Tim Duncan Is Much More Than The Greatest Power Forward Ever

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July 14, 2016

By Alejandro Danois

He Elevated an Entire Sport With His Skills and Consistent Excellence

One of the greatest players in the illustrious history of our beautiful game, Tim Duncan – a five-time champion, two-time MVP, three-time Finals MVP and 15-time All-Star – announced this week that he’s retiring.

If there’s one word that comes to mind that could encapsulate who he was, and what he accomplished, it would be consistency. He elevated a franchise to a level of consistent excellence that is the Gold Standard in modern day sports. His San Antonio Spurs teams, with the exception of the ’99 lockout season, won at least 50 games every year of his career. Just let that sink in for a second.

I could never have a serious conversation with someone who said that Tim Duncan was boring. Basketball’s true aficionado’s will enlighten you on how breathtaking his game really was.

Up-and-Unders

As an NBA rookie, Duncan grabbed 22 boards in his first game against Dennis Rodman. After hitting Charles Barkley up with his arsenal of simple but effective low-post moves and array of pump fakes, spins, up-and-unders and mid-range bank shots, along with some tough rebounding and defense, Sir Charles was moved to say, “I have seen the future and he wears number 21.”

But to start there would be the wrong place to begin.

In order to fully appreciate the essence of Timothy Theodore Duncan, we must go back to the beginning, before the five NBA titles, before the brilliant 19-year pro career, even before his inauspicious debut at Wake Forest.

Because if it weren’t for a destructive tropical storm in 1989, the legend might never have flourished, and the name Tim Duncan might have remained hidden under a cloak of obscurity forever. The wrath of Hurricane Hugo had one positive outcome, it flung Duncan into the welcoming arms of basketball.

Prior to that, he was a 13-year-old competitive swimmer dripping with Olympic potential in the 50-meter, 100-meter and 400-meter freestyle events. His sister Tricia was a world class athlete in her own right, who swam the 100-and 200-meter backstroke at the 1988 Olympic Games.

“Timmy was even better than me,” Tricia told Sports Illustrated’s Tim Crothers in 1994. “There is no doubt in my mind that he would have gone to the 1992 Olympics and held his own against the world.”

His mother, Ione, was his biggest fan, often sitting poolside, holding a stopwatch and offering encouragement. A nurse/midwife who provided prenatal and postpartum care to expectant mothers, Ione re-arranged her work schedule so she could support her children’s activities, often working the 11p.m.-7a.m. shift.

She’d instilled in her offspring the mantra that would come to define Timmy’s internal drive.

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better, and your better is best,” were the Duncan family words to live by. And she extracted a promise from all of her children, that they would all finish their college degree requirements.

For full story… TheShadowLeague.com

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This story originally appeared on TheShadowLeague.com, a site dedicated to journalistically sound sports coverage with a cultural perspective that insightfully informs sports fans worldwide.

Making Ends Meet

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Birmingham Times

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July 14, 2016

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By Tijuana J. Williams

From elementary school until I graduated from college, I remember my mom working two jobs. We never went without any of the necessities. I can never even recall a utility being turned off. One thing I knew about my mom was she was the master of “making ends meet.” And because the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I, too, can stretch a dollar farther than most. My ability to “make ends meet” was put to the test as we (I had great help!) planned my last event, “Is Your Faith on Fleek?”

My husband and I did everything we knew to do in preparation for the event. We prayed. We budgeted. Then, we prayed some more but as I met week after week with my event planner, I realized the event was going to exceed my expectation…financially, that is. See, being CFO of our home (my husband is the CEO), I account for every dollar. Saving, planning, and budgeting were instilled in me from birth. And I must admit, when things don’t go according to the budget, I kind of freak out! This event was no exception. As I inserted costs into my budget sheet, I quickly recognized I wanted to do more than I had budgeted for. The “doing more” was not for me, but instead to ensure that every woman who attended could grasp the concept of living by faith in purpose. You see, that was my assignment.

I shared my concerns with my husband and God numerous times. My problem was they were on one accord. I kept assuring my husband I would find a way to “make ends meet.” Naturally, he encouraged me to keep moving forward and so did God. As uncomfortable as this was for me, I obeyed. I paid a deposit on the venue, approved centerpieces, ordered photo frames, secured a caterer, rented tables and chair, the list seemed to go on and on and on. Just as I expected, the budget was quickly exhausted. I immediately began searching for ways to “make ends meet.” Maybe I could borrow tables and chairs, ax the photo frames, or even make my own centerpieces. Then God quickly reminded me, through a story about Abram and the King of Sodom in Genesis 14 that all credit had to be His alone. With “ends” that seemed to be as far as the east is from the west, I proceeded.

By the end of the event, I was overwhelmed with gladness. Glad I didn’t cut corners. Glad people showed up. Glad my assignment was fulfilled. I felt like a light bulb was turned on in the hearts and minds of many of the ladies that evening. I believe they began to have greater faith, believe in themselves, and dream again! Also, at the end of the evening, as I received a warm, sincere hug, a check was placed in my hand. I could not look at it right away, but I knew it was God’s way of letting me know He is my provider and “making ends meet” was His job, not mine.

My challenge to you is whatever God is telling you to do, do it. He will never show us every step. He will never give us every answer. If He did, faith would not be required, but when we operate by faith, He is pleased! Our comfort must be gained by trusting that He is who He says He is…The All-Knowing God!

For more about Tijuana J. Williams, visit www.sharingmyheartblog.com

People, Places and Things By Gwen DeRu

By

Birmingham Times

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July 14, 2016

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TIME TO TAKE A BREAK!!

DON’T MISS! WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING with Deontay Wilder vs. Chris Arreola at the BJCC Legacy Arena, Saturday at 4 p.m.

THIS WEEKEND

FULTONDALE SUMMER FAIR is all week until Saturday, Gate opens at 5 p.m. today and Friday and Saturday at 3 p.m. Rides include Expo Wheel, Gravatron, Sea Dragon, Bumper Cars, and much more. There will fair foods and more. Gate admission is $3 per person today and $4 tomorrow and Saturday. The fair will be located on Decatur Highway (Highway 31) at I-65 in Fultondale. For more call, (205) 538-4508.

SLOSS MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL – A two-day festival is this Saturday and Sunday at the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark.

The Lineup includes Ryan Adams and the Shining, Death Cab for Cutie, Ray Lamontagne, the Flaming Lips, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, The Arcs, Grouplove, Fitz & the Tantrums, Logic, Glass Animals, Dr. Dog, Shovels & Rope, Sylvan Esso, Ghostland Observatory, Washed Out, Danny Brown, The Struts, Jr Jr, The Joy Formidable, Betty Who, White Denim, Hudson Mohawke, Anderson East, Banners, Escondino, Steve Gunn, Seratones, Dylan Leblanc, The Bright Light Social Hour, Los Colognes, Boom Forest, The Burning Peppermints, JMR, and Big Something.

