Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 November 1999 — Page 1

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************CAR-RT SORT**C-045 58 00-00-0000 INDIANA STATE LIBRARY 140 N SENATE AVE INDIANAPOLIS IN 46204-2207

INDIANA’S GREATEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPEI

104th YEAR ■ NUMBER 45 ■ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1999 ■ PHONE 317/924-5143 ■ www.lndlanapoll8recorder.com ■ 75*

History made as Peterson wins, Demos sweep At-Large

By AMOS BROWN III Special to the Recorder

In the biggest victory since David beat Goliath, the most historic win since Crispus Attacks first won a State Basketball Championship, the voters of IndianapolisMarion County elected a Democrat as mayor to lead them into the first four years of the 21st century. And in the process delivered a devastating blow to the Republican political machine that has ruled Indianapolis since the 1960s. Bart Peterson, the business executive who twp years ago had no chance to win, overcame the odds and backed by a united, disciplined, organized Democratic Party, ran a positive campaign to become the city’s 47th mayor; easily defeating Republican Secretary of State Sue Anne Gilroy by some 20,000 votes. In unofficial returns Peterson received 99,161 votes or 51.9 percent. Gilroy received 79,174 votes or 41.4 percent. It’s the biggest defeat the legendary Marion County Republican organization has ever suffered. Reorganized in the mid1960s by the late political strategist L. Keith Bulen, Republicans rode to power ehind the youthful energy of a young Richard Lugar in 1967. The resulting crejfion of unified city-county government ed to a generation of Republican control ttf the mayor’s office and the machinery of See HISTORY, Page A4

Bart Peterson, backed by a united, disciplined, organized Democratic Party, ran a positive campaign to become the city’s 47th mayor; easily defeating Republican Secretary of State Sue Anne Gilroy. (Recorder photo by Curtis Guynn)

Syphilis epidemic strikes African-American community

By FREDERICK L. MERKERSON HI Staff Writer

According to reports, America has a

“Syphilis is a completely preventable disease that can be cured with one dose of penicillin, yet it takes a staggering toll on

unique but narrow window of opportu- the African-American community,” said

, HelenrGayle, M.D., M.P.H., director of

oity” to eliminate syphilis. Indianapolis, however, is in danger of having a syphilis outbreak. According to the Center for Disease Control and (prevention, cases of syphilis are occurring at the lowest rate ever: 2.6 cases / 100,000 population (6,993 total cases). In 1998, half of all new cases of the curable and preventable sexually transmitted disease were reported from 28 US. counties (one percent of all U.S. counties). Unfortunately Marion County is one of

those counties.

“Nationwide, the number of cases of syphilis is low,” said Jim Beall of the Indiana State Department of Health, “but there are pockets, such as Marion County, where there have been outbreaks.

CDC’s National Center for HIV, STD, and Tfi Prevention (NCHSTP). “Syphilis remains one of the most glaring examples of r|fqial inequities iri health status facing

this nation.”

Beall agrees that syphilis’ prevalent existence in the Black community is a social indicator. “African Americans either are sufferg a lack of access to health care or they e not accessing it,” said Beall. “Communities suffering through ‘working poverty’ can’t afford good health care. “On the same hand, there are a lot of people acting irresponsibly,” he added. “If

Happy Birthday Hot 96

the average age of a person with syphilis is \7 30, they’re living a lifestyle that puts them

In 1997,64 cases of syphilis were re- at risk for a while. We could put a clinic on ported in Marion County. In 1998 there every comer, but if there is an unacceptwere 161, which was the second largest able level (of irresponsibility) it won’t do

M.C. Friction and Indiana Pacer Dale Davis were among the celebrity guests celebrating Hoosler Hot 96’s eighth birthday at Block Party on the city’s Northside. See story on page AS. (Recorder photo by Tanya Pugh)

