Great-great grandmother celebrates 76 Birthday

Surounded by her grand children, Nancy Ruth Cole, center, was given a surprise birthday party Saturday, February 25, by over 100 friends and relative at the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center. 

Cole, 76, came to Racine in 1987 from Tupelo, Mississippi.  She is a member of Greater Hope Church in Racine and is the mother of 13 children, 34 grand children, 39 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

African American Pastors Speak Out On Commissioners Selection Process

Pastor Elliott Cohen, Pastor Willie Scott and Bishop Lawrence L. Kirby, were among a dozen local pastors who vented their angry over the recent Police and Fire Commission decision to reopen a national search after  only two local minority candidates was named finalist

Rev. Fred Richmond, pastor of New Omega Church, calls  for reforms to the Police and Fire Commission at a press  press conference held at the Greater  Mt. Eagle Baptist Church , Monday, Feb. 23, shortly before noon.

A dozen local African American pastors from various denominations, vented their frustrations over the city Police and Fire Commission’s plan to reopen a national search after two minorities were left as finalists.

Deputy Chief Art Howell and Lt. Carlos Lopez became the only two remaining finalists when Ronald Teachman, former police chief of New Bedord, Mass., pulled out of the race.

The Racine Police and Fire Commission announced that they were going back to review previous applicants after Teachman withdrew.  Rev. Melvin Hargrove, one of three minority members, was the first of the five member commission to publicly announced that he disapproved of the group’s decision. “I just think that it was wrong for us to open it back up again”, he stated.

Hargrove, who also pastor of an inner-city church, was in attendance with the other pastors, but did not make any comments during the press conference.

In a prepared statement, Rev. Keith Evans, pastor of Mount Eagle, said that they hope to work with the mayor’s office to avert future problems.

They called for expansion and continued diversify in the commission. “Confidence in the process and confidence in the commission have been weakened,” he said.

He also indicated that the group thanked Mayor John Dickert, but said additional changes still need to be made in the commission and within the police department regarding recruitment of minorities.  A dozen pastors stood and applauded when Evans said that some members have been on the commission for “too long.”

They singled out Commission Vice President Van Wanggaard, a local state senator, questioning his serving on a commission with authority over police officers and firefighters who may have signed the ongoing statewide recall petitions against him. “That conflict of interest is now magnified,” Evans said.

The daily paper said that Wanggaard dismissed the claims as “ridiculous.”

The news paper quoted him as saying, “Just because I know how the department operates or have specific knowledge on how individuals conducted their lives on the department does not preclude me from being a member of the PFC,” he said.

The commission

 Members of the commission are President Charles Johnson; Vice President Van Wanggaard, There are three minority members on the commission, Marie Black, Rev. Melvin Hargrove and Keith Rogers.  The commission is an independent body that has sole jurisdiction over hirings, promotions and discipline of police officers and firefighters, including the appointment of a chief.

By state statute, a police and fire commission is an independent body. It must have five members, who serve five-year terms, that are annually appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council. The city commissioners serve on a voluntary basis and are not paid.  Black, who is serving her second term, is the only commissioner coming up for reappointment in May.

State statutes do allow for the removal of commissioners. They may be removed for “cause,” statutorily defined as “inefficiency, neglect of duty, official misconduct or malfeasance in office” After a hearing by the council, three-fourths of the council must vote for the removal — that would be 12 of the 15 city aldermen in Racine.

Related Video from the Racine Journal Times:

Rev. Fred Richmond give a powerful statement during press conference.

Bishop Lawerence Kirby Says the Time is Now for Change

Pastor addresses need for transparency in selecting new police chief

LOCAL PASTORS TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE

In light of recent actions of the Racine Fire and Police Commission, a group of local Pastors have planned a Press Conference to address this issue. This Press Conference is planned for Thursday February 23, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. The Press Conference will be held at Greater Mount Eagle Baptist Church 929, State Street. The purpose of the Press Conference is to question the hiring methods and procedures of the Racine Fire and Police Commission and its effects on the city and citizens of Racine.

Prominent local Pastors will speak to the issues of societal fairness, the avoidance of policies and practices that can give rise to claim of racial discrimination or treatment, and the need for transparency in the process of selecting a new Chief.

