Greene County Democrat - June 25, 2025

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Black Americans face unequal burden as U.S. inches closer to war

As the United States edges closer to possible military action against Iran history signals a familiar reality for Black Americans: disproportionate risk, unequal support, and a long legacy of being asked to sacrifice more while receiving less From World War I through Iraq and Afghanistan Black servicemembers have routinely been overrepresented in combat roles and underrepresented in decision-making positions

See Unequal Burden, p 6

Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil free from ICE custody in Louisiana

Source: Anadolu / Getty

After spending over three months in federal immigration detention Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil is finally a free man after being released on Friday following a federal judge’s ruling that his continued detention was unconstitutional and unsupported by the facts

The decision marks a significant development in a case that has drawn national scrutiny over the Trump administration’s targeting of student protesters and its use of immigration enforcement to silence dissent especially in relation to the humanitarian crisis and genocide happening in Gaza

See Mahmoud Khalil, p 6

The Constitution and Immigration Chaos

The nation s democratic state attorney generals are conferring with one another over these unprecedented tense and escalating migrant raids conducted by ICE agents the FBI DEA and other federal and local authorities Migrant captures happen in hardware stores, construction sites, immigration courts, farms, vacation resorts, and hotels The most recent chaos surrounds aggressive ice raids on Mexicans Brazilians and others who are said to be illegal in this nation by overstaying a visa or being undocumented

See Consitution And Immigration Chaos, p 6

Trump-era cuts, truth bans, fuel growing racial divide in U S Education

Graphic on Education

Despite the promise of equal opportunity heralded by the Supreme Court s 1954 decision in Brown v Board of Education, a new WalletHub report reveals that America’s educational system remains critically unequal especially for Black students The disparities experts say have only widened in recent years worsened by former President Donald Trump s dismantling of federal education funding and his administration’s attacks on teaching real American history

See U S Education, p 2

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Vol 134, No 26 75¢ Serving West Alabama Like No Other Community Newspaper

Candidates qualify for August 26 City of Eutaw elections; Eutaw City Council meets June 10 and 24 to handle r outine business

The City of Eutaw released the official list of candidates who qualified for the August 26, 2025, municipal elections for Mayor and five City Council positions The qualifying period, which ran from June 10 to 24, is now closed

There are three candidates for Mayor Incumbent Mayor Latasha Johnson is challenged by Corey Cockrell a current County Commissioner for District 3 and Tyrone Atkins In each of the five City Council districts the current incumbents qualified, except for District 3, where incumbent Tracey Hunter is unopposed in the election In District 1 incum-

bent Valerie BrewerWatkins is challenged by Ke Undra Quintz Cox In District 2, Jonathan Woodruff Jr the incumbent is opposed by Charles Naylor, Jr , and Quentin Maurice Walton In District 4, incumbent Larrie Coleman is challenged by Sarah Duncan Brewer and Lorenzo French In District 5, incumbent Suzette Powell is challenged by Carrie Logan Director of the Eutaw Area Chamber of Commerce

If no candidate wins a majority of the votes for Mayor or in their district for City Council member, there will be a Run-off Election scheduled for September 23 2025 for the top two vote-getters in

each race

The election is open to all registered voters who have lived in the city or their respective district for 30 days or more prior to the election The polls will be open from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM on election day and for the run-off election if necessary

The last day to register to vote in this election is August 15 2025 for those who recently moved into the city limits, or never registered to vote or are trying to reclaim their voting rights The newly elected Mayor and Council will take office in November 2025

Council Meetings on June 10 and 24

The Eutaw City Council held its two regular monthly meetings on June 10 and 24 at the City Hall Councilman Woodruff was absent for the June 10 meeting All council members were in attendance for the June 24th meeting In the June 10th meeting the Council approved purchase of materials to repair potholes in streets and other roadway repairs The Mayor said she had a long list of streets to be repaired, and the city staff would work on these when the materials and time were available

See City Council, p 2

Mayor Latasha Johnson announces bid for r e-election

Today, I am officially announcing my campaign for re-election to the Office of Mayor of the City of Eutaw, Alabama It has been a privilege and honor to hold this position since November of 2020 Following my election I did my best to put together a team (TEAM EUTAW) of people and citizens, who would work together to continue moving this city

forward While there have been some problems and difficult times there have also been some accomplishments and successes that far exceed difficulties These are some of the challenges that we faced and how Team Eutaw addressed these: Eutaw Water Department s revenue was down due to the billing system Over 100 customers were not billed due to meter issues We were able to correct these issues and tripled our water revenues The city was in debt with IRS (over) $300 000 lien on the city, and with the help of staff, our financial advisors (Ralph Liverman) CPA (Rob Person), and Sheriff Joe Benison, we were able to resolve these issues Our city suffered through severe weather conditions, including three tornadoes and other strong wind storms Thankfully there were no fatalities but tremendous amounts of property damage to several

homes, buildings, and excessive amount of trees and limbs damage throughout the city FEMA was some help but a large amount of the expenses fell on the city

