Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Small town gangs are as bad as the big town gangs...
Six jailed in McNeil after dead man found
Officials say rape, killing tied to gang
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
LITTLE ROCK — A group of men who authorities say have been terrorizing the town of McNeil in gang-related violence appeared before a judge Monday to face charges.
Four of the men are charged with first-degree murder. Two of the men are charged in the rape of teenager.
The slaying of a man whose battered body was found in the center of a highway last month was the latest and worst in the string of crimes that members of this gang are behind, said David Butler, the deputy prosecutor in Columbia County.
Dennis Cross, 40, was beaten with a brick and dragged to the center of U.S. 79 on the southern edge of town, police said. A motorist ran over his body before dawn on July 23. Whether he was dead or alive when he was crushed is still unclear.
“We think this group of young men was doing numerous crimes and that the members of the community of McNeil were basically afraid to come forward,” Butler said.
Authorities say Tony Cardell Christopher, 21, was the “ringleader” who ordered the killing. He is charged with engaging in a continuing criminal gang, a felony.
Butler said he is also considering charging Christopher with capital murder, meaning the death penalty would be a possible sentence if he is convicted.
Christopher and another man, Kwasi McKinney, 25, of Magnolia also are being held in the rape of a teenage girl.
Last month, the 17-year-old reported that “gang members” raped her at a Peach Street home. Butler said the rape doesn’t appear to be part of a gang initiation.
“However, I think there were some other beatings that involved this group that were initiations,” he said.
Also jailed on charges of firstdegree murder are Terrance Manning, 29; Rashan Parham, 33; Kevin D. Curry, 22; and Josh Carrington, 17. Carrington is being charged as an adult.
The suspects, all from Mc-Neil, were being held on various bail amounts Monday evening, jailers said.
The murder victim, Cross, had a few minor run-ins with the law, police said. But he “had never hurt a soul in his life to my knowledge,” Arkansas State Police investigator Scott Clark said.
“He certainly did not deserve what he got,” Clark said.
Investigators continued to work on the case Monday evening, looking into other crimes that could be connected.
Butler said he hopes the arrests will make the town of about 600 people in the northern part of Columbia County feel safer.
“Now they can sit on the front porch like they did before,” he said. “We think it will return the community to the peaceful community it was before.” Information for this article was contributed by The Banner-News of Magnolia.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Every Child Needs a Connection to Family
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Now, Meet Kareem Moody
Kareem is an amazing soldier in the war to save our kids. He's been around a long time in several capacities. His latest project is one called "The Network for Student Success" which operates at the North Little Rock Campus of Pulaski Technical College. He and his staff work very hard to retain young Black men on campus, and to make them a success at their studies. He is speaking at a meeting of City Connections and Mentoring Central.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Hope In Action! Excellent Gang Prevention and Intervention Ideas
This video is from several years ago but still has a most timely message. It is about 30 minutes long but I encourage you to watch it especially if you are looking for some creative intervention and prevention ideas. Onward!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Arkansas Youth Challenge- From the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Guard program helps teens change lives
Classes, service projects put graduates on right path, families say
Saturday, June 20, 2009
LITTLE ROCK — Sixteen-year-old McKenzie McGeahy knew she needed to change direction.
In Harrison, she had been “running with the wrong crowd” - drinking, using drugs - until her mother, Cynthia McGeahy, learned about the Arkansas National Guard Youth Challenge online and signed her daughter up for the 22-week program.
On Thursday, McGeahy joined 57 other teenagers graduating in the program’s 32nd class at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock. Cadets marched in lock step through friends and family packed into Davis auditorium to receive diplomas, awards and scholarships.
Heads held high, they “left faced” on shined black boots.
“She’s a lot more respectful of people,” Cynthia McGeahy said afterward.
“Yes, ma’am,” her smiling daughter said.
The program, designed for 16- to 19-year-olds who are high school dropouts or in jeopardy of dropping out, provides students with 200 hours of basic high school math, reading and writing that can lead to high school diplomas or General Educational Development diplomas.
