The Smith Middle School Vikings are the regular season football champions. They finished the season with an undefeated record. Principal of Smith Middle School – Dr. DaMarcus Gates Head Coach – Robert Klein Offensive Coordinator – Trent Fort Defensive Coordinator – Calvin Kendall Defensive Backs – Webster Shaw Special Teams – Davis Dorsey Players
#1 DeShawn Fort QB
#2 Corey Allen RB
#4 Kenneth Watts
#5 Aaron Daniels
#6 Austin Dowell
# 8 Kevin Miles
#10 R.J.
#34 Steve Smith
#50 Davis Cade
#53 Joel Parker
#55 Courtney Jackson
#61 Jervis Prewitt
DETROIT – Let’s get straight to it: the 2015 Mazda6 may be the best looking midsize family sedan around. Yes, the current generation has been on sale for one model year but it is just beginning to get some traction in the market.
The four-door Mazda6 was sleek, it had sweeping lines that made it look longer and it had crisp creases. The car sat low to the ground but not so low as to make it look awkward. And it had flowing front wheel arches that gave it a forward motion look even when standing still. It was a slick design.
Not only did the Mazda6 look good, it was smart too, featuring Mazda’s SKYACTIV-G technology. It’s an engineering matrix comprised of bores, strokes, smaller combustion chambers, domed piston heads, pressurized direct fuel injection, exhaust and intake valves, etc. In short, it is someplace you don’t want to go without an engineer. However, the bottom line is that the technology improves fuel economy by up to 21 percent.
The Mazda6’s 2.5-liter four cylinder SKYACTIV engine made 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. This engine was one of the smoothest running four cylinders that we’ve ever encountered. It had good power, acceleration was immediate and the front-wheel-drive test car had a six-speed automatic transmission.
Coupled with Mazda’s i-ELOOP system; we were not responsible for the name of this regenerative braking system that stored the recaptured energy from braking in a lightweight capacitor that ran accessories and gave the car a boost during acceleration, our Mazda6 had an EPA rating of 28 mpg in the city, an impressive 40 mpg on the highway and 32 mpg combined.
It only got better in the interior. Back seat space was impressive. There was plenty of head and hip room, as well as leg room. The car rivaled much larger sedans in terms of interior space. All this was done while maintaining a fairly large trunk. In other words, it wasn’t a matter of gaining here by taking away there.
The front seat area was simple and straight to the point. The controls were redundant in a good way. This Mazda6 had a touch screen but it was set back a bit in the dash. If you don’t want to reach for it, there was a control dial (read mouse) in the center console. A triad of instruments in front of the driver displayed just about everything the car was doing.
This 2015 Mazda6 bristled with equipment that is normally found in much more expensive cars, or at least it used to be. There was a backup camera with cross traffic alert, it had blind side alert, lane departure warning as well automatic braking to help avoid collisions or minimize damage. Adaptive cruise control, adaptive Xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights were all pretty much the exclusive domain of luxury brands just a few years ago.
The car’s audio system was premium surround sound and it featured satellite radio, an infotainment system capable of playing or streaming music from a smartphone that was connected through the car’s Bluetooth system. The car had a Tom Tom navigation system. The front seats were heated and both were power. The power windows were completely automatic (up and down) all round. There was also a glass sunroof.
Best of all was the price. The base sticker was $29,895. Add options and shipping and the total for our 2015 Mazda6 Grand Touring test vehicle was $33,245.
Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Four different programs are represented in this week’s Southwestern Athletic Conference honors with Prairie View A&M claiming two of the awards. Panthers’ Jerome Howard (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation) and Damond Jackson (New Orleans, La./Landry-Walker) were named defensive athlete and newcomer of the week, respectively. Sharing newcomer honors with Jackson is Mississippi Valley State’s Joshua Rice (Starkville, Miss./Starkville). The offensive student-athlete of the week is Willie Quinn (Miami, Fla./Miami-Jackson) from Southern, and Alcorn State’s Haiden McCraney (Jackson, Miss./Madison-Ridgeland Academy) claimed specialist of the week.
Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week: Willie Quinn (Southern) Quinn’s 79-yard touchdown reception helped jump start the Southern offense as they overcame a 20-point third quarter deficit to stun Alabama A&M 35-34 Saturday. He hauled in seven catches for 132 yards and one touchdown. Quinn’s 28-yard punt return helped setup the game-winning drive for the Jaguars. Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week: Jerome Howard (Prairie View A&M) Howard tallied a game-high 15 tackles with two sacks and four tackles for a loss in the Panthers 34-24 win Saturday against Alabama State.
