Greene County Democrat

Tag: Eutaw Mayor Latasha Johnson

  • Watoto Children’s Choir comes to Eutaw

    Submitted by Mrs. Miriam Leftwich

    Several months out of the year, Ugandan children travel with staff from the Watoto Ministries to cities around the world to share their stories of resilience. On Friday, January 17, 2025, their audience was residents of Greene and surrounding counties.
    Members of the Watoto Children’s Choir performed Ugandan songs and Christian contemporary music in Eutaw, Alabama at the New Generation Community Life Center. The Choir performed songs from their brand new album, Better Days-There is Hope. They sang, danced and shared their stories of restoration and hope. One child shared how her parents had died but she later found a new life with a community in the Watoto Ministry.
    Adult leaders had testaments as well, both said they too had found a family at Watoto, a ministry based in Uganda’s capital city of Kampala. Through Watoto, they were able to get a quality education. Both have earned their degrees in Management and Engineering.
    The Watoto ministries provides housing, education and health services for children in Uganda who have been abandoned when their parents have died or because of war and poverty. The Ministry has helped thousands of children. The audience was inspired by the stories of how the children have overcome a hurdle of hardships.
    Watoto Children’s Choirs have traveled extensively since 1994. In fact, almost every day of the year the choir is performing somewhere throughout the world. That means thousands of people get to meet some of our future leaders. As people see their smiles and are embraced by their hugs, the children have the privilege of telling people, “ No matter what you’re going through, Jesus is our hope and there are better days ahead. Look at what God has done in my life.”
    The group was invited by United Purposes, a non profit organization, to come and share this one of a kind experience with Eutaw and surrounding counties.
    Thank God for this awesome experience. Special thanks to Pastor Joe Webb for providing the facilities for the Choir’s performance, Deacon Frank Lewis and Lee Smith for their assistance at the center. Lt. Zackary Fluker, Chief Rex Flowers, of the Demopolis Police Department, Sheriff Joe Benison and the GC officers for coordinating escort for the Choir…that was a big deal to them; they were all so excited. Mrs. Phillis Belcher, representing the Industrial Board, was on site to welcome the group and provided snacks. Thanks to Ms. Mildred Gill, Ms. Belvin Thomas, Mrs. Gloria Young, Mrs. Nadeen Chess, and Mrs. Darlene Robinson for your assistance throughout the day; thanks to Ms. Cynthia Crawford for capturing the beautiful smiles, Eutaw Mayor Latasha Johnson, Judy Spree, Mary Leach, Dr. Carol Zippert, Leah Banks and Mr & Mrs. Ron Edwards, thanks for providing food & drink. Thanks to Probate Judge Rolanda Wedgeworth for attending, and to each and every attendee thanks for coming and supporting this program.
    A love offering in the amount of $1,065 was collected and presented to the Watoto Children’s Choir.

  • Full story will be in next issue of the Democrat: Gordon continues annual commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr


    Through the dedicated leadership of Elder Spiver Gordon, Greene County has continued the annual tradition of commemorating the mission and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In recognition of King’s birthday, Gordon schedules programs to lift youth and adult leaders known as foot soldiers and warriors who contributed to the ongoing struggle for civil and human rights. A more detail account of the various 2024 King programs held in Eutaw will be in next week’s edition of the Democrat.

    Top photo shows Gus Richardson leading the march, Monday, Jan.15, from the Unity Breakfast held at Eutaw Activity Center to the William M. Branch Courthouse for the Religious Women Freedom Rally.

    Bottom Photo shows Eutaw Mayor Latasha Johnson bringing greetings.

  • Fire completely destroys home in Eutaw

    On Wednesday January 3, 2024, a fire claimed the home of a Eutaw resident, Lottie Gibson. Eutaw Fire Chief Bennie Abrams says the fire started at 3:30 a.m. on Oliver Avenue. The fire resulted in the complete loss of the main home, a guest home and a car. No one was injured at the time of the fire.

    Abrams says that since this was a major fully engulfed fire, he is glad there were no injuries.

    “Before we ever got to the scene, we could see this great big orange glow in the sky and a big smoke column, so we knew this was a well-involved house fire and more than half the house was consumed by the fire,” Abrams said.

    Eutaw Mayor Latasha Johnson says the fire is under investigation and possibly could have started as a result of an electric heater.

    Officials are urging caution while using space heaters after a residence was engulfed in flames Wednesday.

    “You have to be very careful with space heaters and you have to be careful with kerosene heaters and electrical heaters,” Johnson said. “Don’t put objects close to those heaters and try to keep it in areas where things are not touching it.”

