Trump DOJ ends plan for Alabama county’s sewage crisis over ‘distorting, DEI lens’
By Margaret Kates | mkates@al com
Raw sewage next to children’s playground in Lowndes County, Alabama
The U S Department of Justice ended its agreement with the State of Alabama regarding sewage in Lowndes County “The DOJ will no longer push ‘environmental justice’ as viewed through a distorting DEI lens said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K Dhillon in a news release
See DOJ, p 6
GOP votes to cut Medicaid, feed billionaires
By Stacy M Brown BlackPressUSA com Senior National Correspondent
House Republicans on Thursday approved a budget blueprint that slashes vital programs like Medicaid and child nutrition assistance to help fund an extension of the 2017 Trump tax law This includes an $880 billion cut to Medicaid over the next ten years which would reduce funding for the children s health program, support for seniors in nursing homes and disabled people needing continuing health services
See Medicaid, p 6
SAVE Act: A new weapon against Black and Brown voters
By Stacy M Brown BlackPressUSA com Senior National
Correspon-
dent
Since the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, Republicans have worked relentlessly to chip away at protections for voters particularly Black Americans, other people of color and women Those efforts reached a fever pitch after Barack Obama s historic victories in 2008 and 2012, which sparked what many observers say was the modern white supremacist movement and reignited GOP efforts to suppress the vote
See SAVE Act, p 6
Michelle Obama: ‘I’m not divorcing Barack I’m choosing me’
By Stacy M Brown BlackPressUSA com Senior National Correspondent
Michelle Obama
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is setting the record straight about her marriage brushing off rumors of a split from former President Barack Obama and calling out the sexist assumptions that fueled them
See Michelle Obama, p. 6
Racially charged row between Musk and South Africa over Starlink
By Khanyisile Ngcobo, BBC News, Johannesburg
The tussle between Starlink boss Elon Musk and South Africa over the company's failure to launch in the country stems from the nation's black empowerment laws and could be one factor behind the diplomatic row between the US and Africa s most industrialized nation
See Starlink, p 9
Commission hear s r equest for r epair s and upg r ades at for mer Gr eenetr ack facility
The Greene County Commission held its regular monthly meeting Monday April 14 2025 with all commissioners in attendance The preliminary items approved included the agenda previous minutes, financial reports and payment of claims
As indicated on the agenda the Commission was again asked to consider a proposal from FIRSTBIOMETRICS requesting “Timely Access Security and Lease Negotiation relative to the former Greenetrack facility Charlie J Gomez of Iron Wolf LLC presented the request indicating the following: As previously noted, the building has suffered from extensive vandalism and what appears to be deliberate sabotage including damage to the rooftop HVAC systems, electrical
Greene County
transformers, and power infrastructure leading from the grid These issues have compromised the facility s safety and functionality, necessitating urgent action ” Iron Wolf LlC is specifically asking the Commission s support and approval for the following:
* Full access to the Greenetrack facility for Iron Wolf LLC and its licensed contractors
* Authorization to change all exterior locks for security purposes
* Installation of a temporary power pole and deployment of security cameras to monitor site
•Permission to begin restoration of power via generators and repair of the electrical structure Although the Commission has made no commitment for use of the
Greenetrack facility once such repairs and improvements are made Iron Wolf LLC also stated that it will absorb all expenses for repairs and upgrades indicated in its proposal and that these costs be “ acknowledged and considered as part of our ongoing lease negotiations ” The proposal also states that Iron Wolf LLC is interested in securing a long-term lease agreement and a potential purchase agreement with the Commission County Attorney Mark Parnell advised the Commission that specific information has been requested from FIRSTBIOMETRICS and Iron Wolf LLC to which they have not responded The Commission tabled the agreement request Although the County now owns all the property
of the former Greenetrack facility, the Alabama State Department of Revenue still has a lien for taxes it deems unpaid In a 2022 case, the State of Alabama won a court victory allowing them to collect over $76 million in unpaid taxes and interest from Greenetrack Inc a for-profit casino and racetrack in Greene County, Alabama The case, Alabama Department of Revenue v Greenetrack Inc involved Greenetrack claiming their bingo business was tax-exempt under a statute
See Commission, p 7
School Boar d delays decision on bid to initiate Phase I - Tr ack and Field Pr oject at GCHS
The Greene County Board of Education held a called meeting Thursday April 10 2025 to consider a bid for athletic improvements to Greene County High School - Phase IGCHS Track and Field Project Superintendent Dr Corey Jones stated that the purpose of the meeting was to lock in material and other costs for the Project in light of current US economic conditions He explained that the two initial bids from Game Day Inc at $2 244 444 and J T Harrison at $1,899,000
The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following arrests 4/3 - Micheal Hamner, 45, of Northport, AL, was arrested for criminal trespass 4/4 - Sidney Moore 79 of Forkland, AL, was arrested for sexual abuse 1st degree He was released on a bond of $30 000 4/4 - Ja Damion Lewis 24, of Eutaw, AL, was arrested for rape 2nd degree 4/8 - Trenton Hughes 27 of Whistler AL was arrested for manslaughter
Phase 1- Track and Field Project
were both over budget, therefore there was a re-bid with only Game Day Inc proposing a cost of $1,683,748
CSFO Mrs Marquita Lennon, displayed the category of funds available for the Phase I Track and Field Project at GCHS: FY 2024 K12 Capital Grant$1,100,000; FY 2025 K-12 Capital Grant $84 615 38; Fy 2024 Education Trust fund Advancement and Technology Fund$111 900; FY 2025 Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund
He was released on a bond of $50,000 The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following incidents
3/21 - Stephanie McConney-Bauer reported harassment 4/1 - Garria Spencer of Greene County Commission reported criminal mischief 1st degree Item damaged: Power plant value unknown 4/4 - Sage Spree reported criminal trespass 3rd degree 4/10 - Lila Smith re-
(Proposed) $575,000
These fund categories total
$1 871 515 38
The board members questioned the difference between Game Day Inc s initial bid and the second re-bid Dr Jones and CSFO Lennon explained that changes and/or substitutions to the plans and specifications were reflected in the re-bid
Although Superintendent Jones was able to reach the Architectural Firm of McKee & Associates during the board meeting and the board was able to make
ported reckless endangerment 4/10 - Brittany Brinyark reported harassment 4/10 - Larry Smith reported reckless endangerment The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following bonds 4/14 - Ja’ Damion Lewis was released on a bond of $50 000 for Rape 2nd degree The Eutaw Police Department reported no arrests and the following incidents
inquiries at the time concerning deletions to the original Project Specs they seemingly were not satisfied and requested an inperson meeting with Walter McKee at the next board meeting No further action was taken on the GCHS Phase I -Track and Field Project On the superintendent’s recommendation the board did approve the quote of $27,570 62 from AngelTrax to upgrade camera/surveillance system and add windshield cameras on school buses
4/4 - Mary Graves reported fraudulent use of the debit/credit card
4/4 - Christy Storey
Nostalgia of Easter
I long for something long ago that is just not the same today even as the rituals of custom and culture continue in semblance
I long for that spirit of preparation that carried an annual rite of passage as folk made repeated visits to church for individual and community prayer
I long for the spiritual empowerment that linked heaven and earth in hearts and minds and faith of salvation was a real expectation.
