Over the past five years, I would like to thank you for your trust and partnership. It has been an honor to serve as your Eutaw City Councilwoman. During this time, I have gained invaluable insight into the needs, challenges, and strengths of our community. I have stood firmly on principles that matter- integrity, accountability, and doing what is right for our families and our future.
Together, we’ve worked hard to create a city we can all be proud of. From supporting local initiatives and community projects to ensuring that every voice is heard, my commitment has always been to serve with dignity and fairness.
As we look toward the future, I humbly ask for your continued support and your vote in the upcoming election. With your trust, I will keep fighting for the issues that matter most- building a stronger, safer, and more vibrant community for all of us.
Thank you for believing in me, and thank you for believing in our city.
Tyrone Atkins is officially announcing his candidacy for Mayor of Eutaw, Alabama, with a clear mission: to bring jobs, improve education, and fight for better access to health care for every resident.
“We’re a strong community, but too many families in Eutaw are struggling,” Atkins said. There are not enough jobs, our schools need more attention and support, and access to quality health care shouldn’t be a privilege – it should be a right.
As Mayor, Tyrone Atkins will work to:
#1 Attract new businesses and industries to create local jobs.
#2 Strengthen support for our schools, teachers, students and parents.
#3 Partner with local clinics and providers to expand affordable health care access.
#4 Advocate for investments in youth programs and workforce training to empower the new generation.
My campaign is about real change-not empty promises. Tyrone Atkins, the founder of Fair Use Movement, is a leader who will fight every day for the people of Eutaw, every family, every neighborhood, to ensuring that no one is left behind.
Election Day is coming. Let’s come together to build a stronger, healthier, and more prosperous Eutaw for everyone.
For more information, to get involved, or to support the campaign, call (205) 609-7491 or visit Tyrone Atkins on Facebook.
The Greene County Board of Education met in a called session, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, with all board members present. The purpose of the meeting was to consider a partnership with Sumter County School System in support of a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Facility Grant aimed at developing a regional CTE facility to serve high school students from both Sumter and Greene County.
The project will create the Sumter-Greene Career Collaborative Center (SGCCC) as a regional CTE facility serving high school students from both Sumter and Greene County schools. Funding for the project is supported by the enactment of Alabama Senate Bill 253 (Alabama Workforce Pathways Act, different pathways for high school diplomas based on future career plans.)
Prior to the called meeting, the Greene County Board held a work session to discuss the CTE Proposal with Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones, Attorney Hank Sanders, Sumter County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Marcy Burroughs, and State Department of Education Consultant, Mr. John Heard. At the close of the work session and following an executive session, the Greene County Board of Education, on the recommendation of Superintendent Jones, approved the proposed joint project, in open session, with four positive votes. Board Member Veronica Richardson opposed the measure.
The request for State funding for the project will be submitted by the Sumter County School System. The dateline for submission is July 31, 2025. SB253 requires a collaboration between two school systems. Sumter County School System will be the Lead LEA and Greene County Schools will be the Partner LEA. If Sumter County is awarded the CTE grant, there will be no cost for Greene County’s participation.
If funded, the SGCCC Project will support the construction of a modern CTE training facility on the grounds of Sumter Central High School near York, AL. The Sumter School System will have approximately 18 months to construct the facility, and 30 months to begin operations.
The initial CTE program labs will include Welding Technology; HVAC/Electrical systems; Health Science; Automotive and Diesel Technology; Information Technology; Advanced Manufacturing. Greene County School System can enroll students in CTE career courses not available at its local Career Center.
The project will integrate industry-standard equipment to support credentialing opportunities for scholars; provide collaboration with regional postsecondary institutions; and create partnerships with West Alabama Works. The SGCCC will serve as a shared regional resource, reducing duplication and maximizing the impact of state and local investment.
The board also approved the following personnel items recommended by Dr. Jones.
* Employment: Marva Smith – Long term sub (ACCESS) – GCHS; Anglee Coley – Gifted Specialist/Intervention teacher; Brandi Eubanks – Elementary teacher – RBMS.
* Termination: Wanda Blakely, Special Education Director, effective July 29, 2025.
Special to the Democrat by John Zippert, Co-Publisher
This is a report of the two regular Eutaw City Council meetings on July 8 and 22, 2025. Mayor Latasha Johnson and all five City Council members were present except Valarie Watkins at the July 8 meeting and Tracey Hunter at the July 22 meeting.
