Greene County Democrat

Category: General News

  • National and local leaders gather in Selma to strategize on protecting Democracy and Civil Rights 

    Photo No. 1 (cutline) : John Zippert, Co-publisher of the Greene County Democrat and Chair of the Board of the Greene County Health Sysytem speaks about healthcare issues at

     Photo No.2 (Cutline). From right to left: Allison Hamilton, executive director of the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice; Faya Touré, American civil rights activist and lawyer; John Zippert, board chair of Greene County Hospital/Greene County Health System; Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP; Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43).; Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families; Juan Proaño, chief executive officer of the League of United Latin American Citizens; Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center; and Martha Morgan, professor emerita of law at the University of Alabama School of Law.

    As our nation commemorated the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, national and state leaders, civil rights organizations, and community advocates convened in Selma, Alabama, for a powerful and urgent discussion about protecting democracy and advancing civil rights in the face of unprecedented threats.

    The event, “Saving Democracy: Our Civil Rights Strategies for this Unprecedented Moment,” was co-hosted by Hank Sanders  and Faya Rose Touré (The Bridge Crossing Jubilee), The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and a coalition of national and local organizations. The convening reaffirmed the movement’s commitment to defending democracy and mobilizing against voter suppression, attacks on civil rights, and systemic barriers to justice.

    Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: “As we confront an onslaught of attacks from our own federal government on the very civil and human rights it is obligated to protect and uphold, we are working united and unwavering against the attacks on our freedom and potential. This regime is abusing power — violating laws and dismantling its role as a shield — to turn the government into a weapon against us. They are stripping resources from our schools, our health care, and kids who can’t afford college, all while trying to discourage us from using our voice to make demands of the government.

    These efforts to erase our progress and dismantle our civil rights are direct attacks on our power to shape our future and ensure opportunities for our families. The promised land is not a promise, and democracy is a demand. Real power starts in our communities. When we organize locally, build coalitions, and mobilize for change, we create the foundation for national progress. Our coalition knows this is a fight for the promise of America and a multiracial democracy that works for all of us, not just a powerful few. Just as those who marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge 60 years ago showed us, when we organize and join together, we can face anything. Our coalition will continue that fight until freedom is won.”

    Hank Sanders, Founder of the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee: “We have to know our strengths if we are to engage effectively in this great struggle to maintain and improve this imperfect democracy. We know that we have been through greater struggles with less resources and triumphed. We must remember that we are not just in a terrible storm but going through the storm. There is something better on the other side. Know your strengths!”

    Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center: “At a time when our nation’s president incredulously tries to undo baseline civil rights protections and stoke fear in anyone fighting for justice, it is critical we double down on our commitment to gender and racial equality. We must not turn our backs on decades of progress secured by people who risked their lives fighting for equality, freedom and a fair shot for all. Diversity, equity and inclusion are not dirty words — and we will continue to challenge a president desperate to normalize racism and misogyny throughout his administration.”

    Derrick Johnson, president & chief executive officer of the NAACP: “Selma is a physical reminder of the history that must inform our future. No matter who occupies the Oval Office or holds the gavel on Capitol Hill, the NAACP will not accept regression as our reality. I was proud to stand alongside our colleagues in the fight for civil rights to remind us that race is merely a tool to distract from the perils of power, hungriness, and greed. We cannot be distracted. We must remain determined. Let’s continue the work to ensure democracy truly works for everybody.”

    Juan Proaño, chief executive officer of the League of United Latin American Citizens(LULAC): “LULAC’s fight for voting rights and immigrant justice is a fight for our democracy. On the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, we’re reminded that the same forces that once attacked Black Americans’ votes now target the Latino vote and vilify immigrants. LULAC stands strong, ensuring minority voices and power are felt in every election. We will not stand by as ICE and Border Patrol invade our schools, hospitals, and places of worship. The SAVE Act and attacks on sensitive locations are tools of intimidation meant to silence us. We will not back down. We’ll fight these policies in court, protest in the streets, and hold those responsible accountable. Our right to vote, learn, earn, heal, and pray is non-negotiable. The time to act is now.”

    Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families: “The ability to access high quality, affordable health care shapes every aspect of our lives, from our physical wellbeing to our economic security to our sense of personal freedom and dignity. Yet, the Trump administration is systematically attacking our health care system by enacting massive cuts to federal agencies, making it harder to collect information on health disparities, targeting programs like Medicaid that provide care to those in greatest need, and undermining abortion access. Our calls to action — to consistently make clear that health care is a civil rights issue; lift up the stories of the people who are harmed when they cannot access much-needed care; push policymakers to mandate the collection of data that can show racial, gender, and other disparities and to make infrastructure investments for more health care facilities; and proclaim that health care should never be treated as a precious resource that is only available to the privileged and the wealthy.”

    Martha Morgan, professor emerita of law at the University of Alabama School of Law and member of the steering committee of SOS (Saving OurSelves Movement for Justice and Democracy): “In Alabama, the attacks on democracy and justice are ongoing and groups like SOS are issuing calls to action to continue defending our rights in the field of education. In 2024, the Republican controlled legislature enacted laws aimed at the heart of both higher education and K-12. First, it banned public funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and restricted the teaching of so-called ‘divisive concepts’ at all public colleges and universities. Public colleges and universities responded by ending or recasting their DEI programs and closing campus spaces for student groups. The ACLU of Alabama and the Legal Defense Fund have filed a lawsuit on behalf of several courageous professors and students at University of Alabama campuses, and the NAACP and the legal battle is underway. A second 2024 law guts funding for K-12 education by allowing families to receive $7,000 to send their children to private school and $2,000 for children who are homeschooled.”

    John Zippert, board chair of the Greene County Health System in Eutaw, Alabama and SOS Steering Committee member: “For the past ten years we have been struggling with the Governor and the Alabama Legislature to expand Medicaid to provide health insurance to 300,000 low-income working people. Now our small rural hospital, nursing home and physician’s clinic faces the Trump Administration’s plan to cut $880 billion from Medicaid. This will further reduce our facility’s income. Every one of the 38 people we currently have in our Nursing Home is supported by Medicaid. Will we have to put these aging Americans, Black and White, into the streets? A reduction in the Medicaid and Medicare already low reimbursements will likely force us to close our facility, creating greater healthcare hardships for rural people in our communities.”

    The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 240 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org. 

  • Superintendent Jones shares school system’s budgeting process at AASB Conference

