Percy Sledge, Who Sang ‘When A Man Loves a Woman,’ Dies

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April 17, 2015

Percy Sledge, Who Sang ‘When A Man Loves a Woman,’ Dies

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Percy Sledge, who recorded the classic 1966 soul ballad “When a Man Loves a Woman,” has died. He was 74.
East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana Coroner Dr. William “Beau” Clark confirmed to The Associated Press that Sledge died early Tuesday morning.
Sledge’s first recording took him from hospital orderly to a long touring career averaging 100 performances a year and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.
Between 1966 and 1968, Sledge used his forlorn, crying vocal style to record a series of Southern soul standards.
In later years, Sledge continued to be an in-demand performer in the United States and Europe as “When a Man Loves a Woman” kept popping up in movies, including “The Big Chill” and “The Crying Game.”

NAACP Statement on the Fatal Shooting of Walter Scott

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Birmingham Times

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April 17, 2015

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NAACP Statement on the Fatal Shooting of Walter Scott

BALTIMORE, Md. – A white South Carolina police officer who claimed he killed Walter Scott, a 50-year-old unarmed African American man, in self-defense was charged with murder after a bystander’s video recorded him firing eight shots at the man’s back as he ran away.

From Cornell William Brooks, NAACP President & CEO:
“Our prayers go out to the friends and family of Walter Scott. The death of yet another African-American man at the hands of those sworn to protect and serve the community is a grim reminder of the urgent need for criminal justice reform. Scott was a father of four and a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard whose life was senselessly cut short due to a tragic encounter with the police. While we commend the U.S. Attorney’s office, the FBI, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and other law enforcement personnel who assisted in the swift arrest of Officer Michael T. Slager, we must also applaud the courageous citizen of North Charleston who captured the shooting incident on video then swiftly released it to the public. From Michael Brown and Eric Garner to Tony Robinson and Tamir Rice, the narrative of excessive force and police brutality continues to permeate headlines and command our collective attention.
The NAACP South Carolina State Conference will work tirelessly with federal and local authorities as well as North Charleston residents to ensure that a full and thorough investigation takes place and that justice is served. We will also push for a police department that reflects the diversity of the community. African Americans constitute 47 percent of the North Charleston population, yet constitute only 20 percent of the police force. We must continue to advocate for solutions within our criminal justice system that will keep our communities safe, our children protected and our officers properly trained and engaged.”

Classified

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Birmingham Times

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April 16, 2015

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**Employment

*Appliance Tech-Experienced
*$15.00 hour; M-F 8-5
*Email: recruitcdla@gmail.com
BT04/16/15
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**CATERING SERVICE
*Rae Rae’s Catering
All Events – Weddings –
Family Reunions – Etc.
*205-266-0831or 205-587-7503
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** FOR RENT

*”Beautiful 3bdr/1bth house for rent
in Hueytown with w/d connection, deck, and
carport. Hueytown schools. *(205-565-8852) Jeremy.”
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*WANTED MEMORABILIA

*Negro Baseball Memorabilia

*NEED NEGRO BASEBALL ITEMS
*UNIFORMS, POSTERS, GLOVES, *ETC. CHARLES REED 205-527-2498
*FAIR PRICES PAID!
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*Ga. Boy Prophet
*Spiritual Counselor, Rootworker
*Spiritual services includes:

*Consultations
*Individually, Custom-made
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*100% private and confidential
*Call: 229-603-2591

write:
GA. Boy Prophet
P.O. Box 4608
Albany, Georgia 31701
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**Legals

*NOTICE OF COMPLETION In accordance with Chapter 1, Title 39, Code of Alabama, 1975 notice is hereby given that Fyffe Construction Company, Inc. has completed the Contract for Hickory Ridge II rental development, 3900 Industrial Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35217 and have made request for final settlement of said Contract. All persons having any claim for labor, materials, or otherwise in connection with this project should immediately notify Williams Blackstock Architects, 2204 1st Ave S #200, Birmingham, AL 35233.
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______________________________
*ADVERTISEMENT for BIDDER PRE-QUALIFICATION
*And NOTICE of INTENT to RECEIVE BIDS
*from PREQUALIFIED BIDDERS

Pre-qualification submittals will be received by the *Owner’s Representative/Project *Manager, Stan Cordrey on behalf of Office of the *Associate Vice President, Facilities *& Capital Projects, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Alabama Board of Trustees at *UAB Hospital Planning, 2020 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL *35294 until 4:00 PM Central Time May 4, 2015. *The original and two (2) duplicates of submittals are required for pre-qualification approval; however, facsimile transmission copies may be transmitted to the *Project Manager at (205) 975-7000 to expedite the review process with hard-copies of the submittals to be delivered within 24 hours.

