Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / April 22, 1999, edition 1 / Page 8
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* * " ?' to Children trade basketballs for computers I By T KEVIN WALKER THE CHRONICLE L They dropped the ball last week at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center. The basketball, that is. The volleyballs and softballs were also briefly retired while a dozen or so young people hovered over two computers inside the cen ter. Using Microsoft Clip Gallery, a ?computer art program, young sters clicked through a wide assortment of images. They then chose an image, typed their names underneath and waited with great anticipation as a color printer shot out their creations. They marched away proudly, grasping their 8-by-10 pieces of paper tightly, their names and pic tures of animals, cars and plants boldly streaked across them. The kids' excursion into the wondrous wofld of computers wouldn't have been possible two weeks ago, at least not at the MLK Center. The computers were recently donated to the center by electron ics retail giant Best Buy through a nationwide program that provides computer equipment to groups and organizations that will greatly benefit from it. The two computers are the first for the center. It joins just a handful of other recreation centers in the county that provide computer labs for the communities they serve. "I can't think of a better center for these computers to go into," said Kerry Mowery, the city's dis trict recreation supervisor. "I would like one day to see a-com puter lab at every recreation cen ter." The MLK Center's physical location aided it in nabbing the computers. The center is on Pitts burg Street, in the heart of the Kimberley Park community. Kim berley Park has recently been the beneficiary of a national grant , awarded to the county branch of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Center, a joint statewide venture between N.C. State University and N.C. Agricultural and Technical State University, which was formed to bring fresh ideas to struggling communities The Cooperative Extension Center used the grant to start the CYF (Children, Youth and Fami lies) Program in Kimberley Park. The community was chosen for CYF because of its proximity to schools and because of the MLK Center's accessibility to everyone in the community and extended operatir\g hours The program has provided par enting classes and workshops for those in the community. It was through CYF and 4-H, another N.C. Cooperative Extension Cen ter program, that the recreation center received the donated com puters The CYF program will now provide computer classes for adults and children every Wednes day evening. A computer consul tant from Modif1 Inc. has volun teered to lead the classes The computers will be used mainly for word processing. As of yet, they do not have Internet or e mail capabilities. "They can come here and do their reports for school and maybe this will be a sign to get more com puters in here," said Carolyn High of the N.C. Coop erative Extension Center. The center's newly-formed computer lab is housed in a small, , yet comfortable r e c fa ngular shaped room adja cent to the center's library. The two computers are a start, the center's director said. "I think this is about the best donation that we've received since I've been here (about 15 years)," Bill English said. , " Photo by T. Kevin Walker Kendra Davis, a N.C. Cooperative Extension Cen ter employee, instructs a Kimberley Park young ster. 1 / In the past, companies and organi zations have donated a variety of greatly-needed sports equipment, but the computers are something "different," English said. He says he seriously doubts whether the dozens of youngsters who trek through the center every day will completely abandon the center's basketball court and play gruunu. The lab will be a popular attraction as well; English says he has no doubts about that. The cen ter has another room available, about the same size as the lab, where English says he wants to add even more computers. His goal is to have "at least five or six" for the center. Pit bull that bit boy voluntarily euthanized By PAUL COLLINS THE CHRONICLE - The dog that bit 6-year-old DeVante Andre Horton was euthanized last week. DeVante received about *20 staples in his head and 15 stitches in his left leg as a result of the April 7 dog attack. . > V Dennis Phillip Jackson, the owner of the dog, was summoned to a hearing April 13, to, deter mine whether the dog was a dan ger to the public. But before the hearing, Jackson voluntarily agreed to have the dog (a pit bull mixed with Rottweiler) put to death."? .' "I think they realized the dog" Was certainly a problem," said Barbara Cassidy, Forsyth Cpun- ? ty's director of animal control. ? "The attack was fairly signifi cant; it wasn't just a nip," Cassidy said. Xhe dog owner's mother, Lydia Jacksqn, pulled the dog off the child duYing the attack and tried to restrain it, but the dog broke loose from her, Cassidy said. A Winston-Salem police offi cer shot the dog in the leg when it charged the officer. Cassidy said the dog "was try ing to attack whoever was there." Dtanne George, PeVante's grandmother, said April 9 that she thinks Lydia Jackson proba bly saved DeVante's life and George was very grateful for that. In an interview Friday, George expressed her feelings about the dog being euthanized. "I'm very pleased with that," she Said. "I do know he won't be able to attack anybody else." DeVante's mother, Monica Latrice Thomas, said Monday said she was relieved but sad. "I'm a little happy and a little sad," she said. "I kpow it was , somebody's pet. I'm happy my son is all right." When a 'doctor took staples out of DeVante's head April 14, there was bleeding, so DeVante had tOfcgo back to the doctor again April 19 to make sure there was no infection, his mother said. He had missed 10 days of school since the attack. Thomas said she had not told DeVante about the dog being put to death. She said she wanted to be sure DeVante could accept the news. "He was already trauma tized," she said. DeVante was still sleeping with his mother because he was frightened, his mother said. He also was still experiencing pain from the dog bites. "He's doing better," his moth er said. Dennis Phillip Jackson could not be reached for comment. George said she still plans to lobby to have restrictions enacted requiring that dogs that have a reputation of being dangerous, such as pit bulls and Rottweilers, be allowed only for commercial use, such as commercial guard dogs, and not be allowed as pets. The dog attack happened about 4:39 p.m. April 7 outside the Jackson home on Patterson