A Black Man Who Happens To Be A Judge Stands Up For Justice For DeAunta Farrow

The Arkansas Code Annotated section 16-85-517 under the heading Special Grand Jury reads (A) "At any time a grand jury is not in session,the court in its discretion by order entered of record may impanel a special grand jury. (B) When impaneled,the special grand jury shall have the powers and proceed in all respects as provided by law for the conduct of regular grand juries".

This is the state law that Circuit Court Judge Victor Hill of Arkansas used in making his order for a grand jury to be held to determined whether or not criminal charges should come forth for the death of DeAunta Farrow by Sgt Erik Sammis of the West Memphis Police Department.

In reading the order I felt a chill to know that there is a black man that is willing to stand up for what is right. In reading the investigative report submitted by the Arkansas state Police and the Arkansas Crime lad, I have no doubt that there is probable cause to indict Sammis. Farrow has a gun shot wound to the back of his leg, there is no prints or blood on the toy gun, which I think if the toy gun belong to Farrow would be there. If the time of death is correct,the report states that the investigators could not see a weapon at the time of the killing and DeAunta could not see who was behind the shining light from a flashlight placed on the weapon of Sammis.

Judge Hill the only black judge out of 11 serving the Second Judicial Circuit, in a move that has rocked the very foundation of the state of Arkansas attacks racism in West Memphis, and states that the request for a special grand jury was inevitable. The request and the judge following through comes as a surprise to many,and thanks to Attorney Javier Bailey it happened. Even though Special Prosecutor H.G. Foster wants the order kicked out and has filed a writ to the state Supreme Court to do so.

But the question must be asked why is Foster opposed to a grand jury convening, isn't he looking for justice in this case,or is he a part of a conspiracy to cover up the murder of the 12 year old child? Judge Hill is operating within the laws of Arkansas so why the uproar, is it because so many want to take the word of a officer who has proven to be a liar and a officer who will falsify paperwork just because he's a policeman? Why would Foster not want the people of Arkansas to review the information and hear from witnesses and also review evidence?

I spoke this morning with Foster prior to the announcement that has been expected all week from Judge Hill concerning the eyewitness who states that she saw the entire shooting,and that she saw Farrow holding a Coke and chips. The witness is prepared to submit herself to questioning by Arkansas State Police, but only in Memphis. Foster agreed and that interview will take place next week. This Witness alone adds a reason for the grand jury to be held and to hear her statements about what happened the evening Farrow died.

Judge Hill has set December 10,2007 as the date that the grand jury will convene and has let Foster know that he can either submit evidence to the jury or be replaced. Foster must let the court know today what he is going to do.

Hill speaks of a case where a white citizen got involved in police business and got his butt whipped by a black police officer and after a hung jury convened a grand jury to indict the black officer. Hill states that if it was fair for the black officer to be held accountable by a grand jury why not a white officer being held accountable for killing a child that had every right to be where he was when like a dog he was shot down.

In his order he quotes several persons stating there views on racism, he not only wears his robe of justice but attacks those who wear robes that define racism. this order serves notice on racist that it is no longer business as usual,it's a new day and a new world order,

No longer does the black community have to tolerate injustice,and open and blatant racism. It's time to hold racist and hate mongers accountable for being stupid.White racist must understand that their days of rule is far gone and that there are black men who stand really to fight for the justice that blacks in this country deserve.

Blacks in the state of Arkansas must stand ready to shut West Memphis down if the Supreme Court of the state, attempts to reverse the order of Hill. The judge has every right under law to call for the grand jury hearing.

Blacks in both Arkansas and Mississippi should stand really to fight the power brokers of the state and hold them accountable for their transgressions Judge Hill has taken a bold and unpopular position but justice will be served in this matter,one way or the other. Foster and his staff alone with other members of the population of West Memphis must know that the death of farrow and the conspiracy to let Sammis get a pass will not work,but that blacks are meeting to know what needs to be done. Foster must understand that Blacks in this country are looking for a cause,and maybe at last it has arrived.

Sammis your days as a police officer are few enjoy yourself but know that the black community is watching you and all those who would cast DeAunta Farrow's memory to the wind.

Sidenote: Let me add this to the article because some are wondering how Judge Hill as a Circuit Judge can convene a Criminal grand jury. In the state of Arkansas Judges rotate their bench duties. The state has civil,family,and criminal courts,and the judges act in all capacities. Judge Hill serves as not only a civil judge but a criminal judge as well. Second of all if you read the statue that I provided at the top of the story, it does not cite what type of judge you happen to be. The law is plain and Special Prosecutors know it.

Can The FBI Break Up Friendships?

All over the city people are wondering when the next set of Federal indictments are coming down. Rumors and sources who claim to know say that there will be at least 7-11 indictments before Christmas. you hear names like Ron Redwing, Sara Lewis, Hubon Sandridge, Willie Brooks and others, but the name that almost every one in meetings, bars where political types hang out all believe that School Board Commissioner Wanda Halbert will surely be amongst those who are indicted.

No one seems to believe Halbert's account of what happen to the $2,000 that contractor Kirby Salton says that he gave to her girl friend Toni Blankenship. No one believes that Blankenship took the money without getting in the car and telling Halbert that she had the so called campaign contribution. No one believes that Blankenship placed the money in a box at the campaign office that she was sharing with Roscoe Dixon and when she went back to get the money it was gone.

Halbert told me that the reason that Blankenship was scared to hold on to the money was because some years ago Blankenship was robbed at gunpoint and taken to a soy bean field in Arkansas,and told by one of the robbers that she better make a run for it because the other guys were going to harm her,so she jumped out the car and run hiding in the soy bean field while her captors hunted for her until they got tired and drove away. Guess what.No one believes this story either. As a caller to my my radio show put it "How did she know she was in a soy bean field at night".

Some are also wondering why if Halbert never received the money would she amend her Financial disclosures to show the $2,000 as a contribution? Others are wondering why just after a few days of this news breaking would Halbert take Blankenship on a School Board trip to Nashville where they shared a room. Most think that she should be distancing herself from a friend that took money from a contractor and didn't give the money to her.

Political pundits are also saying that if Halbert is indicted,The Feds will use Blankenship against her. It is also thought that the Feds are taking special note of her relationship with Consultant Ron Redwing who has been questioned by the federal grand jury. Redwing who like Bruce Thompson was also a consultant for H&M Construction was very close to Halbert's race in 2003,and some are thinking that it was Redwing who set up the meeting between the two poli-trick-ans.

So what do you think Id Toni Blankenship ironing her choir robe and preparing to go into concert and sing the tune that the FBI wants to hear?Maybe she'll start off with a rendition of a song by Johnny Gill that goes My,My ,My, My My My, Harrison. And then get on the drums and go TAP,TAP.TAP.

Did DeAunta Wipe His Prints From Toy As He Lay Dying?

Erik Sammis of The West Memphis Police Department has stated that the reason he gunned down 12 year old deaunta Farrow is because he raised what appeared to be a weapon pointing it at the policeman.

But how is it that this so called toy weapon has no finger prints? One would have to think that if Farrow was pointing the gun he had to put his hands on it. One would also suspect that Farrow prior to the moment he was shot had had the toy in his hands,if in fact he had a toy gun.

The KX Brand toy gun that was turned in to the State crime Lab shows no latent prints of value. How is this possible? Also how is it possible to find the toy gun under the bleeding body of Farrow and not have blood somewhere on it? Is the reason there was no blood or prints on the gun,is because there was no toy gun in the hand of DeAunta Farrow?

CLICK TO ENLARGE AND READ THE PROOF FOR YOURSELVES

If Sammis Would Lie Once And Falsify Information As A Police Officer,Why Wouldn't He Do It Again?

It's already well known what my opinion of West Memphis Policeman Erik Sammis Is, So I'm saving that opinon for this story. I am going to allow you to draw your own conclusion about Sammis as a police officer by allowing you to click on the documents so that you can read for yourself why he was fired from the Little Rock Police Department.

In reading you will find how sammis abused his power as a officer, how he used his powers for a vendetta, how he lied to his superiors, and how he falsified paperwork. My Question is, if he lied in Little Rock,Why Wouldn't he lie in West Memphis?

Witness Speaks Out, And Plans To Talk To Arkansas State Investigators

Today I arranged for the the mystery witness who says she saw the killing of DeAunta Farrow to go public with her story. She was interviewed by Andrew Douglas of Action News 5 and the story aired on the 10:00 news.It is my belief that if she has evidence that has not been given to the State Prosecutor's,then that information should be passed on.

It would have been very easy for me to have the young lady whose apartment was fire bombed a week after DeAunta Farrow was killed on my radio show, but because my show is live and she fears for her safety I felt it was best for her to be taped and presented to a larger audience.

The injustice that has happen to Farrow can not be about ego's and money,. but to find out exactly what happen on June 22,2007. After hearing from the witness and reading the investigate report I have no doubt that something went wrong on that tragic night,and yes I believe that Erik Sammis wrongfully took the life of the 12 year old.

The witness states that it was not dark at the time that Farrow was shot,and that while watching TV and hanging curtains in the apartment she had just moved in she saw DeAunta Farrow when approached by Sammis first holding his hands up with a bag of chips and a Coke. She further states that as Farrow seem to attempt to put the Coke in his pocket,she heard the officer yell "don't Run.Don't Run" and heard a series of shots. She states as a mother herself she felt the pain in her chest knowing that Farrow was dead when he was shot in the chest by Sammis.

I have no concern about what Al Sharpton and his Memphis cronies want, this battle for justice can not be about anything else but what is right and what is wrong. Comments on this blog have eluded to my getting paid for taking the positions that I have taken on this site. Nothing can be further from the truth.I have no contracts or agreements with any parties involved in this matter and neither have I asked for anything. I am in total disagreements with some of the parties that are surrounding Debra Farrow, which is the reason for over a month I wrote nothing about the case.

But this matter is bigger than personalities,and it's bigger than any financial benefit that the Farrow family may ever receive. this matter is about a 12 year old child wrongfully gunned down in the streets. There are those in the Farrow camp that did not want me to make contact with the woman who says she saw everything, and I had to wonder why, if there's nothing to hide than let it all hang out so that the public and those investigating the case can be aware of all the evidence in the case.

I don't seek and neither will I ask for any one's permission to do what I think is right, I will be contacting H.G. Foster the State Prosecutor so that he can make contact with the witness so that whats right can be done. There should be no secrets if the concern is the child and not a dollar bill, And the witness feel the same way.

Sidenote: On Friday of last week the witness gave a video taped disclosure for the record of what she saw in the law office of Javier Bailey.

Investigators Report Proves That Erik Sammis Could Not Have Seen DeAunta Farrow With A Toy Gun

As a part of the Arkansas State Police investigation into the shooting of DeAunta Farrow an reenacting of the scene was done to see if the officers who shot the 12 year old could see him with the toy gun walking towards them with a gun. It is my conclusion from reading their report that not only could Sammis not see DeAunta Farrow walking with a gun,but Farrow could not see Sammis when he jumped out of his truck on him.

On July 23,2007 State Policeman Mike Middleton and Sgt Barry Roy went to the SteepleChase Apartments. the purpose according to their report was to observe and document the lighting in the area of where the killing took place at 24th and Goodwin.

The investigators parked exactly where Sammis was parked on the night of the shooting,and at 9:23 PM, Sgt Roy got out of their car and took the toy handgun that is stated to belong to Farrow and walked west of their parked location a 165 feet. As Middleton watched Sgt Roy started walking east towards him as he sat in his car like Sammis was sitting in that location just weeks before. Roy was carrying the gun with his right hand,and when he was 149 feet west of Middleton he turned the gun sideways pointing it towards the ground as sammis indicates that Farrow was doing.

Middleton states that he could see the silhouette of what appeared to be a semi-auto handgun. he goes on to state in his report that he could not see the handgun prior to that only that Roy was carrying something. He states "I again was not able to identify the object as the shape of a handgun when he turned it straight downward pointing towards the ground and not sideways as he continued walking east". Middleton states farther that "If he had it in front of his body I would not been able to see it at all".

As the report continues Middleton states that as Sgt.Roy walked closer eastward to the northwest corner of Goodwin and 24th it became darker and harder to see that he was carrying anything, Middleton states "It was difficult to see any object in his hand. I was only 60 feet east of his location at this time" Than Middleton makes this statement, "Sgt Roy then stood in the area where DeAunta Farrow was shot I could barely see the weapon Sgt Roy was holding without the aid of a flashlight".

So I must ask now,How did Erik Sammis see DeAunta Farrow holding a toy gun? In the reenaction by the two state investigators under the same lighting conditions as the night Farrow died they couldn't see a weapon at the distance that sammis says that he saw the child with a gun walking pointing it to the ground. So why did Sammis get out an approach Farrow and his cousin? But as you think about this factor, let me continue with what else the report states that may just shock you.

Middleton goes on to state in the report "while I stood near the spot DeAunta Farrow was shot,Sgt Roy was standing in the approximate location of where officer Sammis was standing during the shooting. Sgt Roy shined a flashlight like the one utilized by sammis on me, as he was doing this I could not visually idenity Sgt Roy or identify what he was wearing,all I could see was a light shining toward me".

From what the State investigators are saying in their report it's most possible that when Sammis approached Farrow he could not see who was shining the light on him, became frighten and attempted to run and was shot down by Sammis. This report clearly shows that there is no way that Sammis statements are true and that he could not clearly see a weapon of any sort in the hands of this 12 year old. If you're asking would Sammis lie, ask the Little Rock Police Department who fired him in 1994 for lieing to his superiors, falsifying a report, and failing to obey a lawful order given by a member of the department.

Again I must ask why is the co-called mainstream media refusing to report the facts of the report submitted last week that Arkansas State Prosecutors clears Erik Sammis of any wrong doing. I think this report proves differently.

Click Documents To Enlarge And Read For Yourself

How Could DeAunta Be Facing Sammis Pointing A Gun At Him And Get Shot In The Back Of His Leg

The local TV news stations,radio stations, newspapers,West Memphis Police, and Erik Sammis have all reported that DeAunta Farrow is dead because he raised a toy gun and pointed it at the TACT Commander. For Sammis to feel threaten and to say that Farrow was pointing a weapon at him,Farrow would have had to be facing him. But If Farrow was facing Sammis how was he shot in the back of his leg?

The posted pictures show Farrow laying on the medical Examiner's table at the Arkansas Crime Lab. the pictures plus the body chart plainly show the entry and exit wounds to the rear of the leg of Farrow. The findings sheet also clearly points out that the wound to Farrow's right leg was located at the posterior lower leg.

If DeAunta decided to run why was he shot,he had committed no known crime. And according to the west Memphis Police department policy on the use of deadly force should not have been shot, his possession of a gun would have only been a misdemeanor and not a reason to use deadly force.

The policy also states that deadly force is prohibited to apprehend or arrest a person known to be a juvenile,unless the use of deadly force is immediately necessary in the defense of the officer's life or of another person's life. If Sammis was close enough to shot Farrow he was close enough to see that he was a juvenile. You can see by just looking at the legs of Farrow that he was not a large child at all.

So what's the real reason Erik Sammis shot DeAunta Farrow, we certainly know now it wasn't because he feared for his life or the fact that Farrow was facing him pointing a gun. I wonder why no other media source has reported the fact of Farrow being shot in the rear of his leg?

CLICK TO ENLARGE THE DOCUMENTS

Why was Sammis In A Spot Where He Couldn't See The Store That He Was Suppose To Be Watching

The picture that you see is one taken in the daylight by myself standing in the exact same spot that Sgt Erik Sammis was parked on the night that he gunned down 12 year old DeAunta Farrow. As you can see there is no way possible that if he watching for a robbery or robbery suspects can he see whats going on at the store. I know some of you are ready to say that the view is because of my camera or my picture taking abilities, But Sammis states himself that he could not see the store.

In a July 23,2007 interview with Mike Middleton of the Arkansas State Police Erik Sammis states that he could not see what what going on at the store because he was to far away. Sammis states that he had been told by way of an e-mail sent by Lt.Dykes of the West Memphis Police that a possible robbery with weapons was going to take place at the Flash Market on Ingram. This email came on the Saturday of the shooting. Sammis made contact with a Lt.Mitchell of the Criminal Investigation Division who stated that 2-3 black males were gonna rob the store that Saturday night.

