Greene County Democrat

Month: September 2016

  • Judge Hardaway issues order validating bond for Greene County Health System

    Circuit Judge Eddie Hardaway issued an order validating the issuance of $2.75 million for the operation and maintenance of the Greene County Health System (GCHS) dated September 19, 2016. Hardaway issued his order following a public hearing in the Greene County Courtroom, to give the public an opportunity to comment on the issuance of the bond.
    The bond issue will be financed by Citizens Trust Bank, over ten years at 4% interest, with annual payments on September 1st of each year. The bonds are backed by the proceeds of a one-cent sales tax levied since 1977, by the County Commission, on behalf of the hospital and other units of GCHS.
    In his order, Hardaway references the official documents presented at the hearing including the GCHS Board of Directors resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds, the financing agreement between Citizens Trust Bank and GCHS, and the specifics of the law levying the one-cent sales tax.

    An important part of the order is the statement, “that the Court expressly finds (i) that the Pledged Tax Proceeds have been duly pledged as security for payment of the Bond and (ii) the levy and collection of the Pledged Tax Proceeds by or on behalf of the County, and the pledge thereof by the Board in favor of the Bond, shall continue to be valid and binding on such parties for so long as the bond is outstanding, regardless of whether the Hospital shall continue to operate, because the operating expenses financed by the Bond were incurred in connection with the operation of the Hospital.”
    District Attorney Gregg Griggers represented the State of Alabama and the people of Greene County at the public hearing. He raised some questions about the utilization of bond funds and management of the hospital, nursing home, physician’s clinic and home health care service but overall was supportive of the validation of the bond issue. No individual citizens or anyone else requested to testify at the hearing to oppose issuance of the bonds.
    In his order, Judge Hardaway indicates that he reviewed and considered all issues and concerns raised at the hearing in issuing his order to validate the bond issue.
    Frank McPhillips, bond counsel for the GCHS, said that the bank would be able to issue and finance the bonds fourteen (14) days after Hardaway’s ruling. As indicated at the hearing, the proceeds of the bonds will be issued to pay operating and maintenance expenses, including unpaid patrol taxes, for the Greene County Health System.
    Elmore Patterson, CEO of GCHS said, “ I am hopefully that we will soon have the bond funds to satisfy outstanding expenses which are on a long list. We appreciate the patience of our creditors and suppliers. We hope to be in a better position to render health care to the residents of Greene County once this matter is favorably concluded.”

  • Alabama New South Coalition to hold Fall Convention on Saturday, October 1 in Wetumpka

    The Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC) will hold its Fall Convention on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at the Wind Creek Casino Entertainment Center meeting room in Wetumpka, Alabama. Registration begins at 8:00 AM with breakfast and the convention convenes at 8:45 AM.
    The theme of the convention is “Lifting our Communities; Saving Ourselves with Our Vote”. Most of the meeting will deal with voter education, registration and get-out-the-vote planning for the critical General Election on November 8, 2016, which is less than forty days away.
    The meeting features a panel discussion on Voter Registration, Education and Mobilization to help prepare and encourage ANSC members statewide to actively participate in the upcoming elections. Senator Hank Sanders of Selma and a founder of ANSC will moderate the panel.
    Among the panelists are: Rev. Kenneth Glasgow from Dothan, Alabama who has been an activist in promoting the restoration of voting rights for the previously incarcerated; Jerome Gray, a community expert on voter involvement; Attorney Faya Rose Toure of Selma, who has worked on many grassroots electoral and community leadership development efforts; two Greene countians – Dr. Carol Zippert and Commissioner Lester Brown complete the panel and will share their experiences.
    The ANSC will adjourn its meeting to hold a meeting of its sister organization, the Alabama New South Alliance (ANSA), which will screen and endorse national and statewide candidates for the coming election. ANSA endorsed Hillary Clinton for the March 1 Democratic Primary and is expected to endorse the Clinton-Kaine ticket for the November General Election as well as Congressional and statewide candidates who will be on the ballot.
    Absentee balloting is already underway in Alabama for the November elections and October 24 is the last day to register to be able to vote in November.