I long for the swelling joy as the count down neared when feasting tables once again replaced the weeks of fasting and abstinence
I long for the laughing moments when springtime and replenishing were reflected in dancing children swinging baskets of candy and romping in search of decorated eggs
I long for the child’s Easter I long for God’s Easter. I long for Easter
Eutaw Annual Chamber Meeting
The event has been postponed until Thursday April 24th at 6:00 pm at the Greene County Historical Courthouse
Tennyson Smith, Jr will be our guest speaker
Carol Prejean Zippert
T he West Ala bama Rur al Planning Or ganization (RPO) will hold the following meetings:
Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC)
Bibb County - Monday, April 21, 2025, 6:00 p mBrent City Hall 22 1st Street Brent AL
Fayette County - Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 5:00 p m - Fayette County Commission Chamber 103 1st Avenue NW Fayette AL
Greene CountyWednesday April 23 2025 11:00 a m - James C Poole Library, 219 Prairie Avenue, Eutaw, AL
Hale County - Tuesday, April 15 2025 5:00 p m –Moundville City Hall 410 Market Street, Moundville, AL
Lamar County - Thursday April 17 2025 6:00 p m – Vernon City Hall 44425 Highway 17, Vernon, AL
Pickens County - Thursday April 24 2025 9:00 a m - Pickens County EMA Room, 20 Phoenix Avenue, Carrollton, AL
2 Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) May 8, 2025, 10:00 a mWest Alabama Regional Commission 4200 Highway 69 North Northport AL Also available virtually
3 RPO Policy Committee May 9 2025 10:30 a m - West Alabama Regional Commission, 4200 Highway 69 North, Northport, AL Also available virtually
If you would like to participate, please email zane davis@westal org at least 48 hours prior to the meeting
The meeting documents are posted on the WARC w e b s i t e (https://www warc info/rpo -meetings/ and https://www warc info/rpodocuments)
The counties served by the RPO include Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar and Pickens The RPO provides government officials and citizens in these counties an opportunity to advise the ALDOT on road bridge and transit
projects
All of the meetings are open to the public Anyone requiring special assistance should contact the WARC at least 48 hours prior to the meeting For special assistance, call the WARC at (205) 333-2990
The Greene County Board Of Education WORK SESSION Monday, April 21, 2025 at 2:00 p m REGULAR SESSION Monday, April 21, 2025 at 4:30 p m in the central office auditorium Happy Birt hday
70t h Mrs. Sh ir ley Car penter Apr il 16t h
The RPO serves as a transportation planning process for the rural areas of west Alabama and provides a formal link between the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and the local governments
GIANT KILLERS: MORE THAN TWO (2) BILLION DOLLARS FOR CLIENTS
We, Chestnut, Sanders & Sanders, have won more than two (2) Billion – that’s billions not millions - of dollars for our clients We take on the giants – giant insurance companies, giant corporations, giant governments, etc We are the Giant Killers You need the Giant Killers to fight the giants when you have an injury from an auto accident or other harm
Specifically, if you have any of these injuries, call the Giant Killers
ROUNDUP – Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cancer - Call the Giant Killers
HERNIA MESH – Problems from hernia mesh implant - Call the Giant Killers
TALCUM POWDER, BABY POWDER & SHOWER TO SHOWER
BODY POWDER – These products may cause Ovarian Cancer –Call the Giant Killers IVC FILTER – IVC Filters to treat embolism may cause breathing problems and death – Call the Giant Killers
LUNG CANCER – Lung Cancer may be caused by various chemical products in the work place – Call the Giant Killers
SEVERE LUNG DISEASE – Severe Lung disease may be caused by exposure to various chemical products in the work placeCall the Giant Killers
XARELTO – If you took the blood thinner Xarelto and suffered serious bleeding – Call the Giant Killers
PELVIC MESH/TRANSVAGINAL MESH IMPLANTS – If you had a pelvic mesh implant following a hysterectomy or to treat pelvic organ prolapsed and/or urinary stress incontinence – Call the Giant Killers
Don’t
Poetry Book Order Form
Senior s Helping Hands
Seniors Helping Hands volunteers from SCORE and the Federation of Greene County Employees Federal Credit Union extended helping hands to Senior Citizens throughout the Greene County Community in the previous months One of the projects was to help Seniors by paying a portion of their utility bill for the month of De-
cember The group also helped with purchasing blankets to help keep them warm and comfortable during the cool winter months Heavy Duty Pedestal Fans were also purchased to help them keep cool in the summer because some Senior Citizens may not have or do not use their air conditioners during the summer months
The volunteers purchased household goods and cleaning supplies for Seniors that can be used for everyday needs They also gave out emergency kits which included large First Aid Kits lanterns and flashlights
During the Spring months the volunteers will help with household maintenance and yard work The
goal is helping our Seniors, by making their lives a little more comfortable The Senior Citizens were very thankful for the help that they received and for the gifts of pure honey that was produced in Greene County The Seniors Citizens were also given Financial Counseling on savings and instructions on how to
avoid scams The volunteers would like to thank the local legislators Senator Bobby Singleton District 24 and House Representative Curtis Travis, District 72, for their financial support of Tombigbee R C & D Council, which provided grant support for this worthwhile project Without Senator Singleton’s and Representa-
Tuske gee Univer sity Extension Agents host Paint
Par ty for Autism Awar eness
Eutaw Ala April 2 2025 In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension Agents Tameka King Family and Consumer Sciences Agent and Sheanell Edwards, Youth Development/4-H Agent, hosted a paint party at the Area Agency on Aging – Eutaw Activity Center The event, held on World Autism Awareness Day
Saturday April 19, 2025
St Paul United Methodist Church Men Ministry will host A Calling All Men to Be Saved Program
Rev Joe Webb of New Generation Church is the guest speaker, starting at 2:00 Pastor Latonya Brown is Church pastor
The public is invited to come and be blessed
aimed to promote understanding and inclusion for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) Attendees engaged in canvas painting and meaningful conversations while learning basic facts about autism ASD affects approximately 1 in 36 children in the United States with boys nearly five times more likely than girls to be diagnosed Individuals with
ASD often face challenges related to social interaction emotional regulation, and communication
The event fostered both creativity and community leaving participants informed and inspired The Area Agency on Aging expressed appreciation for the opportunity to raise awareness in such a positive and engaging way
Tr ump's Budget is a betr ayal of his pr omise to wor king-class Americans
Marc H Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League
(TriceEdneyWire com) -
Donald Trump and extreme MAGA Republicans are doing everything they can to tank our economy drive us toward a recession and gut the healthcare of the American people by visiting upon them the largest Medicaid cut in history, along with the largest cut to nutritional assistance in American history all in service of enacting massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors like Elon Musk It’s a toxic scheme that they cannot hide from because it continues to be on full display on the House Floor and on the Senate Floor for the American people " -- House Democratic Leader Rep Hakeem Jeffries
I call it the great baitand-switch
Betraying his promise not to cut Medicaid, President Trump has pushed through Congress a budget that will require the deepest cut to Medicaid in history, while gutting programs and services that are essential to the health safety and financial security of millions of average Americans
Trump and his allies in Congress are betraying the working-class Americans who trusted them to feed the insatiable greed of billionaires
In fact even swiping food from the tables of working families and stripping health care from children and disabled Americans isn't enough; future generations must be burdened with debt so today's wealthiest can reap even more With this week's vote Congress not only agreed to slash $1 5 trillion from programs that benefit communities but also to raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion all to pay for an astonishing windfall for the wealthiest 5% of Americans
