6A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL May 13, 2015
Chatterbox
The
B EYOND THE G ROVE
Impactful news from Lane County and surrounding communities
Killer gets life sentence
The power of One…
BY BETTY KAISER
For the Sentinel
Beach. It was everything that
a young man loves—speed
and competition.
In 1966, a year after the ri-
ots, L.A. residents and politi-
cians were desperate for ways
to vent the Watts pressure
cooker. Future mayor Tom
Bradley (then a councilman)
noticed that the local street-
racing scene of hot rodders
and drag racers attracted an
integrated crowd. He and the
Council approached Robinson
to stage a series of semi-legal
street races at midnight on Fri-
days for all comers.
More than 10,000 people
showed up on the fi rst night!
Thus was born the National
and International Brotherhood
of Street Racers. “Jalopnik”
magazine said membership
was simple: pledge to race un-
der safety supervision; abstain
from alcohol, drugs, fi ghting;
and NO squirreling during
events (i.e. acting stupid while
showing off).
In 1968, the program was
credited to have helped L.A.
keep order on the streets after
the assassination of Martin
Luther King, Jr. Cities like
Chicago, Detroit and New
York saw spikes in racial un-
rest.
Robinson worked for years
to get a drag strip that could
be operated with the low buck
street racer in mind. In 1974,
he fi nally saw his dream come
true on Terminal Island out-
side L.A. The track was short
on amenities, but it was a true
melting pot for the car culture.
There, on their own turf, guys
could quasi-legally drag race
off the city streets without the
dangers of illegal racing.
Big Willie Robinson, street
racer and peacemaker, died on
May 21, 2012 at the age of 69.
He helped thousands of men
to build a brotherhood through
street racing. “When you get
around cars, man, there isn’t
no colors, just engines,” he
told the L.A. Times in 1981.
The power of one person to
make a difference under pres-
sure cooker circumstances al-
ways amazes me. Last month,
the whole world sat up and
paid attention when Ms. Toya
Graham chased down and
stopped her son as he took
part in the Baltimore riots. I
nominate her for Mother of
the Year!
The riots began when Fred-
die Gray, a 25-year old Afri-
“One person can
make a difference,
and everyone should
try.”
— John F. Kennedy
O
n Aug. 11, 1965, a rou-
tine traffi c stop by po-
lice triggered a race riot in a
suburb of my hometown in Los
Angeles. African Americans
(then known as Negroes) lived
in semi-isolation in the Watts
area of L.A. Unemployment
was high, relations between
the mostly white police and
the community was strained
at best. The 1964 Civil Rights
Act was in its infancy. The
area was a powder keg.
Ugly rumors about the traf-
fi c stop grew, fl ew and ignited
an explosion like we Ange-
lenos had never known. For
six days, as many as 10,000
rioters took to the streets in
roving bands. By the time the
riots ended, 34 people died,
more than 1,000 were injured
and 600-plus buildings were
damaged or destroyed by fi re
and looting.
After the riot, racial ten-
sions continued to simmer.
Young men were still unem-
ployed and turning to drugs,
gangs and violence. Into this
scene came a most unlikely
peacemaker—“Big Willie”
Robinson.
Willie, a Vietnam veteran
and member of the U.S. Army
Special Forces, came home to
another kind of war. He was
an imposing 300 pound, 6’6”
gentle giant of a man— the
kind of guy that could get
gang members and cops to put
down their weapons and shake
hands. He also loved fast cars
and soon made a name for
himself in East L.A.’s street
racing underground in his ’57
Chevy.
Veterans returning from
World War II are credited with
starting the hot rod racing
craze. “My car is hotter than
your car” conversations led
them to the streets in competi-
tion for bragging rights. Later,
in the 1950s my husband and
his buddies raced after school
in isolated areas and at night
at Lion’s Drag strip in Long
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Lumineers (no prep veneers as seen on TV)
can American resident of Bal-
timore, died in police custody
a week after being arrested.
Gray reportedly was in good
health prior to his arrest but
possibly incurred neck and
spine injuries while being
transported to jail. He later fell
into a coma and died. Charges
have been fi led against six po-
lice offi cers.
Irate citizens initially pro-
tested peacefully. Once charg-
es were fi led against the police
the scene turned ugly. Angry
crowds took to the streets in
massive acts of violence, van-
dalism, looting and arson. In
the end, everyone suffered—
police, rioters, innocent civil-
ians and shopkeepers. There
were no winners.
Well, maybe one. Score one
for mothers! I loved Toya Gra-
ham, rushing into the fray to
do what she could. She didn’t
rush out to beat up the police,
or the protestors or shopkeep-
ers. No, she zeroed in to stop
the only person that she had
any control over—her son.
Her actions went viral, giv-
ing us all a lesson in love and
wisdom.
Graham, a single mother of
six children, spotted her 16-
year old son Michael wearing
a hoodie and mask. She said,
“I just lost it. I was shocked, I
was angry, because you never
want to see your child out here
doing that. I don’t want him to
be a Freddie Gray…I’m a no-
tolerant mother.”
It’s that reputation that made
her son wince the second he
saw her. He said, “when I seen
you, ma, my instinct was to
run.” Photos show her whack-
ing and herding him out of the
crowd and home where they
watched and discussed the ri-
ots play out on television.