    City leaders say if residents need a place to go to stay warm, the city has warming stations located at the Robert H. Young Community Center and the New Generation Church.

  • Eutaw has first homicide of year on Christmas day

    Eutaw Chief of Police, Tommy Johnson, held a press conference this morning to announce the death of Jaylen Carter (age 21) in a shooting, near 201 Howard Irvin Circle in Branch Heights, at 6:55 PM on Christmas Day. This was the first homicide of the year in the city.

    Brandon Powell (28) was arrested and charged with capital murder and is currently in the Greene County jail.

    Chief Johnson said, “Our investigation suggests that this death occurred as a result of a dispute over a lost firearm. Powell lost the 9mm handgun about two months ago at a fight at a club. Carter recovered the gun. The dispute on Christmas night started as a discussion between the two over this gun.”

    “We must get these guns off our streets and get our children back in church. On Christmas day, we should be at with our families celebrating Christ’s birthday, not shooting and killing other people. There was a better way to solve this problem without violence and murder. Our people need to learn how to talk out our problems do not resort to shooting,” said Chief Johnson.

    Yesterday, some persons connected with the Carter family called Eutaw City Hall, because two members of the Powell family work there, and made threats against those people, which is a crime.

    Chief Johnson said he talked the situation over with Eutaw Mayor Latasha Johnson and agreed to close City Hall until after lunch on Wednesday, to give police time to check on the ‘alleged terrorist threats’ and arrest the responsible party or parties.

    Chief Johnson said that he wanted to thank the Demopolis Police Department, 17th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force, and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation for their help in investigating the homicide.

  • Eutaw Elderly Village dedicates pavilion for residents

    On Saturday, September 3, 2022, the Eutaw Elderly Village(EEV) dedicated an outdoor pavilion for the residents at the elderly housing site on Tuscaloosa Street in downtown Eutaw.
    Funding for the pavilion was provided by the TS Police Support League, Inc., a charity associated with the Palace Bingo facility. The pavilion will provide an outdoor place for residents to relax, mingle, bar-b-que and meet with their friends.
    The pavilion was dedicated to the late Eloise Brown, a faithful church and community worker, that the TSPS League wished to recognize and Evie J. Ebbinghouse, wife of Attorney Rick Ebbinghouse, who died of cancer early in life. Ebbinghouse worked with Alabama Legal Services and helped the Federation, PLBA-HDC and others in establishing affordable housing for low income people. EEV had previously planted and dedicated a tree to Mrs. Ebbinghouse. The tree was hit by lightning and destroyed.
    In the photo from L. to R., Eutaw Mayor Latasha Johnson, James Otieno, EEV Board, Thelma Palmer, EEV Board Member, Emma Jackson, Sheriff Department Carrie Fulghum, EEV Manager, Miriam Leftwich EEV Board Member, Sheila Smith, President TSPS League, Inc., Attorney Rick Ebbinghouse, John Zippert, EEV President, at cutting ribbon to officially dedicate the pavilion.

  • Events to mark MLK Birthday in Greene County announced

    Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
    Spiver W. Gordon

    Spiver W. Gordon, President of the Alabama Civil Rights Museum Movement announced plans for the commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday in Greene County, for the third weekend in January.

    “In Greene County, we have been celebrating Dr. King’s Birthday long before it was a national holiday because of Dr. King’s work which brought civil rights and voting rights to our county. We also celebrate throughout the weekend, including on January 15, Dr. King’s actual birthday, as well as on the third Monday, which is the official national holiday,” said Gordon.

    On Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 12:00 Noon there will be a Freedom Sidewalk Luncheon at Sandra Walker’s former Campaign Headquarters, in Eutaw, next to the new Courthouse on Tuscaloosa Street. Speakers at this outdoor program include: Sister Martha Lucia Tonon of the Guadalupon Multicultural Services; and Attorney John Stamps, III of the Black Belt Law Center in Bessemer, Alabama. Other speakers have also been invited to give remarks.

    On Sunday, January 16, 2022, there will be a community program at First Baptist Church at 3:00 to honor Dr. King. There is a historical marker at the church remembrance of Dr. King’s coming to speak at the church in the 1960’s as part of the movement to change civil rights in this nation. Rev.  Kendrick Howell , will be the keynote speaker at this event. Rev. Lynn Finch is pastor of First Baptist Church.

    On Monday, January 17, 2022 at 8:00 AM there will be a Freedom Unity Breakfast at the Branch Heights Community Center. After breakfast, there will be a march from Branch Heights to the William M. Branch County Courthouse in downtown Eutaw. At the Courthouse there will be a Freedom Rally with speakers, including Rev. James Carter, Rev. Kevin Cockrell, Eutaw Mayor Latasha Johnson, School Board Chair, Dr. Carol P. Zippert and other elected officials.

