Andrew Bagley HELENA WORLD A man is dead after an argument with his girlfriend turned violent on 4th Street over the weekend. It was the city’s third murder in two days. P o l i c e responded to a call late S a t u rd a y night with e v e n t s unfolding until early Sunday morning. According to local officials, Ervin Calhoun was arguing with his girlfriend Jasmine Smith when it is alleged Smith shot and killed him. Calhoun was pronounced dead at the scene and Smith briefly fled. She was eventually apprehended and taken to Lee County. At press time, Smith had not been charged. Rick Kennedy HELENA WORLD The so-called “West Helena Water Crisis” appears to be over, at least for the time being, although a water boil still remains in effect as of July 8. In a July 7 interview, HWH Chief of Staff James Valley said, “Everybody in town should have running water with good pressure. We are still under a boil order until our samples for the health department are tested and confirmed as free of any contaminents.” Valley said the problems with the water system were multifold. “We had a computer failure, and before the computer failure, we had a break in the six-inch water main. After the computer failure, we discovered some valves where not functioning properly,” Valley said. Valley said the valves in question controlled the flow of Franklin Rick Kennedy HELENA WORLD In October 2011, Arkansas state law 14-42-119 allowed for the removal of certain public officials, just as recall laws that states as near as Louisiana and far as California had for years. Now, in 2023, that law is being tested in Helena, where a recall effort is underway to remove current Helena West Helena Mayor C h r i s t o p h e r Franklin. Leading the effort is a man familiar to government opertions in the area, former HWH Public Works Director Bobby Jones. Jones confirmed the effort, saying “I’ve lived here my entire life. I look at the condition this city, and I’ve never in my life seen the city look the way it looks now.” Jones continued, saying “From overgrown grass in Visit our website: www.helenaworld.org July 12, 2023 • Single copy $1.25 Volume 152 • Number 28 © 2023, Helena World Chronicle, LLC Please see CITY on 2A Please see DEAD on 2A DEMOLITIONS HAPPENING Recall effort launched against HWH Mayor Franklin Man killed on 4th Street J. Smith Helena-West Helena Housing Authority buildings located in the Helena side that the Authority is contracting with the city to tear down is underway with plans to rebuild. Contributed Photo. Water service working again as city tackles repairs Jones Support Local News * Support Local Journalism Please see WATER on 2A Staff Reports HELENA WORLD On July 7, Helena-West Helena Police responded to a call at 325 S. 8th Street to a report that two w o m e n had been s t a b b e d . U p o n a r r i v a l , o f f i c e r s m a d e c o n t a c t with two f e m a l e s , later idenDouble stabbing leaves one dead D. Smith
Local The Helena World 2A — WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023 Man Found Dead CITY Police responded to a call for a welfare check at 1160 Pecan last Friday and found a man dead. When officers arrived, they smelled a foul odor andnoted large amounts of flies around the residence. After gaining entry, officers found a man wrapped in a cover and on the floor. The victim was later identified as Lee Roy Jones, age 48. HWHPD detectives are investigating the death and treating it as a homicide until they receive the report with an official cause of death from the State Crime Lab. The investigation is still ongoing and if you have any leads or tips, we urge that you contact the Helena-West Helena Police Department (870) 572- 3441 or by using TIP411. Alternatively, concerned citizens may submit information anonymously via TIP411. To access TIP411, download the “Helena West Helena PD” app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Tips, information, and photos can be submitted via this app completely anonymously. Thank You for Reading the Helena World DEAD Court Dispositions Phillips County Election Commission Etavious Johnson was found Guilty of Speeding, No Proof of Liability Insurance - Local, Expired Vehicle (Tags). Aaliyah Katrina Brown was found Guilty of Speeding. Loni J. Norwood was found Guilty of Battery 3rd Degree , Disorderly Conduct. Devion Nelson was found Guilty of Battery 3rd Degree. Latasha L. Murphy was found Guilty of No Proof of Liability Insurance - Local. Kevin Ladell Smith was Found Guilty of Speeding, Criminal Impersonation, No Proof Of Liability Insurance -ASP, Veh Lights-Defective/ Improper Tail Lamps, Owner Fail To Register Vehicle-Expired Tags, Criminal Impersonation 2nd Degree. Patro S. Lee was found Guilty of Expired Vehicle License (Tags), Driving On Suspd/Revoked DL, No Seat Belt. Robert D. Hill was found Guilty of Driving On Suspd/ Revoked DL. Evelyn Schmidt has been selected by the Phillips County Democratic Central Committee to serve as the Democratic Party’s representative on the Phillips County Election Commission. She will join Republicans Barbara King and Jay Southard on the commission. Her appointment became necessary after the State Board of Election Commissioners removed all three members of the previous election commission from both parties, citing the multiple debacles during the 2022 election cycle. Schmidt is a native of the City of Lakeview and a graduate of C. V. White High School. Schmidt holds an Associate of Arts degree from Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Additionally, she earned a Masters in Public Administration from Ashford University. Schmidt currently serves on the Board of the Phillips County Library and Phillips County Housing Agency. Previously, she has had stints on the Lakeview City Council, the Phillips County Quorum Court and the Phillips County Public Facilities Board. WATER water in and out of the system, and ultimately to the tank. “The tank ended up being drained, and when that happened, other problems were discovered,” Valley said. Valley said the city was still working off a list of 175 leaks as of Friday, July 7. Valley said the city had hired a number of contractors, some local, some not local, to assist in the water effort. Valley also said that Arkansas Rural Water had also assisted in the effort. “We had a 10-inch water line that broke, which we worked on all night, and then the following night, it broke in a different place,” he said. Valley also said an additional eight-inch line broke over near Doughboy. “Now, it is just a matter of babysitting the system, while providing good water service until we get out of the water boil,” he said. Due to the computer failure, the city must have a person at the plant, 24 hours a day, to monitor the system, he said. There were also certain filters, most from the 1960s era, that had to either be cleaned out or replaced. Valley said replacements of these filters averaged $18,000 each. Although the city was working on an estimated budget of $200,000 to resolve the immediate water crisis, Valley said the final expenses may not be known for a while. “Those replacement filters are already going to run us about $80,000 for a group of four alone. That is not counting the contractors, or the other efforts involved,” he said. In overall terms of whether citizens were going to continue to have running water, Valley said “Based on the information I have today, we should be OK moving forward. Of course, you don’t know, what you don’t know.” ditches, garbage not being picked up, trash on the side of the road, being there for months, garbage being left at customer’s homes for two and three weeks at a time.” Jones cited his experience of 12 years working for the city, and said he was familiar with current issues like the need for trucks, the water problems, and landfill issues. “You got a man sitting at a council meeting, who blocked everything back then, that he is requesting today as the mayor,” Jones said. Jones also holds Franklin responsible for the recent water crisis in West Helena. The state law requires a recall petition with approximately 25-percent of voters in the last election. Franklin defeated the then-incumbent Mayor Kevin Smith 1,079 to 1,027, a total of 2,106 votes cast. Twenty-five percent of that total is 527, which is the number Jones must reach for a successful petition. As of July 7, Jones said he has already collected 212 signatures. James Valley, who is the current Chief of Staff and acts as a Franklin spokesperson, said he was aware of the recall effort. Valley said, “I am aware of it. My comment would be that it is way too early in a four year term to be talking about a recall in seven months.” Valley continued, saying “We have a lot of complicated issues that the city is facing. The water is what the people see right now, but our landfill is in very serious condition, our santitation department is without equipment, so we’ve got a bunch of challenges.” Valley said, “It wouldn’t matter who the mayor is. The mayor could be Donald Trump, and these problems would be facing him.” Valley also said he believed that part of the recall was about “political payback.” “Bobby Jones was on the losing side of the last election,” Valley noted. “I don’t think it is wise for anyone to go on with a recall at this juncture,” he said. For his part, Jones said, “Right now, the people are upset with this Mayor. The Council serves for two year terms, and we can wait until the next election for them. I don’t think we can afford four years with this Mayor.” tified as Debra Trice, 52, and Daremeshia Smith, 19, who were both suffering from multiple stab wounds. Police later identified Darryle Smith Jr., 24, as the primary suspect. Smith is the son of Trice and the brother of Smith. Darmeshia Smith was taken to the Helena Regional Medical Center and was later pronounced dead as a result of the injuries she sustained in what is believed to have begun as a domestic disturbance. Trice was transported to Regional One in Memphis where, at press time, she was continuing to receive treatment and was, according to the HWHPD, in stable condition. Darryle Smith was taken into custody a few moments after the police responded to the situation. At press time, he was being held at the Phillips County Detention Center on charges of First Degree Murder and First Degree Battery. His bond was set at $1.1 million.