Graham hopes that with the
perspective of time it will be a
teachable moment for her son.
I’m thinking that it’s a teach-
able moment for all of us: Re-
spect one another, play by the
rules, don’t hurt others, make
a scene for a good cause but
start the training at home.
God bless the peacemakers.
They make a difference. It’s a
task for each of us to try.
Betty Kaiser’s Chatterbox
is about people, places, fam-
ily, and other matters of the
heart. Contact her at 942-
1317 or via e-mail —
bchatty@bettykaiser.com
D
ouglas County District
Attorney Richard Wesen-
burg, Jr. announced Thursday
that Jesse Stuart Fanus (35) was
sentenced to life imprisonment
without the possibility of parole
for the 1998 killing of Major
General (ret.) Marion Carl dur-
ing a home invasion robbery.
Fanus had been convicted of ag-
gravated murder and a number
of other charges by a Douglas
in prison without parole, Fanus
gave up all rights to challenge
his conviction and sentence in
all state and federal courts.
Major General Carl was a
fi ghter pilot in the Pacifi c the-
ater during World War II, be-
coming the fi rst Marine Corps
fl ying ace. After the war, he
continued serving his country as
a distinguished military aviator
and test pilot.
BRIEFS FROM BEYOND
Vintage bicycle
show
jbarnes495@gmail.com
The Calapooia Refl ections
Museum would like to show-
case Vintage Bicycles in a spring
Bicycle Show on June 6 in the
Sutherlin Community Center
starting at 10 am to 3 pm. Bi-
cycles of all kinds are welcome
going back to the 1930s-40s and
up to 1970s -80s. A fee of $10
will be charged for each bicycle
booth, which will raise funds
for the museum.
A bike-safety program will be
presented by the Sutherlin Po-
lice staff from 11 a.m. to noon.
Security and special handling
of the bicycles would be consid-
ered. For information call 541-
430-6873 and ask for Jo. Or
email at this address to register
Potter completes
Basic Training
Air Force Airman First
Class Austin Potter graduated
from basic military training at
Joint Base San Antonio-Lack-
land, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an
intensive, eight-week program
that included training in military
discipline and studies, Air Force
core values, physical fi tness,
and basic warfare principles and
skills.
Potter earned distinction as
an honor graduate. He is the son
of Jerri Potter, and grandson of
Cecil and Patricia Parker, all of
Drain, Ore. He is also the broth-
er of Troy Ellis, Bryce Wertz
and Kyle Wertz.
The airman is a 2012 graduate
of North Douglas High School.
Beat Goes On at
Dorena
"The Beat Goes On!" at
Dorena School on Friday, May
15 from 5:30 to 8 p.m., 37141
Row River Rd. The Dorena cel-
ebration will feature live mu-
sic from the "The Men from
S.U.R.F." and food concessions
sponsored by Lane Electric.
Family activities will be avail-
able such as face painting, a
bounce house, book sales, and
a silent auction, and the event
raises funds for the education
and enrichment of Dorena stu-
dents.
LORANE COUNTRY NEWS
BY LIL THOMPSON
For the Sentinel
L
ast Monday, after two
weeks of working on a
mural depicting the history of
the town of Crow, a mural was
presented to Crow Middle/High
School, which they proudly
hung in the main hallway for ev-
eryone to enjoy. Special thanks
go to their history teacher, Ms.
Roberts, and Esteban Camacho
Steffensen, a very talented lo-
cal artist. Not only did these
students learn about the com-
munity, the founders and rivers
running through the area, they
showed much on the mural. This
was an exciting and educational
project for the students.
Just a reminder of the All-
School Awards Assembly on
Wednesday morning, May 27
and Senior Recognition at 7 p.m.
that same evening. Everyone is
invited to share in the students’
accomplishments and cheer for
the seniors.
May 29 is the seniors’ last
day. Wow, school is coming to
a close quickly for this school
year.
Parents of all eighth-grade
students have until May 15 to
get pictures in of your child!
After much discussion, Lo-
rane Grangers decided to wait
until September for the next
spaghetti and bingo evening.
With other comments, work on
the Grange roof and vacations,
there weren’t enough members
to get prepared and serve. We
look forward to seeing you in
the fall!
Remember the exciting Lo-
rane Celebration 2015 sched-
uled for Sept. 12. You may call
Lil Thompson at 541-942-5701
to sign-up to have a table at the
Grange Hall. No need to wait
— sign up any time.
Lorane Fire Board meets this
Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Mark your calendars for Crow
High School graduation on Fri-
day, June 5, 2015.
Don’t forget to vote! If you
haven’t mailed it in by now,
you’ll need to take it to a drop
box.
Douglas G. Maddess, DMD
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County jury after a trial in 1999.
The death sentence from the
1999 trial was overturned by a
Marion County post-conviction
relief court in 2012.
Fanus’ attorneys approached
the state and offered to accept
life in prison without possibil-
ity of parole in exchange for
the state dropping the death
penalty. In return for the state’s
agreement to a sentence of life
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Cottage Grove Board of REALTORS®
Joe Ward, Broker
Territorial Land Company, REALTORS
R
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