Greene County Democrat

Month: October 2024

  • U.S. Reps. Sewell, Crockett and former AG Eric Holder campaign for Figures in AL-2 race

    Congresswoman Jasmin Crockett and Terri Sewell of Alabama

    By Jacob Holmes, Alabama Political Reporters

    U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, was joined by U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, Sunday in Montgomery to urge women voters to support Shomari Figures in the race for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District.

    The congressmembers were joined by attorney Tamika Reed, wife of Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, and Kalisha Figures, wife of Shomari Figures, to round out the “Women for Figures” panel at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church.

    After a legal battle over the percentage of Black citizens in the district, a federal court redrew the map to give Black voters a better opportunity to elect the candidate of their choice. This has created the only competitive congressional race in the state between Figures and the Republican nominee Caroleene Dobson.

    Crockett urged that if Kamala Harris wins the presidency, she will need Democratic control of the House and Senate to bring her policies to reality.

    “I need better co-workers,” Crockett said. “I need people that actually want to work for the people. Right now, this has been the most unproductive Congress in the history of Congress.”
    Sewell emphasized the roles of Montgomery and Selma in the Civil Rights movement and said the new district needs to help continue that trend of making progress.
    “It’s high time that we get more representation, fairer representation in Alabama, in Congress,” Sewell said. “So I am thrilled I didn’t have to be bludgeoned on a bridge. I just had to give up Montgomery County for progress, and progress we will have if you go to the polls.”

    The panel emphasized the future of abortion rights. The U.S. Supreme Court rolled back a federal right to abortion access in its landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health in a major victory for Republicans.

    ”You don’t have to be pro-choice,” Crockett said. “You can do whatever you want to with your uterus or the fact you don’t even have one. We’re not asking you to agree.”

    Kalisha Figures said childbirth is scary and noted the travel times to hospitals that deliver babies for rural Alabamians.
    “I have three times given birth,” she said. “It is scary, on face value, if you are healthy and well. It is scary. So to not have access to that care, to have to drive 60, 90 minutes in labor to get care, these are the issues we’re talking about when we talk about the state of women, right in Alabama, in this district.”

    Former AG Eric Holder also visits Alabama to campaign for Shomari Figures

    Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder arrived in Mobile to bolster Shomari Figures’ campaign for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. Holder, known nationally for his advocacy on voting rights and redistricting fairness, emphasized the importance of this election in the broader movement to protect democracy and ensure equitable representation.

    Holder’s support for Figures underscores the high stakes of this congressional race, which has garnered attention for its potential impact on state and national redistricting debates. As the first African American U.S. Attorney General, Holder has been a pivotal voice against gerrymandering through his work with the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), where he has actively campaigned to secure fair elections across the nation. His presence in Alabama signals the importance of securing fair representation in regions where voting rights have been an ongoing battle.

    The day’s events began at 2:50 p.m. with a press conference at Figures’ campaign headquarters on Government Street. Holder then visited Great Day Latte on S. Conception Street, showcasing support for local businesses. The evening continues with Holder joining Figures at a campaign phone bank back at headquarters before a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) rally at 6 p.m. at Big Zion A.M.E. Zion Church on S. Bayou Street. This rally will be a key event as Holder and Figures emphasize their shared commitment to a just political system that champions voting rights.

    Holder’s visit comes at a time when Alabamians are increasingly engaged in discussions around voting rights and political representation. His alignment with Figures not only strengthens the candidate’s platform but also reinforces the national focus on the significance of fair elections and civil rights advocacy.

  • EDITORIAL

    Hope vs Hate – Democracy vs. Autocracy

    The Publishers of the Greene County Democrat are endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for President and Vice President of the United States in the November 5th election, coming next Tuesday. We are putting our editorial above the fold on page 1 because of the importance of this election to the future of our nation.

    We have a simple choice between the hope that Kamala Harris offers us in looking forward in a progressive way, with numerous plans and programs to aid ordinary American citizens. And the dark future of hate and division that Donald Trump offers.

    It is a choice between up-holding the basic principles of democracy and freedom, like reproductive freedom for all women, or Trump’s autocratic view of “dictatorship on day one” to lead us to mass deportation of our immigrant neighbors, a national sales tax in the form of tariffs on all foreign goods, and continuing tax breaks for the rich and corporations that do not need them, and should be paying their fair share to make our economy more equitable.

