get invited to kiddie par-ties. The only problem is the fact I don’t have any children. My gift giving ideas are slim so I buy gift certifi cates to local book stores. Can you believe one of the mothers got mad and called me cheap! Now I’m ready to stop participating all together.Glenda, New York , NY

Dear Glenda:The materialistic mother doesn’t recognize the value of reading. She needs to play around with hooked on phonics to learn a few lessons in courtesy and gratitude. If you enjoy giving gifts to the kids, don’t let one person spoil it for the oth-ers. It’s your hard earned money and you’re entitled to give whatev-er gift you want. Continue with the books and if the parents and chil-dren don’t like it, then they should refuse. Dear Deanna!Is there a nice way to make some-one aware of their body odor? I have a close friend who lacks in the smell good department of hy-giene. Her clothes appear clean but I think it’s her body or skin. It’s embarrassing because when we’re together, people look at us funny. How do address this without hurt-ing her feelings?Anonymous, Wilkesboro , NC

Dear Anonymous:You need to be direct and let her know that she’s tart. If you call yourself a friend, you’ll be sincere and direct. Regardless of how it’s told, it’s going to hurt and be embarrassing either way so there’s no use trying to sugar coat the issue. Plain and simple. Call her on the phone and let her know that you’ve noticed she smells different. Kindly suggest a few antibacte-rial soaps and body scrubs to be used twice a day and keep it moving.

Ask Deanna is written by Dean-na M. Write Ask Deanna! Email: askdeanna1@yahoo.com orwrite: Deanna M, 264 S. La Cienega, Suite 1283, Beverly Hills, CA 90211. Website: www.askdeanna.com

Ask Deanna! Real People. Real Advice !!

Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a chal-lenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword grid. The rules are easy to learn: A number above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence.

a uroKakuro

SudokuFill in the grid so that every row, every column, every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9

June13

Level: Medium

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Sudoku 2008 Friday

By NEDRA PICKLERAssociated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Democrat Barack Obama’s campaign said Thursday that Michelle Obama never used the word ``whitey’’ in a speech from the church pulpit as he launched a Web site to de-bunk rumors about himself and his wife.

The rumor that Michelle Obama railed against ``whitey’’ in a dia-tribe at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ has circulated on conservative Republican blogs for weeks and was repeated by radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh. The rumor included claims of a videotape of the speech that would be used to bring down Obama’s candidacy this fall.

``No such tape exists,’’ the cam-paign responds on the site, www.fightthesmears.com. ``Michelle Obama has not spoken from the pulpit at Trinity and has not used that word.’’

The site is a response to the reali-ties of a brave new world, where information travels 24 hours a day on blogs and voters are increasing-ly turning to the Internet for infor-mation. It’s a particular problem for Obama, a relative newcomer to national politics who is still unknown to many voters and has been the target of persistent mis-information campaigns online.

In another sign of the campaign moving into the general election race, the Democratic National Committee’s spokeswoman said Thursday its political and field operations are relocating to Chi-cago, where Obama’s campaign is based. While other departments will remain in Washington, it’s an effort to streamline the campaign and party efforts in one strategy

Obama site confronts rumorsinstead of the overlapping efforts of past presidential elections.

E-mails about Obama rank No. 2 on the list of ``Hottest Urban Leg-ends’’ on snopes.com, an Internet rumor-debunking site, behind e-mail greeting cards that could ex-pose computers to viruses.

Michelle Obama has often been the target of conservative attacks, prompting Obama to demand his rivals ``lay off my wife.’’ Much of the criticism came from her com-ment that her husband’s campaign has made her proud of her country ``for the first time,’’ a remark that inspired a Tennessee Republican Party Web video questioning her patriotism.

There have also been more in-sulting attacks, and not just lim-ited to the Internet. The Fox News Channel recently labeled her as ``Obama’s baby mama’’ and also raised the inflammatory sugges-tion that she gave her husband a ``terrorist fist jab’’ when they bumped knuckles the night he clinched the nomination.

The Obamas recently resigned from Trinity, where the Rev. Jer-emiah Wright was the longtime pastor. Wright came under fire for sermons in which he cursed Amer-ica and accused the government of conspiring against blacks. Video of the sermons spread quickly on the Internet and threatened great damage to Obama’s campaign.

