Greene County Democrat

Category: Health

  • Greene County Commission receives new equipment to patch potholes; holds meetings to approve grant proposals and other matters

    A group of five people standing together in front of a street maintenance truck with a large hopper, featuring branding and equipment. The scene takes place outdoors with power lines in the background.

    Greene County Commissioners displays new pothole patching machine.


    The Greene County Commission met for its regular monthly meeting on Monday, February 9, 2026 at the William M. Branch Courthouse in Eutaw. All Commissioners were present.
    Before the meeting began, the Commissioners looked at a new pothole patching machine that they acquired for the Highway Department at a cost of $325,500. This machine can be operated by one person instead of a crew of people and will save money in patching potholes. The machine will allow for the Department to reach many roads on a more timely basis to deal with potholes.
    At the meeting the Commissioners agreed to submit the 2026 CDBG grant proposal for $500,000 to the State of Alabama for approval and implementation. According to Assistant Engineer, John Isley, the CDBG proposal included road repair to the following roads – Barren Road, Cook Road, County Road 74, County Road 67 and Emerald Lane. The exact amount of road work that can be done will be based on actual cost, availability of 10% matching funds, and other factors.
    The Commission approved a contract for $2,800 to Standard Roofing to repair holes in the roof of the Eutaw Activity Center.
    The Commission approved a request for $5,000 to assist E-911. The Commission agreed to provide E-911 with $5,000 per quarter from the undesignated funds from the Greene County Racing Commission for pari-mutuel gaming at the Palace Entertainment Center in Knoxville, Alabama.
    The Commission approved travel expenses for the Board of Registrars to attend AABOR meeting in Orange Beach on February 26-28, 2026; they also approved travel for two Assistant Engineers to attend training in Tuscaloosa at the AVMS Annual Conference on February 24-25, 2026.
    Altheria Wilder, CFO, gave a financial report on the County’s funds as of January 31, 2026. The County has a total of $12,599,817 in funds in Citizens Trust Bank and Merchants and Farmers Bank. Of these funds: $4,676,849 are unrestricted and $7,922,968 are restricted. There is an additional total of $1 909,209 in Certificates of Deposit and investments. In January 2026, the Commission paid out $3,452,992 for payroll and bills. Another $82,794 was paid in electronic transfers for payroll taxes and retirement. All County agencies are operating close to budget projections for the first four months of the fiscal year and have close to 67% of projected budgets remaining. The Commission approved the financial report.
    At the Commission Work Session on February 4, 2026, the Commission heard a report from Rodgerick Williams, Administrator of the Greene County Health System, which includes the hospital, nursing home and physicians clinic. He said that he has been at the facility for two months and has acquired some new equipment to monitor patient vital signs, a baby warmer and renovated two rooms in the Nursing Home. With help from the County Commission in advancing tax funds has helped stabilize the finances of the Greene County Health System. Williams invited the Commissioners and the public to visit the health care facilities and use them when they are needed.
    District Attorney, Rachel England, for the 17th Judicial Circuit of Greene, Sumter and Marengo counties, came to the Work Session to request $20,000 be included in the county’s budget for a “major crimes unit” for personnel, supplies and trainings to make the unit operational. Commission Chair Garria Spencer asked the District Attorney to put her plan and request in writing for further action by the Commission.
    The Work Session also heard a presentation by Charles Gomez, contractor for revitalizing the Greenetrack facility, which is now owned by the county. Gomez suggested that $2.7 million would be needed for repairs to the facility to make it available for lease by gaming, restaurants and other businesses. The County Commission is scheduled for a site visit to Greenetrack on February 11, 2026 to see what work Gomez has done and what is still needed for the property.

  • Jonathan “Joe” Benison seeks re-election as Sheriff of Greene County

    A smiling sheriff in a white uniform and black cowboy hat, with a badge displayed on his shirt.

