9/11 commemorated locally with
JROTC public safety challenge
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
Winston-Salem and
Forsyth County commem
orated the 14th anniversary
of the 9/11 attacks with a
competition for Junior
ROTC cadets at the
Winston-Salem
Fairgrounds Annex on
Saturday.
The first annual 9/11
Public Safety Challenge
was designed to encourage
JROTC cadets to think
about careers in public
safety. It's a new way to
acknowledge the courage
and sacrifice of first
responders on September
11, 2001, when the World
Trade Center was attacked
by terrorists. When the
buildings collapsed, first
responders helping with the
evacuation were killed,
including 343 firefighters
and paramedics, 23 New
York City Police officers
and 37 port authority police
officers.
"Fourteen years ago
yesterday, America was
attacked by terrorists,"
Mayor Allen Joines told
attendees on Sept. 12.
"Their idea or the goal was
to demoralize America, but
just the opposite happened.
Some people say it
could've been America's
finest hour."
The ceremony, which
beginning at 9:11 a.m., fea
tured many regular tradi
tions. There was the wreath
laying by officials frohi the
sheriff, emergent^ servic
es, police and fire depart
ments. There was a
moment of silence, the
ringing of the bell by the
Winston-Salem Fire
Department and playing of
TAPS to honor the fallen.
"We are grateful to the
men and women who get
up each and every morning
to make us safe and
sound," said Mayor Pro
Temp Vivian Burke.
County Commissioner
David Plyler told the
JROTC cadets to consider
careers in public safety.
"If you continue your
service to your community
you will, take my word for
it, get so much in return,"
he said.
After the ceremony, the
competition immediately
began pitting 10 high
schools with JROTC pro
grams against each other.
Two of the events were typ
ical of JROTC competi
tions. Marksmanship
judged teams of cadets on
shooting 10 targets 33.feet
away with a pellet riffle in
prone, kneeling and stand
ing positions. Close order
drills judged squads from
each school on their ability
to precisely follow a rou
tine.
The third challenge was
a raider obstacle course
used to train those in public
safety. One student from
each school got to try their
hand at it. Some of the
obstacles included having
to clear a fence and roll
with a 100 pound bag. The
final leg involved donning
a fire coat and helmet to
run up and down stairs
while carrying a fire hose
and then dragging a 150
pound dummy.
Among those compete
ing was Jesus Garcia, a jun
ior at Parkland High
School, who said it was a
challenging course. Garcia
said he was proud to be in
JROTC.
"It makes me feel like
I'm part of something big,"
he said.
Jacob Simpson a junior
from West Forsyth High
School, came in second in
the raider challenge. He
said he's gained a lot from
being in JROTC.
"I've become stronger,
not just physically, but
mentally," he said.
Simpson said the raider
course gave him an even
deeper appreciation of
what first responders faced
on 9/11.
"Now I have a better
understanding of what they
had to do," he said.
LTC Willie McCoy,
JROTC director for
Winston-Salem Forsyth
County schools, said the
JROTC program is grow
ing with about 1,200 stu
dents in 10 schools. He said
JROTC motivates students
to be better citizens. It
instills discipline and lead
ership qualities in youth.
"It's like no other
course," he said. "You get a
chance to be an instructor,
you get a chance to tell
other people what to do."
McCoy said few stu
dents who take JROTC go
into the military. A small
percentage go into public
safety, which he says is a
good fit for former JROTC
cadets.
"JROTC teaches you
discipline and teamwork."
he said. "And police
departments, EMS, fire
departments, it's about
teamwork, discipline,
working together, being
motivated, being able to
count on somebody."
Caroline Alvarez, who
led the Mt. Tabor drill
squad on Saturday, said she
was honored to lead her
fellow cadets in competing
in an event to commemo
rate 9/11.
"It helps us remember
what happened back then,"
she said. "How our country
got stronger, how we still
have people out their who
help our country."
MSgt. Maurice
Kearney is the JROTC
instructor for Mt. Tabor,
which took home several
trophies for marksmanship
Saturday. Kearney, who
teaches 135 cadets in eight
classes, said it was an
appropriate way to mark
the anniversary.
"I think it's a special
day for a special moment,"
he said. "It gives the kids
some kind of idea how
everyone was involved in
picking this country up."
East Forsyth High
School won the Public
Safety Challenge Cup for
best overall school. The
cup will travel from school
to school as a winner is
chosen each year.
Local officials stand for a moment of silence at the 9/11 commemoration: (L-R)
Emergency Services Director Dan Ozimek, Mayor Pro Tempore Vivian Burke,
Mayor Allen Joines, County Commissioner David Plyler, WS/FC Schools Chief
Academic Officer Kenneth Simington, JROTC Director Willie McCoy, Assistant
Police Chief Wilson Weaver, Assistant Fire Chief Harry Brown, City Council
Member Dan Besse and Sheriff William Schatzman.
Police Department awards officers for life-saving actions
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
On Friday, Sept. 11, the
Winston-Salem Police
Department held the Above
and Beyond Awards
Ceremony for the first
quarter of the year
According "to the
department website, the
ceremony is held each
quarter to celebrate officers
and sworn employees who
go well beyond the scope
of their daily duties or pre
form in a manner that is
exemplary and "above and
beyond" what is expected
of them.
Police Chief Barry D.
Rountree said the actions
of police officers some
times go unnoticed, so it is
important that they receive
the recognition they
deserve.
'Today we honor sever
al employees for their serv
ice and heroic acts," said
Rountree. "Heroic acts are
performed on a daily basis
by police officers, but often
times those acts go unno
ticed."
Captain Natasha James
presented the first award of
the evening when she pre
sented
Cpl. R.L. Haskins,
Officer BM. Byerly and
Officer T.G. Porter with the
Above and Beyond Live
Saving Award.