    The Greene County Board of Education met in regular session Monday, March 17, 2025 with all members present except Ms. Carrie Dancy. Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones began his report to the board with a summary of the recent Financial/Budget Presentation shared at the Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB) Annual Spring Conference held in Florence, AL, February 27-28, 2025. Board President Leo Branch and board member Robert Davis also attended the conference.
    Dr. Jones noted that the invitation from AASB was an opportunity to showcase the team work that is needed to operate a school system, especially the financial component. “A key component is building relationships and trust in budgeting and finances, Dr. Jones said.
    The presentation, entitled Proactive vs Reactive Budgeting – Navigating Financial Stability Post-ESSER, contained the following elements:
    * Proactive budgeting requires proper planning, staying in control of resources. Reactive budgeting is responding to events or problems as they occur, often in a crisis.
    Necessary to focus on the importance of controlling funds for long-term benefits.
    Building relationships and trust in budgeting and finances. “ Our District prioritizes involvement with all stakeholders when developing a budget and maintaining financial health, he said.
    Superintendent Jones’ report showed that the school district received over $9 million in ESSER Funds from 2022-2024. The final funds expired September 30, 2024 with the district utilizing the entire amount to upgrade curriculum tools including additional instructional staff for intervention and providing smart boards and hotspots for students; upgrading facilities including a new HVÅÇ system for Robert Brown Middle School and providing students with air conditioned buses. Jones said that many benefits were gained from ESSER Funding, but the District now focuses on a sustainable future.
    Dr. Jones also gave an overview of the ACAP Practice Test in Reading and Math for the 4th through 8th grades. The practice test indicate instructional areas teachers and administrators must focus on to assure students’ improvement and success. The ACAP Test are scheduled for April.
    CSFO Marquita Lennon provided the Financial Snapshot for the period ending February 28, 2025. The operating reserves totaled 7.98 months and the cash reserves totaled 7.70 months. All bank accounts have been reconciled. The general fund budget totaled $8,120,338.91. (This reconciles to the summary cash report). Accounts payable check register totaled $389,641.42; Payroll register totaled $939,400.36, with the combined ending fund balanced totaling $8,424,516.40. In local revenues, property taxes totaled $71,136.85; sales taxes $97,201.68; other taxes $12,641.27; Amendment 743, $60,000. Local revenue totaled $240,979.80.
    The board approved on e personnel item recommended by the superintendent- the retirement of Mrs. Angela White, Career and Technical Counselor at Greene County Career Center, effective February 28, 2025.
    The following administrative items were approved by the board.
    * Permission to sell used district office chairs at $15 each and to dispose of salvage chairs.
    * Retroactive approval for March 10, 2025, quote from Uniti Fiber to upgrade and install 49 network switches at EPS and RBMS in the amount of $38,617.31. (FY 2025-2026 E-Rate Mini Bid. Optional equipment not accepted as part of the bid).
    * Air travel and overnight stay for chaperones and two students to attend the National DECA Competition in Orlando, FL April 26 – 29, 2025.
    * Travel to SREB Conference in New Orleans, July 15-18, 2025, for 10 faculty/staff (to be paid from CCR Grant; 11 faculty/staff to be paid from federal funds.
    * Travel for Shamyra Jones to attend JAG National Training Seminar in Louisville, KY, July 14-18, 2025.
    * Science textbook adoption (6 years).
    * Quote from Savvas Learning Company to purchase science textbooks, Grades K-12 in the amount of $130,790.63 (6-year purchase).
    * Permission to sell three Transportation Department vehicles as is by sealed bids
    * Payment of all bills, claims, and payroll.
    * Bank reconciliations as submitted by Mrs. Marquita Lennon, CSFO.
    * School Calendar 2025 – 2026.
    * Contract between the Greene County School system and Alicia Hodge-Scott/Educate to Excellence LLC, to provide special education services to the Greene County School System for the 2024 – 2025 school year.
    * FY 2025 Special Education Teacher Supplement per guidelines outlined by the Alabama State Department of Education.

  • Saluting Young Women Entrepreneurs during Women’s History Month

     Kimberly Atkins

    Raised in the Black Belt city of Eutaw, Alabama, Kimberly Atkins built a successful career in accounting and real estate. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration with an accounting concentration from Auburn University and an MBA from Auburn University Montgomery. She has over 12 years of accounting experience in both private and government sectors.
    Kimberly began her entrepreneurial journey in 2017 with the launch of ABT Financial Solutions. The company’s goal is to help clients reach financial freedom through empowering them with financial literacy and independence. In 2020, Kimberly expanded into real estate by starting
    Dreams to Reality Realty, successfully flipping houses and acquiring rental properties. Her passion lies in restoring old properties and transforming communities.  Grounded in faith and supported by family, Kimberly remains dedicated to growing her businesses and uplifting
    small cities like her hometown. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with loved ones. We proudly recognize Kimberly for her contributions to the community
    and for paving the way for women after her. Kimberly Atkins is the daughter of Willie and Mattie Atkins of Eutaw. She is a graduate of Greene County High School.