At the July 22nd meeting the Eutaw City Council received positive financial news from Ralph Liverman, Financial Advisor, who submitted a financial report for the nine months of the fiscal year from October 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
Liverman pointed out that the City of Eutaw had repaid all but two payments on a $500,000 loan from Merchants and Farmers Bank taken out in 2021, with a 3.5% interest rate, to purchase new equipment to maintain streets in the city. The remaining payments of $22,338.16 will be made by September 15, 2025.
This fulfills a promise made by Mayor Johnson for responsible handling of the financial affairs of the city, by paying off this needed loan during her first term in office. Liverman indicates that this will free up $134,028 of funds for use in the General Fund, for the new annual budget for 2025-26. This additional funding may help the city get other needed equipment and staff to repair potholes, culverts and other street problems.
A second piece of good news was a report from Liverman of General Fund Revenue and Expenses for 9 months of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Liverman states in his report, “ As of June 30, 2025, you should have collected at least 75% of the budgeted revenues for the fiscal year, and your expenditures should not exceed 75% of the budgeted amount.”
“As of June 30, 2025, you have collected 97% of budgeted revenues. It is obvious that you will exceed the budgeted projection for revenues.
All of your major revenue sources such as property tax, franchise tax, sales tax, and privilege licenses have or should exceed 100% of budgeted amounts.”
“General Fund Expenditures are running at 78% of budgeted amounts, but most of your single payment items (such as insurance) have been paid. Unless some major event happens, you should end your fiscal year with a surplus in the General Fund.”
These reports were in the council member’s meeting packets but were not analyzed and discussed by the members in the public meeting. This was strange to me, as a reporter who regularly covers Council meetings, since the Council professes great concern about its powers to oversee and approve city finances. In fact, the Council has used limited finances to justify rejecting the Mayor Johnson’s requests to buy a new tractor and mowers, increase staff and staff pay, even rejecting some trips for city staff to travel to training, as part of their supervision of finances.
There was another example of this strict financial supervision at the start of the July 22nd meeting. The Mayor asked to add payment to two contractors for grass cutting at the Mesopotamia and Clarence Thomas cemeteries. Councilman Woodruff objected to considering payment of this item until he and the Council received more information justifying this expense. Mayor Johnson said the grass in the cemeteries needed cutting and this expense was in the budget, so as part of her day-to-day authority she had the grass cut. Woodruff’s motion initially prevailed to block payment for the cemeteries to two separate contractors. However, at the end of the meeting, the Council approved payment of bills including grass cutting at the cemeteries.
At the July 22nd meeting, the Council approved a resolution (No. 2025-8) providing $25,000 for expenses in holding the municipal election on August 26, 2025. It also approved several changes in election poll officials.
Absentee Voting in Municipal Election is Underway
Joe Powell, Assistant Election Manager announced that Absentee Voting is underway. Voters can come to the City Hall on Monday to Wednesday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Thursday and Friday from 8:00 AM to Noon, to request an absentee ballot for someone who is homebound. Voters can also walk-in and request an absentee ballot, if they are not going to be in town on election day to vote, and vote right then. August 19 is the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot to vote by mail. August 21 is the last day to walk-in and vote absentee.
Powell said, “We are following instructions from the Alabama Secretary of State on the rules for absentee balloting. You can go to this website to see the rules and apply for an absentee ballot, without coming to City Hall to vote by mail in this election, if that is your preference. Be aware that you will need a copy of your driver’s license, or acceptable state ID, to get an absentee ballot and vote in this election.”
In other actions, the Eutaw City Council:
• Approved Resolution No. 2025-9 for Weather Preparedness Tax Holiday for February 20-22, 2026.
• Approved travel for City Attorney Zane Willingham and City Judge Joshua Swords to attend annual Municipal Law Conferences.
• Approved payment of claim of $89 for Christopher Branch.
• Approved recommendation from Zane Willingham on Planning Commission rezoning.
• Approved payment of $1,976 for annual dues to the Alabama League of Municipalities
• Approved payment of $952 for annual dues to National League of Cities.
• Approved payment of bills, including grass cutting in the cemeteries.
Mayor Johnson announced that a public hearing would be held in August concerning sidewalks and a traffic roundabout at the intersection of Highway14 and Highway 43. The date will be announced later.
Chief of Police Johnson announced Police Night Out will be held September 9 at 5:00 PM at Carver School to improve community relations. Danny Cooper announced that the Eutaw Area Chamber of Commerce was sponsoring a political forum for all candidates in the municipal election on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at the Courthouse Square starting at 10:00 AM.