    The ANSC Luncheon speaker is John Tanner a retired Chief of the Voting Rights Division in the U. S. Justice Department who will speak on voting rights issues in the aftermath of the Shelby vs. Holder Supreme Court decision which gutted the Section 4 and 5 pre-clearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act.
    John Tanner began his work in voting rights as a teenager in Birmingham during the mid-1960s, when he assisted the SCLC and other groups with voter registration drives and other activities.
    After college and the Army, he joined the Voting Section of the Justice Department as a paralegal and went to law school at night at American University. Upon graduation he was accepted as an attorney in the Department under the Honors Program, and for many years was the principal Department of Justice attorney for voting rights enforcement in Alabama.
    In 1995, he moved to prosecute police brutality and other federal criminal civil rights violations with the Department, and was on the National Church Arson Task Force.
    Mr. Tanner returned to the Voting Section in 2002 and became Section Chief in 2005. As Section Chief he led the Voting Section in filing the highest number of lawsuits in its history.
    After retiring from the Justice Department, Mr. Tanner began a private law practice from his home in the District of Columbia in which he has represented minority voters in Alabama, Texas, and Georgia.
    He also has taught courses and lectured on voting rights and civil rights at the University of Alabama Honors College, Alabama State University, the Cumberland School of Law, and Baylor Law School. He has published numerous articles on voting rights and was the Aaron Henry Lecturer at Mississippi State Valley University. He is a Life Member of the NAACP.
    Mr. Tanner has been recognized for his work by a number of African American community groups in Mississippi and Alabama, and by the City Council of the District of Columbia. He also received numerous Department of Justice awards, including the John Doar Award, the Civil Rights Division’s highest honor.
    All members and supporters of ANSC are invited to attend the meeting. Registration fee is $25.00, which covers breakfast, lunch and all materials. For more information contact Ms. Shelley Fearson, ANSC Coordinator in Montgomery at 334/262-0932 or AlNewSouth@aol.com.

  • Local DST Chapter and Harambe Youth sponsor student voter registration drive

    delta

    Shown L to R assisting students in registering to vote: Alfretta Crawford, Marva Smith, Tameshia Porter and Nancy Cole. Not shown are Carol Zippert and Alphonzo Morton, III.

    The Greene County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. along with Harambe Community Youth Organization sponsored a voter registration day for eligible students at Greene County High School on Tuesday, September 27, 2016. The volunteers assisted 24 students in completing their voter registration forms. Arrangements will be made to further assist students in acquiring an official voters ID if they do not have a driver’s license.
    Once the applications are processed, the newly registered students will be sent a card from the county registrar’s office validating their registration and indicating the individual’s voting place.
    Students who will be 18 years of age before the November 8 national election were also allowed to complete a registration form. The local registrar’s office noted that these applications will be fully processed once the individual reaches the lawful age.
    September 27, 2016 was designated as National Voter Registration Day. The purpose of designating such a day is to increase participation in the voting process, especially with a presidential election scheduled for November 8 of this year. Many Americans don’t vote because they miss registration deadlines or they don’t know how to register to vote. October 24 is the last day to register for the Nov 8 elections.
    This special effort of the local DST Chapter and Harambe Organization assures that young persons in our community eligible to vote will be prepared to exercise their right and duty as an active voter in the upcoming state and national election on November 8.

    Andrea Perry serves as President of the Greene County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Florence Williams is Social Action Chairperson. Alphonzo Morton, III and Carol Zippert are Co-Coordinators of Harambe.

     

  • Nigeria sues ‘Big Oil’ for stolen shipments worth billions

    Shown above Nigerian oilfield;  Anti-corruption sign

    Sep. 26, 2016 (GIN) – Subsidiaries of some of the world’s leading oil companies shipped millions of barrels of Nigerian crude oil to the U.S. but failed to report these, causing a drop in Nigeria’s oil export earnings. They have now been named in a landmark suit by the Nigerian government seeking billions in reimbursement.

    The Federal High Court in Lagos begins hearings next week in the suit against the Italian ENI’s Agip, and France’s Total, according to news sources. Oil giants Chevron and ExxonMobil are rumored to be next in line for the Nigerian claims.

    According to government officials quoted by the Associated Press, foreign companies declared only 57 million barrels of crude between 2011 and 2014 as exports bound for the U.S. when much more was shipped. That was deduced from audits of declared exports and what was unloaded in the United States.

    Ehiozwa Johnson Agbonayinma, a lawmaker, speaking to the House of Representatives in Abuja last week said:  “As of today, the country has to its credit over $17 billion of recoverable shortfalls from undeclared crude-oil exports to global destinations.”

    Of an estimated $17 billion in undeclared shipments, over $12 billion was shipped to the U.S., $3 billion to China and almost $840 million to Norway, while the liquid natural gas (LNG), allegedly stolen, was estimated at more than $461 million, the government said.