The Special Response Team of which Sammis is the commander, was assigned to deal with the purposed robbery. He put his team together and ordered them in for briefing at 6PM. He states that he put a 4 man team together which included a sniper inside the school right across from the store. The report go on to state that he teamed with Jimmy Evans and waited until dark and took off in his pickup.

Sammis and Evans did not go to the SteepleChase Apartments first, but to the Econo Lodge parking lot where they could see the store. Sammis goes on to state that the lot at the Econo Lodge was well lit and since his truck was known as a narcotics vehicle he began drawing attention from some of the local drug dealers. And after they drew attention from the hotel's security guard he and Evans made the determination to leave the lot.

At this point Sammis drove into the SteepleChase found a dark corner where he could back the truck in,but still cars of drug dealers saw them parked and kept driving. The question is asked of Sammis by Middleton "About how far is the Flash Market from where you parked?" Sammis replies "Oh I don't know,I couldn't tell you probably a block and a half,two blocks away if you want to equate into city blocks".

Sammis goes on to state that he and his partner had no binoculars or any night vision equipment. He states that he was relying on the radio that his sniper inside the school had. Sammis states that he could see cars pull up to the pump but that they couldn't tell faces or anything.

Sammis wants the public to believe that he was sitting in a truck with tinted windows looking for crooks that he could not see a block and a half away. If Sammis was not at a point where he could see why did he park in a blind spot? Why would a TACT officer put himself in a position where the only source of knowing whats going on is a sniper in the school whose as far back as he is?

Sammis states in the same interview that he saw 2 individuals walking eastbound directly towards the truck with very little light coming from Ingram. he states he saw the 2 walking out of the shadows with the one to his left carrying what appeared to be a pistol. he states "I've gone through enough operations and have enough training to know what a pistol looks like in some body's hand". He goes on to state "I know what one looks like and the shadow,the way he was carrying he wasn't flinging it around"

So does Sammis who couldn't see the store and whose sniper hasn't reported a robbery want us to believe that he thought that DeAunta and Unseld had just robbed a store and was not running but walking? Does he also want us to believe that the boys would rob the store and calmly walk down the street with the gun in his hand?

Or can we believe that because of the poor lighting and the shadows he couldn't tell through his tinted windows the difference between a gun and a Coke, The big question of the day Why would a trained TACT officer watching a store for a robbery place himself in a position where he couldn't see the store that he's suppose to be watching?

Click on the document to enlarge and read for yourself how he describes how he was unable to see the Flash Market

My Conversation with A Eyewitness To The Shooting Of DeAunta Farrow And Whose Apt. Was Fire Bombed Reveals That 4 Officers Were Present Not Just 2

On Saturday I made contact with a person that has been known about since the killing of DeAunta Farrow in June. This person in fear of his/her life has been in hiding because the apartment that he/she lived in,in the SteepleChase Apartments was firebombed exactly one week after the shooting.

Even though the legal team of Attorney Javier Bailey knew that a witness exist that saw the entire shooting, no one knew who the person was until after the report came back last week stating that the State Prosecutors found no reason to charge Erik Sammis with the killing. The witness also decided to come forth because he/she knew that DeAunta Farrow did not have a gun in his hand.

I must state that the witness was not disclosed to me by the legal team,but by another source that wanted the witness to make contact with me. In fact a caller called in on my radio show on Friday night to discuss this fact and called back and gave me the information concerning the witness. I knew that the witness had already recorded a video with the legal team,but I also knew that the team wanted to keep the witness a secret only to themselves. Even though Bailey is my friend and my attorney I didn't want to compromise his position with his group,knowing that I had the resources to get to the witness on my own.

I contacted the caller who had called me on the air and asked that he make contact with the witness and see if that person wanted to talk to me. The caller called the witness and then called back stating that the witness had agreed to speak with me and gave me the contact number.

The name nor the gender of the witness will not be revealed on this site,but I am going to report to you exactly what was said. The witness lived in the SteepleChase Apartments,in fact the firebombed apartment was located exactly where the SUV was parked that Sgt Erik Sammis and officers were sitting in.

The witness states that he/she was sitting in the living room of the apartment with the curtains opened enough to see outside. the witness had noticed the large gray SUV parked outside his/her window but had thought nothing of it.

The witness noticed two boys coming across the park which is located next to the apartments and the short cut used by persons going and coming to the store that supposedly the police were watching. Watching TV the witness didn't look back up until she heard the slamming of car doors and looked up to see 4 men exiting the SUV dressed in black and white fatigues. The witness saw who he/she later found out to be Unseld Nance going to the ground, while watching DeAunta standing nervously with a bottled Coke in one hand and a bag of Cheetos's in the other.

The witness states that DeAunta and Unseld both had on long T-shirts and their waists could not be seen. Scared by the 4 men who did not announce themselves as policeman DeAunta attempted to turn and run,that's when she heard one of the men shout "Don't Run, don't run" and that's when the witness heard the first shot,shaken and trying to get out the apartment to the child that's when the witness heard the second shot

The witness tried to get out of his/her apartment door to assist the child, but was told to go back in the apartment. Returning to the window of the apartment, the witness saw one of the men looking through the living room window,another was looking in the bedroom window, one of the men was at the large dumpster,and the other was at the side of DeAunta Farrow.

The Witness states at no time did he/she ever she DeAunta Farrow with a gun,and states that if there was a gun,whether real or toy in his waist because of the lenght of the T-Shirt could not have been seen by the men in the SUV. The witness states that without a doubt DeAunta Farrow was holding a Coke and a bag of Cheetos in his hand. The witness had been told not to exit his/her apartment,but went out a back door and mingled with the crowd. The witness knew that the men had seen him/her and didn't know what their plans were for him/her.

The witness states that during the next week prior to the fire that his/her apartment window was broken by a unknown source. The witness went to the resident manager's office to report the broken window and to have it replaced. In telling the manager of the broke window the witness was asked if he/she saw the shooting,which the witness replied "Yes". The witness believes that the white resident manager told the police that he/her had seen the shooting.

At 2AM on Sunday morning one week after the shooting the witness woke to the sounds of car horns blowing and people shouting. The witness didn't know what was going on,but by the time he/she got to the apartment window to look out to see what was going on she heard someone shout "is there anyone in there?" someone else shouted "Yes I just saw someone look out the window" then the witness was told "Get out your apartment is on fire". The witness threw on some clothing an awaken someone else in the apartment and left the apartment. By time the witness got out, the apartment went up in flames. The witness belives that he/she has been followed and that a white man portrayed a vending machine stockershowed up on his/her job looking for him/her. Also the witness feels that a recent incident where a 18 wheeler tried to run him/her out the road was a message from the West Memphis Police.

Now we know that there were 4 men present at the time of the shooting not just 2 as has been reported. we also now have a non family member who also is willing to state on the record that DeAunta Farrow did not point a gun or have a gun at the time that he was gunned down by Erik Sammis.

Having committed no crime why were the boys approached? and if DeAunta attempted to run that means that he was not pointing a gun at anyone,so without being a threat why was this child gunned down? Some will say that this can't be so because of what 14 year old Unseld has stated. Unseld has been under the care of doctors since he was traumatized by seeing his cousin murdered and some believe that during the time that West Memphis Police had him alone without his father being present he could have been programmed as to what to say.

As for why the police would have a toy gun in their possession, witnesses living in the SteepleChase Apartments state that the rear of the apartments where there's vacancies The West Memphis TACT Unit of which Sammis is the commander of, uses those apartments to practice their skills. I'm sure that in their practice toy guns are used especially by the officers portraying the bad guy. Witnesses state that an exercise had been performed earlier that day.

Is the reason that these 4 officers had on fatigues,is because they had just finish their TACT practice? and is the reason DeAunta Farrow is dead is because of that practice these officers were hyped up to kill?

The Grinch Who Stole Beale Street Days Are Numbered

In Tuesday's Executive City Council meeting the council instructed Council attorney Alan Wade to make sure a forensic audit is made on John Elkington's Performa Real Estate and Entertainment company. The council wants to know if Elkington's claim that the historic district has never turned a profit.

It;s reported from sources within City Hall that Herenton wants Elkington gone and is calling him an embarrassment to the administration. The mayor has stated to me that he has every intention of cleaning up Beale and finding where the money that has not been paid in 25 years happens to be.

Many of the merchants on Beale also want Elkington gone and feel that his demise from the street will be the most progressive thing that could happen. The merchants no longer want to give their rent money to Elkington and plan to submit their monies to the Chancery Court has was ordered of Elkington in 2002.

With the mayor and the merchants wanting Elkington gone it is in his best interest to leave peacefully because his company can not stand a forensic audit where every dime of money taken in and spent would have to be disclosed. Also Elkington would have to provide proof that non of the money that belongs to the City of Memphis is being used in his other projects around the country.

It is thought by some that perhaps Elkington has used the leases from Beale to secure loans for his other projects in such cities as Trenton N.J. and Birmingham Ala. Trenton is inquiring of sources here in Memphis about Elkington's dealing and may be preparing to hold an inquiry there to make sure it's in that city's best interest to do business with Performa.

An forensic audit of Elkington's dealings could produce an indictment if it's shown that he has co mingled Beale Street funds with his other projects. It's best for Elkington to sit down with his bosses at Beale Street Development Corporation and work out how he plans to pay the city and get the hell off Beale. Beale Street has to be cleaned no matter who gets caught up in the trash.


I KNOW YOU THOUGHT I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU, DIDN'T YOU JOHN

Coming Tonight:Either Sammis Or The west memphis Police Can't Seem To Get Their lies Straight

The West Memphis Police state that on the night that DeAunta Farrow was killed by Sgt Erik Sammis that he and his partner Jimmy Evans were doing surveillance on a community grocery store. This is the reason given for Sammis being in the SteepleChase Apartments. But in a July 10,2007 story in the "Times" entitled "In Erik Sammis Words" in which Sammis in his own words gives his views on the DeAunta Farrow case.

In that article he denies working undercover, he denies shooting Farrow first in the leg then in the chest,. Also I will post separate articles from West Memphis newspapers that will have the same police chief,Mark Allen giving two different reasons as to why Sammis approached Farrow and Unseld Nance. To one newspaper he states that the children were yelling, running and hollering,and in the other newspaper he states that they were walking. I guess this was before they all set around and got their stories together.

Investigators Report Shows That DeAunta Farrow Was Shot In The REAR Of His Leg, Kinda Hard To Be Pointing A Gun With Your Back Turned Isn't It?

It's very strange that a reporter from FOX13 could go all the way back to the end of the 800 page report released by state prosecutors investigating the killing of DeAunta Farrow by Sgt Erik Sammis of the West Memphis Police Departmant to report on the censures that Attorney Javier Bailey has received, but failed to stop in the middle and take from that same report the way that the 12 year old child died. Maybe the station was more interested in clouding the name of the attorney than to report a fact that will show that Sammis willfully took the life of a child.

In that report The Arkansas Crime Lab states what was already known that Sammis shot Farrow twice,first in the leg and secondly in the chest. But what was not known and has not been reported by the press is the fact that the report states that the shot to the leg hit Farrow in the REAR of his calf.

That would mean that there is no way that Farrow could have been raising a gun,toy or real in the direction of Sammis. It would seem that Sammis shot a running child. But the report goes on to state that the second shot hit Farrow in the chest and exited out his left torso, but the most interesting point about this documented fact is that the report states that the shot CAME FROM A DOWNWARD POSITION,meaning that after Sammis shot the 12 year old as he was running away and had him down, he stood over him and fired into his chest. This information is not conjecture on my part but part of the investigated report turned in earlier this week.

Based on knowledge of this information how is it possible that the Arkansas prosecutors have not brought charges against Sammis? are these prosecutors a part of a massive conspiracy to cover up how Sammis gunned down DeAunta Farrow in the street like a dog?

Another strange fact is the fact that Larry Wolfe the Coroner was never interviewed by the state prosecutors,even though by Arkansas state law he's responsible for declaring the cause of death at a crime scene. Wolfe who states he saw no toy gun at the scene states in his report on the night of the shooting that "police state that
13 year old had a toy gun". Wolfe also states that when he arrived on the scene the crime scene was clean. There was no blood or toy gun.

This action of cleaning up the scene is a violation of state law ACA-14-15-301 which states "When a death is reported to the coroner he shall conduct an investigation concerning the circumstances surrounding the death of an individual and GATHER and review background information which may be helpful in determining the cause and manner of death" One would think that seeing the toy gun would be helpful in determining why Farrow was shot,don't you think?

The law also states that "Coroners shall be given access to all death scenes in order to perform his duties. In a manual on Death Scene Investigations in the state of Arkansas it states that 'The coroner must report sex,race,approximate age.date of birth if known,height,weight,hair color,and lenght,eye color,clothing,scars/tattoes,jewelry.state of nutrition,and dental conditions and any items that may be pertinent" Wouldn't the toy gun be pertinent?

The fact that DeAunta farrow was shot in the back of his leg is criminal enough but the fact that Sammis stood over the body of the child is the act of crazed mad man who does not need to be allowed in society. Who has told local media not to report these facts, whose all a part of this cover up? But the officials of Arkansas need to know it's not over all get ready for a big surprise.

There's A Witness That Saw The Shooting Of DeAunta Farrow And States He Had No Gun In His Hand

On the night that DeAunta Farrow was murdered by Sgt Erik Sammis of the West Memphis Police Department,there was a witness who saw the entire shooting take place. It's been known since the ordeal took place that there was a witness, but that that witness had went into hiding because later in the night,that witness apartment in the Steeplechase Apartments was firebombed.

The apartment that was fire bombed is located on the very same corner as the shooting took place,in fact Sammis and his partner were backed in front of the burned apartment. The witness in fear for his/her life has been in hiding but after hearing the report that DeAunta Farrow had a gun in his hands the witness has come forward.

Is it possible that Sammis knew his act of murder was seen and decided to also attempt to kill the witness?

Coming Tomorrow: West Memphis Coroner States He Never Saw Toy Gun At Scene Of Killing Of DeAunta Farrow

West Memphis Coroner Larry Wolfe has told family members of DeAunta Farrow that he never saw the toy gun that West Memphis Police say that the 12 year old had when he was gunned down by Sgt Erick Sammis. In fact he has told family members that the crime scene had been cleaned when he arrived

If what Wolfe has stated is true the West Memphis Police Department has violated state law. Tonight I will post Wolfe's Coroner's report where no mention of a gun is reported. I will also post the Arkansas State Crime Lab's Body Submission form. I will be posting the Arkansas state law that states that the coroner is responsible for determining the cause of death,and to report any items that's at the scene that is pertinent. I would think that the toy gun would be pertinent enough to mention.

In violation of state law no family member ever made a ID of Farrow's body.I will also discuss why the toy gun that police are showing can not be found in any stores in West Memphis. Plus why does the gun that's being shown have no blood on it? I will also post copies from 3 West Memphis area newspapers where the same police administrator gave different stories as to what DeAunta and Unseld Nance were doing the night of the killing,Plus I will post where Sammis stated in his own words in a news paper article that he was not on stakeout at the time of the shooting.

When I write this story I challenge the West Memphis Police Department to prove me wrong.

SIDENOTE: Why Hasn't the media reported that DeAunta Farrow's first shot to the leg entered from the back of the leg,and that's according to the autopsy report released by state investigators. And didn't the state investigators interview Larry Wolfe?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

As we prepare to spend time with friends and family let us stop and thank God for life. No matter what you're going through it could be worse,but as long as God allows you to walk above the ground and you don't find yourself resting in it you have the chance to take the negatives of life and turn them into positives,and take the lemons of life and turn them into lemonade.

When you see someone who because of life's plight has turned to drugs,or is homeless and has nowhere to turn or anyone to turn to, before you laugh or boast remember,But For The Grace Of God There Go I.

Even though there's so much to write about I'm taking the night off but will have be back at it tonight. May each and every one of you have a very special thanksgiving.That even includes those of you that daily verbally fight with.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

No Matter What Prosecutors Say The DeAunta Farrow Case Is Not Closed

The family of DeAunta Farrow tonight are wondering if the toy gun that West Memphis police say was in the hand of the 12 year old was planted and is being used as the "Way out" for Erick Sammis.

