Greene County Democrat

Tag: The State of Alabama

  • Alabama Civil Rights Museum Movement (ACRMM) sponsors activities in Greene County to honor Dr. Martin Luther Kings ‘s birthday

    Spiver W. Gordon, Rev.Samuel Ezell and Mary R.McInnis

    The Alabama Civil Rights Museum Movement, Inc., (ACRMM) is sponsoring a series of programs commemorating the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to Greene County, the State of Alabama, and this nation. Mr. Spiver W. Gordon, ACRMM President, organizes these events each year in celebration and as a reminder of the struggles and sacrifices of so many leaders who brought about civil, social, and economic changes in our lives.
    The work of Dr. King and SCLC, the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the National Democratic Party of Alabama (NDPA) and others provided the courageous leadership that changed laws and practices on voting rights, holding public office, desegregating public education, public accommodations, and employment opportunities for Black people in particular. As Mr. Gordon noted: “These rights are still not secured, especially the right to vote. There are strong movements to diminish those and other civil rights going on right now.”
    The annual events of ACRMM, open to the public, are scheduled as follows: On Wednesday January 15, 2025, at 10:00 am, the Dr. MKL, Jr. Educational Seminar Student Development Session will be held at New Peace Baptist Church on Prairie Ave., Eutaw, AL.
    Greene County High School students are the primary invitees. State Representative Curtis Travis the keynote speaker, with special guest, Dr. Monty Thorton and Dr. Dionne Edison, Moderator of Eutaw, AL.
    On Sunday, January 19 at 3:00 p.m., the MLK, Jr. County Wide Freedom Gospel Singing at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Eutaw, AL Rev. Toya Brown, Pastor. Rev. Kelvin Cockrell, Keynote Speaker Eutaw, AL.
    On Monday, January 20, 2025, Freedom Unity Breakfast will be held at the Eutaw Activity Center on Harris Ave., Eutaw, AL, Rev. / Dr. Samuel Ezell, of Zion Brush Creek, Eutaw Alabama, is the keynote speaker. The Freedom Breakfast is followed by the Countywide Freedom March to the William M. Branch Courthouse. Religious Women Freedom Rally, 10:30 a.m. Keynote Speaker, Hon. Mary R. McInnis, Special Guests, Dr. Carol P. Zippert, Pastor Carolyn Branch and others.
    Come join us for music, food, and celebration, “We can never let ourselves forget from whence we have come. We must keep the vigil to protect our rights and continue to serve and build our communities,” Gordon said.

  • Eutaw City Council accepts bid for resurfacing West End Avenue;Also discusses racial fallout of selecting a new Council member

    Shown above Judge Lillie Jones-Osborne swearing in newly selected City Council person of District 5, Suzette Powell, accompanied by family. Also City councilpersons Tracy Hunter Larrie Coleman, Suzette Powell and Mayor Latasha Johnson.

     

    By John Zippert, Co-Publisher

    At its regular meeting on September 10, 2024, voted to accept the low bid of $383,343.82 from S.T. Bunn Construction Company for the repaving of about three miles of West End Avenue, from the city limits to Highway 11.

    The State of Alabama, Rebuilding Alabama Program, is providing $316,671.81 in two grants toward the project. The City of Eutaw must provide  $113,671.81 in matching funds, including $47,000 of engineering services and the rest to match for construction costs, with no allowance for cost overruns.
    Mayor Johnson said the city’s matching funds would come out of the 4 and 7 cent gas funds for road repair.

    Ms. Suzette Powell was selected by the Eutaw City Council, at a Special Meeting on September 6, to fill the remaining term of Ms. Jacqueline Stewart who resigned because she moved out of District 5. Ms. Powell was sworn in by District Judge Lillie Osborne a few hours before the meeting.

    The Council approved Resolution 2024-27 for the Rental of City Park, the R. H. Young Community Center and other areas. This policy provides a $75.00 per day charge for parking RVs on city property.

    In other business, the Eutaw City Council:

    • Approved travel  and expenses for Magistrates to attend training classes in Montgomery, either in November or December.
    • Approved travel and registration for Mayor Johnson to attend the 2024 AARC Annual Training Conference in Huntsville on October 6 to 8, 2024.
    • Approved allowing Deep South Rodeo to use the City Park and Hose Arena for a rodeo to benefit the Greene County Ambulance Service on October 4 and 5, 2024.
    • Tabled discussion of claim by Dave and Ethel Black for property damage.
    • Agreed to share costs 50-50 with the Greene County Housing Authority to repair a sewage line.
    • Discussed and tabled a discussion of raising the Mayor and Council salaries for those elected in 2025.
    • Approved payment of bills.

    Racial fallout from discussion of new Council member

    At the end of the meeting, when the Mayor, Council members and the public have a chance to speak, Councilwomen Valerie Watkins raised the point that she had been spoken to disrespectfully at the end of the September 6 Special Meeting.

    The Council had interviewed two candidates for the District 5 Council position, Suzette Powell, who is Black and previously worked at Piggly Wiggly and Carrie Logan, who is white and serves as President of the Eutaw Chamber of Commerce. The Council chose Powell over Logan. Mayor Johnson was not pleased with the decision and voted against it, because she had hoped to add a white voice to the Eutaw City Council for more diversity of representation.

    After the September 6th vote, Danny Cooper, retired Alabama Power employee and Chair of the Greene County IDA was visibly angered and spoke disrespectfully to some of the Council members. He has since apologized to Councilwoman Watkins. At the meeting, Danny Cooper gave another heartfelt  statement of his “love for Eutaw and Greene County”.

    Corey Cockrell, Chair of the County Commission, who was in the audience, spoke and said, “We really need more honest and genuine cooperation and discussion with Black and White people in Greene County. We need white people to support and let their children attend the Greene County public schools if we are really going to work together for a common future.”

    Mayor Johnson closed the meeting saying, “We all need to work together and have more honest discussion of the problems we face in our city
    going forward.”