    Dear Greene County Citizens,

    I have been fortunate to have an extensive career in law enforcement: nearly 16 years as your sheriff and 24 years as an Alabama State Trooper. But before any of that, I was a Greene County Deputy Sheriff. The foundation for my passion for law enforcement was laid in Greene County. I do not take for granted that you have entrusted me with the honor of being your sheriff, and I thank you for your support—do not second-guess yourselves. Rest assured that you have always made the right choice. We have been here before; do not allow seeds of doubt to bear fruit. Let’s be clear, Greene County is my home, too. I am a sheriff by trade, but the heart of who I am, who I was before I entered this role, is a Greene County citizen. I am just like you. I am you: I was born here, I was educated here, my family is here, my home is here, my heart is here. My heart for this community and its people is what guides me. If Greene County does not thrive, if Greene County is not safe, if our county’s resources go under, WE all lose. For these very reasons, this neighbor, classmate, friend, and citizen is asking for your support. Allow me the honor to continue advocating for Greene County, fighting for Greene County, most importantly, protecting and serving Greene County, OUR community, OUR home. A vote for me is a vote for WE because we are in this together.

    On May 19th, vote for a Proven Past, Proactive Present and a Fearless Future. Vote for your Sheriff, Jonathan “Joe” Benison.

    Sincerely,

    Jonathan “Joe” Benison

  • Willie Esther Davis announces candidacy for Greene Co. School Board, District 4

    A woman with curly hair, wearing a black dress with white polka dots, poses in front of a brick wall.

    Today, I am formally announcing my candidacy for the Greene County School Board, District 4.
    My name is Willie Esther Davis, I am running for the Greene County Board of Education. I am a lifelong resident of Greene County and a proud native of the Tishabee Community. I am a graduate of Paramount High School and earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Stillman College. While attending Stillman College, I received the United States Achievement Academy All-American Scholar Award.
    I humbly ask for your support and your vote to serve as your School Board Member for District 4. A vote for me is a vote for change. Thank you.

  • Newswire : Fulton County files lawsuit seeking return of seized election materials

    Two individuals entering a building labeled 'Registration and Elections', with a clear glass front and a blue parking sign nearby.

    FBI agents enter Fulton County Georgia voting offices

    By Joe Jurado, NewsOne

    President Donald Trump has spent the last seven years obsessed with Georgia following his loss in the 2020 election. The FBI turned heads last week when it seized voting information related to the 2020 election from a warehouse in Fulton County. On Wednesday, attorneys for Fulton County filed a motion in federal court demanding that the federal government return the seized election materials. 
    According to the New York Times, Robb Pitts, the chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, explained why the lawsuit was filed at a news conference on Wednesday.
    “We will fight using all resources against those who seek to take over our elections. Our Constitution itself is at stake in this fight.” Pitts said. 
    Georgia has continually remained a sticking point for Trump, likely due to the fact that state officials refused his request to “find the votes” in a phone call made shortly after his loss in the 2020 election. “The president himself and his allies, they refuse to accept the fact that they lost,” Pitts said during the news conference. “And even if he had won Georgia, he would still have lost the presidency.” 
    While on the surface, the Fulton County raid looks like a move to placate Trump’s ego, Democrats and election officials have highlighted the chilling, underlying implications of the raid. “This case is not only about Fulton County. This is about elections across Georgia and across the nation,” Pitts said during the news conference. 
    It was widely expected that the Democrats would retake the House in the midterms, as Republicans hold only a narrow majority and midterm elections are usually favorable to the opposition party. So Trump made the big brain move of convincing several Red states to undergo rare, mid-decade redistricting efforts. 
    As his redistricting effort hit roadblocks in Indiana and Missouri, and Blue states like California successfully implemented their own redistricting efforts, Trump has taken a far more authoritarian tone regarding the midterms. Last month, he publicly floated outright canceling the midterms. Shortly after the raid, he appeared on former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s podcast and called for elections to be “nationalized.”
    “Look at some of the places — that horrible corruption on elections — and the federal government should not allow that,” Trump said. “The federal government should get involved.” 
    What makes all of this particularly crazy is that only a month ago, Trump justified the U.S. kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by saying he wasn’t legitimately elected. Which, to be fair, according to an independent voting firm, Maduro overwhelmingly lost the last election but declared himself the winner. It appears that this is yet another episode of “rules for thee, not for me,” as Trump is clearly willing to manipulate the midterms by any 1. possible to maintain the GOP’s control of Congress. There are even concerns that his willingness to deploy the National Guard to cities with Democratic leadership is a test run for how he might deploy the Guard to polling sites. 
    The Fulton County raid, combined with the Department of Justice’s repeated, failed attempts to seize voter rolls from several Blue states, paints the picture of an administration that is actively trying to interfere with a free and fair midterm election. It would be such a delight if the Republicans who keep yapping about “voter fraud” would realize that the corruption is coming from inside the house.