I will be the first to say that it appears that 14 year old Unseld Nance the cousin of the slain child seems to have more than one version of what happen on that tragic night. But I am also aware that immediately after police took Nance away his family was not allowed to see him. Is it possible that West Memphis Police were programming Nance as to what he had better say?

DeAunta Farrow was not a large child in fact the picture that most media uses with him in a blue cap and gown was taken this year in may for his 6 grade graduation. Yes he does appear to be very young and child like, so why didn't Sammis and his partner see that. If Sammis was on still watch at the location of Farrow's death,he had to see the two boys leave the SteepleChase Apartments moments earlier when the two walked just up the street to the home of DeAunta to pick up some items for his sleepover at his cousin's home.

Also if Sammis and his partner Jimmy Evans were watching the store they had to see the two young boys walk into the store and walk out. They knew if they were on still watch that the child that he states had a gun did not rob the store that they were watching so was did he approach the children? But there were a lot of other strange things that took place that night.

There's a witness that saw DeAunta and his cousin Unseld coming out the Flash Market store with chips in there hand. The witness who is an adult friend of the family told the boys in a jesting tone,"Ya'll better hurry up and get home" As the witness who lives in the SteepleChase apartments drove home he saw DeAunta and Unseld almost to the spot where minutes later DeAunta would lose his life walking still eating his chips.

Moments later the witness heard the shots and went to see what was going on,he saw DeAunta shoot and Unseld in cuffs. The Witness was ordered to leave,the witness also states that he saw no gun at all by the body of Farrow.

Paramedics were not immediately called to the scene, in fact a family member who lives on the other side of West Memphis states that when he an his wife arrived at the scene there was no ambulance or paramedics present. Debra Farrow the mother of DeAunta also backs up this claim, it's especially bothers her because there is a fire house with paramedics in eye shot of the scene. Debra Farrow states that before paramedics ever arrived the Medi -Vac from Memphis landed and immediately took back off. So the question must be asked why was DeAunta allowed to lay on the ground without medical attention?

The family and other witnesses also state that prior to an ambulance ever arriving the SWAT team arrived with assault rifles in hand. the sound of SWAT officers placing a round in the chamber of their weapons could loudly be heard. Why was SWAT present and not paramedics? Why was there no immediate concern in seeing if the life of this child could be saved?

I have a copy of the Crittenden County Coroner's Report, where coroner Larry Wolfe received the call about the shooting at 10:15pm,arrived on the scene at 10:30pm and pronounces DeAunta dead at 10:30pm. the first thing I noticed about the report was the fact that Woolf didn't really y know whose body he had. He listed the child's name as "Denota" it also appears that he attempted to write 'Varrow" instead of Farrow,which he wrote above the mistake. He listed the child as a 13 year old and gave the date of birth. Some will say what's wrong with this?
What's wrong is,the family did not ID the body at the scene, in fact no ID was ever made of DeAunta by the family,so how did they know who DeAunta was? Is it possible that the Sammis already knew who DeAunta was?

In a small town such as West Memphis I'm sure that most people know who the police happen to be. The Steeplechase apartments are used as a training ground for SWAT officers to train in their killing tactics, In fact on the day of the death of DeAunta the apartment complex had been used by SWAT officers to train. Which leads me to believe that DeAunta knew who Sammis was,and would have never pointed a weapon at him.

Lets' go back to the Coroner's report, the cause of death is listed as "Gunshot wound to the chest" but it also states " arrived on the scene at 10:30 pm black male DOA on the corner of 24th and Goodwin. West Memphis police stated that 13 year had a toy gun,he was shot once in the leg,once in the chest,he was pronounced at 10:35pm by chief deputy Coroner Larry Wolfe. The report does not mention a gun at the scene,but does back up the information that we had received that DeAunta had been shot twice,with the first shot going to the leg, which also leads me to ask again why the second shot?

When the body was removed from the scene family members who had been kept from by police from getting close expected DeAunta's body to go straight to Wolf's funeral home where he could be viewed by the family. That did not happen so a family member that knows Wolfe called him on his cell where Wolfe told the family member that something was wrong with this shooting an that he had been escorted by police with the body to the police station,and that he had been told that the body was in "protective Custody" and that no one could view the body at all. Again I must state that Debra Farrow or any other family member ever identified DeAunta's body,In fact the first time that the mother and family saw his body was at the funeral.

Several days after the shooting the family spoke with Larry Wolfe, Wolfe told the family that when he arrived at the scene it had been cleaned, in fact there was no sign of blood. According to family members Wolfe stated that there was no weapon seen and that normally if a weapon is present at a homicide he sees the weapon and list it as part of his report. The family also states that Wolfe found it real strange that a shell casing was sitting on top of DeAunta body,There's no way that a shell casing should be on the body at all,unless it was placed there. It's stated that there were pictures made by the Arkansas State police of the shell casing on Farrow's chest. What was the casing a sign of? Wolfe also found it strange that the body of DeAunta was picked up on Sunday morning to be delivered to Little rock for the autospy,when normally the body would have been picked up on Monday.

Unseld Nance Jr. who is 14 was placed in handcuffs and taken off to jail. This minor whose father was at the scene and not allowed to speak to his son was held at the jail until 2am. In this time there is no question that he was questioned and probably threaten if he didn't go along with what police wanted him to say. When the parents arrived at the jail along with the grandfather State Representative Otis Davis they were not allowed to see Nance. So what was going on,and why was this minor being questioned without a parent or counsel present.

Lets also look at what Sammis,the West Memphis Police department,and the Arkansas newspapers were saying,which if state and federal investigators read they should have some concerns about this case and their judgement call.

In the Arkansas Democrat Gazette on June 24,2007 two days after the shooting there caption reads "Boy,12,with toy gun shot,killed by police-W.Memphis officers were on stakeout". This story goes on to state that Sammis and his partner Jimmy Evans,whose names at that time had not been released "were on a stakeout hoping break a string of convenience store armed robberies near 24th Street and Goodwin Avenue". The newspaper goes on to state "The officers were waiting in the dark parking lot just south of Interstate 40 and Interstate 55 when they saw two people yelling and running and got out of the car to confront them,Assistant Police Chief Mike Allen said."In that same article Allen states "One of them had something in his hand that looked to one of the officers like a gun" Allen goes on to state "The officers hollered at the two people,ordering one to drop the gun,the person made an evasive action and one officer fired at least two shots".

The June 25,2007 edition of the "Times" also states that "the shooting came as two officers conducted surveillance on a Flash market convenience store on Ingram boulevard. The officers were watching the store from the Steeplechase apartment complex at 24th and Goodwin streets The two individuals walked through the apartment complex and one was carrying what appeared to be a firearm,West Memphis Assistant Police Chief Mike Allen said". In this same article Allen goes on to state "the officers approached the two and ordered the individual to drop the gun.at which time we believe he made a move to cause alarm to the officer to fire his weapon"

Before I go on which one was it, were the boys walking as stated in the "Times," or running and yelling as in the Arkansas Gazette? A report from the Arkansas State Police and signed by Corporal Mike Middleton states,"Farrow was walking when confronted by 2 West Memphis PD officers,Farrow was carrying what appeared to be a handgun. Officers ordered farrow and another subject to the ground and to drop the weapon. Farrow failed to comply and raised the weapon and was shot by one officer. Farrow was pronounced dead at the scene. The weapon Farrow was carrying was a toy handgun." It must be remembered that the statement of Mike Allen comes from Erik Sammis.

Now lets return to the article of July 10,2007 in the "Times" where Erik Sammis in his own words states what happened. We have been told that the officers were working undercover and not in uniform,Sammis states that that is not true.The coroner reports clearly states that DeAunta Farrow was shot twice,once in the leg and once in the chest, Sammis states that this is not true.

As you have read in this story as quoted by Assistant West Memphis Police Chief Mike Allen that Farrow made an "evasive action" in one news story and " a move to cause alarm" in another newspaper story, Sammis states in his own words "Not one time did I ever make a statement that he made a move" Based on that statement along by Sammis,why did he shoot DeAunta Farrow? If he states that farrow made no move where's the threat? Where's the evasive Action? Where's the alarm that caused the shooting?

In the article again in his own words he states " Anyone with common sense knows that police officers,nationwide are trained to shoot to neutralize the threat, or a perception of a deadly threat. If a death occurs as a result, it's tragic,yes, but wrong, no. Whether they are shot in the chest, the head or the pinkie is irrelevant.

If the state prosecutors and the West Memphis police think that this case is closed they're in for big surprise. What happen to DeAunta farrow was totally unjust and will not just be swept under the rug because investigators want it to just go away.

Family Says Judge As A Public Defender Railroaded Their Kin Into Prison

I received this letter from a family here in Memphis who feels as an Public Offender Judge Betty Thomas misrepresented there brother Ewing who is presently serving a prison sentence for murder. The family feels as though Ewing should not have been charged in the crime and that Betty Thomas was a friend of the victim's family. I will be contacting Judge Thomas for her response to this letter.

Our story begins like a horrible nightmare in March 20, 1994, for Mr. Marlo Terry, Willie Fifer, Derrick Brooks, Joe Lurry and Andrew Ewing. On December 1995, Andrew Ray Ewing (African American) and Derrick Brooks (African American) were both charged with first-degree murder and aggravated burglary by a jury and sentenced to life with parole. Let me give you some background information on each individual. Mr. Terry is the deceased and Willie Fifer was the friend of the deceased. Brooks was a habitual offender, someone in the neighborhood, Joe Lurry is the uncle of Mr. Ewing and a habitual offender, Mr. Ewing is the nephew of Mr. Lurry and had a couple of minor runs in with the law.

The incident goes like this one night on Clayphil Street in the Memphis State area; Ewing, Lurry and Brooks kicked in the door of Willie Fifer. Ewing begins to fight or assault Fifer due to domestic issues about his kids whose mother is the sister of Fifer.

While Ewing is assaulting Fifer with a stick he picked up from yard, Derrick begins to fire shots off in the dark house to scare Fifer who is suppose to be alone. As Derrick fires a bullet goes through a CLOSED door and the deceased Marlo Terry is behind door with girlfriend. Mr. Lurry is sitting in the car waiting to also assault Fifer. As Lurry begins to head inside the house he hears shots being fired and heads back to the car. Ewing, Brooks, and Lurry are immediately arrested for the crime. Ewing maintained he shot no one, just kicked door in and fought Fifer, Brooks stated he fired shots because he was trying to scare Fifer and thought he was going for a gun. Lurry turned state because he had a case pending, so he said whatever he needed to say to break him free.

The evidence proved Ewing fired no gun at anytime, but Brooks had fired a weapon. Brooks signed a statement on April 6, 1994, exonerating Ewing of the shooting (see attached letter# 1). The letter was given to attorney Wayne Chastain. Who felt this was indeed helpful to Ewing's upcoming trial. Mr. Chastain dies before he has time to argue the case. Ewing is appointed Betty Thomas as counsel. She does nothing for Ewing. She doesn't even question witnesses. Attorney Mark McDaniel was appointed for Derrick Brooks. Ewing wrote a letter to Judge Axley (see attached letter #2 dated 6/25/95)(recently accused of sexual misconduct) asking for Betty Thomas to be removed. Once Betty got the news she threatened Ewing and he recanted his words out of fear.

During the trial, Betty's brother was brutally killed by gang slaying and was on the front page of Commercial Appeal for the horrendous crime (see attached article dated June 29, 1995 # 3). Ewing again asked if she could and would adequately defend him in spite of the family problem, or situation. After the trial, Edward Thompson was appointed to handle the appeal, he stated for the record he was on his way to retirement and didn't keep up with any dates because he was leaving for retirement. Therefore, Ewing missed the deadline. Shortly after, the Public Defender's office issued a letter admitting they screwed him over and the possibility of that being cleared up was slim to none. Mr. Ewing and his family begin to dig to find out what's going on.

Attorney Leffler comes on the scene to handle the post-conviction process. It's a nightmare all over again. During this time, the sisters of Ewing become aware Betty Thomas has a relationship with the decease's family. Betty Thomas attends a church service at Morning Chapel in Cordova, TN soliciting votes for judgeship; unbeknownst to her Ewing's family also attended this church and has for years. Her sheriff deputy husband accompanies Thomas as well. Thomas stands and tells about 150 folks she's known Sadie Chatman, State Trooper for more than five years and she is a close friend of hers.

Once this was discovered the connection made sense. Betty wasn't going to defend Ewing when she knew the victim's family and wasn't going let him go free ever! (Judge Moore begins to harass me by phoning my home and sending the sheriff deputies to my home and leaving cards in my door and on my vehicle. I immediately file a complaint against her (see attached #6 dated June 5, 2001) and catch her in several lies. I have sworn statement from two witnesses regarding phone harassment and cards being left on the door. Judge Betty Thomas Moore's response (see attached letter dated July 25, 2001 #9) please see my response letter from Judge Moore (see attached letter dated September 20, 2001 #10)
Ewing begins to file papers pro se because he senses he is being railroaded.

One particular incident that is disturbing is when an attorney by the name of Brett Stein who files an appeal for Derrick Brooks, but puts Andrew Ewing's name on the appeal instead of Derrick Brooks. How messy is that? All that time in law school you can't even read your client's name correctly. (see attached # 11)

This mess up caused Mr. Ewing to lose time from filing the necessary paperwork. In addition, to all that Brett Stein is not and was not the appointed counsel for Ewing. On another occasion attorney Russell C. Rutledge who does NOT represent or is appointed counsel for Ewing removed or cross out valuable or pertinent information on a court order and Judge Bernie Weinman signed off on the documents knowing Ewing was not present at any hearing. Something is smelly about this whole situation.

When Ewing became aware of this he filed a complaint with the Board of Professional Responsibility against Rutledge the case is still pending. It's gets worse in the meantime as Ewing is fighting for his freedom; he is being shipped to every state prison because he enjoys reading and studying law. Ewing has been beaten by gang members, refused medical treatment, placed in the hole for periods at a time, refused visits from family members at will by Wardens, and just plain harassed for the past 10 years.

Attorney Robert Little doesn't do anything, when he is appointed to handle his post conviction relief either. Then comes attorney Robert Gaia who claims to know what steps to take to get this matter resolved; he too does nothing but type out papers that don't mean anything. I must mention the appointed trial attorney Mark McDaniel was working for defense counsel in Memphis, but serving as part time prosecutor in Collierville, TN during the trial.

Ewing is still having trouble while being housed and various institutions like West Tennessee State Penitentiary, on many occasions he would be harassed and placed in hole for filing grievances against staff that physically assaulted him or verbally threatened him. Ewing has been refused medical treatment by staff at Northwest Correctional Annex, West Tennessee and 201 Poplar. The Wardens have cursed me out several times.

I have contacted the Commissioners office in Nashville and spoken with George Little's administration; Ken Locke and nothing has been done to ensure that these problems will stop across the board. Earlier this year, Ewing was having trouble with a tooth being pulled and requested medical treatment paid the $3.00 required of him to be seen and nothing was done. It was only until I wrote a series of letters that made the correctional institution do their job.
Warden Tony Parker yelled at me, " I better not call him again, at HIS instititution." (WTSP) This same institution place Ewing in a nonfunctioning cell for 5 days with no running water to use or drink. They refused to move him to a functioning cell. He had to endure being placed in a cell where a leak was coming from the walls for 5 days. He repeatedly asked for mop and bucket-None given until the 4th day. The lawsuit will bring light to the many violations of the TDOC and yes, we the family believe senior staff and administration are aware of all the dirty things that go on in these places.

It is not the job of the institution to be the judge and jury--just keep them safe, watch, monitor, etc. I know there are many family members who have gone through the same thing. The justice is selective for instance Dale Martis confessed to killing the code enforcement man for doing his job and look what he got. The preacher's wife confessed to killing her husband--we all know what happened with that. The case of the young man who had oral consented sex with a young girl was sentenced to a harsh sentence, just recently was released after his case was publicized. Just like the Jenna 6 the system wants to punish some folks so harshly and not others WHY!




Submitted by Sharen Rooks



There are letters that are referenced in the letter that I have not received, but will be posted when the family sends them. Again I will be contacting Judge Thomas for her response

Was This Justice Or Revenge?