This event is open to the public. For more information please phone Greater Mt. Eagle Baptist Church.  The phone number is (262) 637-1606.

Above: Frank James, coordinator of Racine’s Re-entry program, gives remarks during yesterday noon hour on the courthouse steps calling for a reduction in  the states prison population to 10, 000 by the year 2015. James, who is a local pastor, joined other ministers from various congregations throughout the city.

Right: Cora William, who son is an inmate in Racine County jail, hold up a sign with a picture of her granddaughter that read, “I love my daddy.”

The 11 X 15 project as it is called, goal is to cut the state’s prison population, which the RIC and partner churches estimate to be about 22,000, in half by 2015.

Mayor to speak to Commissioners

Mayor John Dickert will meet with the Racine Police and Fire Commissioners to address the course of action used to recruit and hire the next Chief of the Racine Police Department.  Mayor Dickert asked the Police and Fire Commissioners to explain the reason it has deviated from its intended process.

The Police and Fire Commission is a completely independent body with the sole authority to appoint a police chief, although they are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common Council.   Boards of Police and Fire Commissioners were statutorily created to remove political influence from the hiring and firing of police officers and firefighters.  “I believe in the process we have in place, which has worked for us in the past” said Mayor Dickert.  “It is not my intent to interject myself into the hiring process, but to deviate from that process sends a terrible message to these candidates or anyone looking to begin a career in Racine.”

A closed session meeting of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners has been set for Wednesday, February 22, 2012.  Please direct all questions to Mayor’s Office.

NAACP wants the Racine Board of Police and Fire Commissioners to return to  original process

Gloria Rogers, president of the local branch of the NAACP, said that a dark cloud has been cast over the city due to the Racine Board of Police and Fire Commissioner’s announcement that the PFC plans to re-open the selection process to hire a new Chief.

“We see no need for commissioners to unravel a process that seems to have been fair and transparent up to this point,” said Rogers.   She adds, “We fail to see the logic of reentering the applications of applicants that were initially rejected.”

Journal Times quoted Deputy City Attorney Scott Letteny as saying the final three candidates were the best candidates of all the applicants. “How can people in the community be happy when they are witnessing such a blatant act of injustice perpetrated on two of their own officers,” she said.

Rogers said that the local branch will ask the Commissioners to reverse their decision, and continue the original process of selecting a new chief.  “We would hate to think that the two remaining officers were never really finalists, but only included to create the appearance that the process was fair and transparent,” she explained.   

Church to hold local job fair for Six Flags summer jobs

RACINE — A local job fair has been planned to help people apply for temporary jobs at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Ill.Project New Life will host a job fair Monday at Abundant Life Church for both youths and unemployed adults. The church will screen and help applicants get ready, have them schedule job interviews for April 3, and transport them to those interviews.The Rev. Elliott Cohen of Abundant Life, Project New Life executive director, said he hopes to help up to 100 local people get Six Flags jobs.

Read more…

Deputy Chief Arthel Howell, above, and Lieutenant Carlos Lopez remain finalists

Police Commission Votes to Re-open Process

The City of Racine Board of Police and Fire Commissioners (PFC) announces that

Ronald Teachman, former Chief of the New Bedford, Massachusetts, police department and named finalist for the City of Racine Chief of Police position, has withdrawn his application for that position. Chief Teachman submitted a letter to the PFC on Friday, February 17, 2012, indicating that he had decided to remain with his current employer.

The PFC began the search for a chief to succeed Chief Kurt Wahlen in November, 2011, with the assistance of Springsted, Inc. Chief Teachman’s letter to the PFC, through Springsted, is attached.

On Monday, February 20, 2012, the PFC met in closed session to address the recruitment. The PFC determined that it preferred to have a broader pool of candidates moving forward. Therefore, the PFC has directed Springsted to reengage with other candidates who applied for the Racine Chief of Police position. City of Racine Deputy Chief Arthel Howell and Lieutenant Carlos Lopez remain finalists for the position. The timing of interviews is yet to be determined.

Please refer any questions to Deputy City Attorney Scott R. Letteney at (262) 636-9115.

We welcome your comments on this issue.


