Category: General News
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Eutaw City Council praises its citizens
by Maya Quinn, editor
The city council held a public meeting on Tuesday, April 15th, 2026. All district representatives were present and accounted for, each recognizing the county’s citizens’ and police department’s most recent efforts.
On Saturday, April 11th, constituents of Greene County gathered at city hall to conduct a city-wide clean-up of Eutaw, Greene County’s most populated city. This initiative is part of a larger statewide spring clean-up campaign, “Don’t Drop it on Alabama.” The statewide campaign was established 40 years ago by Alabama People Against a Littered State (PALS). The council provided water and refreshments for those in attendance. Mayor Cockrell thanked all who took the time to come out and join the efforts.
Councilwoman Valerie Watkins, District 1, praised Chief Kendrick Howell and the police department for timely and efficient responses to calls. Councilwoman Tracey Hunter, District 3, also recognized Howell for his exemplary mentorship of Eutaw native Raymond Lewis, who will be admitted into the police academy at a ceremony on April 30th, 9:00 am, at the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center, 1005 Charles Byrd Blvd, Selma, AL 36703, on the campus of George Corley Wallace State Community College.
Faye Tyree was also acknowledged for her efforts in coordinating the EMS fundraiser that brought in roughly $18,000 for the ambulance services. As Councilman Woodruff said, this initiative “shows that we can come together as a community and fight for a cause.”
EMS Admins and Employees at Eutaw’s city wide clean up day All minutes for the March 24th regular session and the March 31st called meeting were approved. Here are the approved agenda items for new business:
- Resolution CDBG grant
- Payment of Membership dues for the Alabama Rural Water Association-Utility 2026-$600.00
- Payment of Membership dues for the City of Eutaw with the National League of Cities-$981.00
- Payment of IMC Membership dues for ShaKelvia Spencer and Joe L. Powell-$135.00
- Payment of CMRO Membership dues for ShaKelvia Spencer and Joe L. Powell-$25.00
- Payment of AAMCA Membership dues for ShaKelvia Spencer and Joe L. Powell-$120.00
- Payment of Bills
Please join the city council for its next scheduled meeting on May 14th, at 5:00pm.
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Newswire: Everything We Know About the Alleged White House Correspondents’ Shooter
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 25: U.S. President Trump is making a statement after the cancellation of the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner due to a possible shooting. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images) , X
by Phenix S Halley, The Root
The alleged gunman who tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ dinner was quickly taken into custody following the chaotic scene on Saturday (April 25). Now, more information about Cole Thomas Allen has been released. Here’s what we know.
We previously told you President Donald Trump and all other members of his cabinet were rushed to safety following several shots fired at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the annual dinner was being held. Minutes before Allen allegedly stormed the building, he sent copies of his manifesto to several family and friends, according to reports.
Inside the shocking decree, the 31-year-old referred to himself as the “Cole ‘coldForce’ ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ Allen,” before listing his targets and motivations behind the drastic attack.
“So I may have given a lot of people a surprise today. Let me start off by apologizing to everyone whose trust I abused,” he began. “I don’t expect forgiveness, but if I could have seen any other way to get this close, I would have taken it.”
Allen went on to explain his frustrations with the current administration and its many controversial policies. “I am a citizen of the United States of America. What my representatives do reflects on me,” he said. “And I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.”
The Saturday attack marks at least the third assassination attempt on the president. According to Allen– who put Trump as the first on his hit list– he allegedly took action after repeatedly watching the unprecedented actions by Trump and his officials.
“The United States of America are ruled by the law, not by any one or several people,” Allen continued. “Insofar as representatives and judges do not follow the law, no one is required to yield them anything so unlawfully ordered.”
Originally from Torrance, Calif., Allen worked as a teacher before allegedly plotting to kill the president. LinkedIn shows he graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He later earned a master’s degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills, in computer science in 2025.
After working as an engineer, Allen became an independent game developer and part-time teacher. He allegedly traveled across the country days before the Saturday attack. Officials noted he did not have a criminal record before the Saturday incident, NBC News reported. Still, members of his family reportedly warned police about him way before the attack took place, according to Trump.