    Teresa Atkins

    With a strong commitment to preparing students for success, Teresa serves as the Career and Technical Education Director at Greene County Career Center. Under her leadership, the center has expanded hands-on learning opportunities, strengthened industry partnerships, and programs to enhance career readiness. She is passionate about workforce development in rural communities, ensuring students have access to skills training and real-world experiences.
    In addition to her role in education, Teresa is a multi-business entrepreneur with a deep commitment to family and community. She is actively involved in her family’s business, Uncle Willie’s BBQ Sauce, helping to grow the brand through sales, marketing, and business development.
    She is also the founder of Broad Horizons Travel, a travel agency offering curated vacations, cruise preparation, and travel consultations while expanding a network of independent travel agents.
    Faith is central to Teresa’s journey, guiding her work and personal mission. Her passion for faith inspired Journey with God, a brand featuring Christian journals, devotionals, and apparel. She has authored multiple books, including Walking in Purpose: Building a Christ-Centered Business and Worthy & Loved: Embracing Your Singleness While Preparing for Marriage.
    As a devoted mother to her 8-year-old son, Caleb, Teresa prioritizes faith and family. Through education, entrepreneurship, and faith, Teresa continues to inspire, uplift, and create lasting change in her community.
    Teresa is a 1998 graduate of Eutaw High School. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from Alabama A&M University and went on to obtain a Master of Education in Family and Consumer Sciences from Iowa State University. Continuing her pursuit of educational excellence, she earned an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Columbus State University and is currently enrolled in the doctoral program at Samford University in Educational and Organizational Leadership.
    Teresa is the daughter of Willie and Mattie Atkins of Eutaw.

  • Newswire : Lagos, Nigeria, is predicted to become the world’s largest city

    Market street in Lagos, Nigeria

    By BlackmansStreet today

    Lagos, Nigeria, is projected to become the world’s largest city by the end of the century with an estimated population of 100 million people.Ontario Tech University in Canada predicted Lagos could outstrip Tokyo, Delhi, and Shanghai to become the most densely populated urban area globally. In addition, 13 of the world’s 20 largest cities will be in Africa because of Africa’s high birthrate, and people are seeking tech jobs.Currently, Lagos, home to approximately 20 million residents, holds the title of Africa’s largest city. There are more than 250 ethnic groups in Lagos including the Hausa, Igbo, and Fulani. Small minorities of American, British, East Indian, Chinese, white Zimbabwean, Greek, Syrian, Lebanese and Japanese are also present in the city. In the mid-19th century, many ex-slaves of Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban descent and emigrants from Sierra Leone created communities in Lagos, along with ex-slaves from the Americas.Until 1975 it was the capital of Lagos state, and until December 1991 it was the federal capital of Nigeria. Ikeja replaced Lagos as the state capital, and Abuja replaced Lagos as the federal capital. Lagos, however, remained the unofficial seat of many government agencies. 

    But Lagos has its problems. 

    Two-thirds of residents in this megacity live below the poverty line of US$1 a day, and it’s estimated that over 70% live in informal settlements. These settlements are prone to evictions because they occupy land that is increasingly becoming targeted for high-value property development projects. As a result, at least 50,000 people have been forcibly evicted from these areas in a violent four-year campaign by Lagos State authorities and police, leaving many dead and tens of thousands homeless.

     

  • Newswire : Trump Administration erases Black History at Arlington National Cemetery

    Military graves at Arlington National Cemetery

    By Stephen A. Crockett Jr., NewsOne

     