    The suit contains a highly-detailed list of companies, shipments, bills of lading and revenues lost with each undeclared shipment. In one typical case, a vessel under the name North Star shipped over 490,000 barrels from Nigeria to the U.S. with a value of $54 million. This was sold to BP Products North America in Houston, Texas, but not reported.

    The legal action appears to be the latest effort by President Muhammadu Buhari who pledged to clean up corruption, especially in the oil sector, during his campaign. When he assumed the presidency, he called the “stolen” sums from Nigeria’s oil industry “mind-boggling.”

    The U.S. was the biggest importer of Nigerian oil until it began exploiting its own shale oil reserves, though Nigerian exports to the U.S. have increased six-fold this year, according to OPEC.   Speaking at a recent forum between the private sector and the government, Oil Minister Emmanuel Kachikwu, a former executive vice-chair at ExxonMobil Africa, said he was well aware of the Nigerian oil industry’s shortcomings. Since becoming junior oil minister, he has replaced the heads of all eight of the state oil company’s divisions.

    A spokesman for Italy’s Eni responded to Nigeria’s suit. “ENI believes the claim has no ground and shall resist in court,” it said. “Similar requests have been put forward to several other international oil companies operating in Nigeria.”

    Chevron said by email: “This matter is the subject of ongoing litigation before the court in Nigeria. We will not comment further on the matter since it is already before the courts.”

     

     

  • Federal Judge who ended New York’s ‘Stop-And-Frisk Policy’ slams Trump’s idea to bring it back

    By: Cristian Farias Legal Affairs Reporter, The Huffington Post

     

    Shira A. Scheindlin
    In this courtroom drawing, Judge Shira A. Scheindlin listens to proceedings from the bench during the sentencing of arms Russian dealer Viktor Bout, Thursday, April 5, 2012, in New York. Scheindlin sentenced Bout to 25 years in prison on terrorism charges that grew from a U.S. sting operation. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Williams)

    Judge Shira Scheindlin, seen in a 2012 courtroom sketch, found “overwhelming proof” that stop-and-frisk practices discriminated against people of color. She wrote a 198 page ruling condemning the practice.

    NEW YORK ― Shira Scheindlin, the federal judge who ruled three years ago that the New York City Police Department’s aggressive stop-and-frisk practices were unconstitutional, had a few words about Donald Trump’s proposal to institute a similar policy nationwide.

    Trump’s idea sounded “so retrograde and so non-commonsensical,” she told The Huffington Post in an interview while on vacation. “You really wonder about this man’s level of knowledge,” added Scheindlin, who stepped down from the bench in May and is now of counsel at a New York law firm.

    At a town hall event on Wednesday, and in the first national debate with Hillary Clinton, Trump said he “would do stop and frisk” to address crime in black communities. He claimed that the tactic had “worked incredibly well” in New York ― evidently unaware of Scheindlin’s ruling that the way the NYPD did it actually amounted to racial profiling.

    “Why would you call for instituting a failed policy across the United States?” said Scheindlin.

    Trump also didn’t seem to grasp that as president he would have little power to micromanage policing, which is chiefly the states’ domain.

    Floyd v. City of New York was a long-running class action case charging that the NYPD’s practice of stopping, questioning and frisking thousands of New Yorkers without reasonable suspicion ― the vast majority of them black or Latino ― violated the Constitution. The 10-week trial in Scheindlin’s court offered dramatic testimony and thousands of exhibits.

    The judge then issued a 198-page ruling that served as a damning indictment of the city’s police department ― and then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg and then-NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly ― for targeting communities of color under a policy that did little to curb crime or violence.

    “The city’s highest officials have turned a blind eye to the evidence that officers are conducting stops in a racially discriminatory manner,” Scheindlin wrote. “In their zeal to defend a policy that they believe to be effective, they have willfully ignored overwhelming proof that the policy of targeting ‘the right people’ is racially discriminatory.”

    Thanks to that decision, the NYPD now has a court-ordered monitor to make sure that updated guidelines for police stops and initiatives such as body-worn cameras are being implemented responsibly and with input from community groups.

    Reflecting on her ruling today ― and Trump’s praise for what it condemned ― Scheindlin still maintains that stop-and-frisk tactics served “no law enforcement benefit” in New York and “did not reduce crime in any way.”

    As for the Republican presidential nominee’s unsupported notion that such a policy would somehow reduce gun violence by getting firearms off the streets, Scheindlin said the evidence collected in the Floyd trial told a very different story.