TODAY

THIRSTY THURSDAY at the Baron’s game at Regions Field.

OLIVIA’S HAPPY HOUR, every Thursday at Olivia’s Bar and Lounge with $.50 wings and drink specials, 4 p.m. For more call (205) 326-2881.

LIVE AT STEEL, 8 p.m. with SHARRON performing and DJ CDUBB in the Mix at Steel on First Avenue at 23rd Street, downtown Birmingham. Get your live music and dance on every Thursday night.

FRIDAY

5th ANNUAL NEXT LEVEL FOOTBALL CAMP – Join former NFL player Jeremy Towns and Nick Williams of the Kansas City Chiefs with other notables, at Legion Field, for ages 8-17.

URBAN HANGOVER MEET AND GREET, 6-8 p.m. at Steele 1st and 23rd, 23rd St. and First Avenue North.

THE TACKY TIE GRUB CRAWL, 6 p.m. until late in Five Point South at the Birmingham’s Culinary District. Wear a tacky tie and eat and drink at the various locations as a group starting at 6 to 6:45 p.m. at The J Clyde, 6:50 to 7:35 p.m., at 5 Point Public House Oyster Bar, 7:40 to 8:25 p.m., at the Mellow Mushroom, 8:30 to 9:15 p.m., at DAVE’s Pub 9:20 to 10:05 p.m., at Pho Pho, 10:10 to 10:55 p.m., at Black Market Bar Grill and 11 to 11:45 p.m. at Fuego Cantina & Saloon. Get a ticket at each stop. Giveaways from participating merchants will be given away to 7 crawlers. Get your Grub Crawl Card signed off at each location. One crawler will win the big grand prize at the end. Have fun!

COMEDIAN ARNEZ J at the StarDome Comedy Club, this weekend.

FANCY FRIDAYS, 5 p.m. featuring JILLIAN GRAY with YARBROUGH & COMPANY every Friday at Legends on 18th Street North, Downtown Birmingham. This is an After Work Experience hosted by Keely and Tiger and catered by Chef Jones. Call (205) 212-4406 for more.

PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.

SATURDAY

MARKET DAY AT MOUNTAIN BOOK VILLAGE, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. with a European Sidewalk Sale, music and other special events in coordination with the sale.

SUPERHERO SATURDAY at 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the McWane Science Center.

RAILROAD PARK is where the fun is Saturday.

SOULFUL SATURDAY at Steel 1st and 23rd Club.

SUNDAY

SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

JAZZ IN THE PARK, 6-9 p.m. at W.C. Patton Park with Elan Trotman and The Rhythms Band.

TUESDAY

INTRODUCTION TO GENEALOGY, 11:30 a.m. at the Central Library in the Southern History Department, 1st Floor Linn Henley building.

SIP & SHOP at Cotton & Quill in Crestline every third Tuesday of the month.

OLIVIA’S HAPPY HOUR, 4 p.m., every Tuesday, at Olivia’s Bar and Lounge with $.50 wings and drink specials. For more call (205) 326-2881.

PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.

TIDE AND TIGER ON THE PATIO, 4 p.m. until on Graymont across from Legion Field.

FOR SOCIAL MEDIA LOVERS

SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS – The American Advertising Federation is hosting its July luncheon with WADE KWON, one of Poynter Institute’s 35 Influential People in Social media speaking on the absolutely essential Social Media Tools, tomorrow, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Events at Haven, 2501 5th Avenue South. Crafting a solid social media marketing plan begins with the right tools.

FOR FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS

FIRST–TIME HOME BUYERS SEMINAR – The Birmingham Urban League, Inc. is hosting a seminar August 6, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Birmingham Urban League, 1229 Third Avenue North with topics on mortgage qualifications, legal aspect, insuring your investments, home inspection, credit scores, fair housing and selecting a home. Call (205) 326-0162 for more.

FOR MUSIC LOVERS

JAZZ at the Perfect Note in Hoover at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

JAZZ IN THE PARK BIRMINGHAM – Magic City Smooth Jazz presents JAZZ IN THE PARK at the W.C. Patton Park, 3969 14th Avenue North with THE RHYTHMS BAND featuring vocalist Andre’ Burnett and Robin WiIliams with all styles of music from the ’60s through today by band members Andre’ Burnett, Bernay Johnson, Charles Brown, Jr., Ray McNeal, and Terrence Young and SAXOPHONIST ELAN TROTMAN from Barbados, 6 – 9 p.m. FREE!!!!

FOR LOVERS OF ART AND HISTORY

TEN ALABAMA ARTISTS: ALL MEDIA EXHIBITION – The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) will feature the work of 10 Alabama artists through August 26 in the Fourth Floor Gallery of the Central Library who are members of the Watercolor Society of Alabama (WSA). The display, “Ten Alabama Artists,” debuts in the Fourth Floor Gallery of the Central Library, 2100 Park Place, in downtown Birmingham and runs through August 26. In addition to watercolors, the artists will display their prowess in a variety of other artwork including oils, acrylic, collage, ceramics, mixed media, hand-painted lithography, and calligraphy. The exhibit is curated by Jaceena Shepard of Town Creek, Alabama, a well-known practicing artist, exhibition curator, and art teacher. Artists featured include: Shepard as well as Rick Atkins of Athens, Peggy Milburn Brown of Montgomery, Winnie Cooper of Birmingham, Heike Covell of Huntsville, Lyn Gill of Brewton, Lectora Johnson of Birmingham, Charlotte McDavid of Birmingham, Melinda Mathews of Birmingham and Shirley Tucker of Hartselle. FREE. For more Call (205) 226-3670.

“DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR & THE CHICAGO FREEDOM MOVEMENT: PHOTOGRAPHS BY BERNARD J. KILEINA is an exhibition by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute that will display its collection of rare color photos, from July 26 through December in the BCRI’s Vann Gallery. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Chicago Freedom Movement. These photographs are some of the only known color photographs of Dr. King in Chicago. Bernard Kleina was a priest in Chicago that wanted to get involved in the movement, who removed his collar, picked up his camera and marched.

SLOW ART SUNDAY is this Sunday, 2-3- p.m. at the BMA where you can unlock the secret works in the Museum’s collection by cultivating the art of looking slowly.

FOR CHILDREN

DINO DISCOVERY – THEY’RE BACK! at the Birmingham Zoo where the dinosaurs are returning to the Birmingham Zoo all of July. This limited-time exhibit features 12 life-sized, North American-native animatronic dinosaurs at heights of nearly 20 feet, weighing almost 7 tons and measuring 85 feet in length. For more call (205) 397-0409.

