Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 November 2003 — Page 1

v

Preparing a conscious community May and beyond

Cheryl Adams stands up for families. Page C3 *The Indianapolis

INDIANA’S GREATEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

^ Volume 108

Number 46 ■ Since 1895 ■ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2003 ■ www.indianapolisrecorder.com ■ Four Sections ■ 75C

Richard Edwards will receive national award for being responsible father

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Aletra and Virtue Hampton started performing with their family band throughout the country as well as on the historic Indiana Avenue in the late 1920s. Now, the Indiana Historical Society is honoring the duo by releasing "The Hampton Sisters, A Jazz Tribute" during a special benefit concert on Nov. 16. All proceeds from the concert will go towards a new home for Aletra and Virtue, who are both in their 80s. See page C8 for the complete story. “Vote for the Best” Who is your favorite local politician? Where is the best place to take a date? Who is Indiana's best radio personality? Turn to page C7 to check out The Recorder's "Vote for the Best" list. After the votes are tallied, The Recorder will publish the results. Black Expo fall celebration The Indianapolis chapter of Indiana Black Expo Inc. invites you to the 3 rd annual 2003 Winter Ball - An Affair Celebrating Youth, on Friday, Nov. 21 at the Marriott North, 3645 River Crossing Parkway, Keystone at the Crossing. The hospitality hour begins at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the program at 7:30 p.m. Performers include Jason Hunter, JC Squad of Eastern Star Baptist Church, the 2003 Miss Indianapolis Black Expo contestants, and the reigning Miss Indianapolis Black Expo Teen Teresha Twyman. • Tickets are $35 for youth pp to 18-years-old and $55 for adults; tables for eight are available for $240 for youth and $400 for adults. For additional information or reservations contact the chapter office at (317) 6932600. Stopover annual ilinner Stopover announces their 17 ,h annual Friends of Stopover Dinner. It will be held on Nov. 18 at the Athenaeum Ballroom at 401 E. Michigan St. Special guest speaker will be Amos Brown. The event begins with cocktails at 6:30 and art auction followed by 7 o'clock dinner, awards and program. Tickets at $35 each with tables of eight are available for $240. For tickets or more information, call (317) 635-9301. Chamber of Commerce discussion The Indiana Chamber of Commerce's 2004 Central Indiana Legislative Preview ► See BRIEFS, Page A4

By ERICKA P. THOMPSON

Staff Writer

because of his new attitude towards life by his increased imolvement with his 8-vear-old daugh-

To build a noble legacy of fa- ter Aneesa and bv his developtherhood is to improve the life m ent into a more responsible

chances of children by assisting adult.

young fathers in achieving self- “i still haven’t quite absorbed sufficiency and strengthening that I will be receiving an award,” their parental involvement. said an excited Edwards. Tm The Fathers and Families Re- shocked and surprised because I source/ResearchCenter(FFRRC) never expected anything like this was built on this mission and the would happen to me. I know a few recent achievements of Richard other men who have stepped up Edwards proves that their mis- as well, but I’ll definitely accept

sion is being accomplished. the award."

Edwards will receive the “Cour- Eight years ago, Edwards now age in Action award at the Na- 33, was in and out of jail, did not tional Practitioners Network for have a high school diploma and Fathers and Families Nov. 14 and could not keep steady employ-

is being nationally recognized ment.

When he learned that his (ex)

The Fathers and Families Research / Resource Center will celebrate its 10 th anniversary along with the grand opening of its new facility locatedat 2835 N. Illinois St. on Friday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.

girlfriend was going to have his child, he decided it was time to change his life around because he didn’t want to bring his daughter into the world surrounded by negativity. Through FFRRC, Edwards ► See FATHER, Page A4

Apartment foreclosures force residents out of their homes

By ERICKA C. WHEELER ftaff Writer Despite the fact that Parkwood and, Sherman Forest apartments are facing a foreclosure sale, residents do not seem to show pity to the owners. The 48-year-old apartments, located on the outskirts of the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood, will begin to relocate residents any day now. “I will be glad when they hurry up, so that I can find a better home for myself and my kids,” said Jacqueline White, a resident at Parkwood. “I plan on taking that voucher and finding a better environment.” “We think that this will result in a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, where we will just transfer the deed,” said Bill Everngam, senior vice president of Realty Investment Co., the parent company for Parkwood apartments. A deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is a transfer of title or ownership of a property, from a purchaser who is delinquent on their loan. The owner will regain the property back to satisfy the balance due on the delinquent loan. This is a voluntarily action to allow the borrower to avoid foreclosure proceedings. In this case, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will gain ownership. “HUD insured

the mortgage on the property. If the owner is in default then the lender assigns the deed to HUD, we then reimburse the lender, just like in our single family homes,” said HUD public relations officer Anne Scherrieb. Parkwood apartments were forced to foreclose due to lack of mortgage payments. The possible new owners of the property are unknown. But rehabilitation of the apartments will take place. “I would rather not release that information because they are not 100 percent sure yet,” said Everngam. “After construction is finished, the residents will make out really well because they will have first shot at moving back in, as long as they meet the criteria.” Blit residents are not sure that they will return. “Whatever they do - like change the name - it will still be the same Parkwood, and no I will not want to come back,” said Parkwood resident Shantel Davis. A HUD representative placed on the doors of all residents, a letter informing them of the possible foreclosure and informing that “tenants will receive assistance under the Section 8 Housing voucher program, if the assistance is available and the tenant is eligible for the program to be ► See PARKWOOD, Page A3

Above: Jacqueline White, 23, reads over the notice sent to her from HUD about the possible foreclosure of Parkwood apartments. (Photos/J. Hurst) Shantel Davis, a resident of Parkwood apartments, is frustrated with the living conditions in the apartments.

Outstanding School 37 students

Stacey Kelley's 4 th grade class at Hazel Hart Hendricks School 37 was awarded a pizza party from The Indianapolis Recorder newsroom. Kelley's class got the most compliments In the school for the month of October and won the party by being such a well-behaved class. (Photo/J. Cohen)

By AMOS BROWN III Recorder Correspondent Gov. Joseph Kernan has appointed David Lewis to be the clerk of the Supreme and Appellate Courts. Lewis, currently state director for Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., replaces Republican Brian Bishop who resigned in June, seven months after being reelected to the post. Lewis, a Democrat joins Crov. Kernan and Lt. Gov. Kathy Davis as the only Democrats holding a statewide office. Lewis will be the second Afri-can-American clerk of the courts in Indiana history. The first, Dwayne Brown was elected in 1990. but was dogged by charges of sexual impropriety and ghost employment during the final years of his term. He was found guilty of ghost employment after leaving office in 1995. With the appointment, Lewis becomes just the fourth African American to hold one of the state’s eight statewide elected offices. “I’m honored that Gov. Kernan had the confidence in me to serve the people of Indiana in such an important position," Lewis told The Recorder. The clerk of the courts serves as the custodian of the records of the Indiana Supreme, Appellate and Tax Courts. The clerk is responsible for preserving the records of the courts and handles filings and fees and bonds that are posted. Officials of the Kernan administration told The Recorder that the governor’s office approached Lewis nearly two weeks ago to ask if he would be interested in serving as clerk of the courts. Lewis had worked for Kernan in the then lieutenant governor's office first in the Community Development Divi- ► See LEWIS, Page A3

Veterans Day observance The Prisoner of WarMissing in Action Honor Guard was included in the Veterans Day parade downtown this week. (Photo/C. Guynn)

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