Polls Center to present 4th annual urban festival

By ANNETTE L. ANDERSON Recorder Correspondent

The Polis Center at Indiana Univer-sity-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) will present its “ 1999 4th Annual Spirit & Place Festival: Changing Landscapes” from Nov. 11 -21, at various locations throughout the city. One of the highlights of the festival includes Bill Maxwell, a Black writer for the St. Petersburg Times, and Beverly Coyle who will reflect on their parallel lives. They will read excerpts from essays they wrote about their Southern roots cluring a reading and discussion entitled Parallel Lives. This will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 15, at St. Thomas ^quinas Catholic Church, 4625 N. jnwood. Through their essays, Maxell and Coyle will reflect on how the Jim 3w laws separated them, and “the particular challenges of the landscape of racism,” during their coming of age in the W50s. Additionally, they will both answer questions from the audience. There A no admission fee for the event. P “The purpose of this is for (them) to discuss the similarities they faced (one Black and one white) when they grew up,” noted Yolanda Smith White, man-

ager of media relations for Polis. “This festival stems from the center’s project on religion and urban culture, which seeks to understand the relationship between faith and community in Indianapolis — how does the community affect religion in the city?” According to Smith White, Polis is the brainchild of its director, David Bodenhamer. “We're trying to make this as inclusive as possible in regards to race andi gender and age, and all other important factors,” Bodenhamer pointed out. Other headliners for the festival include authors Barry Lopez (Arctic Dreams), Kathleen Norris (Dakota: A Spiritual Geography), and Sister Helen Prejean (Dead Man Walking), who will appear at the Murat Theatre, 510 N. New Jersey St., at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. Each of the authors ha^ written extensively on topics of spirit and place, and each has something unique to contribute to this year’s theme. For the second year, this will be hosted by Brown County, Ind., resident and former BBC producer Sallyann J. Murphey, authorof the nationally acclaimed Bean BlosSee POLIS, Page A4

increase reported in the United States. As of Nov. 1, there have been 292. “If this increase continues, Indianapolis will be in dire straights,” said Qelisse Miller of the Minority Health Coalition of Marion County. “We are already at epi-

demic status now.”

This epidemic is due inpart to fact that a lot of African Americans populate the area. CDC data indicates that African Americans are 34 times more likely to get syphilis than whites. Remarkably, this is considered progress. Blacks were 64 times more likely to get the disease ft) the earlier part of the decade. In Marion County, over 90 percent of those treated for syphilis

were African American.

any good.”

The pandemic problem is a result of many factors such as a decrease in syphilis control funding, low income and risky behavior like prostitution. Most of the recent cases have been associated with drug usage and sex for money or drugs. Places were these type of activities are prevelent, or hot zones, occur in areas with zip codes: 46205, 46208, and 46218. “Syphilis is not anything new,” said Miller. “It’s been treated with penicillin since 1940. Communities have to come up with creative ways to educate people,”

said Miller.”

■ ■ 7’. See SYPHILIS, Page A4

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Walter Payton

Staff reports and wire services

NFL’s all-time

leading rusher dead at 45

Hall of Famer Walter Payton, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, died Monday at his home. He was 45. Payton had been suffering from a rare liver disease and was awaiting a transplant. (Complete story in Sports section)

Former student

slain; 5 injured in

Ball State shooting A Halloween shooting spree killed former Ball State University student Julian Brown, 28, of Gary, and injured five others. The slaying has left the Ball State and Muncie communi-

ties looking for answers and police seeking any information that could help solve the crime. According to some witnesses, gunmen shot at the back door of the

house after they had been refused entrance inside the home by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity members. Police detained about 95 people after the shooting. The police department used Ball State shuttle buses to transport partygoers, who were detained for at least 8 hours for questioning, according to police. The five people wounded in the attack were treated at Ball Memorial

Hospital and released. Authorities asked that anyone not contacted by police, but who can provide information on the shootings call (765) 747-4822.

Indiana business receives national

minority honor The National Minority Supplier Development Council presented Resource Marketing of Indianapolis with a “Minority Supplier of the Year” Award at its 1999 annual conference Oct. 27 in Phoenix. Recognized as a top national honor by the corporate business community, this award also is regarded as an achievement milestone by minority business owners nationwide. Presented annually to three of the nation’s top minority businesses, the award recognizes each company’s exemplary achievements in business performance, sales growth and dedication to community service. Resource Marketing is only the second Indiana business following Mays Chemical, owned by William G. Mays, to win this national honor. In accepting this award, CEO Matti McCormick expressed her thanks to the Resource Marketing team, Indiana Regional Minority Supplier Development Council and Indiana business community for its guidance and shared commitment to Resource Marketing’s success.

You can explore youth mentoring If you'd like to be child’s mentor, but don’t have a clue how to start, Mentor Extravaganza 99 is for you. The event offers prospective volunteers a social-setting exposure topro-

Sm BRIEFS, Page A2

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