The City paid off the debt on the former Carver School facility Partnering with the County and the Industrial Development Authority we completed Streetscape Project which resulted in new sidewalks with railings, curbs, gutters, and an area for beautification downtown This project started under former Mayor Raymond Steele The City installed streetlights on Exit I- 20/59 (Love truck stop exit) We secured a $500,000 loan from Merchant and Farmers Bank to purchase street sweeper boom debris pickup truck, water/street department work trucks, police cars a new Fire Truck ($250 000) The last payment of that loan will be in September 2025 The

City purchased the former Lon Grubbs building for future police department and storage of records We partnered with the Town of Boligee and secured over $9 million dollars in grant monies from ADEM to fix water lines lift stations water tanks and pumping station I am asking citizens of Eutaw to please REELECT me (Latasha Johnson) as Mayor I will continue my team work to improve roads, bridges, draining ditches restoring old sidewalks/curbs demolishing old overgrown houses/buildings I will also work very hard for recreational activities for our children As a community, we will continue to work together to grow our City; therefore I am asking the citizens of Eutaw to please re-elect me (Latasha Johnson) for Mayor of Eutaw for 4 more years and I will continue to build up our city

Sherif f Depar tment r epor ts thr ee ar r ests

On June 16, 2025, the Greene County Sheriff Department arrested Jamarris Pippen 32 of Eutaw for harassment and released on a bond of $1,000 Michael Adams, 50, of Boligee, AL, was arrested on June 17 for failure to appear for distribution of controlled substances William McCool, 59 of Tuscaloosa, AL, was arrested on June 18 for interfering with government

operations Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following incidents

6/21- Krista Dobbins reported harassment 6/23 - Rosie Washington reported illegal possession of food stamps 2nd degree

6/23 - Mercedes Taylor reported domestic violence 3rd degree and criminal mischief 2nd degree Item damaged is a car wind-

shield, valued at $600

The Eutaw Police Department reported no arrests and the following incidents

6/16 - Anita Lewis reported criminal mischief

6/17 - Warren Bell reported fraudulent use of a debit/credit card

6/18 - Jerkayla Watkins reported an incident

6/18 - Valencia Bell reported breaking and entering a vehicle

6/19 - Cae Darius Allen reported theft of property

6/20 - Stanley Pasteur reported harassment

6/20 - Denise Jones reported fraudulent use of a debit/credit card

6/20 - Herman Thomas reported fraudulent use of a debit/credit card

6/21- Adam Cotton and Amarion Cotton reported an incident

Map of the City of Eutaw voting districts for municipal elections

Water For Life

I am inspired by the Biblical Passage which tells of Isaac and his people digging wells symbolizing water as a foundation of life

Water sprouts, nourishes and sustains

Providing for all that seek to live

The water in the well is useless unless a bucket is dropped and water drawn As we stand for our freedom We seek life, we dig wells, we draw water

We share water to nourish and sustain We share water for freedom life

But have we sufficiently marked the site of the wells we dig Are they deep enough to replenish so those who come after us will value water for life, will drop their buckets and draw and share water for life, water for freedom

City Council

The Council tabled requests from the Mayor to purchase a tractor and a bush hog and a truck mounted sewer jet to clean out sewer pumping stations

The Council approved travel for the Chief of Police to attend the annual conference of police chiefs in August ; travel for officer Jaleel Powell to attend a training in August; payment for poll workers in the upcoming municipal elections and approved payment of bills

At the June 24th meeting the Eutaw City Council approved a new employee health plan from Colonial Life Insurance Company which includes dental and vision coverage not available in the current plan

The Council approved a Memorandum of Agreement with United Way of Alabama to install a story walk in the city s Memorial Park on Mesopotamia Street The walk will tell stories to children when the walk through and will be an addition to the playground and tennis courts in the park

The Council also approved for Attorney Zane

Willingham to write a letter to the Mayor concerning employee overtime The Council approved payment of bills