ALADDIN JR AT CHILDREN’S THEATRE – Disney’s Aladdin JR is an award winning score by ALAN MENKEN, HOWARD ASHMAN and TIM RICE that will send the audiences soaring on a flying carpet ride filled with romance and adventure. When the street urchin, Aladdin, vies for the attention of the beautiful princess, Jasmine, he uses a genie’s magic power to become a prince in order to marry her. Iago, Jafar, the Genie and more are in Disney’s Aladdin JR a musical adventure filled with magic, mayhem and the power of love. Recommended for: Children ages 3 & up. DATES: This weekend – tomorrow, 7 p.m., Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, at 2 p.m. This special takes place at the Birmingham Children’s Theatre’s Main Stage.

2016 SUMMER MOVIE SERIES – The City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Series (DYS) has movies for youth that participate in the Summer Enrichment Program through the library. Youth read a book, do a report and get a FREE ticket. MOVIES: Next Friday, July 22 – Ghostbusters and July 29 Ice Age 5. Call DYS for more information at (205) 320-0879.

BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY SUMMER READING PROGRAM – The Public library’s Reading program is all summer long. Check out the library nearest you….for movie tickets and more.

CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST MOVEMENT DAY CAMP – This annual camp will be held Wednesday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The camp is a fun-filled day raising awareness and critical educational seminars to promote non-violence, knowledge of self, and individuality with tours, a movies, motivational speakers. With the Civil Rights Activist Movement Day Camp, youth can move closer to eliminating ignorance, discord, and inequality. For registration and more, visit www.civilrightsactivist.org, contact Paulette Roby, Chairman of the Board, at civilrightsactivist.fs63@yahoo.com or call (205) 518-0321.

GROCERIES NEEDED FOR CHILDREN – The Greater Birmingham Ministries is asking for groceries as it is time to collect food for the kids that are home from school this summer. Kid friendly food is needed. Drop off food and clothing any weekday, 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. For more information, call (205) 326-6821 x 102 or email sarah@ghm.org.

PREPARED, NOT SCARED CAMPS – Join Sheriff Mike Hale and others for a camp for grades 4- next week at Trussville and July 18-22 at Tannehill. For more, go to www.freshairfamil.org.

HAPPY HEALTHY KIDS FAIR – Join other children and parents in the Birmingham Area at the Happy Healthy Kids Fair on August 6, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Riverchase Galleria.

TAKE A CHILD TO THE DOCTOR DAY is September 10, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the YMCA Youth Center, 2400 87th Avenue North. Call (205) 320-0879 for more.

DISNEY DREAMERS ACADEMY is taking applications until October 31, for youth ages 13-19 that live in the United States and enrolled in high school grades 9-12. For more go to: disneydreamersacademy.com.

FOR COMEDY LOVERS

AT THE STARDOME: Every Thursday is Positively Funny Improv. Check out ARNEZ J….To those in the know Arnez J is quickly emerging as one of the hottest, most talked about comedic artists in the game. His raw energy, talent and comedic skill quickly landed Arnez the coveted hosting slot on BET’s longest-running comedy series “Comic View” for two seasons joining the ranks of hosts such as D.L. Hughley and Cedric the Entertainer. His hilarious new comedy special “Racially Motivated” is now available on Netflix…..all this weekend. Call (205) 444-0008 for more. MORE: July 22-24 – RICKEY SMILEY, July 28-30 – RODNEY CARRINGTON, August 12-14 – LESTER BIBBS, August 26-28 – MIKE EPPS, September 16-18 – JOHN WITHERSPOON, September 30 – October 2. See you there!

BIRMINGHAM FASHION WEEK!

If you are interested in fashion, style and live in the immediate Birmingham Area, Birmingham Fashion week is August 25-27 at the Boutwell Auditorium.

The Birmingham Fashion Week was founded on the ideals for bringing unity to our community through fashion. The 6th Annual Birmingham Fashion Week will be bigger and better than ever before. See local and national designers, local and national boutiques, rising design stars, emerging designers with models, make-up and hair artists competing as they showcase their talents on the runway. Hair and Makeup Artists deadline is tomorrow, Friday. For more information, go to www.bhamfashionweek.com.

FRONT COVER MODELING presents ‘MeKa Fashion Statement,’ featuring special guest models, 6- 8 p.m. on July 24, Sunday at the Cotton’s Building (Ensley) located at 400 – 19th Street, 35218. For more information, call (205) 920-3727 or (340) 513-2046.

THE CITY OF DA-SH FASHION SHOW, Sunday, July 24th, at the Bessemer Civic Center. Doors open at 3:15 p.m. Show starts at 4 p.m. Postura International and DA-SH magazine is hosting The City of DA-SH fashion show. There will be door prizes, live performances and vendors. For more information, call (205) 705-2354.

COMING SOON

JULY 23 – TASTE OF FOURTH AVENUE JAZZ in the Historical District. FREE.

AUGUST 11 – Y’ALL CONNECT at the BJCC East Meeting Rooms.

AUGUST 18 – ESTELLE WITHERSPOON DINNER by the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund

AUGUST 20 – EVO 2016 5K FIT CHALLENGE at Sloss Furnace, 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

AUGUST 27 – FASHION WEEK at the Boutwell Auditorium.

AUGUST 31 – RENSHAW DAVIES, the New Orleans folk and roots duo is at The Nick, 10 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 8-10 – SAINT GEORGE MELKITE GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD FESTIVAL

OCTOBER 22-23 – TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY’S Alabama 500 and fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola, the most anticipated NASCAR Chase Elimination races of 2016.

Well, that’s it. Tell you more next time.

(People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send comments to my emails: thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com or gwenderu@yahoo.com.)

Classifieds: July 14. 2016

By

Birmingham Times

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July 14, 2016

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_____________________________

Employment

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SummitMediaBirmingham

Position: On-Air Talent

Department: Programming Stations: TBD

Positions Available: TBD

Responsibilities:
SummitMedia Birmingham currently has an opening for an On-Air Announcer. This position includes responsibilities such as, a 4-5 hour on-air show 6 days a week, daily production, both commercial and imaging, night and weekend promotional appearances as needed and content delivered daily to online distribution points.

Ideal candidate must have the following:

– A minimum of 2 years of experience on-air
– Strong production skills
– Confidence and temperament to meet and interact daily with listeners and
clients on the phone and at public events.

Qualifications:
A minimum of two years Programming experience required.
This is not an entry level position. Candidate must have an ideal mix of personality and skills specific to the broadcast industry. Please send materials to:

SummitMedia LLC
2700 Corporate Drive
Suite 115
Birmingham, AL 35242
Attention: John Olsen
Telephone: 205 322 8195

It is the policy of SummitMedia LLC Birmingham to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age or sex in all personnel actions including recruitment, evaluation, selection, promotion, compensation, training and termination.

Discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, age or sex is prohibited. If you believe you have been the victim of discrimination, you may notify the Federal Communications Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or other appropriate agency.