    “Very few guns were seized ― 1.5 percent of all the stops resulted in the seizure of any contraband, which is a very tiny number,” she said. “But on top of that, we have no idea if it deterred folks from carrying guns.”

    The more the judge pondered Trump’s proposal and how he might make it work ― could he, say, use the U.S. Department of Justice to condition federal funding on local police embracing stop and frisk? ― the more the exercise seemed like a fool’s errand. “I doubt that he thought it through to that extent,” she said.

  • Obama says new Black History Museum tells story of America

    By: Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Mary Millikee, Reuters News Service

    President Barack Obama, with first lady Michelle Obama and Ruth Odom Bonner, center, ring the bell opening the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
    Obama speaking at opening,    President Barack Obama, with first lady Michelle Obama and Ruth Odom Bonner, center, ring the bell to open the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016.

    President Barack Obama on Saturday expressed hope that a new national museum showcasing the triumphs and tragedies of the African American experience will help to bring people together as the nation reels from recent racial upheaval.

    Speaking at a dedication ceremony for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Obama said that the story of black America is the story of America.

    “This national museum helps to tell a richer and fuller story of who we are,” said Obama. “Hopefully, this museum can help us to talk to each other. And more importantly, listen to each other. And most importantly, see each other. Black and white and Latino and Native American and Asian American – see how our stories are bound together,” he said standing on a stage outside the bronze-colored, latticed museum.

    The museum, located on the National Mall, officially opened its doors on Saturday. It contains 36,000 items that trace the journey of African Americans from slavery in the 1800s to the fight for civil rights in the 20th century and lauds modern icons, such as media mogul Oprah Winfrey and tennis champion Serena Williams.

    With a ring of a bell, Obama and wife Michelle and four generations of an African American family inaugurated the $540 million museum designed by Ghanaian-British architect David Adjaye, who was inspired by Yoruban art from West Africa.

    ‘PLACE TO UNDERSTAND’

    Obama, who made history as the first black president of the United States, spoke as racial tensions flared once again across the nation in the aftermath of police shootings of two black men in the past two weeks.

    In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a white police officer has been charged with manslaughter for fatally shooting Terence Crutcher, 40, whose car had broken down and blocked a road.

    Violent protests broke out after a separate incident in Charlotte, North Carolina, where police shot Keith Scott, a 43-year-old father of seven.

    The deaths were the latest in a string of fatal encounters between police and African Americans that have sparked unrest and threaten to overshadow Obama’s legacy on race relations.

    Obama said the museum’s exhibits on the fight against racial discrimination and segregation could provide context for current movements against police brutality. “It reminds us that routine discrimination and Jim Crow are not ancient history. We shouldn’t despair that it’s not all solved,” Obama said, noting all the progress that the country has made just in his lifetime.

    “This is the place to understand how protest and love of country don’t merely coexist, but inform each other,” he said.

    The dedication ceremony was attended by a who’s who of American officials, including Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, as well as entertainment luminaries including Winfrey, Stevie Wonder and Will Smith.

    The Obamas were joined on stage by former President George W. Bush, and his wife Laura. Bush signed the law authorizing construction of the museum in 2003. “A great nation does not hide its history, it faces its flaws and it corrects them,” Bush said.

    Demand to visit the museum is high, with free tickets to the museum quickly snatched up online.

    Obama has joined in the excitement for the new attraction. The first family enjoyed a private preview earlier this month. He also hosted a reception at the White House on Friday in honor of the opening and attended a star-studded concert heralding the museum at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday night.

  • After recent police shootings, NNPA declares a ‘State of Emergency in the Black Community’

    By Freddie Allen (NNPA Newswire Managing Editor)

    ben-chavis-nnpa-speaks Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. (center), president and CEO of the NNPA, speaks during a press conference on police brutality and police misconduct in the Black community joined by Denise Rolark Barnes (left), the chairwoman of the NNPA and publisher of The Washington Informer, Bernal E. Smith II, a member of the NNPA Board of Directors and publisher of The New Tri-State Defender. (Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA)

    The recent extrajudicial killings of three Black males, including a 13 year-old boy, have sparked protests across the country, and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) has now declared a state of emergency in Black America.

    The NNPA, is a trade group that represents more than 200 Black-owned media companies nationwide and reaches more than 20 million readers a week.