    It’s one thing to say that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives give an unfair advantage to people of color inside organizations; it’s a gross overstep to use DEI as an excuse to purge the existence of notable Black, Hispanic, and veteran women from Arlington National Cemetery — which is exactly what the Trump administration has done. 
    According to MSNBC, the final resting place for some 400,000 soldiers has scrubbed its website of the gravesites of notable “prominent minority veterans, as well as educational pages on the Civil War, African American history and women’s history.”
    They have also removed all language about diversity and inclusion and placed some pertinent information about extraordinary people of color under different categories that don’t mention race or gender because the Trump administration hates history that makes white people look bad.
    Seriously, why else would they want to stop teachings on African American history or the Civil Rights Movement, all information that was once on the Arlington cemetery’s web pages until the Trump administration war on DEI? There used to be a section on Black war heroes, and that page is no longer there because god forbid some Black child sees these powerful images and thinks that maybe he could be a pilot or a Marine one day. 
    The cemetery is not entirely at fault. A spokesperson for the Arlington National told the Washington Post that they are just trying to adhere to Donald Trump’s policies after confirming that the webpages of “Notable Graves” of Black, Hispanic, and female veterans were taken down. 
    Because Donald Trump and his brood of white cis-gendered men hate diversity, they hate anyone who doesn’t look like them, and they are working diligently to erase years of progress under the guise of “Making America Great Again,” which is really just a synonym for white. 
    Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has claimed that he’s getting rid of “wokeness” in the military but showcasing the work of people of color in the Armed Forces isn’t “woke,” unless “wokeness” means people of color (I admit that I don’t know what wokeness means now that it’s been bastardized by MAGA).
    MSNBC notes that one of Donald Trump’s first firings when taking office was to get rid of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown, a Black man, and one of the most highly decorated officers and replaced him with a white cis-gendered man.
    He also pushed out “Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the head of the U.S. Navy and the first woman to lead any branch of the armed forces.” Her firing left the armed forces without any 4-star female commanders. 
    Since being confirmed as defense secretary, Hegseth noted that he believes the dumbest phrase in the military is “Our strength is in our diversity.” So clearly he was for a ban on all cultural heritage celebrations, “including Black History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National American Indian Heritage Month, LGBTQ Pride Month, Women’s History Month, Juneteenth, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Holocaust Remembrance Day,” MSNBC reports. 
    Oh and in case you wanted to clear up any doubt, yes, they are looking to ban trans people from serving in the military.
    And get this: After scrubbing the Pentagon of some 26,000 images that showed veterans of diverse races and identities, they also took down an image of a World War II B-29 aircraft that dropped the world’s first and only atomic bomb on Hiroshima because it was named “Enola Gay.”

  • Newswire :EU lawmaker: Statue of Liberty belongs in France, not Trump’s America

    Statue of Liberty

    By Stacy M. Brown
    BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent

    The words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty— “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”—once stood as a beacon of hope, a promise that America would welcome those seeking refuge and opportunity. A French politician is now calling for the monument’s return, arguing that the United States no longer deserves it. Raphaël Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament and co-president of France’s left-wing Public Place party, made headlines with his call to reclaim the statue, a gift from France nearly 140 years ago. “Give us back the Statue of Liberty. It was our gift to you,” Glucksmann declared, speaking before an applauding crowd. “But apparently, you despise her. So, she will be happy here with us.”
    The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was conceived as a symbol of French American friendship and shared democratic values. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, the statue was transported to the United States in 350 pieces and dedicated by President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886. It was designated a National Monument in 1924 and maintained by the National Park Service since 1933. UNESCO recognizes it as a World Heritage site but remains U.S. government property.
    Glucksmann’s remarks are the latest in a wave of criticism from European leaders over the direction of American democracy, particularly under former President Donald Trump. His policies on immigration, which included detaining families at the border, restricting asylum, and implementing travel bans, drew widespread condemnation. Glucksmann and his party argue that Trump’s approach not only abandoned the ideals symbolized by the Statue of Liberty but actively undermined them, targeting Black and Brown immigrants while fueling nationalist rhetoric.
    French leaders have not been shy in their criticism of Trump’s foreign policy. Prime Minister François Bayrou condemned the White House’s treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the temporary freeze on military aid to Ukraine, warning that such actions strengthened Russia’s position.
    Glucksmann’s party has gone further, calling Trump’s leadership “authoritarian” and accusing him of delivering Ukraine “on a silver platter” to Russia. Glucksmann’s speech directly referenced The New Colossus, the 1883 poem by Emma Lazarus inscribed on the statue’s pedestal. He invoked its message of refuge and freedom, only to argue that those ideals no longer reflect today’s United States. “Today, this land is ceasing to be what it was,” Glucksmann said.