While the Trump administration and some Republican lawmakers continue to claim they won't cut Medicaid benefits they're all fully aware that the budget to which they ve committed absolutely re-
A Black woman seeks to pr evail and help other s after her loss
Kim and son Bryce
By Kimberly Douglas
BOWIE, MD - Nearly two years ago, I lost my 17-year-old son Bryce to a drug overdose Now, I search for other mothers who have lost their children Talking helps relieve the hollowness left by this loss But it s difficult to find other Black mothers willing to acknowledge and share their grief Frequently, we - Black women - are celebrated for our resilience, strength, and ability to overcome adversity But this has been a lonely journey
quires cutting Medicaid benefits Every member of Congress received a memo from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office confirming it is impossible to cut $1 5 trillion in spending without slashing Medicaid
Nearly every Republican in both the House and the Senate voted for the budget anyway
Adding insult to injury the gutting of the social safety net comes just as many more Americans are likely to need to rely on it as a chaotic tariff policy risks massive job loss and soaring inflation
The cuts to Medicaid that the budget requires endanger the health and financial security of more than 70 million children seniors people with disabilities and working families, according to a report issued last month by the National Urban League and 10 other leading civil rights and health equity organizations While the cuts threaten Americans of all backgrounds communities of color would suffer especially widespread harm: nearly 42 million people, or approximately a third of all people of color in the U S , rely on Medicaid for health care
Achieving the spending cuts to which Congress committed will require either:
• Stripping health care away from every single one of the 31 million children covered by Medicaid, Ending coverage for all adults age 65 and older who use Medicaid to obtain essential healthcare; or 75% of all Medicaid funding for nursing home services or home and community-based care for older adults and people with disabilities
The looming cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, meanwhile, endanger the health and financial security of more than 42 million American nearly all of them in families with children, older adults, or people with disabilities
The meager $6 20 per person per day that provides necessary nutrition and a measure of balance to precarious household budgets will be diverted to billionaires
The reality of Trump's budget stands in stark contrast to his campaign's pandering to the working class, whom he promised to end "the inflation nightmare" and bring down the cost of "groceries, cars -everything
Losing Bryce to a drug overdose created a profound and unimaginable grief a permanent ache and a gaping hole in my heart It s compounded by guilt, regret, and so many unanswered questions The pain extends beyond Bryce being gone to the dreams and future that will never be His memories are bittersweet always tinged with envisioning what could have been for my son I struggle to make sense of how and why this happened while grappling with the societal stigma Internalizing the blame is too isolating, which is why I am constantly seeking to draw strength from other Black mothers confronting this horrible ordeal I grew up in a middleclass family in a Maryland suburb of DC My mother was an executive assistant at Pepco and my dad was a dental technician Our parents gave my sister and me a nurturing upbringing
Dance classes Gymnastics cheerleading At their urging, I went to college, earning a bachelor s degree in mass communications and later a master s in organizational communication I have worked for various organizations including 17 years as senior director of finance and operations at the non-profit Democracy Alliance I raised Bryce and his older sister as a single mother, and we were a close-knit family Bryce remained close to his childhood friends, but he had a girlfriend in high school that led him to a different group That’s when he started experimenting with drugs I tried to get him counseling and treatment, but it was never quite enough He overdosed in his room with naloxone which could have saved him, in his pocket In the aftermath it’s clear that Black families are not comfortable addressing substance use and mental health because of the stigmas Our instincts are to sweep it under the rug like they never happened But it must stop We need to open up And Black women need to talk to each other to help each other Our voices are powerful and our narratives can impact others if shared Let's break the silence together
Recently I was on a support group call I was the only Black mother on there We talked about the different issues around shame and guilt And one of the fathers said he had no shame around this issue
He finds solace in hearing other people's stories and is in community with others
But I long for that togetherness because it has been hard to find other mothers to connect with who look like me I have started a Facebook group, Black Moms Against Overdose seeking a safe place for Black families whose loved ones overdosed This group is specifically for Black mothers who have lost children to drug overdose providing a space for us to share our experiences, support each other and work towards healing This has been a daily struggle for me When Bryce first died some family members advised me not to share Bryce's story But talking about it has been healing for me and I think it would help other Black women to talk about their losses I have connected with two Black women one who lost a child to gun violence and another who lost a child in a car accident It has helped But honestly the loneliness that I feel, having lost my child to a drug overdose, is just like nothing else I frequently find myself trying to bond with white women dealing with the loss of a loved one to drugs I long for the connection with other Black mothers who understand this unique pain I do draw strength from them But losing a Black child to a drug overdose is much more stigmatizing for us than it is for them It goes back to the War on Drugs where Blacks were profiled, arrested, and received harsh penalties for crack cocaine, while whites got lighter sentences for their cocaine use Black people were stigmatized I feel like that's where I'm at in this moment Some families frequently defuse their loss by labeling it drug-induced
homicide and blaming the suppliers It just seems that Black children, even the victims like Bryce are routinely viewed as dope dealers and sellers We need systemic change in the perception of drug overdose victims, particularly in the Black community to address this stigma that is holding us back once again I am hanging on But it has been the biggest trial of my life I will never be the same person that I once was My pastor has emphasized that Black parents must understand the dangers of what's going on and discuss it with their children because the messages are not getting through When I first heard about fentanyl, I mentioned it to Bryce a couple of times and warned that he had to be very careful because it is in everything I am participating in a campaign by Vital Strategies to urgently increase awareness of the need to make naloxone, the lifesaving medication more accessible in Black communities The You Have the Power to Save Lives campaign is running in seven U S citiesLouisville, KY; Durham, NC; Milwaukee WI; Newark, NJ; Albuquerque, NM; Philadelphia PA; and Detroit, MI At the core of this campaign are personal stories, like mine, of individuals directly affected by overdose deaths I hope it can make a difference Working on initiatives like this helps me focus my energy on saving lives But what I need are Black women to commiserate with, to share our pain and suffering and band together to overcome our challenges Your support is crucial, and your presence is deeply valued Of course, what I want most I can t have Bryce isn’t coming home
T he new “Gr eat Dying” of Monar ch Butterflies deser ves our attention and action
By Ben Jealous
(TriceEdneyWire com) -
My childhood growing up in Pacific Grove, California was blessed with the kind of exposure to and immersion in nature that all kids deserve We played among towering redwood trees that seemed to reach all the way to heaven We surfed at Asilomar Beach and marveled at both how small we are in our place in nature yet how connected we all are And a privilege of living in Pacific Grove specifically we got to witness the migration of western monarch butterflies