BT 07/14/2016
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_______________________

SummitMedia Birmingham

Position: Program Director
Department: Programming Stations: TBD

Positions Available: TBD

Responsibilities:
SummitMedia currently has an opening for Program Director. Responsibilities include, scheduling all music, regularly updating all imaging, training and scheduling on-air talent, working with sales and marketing to promote the station brand, keep the station compliant with FCC guidelines, managing the stations’ digital audio delivery system and performing a high quality daily air shift.

Ideal candidate must have the following:

• Working knowledge of basic office computer programs, music scheduling
software, radio automation systems and Adobe Audition.
• Leadership skills
• Creativity
• Strong follow-through

Qualifications:
A minimum of five years programming experience required.
This is not an entry level position. Candidate must have an ideal mix of personality and skills specific to the broadcast industry. Please send materials to:

SummitMedia LLC
2700 Corporate Drive
Suite 115
Birmingham, AL 35242
Attention: John Olsen
Telephone: 205 322 8195

It is the policy of SummitMedia LLC Birmingham to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age or sex in all personnel actions including recruitment, evaluation, selection, promotion, compensation, training and termination.

Discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, age or sex is prohibited. If you believe you have been the victim of discrimination, you may notify the Federal Communications Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or other appropriate agency.

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____________________________
Legal
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IN THE FAMILY COURT FOR THE
FIRST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
CASE NO. 2016-DR-38-0134
SUMMONS

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF ORANGEBURG
Thomas Darby
Plaintiff,
-vs-
Emma F. Darby,
Defendant,

NOTICE OF FILING

YOU WILL TAKE NOTICE HEREBY that the Summons and Complaint in the within matter were filed in the County of Orangeburg, State of South Carolina on February 8, 2016.
TO: THE DEFENDANT ABOVE NAMED
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your answer to the Complaint upon the subscriber at 340 Summers Avenue (Post Office Box 811) Orangeburg, South Carolina 29116, within thirty (30) days after the service. If you fail to answer the Complaint within that time, the plaintiff shall apply to the Court for a judgment by default against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

/s/Lawrence Keitt

Lawrence Keitt, Esquire
Attorney for the Plaintiff
340 Summers Avenue
P. O. Box 811
Orangeburg, South Carolina 29116
(803) 531-2379
Fax (803) 534-2897

June 28, 2016
Orangeburg, SC

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REQUEST FOR BIDS HOUSING REHABILITATION BID ANNOUNCEMENT
BID #: 88-16R

Electronic Bids will be accepted by the Jefferson County Purchasing Department no later than 11:59 p.m. on July 25, 2016 for proposed owner-occupied housing rehabilitation work at various addresses in Jefferson County:

Bids will be opened at 10:00 a.m. on July 26, 2016, in Room 830 of the Jefferson County Courthouse. Interested parties may get a copy of the bid package at Jefferson County Purchasing: 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N, Suite 830, Birmingham, AL 35203.
All interested contractors must meet the minimum contractor requirements for bidding on or before the date and time that bids are due. All questions must be written and faxed to (205) 214-4034 or e-mailed to Carmen Jones at jonesc@jccal.org.

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_______________________

NOTICE OF FINAL HEARING BY PUBLICATION

THE BIRMINGHAM LAND BANK AUTHORITY, a Public Corporation,
Plaintiff,
v.

TO: JOHN HUNTER; KATIE SHEROR; DAVE JEFFERSON; ELEANOR H. MERRIDA; JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALABAMA; CITY OF BIRMINGHAM; and any and all other unknown heirs, claimants or interested parties claiming any right, title, estate, lien, or interest in the real estate described herein,
TAKE NOTICE that on June 23, 2016, the Birmingham Land Bank Authority filed an Amended Complaint in the above-styled case and the Land Bank asserts that it has recorded notice of a pending quiet title and foreclosure action in the Probate Court of Jefferson County, Alabama concerning the rights and/or interests in the following real property:

A part of the SE ¼ of the SW ¼ of Section 20, Township 17 South, Range 3 West, being more particularly described as follows:

Beginning at the NW corner of Block 3. Martin Lockhart Survey, as recorded in Map Book 1, Page 329, thence east along the South line of Hiberian Street 105 feet; thence South 55 feet; thence West 105 feet; thence North to the Point of Beginning.

Property Address: 1131 Hibernian Street, Birmingham, AL 35214

ANY PERSON WITH A PROPERTY INTEREST IN THE ABOVE PROPERTY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THEY MAY LOSE SUCH INTEREST, IF ANY, AS A RESULT OF THE ABOVE-REFERENCED QUIET TITLE AND FORECLOSURE ACTION. The final hearing on this quiet title and foreclosure action is hereby set for August 12, 2016 in Room 360, Jefferson County Courthouse in Birmingham, Alabama at 9:00 A.M. The judgment of the Court may result in title to the property vesting in the Birmingham Land Bank Authority. Any person who proves to the Court’s satisfaction a right to redeem the property pursuant to Alabama Code §§ 40-10-73 (1975) et seq. or Alabama Code §§ 40-10-83 (1975) et seq. may redeem the property pursuant to those statutes within five (5) days after the appropriate Order on Final Hearing is issued. FAILURE TO REDEEM THE PROPERTY AND PRESENT PROOF OF REDEMPTION TO THE CIRCUIT COURT WITHIN THE 5-DAY PERIOD MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION.

The address of the Birmingham Land Bank Authority is City Hall, 710 North 20th St., Birmingham, AL 35203. The Birmingham Land Bank Authority may be contacted care of Caroline W. Jackson, City of Birmingham Law Department at (205) 254-2369.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED by the undersigned Clerk of Court that publication of this notice be made once a week for three consecutive weeks in the Birmingham Times, a newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Alabama, and that all persons to whom this notice is addressed and any and all persons claiming any title to, interest in, or lien or encumbrance on the above-described land or any part thereof are hereby directed to plead, answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint in this cause before the hearing date or a judgment by default may be rendered against them it being intended that this notice shall be used to perfect service against all parties who cannot be personally served with a copy of the Complaint.

Dated this the 1st day of July, 2016.

Anne-Marie Adams, Circuit Clerk

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DATE June 30, 2016

TO: Prospective Offerors

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: 16-12

SEPARATE SEALED PROPOSALS FOR: Property Management Services for Tuxedo Terrace Apartments
a Mixed-Income Hope VI Property

PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE DATE/TIME: July 18, 2016 / 10:00 A.M. CST

LOCATION: HABD Central Office
Tenants Meeting Room
1826 Third Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233-1905

PROPOSALS WILL BE RECEIVED AT: HABD Central Office
Procurement Administrator
1826 Third Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233-1905

CLOSING DATE: July 29, 2016

TIME: 2:00 P.M. CST

LOCATION: HABD Central Office
Procurement Administrator
1826 Third Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233-1905

By submission of a proposal the offeror agrees, if the offeror’s proposal is accepted, to enter into a contract with the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD), to complete all work as specified or indicated in the contract documents, for the contract price and within the contract time indicted in the RFP. The offeror further accepts the terms and conditions of the RFP.