Other false claims about the Il-linois senator _that he’s secretly a Muslim who refuses to say the Pledge of Allegiance and is intent on destroying America _ spread widely during the primary cam-paign, and the candidate made it a habit of telling audiences to re-spond to e-mail rumors to set the record straight.

Barack Obama bristled when a reporter asked him about the ``whitey’’ rumor on his campaign plane last week, saying it was non-sense that shouldn’t be repeated in questioning by a mainstream reporter.

``It is a destructive aspect of our politics right now,’’ Obama told his traveling press corps. ``And sim-ply because something appears in an e-mail, that should lend it no more credence than if you heard it on the corner. And you know, presumably the job of the press is to not go around and spread scur-rilous rumors like this until there’s actually anything, one iota of sub-stance or evidence that would sub-stantiate it.’’

At the same time, his campaign was preparing the debunking site in a recognition that refusing to address rumors only perpetuates them.

The site explains that Obama is ``a committed Christian’’ who never attended a radical madrassa during his childhood in Indonesia. With chain e-mails falsely claiming Obama was sworn into the Senate on the Quran, the holy book of Is-lam, the Web site includes a photo showing him taking his oath of of-fice on the family bible.

It shows C-SPAN video of Obama leading the Pledge of Allegiance with his hand over his heart as he presided over the Senate on June 21, 2007. It encourages people to send e-mail to friends and ``spread the truth.’’

``The Obama campaign isn’t go-ing to let dishonest smears spread across the Internet unanswered,’’ said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor. ``It’s not enough to just know the truth, we have to be pro-active and fight back.’’

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ A Supe-rior Court judge on Wednesday ap-proved the latest settlement in the long-standing lawsuit over the ra-cial isolation in Hartford’s schools, lawyers for both sides said.

The deal, reached in April in the Sheff vs. O’Neill school desegre-gation case, requires the state to develop a detailed plan to address racial disparity. It calls for more magnet schools in Hartford sub-urbs and an increase in the num-ber of spots available in suburban schools for Hartford students.

The agreement also requires that at least 80 percent of Hartford students who want to attend inte-grated schools be accommodated by 2012.

The decision by Superior Court Judge Marshall Berger Jr. was the last step needed to implement the agreement.

``This significant step marks an-other key juncture in ending ra-cial isolation and raising educa-tional achievement in the Hartford Schools,’’ Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said.

The legislature’s Education Com-mittee overwhelmingly approved the settlement during this year’s regular legislative session.

``I believe this agreement has a far better chance of success than any other agreement we’ve had before

us,’’ said Sen. Thomas Gaffey, D-Meriden, the committee’s co-chair.

Gaffey pointed to the emphasis on using magnet schools in Hart-ford suburbs, not just the city of Hartford, to attract children from different races. He said he’s also pleased that the state Department of Education will have an office dedicated to promoting the agree-ment, informing parents about the options their children have to at-tend different schools, including the state’s vocational-technical and agricultural schools.

The plaintiffs, 10 families repre-senting 19 children, first brought the case in 1989. The argued that the racial makeup of the city’s schools violated the state constitution’s guarantee of an equal education. The state Supreme Court ruled in their favor in 1996, but left it up to them to reach a compromise with the state on a remedy.

A 4-year-old settlement in the case failed to reach its goals and expired in 2007. A report by Trinity College last year found that only 9 percent of Hartford’s students _ who are primarily black and Hispanic _ attend schools that have enough white students to qualify as racially integrated under terms of the that settlement.

Dennis Parker, Director of the ACLU Racial Justice Program, who represented the plaintiffs, said he was hopeful the new agreement

would lead to improvements.

``For the first time in the 12 years since the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Hartford’s schools to be unconstitutionally racially seg-regated, the state must adhere to a definitive framework for ensuring that it meets its constitutional ob-ligations,’’ he said.

Judge approves agreement in school desegregation case

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A9 The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, Friday, June 13, 2008 Friday, June 13, 2008

A Synopsis of the SUMMER QUARTEER (June-August) Sunday School Lessons for 2008.