    “Millions of our readers across the nation are once again outraged at the latest fatal incidents of police brutality in Tulsa, Okla., and Charlotte, N.C.,” the group said in a joint statement released on Friday, September 23, by Denise Rolark Barnes, the chairwoman of the NNPA and publisher of The Washington Informer, Bernal E. Smith II, a member of the NNPA Board of Directors and publisher of The New Tri-State Defender, and Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., president and CEO of the NNPA. “These are not isolated incidents, but are a deadly national pattern of police violence and prosecutorial misconduct.”

    On September 14, thirteen year-old Tyre King was shot and killed by police in Columbus, Ohio who were responding to an armed robbery call. Police said that King ran when they approached him and then pulled a weapon from his waistband, which was later found to be a BB gun, a toy that couldn’t even fire bullets.

    On Friday September 16, Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby fired the fatal shot that killed Terence Crutcher after the truck he was driving broke down on the road. In a video captured by the Tulsa Police Department, Crutcher can be seen walking back to his truck with his arms raised, just before he was tased then shot. Shelby was charged with felony manslaughter.

    On Tuesday, September 20, police in Charlotte, N.C. shot and killed 43 year-old Keith Lamont Scott at an apartment building. Witnesses said that Scott was sitting in his car reading a book when plainclothes officers approached him and asked him to exit his vehicle. On Saturday, September 24, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police released body-worn camera and dashboard camera video footage of the incident. None of the videos show Scott holding a gun or pointing a weapon at the police.

    “We’re tired of covering these stories,” said Denise Rolark Barnes, chairwoman of the NNPA and publisher of The Washington Informer, “We have been covering these stories long before mainstream media ever saw them.” Barnes continued: “The situation has escalated and it is time for us to step up to not only tell the story, but to also make some demands.”

    Bernal Smith, the publisher of the New Tri-State Defender in Memphis, Tenn., said that, “I’ve had way too many conversations with our readers and with people in our community that feel like we’re under siege…that feel that driving, walking or even sitting while Black is a threat to their lives.” Smith continued: “We are here today to declare that there is a state of emergency in our communities across America and it requires immediate and significant action on behalf of the federal government…it can no longer be business as usual.”

    April Goggans, who represents the Black Lives Matter movement in Washington, D.C., said that the narrative about the killings of Black men and women at the hands of those sworn to protect them is still being controlled by mainstream media.

    “As much as we want to protect Black lives, we also have to protect the mediums and ways in which the stories that are true about Black lives are spread and that is through the Black Press,” said Goggans.

    At a recent press conference, the NNPA announced that they want President Barack Obama, Attorney General and the U.S. Congress to address four principle demands immediately:
    — Appoint a Special Federal Prosecutor on Police Brutality;
    — Establish a National Police Oversight Commission on Use of Deadly Force, Training and Cultural Sensitivity;
    — Create of a National Police Brutality and Misconduct Database that is publicly accessible;
    — Establish tougher federal penalties for police officers and prosecutors who violate constitutional rights.

    “We’re not waiting for a new Congress, we’re not waiting for a new Supreme Court Justice, we’re not waiting for a new president, we’re not waiting for a new Attorney General,” said Chavis. “We want action, today.”

    While critics of the civil rights groups that are fighting the epidemic of police brutality in the African American community quickly point to so-called “Black on Black crime” as the real problem hurting Blacks, Smith said that crime in the Black community and the need to address police brutality are two separate issues.

    “In our community, when a Black person kills another Black person, in those cases the [perpetrator] is prosecuted and goes to jail,” said Smith. “When police are murdering Black men, women, and children in the street, there is no justice. In most cases, there isn’t even an indictment or charges filed.”

    According to a study conducted by The Guardian, young Black men between the ages of 15 and 34, “were nine times more likely than other Americans to be killed by police officers in 2015” and “Their rate of police-involved deaths was five times higher than for White men of the same age.”

    Most criminal justice experts agree that murder is often a crime that’s more closely associated with proximity to a victim and less connected to race and that police are seldom prosecuted in shootings that result in deaths, facts that detractors of the Black Lives Movement often ignore.

    Chavis said that on the eve of opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture it’s important for everyone to remember, that Black history is not only a history of oppression, but it is also a history of overcoming that oppression.

    “It is a history of us standing up and protesting injustice,” said Chavis. “So what we’re doing today is consistent with our history and our culture.”

