File Photo ?.An officer uses a radar gun to monitor the speqdj of drivers. Now those that speed in Forsyth County will face stiffer financial penalties. ijSpeeders, beware Increased fines for violators will be used to help school system educate youngsters BY COURTNEY GAILLARD THE CHRONICLE Speeders, slow down or else . expect to pay $25 more in traffic violation fines the next time you are pulled over and issued a speeding ticket. As of July 1 of this year, 2 fines on traffic citations 'increased in Infraction Court to provide funds to the Winston Salem/Forsyth County school system, suffering from the state budgetary crisis. A panel of 39 judges from around North Carolina set the statewide $15 rate increase and none of the monies will go to the state or local governments. The idea to increase traffic ; court fines developed once word arose about possible teacher lay offs at budgetary meetings, said District Attorney Thomas J. Keith, also faced with a poten tial downsizing in the D.A.'s office. "The volume (of traffic tick ets) is tremendous, the numbers are tremendous and we thought this would be some way to level the playing field where motorists have been getting the breaks all along. At the same time it will (now) benefit the schoolchildren in a really tight budget year." said Keith. Data concerning traffic infractions over a three-month period compiled by the District Attorney's Office .revealed that the Infraction Court handles an average of 860 traffic cases per week that can now be subject to increased fines. Keith explained that the vol ume of traffic citations, having almost tripled in the last decade from 20.000 citations a year to 70,000, will accrue a substantial amount of funding for the School Board. Schools are expected to receive a 25 percent increase, or as much as $1 million, to the $3 million in the funds generated to them from fines and forfeitures. According to Keith, the state Constitution requires that the court system allocate these fines and forfeitures to the school sys tem. "We don't feel that anybody is going to plead not guilty and (ask) for a jury trial over an extra $15. but you do 50,000 cases a year and that adds up." Keith said. With close to 150 revoked license citations being issued on a weekly basis, Keith expects the courts to pick up an extra $50 for each of those citations. Superintendent Donald Mar tin was grateful to the DA's office for recognizing the loss in fee revenue for the school sys tem. Martin said he hopes to "begin to replace some of the things that (the school system) is in fact cutting." Martin also indi c a t e d that the budget i s already set for this year and these extra funds will be used toward a future school year budget. "It sounds very creative to me to work towards restoring something that (he) believes the Legislature intended, with those fees actually going to public schools," said Martin, who says the school system can hopefully proceed with plans to decrease class sizes with the money gen erated from traffic fines, espe cially after the budgetary crisis called for the schools to increase their class sizes. Anyone having received a ticket on or after July I of this year will be affected by the new citation fine increase. Motorists' insurance will not change as a result of the fine increase. Judges hope that this will not only help schools recover from the state budgetary cutbacks but also encourage motorists to obey the speed limit. Keith Martin WSFD cited for number of responses SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE The Winston-Salem Fire Department has been named to the Firehouse Magazine Top 150 in the magazine's annual survey of responses. In 2001. the department responded to 19.849 calls of all types, including fire calls, calls for medical assistance and false alarms. This placed it 104th in the national rank ing of responses compiled by Fire house M a g a - zine. a monthly publica tion for fire depart ments. The maga zine con UUCl.S U V. V?111J'I V. I It 11 1 Y v. 11 HI I v 'l l al survey every year of key fire department statistics. The Top 150 is based on total calls and ranks those departments that are the most active and productive. The survey was published in the June 2002 ' issue. This is the sixth time that the Winston-Salem Fire Department has made the Top 150. said Fire Chief John Gist. "We're pleased that the men and women of the' Fire Department are being recog nized for their dedication in responding to the increasing needs of the citizens in our community," Gist said. "It is an independent measure of the quality of service that all of our personnel provide to city I residents 365 days a year." The Winston-Salem Fire Department has 285 certified firefighters serving in 16 engine companies, four aerial companies and a hazardous materials response team. ? Gist Your style * our culture a great environment Reach farther. At Edward Jones, we're committed to developing an inclusive culture at all levels of our organization. Join Edward Jones and see why we're ranked No. 1 in FOR TUNE* magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For." Attend one of our Career Seminars. We're seeking motivated, sales-oriented individuals to become investment representatives in Greensboro and throughout North Carolina. Tuesday, July 16 at 6 p.m. 1619 New Garden Road. Ste. B-7 Greensboro. NO Host: Kathy Hale RSVP. 336-299-9395 Thursday, July 18 at 6 p.m. 1619 New Garden Road, Ste. B-7 Greensboro. NC Host: Greer Ducker RSVP: 336-299-9395 www.jonesopportunity.com Licensed professionals welcome. Call for a confidential appointment. -a i a Mwardjones Serving Individual Investors Since 1871 ma EOE WTO Hampton ministers' group has its first female leader The Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook will represent