  • Newswire : Meet Roxanne Brown, the first African American and the first woman President of the United Steelworkers

    Newswire : Meet Roxanne Brown, the first African American and the first woman President of the United Steelworkers

    Roxanne Brown

    By Black Press USA

    In a significant moment for the labor movement, Roxanne Brown, set to become the first African American woman elected as President of the United Steelworkers (USW), North America’s largest industrial union, joins Make It Plain with Rev. Mark Thompson. With the official transition happening in March, Brown’s ascent is more than just a personal achievement; it represents a shift in the labor movement’s leadership reflecting the demographics of today’s workforce.

    A woman with curly hair wearing a black dress with white polka dots and a pearl necklace, standing in front of a brick wall.
    A smiling woman with glasses speaking into a microphone at a public event.
    A woman speaking into a microphone at a rally, with a crowd of supporters behind her holding signs. The woman wears a blue jacket and gestures as she addresses the audience.
    Promotional flyer for a Civic Engagement Breakfast hosted by the Greene County Human Rights Commission and the Black Belt Community Foundation, inviting the general public to participate in a voting event on March 14, 2026, at Eutaw Activity Center.
    A hand placing an official ballot into a USPS mailbox with an April 29, 2026 postmark, accompanied by medical documents and a stethoscope, highlighting concerns over changes affecting ballots and healthcare.


    Born in Kingston, Jamaica, she moved to New York at the age of two and was raised by what she affectionately refers to as “the Amazons”—a family of strong, single women who were deeply involved in healthcare and unions. Her first exposure to the labor movement came through the nurses union and AFSCME’s CSEA in New York. This early influence clearly set the stage for what would be a lifelong commitment to labor rights and leadership.


    Reflecting on her path to this esteemed position, Brown shared, “I cut my teeth in our policy shop, and I had to learn about our core issues and our core values. I literally spent my entire career fighting on behalf of our members across so many sectors.”


    The USW under Brown’s leadership will be setting the tone with what she believes is a much-needed representation change. Brown emphasized, “We are the most diverse union in North America…we’re cradle to grave and have everything in between.”


    With a membership boasting varied backgrounds, Brown’s leadership is a reflection of this diversity, as the board she is set to lead will be its most diverse in the union’s history.


    Leading a predominantly male union presents its unique set of challenges. Brown noted, “When people think about our union, there’s an image that comes to mind that does not look like me. But…we are the most diverse union in North America, in terms of our sectors and membership.”
    She recognizes the importance of transcending stereotypes and advocated for a more inclusive image representing the diversity within the union.

    Amidst the intricate challenges of tariffs and economic pressures, uncertainty remains a theme. Brown explains, “This current environment of tariffs is not strategic and creates uncertainty…not just for sectors but for our ability to use the tools we’ve relied on for survival.”

    Brown is poised to take on these challenges head-on with strategies rooted in education, engagement, and advocacy at all governmental levels. She affirmed the union’s commitment by saying, “Engage, engage, engage—because we are charged to do that on behalf of our membership.”
    In discussing the broader significance of her leadership and that of fellow African American union leaders, Brown reflects, “Leadership should always reflect who is being led…I’m opening the door so that others know what is possible.”

