Greene County Democrat

Category: General News

  • GCHS Greene Team honors volunteers at luncheon

    GCHS Greene Team honors volunteers at luncheon

    Greene Coats

     

    The Greene Team, local volunteers who devote time and treasure to the Greene County Health System, recognized their members’ contributions at an Annual Volunteers Luncheon held Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at Ruby’s in Eutaw. The luncheon featured presentations on Domestic Violence Awareness by Sheriff Jonathan Benison and Deputy Sheriff Lt. Jeremy Rancher.
    The Greene Team was organized in 2010 and currently has 39 active members who contributed 2,766.5 volunteer hours to the GCHS from October 2015 to date.In addition to serving as receptionists and advocates for positive community relations, the Greene Team also raises funds for special projects to benefit the Greene County Health Systems, including purchasing visitors’ sleeping cots and TV’s for hospital rooms, personal items for residents of the nursing home and more. The Greene Team volunteers are local individuals, mainly retirees, who choose to give more to their community through the GCHS.
    Mrs. Jeanetta Hall serves as president and Mrs. Melruth Carter as secretary. Mrs. Geraldine Walton was mistress of ceremony at the luncheon

  • Black Belt Folk Roots Festival – August 27-28 in Eutaw Annual festival strengthens community bonds

    By: Carol Prejean Zippert

     

    IMG_7389.JPG

     

    Months before the tent goes up on the old courthouse square in the center of town, inquiries have steadily poured in seeking confirmation that the annual Black Belt Folk Roots Festival will fill those grounds again on the fourth Saturday and Sunday of August.
    The calls about the festival are a reminder of how the community has taken ownership of this special event. The festival dates are an automatic imprint on the minds and hearts of so many. Local groups plan class reunions, family reunions, vacation time and other summer events on the week end of the festival. The Black Belt Folk Roots Festival itself has become a grand reunion.
    In is 41st year one may ask what is still so attractive about this festival; what is so compelling about this festival?IMG_7373.JPG Is it the array of handmade crafts such as theme designed quilts, baskets of pine needles, bullrush grass and corn shucks, hand-bottomed chairs, wood carvings, leather works and uniquely deigned jewelry? Is it the aroma of the foodways expressed on the grounds calling attention to the soul food dinners, fried fish, chicken, and pork skins, a range of barbeque meats, Polish sausage and bear burgers? The attraction may also be the homemade sweet treats including cakes, pies, funnel cakes, preserved fruits, sno’ cones and homemade ice cream churned on the spot.
    Perhaps the festival crowd returns to be once more enthralled by the ole timey blues music that dominates the sounds of the festival on Saturday. The musicians sing and strum stories of struggle, hardship, loss, pain and perseverance. The ole timey gospel stage that follows at Sunday’s festival brings reassurance that a people’s strong faith, commitment and sacrifice defines how we made it over. The spirit of the gospel music brings out the church in the crowd.
    Most significant, the festival brings together people to see people, to hear people, to touch people and strengthen a community bond they already share.
    The folk artists featured at the festival include craftspersons such as Odessa Rice, Mary Hicks, Martha Kimbrough, Eloise Jeter and Meloneal Hobson.
    Blues artists who return each year include Clarence Davis, The Liberators, Little Jimmie Reed (Leon Atkins), Russell Gulley, Davey Williams and Lemon Harper and others. Sunday’s gospel music is shared by The Echo Singers, the Echo Juniors, The Webb Gospel Singers, The Golden Gates, The Mississippi Traveling Stars, Son of Zion Gospel Duo, New Generation Male Chorus, Mrs. Eddie Mae Brown and more.The two day festival, held on the old courthouse square in the center of town in Eutaw, AL, is open to the public free of charge, The 2016 schedule is Saturday, August 27 from 11:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday August 28 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
    The festival is produced by the Society of Folk Arts & Culture. It was started in 1975 by Jane and Hubert Sapp who were part of the Miles College Eutaw Extension Program in an effort to document, preserve and celebrate the history, culture and traditions of the region. For more information contact Carol P. Zippert at 205-372-0525; carolxzippert@aol.com

  • Eutaw City Council approves election qualifying fees and other resolutions

    At their regular meeting on May 24, 2016, the Eutaw City Council approved a schedule of qualifying fees for the municipal elections to be held in August. The qualifying fee for the Mayor’s office will be $50 and the fee to qualify to run for City Council will be $25.
    The elections will be held on August 23, 2016 and the first official date to qualify will be after July 5, 2016.
    The Eutaw City Council had a second reading of a Resolution on Demolition of Condemned Buildings. This resolution provides for the City to invoice property holders for the demolition costs of abandoned, burned or otherwise uninhabitable buildings in the city. A resolution listing three properties that were recently demolished: 1. 152 Vera Vista Street ($2,000); 2. 104 Elm Street ($2,500); and 3. 304 Kirksey Avenue ($3,000) was approved by the City Council. If these properties are sold, the City expects to recover its funds.
    Council members said there were several other buildings in the city that also need to go through this process since their owners have abandoned them and they are a health risk to the neighboring dwellings and residents.
    The Council also agreed that they would not go on private property to cut grass. They will cut grass and remove trash on city right-of-ways but not go on private property. Property owners will be informed of the need to care for their own lots and areas. Ken Aycock, City Attorney, was asked to draft a resolution clarifying this issue for passage at the next Council meeting.
    In other business, the Eutaw City Council:
    • approved submission of the Municipal Water Pollution Prevention (MWPP) annual report to State of Alabama Department of Environmental Management;
    • approved the first reading of a Sub-Division Purchasing Agreement for housing lots to be sold by the City;
    • approved a resolution to ALDOT in support of a state project to replace the traffic lights on all four corners of the Courthouse Square in Eutaw.
    Mayor Hattie Edwards reported that she was still working on the major projects with USDA for improving the water system and fire protection and with ALDOT to repave Prairie Avenue.
    City Inspector Torris Babb reported that the Prairie Avenue project was moving toward bids. He also reported that as he traveled around the city, he found a number of construction and repair projects that had not secured the proper building permits from the City for work that was underway. He urged the contractors to secure the proper permits and meet city regulations.
    Council members reported on various street and drainage problems in their districts in need of attention and care by city staff.