Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 January 2003 — Page 1

Preparing a conscious community today and beyond New Classic Challenge of Champions, Page B6

»The Indianapolis

INDIANA’S GREATEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Volume 108 ■ Number 1 ■ Since 1895 ■ FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2003 ■ www.indianapolisrecorcler.com ■ Four Sections ■ 75C

Sieve Nelson reelected head of library trustees

The dianapolisMarion County Public Library Board of Trustees has reelected Steve Nelson as president for 2003. Appointed to the IMCPL board by the City-County Council in 1999, Nelson was first elected president in 2002. He is currently president and CEO of Engineering Service Group Inc. and the Charnel Companies. Other IMCPL board officers are D. Mark Bowell, vice president; Jay L. Height, secretary; and Jerrv f Lockett, treasurer. The IMCPL BoardofTrustees meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at various library locations. BRIEFS

Goodwill changes donation policy Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana Inc. began new donation policies Jan. 1. It will no longer accept donations of televisions, computers, gas grills and gas-pow-ered eguiptaent. Goodwill Industries appreciates all donations it can sell in stores. However, donations of these items - which it cannot use - force the organization to dispose of them. This raises costs and reduces revenue available for the mission of providing job training and employment services for people in central Indiana. For more information and a complete list, visit www.goodwill-indy.org/ donate.htm. Julian Center tree burning event The Julian Center will host the "Twelfth Night Tree Burning Celebration" at Broad Ripple Park Jan. 6 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. This annual community event will celebrate the New Year and benefit women and children in crisis. There will be music and refreshments. All donations will benefit the Julian Center. Library needs volunteers The Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library needs adult volunteers to help maintain the library collection at the College Avenue branch library, 4180 N. College Ave., on weekdays. The Infozone, the library branch located in the Children's Museum on 3000 N. Meridian St., is also in need of volunteers for weekdays and weekends. For more information, contact the IMCPL Support Programs at (317) 269-5203. Got a hot nows tip? Want to bo hoard? If you would Ilk* to report any nows or share your comments, call the Recorder News Hotline at (317) 924-5143.

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2002

Year in

By SHANNON WILLIAMS Recorder Editor

The year 2002 has made a tremendous impact on the AfricanAmerican community. There were many "firstsMor Blacks last year, some triumphs, and of course some losses. In our Business, Health, Sports and Arts and Entertainment sections of the paper you'll find highlights of events and people that are pertinent to that particular section. In our People and Trends section, The Recorder pays homage to those who passed away in 2002. The last year has indeed made an impact. Take a stroll down memory lane with The Recorder as we recall unforgettable things that have taken place within the last year.

Over the last 12 months, there have been many things that happened in Indiana as well as other parts of the country’ that really stood out in the Black community. Perhaps the death of 27-year-old Calvin Cole Jr. is most familiar to the city's Black community. Cole died on March 6 while in the custody of Indianapolis police after being apprehended for speeding and attempting to flee from officers. Official autopsy reports revealed that Cole died of a fatal severe injury caused by blunt force trauma to the head. In July of 2002 during Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration, members of the African-American commu-

nity experienced verbal abuse, harassment and other forms of disrespect from Indianapolis police officers while attending the weekend festivities. Town hall meetings were called by local leaders as a forum for city residents to discuss their anger and displeasure with the way I PD handled security. As a result of the uproar, Mayor Bart Peterson initiated a Special Events Task Force plan that was designed to ensure that all ma jor downtown events be safe and successful as well as enable residents and visitors the oppor-

tunity to have a positive experience in the city. Following a town hall meeting, Republican City-County Council members William Dovvden and Robert Massie issued a public statement calling critics of I PD “thugs and gorillas." A proposal for censure and a move to strip both Dovvden and Massie from their chairmanships was nixed in a 15-11 vote. On May 8, Kenneth C. Rich-

► See 2002, Page A3

A Dubious Distinction Marion County leads state in incarcerating juveniles

By FRAN QUIGLEY NUVO Newsweekly State Rep. William Crawford, D-lndianapolis, says there is a better way to solve Marion County’s juvenile incarceration problem. If you know about the problem, chances are you've heard it described in financial terms. The

county owes $38 million and counting to the State of Indiana for the cost of incarcerating juveniles sent from the countv tostateoperated facilities like the former Indiana Boys School (now known as the Plainfield Juvenile Correctional Facility) and Girls School (now known as the Marion County Juvenile Correctional Facility.)