The White House shared that Allen’s brother contacted police in Connecticut, after receiving his manifesto. Still, that didn’t stop Allen from rushing into the hotel building and getting extremely close to allegedly killing the president.
Authorities confirmed Allen is the primary and only suspect in the ongoing investigation. He was allegedly armed with a shotgun, handgun and several knives at the time of the attack. During a quick altercation with security, Allen was subdued. Trump shared surveillance footage of Allen’s dash and his arrest to social media.
Interestingly, Allen made note of what he called a supreme “level of incompetence” by Trump’s security and Secret Service. “I expected security cameras at every bend, bugged hotel rooms, armed agents every 10 feet, metal detectors out the wazoo,” he added. “What I got (who knows, maybe they’re pranking me!) is nothing.”
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Newswire: Gen Z Slang Deeply Rooted In Black Culture, Linguistic Experts Say
Photo Source: Mohd Azrin / Getty
by Shannon Dawson, NewsOne
Popular Gen Z slang words like “rizz” and “slay” have become so widespread that these terms topped Unscramblerer’s list of most popular slang in 2025. But where do these buzzworthy words come from, and how do they become so deeply embedded in our everyday language that friends and even parents start using them? Experts say many of the words now labeled as Gen Z slang actually have roots that reach back centuries, particularly in Black culture and to African American Vernacular English (AAVE).
The Black history of Gen Z slang.
A report by NBC News correspondent Marquis Francis explored the history of some of these phrases with language enthusiasts. According to the report, some of these words emerged during periods of enslavement, born out of struggle and trauma. Linguists note that such language was often used to communicate openly within the community while remaining opaque to outsiders. Today, many of these words are recognized as part of African American Vernacular English (AAVE), also called Ebonics.
As previously reported, historians believe AAVE’s roots trace to English dialects introduced to the American South in the 17th and 18th centuries, according to The Oxford Handbook of African American Language. These dialects were adopted and adapted by African Americans, influenced by both British English and African languages, as well as Caribbean creole varieties brought over by enslaved people. Although AAVE is frequently mischaracterized as slang or “incorrect” English, it is a fully distinct linguistic system with its own grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation patterns — such as dropping “-ing” (e.g., “goin’” instead of “going”) or r-lessness, and substitutions like “fo’” for “four” or “he be” instead of “he is.”
Negative stereotypes and improper attribution lead to the erasure of history, experts say.
Over time, this vernacular evolved. Many of the popular Gen Z terms that thrive today eventually circulated within popular Black subcultures, including early hip-hop and underground drag scenes, and were not widely embraced by the mainstream. Words with letters dropped, or entire phrases combined to form new expressions, were often dismissed as improper speech associated with poverty or lack of education.
Those negative stereotypes still exist today. A 2021 study involving 20 audio recordings of 14 Black North American men and six Black British men asked participants to guess the speakers’ race and age. The study found that speakers perceived as using AAVE were more likely to be stereotyped as “lazy,” “uneducated,” and “poor.” Controversies surrounding AAVE are not new — the 1996 Ebonics debate, in which the Oakland, California, Board of Education recognized it as a primary language to improve literacy, sparked nationwide discussion and criticism.
Today, however, these terms have permeated the default dialect of a generation, transcending race, region, and class in the digital age. Critics, however, have highlighted the erasure of Black origins, pointing out that non-Black Gen Zers often use these words without understanding their cultural significance and complicated history.
“I don’t necessarily say that no one else can speak it, but what I do say is it comes from those people that created it,” said Sonja Lanehart, a linguistics professor at the University of Arizona and the author of The Oxford Handbook of African American Language, which she wrote to address misconceptions around AAVE.
Linguists warn that when a word’s origins are viewed negatively or stripped away, it can erase a community’s history, a potentially dangerous consequence. For Jamaal Muwwakkil, a sociocultural anthropologist and linguist, it is crucial that Gen Zers understand the history of these words and credit the people who created them.