By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
As the Trump administration moves to eliminate key diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) protections at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Democratic Congressman David Scott of Georgia has introduced legislation aimed at safeguarding the future of Black farmers and reversing decades of systemic discrimination.
On July 17, Scott, a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, introduced the Black Farmers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act of 2025. Illinois Democratic Congressman Jonathan Jackson, also a member of the committee, co-sponsored the bill, which aims to expand market access and enforce civil rights protections for farmers who have historically been denied equitable treatment by the federal government.
“Generations of Black farmers have lost their land and livelihoods because of systemic discrimination and the federal government’s failures to meaningfully intervene,” Scott said. “Whereas they comprised over 14% of all U.S. farmers less than a century ago, they now represent less than 2%.”
In 1920, there were nearly one million Black farmers in the United States. But today, fewer than 50,000 remain, Jackson said. “That’s a staggering 95% decline. This did not happen by accident — it is the result of broken policies, discriminatory lending practices, and a lack of market access,” he stated. The bill establishes a competitive grant program to support new and expanding food hubs that enable Black and minority farmers to access wholesale, retail, and institutional markets. It offers a 25% tax credit for agricultural products purchased from those food hubs. It also requires the USDA to prioritize procurement from socially disadvantaged farmers and establishes an independent Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson to assist farmers through civil rights claims. Additionally, the measure reforms USDA policies to provide monetary relief to farmers denied access to loan and payment programs due to discrimination. The bill’s release follows a sweeping policy reversal by the USDA, which recently announced it will no longer use the term “socially disadvantaged” to define farmers affected by racial, ethnic, or gender-based discrimination. That designation, first adopted in the 1990 Farm Bill, had been a critical foundation for programs that served Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian producers. According to Capital B News, the agency’s decision came in response to executive orders issued earlier this year by President Donald Trump that eliminated any mandates or programs supporting DEI. The USDA stated that it has “sufficiently” addressed its history of discrimination and that moving forward, it will adhere to a race- and gender-neutral framework.
Lloyd Wright, a Virginia farmer and former USDA official, stated that the change will disproportionately affect Black farmers. “They’re eliminating socially disadvantaged and anything else dealing with DEI,” Wright told Capital B. “[The government] is going to take back the money — the little bit we were getting—and some of the outreach money will be clawed back.” Rep. Shontel Brown of Ohio, a vice-ranking member on the House Agriculture Committee, added that the USDA’s decision was part of “Trump’s resegregation agenda.” She called the rule “a deliberate and disgraceful step backward,” and said the “socially disadvantaged” label was long overdue recognition of the systemic denial of land, credit, and opportunity. Rep. Shomari Figures of Alabama said the administration should be working to ensure Black farmers are never subjected to such discrimination again, not reversing policies that acknowledged that history. Tiffany Bellfield El-Amin, founder of the Kentucky Black Farmers Association, noted that while the label itself may have had flaws, its removal leaves Black farmers more vulnerable. She said Black producers are often left to navigate USDA programs without the same outreach given to white farmers, and that many with large operations were never disadvantaged to begin with. The USDA’s move comes in response to pressure from white farmers and conservative legal groups. A Wisconsin farmer, Adam Faust, has sued the administration, claiming he faced reverse discrimination in multiple USDA programs. Faust previously led a successful lawsuit against the Biden administration in 2021, halting a $4 billion loan forgiveness program aimed at aiding farmers of color. Black farmers continue to challenge federal agencies in court. The Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association recently sued the USDA for allegedly excluding them from the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, which provided help to over 43,000 farmers who suffered discrimination before 2021.
Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia said the administration’s actions amount to political theater. “Instead of working to create more certainty for our nation’s farmers and adopting a stable trade agenda, this administration is focused on divisive publicity stunts that will hurt our agriculture industry long-term,” he said. Scott’s bill builds on years of advocacy, including his efforts to expose that just 0.1% of a $26 billion USDA pandemic relief package went to Black farmers. As Farm Bill reauthorization talks continue in Congress, Scott said this moment must be used to embed equity into agricultural policy. “Congress has a responsibility to reverse the decades of inaction by restoring trust, creating new market opportunities, and ensuring USDA supports our Black and socially disadvantaged farmers,” Scott said.