The Council received a report from the Water Department listing $158,000 in delinquent bills to the city from 2017 to June 2025 Sarah Leavelle Water Clerk explained that these balances include water, sewer, garbage and connection fees owed The Water Department has negotiated a payment plan for these overdue accounts

Leavelle explained, “Sometimes people honor their agreements and sometimes they don t We do have the right to cut off water services if people do not pay their bills and past due balances We try to work with people to get their bills paid ” The Council took this information under consideration in terms of their planning and budgetary decision making Council member Valerie Watkins raised several concerns One was about large trucks parked by the place where the old swimming pool was located Mayor Johnson asked her to get the names of the truck

owners and license plates of violators to help in getting this problem resolved Watkins said she was reporting the problem but could not be responsible for the requested information Chief of Police Johnson said the police would monitor the situation and advise the truck owners of the laws

Watkins said the city staff should check and identify streetlights that are not working and make sure they are replaced She also said residents were complaining about a ditch that runs between Roebuck and Edwards Streets The Mayor responded that this ditch is owned by the residents and not the city and therefore cleaning the ditch was their responsibility In the public comments section of the meetings, Faye Tyree complained that the bathrooms in the City Hall need to be repaired for use by the employees and the public Alfonzo Morton complained about flooding from the rains and asked the city to help in cleaning the ditch behind his house

Read the Greene County Democrat online at www.greenecodemocrat.com

U.S. Education

WalletHub’s analysis ranked states by racial equality in education, using key metrics such as gaps in graduation rates, college degree attainment and standardized test scores between Black and white students Wyoming, New Mexico, and West Virginia top the list for equity while Connecticut Minnesota, and Wisconsin rank lowest According to the report school districts with predominantly white students receive $23 billion more in funding per year than districts with majority nonwhite students Promoting racial equality in education can have a significant impact on promoting equality in the overall economy ” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo It is essential to ensure that all school districts receive sufficient funding the latest technology and equal opportunities for tutoring and extracurricular activities ”

But instead of addressing these inequities Trump and his allies have stripped resources from schools, gutted the Department of Education and fiercely opposed instruction that addresses America s history of racism, slavery, and systemic inequality Their rejection of Critical Race Theory often a stand-in for broader discussions about race has sparked book bans curriculum censorship, and efforts to whitewash the past Rodney Coates, a WalletHub expert and professor at Miami University said the system is structurally rigged “Race and class are

Community Calendar

June 29- Pine Grove Baptist Church Sixteen Section Road will host 5th Service beginning at 11:00 a m Rev Michael Lavender of St John Baptist Church is the guest speaker, he will be accompany with his choir Rev Derrick Wright is Church pastor, all are welcome to attend

both associated with differential school spending

Poor areas mostly Black, Native American, and Hispanic have lower perpupil spending across our country Coates said Educational opportunity and a commitment to excellence are the only lasting solutions ”

The report details how states like Connecticut and Wisconsin among the worst for racial equity suffer from wide gaps in high school graduation rates and access to advanced coursework In contrast states like Hawaii and New Mexico show narrower gaps in test scores and degree attainment “It’s not just about race but the effects are highly racialized, said Shauna Lani Shames, a WalletHub expert and political science professor at Rutgers University Schools remain segregated today by geography and class, which are deeply tied to race due to generations of redlining and discriminatory policies The pandemic and recent economic downturns have exacerbated the problem As WalletHub expert Tyrone Howard of UCLA explained, the regression in math and reading scores

for Black and Brown students is alarming and without targeted resources school counselors, academic support, and mental health services the gaps will only grow William McCorkle, also a WalletHub expert and an education professor at the College of Charleston noted structural barriers in South Carolina that perpetuate inequality “Even at the kindergarten level some children are divided based on gifted and talented programs, which are almost completely based on parental income According to experts, solving these inequities requires more than just increased funding It demands a commitment to truth, accurate teaching of history, and valuing every student regardless of their background Every person deserves the finest education we can provide,” said WalletHub Expert Dr Kim Scipes a professor emeritus of sociology at Purdue University Northwest “Despite its wide usage, there is no white race no black race no brown race there is only one race, the human race, Scipes stated

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Don’t

Poetry Book Order Form

Left to Right starting with the front row: Takeisha Knox Lacy-Resource/QA Supervisor; Jacqueline Garner-Food Stamp Supervisor; Modesta Smiley-Service Caseworker; Wilson Morgan-Director; Carmeshia Gibson-Adult Protective Service Caseworker; Kelley R Wilson-Service Caseworker, and LaTonya Hanible Wooley-Service Supervisor and Probate Judge Rolonda Wedgeworth sitting

