Karate taking hold at Orange Mound center

by Tracy Sow
Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Two years of hard work, practicing twice a week and learning the ancient Japanese discipline of Shotokan paid off for Orange Mound Community Center students of the Gunn's Karate- Do.

Orange Mound Community Center's director, Kristine Strickland, instructor Marcellus Gunn, students and proud parents traveled to their first karate tournament in Greenwood, Miss., winning an impressive total of: 10 first places, 5 second place, a third-place and the Grand Champion.

Wharton receives Susan Burgess Memorial Award

CHARLOTTE, N. Car. – Mayor A C Wharton Jr. on Wednesday received the Democratic Municipal Officials (DMO) 2012 Susan Burgess Memorial Award here in recognition of his commitment to improving education.

Taking the stage, Wharton acknowledged the helping hand from City Councilman Myron Lowery, who nominated him. He had the crowd, which included Lowery and numerous other Memphians who made the trip for the Democratic National Convention, rolling as he said he didn't immediately open the letter that informed him he actually had won the award because he was a bit sore with Lowery and the Council at the time.

Rare but real: African-American Republicans

As members of the Mississippi delegation stepped into the limelight on Monday to cast their votes in what essentially was the coronation of Mitt Romney as the GOP standard bearer, Dr. Freda McKissic Bush was up front and she stood out.

Bush, a physician from Jackson, Miss., is a rarity at the Republican National Convention in storm-tinged Tampa, Fla. She's an African American – one of the few – and determined to set the record straight regarding what African-American Republicans are about. On Wednesday (Aug. 28), Bush and several colleagues spent the afternoon in the CNN news hub, where a throng of media personnel set up.

Worthy of praise, Dr. Maya Angelou heaps thanks on others

by Nicole R. Harris
Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Literary legend Dr. Maya Angelou is a living testament to how individual responsibility is a reflection of one's self. That reality was on display as she spoke at the 14th annual Agape Heartlight Celebration at The Cannon Center for Performing Arts last Saturday (Aug. 25).

"Agape is love. Sometimes we use it loosely, but it means I take responsibility for the time I take up and the space I occupy, said Angelou, the keynote speaker for Agape's largest annual fundraising event. "It means I love you....I take responsibility for myself as I treat you, strangers and friends."

Memphis a pack leader in ‘reward’ schools

Memphis is leading the state....

If your first thought was to complete that fragment with a negative, then think again. In this case, the facts point to an embraceable positive.

Memphis is leading the state with the highest number (20) of "reward" schools. That would be schools with students who scored in the top five percent on end-of-year exams, and made the largest gains over three years.

For the record, those 20 schools are:

‘Amazing Race’ open call for Mid-South thrill-seekers

WREG News Channel 3 is holding an "Amazing Race" Open Call at the Delta Fair & Music Festival on Sept. 9 inside the Agricenter International from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thrill-seekers looking for adventure will have a chance to represent the Mid-South on the show for a future season.

"The Amazing Race has a strong following. There is no doubt, the chance to compete for the adventure of a lifetime will create a lot of excitement," said Ron Walter, president and general manager for WREG News Channel 3.

LEGACY: Alice Oates Sandridge

For many, Alice Oates Sandridge was the embodiment of family and community and they were in attendance last Saturday (Aug. 25) for her homegoing celebration.

Mrs. Sandridge, whose children include former Memphis City Schools Board of Education Commissioner Hubon Sandridge Jr., died Aug. 19. She was 89.

Better health to go on Girlz Taking Over menu

by Latrivia S. Nelson
Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Two years ago, a report entitled "F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2010," ranked Tennessee as the second highest state in the nation for obesity. Memphis weighs heavily into those calculations and is in need of a health reboot.

Free from prison, John Ford projects ‘great things’

It has been five years since the Tennessee Waltz investigation swept up state and local officials and their associates in a federal sting. Bribery charges were handed down, along with prison sentences for caught-on-tape participants. Then-State Sen. John Ford was among them.

That was then. This is now. A released from prison and jubilant Ford was whisked into a waiting car to take him to the Diersen Charities halfway house in South Memphis where he stayed this week, preparing for a return to his residence next week.

Best in Black: Final updates

Greetings TSD family! We are rounding the bases and headed home towards the Grand Finale of the 2012 Best in Black Awards Memphis. The TSD staff and I are overwhelmed by the showing of support and excitement in the community about the contest and the awards show on Aug. 30.

I want to thank each of you that nominated, voted and have or will purchase a ticket to attend the black tie/black carpet awards show affair. Here is our last update before the event:

Jonesboro ‘mystery’ shooting warrants vigilance

Did one horrid, painful moment of ultimate despair drive 21-year-old Chavis Carter to take a gun and end his own life while handcuffed in the backseat of a Jonesboro, Ark. police cruiser?

That is the painful question that has gripped the African-American community for several weeks now as the awful truth sinks in of another young African-American man's life cut short during an encounter with police.

The ultimate answer may be in the hands of the U.S. Justice Department.

Whalum files lawsuit, poses question: ‘Is Memphis better than this?’

Within 60 days, Chancellor Kenny W. Armstrong is expected to issue a ruling that will reverberate throughout District 4 and quite possibly beyond.

Armstrong finds himself in that pivotal position after veteran school board member the Rev. Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum Jr. filed suit Wednesday (Aug. 22) challenging the results of the Aug. 2 election. Republican Kevin Woods squeaked out a narrow victory (108 votes) over Whalum, according to results certified on Monday.