    “It is not about us alone; it is about what we represent and showing what is possible to our members who look like us,” she said.
    Brown listed some of the products USW members produce:
    • Goodyear, Bridgestone Firestone, and Michelin tires
    • Libby glassware
    • Starbucks cups
    • Paper towels
    • Amazon boxes
    • Wine bottles and beer cans
    • Bourbon bottles
    • Car components, including glass and steel
    • Glass on iPhones and Android devices
    • Fiber optic cables used for 5G systems
    • Oil for powering vehicles
    • Cement used in construction
    • Various pharmaceutical products, including some COVID-19 drugs
    • School buses and taxi services in certain areas
    • Baskerville coffins and caskets

  • Newswire : Bad Bunny dances his way through Super Bowl halftime show with vibes, symbolism and unity

    Newswire : Bad Bunny dances his way through Super Bowl halftime show with vibes, symbolism and unity

    Bad Bunny entertains at halftime show

    Bad Bunny turned the Super Bowl halftime show into a Puerto Rican–inspired cultural spectacle, and a deeper message that social media loved

    By William Goodwin II, NewsOne
    Ahead of the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny promised that you didn’t need to understand Spanish to enjoy his halftime show because it’d still be a vibe. And he was right.
    As football fans finally got a break from the snooze-fest 9-0 game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, Bad Bunny took to the field, which had been transformed into a farm, as he started performing his hit song “Tití Me Preguntó.”
    He walked through the maze as people began chopping down the crops, passing other hard workers: a jeweler, a coconut cart, old men playing dominoes, a nail tech, bricklayers, a Piraguas (shaved ice) stand, tacos, and boxers sparring, all of which showed the cultural relevance of Puerto Rico.
    From there, the camera panned to a bunch of people partying on a porch, and eagle-eyed fans noticed Jessica Alba, Pedro Pascal, Karol G, Young Miko, David Grutman, Cardi B, and Alix Earle were just some of the people dancing.
    Bad Bunny was on top of the house performing “YO PERREO SOLA,” as a dozen women twerked in unison on the field in front of him as the song flowed right into the Rauw Alejandro– assisted track “Party.”
    After falling through the roof of the house and performing on top of a pickup truck, watching a wedding, Lady Gaga emerged on stage with a full band backing her as she sang a new version of her Bruno Mars collab, “Die With A Smile.”
    After more dancing in front of elaborately designed bodegas and barbershop, it was time for Ricky Martin to show out, who was also wearing a crisp all-white ‘fit.
    For his last stunt, Bad Bunny climbed a light pole before ending his set by marching down the field, but he traded the Puerto Rican flag firmly in his hand for a football that read “Together, We Are America,” as he said, “God bless America.”
    He followed that by naming dozens of other countries, including Panama, Canada, Paraguay, Chile, and Bolivia, as fireworks went off in the background and the jumbotron read, “The Only Thing More Powerful Than Hate Is Love.”

  • Newswire : Don Lemon made the headlines, but Georgia Fort’s arrest shows no journalist Is safe

    A professional portrait of a woman in a pink blazer and a man in a tuxedo, both posing confidently against a grey background.

    Georgia Fort and Don Lemon

    By Stacy M. Brown
 NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    Famed journalist Don Lemon may draw the headlines, but Emmy-winning independent reporter Georgia Fort and Trahem Jenn Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy were also taken into custody as federal agents moved against four Black journalists whose only apparent offense was documenting protests critical of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
    Lemon, a veteran broadcaster and longtime critic of President Donald Trump, was arrested late Thursday night in Los Angeles after livestreaming an anti-ICE demonstration connected to a January protest at a St. Paul, Minnesota, church. A short time later, Fort, a respected Minnesota-based journalist, was arrested by federal agents in her home state for reporting on the same protest, according to public statements and court records.
    Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the arrests signal a dangerous escalation by the Trump administration rather than any attempt to ease tensions following the fatal shootings of civilians by federal agents in Minnesot. She said Lemon was simply doing his job when agents arrested him and stressed that Fort’s detention made clear this was not an isolated incident but a broader assault on press freedoma.
    Federal authorities revived charges tied to a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul after a magistrate judge had already declined to approve arrest warrants against Lemon and others, citing insufficient evidence. Prosecutors then pursued indictments through a grand jury, a move civil liberties advocates say appears designed to sidestep judicial scrutiny and chill coverage of protests against ICE operations.
    Fort documented her own arrest in a brief livestream as agents arrived at her door, telling viewers she was being taken into custody for filming the protest as a member of the press. Her arrest, announced publicly by Attorney General Pam Bondi, placed an Emmy-winning journalist alongside protesters in a case the administration has described as a coordinated attack.
    Civil rights leaders said the symbolism was unmistakable. Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network, said Lemon’s arrest marked a direct blow against the First Amendment and warned that journalists critical of the president were being singled out.
    Press freedom advocates echoed those concerns. Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, said the arrests represent a constitutional crisis for journalism in the United States, adding that reporters have the right to document and share information with the public without fear of retaliation.
    Mayor Bass said she contacted the U.S. attorney to demand information about Lemon’s status and warned that arresting journalists for entering a church while reporting crosses a line the Constitution was written to prevent. “It’s an egregious assault on constitutionally protected First Amendment rights,” Bass said.