    We urge you to follow the recommendation of the Alabama New South Alliance to vote a straight Democratic ticket and support the candidates that are pledged to support your interests from the top to the bottom of the ballot.

    We need every voter in Greene County, across the Black Belt, in the State of Alabama and in the U. S. to turn out and vote.
    No excuses for staying home, protest voting for third party candidates, who are inconsequential, or forgetting your basic role and power in our democracy.

    Thank- you to those who voted early, and for the rest of us, get up, get out and vote next Tuesday, as if your life depends on it because it does!

  • School Board and administrators hold roundtable discussion on School Safety Plans

    The Greene County Board of Education held a work session, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 on School Safety Protocol. The board members along with Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones held a roundtable discussion with school principals and the system’s safety officer on all the element in place to assure the safety of students, school personnel and school premises. Each school has a safety plan.
    Eutaw Primary School was represented by Principal Brittany Harris; Robert Brown Middle School by Assistant Principal Gary Rice; Greene County High School by Principal Andrea Perry; and the system’s Safety officer Rebecca Coleman. Ms. Coleman also presented the safety report for Teresa Atkins, Director of the Greene County Career Center.
    The school administrators detailed the components of the safety plan at each school, indicating the following:
    *Eutaw Primary has one resource officer who monitors the front driveway as buses arrive. Persons driving students to school must use the side entrance. Doors are locked at 7:48 am. All visitors must sign-in and get a visitor’s badge and sign-out. Monthly weather drills as well as shooter drills are conducted. There is a camera in the front office with 22 angels of the premises. Only the principal has access to the camera. Students are instructed to not open the front door for anyone.
    *Robert Brown Middle has similar arrangements with resource officers; metal detectors at entrance; doors locked; visitors signing-in, cameras and monthly drills. Mr. Rice also noted that students are monitored in the halls at all times. Students must get a pass for restroom breaks. Administrators use two-way radios to communicate on the premises. Mr. Rice noted that fencing is needed around the school; lighting in the parking areas; improvements with the intercom system.
    *Greene County High has resources officers; metal detectors; locked entrances, monthly drills and cameras. Students who drive to school must get a decal. Principal Perry noted that the lights in parking area need cleaning. Some doors need replacing. She said that the central office is notified when service personnel will be on campus.
    *Career Center has monthly drills with posted drill routes. There is a new metal detector, but cameras are needed for blind spots. Front door needs fixing. Facility needs outside lights.
    As Safety Officer, Ms. Rebecca Coleman offered the following recommendations to improve safety plans at each school: Cameras need professional cleaning; each school needs access cards to the building. These can work with the cameras. The Kirksey Center does not have a security monitoring system, except for the Federal Programs parental involvement area. She noted that her office is working on a digital Visitor ID System; ID badges for students and employees.
    Resource Officer Davis corroborated the safety measures in place and noted that Resource Officers are available at schools until 6:00 pm. Additional officers are hired for sports events.
    Davis said more signs should be posted stating that all school properties are Smoke Free, even at sports events.

  • Newswire : Researchers launch $3.7 Million study on how structural racism accelerates aging in Black Americans

    A group of researchers from Rutgers University and Michigan State University have launched a major study to examine the long-term effects of structural racism on cognitive aging, physical decline, and frailty—particularly in Black Americans. A five-year grant from the National Institute on Aging, a division of the National Institutes of Health, will support the study under the direction of Danielle L. Beatty Moody, an associate professor at Rutgers University, and Richard C. Sadler, an associate professor at Michigan State.

    The research team plans to explore how lifetime exposure to structural racism in neighborhoods affects the aging process. The study will involve 800 Black and white participants from Baltimore who have been tracked for over two decades as part of a larger project on healthy aging in diverse neighborhoods. The long-term data will allow researchers to examine the cumulative impact of historical, enduring, and contemporary markers of structural racism.

    In a news release, Moody and Sadler asserted that the study moves beyond traditional research focused only on residential segregation or redlining. “It’s not just redlining, and it’s not just segregation,” they said. “The patterns of racist, discriminatory practices go far deeper. We need to comprehensively document the full array of tools used to entrench structural racism in our urban landscapes to understand why racial inequities persist across numerous health outcomes.”