View this related story

OLIVE GARDEN TO PROVIDE DINNER FOR RIDGEWOOD RESIDENTS

Racine – For the second time, the Olive Garden of Racine will give residents of Ridgewood Care Center a special treat.  At noon on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, the Olive Garden will serve approximately 200 Ridgewood residents and family members a delicious Italian dinner.

Olive Garden employees will prepare the meals on site and serve the residents as if they were actually at the restaurant.  The menu includes soup or salad, breadsticks, penne pasta with a choice of meat or Alfredo sauce, freshly grated Romano cheese, and cannoli.  To create a genuine Italian experience, Frank Germinaro will play authentic Italian music on his accordion. 

Olive Garden is providing the meals for Ridgewood residents at no charge. Family members as well as employees are welcome to enjoy the same meal for a nominal cost.  As an additional gift, Olive Garden is donating these funds back to Ridgewood for special events and resident outings.  Said Ridgewood Administrator Michelle Putz, “Everyone at Ridgewood is overwhelmed by this generous gift and deeply grateful for the Olive Garden team's compassion and kindness.”

For more information about this event or future events at Ridgewood Care Center, please contact Krista Kennedy, Director of Recreation and Volunteers, at 262-554-2256 or Krista.kennedy@goracine.org.    

Some received incorrect polling place info. in Racine

Karen Simpson and FOX 6 reporter Myra Sanchick 

RACINE — When Karen Simpson got a letter from the city of Racine last week telling her where to go to vote after redistricting she says she was interested, then confused.

“I’m thinking, ‘why would I go way across town if i live over here, to vote?’ I don’t live nowhere near 12th Street,” Simpson said.

As it turns out, it wasn’t just a single mistake. “I got the letter. My friend at my address go the letter. My son got the letter. My parents got the letter. So it’s probably the whole district I’m guessing,” Simpson said.

Simpson usually votes right around the corner from her house at the Martin Luther King Community Center. The letter gives the wrong address for her new polling place, which would have sent her across town to 2301 12th Street – where there is no polling place!

Racine’s Mayor, John Dickert says when they became aware of the problem, the city sent out a correction letter which people should have received by now. He blames it on a state database issue.

The state Government Accountability Board says there was a computer glitch that caused Racine to send out incorrect polling place information to voters. The glitch took the directional letter out of a north/south street, and may have told voters on the north side of a street to incorrectly go to a polling place on the south side.

However, the wrong address attached to the Martin Luther King Community Center? That, the GAB says is a mistake made in the Racine City Clerk’s office.

For Simpson, a lot of confusion translates into possible confusion on Election Day. “I want everybody to be informed of the right information. It’s important,” Simpson said.

Racine’s city clerk did not return FOX6′s calls Thursday – we’re told there was election training all day. Racine’s mayor says the correct information will be available via the city’s website, and there will be plenty of signs out directing people for Tuesday’s primary election.

No one FOX6 talked with had any information on exactly how many got incorrect polling place information in the mail.

Lott and Moore honored at George Bray Neighborhood Center 50th Anniversary Dinner

Alderman Keith Fair salute the honrees Bernice Moore and Jacob Lott after presenting them with a city of Racine proclamation honoring the two longtime pioneers of the midtown area.

A host of supporters, politicians, and volunteers gathered to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the George Bray Neighborhood Center. The event was described by many as one of the most important events to celebrate black history in our community .

The George Bray Neighborhood Center began in 1961 as the Franklin Neighborhood Association or “Pink House” — the dream of residents who were eager to solve social and economic problems in their community.

Soon after its inception, the center began offering a variety of education, employment and recreational programs. In 1969, it moved from 816 10th Street to its current home at 924 Center Street. After settling in the new location, board members voted to rename the association and its new building the George Bray Neighborhood Center after longtime director and founder George Bray.

One of the highlights of the event was when the center's executive director, Jameel Ghuari, presented his longtime friend and former Mayor Jim Smith with a service award for his support of the center.

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis, the keynote speaker, and a former resident of Racine, was honored Saturday night with the unveiling of a colorful mural with a depiction of herself to celebrate her years of public service.

Ghuari thanked those in attendance and encouraged them about the important role they played in making the center vital to the community. "We had 50 percent of our funds cut last year, but what I found out is that volunteerism at the center improved 300 to 400 percent.”

There was much fun and laughter in the crowd after the event was over as people talked and enjoyed the music.