  • Validation hearing held for Greene County Hospital bond issue

    elmore-patterson

     

    On Monday, September 19, 2016 a validation hearing was held in Greene County Circuit Court for a $2,750,000 bond issue for the Greene County Health System (GCHS) to be secured by the one cent sales tax that the hospital has been receiving continuously since 1977.
    The hearing before Judge Eddie Hardaway was a requirement of the bond issuers to insure that the sales tax revenues would be pledged to repay the bond for a ten year period regardless of the financial status of the GCHS facilities.
    No new revenues were required or pledged, just the official legal assurance that the sales tax revenues, which are already authorized by law, be committed to be paid to retire the bonds.
    Attorney Frank McPhillips of Maynard, Cooper and Gale represented the Greene County Health System and District Attorney Greg Griggers represented the interest of the people of the State of Alabama at this hearing.
    McPhillips called only one witness, Elmore Patterson, CEO of the Greene County Health System, which includes the Hospital, Residential Care Center (Nursing Home), Physicians Clinic and Home Health Care Center. Patterson explained the need for the bond issue and entered various resolutions and documents approved by the GCHS Board of Directors into the record.
    Patterson said the GCHS had been adversely affected in 2015, when the State of Alabama Medicaid Agency audited 2012 activities (before Patterson’s tenure as CEO) and charged back $1.2 million in payments received by GCHS for services to low income and indigent people. The state agency recouped all of its funds by withholding reimbursement and disproportionate share payments during 2015 and 2016.
    The recoupment of these funds coupled with a reduction in reimbursement rates and the failure to expand Medicaid to many low income working people, placed the GCHS in a financial crisis, where it could not meet all of its ongoing bills to suppliers, vendors and the state and Federal government for payroll and other taxes.
    Patterson testified that he was forced to cutback staff by 25%, increase employees share of payment for health insurance, and make other efforts to reduce expenses. He also indicated that he was trying to increase the utilization of the Nursing Home from an average census of 35 when he started working in August 2013 to 55 today. He said he hoped to fill all 72 beds in the Nursing Home and increase the utilization of the Hospital and Physicians Clinic as well.The GCHS Board of Directors began working with Comer Capital, a Mississippi firm specializing in raising capital for rural hospitals and other public entities with financial problems. The GCHS Board agreed to seek a $3 million bond issue to generate immediate funds to pay off indebtedness and make other operating and maintenance improvements in the facilities.
    Citizens Trust Bank of Atlanta, a Black bank with a branch in Eutaw, Alabama, agreed to finance a $2.75 million bond issue, for ten years, at 4% interest, backed by the one cent sales tax the GCHS is already receiving monthly. The sales tax currently generates about $33,000 a month in revenue to the GCHS.
    The proceeds of the bonds will be used to pay off indebtedness, including back taxes, and make some improvements to the services and facilities. With the other fiscal changes and increased utilization of the Nursing Home and other facilities, Patterson said that he hopes the health facility will break-even or show a small surplus in future years.
    McPhillips placed into the record information about the one cent sales tax which was legally authorized in 1977, renewed for ten years to 1987, renewed for twenty years to 2007 and renewed again for twenty years until 2027.The sales tax revenues will be adequate to service the bond repayment and interest.
    DA Greg Griggers questioned Patterson about some of the figures that were presented and was concerned that payment of Federal and state taxes was delinquent. Griggers also questioned the impact of several employee lawsuits filed against GCHS. Patterson clarified that these lawsuits came from employees who were reduced because of budget cutbacks and could not comment further because these cases were still pending in litigation. Griggers said that he was concerned that the Hospital remain open to serve the health needs of people in the area and maintain the employment of its staff.
    McPhillips presented the judge with a proposed motion to validate the issuance of the bonds based on the existing sales tax revenues. McPhillips said that the bonds could be issued within 14 days of his order. Judge Hardaway said he would make a decision on the matter soon after reviewing the information presented at the hearing.

     

     

  • Greene County School Board recognized for meeting state mandated training

    boardmembers

    Greene County School Superintendent Dr. James H. Carter, Sr., Board Vice President Dr. Carol P. Zippert, Board President Leo Branch, Board Members Carrie Dancy and William Morgan display AASB President’s Award plaque received at the AASB District 7 Meeting.

    Greene County Board of Education was one of seven school boards receiving the Alabama Association of School Boards President’s Award presented at the AASB Fall District 7 Meeting held Monday, September 12, 2016 at the Hotel Capstone in Tuscaloosa. This award recognizes school boards which have had at least 60 percent of their members attend three or more AASB School Board Member Academy courses, and all members have met their state mandated training requirement in the last year.