Whereas, Alabama’s seniors are valued members of society and it is our collective responsibility to ensure they live safely and with dignity; and Whereas, older adults and Alabamians with disabilities are often targets for abuse, neglect and exploitation, and such maltreatment is an ever-increasing problem in today s society; and Whereas, Preventing abuse of older adults

through maintaining and improving social supports like senior centers human services and transporting will allow everyone to continue to live as independently as possible and contribute to the life and vibrancy of our communities; and Whereas, the Adult Protective Services Division of the Alabama Department of Human Resources is committed to the protection of

elder citizens through prevention assesements investigations of abuse neglect and exponentiation reports and coordination of services and Whereas, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day offers all Alabamians the opportunity to promote the programs and organization that serves elders and their families and to participate in community efforts to improve the safety and well being of all people through-

out the state; Therefore: I Honorable Judge Rolonda Wedgeworth, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Probate Judge of Greene County do hereby proclaim June 15 2025 as World Elder Awareness Day in Greene County ” Judge Rolonda Wedgeworth Probate Judge of Greene County, Alabama

Public Viewing will be held Saturday June 28, 2025 2:00 - 6:00 p m

Greater Christ Temple Apostolic Church at 312 Edward Drive Eutaw, AL 35462

Tell Tr ump, "War is Hell"

(TriceEdneyWire com) A few days ago, we celebrated Juneteenth representing we were out of slavery! I don t feel much like what Juneteenth declared itself to be with Trump in office We’re still facing the highest level of racism most of us have ever seen He is destroying our history-- demanding that it not be taught in schools He’s refusing to acknowledge what DEI is To a normal person the words Diversity, Equity and Inclusion would be great things, but not to Trump and his minions

He s all hyped up to sending the sons and daughters to war--the very people he s demeaning while denying them equal opportunity to live free in America He s eager to send them off to a war from which they likely will not return He’s making a game of it by telling us he’ll decide in two weeks if he is sending the very young people he is denying opportunities here in America

He is touting his plan to decide in two weeks We the American people are kept waiting and wondering while he insults his own Secretary of Intelligence, a white woman, Tulsi Gabbard In disbelief, I heard him say, I don t care what she says! and what she says is wrong "

This sounds like even the white women who voted for him have a problem enjoying respect Poor Christi Noem another white woman Secretary of Homeland Security finds herself in the hospital after seeing some of her staff shockingly manhandle U S Senator Alex Padilla who was just doing his job! I doubt that Trump sent Secretary Noem even a “Get Well” card! That shows a lack of respect for white women again when most of them voted for him!

Then there were the No Kings protests all over the country and I m told the protests were 20 times larger than support by key friends of his We saw all those vacant seats along the route of his parade claiming equal honors with our Military for 45 million dollars of taxpayer money I haven’t heard military Generals coming to Trump’s defense for this war he seems to be heading toward when nobody has tried to attack America! Why? Do you think he listens to anybody who knows what war is? If I remember what I read Trump and his family dodged serving in our military!

You’d think he at least heard of Sherman who warned “War is Hell” and “some of you young men think that war is all glamour and glory, but let me tell you, boys, it is all hell!”

Lt Col Dave Grossman said I am sick and tired of war Its glory is all moonshine It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood for vengeance for desolation He too said “War is hell

Many of our people were already living in hell in Trump’s version of America Before he was elected we had begun to see a glimmer of what looked like justice Now, this man has set us back in every imaginable way! Waiting for somebody else to help us is out of the question We must elect people to stop his madness We can t do it with certain Democratic leaders fighting each other and too many are doing just that Instead, we should be working together and using all of our energy to at least loudly voice our objections to what many Republicans are not doing to save our democracy

We are out here on our own except for the people who led and participated in the “No Kings” events while Trump was practicing how to become a real dictator If he remains the dictator he wants to be, we can forget celebrating Juneteenth again because we ll be right back in slavery He s already trying to cancel Juneteenth!

(Dr Williams is President of The Dick Gregory Society )

W hat would we do without immig r ants?