    After the Courthouse Rally, the group will return to the Branch Heights Community Center for a Dreaming About Freedom Mass Rally with Teirdre Owens, Outreach Coordinator for Congresswoman Terri Sewell and others.


    “We are hoping to have an inspirational series of events to start the year of 2022 in the right ‘freedom spirit’ to continue throughout the year.

  • Eutaw Mayor Johnson gives first State of the City Address, listing specific fixes and improvements

    Mayor Lastasha Johnson

    Eutaw Mayor Latasha Johnson created another first for the City of Eutaw by delivering a very detailed State of the City address at a community luncheon held Friday, November 19, 2021, at the R.H. Young Community Center (the former Carver school).
    The mayor prefaced her comments with reflections on her upbringing. “ I was raised in Eutaw in Carver Circle. I learned the value of hard work at an early age and I continue to maintain a strong work ethic. I want to see the city that raised me and made me who I am today, thrive and grow.”
    Mayor Johnson served four years on the Eutaw City Council before seeking the mayor’s position.
    In her address she provided a summary of the troubled areas of the city government that existed when she came into office. “The previous administration ended with a majority of the police officers resigning, the water department having several ADEM violations, our city property with an IRS tax lien, and a lack of office personnel to handle the day-to-day operations of the city, no budget or financial plan”
    The Mayor’s report also listed the various improvements she and her Team Eutaw have put in place in the previous year. “We have resolved the IRS lien, after fines, penalties and interest of a quarter million dollars. We have a new city clerk. We have implemented and updated a city website and Facebook page. We have a new phone system and internet set up which is expected to reduce expenses by as much as $40,000 each year. We have worked on a community notification system and implemented a new budgeting and financial management system that will keep us on budget,” she said. The mayor noted that her administration was the first to have a budget passed in many years.
    According to Mayor Johnson, the city’s revenue for the past year fiscal year was nearly $1.2 million, nearly doubling that of several previous years, and boasting a $260,000 surplus.
    The mayor discussed other improvements brought about by her administration as listed below:
    Hired a full time water and wastewater operator, and other employees including police officers a Park and Recreation Director, additional magistrates.
    * Provided pay raises for city employees.
    * Obtained new vehicles and equipment, including a street sweeper, grapple truck
    * Secured a $500,000 grant for the Eutaw Airport Authority.
    * Working to provide the first independent audit of city finances in eight years.
    * Working hard to bring openness and transparency to City Hall with online meetings and community engagements.
    * Resumed relations with the Chamber of Commerce, the Industrial Development Authority, and neighboring municipalities.
    * Supporting Greene County E911.
    Installed online payments and auto pay for the first time.
    Upgraded all technology.
    City will secure a new garbage company.
    Cancelled unnecessary contracts and reduced expenses.
    Mayor Johnson extended special appreciation to the various individuals who worked tirelessly to bring about the changes and adjustments needed to put the city on the right track. “ I want to thank everyone, the police officers, office staff, the street workers, city council and citizens who have been instrumental in making my first year in office a hugh success. I could not have done any of this without you. I am thankful and humbled by your hard work,” she stated.

  • Cancer Awareness Color Me Fun Run/Walk held

    October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This time of year is typically flooded with shades of pink as people come together to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. United Purpose, Incorporated Girl Scout  Troop 408,  Greene County Human Rights Commission, Greene County Community Health Advisors co-sponsor  their 1st Annual Color  Run/Walk to promote Cancer Awareness. The event was held Saturday, October  9, 2021 at the  The Eutaw City Park.  The event kicked off at 10:00 am  with lot of family fun activities throughout the program. The Color Run/Walk a multipurpose event to promote healthiness and happiness by bringing the community together and to raise Cancer Awareness. Participants dusted with an array of color powder as they passed specific mile markers.  Darlene Robinson, Human Rights Commissions  and Greene County /Hale Co. CHAs delivered greeting; Eutaw Mayor Latasha Johnson  presented words of welcome; Marilyn Sanford rendered an inspirational reading,  Miriam Leftwich United Purpose & Girl Scout 408 Coordinator  also presented greetings.  Mollie Rowe the memorial, a celebratory walk by the survivors; D.J. Birdman rendered the music,  dancing, photo opportunities and a massive color throw.  Sponsorships helped defay the cost of organizing the event to benefit Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation for 2021, for patients in the Greene County area.  Early Detection is the Best Protection!