Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 May 2000 — Page 1

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RELIGION Donald Lawrence and IH-Cifty Singers

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Preparing a conscious community today and beyond

ARTS A ENTERTAINMENT Midday Mama hot now porsonality Pag* 1

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105th YEAR ■ NUMBER 20 ■ FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2000 ■ PHONE 317/924-5143 ■ www.indlanapollsrscorder.com ■ 75#

Malcolm X

See Memories of Malcolm on A-6. Congress spotlights Indiana's success Gov. Frank O’Bannon welcomed Congress’ interest in Indiana’s huge success in providing health insurance to uninsured children. Kathy Gifford, director of the state’s Medicaid program, testified in Washington, to the Human Resources Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee. The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured recently creditad Indiana with a greater enrollment increase than any other state, she told the subcommittee. Public television’s the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer will spotlight Indiana’s commitment in a two-part report on PBS affiliates across the nation. Using an extensive outreach effort and a simpler, more convenient enrollment process, Gifford ’ s testimony noted, the state has signed up some 117,000children, an increaseof nearly 60 percent, since July 1998. That’s when Hoosier Healthwise, Indiana’s version of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, began. ; To bring it about, O’Bannon persuaded state lawmakers to expand Medicaid coverage to ISO percent and . then 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Slaughter joins Recorder staff The Indianapolis Recorder welcomes RonnettaS. Slaughter as a general assignment reporter. Slaughter, an Indianapolis native, graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor of acts degree in telecommunications. After college, she had an internship with WISH-TV. At The Recorder, Slaughter covers the health and religion beats as well as general news events. She can be reached at 924-5143. - - Saa BRIEFS, Page A2 •^f- : '

By FREDERICK L. MERKERSON III would later fatally shoot the suspect, but Staff Writer Greene’s legacy lives on.

“It’s great to have my father recog-

A memorial to Warren Greene Sr., an nized for his lifelong efforts,” said Officer Indianapmis police officer killed in the Greene’s son, Warren Green ID, SO. He line of duty, was recently unveiled at a said his father was a proud (»actitioner of ceremony honoring police officers. About what is now known as community polic50 people attended the ceremony at the ing. He had the trust, respect and faith of Madame Walker Theatre. the Black community as he often helped to A star bearing Greene’s name and the address and resolve theif issues. He tireword “hero,” will be placed on the Walker lessly patrolled Indiana .Avenue, which Theatre’s “Walk ofStars” in June. Officer was then a predominately Black neighbor-

ft police officer* honored

Or—no cHod In the line of duty In 1975. He and other omcGvS wore recently honored for their labor and eecrlfice.

Greene, will be the fourth person and only hood and is now home to the Walker

non-musician to merit the honor,. Theatre. cated to protecting and serving citizens, The Black officer was killed on Dec. 25, Charles Blair, the director of the Walker especially Blacks, is now being honored 1975, when he responded to a domestic Theatre, said Greene was one of the most by the Walker. The theatre is a last link they carry every day. disturbance call. As he approached an open liked officers on the force. He said it is between the past of Indiana Avenue and 0 BAI , ptl

door to a residence, he was shot. Officers ironic that Greene and other officers dedi- the African-American community. aaa r ALLEN, rag* A8

was a protector of Indiana Av-

enue,” said Blair.

The 30-minute ceremony was part of

nationwide ceremonies for men and women who lost their lives while protecting others during National Police Memo-

rial Week, which ends Saturday. “Losing your life in the line of duty is

the supreme sacrifice,” said Sgt Matthew Steward. “It’s a risk that all of us realized coming into this profession and are willing to take. Officer Greene did what we all

say we’ll do when we take the oath.” IPD supporters said they marvel and

respect officers and the work and burden

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Shigella outbreak

Four-year-old Arionna Hollins was diagnosed with shigellosis last week after contracting It at her day care. The preschooler has since returned to achool. ^ , v \ Shigella outbreak attacks y^oiith