(TriceEdneyWire com)Douglas Turner Ward (1930-2021) wrote a searing play Days of Absence that depicted the way life might be like in a small southern town where all of the Black folks disappeared Predictably, white folks could not walk and chew gum, neither at one time nor at the same time They could not boil water feed their children, nor manage their own feeding The fictional town just about falls apart in the absence of the Black labor backbone The play ends when, the next day, one of the missing Black folks reappears and feigns ignorance about the disappearance Days of Absence won both a Drama Desk Award in 1965 and a Tony Award in 1966 It captured the notice of the Ford Foundation; they awarded Douglas Turner Ward a grant that he used to establish the Negro Ensemble Company The sardonic play, with no definitive conclusion is a metaphor for those who are invisible, the people who serve our food, clean our

homes, run the buses and trains, and facilitate lives of people who are seemingly too important to notice them

Where is the 21st century Doulas Turner Ward, the playwright or author who will write about the days of absence that immigrant workers might stage to underline their essential importance in our economy In agriculture and hospitality, and in science and medicine, as well as in other fields, we will be the net losers if the 47th President s diabolical scheme to deport 3000 people a day is successful If ICE gets to its quota and works every day it means that we will lose more than a million people a year

They are housekeepers and construction workers childcare and health care workers About one in five workers is foreign born, and about a quarter of those are likely undocumented Some of these undocumented people have been here for years, making lives for themselves and their families Others have come recently Relatively few are receiving government service or assistance Most live under the radar paying taxes and receiving no benefits

What would we do without immigrants documented or undocumented?

Which construction projects would slow? Which hotels would experience labor shortages because housekeepers and landscapers are unavailable? Which elders would lose

support services? Which young people would be left without parents and perhaps be forced into the foster care system? How will massive deportations affect the ways we live, and does it matter?

To be sure the rule of law is to be respected, and those who are here illegally have been delinquent in handling their business

But most of these people are not the dangerous criminals” that our very dangerous president rails about He has been using them as a prop since he announced his candidacy for our nation’s highest office in 2015 Then he disparaged Mexican immigrants as rapists and criminals

During his campaign he trashed Haitian immigrants as people who eat your pets He asked for President Biden s acuity to be checked Who is checking his?

Deporting immigrants is an inflationary act from a man who said he could manage inflation Who will replace the immigrants we deport and will they work for the same wages?

Responding to his base, the 47th president said that workers in agriculture and hospitality would not be deported A few days later (as usual) he reversed himself as he often does texting “Our Federal Government will continue to be focused on the REMIGRATION of ‘aliens’ (quotes mine) to the places from where they came and preventing the admission of ANYONE who under-

American Democr acy

mines the domestic tranquility of the United States ” Who really is disturbing domestic tranquility with harsh and inhumane rhetoric, absurd raids to schools, churches and graduations Who is attacking the economy with inflationary tactics that will increase wages for those in industries not heavily supported by immigrants? Who has incited violence by targeting even legal immigrants, those who once had protected status with hateful vitriol And who is diverting us from the economic issues he promised to address by creating a sideshow every time he opens his mouth? And then there is the matter of his low-turnout parade that contrasts with the five million or so who turned out for the No King protest Imagine a world without immigrants What will it mean to you To be sure everyone needs to have legal status, but twice bipartisan committees have offered legislation that provides pathways to legal citizenship Our legislators, led by BIPARTISAN groups of Senators, have declined to move forward Now denied a path to legal citizenship, millions live in limbo and in fear What would we do without immigrants?

Dr Julianne Malveaux is a DC based economist and author She can be reached at juiannemalveaux com

is at a pivotal moment and none of us should be silent

None of us should be silent about the recent use of federal agents by this administration to bully, arrest, and investigate political opponents Just as none of us should accept as normal or okay its use of the military against Americans exercising their First Amendment rights Donald Trump’s gleeful embrace of fascist tactics is on display almost daily As he tries to run roughshod over the courts and sics federal agents on members of Congress and other public officials we need to sound every alarm we can about the threats to checks and balance and American democracy itself

The violent treatment of US Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) earlier this month at a press conference being held in Los Angeles by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is just one recent example Sen Padilla spoke up, identified himself, and tried to ask a question For that, he was physically forced out of the room, pushed to the ground and

handcuffed Noem and others in the Trump administration have said Sen Padilla forced his way into the press conference “charged” Noem at the podium, and failed to identify himself Video and witness accounts of the event seem to expose that as a pack of lies Attempting to provide cover for the administration cries of “political theater!” from the Far Right predictably filled the airwaves and online feeds But it couldn’t be clearer that Sen Padilla did everything right He was escorted by a National Guardsman and an FBI agent into the building and then into Sec Noem’s press briefing He had even asked permission first to make sure it was okay for him to go in According to the senator: They opened the door for me, they walked in and were standing near me as I was listening for several minutes during the press conference And then when I felt compelled to start asking questions, before I could get two or three words out, there were hands on me, and you saw what happened next So this was not theatrics This was not me crashing an event You can’t get more secure than being in an FBI office in the second-largest city in America ” Last month, members of Congress joined the mayor of Newark, NJ to visit a controversial ICE detention facility in the city US Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) was ar-

rested when an altercation arose between security and the delegation of elected officials