Specialist of the Week: Haiden McCraney (Alcorn State) McCraney punted the ball five times for an average of 41.4 yards per punt. His longest on the day was 59 yards and he placed two inside the 20-yard line.
Co-Newcomers of the Week: Joshua Rice (Mississippi Valley State) and Damond Jackson (Prairie View A&M) Rice, the nephew of Mississippi Valley great Jerry Rice, caught the game-winning 36-yard touchdown with under two minutes to play in the Delta Devils 27-23 upset of Jackson State. The win marked the first time in nearly 20 years Mississippi Valley defeated the Tigers. He finished with career-highs of five catches and 91 yards. The touchdown was the first of his career. Jackson earned 12 tackles, a tackle for a loss and had two pass breakups in Prairie View’s 34-24 win over Alabama State.
Saturday, October 25
SWAC Football
Magic City Classic
Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State – 2:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Birmingham, Ala.
Saturday, November 6
SWAC Football
Mississippi Valley vs. Grambling State – 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Lorman, Miss.
SWAC Women’s Volleyball Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State – 7 p.m. (SWAC Digital Network)
Huntsville, Ala.
MONTGOMERY – While the Alabama State University men’s basketball team is busy preparing for the start of practice, they took time out Wednesday to participate in the national “Walk to School Day” program.
Several members of the team traveled to four different schools in the Montgomery area; Morningview, Wares Ferry, Floyd and Carver Elementary Schools.
Head Coach Lewis Jackson has the program involved in many community service opportunities over the course of the season and this was the latest they participated in.
“We were able to spread out over four schools and get involved in the “Walk to School” day with several elementary schools,” Jackson said. “The players were excited about being able to go out and walk the kids to the school and you could tell the elementary students had a good time. They made up signs and held them while we walked.”
“We actually would go out and meet the students at a certain place and walk them to the school and it was usually around two blocks.”
Wendell Lewis is a graduate student on the Hornets’ team this season and this is the first community service project he has been a part of at ASU and it was an enjoyable time for him.
“I enjoy being with the kids and to walk with them and being in that environment,” Lewis said. “It was something new for me that I had not done before. Being out there talking with the kids and playing with them and then walking them to school and getting to meet the parents was good and I really enjoyed it and it was fun to me.”
ASU will continue to participate in community service projects as time allows. The team is getting closer and closer to their first practice which happens Oct. 17 with Late Night Madness.
MIDDLEBURG, Va. – We came here to get a look at Volkswagen’s offerings for the 2015 model year. Normally, during these full-line previews there are a few tweaks here and some burnishing there. But VW did have a triad of new stuff that will help its presence in the U.S. market.
The German automaker has come a long way from the days when its calling card in this market was the Beetle. There are 11 different Volkswagen models. Add trim lines and that number multiplies, which we didn’t do, to scores of vehicles which are derived from the Beetle, the Beetle Convertible, the CC, the e-Golf, the Golf, the Golf GTI, the Jetta, the Passat, the Tiguan and the Touareg
The model that will probably get the most coverage is the fully electric version of the new Volkswagen Golf that was introduced earlier this year. Briefly, the e-Golf’s electric motor develops the equivalent of 115 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. It has a range of 70 to 90 miles.
On an all too short test drive, we found the e-Golf to be extremely quiet. The only thing we could hear was just a bit of wind noise over the roof. The car accelerated smartly, handled well and it was pretty nimble in the heavy traffic that engulfs suburban Washington, D.C. The quick judgment is that this car can handle routine short haul driving without a hitch.
The e-Golf comes with a road side assistance plan that is meant to reduce what Volkswagen called range anxiety. Using a fast charger, the lithium-ion battery can be charged to 80 percent capacity in a half hour and its distinguishing design cue is that it has LED headlights as well as LED daytime running lights.
The e-Golf goes on sale in November; the base price will be $36,265. Presumably, Volkswagen does not expect to sell a bunch of e-Golfs but to get to the next level of battery technology the automaker and its peers have got to get real world experience in electric cars, especially battery technology and charging stations. And the e-Golf is Volkswagen’s effort.