*UAB HIGHLANDS PARTIAL ROOF REPLACEMENT
*FOR THE UAB HEALTH SYSTEM
*AT The
*University of Alabama at Birmingham
*Birmingham, Alabama
*Project No.: H155011

*A. SCOPE OF WORK:

The scope of work generally includes replacement of approximately 16,000 square feet of existing roofing, insulation, and associated flashing. Work will be performed above occupied areas of an operating Hospital facility. The Contractor should have experience with the implementation and maintenance of roofing installation and interim life safety measures in a Hospital environment as well as experience in performing roofing installation in an institutional setting.

*B. PRIME CONTRACTOR BIDDER PRE-QUALIFICATIONS:

Prime contractor bidders interested in submitting a proposal must apply for pre-qualification and must be licensed under the Provision of Title 34, Chapter 8, and Code of Alabama, 1975. A copy of current Alabama Contractors license is to be included in pre-qualification submittal.

Only prime contractor bidders who have completed the pre-qualification process and that have been approved will be eligible to submit a bid for the Project. *Prospective Bidder’s Pre-*qualification Package must be received by the *Owner’s *Project Manager no later than 4:00 PM Central Time, May 4, 2015 *after which no further requests will be considered.

Pre-qualification Requirements Information Package may be obtained from the Architect *upon letterhead request.

The pre-qualification procedure is intended to identify responsible and competent prime contractor bidders relative to the requirements of the Project. Each prospective prime contractor bidder will be notified of the results of the pre-qualification, no later than *May 6, 2015 by 5:00 PM Central Time.

The Owner reserves the right to waive technical errors in applications, or abandon the pre-qualification process, should the interests of the Owner appear to be promoted thereby.

*Progress Design and Construction Documents:
Prior to the pre-qualification deadline, project progress plans and specifications may be examined at the following location:

*Architect:
Birchfield Penuel & Associates
2805 Crescent Avenue, Suite 200
Birmingham, Alabama 35209
Mr. Clay Birchfield
205-870-1876
205-870-3058
clayb@bpa.net

*C. BIDS BY PRE-QUALIFIED PRIME GENERAL CONTRACTOR BIDDERS

*Documents:
After notice to pre-qualified bidders is given, the pre-qualified prime contractor bidders may obtain bid documents from the Architect (see address above) upon deposit of *$50.00 per set. The deposit is refundable in full on the first two (2) sets issued to each prime general contractor bidder upon return of documents in reusable condition within ten (10) days after bid opening. Additional sets for pre-qualified prime contractor bidders, subcontractors, vendors, or dealers may be obtained upon payment of the same deposit. The deposit for additional sets shall be refunded less the cost of printing, reproduction, handling and distribution, upon return of the documents in reusable condition within ten (10) days after bid opening.

Bid documents will be available at the following locations after notice to pre-qualified bidders is given. Drawings and specifications may be examined at the Office of the Architect; at the AGC Internet Plan Room, 5000 Grantswood Road, Irondale, AL 35210; at the Birmingham Construction Industry Authority, 601 37th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35222; and at the Construction Market Data, 30 Technology Pkwy, South, Suite 500, Norcross, GA 30092-2912; and electronically through McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge.

*Bonds:
A certified check or bid bond payable to the University of Alabama at Birmingham in an amount not less than five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid, but in no event more than $10,000 must accompany the bidder’s proposal. Performance and Statutory Labor and Material Payment Bonds will be required at the signing of the Contract.