the conference's 7,500 members during gatherings BY AMY BECKLEY NNPANEWS INTERN When Ihe Hampton University Ministers' Conference - one of the nation's largest inter denominational black clergy groups - sought a new president, it made good use of the adage, "If you need something done, give it to a busy person," That person turns out to be Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook, founder and senior pastor of the Bronx Christian Fellowship in New York, who also is a mother, wife, author, producer and inspirational speaker. She is the first woman and the youngest to preside over the confer ence, which meets annually to focus on the tra ditions of worship in the African-American church. Many women want it all, a successful career, family and equal time for each, but few women know how to juggle it all. However, Cook is doing just that. "This will only enhance what I currently do. It will be a joyous addition because it is w ith colleagues who I know well," Cook said, "and new doors will open with which I am unfamil iar." e During her four-year term, she will repre sent the conference's 7,500 members during religious gatherings and oversee plans for the annual meeting. Clergymen and women from different denominations gather at Hampton to sharpen their skills, learn new tools and deal with personal issues such as loneliness. Conference officials have every confidence in Cook. "She is an outstanding woman of God. She is going to be a major asset to the conference," said Timothy T. Boddie, Hampton University chaplain and executive secretary of Ihe confer ence. "We are really excited about her plans for the conference." Cook has been a familiar face among the ministers, conducting workshops for women in the ministry. She said there are many issues plaguing the women, including not having enough opportunities in the church, having to work full-time jobs while completing their church duties and finding balance in their lives. "I was elected by the board in 1996 as the conference's first female officer, and many of the delegates felt I should now be president," she said. A lifelong Bronx resident, she is married to Ronald Cook, who is church administrator and a community development planner. They have two sons, Samuel David and Christopher Daniel. 0 She is active in her community and nation ally. She has been a chaplain for the New York City Police Department and president of the 0 New York Coalition of 100 Black Women. In the religious community, she served 13 years at the historic Mariner's Temple in lower Manhat tan. She was the first black woman elected sen ior pastor of an American Baptist congregation in its 200-year history. On the national level. President Bill Clinton in 1997 appointed Cook to the Initiative on Race Advisory Board, the only African-American woman and faith leader on the panel. She also was a White House Fel low and a consultant to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 1994 97. Cook is excited about her new post. "I am sure this has opened numerous doors for women in the ministry, and it has broken what we termed the stained glass ceiling," she said. There are many women with gifts who are not able to use them. Now they have a chance to prove they are Just as good, she said. Her advice to women in general is to stay focused, and she warns them not to get too See Hampton S r GOALS BY C 9 A) ~ O ? PERCENT d) 3 3 o co u ? ill ?=< no r o ttOiuujuj E R 9, > o ?CmmcD o. ODC I- _t 2 tu d s g 8.1101102 Northampton Grading, drainage, paving & Bridge over CSX Transporta- English 39F Structure tion system & approaches on ? ? . US-301 6.F39006T Tyrrell Widening, grading, drainage. I 'S-64 from West of SR-1116 to Metrics 105% paving & structures East of SR-1110 6.149009T Washington Widening, grading, drainage. US-64 from NC-45 East of Ply- Metrics 10i% 5% paving & structures mouth to SR-1126 f 8.7322010 Pitt Grading, drainage & paving . US-I3/NC-11/43/903 (Memor- English 7c/r ial Drive) at SR-1598 (Dickin | son Ave) in Greenville 8.2271302 Pender Grading, drainage, paving & Bridge over Cypress Creek & English 7% structure approaches on SR-1216 near Burgaw 8.2370802 Granville Grading, drainage, paving & RC Box Culvert at Spewmar- English 7c/< structure row Creek & approaches on SR-1445 North of Stovall Bridge over Shocco Creek & 8.2410603 Warren Grading, drainage, paving & approaches on SR-1614 near English 7'i< structure Elberton Bridge over Carolina Southern _ 8.1431101 Columbus Grading, drainage, paving & RR & approaches on US-76 at Metrics 5(7r structure Fair Bluff 1-40 from 1-40 Bus/Cloverdale 6.492(X)2R Forsyth. Intelligent Transportation Systems Ave in Winston-Salem to East English .0# Guilford, ' of SR-1616 (Holden Rd) at Rowan Greensboro Bridec over Gum Swamn 8.2590602 Scotland Grading, drainage, paving & Creek & approaches on SR- English 5# stiiicture 1614 near Eaurinburg 'Charlotte Outer Lwp) 6.6780I9T Mecklenburg Widening, grading, drainage & from NC-27 (Mount Holly Rd) Metrics 1 (KT 591 paving to East of SR-2042 _________ 3 sections of US-441 7.9711115 Macon Resurfacing, shoulder reconst. English .0T .09F & pvmt. markings *** MONDAY, July 15,2002 6 PM - MIDNIGHT *** North Raleigh Hilton - 3415 Wake Forest Road ? Raleigh. N.C. LETTING DATE: July 16, 2002 Prime contractors will be available to receive quotes for trucking, sub-contracting and materials. M/WBE's needing more information and/or technical assistance may come to Room 522 to meet with representatives from the Bennington Corp.. NCDOT's Supportive Provider. (919)832-6027 NCDOT Office of Civil Rights & Business Development 1 ?800?522-0453 Certification of highway contracting firms: Richard Chrisawn Certification of supply/service/engineering firms: Robert Mathes Comments or concerns: " Delano Rackard: Director