Above you see 5 male blacks all laying dead head to toe. Are we to believe that these men fail dead this way? This style of execution goes back to the days of Hitler. While the death of Robert Hester was wrong and tragic,there was no reason for the MPD to take the law that they worn to uphold in their hands.

Witnesses remember that after the SWAT team stormed the house located at 2239 Shannon that there was a barrage of shots heard,then silence which was followed by 7-8 shots. If you look at the picture with a mind for what is right,and not a clouded mind that only wants to believe one side of the story that has been told for 25 years you will see that the bodies were lined up and each person shot in the head. Does this bother anyone at all.

I have received emails today from several persons in other cities that can't believe what they are viewing. they can't believe that Memphis is so racist that police execute men in revenge of another police officer who had also taken an oath to uphold the laws not only of Memphis and the state of Tennessee but the U.S.A.

To view the picture a rational thinking person knows that something went wrong in the small house where 32 canisters of military tear gas had been released, where a man was shot in the top of the head,and where another was shot under the arm as he held his arms up in fear and surrender.

Was the killing of the 7 men in the Shannon Street home justice or revenge? Were the men entering the house as SWAT members acting as policemen or men who just wanted to kill? And why were all the black patrolman moved from the scene prior to the entry of SWAT? Think about it?

Policeman Was Under The Influence When He Entered 2239 Shannon

According to the 1983 autopsy report of Robert Hester the police officer taken hostage at 2239 Shannon Street where alone with Hester 7 black males were killed,all by a M-16 rifle shot to the head, he had a blood alcohol level of .03, and this was after he had been dead two days.

If Hester had a blood alcohol level of .03 two days after his death I wonder what his level was on January 11 1983 when he entered the home of Lindberg Sanders? More than likely if Hester had been drinking so had his partner Ray Schwill. Is it possible that alcohol told them to go to Sanders home to harass the black male who earlier in the evening by fellow police officers had been identified not as the purse snatcher at Krogers in Frayser?

Was it alcohol that made these two police officers known in North Memphis as "Starksy and Hutch" enter the unlocked door of a man's home without a search warrant? I wonder if Ray Schwill has lost sleep over the years knowing that alcohol could have caused his partner's life.

What happen in that North Memphis house is tragic for all parties but it's time for the truth to be told. What I am reporting here is backed up by the medical Examiner's report,which I can post if you like. Don't bother with your negative comments about me, that doesn't matter at all to me, the report speaks for itself, Robert Hester's judgment was impaired at the time he entered that house.

Cousin Of DeAunta Farrow Tells Investigators That Farrow had his Hands In Air Holding A Coke And Chips

On the evening that life was snatched from the body of DeAunta Farrow by the murdering bullets of West Memphis policeman Erik Sammis he was walking with his cousin Unseld Nance Jr. on the way to the Nance home.

Tonight for the very first time the public got to hear from Nance as he was questioned by investigators. Nance told the investigators that when he and his cousin were approached by Sammis and his partner, that he hit the ground and DeAunta throw his hands in the air.

Nance also stated that while DeAunta had a toy gun it was in his waist ban, and while his hands were up he was holding a coke and a bag of chips. It appears that the TACT officer who bragged about having over 3000 hours of training fired to soon, in fact he fired twice. The first shot was to the child's leg and the second to the chest.

The state investigators will submit their 700 page findings on Tuesday morning,also the U.S. Justice Department has sent Attorney Javier Bailey a letter stating based on evidence that he has that they did not have in their investigation that they are looking at revisiting the shooting of DeAunta Farrow.

View the tape on FOX 13 http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4983299&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.1.1

In 1983 Did Memphis Police Become Judge,Jury,And Executor?

On January 11,1983 at 2239 Shannon Street in North Memphis 8 men including a police officer died in what has become known as the Shannon street Massacre where 7 black men all shot in the head lost their lives because City of Memphis Police decided to play the roles of judge, jury and executor.

After this bloodbath many stories and rumors went forth including the fact that Patrolman Robert Hester was tortured and that he had been burned with cigarette's. While Hester's morgue pictures show that he was beaten in the head, it's plain to see that his body was not tortured. The death of Hester was senseless,but so was the facts that lead to his death.

Attorney Javier Bailey who in January with members of the families of the 7 dead men, and men who were present that deadly day but escaped out a back door will file a request asking the Justice Department and Bill Gibbons to re-open the case. Bailey has in his possession all the records,files pictures, videos,and officer reports from the case, which he will use as part of his request.

Much of the information that has been put out about this case was set to make Hester and officer Ray Schwill look to be officers just doing their job where Hester was taken hostage for no reason at all. Nothing could be further from the truth. I do not condone the taking of Hester as a hostage,neither do I condone whatever caused his death. But by the same token the action of the officers who stormed the house after removing Hester's body and shooting 7 men to death was not right,even if Hester was a friend.

The path of the incident that I'm about to reveal comes from reports from that day by police and by living witnesses who were able to get away. That day in January a purse snatching took place at a Kroger's in Frayser. A off duty police officer acting as a security guard for the store thought even though he only got a glance the purse snatcher was a young black male by the name of Coleman(his last name). The off duty officer called for MPD to come to the scene,The off duty told the arriving officers who he thought the purse snatcher was and where he lived.

The MPD officers and the off duty officer went to Coleman's home where they were told that he was not home. After seeing a picture of Coleman at his mother's home the off duty realized that Coleman was not the purse snatcher after all.

This is where the events that lead up to the bloodbath begin. Robert Hester and Ray Schwill was known in North Memphis as "Starksy and Hutch". These police officers were known for being abusive to black males, and "whupping that head". Hester and Schwill had heard the purse snatching call and decided on their own to go to a house on Shannon where groups of black males were known to gather.

A report given by police state that Coleman called the police on his self and invited the two policeman to come to the house on Shannon. This is crazy for two reasons first of all Coleman was unaware that the purse snatching had taken place and that officers had been to his home and secondly why would a black man call the police and invite them to come get him?

When Hester and Schwill arrived on Shannon Street, they didn't park in front of 2239 Shannon they parked up the street and walked down, not only that the officers walked into the house of the owner Lindberg Sanders without knocking. Hester and Schwill had no legal right to enter the home, they had no warrant and earlier the officers looking for Coleman had stated that he was not the purse snatcher. But this was the behavior that "Starksy and Hutch" was known for.

Even though Sanders did have some strange religious beliefs he was not the leader of a cult. Sanders held bible classes at his home which on that day 14 young black men were present at his home. Upon the entry of Hester and Schwill, they asked for Coleman who was present but Sanders told the officers to get out of his house.

Witnesses within the house state that Schwill became abusive in his tone and attempted to manhandle Sanders, at which time a struggle ensued. Two of the black males in the house were the sons of Lindberg Sanders who were not going to allow police officers to assault their father in his own home.

Naturally Hester attempted to assist his partner and got his weapon out and got two rounds off one hitting Sanders in the arm an another hitting one of the males in the torso. The officers were able to call for assistance on their radio, hearing the police cars approaching Hester was pulled into the house while Schwill ran off and left his partner.

Pulling Hester into the house to hold as a hostage was not the right thing to do at all, beating him was not the right thing to do, but entering someones home without cause and without a warrant was not right either. Was it right for this house full of black males to attack Hester and Schwill? No and neither was it right for the officers to attempt to manhandle Sanders because he demanded that they leave his house, which he had every right to do.

Over the next 30 hours police attempted to enter the house on Shannon several times but were never able to get to Hester. During one of the attempts while police officers were shooting within the house 7 of the black males were able to run out a back door, getting out where three of them are still alive today.

During the standoff Hester could be heard crying and begging for his life, calling for his mother and telling the police to give his captors whatever they wanted. it's understandable that the police were emotional about the life of their friend,and fellow officers but what happened next was not law enforcement,but vigilantism.

The untiles had already been cut off at the house, snipers were on the roof of Shannon Elementary School which is right in front of the Shannon Street address, in fact Police Director Larry Godwin was one of the snipers. Then Mayor Richard Hackett was heard by news reporters over the police scanner receiving a call from his wife asking him what time he would be home for dinner,According to one of the reporters whose still alive Hackett replied" "I don't know this is making for good press".

Hackett finally gave the order to go in, concussion bombs were set off in the house and according to documentation 32 cans of military tear gas was thrown into the house. the tear gas was so strong that the SWAT team had to allow time for some of the gas to clear out. During this time the black males was scattering within the house some trying to get out the front door and being pushed back in. before making there assault the body of Robert Hester was pulled from the house.

Every black male in the house received a rifle shot to the head from the M-16's that the SWAT team was using. Lindberg Sanders was shoot in the top of the head which means that he was on his knees. Another male has a entry wound under his right arm which proves he was shot while his arms were up. Surrendering.

The police reported that they were fired upon,upon entering the house, that's hard to believe since the only gun found in the house was the gun that was taken from Hester. In fact that gun was found in a back room under the body of a black male that had crawled between a bed and a wall and had tried to pull the blanket and books on the bed on himself to use as cover. So how were the officers fired upon?

Is it even reasonable to think that the men didn't try to surrender? is there any reason every one of the men were shot in the head? if you look carefully in the picture that portrays several of the black males you will see that that were lined up head to toe and that a television has been thrown on the head of one of them .

This event was tragic for all parties involved, Hester and the 7 men killed in the incident, the men who got away and all the families. But this does not give the police the right to take justice in their own hands.They take an oath to uphold the law and to not allow personal feeling to reign over the law, and for this reason this case should be re-opened and those involved in the massacre of these men should be held accountable an not rewarded as in the case of several police officers present on that tragic day who later became Directors of the Memphis Police Department. James Ivy, James Bolden, Walter Crews, and Larry Godwin. Ray Schwill became Deputy director.

It's Time For The FBI To Investigate Corruption On Beale Street Even If It Goes To City Hall

John Candy the attorney for Beale Street Development Corporation informed Randle Catron the Executive Director of the organization on yesterday that the City's Attorney's office wants to do an in house audit of John Elkington's Performa Real Estate and Entertainment, But that the City Attorney does not want me to know what's being planned.

Why is it that the City Attorney does not want me to know that he plans to do an in house audit? thats simple Elbert Jefferson and other city officials who have protected John Elkington for 25 years don't want the public to be aware of their back room dealings. To do a forensic audit of Performa from an outside source would surely reveal that memphis City government has played a role in allowing Elkington not to pay a dime to the city in 25 years,and perhaps involved in other shady dealings of Elkington.

The city has yet to reveal that they have tried to offer BSDC $175,000 to give up their rights to the leases on Beale Street, and why the city wants BSDC off the street. The city has yet to reveal how it is that they are able to discuss a settlement with Elkington when the city has NO CONTRACT with him. the city has not revealed why Elkington was given Handy park for just $1.00 a year.The city has never revealed John Elkington's 2005 plan to sell Beale Street, that plan was revealed in a letter sent to Willie Herenton(Which I have a Copy of).

There is no way that John Elkington has been able to get away with his reign of terror without the aid of someone in city government. The city has also never revealed that the city has tried to hold BSDC in default and oust them from Beale Street for nonpayment to the city with out ever holding John Elkington accountable for not paying BSDC who in turns pays the city.

Since I know that the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office read this site, here's some more information for them to help in their probe on Beale. I have supplied a copy of Performa's budget, in it you will notice that in the "Actual 2005" budget which is prior to the indictment of Rickey Peete who served as the Executive Director of the Beale Street Merchants Assn,and as a City Councilman, a payment of $27,500. In 2006 Performa proposed to pay BSMA $30,000.

On the second page of the same proposal you will notice that since the indictment of peete BSMA is not listed to receive funds from Elkington's Performa. Let's look at the reasons why. Beale Street Merchants Assn has a PAC ( Political Action Committee). This PAC made contributions to candidates running for office. If you were to look at the campaign disclosures of city councilmen who have run for re-election you will see a contribution from this group.

Is it possible that these contributions were used to make city councilmen turn their heads away from corruption on Beale and John Elkington. or as a payment to council members for granting BSMA a $100,000 grant for many years. I have posted a copy of the 2001 resolution giving the organization the grant. It's no secret that Peete ran interferance for Elkington and Beale Street for years, but who in city government did he use to help him protect John Elkington?

It's now time for U.S. Attorney David Kustoff to have My Harrison and her staff to go after this very apparent corrupt activety. $22 million dollars of government funds were used in the redevelopment of the Beale street Historic District which makes the city allowing John Elkington to not pay the city or give a full accounting of the mangement of the street a federal crime.

The FBI should also be concerned about why the city attorney does not want it known that he plans to do an in house audit which will be done to protect those in city hall who have been a part of these corrupt acts.

The act of the City Attorney doing anything less than what the council recommended two weeks ago in allowing a outside full forensic audit of Performa, will be the signal that the Herenton admimistration is taking part in a political coverup. Elbert Jefferson is appointed by the mayor,and the mayor should appoint him to do the right thing.

The City Council at 3pm on Tuesday in their Executive meeting will hear from Jefferson, to see what his finding and suggestions are. While the council has no power over Jefferson,and the mayor has sole contract according to the charter. The council does have the power to keep the city from making a financial settelement with Elkington.

The Charter states in Section 14:

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED,That the power to contract (other than by franchise agreements) shall remain with the Mayor; however,all contracts requiring disbursements of funds shall be limited in an amount not in excess of that provided in the appropriate budget, either operations or capital fund.In the event an expenditure of extraordinary nature and not provided for shall appear to be reasonable and in the public's interest, a request may be submitted by the Mayor and thereafter approved or rejected by the council.

Council members, it's in your hands, The FBI is watching

Coming Tomorrow: Morgue Pictures Of Robert Hester Will Be Posted

Tomorrow I will be posting the morgue pictures of policeman Robert Hester one half of the team that was known in the 80's as "Starksy and Hutch" Hester was the officer that died in the Shannon Street Massacre on January 11,1983. Reports and police rumors at that time stated that Hester had been tortured and that he had been badly abused.

The pictures however grapic that have never been publicly seen will prove other than a wound to the top of his head there were no other injuries to his body.The pictures will also proved that there was no reason for a SWAT team to kill the 7 men, because Hester was already dead and had been dead at least 18-20 hours, that can be seen by the body being in full rigor.

At the time that the house on Shannon was stormed Hester's body was removed prior to entry, the delay of the entry was also due to the fact the SWAT team could not see because of the 32 canisters of military tear gas that had been released. there is no excuse for the SWAT team to make themselves judge and jury,there was no threat to the officers when they entered.

This serves as a notice to those who may be offended by the very graphic morgue pictures of Robert Hester,stay off the site if you don't want to see his body in several positions that prove that his body was not mutilated as reported. You will also see his body in full rigor that will prove that when the police stormed the house Hester had been dead for hours. No matter what your opposition the pictures will be posted.

Discussion On Shannon Street Tonight On "Express Yourself"

Tonight on "Express Yourself" Attorney Javier Bailey will not only discuss the West Memphis Police shooting of 13 year old DeAunta Farrow, but the massacre early 25 years ago on Shannon Street. Bailey now has in his possession all the documents, files,tapes, morgue pictures and all evidence from the Shannon Street Massacre.

In January you will see all the pictures from inside the house on Shannon on this site. The picture posted is that of a young man who as you can see was shot under his right arm,which means that his arms were up in the air. We will also discuss the lies that were told concerning how Policeman Robert Hester's body was badly beaten. I've seen the morgue pictures of Hester's body and his body was not beaten at all,just a gash in the top of the head.

TUNE IN TONIGHT AT 6PM ON AM990 KWAM, OR JUST COME TO THIS SITE AND CLICK ON THE STUDIO PIC TO THE RIGHT AND CONNECT LIVE TO THE SHOW ON YOUR COMPUTER.......YOU THIS IS A SHOW YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS

Rickey Not Only Has Hurt Himself,But His Community As Well

Even though what former City Councilman Rickey Peete did was totally dumb and wrong,i find no great joy in seeing a man as talented as him have to go off to prison. I attended school with Peete and worked with him back in the days of C.U.T.E.C. ( Citizens United To End Crime). Peete allowed his ego to become his worst enemy, but rendered service to many in the North Memphis area.