    In addition to exploring how non-Black residents in the same communities are affected, the researchers said they would investigate personal experiences with discrimination and biological and social factors that influence risk and resilience. The authors expect the study will inform strategies to address racial inequities in accelerated aging, particularly in communities where Black Americans live and age in place.

    Once completed, researchers said they would share the results with participants and local stakeholders to support ongoing advocacy and policy efforts to achieve health equity. Moody and Sadler hope the study’s findings will help drive transformative change, particularly in housing and neighborhood environments.

    “We are not only looking at the past or present,” Sadler remarked. “We’re also aiming to influence the future of health equity in communities where Black Americans continue to take the hardest hits.”
     

     

  • Newswire : Biden-Harris not giving up on easing student debt, announce more pathways to forgiveness

    Graduation at Howard University

    By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    The Biden-Harris Administration has announced new proposed regulations to expand student debt relief, potentially impacting around 8 million borrowers facing financial hardship. The proposal, introduced by the U.S. Department of Education, would allow the Secretary of Education to forgive loans in cases where borrowers are unlikely to repay due to severe hardship or where continued collection costs are deemed unjustified.

    “For far too long, our broken student loan system has made it too hard for borrowers experiencing heartbreaking and financially devastating hardships to access relief, and it’s not right,” said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. The proposed rules, developed through a negotiated rulemaking session in early 2024, outline two pathways for relief: automatic loan forgiveness based on predictive data for at-risk borrowers and an application-based process for those with persistent financial struggles. If finalized, the new rules would ensure lasting support for some of the most financially vulnerable Americans, including many Pell Grant recipients.

    This new initiative comes as the Biden-Harris Administration continues to press forward with efforts to alleviate student debt despite significant opposition from MAGA Republicans and setbacks imposed by the U.S. Supreme Court. In previous moves to support students and families, the Administration secured a $900 increase to the maximum Pell Grant award—the largest in a decade—and established protections against career programs that leave graduates with unsustainable debt.

    In addition to these efforts, nearly 5 million borrowers have already received debt relief through various targeted programs. The measures include $74 billion for over a million borrowers under Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), up from just 7,000 approvals at the start of the Biden Administration; $56.5 billion for over 1.4 million borrowers under income-driven repayment plans, which addressed past administrative issues and improper forbearance practices; $28.7 billion for more than 1.6 million borrowers who attended schools that engaged in fraudulent practices or abruptly closed; and $16.2 billion for close to 572,000 borrowers with permanent disabilities.

    The Department of Education’s new proposal aims to provide two types of pathways to relief. The first would enable automatic forgiveness for borrowers identified through data-driven assessments as likely to default within the next two years. The second, an application-based option, would evaluate individual cases where hardship remains unaddressed by other repayment options.

    The Department plans to publish these regulations in the Federal Register in the coming weeks and open a 30-day comment period on Regulations.gov. The Department aims to finalize the regulations in 2025, broadening debt relief options and providing vital support for millions of student borrowers.

    “President Biden, Vice President Harris, and I will not stop fighting to deliver student debt relief and create a fairer, more just, and more affordable student loan system for all borrowers,” Cardona stated.

  • Newswire : Harris rises, Trump falls among Black men

    Screenshot

    By Richard Prince

    
Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from Journal-isms

    (TriceEdneyWire.com) – Vice President Kamala Harris is gaining among Black male voters and Donald Trump’s appeal is declining, the NAACP said Monday, unveiling fresh survey information just days before election day Nov. 5.
     
    The nation’s oldest civil rights organization attributed whatever success the Republican former president has had with Black men to misinformation and disinformation on social media, which has usurped both broadcast and cable television as media of choice for younger Black voters, as well as a decline in civics education in the nation’s schools. Those who favored Trump were also the least likely to vote, they said.  
     
    At a midday press briefing, NAACP President Derrick Johnson also faulted the news media for focusing too much on “side issues, when there is a clear and present danger that should be addressed head on.” Trump supporters are seeking to create a “Jan. 6 reality,” he said.
     
