The Homewood Star Volume 5 | Issue 4 | July 2015
Fourth festivities
neighborly news & entertainment for Homewood
Through the darkest valley
Find a complete guide to fireworks, festivals and more Homewood events scheduled for Independence Day.
See page A15
HOMEWOOD
Moussa update
Six months after a tragedy struck, Paula Smalley reflects on the pain and glimmers of hope on a difficult journey By MADOLINE MARKHAM The horror of Dec. 19, 2014, is still raw for Paula Smalley. That Friday, she and her husband, Craig, had gone to see their friends in an R.E.M. cover band at WorkPlay downtown. Craig said it seemed like half of Homewood was there that night.
Homewood student Moussa Diallo has a new home. Find out more about the next steps in his journey inside.
See page A17
The show ended around 11 p.m., and the Smalleys exited among a crowd of people walking to their cars. As it began to sprinkle, Paula laughed at “what a 46-year-old woman” she was for popping up her umbrella. A friend stepped under it with her, and they looked left, right and then left again before stepping out to cross the
See SMALLEY | page A22
Discussion around prostitution rises in Homewood
Sports.................A19 School House.....B13 Calendar ............. B17 Opinion............... B19
By ERICA TECHO Eradicating prostitution starts with changing minds. Tajuan McCarty, founder of the WellHouse, said a change in mindset has helped bring the issue of prostitution to the forefront of Homewood conversation, most recently in a June 9 community meeting. “[At] that meeting, the community response is probably the best response I’ve ever had as far as community because they got it,” said McCarty, who heads up the organization that offers shelter and housing to women who have been trafficked, are prostituting or otherwise are sexually exploited. “They understand that this is basic economics,
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street. The next thing Paula remembers is looking up at Craig and him telling her she would be OK but that she had been struck by a car. No one else had seen the car coming either, Craig said. He had watched the collision out of the corner
Checking out those checking in
INSIDE Sponsors .............A2 City........................A3 Business.............A10 Community.........A13
Paula and Craig Smalley stand in front of a garden in their Edgewood backyard. The fence around it originally served as a wheelchair ramp that Paula used as she recovered from being hit by a car in December. Photo by Keith McCoy.
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In this issue, read about some of Homewood’s female business owners and the services they provide.
Motel owners, Homewood residents and police have been a part of recent community discussions about prostitution. Photo by Keith McCoy.
See PROSTITUTION | page A21
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