The Chronicle
Forsyth County Public Library
North Carolina Room
Volume 40, Number 50 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C? VVWSton 5deml^|^V(ffSPAY' August 21, 2014
House Calls
Doctors pulling summer volunteer duty at Senior Services
BY CHANEL DAVIS
THE CHRONICLE
Most Americans take
some kind of vacation
during the summer,
including the dependable
volunteers who deliver
Meals-on-Wheels to sen
ior citizens.
Geriatricians from
Wake Forest Baptist
Medical Center have
signed on to deliver
meals this summer to
help Senior Services deal
with the volunteer short
fall the season brings.
"We are always in
need of volunteers, and
we have 63 routes that
need filling," said Linda
Kearsley, vice president
of nutrition services at
Senior Services. "There
is always a need, but it is
particularly in the sum- .
mer and during holidays."
Dr. Julia Williams, a
geriatrician and assistant
professor of Gerontology
and Geriatric Medicine at
Wake Forest Baptist
Medical Center, said 17
^volunteers from the hos
pital will help out. Since
the geriatric department
serves senior citizens, the
staff already have a well
established bond with
Senior Services, which
offers several other pro
grams in addition to
Meals-on-Wheels to aid
seniors.
"We have a long part
nership with Senior
Services. We have the
same goal in mind which
is observing the care,
health and independence
of the older population in
Forsyth County, and this
was a way to give back,"
Williams said. "There is
See Meals on A7
Photo by Chanel Davis
Dr. Julia Williams gives a meal to Josie Shirley.
i ; i
Photos by Todd l uck
Kenny Brown speaks as Olivia Sedwick and Mona Zahir look on.
Photo by Todd l.ock
Atkins Academic and Technology High School on Old
Greensboro Road opened in 2005.
Public
speaks
and coach
is rehired
BY TODD LUCK
I HI CHI INK 1 1
Students, their parents and others came to Coach Eric
Puryear's defense when he was tired earlier this month.
Their support is being credited with Puryear's rehiring.
Puryear. the head football coach at Atkins Academic
and Technology High School, said he was pulled away
from varsity practice on Aug. 7 and abruptly fired by
Principal Joe Childers.
Puryear said two issues were cited - his use of a text
phone app to disparage another school that a prospective
player was considering attending and improperly filling
out a school fundraising form. Puryear said he'd owned
up to both mistakes
months ago and
thought the issues
were settled.
Puryear worried
that the decision to
fire him so close to
the start of the school
year and football sea
son would have a neg
ative impact on his
players, many of
whom he personally
recruited. It was too
late for players to
transfer to another
school, which Puryear
said he felt was unfair
"I put in a lot of
time with these kids -
me myself and my
coaches. We've seen these kids grow, and the last thing
you want to do is not to see your dream realized." he said.
When Jamma "Mama J" Etter heard about Puryear's
ouster, she took action. She sent word out about the
school's decision via an email list used by Atkins
Football parents. Soon, she had arranged a meeting with
about 40 parents. The group committed to voicing their
displeasure in emails to the Winston-Salem /Forsyth
County Schools' central office.
Etter said she could not just sit silently. Her connec
tion to "Coach P" goes back years to when her son.
James, attended Paisley IB Middle School, where
Puryear teaches business. The coach saw potential in
James and began taking him to Atkins practices. When it
came time for high school, James chose Atkins and now
plays on the varsity team.
"A lot of people don't know (Puryear is) the one mak
ing the kids go to tutoring before they come to practice,
making sure their homework is done; he's the one mak
ing sure their report cards are what they're supposed to
See Puryear on A8
JCSt' Photo
Coach Eric Puryear
Rams muse over Ferguson
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
In the wake of the killing of an
unarmed teenager in Ferguson. Mo.,
Winston-Salem State University held
a moment of silence for those
who've been affected by police vio
lence.
The campus event was one of
hundreds held around the country
and beyond last Thursday in
response to the Aug. 9 death of Mike
Brown, an 18-year-old African
American who was shot at least six
times by white police officer Darren
Wilson in the St. Louis-area commu
nity. His death has sparked days of
protests and uprisings in Ferguson.
Brown's death has particular res
See WSSU on A2
Devante Mackins (left) with Eric Johnson.
Arena football team looks to make community impact
BY CHANEL DAVIS r
THE CHRONICLE I
A new Winston-Salem arena football team is looking for players |
who are passionate about the sport and willing to work hard.
The Carolina Silverhawks will hold the first of two team tryouts I
on Aug. 30 at the High Point Athletic Complex, 2920 School Park
Rd. The squad will play their indoor games and practice at the
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum Annex.
Owner Barry Marrow said that he started the team to give players
whose NFL dreams have yet to come true a chance to shine.
Sec Team on A2
Silvctiwwks
Photo
Players
are
preparing
for an
exciting
season of
football
action.
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