    The organization found that from August to October, Black men under 50 decreased their likelihood to vote for Trump (27-21%) and increased their likelihood to vote for Harris (51-59%). The number of Black people who are certain Trump voters has declined by 11 percent since a September survey, while support for Harris has risen by 6 percent, the survey found.
     
    “Black men are the least Trump male voters in America,” said Joshua Doss, senior pollster and political strategist at HIT Strategies, which conducted the polling for the NAACP, yet media coverage has been “a little misleading,” with the exaggerations “popping up in focus groups.”
     
    NAACP officers and HIT pollsters also said they were heartened by results showing that discussion of health issues was resonating with Black men and that more than half said they planned to vote in down-ballot races, indicating that their perception of the value of “community power” was on the rise.
     
    “The concept of voter apathy is declining” among those surveyed, said Phaedra Jackson, vice president of unit advocacy and effectiveness at the NAACP, perhaps a natural consequence of the truism that more people pay attention to the election after Labor Day.
     
    Johnson called the misinformation and disinformation on social media the biggest obstacle to getting African Americans to cast ballots, saying media consumption habits were generational. The median age for African Americans is 32.
     
    The difference between the broadcast media and cable, favored by previous generations, said Johnson, is that “You have social media without any guard rails.” And “you have a whole generation who never had civics making bad choices, including not to vote.” 
     
    The NAACP is meeting the change in media habits by “meeting people where they are” — through digital media — but Johnson also said “the biggest hurdle now is an education hurdle.”  
     
    The get-out-the-vote drive is operating on many fronts, including the courts. The officials pointed to a victory this month in Nebraska, where a state Supreme Court ruled that state election officials must comply with a law allowing former felons to vote immediately after they complete their sentences instead of waiting two years.
     
    “To date, NAACP’s $20 million civic engagement program has reached over 60 million Americans through canvassing, digital outreach, community outreach, and digital, print & radio ads,” the organization added.
     
    “The NAACP has successfully ended Georgia’s Hand Count rule, prevented the disenfranchisement of thousands of WA voters, and halted Alabama’s ‘Purge Program’ through coordinated litigation.”
     
    Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee Monday announced “a first-ever seven-figure ‘I Will Vote’ ad campaign targeting Black voters through ads in 55 Black publications and on 48 Black radio stations across the country. The historic ad campaign will feature radio spots from Kerry Washington, LeToya Luckett-Coles, John Legend, and Stevie Wonder,” it said. 
     
    “This strategic investment comes on the heels of several paid ad campaigns launched by the DNC and the Harris-Walz campaign aimed at turning out and mobilizing Black voters – a critical voting bloc this election. The DNC’s ‘I Will Vote’ campaign directs voters to the DNC’s most complete, accurate, and up-to-date national coverage of polling places and voter education information all in one place to empower Black communities with the information they need to exercise their right to vote in this critical election cycle.” 
     
    In another development, BET Media Group announced Monday it will premiere the ‘BET Black Men’s Summit,’ hosted by comedian, actor, and radio host D.L. Hughley. Airing on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 10 PM ET/9 PM CT and streaming on BET+, BET.com, and across the BET social media platforms.”

  • Newswire : Kamala Harris draws historic 75,000 at D.C. rally, pledges’ We Won’t Go Back’

    VP Kamala Harris on stage at rally

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

     

    With just one week to Election Day and over 51 million ballots already cast, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris delivered a historic closing argument before an enthusiastic crowd estimated at over 75,000 at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. Initially planned as an intimate gathering of around 8,000, the rally quickly transformed into a record-breaking show of support, highlighting Harris’s momentum in the final days of her campaign as she aims to become the first woman, and first Black woman, to serve as President of the United States.

    At 7:37 p.m. EST, Harris took the stage to a thunderous, rockstar-like reception, complete with red and blue lights strobing and a standing ovation that roared on. “Good Evening America!” Harris greeted the crowd. “Thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives,” she said, as chants of “Kamala, Kamala” echoed through the crowd.

    “One week from today, you will have a chance to make a decision that directly affects your lives, the lives of your family, and the future of this country. It will probably be the most important vote you’ve ever cast,” she continued. “It’s more than just a choice between two parties and two different candidates. It’s about a choice of whether you have a country of freedom, or one ruled by division.”