The Helena World Opinions WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023 — 3A What Arkansas ‘136th legislator’ wants to do next By Steve Brawner Columnist David Couch, the Arkansas attorney who led initiatives to increase the minimum wage and legalize medical marijuana, is planning how he might change the initiative process itself. Couch wants voters in November 2024 to change how constitutional amendments, initiated acts and referenda are enacted. Initiated acts are laws proposed by citizens and passed by voters. A referendum is when citizens repeal a law passed by legislators. He’s still tweaking his proposal, but he was encouraged by a poll he took. “We’ve just tested concepts,” he said. “We haven’t gotten to the specific language of it, but, yeah, it’s hugely popular, in excess of 60%.” He did not disclose who is funding the effort beyond saying, “Groups of people who traditionally support the initiative and referendum process.” Couch’s proposal would make many changes. One would prevent legislators from changing a voterapproved amendment. The Constitution currently says they can do this with a two-thirds vote, but the Arkansas Supreme Court said in the 1950s that they really can’t, he said. C o u c h said a marijuana case making its way through the courts could give the courts a chance to reverse that 1950s decision. If given free rein, he fears lawmakers will start making changes to the constitutional amendments that voters pass. He also hopes to reform the process for qualifying an initiative for the ballot. Currently, citizens must write a ballot title that the attorney general approves. Then they must collect hundreds of thousands of valid signatures. After they’ve spent millions of dollars and invested thousands of hours of work, the Supreme Court often throws the proposal off the ballot – often because of a signature collection technicality. Under Couch’s amendment, a proposal that’s approved by the attorney general would be subject to a court challenge before the signatures are collected – not afterwards. Couch also wants to make it easier to collect signatures and make them less vulnerable to being challenged over a technicality. State legislators outlawed paying canvassers by the signature, which he said increased the cost significantly. They banned out-ofstate individuals from collecting signatures. He said that’s an unnecessary prohibition against professional canvassers. They also added a list of criminal offenses that disqualify canvassers. He said a long-ago marijuana conviction should not infringe on a person’s right to collect signatures now. He also would remove the requirement that canvassers sign an affidavit in front of a notary. Many signatures get thrown out because of this. Instead, canvassers would sign a declaration under penalty of perjury, with no notary involved. One other change would be increasing from 15 to 25 the number of counties where canvassers must collect the required minimum number of signatures. Conservative legislators would approve of that one because it would ensure each initiative is a little more of a statewide effort. Couch said his amendment also would prevent private businesses from writing themselves into the Constitution, as the casino amendment did in 2018, and would not let amendments target a specific location, as that amendment did in Pope County. Finally, his proposal could clarify that legislators must vote for emergency clauses separately from their votes on the bills themselves. The Constitution plainly requires this in its section dealing with referenda, but lawmakers haven’t been doing that. Couch is watching to see what the Arkansas Supreme Court does in a case involving Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ LEARNS Act. As stated earlier, Couch is still fine-tuning his amendment. He’ll have to overcome many challenges before it reaches the ballot. Even then, voters could always reject it. But his efforts are worth noting for two reasons. One, he’s pretty good at this. In recent years, he’s been Arkansas’ unofficial 136th legislator – more impactful than many of the 135 elected ones. And second, he really believes in the initiative process. “It’s how we hold them accountable,” he said of elected legislators. “It is our only, at this point in time, it is our only real check on them.” 1.16 Billion reasons Arkansas is failing its citizens By Rick Kennedy Columnist As the State of Arkansas ended its fiscal year in June, it quickly announced last week that it had ended its year with a $1.16 Billion budget surplus. You read that correctly: $1.16 Billion with a capital B. While some surplus is good, the State of Arkansas having this huge of a surplus means the state is failing its citizens on several fronts. Need proof? Just look around here for example. Crumbling infrastructure in the form of a 1960s water system. No dump trucks to pick up trash. Pot holes every where you drive in Phillips County. And just three weeks ago, the nationally-respected Politico did an extensive story abut Arkansas throwing some 140,000 people off Medicaid, who were suddenly deemed ineligible for coverage. The bulk of that national report, by the way, focused on women who lost Medicaid in Marvell, Arkansas. The Politico article cites: “Worries about disenrollments are particularly acute in the Arkansas Delta, one of the most picturesque parts of the state — green in every direction to the horizon, peppered with corn, rice and soybean fields, and crisscrossed by myriad rivers — and also one of the poorest. More than a third of people in Phillips County — where Marvell is — are in poverty, and many rely on Medicaid.” A spokesperson for Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders only replied, “Arkansas is following federal and state law — every state must come into compliance with normal eligibility rules.” Losing nearly 20-percent of your Medicaid enrollment can sure contribute to your big, fat state surplus. Can’t it? To allow people to fall off, or have administrative paperwork, or child support mumbo jumbo to deny people access to medical care and services is just plain wrong. But, that seems to be what we are about in Arkansas these days. As expected, NWA legislators are already asking for more tax cuts, or more jails, or more Internet. Of course, the NWA is a place that doesn’t need extra, especially when they already have everything. I can not tell you what our local legislators are asking for. Where are you Reggie Murdock? Mark McElroy? Ron Caldwell? Jeremiah Moore? Why is it that Springdale and Rogers have free city-wide broadband Internet, and I am having to pay $200 a month for barely subpar service in Lexa? What are any of these people doing to make sure the Arkansas Delta gets its share of that $1.16 Billion? All that kind of surplus tells me is that Arkansas is not doing its job to keep clean water, paved roads, robust Internet, and adequate healthcare for all of its citizens. Not just those living in