A DUBIOUS DISTINCTION

Marion County leads the state in juveniles per eapita eonunitted to the Department of Correction

1 Marion 710 31.98

Rank County Joy. 2 Kil)lev 2; , Commitments E ir 16 Allen 112 12.18 10,000juveniles 45 Lake 61 +.70

Source: Indiana Department of Correction, as of 9-25-02

(Pictured front left to right) Terri Ware, Jasmyne Brown, Patricia Ware and Jamaal Ware (rear left to right) Earnest Holly, Jr. and Daniel Kennedy. (Photo/C.Guynn) Miracle on King Street

By ANNETTE L. ANDERSON Recorder Correspondent There is an old favorite movie entitled “Miracle on 34 lh Street.” In fact, there are several versions of this holiday charmer, hut there is only one version of the “miracle’’ on North King Street in Indianapolis. And although the Santa there does not don a red suit or a white beard, or ride in a reindeer driven sleigh, she truly does put smiles on the faces of many children. Patricia Ware is the mother of five adult children of her own - daughter Alisia Gray, deceased daughter Tracey Brown, daughter Tonya

Ware, sons Wiljiam Jr. and Jason Ware. She also has seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild and another great grandchild on the way. And as if that were not enough. Ware is the foster mother for two more young men, Ernest Holly Jr. and Daniel Kennedy, through the Specialized Alternative for Families and Youth of Indiana (SAFY) program. Widowed since 1987, Ware is a retired Indianapolis Public Schools bus driver, and is also medically disabled, but still projects a very positive attitude toward life, because ► See MIRACLE, Page A2

UNCF present's An Evening of Stars' to highlight minority education

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The recent county budget approved by the City -County Council essentially ignored the overdue debt, balancing the hooks by agreeing not to pay the state for at least another year. But state officials with their own budget problems are in no mood to wait, and last month cited the past due juvenile bill in refusing to release $2.5 million in Marion County option income tax. Marion County Treasurer Greg Jordan, who is also seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Mayor Bart Peterson this fall, has responded to the money problem in a time-honored fashion: He sued them. Jordan filed knit against the state in November. claiming that the Indiana Constitution mandates the state pay the full cost of housing juvenile offenders. This despite the fact that there is a state law directing counties to pay hall the cost ol juvenile incarceration, a ► See JUVENILES, Page A2

(Pictured left to right) Lou Rawls, Vivica A. Fox and Dr. Bobby Jones will host the United Negro College Fund's television special, "An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence," airing on WTHR Channel 13 Jan. 4, 2003 at 7 p.m.

T he I'nited Negro College Fund (.I’NCF^ presents "An Evening of Stars, a'Celebration of Educational Excellence" on W IT 1R Channel 15 at 7 p.m. on Jan. t. 2005. T he legendary l.ou Raw ls. Indianapolis own \T\ ica A Eo\ and Dr. Bobby Tones will be hosting. The program w ill he hosted locally by Channel 13 anchor Andrea Morcheadami woath cnnaii Chris Wright 'T he mission ol the special is tocelcbratcvdm ational e\ eiJIence and underscore the importance ol higher cduea lion while spotlighting the achievement* of CNCE s stu

dents ami alumni, member institutions ami their supporters. The I our-hour broadcast w ill feature performances by some of the top talent in the entertainment industry, including l.uther Yandros.s. Gerald l.cvert. Jill Scott, I’sher and Kirk Eranklin. "We arc extremely excited about thisy car s telex ision special and hope CNCE will bo able to luTp ev on more ilcserv - ingy oung men and w omen gain access to higher education and have the chance to reach their lull potential, s.iul William 1 l.Grav .111, president and CE() of CNCE.

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