Bill Cosby and Malcom-Jamal Warner on the Cosby Show
By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
In a wide-ranging and reflective appearance on the Black Press of America’s Let It Be Known, Bill Cosby—long regarded as television’s most iconic father figure—shared his thoughts on the death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the actor who portrayed Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show. Warner, 54, reportedly drowned, and his passing has struck a deep chord with generations who grew up watching the groundbreaking series. Speaking with his trademark blend of intellect, personal memory, and cultural clarity, Cosby honored Warner’s legacy while revisiting the impact of The Cosby Show, a series that helped reshape how Black family life was portrayed on television.
“I heard about Malcolm’s drowning,” Cosby said. “And then Pam [Warner’s mother] called me about a day after Malcolm drowned… She picked up the phone. I said, ‘Hello.’ And then I heard a sound… it was weak. She didn’t say a word at first. Then she said, ‘Oh, Bill.’ I did not stay on the phone much longer. That was enough.” Cosby described Warner’s mother, Pamela, as a devoted parent who played a central role in guiding her son’s life and career. “She laughs and she jokes, but she doesn’t play,” Cosby said. “She was very hands-on. And her love for Malcolm was unwavering.” He also shared that Phylicia Rashad, who played Claire Huxtable, reached out to him following the news of Warner’s death. “There was a call from Claire Huxtable—that is, Phylicia. She made the same call,” Cosby recalled, providing a sense of the emotional toll the loss has taken on the close-knit cast. Cosby explained that the character of Theo was drawn directly from his real-life son, Ennis, and their conversations about education, responsibility, and identity. “Ennis once said, ‘I just want to be regular people,’” Cosby said. “Smoke began to form between both ears.” That real-life experience became one of the most famous on the show— with Cosby’s character telling Warner’s, “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” The iconic television star praised Warner’s discipline, intellect, and dedication. “Malcolm was very intelligent, very efficient, and he loved life,” Cosby recalled. “He and Ennis became close friends. We developed Theo’s character together, based on real life.” The conversation expanded beyond individual memories to a larger examination of The Cosby Show’s cultural mission. Cosby spoke in detail about the importance of platforming Black professionals, Black family structure, and historically Black colleges and universities. “We didn’t buy tickets to get here,” Cosby said, referring to the historical journey of Black Americans. “Our ancestors were brought here to work for free. And for Cliff and Claire Huxtable to come from one floor in the South and become a doctor and a lawyer—this was about dignity, about love, and about excellence.” Cosby, who broke barriers in the 1960s with the television show, “I Spy,” also spoke about education as a life-long pursuit—both in and outside the classroom. He recounted his son’s challenges with dyslexia and how those experiences shaped the show’s themes, particularly in episodes focused on learning styles and academic self-confidence. And he credited Warner for bringing those stories to life on screen with care and truth. “He was free,” Cosby said. “And that tape needs to be heard,” referencing a performance Warner gave with the Minnesota Symphony. “He called me after the concert and said, ‘I did exactly what I wanted to do.’” When asked about the possibility of remakes of classic films like Let’s Do It Again or Uptown Saturday Night, Cosby didn’t hesitate. “There’s no sense in remaking something just because you liked it,” he said. “Talk about your own life. You’d be surprised how interesting your own life is.” Cosby closed the interview not with sorrow, but with purpose. “This is not to get angry,” he said. “This is to celebrate a man—54 years old, asphyxiated, swept out to sea. His life, and where he wanted to go, should be remembered.” He added, “It’s difficult to work against heaven.” Cosby also acknowledged civil rights legends like Dick Gregory and Rachel Robinson and spoke about why he has always stood with the Black Press. “Dick Gregory told me, always remember the Black Press,” Cosby said. “Take out ads, do the interviews, support them. And I have.” In one of the most striking moments of the interview, Cosby shared a lesson from his grandmother—an uneducated woman in formal terms, but, as Cosby made clear, a profound thinker. “She asked me, is the glass half full or half empty?” Cosby recalled. “I told her that’s what we were discussing in class. And she said, ‘Well, it depends on if you’re pouring or drinking.’ That’s the kind of wisdom we come from.” He ended the conversation with a charge to everyone: to reflect, to create, and above all, to tell their own stories. “All you have to do is celebrate,” he insisted. “And do the correct thing.”
Statement from Patrick Rodenbush, Spokesperson for President Obama: Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction. Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes. These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio.