*Bids:
Bids must be submitted on proposal forms or copies thereof furnished by the Architect. No bid may be withdrawn after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids for a period of ninety (90) days. The Owner reserves the right to reject bids if such action is determined to be in the best interest of the Owner. The Owner reserves the right to revoke pre-qualification of any bidder in accordance with Section 39-2-12, Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended in 1997 (by Act 97-225). *The Bid Date is May 14, *2015 at 2:00 PM Central Time at the *University of *Alabama at Birmingham, UAB Hospital Planning, 2020 *University Blvd., Birmingham, Alabama 35294.

*Proposals may be hand delivered or received by mail on the *date of the bid opening at the Office of Stan Cordrey, *Facilities Planning, 2020 Building, 2020 8th Avenue south, *Birmingham, Alabama 35233, until 12:00 noon. After *12:00 noon of the date of the bid opening, proposals must be *hand delivered and presented at the bid opening. Sealed *proposals shall be submitted in triplicate and shall be *properly identified. All proposals received after 2:00 p.m. *on May 14, 2015 will be returned unopened.

*D. PRE-BID CONFERENCE
*A mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held on May 7, *2015 at 4:00 p.m. at the site of the work. Meet at the UAB *Highlands Hospital Main Lobby. It is mandatory that all pre-qualified prime contractor bidders attend the Pre-Bid Conference.

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*The Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center *Authority will receive sealed bids for:

*Temporary Staffing Services

This will be for the use of the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority, Birmingham, Alabama.

*The Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, Birmingham, Alabama will receive *bids, up to the hour of 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2015, and will thereafter be publicly opened and read aloud at the BJCC Executive Board Room 4th Floor, North Exhibition Hall in Birmingham, AL. Bids must be submitted on bid forms furnished by the Authority.

A copy of this bid package is available at the above address or on our website: *www.bjcc.org (under Jobs & Vendor Opportunities – Open Bids section). There is no charge for downloading bid documents.

Bids may be sent to *BJCC Purchasing Department, Attn: Purchasing Coordinator, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N, Dock #2, Birmingham, AL 35203. Sealed bids shall be submitted in duplicate and shall be properly identified. *All bids *received after 2:00 p.m. on the bid date will be returned unopened.

*A Cashier’s Check drawn on an Alabama Bank or bid bond, executed by a Surety company duly authorized and *qualified to make such bonds in Alabama, payable to the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority in the *amount of $5,000.00 must accompany the bidder’s bid.
A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be conducted on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Bidders shall meet at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority, Executive Board Room, North Exhibition Hall, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N, Birmingham, Alabama.

*Questions should be directed to David Smith, Operations Manager, at (205) 458-8562, or email *David.Smith@bjcc.org.

Sharon Proctor
Purchasing Coordinator
Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority
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*INVITATION TO BID

Sealed proposals will be received by Birmingham City Schools at the office of Mr. Edward McMullen, Purchasing Department, 2015 Park Place North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203, until 2:00 p.m. CST thursday, April 23, 2015 for *Ramsay High School: Athletic Field Improvements at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read.

the project scope is as indicated in the contract documents, which includes: site re-grading and site contouring, sod installation, irrigation system installation, asphalt installation at the existing track, etc. located at Ramsay High School, 1800 13th Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35205.

A cashier’s check or bid bond payable to *Birmingham City Schools in an amount not less than five (5) percent of the amount of the bid, but in no event more than $10,000, must accompany the bidder’s proposal. Performance and Payment Bonds and evidence of insurance required as indicated in the bid documents will be required at the signing of the Contract.

Bid Documents may be obtained at the office of Mr. Edward McMullen, Purchasing Department, 2015 Park Place North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203, requested by email in digital format at the office of BCS Department of Capital Projects: Mr. Bob Morgan at 205-231-2082, email: rmorgan@bhm.k12.al.us., offices of Holcombe Norton Partners, Inc, Birmingham, Alabama 35216, and the offices of the Birmingham Construction Industry Authority (BCIA).