    AASB Academy year runs from July to June 30. The award presentation was based on attendance for the 2015-2016 Academy year.
    “This award, which is given at AASB Fall District meetings recognizes school boards which, as a team, have committed to improving their boardsmanship skills,” stated Sally Smith, AASB Executive Director.
    The AASB Fall District workshop focused on ways school systems can effectively handle student behavior problems. The presentations focused on the components of a positive student behavior discipline system.

    School Board Meeting September 19, 2016

    Superintendent James Carter expressed grave concerns regarding the results of the system’s ACT Aspire reading assessments. He explained that current assessments indicate that the system’s 3rd graders reached a 20% gain in reading but in 4th grad and up there is a steady decrease in reading gains. “This is unacceptable and we are doing something about it now. We need to talk across the district; we need consistent collaboration among teachers across the grades in addition to other measures,” Carter said.
    The superintendent also remarked that the Alabama Reading Initiative may be on the way out. This year the state provided reading coach funding for only one grade level. Carter stated that the system currently has some federal and local funds to support additional reading coaches.
    According to Dr. Carter, all school systems must adhere to the mandated training around child abuse prevention. “In accordance with the Alabama Erin’s Law child abuse must be reported to authorities and all teachers and support personnel must participate in the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Instructional Program,” he stated.
    Other initiatives Superintendent Carter remarked on included:
    * Child Nutrition Program, through Coordinator Makane Morrow, secured a $15,000 grant to enhance breakfast menu.
    * The school system is continuing its Early College Articulation Agreement with local universities.
    * System will institute school uniform re-cycling program.
    * ACT tutoring and mentoring program to begin in October.
    * Health Science classes will collaborate with Greene County Health Systems for student on-site instruction.
    *System will initiate Suicide Prevention Program as well as Task Force on Youth Violence.
    *Parents day scheduled for October 10 – full day just for parents to visit schools and collaborate with teachers.
    The Board approved the following personnel items:
    * Resignation of Ms. Shaneka Hopson, Health Science teacher at Greene County Career Center, effective September 5, 2016.
    * Job Abandonment of Ellanise Hines – Science teacher at Greene County High.
    * Employment: Demilia Tyree – Science teacher at Greene County High; Sondra Terry Green – Part-time Health Science teacher at Greene County Career Center.
    * Pay increase for Miguel Catlin, Long-Term Sub Mathematics, pending passing the Praxis Exam.
    * Fixed Assets/Inventory Control: Leon Dowe Jr., Central Office 2016-2017 academic year. LaTanya Cockrell, Central Office 2016-2017 academic year; Sharon Washington, Central Office 2016-2017 academic year.
    Administrative Services approved by the board:
    * Settlement agreement between Kenneth and Ayanna Crawford and the Greene County Board of Education.
    * Contract with West Central Volleyball Officials Association for volleyball officials at Greene County High School for 2016 – 2017 school year.
    * Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and The University of Alabama UA Early College Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit.
    * Contract between Greene County Board of Education and Uniquely Different for School Consultant Services for 2016 – 2017 school year.
    * Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Assistive Technology Associates for the purpose of Assistive Technology Evaluations for 2016 – 2017 school year.
    * Acceptance of $15,000 school breakfast mini-grant from AASA, The School Superintendents Association.
    * Allocation from Fleet Renewal for purchase of two buses.
    * 2016 – 2017 Capital Plan.
    * Bid Submitted by Newell Paper Co. for Copier Paper for FY 2016 – 2017 (Only Bidder)
    * Job Description for System Athletic Director and permission to appoint a person to become Athletic Director for the entire school system commencing with 2017 – 2018 school year.
    * Cafeteria equipment and lunchroom tables at Carver, Paramount, and Eutaw Primary be declared surplus and removed and sold from Child Nutrition Inventory.
    * Payment of all bills, claims, and payroll.
    * Bank reconciliations as submitted by Mr. Leon Dowe, CSFO.
    Instructional items approved by the board:
    * The Greene County School System will improve the ACT Aspire scores by 2.56 % for 2016 – 2017 school year.
    * The Greene County School System will improve the ACT College entrance exam by 2%.
    * The Greene County School System will continue to enhance school safety for all students.
    * The Greene County School System will increase the graduation rate by 5% over the next two years
    * The Greene County School System will decrease the dropout rate by 5% over the next two years.
    * The Greene County School System will improve Parental Involvement by 8% over the next two years.