Those monarch butterflies are just a fraction of the weight of a feather Yet they were so numerous when I was growing up that they would bend and bounce the tree branches as they landed on them by the tens of thousands
According to Natalie Johnston of the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, Accounts in Pacific Grove as late as the 1990s showed 45,000 monarchs which we do not see today
To say those numbers have shrunk significantly since then would be an understatement At the same we used to see tens of thou-
Instead, his tariffs will cost the typical American household an average of $4 600 a year This is a moment that will test lawmakers in both parties When they no
sands of monarchs this past season, Pacific Grove saw just 228 A site in Santa Barbara that saw more than 33,000 monarchs as recently as last winter this year saw just 198
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation says, along the California coast 4 5 million monarchs overwintered in the 1980 s That number was down to 1 2 million by the late 90s, 293,000 by 2015, 30,000 by 2019, and in 2020, it was less than 2 000
And while factors including climate change-fueled droughts have likely led to the decline in migrating monarchs in coastal California other human activity has led to similar declines in other parts of the country For example, in the upper Midwest, use of herbicides has led to the loss of milkweed, an essential host plant for monarch larvae In Iowa, milkweed shrank in abundance by 58% between 1999 and 2010 As a result monarch reproduction declined by 81% in the Midwest over that time period
The numbers are startling And that is the kind of math – basic subtraction – everyone can understand In December the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed protecting monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act FWS estimated that the eastern migratory population of monarchs declined by around 80% over the past four decades As for the western population I grew up with that has de-
longer can avoid the harsh reality of the budget they approved will Republicans honor their new rhetoric about being the party of the working class? Will Democrats stand up against a
clined by more than 95% since the 80s According to FWS, that means the western monarchs stand more than a 99% chance of extinction by 2080
The nosedive in the populations of this iconic species and vital pollinator should be setting off alarm bells for all of us This is the extinction crisis in action
Because species typically go extinct over many years, and because many of the species going extinct are not the ones, we see every day most people do not realize we are in an extinction crisis arguably worse than the one that killed the dinosaurs A catastrophic meteor impact and other natural events caused that mass extinction The mass extinction we are now in – the Earth’s sixth mass extinction event
is being caused by us
Under natural circumstances species go extinct at a rate of about one to five species per year Right now, we are at 1,000 to 10 000 times that rate It is a wide range, to be sure But even the low end of that range is terrifying
The human-caused changes to our planet that are driving the crisis include pollution habitat destruction like deforestation, industrial-scale agriculture land use, and, of course, wrapped up in all of it climate change
The two existential crises facing our planet and the human race – the extinction crisis and the climate crisis – are closely intertwined Global warming caused by the burning of fossil fuels worsens all the threats contributing to our modern mass extinction event High temperatures themselves can play a role in whether or not a species declines And experts say falling short of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by enough could result in the extinction of between a third and half of all animal and plant species It is time to act The solution to this crisis begins simply with us moving to embrace a more sustainable future That means leaving the fuels that powered us last century in the past and completing our transition to the one that is already fueling much of America: clean energy In doing so we will reduce pollution and can conserve and restore as much land and as many ecosystems –both land and marine – as we can Our kids and our grandkids deserve the clean water in which to swim and surf as we have enjoyed and the pristine forests that touch our souls and awaken our splendor in our natural world They deserve a world full of critters of all kinds; to witness an abundance of species each playing their vital role in the ecosystems on which we all depend Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania
reckless fiscal blueprint? For our part, together with our partners in the newly launched Fair Budget Coalition, the National Urban League will continue to demand a re-
Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania
sponsible federal budget that centers fairness, opportunity and economic security for all Americans
Tr ansfor ming the Road
By Marian Wright Edelman
A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies
On the one hand we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life’s roadside, but that will be only an initial act One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho Road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life’s highway True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring
This passage is from Dr Martin Luther King Jr ’s sermon at New York City s Riverside Church on April 4 1967 a year to the day before his assassination In his speech in Memphis the night before his murder Dr King repeated the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan who stopped and helped the desperate traveler who had been beaten, robbed, and left half dead as he journeyed along the road from Jerusalem to Jericho The Good Samaritan is traditionally considered a model of charity for his willingness to treat a stranger as a neighbor and friend Dr King agreed that we are all called to follow his example and serve those around us who need help But he reminded us that true comp a s s i o n t r u e justice requires also attacking the forces that leave others in need in the first place If travelers are being assaulted on the Jericho Road we should help bind their wounds, but also work to make the road a safe passageway If our communities have neighbors in need and we volunteer at shelters or donate to food pantries and think we ve done our part we are only partially right We have done an important part But we are not finished if we are not also fighting to prevent and eliminate the violence of joblessness poor education, poverty, and hunger and the inequalities and injustices that feed and accompany them and unjust systems that
create them With true structural change there would be far less need for charity; without it the very best charitable efforts will never be enough
Dr King, our great 20th century American prophet, understood this yet like so many other prophets, his voice was often at odds with leaders or conveniently left unheard by the people in his own land During Dr King s lifetime, President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty attempted to address some of the inequalities in the United States that needed redressing and restructuring but that vision was not permanent By August 1968, Richard Nixon accepted his party’s presidential nomination already criticizing President Johnson s anti-poverty tactics and suggesting instead: Let government use its tax and credit policies to enlist in this battle the greatest engine of progress ever developed in the history of man American private enterprise Let us enlist in this great cause the millions of Americans in volunteer organizations who will bring a dedication to this task that no amount of money can ever buy
Instead of worrying about restructuring the edifice that had produced America’s beggars, he believed giving the edifice more power would help; instead of worrying about transforming the Jericho Road, he recommended relying on millions more Good Samaritans The same threads have been remixed and repeated again and again alongside the arguments that the safety net is actually a snare, ripe for shredding
Our nation is now at a moment when even acknowledging that inequities exist in the edifice is under attack Will Americans embrace attempts to hide and accept the deep unjust structural inequalities and injustices that favor the powerful at the expense of the powerless the rich at the expense of the poor, and the greedy at the expense of the needy or return to the call to transform the road?