Bids must be submitted on proposal forms furnished in the Bid Package All bidders bidding in amounts exceeding that established by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors must be licensed under the provisions of Title 34, Chapter 8, Code of Alabama, 1975, and must show evidence of license before bidding or bid will not be received or considered by the Architect/Engineer/Consultant; the bidder shall show such evidence by clearly displaying his or her current license number on the outside of the sealed envelope in which the proposal is delivered. the Owner reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive technical errors if, in the Owner’s judgment, the best interests of the Owner will thereby be promoted.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held at Ramsay High School, 1800 13th Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35205.at 10:00 am, CST, April 20, 2015. Attendance at Pre-Bid Conference by Bidders is Mandatory.

Awarding Authority:
Birmingham Board of Education
Dr. Spencer Horn, Superintendent

Owner Consultant:
Holcombe Norton Partners Inc.
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*NOTICE OF COMPLETION

In accordance with Chapter 1 Title 39, Code of Alabama, 1975, notice is herby given that Bennett Building, Inc., Contractor, has completed the contract for the Cafeteria Renovations for Erwin Middle School, for the State of Alabama and the Jefferson County Board of Education, owners, and have made request for final settlement of said contract. All persons having any claim for labor, materials, or otherwise in connection with this project should immediately notify Lathan Associates Architects, PC located at 1550 Woods of Riverchase Dr #200 Hoover, AL 35244.
*Bennett Building, Inc.
*120 Shady Acres Road
*Alabaster, AL 35007
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*Request for Proposal
*Supportive Services Program
*Deadline: Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Jefferson County Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Area (JCWIOA) office is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to qualified respondents interested in providing supportive services to eligible participants in Jefferson County for the period of July 01, 2015 through June 30, 2016.
The RFP information packet will be available Thursday, April 16, 2015 at the JCWIOA office at 3420 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35222 or it may be downloaded at: jeffconline.jccal.org/Default.asp?ID=1255&pg=Requests+for+Proposals%2FQualificationsj
Proposals are due by* 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 28, 2015.
A Bidders Conference will be held Monday, April 20, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Jefferson County Workforce Development, *3420 3rd Avenue South, Second Floor, Birmingham, AL *35222.

***DOORS WILL BE CLOSED AT 10:00 AND NO OTHERS WILL BE ADMITTED***
*For more information, please contact Keith Strother at *(205) 307-6701
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*Jefferson County Center for Workforce Development (JCCWD)

*Request for Proposals (RFP)

Out-of School Youth Program
GED/High School Diploma Program or Occupational Skills Training Program

DEADLINE April 24, 2015; 4 p.m.

The Jefferson County Center for Workforce Development is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to provide a GED/High School Diploma Program or an Occupational Skills Training Program with job placement to eligible Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act youth participants ages 16-24. The youth training program is scheduled to begin July 1, 2015 and end June 30, 2016.

The RFP information packet will be available March 23, 2015 at the JCCWD office at 3420 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35222 or it may be downloaded from Jefferson County’s website at http://jeffconline.jccal.org/comdev/.

Proposals must be returned and logged in by 4PM, April 24, 2015. No proposals will be accepted after this time.

A Bidder’s Conference will be held April 6, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the JCCWD; on the second floor at
3420 3rd Avenue, South; Birmingham, AL 35222.

***DOORS WILL BE CLOSED AT 10:00 a.m. AND NO OTHERS WILL BE ADMITTED***

For more information, please contact Pamela Mapp at (205)307-6701
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*CITY OF BRIGHTON
*PAYROLL DEPARTMENT
*POLICE
*DEPARTMENT
*BIWEEKLY HOURLY
*POLICE OFFICERS
Anthony Farley   14.50
Fredtonio Coleman 11.52
Ray Hubbart      11.52
Kenneth Hooten   11.52
Elizabeth Sturdivant     11.52

*POLICE DEPARTMENT
*DISPATCH
*BIWEEKLY HOURLY
Angela Brickie 7.25
Kizzy Horton 8.00
Cynthia McGee 7.72
Kenneth Sanderson 7.25
Johnnie Lambert 7.25

*ADMINISTRATION
*DEPARTMENT
Bessie Bailey                       8.09
Albany Dunning 12.59
Malissa Parrish    10.09
Hazel Williams    14.50

*PUBLIC WORKS
*DEPARTMENT
Wesley Clark                       10.09
Darrell Hill                             10.09
Romise Murry 7.25
Antonio White                    8.50