  • Mayoral candidate, Hattie Edwards, responds to Democrat’s questionnaire

    Hattie Barnette

    The Co-Publishers of the Greene County Democrat newspaper developed a list of questions and submitted them on September 13, 2016 to both candidates – Hattie Edwards and Raymond Steele for Mayor of Eutaw, in the Run-off Election on October 4, 2016.
    We requested that the responses be sent to us by this Monday, September 19, to be published side-by-side in this week’s paper. We wanted the voters to review and compare their responses to make an informed decision before voting in the run-off.
    We received a response from Hattie Edwards, the incumbent candidate but we have not yet received a response from Raymond Steele. We are printing her responses and will still welcome the responses of Raymond Steele for publication next week.

    Answers to Questions by Hattie Edwards

    1. What are the qualifications and experiences that make you the best candidate for Mayor of Eutaw?

    First, I want to thank the Co-Publishers of the Greene County Democrat for this opportunity to express my views on the issues in this upcoming run-off for Mayor of the City of Eutaw.
    I have been working in the public sector for 34 years, first with the Greene County Highway Department and then as the Mayor. I have a degree in Data Entry and Data Processing. I have been a community worker and public servant working for forty five years. I am aware of the needs of our city for improving the water and sewage operations. I have served on many different boards. I am an Operator I and I have my CDL. In my working and community efforts, I have made many contacts throughout the state of Alabama who are helping me and want to continue to help me to do a great job as Mayor. My commitment to my community is also as a devoted mother of four, an endearing grandmother of three and an active member of Pine Grove Baptist Church.
    2. What are three of the priorities that you will pursue when you are elected to the position of Mayor of Eutaw?

    Among my priorities, when I am re-elected are: 1. Securing new vehicles and equipment for the city; 2. Upgrade our recreation facilities – the parks, playgrounds, a wellness center and swimming pool; 3. Renovate the National Guard Amory; and 4. Fix the roads and streets throughout the city.

    3. What are some other things that you wish to accomplish in your coming term as Mayor?

    Attract new industries, jobs and businesses to Eutaw. Bring more events and programs to the City of Eutaw. Encourage citizens to become more involved and attend meetings of the City Council and other groups to improve the quality of life in our community. Put out a monthly newsletter to keep the public informed.

    4. What did you learn from your previous service, which will help you to do a better job, if you are elected to serve for the next four years?

    I have learned and know how the city operates. I can do a budget for the city. I have learned how important it is to set grounds rules, right out of the gate for employees, including the police force. I know how important it is to keep the public informed of the work and progress in the city and to keep an open door at City Hall to listen to the concerns of residents.

    5. One of the issues that is of great concern to the citizens of Eutaw is the status of the roads and streets in Branch Heights, what is your plan to deal with this problem?

    Branch Heights was annexed into the city in 2004. We were expecting HUD and the Housing Authority, the Greene County Commission and others to help with fixing the roads before this area came into the City of Eutaw. None of these entities has really helped with this problem.
    It has been difficult to get the State of Alabama (ALDOT) to put up funding for the roads in Branch Heights because it is a residential area, no businesses or commercial activities are centered there, and the streets do not directly connect to any state roads. It will be very expensive, in the range of $13-20 million dollars to completely redo the streets, curbs and sidewalks in Branch Heights. The City does not have these funds at this time. I am willing to continue to patch and improve the roads in Branch Heights, as long as the City Council backs me up until we can find the resources needed to do the full job.

    6. How will you improve educational and recreational programs for youth in the City of Eutaw?

    As you know, one of my visions is to turn the National Guard Armory into a multiplex activity building. This improved facility will have a swim area, basketball, banquet hall, and exercise room. I want to bring in movies, plays and other civic and cultural events. I want to involve the public – both children and adults – participate in designing and choosing these events and activities.

    7. Do you feel the City of Eutaw needs to have a formal financial budget; if so, what is your plan and timetable to develop a budget for the city?

    Yes, I will have a budget ready by November 2016. I hope the City Council will approve the budget and hold our finances in line with the budget.
    8. Anything you want to say or add which will help voters to decide that you are the best choice for Mayor of Eutaw?

    I have just served four years as Mayor. I have helped secured $5.2 million dollars for City improvement projects by the grace of GOD. This includes a $3.1 million loan and grant package from USDA to upgrade and expand our water system, including replacing the water tower and 52 new fire hydrants to keep us safer. Half a million dollars from ALDOT to re-pave Prairie Avenue and other improvement projects. I am working hard every day to make a difference for the city.