The U.S. Justice Department recently released on July 21 files regarding the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., despite some members of the King family opposing the release, though one family member supports it. The release contains 230,000 pages of documents and comes following President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order 14176, said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Dr. King was assassinated on April 4th, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, while staying at the Lorraine Motel. He was shot by James Earl Ray, a petty criminal. Ray was arrested in London, but not everyone is convinced that he was the assassin. Before he died of prostate cancer, Dexter Scott King, Dr. King’s youngest son, met with Ray in prison, shook his hand, and concluded that Ray did not kill his father. Dexter King died on January 22. He was 62 years old, J. Edgar Hoover hated Dr. King, believing that he would become a Black messiah. Organized crime figures also may have had a hand in his assassination. There are also suggestions that Carlos Marcello, the mob boss of New Orleans, was involved in the killing of Dr. King because he was challenging the way things had been done in the past. The FBI tapped Dr. King’s phone calls and even had people working for Dr. King who reported to the FBI. The FBI showed photographs to President Lyndon B. Johnson and other government officials of Dr. King having sex with other women, not his wife, Coretta Scott King. The release by the Trump administration is controversial. It comes after AG Bondi refused to release the Epstein files. Some observers feel this document release is part of efforts to divert public attention from the Epstein files. “We recognize that the release of documents concerning the assassination of our father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has long been a subject of interest, captivating public curiosity for decades,” the family said in a statement. But “the release of these files must be viewed within their full historical context. During our father’s lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.” The recent disclosure is the product of months of collaboration between the Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). DOJ attorneys spent hundreds of hours preparing and digitizing these documents for release. “The American people deserve answers decades after the horrific assassination of one of our nation’s great leaders,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice is proud to partner with Director Gabbard and the ODNI at President Trump’s direction for this latest disclosure.”
President Trump told Texas Republicans on a conference call on the morning of July 15 that the GOP will attempt to create five new Republican seats in a “mid-decade redistricting” in Texas.
In coming weeks, the Texas legislature will consider the move. Republicans control the state legislature in Texas by a 20-11 margin in the Texas Senate and an 88-62 margin in the Texas House. But Texas is a majority minority state. The congressional maps in Texas were last drawn in 2021. To redraw the maps now would be highly unusual. Republicans are expecting to have a great deal of difficulty keeping control of the U.S. House as the 2026 midterms loom in the future.
Proposed cuts to health care, tariff policy changes, inflation, a record number of farms going bankrupt, and cuts to federal jobs are all likely to be factors in whether or not voters will turn Republicans out of power in Congress. During a press conference on the morning of July 15 at Democratic National Committee headquarters, members of the Texas delegation spoke about the threat of changes in congressional districts and the recent July 5 flood in Texas that has killed at least 134 people.
Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) spoke pointedly on the issue of Texas redistricting and the political state of play. “I want you all to understand the makeup of my state. The state is a majority minority state, and what this legislature historically has done is what they plan to do again — is to dilute the voices of people of color in order to make sure that they can get to where they’re trying to go,” Rep. Crockett said. She stood alongside a large group of members that included Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene, and a number of members of the Texas delegation.
“We only have four seats that are represented by Black folk, where the vast majority of the people that get to decide who they have represent them are Black. They decided to attack three of the four seats that we have in the state. They decided to go after a Latina. They are specifically deciding to splinter the communities of common interest, as well as just blatantly say we are going to dilute minority voices.
So we know that the courts, ever since we’ve had a Voting Rights Act, have always found this state to be intentionally discriminatory. That is what they are going to do. I need people of color to understand that the scheme of the Republicans has consistently been to make sure that they mute our voices so that they can go ahead and have an oversized say in this. I fully anticipate that’s exactly where they’re going with this map. It’s the only way to do it. We didn’t understand how we got to the map that they gave us last time because that state was grown by 95% people of color. They went out of their way to make sure that we got zero new seats for people of color. That’s exactly what they’re going to do this time,” Rep. Crockett added.
Democrats nationally have suggested that Democratically controlled states like California, New Yorrk and others could hold mid-decade redistricting to counteract the actions in Texas.
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
The City of Boligee is applying to the Alabama Department of Transportation for a federal capital funding award under Section 5310 of the Federal Transit Act. This funding is for capital assistance to help meet the transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities in Greene County.
A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 11:00Am in the [Cafateria at the Boligee Town and Community Center at 17404 Co Road 20 Boligee, Alabama 35443 for public comments.
Contact Information: William Baylor, Strategic Project Lead, Delta DB, 205-475-4493 will@deltadb.org