*MAYOR AND COUNCIL
*MONTHLY SALARIES
Barbara Watkins             1350.00
Joseph Edwards, Sr.           450.00
Rhonda Bean          450.00
Annie Woods       450.00
Lonnie Murry   450.00
Landy Warren 450.00

*MAYOR MONTHLY
*EXPENSE 200.00

*FIRE DEPARTMENT
*MONTHLY SALARY
*SEBASTIAN CARRILLO 2416.67

*VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER
*MONTHLY STIPEND
Per Call (an Hour) 7.00

*Hazel Williams
City of Brighton
3700 Main Street
Brighton, Alabama 35020
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Unarmed 15 year old Boy Shot in the Back

By

Birmingham Times

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April 16, 2015

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photo: Jamar Nicholson’s mother, Jamar Nicholson, John W. Harris of Harris & Associates Law firm, (standing in the back) Herbert Hayden of Harris & Associates, Jason Huerta and mother at the press conference.

Unarmed 15 year old Boy Shot in the Back

A $20 million lawsuit has been filed against the City of Los Angeles on behalf of two teenagers accosted and arrested by Los Angeles Police officers in South L.A. last February. One of the youths was shot in the back, the bullet barely missing his vital organs and spine.
John W. Harris of Harris and Associates, attorney for Jamar Nicholson (the shooting victim) and Jason Huerta, two of the four teenage boys who were congregating in the alley near Florence and 10th Avenue, told reporters who gathered at the scene of the shooting, “On February 10, 2015 at approximately 7:45 a.m., Harris’ clients and the two other boys, who were also students at the Luskin Academy, congregated in an alleyway as they had done so many times before. After listening to music, the boys began to put on their school uniforms and take the short walk to their school only blocks away.”
Harris went on to say, “Without any warning whatsoever, two plain-clothed LAPD detectives came from around the corner shooting randomly and recklessly at all of them with a clear intent to kill.”
He disputed LAPD claims that it was about a toy gun that officers saw and mistook for a real firearm. “One boy had a toy gun in his possession but had not used it in a threatening manner,” Harris explained. “This is not about a toy or replica gun as LAPD has spun this incident. This is about failure to properly train or follow proper procedures when using deadly force.”
Nicholson, who underwent surgery February 28th, attended the news conference, as did Huerta along with their family members, and many supporters.

Clorox Apologizes for Racially Insensitive Tweet

By

Birmingham Times

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April 16, 2015

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Clorox Apologizes for Racially Insensitive Tweet

Clorox made a mess and offended some folks when they tweeted about the new multicultural emojis released for iPhones, according to CBS SF Bay Area.
“New emojis are all right, but where’s the bleach?” Clorox tweeted. These new emojis of color include Black and Brown people’s faces.
Some folks called the tweet racially insensitive while others said folks were being too sensitive. Nevertheless, Clorox removed the tweet and issued an apology.
“Wish we could bleach away our last tweet. Didn’t mean to offend.”
The company said it was referring only to the new toilet, bath and red wine emoji icons.

FREE JAZZ CONCERT!!!

By

Birmingham Times

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April 16, 2015

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FREE JAZZ CONCERT!!!
Come out and support 12th grader Timothy Huffman III, Minor High School. He will be playing with Official Clutch Jazz Band Sunday, April 19, at Birmingham Southern College at 4 pm. IT IS FREE!
They will be opening for (The Phenomenal Jazz Guitarist) Marc Antoine. It is the kick off for Jazz in the Park series. Please invite your friends and family to come relax and listen to some great music. Also, bring your lawn chairs. May God Bless. Hope to see you there.