Marian Wright Edelman is Founder and President Emerita of the Children's Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start a Head Start a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities For more information go to childrensdefense org
Eutaw Fir e Depar tment gaines two volunteer s
Please join us in welcoming Zo and Joey to the Eutaw Volunteer Fire Department
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Fire Chief Bennie Abrams for more information
Senate
The woman, whom I shall not name, asked me to have a leadership lunch with her I had done such lunches with several persons in years past I was willing, but it was not easy to find a time I always try to make time to share with persons who are truly interested in leadership A leadership lunch
I wanted to go to the restaurant at Wallace Community College Selma, but I did not say that to her When someone genuinely wants to talk with me especially about leadership I am willing to go to whatever place they choose and pay I want it to be their moment I want them to be comfortable I want them to be leading Besides, by the time we agreed on a time and place I had already eaten My dear wife had brought food she prepared to my office, and so I was not really hungry Also the All In One Restaurant at Wallace Community College Selma had probably closed for lunch by that time of the day A leadership lunch
On the way to lunch, I participated in several phone calls I started not to accept the first call At that moment the woman s phone rang She took the call immediately I then knew I could take my calls
It was a very short call
However, several more short calls happened, one right after the other She was handling her calls and I was handling my calls A leadership lunch
When we arrived at the restaurant we both sat in the car for a time taking and or making calls I could see that she was as busy as I was I thought “That’s enough to make anyone need a leadership lunch, including me Of course, I did not say such to her We were in the same moment A leadership lunch
We eventually made it inside the chosen restaurant The food was a little fancy for me so I ordered a smoothie She ordered several items My mind immediately went back to some years ago when it would have been me ordering several items and the other person ordering a very limited amount of food Time brings about a change A leadership lunch
I gave them my credit card Because I was paying the young man at the cash register asked me my name I said, “Hank Sanders ” A brief positive change of expression crossed his face as sometimes happens when people think they recognize you but are not sure Then the name hit him and he was sure He was so happy and said, I can t believe this, Hank Sanders ” I didn’t know what to say I thought A good leader knows how to deal with compliments as well as criticism ” I had just failed the leadership test A leadership lunch
We sat down There were no other patrons in the place at the time I looked at the woman conveying with my eyes, facial expressions and body language that I was ready to discuss leadership The woman immediately read me She started to say something However, the words did not come out of her mouth easily She was trying to find the right words She backed up and started again I waited pa-
Sketches #1973.....by Hank Sander s A Leadership Lunch
tiently Leadership requires patience A leadership lunch
Then the woman asked me a question Have you ever had so many things coming at you at the same time that it was overwhelming?” My mind traveled back over these nearly 83 years I was certain that such had happened more than once However I could not pull up any such memory I understand that sharing common experiences is helpful for a fuller understanding of leadership I had failed the leadership test again A leadership lunch
I looked at her face and observed her body language I just knew she was being tested in a profound way I really wanted to help I thought about Job in the Bible Although I knew the woman was very religious, I didn’t think she wanted what might be misconstrued as a sermon I didn t want to keep failing the leadership test I think I said, “All I can think about at the moment is Job ” Her body language spoke conveying that she not only knew the story of Job but was glad to discuss Job in this leadership moment A leadership lunch
I do not remember what I said, or what she said, but we began discussing the trials and tribulations of Job She knew as much if not more about the story of Job as I When I would start a sentence about Job she would finish it I could see in her face that discussion of Job was hitting the spiritual spot in this leadership moment Leadership is very much about the spirit of leaders and followers I could tell that discussing Job was good for her in the moment I also recognized that it was good for me A leadership lunch The story of Job is so powerful because it is about being tested in ultimate ways The story starts with a meeting of angels in which Satan shows up (after all Satan was an angel who went astray) God asked Satan what he had been doing In so many words Satan said that he had been going to and fro on earth snatching souls at will God asked Satan if he had tried his servant Job who was blameless and upright and feared God Satan said he had not because God had a protective hedge around him God agreed to remove the hedge but directed Satan not to touch Job’s body A leadership lunch
Satan immediately began to test Job Satan was very shrewd Job was the richest man in the East Therefore Satan decided to take everything Job owned but not all at once He took things from Job in order of value, each time taking something even more valuable Satan also took things by different means Each time there was a servant allowed to live so he could run and tell Job about the terrible losses One time it was the Sabeans who attacked and stole the 500 donkeys and 500 yoke of oxen and killed every servant except one The next time it was fire falling from the sky and burning up the 7 000 sheep and every servant except one The next time it was the Chaldeans stealing the 3 000 camels and killing every servant except one Then a powerful wind killed Job s seven sons and three daughters
Announcement
and every servant but one
A leadership lunch
Notice that Satan took the animals in a stair step of value Notice that one servant was always left to run and tell Job Notice that one time it was the Chaldeans and another time it was the Sabeans One time it was fire falling from the sky another time wind Each time Job learned of a greater loss right after a lesser loss Job met the test just saying, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away Blessed be the name of the Lord A leadership lunch
Then the angels gathered again and Satan showed up again Satan said he failed because God had prevented his touching Job’s body Satan declared that Job would curse God to his face if he was allowed to touch his body God allowed Satan to touch Job’s body but not take his life Satan immediately caused Job to have terrible sores from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet He could not stand or sit or lay down without increased pain Job’s wife, the mother of his children and closest person to him left on earth urged him to just curse God and die Job refused A leadership lunch
Then Job’s friends came to visit Job must have thought they came to support him However, they began to say that Job must have done great wrongs in secret Job was deeply hurt by his friends actions on top of his pain and great loss Job began to question God but did not go against God Finally, Job s test came to an end Job received double had been taken from him except he fathered 7 additional sons and 2 daughters The daughters were so respected that they received a share of Job’s estate when custom held shares of a man s estate went only to sons
Before the woman and I could finish the conversation, another woman well known to both of us came in and sat at our table The leadership lesson ceased A leadership lunch
Now on to the Daily Diary
Saturday, April 5, 2025 – I handled various matters at home and office and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Faya Rose Toure of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Coumba Toure Ba of Senegal West Africa; Greene County Democrat Co-Publishers Dr Carol P Zippert and John Zippert; and Askhari Little of Washington, D C
Sunday – I hosted the Sunday School Lesson with Dr Margare Hardy on Facebook Live and Z105 3 FM Radio and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Sharon Wheeler of Montgomery; Jeannie Frazier of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Former Alabama State Senator Malika Sanders Fortier; Charles Sanders of Baldwin County; and Brenda Miles of Birmingham
Monday – I handled many matters as I worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Law Professor Emerita Martha Morgan; Marion Mayor Dexter
Hinton; Jonathan Raulston of Birmingham; and Richard Graham of Jefferson County
Tuesday – I handled many matters participated in a leadership lunch and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Annie Lee and Will Lee of Hale County; Former Alabama State Senate President Pro Tem Joe Fine; Bob Geddie of Montgomery who is recovering from illness; Ann Hubbert of Montgomery who is recovering from an accident; Selma University President Dr Stanford Angion; Former Wilcox County Sheriff Prince Arnold; Barbara Pitts of Decatur Georgia; Retired Community College President Dr Craig Pouncey; and David Gaines and Kenyatta Gaines of Birmingham
Wednesday – I handled various matters, participated in two meetings and a birthday celebration and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Greene County School Superintendent Dr Corey Jones; Azali Fortier of Spelman College; and Gloria Pompey Josephine Curtis Marilyn Cosby Geraldine Wofford, Karen Jones; Frank Blocton, Ayirra Fortier and Ayyanna Fortier of Selma