Unit 1: JuneImages Of Christ In

HebrewsThe lessons for June focus on the book of Hebrews, written to Jewish believers who were undergoing per-secution. The author writes to bol-ster their faith by presenting images of who Jesus really is.

Lesson 1: June 1 GOD’S SON (Hebrews 1:1–12) Christ is God’s unique Son. He is of the same essence as the Father. The very term Son, not used of angels, demonstrates Jesus’ absolute supe-riority.

LESSON 2: JUNE 8ONLY INTERCESSOR HEBREWS 7:20 28

How can Jesus be a priest and inter-cede to God for people? The correct understanding is that Christ’s priest-hood (reality) is both diff erent from and superior to the Levitical priest-hood (shadow).

LESSON 3: JUNE 15 PERFECT REDEEMER HEBREWS 9:11 18; 10:12 18 .

Under persecution, the original readers found themselves tempted to abandon Christ. The solution is a contrast of the earthly temple (vis-ible, but shadowy) with the heavenly temple (invisible, but real).

LESSON 4: JUNE 22TRUSTWORTHY LEADER HEBREWS 12:1 13 .

Christ serves as the best example of endurance under wrongful suff er-ing. Christ’s lead teaches that God uses suff ering to train His children in holiness.

Lesson 5: June 29 Eternal Christ (Hebrews 13:1–16)Finally, Hebrews 13 shows us that Christ is eternal and unchanging. This characteristic ought to aff ect our relationships with other Chris-tians, our commitment to truth, and our praise to God

SUNDAY SCHOOL

SPRING QUARTER

Soul & Spirit

Canaan Missionary Baptist Church, Roanoke (Welch) Alabama Invites You To Consider Canaan....

Itinerary For June/July, 2008Sermon Th eme/Scripture for the

month of May.... “Th e Importance Of Leadership”

(Jeremiah 1:5 7 Joshua 1:2-5)

Sunday, June 1st we will leave im-mediately following services for the Rehope Baptist Church, Five Points, Alabama for Reverend H. L. Jones Pastoral Celebration. Every-one is invited to go with us.

Sunday, June 8, Sunday School will begin at 9:30 and Morning Worship Services will begin at 10:30. We will leave immediately following morinng worship services for the First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Alabama for their Annual Women’s Day Observance. Reverend Jeffery Leonard, Pastor. Everyone is in-vited to go with us. All ladies are asked to wear red and white. The Gospel Choir is asked to sing.

We will have our Annual Father’s Day Recognition and Father and Son Look-A-Like on Sunday, June 15, 2008.

The National Baptist Congress will be held in Louisville, KY June 16 - June 20, 2008.

Contact Canaan:

Rev. Mario F. McDaniel, PastorHome Phone: 256-782-0710Cell Phone: 256-453-4285Offi ce Number: 334-885-6348Pastor McDaniel’s Offi ce Hours: Wednesday, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm(please make an appointment)Email Address: pastor_McDaniel@Yahoo.comChurch Address: 7485 County Road #278, Roanoke (Welch), Alabama Mailing Address: Post Offi ce Box 1015, Roanoke, Alabama 36274Church Voice: 334-885-6297 Fax: 334-885-6943Church Website: www.canaanbaptist.Us

Canaan Missionary Baptist Church

Mario McDaniel, Pastor

Event Calendar

ONE BIG HAPPYONE BIG HAPPYFAMILY ALBUM…FAMILY ALBUM…

The People’s VoiceThe People’s VoiceWould Like To StartWould Like To Start

A Black Family AlbumA Black Family AlbumThat Will Include That Will Include Your FAVORITE Your FAVORITE Family Photos.Family Photos.

TO BE IN THETO BE IN THEFAMILY ALBUMFAMILY ALBUMSEND US YOURSEND US YOUR

FAVORITE PICTURESFAVORITE PICTURES(Include Family Bio)(Include Family Bio)

AND KEEP ONAND KEEP ONREADINGREADING

The Deadlline for submitting items intended for publication in The People’s Voice is Wednes-day, by close of business. Please get your news items in ON TIME

Solutions To Sudoku & Kakuro

Puzzles

Motivational Moment: Is This It?