Feel free to contact us on Facebook.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/ClutchTheBand?ref=hl

Jim Clingman, His Family, Their Faith and Their Fight By Hazel Trice Edney

By

Birmingham Times

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April 16, 2015

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Part II – ‘First You Cry’:
Jim Clingman, His Family, Their Faith and Their Fight
By Hazel Trice Edney

TRICEEDNEYWIRE.com – It was the perfect plan. After living in his native Cincinnati, Ohio for all of their 22 years of marriage, Sylvia and Jim Clingman were preparing to move to another state and start a new life.
Mrs. Clingman, a neonatal intensive care nurse manager, had accepted a new job at the Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville, S.C., one of the nation’s best cities for retirees, according to AARP. In the comfort of their new home in a beautiful quiet subdivision, Jim would continue writing his national “Blackonomics” column for weekly Black newspapers and serve as a consultant to his clients while also enjoying bicycling, one of his favorite pastimes, along the rolling hills of Greenville.
Kiah, their only child, was independent and away at college most of the time. The popular student leader and graduating senior at Howard University was focused on her career in advertising and marketing.
“My goal was that we would enjoy a place where I’d anticipated, number one, starting a new life,” recalls Mrs. Clingman. “A warmer place, where I would take up some cycling with him, where we would start our cycling together. Where we would grow old and start our downhill retirement at least enjoy being here together.”
Having met Jim, who is 19 years older, more than two decades ago at a reception in her native city of Chicago, Sylvia was smitten by this distinguished gentleman. Even now, she seems to blush when she speaks of how debonair he is in a suit. “Jim is the only man to me who looks just fabulous and handsome in a suit. No one can wear a suit like Jim.”
Though they only spoke a few minutes at that event where they met, he was obviously equally impressed. A few weeks later, he called her at the hospital where she worked and the rest is history. They married on Dec. 15, 1991, and were now preparing to start a new season in their lives.
But, that dream took a sudden and traumatic turn 18 months ago when Jim Clingman was diagnosed with ALS, so-called “Lou Gehrig’s disease”. It is the neurological illness in which the normal prognosis is that the patient gradually becomes paralyzed and then dies within two to five years, although some have lived much longer and some patients have even seen their symptoms stop, according to the ALS Association.
While Mrs. Clingman had moved ahead to start the new job as her husband prepared to join her, his weakened left foot and calf continued to grow worse despite surgery and batteries of tests. Finally, there came the devastating diagnosis August 23, 2013.
“We put her on speaker phone,” he recalls. “She just lost it. I immediately got in the car and drove down there and just spent a couple of days so we could both be together and just accept it.”
“Accept it?” How does one “accept” a prognosis like that of ALS? According to Jim Clingman, “First you cry.” But, then what?
Contemplating the question, he speaks slowly, thoughtfully, a man who has never even spent a night in a hospital, now trying to wrap his mind around what has become the spiritual test of his lifetime. Miraculously, he has found blessings, even in the midst of this tragedy.
“It’s a day to day thing. I have to put it like that,” he explains. “I try to look at the positives like the fact that it started in my foot instead of in my face. It can start in arms, hands, etc. The doctor told me that, ‘If there’s anything good about this it’s where it started in you because it started in your foot and has to work its way up.'”
Jim’s faith in God’s will for his life has been his rock. “If I didn’t have that Hazel, I’d be a wreck. I know it…If it weren’t for that, I’d be a basket case.”
It also helps that he is not physically alone in this journey. In addition to Sylvia, Kiah and extended family members, the popular columnist, speaker and author of four books has scores of friends and thousands of fans. They include His lifelong pastor and his new pastor in Greenville. Both marvel at how Jim Clingman is handling this.
“I remember when Jim decided to give his life to God. It was on a Mother’s Day,” recalls Richard A. Rose, Sr., then pastor of Gray Road Church of Christ in Cincinnati. “He came down that aisle at church and never looked back,” Rose recalls that moment 17 years ago. “He became a teacher, he even delivered sermons in my absence. Wherever he was needed, he was ready. There was no job too big or too small. So, he’s the leader in that family when it comes down to the faith. His faith will help Sylvia and help Kiah.”
While leaning on God for his future, the blessing is also in the life that he has lived and continues to live, says Rev. Rose. “Everybody in Cincinnati knew who Jim Clingman was. He did so much for so many people. And, so when the doctor’s first told him that he had ALS, it kind of set him back a little bit…But, God is greater than any doctor, than any degrees, and if it is not His will to deliver you from it, He will give you the strength to take you through it.”
Now attending Grace View Church of Christ in Anderson, S.C., Clingman has remained steadfast in service.
“He’s not wavered in his faith at all,” says Grace View pastor, Bryan Jones. Clingman even preached at his church earlier this year.
Seated in the pulpit, he encouraged the congregation with the message titled, “Tickets Please”. From Hebrews 9:10, it was about “how Christ died once for all. Everybody has a free ticket,” Clingman recounts.
“There’s been some challenging times in which I would see him high and see him low,” says Jones. He calls Clingman his “hero” because of his thoughts of others in the midst of his own trials. “Every time I saw him have a weak moment, it was never because of his own personal illness or health. Any time he’s ever been down, it’s always because of the pain he has because of his family having to deal with it. Not himself.”
A major part of that pain has been his concern for their beloved Kiah. Always a daddy’s girl, she too was naturally devastated by the diagnosis.
“My Dad actually tried to hide it from me for a while,” Kiah recalls. She was about to leave for London for an educational endeavor in the fall of 2013 when she found out from a relative who mistakenly let it slip out during Thanksgiving break.
“I didn’t want to go anymore,” she recalls. “After I read the diagnosis two to five years to live immediately what was going through my mind was he’s had these symptoms for two years now so how long does he have left? That was the only thing on my mind.”
Fast forward through the tears, her parents convinced her to go to London. Eighteen months since the diagnosis, his faith has indeed encouraged the entire family.
“I guess my Dad has actually been the reason I’ve been able to keep going, keep fighting, his resilience, his drive,” says Kiah. “My Mom and I have no choice but to be strong for him and sometimes it feels like we have ALS. But, his drive to keep going every day is what keeps us going.”
Like her father, Kiah is also a fighter. When the Veteran’s Administration turned him down for assistance, she persisted, searching the Internet and making phone calls until she found someone who would listen.
Finally, Clingman, a veteran of the U. S. Navy, was informed that he would receive full benefits.
That moment was part of an answer to his prayers that his wife would never be saddled with debt because of his illness. His other greatest concern is still in the works.
Now, his heart’s desire is to “Get Kiah off into her adult life and to be there when she graduates” Saturday, May 9, 2015. “I’m praying that my strength lasts at least until then because I don’t want to be there so debilitated that the focus is on me rather than her and her achievements. Then, I want to see her on firm footing as she moves into adulthood.”
Meanwhile, America is to hear much more from Jim Clingman. He has just completed his fifth book, “Black Dollars Matter! – Teach Your Dollars How to Make More Sense.” And he continues to write his Black press column, “Blackonomics”, which he also posts on his website, Blackonomics.com.
No matter what the doctors say, this family still has hope. “The doctor gave me a death sentence, but God has already given me a ‘Life Sentence,’ an eternal life sentence,” Clingman said.
“I never refer to it as false hope because God can do anything,” says Rose. “There is hope, the hope in God. Any hope that you have is not in science, but in God.”

