02-22-12 front.indd
CHRONICLE HUMB
LDT
‘Serving Humboldt, home of the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival, since 1886’
1
$ 00
VOL. 125, NO. 08
HUMBOLDT, TENNESSEE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012
Crime in Humboldt
INSIDE... Gibson Co. Democrats to host convention
Brown found guilty Man allegedly ran over, shot victim in 2009
The Gibson County Democratic Party will host a county convention March 10. See the details inside this week. Page 2A
Antonius Brown
Day care center marks black history
photo by DANNY WADE
CRIME DATA – Humboldt Police Chief Raymond Simmons looks on as Ella Abbot enters data into the computer. This data on crimes requiring police calls is sent to state and federal departments’ databases. Simmons praised his squad for accurately documenting all police calls and getting that information entered into the computer system.
Major crimes decrease in 2011 Soulful singer, the late Ray Charles, is aptly portrayed by Cornelius Easley during the Black History celebration at Kids Land in Humboldt. Page 7A
BY DANNY WADE When it comes to crimes, Humboldt is very similar to most cities its size. Police departments work diligently to fight it, solve it and prevent it, all the while striving to make citizens feel safe. Humboldt Police Chief Raymond Simmons compiled the data and compared 2011 numbers to the previous year. “In 2010 there were 13,304 total complaints where officers answered calls to the police department,” Chief Simmons said last week. “Everything from traffic stops, escorts for banks and businesses, major crimes, domestic disputes, dogs and cats—you name it.” In 2011, the number of answered calls increased slightly to 13,771. But dating back to 2006, the numbers have not fluctuated very much being in the mid-13,000s to just under 14,000 calls per year. Even though these numbers of police calls remains relatively the same, Chief Simmons said
Brooks scores 1,000 points in HHS career
the number of major crimes decreased from 2010 to 2011. According to his data there were 214 major crimes in 2010 compared to 166 in 2011, a 23-percent decrease. Simmons categorized major crimes as murder, rape, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, aggravated sexual assault and attempted firstdegree murder. “It (crime) may be down 23-percent but we strive to continue to do everything we can to make the city safe,” Simmons noted. “We have lots of good police officers that are out in the community. Also the citizens have stepped up to the plate and reported crimes. That helps!” Even with 214 major crimes committed in 2011, that leaves thousands of other police calls with a large number being traffic citations. Traffic violations make up the largest category when it see CRIME page 2A
Lessons in local black history featured at library
Senior Antonio Brooks received a basketball ball signed by his teammates for going over the 1,000-point mark for his career as a Viking. Page 1B
Deadlines Deadlines for news and advertising are Friday at 5 p.m. If you have questions call 784-2531.
Humboldt Public Library celebrated Humboldt Black History with four speakers last week. Jerry Marable, Kathleen Smith, Junior Reid and Marvin Sikes were the guest speakers. Jerry Marable Marable told of growing up in the Pleasant Plains community in Madison County and attending the five-room school there when he was four, because his mother worked at the school. The family later moved to Humboldt where he graduated from Stigall High School in 1961. He worked at City Drug and then moved to Nashville, where “Uncle Sam” found him, he recalled. He chose the Air Force in 1964, and served a tour in Vietnam before leaving the Air Force in 1968. Back at home he graduated from Lane College and then went back to Nashville where he worked for Nashville Electric Co. until his retirement in 2005. Marable moved back
to Jackson and was soon involved with Rev. James Taft Freeman, who had laid the plans for the Tom and O.E. Stigall Museum. Freeman passed away in 2008 but the group he inspired continued and the museum was opened in
2009. It has a permanent display of business and civic pioneers including the Pulliam, Farmer and Baskerville families. It has hosted two major traveling exhibits and another is coming up this year, the Nashville Sit-ins from the
Civil Rights era. Kathleen Smith Smith, longtime banker in Humboldt, has for the past six years, served as vice president at First State Bank. Prior to that she see HISTORY page 3A
submitted photo
SHARING THEIR PASTS - Dorrington ‘Junior’ Reid, Kathleen Smith, Jerry Marable and Marvin Sikes were among the guest speakers as Humboldt Library celebrated black history in Humboldt last week.