It is worth noting that a cloud of lies from the administration surrounded that incident as it did for the incident with Sen Padilla The dishonesty of the administration s story about what happened at the detention center is exposed in how it keeps shifting

At first the Trump administration said the officials “stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility " But an indictment against Rep McIver issued this month states the lawmakers peacefully entered through an open security gate and then proceeded to an interior reception area Rep McIver stated, “the facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job, and called her arrest and subsequent indictment "a brazen attempt at political intimidation " She is right And the condemnation of her treatment and the charges filed against her have been bipartisan –even if Trump’s enablers in this current Congress have not yet found the backbone to speak out as some former Republican members have

It is well within the reasonable duties of a member of Congress to show up and ask questions at press conferences or sites of concern Members of Congress serve as representatives of their constituents and are expected to advocate for their views and needs Congressional authority to investigate and exercise oversight is not limited to formal committee hearings Attending press conferences and visiting sites like the New Jersey ICE facility allow members to gather information, speak on behalf of their constituents, and communicate with the public For years, Trump mischaracterized any attempts to hold him accountable for his egregious lawbreaking as the “weaponization” of law enforcement against him and his followers Now we see it was all a precursor to his actual attempts to weaponize law enforcement against those who he deems his political opponents Speak out Spread the word and keep telling the truth Show your elected officials who are standing up to the MAGA assault on democracy your support And if your elected officials are echoing this administration’s lies or whitewashing its authoritarian lawlessness let them hear your anger Democracy is worth fighting for Our rights are worth fighting for When we organize, when we stand together We the People are more powerful than democracy’s foes America can survive and the truth can still win We just cannot shy away from the fight And that fight is here

Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania

Joy as Resistance:

r eclaiming Juneteenth in a time of backlash

Juneteenth, America s newest federal holiday was meant to symbolize a national reckoning with history and a celebration of freedom when President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan legislation into law in 2021 Yet, just a few years later, we find Juneteenth events canceled in cities across Indiana Illinois and Oregon as backlash against diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives intensifies This is not just an administrative shift, it s a cultural one As some seek to erase or diminish Black joy, we must remember that indulging in joy itself has always been an act of resistance

But Juneteenth also reminds us that freedom in America has never been granted equally It was delayed for enslaved Black people even after it was declared Today for many immigrants especially Black and Brown families freedom is once again being delayed and denied at borders, in detention centers, and through discriminatory policies The struggle for liberation is ongoing, and it is interconnected

Juneteenth itself commemorates the moment when freedom finally reached the enslaved in Galveston, Texas, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation That delay was not just a historical footnote; it was a wound that echoes across generations Today asylum seekers and migrants many of them Black and Brown, live in limbo, waiting for freedom The delay may look different, but the harm is the same At Black Lives Matter, we believe that in the face of attempts to silence and suppress investing in joy is a radical necessary form of protest This Juneteenth, we invite all to join us in celebrating and investing in Black and Brown joy as a cornerstone of true liberation while also standing in solidarity with all who are still waiting for freedom to be realized

The attacks on DEI and the cancellation of Juneteenth events are not isolated incidents; they are part of a larger movement to strip Black communities and other marginalized groups of resources and visibility In this climate our resistance must evolve Our response cannot be limited to protest alone It must also include reclaiming the right to thrive, to play, and to experience joy

From the earliest Juneteenth celebrations to today’s block parties and art festivals, play and happiness have been tools for survival and defiance For Black and Brown communities, joy has always been revolutionary BLM was founded in 2013 in re-

sponse to unspeakable tragedies, ones where ruthless oppression, abuse of power, and brutalities flooded our social media timelines following the murder of innocent young men like Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown Yet even in mourning our communities found ways to laugh, dance, and dream together The movement’s global resonance is rooted in this duality, the courage to confront injustice and the audacity to celebrate life

Juneteenth also invites us to ask, who in America is still fighting for our freedom? Black and Brown immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers face family separation, lack of running water lack of due process unsanitary conditions and more Undeniably the same forces that once delayed emancipation, white supremacy, and profit-driven policy, now shape immigration enforcement and send troops when we have the audacity to rise up in cities like Los Angeles True freedom is not just the absence of harm; it is the presence of opportunity, creativity, and fulfillment BLM is evolving to meet the needs of our most vulnerable, investing in programs that provide access to art wellness and community spaces We will continue to advocate for divestment from police prisons, and punishment paradigms while also pushing for investment into justice, joy, and culture