Proposals must be prepared in accordance with the section entitled “Submittal of Proposal,” and will be evaluated by the HABD. Evaluation will be based on the criteria within this RFP.

Copies of the RFP, which includes the scope of services, conditions and requirements, may be obtained from the HABD Procurement Office located at the address listed above. Persons who require special accommodations should immediately contact the HABD Procurement Office at (205) 521-0611.

The HABD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, or any proposal, and to waive any informalities or irregularities.

The HABD in accordance with the Executive Orders 11625 and 12138 promotes participation by businesses owned and operated by disadvantaged and historically underutilized businesses. Section 3 business requirements must also be met.

A copy of this solicitation is available at www.habd.org under the Procurement Section. Questions regarding the attached RFP should be directed to the Procurement Administrator, in writing ten (10) days prior to proposal due date. Questions received after the deadline will not be answered.

Contracting Officer: Michael O. Lundy, President/CEO

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_______________________

DATE June 30, 2016

TO: Prospective Offerors

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: 16-13

SEPARATE SEALED PROPOSALS FOR: Developer Partner for the Southtown Court Redevelopment

PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE DATE/TIME: July 20, 2016 / 10:00 A.M. CST

LOCATION: HABD Central Office
Tenants Meeting Room
1826 Third Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233-1905

PROPOSALS WILL BE RECEIVED AT: HABD Central Office
Procurement Administrator
1826 Third Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233-1905

CLOSING DATE: July 29, 2016

TIME: 2:00 P.M. CST

LOCATION: HABD Central Office
Procurement Administrator
1826 Third Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233-1905

By submission of a proposal the offeror agrees, if the offeror’s proposal is accepted, to enter into a contract with the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD), to complete all work as specified or indicated in the contract documents, for the contract price and within the contract time indicted in the RFP. The offeror further accepts the terms and conditions of the RFP.

Proposals must be prepared in accordance with the section entitled “Submittal of Proposal,” and will be evaluated by the HABD. Evaluation will be based on the criteria within this RFP.

Copies of the RFP, which includes the scope of services, conditions and requirements, may be obtained from the HABD Procurement Office located at the address listed above. Persons who require special accommodations should immediately contact the HABD Procurement Office at (205) 521-0611.

The HABD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, or any proposal, and to waive any informalities or irregularities.

The HABD in accordance with the Executive Orders 11625 and 12138 promotes participation by businesses owned and operated by disadvantaged and historically underutilized businesses. Section 3 business requirements must also be met.

A copy of this solicitation is available at www.habd.org under the Procurement Section. Questions regarding the attached RFP should be directed to the Procurement Administrator, in writing ten (10) days prior to proposal due date. Questions received after the deadline will not be answered.

Contracting Officer: Michael O. Lundy, President/CEO

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DATE July 1, 2016

TO: Prospective Offerors

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: 16-14

SEPARATE SEALED PROPOSALS FOR: Consulting Services: Rental Demonstration (RAD) Transformation Plan

PROPOSALS WILL BE RECEIVED AT: HABD Central Office
Procurement Administrator
1826 Third Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233-1905

CLOSING DATE: July 29, 2016

TIME: 2:00 P.M. CST

LOCATION: HABD Central Office
Procurement Administrator
1826 Third Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233-1905

By submission of a proposal the offeror agrees, if the offeror’s proposal is accepted, to enter into a contract with the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD), to complete all work as specified or indicated in the contract documents, for the contract price and within the contract time indicted in the RFP. The offeror further accepts the terms and conditions of the RFP.

Proposals must be prepared in accordance with the section entitled “Submittal of Proposal,” and will be evaluated by the HABD. Evaluation will be based on the criteria within this RFP.

Copies of the RFP, which includes the scope of services, conditions and requirements, may be obtained from the HABD Procurement Office located at the address listed above. Persons who require special accommodations should immediately contact the HABD Procurement Office at (205) 521-0611.

The HABD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, or any proposal, and to waive any informalities or irregularities.

The HABD in accordance with the Executive Orders 11625 and 12138 promotes participation by businesses owned and operated by disadvantaged and historically underutilized businesses. Section 3 business requirements must also be met.

A copy of this solicitation is available at www.habd.org under the Procurement Section. Questions regarding the attached RFP should be directed to the Procurement Administrator, in writing ten (10) days prior to proposal due date. Questions received after the deadline will not be answered.

Contracting Officer: Michael O. Lundy, President/CEO

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_______________________

PUBLIC NOTICE
CITY OF BESSEMER

THE CITY OF BESSEMER, ALABAMA HEREBY GIVES NOTICE
THAT IT WILL ACCEPT RESUMES FOR APPOINTMENT(S) TO THE

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD

PLEASE SUBMIT RESUMES TO THE CITY COUNCIL’S OFFICE
C/O ANGELA COLEMAN, LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR
OF CITY HALL, 1800 THIRD AVENUE NORTH,
BESSEMER, ALABAMA 35020.

The expiration date to submit resumes is on August 2, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.

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PUBLIC NOTICE
FROM FAIRFIELD ALABAMA HOUSING AUTHORITY

Fairfield Alabama Housing Authority’s (FAHA), Public Housing will be taking WALK-IN applications the dates of July 18, 2016 through July 21, 2016, every day between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon only. The apartments available are two (2), four (4), and five (5) bedroom size only. All applications must be completed in the office only.

LOCATION ADDRESS:

Mattie Gill Jackson Gardens
6704 Avenue D
Fairfield, AL 35064

FAHA is an equal housing provider. If reasonable accomodations are required during the application process, please contact FAHA’s Public Housing at (205) 923 8017 ext. 210.

FAIRFIELD ALABAMA HOUSING AUTHORITY
Fairfield, Alabama 35064

-Equal Housing Opportunity logo here-

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INVITATION TO BID

The Water Works Board of the City of Birmingham will be accepting bids covering the installation of water mains and appurtenances connected thereto and 7 water services along Mann Drive and Mann Place located in the City of Tarrant, Alabama. Plans and specifications may be examined and obtained in the office of the Manager – System Development at 3600 First Avenue, North. Bids must be received for public opening at 10:00 a.m. local time in said office. A Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Thursday July 28, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. local time in the System Development Conference Room located on the Second Floor of the Main Campus Building located at the above-stated address. Bids will not be accepted from Contractors who do not attend the Pre-Bid Conference. Bids must be received for public opening on Thursday August 11, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. local time in the System Development Conference Room located as stated above.

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ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID

The Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority will be accepting sealed bids for:

Linen Service and Supplies

Bid information, requirements, plans and specifications may be downloaded at www.bjcc.org (under Vendor Information – Open Bids section). There is no charge for downloading bid documents. They may also be examined and obtained at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Purchasing Office, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N, North Exhibition Hall, 3rd Floor, Birmingham, AL 35203.