Did Peete do as much as I think he could have done? NO, Do I think he allowed himself in many instances to become self serving? Yes, But I also think that he was effective in getting things done and would sound a strong voice for issues that poor people had in his district.

Yes the act that Peete confessed his guilt to was a act that should have never happened, especially since this act was a repeete performance. Rickey has disappointed many who trusted him and even those who knew he had a little larceny in his soul but knew he was one of the strongest influences in city government.

He will have to serve his 51 months day for day,thats a lot of time to think about what one could have done to benefit his community had he not allowed power and greed to get the better of him. But this should also serve notice to others who who public office to be public servants and not self servants. Good luck Rick,I didn't take this occasion to beat you up, you're have plenty of time to do that to yourself.

In 1992 The Mayor Wanted Elkington Gone,Mr. Mayor In 2007 It's Time To Do It

Many including myself have wondered how John Elkington has been able to run a reign of terror on Beale Street,and never having to pay one dime to this city without elected officials knowing what was going on. But the truth is Elkington has been protected by the very officials that take a oath to represent the best interest of the citizens of this city.

There is no doubt that Mayor Willie Herenton and every member of the council share in the blame for John Elkington not being held accountable for the money that he has received in the last 25 years off the street. In fact it's reported that Attorney Rickey Wilkins has made nearly $700,000 representing the city against Beale Street development Corporation, the very group that the city should have been working with, seeing that BSDC and the city are co grantees to the $22,000,000 received from the Federal government,and that the city has no contract with John Elkington's Performa Real Estate and Entertainment.

On November 5,1992 Willie Herenton sent a letter to four different companies seeking a proposal where their companies could take over the management of Beale Street. From the content of the letter it appears that BCDC and the city was interested in replacing John Elkington,so the mayor had to know that there was a problem on Beale and that john Elkington needed replacing. The mayor has stated to me that in 1992 Elkington stated that the City of memphis owed him over $2 million dollars, but the mayor states that Elkington had no proof of his claim. isn't it strange that Elkington now says that he is owed $5million?

Sources out of city hall state that former City Attorney Sara Hall is on loan from the airport to handle cutting a deal with Elkington that he can live with to leave the street. I am totally against a backroom deal being cut,especially since the citizens of this city have no ideal what Elkington owes this city. Why hasn't the mayor called for a forensic audit of Performa to show where all the funds are that is owed the city?

The mayor needs to read the contract for himself so that he can see that the city has no authority to be cutting any deals with Elkington,because the city has no contract with him. The mayor should be joining forces with BSDC because whether he likes it or not this group who was able to secure the funding when the city only had land to give is the city's joint partner,with an agreement from the Federal government that states just that.

There are council members who are very concerned that with the mayor having sole contract signing power that he will allow Sara Hall and current City attorney Elbert Jefferson to back stab the community and cut a deal with Elkington without disclosure.

I supported the re-election of Willie Herenton,and still support him, but if i think he is wrong I will voice my discontentment for the issue at hand,and that present issue is the fact that john Elkington who has business deals going on all artound the country and is allowing businesses here to have liens placed against them for non payment of bills is robbing this city blind. I am also concerned that Elkington's former spokesperson Toni Holman, is presently the mayor's spokes person. And with this being the case there is no doubt that anything that the mayor needs to know about the business dealings of Elkington can be answered by Holman.

I am also aware that former City Councilman Ricky Peete, who also served as Executive Director of the Beale Street merchants ran interference for Elkington and protected him from discovery. But Peete is gone and it's time for the mayor and the council to do what is right and call for a full forensic audit so as to discover where the Memphis funds are,and to find out if Elkington has used the Beale Street leases as collateral for loans on projects around the country.

The mayor must let this community know that he is not a part of Elkington's shady dealings and lead an investigation to determined what has happened in the last 25 years that has allowed this city not to receive one red dime from john Elkington The mayor should also call for the rents of the merchants on Beale to be paid through the Chancery Court as ordered by the court. Mr mayor the community is waiting for you to lead the charge to save Beale Street.

CLICK ON THE LETTERS TO ENLARGE AND READ

Full Update On DeAunta Farrow Friday Night On "Express Yourself"

On Friday night Attorney Javier Bailey will appear on "Express Yourself " to give a full update on the murder of DeAunta Farrow by West Memphis policeman Erik Sammis. Bailey will talk about the new evidence and witnesses that he has found. Tune in from 6-7 on AM 990 KWAM

Sidenote: Tonight due to a technical problem at the broadcast tower brought on by the storm the station was knocked off air. Express Yourself will return at 6pm. So to those of you who wanted to think the show was taken off air.............SORRY,stay tuned for controversial conversation this evening.

Robert Bruce Thompson Indicted.

FBI Special Agent in Charge,My Harrison stated today in a 2pm press conference that the latest indictment of Bruce Thompson was the "Same game, different name". Thompson the first white republican indicted in recent history in Shelby County was charged with 3 counts of mail fraud and 1 count of extortion, for his alleged role in obtaining a multimillion dollar contract for H&M Construction company to build 3 schools for Memphis City Schools.

So what's your view on Thompson's indictment,and will the fact that a county attorney stated that he was not breaking the law by being a consultant save him?

Will Halbert's Friend Turn On Her?

School board commissioner Wanda Halbert states that she never saw the $2,000 that her close friend Toni Blankenship received from H&M construction contractor Kirby Salton for her at a meeting between her and Bruce Thompson at a meeting that was held at the Holiday Inn on Mount Moriah.

Halbert who had her friend Toni Blankenship travelling with her states that she was surprised when she arrived at a meeting that Thompson had called her about, and saw Kirby Salton present. Halbert also states that she had never met Thompson until this meeting and thought that the meeting had either to do with her campaign for re-election to the school board,or an issue with the school system.

Halbert goes on to state that after she addressed Salton telling him that black contractors should not always be fronting for white developers and than they should pool their resources and become the general contractor, salton asked her what they could do for her campaign, which she states she replied "Pray for me and ask everyone you know to vote for me". Halbert stated that at that moment she got up to leave walking with Thompson with Salton and Toni walking behind. She states that Thompson called her over to the side,at which time she thinks must have been the period that Salton gave Toni two envelopes containing $1,000 each.

Halbert states that she was not aware of the $2,000 until several weeks ago when she was told by the FBI that Blankenship had received the money. Blankenship who Halbert says should have had no dealings with contributions never told her about the money,and that Blankenship states that she took the money to the campaign office and placed it in a box in the back storeroom and when she went back to retain the money the box was gone.

I told Wanda that this is a very hard story to believe and that it's unbelievable to think that her close friend could be riding with her and not tell her about the money,but what;s even harder to believe is that a grown woman would place $2,000 in a box in a storage room. And I must wonder if I find the story hard to believe,what did the grand jury think once this story was told.

I called Wanda and told her that Toni's story does not sound good, that's when Wanda shared with me the reason that Toni hide the money. Wanda states that some years ago Toni was robbed by gun point here in Memphis and taken across the bridge into Arkansas where she was taken to a soy field. The intent as told to Halbert by Toni was that she was to be robbed and raped. I'm told by Wanda that one of the three men in the car that took her across the bridge told her to get out the car and run as hard and fast as she could, which she did. Toni hide in the soy bean field until the robbers gave up and left the area. Wanda states that because of this experience Blankenship doesn't like to carry large amounts of money. Do you Believe this story?

Many around the city believe that Halbert will be indicted due to this story and her relationship to Blankenship,It's also believed that Blankenship will be indicted and become a witness for the government in exchange for reduced or dropped charges,stating that she gave the money to Halbert and does not know what she did with it.

Will Former School Board Members Dance To The Tune Of The "School House Blues"?

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Former School Board members Sara Lewis,Hubon Sandridge,and Willie Brooks. were all presented before the federal Grand jury several weeks ago to answer question concerning their roles in the latest political scandal. "The School House Blues".
The Fed's wanted to know whether or not the trio took money from Bruce Thompson who has been indicted on 3 counts of mail fraud, and 1 count of extortion.

The rumor is that at least 7-11 persons may be indicted concerning the building of three schools by H&M Construction. I wonder if they're sleeping well not knowing if they are about to hear the sounds of TAP,TAP,TAP,DOT,DOT,DOT,

Coming Tomorrow: Is City Hall Protecting John Elkington?

One has to wonder how has John Elkington been allowed to not pay the City of Memphis one dime in 25 years and not receive the wrath of the mayor and his administration. As I have been investigating, and publishing this long series on Elkington several things have been exposed that just don't set right,such as why is the city trying to settle with Elkington when he has no contract with the city. The city should have been working with Beale Street Development to get paid since they are co-grantees and equal partners of the Historic district.

I have received a copy of Elkington's proposed Beale street budget that has been submitted to the city, which contains two budgets,but according to the agreement between the city and BSDC this is not the proper order. Again The city of Memphis has no contract with Elkington at all and should not be considering any deals with the CEO of Performa Real Estate and Entertainment.

Since the meeting last Tuesday at city hall no movement has been taken by the city to make sure that the rent payments from the Beale street merchants are protected. the merchants are waiting for a written directive from the city so that they can pay the court appointed receiver their rent instead of Elkington,but nothing has been done. The question must also be asked why did the various City attorney's not file a contempt of court petition against Elkington for not following the court's order.

Tomorrow I will post proof that Mayor Willie Herenton knew in 1992 that Elkington needed to go. The mayor sent letters to 4 different firms seeking to replace both Elkington's company and BSDC,The letters are all signed by him. It's time for the mayor to act and rid the city of Elkington and call for a full accounting by doing a forensic audit on the books of Performa. I have spoken with the mayor on this issue and he has assured me that he has every intention of solving the Beale street problem, but the time is now not later.

The question was asked in the comments of the below article if Toni Holman the mayor's spokesperson worked at one time for John Elkington. The answer is yes, she served as the spokesperson for performa for a number of years, so she's fully able to tell the mayor about the business practices of her former boss. Even though I supported the re-election of the mayor I will not turn my head to issues I think that the mayor needs to answer.

Tomorrow I will provide proof that the city had the power to solve this problem years ago and refused to do so. The question is why,and will the City Council now make sure that the citizens of this city are protected from corruption no matter where it lies? Mr. Mayor do the right thing and demand that Elkington step down

Elkington Says that Beale Street Has Not Turned A Profit In 25 Years, But Has $55 Million to Invest In Birmingham Ala.

John Elkington and his company has not paid the City of Memphis one dime in 25 years, stating that Beale Street has not turned a profit in all that time. Performa Real Estate and Entertainment was founded to manage the Historic district under contract to Beale Street Development Corporation.

But if Performa has not turned a profit,where does the money come from to invest $55 Million dollars in Birmingham Alabama? In default of his contract with BSDC he has allowed a lien to be placed on Ground Zero a club being built inside the new Lee's Landing Garage, in the amount of $229,551.39,along with that I found out tonight that another company,American Wal-Board has filed a lien on King Biscuit another club being built for non payment of supplies.

Is the reason that Memphis companies and banks are not being paid is because John Elkington can't afford to build without the money that he is collecting monthly in rents payments from businesses on Beale that's over $1million a year.along with the money that he is receiving from the signage on the street, plus the club percentages that he receives,and the 15% he receives from the $300,000 that the Beale Street Merchants pay for security.

Is the money that Elkington is investing in Birmingham money that belongs to the City of Memphis? Did Elkington use Memphis money thinking that since he has not paid Memphis anything for 25 years, that he could continue to invest our money to enrich himself without notice?

Reports out of Birmingham show that Performa has plans of investing $55 million dollars into the city of Birmingham to create a entertainment district. Where is the money coming from,you know as well as I do where it's coming from, your pockets. How long will the mayor and the city council. the FBI, and Bill Gibbons allow Elkington to continue to steal from this city?

Read This:

Council backs Memphis developer for entertainment districtPosted by rsims March 27, 2007 12:24PM

The Birmingham City Council has endorsed Memphis-based Performa Real Estate Inc. as the developer for an entertainment district at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. The council voted today after its legal adviser J. Richmond Pearson met with BJCC Executive Director Jack Fields and said the council was "free to proceed without delay." The council had requested that consultant Carol Forge Hatcher, who was putting together a team of developers, provide more information about her financial backing for the project to fields who would then report to the city. Pearson did not give specifics of that report today. Performa plans to invest $55 million in a plan that includes, restaurants, night clubs, retail shops and a hotel located on Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard between 22nd Street North and 24th Street North.

Joseph Bryant

And this:

BJCC to team with developer on entertainment district
Beale Street developer will build in Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM, AL – Friday, Feb. 23 – The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex
Board of Authority entered into an agreement today with Performa Entertainment Real Estate,
Inc., to develop an entertainment district adjacent to the Birmingham Jefferson Convention
Complex.
The board met with Performa executives to finalize plans during its annual retreat, being held this
week in Salt Lake City. Plans for the new development, to be located on Richard Arrington Jr.
Boulevard North, include 100,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space including
restaurants and performance venues, 100 residential apartments and a 140-150 room hotel.
“An ongoing challenge for us and for our patrons has been the lack of restaurant and
entertainment options within walking distance of the complex,” said BJCC Executive Director
Jack Fields. “We are thrilled to have Performa investing private dollars to improve the appeal of
the BJCC. We see this as an opportunity to entice more visitors to our city and to be a part of the
downtown renaissance that is already happening in Birmingham.”
Executives at Performa said the company will not announce how much it will invest in the
development until it secures tenants for the space and finalizes build-out plans. Performa was
founded to develop and manage the Beale Street Historic District in Memphis, Tenn. The
company focuses on mixed-use developments in both urban and suburban markets. In Performa’s
urban developments, the company works to secure tents in keeping with the personality of the
city.
“Performa is excited to be working with the BJCC on a fantastic opportunity in a wonderful
location,” said John Elkington, Chairman and CEO of Performa. “Birmingham is already a great
destination, and the entertainment district will only enhance that. Performa developments
emphasize local flavor in the mix of tenants, the food music and atmosphere – what makes the
area distinctive. There’s so much Birmingham music, history and culture to promote. … We’re
ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
Fields said a date for groundbreaking has not been set, but the BJCC and Performa aim to
complete the project in the next 18-24 months.
###
Page 2
Performa Entertainment Real Estate, Inc. is a privately owned real estate development and
advisory firm located in Memphis, TN. The development of a mixed-use urban
retail/entertainment district is a highly specialized niche of the development industry. In two
decades, based on its experience with Beale Street in Memphis, Performa has become the
nation’s leading developer and consultant in this field. Performa’s current projects are urban
entertainment districts in Jackson, MS, and Trenton, NJ, and a regional
retail/entertainment/recreational project in Fredericksburg, VA. For more information, visit
http://www.performaentertainment.com/.

Mr. Mayor, members of the City Council it's time to end the reign of terror of John Elkington,by removing him from the street. The terms of the contract along will oust him. If you read page 21,section 17 you will find that Elkington is in default of his contract with BSDC by allowing a lien to be placed on "Ground Zero" and "King Biscuit" the terms of the contract gives Elkington 30 days to cure after notice from BSDC which if he does not his contract can be terminated without further notice. The date of notice was November 8,2007.

But while the City is waiting for Elkington to come up with the money to pay off the liens, those who are elected to represent the best interest of the citizens of this city should demand that the merchants on Beale follow the Chancery court order of 2002 and submit their rents to the receiver of the court Arnold V. Lindseth to place in the appointed escrow account.

If John Elkington has $55 million to invest in Birmingham, He's made a profit somewhere, It's time for him to be held accountable even if that means being indicted.

If Elkington is acquiring loans from banks, Is he using the leases on Beale for collateral?

Tomeka Hart Will Appear Wednesday Night On "Express Yourself"

School Board Commissioner Tomeka Hart will appear Wednesday night on my radio show "Express Yourself" to discuss the happenings within Memphis City Schools,especially the Nutrition Center,and Schooltrans.

In today's CA a revelation is made concerning the high cost of bus transportation for students compared to the lower cost of other school districts across the state with less number of children riding buses. Its an issue that board members are going to have to address. The board also must explain why Laidlaw and SchoolTrans both have the jobs of transporting students without a bid process.