Thursday – I handled many matters, traveled to Lowndes County returned to Selma and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Dr Ernest Okeke and Tasha Dangerfield of Selma; Rebecca Marion of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Ursula Stribling of Birmingham; Sherette Spicer and Jade Sipes of Jefferson County; Dallas County License Commissioner Sandra Cowan; Latonia Tisdale of Alabama Power Company; and Lowndes County School Board members Steve Foster, Travis Rogers Ben Davis Robert Grant and Brant McCray
Friday – I handled many matters as I worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Alabama New South Coalition State Coordinator Shelley Fearson; Alabama Congressman Shomari Figures; Jason Copeland of Gadsden; Betty Boynton of Selma; and Dixie Bonner and Walter Bonner of Talladega
EPILOGUE – Leadership is powerful Leadership is often powerful for good Dr Martin Luther King was a great leader for good Leadership is often powerful for bad Adolph Hitler was a great leader for bad We can cultivate leadership in others and in ourselves even as we share our meals A leadership lunch
Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Boligee, will celebrate its annual Women’s Day on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Dr Karen Lewis, Boligee Senior Citizens Program Director, will be the guest speaker
The public is invited Rev John C Glass, Jr , Pastor
Opinion | Sewa ge issues in Lowndes County (AL) ar e deplor a ble, and DEI has nothing to do with fixing them
The Trump DOJ killed an agreement to fix Lowndes County’s sewage issues calling it DEI That’s stupid to everyone who knows what words mean
bama
By: Josh Moon, Ala-
Political Reporter
(April 14, 2025)
In 2017, a United Nations official whose job it was to travel the globe investigating the various issues related to extreme poverty – and reporting on various ways that poverty affected the residents of those impoverished areas –stopped in Lowndes County Alabama for a tour
What he found was a problem so unique, so unexpected so astonishing that he told media outlets around the world about it Because there in Lowndes County – an accessible, navigable county under the purview of the State of Alabama – was a sewage crisis that was so awful Philip Alston had never encoun-
Commission
However, the Alabama Department of Revenue appealed leading to the court's decision allowing the state to collect the owed taxes
In other considerations the Commission acted on the following:
* Approved the resignation of Mr Morgan Sellers from the Foster/Ralph Water Authority and appointed Mr Guy Pearce, Jr to assume the position
* Approved Ms Marsha
Math & Science Chair
Eutaw resident, Jonathan Woodruff Jr , has been chosen as Division Chair of the Math and Science Department at East Mississippi Community College Woodruff will be responsible for supervising instructors, managing the department budget, and contribution to student success He holds a Bachelor ’s degree in Mathematics with Administration or in Business Adminstriation and a Master ’s degree in Mathematics. Woodruff serves as Eutaw District #2 City Councilperson and is on the Greene County E-911 Board
tered it In Lowndes County, Alston and other officials found that more than 34 percent of the population had contracted hookworm
– a parasite that has been eradicated throughout most of the country but persists only in areas of extreme poverty, where issues with sanitation, sewage and the absence of clean drinking water persist
Various news agencies wrote hundreds of stories on the wastewater and drinking water crisis in Lowndes starting as early as the late 1990s In 2019, a Guardian photo documented children playing nearby an open pool of raw sewage There were stories in state outlets about raw sewage and human feces flooding homes streets and yards Stories in the New York Times, Washington Post, CBS News and almost every state news outlet told of the reprehensible conditions facing the people in Lowndes (and other portions of the Black Belt), almost all of which
Grant as Appraisal Department Clerk
• Approved purchasing full page graduation ad in Greene County Democrat Newspaper
• Approved resolution and lighting of candle celebrating the 250th Anniversary of Paul Revere’s Ride
* Approved travel for Assistant Engineer
* Tabled resolution for PARA (Park And Recreation Authority)
stemmed from decades of neglectful infrastructure funding and planning by the state and the blatantly racist manner in which various state agencies, the Legislature and the governor ’s office doled out funding and infrastructure projects
An investigation that began in 2021 by the U S Department of Justice, initiated by a lawsuit filed by Catherine Coleman Flowers, found that as many as 80 percent of Lowndes County residents lacked reliable sewage services
Residents in the county had been fined and even imprisoned for failing to install or repair septic systems
Those same residents paid their federal, state and local taxes including property taxes and gas taxes and income taxes, which should have gone towards basic infrastructure costs, including one of the most basic services provided by all civilized societies
Basic sewer services
At the commission’s work session held Wednesday April 9 2025 Attorney Parnell informed the Commission that PARA had two sets of incorporation documents and both were filed under the wrong State Statues Parnell indicated that he had forwarded materials and the necessary process for PARA to file new incorporation papers
But in Lowndes, and other predominantly Black counties in Alabama such services had been neglected Even when complaints were filed and reports of illnesses – including numerous and frequent illness outbreaks among young children –the state of Alabama and its Alabama Department of Public Health repeatedly failed to act
If you doubt this, allow me to point out one thing: There is no greater concentration of hookworm-positive cases anywhere else in the developed world than Lowndes County
Nowhere else on the planet
So two years ago the DOJ entered into an agreement with ADPH to finally adequately address the wastewater issues in Lowndes and to start moving the state towards a plan that would see it provide the proper infrastructure in the county to address the very obvious and well documented issues
On Friday, the Trump administration terminated that agreement calling it DEI
Because fixing the catatrophic results of decades of discrimination is really really unfair to the people who discriminated You know I often hear Republicans and Trump supporters whine about being labeled racists and ask with genuine confusion for people to provide an example of that racism While there
are many examples, this is perhaps one of the most obvious and reprehensible
There is no question that discrimination led directly to these issues There is no question that Alabama has a duty and need to correct these issues faced by its tax-paying citizens There is no question that the DOJ took a measured approach to its settlement agreement with ADPH, asking nothing more of it than for it to do what it should have been doing all along
Doesn’t matter
“The DOJ will no longer push ‘environmental justice as viewed through a distorting, DEI lens, said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K Dhillon “President Trump made it clear: Americans deserve a government committed to serving every individual with dignity and respect and to expending taxpayer resources in accordance with the national interest, not arbitrary criteria ”
Because nothing says dignity and respect quite like raw sewage flowing through your living room
But then this is what the whole anti-DEI movement is about It has nothing to do with actual unfairness or “wokeness” or any of the other crap that MAGA s spew constantly to justify their abhorrent racism and childish hatefulness
It’s about never ever having to take responsibility for anything It s why they freak out over a proper history being taught in schools It s why they
bristle at the suggestion that slavery built the country It’s why they throw hissy fits when you point out that Native Americans got a raw deal It s why they go berserk when you remind them that their childish response to the pandemic prolonged it and made it worse And its why rectifying decades of injustices is being wiped away with a Friday afternoon press release from a twobit, conservative hack lawyer who quite clearly doesn’t know the definition of irony
The people of Lowndes County do deserve dignity and respect Just as much as all the other people around this state who have received the basic services that the people of Lowndes have been denied
If you think that’s somehow unfair, you could use a good dose of DEI
A note on opinion pieces
This is an opinion column and does not necessarily represent or reflect the opinions of the Alabama Political Reporter, its editors or its reporters The opinions are those of its author For information about submitting guest opinions, visit our contact page
Josh Moon is an investigative reporter and featured columnist at the Alabama Political Reporter with years of political reporting experience in Alabama You can email him at jmoon@alreporter com or follow him on Twitter
An example of wastewater disposal problems in Lowndes County, Alabama DAVID PERSON/FACEBOOK
Cong r atulations to the Gr aduates of the 10-Week Jump Star t Cour se
Held at Greene County Career Center and powered by Skilled Trades of West Alabama, this transformative program is equipping individuals with the tools, training, and confidence needed to launch successful careers in the construction industry Skilled Trades of West Alabama is changing lives and building a stronger workforce. With a mission to prepare highly qualified, job-ready individuals, this program is meeting the high demand for skilled labor across West Alabama A special thank you to Colin Hare for being an excellent instructor and mentor throughout the course Your dedication, knowledge, and leadership made a lasting impact on each participant Join us in celebrating this amazing group of future builders, electricians, welders, and more who are ready to take on the world with purpose and power!