  • Newswire : Target takes a hit: $12.4 Billion in stock value wiped out

    Target poster

    By Stacy Brown, NNPA National Correspondent
     

    Target Corporation’s stock plummeted by approximately $27.27 per share by the end of February, erasing about $12.4 billion in market value. The drop came on February 28, the designated economic blackout day, and coincided with mounting backlash over the retailer’s decision to abandon its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments.

    The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) has taken action through its Public Education and Selective Buying Campaign. NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. said, “Black consumers helped build Target into a retail giant, and now they are making their voices heard. If corporations believe they can roll back diversity commitments without consequence, they are mistaken.”

    Reverend Jamal Bryant, pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia, has led calls for a “40-Day Target Fast,” urging Black consumers to withhold their spending at the retailer. “Black people spend $12 million a day at Target,” Bryant said. “If we withhold our dollars, we can make a statement that cannot be ignored.”

    The NAACP also issued a Black Consumer Advisory in response to Target’s DEI rollback, warning Black consumers about corporate retreat from diversity initiatives. The advisory urges them to support businesses that remain committed to investing in Black communities.

    Target is also facing legal battles. Shareholders have filed lawsuits challenging the company’s DEI policies, arguing that the commitments hurt financial performance. Meanwhile, conservative groups have sued over Target’s diversity efforts, claiming they discriminated against white employees and other groups.

    “Consumers have the power to demand change, and Target is learning that lesson the hard way,” Chavis said

     

  • Newswire : Listen: “We have very few options. But to join together to organize for a General Strike”

    AFA President Sara Nelson says it’s time for American workers to organize for a general strike.

    By Joe Maniscalco, Work-Bites, a labor news service


    AFA President Sara Nelson says it’s time for American workers to organize for a general strike.
    Arguably the most potent and powerful figure in the labor movement today has just declared that American workers—no matter what you do or what sector you’re in—now have “very few options but to join together to organize for a general strike.”
    “What we have to understand is the people in charge, the people doing this, are doing this to make the federal workforce miserable—to make us all miserable and demoralized, and shrink into our own space—to inspire scarcity and competition among workers so that we don’t rise up together to stop them,” Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, CWA-AFL-CIO, told “What’s Going On?” host Bob Hennelly over the weekend. 
    Nelson made her comments following the Department of Homeland Security announcement on Friday that it is stripping Transportation Safety Administration [TSA] workers of their collective bargaining rights. 
    “The attrition of the workforce will continue at TSA and anywhere else as long as workers do not have their pay and benefits and collective bargaining rights that gives them the ability to actually do their jobs,” Nelson said.
    The AFA president, with 50,000 members working at 20 airlines, further warned that the DHS’ move is all “about authoritarian control” and that her biggest concern is that the airline industry will experience a “tragic event” because of it. 
    “We cannot just allow this to happen and think this is someone else’s problem,” she added. 
    Nelson, of course, successfully pushed back on Donald Trump in 2019, and helped end the longest government shutdown in American history when she threatened a nationwide airport strike to reopen the government.

  • Greene County scholars participate in Youth Freedom March in Selma

    Greene County 3rd grade scholars joined approximately 500 youth from various parts of Alabama to participate in the Children’s Sojourn/Youth Freedom March across the historic Edmond Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL, Friday, March 7, 2025. The children’s march was part of the 60th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the 33rd Annual Bridge Crossing Commemoration and Jubilee held in Selma.
    “Youth were central to the struggle for voting rights in the 1960s, bravely facing arrests and significant danger. Friday’s march recognizes their courage and contributions. Initially, young people were not going to be allowed to make their annual sojourn across the bridge for the 60th Anniversary. Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL) and Congressman Jim Clyburn (SC) were both instrumental in ensuring Friday’s Youth Sojourn could take place, helping organizers keep the bridge open for the young people’s historic march,” stated Attorney Hank Sanders, co-founder of the Annual Bridge Crossing Commemoration.
    Following the Children’s Sojourn/Youth Freedom March, conversations were held with Foot Soldiers of 1965 at the Memorial Park on the Montgomery side of the bridge. The youth also visited other historical sites in Selma.

