Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / June 25, 1992, edition 1 / Page 17
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Helms speaks to youth at Boys Club A Former Houston Rockets player tells how drugs destroyed his basketball career By YVETTE N. FREEMAN Community Newt Editor For four years, 10 months, and two hours, Mike Helms experienced a "Hell on Earth." During that time, the former Houston Rockets basket ball player was in prison, serving out a 16-year sentence for drug traf ficking and possession of cocaine. He was also an addict with a $700 a day addiction to the drug. That bout with drugs and the law ended his professional basket ball career. At the same time, it allowed him to start a new life and a new career ? without drugs ? and to share his experiences with young people in an effort to prevent them from using drugs. Helms was in Winston-Salem last Thursday to tell his story at the Salvation Army Boys Club on Mar tin Luther King Jr. Drive. He was the guest speaker for the Power Summer Basketball Tip-Off, a pro gram for junior and high school boys. "Young people, wake up and know, that there is a hell on Earth," said Helms. "And it doesn't matter whether you're black, white, rich or poor. Catholic or Baptist. If you break the law, then you're going to pay a price." A native of Bassett, Virginia, Helms was a high school All-Amer ican basketball player, listed among the top 50 high school players in the country. He attended Wake Forest Mike Helm? hopee that ktda who hear his anti-drug message won't make the same mistakes he did. ^ University, where he was also a basketball star, becoming a member of the 1,000 point club. That talent on#the court led to him being the NBA draft pick for the Houston Rockets, before earning his college degree. According to Helms, he had the perfect life ? nice clothes, fancy cars, and plenty of money. That per fect life soon ended when some friends introduced him to cocaine and he became addicted. But instead of getting profes sional help, he began selling the drug, which led to his arrest and a two-year prison sentence. However, being behind bars didn't stop his drug use, and he was caught again. An additional 14 years was added to his sentence. Looking back over his years in prison. Helms, 32, told the audience of over 100 kids that, "No feeling I ever got while I was high, is going to erase the pain I feel inside me everyday; the pain of having to watch my mom walk away from, me in prison with tears in her eyes wondering why; and the pain of knowing that if I had kept my mind straight and my body physically right, perhaps I could still be play ing with the likes of the James Wor thy's of the world." He encouraged the kids that getting an education is the best route to success, and cited how he himself returned to Wake Forest last September and received his degree. He is now an employee of Sara Lee Corporation in Martinsville, Vir ginia, but he still makes time for public appearances. "1 do quite a bit of public speaking to provide young people with an example of what can hap pen if they make the wrong deci sions," Helms said during an inter view following the event "Basical ly, what I'm hoping to do is provide them with a concrete example of what can happen. I'm talking from experience, and I'm hoping that based on that, they'll a lake wiser, decisions than what 1 made, and perhaps not fall into the same rut that 1 fell into because of those decisions." James Smith, the program night manager, at the Boys Club, hopes that the young men and women in the audience, will take heed to Helm's testimony. "Hopefully, itll straighten some of them out to see that the road Mr. Helms took was the wrong road, and hopefully they can correct themselves by learning from some body else's mistakes," said Smith. Bill McClain, the former athlet ic director at the Boys Club, who invited Helms to speak at the event, agreed and said that Helms took the glamour out of drug use. "I thought he did an excellent job