More recently, we ve invested in youth sports programs in local communities and abroad from Brooklyn New York to Ghana, to ensure we are building from the inside out and advocating for the most vulnerable We are guided by the wisdom of our ancestors, who, even in the darkest times found ways to nurture hope and rebuild This Juneteenth let us do more than remember the past Let us build the future Migration is a declaration of hope Just as Black Americans fled the South during the Great Migration seeking dignity safety and opportunity today’s immigrants are doing the same We call on local leaders, philanthropists, and allies to invest in Black communities and to stand in solidarity with all who are still fighting for freedom The right to give, to gather and to celebrate are as vital as any policy change

Let this Juneteenth serve as a vision for what America can become In the face of those who would turn back the clock, we choose to move forward, fueled by the power of joy as resistance This year and every year let us honor Juneteenth with bold action and the unwavering belief that freedom includes the right for everyone to play, to dream, and to live fully Will you join us in shaping the future on our own terms until all are free?

Senate Sketches #1983.....by Hank Sander s Juneteenth is Symbolic

Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the freedom of enslaved people and the end of slavery in the United States of America However, Juneteenth was not the end of slavery Slavery ended at different times for different people Juneteenth is symbolic and that’s good enough for me

To understand the end of slavery we must understand the development and dimensions of slavery in this country Slavery was deeply embedded in what evolved to be the United States of America Slavery evolved over nearly 250 years becoming more inhuman the longer it existed It eventually became chattel slavery, that is human beings were treated as animals such as hogs, cows, goats, sheep, chickens and other domesticated animals Juneteenth is symbolic and that’s good enough for me

Initially servitude in the American Colonies was not for life but a term of years The status of enslavement did not automatically extend to the children of enslaved people Enslaved people could continue to do the following: speak their languages; practice their religions; create and maintain families; openly remember and share their history; own material things; and exercise certain legal rights All these things were true of slavery in virtually all countries across the world Juneteenth is symbolic and that’s good enough for me

Over the years, American slavery became more inhuman and more like ownership of domesticated animals such as goats cattle sheep hogs etc However this slavery was harsher and more violent to humans than to domesticated animals Slavery became servitude for life Slavery extended to the offspring of enslaved women (White children took the status of their father Offspring of animals took the status of their mother Also, many White men had children by enslaved females and wanted these children to continue being enslaved ) Enslaved people were often prohibited from the following: practicing their religions; speaking their languages; maintaining families; openly sharing their history; owning material things; becoming free after a term; having certain legal rights; etc They were treated as domesticated animals becoming chattel slavery Juneteenth is symbolic and that’s good enough for me

As a result of the harshness of slavery, enslaved peoples ran away more and more They frequently ended slavery of themselves with their feet Some helped others to run away ending slavery for these enslaved people Some secured their freedom in other ways such as buying their freedom Many ways were utilized to end individual slavery Juneteenth is symbolic and that s good enough for me

There were various initiatives in certain New England states to abolish slavery The Quakers led some of the strongest movements Eventually several states in the New England area abolished slavery over time But such

initiatives did not reach the American South Juneteenth is symbolic and that’s good enough for me

The Civil War was a powerful factor in ending slavery Nearly 200,000 Black soldiers fought in the Civil War, and 40,000 died The Civil War gave rise to the Emancipation Proclamation which was issued on January 1 1863 It freed no one but gave powerful impetus to many who sought freedom by feet (running away) The Emancipation Proclamation was a war measure that declared people free in states and areas that were in rebellion Enslaved persons in Union-controlled areas were not declared free Juneteenth is symbolic and that s good enough for me

The Civil War ended on April 7 1865 That left people enslaved in the border states which remained in the Union Texas was part of the Confederacy and therefore the Emancipation Proclamation should have applied However, Texas was so far away from the Union States and so large that word of the Emancipation Proclamation did not reach enslaved people until June 19, 1865, some two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued and more than two months after the Civil War ended Juneteenth is symbolic and that’s good enough for me

General Gordon Granger a Union General traveled to Galveston on June 19, 1865, to announce the end of slavery in Texas Enslaved people were so happy that they celebrated with great joy for many days Each year thereafter they continued to hold annual celebrations on Juneteenth These celebrations spread to Louisiana and eventually to other states Juneteenth is symbolic and that s good enough for me