Bids must be received for public opening on Monday, August 8, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in the Forum Building Meeting Room M, located at 950 22nd Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203. All bids received after 2:00 p.m. on the bid date will be retained in the file unopened.

Questions should be emailed to David.Smith@bjcc.org. Telephone inquiries are not accepted.

Sharon Proctor
Purchasing Coordinator
Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority

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Real Estate

Wanted 1,000,000 Properties

Houses, Land, Buildings Etc. We also take over payments as well.
Have unwanted property? Call Randy@256-399-5454 and leave me a message or send me a picture of the property on my email Randy_battles@yahoo.com

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Birmingham joins nation in protesting police shootings

By

Birmingham Times

-

July 11, 2016

0

Solidarity Protest and March — Frank Matthews talks to the crowd. A solidarity protest and march held at Kelly Ingram Park saw hundreds of people listen to speakers, chant and march to Birmingham Police Headquarters. (Frank Couch / The Birmingham Times)

By Ariel Worthy

The Birmingham Times

Tension filled Kelly Ingram Park on Friday evening as several hundred people gathered at the end of a week where police shootings of two unarmed black men were on video and five white police officers were shot to death in Dallas.

“There were a bunch of different vibes,” said Jeff Dubose, a protester at the rally in downtown Birmingham. “Some angry, some concerned, some passionate; but everyone was on accord for the true purpose” to address issues between law enforcement and blacks.

Dubose said he hopes the protest is not in vain. “If we don’t start loving each other nothing will ever change,” he said.

People of all backgrounds gathered as Birmingham Mayor William Bell; Police Chief A.C. Roper; City Council President Johnathan Austin and a number of community activists spoke.

“When I first saw those [videos] the first thing I felt was sadness; then I felt anger,” Austin said. “I know that those two individuals could have been me.”

Austin, 37, said he has experienced discrimination and being profiled.

“Forget about the fact that I’m an elected official, I am a young black male who has experienced these things; I understand what it feels like,” he said.

Brittany Powell hugs Brad Harper during a rally in front of Birmingham Police Headquarters. A solidarity protest and march held at Kelly Ingram Park saw hundreds of people listen to speakers, chant and march to Birmingham Police Headquarters. (Frank Couch / The Birmingham Times)

Austin said he hopes there are other ways to solve the issues between the black community and law enforcement.

“One is by establishing a human rights commission,” he said. “We are able to hold those who protect and serve us accountable. When you have the police policing themselves, it’s like the fox watching the henhouse.”

After the protesting is done work must continue to bring change, Austin said.

“We want to hold our elected officials accountable to put things in place and make sure that they are representing the citizens,” he said. “We also want people to come out and vote and be part of the process.”

He added, “People have to be real with themselves and say ‘this is an issue’; the community has a responsibility too. If you see something, say something.” Austin said.

Roper expressed grief not only for the police officers in Dallas, but also for Alton Sterling, the black man shot to death by white officers in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile, the black man shot in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Roper assured protestors that the police department is working to make change.

He said officers are being trained . . . “we know we have to do better. Our communities deserve it,” the chief said.

After the rally the crowd marched from Kelly Ingram Park to the police headquarters chanting “Black Lives Matter” and “Hands Up, Don’t shoot.”

Feds open investigation into deadly Baton Rouge police shooting

By

Birmingham Times

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July 7, 2016

0

shootingpix — Citizens protest after the police shooting of Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge. The shooting fueled anger in Baton Rouge, with hundreds protesting Tuesday night and demonstrations continuing Wednesday. (Associated Press)

By Mike Kunzelman

Associated Press

Citizens protest after the police shooting of Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge. The shooting fueled anger in Baton Rouge, with hundreds protesting Tuesday night and demonstrations continuing Wednesday. (Associated Press)

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation Wednesday into the videotaped police killing of a black man who authorities say had a gun as he wrestled with two white officers on the pavement outside a convenience store.

Alton Sterling, 37, was confronted by police on Tuesday after an anonymous caller said he had threatened someone with a gun outside the store, where he was selling homemade CDs, authorities said.

In a cellphone video taken by a community activist and posted online, the two officers pinned Sterling to the ground, someone yelled, “He’s got a gun! Gun!” and gunfire erupted moments later.

At a news conference Wednesday, Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie Jr. said that Sterling was in fact armed but that there are still questions about what happened.

“Like you, there is a lot that we do not understand. And at this point, like you, I am demanding answers,” Dabadie said, calling the shooting a “horrible tragedy.”

The officers, identified by the chief as Blane Salamoni, a four-year member of the department, and Howie Lake II, who has been on the force for three years, were placed on administrative leave, standard department procedure.

Authorities would not whether one or both fired their weapons or how many times.

Gov. John Bel Edwards and the U.S. Justice Department announced the investigation by the department’s civil rights division.

“I have very serious concerns. The video is disturbing, to say the least,” Edwards said.

The shooting fueled anger in Baton Rouge, with hundreds protesting Tuesday night and demonstrations continuing Wednesday. Community leaders and Sterling’s family demanded a federal investigation.

“Mr. Sterling was not reaching for a weapon. He looks like a man that was actually fighting for his life,” said state Rep. Edmond Jordan, an attorney for Sterling’s family.

Quinyetta McMillon, the mother of Sterling’s teenage son, trembled as she read a statement outside City Hall, where a few dozen protesters and community leaders had gathered. Her son, Cameron, 15, broke down in tears and was led away as his mother spoke.

She described Sterling as “a man who simply tried to earn a living to take care of his children.

“The individuals involved in his murder took away a man with children who depended upon their daddy on a daily basis,” she said.

The police chief urged protesters to remain peaceful, and Mayor Kip Holden likewise sought to ease tensions, saying, “We have a wound right now, but we’ll be healing and making this city and parish whole again.”

Police said they have dash-cam video, bodycam video and store surveillance footage of the shooting that will be turned over to the Justice Department. But Lt. Jonny Dunnam said the bodycam footage may not be as good as investigators hoped for because the cameras became dislodged during the scuffle.

The Justice Department will look into whether the officers willfully violated Sterling’s civil rights through the use of unreasonable or excessive force.

Similar investigations, which often take many months, were opened following the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner in New York.

Federal investigators must meet a high legal burden to bring a civil rights prosecution, establishing that an officer knowingly used unreasonable force under the circumstances and did not simply make a mistake or use poor judgment. Many federal probes conclude without criminal charges.

In the video, which appears to be shot from inside a nearby parked car, one of two officers outside the store can be seen tackling a man in a red shirt and wrestling him to the ground. Then the other officer helps hold the man down.

At one point someone can be heard saying, “He’s got a gun! Gun!” and then one officer on top of the man can be seen pulling his weapon from his holster.

