NFL Star’s Killing turns Community
Fort Worth - “He was a great defensive back, great student and great athlete who had a big heart,” said Anthony Criss, former coach of Darrent Williams, the NFL star who was cut down at the age of 24. Criss remained close to Williams even after his rise to the NFL.
Williams dreams ended when he was killed in a senseless hail of drive-by gunfire on New Year’s Eve after leaving a Denver, Colorado, nightclub, just hours after the Broncos ended the regular season. The young vibrant rising NFL star that lit up and electrified the Bronco’s defense. Williams was born in Fort Worth, Texas on Oct. 24, 1982, and raised there. He attended O.D. Wyatt High School, where his life in football first began to flourish a decade ago. In his senior season during the autumn of 2000, he was named the 7-4A Most Valuable Player after a year that saw him intercept five passes and average 30 yards per punt return. Oklahoma State took notice, offering him a scholarship. It was his big-play ability that compelled Denver to make him its first pick in its 2006 draft class at the No. 56 slot, according to the team Web Site. Recently, wanting to give back to his community, he had laid out plans for setting up a free football camp for young players in Fort Worth.
Historic Church Spared
Carrollton - After over a year of prayers and more than $100,000 in renovations, new life was breathed into Carrolton’s oldest Black church. Members of the St. John Baptist Church gathered for its first services at the South Broadway Street site to sing praises to God for sparing the old facility from the wrecking ball and for His blessings and generosity. The community came together to help save the 1920s’ structure that holds a key historical link to Black ancestry - as it once served as a meeting place for the descendents of slaves.
Pastor R. Michael Stromile and his congregation of 50 thanked many who came together across race and religious lines to work and help preserve the structure. According to Carrollton city records, the city had ordered the congregation vacate in 2005 after inspections revealed numerous discrepancies and the need for major repairs. Reports indicate the building had tilted off its foundation and had loose and fallen siding and several broken windows. The building lacked adequate electrical and plumbing and that caused health and safety concerns. Local contractors and others responded donating labor and supplies to help revamp the aging piece of Black culture and heritage.
City Plans Subdivision
Ames- A total of six new homes were built, completed and keys handed to six low income families, according to Ames Mayor John White. The project is an effort by White to build on his master plan to bring growth to the community and make the town more attractive.
“We are upgrading,” he said. “This is one more step in the process to build on the vision we have for Ames.”
The two and three bedroom homes were constructed on 1000 square-foot and 1200 square-foot floor plans and have a worth estimated at $75,000, he said. White said the city planning sewerage service and system upgrades for 20 to 30 homes in a small subdivision. The project improvements will be funded by a $350,000 state grant.
Couple Sues Ft. Worth
Ft. Worth- Angelo and Janet Allums want to know the truth about what really happened to their 27-year old son who died last February while allegedly in the hands of Tarrant County jailers. The Allums are suing Fort Worth and Tarrant County alleging that Anthony Allums Jr., who is African-American, may have died as a result of unnecessary and excessive force by jailers they believe attacked their son while in custody after being arrested on drug charges. Allums was arrested last February and was being held and awaiting transfer to the Mansfield Jail. He was taken to a holding area downtown and that is when information about the incident tails off. According to reports, He died later at a local hospital. Medical examiner reports indicated that his death result of blunt force trauma that fractured his skull. The death was ruled as undetermined because the injury did not appear to be that consistent with choking, beating or strangling.
Attorneys for the Allums are still seeking and gathering information and police records on the incident. Law enforcement from both departments did not release comments about the lawsuit.