  • Tennyson Smith announces candidacy for re-election for Commissioner, District #2

    A well-dressed man with a gray beard, wearing a suit and tie, standing in front of a brick wall.


    To the Citizens of Greene County and Voters of District 2. When I took the oath of an elected official years ago, I pledged to do my best to help improve Greene County and District 2. Today, I am pleased to say, I have done my best to uphold that pledge. Each decision and vote were made with you, the citizens, and voters of District 2, in mind. I am seeking reelection as Greene County Commissioner of District 2 in the May 19, 2026 Primary Election.
    *I am dedicated to the task that is before me.
    *I am available to you whenever you need me.
    * I operate an Open-Door Policy; no appointment is needed to see me.
    *I will continue to return each of your calls and check on and resolve all concerns and problems.
    Vote to re-elect experienced, Knowledgeable and Ready to Serve!

  • William Mack a candidate for Greene County Commissioner, District 3

    A man in a formal suit with a light pink tie, standing against a background featuring red and white stripes and a blue design.

    My name is William Mack and I am a candidate for Greene County Commissioner, District 3.
    I have been married for 16 years to Rosie Mack. We have four children and 3 grandchildren. I attended school at Caver High School. I furthered my education in Detroit Michigan at Old Eastern High School.
    Later on I obtained my Associate degree at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
    After become a minister, I worked for Mac’s Trucking Co., in which we built Highway & Express way for 39 years. I am now a retired CME Pastor. I drive school bus for the Greene County Board of Education. I am running because I believe our community deserves leadership that is honest, accountable, and truly committed to serving the people. As a Pastor and lifelong servant of the community. I understand the importance of listening, standing up for what’s right and working together to build a stronger future for our county.
    My mission is to advocate for our families and improve our infrastructure, support economic growth, and ensure that every voice is District 3 is heard and respected.  I believe in leadership rooted in faith, integrity, and service -not politics as usual.
    I humbly ask for your support and your vote as we work together to move Greene County forward. Vote William Mack for Greene County Commissioner, District 3 together

    WE CAN MAKE A
    DIFFERENCE!

  • Newswire : Philadelphia sues after slavery exhibits were taken down from President’s House site

    Newswire : Philadelphia sues after slavery exhibits were taken down from President’s House site

     Staff dismantling slavery exhibit in Philadelphia

    The lawsuit says the National Park Service removed the displays referring to slavery “presumably pursuant to the mandate” of an executive order from President Donald Trump.

