Volume 44, Number SO :._. THURSDAY, August 16, 2018 . ADVENTURE IS WAITING. JOIN CUB SCOUTS. Boys & Girls Ages 5-10! Find a Cub Scout Pack near you. Visit BeAScout.org hwmmnmh See Opinion Forum pages on \6X See Sports on page B1 Group won’t ‘sit by any longer Rev. Paul Ford during a press conference at the Winston-Salem NAACP headquarters on Tuesday, Aug. 14. Rev. Ford is a strong support er of Action4Ashley. Rev. Alvin Carlisle dur ing a press conference earlier this week where it was announced that Action4Ashley filed a claim against the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Photos by levin Stinson Attorhney Peggy Nicholson during a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 14 held by Action4Ashley. Action4Ashley files discrimination complaint against WS/FCS BY TEVIN STINSON THE CHRONICLE__ The Action4Ashley Coalition has filed a discrimina tion complaint with the U.S. Department of Education cit ing failure on behalf of the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Board of Education and School System (WSFCS) to address complaints of mold and poor air quality at Ashley Elementary School (Ashley Academy for Cultural & Global Studies). The Coalition, which consists of several community groups including; the Winston-Salem NAACP, Ministers’ Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity, Coalition for Equality in Public Education, the Local Organizing Committee, Drum Majors Alliance, The Big 4 Alumni Association, and the North Carolina Central University Alumni Association ,was organized earlier this year in response to the growing number of students and staff at Ashley who reported health problems related to the below par conditions of the facility, including mold, water leaks, moisture, and poor air quality. The complaint tiled with the U.i>. uepartment ot Education’s Office of Civil Rights on Tuesday, Aug. 14 alleges that the WSFCS violated the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. During a press confer ence earlier this week Rev. Alvin Carlisle, president of the Winston-Salem NAACP said although the coalition was started this year complaints about the conditions at Ashley have been reported for years. “This is an issue that educators, parents, and commu nity activists have been addressing for many many years. Ashley Elementary is a symptom of a continual dispro portionate allocation of funding as it concerns education in Winston-Salem Forsyth County,” said Carlisle during See Group on A2 Photo by Tevin Stinson Timekd Couthen reads a poem she wrote for her son Juwaan Woodbury Jr. on what would have been his eighth birthday. Juwaan died from an accidental drowning last summer. Family celebrates the life of boy gone too soon BYTEVIN STINSON THE CHRONICLE On what would have been his eighth birthday, more than a dozen family members and loved ones of Juwaan Denard Woodbury Jr. gathered at Parklawn Memorial Gardens last week to celebrate his life. "He was a very vibrant young man and it was just so unexpected," said Ruby Cain, Juwaan's great-grandmoth er. "We all miss him so very much." Last summer, Juwaan and his family were enjoying a relaxing day at a local pool when tragedy struck. After the family decided to get out of the pool, Juwaan decided to take another swim. According to family members who were present, Juwaan went under but never resurfaced. Three days later, he passed away at a.local hospital. Although he was only here for a short period of time, several relatives said he touched the lives of many. Cain said Juwaan was a ray of sunshine, who always had a smile on his face. Boy on A2 Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is seriously ill BY MESFIN FEKADU AP MUSIC WRITER_ NEW YORK — Fans and friends, including Mariah Carey and Missy Elliott, offered prayers and well wishes to Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, who is seriously ill. A person close to Franklin, who spoke on the condition Photo by Brad Barket/Invision/AP Aretha Franklin attends the 92Y Presents Aretha Franklin and Clive Davis In Conversation at the 92nd St. Y on Wednesday, Oct. 1,2014 in New York. of anonymity because the person was not allowed to pub licly talk about the topic, told The Associated Press or Monday that the singer is seriously ill. No more details were provided. Carey, who considers Franklin one of her biggesi influences, wrote on Twitter that she is "praying for the Queen of Soul." Missy Elliott said that the public has tc celebrate iconic artists before they die. "So many [of them] have given us decades ol See Franklin on A12 WINSTON SALEM. NC 27101-2705 60 Montgomery to succeed N.C. Rep. Ed Hanes BY TODD LUCK THE CHRONICLE The Forsyth County Democratic Party selected City Council Member Derwin Montgomery to succeed Ed Hanes as the representative for the 72nd District in the N.C. General Assembly. The party’s selection of Montgomery for the seat was made at a special meeting on Sunday and is expected to be approved by the gov ernor this week. Montgomery’s resig nation from the City Council will not be immediate, and he will continue to represen| the East Ward until then. The City Council will need to decide See Ride on A2 Photo by Todd Luck Former 72nd District State Rep. Ed Hanes shakes 'he hand of his successor, City Council Member Derwin Montgomery on Sunday. (336)924-7000 www.assuredstoragews.com