in showing them that it's not a glamorous experience," he said. "Quite often, because young people see the gold and the money, they see drugs as a glamorous thing. He did a very effective job in letting them know that the glamour ends pretty fast" Mike Helms told youth at the Boys Club how drugs destroyed Ns professional basketball career. Boys Club Power Basketball Progra Over 100 young men participated in the Power "I thhlf Summer Basketball Tip-Off Program last Thursday, gram do^My^-g. June 18. at die Salvation Amy Boys Club on Martin in the city." said James Luther King Jr. Drive. Sponsored by the Boys Club ager at the Boys Club and the Winston-Salem Housing Authority, the pro- kids together IBkHHH PP|||pW|B|P||Pi|!!l)|MMjg3pWllWWj!W!g^ Ml ?? V AJ gram, which will run Monday through Friday from 5- with each other and have I j^.,'jfcdfidesfa summer activity for young men in other than ih ai * junior high and high school flat includes moire dun one another and jusfsports^'What we w providing for them is an Art alternative that gives them something positive." said Authority, agr.~ McClain, former athletic director of the Boys brothers togethelL, 1 Club. This program is multi-faceted, not just basket- always hear people ball. There's weightlifting. There's assistance, where if we're not doin ?a young prn|p*comes to m ^ anexampleo we try to steer them where they can get assistance, something i whether it's academics, whether it's something relating con tunc tioi ? ft, which was Wd fro?n, 6-9 p.?., . . The wihneflH >V ? a*. 1 .< ? $ < ? I I ! I ; ? S I | v I < ? ^ ? 1 I ? <1 I I mSm m sqr, n i i,\YTrf7PiT77t ? ! ?< *? v* * ' < i??nv.d#nn. NiliMwwM '"'LlLiX 11 *i?s* PiI;T:T5?3lf^ K EE9S3 ItBffl EH r ffi /.t? 'jjr; > Bennie McBrlde "Ask for me, Bennie McBrlde for the best price on any new Chevy, Geo or used car." Chevrolet ? Geo HHR nNl4th and Broad St. |||||lE5vll 722-4191 Printing on: ? Mugs ? Award Plaques ? Plates ? T-Shirts ? Caps and much morel We guarantee satisfaction t and on time delivery. Comer of Sixth and Trade St. 722-3324 ir25*OFF ? ON ANY AMOUNT OF DRY CLEANING J PrMent This Coupon When Dropping Off Your Dry Cleaning And Receive 25% | Off Your Ticket TotaL | I I 2-Day Turnaround Order must be picked up within 10 I days of drop off to qualify for discoun Excludes Wedding Dresses, Furs, Leathers, Suedes & Draperies. COUPON GOOD JUNE 28 TO JULY 1 5 Community m 1 I ? ,t ,. BLx-JMS 5S;? - _ \ How to Schedule Your Event: Send your li clsely and neatly printed or typed, to the Chi 617 N. Liberty SJ., Winston-Salem, N.C ,271 p.m. the Monday preceding theweekinwhU will occur. Our FAX numbe^ls (919) 723-91 THURSDAY, JUNE 25 9 a.m. ? The Forsyth Unit of the American Cancer Society is holding its Jail-A-Thon through Friday, June 26, until 5 p.m. at Hanes Mail, Center Court To schedule an arrest, or for more information, call 768-1224. 10:30 a.m. ? Historic Bethabara Park and Teen's Country Herb Shop wflTpresent a semi nar entitled "All About Herbs" in the Visitor Center of the Park, 2147 Bethabara Rd. The pro gram is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, and reservations can be made by calling 924-8191. 2 p.m. ? The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at the WS Masonic Bodies Masonic Temple, Miller St, until 7 p.m. 4 p.m. ? Floyd Davis of the United Way of Forsyth County will present "Committed to Helping People" at the Neighborhood Govern ment Services Office, 2301 N. Patterson Ave. The program is free and open to the public. FRIDAY, JUNE 26 2 :30 p.m. ? The Special Populations & Pro grams Unit of the WS Recreation & Parks Dept. will sponsor the Annual Summer Bingo Party for Seniors at the Benton Convention Center until 5 p.m. Admission is free. 7:30 p.m. ? The Nature Science Center of Forsyth County is continuing its monthly Sky Watch program at Winston-Salem State Univer sity's Hill Lecture Hall. The program is free and open to the public. SATURDAY, JUNE 27 8 a.m. ? Vicki Moody-Chandler will hold a moving-garage sale at