School board member Wanda Halbert revealed to the CA information about a text message that was sent in August by Hart which was meant to be seen by another board member not Halbert. The text message alludes to the ideal that Halbert was taking pay-offs from a contractor. the contractor in question is Michael Jones president of SchoolTrans. The knowledge of the text message has been known by myself and others since it happened and passed off as two females bickering among themselves.

There have been rumors for months among some in the administration that there was an improper relationship between Halbert and Jones,which may have lead to Hart sending the message. Halbert totally has denied that such a relationship exists,and that her fight for SchoolTrans has been to just support a black vendor doing business with the system.

Hart was very surprised when she received a call from Marc Perrusquia the reporter from the CA stating that he had given certain information from Halbert concerning her as a board member. Hart and Halbert had discussed what Hart calls a childish prank among themselves and thought that the issue was mute,and was surprised that Halbert had told Perrusquia of the incident. She was also concerned about halbert calling her concerning a issue that the board had to vote on concerning SchoolTrans and felt as though she was trying to line votes up.

Some of the calls I've received today on this issue believe that Halbert is trying to divert attention away from herself and cast dark shadows on others. One caller wondered why Halbert had Toni Blankenship with her last weekend in Nashville at a conference when this is the person who took a $2,000 donation from Salton Kirby a contractor with H&M Construction builders of Schools for the system. The caller stated that "Its just plain stupid to still be travelling with the person who took a donation,never told Wanda about it, hide the money,and then stated that it was stolen, causing the FBI to be investigating" Which I guess is a fair question.

On Wednesday night I will very candidly ask Hart about the issue between her and Wanda Halbert and the apparent scandals at Memphis City Schools.

City Council Must Let The Chips Fall Where They May

The Memphis City Council must protect the citizens of this city from John Elkington's plans to cut a deal with the city to remain on Beale Street without ever disclosing why he has not paid one dime to Beale Street Development who in return would have paid the City of Memphis. The council have the job of protecting the interest of the citizens of Memphis no matter who the party is that is violating that interest.

The council on Tuesday agreed that the Chancery Court order of 2002 should be followed and that all Beale Street funds that would normally go to John Elkington and his company Performa should be placed in an escrow account. The forensic audit proposed by Jack Sammons should be followed through so that there is a full accounting of monies due this city.

The council should demand that the Herenton administration let no delay, or deal take place in the City's Attorney's office that would hinder the community knowledge of the misuse of funds on Beale

Hear the City Council in there Executive Session this past Tuesday as they passed a resolution on the order of the Chancery court being followed where funds are to be placed in a escrow account.

http://memphis.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=223&meta_id=17986

Elkington Trying To Save His Ass,By Attempting To Cut Back Room Deals

Now that the pressure is on, John Elkington CEO of Performa Real Estate and Entertainment, the Beale Street management company that has refused to turn over millions due to the city is now trying to cover his tracks. Randle Catron Executive Director of Beale Street Development reports that even though Elkington has refused to obey the 2002 orders of a Chancery Court judge for five years where he was to place all funds that he collected from the Historic District into a escrow account,suddenly has placed $10,000 in the account.

Catron reports that Arnold l. Lindseth the court appointed receiver of the funds told him that Elkington placed $10,000 in the court appointed escrow account and will place another $8,000 in the account in two weeks.

The fact that Elkington has placed $10,000 in the account proves two things, first that he knows that he is facing charges for being in contempt of court. Secondly he proves that with only placing $10,000 in the account when he owes much much more,he does not have the money that is due the City of Memphis. Thirdly he proves my point that perhaps Memphis funds are tied up in his projects around the country.

Elkington who knows that he can't come up with all the money due the city,and does not want his company to face a forensic audit where he would have to prove where every dime of Beale Street money is, is now trying to cut "BACK ROOM" deals. Elkington met with a Beale Street businessman on Friday morning. trying to plead his case stating that he has made a large financial investment into the street. But what is that investment?

Elkington has stated that his investment was $2.1 million dollars and then last week he stated that the investment was $5 million dollars, so which one is it? Catron reported to me that Elkington wanted to meet him on Monday at IHOPS to discuss Beale Street and can be done. Catron states that he at first thought about meeting just to hear what Elkington had to say,but decided that he was not going to be a part of any back room deals and that the citizens of Memphis need to know exactly how much money Elkington has misused of city Funds.

Elkington does not want it revealed as to where the Beale Street funds actually are,so he doing everything that he can to cut back room deals to keep that issue from doing public. it is also rumored that the City Attorney's office is trying to cut a deal with Elkington, if this is so the Herenton administration would be violating the public's trust.

The City of Memphis has no contract with Elkington at all, so what would a deal be made. The City of Memphis and BSDC are co-grantees of the Federal funds that were received to redevelop Beale street. Elkington has a sublease agreement on with BSDC not with the City of Memphis. Elkington's contract calls for him to manage the Historic District, receive 15% management fee turn over the rest to BSDC who takes out there monthly budget and turn the rest over to the city. But with Elkington not turning over any money to BSDC for 25 years,BSDC has not been able to turn over any funds to the City of Memphis.

The Herenton administration should want the citizens of this city to know what is going on and where funds that belong to this city are.Anything else would seem to be a cover up on the part of the city government. What reason would City Attorney Elbert Jefferson have to meet with Elkington to cut any deal? The city attorney should be leading the charge to prosecute Elkington for misuse of City funds. The only reason that the City attorney's office would work to cut a deal is because someone in city government has allowed Elkington to get away with stealing from the city.

Mayor Willie Herenton states that he wants the problems of Beale Street resolved,and for the city to take control of the street. But to do that he should direct his appointed city attorney to protect the interest of the citizens of this city and not to cut any deal. The mayor should direct Jefferson to demand a forensic audit of Performa ,even though Performa does not have a contract with the city,they have a contract with BSDC to handle city funds.

The mayor should direct Jefferson after the audit to place liens on the assets of Elkington and Performa until every dime that the company owes to the city is paid. Anything less than a transparent revelation is a disservice to the community and a violation of public trust.

John Elkington is also attempting to play all players against each other to get a upper hand. Elkington made a call to attorney John Candy attorney for BSDC after his meeting with a businessman on Beale and relayed misinformation to Candy stating that the merchants were sticking with him and would continue to pay their rents to him even though the City Council directed the City attorney to make sure that the Chancery court order of 2002 was enforced.

Speaking with the businessman no mention was made of the merchants supporting Elkington, in fact the merchants feel that the best thing for the street is for Elkinton to be gone. Candy who has been slow to follow the directives of BSDC is in my belief one of the factors that has allowed Elkington to continue to steal from this city. Candy has met with Elkington and it again is my belief working with him to so down the wheels of justice.

Elkington is playing the attorney who is playing BSDC, while the city gets played. It's time to stop the flow of money from Beale Street to John Elkington, which means that the merchants should pay their rents directly to Arnold Lindseth the appointed receiver,as ordered in 2002. The city council must demand a full accounting of the funds due this city,and the City Attorney should not be allowed to stand in the way.

John Elkington owes $229,551,39 To The Construction Company That Built His Beale Street Club

Not only has John Elkington refused to pay the City of Memphis millions that are due for the last 25 years,and not only has he willfully violated the order of Chancery Court Chancellor Wil Doran where he was to place all the funds from Beale Street in a escrow account, I have now found that a club on Beale that he has a 50-50 partnership in has a lien placed on it because he has not paid the construction company it's money for building the club.

Elkington and Attorney Bill Luckett are partners in a club to be named "Club Zero Memphis". This club is the second club by the same name. The orginal Club Zero is in Clarksdale Ms. Where actor Morgan Freeman and Luckett are the co-owners. But it appears that Luckett has a 50-50 partnership in the Memphis club.

Horizon Construction filed a lien on November 6,2007 to show indebtedness in the amount of $229,561.39 owed for labor and materials provided to construct Ground Zero Memphis which is located on the ground floor of the new Lee's Landing garage down town near Beale Street

Lee's Landing Commercial L.L.C is listed as the owner of the club. According to state records the address for Lee's landing Commercial is 203 Beale, the office of John Elkington.

It is unsure as to whether Morgan Freeman has any ownership in the Memphis location but Bill Luckett who is not only Elkington partner on this projects but others around the country, has stated in the Memphis Daily News that he has a 50-50 partnerhip with Elkington.

The downtown club is to be 6,000 square feet and able to hold 240 persons. But unless Elkington comes up with money he may never get the club opened. When you enlarge the "Notice of Lien claim" you will see the companies that the notices were sent to. Elkington has interest in Ground Zero Memphis, Performa Entertainment Real Estate company, and Lee's landing Commercial L.L.C.

It appears that John Elkington has no intentions of paying the city it's money, and neither does he have plans to pay the company that built his new club.This information will be placed this weekend in the hands of Morgan Freeman so that he can be aware of what he's dealing with in the person of John Elkington. Also packets are being sent to cities around the country where Performa has a plan to develop

The question must also be asked did some of the money due the city go into this project and projects across the country.How long will local poli-trick-ans allow this crook to get away with just strong arming this city. Even though Ground Zero Memphis is the property of Elkington and Luckett, the city still owns the property that the garage is built on. Our official are allowing Elkington to screw this community without even compelling him to bring some grease. Did Elkington even have any money when the project begun, or was it his plan to funnel beale Street money into this project.

Beale Street Development has sent a letter to Elkington to let him know that they are aware of the lien and to see what his remedy will be.The letter also serves to let Elkington know that he is in default of his contract with BSDC. Elkington must know by now that he has dug a hole so deep that he will not be able to climb out. And that there are merchants on Beale that want to make that ditch his grave.

So now we have Elkington stealing from the city and his business partners as well. I wonder if Luckett knew that the construction company had not been paid, I also wonder if Freeman will continue to want his name and the name of his club associated with John Elkington. How much will he be allowed to steale before he's stopped. I wonder if he has to steal to keep Valerie Calhoun happy?

CLICK ON THE POSTED PAGES TO ENLARGE AND READ

Edmund Ford Jr. Wins

For two years while attending Vanderbilt,Edmund Ford Jr. would drive into Memphis every other Tuesday to attend the all day sessions of the Memphis City Council to learn the ins and outs of City government,because it was his desire to replace his father on the council.

Today the miles placed on his SUV played out as he defeated James Catchings in a run-off to become the next councilman from District 6. The district 6 council position has not only been held by his father, but uncles Joseph Ford,James Ford,and John Ford. While there was a movement by Catchings and a group lead by County Commissioner Sidney Chism to oust the Ford name from the district, the citizens of the district spoke.

Catchings who suddenly had a large influx of money dumped into his campaign placed many signs all over the district,and was even caught earlier this week removing Ford's signs at Shelby Drive and Elvis Presley. But as I stated two weeks ago "Signs Don't Vote". It is my opinion that Edmund Ford Jr. will serve the citizens of district 6 with vigor and with the desire to make the district a better place for all. Plus we look forward for his votes that will support improvement of services for citizens of all of Memphis.

Congrats To the new councilman from District 6, Ed Ford Jr.

Michael Vick Can Be Indicted By A Federal Grand Jury For Killing A Dog, But A Grand Jury Can't Be Seated For The Death Of A Child

In a one page letter written by men sitting in a office the Justice Department has stated that Erik Sammis was not wrong in murdering DeAunta Farrow. It's strange however that this decision was not made by a Federal Grand jury but by investigators,maybe. The letter from the Justice Department reads totally different that the letter that was sent to the West Memphis police Dept. That letter states that where Erik Sammis has been cleared Federally that does not prevent him from being charged at the state and local area.

A Federal grand jury found the need to destroy the $182 million dollar career of a Black man over a dog, but can't find the need to seat a jury when a Black child is killed by a dog. The letter to Debra Farrow was only one page and gives no reason as to why the Feds have given a pardon to Sammis, yet the state investigators handling the state investigations has told Attorney Javier Bailey that their investigations is at least 700 pages long.

Even though there is a toy gun that the West Memphis police say belonged to DeAunta it's very apparent that the gun was a toy complete with a orange neon tip. This clearance from the federal Government in no way stops the road to justice.Javier Bailey promises to continue to fight for justice for this child that was murdered at the hands of a police officer.

Bailey will call for the federal government to seat a federal grand jury and produce evidence. There is evidence in this matter that the feds have not even seen,everything given to the Justice Department was given by the West Memphis Police Department. Never did the feds interview Debra Farrow or Bailey.

But if the federal Government think that this matter is over they have another thought coming. the killing of a Black child is much more important than the killing of dogs. In a nation that kills animals every day for food and clothing why was the Michael Vick case so important that a federal grand jury had to held. Is the Justice Department sending a message across this country that the life of a dog more important than the life of Black children?

The Interview at 10:00 is being held by Al Sharpton's National Action Network, and not by the attorney for the Farrow family Javier Bailey. But this issue is not about Sharpton and his Memphis connection, it's about Justice for DeAunta.

It's Time For John Elkington To Hear DOT,DOT,DOT, TAP,TAP,TAP,

The Federal Government gave Beale Street Development and the City of Memphis $22,000,000 for the redevelopment of the historic district. The grant was not meant to finance a private venture for John Elkington. But with Elkington using the street that was built with Federal funds as his own street since he has not turned in one dime to the city in 25 years makes him guilty of misuse of federal funds.

Elkington states that Beale Street has not turned a profit until last year, he wants this community to believe that even though businesses are making millions on the street that the street is not turning a profit. He states that he invested $5 million into the street,but has not show any documentation to prove the debt. He states in 2001 in a letter to city CAO Rick Masson that the debt would be paid out shortly and that he then would return to the terms of the agreement. but that never happened.

But if Beale has not turned a profit how has Elkington been able to become so wealthy with a business that's not making money? Performa Real Estate and Entertainment was started as the mangement company for Beale Street,so how is it that he's able to start projects all over the country and brag about his success here if he's not turning a profit? Are we to think that he's telling these other cities that in 25 years he's manage a project that's not making money?

So where is the money due Memphis? It's time for the FBI to step in and ask the questions that Elkington refuses to answer. It's time for Elkington to hear the sounds of TAP,TAP,TAP,DOT,DOT,DOT, This is perhaps the biggest case of corruption that this city has seen. you have a man who has taken advantage of Federal funds and is using those funds for his own personal benefit. A man who has not paid the two co grantees of a federal grant, a man who has willfully violated a court order from a county Chancellor, but lives the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

The Feds need to ask Elkington how is it that he's able to live in a house valued at $771,000, located at 3084 Devonshire in Germantown,how he was able recently to purchased a office complex for $568,000, have at least 5 projects going on at the same time, including a project in Celebrate Virginia South where he's closing on a 20 acre deal to build the Rappahannock Ridge project. Then there's the projects in Trenton N.J., and the one in Jackson Mississippi, then there's the corporation that has been formed in Louisiana, and the agreement recently signed with American Idol singer Ruben Studdard to open a club in the planned entertainment district in Birmingham Ala.

The Feds need to find out if the leases on properties developed with Federal funds in memphis are being used as collateral on loans in other cities to build projects. His employment records also need to be checked to see if persons paid with funds from Beale Street are being used in other cities. Until several months ago it's known that Elkington was operating in other cities using his Beale street office that he was only paying ONE DOLLAR a year for.

The corruption that John Elkington is being allowed to do is much larger than the political corruption charges of any one involved in the Tennessee Waltz,and should be investigated. In fact maybe it's time to ask Congressman Steve Cohen to ask for a congressional inquiry into the missing money on Beale. John Elkington has outlived his use on Beale Street and its either time for him to leave the street or go to prison.

Beale Street Merchants Have No Plans Of Ever Giving Elkington Another Dime

For several months I have posted documentation showing that John Elkington has deprived this city of millions of dollars while building projects all around the country. Newsrooms around the city have fail to investigate why Elkington who has been collecting millions for years has refused to pay this city since 1983. But gladly on Tuesday the mainstream media finally decided that this was no longer a story that could be hidden under a rock.

Several weeks ago after meeting with several Merchants from Beale Street who are tired of The way Elkington runs Beale Street,and Randel Catron Executive Director of Beale Street Development,I decided that the only way to rid Beale Street of Elkington and to collect the city's money was to make the issue very public by asking the city council to investigate why when this city has so many needs is John Elkington being allowed to not account for the money monthly being collected on the street.