    By Joe Kottke and Phil Helsel NBC News

    The city of Philadelphia sued the Department of the Interior and the acting director of the National Park Service on Thursday over reports that slavery exhibits were being dismantled in the city’s historic district.
    The suit, filed in federal court, seeks a preliminary injunction to restore the exhibits at the President’s House Site, part of Independence National Historical Park.
    The lawsuit says that “the National Park Service has removed artwork and informational displays at the President’s House site referencing slavery, presumably pursuant to the mandate” of Executive Order No. 14253, which President Donald Trump signed in March. 2025.
    The city said in the suit that it learned Thursday that the educational panels that referred to slavery had been removed.
    “Removing the exhibits is an effort to whitewash American history,” Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson said in a statement Thursday. “History cannot be erased simply because it is uncomfortable. Removing items from the President’s House merely changes the landscape, not the historical record.”
    NBC Philadelphia aired video Thursday that shows people with crowbars taking down panels, one of which reads “The Dirty Business of Slavery.”
    The suit says the city was given no notice about the change to the President’s House.
    It calls the removal of the displays “arbitrary and capricious.”
    “Defendants have provided no explanation at all for their removal of the historical, educational displays at the President’s House site, let alone a reasoned one,” the lawsuit says.
    White House spokesman Davis Ingle said Trump “continues to fulfill his promise to restore truth and common sense to the United States and its institutions.” 
    “President Trump is ensuring that we are honoring the fullness of the American story instead of distorting it in the name of left-wing ideology,” Ingle said in a statement. 
    A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service, said “all federal agencies are to review interpretive materials to ensure accuracy, honesty, and alignment with shared national values” while it implements Trump’s executive order.
    “Following completion of the required review, the National Park Service is now taking appropriate action in accordance with the Order,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
    The National Park Service did not immediately respond to NBC News’ requests for comment late Thursday.
    Trump’s executive order directs the Department of the Interior in its materials not to include “descriptions, depictions, or other content that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living (including persons living in colonial times).”
    It instructs the department to “instead focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people or, with respect to natural features, the beauty, abundance, and grandeur of the American landscape.”
    The order, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” has been criticized.
    The American Historical Association said it “egregiously misrepresents the work of the Smithsonian Institution,” which the executive order criticized by name.
    “Historians explore the past to understand how our nation has evolved. We draw on a wide range of sources, which helps us to understand history from different angles of vision,” the group said March 31.
    “Our goal is neither criticism nor celebration,” it said. “It is to understand — to increase our knowledge of — the past in ways that can help Americans to shape the future.”
    The President’s House is a site where President George Washington resided in Philadelphia, and he brought slaves who were in the home, according to the lawsuit and the National Park Service’s webpage about the site. President John Adams also lived there.
    A spokesperson for the National Parks Conservation Association said the dismantling of the exhibit is “an insult to the memory of the enslaved people who lived there and to their descendants.” and “sets a dangerous precedent of prioritizing nostalgia over the truth.”
    The House of Representatives urged the National Park Service in 2003 to recognize the slaves there. The agency and the city entered into a cooperative agreement in 2006 to establish an exhibit about the site, the suit says.
    A memorial and panels about slavery at the President’s House have been up since it opened in 2010, according to the suit.
    The Black Journey, a group that conducts walking tours in Philadelphia about Black history, said removing the panels can’t erase the past.
    “The Black Journey is outraged and deeply disappointed by the removal of this important and irreplaceable piece of American history,” Raina Yancey, president and CEO of The Black Journey, said in a statement. 
    Yancey said the group will continue to lead weekly tours and pursue its mission “to tell the full and truthful history of our ancestors,” saying “no political action will silence this history.”
    She added that since the removal occurred, she has heard from fellow tour guides and individuals who have taken tours. 
    “Their messages make it clear: the public will not accept the erasure of history, and neither will we,” she said.
    U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., whose district includes part of Philadelphia and the President’s House, also condemned the removal.
    “Philadelphia and the entire country deserve an honest accounting of our history, and this effort to hide it is wrong,” he said in a statement.
    CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Director Ahmet Tekelioglu said the civil rights organization “stands in solidarity with the City of Philadelphia, advocacy groups, civil rights leaders, and historians.”
    Tekelioglu said the exhibit’s removal “has drawn widespread condemnation from community leaders, historians, and elected officials who argue that understanding the full scope of American history — including the brutal reality of slavery — is critical to our collective progress.”
    During the Trump administration, the National Park Service has made other changes that have backtracked on previous information.
    In February, before the executive order, the National Park Service website for Stonewall National Monument’s web page was changed to erase references to transgender and queer people.
    The Stonewall Inn is the site of a milestone in the fight for gay rights, recognition and the fight to end persecution by authorities.