Topic: Tennessee

Nashville Kurdish Gang Suffers Major Disruption, Denies Police Label

By Turner McCullough Jr. | July 1, 2007 |

The recent rash of weekend violence that has hit Clarksville has many talking about a rise in gang activity. Interim Clarksville Police Chief Al Ansley, in an effort to allay fears has said that the last three shooting incidents are not related and that Monday’s shooting of former NWHS coach Willard Ross specifically is not gang related. This declaration has been met with skepticism by some within the community.

Some commentators on The Leaf Chronicle’s story chat site have expressed serious concerns that the recent rash of violence is directly related to current gang presence. Many opine that not enough is being done to combat the menace. The following story from Nashville details a police action to address a gang problem in that city.

The Nashville City Paper reported on Thursday, June 28th, of a police department operation that resulted in the arrest of four major figures in the Kurdish Pride Gang (KPG). Apparently these individuals have an extensive history with Nashville law enforcement. Nashville police officials do not deny that KPG is viewed as a gang operation and menace to the city. For more details, go to the City Paper’s article.

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Another Feather In Tennessee’s Beauty Pageant Cap!

By Turner McCullough Jr. | June 21, 2007 |

Miss Black Tennessee Wins Miss Black USA Title!

Miss Kaliah Allen-Harris at her Miss Black Tennessee crowning.

Meharry Medical College sophomore Kalilah Allen-Harris was recently crowned Miss Black USA. She joins Clarksville’s Rachael Smith, Miss Tennessee and Miss USA, as reigning beauty titleholders hailing from Tennessee.

As Miss Black USA, Allen-Harris becomes the national spokeswoman for the organization and receives a $20,000 scholarship. The Miss Black USA pageant celebrated a milestone this year as the pageant was held in the West African country of Gambia.

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Peace rally draws hundreds

By Christine Anne Piesyk | March 18, 2007 |

Therapist Mary Coe spoke Saturday to hundreds of activists and angry Americans gathered in Nashville for the Walk in their Shoes rally protesting the fourth anniversary Iraq war and call for the safe return of our troops from what was repeatedly called “an unwinnable war” being waged on faulty policies.” The event at Owen Bradley Park was sponsored by the Nashville Peace and Justice Center and was attended by members of Clarksville’s FreeThinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties and Clarksville Online.

Coe, who was profiled on 3/14/07 in Clarksville Online, made a brief but eloquent statement on the mental health facing troops and their families after multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. “Families are devastated” by the problems returning troops experience upon their return. ” Children are afraid, they feel ‘anticipatory’ anxiety over future deployments” or are struggling to adjust to returning parents who are moody, angry, and feeling rage. Coe said that the second deployment saw returning troops with a much higher level of emotional problems, and is afraid of what will happen when troops return from a third deployment that is expected to leave soon.

Among the speakers at the rally was Linda Englund of the Chicago-based Military Families Speak Out. She stood at the podium with a photo of her son, a two-time Purple Heart and Bronze Star marine. Her message was clear: “bring our troops home now and take care of them when they get here.”
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Rev. Moreland honored for lifetime achievement

By Christine Anne Piesyk | December 19, 2006 |

Rev. Charles Moreland of Clarksville was presented with the Montgomery County Democratic Party’s Lifetime Achievement Award Tuesday evening (Dec. 19) during the MCDP’s annual holiday reception at the Smith-Trahern mansion. The award recognized Rev. Moreland’s years of commitment and service to the party and to the community at large. Senator Rosalind Kurita made the presentation on behalf of the MCDP.

Rev. Moreland, a retired military chaplain and Methodist minister, “has worked tirelessly and enthusiastically” in support of the party, in addition to the many community services and activities he is involved in, Kurita said. The announcement drew a wave of applause for the well-known minister.

Betsy Ignacio was presented with the Major Nathaniel Carter Volunteer of the Year Award for her “dedicated” ongoing work on behalf of the party and its candidates.

MCDP Chairman Keith Amaral hosted the brief awards ceremony, acknowledging gains the party made across the country in the recent elections, urging MCDP members to “keep the momentum going” with an eye to the 2008 elections. «Read the rest of this article»

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