Gary rapper Tension big winner

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Gary’s own Troy Charles, also known as Tension, with background dance group Kruciial Kreatiionz, won the Oct. 19 edition of “Wild Out Wednesdays” on BET’s “106 and Park” with a solid 41 percent of the votes.

Tension’s performance of his hip-hop single, “Mammay Doe,” had audience members at “106 and Park” on their feet, feeding off the energy from the rapper and Kruciial Kreatiionz. You can watch the performance on Primetime’s Facebook page.

“We shut New York City down thanks to those who texted for Tension to win, especially our fans from our hometown of Gary, Ind.,” said entertainment promoter Ivan “Primetime” Woodard.

Woodard, along with Tension’s manager from My Life Entertainment, also in Gary, were in the green room with the group when the winner was announced.

“At first, they were losing, but suddenly, everything turned around, and the votes were coming in at rapid speed,” Woodard said. “When they said, ‘Gary, Ind.,’ we all went crazy!”

Woodard said he recently signed up to partner with My Life Entertainment to expand entertainment and sporting events.

While covering the Gary Community School Corp.’s first kid-friendly Octoberfest, I encountered a table from the Gary Career Center’s early childhood education class taught by Sharon Thompson.

Through Nov. 16, the children are asking the public to support their Thanksgiving drive by donating the following: baskets, candy, cookies, fruit, Thanksgiving or holiday decorations, canned goods, cake mix, turkey stuffing or stuffing mix, artificial flowers, vegetables, frozen turkey, gravy, mashed-potato mix and candles. You can drop off the items at the office inside the Gary Career Center, 1800 E. 35th Ave., from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.

Quick reminders of events this weekend: The Friends of Emerson present The Fisk Jubilee Singers at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at First A.M.E. Church, 2045 Massachusetts St. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for students with an ID. They are available at Wirt-Emerson Visual and Performing Arts Academy, 210 N. Grand Blvd., and at Lake Street Gallery, 613 S. Lake St.

† Advance $10 tickets still are available for the annual “Cops for Kids” fundraiser dance, for adults, at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Diamond Club, 500 E. 5th Ave. The event is sponsored by the Gary Fraternal Order of Police, Ben K. Perry Lodge 61, and benefits the annual “Cops for Kids” shopping spree for needy children next month.

Call Gary Police Det. Joseph Moxley at 512-8900 for more details.