Minister Denise Moseley

“The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert.and he said, ‘Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” (Genesis 16:7-8) (NIV)

Have you ever wondered, “Is this it?” Is this all there is in life, in mar-riage, in fi nances, in your career?” Personally, I may not have asked these questions out loud, but I can honestly tell you that I have asked them.

How many of us feel stuck in the day to day grind or imprisoned by our circumstances? How many of us would like a quick escape route? If you feel this way, you are not alone!

In the story of Hagar (Genesis 16) we fi nd Hagar alone and pregnant in the desert after running away from her mistress Sarai. When the angel of the Lord asked her where she came from and where she was going, Hagar only responds to the fi rst part of the question, “I’m run-ning away from my mistress, Sa-rai.” Hagar had no idea where she was going, no plan for her future.

I believe the reason many of us ask the question, “Is this it?” is be-cause, like Hagar ,we do not know where we are going and we have no plan for the future. We get stuck on the ferris wheel of life, just go-ing through the motions. We fi nd ourselves imprisoned by our over-loaded, out of control schedules.

We are so entrenched in our day to day responsibilities that we forget God is offering us a life plan that will prosper us, giving us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). ~

Here are three reasons why I think we stay stuck in life, constantly wondering, “Is this it?”

1. We do not believe God could ever have a plan and a purpose for our lives. If you are this person, you will say things like, “God has a plan and a purpose for other people, but not for me.” or “Other people hear God’s voice, but I don’t.”

2. We are stuck in our life story. Our negative thinking about our past and our future is holding us back from embracing what God has for us. If you are this person, you fi nd yourself dwelling on (in mind and in speech) the negative more than the positive.

3. Our schedules are so full, we have no time to hear God’s direction and act accordingly. You know you are this person when you answer: tired, busy, or okay to the question, “How are you?”

Now it is Your Turn

1. Print or write out one of the fol-lowing verses that you want to claim for your life today. Carry it with you wherever you go, reading it as many times as you can.

Jeremiah 29:11(NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you

and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Psalm 46:10 (NIV) “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be ex-alted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) But he said to me, “My grace is suffi cient for you, for my power is made per-fect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Lord, open my eyes to see the ar-eas of my life that are holding me back from following Your purpose. I pray for faith to step out of my comfort zone to trust You and fol-low Your plan. Lord, please bring Godly people and resources into my life that will help me grow in Christ every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

(Written By: Angela Craig)

Have a Motivated Day!

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The loss of your loved one is an occasion that calls for professional service “with a touch of class,” Unity Mortu-ary is the clear choice. No need to waste valuable time and resources shopping for funeral service. Here we are.

Unity Mortuary opened in 1987, and is a full service funeral home offering tradi-tional funerals, cremations, pre-need counseling, and shipping. Unity Mortuary also sells monuments.

The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not re-capture its prophetic zeal, it will be-come an irrelevant social club with-out moral or spiritual authority.

— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Attributable To Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ...

He lins To Be Honored On Golden Pastor’s Anniversary

Reverend & Mrs. Robert HeflinRoanoke, Alabama

TPV Staff ReportsRoanoke, Alabama

Th e Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, Roanoke, Alabama will honor Reverend and Mrs. R. L. Hefl in, for the 50th consecutive year, with a 50th Anniversary Celebration to be held on Sun-day, June 22, 2008 beginning at 3:00 pm.

Th e theme for the Anniversary Observance is “Serving Th e Lord with the Right Attitude” from Psalm 100.

Th e Guest minister is Reverend Jerome Trammell, who pastors New Harmony Baptist Church. Trammell will preach the An-niversary sermon.

Reverend Charlie Magby will serve as pulpit conductor.

Th is Golden Pastor’s Anniversary program will feature many spe-cial tributes to Pastor Hefl in as a pastor, a trusted leader, friend, and mentor.

All churches in the Friendship Western Union District, Th e East Alabama District, and the South-western Union District Associa-tion of East Central Alabama and West Central Georgia are the special guests of the program.

A support group for grand-parents and relatives who are raising their grandchildren or relatives will be held monthly. Th e meeting is open to any grandparents, parents, or relatives who are involved in the full-time caregiving of their grandchildren or kin. Th ere is an attorney to answer any question you may have concerning issues and chal-lenges you may be facing. If you are interested in establish-ing a GRAND RAPP support group or caregiving Training Program for your county, community, or church please contact your county Coopera-tive Extension offi ce or call: Debra Ward-FCD-Regional Extension Educator (334) 750-1253 cell #, offi ce (334)864-9373. You may send a fax to (334)864-9376 or email

dward@auburn.edu with your request or interest.