After some shouting, what sounds like a gunshot can be heard and the camera pulls away. Then more shots can be heard. At one point, a person in the vehicle asks, “They shot him?” as a woman can be heard crying.

The store’s owner, Abdullah Muflahi, told The Advocate newspaper that Sterling was not holding a gun during the shooting but that he saw officers remove a gun from the man’s pocket afterward.

On Wednesday, when a pastor told the small crowd gathered that the protest should be peaceful, 45-year-old Sharon Alexander, her voice cracking, countered: “We don’t need peace. We need answers; we need justice.”

Alexander, who was there with her daughter and three other relatives, said later: “We sound like a broken record. It’s time for a change.”

Protesters and friends created a memorial to Sterling on the white folding tables and folding chair he had used to sell homemade music compilations on CDs.

“He never bothered nobody. He was just trying to make an honest dollar,” said Arthur Baines, who came by to pay his respects.

Mufleh Alatiyat, an employee of the store, said Sterling often gave away CDs or petty cash or bought food or drink for some people. “He was a very nice guy,” he said. “He helped a lot of people.”

The man who claimed to have shot the cellphone footage, Arthur Reed, said his company, Stop the Killing Inc., makes documentary-style videos about killings in Baton Rouge.

95.7 Jamz mourns well loved personality

By

Birmingham Times

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July 7, 2016

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By JeDon Holloway Talley

For The Birmingham Times

SummitMedia LLC / 95.7 Jamz on Wednesday mourned the passing of on-air personality, Katrina “Mz. Katt” Holman.

Ms. Holman died on Friday. She was 37.

Mz. Katt, “the Dirty South Diva” was born and raised in Birmingham. She graduated from Ramsay High School and later attended the University of Montevallo before transferring to the University of Alabama.

Her first break in the radio business came in 2000 at WBHJ 95.7JAMZ after landing an internship with Cox Radio. Shortly after, she was hired as an on-air personality. Through her work with Summit Media, Katt worked around the southeast welcoming all to the Kitty City on the airwaves and stages all over!

95.7 Jamz radio personality Dana “Lady Woo” Woodruff said Ms. Katt played an important role in her life.

“Katt was definitely my big sister in the game and at times my partner in crime!” said Lady Woo. “She was always so welcoming to change . . . I remember times when I’d be ready to act out and my face had already shown some dissatisfaction, but there was Katt with that big ole smile plotting the next move! She was peaceful in her work and very gentle in her delivery. I’ll think about that now and forever knowing how she held it together.”

Mz. Katt had a great desire to connect listeners to new music from local artists, said Lady Woo.

“She took the underground artists under her wing in a special way. That torch had been passed all around the station, but Katt had a different passion for them and for the time and effort that it takes to facilitate that platform. She was a master at building and nurturing those relationships.”

Local artist John “YungVokalz” Bell said Mz. Katt was “the only person who played your music without you begging them to . . . the only woman I’ve seen treat everybody the same in public.”

Carrie “Ms. Carrie” Turner, a Birmingham female MC recalled the support from Ms. Holman.

“She was currently reaching out to venues, promoters, artists, labels, brands, sponsors, DJ’s and more, creating networking opportunities and outlets for our artists, and working for the forward movement and progression (musically) of our entire city and state.”

A memorial Service will be held Friday, July 8, at 12 p.m. at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, 1101 Martin Luther King Jr Dr. in Birmingham.

The viewing will be Thursday from 12 – 9 p.m. with family receiving friends from 6 – 7 PM at Bushelon Funeral Home 800 14th St SW, Birmingham.

Ann Florie resigns from Birmingham Water Works Board

By

Birmingham Times

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July 7, 2016

0

Ann Florie on Wednesday announced that she has resigned from the Birmingham Water Works Board.

“I gave it a lot of thought and it was just time,” said Florie, second vice-chairwoman. “I was appointed to serve the customers of the Water Works and I’ve always tried to do what I thought was in their best interests.”

Florie was named to the BWWB in 2010 to a six-year term which would have expired in December.

She served during a time of great turmoil for the utility. In 2015, state lawmakers enacted a bill to expand the board from five to nine members beginning Jan.1, 2017. All five members had been appointed by the Birmingham City Council.

And just last week, the Water Board voted to file a lawsuit seeking to void the law adding the additional members from outside the city. Florie was one of two members to vote against filing the lawsuit.

Florie said she will continue to serve in a number of other civic roles including executive director of Leadership Birmingham; member of the Jefferson County Personnel Board, as well as on the Executive Committee and Board of the Birmingham Business Alliance.

African-Americans the largest group of minorities in need of organ transplants

By

Birmingham Times

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July 7, 2016

0

By Nathan Turner Jr.

For the Birmingham Times

Angela Johnson of Pell City is among the fortunate ones.

The mother of two started receiving dialysis treatments in 2009, as her kidneys deteriorated. The blood-cleansing sessions were done three days a week, and each lasted several hours. But she was able to resume a normal life in 2013, after receiving a donor kidney that freed her from dialysis.

“[The transplant] gave me a second chance at life,” said Johnson, 46, who works as a sales associate at the Outlet Shops of Grand River in Leeds.

Many African-Americans are on waiting lists for kidneys, hearts, and other organs — and often not as fortunate as Johnson.

While the number of blacks receiving donations has increased in recent years, there “is still a way to go” to meet the needs for organ requests in the community, according to medical professionals.

African-Americans are the largest group of minorities in need of organ transplantation. Blacks make up 13 percent of the U.S. population; of those awaiting organ donations, 34 percent are waiting for kidneys and 25 percent for hearts.

Other statistics of note:

More than 30 percent of U.S. patients awaiting kidney donations are African-American, while half are minorities in general.

In 2012, 29 percent of the total candidates waiting for transplants in the U.S. were African-American, but they comprised only 14 percent of organ donors that year; 69 percent of donor organs from African-Americans were from deceased donors.

“African-Americans are much less likely to find a living kidney donor because of a prevalence of comorbidity issues, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, in the community,” said Dr. Jayme Locke, who, along with Dr. Michael Hanaway led the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) team that handled Johnson’s transplant. “These issues make [potential donors] less medically suitable.”

At least 22 people in the U.S. die daily awaiting organ transplants, according to the White House, which has launched a campaign to reduce the long waiting lists for those in needs of hearts, kidneys, livers, and other tissue.

A number of groups aim to increase minority donors and reduce the waiting lists through health promotion, disease prevention, and face-to-face interactions with members of the black community.

Patrice Miles, project director of the National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP) in Washington D.C., has one such group.

“The message is received better” with in-person educational visits, Miles said, “… people begin to see that you are not coming to take their organs when you ask them about signing donor cards, but that you actually care about them.”