the NWA. Arkansas officials announced that the state is about to receive more than a billion dollars in federal funding for expanding broadband access throughout the state. Before the end of the year, the state Broadband Office will submit a five-year plan with details of how we intend to spend the funds. The Broadband Office is within the state Commerce Department, whose secretary called the federal grant “an economic game changer.” In announcing the award of $1.024 billion, he reiterated what educators, economic development recruiters and public health officials in Arkansas have been saying: access to high speed Internet is not a luxury but a necessity for communities to prosper. The governor praised the award, calling it “transformational.” It will allow Arkansas to close the digital divide between rural and urban areas, she said. It will level the playing field between isolated and urban areas, and unlock the economic potential for businesses, schools and ordinary people who live without Internet access, she said. Officials in the Broadband Office said that a priority would be addressing the lack of Internet access in about 215,000 households and businesses across the state. Also, some of the funding will pay for improvements at vital community centers, such as hospitals, libraries and schools. Some funding will be used to enhance training in digital skills among the workforce. Expenditures from the broadband grant will go through the legislature’s review and appropriation process, according to the state Commerce Department’s announcement. Under current Broadband Office guidelines and its Rural Connect Grant Program, the standard for high speed Internet is universal access with download speeds of 100 megabits per second and upload speeds of 20 Mbps. Arkansas is one of 19 states that is due to get more than $1 billion for broadband access. Texas will receive the largest award of $3.3 billion. Nationwide, the federal Commerce Department is distributing $42.5 billion. The federal agency within the Commerce Department that is distributing the funds is called the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Its mission is similar to that of the Rural Electrification Administration, a federal agency that subsidized construction of transmission lines to bring power to farms across the country. In the early 1930s an estimated 90 percent of farms lacked electric power. The cost of running power lines was too high for most rural residents. In a city, the electric utility would spread the cost of building a ten-mile power line among thousands of customers. However, in the country those same costs would be shouldered by just a few families. For that reason, government funding was essential for bringing electricity to Arkansas and rural America. Water Projects The state Natural Resources Commission approved $702 million in loans and grants for 122 water and waste water projects, which will benefit more than 1.2 million Arkansas residents. With some of the loans, the principle will be forgiven. It is the largest single distribution of money for water and waste water projects in state history. State Capitol Week in Review Reggie Murdock State Senator
Local/Religion The Helena World 4A — WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023 Dr. Keith Roach SPONSORED FEATURE DEAR DR. ROACH: My 30-year-old, and otherwise healthy, grandson has been suffering from, and treating, hemorrhoids for two years. He is anemic due to his loss of blood. He’s had several bandings; they couldn’t complete the last one because he was in too much pain. They said they couldn’t anesthetize the area because his lack of feeling would prevent them from knowing if they were near a nerve. So, now they say he should have surgery, although it is said to be quite painful and difficult. Do you agree that they can’t anesthetize the area for banding, and is the surgery as horrible to deal with as they say? Under what conditions would you say it is advisable to have the surgery? -- A.P. ANSWER: Most people with a banding procedure do not need anesthesia, and nerve blocks are not used in hemorrhoidal banding because a feeling of pain is a useful indication that the band is not in the best position. When home treatments and office procedures (like banding, scleral therapy or infrared coagulation) are ineffective or can’t be used, it is time to consider surgical treatment. The surgery’s reputation of being “horrific” is undeserved. I have had several patients in the last few years undergo this surgical procedure, and although they have certainly had a few days of pain after the procedure, all have been happy with the outcomes. Surgeons often use long-acting local anesthetics, and the pain is greatly reduced when they are combined with better surgical procedures, compared to older surgical techniques and anesthesia. *** DEAR DR. ROACH: My sister’s dog ran through a swampy area while we were on a walk and ended up with a lot of ticks. We picked off about 10 that day. The interesting part was that the dog had just gotten his flea and tick medication. So, aside from the first couple of ticks we picked off, the rest were dead, showing the effectiveness of the medicine! Is there a reason that people, especially those who work or live in areas prone to ticks, cannot be treated in a similar way in order to ward off Lyme and other tick-borne diseases? (I am not suggesting using veterinary medicine on people; I’m just asking why there isn’t a similar medical treatment for people when there’s such an apparently effective preventative for dogs.) -- J.D. ANSWER: I’m, of course, not a veterinarian, but I did look up the toxicity for three of the most frequently prescribed oral flea and tick medicines for dogs. All of them have the potential for toxicity in humans, and none have been studied extensively. I hypothesize that the cost of conducting studies on humans is so great, and the expected demand for such a product is so low that drug companies have not thought it worth the costs to proceed. In the meantime, there are topical treatments humans can spray on the skin to repel ticks, which -- in combination with protective clothing and daily tick checks -- is a moderately effective way of preventing tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and babesiosis. There currently isn’t an available vaccine for Lyme disease, but at least one is undergoing clinical trials at this moment. ***** This Sponsorship is available now. To see your name or business here, call Andrew Bagley at the Helena World. Hemorrhoid Surgery Doesn’t Deserve Its Bad Reputation * When baking, you can slow the rising time of dough by placing it in a cool place to rise. You can even let it rise in the refrigerator! Basically, it’s done rising when it’s doubled in size, so use that as your guide. * Place individual fabric softener sheets into sneakers to keep them fresh between wearings. You can use this for other shoes, too. Just be aware that the softener sheet