“It doesn’t make any sense to me that you can hear a word and then say, ‘That word sounds cool or it’s interesting; let me never look into it and just start saying it,’” Muwwakkil told Francis. “That seems strange to me.” He explained that AAVE was more than slang: it was a tool for enslaved people brought to the U.S. in the 17th century to find common ground among themselves, using language to communicate within the community while remaining covert to outsiders. It was a form of protection.
Language experts stress that African American language is not exclusive to Black people, but understanding its history and giving proper attribution is essential. Without that recognition, some people may benefit from the language, while those who created it are often erased.
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Alabama and Japan Celebrate 40 Years of Friendship
Consul General Kenichi Matsuda and Honorary Consul General of Japan, Mark B. Jackson, at the Sakura Festival in Snow Hinton Park
The Japanese American Society of Alabama (JASA) hosted the 40th Annual Sakura Festival in Snow Hinton Park to celebrate the economic and cultural connection between the two countries. The festival featured performances, games, snacks, and ceremonies prominent in Japanese culture.
The beginning of economic ties between Japan and Alabama began in the 1970s and 1980s with the establishment of the Alabama Development Office, which established a Tokyo trade office to attract Japanese investors. The trade office allowed a direct link for Japanese business operations to receive support in Alabama, fostering the need for an organization like JASA to maintain cooperative relationships. In 1999, the organization’s efforts to bridge the gap between cultures resulted in an economic milestone with Honda announcing its first assembly plant in Talladega County. Since then, Japan’s economic influence in Alabama has generated thousands of jobs and investments that have surpassed ten billion dollars.
Seeing the importance of Japan maintaining relationships, JASA sought to fortify a cultural understanding of Japan.
It is no secret that Japan is a country with a unique way of life centered on humility and respect. Many customs in Japan require humbling oneself with constant consideration for those who are older or in higher positions of authority. Greetings are soft spoken and involve bowing, the complete opposite of an energetic, southern greeting with a handshake. JASA knew that “Alabama should understand and embrace not only Japanese business concepts and expectations but also cultural and educational issues.”
Awa Odori Dance Elaina Agnello The Sakura Festival itinerary and stalls were rich with Japanese culture, including information and graphics about Tuscaloosa’s sister city in Japan, Norishino. After a warm welcome, Honorary Consul General of Japan Mark B. Jackson took to the stage. “This is the most honorable thing I’ve been doing,” he stated. Jackson has represented Alabama in Japan for over a decade and deeply appreciates the Japanese way of life. Once he finished addressing the crowd, he welcomed Consul General Kenichi Matsuda, who flew in from Japan for the event. Matsuda is grateful for the “southern hospitality” and welcoming atmosphere he can experience here in the States. He is committed to doing his “utmost to further advance the friendship and partnership between our two nations.” The two participated in a sake barrel-breaking ceremony to signify harmony and good fortune.
Alongside friendship meetings and festivals, JASA sends students to Japan in an exchange program over the summer to further understand education. The program sends twenty high school students to Japan in June to stay with families, and the Japanese students return with them in July for two weeks as well. This exchange is imperative for the current generations to appreciate what each culture offers to the other. As Executive Director of Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International, Shelley Corrill said, “How can you not love each other when you’re eating barbecue or sushi together?”
The relationship between Japan and Alabama is a vital component of the state’s economy. Companies like Daikin, Toray, and various automotive suppliers have a strong impact on the automotive and manufacturing markets, especially in Birmingham, Huntsville, and Decatur. Without Japan’s friendship, thousands would go unemployed. JASA’s continued efforts remind us of the importance of working with other nations instead of against them. In the words of Honorary Consul Jackson, “It’s all about one word—relationships.”
To learn more about JASA and future cultural events, visit https://japanalabama.com/
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Newswire: Citing a “Grave National Security Crisis”, the NAACP pushes 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office
NAACP poster on Trump
by Hazel Trice Edney
(TriceEdneyWire.com) – The NAACP is among those leading the call on the President’s cabinet, including Vice President Vance, cabinet secretaries, or another body that could be assembled by Congress, to “invoke the 25th Amendment” of the U. S. Constitution in order to have President Donald Trump removed from office amidst what appears to be the loss of his mind to the extent that he could endanger masses of innocent lives in a “grave national security crisis”.