    Harris drew a sharp contrast between herself and her opponent, former President Donald Trump, who held his farewell rally at Madison Square Garden two days prior, a gathering that featured racially charged rhetoric. Standing at the same Ellipse where Trump, on January 6, 2021, encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol, Harris recalled that tragic day.

    “We know who Donald Trump is. He is the person who stood at this very spot nearly four years ago and sent an armed mob to the U.S. Capitol to overturn the will of the people in a free and fair election — an election that he knew he lost,” Harris said during her 30-minute speech. “Americans died as a result; 140 law enforcement officers were injured.” The crowd’s response was electric as Harris continued, “While Donald Trump sat in the White House watching as the violence unfolded, he was told the mob wanted to kill his own vice president, and he responded with two words: ‘so what.’ That’s who Donald Trump is. He wants you to give him another four years.”
    In an unflinching critique, Harris called Trump “unstable, obsessed with revenge, and out for unchecked power,” and warned that a Trump administration would mean more division, chaos, and retribution. “Donald Trump wants to avoid his problems. He intends to use the U.S. military against Americans who simply disagree with him,” Harris charged. “He’s not focused on making your life better. He’s consumed by grievance.”

    Harris emphasized her dedication to uniting the country, saying her focus was on “common ground and common-sense solutions.” She pledged to be president for all Americans, a theme underscored by banners reading “Freedom” and “USA” that adorned the event space. “I am not looking to score political points; I am looking to make progress,” she asserted. “Unlike Donald Trump, I don’t believe people who disagree with me are the enemy. He wants to put them in jail.” Harris assured the crowd, “We have to stop pointing fingers and start locking arms. It’s time to turn the page on the drama, conflict, fear, and division.”

    The atmosphere, likened to a festival with loudspeakers blaring upbeat music and flags distributed to attendees, deeply moved Southeast D.C. resident Fatimah Glasnow, who arrived five hours early to secure her spot. “The feeling here is hope, love, and peace,” Glasnow said. “An America where we can all thrive, regardless of our race or gender. I needed this kind of energy in my life.” She expressed confidence in Harris’s promises, particularly on issues of social and maternal justice. “She’s advocated for social justice and, really, justice itself.”

    For Harris, the event carried personal significance, serving as a moment to explain what drives her as a leader. “There’s something about people being treated unfairly or overlooked that, frankly, just gets to me,” she shared. “I don’t like it. It’s what my mother instilled in me — a drive to hold accountable those who use their wealth or power to take advantage of others.”

    Addressing the fall of Roe v. Wade, Harris assured the crowd that she would fight to restore the reproductive rights she argued Trump and his Supreme Court appointees had taken away. “I will fight to restore what Donald Trump and his hand-selected Supreme Court justices took away from the women of America,” she declared, reiterating her commitment to preserving and expanding civil rights.

    Capitol Hill resident Leander Davis, a social services worker, said Harris’s words resonated deeply. “She’s all of us,” Davis said. “She’s been criticized, ostracized, demonized, and called all sorts of names, yet she hasn’t stopped fighting for what’s right. When she’s president, we will all be better off.”

    Harris emphasized that her campaign was about more than just policy changes; it was about ensuring fairness and justice for every American. “If you give me the chance to fight on your behalf, there is nothing in the world that will stand in my way,” she promised, highlighting her experience as a prosecutor who fought against cartels, banks, and for-profit colleges.

    Harris’s electrifying rally at the Ellipse, with its powerful visuals of American flags and banners of unity, drew a clear contrast with Trump’s rhetoric. “If elected, Donald Trump would walk into that office,” Harris said, gesturing toward the White House, “with an enemies list. When elected, I will walk in with a to-do list.” She stressed that her administration would prioritize solutions to lower costs, support working families, and restore a sense of unity and purpose.

    Harris emphasized that, despite her time serving under President Joe Biden, her presidency would take a different course because of the unique difficulties that America is currently facing. “I have been honored to serve as Joe Biden’s vice president,” she said. “But I will bring my own experiences and ideas to the Oval Office. My presidency will be different because the challenges we face are different.”

    The vice president also tackled the political lightning rod of immigration. “Politicians have got to stop treating immigration as an issue to scare up votes in an election, – and instead treat it as the serious challenge that it is,” Harris said, “that we must finally come together to solve.”