Earlier this year, the
three officers responded to
call of a unresponsive citi
zen in his car outside the
Biscuitville on 3648
Reynolda Road. Upon
arrival, the officers noticed
the victim's skin was dis
colored, indicating that he
wasn't breathing.
After gaining access
inside the vehicle, the offi
cers worked to save the
victim. The officers per
formed CPR, and other
emergency protocol meas
ures were taken until EMS
arrived.
According to EMS
workers, the victim
regained a pulse before
reaching the hospital and
began breathing on his on
i
shortly after reaching the
hospital.
"The quick thinking
and actions of the these
three officers helped save a
life," said James. "We just
want to take this time to
thank them for their
actions."
Officers Christopher
Burbank and Lauren Veal
were also presented Life
Saving Awards for their
actions earlier this year.
The Medal of Merit
was also presented during
the ceremony to Cpl. KJ.
Shay and Officer M.P.
Moore.
The Medal of Merit is
presented to officers who
performed in a manner that
exceeded department stan
dards and prevented a
probable loss of life or seri
ous injury
Following the ceremo
ny, Mayor Allen Joines
thanked all the members of
the police force for their
dedication and hard work.
"I would like to thank
the entire department for
the work they do, not just
the award winners but the
entire department," Joines
said.
"It's important that we
show how much we appre
ciate these officers, espe
cially on a day like this
(9/11), as we remember the
acts they did and the acts
you perform everyday."
Photos by Tevin Stinson
WSSU students came together on Tuesday, Sept. 8, to analyze the lyrics in
Kendrick Lamar's album "To Pimp a Butterfly."
Music
from page Al
album, "To Pimp A
Butterfly."
During the open discus
sion, a number of songs
were played off the album
with the lyrics showing on
a screen in front of the
room. Following the clip,
students discussed what the
lyrics meant to them and
how they relate to what is
happening in America
today.
Professor William
Boone, who has a doctorate
in African-American
Studies, said he came to the
open discussion to really
hear the students' opinions
on Kendrick Lamar.
"I'm really interested in
hearing what the students
have to say, because there
has to be a reason why he
has made such a huge
impact on the movement,"
Boone said.
"I could easily express
my views and how it
relates to my time and
N.WA, but I'm more inter
ested in hearing what
makes Kendrick so
unique."
: - - - ? - ? - -
In a gener
ation that
judges good
music off
catchy hooks, beats and the
latest dance craze,
Kendrick is different
because he is more con
cerned with delivering a
message that sparks listen
ers to think and challenge
the system.
Dontia Barrett, a senior
at WSSU, believes
Kendrick forces the
younger generation to look
at things a different way.
"I feel like as young
people, we aren't as con
scious as we should be, so I
really feel like Kendrick
Lamar does a good job of
meeting us where we are
by delivering the message
in a way that we all can
relate to and understand."
One of the first songs
played during the discus
sion was titled, "Alright."
One of the more popular
songs on the album, the
song has been used during
a number of protests held
by the Black Lives Matter
movement.
In the video, an
unarmed Kendrick is shot
I
1 x
down by a police officer, a
scenario that has played out
multiple times in recent
months.
Reggie Hines, a student
at WSSU said, "Black
Unity in his songs help us
come together, just like
slaves sung spirituals,
Kendrick's lyrics do that
for us now."
Other songs off the
album that were discussed
include "I",
"Institutionalized" and
"Mortal Man."
Although most of the
students in attendance
weren't even born when
N.W.A was preforming "F
? the police," many of
them realize the impact
they had and know that
they paved the way for
artists like Kendrick.
Senior Glory Bienevue
said what is happening now
is just a repeat of what hap
pened in the '80s and early
'90s.
"It's the same thing
over and over," said
Bienevue. "The same
things N.W.A addressed in
'Straight Outta Compton'
are happening now."
I
-? -? - * ^ "
NCDOT TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING SEPTEMBER 29
FOR THE PROPOSED ROADWAY
ON NEW LOCATION
EAST OF HARPER ROAD (S JL 1101) TO
LEWISVILLE-CLEMMONS ROAD
(S JL 1103) IN CLEMMONS
ine in. c. uepartment or Transportation will hold a public meeting
in September regarding the proposed project to construct a new road
way, east of Harper Road (S.R. 1101) to Lewisville-Clemmons Road
(SR. 3800/1103) in Clemmons, Forsyth County.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 29 at
Clemmons Village Hall located at 3715 Clemmons Road in
Clemmons from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Interested citizens may attend at any
time during the meeting hours. NCDOT representatives will be avail
able to answer questions and listen to comments regarding the project.
Please note that no formal presentation will be made. Citizens will
also have the opportunity to submit comments and questions in writ
ing. Comments received will be taken into consideration as the project
develops.
The public can view maps displaying the location and design of the
project as they become available online at http://www.ncdot.gov/pro
jects/publicmeetings.
Anyone desiring additional information may contact Brett
Abernathy, Division 9 Project Manager 375 Silas Creek Parkway,
Winston Salem, 27127 by phone: (336) 747-7800 or email: jbaber
nathy@ncdot.gov. All comments must be received no later than
Monday, October 12, 2015.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the
Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to par
ticipate in this meeting. Anyone requiring special services should con
tact Ms. Diane Wilson via e-mail at pdwilsonl@ncdot.gov or by
phone (919) 707-6073 as early as possible so that arrangements can be
made.
Aquellas personas que hablan espafiol y no hablan ingles, o tienen
limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender ingl6s, podrfan recibir servi
cios de interpretaci6n si los solicitan antes de la reuni6n llamando al
1-800-481-6494.
The Chronicle September 17 and 24