Jim Clingman can be reached at JClingman@Blackonomics.com.

FORMER NFL STAR AARON HERNANDEZ FOUND GUILTY

By

Birmingham Times

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April 15, 2015

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e828eb6f9813ea7a5f7cc03a552b82a2d3ad6a77 — Aaron Hernandez sits in the courtroom of the Attleboro District Court during his hearing on August 22, 2013 in North Attleboro, Massachusetts (AFP Photo/Jared Wickerham)

FORMER NFL STAR AARON HERNANDEZ FOUND GUILTY

New York (AFP) – Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez was sentenced to life in prison without parole Wednesday for the first-degree murder of a semi-pro football player two years ago.

The sentencing in a Massachusetts court after a four-month trial cements a spectacular fall from grace for the 25-year-old Hernandez, who once had a $40 million, five-year contract with the New England Patriots.

The victim, Odin Lloyd, was a 27-year-old semi-pro football player whose bloodied body was found in North Attleboro, Massachusetts on June 17, 2013, less than a mile from Hernandez’s luxury home.

Lloyd had been dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee.

Hernandez glanced to the side and pursed his lips after the jury pronounced the first-degree murder conviction. His mother and fiancee sobbed in the gallery.

Dressed in a sharp suit and tie, he sat down as the jury convicted him on two separate gun and ammunition charges.