However, the automaker’s best-selling model, the Jetta, gets a new diesel engine that will be used in other VW diesel models. The Volkswagen Group sells more diesel powered vehicles in the U.S. than any automaker.
The new clean burning diesel is a 2.0-liter TDI that makes 150 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque at 1,750 rpm. When mated to a six-speed manual transmission, the 2015 TDI Jetta gets 31 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the highway. With an automatic gearbox, city mileage remains the same while highway mileage falls one mile per gallon to 45.
The Jetta also gets a new 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Surprisingly, with either the six-speed manual or the six-speed automatic transmission fuel consumption for the 1.8-liter remains the same: 25 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. The new Jetta can be equipped with Bi-Xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights. The Hybrid, the 2.0-liter and the 2.0-liter turbo remain.
Four engine choices with multiple gear boxes that range from manuals to dual clutch transmissions to plain old automatic transmission and multiple trim lines result in base pricing for the Jetta that starts at $17,035 for the 2.0-liter base Jetta with a five-speed manual transmission to $32,490 for the 2015 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid SEL Premium.
The third significant change and perhaps best of all is that the electrical layout of 2015 Volkswagens has been changed so that beginning next year the vehicles will be equipped with USB jacks. No matter the model, the name of the game in the future is connectivity and without USB jacks Volkswagen was at a distinct disadvantage, especially with younger customers.
Now, the automaker from Wolfsburg has really entered the 21st century.
Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference released the 2014-15 men’s and women’s basketball conference schedule Tuesday. Under the format, all 10 member institutions compete on Saturdays, with two teams, one from each division, receiving a bye for the Monday contests until the final week of competition. SWAC play is set to begin just after the New Year with two games in Alabama, and one in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, respectively, on Saturday, January 3.
Opening weekend features Southern hosting reigning women’s champion Prairie View A&M and Alcorn State taking on current men’s champ Texas Southern on Saturday, Jan. 3. Jackson State and Grambling State travel to both Alabama A&M and Alabama State. And Mississippi Valley opens at Arkansas-Pine Bluff on January 3.
The 2015 Toyota SWAC Basketball Tournament is set for March 10-15 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Fans can order tickets online starting in November. Check below for the full conference schedule.
Date Game Site
Saturday – January 3 Jackson State at Alabama A&M Huntsville, Ala.
Grambling State at Alabama State Montgomery, Ala.
Mississippi Valley State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, Ark.
Texas Southern at Alcorn State Lorman, Miss.
Prairie View A&M at Southern Baton Rouge, La.
Monday – January 5 Jackson State at Alabama State Montgomery, Ala.
Grambling State at Alabama A&M Huntsville, Ala.
Texas Southern at Southern Baton Rouge, La.
Prairie View A&M at Alcorn State Lorman, Miss.
Saturday – January 10 Alabama A&M at Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, Miss.
Alabama State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, Ark.
Southern at Grambling State Grambling, La.
Alcorn State at Jackson State Jackson, Miss.
Texas Southern at Prairie View A&M Prairie View, Texas
Monday – January 12 Alabama A&M at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, Ark.
Alabama State at Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, Miss.
Southern at Jackson State Jackson, Miss.
Alcorn State at Grambling State Grambling, La.the Remainder of the schedule printed in the papaer.
The statewide observance of the International United Nations Day will bring together civic leaders, international educators, and outstanding students to discuss Birmingham’s role in the struggle for international human rights at the United Nations Day Banquet at The Club on Thursday, October 16. Mayor William Bell will be in attendance to briefly address the chapter on his recent trip to Geneva as a delegate to the UN’s Human Rights Conference Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The featured speaker at this year’s observance is G. Douglas (Doug) Jones, JD, a champion for civil rights in Birmingham and Alabama. He will be speaking on “BIRMINGHAM AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT: INSPIRING THE STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD.”
Miss Lauren Coughlin, a student at Troy University, will be honored with the Dorothy G. Baker Campus Leadership Award in recognition for the founding of the Troy University Model UN and Model Arab League in January 2011. She has also served as the Secretary-General of Troy Model UN during her time at Troy.
Dr. Lucille (Sis) Hare Levin is the 2014 recipient of the UNA-USA Distinguished Educator Awards. This award will be presented in recognition of her exceptional national and international endeavors focused on violence reduction and prevention. Dr. Levin has taught at UAB and Samford University and has led numerous workshops at universities around the country. Dr. Levin played a crucial role in discussions which led to escape of her husband from Hizbollah captors in Lebanon. This event is described in her best-selling book, Beirut Diary: A Husband Held Hostage and a Wife Determined to Set Him Free.