should stay inside the shoe; it could discolor certain fabrics on the outside. * “I have long hair, and it always jams up the shower drain. I tried one of those hair catcher things, but the drain doesn’t recess enough. What I did was to cut a piece of stiff screen to fit the drain hole, and I secured it with a hair pin that dangles down. It catches everything. Nothing slips under it, and I can clean it off easily.” -- I.R. in Massachusetts * “It used to be that my kids would do something cute and I’d scramble to dig out the camera, only for the moment to be passed. Now I keep two cameras (digital photos and video camera) charged up and ready to go in a bowl on a high shelf. I grab it and turn it on -- that’s it.” -- T.F. in Idaho * When baking savory bread, try substituting vegetable broth for the water in your recipe. It adds a deeper element of flavor to the bread. Just try to use low-sodium broth so you don’t add too much salt to your bread. * “If you have a little one who is afraid of the bedroom because of ‘monsters,’ try getting your hands on some ‘Monster Away Spray.’ I used a can of air freshener that I decorated with paper to make a new label. Fooled the kids and eased their fears quickly.” -- W.L. in Arkansas Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. *** This Sponsorship is available now. To see your name or business here, call Andrew Bagley at the Helena World. Knock, Knock! He’s There Sandra Bagley RELIGION COLUMNIST “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9 NKJV) On hearing someone say “Knock, Knock!” we know to respond, “Who’s there?” as the setup for a joke. Stop me if you’ve heard these before. Knock, knock! Who’s there? Harry. Harry who? Harry up and answer the door! Knock, knock! Who’s there? Lettuce. Lettuce who? Lettuce in, we’re hungry! Knock, knock! Who’s there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad this is my last joke? “Knock, Knock! Who’s There?” jokes are a popular form of light-hearted humor, enjoyed in various social settings and even shared online or through social media platforms. Most believe that its true origin finds itself in Shakespeare’s classic tale “Macbeth,” first performed in 1606. In Act 2, Scene 3 the porter is hungover from the previous night. During his monologue, he uses “Knock, Knock! Who’s there?” as a refrain while he is speaking. Of course, in the play it was no joking matter. A favorite joke for many, origin of “Knock, Knock” jokes in the United States dates to the 1930’s. As their popularity grew, these jokes gained widespread appeal due to their simple and interactive nature, often eliciting laughter from both children and adults. The humor lies in the unexpected wordplay or the surprise twist in the punchline, which adds an element of surprise and amusement. That’s enough about “Knock, Knock” jokes — now I have a riddle for you. Have you ever thought about how a “Knock, Knock” joke is similar to a prayer? Let me explain the connection. Just like in a “Knock, Knock” joke, if the first person does not initiate the action by saying, ‘Knock, knock,’ nothing happens. Similarly, in prayer, when we do not take the first step of reaching out to God, we cannot experience the expected outcome. The Bible provides us with a powerful illustration of this principle in two of the Gospels: Matthew 7, in the context of the Sermon on the Mount, and Luke 11, in the context of the Lord’s Prayer. Although recorded differently by Matthew and Luke, the message remains the same — when we seek God through prayer, our Heavenly Father responds abundantly to His children’s needs. One day, [Jesus] was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him’ (Luke 11:5-6). And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need” (Luke 11:7- 8). “So, I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10). The words, “ask, seek and knock” are ongoing commands. In the context of the original Greek language, Jesus is saying, “To receive something, ask! To find something, seek! To get the door open, knock! For everyone who receives has been asking; those who find have been seeking; and those for whom the door is opened have been knocking.” Imagine the following: A guest in your home wants a cup of water. Rather than ask you for it, they wait for you to notice they are thirsty and give them water; or someone is looking for a job. Rather than applying, they are waiting for a job offer to appear; or someone who goes to visit a friend. Instead of knocking on the closed door, they stand there, hoping the friend will open it. Seeking God through prayer requires our active participation. We must start the conversation with God. Just as the first person in a “Knock, Knock!” joke sets the stage for the interaction, our prayers set the stage for God’s intervention in our lives. Now, believers must not take Jesus’s words as a blank check or a magical way to get whatever we want. Jesus shares this truth by saying, “Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?” Prayer is no joking matter. As we remember the connection between knock, knock jokes and prayer, let us go forth with renewed faith and confidence. There is no punchline or surprise. When we approach our Heavenly Father, we will find an open door and a listening ear. Knock, Knock! Who’s there? Jesus. Jesus who? Jesus “who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:21a). Sandra Bagley
The Helena World Church WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023 — 5A Elaine United Methodist Church First Missionary Baptist Church For more information on a sponsorship of this church directory Please contact Wally Burchett at: Wally@ burchettmedia.com or call 910-528-0244 ASSEMBLY OF GOD FIRST Assembly of God 1807 Stringtown Rd. Pastor Dwight Miner 338-3882 S.S. 9:45 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m.. & 5 p.m. Wed. 5 p.m. Hope Church 417 E. Baldwin Pastor Qway Duvall 501-655-0359 Worship Service Sundays 10:45 BAPTIST Asbury M.B. Church Wallace St. Marvell Rev. Leroy Williams Min., Rev. Gray Asst. S.S 9:30, M.W. 11:00 a.m. 2nd & 4th Sundays Bible Study Wed. 6:00 Harmony M.B. Church 801 Airport Road Fred Garrison, Min. 572-9342 S.S. 10 A.M. W.S. 11am & 5pm Wed 7pm Barton Baptist 9718 Hwy 85 Pastor: TBA S.S. 9:45 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. Wed. 7 p.m. Beautiful Zion Miss. Baptist 218 Ponotoc 338-3977 Danny Robinson, Min., S.S. 9 a.m.; W.S. 10 a.m. Beulah Missionary Baptist Onieda - Robert L. Goldsberry, Min S.S. 10 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. County Line Baptist P.O. Box 273, Marvell, AR 72366 Nate Lawerence, Min., 829-3260 S.S. 10 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Wed. 7 p.m. Elaine Baptist Church 200 Main St. Elaine Luke Watson/Pastor., 870-827-3469 S.S. 9:45 a.m.; W.S. 11:00 a.m. & 6p.m. Wed. 7:00 p.m. First Baptist M.B. Church Comer of Miller & Walnut St., Helena, 338-8652, Derrick L. Hughes, Pastor S.S. 9:30 a.m.; W.S. 11:30 a.m. Helena First Baptist Church 600 Franklin, Helena Cliff Bernard/Pastor., 338-6764 S.S. 9:15 a.m.; W.S. 