THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1 ,1990 ? NEWS HOTLINE 723-8448 ? 68 PAGES THIS WEEK
"4*
m&s,
Golden Anniversary
St. Benedict Catholic Church cel
ebrates 50 years of service .
PAGE B4
s
Winston-Salem Chronicle
50 cents
The Twin City's Award-Winning Weekly"
VOL. XVII. No
WSSU faces major challenge for
Homecoming contest.
PAGE B9 j
Spook-tacular!
photo by L B Speas Jr
Sierra Williamson (left) and Tenisha Raquel Mitchell just love their Halloween jack-o'
lanters. (See story on A6.)
? bocahtragedies-prompt
NAACP police review
"by RUDY ANDERSON
Chronicle Managing Editor
The shooting death of a for
mer Winston-Salem State student,
and an alleged physical assault on
a female have prompted the Win
ston-Salem chapter of the NAACP
tiLCstnblish a xevie w commit tec to
determine if law enforcement offi
cers are violating the rights of
African- Americans.
The local chapter approved the
eight-member committee Oct. 24.
That group, chaired by retired
Alcohol Law Enforcement officer,
Harry James, will meet monthly to
investigate the complaints of
alleged police brutality filed with
the local branch.
James said the Tommy Joe
Witchcr shooting death April 20
on Patterson Avenue, and -the
alleged police assault on Thclma
Wcstbrook in Happy Hill Gardens,
August 17, arc the initial cases
upon which the review committee
will focus.
"There's a possibility that the
Witchcr case may be in violation
of civil rights statues. Even though
the local district attorney exonerat
ed the police and sheriff's depart
ments, the F.B.I, may find other
wise/' James said.
James said it the committee
Inuls that a citizens' complaint is
legitimate then the matter will he
brought be I ore the officer's imme
diate supervisor with a request lor
an internal investigation . II the
matter is not resolved at that level
then the committee will ask for
help from the State Bureau ol
Investigation, or i h e Fed era 1
Bureau of Investigation, v .pending
u|x>n the circumstances.
James said a complainant s
statements to the committee will be
recorded. And he said if there are
any witnesses to the incident they
should be brought before the com
mittee. If any charges are ultimate
ly filed, he said members of the
committee would accompany the
person wishing to lile charges
against the officer to the warrant
office and follow the case through
the court system. He said the com
mittee would also keep files on the
complaints.
Several key members of the
city and county administrations
have been notified about the
review committee, including assis
tant city manager A1 Beany, police
chief (iconic Sweat through as.sis
* V A
lant chic! Oliver Redd. Major H.O.
Alston of the Sheriff's Department
"They know we
are out here
watghing them"
' - Harry James -
and Fors\th Cojmi^Clcrk of Court
Frances Storey.
Alderman Vivian Burke, chair
ol i he board's public safety com
mittee, said she welcomed the
NAACP's review committee.
lv They have a right. If they
should find something," Burke
said."! would hope that we have
people jn this community who will
look at what thc> are saying and
keep an open mind. And that the
people m charge will lake appro
priate action il necessary."
James said he was not sure at
P lease see page A 1 1
- Republicans send
misleading message
Chronicle Staff Report
4
Voters in tfic Wtnston-Salcm'area have received
post cards from the North Carolina Republican Pariv
giving them misleading information about their elig-ihil
ity lo vote if they have moved recently.
The card slates. "When you enter the voting enclo
sure, you will be asked to stale your name, residence,
and period of residence in that precinct. Vou must ha\ :
lived in that precinct lor at least the previous
or vou w ill not he all owed t o vote,
Kathie Chaslam-( "ooper siijvmsoi ol ihe l-or^'th
FVertse see p,ige A 1 1
at new coliseum for rodeo
by RUDY ANDERSON
Chronicle Managing Editor
The Frank Spencer Classic basketball tournament
has been bumped from the Joel Coliseum in favor of
the Lonehorn Rodeo and moved to the coliseum annex
(the old coliseum). That move has angered some of the
coaches and their players who have been looking for
ward to playing there.