The Greater Birmingham Chapter is one of the leading chapters in the United Nations Association-USA. Participation brings together people with varied backgrounds who have an interest in world affairs. The Greater Birmingham Chapter, chartered in May 1992, has as its mission the creation of programs and activities that stimulate public discussion of international affairs and encourage support for a better United Nations. More information is available on the
Facebook page: UNA-USA Greater Birmingham Chapter. For information about attending a chapter meeting or becoming a member email chapter president Ilse Diasio at idiasio@aol.com or Suzanne Baker at csbaker@uabmc.edu.
Upcoming 2016 Presidential Election
by Jesse J. Lewis, Sr.
It is almost unbelievable for all the media to be focused on an election that is two years away.
On the Republican side here is a list of names that have been mentioned as 2016 Presidential candidates: Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, Sarah Palin, Scott Walker, Bobby Jindal, Nick Haley, Susanna Martinez, Rand Paul, Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney and Rick Perry.
On the Democratic side are: Hilliary Clinton, Joe Biden, Corey Booker, Andrew Cuomo, Antonio Villaraigosa, Julian Castro, Martin O’Malley, Mark Warner, Elizabeth Warren, Kristen Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar and Bernie Sanders.
The front runner on the Republican side is Mitt Romney; on the Democratic side is Hillary Clinton. Regardless of how they stand in the polls, everybody thinks they can win. Would you believe Dr. Ben Carson, a Black neurosurgeon, believes he can win after making the statement comparing Obamacare to slavery and the United States to Nazi Germany.
The Republican Party is well aware of the fact that in order to win the election they must carry the Asian, Hispanic, women and Black vote. Here’s how Republicans have voted in the past: They are against equal pay for women doing the same work as men; they are against paying everybody in America a minimum wage; they are against the national health care program; they are against same-sex marriages; they will not pass an immigration bill, they are against women managing their own lives; they think everybody should carry guns in nightclubs, schools and churches; nor do they believe in global warming.
My question to them is why would you think you can get Hispanics, Blacks and women to vote for you for President of the United States with this record?
If the Democrats were smart they would meet with all the Democratic candidates and say don’t do it. They need to let the Republicans fight their own battle and scar themselves so badly even their own spouses wouldn’t vote for them.
The Republican Party has done a good job of recruiting, not only having the entire FOX Network to support their cause, now they have MSNBC for support. Mika Brzezinski, who used to fight tooth and nail to defend Democrats, no longer does this and yields to Joe Scaborough, her co-host of Morning Joe, a Florida Republican.
Meet the Press just got rid of host David Gregory after his low ratings and put in place Chuck Todd, who is as bad as Joe Scarborough. I am hoping that the Republicans will not only control the House, but also the Senate, after the 2014 election. Now when they show their true colors they will have no one to blame but themselves. Those people still believe that Barack Obama is not an American citizen and a Muslim who is trying, in every way, to get Americans killed fighting ISIS. As one Republican wrote in his book, “President Obama is trying to bring Ebola to the United States to kill people.” What they don’t understand is Ebola will kill whites, Blacks, Democrats and Republicans…it is not prejudiced.
On the local level, specifically the State of Alabama, one would think that Obama was running on every ticket. All a candidate has to say is, “I am more conservative than my opponent and will have Obama impeached.” This is very sad.
I am one of the few Blacks who can truthfully say I am an Independent. I will vote for those persons who says I believe in equal rights for everybody; everybody has access to health care, freedom of speech and make all laws work for all people. Most of all, I will vote for those persons who say we will move this state forward, whether Black, white, rich or poor.
After four-and-a-half successful years as superintendent of Birmingham City Schools, Dr. Craig Witherspoon announced his resignation, effective December 31, 2014.
During his time as superintendent a lot of progress has been made to help transform Birmingham City Schools. The Birmingham Board of Education is currently planning for Dr. Witherspoon’s succession following this announcement.
The Birmingham BOE released this statement on the news:
“Today we have received and accepted the resignation of our School Board Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon. His resignation will be effective December 31, 2014. The entire board would like to thank Dr. Witherspoon for his service and hard work to the Birmingham School System, and the entire City of Birmingham.
