State Rep. Rory Ellinger passes Civil rights activist and attorney was 72
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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited APRIL 10 – 16, 2014
Vol. 84 No. 53 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Sumner students host peace summit
French gets public safety meeting City’s new public safety director to meet with committee for first time By Chris King Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Sumner High School students released balloons outside of the school last Friday after hosting a Peace Summit to remember students who have been killed at the school in recent years.
Students mourn lost classmates and speak against violence By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American Deadra Rounds was among the family members who attended a peace summit Friday at Sumner High School to memorialize the lives of four students: Beion Womack,
Pierre Childs, Chauncey Brown and James Moore. “There’s no reason why these children should be gone,” said Rounds, Chauncey’s mother. Sumner first mourned the loss of Beion, 14, who died in November 2012 following
a high-speed police chase involving a stolen vehicle. Pierre, 16, Chauncey, 16, and James, 16, were shot and killed from May 2013 to October 2013. All were members of the Class of 2016. Sumner student government and students from the Class of 2016, fed up with violence, organized the peace summit along with Annette Kennedy, a graduation coach at the
See SUMNER, A6
Chaplain Higgins retires from U.S. Army Continues to serve as co-pastor of church, dean at seminary
Mike Higgins wears several hats: pastor, dean and U.S. Army colonel. He’s co-pastor of South City Church in the Shaw neighborhood. He’s dean of students at Covenant Theological Seminary, where he himself was a student and earned his Master and Doctor of Ministry. And he’s currently one of only two African Americans who hold the highranking title of colonel among more than 700 U.S. Army Reserve chaplains. Now, after 34 years, he is retiring from the U.S. Army and
BUSINESS
See FRENCH, A7
8 excellent awardees Salute to Excellence in Health Care is April 25
SpeAking of fAith
By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
A North Side alderman who has been outspoken about the city’s need to address a recent epidemic of gun violence has succeeded in getting a hearing with the city’s director of public safety and police chief. On Monday, the chair of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen’s Public Safety Committee answered 21st Ward Alderman Antonio French’s request to schedule a committee meeting with the city officials who, under local control, manage the St. Louis Metropolitan Police 21st Ward Department for Mayor Francis Alderman G. Slay. Antonio Alderwoman Phyllis Young, French who chairs the Public Safety Committee, said the meeting would be held 10 a.m. Thursday, April 24. Young responded to an email French had sent earlier Monday morning, repeating a request for a meeting French first made on Friday that had not been answered, he said. The intervening weekend was not a safe one in the city. “It has been three days since my request, and there has been no response. Since that time at least five more people, including one child, have been
n “My job is to help our congregation not just put up with diversity, but to delight in diversity.”
Colonel Mike Higgins is co-pastor of South City Church, dean of students at Covenant Theological Seminary and a decorated U.S. Army chaplain.
– Pastor Mike Higgins
Army Reserve, where he served first as an artillery officer and then as a chaplain. Although he is leaving the military, he feels his service has prepared him for the
By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American The St. Louis American Foundation will honor eight area health care professionals as 2014 Salute to Excellence in Health Care Awardees on Friday, April 25 at the Frontenac Hilton. Kimberly Brown, MPPA, LNHA, is the administrator of Doorways’ Cooper House. For more than 20 years, Brown has worked on behalf of persons affected by HIV/AIDS at the organization in several positions: office manager, housing coordinator, housing subsidy manager. In 2003, Brown became the administrator of its 36-bed residential care facility, now known as Cooper House, which opened in 1997 as
See SALUTE, A7
See HIGGINS, A6 SPORTS
LIVING IT
‘Money Smart Week’ continues
Another black coach cuts down the nets
Bruce Bruce returns
Treasurer Tishaura Jones says St. Louis has an ‘urgent need for financial literacy’
University of Connecticut Coach Kevin Ollie joined a small fraternity of black coaches who have won the NCAA Tournament.
Comedian will perform April 12 as part of the St. Louis Comedy Festival
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