Sponsored by the Arkansas National Guard in conjunction with the governor’s office andthe state Department of Education, the program stresses academic, social and physical development. It aims to produce “a well-rounded individual,” said program director Robin Gifford.
The cadets wake up at 5 a.m. on school days to exercise, then have normal school hours before retiring to do homework.
“When we’d get back to the barracks, we’d study for hours,” said Jade Byrd, 17, of Fayetteville, who said she was four grades behind at the program’s start.
She has since improved by three grade levels, mostly by honing her math skills, shesaid.
Overall, the graduates improved their scores by an average of 1.5 grades, Gifford added.
Every Thursday, cadets performed community service including helping disabled children, walking dogs from animal shelters and working at food banks. They also were involved in local cleanups and clothing donations, McGeahy and Gifford said. Altogether, the graduates logged 4,292 hours of community service. The cadets were required to put in 48 hours each,Gifford said. They averaged 74.
Such activities helped the teens mature, cadets and family members agreed.
Shealese Washington of Brinkley said her son, cadet Darion Washington, 16, was failing school and was disrespectful to older family members.
Sensing that Darion was headed for deeper trouble she entered her son into the program as a “preventative measure.”
Now, the teen “respects himself” and “values others’ opinions,” she said.
His new found goals include getting a job, earning a GED and one day entering the U.S. Air Force.
Twenty-nine cadets earned their GEDs, four joined the Arkansas Army National Guard and one joined the U.S. Navy during the program, Gifford said.
Many others, though, intended to earn their diploma or join the military, she said.
Mentors guide the cadets for one year after their graduation, she added. By the end of that year, about 85 percent of the students are working, going to school or in the military.
McGeahy plans to join the Air Force and then attend college to practice obstetrics and gynecology. McGeahy, who said she used to boss around her six siblings too much, is confident that she now controls her future.
Arkansas, Pages 11, 17 on 06/20/2009
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Thursday, June 04, 2009
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What others have said:
Thank you for your excellent presentation to the Adjutants General National Security Seminar. Your insights on the dynamics of street gangs were well received by the seminar participants. Your lecture was timely, thorough and exceptionally thought provoking and set the stage for additional discussion within the group. We look forward to your return to the Army War College in the future.” John F. Connelly, Colonel, U.S. Army Acting Commandant U. S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
This program is extremely informative and insightful for the novice. It really enlightened me and illustrated what gangs are all about.” Phillip J. George, School Psychologist Worcester Public Schools, Worcester, Massachusetts
"Steve doesn't just talk to kids, he shares with them. They open up to him, because he knows what he's talking about. His sincerity and concern are obvious to kids..." Dr. Ridge Hammons, Corpus Christi (TX) schools"Your assembly made me realize violence is not just isolated to big cities and you also inspired me to try and start a conflict mediation group in our school. Thanks for caring about us." 10th grade student, Lathrop High School, Fairbanks, Alaska
"...the students I've talked to after you left were very positive about your visit with us. The ones I have in class who talk of gangs, etc. were very quiet...This is the third time I have heard you speak. Each time I am moved." M.A. DuMond, teacher, DeWitt (AR) high school.
"The response has not just been good from the parents but also from the kids. I have never and probably will never again see one person command 800 seventh and eighth graders without the use of a microphone. ... A lot of good things came from your visit to Lauderdale County. You showed us the facts but also gave us solutions that might work in our community. One thing is certain. We will never be the same." Margy Neil, Chairman of The Violence Stops Here, Ripley, TN.
"...I think we are too quick to say, it's not my problem. Instead we need to change our attitudes and try to do something positive and take back our communities. We should follow the example of Mr. Nawojczyk and get up and go out and do something..." 12th grade student, St. Mary's Academy, New Orleans, LA.
"You are such a strong yet humble speaker. It is interesting to see how you never get in the way of the message. The stories can stand on their own but your strong exhortations come through very clearly." Carol Martin, director STEP/Excel program (AR)
"...I really liked Mr. Nawojczyk, he made me think about things going on around me...I am going to try and be a good role model for my little brother and sister now." 8th grade student, Rose City Jr. HIgh School, AR
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