her home, 4848 Barkas Dr., until 2 p.m. 8:30 a.m. ? The Special Populations & Pro grams Unit of the WS Recreation & Parks Dept. will sponsor Adventure by Design Ropes Course until 4:30 p.m. at Salem Lake, 1001. Salem Lake Rd. The cost is $25 per person. To register, call 727-2505. Space is limited, partici pants will be accepted on a first paid, first serve basis only, 2 p.m. ? The WS Housing Authority in part nership with the City of WS, will sponsor "Community Day with Ray" at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds and the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum Annex. The event is a cele bration honoring Ray Agnew Jr., a professional football player with the New England Patriots. There will be food, music and an exhibition bas ketball game. The cost is $1.50. Proceeds will help establish a scholarship for children in pub lic housing. 7 p.m. ? Piedmont Craftsmen will present Part I of the New Members Show 1992 today through July 12. An opening of the exhibition will be held until 9 p.m. tonight at 1204 Reynol da Rd. The public is invited. Admission is free. SUNDAY, JUNE 28 1:30 p.m . ? The 15th annual Old-Fashioned Independence Day Celebration will be held at Historic Bethabara Park until 4:30 p.m. Th? pro gram is free and open to the public. For more information, call 924-8191.^ ? The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at Goler Metropolitan Church, 1435 E. 4th St., until 6 p.m. 2:30 p.m. ? The Winston-Triad Lupus Chapter will meet in the Activity Building of Highland Presbyterian Church, 2329 Cloverdale Ave. Dr. Joseph Jorizzo, head of the Dept. of Der matology at Bowman Gray School of Medicine, will discuss "The Many Varied Aspects of Skin Involvement in Lupus- and Related Diseases.** The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 768-1493. 4 p.m. ? An AIDS Benefit Concert will take place at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1703 Shali mar Dr. Capital City Five of Raleigh, N.C. and Vergie Collins of WS, will be the featured guests. MONDAY, JUNE 29 10 ajn. ? The Special Populations & Programs Unit of the WS Recreation & Parks Dept. will sponsor a Cross Stitch Class at the Bee Hive, 1601 Ml Zion Place, through Aug. 17. The pro gram fee is $1.50 and the cost of supplies. There is no charge for seniors 60 and over. For more information, call 727-2505 or 727-8142. 2:30 p.m. ? Art Milligan of the WS Housing Authority will present "New and Improved Housing Programs'' at the Neighborhood Gov ernment Services Office, 2301 N. Patterson Ave. The program is free and open to the pub lic. ' ? * TUESDAY, JUNE 30 11 ajn. ? Dorothy Graham Wheeler of tl>e Best Choice Center will present "Parental Involve ment" at the Neighborhood Government Ser vices Office, 2301 N. Patterson Ave. The pro gram is free and open to the public. 7:30 p.m. ? The championship 13-year-old Winston-Salem Lakers will sponsor a benefit basketball game at the Winston Lake YMCA. Phase see page B6 CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS WITH FLOWERS r FUNERAL DESIGNS, CUT ARRANGEMENTS, i SILKS AND WEDDINGS Wire Orders and Credit Cards Welcomed 896- A N. Liberty St. (Corner of Liberty and Patterson Ave.) 723-0364 Barbara K. Phillip*, IWd?nt r 24hr > Answering v Service > BORDERMAN 661-0661 Custom Borders and Wall Printing with Paint ? Won't Bubble or Tear ? No Seams ? lb Remove, Paint Over It ? Non-Flammable ? 50% Cheaper arid Faster ? No Paper Involved Cliff Jones II, Owner with this coupon good through Jan* 20, 1902 I ?X g?< gX g?< gC gX g?< 616 Monmouth Street Winiton-Salem, NC 27107 * Contact Debra Boozer or JcAnn Albright (919) 784-4908 North Carolina South Carolina Virginia Conrad's Hair Design Mary Iowa . . . 01 iSffi Liz DatroK . . . 3088 Naw Walkartown Road Wlnaton-Salam, NC 27108 725-3074 SPECIAL SAVINGS! j*0'- CorVf>
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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June 25, 1992, edition 1
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