GCHS junior scholar s tour colle ge campuses
GCHS junior scholars toured The University of Alabama Birmingham and Samford University GCHS scholars learned about the amazing educational opportunities available. The GCHS faculty and staff are committed to ensuring that our scholars are college and career ready
Copies .15 ¢
GCHS Dual Enr ollment students inducted into Phi T heta Ka ppa Honor Society
Congratulations to GCHS Dual Enrollment students who were inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Wallace Community College: Anya Jones, Delandria Turner, Laineicia Peebles, Laila Coleman, Arriuna Taylor, and Amber Marsh We’re proud of you!
EUTAW - Graveside Services for Minister Henry (Red Man) Horton Jr will be 3:00 p m Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Oak Grove Cemetery Clinton Alabama with Pastor Gwendolyn Glover officiating The body will lie in state from 2:30 p m until the service hour Smith's Mortuary Boligee directing Funer al Notice
Never Borrow Sorrow From Tomorrow Deal only with the present
Carolyn’s Tid Bits...by Carolyn Young
Never step into tomorrow, For God asks us just to trust Him And to never borrow sorrowFor the future is not ours to know And it may never be So let us live and give our best And give it lavishly For to meet tomorrow s troubles Before they are even ours Is to anticipate the Saviour And to doubt His all
Richard G Cross P O Box 1528 Livingston, Alabama 35470
3tcg 4/2,9,16
Legal Notice In the Probate Court to Greene County Alabama In Re : The Estate of Wilbert Morrow, Deceased Notice of hearing To Wilhelmina Winston, Ester Jackson -Guajardo Deseree Jackson Madlock, Levi A Jackson Rosemary Jackson, Burma Grace Jackson, Denisa BrownPerkins Valerie Morrow Kevyn Morrow, Lillian Fondren and Vera Matthews, Take notice that a writing,purposted to be the Last will and Testament of Wilbert Morrow has been filed with this Court on the 16th day of June, 2025, at 10:00 0 clock a hearing will be held regarding same, at which time you can appear if you see proper Date this 27th day of March 2025
3tcg 4/2 9 16
Legal Notice In the Matter of the Estate of Sinnie Neal Richardson
Deceased Notice of Service by Publication
To: Syni Jean Champion, Inaam Kenyatta Aisha
K e n y a t t a , C r i s p e n
R i c h a r d s o n G e r a l d Richardson and Demetrius Richardson
You will hereby take notice that on the 19th March 2025, Dwayne Walton, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Sinnie Neal Richardson filed in this Court an Amended Petition for Sale of Real Estate Your are hereby notified to be and appear before me at the Probate Office of Greene County, Alabama, on the 29th day of April 2025, at 11 0’clock a m when the petition will be considered, and show cause if any your have allege, as to why said Petition and Motion should not be approved by this Court Done this the 19th day of March 2025
Rolonda M Wedgeworth Probate Judge
Rolonda M Wedgeworth Judge of Probate Walter Griess Griess Shaw & Willingham 315 Main Street P O Box 528 Eutaw, AL 35462
Phone (205) 372-9333
Fax (205) 372-4027
3tcg 4/2,9,16
STATE OF ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
COLLECTION SERVICES DIVISION
INVITATION FOR BIDS FOR THE SALE OF PROPERTY LOCATED IN GREENE COUNTY, ALABAMA
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 40-2923(b), Code of Alabama 1975 that the Alabama Department of Revenue is accepting sealed bids for the sale of the following real properties described below, acquired as a result of a Levy Sale Sealed bids shall be submitted online at: https://www ebuy alabama gov until the closing date and time of 11:59
-wise powersSo let us be content to solve Our problems one by one Asking nothing of tommorrow Except Thy Will be done -Helen Steiner Rice
Happy birthday to Demetriana Jones, Willie Earl Meriwether Curtis Kennard, Christopher A Crawford, Makayla Spencer Faith Kalese Fluker, Kisha ColemanWilliams Deidra Paige Jamarie Brown, Jereme
p m , Friday, May 16, 2025, at which time all bids will be opened and read in the Collection Services Division Bids will not be accepted after the above stated date and time
Brief Description of property offered:
A TRACT OF LAND LYING IN THE NW ¼ OF SECTION 2 TOWNSHIP 22 NORTH, RANGE 2 EAST IN GREENE COUNTY, ALABAMA, AND CONTAINING 38 5 ACRES MORE OR LESS SOURCE OF TITLE: DEED BOOK 101 PAGE 322
The property is located at or near the corner of County Road 208 and I20/I-59 Eutaw Alabama 35462; Parcel Identification Number: 18-01-02-0000-003 000#0; as described in Inst Num: 54116- Deed Book 208 Page 434
The parcels are being offered “as is” and “where is” without recourse against the State of Alabama Department of Revenue It is the responsibility of the bidder to inspect the property conditions before submitting a bid by driveby only, without trespassing on the property in any manner Bidders must agree to all terms listed online before submitting a bid If you wish to bid on this property please complete the Sealed Bid Form online
Hunter, Braydent Perry, Caleb Lee Morris, Jhantel Deloach Kenneth Green Ivan Alexander, Philip Wagner Sr Akeyia Chatman, Amias Brown Jordan Ivan Flanagan Vanessa Grant, Manderson Spencer LaMetria S Hodges, LaDarius R Smith Naldo Watkins Jerry Spencer, Debra Waitters Deitric Gandy Happy Anniversary to Mr and Mrs Ples Williams Make the mistakes of yesterday your lessons for today
The minimum bid for this parcel is $55,000
EACH bid submitted online must be accompanied by an EFT bid deposit payment of ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the bid Any bid submitted without payment of the bid deposit will not be considered The deposits of unsuccessful bidders will be returned following the bid closing date
NO BID SHALL BE RECEIVED FOR ANY REASON ANY TIME AFTER THE ADVERTISED DEADLINE IT SHALL BE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BIDDER TO ENSURE ACTUAL RECEIPT OF THE BID BY THE COLLECTION SERVICES DIVISION PRIOR TO THE ADVERTISED DEADLINE
The Alabama Department of Revenue reserves the right to withdraw the property from sale at any time and the right to reject any or all bids
For more information about the sale contact: Alabama Department of Revenue Collection Services Division-Sealed Bid Sale P O Box 327820
Montgomery AL 361327820
Telephone: (334) 2421229
3tcg 4/16 23 30
Star link
To his more than 219 million followers on his social media platform X, Mr Musk made the racially charged claim that his satellite internet service provider was not allowed to operate in South Africa simply because I'm not black"
But the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) - a regulatory body in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors - told the BBC that Starlink had never submitted an application for a license As for the foreign ministry it said the company was welcome to operate in the country "provided there's compliance with local laws
So what are the legal sticking points?
