Recent Articles
Hood or hero? Cleveland’s Charles Ramsey
By George E. Curry—But more than any other famous “hilarious black neighbor” Internet sensation, the coverage of Ramsey—and his criminal past—raises serious questions about how we treat a hero with a troubled past and, yes, how blacks and whites look at the same event through different prisms of race.
Africa News in Brief: May 22-28 edition
• Kenyans angry over ‘piggish’ salary hike
• Return of child soldiers alarms war-scarred Central African Republic
• Cervical cancer drug to be discounted for Africa
• ‘State of emergency’ in Nigeria ramps up ‘terrorist’ war
Man shot to death on Oliver Street
FORT WAYNE—At approximately 4:23 p.m., May 16, the Fort Wayne Police Department responded to the 3200 block of Oliver Street in reference to a shooting investigation. As officers and paramedics arrived on the scene, they located a male victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Paramedics pronounced the victim, later identified as 20-year-old Shane Jamal Stephens, as deceased.
Former F.W.P.D. Master Sergeant Kenneth Hayden recognized at the national memorial
FORT WAYNE—On May 13, former Master Sergeant Kenneth W. Hayden will be recognized as having lost his life in the line of duty and his name will be inscribed at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C.
My fiancé can’t marry me, His wife is crazy!
Dear Gwendolyn: Four years ago, I met my fiancé at church. He has proven to be the perfect man, but married. I did not hesitate dating because he immediately explained the mental state of his wife. This is the problem: His wife is in a state that does not allow divorce when the spouse is not in sound mind.
Obituaries from May 15-21 edition
• Lillie B. Irby-Redmond
• Edward “Bill” Jemison
• Robert V. Williams
Resisting the devil, just say no
by James Washington—It is no secret that my favorite passage in the Bible is Matthew 4: 1-11. To me it’s good versus evil, up close and personal. On one side, the devil incarnate; on the other Jesus the Christ. When I read this I am reminded that God’s plan is pretty precise and more than obvious to those willing to seek Him first.
Mixed religious gathering a no-no
By the Rev. Arsben D. Jennings—Mayor Tom Henry: The reason why I didn’t as a Christian come to your prayer meeting is because you invited people to come and pray who don’t believe in God period. Hindus, Muslims, Buddhist, Sikhism, Unitarians, and Universalists do not believe in the God of the Holy Bible and neither do they believe in the existence of Jesus Christ.
Clarence Thomas’s deep-seated jealousy
By Lee A. Daniels, NNPA Columnist—For someone who seems to revel in being silent during the Supreme Court’s traditionally lively oral arguments—when a public display of his professional competence would be appropriate—Clarence Thomas’s out-of-court comments are extraordinarily revealing.
Life lessons from scooting around a plastic slide
STRANGE THOUGHTS by D.L. Russell—When I was a kid, there was a big metal slide at McMillin Park. This slide, at the time seemed as tall as a four-story building to my childhood eyes. For years, I was afraid of that slide. I can remember making excuses each time my brother or one of my cousins tried to coax me down from the top. You see, I had no problem going up the slide’s ladder, but boy-oh-boy did I have a problem going down that shiny, sheet metal ramp.
Robbin Church, Jason Jordan set wedding date
FORT WAYNE—Robbin Renee Church and Jason Jermaine Jordan are pleased to announce their engagement. The couple has set a June 29 wedding date.
Grapefruit juice, magnesium for high blood pressure
Years ago, I can recall my mom and her friends talking about taking Epsom salts and grapefruit juice to lower blood pressure…Of course, this is no way to treat elevated blood pressure and I am certainly not advising you to follow this form of treatment.
Crime & Safety Briefs: May 15-21 edition
Two separate drowning incidents investigated—FORT WAYNE—On April 30, the Fort Wayne Police Department, in cooperation with the Fort Wayne Fire Department and the Department of Natural Resources began to search the area of the St. Joseph River along 6401 St. Joe Road in the Shoaff Park area in connection with a missing person investigation.
Spotlight on Ta’Bria Collier—for being herself
Hello, Frost Illustrated readers. My name is Celia Reed and I’d like to share with you about my daughter, Ta’Bria Neosha Collier…
she’s going to accomplish one of the biggest achievements ever, not only for herself, but also for a lot of children that were diagnosed with SMA.”
Africa News in Brief: May 15-21 edition
• Gold rush leads to mine collapse in North Sudan, 100 lives lost
• Ugandan greens demand halt to sale of Lake Victoria trees
• Central African U.S. ally survives coup attempt by army officers
• Migrant rights group wins release of Eritrean moms, children in Israeli jail
Bob Hawkins: ‘Don’t be a quitter,’ Part 2
THE HACKLEY REPORT By Eric Hackley—The following is the second part of a two-part interview with Bob Hawkins, owner of Bob Hawkins House of Fish restaurant at 2619 Weisser Park Ave., at the Corner of Pontiac Street, where he has been in business since 1974. The following is a continuation of Brother Hawkins’ story in his own words:
Fort Wayne scene of two fatal police action shootings in a week
On April 27, 2013 at approximately 1549 hours officers of the Fort Wayne Police Department attempted to stop a red SUV in a routine traffic stop at the intersection of Congress Avenue and Gaywood Drive. The two occupants of the suspect vehicle fled the traffic stop on foot. Police officers gave chase. The driver of the vehicle was able to evade police on foot and remains at large at this time. The passenger of the vehicle fled the scene and led officers on a short foot pursuit through the neighborhood. During the pursuit the suspect, later identified as 19-year-old Tavontae Jamar Haney, confronted police and was fatally shot. There was a firearm located in close proximity to the suspect’s body where he fell.
Sample fresh vegetables, classic southern cuisine at May 18 event
FORT WAYNE—The Fort Wayne Urban Farmers and Maplewood School Garden Angels are scheduled to host a Community Recycling Event/Garage Sale/Southern Cuisine Sampler from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., May 18 at Lafayette Bait Store, 3511 S. Lafayette St.
South Africa’s best kept secret
By George E. Curry, NNPA Columnist—When Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress comrades were plotting to overthrow the white minority-rule apartheid regime in South Africa, Lilies Farm in Rivonia, just north of Johannesburg, served as their secret hideout.
Heterophobia is the new black
By Raynard Jackson, NNPA Columnist—Last week, I had to make one of the most difficult announcements of my life—I told my family that I liked women, err, love women. Not knowing how my mother would react, I was relieved when she looked at me and said, “Boy, I knew that all along.”