Avenue less than 150 feet from DeVante's home. Officer R.K. Canty of the Winston-Salem Police Department said that a witness reported seeing two boys playing at the dog pen and that at one point the witness saw them kicking the dog pin and poking a stick in the gate. DeVante and his 7-year-old brother, Jamon Antwaun Horton, denied that they were taunting the dog or poking sticks in the gate. Jamon said that he and DeVante went in search of their dog, Killer, which had gotten loose. Jamon said that when they were at the house the dogs barked at each other and the pit bull mix bit Killer on the cheek. Jamon said there was a lock on the fence, but that when the pit bull mix jumped against the fence, it got out. Lydia Jackson said April 9 that the boys "had no business in that backyard." Canty said April 9 that the dog had never been out of its pen before, and it had been in the pen for a year. He said the dog had been well cared for. Second New Bethel to hold gospel festival Special to THE CHRONICLE Second New Bethel Baptist Church will sponsor its third annual East Winston Outdoor Gospel Festival on May 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Last year's festival was very successful, and the participation from area churches and the com munity was overwhelming! With" your help, we are certain to repeat this phenomenon once again. The time is quickly approach ing. May 29 is right around the corner Therefore, it is imperative that we hear from you as soon as possible to let us know your inten tions for this year. The East Winston Outdoor Gospel festival is a time when we fellowship in musical harmony to praise the Lord. It is also a time when we come together just for fun. Like last year, we will have: good food, area gospel choirs, professional health fair, black arts and crafts, balloons for the kids, corporate booths representing, opportunities, carnival atmos phere and much, much more! Second New Bethel Baptist Church is. at 1900 New Walker town Road. Winston-Salem. Phone: 722-0128. Fax: 766-5083. I The Chronicle's e-mail address is: wschronia.netunlimited.net Arson from page A2 charged in the same criminal com plaint brought in February against Ballinger with assisting him in the 1994 arson of the Cdncord Church of Christ in Boone Coun ty, Ind. Last week, Puckett filed a peti tion to enter a plea of guilty to that charge. Lee said Puckett and Wood "have not been cleared" and the investigation of fires set by Ballinger continues. "Someone who sets fire to a house of worship is not just attacking a building, they are* attacking a community," Lee said, adding that the task force would continue operations "as long as needed." The task force has maintained a 34 percent arrest rate in the fires it has investigated, which Johnson said is "more than double the nationwide arson arrest rate of 16 percent." Ballinger has been in federal i Ik custody since his arrest after suf fering burns from a church Tire he allegedly set in Ohio. OfT-duty Ball State, Ind., Police Sgt. Steve Hiatt said he overheard paramedics describing Ballinger's suspicious burns and remembered Ballinger's name from a 1997 church fire investigation. He stopped by the hospital and questioned Ballinger, who was bandaged with severe burns to his face, chest, legs and hands. ? , Ballinger has been mostly unemployed since he settled back into his parents' rural home in 1990. In 1994, parents complained he was recruiting teen-agers into a cult. At Ballinger's home, Daleville Police Sgt. Mark Brewer confiscat ed about 50 contracts signed in blood by teen-agers who agreed to give their souls to the devil and do "all types of evil" in exchange for wealth, power and sex. Ballinger was not charged and successfully sued to get the con tracts back, Brewer said. 1 HlillliHBSftilBAH a starting here, ?$, ? y I k t n g ? ; is possible n B v ^ Information Session ? Evening Program ~ Winston-Salem ? Executive Program - Winston-Salem (weekends) I ? Institute for Executive Education ? Tuesday, May 4 5:30-7:30 p.m. Formal remarks begin at 6 p.m. Joseph S. Koury Convention Center 3121 High Point Road at 1-40 Greensboro, NC Call today! 336.758.4584 or 800.428.6012 . I www.mba.wfu.edu |B| FREE ||||? LEAFMULCH *' v '.. . t ' Due to customer demand, ' the city will offer free loading of leaf mulch III Saturday, April 24th ' y(%.from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. P (or as long as quantities last) : at the Shorefair Drive leaf site, between 29th and 30th streets (east of the Fairgrounds). For more information, call 727-8418. *?-, ?nvdda On G* What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Q: What is carpal tunnel syndrome? A Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a condition in the hand and wrist characterized by numbness and pain, especially of the thumb and first two fingers. Q: What causes CTS? A CTS is usually caused by repetitive motion activities such as typing, working.bn the computer or assembly work. After long hours performing the same motion, the wrist and hand 1 may seem to fall asleep or become numb. Following the numbness, a pain may develop up the arm and into the neck and shoulder. Shaking or massaging may help, but eventually grip strength decreases and you may tend to drop things. > ?,. ? Q: Why does CTS happen? \ - A To understand why CTS happens, picture the tendons and nerves-in your arm. Nine tendons and the median nerve go through a tunnel made of a ligament connected to the wrist bones. When the ligament in the tunnel becomes inflamed or swollen, this puts pressure on the median nerve, resulting in CTS. Q: Can I do anything to help prevent CTS? ? Keep your wrist in a straight position when working with your hands. , ? Use your entire hand when grasping or lifting items. ? Minimize repetitive motion whenever possible. ? Avoid activities that subject your hands to strain and force. ? FVactke conditioning exercises to streng^en hand and arm musdes. If you are concerned about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, please check with your physician for further recommendations. I Novant Health Triad Region facilities include Forsyth Medical Center, Medical Park Hospital, Davie County Hospital, Community General Hospital and 31 Novant Health physician practice locations. KmdkmbmmimmmmmmtKmwmmmammmmM John P. Card, MD Dr. Card, on Internal Medicine Specialist at Internal Medicine Associates, is a graduate of Howard University in Washington DC. He completed his residency at Loyola University Medico) - Center in Chicago, Illinois and is board certified in Internal Medicine. NOVANT^ALTH)
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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