Sunday School President To Convene 59th Congress Of Christian Education In LaFayette

TPV NEWS STAFF Roanoke, Alabama –Reverend L.B. Houston, District President announced plans to convene a 2-day meeting of the 59th Annual Session of the East Alabama Congress of Christian Education on Wednesday and Thursday, July 16 and 17. The Congress will be held at the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 2281 AL Highway 77 in LaFayette, where Reverend Melvin Owens

serves as Pastor.

The theme for the upcoming ses-sion of the Sunday School Con-gress is: “Strengthening Our Faith Through the Power of Christian Education.”

Once a year, all the Sunday school groups in the East Alabama Dis-trict, comprised of 14 churches throughout Randolph and Cham-bers County, come together to fel-lowship and offer people the op-portunity to know and experience God, to live and understand God’s promises and to grow and serve in God’s love. “It involves the whole church, including pastors, Sunday School Superintendents, teachers and students” Houston said.

“The focus is on Christian Edu-cation. During the sessions, we break up into classes as outlined in the curriculum provided by the State Baptist Convention and the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A.”

This year’s Congress will open on Tuesday night, July 15, at 6:00pm with a mandatory meeting with all instructors. The instructor’s meeting is conducted by Deacon Mack E. Lett, of Lanett, who serves

as Dean of this District’s Sunday School Congress.

Thursday and Friday’s agendas feature devotional sermons from Reverend James Whetstone, Rev-erend Jeffery Rosser, Reverend Calvin Marshall, Reverend Greg-ory Sutton, and Reverend R.L. Heflin. Houston will address the Congress on the last day.

The program will include lectures on “Character Building”, “Wor-ship”, and “Making Kingdom Choices”, presented by Reverend Ed Vines, Ms. Anita Higgins, and Reverend Gilbert Staples.

The Congress will also include youth presentations conducted by those who supervise various church youth groups from around the district.

With a long-standing record of District and State level activity, Reverend Houston serves locally as the Pastor of Peace and Good-will Baptist Church in Roanoke. He and wife, Janice, recently cel-ebrated 21 years of dedicated ser-vice to Peace and Goodwill Baptist Church. The Guest Minister, was Reverend Cornelius Reese, of La-Fayette.

Reverend L.B. Houston

Distinguished Company

Continued

Business and Technology Expo: Goods and services offered to business owners and home of-fice workers plus a Youth En-trepreneur Showcase to spot-light youth up to age 19 and the products and services they offer.

Returning activities include the Arts and Literature Market, the Dream Home Showcase, NBA Nation, with a chance to meet pro players, the Largest Out-doors Health & Fitness Fair and

the Fantastic Family Fun Zone.

Also featured was the Just For Women’s Expo, 10 Stages of Continuous Entertainment, Street Performers, and the $2 for 2 Campaign to raise money for Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless and Sweet Auburn Springfest 2008. This festival is a shot in the arm for busi-nesses in the district and it’s an opportunity for our institutions to showcase what they do.

The Festival concludes with the Legends, Heroes and Heroines Awards Lunch when it honors people who exemplify, manifest and live the spirit of Sweet Au-burn, They also serve as the fes-tival Honorary Co-Chairs.

Congressman John Lewis was one of a large number of his-tory-makers honored at this event. As a student, Lewis or-ganized sit-in demonstrations at segregated lunch counters, in Nashville, and was later beaten by mobs for his participation in the Freedom Rides that chal-

lenged segregation at bus ter-minals across the South. Along with fellow activist, Hosea, Wil-liams, Lewis led a 600-strong demonstration that exploded into a confrontation when Ala-bama State Troopers attacked marchers. Known as “Bloody Sunday,” that march and the subsequent march between Sel-ma, Alabama and Montgomery led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Lewis was elected to his first governmen-tal office in 1981, serving as an Atlanta City Council member until 1986. He then was elected to represent Georgia’s 5th Con-gressional District, which rep-resents the city of Atlanta and parts of several outlying coun-ties.