    Emma Jackson, of Eutaw, AL, receives a commemoration honoring her brother Jimmie Lee Jackson who was killed by State Troopers during a peaceful march in Marion, AL in 1965. The plaque was presented at the annual Freedom Flames Award Banquet Saturday, March 8, 2025 in Selma, as part of the 60th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March.

  • Commission accepts CFO’s resignation effective May 31, 2025

    Commission approves $400 monthly stipend for Water Authority members

    The Greene County Commission met in regular session Monday, March 10, 2025 with all commissioners present except Mr. Tennyson Smith. Following the executive session, the first item of new business was to consider the request from the Greene County Water Authority to authorize a $400 monthly stipend for each member of the Water Authority. This was approved on a 3-1 vote with commissioners Roshanda Summerville, Corey Cockrell and Allen Turner voting yes and Commissioner Garria Spencer voting no.
    This repeated request from the Water Authority has been pursued since the Commission increased the Authority members from three to five in 2024, so each district in the county could be represented. According to Commission Chairperson Spencer, the Water Authority’s request had not been considered by the commission, since no appointed county boards receive stipends. Spencer also noted that stipends cannot be paid from Federal Grants, only from the operating account which is funded by water fees from customers. “It is likely that water bills will be raised due to the cost of these stipends,” Spencer said.
    Vincent Atkins, the Water Authority’s Manager/Operator stated that in 2019 the Water Authority received a $400,000 grant from USDA to construct an office with a storm shelter and for major upgrades to the water system. Atkins explained that due in part to delays with the original contractor, the USDA grant was extended and following legal actions, the Water Authority received a settlement from that contractor.
    According to Atkins, the current contractor has raised the cost of the project by approximately $130,000 due to delays from the Water Authority. “If the Water Authority had processed the contracts and related necessary documents in a timely manner, we would have avoided this increase in cost,” Atkins stated.
    Atkins noted that along with having to pay stipends to members, the Water Authority
    must budget for a monthly debt service of $3,300 on a $900,000 outstanding bank loan related to this project; satisfy an annual $86,000 reserve for maintenance and replacements; create another reserve which must reach $42,000.
    The current members of the Greene County Water Authority are: Chairperson William Morgan, appointed in 2022; Walter Beck appointed in 2021; Andre Woods, Don Woods and Barry Walker appointed in 2024.
    CFO Macaroy has submitted his resignation as Chief Financial Officer for the county, effective May 31, 2025. Underwood noted that he is nearing retirement and will assist the county with this transition.
    “Greene County is my home and it has been an honor to serve my home community as Greene County, Alabama CFO since 2020. I worked most of my professional career in Birmingham, Alabama; but, it’s truly been a pleasure to work for the Greene County Commission for four years. The county is in better financial condition than when I started and I’m a better person after working for Greene County,” said Mac Underwood. Underwood’s resignation was approved.
    The commission approved a request from Iron Wolk LLC to continue consulting with county attorney Mark Parnell relative to securing use of the former Greenetrack property. No additional information was provided on the company’s plan for the property.
    In other business, the commission acted on the following:
    Approved the finance report and payment of bells.
    Approved MSB for bridge on County Road 20 at cost of $883,349, to be paid from Rebuild Alabama Fund.
    Approved travel for Assistant Engineer.
    Approved contract with Cooks Pest Control for the Eutaw Activity Center.
    Authorized Engineer’s office to apply for $400,000 Alabama Forestry (reimbursement) Grant to upgrade roads traveled by heavy trucks.
    CFO Underwood presented the following financial report for February 2025 – claims paid from general fund. Accounts payable totaled $242,993.24; payroll transfer totaled $289,620.36; fiduciary totaled $63,703.78; electronic claims paid totaled $74,089.09. Citizen Trust Bank unrestricted funds totaled $2,149,021.55; restricted funds totaled $5,319,334.98. Merchants & Farmers Bank unrestricted funds totaled $1,354,645.08; restricted funds totaled $2,537,746.71. CD’s and investments totaled $1,898,597.43.