To operate in South Africa Starlink needs to obtain network and service licenses which both require 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged groups
This mainly refers to South Africa s majority black population, which was shut out of the economy during the racist system of apartheid White-minority rule ended in 1994 after Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress (ANC) came to power
Since then, the ANC has made "black empowerment" a central pillar of its economic policy in an attempt to tackle the racial injustices of the past This has included adopting legislation requiring investors to give local black firms a 30% stake in their businesses in South Africa
Mr Musk - who was born in South Africa in 1971 before moving to Canada in the late 1980s and then to the US where he became the world's richest man - appears to see this as the main stumbling block for Starlink to operate in the country
Starlink, in a written submission to Icasa, said the black empowerment provisions in legislation excluded "many" foreign satellite operators from the South African market according to local news site TechCentral
But foreign ministry spokesperson Clayson Monyela challenged this view in March saying on X that more than 600 US companies including computing giant Microsoft, were operating in South Africa in compliance with its laws - and thriving Are there attempts to end the impasse?
Mr Musk's Starlink has a potential ally in South Africa's Communications Minister Solly Malatsi
He comes from the Democratic Alliance (DA) - the second-biggest party in South Africa - which joined a coalition government after the ANC failed to get a parliamentary majority in last year's election
The DA is a fierce critic of the current black empowerment laws, claiming they have fuelled cronyism and corruption with investors forced to link up with ANC-connected companies to operate in South Africa or to win state contracts
Last October, Malatsi hinted that he was looking for a way to circumvent the 30% black equity requirement, saying he intended to issue a "policy direction" to Icasa with the aim of clarifying "the position on the recognition of equity equivalent programmers"
In simple terms, Malatsi seemed to be suggesting that Starlink would not a require Black business partner in South Africa though it would have to invest in social programs aimed at benefiting Black people - especially the poor But some six months later, Malatsi has failed to change the policy, with a spokesperson for his department telling the BBC that their legal team was still looking into the matter It seems the communications minister may be facing political resistance from ANC lawmakers in parliament
Khusela Diko, the chairperson of the parliamentary communications committee to which Malatsi is accountable warned him earlier this month that "transformation" in the tech sector was non-negotiable, appearing to oppose giving Mr Musk s Starlink any special treatment
Diko said that "the law is clear on compliance" and, crucially added that "cutting corners and circumvention is not an option - least of all to appease business interests"
Diko's tough position comes as no surprise, as relations between the South African government and the US have hit rock bottom during US President Donald Tump's second term "As it happens with potential investors you have to court them; you have to be talking to them, and you've got to be demonstrating to them that there is a conducive environment for them to invest So we will see how this turns out " the president said
"He is South African-born and South Africa is his home, and I would want to see him coming to South Africa for a visit, tour or whatever "But the "bromance" has long ended with Mr Musk appearing to move closer to South Africa's right wing
Ala-SCAN week of 4/13/25– Central SERVICES
SELLING a RV, Tractor or Golf Cart? ADVERTISE STATEWIDE or by region in over 100 Newspapers reaching over 1 million readers each week! Run your ad in our Classified Network for just $210 per week! Make one call to this newspaper (participating Ala-SCAN newspaper) or call 1-800-264-7043 to find out how easy it is to advertise statewide!
BATH & SHOWER UPDATES
CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed CALL NOW: 1-833-641-6606 FOR SALE
AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET If you are overpaying for your service call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-866-8163535
DirecTV Satellite TV Service Starting at $59 99/month! Free Installation! 160+ channels available Call Now to Get the Most Sports & Entertainment on TV! 844-5947108
NEED NEW FLOORING? Call today schedule a FREE in-home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring Call Today! 1-833-6416567
UPDATE YOUR HOME with Beautiful New Blinds & Shades FREE in-home estimates make it convenient to shop from home Professional installation Top qualityMade in the USA Call for free consultation: 1-855405-8839 Ask about our specials!
cialist call 844-925-3534
WATER DAMAGE CLEANUP & RESTORATION: A small amount of water can lead to major damage in your home Our trusted professionals dry out the wet area and do repairs to protect your family and your home's value! If you have water in your home that needs to be dried Call 24/7: 1-877727-2344 Have zip code of service location ready when you call!
MEDICARE PLANS HAVE CHANGED!!! Make sure your plan will meets your needs in 2025 Our licensed agents can review the changes, address your needs and make sure you aren't overpaying! For a free quote Call now! 1-877-730-0711
EDUCATION ATTENTION ACTIVE Duty & Military Veterans! Begin a new career and earn your Degree at CTI! Online Computer & Medical training available for Veterans & Families! To learn more call 866-4751014 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)
HEALTH/BEAUTY ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators FREE information kit Call 1-833650-7885
Attention: VIAGRA and
Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today 20% off Entire Purchase Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts Call 1-833-6832005
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator Act now to receive a FREE 7-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1877-323-5516 today to schedule a free quote It s not just a generator It’s a power move
Safe Step North Americas #1 Walk-In Tub Comprehensive lifetime warranty Top-of-the-line installation and service Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available Call Safe Step 1-844-8716175
Call LeafGuard and say goodbye to gutter cleaning for good No cleaning No leaking No water damage No more ladder accidents Get LeafGuard today and be protected for life FREE estimate Financing available 20% off total purchase (Restrictions may apply ) Call 1-844-6792490
DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company Coverage for 400 plus procedures Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan Do not wait!
Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-8778 1 7 - 4 6 9 7 www dental50plus com/alabama #6258
Donate your car truck boat RV and more to support our veterans! Schedule a FAST FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction! Call Veteran Car Donations at 1-833426-0193 today!
Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new custom bath or shower in as little as one day For a limited time waiving ALL installation costs! (Additional terms apply Subject to change and vary by dealer (Offer ends 6/30/25 ) Call 1-877-205-0836
Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military health workers & 1st responders ) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-833887-1317
ATTENTION HOMEOWNERS Needing Siding, Window or Roofs We are opening a branch office and will be using these homes for advertising SAVE HUNDREDS
100% Financing* SR/Military discounts $1000 OFF with this ad ENDS SOON *wac 800-350-0591
AUTOMOTIVE GOT AN UNWANTED
CAR??? DONATE IT TO PATRIOTIC HEARTS
Fast free pick up All 50 States Patriotic Hearts programs help veterans find work or start their own business Call 24/7: 1-855405-8927
AUTO INSURANCE from $29 month Free 2minute Quote! We Compare all Insurance providers offers for you! Lowest Rates! Call Now 1 833-399-6566
STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE! A recent survey says that most Americans are overpaying for their car insurance Let us show you how much you can save Call Now for a noobligation quote: 1-877551-4740
VEHICLE TITLE Problems? We have a solution! Call Jason Steward Enterprises We’re Alabama’s #1 Vehicle Title Problem Experts! Free telephone consultation North AL 1-256-850-0527, Central AL 1-205-267-5735 South AL 1-251-342-8538
JOSHUA J SWORDS
ACCIDENTS, WRONGFUL DEATH, SLIP & FALL Office-205-933-7533 Cell – 205-901-6129 “I like Big Bucks and I cannot lie” 24 HOUR SERVICE –FREE CONSULTATION OVER 100 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE FRANK S BUCK P C ATTORNEY 2160 14TH Ave South BIRMINGHAM, AL 35255
ANNOUNCEMENT
Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Pleasant Ridge is in search of a MUSICIAN 1st and 3rd Sunday. Contact Dec. Floyzelle at 205-496-2910 or 205-372-5821.
BOLIGEE ELECTRICAL
Huge sale on light bulbs! Lights bulbs 50 Appliances: Washers, Dryers, Refrigerators, Stoves..etc