The call, coming from the NAACP, Democratic members of Congress, activists, and other political observers, has grown louder since Trump, joining with Israel, waged war against Iran – with no declaration of war by Congress.
In addition to concerns about Trump’s history of what appears to be pathological lying, talk of the use of the 25th Amendment especially hit the fan on Easter Sunday morning, April 6. That was when Trump posted a profanity-laced threat to Iran on the day that is considered among the highest and holiest days on the Christian calendar as people prepared to worship in commemoration of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
With all curse words spelled completely out, Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform, “Open the F***in’ Strait, you crazy b*****ds, or you’ll be living in Hell — JUST WATCH. Praise be to Allah.”
He was demanding that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz, which is a primary passageway for about 20 percent of the global oil supply, according to the New York Times.
The next day, he threatened all of Iran – even innocent citizens – if there was no deal by 8 pm: “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” he wrote on Truth Social.
The NAACP responded Monday with an emailed note to its members, signed by its president/CEO Derrick Johnson: “The stability of our nation is hanging in the balance,” Johnson wrote. “In recent weeks, we have witnessed alarming signs of President Trump’s deteriorating health and increasingly delusional behavior. The rhetoric and actions coming from the highest office in the land have reached a level of instability that we cannot ignore. His behavior is not only alarming but dangerous.”
The NAACP email continued, “This is no longer just a matter of political disagreement. It’s a grave national security crisis. A leader unable to think clearly or act decisively jeopardizes our military readiness, erodes public trust, and threatens the safety of millions of Americans. We cannot wait for further chaos. We must protect the fabric of our democracy right now.”
The organization then listed three demands:
- “Invoke the 25th Amendment: The Vice President and the Cabinet must step forward immediately to ensure the continuity of governance.”
- “Remove the threat: We must address this presidential incapacity to protect our nation from further uncertainty.”
- Congressional action: “Once the Vice President and the Cabinet step up, Congress must follow through and act with the urgency this situation demands to uphold the principles of our Constitution.”
Section 4 of the Constitution’s 25th Amendment states as follows:
“Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
“Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.
“Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.”It is not likely that there would be enough will to remove Trump from office given the dedication that the Republican majorities have maintained toward him. Besides, this week, Congress remained on Easter recess and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has not criticized Trump’s conduct, nor his war with Iran. The primary criticism is coming from Democrats.
Still, the NAACP is adamant about what it feels must be done:
“There’s no sugarcoating it,” Johnson concluded in his email. “President Trump has shown himself to be unfit, unwell, and unhinged. Together, we can force our leaders to prioritize the health and safety of our nation before it’s too late. -
Newswire: Inflation hits highest one month spike in four years due to Iran War
Gas station sign in California, showing high gas prices
By Joe Jurado, NewsOne
While Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire that’s looking shakier by the day, the impact of the war is still being felt by the global economy. Last month, inflation rose at its sharpest in four years, largely driven by higher gas prices.
According to NBC News, inflation rose to 3.3% in March, up 0.9% from the month before. Gas prices increased by 21.2%, their largest single-month increase since 1967. I gotta be honest, folks, I’m getting real tired of living through historically bad economic changes. While a ceasefire was declared last Tuesday, there hasn’t been a meaningful drop in gas prices. Anecdotally speaking, I’ve seen gas prices drop a whopping 10 cents from $4.99 to $4.89 in Arizona.
The misguided Iran war has created a series of headaches for the Trump administration. Trump ran on lowering prices, and AP reports that there are growing concerns that if gas prices continue to stay so high, it would have dramatic downwind consequences for the American economy. There was already a cost-of-living crisis before the Iran war, and the inflated gas prices could result in families struggling to afford other necessities, such as rent. Once the essentials become a struggle to afford, it would slow spending in other sectors, slowing the economy and potentially leading to further unemployment.
“It’s painful in the near term,” Michael Pearce, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, told AP. “It’s going to get more painful in April,” as a result of further gas price increases lifting inflation even higher.
AP reports that there are growing concerns that if gas prices continue to stay so high, it would have dramatic downwind consequences for the American economy. There was already a cost-of-living crisis before the Iran war, and the inflated gas prices could result in families struggling to afford other necessities, such as rent. Once the essentials become a struggle to afford, it would slow spending in other sectors, slowing the economy and potentially leading to further unemployment.