I contacted Councilman Brittenum who chairs the Audit Committee and today myself, Mr. Catron and Charlie Ryan a merchant that owns 20% of the Beale Street business went before a council that stated this matter had went on to long.

I was very surprise that every council person wanted to deal with this issue,and deal with it before the new council comes in. Tom Marshall and Jack Sammons both stated that the city had dropped the ball on this matter and promised that the matter will be resolved. Sammons even mentioned that Performa may just need a forenic audit.

Councilman Ed Ford made a motion that until the matter is resolved that the merchants on Beale should follow the order of the Chancery Court and place future rents into an escrow account coming from the city. A receiver had already been selected, and this afternoon Arnold V. Lindseth was contacted by Catron, and upon receipt of the minutes of today's executive Lindseth will stand ready to receive the rent of the merchants of Beale street. Catron and several of the merchants will make sure every lessee on Beale gets a letter of instruction.

Even though it didn't seem that The City Attorney was in favor of this plan, he can not defy an order by a Chancellor.And it should be his desire to make sure that the citizens of this city receive what is due them. There is a concern that the city is trying to make a deal with Elkington, but that would be hard to do when there is no contract between the city and Elkington.

It's time now for the mayor and his staff to stop the posturing that has taken place over the years with this matter and force Elkington to produce all sets of his books and verify every dime that he claims to have invested in Beale Street and force him even if criminal charges have to be filed to produce the millions due this city.

John Elkington Is Trying To Cover His Ass, But It's Not Working

In an attempt to cover the reason Millions of dollars due Memphis is unaccounted for,John Elkington released on Tuesday a "Q&A: Facts about Beale Street: which is full of lies that he thinks will save him for being ousted from Beale Street. Elkington must not know that I have a copy of his "Sublease agreement" with Beale Street Development Corporation, or he's just desperate to put a spin of documented facts to make it appear he is not a thief of the funds due this city. Well John let me punch holes in your bullshit attempt at creating a positive image for yourself.

First of all in your first paragraph you state "In the early years,as Beale Street struggled to get off the ground, other stakeholders were content to let Performa Entertainment Real Estate,Inc, take the lead and risk. No one complained when Performa put nearly $5million dollars into redevelopment" First of all Elkington had NOTHING to do with the redevelopment of the historic district. Elkington was a law clerk for Wyeth Chandler just starting out in the real estate management business when Beale Street was being developed. BANG! THERE GOES A HOLE

According to Randel Catron Executive Director of BSDC,Chandler asked the organization to give Elkington a shoot at management of the street,so where would he get $5million? and in 25 years he has never been able to document what he spent $5 million on. BSDC was the group that acquired $22 million dollars of Federal Funds which Elkington played no role in.In fact the city had no money at the time to invest and put up the land as a in-kind contribution,which made BSDC and the City Of Memphis co-grantees of the federal grant. BANG THERE'S A HOLE

In paragraph 2 Elkington claims to have turned a street of rundown, boarded up storefronts into a destination that draws 4 million visitors a year. Again when Elkington signed his contract with BSDC on November 29,1982 the street was already developed, in fact the first building built on the street was built by BSDC which is 380 Beale known now as The Plush Club.

Paragraph 3 is basically correct in that Performa did sign a sublease with BSDC in 1982. He's also correct in that the lease gives Performa control of the development,mangement,leasing and promotion of the district. But what he fails to mention is that this power is given to them by BSDC through the city. Performa has no contract with the city at all as you can see from the posted agreement which clearly shows that Performa's contract is with BSDC solely.

In BSDC's agreement with the city where Performa is called the subtenant Yes they are given the power to manage and have overall responsibility for the commercial aspects of the project,including leasing but BSDC's agreement with the city goes on to state "But said responsibility of the subtenant shall not relieve the lessee(BSDC) of any of it's obligations or duties as desribed herein: BSDC will continue to carry out those functions and duties as stated in this lease and sublease". BSDC was given the responsibility by the federal government to oversee the functions and growth of the street evn is passing on management services to BSDC.

In writing this Q&A, Elkington must have forgotten about a letter he wrote and signed on April 14, 1982 addressed to Rev. James Smith when he was trying to acquire the agreement with BSDC,which states "We have also agreed that Beale Street Development Corporation should have primary control of the management company on Beale Street,the security,advertising,and should have direct input on the staff that is utilized on Beale Street". John I can post a copy of this letter if you like.

In paragraph 6 Elkington asks the question "Is Performa in default, Hell yes they are in default because no money has ever been paid to BSDC. In a news report today Elkington stated that the Street just started to make a profit last year, because Performa was still paying the alleged $5million that he supposedly invested. But in a letter dated May 21,2001 Elkington states that very shortly the DUE TO" account to Performa will be completely paid and we can return to the terms of the contract" that was 6 years ago. BANG! ANOTHER HOLE

In Paragraph 8 Elkington states that the lease does not require Performa to make payments to BSDC. If you read the posted page from the sublease that he signed, you can see that Elkington has proven that he is a liar. You can very plainly see that the "Leasee" which is Performa agrees that it shall pay the "Lessor" Which is BSDC the rents paid by the tentant taking out his 15%. BANG!! THAT"S A BIG HOLE

In Paragraph 12 Elkington states that he has been audited, but if it's his audit how do we know what the results are? and does the audit plainly define every dime received and paid out?

Paragraph 13 is the hardest of the lies told to believe, Elkington who in 2001 stated that his debt was to shortly be paid wants this community to believe that it has taken 20 years for Beale Street to turn a profit, but yet he collects millions off the street every year. The construction of the FEDEX Forum has nothing to do with what Elkington should be paying to BSDC who in return should be paying the city. Again I repeat Elkington has been collecting millions for 25 years, if he was only receiving 1 million a year, he still owes $20,000,000.

John Elkington knows that his gravy train is about to dry up and that he may face a federal investigation since $22 million dollars of federal money was used to develop the street. Even though on the news it was reported that he has place $74,000 in an escrow account, it's not the account ordered by a Chancery Court Judge in 2002 for the money to be placed in. And even though I think that he telling another lie, why hasn't he turned over the $74,000 to the city?

John I have as much documentation as you have and I will be on you until you cough up the money that belongs to the citizens of Memphis,and I won't give in or give up. Why don't you just give us our money and resign, before a criminal charge is filed? also a copy of all my stories is being sent to all the known projects that you are working on around the country. Your Q&A is B-U-L-L S-H-I-T, But you already knew that didn't you John?

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At What Price Will They Sell Our History,And Whose Buying?

Read This Story:

http://mineeyeshaveseen.googlepages.com/myopinion

This story is from a a magazine speaking of the sell of the Lorraine Motel, and the Museum being placed under white control.

Thieves of Black History written by Gary Younge
Twenty years ago, the Lorraine Motel, where King was assassinated, was turned into a National Civil Rights Museum. The chair of the executive committee of its board, J.R. "Pitt" Hyde III, is a wealthy white Republican. Charged with safeguarding a vital landmark in the nation's racial history, Hyde lobbied for the defeat of Harold Ford Jr.'s bid for the vacant Senate seat from Tennessee in what was widely regarded as the most racist campaign of the 2006 election. While Hyde has been representing the civil rights museum, the company he founded, AutoZone, has been embroiled in a longstanding EEOC racial discrimination lawsuit. Recently the board discussed exercising an option to buy the museum building from the State of Tennessee, which owns it, for $1. (Apparently they never made a formal offer, as they knew it would be rejected.) Black history on sale at bargain prices. (READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE)
WHOSE HISTORY IS IT ANYWAY?

The story of African American's fight for freedom in American has been chronicled, recorded, diluted, even outright lied about by those whose agenda had nothing to do with telling our truth.

The National Civil Rights Museum was founded for the purpose of establishing an institution that would preserve one of the most poignant era's in American history, the story of the Civil Rights Movement; the battles, and losses, and the victories. As the direct beneficiaries of the victories of the Movement, we also inherited the charge of stewarding and protecting the legacy of our fight for freedom in these United States of America. That's what the Movement was about, that's what Dr. King gave his life for, and that's what the National Civil Rights Museum was erected for

.
Contrary to what many people believe, the fight for freedom did not end with Dr. King's death. Some people actually believed that the fight for freedom was won with the signing of the Voting Rights Bill. Contrary to what many believe, blacks have NOT ARRIVED, we have not crossed the River Jordan, and WE HAVE NOT REACHED THE PROMISED LAND. The truth of the matter is that the fight for freedom never ends, and if we allow ourselves to be lulled into complacency, we run the risk of losing everything we've fought so hard to gain. If history has taught us anything, it's that Freedom comes with tremendous responsibility, and the degree to which we neglect our responsibility will determine how much of our Freedom we will forfeit. The issues currently surrounding the National Civil Rights Museum will put these axioms to the test.
The community's ownership and control of the National Civil Rights Museum are seriously at risk. However, it's not just about who controls the museum. At the fundamental core of the issue is this question: Whose history is it? The irrefutable answer is it's our history, "our" meaning Africans Americans.

But history notwithstanding, the other pressing questions juxtaposing the issues around the Museum are: If we don't stand up and take control of OUR institutions, who will we give that responsibility to? And in so doing, what will become of the National Civil Rights Museum? Who other than ourselves will take the responsibility of keeping the story of our struggle for freedom in historical context, with the authenticity, the integrity, the respect, and with the ecstatic care that reflects the dignity and pride, and the glory that shines through the triumphant events that were the Civil Rights Movement? Your soul searching answers to these questions, and your "involvement" will decide what happens in the coming days as we deal with these issues concerning the National Civil Rights Museum.

Protecting the integrity of African American History from the authentic point of view of those who "lived" that history is crucial to preserving the story of blacks folks' fight for freedom in America.

The time has come for us to set aside our differences and come together for a greater cause. That cause is the protection of our-story, our history, and the institution we erected for that purpose.

We welcome the support of the entire community, including whites, browns, reds, and definitely "greens", but not at our expense. By the same token, we're not naive enough to believe that support doesn't come with a price tag on it. But the last time I looked there wasn't a "For Sale" sign in front of the National Civil Rights Museum. We dare not grant the pending request for a fifty year lease which would allow others to squander the equity of the integrity of our civil rights institution, or stand by and watch our heritage go up to be controlled for decades by the lowest bidder. I think not. I pray not.

A recent article posted on The Nation, written by Gary Younge gives a compelling overview of how we've allowed the Trojan House of corporate money to take control of the museum.
The time has come for bold action over lip service. Most people in the Civil Rights community know where I have stood for a half century on issues concerning the African American community.

This critical issue will be before the Memphis City Council tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday, November 6th at 3:30 P.M. It is urgent that you and others who are concerned on this mattter come out to show your interest. For more information on the council meeting click here

BSDC To Fire John Elkington's Performa And Ask Beale Street Merchants To Pay Their Rents To The Chancery Court As Ordered In 2002

On December 12,2002 Chancellor Will Doran ordered John Elkington's Beale Street Management company,Performa Real Estate and Entertainment Company to pay the money they had on hand and all future funds from the rents on the Historic District into a escrow account which Elkington has willfully violated. But not only has he violated the orders of a Chancellor he has refused to pay any of the millions due the city since 1983.

With this being the case Beale Street Development Corporation who has the sole agreement with Performa will terminate their agreement with Elkington this morning before the audit committee of the Memphis City Council,and will asked the council to stand behind their position that the order of the Chancery Court be followed and all future rents be forwarded to the court appointed receiver of BSDC, Attorney Arnold V. Lindseth.

In a letter to Rick Masson CAO of Memphis dated May21,2001 in section 3, John Elkington admits that the money from the Beale Street properties are to be passed from Performa to to BSDC and then to the city. This very letter proves that Elkington is aware that he has violated his agreement with BSDC. This very same letter prevents Elkington from stating that he is owed anything since he states that his "Due To" account will shortly paid off. This letter is from 2001,so surely his :Due To " has been paid especially since he has kept all the money since 1983.

BSDC has the right according to their lease, with Performa to terminate them. The city has no provision to protect Elkington since the agreement is only with BSDC, but the city does have the power to enforce the court order, since it was the city that filed the lawsuit to get paid the monies due the city from BSDC who receives the money from Performa.

Along with myself and Randell Catron from BSDC, there will be merchants from the street present to let the council know that they think that Beale Street which is the number one tourist attraction in the state will be much more productive with Elkington gone.

The city is in bad need of funding for fire and police personnel, The council must protect the interest of those who they represent by demanding a full disclosure by Elkington as to where the money is. The council has the power to subpoena Elkington before the council to answer questions as to why he has violated the order of Chancery Court,and why he has not paid any money since 1983. The council will also be asked to seek to find if any of the money due this city tangled in Performa projects around the country.

It's time for this city to collect what belongs to them and to take whatever actions needed to force Elkington to pay up. One thing that must be remembered is the fact that $22 million dollars was given by the federal government for the redevelopment of Beale street,which may just involved the FBI.

BSDC was charged by the federal government when they received the grant to oversee the development of the Historic District. The city is the co-grantee of the federal grant thus they must not only protect the interest of this city but must protect the investment of the federal government.

Firing Elkington is long overdue and must take place immediately to preserve the street. The council should stand behind BSDC and make sure that the order of Chancery Court is followed. And along with BSDC order all merchants on Beale to pay their rents to the receiver of the court as the order provides. THe meeting starts at 8:30 this morning on the 5th floor.

Posted is the court order and the letter to Rick Masson from John Elkington. Click to enlarge

Sources Within Memphis City Schools Say Carol Johnson Also Had Meetings With Bruce Thompson

Sources within Memphis City Schools state that former Supt. of Schools Carol Johnson had several meetings with former County Commissioner Bruce Thompson who is said to have received at least $200,000 as a consultant for H&M Construction.

It is known that even though H&M came up short in September of 2004 in the bid process,scoring second among seven bidders,a special evaluation team headed by Johnson gave the endorsement to H&M on October 29,2004.

So what is Johnson's involvement in H&M receiving the contract to build schools,and does her involvement have anything to do with her quick departure from Memphis. If Johnson was meeting with Thompson what were does meetings about? The public must understand that the board votes on the recommendations of the Supt and her staff,and according to state law can not get involved in the day to day management of the system,neither can they give instruction to the staff.

In an attempt to find out whether or not Johnson met with Thompson,today in accordance with the Tennessee Open Records law I made a request for the daily calendar of Johnson for the years of 2004-2006. I requested the calendar kept by her Executive Assistant and her Chief of Staff. The request was made in room 115 the office of General Counsel to paralegal Rubbie King to pass on to attorney Van Turner. I was told the calendar should be ready today.

Carol Johnson's hands are not clean in this matter,and soon we'll know if she was meeting with Thompson. Since the County Commission votes on long range building plans for Memphis City Schools,I wonder if she cut a deal with Thompson to give him what he wanted, to get what she wanted?

Another Victim of Richard Fields

Attorney Richard Fields seems to have a pattern of sexually abusing black women. Adrienne Hale according to a police report was victimized at the age of 16 by this former NAACP attorney. He preyed on her one day walking to her job at the Commercial Appeal,offering her money for sex. Hale mentioned in the report and in a interview with me last year that Fields was so perverted that he enjoyed her sticking dildo's deep within his rectum. Even though a police report is on record Fields has never been interviewed or charged on this matter.

It is a known fact that Fields only dates black women and has been married to several. It has been alleged by Gwen Smith that he drives around looking for young black girls to take advantage of. Smith who was his client tells of how he sexually took advantage of her, forcing her to have sex with him to stay out of jail. Like his perversion with the dildo's with Hale, Smith states in her affidavit to the District Attorney that because of his small penis size Fields enjoyed masturbating while she watched.

But new news has surfaced that has been verified that Fields took advantage of a former Miss Black Memphis and got her pregnant after she hired him as her attorney. An email was sent to attorney Javier Bailey who thought I would be interested in it's content. The email was sent by a woman who was a friend of the victim of Richard Fields.

It reads:

I know of one other case where Richard Fields pressed another African American female for sex after she hired him to represent her for wrongful firing from the Radison Hotel as a cashier. Her name is Sheila Peace, once Ms Black Memphis, now residing in Atlanta. It back in the '80s. The Church of God and Christ was on the way for their annual convocation. The Radison changed prices on all of their services just for the Saints. Sheila tipped COG officials off. The Radison figured she was the one and fired her.