Shanda Whitten (right) donated a kidney to Angela Johnson (left) and gave Johnson a second chance at life. (Mark Almond, special to The Times)

Skepticism

There are other reasons why many African-Americans are hesitant to donate organs, according to medical experts: religious objections; skepticism about proper care during surgery; lack of renal disease and transplantation awareness.

UAB’s Locke also cited the effects of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, which “has had a horrible and profound, long-lasting effect. On a continuum, it moved many African-Americans over from trust to mistrust,” said Locke, who is an associate professor of surgery at UAB and director of the university’s Incompatible Kidney Transplant Program.

The medical community must earn the trust of African-Americans again, she said.

Organ Transplants

According a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health report, the number of organ transplants performed on black Americans in 2012 was only 14 percent of the number of blacks waiting for a transplant; the number of transplants performed on white Americans was 27 percent of the number waiting.

Although the total number of white Americans on organ transplant waiting lists is about 1.5 times greater than that of black Americans, the report continues, the number of candidates waiting for a kidney transplant is almost the same between blacks and whites.

In addition, research shows that 25 percent of people waiting for heart donations are black, according to the HHS.

Dr. Jayme Locke, Associate Professor of Surgery at UAB and director of the university's incompatible kidney transplant program. — Dr. Jayme Locke, Associate Professor of Surgery at UAB and director of the university’s incompatible kidney transplant program.

Education and Empowerment

African-Americans have higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure than white Americans, the HHS report points out, and these conditions are known to put patients at risk for organ failures.

Dr. Clive Callender, professor of surgery at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and founder of the National Minority Organ Tissue program, said education and empowerment can prevent the high rates of obesity and illnesses that trigger the need for organs in the African-American community. Alleviating the demand for heart, kidney, liver, and tissue transplants revolves greatly around lifestyle changes, he said.

“People need to eat more greens and fruits, exercise more, smoke less, and avoid illicit drugs,” said Callender, who also founded the transplant program at Howard.

Living Donors

UAB, along with the John Hopkins University and Northwestern University medical schools, will participate in a new Living Donor Navigator Program. According to UAB, the local effort will target African-Americans in order to help “leverage their personal connections” and social networks in order to amplify the need for organ donors and identify live-donor candidates.

“African-Americans face a significantly higher incidence of end-stage renal disease and disproportionately low rates of live-donor transplantation, so the need in this community is real and vital,” said Locke, who will oversee the UAB program. “The Living Donor Navigator Program, which has been tested at Johns Hopkins University and other places, is associated with a more than fivefold increase in identification of potential live-donor candidates. We are excited to launch this program at UAB and hope we will see the same type of impact in the communities we serve.”

According to UAB, its Living Kidney Donation Program enables a healthy individual to donate a kidney to someone in need of a transplant, the surgical placement of a healthy human kidney into the body of a patient with kidney failure. Because of the lack of available deceased-donor organs, the program helps to meet the growing need for organs among those awaiting kidney transplantation.

About 100,000 people in the U.S. are awaiting kidney transplants, including 4,000 in Alabama—but there are only enough donor kidneys for 11,000 people.

To find out more about the Living Kidney Donation Program at UAB, visit www.uabmedicine.org/transplant/living-donor-program, or call 888-822-7892 or 205-975-9200.

Surprise act of kindness gives Pell City woman new kidney, second chance at life

By

Birmingham Times

-

July 7, 2016

0

By Nathan Turner Jr.

For the Birmingham Times

Shanda Whitten of Jemison donated a kidney to a relative stranger - Angela Johnson of Pell City, right. (Mark Almond, special to The Times) — Shanda Whitten of Jemison donated a kidney to a relative stranger – Angela Johnson of Pell City, right. (Mark Almond, special to The Times)

Shanda Whitten of Jemison always knew she wanted to make a contribution to the world larger than herself. As a communications specialist in the U.S. Army, she volunteered for medical duty at a Kandahar Province hospital during a stint in Afghanistan. True fulfillment came in 2013, though, when she donated a kidney to a relative stranger — Angela Johnson of Pell City.

Medical literature says matching kidneys are most likely to be found in donors of the same race or ethnicity. Neither woman, however, appears conscious of so-called racial distinctions, and they both acknowledge that even family members do not automatically match.

“That means we are all the same, except for that top layer of skin,” said Johnson, who is black.

Whitten, who is white, added that in a time of racial strife and mass killings, it is essential to “bring humanity back into the world.”

Johnson

Johnson, 46, a graduate of Banks High School, grew up in East Birmingham, married at age 21, and moved to California, where she was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease. After returning to Birmingham in the 1990s, she worked as an office assistant at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heart and Lung Transplant Unit.

She studied nursing at Jefferson State and Lawson State community colleges until poor health made her too ill to continue. By 2006, Johnson was feeling lethargic as a result of approaching kidney failure.

A frightening episode revealed that her blood pressure had soared. She began vomiting and feeling nauseous, and mistakenly assumed she was pregnant.

“One day my husband and I were taking a walk. God led me to put my right hand over my right eye, and all the lights went out [as her eyesight faltered],” said Johnson, who now works as a sales associate at the Outlet Shops of Grand River in Leeds.

In August 2009, Johnson, the mother of two then-teenage children, started receiving dialysis treatments, as her kidneys deteriorated. The blood-cleansing sessions were three days a week, and each was several hours long. Little did Johnson know that another Alabamian’s generosity and empathy would free her from her plight more than three years later.

Whitten

Whitten, 36, worked in 2013 as a temporary information technology employee at the Birmingham law firm of Balch and Bingham. Johnson’s husband, Leslie, 46, and another computer engineer at the firm were impressed with her work and recommended that she be hired full time. In July of that year, Whitten noticed Leslie’s absences from work. She learned he was caring for a sick wife who needed a kidney.

“I felt bad and went home and prayed about it because I could not get it off of my heart,” Whitten said. “I went home and prayed about what I could do.”

Angela Johnson’s siblings were ineligible as donors. Leslie Johnson’s blood type and genetic tissue profile meant he was a perfect match for his wife, but an onset of high blood pressure ruled him out as a donor.

“I asked Leslie if he minded if I got tested to see if I could match,” said Whitten. “And he said it would be OK.”

Test results showed Whitten was a perfect blood-group and tissue match, and the transplant surgery took place a few weeks later at UAB Hospital.

“Shanda is my family,” said Angela. “She gave me a second chance at life. All I feel is love and respect for her.”

The decision to donate an organ was even more fulfilling than her volunteer work overseas, Whitten said.

“I was blessed to do something to help,” she said. “In Afghanistan, I helped save lives, but I was not the main contributor. With this, Angela has a piece of me in her.”

Angela Johnson credits Whitten, who is now a full time nursing student at Jefferson State Community College, with freeing her from dialysis and restoring her to a normal life. Johnson calls Whitten her “kidney sister.” The two talk on the phone often and sometimes go on double dates.