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Sales tax vote might pinch city Mayor warns general fund will take hit BY APRIL G. JACKSON Although Humboldt citizens cannot vote on the local sales tax question on the ballot March 6, its outcome, if approved, will affect them. The referendum is asking for an increase of 1/2-cent on local option sales tax. Currently Humboldt, Trenton, Milan and Medina already have the 1/2-cent added to their sales tax which is 9.75percent. Outside these towns, but still in Gibson County, shoppers pay 9.25-percent sales tax on each dollar spent. When, or if, the local option is adopted county wide, then all the local option funds go to the county to be redistributed
see PINCH page 2A
‘You really should try
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see BROWN page 2A
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A jury last week found Antonius Brown guilty of murder in the first degree and aggravated assault in the shooting death of Vincent Brown (no relation) in November, 2009. Antonious Brown was accused of shooting Vincent Brown in the head. Just prior to the shooting, Antonious Brown’s vehicle struck the victim near the corner of 5th Avenue and Craddock in Humboldt November 5, 2009. It was reported by witnesses as a drive-by shooting. When police arrived, Vincent Brown was found in with a gunshot wound to the head. He had also been struck by a moving vehicle, according to Humboldt police. Vincent Brown was transported by ambulance to Humboldt
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before you buy!’
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For Chronicle advertising call 784-2531
For subscriptions call 784-2531
E-mail us at [email protected]
LDT
‘Serving Humboldt, home of the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival, since 1886’
1
$ 00
VOL. 125, NO. 08
HUMBOLDT, TENNESSEE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012
Crime in Humboldt
INSIDE... Gibson Co. Democrats to host convention
Brown found guilty Man allegedly ran over, shot victim in 2009
The Gibson County Democratic Party will host a county convention March 10. See the details inside this week. Page 2A
Antonius Brown
Day care center marks black history
photo by DANNY WADE
CRIME DATA – Humboldt Police Chief Raymond Simmons looks on as Ella Abbot enters data into the computer. This data on crimes requiring police calls is sent to state and federal departments’ databases. Simmons praised his squad for accurately documenting all police calls and getting that information entered into the computer system.
Major crimes decrease in 2011 Soulful singer, the late Ray Charles, is aptly portrayed by Cornelius Easley during the Black History celebration at Kids Land in Humboldt. Page 7A
BY DANNY WADE When it comes to crimes, Humboldt is very similar to most cities its size. Police departments work diligently to fight it, solve it and prevent it, all the while striving to make citizens feel safe. Humboldt Police Chief Raymond Simmons compiled the data and compared 2011 numbers to the previous year. “In 2010 there were 13,304 total complaints where officers answered calls to the police department,” Chief Simmons said last week. “Everything from traffic stops, escorts for banks and businesses, major crimes, domestic disputes, dogs and cats—you name it.” In 2011, the number of answered calls increased slightly to 13,771. But dating back to 2006, the numbers have not fluctuated very much being in the mid-13,000s to just under 14,000 calls per year. Even though these numbers of police calls remains relatively the same, Chief Simmons said
Brooks scores 1,000 points in HHS career
the number of major crimes decreased from 2010 to 2011. According to his data there were 214 major crimes in 2010 compared to 166 in 2011, a 23-percent decrease. Simmons categorized major crimes as murder, rape, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, aggravated sexual assault and attempted firstdegree murder. “It (crime) may be down 23-percent but we strive to continue to do everything we can to make the city safe,” Simmons noted. “We have lots of good police officers that are out in the community. Also the citizens have stepped up to the plate and reported crimes. That helps!” Even with 214 major crimes committed in 2011, that leaves thousands of other police calls with a large number being traffic citations. Traffic violations make up the largest category when it see CRIME page 2A
Lessons in local black history featured at library
Senior Antonio Brooks received a basketball ball signed by his teammates for going over the 1,000-point mark for his career as a Viking. Page 1B
Deadlines Deadlines for news and advertising are Friday at 5 p.m. If you have questions call 784-2531.