The 2008 festival extended over a two-mile radius and included Centennial Olympic Park, be-cause its planners wanted peo-ple to know that Luckie Street is an extension of Auburn Avenue, and wanted to make people aware it’s all connected.

A10 The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, Friday, June 13, 2008 The Peoples Voice African American Weekly News, Friday, June 13, 2008

Alexander City, AL Benton’s Beauty SuppliesWright’s Funeral HomeAnniston, ALCommunity Against Pollution (CAP)Anniston Funeral ServiceErvin Funeral ChapelAuburn, ALGelco ClothingCamp Hill, ALBP Station, Camp HillJeff Bandy’s Corner Barber ShopPeople’s Flea Market Sam’s Quick SakClacksville, ALBen Baird’s GroceryColumbus, GAMs. Jeanette DayFive Points, ALAnnette’s Beauty SalonLaFayette, ALParker FoodsSilmon-Seroyer Funeral ServiceVines Funeral HomeLineville, ALMoore’sFranklin, GAFive Points GroceryFranklin Quick StopJordan’s Quick StopHogansville, GAMain Street Beauty and BarberLaGrange, GABlues Alley Lounge (New Franklin Road)Donna Miller Just Ink (306 Greenwood Street)Kroger— LaGrange Foods

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3 Reasons Why Men Die Earlier Than Women3 Reasons Why Men Die Earlier Than WomenBy Makeisha Lee, Health and Nutritional Advisor

If you are a guy, the only things that may be on your mind right now is the NBA Finals, your next meal or what gift your loved ones will be getting you this year. If so, you may want to shift your thoughts to consider this: According to recent studies, on average women live 5-7 years longer than men.

Here are 3 reasons why:

#1 - Men Are Less Proactive About Their Health: Statistics show that when it comes to the health and wellness business more than 75% of all visits, purchases, website hits, memberships etc... are all from women. This added focus on health is the key reason why women out-live men and are considered to be more proactive.

#2 - Men Won’t Go To The Doctor: How many women have tried to get their spouse, son or brother to go to the doctor for that nagging pain in his back - only to be ignored? It

is only when that pain ends up in his chest will he drag himself in. At that point he does so reactively. More men’s lives can be saved by getting an earlier diagnosis, so GO!

#3 - Men Are More Prone to be Workaholics: Researchers concede that it is a sociological disadvan-tage of men to become workahol-ics so they can try and get ahead to fend for their families. The problem is, that this leaves little-to-no-time for healthy living habits such as ex-ercise and proper relaxation; albeit quality time with the family, which is a common stress trap!

What should be done to buy our guys some more time here?

PRIORITIZE! - There is an old say-ing that we come into the world with nothing and we will leave with nothing. Prioritize your own health by becoming more proac-tive. Your O.T. can add dollars to your paycheck, but nothing to your life span.

ENJOY THE FAMILY - When time

with the family and special events are missed and sacrificed to grind at work, this increases the inci-dence of unresolved stress in the long run. So strike a balance before it’s too late!

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY - If your waistline is bulging, knees hurting, energy and performance is low...look into it immediately. There are thousands of alternative options available if you aren’t fond of doc-tors and medicine, just keep your ears and mind open!

No matter what your gender is, if you expect to live longer - it is well worth investing in appropri-ate health assurance for the entire family’s reassurance!

Makeisha Lee is a health and nu-trition consultant. For more in-formation about cleansing and detoxifying your body, contact her at 614-595-1425 or znck04@yahoo.com or learn more at www.CleanseFormula.com

She is also the author of “Why

Black People Can’t Lose Weight” available at www.WhyBlackPeo-pleCantLoseWeight.com and in bookstores nationwide.

Tell Us Something We Don’t Know: Study says racism raises victims’ Blood Pres-sureUPI-- A Duke University medical study says experiencing racism in everyday life constantly contrib-utes to high blood pressure among African Americans.

The study’s researchers measured blood pressure night and day. It said blood pressure or hyperten-sion is more prevalent, and leads to worse outcomes, among African Americans than among whites. It said genetic factors apparently are less at fault than environmental, psychological and social causes such as diet, income, education or stresses like racism.