During the next ninety days, the School Board will begin establishing a succession plan that will ensure that the Birmingham School System has an outstanding leader and that our children will continue to receive a world class education.”
State Superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice released this statement on Witherspoon’s resignation:
“The Birmingham Board of Education has been in regular contact with me regarding Dr. Witherspoon’s resignation. I, along with the Birmingham Board, thank Dr. Witherspoon for his service and wish him well in his future endeavors.
Much has been accomplished since our initial state intervention and we will continue work with the Birmingham Board to ensure a smooth transition in leadership with a laser focus on acceleration of student learning, programmatic innovation and financial stability.” Read on for Witherspoon’s full statement:
Today, I announce that I am resigning as Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools effective December 31, 2014. This decision will allow me to pursue other opportunities, and gives the Board of Education the time needed to make a smooth transition as it searches for a new superintendent.
In the past four years as Superintendent for Birmingham City Schools I have gained 24,500 great memories I can take along with me the rest of my professional journey. I thank this board, our parents, community members, and our students for allowing me the wonderful opportunity to serve as superintendent.
When I reflect on my time as superintendent, I recount the great strides made during my tenure. Under my leadership, I am pleased that I was able to help bring about the following achievements for our district and students:
• Increased graduation rate by 15 points based upon latest preliminary data
• Reduced dropout rate by 8 points at 4 percent
• Worked with state team to increase fund balance from $2 to $20 million
• Made strides toward restoration of district’s accreditation
• Implemented and expanded career academies across Birmingham City Schools
• Implemented Dropout Recovery Program, graduating over 500 students
• Reduced student flight from the district by increasing student retention
• Expanded enrollment in Advanced Placement offerings and International Baccalaureate Programming
• Expanded the number of pre-kindergarten classrooms in the district from 9 to 23
• Secured a $19 million GearUp grant to help advance learning at middle schools
Each of these accomplishments helped us establish a solid foundation for the future of Birmingham City Schools. I am personally excited about that future.
In closing, I thank the Board of Education for allowing me to serve. I also thank the teachers, staff and principals. Our work together helped contribute mightily to every one of our accomplishments.
I send a special thanks to parents and community members for being vested and engaged in our schools. The kind of community interest we have in Birmingham is rare and does not get enough appreciation.
Lastly, I thank our students. It is because of you that I awake each day to work in education.
The foundation is set for a strong future. And, the time is now for this Board of Education to write other chapters of success for our district.
I am honored to have played a role in pointing Birmingham City Schools toward a path of progress.
October 7, 2014
BJCTA Names New Board Officers; Celebrates the Strong Leadership of Joyce E. Brooks
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority has named new board officers. Joyce E. Brooks, outgoing board chair, has decided not to seek another appointment as chair of the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) Board of Directors.
Brooks has been roundly applauded for her leadership by fellow board members, BJCTA staff and members of the community.
“I considered it an honor and a privilege to serve in a leadership role that allowed me to shape the future of public transportation for the Birmingham-Jefferson County region,” said Brooks.
The new BJCTA board officers are:
• Johnnye Lassiter, Board Chair
Lassiter represents Bessemer. She is currently vice chair and served as interim chair during Brooks’ absence this summer.
· Patricia Bozeman-Henderson, Vice Chair
Henderson represents Birmingham on the board of directors.
· Bacarra Mauldin, Board Treasurer/Secretary
Mauldin also represents Birmingham.
Brooks began her tenure on the BJCTA Board of Directors in 2010. As board chair, Brooks made a lot of progress.
Under Brooks’ leadership, the BJCTA Board of Directors hired Ann August – the first woman executive director for the authority since its inception in 1972. August was a highly accomplished transit professional with more than 32 years of experience when she was hired.
Brooks’ leadership as board chair also coincided with the commencement of the building of the new Birmingham Intermodal Facility – the new home for BJCTA, Greyhound buses and Amtrak.
“When this new, state-of-the-art intermodal facility is built, visitors to this region will know they’ve arrive to a region that believes in innovation, and that Birmingham is on the move,” said Brooks.
Brooks is also credited with implementing the new motto for BJCTA: One team. One goal.
Brooks will use her time away from board leadership to spend more time with her family, and continue her work as an author. On November 15th from 3-5p.m. at Vulcan Park, Brooks will release her next book titled, It Ain’t Over.
