The Chron ___
Vol. XXXVII No. 36 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. THURSDAY, May 5, 2011
Sportsmen
present
annual
scholarship
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Volunteers
thanked
for their
service
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highlights
a few
good men
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Photos by Todd Luck
Judge Wynn addresses the audience.
New Civil Rights
battles loom,
speakers believe
BY TODD LUCK
I III CHRONICLE
Speakers at the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County NAACP
Freedom Fund Gala talked passionately about today's many
civil rights struggles as they took to the podium inside a
banquet hall in Benton Convention Center last Friday.
Mayor Allen Joines praised the NAACP for taking a lead
role in fighting legislation in State Houses across the nation
that would require vot
ers to show a photo
identification before
casting their ballots.
Sponsors, mainly
Republicans, of such
bills say it would help
prevent voter fraud, but
the NAACP and others
say such requirements
could intimidate anchor
disenfranchise minority
voters,
"It makes the work
that this organization
does so very impor
tant," said Joines. "It's
probably never been as
important as it is today
because there are some
things that are going on
in this state and our
Rev. William Barber says he
challenges are many.
nation that make me nervous."
Local NAACP President S. Wayne Patterson, a well
known local attorney, said voting rights are among his top
concerns.
'We always have to fight the struggle," said Patterson. "If
those who are in power can stop same day registration (and
implement) voter ID, it's really going to affect less fortunate
individuals."
Patterson said the NAACP's plate is overflowing. He
talked about concerns about state budget cuts that could lead
to teacher layoffs and other cuts to education. Patterson and
others arc especially uneasy not that Republicans are in con
trol in the General Assembly. Some Republican legislators
want to redraw state voting districts, which Patterson said
would negatively impact minority voters.
See NAACP on Atl
Another Historic Moment
for President Obama
Official White House Photos by Pete Souza
Silting at his desk in the Oval Office on
Sunday, May I, President Barack Obama edits
his remarks detailing the mission that led to
the killing of 9III mastermind Osama bin
Laden. A short time later, the president deliv
ered the news of bin Laden's death to the nation
and world. President Obama, who gave the
green-light for Navy Seals to take out the noto
rious terrorist leader, used part of his remarks
to call^n all Americans to come together.
New School
QEA held up as successful charter school model
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
Quality Education Academy tooted its own horn last Thursday as N.C. Rep. Marcus
Brandon (D-tiuiltord) paid a
visit.
Last Thursday's tour was
organized by Parents for
Educational Freedom in North
Carolina (PEFNC), which
advocates for greater educa
tional options for parents.
PEFNC and Brandon are advo
cates of N.C. Senate Bill 8.
which would raise the state's
cap on charter schools, which
currently sits at 100, The
bill, which is being consid
ered in the House after pass
ing the Senate, is controver
sial. Opponents say the state
should be focusing on better
ing the public school system,
while supporters believe that
raising the cap will give all
Photo hy Todd Luck
Tamara Turner with N.C. Rep. Marcus Brandon,
Simon Johnson and Darrell Allison.
parents, including those with low incomes, the chance to consider a wider array of educa
Sce QEA on A5
BB&T branch shows its WSSU spirit
Photo by Layla Fanner
w s s u
Chancellor
Donald
Reaves and
Regional
President
C a n I e y
A lexander
clap as (he
new sign is
unveiled.
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE .
The BB&T branch on New Walkertown Road is
showing its Ram Pride.
The branch celebrated its long and ongoing relation
ship with Winston-Salem State University last week by
officially transforming itself into a WSSU "spirit
branch." The branch, which now features large photo
graphs of WSSU events, WSSU sporting paraphernalia
and "Go Rams!" signage, is the first spirit branch the
banking institution has instituted in the Triad area,
according to BB&T Regional President Cantey
Alexander.
"I'm so excited to have this," Alexander told those
who gathered in the parking lot of the branch for the
unveiling ceremony last Thursday afternoon. "I've been
president of the region for eight years and this has got to
rank within the top three or four days of my career."
Alexander called the spirit branch a "win-win" for the
See Rank on A 10
Phoio by Lay la Farmer
John Davenport and his
wife, Nia, are all smiles
after his selection.
Davenport
setting
School
Board goals
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
Republican members of
the Winston-Salem/ Forsyth
County Board of Education
voted Tuesday evening to
appoint another Republican
to fill the seat of Democrat
Geneva Brown, who resigned
from the Board last month
because of health issues.
John Davenport Jr. will
be sworn in next week and
officially take over Brown's
District 1 seat. He received
the votes of Chairman Donny
Lambeth, Buddy Collins,
Jane Goins, Marilyn Parker,
Jeannie Met calf and Jill
Tackabery. Although School
Board elections became non
partisan five years ago, the
six members who voted for
Davenport - who in the past
has run unsuccessfully as a
Republican for the City
Sec Davenport on A9
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