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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 10 September 2010 08:58 |
 Florida Wing chaplain part of Joint Forces Ministry Team helping volunteers deal with stress
MOBILE, Ala. – Although the Civil Air Patrol is receiving high marks and accolades for the daily flights aircrews are performing in support of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response, flying is not all CAP is doing to support this mission.
Since mid-May, Florida Wing Chaplain Lt. Col. Marcus L. Taylor has acted as CAP’s representative on the newly-formed Joint Force Ministry Team at the Deepwater Horizon incident command post, or ICP, in Mobile. He puts in 14 hours a day, six days a week, visiting the ICP’s 1,200 workers, encouraging and uplifting them as well as providing counseling.
“Though the days are long, the pace and stress levels in the ICP are consistently high, and the challenges come on a daily basis, it is truly a high honor to be able to serve and represent CAP in this capacity,” said Taylor. He also conducts three worship services – two on Sunday and one mid-week service on Wednesday evening – and is adviser to the command staff on moral, spiritual, morale and welfare issues concerning all oil spill response personnel.
In addition, he attends and participates in change of command and other various ceremonies and makes visits in the communities affected by the oil spill, attending town hall meetings designed to spread goodwill and to keep Gulf Coast residents abreast of the cleanup efforts.
Taylor, like all of the more than 600 CAP members who have participated in the response, are unpaid professionals donating their diverse skills and service to the effort. To date, more than 2,100 hours have been flown by CAP aircrews in connection with the oil spill response. Volunteers from 10 states, including the Gulf states of Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, have worked for 109 days as part of the response, accumulating more than 18,000 man-hours.
Last week, Florida Wing – at the request of the U.S. Coast Guard – suspended its flights in support of the Deepwater Horizon Response. The wing’s aircrews will remain on standby in case they are needed. The federally-supported mission, however, continues for CAP aircrews in Alabama and Mississippi, who are still flying out of Mobile and Gulfport, Miss.
Taylor initially flew two weeks with a CAP aircrew out of Elgin Air Force Base in Florida in early May, before taking on his new role with the Joint Force Ministry Team in Mobile. He was assigned to the ICP by Southeast Region Commander Col. James Rushing and Chaplain Col. Whit Woodard, National Chief of the CAP Chaplain Corps, after it became obvious that the stress levels of the Deepwater Horizon Response personnel needed to be addressed.
Taylor quickly gained the confidence and support of U.S. Coast Guard Chaplain Lt. Joseph Johnson, at the time the sole chaplain present at the ICP. “I know my own prayers were answered when the Lord sent Civil Air Patrol Chaplain Taylor to help,” said Johnson.
Soon after, the Alabama Army and Air National Guard assigned chaplain teams and the Joint Forces Ministry Team was formed.
“Being here is no doubt a high honor and moment of achievement for CAP, and one that is truly making history for our organization,” said Taylor. “The number of man-hours given, the quality of the product being produced and delivered and the level of professionalism displayed as we perform our assigned missions and duties speak volumes for CAP as a major player in this crisis.” |
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Local News Headlines
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 10 September 2010 08:21 |
 A.H. Parker Graduating Class of 1977
Over 30 members of the 1977 graduating class of A.H. Parker High School gathered for an informal reception on July 4th at Club Plum in downtown Birmingham with plans for 2011.
It was the beginning of an initiative that’s been dubbed, the “33/51” initiative. The meaning behind the name is simple, as described by class president David Ellis, “We’ve been out of Parker High School for 33 years as of this past May, and we’re all around the age of 51.” The catchy name is gathering momentum as the class continues to meet almost weekly and has set up a Facebook Group at A.H. Parker High School Class of 1977.
The initial goal is to organize a celebration for the class around the annual Parker High School Picnic scheduled for early June of 2011. The long range goal of the initiative is to be able to have some kind of tribute to present to the school in the name of the class.
Those interested in becoming a part of the 33/51 initiative are encouraged to go to the Facebook group and join, or email Christopher “Frog” Giles for more information at
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 10 September 2010 07:59 |
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 Wenonah High School’s annual Title I Meeting and Educational Vendor Fair was held in the school’s auditorium on Tuesday, August 24th. Under the leadership of Principal Regina Carr-Hunter and Assistant Principal Genita Nolen, facilitator, meetings were conducted for parents at 10a.m. and at 5p.m. The program covered all aspects of the Title I program, as well as school report cards, school improvement, school choice, and the Parent Information and Resource Center. Other topics included understanding the curriculum, how to contact school personnel, opportunities for volunteering and serving, and supplemental educational services, including free tutoring available to students. The meeting was very informative for Wenonah High School’s parents.
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Local News Headlines
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 10 September 2010 07:53 |
 ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced President Barack Obama’s selection of Gwen Keyes Fleming as the Agency’s Regional Administrator for EPA’s Region 4. This region encompasses Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and six Tribal Nations.
“I look forward to working closely with Gwen Keyes Fleming on the many urgent environmental issues we face throughout the country, and especially along Region 4’s Gulf Coast,” EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said. “Gwen is coming on at an exceptionally challenging time. I’m thrilled to have Gwen as part of our leadership team at EPA. She will certainly play an instrumental role in protecting the health and environment of all those living in the region.”
Regional Administrators are responsible for managing the Agency’s regional activities under the direction of the EPA Administrator. They promote state and local environmental protection efforts and serve as a liaison to state and local government officials. Regional Administrators are tasked with ensuring EPA’s efforts to address the environmental crises of today are rooted in three fundamental values: science-based policies and programs, adherence to the rule of law, and transparency.
Gwen Keyes Fleming has more than 15 years experience as both a prosecutor and administrator, serving as the District Attorney for the past five years in Georgia’s Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit which encompasses all of Dekalb County. She is the first African-American and the first woman to have held the District Attorney position. As District Attorney, she manages more than 165 employees, handling 13,000 felony cases each year with an annual budget of more than $12 million. In addition, Keyes Fleming has instituted several successful community outreach programs related to crime prevention on behalf of young women and children, working with vulnerable adults and at-risk communities. Prior to serving as District Attorney, she served as the elected Solicitor-General handling misdemeanor crimes and implemented numerous domestic violence prevention initiatives which successfully decreased the rate of domestic violence deaths in the county. Keyes Fleming obtained her B.S. in Finance from Rutgers University and her Juris Doctorate from the Emory University School of Law. She has received numerous awards, including the Emory Law’s Distinguished Alumni Award, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys Leah Ward Sears Award for Distinction in the Profession in 2010, Atlanta’s Top 100 Black Women of Influence in 1999, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and the Women in the NAACP Award in 2010. |
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – Former Jefferson County Commissioner Chris McNair will remain free on bond instead of having to report to federal prison in Jefferson County's sewer bribery case.
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