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. Wed. 6:45 p.m. First Baptist Ward St., Marvell S.S. 10:00 a.m.; Randy Williams, Pastor W.S. 11:30 a.m. Wed. 7 p.m. Every Sundays First Missionary Baptist Church 125 N. Coanza Von Daniels, Min., 870-228-5007 S.S. 9:30 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. Fourth Street Baptist B.MA Pastor: Lance Madden SS, 10am; WS, 11am &6pm Wed.- Adult Bible Study/ Children/Youth Classes 6pm Fountain Head M.B. Baptist Willis DR Marvell Pastor Vincent Bell. 870-829-2558 S.S. 9:30 a.m.; M.W. 11:00 a.m. Evening Service 1st & 3rd Sundays 6:00 p.m. Galilee Missionary Baptist206 Adams 338-3024 S.S. 9:30 a.m. Pastor Jessie King Greater First Miss. Baptist Comer of Sam and Bonanza St. Arthur Hughes, Min. S.S. 9:30 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m., 1st & 3rd Sunday Lambrook Baptist 827-3918 S.S. 10 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. Lexa Baptist 213 Cedar St. Pastor: Nathan Perry 572-6533 S.S. 9:45 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. Wed. 7 p.m. Morning Grove Missi. Baptist Hwy 44 - Elder Robert Davi, Pastor, 572-0667 S.S. 10:00 a.m.; W.S. 12:00 noon every Sun. Bible Class every Tues. Morning Star Baptist 885 S. Biscoe 338-6727 S.S. 9:30 a.m.; W.S. 11:00 a.m. & 6 p.m. Wed. 6 p.m. 1st & 3rd Sun Rev. Larry Edwards, Pastor Mount Oliver Miss. Baptist Onieda - Moses Tillman Sr., Min. S.S. 10:30 a.m.; W.S. 12 Noon every 2nd Sun. Mount Tabor Miss. Baptist 1160 Holly & Adams Streets S.S. 9:30 a.m.; W.S. 11:00 a.m. 2nd & 4th Sun. Tues. 7:30 p.m. 2nd & 4th Tues. New Haven Missionary Baptist Rev. Rodney D. Corbin, Pastor 404 W Street West Helena, AR 72390 S.S. 9:30 a.m.- W.S. 11:00 a.m. - Prayer, Mon. 6 p.m., B.S., Wed. 7 p.m. Ph. 870.572.6314 New Hope Missionary Baptist Jackson & Holly • Billy G. Williams, Min., 338-9095 S.S. 9:45 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. Wed. 6 p.m. New Light Baptist 522 Arkansas Andre K. Valley, Min., 338-8677 S.S. 9:15 a.m.; W.S. 10:45 a.m. Bible Study 6:30 pm Wednesday New Zion Missionary Baptist - 225 Plaza L.A. Gamble, Min., 572-2159 S.S. 9:30 a.m.; W.S. 11:30 a.m. 2nd & 3rd Sun. B.S. 2nd Wed. Pleasant Grove Miss. Baptist Hwy. 316 Kenion Williams, Min. S.S. 9:30 a.m.; W.S. 11:00 a.m. 1st & 3rd Sun. Salem M.B.Church - Hwy. 44 So. S.S. 10:00 a.m. W.S. 11:00 am. 1st & 3rd Sunday Paster Randy Williams, Sr. St.John Missionary BaptistPerry ext., Helena S.S.9:30 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. Rev. Walter Debro Jr- Pastor St. John M.B. Church Perry Ext., Helena, AR Rev. Walter Debro Jr., Pastor Sunday School 9:30 A.M. Sunday Worship 11:00 A.M. Each Sunday St. Joseph Missionary Baptist - Postelle S.S. 10 am.: W.S. 11:30 am. Wed. 6 p.m. Spring Lake Missionary Baptist S.S.9:30 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. Rev. Garland Lee Restoration Outreach Center Int. and Non-Denominational Worship Service Sundays at 11:00 a.m. ICTC (I Can Through Christ) Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. I am the Sr Pastor Matthew McKing Sr. St. Paul Missionary Baptist Old Little Rock Phillips County Road 300 Billy Ward, Minister 572-2870 S.S. 10100 am; W.S. 11:30 every Sunday Bible Class 7:00 pm - Wednesday St. Paul Missionary Baptist Corner of Walnut & Adam St. -Amos Newell, Min., S.S. 9:45 am.: W.S. 11 p.m. Bible Study 6:30 p.m.-Tuesday St. Peter Missionary Baptist Old LR Road - Devin Brown, Min., 338-7164 S.S. 9:30 am.: W.S. 11:30 a.m. Bible Study: 6:00pm Wednesday followed with every choir rehearsal Second Baptist SBC 3rd & Baldwin St. Mike Collins, Senior Pastor., 572-3264 S.S. 9:00 a.m.: W.S. 10:00 a.m. & 7 p.m. Wed. 6:30 p.m. Second Baptist - Park & Hernando St. Jarvis Smith, Min., 572-9647 S.S. 9:30 a.m.; W.S. 11:00 a.m. NS. Sun., 6:30 p.m., BC., Tues. 5:00 p.m., Every 1st. Sat., Mo. Mus. 7:30 p.m. Second Baptist Church Lexa - 113 Mapl & Maine St 572-1525 S.S. 10:00 a.m.; M.W. 11:30 a.m.; Bible Study (First & Third Wednesdays) at 6 p.m. Silver Cloud 206 Riverview James L. Williams, Pastor 338-6822 Sunday School 9:30 , Morning worship 11:00 am, Wednesday night Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Trenton Baptist Pastor: Brother Mike Shelley S.S. 10 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Wed. 7 p.m. Truevine Missionary Baptist 415 W. Garland Dr. Pastor: TBA S.S. 9:30 a.m.; 1st and 3rd Sundays 11 a.m. Wed. Bible Class 6 p.m. Tucker Grove MB PC Road 115 Marvell, AR S.S. 9:30 am W.S. 11:00 am Rev. Earnest Womack Jr.- Pastor Mt Shelly MB Church Marvell Arkansas Pastor Vincent Bell West Acre Baptist Church S.S. 9:45 a.m. W.S. 11:00 a.m. Pray meeting Wed. 7:00 p.m. West Helena Baptist 702 Plaza St. S.S. 9:30 a.m.: W.S. 10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m. Wed. 6:30 p.m. Zion Hill Baptist - 1108 Pecan St. 338-3712 Leroy Harper Sr., Min., S.S. 9:30 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m., 1st & 3rd Sunday Zion Travelers Mis. Baptist Rev. Austin D. Hill SR Pastor 32610 HWY 44 Mellwood, AR 72367 S.S. 10:30am W.S. 11:30am CATHOLIC St. Mary’s Catholic 123 Columbia 338-6990 - Sun. Mass: 10 a.m. CHRISTIAN First Christian Carruth St. - Marvell Alton Merchant, Min. S.S. 10 a.m.: W.S. 11 a.m.; E.S. 5 p.m. Bible Study: Wed. 6:30 p.m CHURCH OF CHRIST Hicks United Church of Christ Marvell Alton Merchant, Min. S.S. 10:00 a.m.; W.S. 9:00 a.m. Twin City Church of Christ Wallace Wally Scaife, 572-1215 S.S. 9:30 a.m.; W.S. 10:30 a.m. & 5 p.m. Wed. 7 p.m. Southland Church of Christ Bro. Derek Wilson, Minister 5625 Hwy 242 West I Lexa, AR 72355 S.S. 10am - W.S. 1 lam 572-2240 CHURCH OF GOD Church of God - 1736 Hwy 49 Gene Rutledge, Min., 572-2099 S.S. 10:00 a.m.; W.S. 11:00 a.m. & 6 p.m. Wed. 7 p.m. Church of God of Prophecy 210N.9TH Pastor: Doris Smith, 572-7587 S.S. 10 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. & 5 p.m. Wed. 5 p.m. Elaine Church of God Dan Wessell, Pastor S.S. 10:00 a.m. W.S. 11:00 a.m. Living Water Ministry 227 N. 8th St. West Helena Judy Carter, Pastor 572-5327 S.S. 10:00 a.m.; W.S. 11 am & 6 pm. Wed. Bible Study: 7 p.m. New Beginning Church South Seven Audie Richardson Sr., - Pastor CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST Christ TempleFranklin & Jefferson, Helena Supt. Alex J. Smith, Pastor; Min. Abram Johnson, Pulpit Chairman; SS 9:00 am, MS 10:30 am, YPWW 5:00 pm. Evening Service 6:00 pm, Wednesday Prayer & Bible Band 7:00 pm, Holy Communion-Third Sundays Greater Powerhouse/Adams Temple 519 Plaza Street - Alex J. Smith, Min. First Lady-Clinton Smith S.S. 9:30 am.; W.S. 12 Noon, Tlies. Thurs, Fit, Nightly 7:30 pm St. Luke COGIC Elaine, Robert Tackett, Min. - S.S. 9:30 a.m. W.S. 11 a.m. 2nd & 4th Sun Upper Room Pentecostal COGIC Jalen Phillips, Pastor. Sunday Worship 10 am. Wednesday Prayer Service 7:00 pm. 870-995-5128 Power House COGIC - 2nd St Kim Smith, Min., 572-9901 S.S. 10 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. & 5 p.m. Tues. 