    “I will work with Democrats and Republicans to sign into law the border security bill that Donald Trump killed,” she demanded.

    Harris said while she will focus on prosecuting cartels and transnational gangs, “we must acknowledge we are a nation of immigrants.”“And I will work with Congress to pass immigration reform, including an earned path to citizenship for hardworking immigrants, like farmworkers and our laborers.”

    At the close of her speech, Harris delivered a final rallying cry. “America, for too long, we have been consumed with division, chaos, and mutual distrust. But it doesn’t have to be this way,” she asserted. “It is time for a new generation of leadership in America, and I am ready to offer that leadership as the next President of the United States.”

    She said she “grew up as a child of the civil rights movement, my parents would take me to marches in a stroller where crowds of people of all races, faiths and walks of life came together to fight for the ideals of freedom and opportunity. I’ve lived the promise of America.”

  • School Board approves expenditures for student services including after-school tutorial, STEM, College and Career Readiness and TEAMS

    School board members receive Certificates of Completion from the Alabama Association of School Boards in recognition of successfully completing all School Board Governance Improvement Act training requirements for 2023-2024. L to R: Board members Robert Davis, Carrie Dancy, Board President Leo Branch, Vice President Veronica Richardson, Board member Brandon Merriweather and Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones.

    The Greene County Board of Education met in regular session, Monday, October 21, 2024 with all board members present. The board’s preliminary activities included roll call, welcome to visitors and approval of the various minutes including called meetings for Budget Hearings I and II; September 16 regular meeting and September 20 called meeting.
    Superintendent t Dr, Corey Jones report began with the statement that there were no COVID cases reported at the schools since the last board meeting. He also gave positive news updates on student and community activities at each district school including guest speakers, PTA meetings, students participation in WOW activities as well as students visits to various HBCU’s ( Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in Alabama. He noted that similar visits are scheduled for HBCU’s in Mississippi.
    The board approved the following personnel service items recommended by Superintendent Jones.
    * Additional Service Contracts 2024 – 2025 for the following employees at Greene County High School: (Separate Contract): Zaddrick Smith, Assistant Football Coach; Lorissa Holder, Assistant Girls Basketball Coach; Quentin Walton, Baseball Coach.
    * Stipend in amount of $1,500 for services rendered, attendance/participation in the Black Belt STEM Institute Program and implementing the program at Greene County High School and Robert Brown Middle School for the following teachers: (Funding: UWA Black Belt STEM Institute): Krystal Flantroy – GCHS; Nashondra Ruffin – RBMS.
    * Greene County School District After-School Tutorial Program 2024-2025 for the following at a rate of $30 per hour for teachers, $25 per hour for aids, and $22 per hour for bus drivers (2 hours per day):
    Eutaw Primary School – Shelia Tillman – Kindergarten; Ms. Pamela Pasteur – 1st Grade; Montoya Binion – 2nd Grade; Keisha Williams – 3rd Grade – Accountability Grade Level; LaShaun Henley – 3rd Grade – Accountability Grade Level; Gwendolyn Webb – Aide; Carla Durrett – Lead Teacher/Coach.
    Robert Brown Middle School – Demetris Lyles – 4th Grade and 5th Grade; Ashley Binion Lilly– 4th Grade and 5th Grade; Naomi Cyrus – 6th – 8th Grade; Felecia Smith – Lead Teacher/Coach; Raven Bryant – Special Services.
    Greene County High School – Janice Askew – Lead Teacher; Drenda Morton – Aide; Tura Edwards – English/Science; Tameshia Porter – Reading/English; Angela Harkness – Special Services; Dutchess Jones – Math; Patricia Maiden – History.
    * Permission to pay the following for any approved College and Career Readiness (CCR) activities for fiscal year 2024-2025. May include after-hours Career Readiness Indicators (CRI) study sessions, ACT Prep workshops, college/industry visits, etc.: Paula Calligan, Tomora Morris, Shamyra Jones, LaMonica Little, Patricia Rhone, Tamika Thompson, Angela White, Tweila Morris, Teresa Atkins, Andrea Perry, Tura Edwards, Tamesha Porter, Janice Askew, Jaqueline Raby, Kirin Greene.
    * TEAMS Contracts 2024 – 25 for the following: Funding: ALSDE: Dutchess Jones – GCHS, Math (1 Year Contract); Dena Jordan – RBMS, Math (1 Year Contract); Krystal Flantroy – GCHS, Science (1 Year Contract); Lorissa Holder – GCHS, Science(1 Year Contract); Nashondra Ruffin – RBMS. Science (1 Year Contract); Talicia Williams – RBMS, Math (1 Year Contract); Kaneeda Coleman – GCHS, Math (Year 3, Expires June 30, 2027).
    The administrative items approved by the board included the following.
    * MOA between Greene County Board of Education and Alabama A&M University Graduation Social Work Program to host social work internships.
    * Contract between the Greene County Board of Education and Druid City Basketball Official Association for basketball officials for the 2024 – 2025 school year at GCHS.
    * Contract between the Greene County Board of Education and West Central Officials Association for football officials for the 2024 – 2025 school year at RBMS.
    * 2.5% raise for support staff, effective October 1, 2024.
    * Updated support staff salary schedule to reflect 2.5% increase.
    * Out of state and overnight field trip request for Ms. Lamonica Little and select students to travel and participate in a Mississippi HBCU College Tour on November 13 – 14, 2024 (CCR Grant Funds).
    * Contract between Greene County Board of Education and Zachary Rutledge to do Welding Enrichment on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month (CCR Grant Funds).
    * Lowest bid submitted by W.H. Thomas Oil for gas and diesel for the 2024 – 2025 school year.
    * Lowest bid submitted by Pruett Oil Company for motor oil products for the 2024 – 2025 school year.
    * Retention bonus for bus drivers in the amount of $1,500 to remain a bus driver for the school district for a period of two years.
    * Payment of all bills, claims, and payroll.
    Mental Health Coordinator salary in the amount of $40,000.
    The Financial Snapshot for the previous month was not presented at this meeting since the CSFO and the financial team are preparing the financial closeout reports for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024.