Humboldt Public Library celebrated Humboldt Black History with four speakers last week. Jerry Marable, Kathleen Smith, Junior Reid and Marvin Sikes were the guest speakers. Jerry Marable Marable told of growing up in the Pleasant Plains community in Madison County and attending the five-room school there when he was four, because his mother worked at the school. The family later moved to Humboldt where he graduated from Stigall High School in 1961. He worked at City Drug and then moved to Nashville, where “Uncle Sam” found him, he recalled. He chose the Air Force in 1964, and served a tour in Vietnam before leaving the Air Force in 1968. Back at home he graduated from Lane College and then went back to Nashville where he worked for Nashville Electric Co. until his retirement in 2005. Marable moved back
to Jackson and was soon involved with Rev. James Taft Freeman, who had laid the plans for the Tom and O.E. Stigall Museum. Freeman passed away in 2008 but the group he inspired continued and the museum was opened in
2009. It has a permanent display of business and civic pioneers including the Pulliam, Farmer and Baskerville families. It has hosted two major traveling exhibits and another is coming up this year, the Nashville Sit-ins from the
Civil Rights era. Kathleen Smith Smith, longtime banker in Humboldt, has for the past six years, served as vice president at First State Bank. Prior to that she see HISTORY page 3A
submitted photo
SHARING THEIR PASTS - Dorrington ‘Junior’ Reid, Kathleen Smith, Jerry Marable and Marvin Sikes were among the guest speakers as Humboldt Library celebrated black history in Humboldt last week.
'PSE'PDVTHFOFMBOHMFZGPSEDPN 'PSE&YQMPSFS
Sales tax vote might pinch city Mayor warns general fund will take hit BY APRIL G. JACKSON Although Humboldt citizens cannot vote on the local sales tax question on the ballot March 6, its outcome, if approved, will affect them. The referendum is asking for an increase of 1/2-cent on local option sales tax. Currently Humboldt, Trenton, Milan and Medina already have the 1/2-cent added to their sales tax which is 9.75percent. Outside these towns, but still in Gibson County, shoppers pay 9.25-percent sales tax on each dollar spent. When, or if, the local option is adopted county wide, then all the local option funds go to the county to be redistributed
see PINCH page 2A
‘You really should try
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see BROWN page 2A
New!
4&4FEBO-* 4QFFE"VUP
A jury last week found Antonius Brown guilty of murder in the first degree and aggravated assault in the shooting death of Vincent Brown (no relation) in November, 2009. Antonious Brown was accused of shooting Vincent Brown in the head. Just prior to the shooting, Antonious Brown’s vehicle struck the victim near the corner of 5th Avenue and Craddock in Humboldt November 5, 2009. It was reported by witnesses as a drive-by shooting. When police arrived, Vincent Brown was found in with a gunshot wound to the head. He had also been struck by a moving vehicle, according to Humboldt police. Vincent Brown was transported by ambulance to Humboldt
'$
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-BOHMFZ'PSE%JTPDVOU 3FUBJM$VTU$BTI 'BSN#VSFBV"TTPD F$FSUJmDBUF0õFS
before you buy!’
PS
1MVT5BY 5JUMF -JDFOTF*ODMVEFT1SPDFTTJOH'FF.VTUIBWF'BSN#VSFBV*OTVSBODFGPSPWFSEBZTUPRVBMJGZGPS'BSN#VSFBV"TTPDJBUJPOF$FSUJmDBUFPõFS4BMFQSJDFFYQJSFT%VFUPBEWFSUJTJOHEFBEMJOFTWFIJDMFTNBZCFTPME
For Chronicle advertising call 784-2531
For subscriptions call 784-2531
E-mail us at [email protected]