The study covered the effects of per-ceived racism when blood pressure is monitored over a 24-hour period.

It appears in the journal Psychoso-matic Medicine. Researchers re-cruited 69 African-American men and women, aged 25 to 44 years. Their blood pressure was measured in the clinic on three separate vis-its, each one week apart.

The volunteers were then fitted with an ambulatory blood pressure monitor. “The results demonstrate that perceived racism is related to blood pressure as measured during daily life, and that although per-ceived racism and anger inhibition are correlated with each other, they are independently related to ambu-latory blood pressure,” said Patrick Steffen, the study’s lead author.

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African American High Risk For GlaucomaGlaucoma is a form of eye disease that can slowly rob a person of vi-sion. Because it damages the optic nerve gradually and presents no

symptoms for many years, it’s of-ten called “the sneak thief of sight.” While glaucoma is a concern for anyone middle-aged or older, Dr. Leon Herndon, assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Duke Uni-versity Eye Center, says the disease strikes one group faster, earlier and harder than any other. “The great-est risk factor for glaucoma is be-ing of African-American ethnicity. Blacks have a four to six times high-er rate of glaucoma than their white counterparts. If you’re an African American, your risk is extremely high. And if you have a family his-tory of glaucoma, that increases your risk.” If glaucoma is detected early, treatment options include medication, laser treatments and, ultimately, surgery. Herndon says the key is early screening and de-tection, and this should start even earlier for African Americans. “The indications for screening processes are earlier with the African-Ameri-can race. We say by age 40, if you’re an African American, you should have a dilated eye examination once a year.”

By MIKE STOBBEAP Medical Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — Hispanic work-ers die at higher rates than other laborers, with 1 in 3 of these deaths occurring in the construction in-dustry, a government study re-ported Thursday. South Carolina had the highest death rate in the nation.

Hispanics tend to hold more high-risk jobs than those in other racial groups, but language and literacy barriers and poor training and su-pervision may also be factors, re-searchers said. The leading causes of death in recent years have been falls and highway-related acci-dents.

``Many of the Hispanic workers in construction are undocumented, and many of those who are recently arrived do face a language barrier,’’ said Rakesh Kochhar, associated

Hispanics dying on job at higher rates than others

director for research at the Pew Hispanic Center.

``A language barrier hinders un-derstanding of a job, or the risks associated with it, or safety precau-tions,’’ said Kochhar, who was not part of the new study.

The study was done by health re-searchers in Massachusetts, Michi-gan and New Jersey and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s being published this week in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The study counted more than 11,000 Hispanic work-related deaths nationwide from 1992-2006. The data were culled from death certificates, police reports, workers’ compensation reports and other sources.

The researchers calculated an an-nual death rate of 5 per 100,000

Hispanic workers in 2006. But the rate for foreign-born Hispan-ics, roughly 6 per 100,000, was far higher than the 3.5 for those born in the United States.

The rate for non-Hispanic white workers was 4. For blacks, it was 3.7.

``The burden of risk is primar-ily on foreign-born workers,’’ said Scott Richardson, a Bureau of La-bor Statistics program director, in a Thursday telephone press confer-ence about the new report.

From 1992-96, murder on the job was the most common cause of death among Hispanic workers, with crimes like convenience store robberies contributing heavily to that tally.

Then highway accidents became the leading type of work-related fa-tality. Falls also have become com-mon, and were the leading cause of death in 2000 and 2006.

An analysis of the most recent deaths, from 2003-06, found that 2 of every 3 Hispanic workers who died on the job were foreign-born. That’s up from 1992, when immi-grants accounted for about half of Hispanic work-related deaths.

In recent years, about 70 percent of the foreign-born fatalities were from Mexico.

In 2003 through 2006, the highest numbers of Hispanic work-related deaths were in California, with 773 deaths; Texas, with 687; and Flori-da, with 417.

But the highest death rate for His-panic workers was in South Caro-lina, at about 23 per 100,000. A recent influx of primarily foreign-born workers might account for that, experts said.

Hispanics make up about 14 per-cent of the nation’s working age population, according to a report this week by the Pew Hispanic Cen-ter, a Washington-based research organization.