7:30 p.m. Watson Temple Church of God Hwy 49, Lexa Tues. Bible Study 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fri. Regular Services 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sim. S.S. 9:30 to 10:30 Regular Services 10:30 to 1:30 p.m. Evening Services: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. EPISCOPAL St. John Episcopal Perry & Pecan St. Rev. Ray Brown, 338-8115 W.S. 10:30 a.m„ S.S. 9:00 a.m. Allen Temple A.M.E. - 120 S. Ashlar SS 9:30 am -10:45 am Worship: 11:00 am Each Sunday Pastor T.B. Lamb METHODIST Carter Chapel AME 419 Columbia Deborah Senter, Pastor S.S. 9:30 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. Elaine United Methodist Pastor William Joe Head W.S. 9:00 am. First United Methodist in Helena 502 Porter 338-7418 Rev. Buddy Hamner S.S.9:30 a.m.; W.S. 10:30 a.m. Lexa United Methodist Pastor: Kenneth Lee - Cedar - S.S. 9:55 a.m.; W.S. 9 a.m. Marvell United Methodist Pastor: Kenneth Lee - Hwy. 49 S.S. 9:55 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. Pettis Memorial CMJZ. 121 Coranza 572-5046 Pastor William C. Gant S.S.9:30 a.m.; W.S. 5 p.m. Sun. CYF: 5 p.m. Wesley Chapel A.M.E. Center & Wallace St., Marvell W. Simmons, Min., 338-8651 S.S. 9:45 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. West Helena United Methodist - 109 N. 6th St. 572-2559 Pastor William Joe Head S.S. 9:30 am.; W.S. 11 a.m. PENTECOSTAL Pentecostal Porter Kenneth D. Harman, Pastor S.S. 10 am.; W.S. 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. Wed. 7 p.m. Apostolic Life Center Church 1335 Hwy 49, Marvell, AR Pastor Bishop S. R. Jackson S.S. 10 a.m.; W.S. 11 a.m. Tues & Thurs 7 p.m. Bible Study Thurs 7:30 p.m. Pentecostal Church of Holiness 52 ST. Francis Glenn Jackson, Min., 388-8974 S.S. 10 am.; W.S. 11 a.m. Wed. 7 p.m. United 7TH DAY ADVENTIST Seventh Day Adventist Church Hwy. 49, Bill Neptune, Min. -W.S. Sat 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Pastor Jeny Kenyon, 572-9141 Faith Lutheran Church 4525 North Washington Forrest City, AR 72335 Earl D. Burhhart, Deacon OTHER Greater Miracle Temple - 228 No. 2nd St Bro. Willie Manuel, Min. S.S. 9:30; W.S. 11:00 Tuesday Bible Study 7:30-9:00 p.m. Gods House “A Safe Place to Come To” Outreach Ministries, Inc. - Pastor: Elder Robert Davis 9th Street & Plaza 815 Plaza Street West Helena AR 72390 870-753-4050 870-995-3533 mobile Church Services Every Sunday: S.S. 9:30 am Morning Worship: 11:00 am Every Tuesday even. Bible Teachings 6:00 pm Every 2nd & 4th Sunday after service Lords Supper Free Food Pantry schedule: 1st Tuesday & 3rd Tuesday Call Pastor 870-572-0667 House of the Lord Church - 8365 Phillips 300. J.L. Sanders 572-2469 or Bill Home 572-5679 True Gospel Church - 542 Cooper St., West Helena Tony Dyce, Pastor., 870-572-9651 Sunday 10:00 am-12 noon. Sun, Evening 6pm-till, Wed. 7pm-till. Church of the Living God 700 Park Ave West Helena, AR 72390 (870) 572-7188 Pastor Jenkins P.S. 7-7:30 Wednesday B.S. 7:30-8:30 Wednesday S.S. 11am - 1pm Every 2nd Tuesday Food Pantry Giveaway NON-DENOMINATIONAL Faith Outreach Church - 1430 Springdale Rd. Jim D. Harrison,Pastor -572- LORD W.S. 10 a.m. Mid-Week Service (Wed.) 7 p.m. This local church directory is made possible by these supporting businesses that are positioned around these page. The basic church listings are provided at no charge to all our area churches. If your church is not listed or an information change is needed, please contact Andrew Bagley at [email protected] Dean Watts For more information on a sponsorship of this church directory Please contact Wally Burchett at: [email protected] or call 910-528-0244
6A — WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023 Local The Helena World Call Us At 501-500-0520 ext. 1 Call Us At 501-500-0520 ext. 1 Averaging 1,000 readers strong every edition ***** Advertise in the Helena World and reach hundreds of shoppers and decision makers every week
The Helena World Puzzles/Comics WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023 — 7A
Martin Rawls 8A — WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023 Local The Helena World Andrew Bagley HELENA WORLD While the State of Arkansas waits for its appeal of Pulaski County Circuit Judge Herb Wright’s ruling delaying the effective date of Governor Sara Sanders’s comprehensive education reform bill known as LEARNS, the State Board of Education voted at a special meeting Friday afternoon to fire Marvell-Elaine Superintendent Katina Ray, dissolve its board which had already been reduced to an advisory capacity, and authorize Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva to place someone in charge to prepare for the school year. Wright’s ruling invalidating the emergency clause attached to the bill placed the law in abeyance until August 1 or until such time as the state’s appeal of the ruling could be heard by the Arkansas Supreme Court. Along with that, the ruling meant that the state had to place its transformation contract with the Friendship Education Foundation to manage MESD on hold since the LEARNS legislation was the statutory authority for entering into the agreement and keeping the district from closing. Deputy Commission Stacy Smith told the board there was a lot to do to get ready for school in August and that planning could not wait until LEARNS could take effect on August 1. While Smith laid out the State Board’s options, she mentioned that the board could just close the school. Oliva said, “The easiest thing is to close the school. But the right thing is to take on the challenge and save this district and get a contract in place for its management on August 1. Board Member Steve Sutton said, “Every day that’s been wasted is a shame.” The chaos caused by the lawsuit, filed by some state education activists and a group of Marvell plaintiffs that includes some associated with an effort to have LEARNS face a November 2024 referendum, has sown chaos as the school year approaches. Smith cited that chaos when she told the SBE that only 190 students were registered thus far, down from a little over 300 in the spring. Oliva assured everyone that work would continue to make MESD successful. He said, “Friendship wants this to work. Our intent is to execute that contract with them in August. Meanwhile, we are going to work hard every day to get school ready to go. The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education minced no words about the problems for MESD that the lawsuit has caused in its statement issued Friday afternoon, which said: Due to a politically motivated lawsuit that is delaying enactment of the LEARNS Act, the State Board of Education had to take emergency action to save the Marvell-Elaine School District or risk further harming students and putting them behind their peers in the state. The board voted to remove the district’s superintendent and limited authority board. As a result of the board’s actions, this allows Arkansas Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva to name a new superintendent and proceed with planning for an August 1 LEARNS enactment to keep the district open. “At the April board meeting in Marvell, community members overwhelmingly expressed their desire for the district to remain open,” Oliva said. “It’s unfortunate that a frivolous, politically motivated lawsuit is interfering with the department’s efforts to carry out the wishes of the school and local community. Every day that passes that delays enactment, student learning is in jeopardy.” At its meeting in April, the State Board rescinded its previous decision in November to consolidate the district into neighboring districts. The board instead voted to place the district under state authority, retain the superintendent through the 2022-2023 school year, and keep a limited authority board. The State Board also directed the district to enter a transformation contract with a third party to run the day-today operations of the district this fall. The State Board considered multiple options during its meeting today, including reversing its decision in April and moving forward with consolidation of the district. In the interest of what is best for the community and students, the board voted to keep the district open. The secretary, acting in lieu of the board, will now name a superintendent to run the daily operations of the district. The votes to fire Ray, dissolve the Board, and authorize Oliva to place someone in charge of the district immediately passed the State Board unanimously. State to run MESD directly while legal battle continues Local Phillips County Justice of the Peace, Martin Rawls, participated in a Fourth of July celebration parade in Piggott, AR, with 1st District U.S. Congressman, Rick Crawford, on the morning of July 4th. Rawls was Crawford’s former campaign manager and Washington D.C. Intern. As there were no local Fourth of July events for Rawls to partake in, he was excited to make the three-hour trip and walk in the parade where thousands of spectators gathered in a tiny town to celebrate Independence Day. Ray Entergy On Sunday, June 25, 2023, storms ripped through parts of Arkansas, including Phillips County. The storm and strong winds were to blame for the damage, including downed trees and power lines. Customers in the Marvell/ Turner area reportedly were out of power overnight and into Monday while crews worked to restore power. C.C. Johnson The family of Mr. Comic C. Johnson Jr, affectionately known as “C.C.”, is informing the friends, loved ones, and acquaintances of the passing of Mr. Comic C. Johnson Jr. on June 25, 2023. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 14, 2023 at 12p.m., following a family hour at 11am at Pleasant Green MB Church, 1410 Jefferson St. Nashville, TN 37208. Send flowers to Pleasant Green on Friday the 14th and any other condolences can be sent to Stephens Funeral Home, 255 Panama, West Helena, Arkansas 72390 Water Crisis 2023
The Helena World Local WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023 — 9A
10A — WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023 Region/Nation The Helena World Associated Press HELENA WORLD SEATTLE (AP) — Ken Griffey Jr. holds a plethora of titles, especially in this part of the country. Hall of Famer. Cultural icon. The guy who made baseball in the Pacific Northwest relevant. Arguably, the greatest of his generation. He even holds a title in association with Major League Baseball as a special adviser to Commissioner Rob Manfred. But what’s most meaningful to Griffey currently is his association with Friday night’s HBCU Swingman All-Star Classic that served as the first major event of All-Star Game festivities, featuring players from 17 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The American team beat the National team 4-3 after Randy Flores of Alabama State doubled, stole third base and scored on a wild pitch with the deciding run in the bottom of the eighth inning. But the final score didn’t matter. The meaning was in the game taking place. Griffey delivered the game ball to fellow Hall of Famer Andre Dawson, who played at Florida A&M in the 1970s, for the ceremonial first pitch. Former Negro League players Sam Allen, Pedro Sierra and the family of Josh Gibson were honored before the game. Griffey spent time in both dugouts doing television commentary and chatting with participants, and the entire stadium of roughly 10,000 fans broke out singing and dancing when Naughty By Nature’s “Hip Hop Hooray,” — Griffey’s walk-up song in the 1990s — was played between innings. The event was an idea generated by Griffey, fostered into reality with help from MLB and the MLBMLBPA Youth Development Foundation, and comes at a time when U.S.-born Black representation in the majors is at its lowest level since tracking began more than 30 years ago. “It’s all about trying to get seen. I mean, if I can give an opportunity for a kid, one kid, two kids, three kids to be seen, how many kids can that be over the next five, 10, 15 years?” Griffey said. “How many lives will that one person change? That’s all we’re trying to do.” Fifty players in total were selected to take part. For some, it may have been the biggest stage they’ve ever played on and the best opportunity for scouts and executives to see that despite limited resources compared to others in Division I baseball, their talent deserves to be showcased. “It’s huge. I think a lot more people see his name and they get drawn to it just because he’s Ken Griffey Jr.,” said Trey Paige, who played this past season at Delaware State. “Having his name on it draws attention from people who would have had no idea about it.” That’s partly the goal, especially with how current numbers have tracked. A recent study from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida found Black U.S. players represented just 6.2% of players on MLB opening day rosters, down from last year’s previous record low of 7.2%. There wasn’t a single HBCU alum on a major league roster on opening day this season, either. That is why Griffey pushed for this event to be part of All-Star weekend rather than his original thought of having it take place during the Hank Aaron Invitational in Florida, an MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation sponsored event focused on youth players. It’s another title Griffey hopes can eventually be added to his career resume — someone who helped grow and create opportunities for under-recognized Black players. “I would love to see the numbers to my dad’s when he played, but that’s so far from now,” said Griffey, whose father played from 1973-91, overlapping with the careers of HBCU standouts like Lou Brock and Dawson. “I just want for these kids to have an opportunity to believe in themselves and go out and play.” Griffey’s participation in the event is not passive. This isn’t simply his name and logo attached to the title for the sake of interest and attention. He’s seen firsthand some of the resource limitations facing HBCU schools, but from a slightly different perspective — his youngest son Tevin plays football at Florida A&M. “I just threw out a very big idea ... but it was one of those things that needed to be done,” Griffey said. Griffey isn’t alone in this mission, or the first game. Jerry Manuel and Bo Porter are managers for the game. Others helping include Dawson, Marquis Grissom, Harold Reynolds, Rickie Weeks Jr. and Griffey’s dad — known at this point as Senior. The elder Griffey, now 73, reminisced at a time during his playing career when demographic participation rates weren’t tracked, but anecdotally nearly 30% of the majors comprised of U.S.