From AP: Consumer sentiment plunged to a record low in April, according to a survey released Friday by the University of Michigan, largely because of the Iran war and concerns over higher gas prices. Their Index of Consumer Sentiment fell to 47.6, from 53.3 in March.
“Many consumers blame the Iran conflict for unfavorable changes to the economy,” said Joanne Hsu, the university’s director of consumer surveys.
High prices had angered American voters before the war and the spike in prices for oil and everything that entails, from the pump to the grocery store, could make it more difficult for the president’s party to hold on to seats in both the House and the Senate in next year’s midterms.
Polling by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research last month found that about six in 10 Republicans are at least “somewhat” concerned about affording gas in the next few months.
Another point of concern regards the Strait of Hormuz, which has become a focal point in the conflict. While ships were able to flow freely through the Strait of Hormuz before the war, Iran has locked down access and is considering charging a toll for entry. This would obviously lead to a permanent increase in prices, as that cost would definitely be passed down to the consumer.
One of the downwind effects of the Strait’s closure is rising food prices. While food costs remained relatively neutral throughout March, much of the world’s fertilizer supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Should Iran and the U.S. fail to agree on a permanent ceasefire resolution, it would likely lead to food scarcity, which would obviously increase prices. Those increases would also be compounded by rising fuel costs, as the nation’s food supply is largely transported via diesel trucks.
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Newswire: Trump announces ceasefire with Iran, fends off allegations that the US caved
by Zack Linly, NewsOne
On Tuesday evening, after weeks of mixed messaging on our progress in the Iran war turned into threats to end the nation’s entire “civilization,” President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to announce a two-week pause on his plans to start bombing Iranian bridges, electricity plants, and factories because a ceasefire has been negotiated. And because we’ve all heard this song before, folks on social media seem to largely believe that Trump caved to end the war that is bringing his administration nothing but embarrassment and bad press.
Meanwhile, Trump, his Cabinet, and MAGA-friendly media outlets are working overtime to spin the narrative that it was actually Iran that caved, ignoring all evidence to the contrary — including the myriad of reports that the missile strikes have not ended.
“Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” Trump wrote Tuesday evening. “This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East.
We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution.
Now, to anyone who isn’t a MAGA sycophant, dedicated to spinning Trump’s confused social media posts into golden nuggets, it looks like Trump stumbled across an excuse to back off from his tough talk and save a little face in the process.
After all, Trump has been claiming for weeks that Iran is “begging” for a deal, and that the administration “had very, very strong talks,” and “points of agreement,” only for the Iranian government to deny the “talks” are even happening. Trump previously told reporters that a 15-point proposal to end the war was sent to the Iranian government, and that it “gave us most of the points,” only for the Iranian government to completely reject Trump’s terms shortly after.
Now, Trump is saying Iran’s 10-point counter-proposal to the U.S. is a “workable basis on which to negotiate,” which really makes it seem like he was the one “begging for a deal,” especially since the contents of Iran’s 10-point plan seem to largely benefit Iran.
I mean, Iran even included a $2 million toll on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz that no one had to pay before Trump decided to help the Israeli government launch an unprovoked war on Iran. What exactly are we winning here?
That’s a lot of tough talk, only for Trump to eagerly announce that he is open to Iran’s demands, which, again, came after the nation rejected his.
And that’s why Trump and his administration are scrambling to force-feed Americans the narrative that it’s a mutual deal that both nations will benefit from, and he’s out here launching investigations against any media outlet that says otherwise.In fact, Trump had another one of his social media meltdowns after CNN reported, “Iran claims victory, says it forced US to accept 10-point plan,” and that the Iranian Security Council said in a statement, “The enemy, in its unfair, unlawful, and criminal war against the Iranian nation, has suffered an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat.”
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Newswire: Stunning photos from Artemis II show Earth, moon, eclipse from space
Earthset captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. ET, April 6, 2026, during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the moon.
by Kerry Breen, CBS News on Google
Stunning photos taken by the Artemis II crew were released on Tuesday, showing spectacular views from the far side of the moon and an eclipse in space.