  • Eutaw City Council approves loan to complete Streetscape and other road projects; raises sewer rates and adopts budget

    Mayor Latasha Johnson presents certificate of completion for City Clerk’s training over a four-year period at the University of Alabama, to Joe Powell, Assistant City Clerk. Shekelvia Spencer, City Clerk, earned a similar certificate but she was not able to attend the meeting.

    The Eutaw City Council met on Tuesday October 22, 2024, for the third meeting this month and completed consideration of issues posed in the prior meetings on October 8 and 15, 2024. All Council members were present.

    The Council heard a report from Craig Williams, Thompson Engineering of Tuscaloosa about outstanding projects. The concrete work for Streetscape is nearing completion for sidewalks and universal access around the old Courthouse Square. The final landscaping phase, where trees and shrubs will be planted is yet to come.

    Williams said the project cost was $1 million paid to the contractor and a matching $270,000 for 20% matching and design and engineering cost. There was an agreement between the County Commission, Industrial Development Authority and the City to share in the matching. The GCIDA did contribute $80,000 but the County Commission said it could not find authority in its minutes to pay a share of the matching costs. This left the City of Eutaw to bear an additional part of the cost.

    Williams also reported that the Rebuild Alabama Project to repave 3 miles of the Lower Gainesville Road has been awarded and signed by S. T. Bunn, prime contractor. The State will pay $316,672 for the project, in a lump sum up front payment. The City will be responsible for the remaining matching and engineering cost of $113,000 for this project. This project will be started in November and be finished by the end of the year.

    The Eutaw City Council approved Resolution No. 2024-28 which allows the City of Eutaw to borrow up to $300,000, from Merchants and Farmers Bank, for the completion of the Streetscape and Lower Gainesville Road projects. The resolution allows the City to pledge revenues from its Four Cent and Seven Cent Gas Tax Accounts for a period of up to 24 months,
    as security for the loan.

    With this loan, the city will be able to satisfy its financial matching obligations for these two important projects. The City had planned to use the gas tax funds, for matching, to make these and other improvements to roads and bridges in the city, so these resources will still be committed to this purpose. The City may need to schedule additional road improvement work, based on funds available in the gas tax funds, taking into account the loan repayment.
    The City Council approved Ordinance No. 2024-7 which raises garbage collection rates from $15.00 to $18.00 for residential customers and $18.00 to $21.00 for small businesses. These rate increases go into effect immediately and will be reflected in the next water and sewer bills for the month of October. The Council already approved an increase in water and sewer rates to cover the costs of these city services.