The 12-person jury had taken seven days to reach the unanimous verdict. The murder charge carried a mandatory life sentence, imposed shortly after his conviction.

Hernandez also faces murder charges for the drive-by shooting of two men in Boston in 2012.

– Mother forgives son’s killers –

Lloyd’s tearful mother Ursula Ward told the court that she felt her heart “stop beating for a moment” when she laid her son to rest, but that she had managed to forgive his murderers.

“I miss my baby boy Odin so much but I know I’m going to see him someday again and that is giving me the strength to go on,” she said, choking back tears.

“I forgive the hands of the people that had a hand in my son’s murder… I pray and hope that someday everyone out there will forgive them also,” she added.

The Patriots dropped Hernandez just hours after his arrest on June 26, 2013, nine days after Lloyd was found dead.

He has been in custody ever since.

Although the murder weapon was never discovered, analysts said the evidence against Hernandez was overwhelming.

Prosecutors called more than 130 witnesses in an effort to prove Hernandez pulled the trigger on the handgun that killed Lloyd.

He and friends Ernest Wallace and Carlos Ortiz drove with Lloyd to an industrial park in North Attleboro, where Lloyd was shot multiple times and left for dead.

In his closing statement, defense attorney James Sultan acknowledged for the first time that Hernandez witnessed the killing, but claimed either Wallace or Ortiz pulled the trigger.

Wallace and Ortiz are to be tried separately on murder charges.

“He was a 23-year-old kid who witnessed something,” Sultan told the court last week. “A shocking killing. Committed by someone he knew. He didn’t know what to do.”

Prosecutor William McCauley had implored the jury members to convict Hernandez of first-degree murder.

The judge told members of the jury it was up to them whether they were willing to talk to the media in the wake of the verdict.

Hernandez has the right to appeal the conviction.

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Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Hosts Reading by Frank X Walker, Kentucky’s First African American Poet Laureate

By

Birmingham Times

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April 15, 2015

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Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Hosts Reading by

Frank X Walker, Kentucky’s First African American Poet Laureate

Monday, April 20, 2015 at 6 pm

April 15. 2015– The Birmingham Civil Rights (BCRI) will present a reading and book signing by Frank X Walker on Monday, April 20, 2015 at 6 pm in BCRI’s Woods Community Meeting Room. In 2014, Walker was named Kentucky’s youngest and first African American Poet Laureate. He also received an NAACP Image Award for his book Turn Me Loose: The Unghosting of Medgar Evers. Voted one of the most creative professors in the south, Walker is a full professor in the Department of English and director of the African American and Africana studies program at the University of Kentucky. The reading and book signing are free and open to the public and registration is available at www.bcri.org.

Walker is the author of five other poetry collections: Isaac Murphy: I dedicate this ride; When Winter Come: the Ascension of York; Black Box; Buffalo Dance: the Journey of York, which won the Lillian Smith Book Award in 2004; and Affrilachia. A 2005 recipient of the Lannan Literary Fellowship in Poetry, Walker is cofounder of the Affrilachian Poets. Walker is known internationally for his unique approach to teaching writing and numerous literary accomplishments. Most famously among them is his creation of the word “Affrilachia,” a term that unifies Appalachian identity and the region’s African-American culture and history.

“We are thrilled to have Frank Walker at BCRI to share his outstanding new work,” stated Priscilla Hancock Cooper, BCRI Interim President and CEO. “His latest book is of particular relevance to BCRI because it examines the assassination of Medgar Evers, a Mississippi civil rights activist, by imagining the point of view of the perpetrator as well as the victims.”

Walker’s connections to Alabama go back to the mid-1990s when he served as an artist-in-residence in Demopolis and instructor with Nia Creative Day Camp in Birmingham. He has returned to the state as a presenter for various organizations including the Alabama Book Festival.

BASEBALL AT AUBURN CANCELLED

By

Birmingham Times

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April 15, 2015

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BASEBALL AT AUBURN CANCELLED

AUBURN – Tuesday’s Alabama State – Auburn baseball game has been cancelled.

There is no official word at this time if the game will be rescheduled. Alabama State will play at Jacksonville State Wednesday at 6 p.m., with live radio broadcast on bamastatesports.com.

#myasubaseball#