By RONNETTA S. SLAUGHTER Staff Writer The spread of shigellosis wreaked havoc on local educational facilities, as reported cases reached more than 300 students. The Marion County Health Department continues to answer calls regarding infected children who contracted shigellosis from day care centers. Shigella bacteria causes infection, and has affected a large percentage of Indiana children, who may be more susceptible because of hand washing techniques. The bacteria is shed in the stool, and spread through

unwashed hands and contact with contaminated areas or items. Yolanda Hollins has experienced the effects of shigellosis with her daughter, Arionna, a 4-year-old who attends Head Start (Service Center 1) day care center. “The school put fliers out that (shigellosis) was going around. They warned us to make sure that she washed her hands,” said Hollins, noting that she immediately had Arionna and her 10-month-old son tested. Although both children displayed diarrhea Saa SHIGELLA, Page A3

Two surrender in church bombing 1963 blast that killed four Httle Black giria helped galvanize civil rights movement

By DAVE BRYAN

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Two longtime suspects M surrendered Wednesday to face murder charges in the 1 %3 Birmingham church bombing that killed four Made girls and helped galvanize the civil rights movement. Thomas E. Blanton Jr. surrendere(LlltNlil7JM9t

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with eight counts of murder - two cottas covering each r - ' of the four girts who died. Four counts were for iMen- ’ ^ s tional murder and die others involved “universal malice” because the bomb was placed where it could have lolled any number of people. Jones declined to comihent on the evidence or why the case was being brought now, 37 years after the deadly explosion at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. But he said the evidence lent itself better to state murder charges than to any federal charges. If convicted, the maximum sentence is life in prison with the possibility of parole. Lawyers for Cherry and Blanton said their clients deny wrongdoing. Cherry’s attorney, Mickey Johnson, also said Cherry is in ill health. “He wants the world to know his story, and he thinks he’ll be vindicated,” said Johnson. No dates for hearings were immediately set. The two men were being held without bond at least until their attorneys could request a bond hearing. Blanton, in his early 60s, of Birmingham, and Cherry, 69, of Mabank, Texas, are the only two living suspects in the bombing, which killed the girls at church on a Sunday morning, one of the most shocking racial crimes of the civil rights era. An investigation in the 1970s resulted in the murder conviction of suspecPRobert Edward Chambliss, who died in prison in 1985 while serving a life term. A fourth suspect, Herman Cash, is dead. On Tuesday, Cherry ’s 47-year-old son, Thomas Frank Cherry, appeared before the special Jefferson County grand jury but said he couldn’t discuss his appearance. ■. * See BOMBING, Page A3

Nationwide Insurance conies to Mapleton-FaH Creek

By ANARE V. HOLMES Recorder Editor The Mapleton-Fall Creek area near 38th and Meridian Street boasts a new business site that is something other than a liquor store, check-cashing place or drug store. Nationwide Insurance, one of the country ’ s largest auto and home insurers, opened its new Indianapolis sales and service center at 3 E. 38th St. as part of a company-wide commitment to better serve its urban markets. “We felt it was extremely important to have a physical presence in the areas we’re trying to serve,” said Galen T. Stover, a Nationwide vice president. “This area's visibility was key in our decision. We wanted to pick a place where everyone would know where we are, a place that was close to solid community organizations such as Indiana Black Expo.” Companies like Nationwide are starting to take urban markets, those with large populations of Blacks and Latinos, more seriously to

tap into greater economic resources and increase profits, said center manager Carla L.C. Baxter. Baxter and her sales team recently held a grand opening neighborhood celebration at the Meridian site to announce their arrival in the community. The event included city officials, community activists, members of the clergy and neighborhood residents. There are now 20 Nationwide sales and service centers throughout the country with a company goal to add another lOby the end of the year. The sales and service centers offer an array of insurance products such as auto, home, life and renter’s. In addition to selling insurance, Baxter said that once a month an annuity representative will vjsit the center to help customers with retirement and financial planning. “We feel it is extremely important to couple sales with community service,” said Baxter. “If we do one without the other, then we have Saa NATIONWIDE, Page A8

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