-born Black players. When Senior and Junior were teammates with the Mariners in 1991, it was the first year of the TIDES study. At that time, 18% of players in the majors were Black. It’s now to the point where last year’s World Series was the first since 1950 that didn’t have a U.S.- born Black player on either roster. “We’ve got to keep going and passing it down from generation to generation,” said Bethune-Cookman’s Hylan Hall. “When I go back home, I train younger guys. I’m around younger guys and show them that it’s fun. ... The younger generation is looking at me and looking up to me and I know that’s a great responsibility.” MLB’s current lack of Black players is frequently attributed to the rising costs of elitelevel youth baseball, among other factors. The league has sought to address that inequity, and there are signs those investments are beginning to pay off. Four of the first five picks in last year’s MLB amateur draft were Black. Those four were among the hundreds who had participated in diversity initiatives such as the MLB Youth Academy, DREAM Series and the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program. MLB has also pledged $150 million in a 10-year partnership with the Players Alliance. The nonprofit organization of current and former players works to increase Black involvement at all levels. “Running this organization from the beginning as the first executive director, I am confident that we’re already making an impact,” said Jean Lee Batrus, executive director of the joint MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation. “The numbers are growing when you look at youth sport. There’s more kids playing youth baseball and softball and I can speak specifically to underrepresented in diverse communities that there’s a desire there.” MLB hosts HBCU All-Star Game hoping to create opportunity for Black players Associated Press HELENA WORLD NEW YORK (AP) — Being a centenarian hasn’t slowed down Viola Ford Fletcher’s pursuit of justice. In the last couple of years, Fletcher has traveled internationally, testified before Congress and supported a lawsuit for reparations — all part of a campaign for accountability over the massacre that destroyed Tulsa, Oklahoma’s original “Black Wall Street” in 1921, when she was a child. Now, at age 109, Fletcher is releasing a memoir about the life she lived in the shadow of the massacre, after a white mob laid waste to the once-thriving Black enclave known as Greenwood. The book will be published by Mocha Media Inc. on Tuesday and becomes widely available for purchase on Aug. 15. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, she said fear of reprisal for speaking out had influenced years of near-silence about the massacre. “Now that I’m an old lady, there’s nothing else to talk about,” Fletcher said. “We decided to do a book about it and maybe that would help.” Her memoir, “Don’t Let Them Bury My Story,” is a call to action for readers to pursue truth, justice and reconciliation no matter how long it takes. Written with graphic details of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre that she witnessed at age seven, Fletcher said she hoped to preserve a narrative of events that was nearly lost to a lack of acknowledgement from mainstream historians and political leaders. “The questions I had then remain to this day,” Fletcher writes in the book. “How could you just give a mob of violent, crazed, racist people a bunch of deadly weapons and allow them — no, encourage them — to go out and kill innocent Black folks and demolish a whole community?” “As it turns out, we were victims of a lie,” she writes. Tensions between Tulsa’s Black and white residents inflamed when, on May 31, 1921, the white-owned Tulsa Tribune published a sensationalized news report of an alleged assault by a 19-yearold Black shoeshine on a 17-year-old white girl working as an elevator operator. With the shoeshine under arrest, a Black militia gathered at a local jail to prevent a lynch mob from kidnapping and murdering him. Then, a separate violent clash between Black and white residents sparked an all-out war. Over 18 hours, between May 31 and June 1, the enlarged mob carried out a scorched-earth campaign against Greenwood. The death toll has been estimated to be as high as 300. More than 35 city blocks were leveled, an estimated 191 businesses were destroyed, and roughly 10,000 Black residents were displaced. Fletcher, oldest living Tulsa Race Massacre victim, publishes memoir
The Helena World Legals/Classifieds WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023 — 11A Barton Lexa Water Association is looking for a meter reader who is interested in perusing a water operator’s license. Duties include meter reading, maintenance, lawn care, leaks of any kind. Experience is a plus. Salary commiserate to experience. Closing Date 7/28/23 Send Resume to: 6330 Hwy 49 Poplar Grove, AR 72374
12A — WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023 Recipe of the Week The Helena World Cindy Davis HELENA WORLD FOOD EDITOR COPY CAT POPEYE’S SPICY FRIED CHICKEN WINGS Ingredients 3 Eggs 1/3 cup water 4 cups flour 2 tsp. black Pepper 2 tsp. Paprika 4 tsp. Cayenne 2 TBSP. Panola hot sauce 1 qt. Buttermilk Salt, pepper and garlic powder, to taste 1 to 2 ½ lb. chicken wings Peanut oil for frying Directions Place wings in a large bowl, and cover with the buttermilk. Cover and chill for two hours or overnight. Overnight is optional but highly recommended. In a large bowl, add eggs, water and hot sauce. Whisk until combined. In a large gallon freezer bag , mix flour, black pepper, paprika and cayenne. Shake to combine. Remove chicken wings from marinade, letting excess drain off. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste. Place wings one at a time in flour. Shake vigorously to coat all pieces Take the floured chicken pieces out of flour and dip them into the egg hot sauce mixture. Return to the four bag and shake vigorously until completely coated. In a deep fryer of large cast iron skillet, heat peanut oil to 350 degrees or when oil bubbles up when sprinkled with a little flour. Fry chicken wings for 15 to 18 minuets, turning once. Serve with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing or Buffalo Hot Sauce. COPY CAT POPEYE’S SPICY FRIED CHICKEN WINGS BON APPETIT La CHOF