    The Council also adopted Draft No. 3 of the City of Eutaw Budget for 2024-2025 fiscal year which began October 1, 2024. This draft reflects the new water, sewer and garbage rates, which should cover the cost of these services and not reflect a deficit, as in previous earlier versions of the budget for the current fiscal year. Other smaller changes were made to the General Fund in this third version of the budget, prepared by Ralph Liverman, Financial Advisor.

    In other business, the Eutaw City Council:

    • Approved Resolution No. 2024-29 establishing a credit card policy
    • Approved a statement limiting overtime hours to 2 or 3 hours weekly, for employees, unless there is a disaster that requires more work time.
    • Approved use of the R. H. Young Community Center Gym, at no cost, for the Greene County Childrens Policy Council, for a public purpose.
    Approved $1,380 for installation of a K-9 kennel for the police dog.
    Approved $4,800 yearly software subscription for the Eutaw Police Department for Code Enforcement Case Management, which is required by state regulations.
    Approved reimbursements to city employees for supplies they purchased, based on receipts submitted
    Approved $300 for meals, parking and other travel expenses for Mayor Latasha Johnson to attend Annual Neighborhood Community Leadership Institute in Baltimore, Maryland on October 31 to November 3, 2024
    Raised questions about and did not approve a contract submitted by Eagle Internet for use of the city’s water tower for wireless high-speed internet.
    Approved payment of bills.

    In her mayor’s report, Latasha Johnson asked for a moment of silence for the victims and survivors of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Month. The Mayor also announced a citywide celebration for all children of Halloween on October 31, 2024, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the RH Young Community Center. This will be a safe way to do “trick or treating”.

     

  • James Morrow selected as Distinguished Fire Fighter of the Year

     

    The Greene County Association of Volunteer FireFighters Departments (AVFD) held its 9th Annual Volunteer FireFighters’ Banquet and Awards program, Friday, October 18, 2024 at the Robert Young Community Center (The former Carver High School).
    Mrs. Mary R. McInnis served at mistress of order, greeting was presented by Mr. Hodges Smith, President of Greene County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments, Mr. Billy Doss President of the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Department, Garria Spencer, Vice Chairman of the Greene County Commission and Mayor of Eutaw Latasha Johnson.
    Mr. James Morrow was selected as Distinguished Fire Fighter of the Year for 2024 and presented with a plaque by Hodges Smith, President of the Greene County AVFD.

    Morrow was recognized for Exceptional Courage and Dedicated Service to the Citizens of Greene County.
    1st place went to Mr. Lester Cotton Eutaw Volunteer Fire Department, 2rd place, Mr. Keith Young, Dollarhide Volunteer Fire Department, receiving 3nd place was Henry Harkness, Union Volunteer Fire Department.
    Sharon Warren received the Presidential Award.
    Ms. Severe Strode of Lower Gainesville Road Volunteer Fire Department presented a Memorial Tribute with Hodges Smith, ringing the bell in honor of fallen firefighters. Fallen firefighters included: Mr. Willie Mack Nickson- Lower Gainesville Road VFD, Mr. Bobby James Davis -Dollarhide VFD, Mrs. Rosie Mae Smith- Knoxville VFD, Mr. Roy D. Jines-Forkland VFD, Mr. James C. Lashley, Jr.- Eutaw VFD and Mrs. Barbara Dukes- Clinton VFD. Featured speaker for the occasion was Comedian Lamar Pullom (LP) of Tuscaloosa, AL with an ensemble featuring Mr. Marvin Turner, Ms. Lauren Smith, Felecia Smith and Mrs. Eddie Mae Brown.
    Each of the 14 Volunteer Firefighters Departments received a Good Standing Membership Award.
    The planning committee for the program including Geraldine Walton Chairperson, Hodges Smith, Bennie Abrams, Iris Sermon, Mollie Gaines and Willie Mae Austin would like to thank all supporters and sponsors of this event. “All Ready to Fight the Fight.”