She hired Fields who was a very popular Atty. among African Americans especially since he was the NAACP lawyer. Surely, he could be trusted. Instead of representing in the Court room, he used her in the bed room and she conceived a child, which he tried to pressure her to abort. When she refused he threaten to use his influence and power to make sure she would never be gainfully employed again at least not in Memphis. She went to Juvenile Court proved that the child was his through DNA Testing, was awarded child support and soon after relocated to Atlanta.

The child, probably in he late teens by now, is also in Atlanta with the mother. His name is Quentien Fields. I haven't heard from the mother or child since they moved to Atlanta but I know someone who might know how to contact her. I don't know how long such cases remain on record at J. C. but it should be listed under the mother and Field's name in the Paternity records. I'm sharing this because I think it goes to character.

Richard Fields is a chronic liar, which didn't seem to matter to the NAACP at all. They looked at Fields with the same twinkle of the eye as they do Pitt Hyde now. consequently Fields enjoyed the right of passage as does Hyde. These Jews rich or poor threat African American like boys and the women like sex toys and I for one resent the hell out of it. When I was last at the county commissioner's meeting on Mon. 22, Oct. 07, I couldn't help but notice how he, Pitt Hyde, presided over the meeting with unquestionable authority.

Instead of A. C. leading Hyde to the floor or back to his private chamber, A. C. follow Hyde out off and back into the chamber. When the door was pushed open, by Hyde of course, I saw Hyde's' suit coat resting over the back of the chair as if he were at home. It was a scene out of Uncle Tom's Cabin. And I wondered if we would ever make the transition from slavery to freedom in spirit, not just in laws on the books.

I verified this morning that this case did exist in Juvenile Court,in fact the docket number is I-9215, which is public information. I also received an email from someone claiming to be Quentin R. Fields asking me not to post this story. He states that he is 19 years of age and also states that his mother has been dead for six years.

While I think that the email was sent either by Fields or at his instruction, the information is public and the greater concern is that Richard Fields is stopped from future sexual abuse of black women. It appears that the District attorney who is his friend refuses to look at sexual abuse charges placed against him or his son Morgan Fields who according to a police report molested his own two year old daughter.

It seems that Field has a pattern of abuse and no one cares. Segments of this community who come to this site find excuses for his actions and call the victims names. If you say that I don't like Fields, you're correct and will stay on his ass until he loses his law license for violating his oath by becoming involved with women who come to him for legal services,But then again he may just get indicted for his role in the scandal that he put together to blackmail Willie Herenton.

Coming Tonight: Richard Fields Misuses Another Black Woman

Richard Fields,the former NAACP attorney has been accused by Gwen Smith as sexually taken advantage of her as her attorney. A police report shows that Fields was having perverted sex with a minor, now I've received an email from a very reliable source that states that Fields took sexual advantage of a well known Black Memphis woman who had to leave town. I have verified the email to be fact through Juvenile Court.

The woman hired Fields to represent her,and according to the source Fields got her pregnant,and wanted her to abort but she refused. The email along with Juvenile Court also states that a DNA test proved that Fields was in fact the father of the boy child. The child was given his last name by the court. The woman who was threaten by Fields to never to be able to work in Memphis again because he would use his influence left Memphis and moved to Atlanta.

Tonight I will post the email,which gives the woman's name and the details of what happen between Richard Fields and the woman. The child who is in his teens and maybe 18 by now is named Quentin Fields.

This issue also proves that Fields has a history of sexually abusing female clients. The Juvenile Court docket number is I-9215

Local Pastor Lives Totally Tax Free

Elder Brandon Porter who has three churches located here in memphis lives totally tax free. Porter who is the Senior Pastor of Greater Community Temple Church Of God In Christ located in North Memphis, East Memphis, and Cordova lives in a $1.3 million dollar home located at 4988 Durwood Lane. The home is titled in the churches name which allows it under IRS laws to be tax exempt. Thus the good pastor does not have to pay city and county taxes on his 8,000 square foot home.

One must ask if the entire congregation is aware that even though they must pay taxes, that their good pastor doesn't. Are they aware that the pastor is using the cover of the church to avoid paying taxes, I wonder if they were present at the church's business meeting that gave Porter the authority to place his resident in the churches name.

Porter whose salary is unknown (For now) pays no taxes on his income because pastors of every faith are exempt from income tax withholdings,so the good pastor does not have tp render unto Casear what belongs to Casear. As Pastor Porter would say "Ain't God Good"

Sidenote: C.O.G.I.C officials state that the late Presiding Bishop G.E. Patterson fired Porter as the National Youth Director for the international organization because Porter would take up offerings and the money would come up missing.

Here's the link to the Tax assessor's site showing Porter's home as being in the name of Greater Community Temple C.O.G.I.C. and being tax free:

http://www.shelbycountytrustee.com/TaxQry/Inquiry.asp?ParcelID=D0257T0A000300

Halbert Says Salton Is Telling A Lie

After reading the CA this morning I called School Board Commissioner Wanda Halbert who along with other Commissioners are at a conference out of town.

Halbert states that Kirby Salton is lying about her knowledge of her friend Toni Blankenship receiving $2,000 from him as a campaign contribution. Halbert stands by her claim that she only knew of the contribution just days ago after being interviewed by the FBI.

The meeting between Halbert and Then County Commissioner Bruce Thompson took place at the Holiday Inn,on Mount Moriah at I-240. Halbert states that prior to this meeting she had never met Thompson and thought that his calling her for a meeting had solely to do with her bid for re-election to the school board, or Memphis City schools

As a public official she didn't find it strange for another public official to want to meet, so she and Blankenship who travels most times with her went to the meeting were she was surprised when she saw Kirby Salton present also at the meeting. Halbert states she lit into Salton for allowing himself like other black contractors to be used by white contractors to be a front and a way for white companies to get contracts but using them as the minority source. Halbert states that she told him that black contractors should ban together as a group to win contracts.

Halbert states that Salton asked "What can WE do to help your campaign" Halbert replied to him "Pray for me and ask everyone you know to vote for me" At which time she stood and ended the meeting feeling uncomfortable about Salton being presence at the meeting that was to be between her and another elected official. Halbert also wants to make it clear that she had no ideal that H&M Construction had Bruce Thompson as a consultant.

Halbert states that the group preceded to walk to the parking lot,when Thompson in the lot asked her to step to the side for a moment, during this time while her back was turned away from Salton and Blankenship,salton handed Blankenship 2 envelopes containing $1,000 in each. I must note that in the CA's article Salton states that he never mention the school contract with Halbert. Therefore the $2,000 can not be call a payment to induce Halbert to vote for the bid of H&M Construction Company.

Surely Blankenship should have told Halbert about the $2,000, and her excuse is hard to believe, but she has told the FBI that she did in fact receive the money without the knowledge of Halbert and that she placed the money in a box in the campaign office that was being shared by several candidates for office in 2004, but no crime has been committed by Halbert. State election laws provide that as soon as a candidate for office realizes that a campaign contribution has been left out of a disclosure a candidate is duty bound to amend that disclosure where that contribution was to be logged,which Halbert has done, thus no crime committed.

I must also note that the CA states that "That fall after the bid process reopened in September,H&M came up short again,the firm scored second among seven bidders,yet won the endorsement of a city schools evaluation team on Oct. 29 after the leading bidder received a couple of bad references, Shortly after that Salton recalled Thompson set up a meeting with Halbert".

The CA fails to report that the "Evaluation Team" was lead by Carol Johnson,who had put the team together to approve the process and contracts. School board members had no imput with Johnson's team. It would have been Carol Johnson who gave the endorsement of H&M Construction,over the leading firm. The question must be asked why did Johnson put this team together,and why did she endorse H&M when they came up short and scored second. Maybe we now know why Johnson suddenly left Memphis.

Halbert states she does not know why Salton is lying about the occurrences of the meeting, but states that he had to have something on his mind in alliance with Bruce Thompson when he attended the meeting. She believes that Salton wanted the meeting to go a different way then it did,but when she became insulted by his presence he changed his mind about approaching her. the mere fact that he states that there was no conversation concerning the contracts clears Halbert of any wrong doings.

Halbert who borrowed money from her retirement along with gifts from her relatives,which the FBI have spoken with,and legit contributions from those who wanted to support her campaign is the way her campaign was financed. The reporter for the CA paints a picture that Halbert received $30,530 over a period of just three days. But Halbert states that that was the amount raised for her entire campaign which was filed on January 15,2005.

So if Salton says that there was never a conversation between himself and Halbert concerning her vote for a mere $2,000 contribution,and after finding that her friend received money from Salton in TWO envelopes with a $1,000 in each which would be legal as a contribution,and she amended her disclosure according to state election laws, where's the crime?

Missing Money From Beale Street To Go Before The City Council On Tuesday Morning

On Tuesday morning at 8:30 AM the Audit Committee of the Memphis City Council will meet, and for the very first time the business practices of John Elkington and his company,Performa Real Estate and Entertainment.

Elkington who has a contract solely with Beale Street Development Corporation to manage and collect rent on Beale Street has refused since 1983 to pay BSDC which in turn by contract pays the city. Elkington is in possession of millions of dollars that belong to the City of Memphis.

Not only has he violated his contract with BSDC, but has willfully violated the court order of Chancellor Wil Doran,who in 2002 order Elkington to place all funds in an escrow account,past and present,which Elkington has refused to do.

On Tuesday morning documents will be presented to the committee which will prove that Elkington has violated the court order, and that the city is due millions. Present along with myself who will make a presentation to the council will be Randel Catron Executive Director of BSDC, CPA's, and merchants from Beale Street that want Elkington and his company gone from the Historic District.

Also being discussed will be why the city gave a for profit company a dollar a year lease on Handy Park where I will ask the council to seek to find from Pepsi how much Elkington received from the beverage company for the naming rights to the park.

The council will be asked to use their subpoena power to force Elkington to come before the body for the purpose of discovery where Elkington must show the council where the funds that belong to this city are. With Elkington having projects in other cities around the country the council will be asked to seek to find if the properties and leases are being used to finance those projects.

The council will also be asked to immediately seek to have Elkington placed in contempt of court for violating the court order of the Chancery Court of Shelby County. Further BSDC will ask to terminate their agreement with Elkington and allow all rents to be placed in escrow while the city seeks to find their money.

Pimping In The Pulpit Monday Night On "Express Yourself

WLMT did a news report last week that will be aired again on Monday night entitled"Pastors and their Pads" featuring the million dollar homes of some local pastors. Join me on Monday night on Express Yourself as my topic will be "Pimping in the Pulpit". I will discuss how it was alleged several years ago that several of the featured pastored were cleaning up drug money for a drug dealer and rapper by the name of Skinny Pimp.

I say alleged because even though I am sure that the act happened, The federal court documents on this matter happens to be sealed, and can not be produced. It's rumored that Pastor Frank Ray who lives in a $1.4 million dollar home wore a bracelet, and that Johnnie Cochran was the attorney who made it all happen

I know for a fact that Pastor Ed Stephens pastor of Golden Gate in Raleigh, had a problem moving to his present location from his former location on Breedlove in North Memphis,and had to be sued to move out,because the church he had sold the old building to wanted to move in but Stephens didn't have the money to make the move. Stephens moved his congregation to the Firestone Union Hall for over a year and suddenly the money fell from heaven.HMMMMMM.

I will also tell you about several pastors who control the check books,another pastor that has at least 5-6 offerings and only his wife counts the money which goes home with the pastor.

You don't want to miss Express Yourself Monday night at 6pm on AM 990 KWAM. Don't forget you can also hear the show on the world wide wed by clicking my picture here on the side.

Was Something Cooking In The Kitchen Besides Food?

There has been a lot of conversation about the Nutrition Center of Memphis city Schools and how former Director James Jordan mis managed the facility. Also there has been conversation as to his he was romantically involved with Shelia Brown who received catering for a private graduation party for $201.00 when the cost should have been much,much higher.

I received an email from a employee of the center that may shed some light on the relationship between Brown and Jordan:

Hey Thaddeus, what's up with Ms. Sheila Brown? I did some work with Ms. Brown over the years. I suspected something when working with her over those years. I recently dropped by her office after an employee outing at the board of Education. I'm not the best looking guy in the world but, I rarely deal with a woman and they never flirt or say something; you know speaking nicely or something relative to her being a female and me a male. When I visited her office on Jackson Ave., Mr. Jordan walked in and her demeanor towards him was a lot more than he's just my manager. She stopped as if no one was in the room, but him.

You know something Thaddeus, I can't stand a woman that will lay on her back for a job. Channel 5 on their 6:P.M. report reported that Sheila and James Jordan were boyfriend and girlfriend. At the end of the story they retracted the statement as a mistake. Come on now Thaddeus, he hired Shelia when there was a hiring freeze, he started her off at $48,000.00 with no degree and he created the position for her and threw her a graduation party when she graduated. Sounds to me as if the story was right from the beginning. The word is that she was dating 2 people at the Nutrition Center and blew the horn when James Jordan did something that angered her.

Not only is the email interesting,but so is some of the information I read from the recent audit.The graduation party that Shelia Brown who just several years ago was the secretary for the school board members gave was a personal party that she was throwing. It seems criminal that taxpayers money is being used to throw private parties. The amount of food that was used costed the taxpayers $600 and the cost of labor from the MCS employees $2,419.64.

Taxpayers paid for two MCS trucks to be used to carry tables and chairs to the event. 4 warehouse employees were paid overtime to move furniture. 5 assistant mangers,9 catering assistants,and 2 secretaries were paid overtime to staff the party. The grand total for all this service just $247.50 which she only paid recently until School Board members received anonymous letters were sent. There was no intent to pay for this abuse of taxpayers money.

The audit also revealed that James Jordan routinely asked Brown for her advice on running the Nutrition Center even though Brown has no experience at all in nutrition. The report goes on to show that she was routinely late to work where she always stated that she was running errands for the center and Jordan. From July 2006-June 2007 Brown logged 3,920 miles and was reimbursed $1,825 according to the audit report.

Jordan became director in July 2006 and since that time Brown has received $8,000 in overtime with 39 hours extra appearing on one check. All Brown's time sheets were signed by Jordan.

So what's up? what did Brown do to be treated so special? what did she cooking in the nutrition center that Jordan ate and just lost his mind? has a crime been committed? I would think so. If Joseph Lee can be indicted for using his position to help Edmund Ford with a $16,000 MLGW bill,surely Jordan can be indicted for using the taxpayers money to finance Brown's party,along with the other apparent VIP treatment.

Shelia that Tap,Tap, Tap, you hear is not the headboard, but the FBI

All Elkington's Rats Don't Want To Sink With Him

I received a call from someone who works for John Elkington's company Performa Real Estate and Entertainment who knows that Elkington's ship is swiftly sinking. The caller also stated that John is following my every move against him and knows that I will be going before the Audit Committee of the Memphis City Council to present information about his business dealings on Beale Street.

The caller states that Elkington is worried over the fact that he is in contempt of a court order over a 2002 court order where he was ordered to place Beale Street funds in a escrow account, which he has willfully violated by never placing in funds in the account. The caller also stated that Elkington keeps more than one set of books and that Beale Street funds have been diverted to other Performa projects around the country.

The Caller stated to me that John Elkington will try to beat being held in contempt by placing at least $18,000 in the account on Monday. I was also told that Elkington is trying to cut a deal with Beale Street Development 's attorney John Candy to pay at least that same amount each month to get some of the pressure off him, because there is no way that he can come up with all the money that he owes the City of Memphis since 1983.

I asked the caller why I was given a call,and was told that they wanted to maintain a job on the street after Elkington's ship totally sinks. I was also told that Elkington planted bad information with local media about other businesses on Beale,so as to take the focus off him and to get rid of those he knew wanted him off the street.

I told the caller that many of the merchants feel that not only has Elkington misused Beale Street funds, but is holding up the progress of the Historic District and want him completely gone. Plus the fact that the mayor is unhappy with him and wants him gone. The caller promised to keep me updated with what is going on with Performa,and I thanked the caller for providing me with the P&L's from Performa along with other documentations. John your ship is sinking face, and you don't know who you can trust, get off or drown.