The Chronicle Volume43,Number 1 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. THURSDAY, September 8, 2016 Election Hurricane Reagan Victory . Carlisle to ran for NAACP leader The late Earline Parmon inspired the pastor to run for local NAACP presidency BY TEVIN STTNSON THE CHRONICLE Last week the pastor of Exodus Baptist Church, Rev. Alvin Carlisle, announced he will be putting his name in the hat to become the next president of the local NAACP branch. During a meet and greet held at Delta Fine Arts Center, Carlisle, a 1992 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, said he was inspired to run for the position by his mentor, the late Sen. Earline Parmon, who passed away earlier his year. Parmon, who was a champion for civil rights and equality, was a founding member of the local branch and served as vice presi dent at the time she died in March. Carlisle Howard Carlisle mentioned, just like Parmon, he is passionate about the work to advance the lifestyles and liberties for people of color. "Just like Ms. Earline Parmon, this is a group that I am very, very passionate about," said Carlisle. "Those who know me well know I'm not a thrill seeker. I am all about the advance ment of our people and this organization." The current president is Isaac "Ike" Howard. He was elected in 2015. Howard could not be reached for comment on Carlisle's candidacy. While leading the congregation at Exodus, Carlisle also serves as the third vice president for the Ministers' Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity (MCWSV). While in office, he spearheaded a partnership with the Forsyth County District Attorney to help residents get their licenses back. The program helped more than 2,000 people get their SeeNAACPon A2 Photo by Tevin Stinson African drummers perform during the Homowo Festival held at Old Salem on Saturday, Sept. 3. Homowo is a word in Ghana that means hooting for hunger. Community gets taste of Homowo BY TEVIN STINSON THE CHRONICLE The sounds of African drumming could be heard from blocks away last Saturday, Sept. 3 in Old Salem, as resi dents gathered together to celebrate African culture during the Homowo Festival. Homowo is a word from West Africa that means hooting for hunger. Celebrated by the Ga people of Ghana, the festival is held in remembrance of the famine that once plagued the country. The local version of the festival fea tured food tasting of authentic Africa cui sine, African storytelling, aits and crafts, games, and a number of performances by African dancers and drummers. There was also a Mancala tournament, a strategy game played in Ghana. See Homowo on A2 A young performer shows off her dance move dur ing the Homowo Festival on Saturday, Sept. 3 at Old Salem. N.C. NAACP concerned about state BOE meeting BY CASH MICHAELS FOR THE CHRONICLE With any relevant legal challenge now behind them thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court upholdingdtn appellate court's recent smack down of North Carolina's voter ID law, the N.C. NAACP remains concerned about how the Republican-led state Board of Elections (BOE) will resolve local BOE split decisions involving the number of sites and hours that will be allotted for the 17-day early voting period beginning Thursday, Oct. 20. All 100 local BOEs are comprised of two Republicans and one Democrat because, by law, the board majorities must reflect the party of the sitting governor. The state BOE currently has three Republican members and two Democrats. The state BOE is scheduled to meet today and civil rights advocates, like Rev. Dr. William Barber, president of the N.C. NAACP and leader of the coalition that suc cessfully fought in the courts to oyerturn the voter sup pression law, are concerned that what the Republicans, and particularly Gov. Pat McCrory, couldn't win in court, they will try to do through the state BOE by devising early voting plans that limit voting sites and hours. An emailed memo to all local BOEs from N.C. GOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse, revealed in pub lished reports weeks ago instructions to the local boards urging them, in light of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling dismantling voter ID, to minimize sites and hours of operation. Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Wake and Lenoir counties are just three counties where Republican-led local BOEs have done just that. Rev. Barber says what many of the local boards did, and what the state Board is likely to do, is "a travesty." "We are petitioning the state Board of Elections not to allow the system to be gamed and used in a way that is racist and unjust," Rev. Barber told MSNBC Saturday. "This is a travesty for our governor and our legislature and local boards of elections in the 21st century to continue to try this level of voter suppression." Rev. Barber added that what we're seeing now from the local BOEs is not just about Gov. McCrory trying to win re-election, though he's several points behind Democratic challenger Attorney General Roy Cooper, but also a "desperate attempt [by Republicans] to hold onto power ... and doing it in a way that undermines people's right to vote. "It's immoral, it's unconstitutional, and we are fighting it with everything we can," Rev. Barber said. See Meeting on A2 NO IP ? ? -= < ** 4 Commissioners hear options on courthouse BY TODD LUCK THE CHRONICLE , Forsyth County commissioners are examin ing options for a new or renovated Hall of Justice, which could cost more than $145 mil lion. The commissioners once again were given a presentation on the options for replacing the aging courthouse during a Sept. 1 briefing. A new building would cost more than $145 mil Burke lion, while renovating and expanding the existing one would cost nearly $112 mil lion. This construction would be paid for with limited obli gation bonds, which can be ratified by the commission ers themselves, unlike the county bond referendums residents will vote on in November. This is a type of ? 1 bond often used for necessary projects that might not be attractive to voters in a referen dum. Based on projections presented to the coun ty commissioners, the new building would add 3 cents onto the tax rate on $100 of property value in 2018, while renovations would add 2.1 cents. This would be on top of a tax increase from See Coorthouie on A2 EfiSEwEBSI?^ F

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