One image from NASA showed “Earthset” — the Earth dipping behind the moon. Part of the Earth is seen in darkness, while Australia and Oceania are visible on the planet’s surface. Details of the moon appear in the photo’s foreground.
“from the other side,” the White House said about the image.
Earthset captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. ET, April 6, 2026, during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the moon.
Another stunning photo showed the moon eclipsing the sun. The eclipse was not visible from Earth, only to the crew aboard the spacecraft, and the astronauts needed to wear eclipse glasses to protect their eyes until the moon completely covered the sun.
“From the crew’s perspective, the Moon appears large enough to completely block the Sun, creating nearly 54 minutes of totality and extending the view far beyond what is possible from Earth,” NASA said about the image.
This image taken by the Artemis II crew during their lunar flyby on April 6, 2026, shows the moon eclipsing the sun.
Astronaut Victor Glover said the sun’s corona remained visible and bright during the eclipse, creating “a halo almost around the entire moon.” He said the photos of the eclipse didn’t do the display justice.
Another photo shared by NASA on Tuesday morning shows the ridged craters and long shadows of the moon as parts of it come into view along the boundary between lunar day and night.
The Artemis II crew is now making their trip back toward Earth. They are expected to splash down off the California coast, near San Diego, on Friday evening.
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Eutaw City Council meets to approve paying bills and announces up-coming events
The Eutaw City Council met for its second regular meeting of the month, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. All members of the Council were present: Valerie Watkins (District 1), Jonathan Woodruff (District 2), Tracey Hunter (District 3), Lorenzo French (District 4) and Carrie Logan (District 5) .
Mayor Corey Cockrell, presided at the meeting, assisted by City Clerk, SheKelvia Spencer, Administrative Assistant, Joe Powell, Legal Counsel, Zane Willingham, and Kendrick Howell, Chief of Police.
There were only two items of business on the official agenda, The Council approved both. The first was payment of $75.00 dues for 2026 to the Eutaw Area Chamber of Commerce. The second was to pay monthly bills for the City of Eutaw.
Mayor Cockrell gave a report of his activities on behalf of the city and plans for future events. He said the city was planning a clean-up day for Saturday, April 11, 2026, to clean-up litter on the streets and roadways, especially around city facilities such as City Hall, Branch Heights Community Center, Robert H. Young Community Center and others. There will be a cook-out at City Hall to provide lunch for those who volunteer as part of the clean-up effort.
The Mayor called attention to a financial report, compiled by James Lewis, the city’s financial advisor. The report is a revenue and expense statement for the City’s General Fund for the first five months of the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026.
The report shows the city is following its budget for the year so far. Mayor Cockrell asked council members to review the report and address any questions to him or Mr. Lewis.
Mayor Cockrell announced his plans for a “junior mayor and council program” to involve young people in understanding and making city policies and decisions. He introduced a student from Greene County High School, Elias McGhee, who will be part of the program.
Council member Valerie Watkins reported that the city staff had corrected some sewage problems on Roebuck Avenue but was not sure that this was a permanent solution to the drainage problems in her neighborhood. Tracey Hunter reported that work has begun to fix the lagoon, which should alleviate long standing problems with sewage in Branch Heights.
Councilwoman Carrie Logan thanked the city for sending her to the National League of Cities training in Washington, D. C. She met with Congresswoman, Terri Sewell, and presented her with a copy of the city’s plans that are in need of funding. She also met with Senator Tubberville and learned about Federal resources to support cities and small towns.
Councilman Lorenzo French said he was helping with the April 11th clean-up day and asked for people to volunteer. Councilman Woodruff said he had no report but was trying to live up to the motto, “Let’s respect each other and respect ourselves, as members of the City Council”.
John Cashin, recently selected as the Chairperson of the Greene County Airport Authority reported on efforts to raise funds for resurfacing the runway, cutting down trees that were obstructing visibility and general working to re-open the Eutaw Airport, as soon as improvements movement could be made and certified by the appropriate state and Federal aviation authorities.
Elias McGhee and Mayor Corey Cockrell