Coliseum and city officials say the change__was
made because of a scheduling conflict between the
rodeo and Wake Forest University. Because of an
agreement between the city and the university, the
February date the rodeo wanted could not be granted.
It was during the same time period that Wake Forest
was scheduled to play a basketball game against North
Carolina State, according to coliseum and convention
center director, Mike Solomon. Wake Forest has first
booking preference for event dales during basketball
season which runs from November through March.
Solomon said the rodeo look the Dec. 2X through
M) dales. The Frank Spencer Classic dales have been
sei for Dec. 27 through 29. So the Classic was moved
to the annex.
"It's unfortunate but we had to make some trade
offs," said assistant city manager Tom Fredericks. "We
Ministry running
out of funds
^or area's needy
by RUDY ANDERSON
Chronicle Managing Editor
The agency set up to help people falling through
the so-called safety net is itself on the brink of falling
and is taking severe measures lo stay in business.
Crisis Control Ministry faced with a steadily
increasing caseload and a decreasing operating budget
has been forced t<T cut bac k on the services it has been
able to provide to area's p<x>r and needy.
"We knew this was coming. We just didn't know
how bad it was going to be," sjfid Rev. Ginny Brill,
Crisis Control's executive director. "This is the worse
it's been for the ministry since 1973 when wc opened.
And there's no quick fix."
The ministry has faced a continuous 11 per cent
increase in cases handled over the last three years. The
cost for caring for the thousands of people in need has
climbed from more than S775,(X)0 in 1987 to nearly
SI. 2 million this year. So far, more than 17,000 cases
have been processed and the year has not yet ended.
Next year's projected budget needs will exceed SI. 3
million.
Most of those in need are the elderly, the working
poor, and the unemployed. Many of those in the last
two categories are comprised of families living one
day at a time.
"It is a great irony that the ministry birthed in
1973 to assist those individuals who did not fit any
other organization's 'guidelines' has, as of October 29,
I9(H), adopted guidelines," Britt said.
B> her own admission those guidelines are
had to look, at the economic reality. We aiiueipaiciL
that the potential seating demand tor the rodeo t<? b
greater than that of the basketball tournament But wa
rned to conic tip with an arrangement itial would allow
the event to he us successful js it usually is ! rcdf'v
Please see pane A15 rr;? -
1
Commission examines
coliseum management
by RUDY ANDERSON
Chronicle Managing Editor
The ability of the Convention Center and ( \?li
seurn management- ttr attract major events iu-Uu^
coliseum is being questioned and members ol the
Convention Center and Coliseum Coiiiiut&uou
want some answers.
Robert J. Hgleston. chair of the commission
told the Chronic le Wcdnesda> alter an x 1 1 u \ < *
session Tuesday that the commission will bo <m n
examining coliseum personnel to dctennmi* u m? .
Please see page A15
Vlrgina Britt says the austerity measures
necessary to keep Crisis Control's door?
open.
extremely harsh. For example, fuel and lloor heater*
will now only be provided for the elderly 16O or u\ p.
the sick and disabled, or families with children *i\
years of age or younger. Anyone else outside ih.^e
categories may not get the help. There will be a c
cap placed on rent assistance requests, f ood will no
longer be provided to childless people who app. ar
healthy, are not working and under age N). and I'm-vc
access to food programs like the Salvation Amu . -
the Samaritan Soup Kitchen.
The ministry's pharmacy will no longc nmJr; ?
and dispense any medication that is not life mM-th ',;
The pharmacist in charge will make am divi^o
which prescriptions to fill and will call the riu ^
Please see page A 1 1
piioft mfc&M
bankr pi<!
Q^nfl^c^pib;%fcet \
iafpplte iti'i>iis^ihapi &
^ . ?_? . ,.i *.ijf
icroTprouJsi io