Well before Juneteenth and before the war ended President Abraham Lincoln was fearful that enslaved people might be re-enslaved because the Emancipation Proclamation was a Civil War measure and the war would be over Therefore, he strongly urged the U S Congress to pass the 13th Amendment to the Constitution ending slavery in the United States On April 8, 1864, it passed the United States Senate but not the U S House Representatives Finally, the U S House of Representatives passed the proposed Constitution Amendment the next year on January 31 1865 Juneteenth is symbolic and that’s good enough for me

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, but the ratification required 29 of 36 States to Vote in favor of it The last two states to ratify the 13th Amendment to reach minimum ratification were Georgia and South Carolina States were required to ratify the 13th Amendment to return to the Union Three Union States Delaware Kentucky and New Jersey still had legal slavery on December 6 1865 Juneteenth is symbolic and that’s good enough for me

Back in the 1970s and 1980s, Faya Rose Toure and I tried to initiate celebrations of the end of slav-

ery on December 6th of each year This is the date in 1865 that the 13th Amendment was ratified However, it did not catch on Juneteenth began to really catch on in the 21st Century It became a legal holiday on June 3, 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law after it passed the U S Senate by Unanimous Consent and overwhelmingly passed the U S House of Representatives by a vote of 415 to 14 Juneteenth is symbolic and that s good enough for me

Why Juneteenth with many other endings of slavery? It was the most massive physical freeing of enslaved people in one moment All enslaved people in Texas, the largest state in the United States, were declared freed People celebrated openly and continuously Juneteenth is symbolic and that’s good enough for me

Now on to the Daily Diary

Saturday, June 14, 2025 – I was at my office very early preparing for the day’s activities I attended the Indivisible “No Kings Rally” at the foot of Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge I facilitated the program and returned to my office to work into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Faya Rose Toure of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Law Professor Emerita Martha Morgan; Greene County Democrat Co-publishers Dr Carol P Zippert and John Zippert; Azali Fortier of Spelman College; Greene County Commissioner Garria Spencer and wife; Annie Pearl Avery of the Ancient Africa and Enslavement Museum; and Television Reporter George McDonald

Sunday – This was Father ’s Day I hosted the Sunday School Lesson with Dr Margaret Hardy on Facebook Live and Z105 3 FM Radio Station I handled many matters before traveling to Montgomery for a Father s Day Dinner I returned to Selma and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Sharon Wheeler of Montgomery; Law Professor Kindaka Sanders; Khadijah Ishaq of Selma; Retired Alabama Deputy State School Superintendent Dr Daniel Boyd; Former Alabama State Senate President Pro Tem Lowell Barron; Ted Quant of New Orleans, La; World Conference of Mayors Founder Johnny Ford; Denise Ware of New Jersey; Latia Parker of Selma; John Sanders of Rochester New York; Charles Sanders of Baldwin County; Ainka Sanders Jackson of the Selma Nonviolence Center and the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Ella Sanders of McDonough, Georgia ; and Lowndes County School Board member Robert Grant

Monday – I walked handled many matters and traveled to Wallace Community College Selma to record an interview and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following:

Sanders and Askhari Little of Washington, D C ; Yvette Patterson of Lowndes County; Tuskegee City Councilperson Norma Jackson on the death of her husband; and Selma businessman Darrell Steward

Tuesday – I handled many matters, participated in a Zoom call and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Fourth Judicial Circuit Judge Collins Pettaway Jr ; Demopolis City Councilman Charles Jones Jr ; Dorothy Hulett and Rose Whiting of Lowndes County; and Montgomery Businessman Sonny Tuckey

Wednesday – I walked, handled many matters traveled to Perry County returned to Selma chaired a meeting and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Fourth Judicial Circuit Judge Marvin Wiggins; Robert Turner, Sr of Perry County; Ted Shaw and wife of Chapel Hill North Carolina; Geraldine Wofford of Selma; York Police Chief Damien Steele; and Lonnie Glenn of the Perry County Sheriff Department

Thursday – I handled many matters and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Dr Ernest Okeke of Selma concerning the transition of Dr Chudy Okoye; Gloria Pompey and Asa Fortier of Selma; Earlene Norris of Detroit Michigan; Gloria Watts of Gadsden; and Hank Ba of Senegal West Africa

Friday – I walked, handled many matters, traveled to Lowndes County, then to Montgomery and back to Selma Among others I communicated with the following: Wallace Community College Selma President Dr James Mitchell; Charlene Williams and Junior Oliver of Selma; and Sandra Walker of Greene County concerning the transitions of Bishop Luke Edwards Sr

EPILOGUE – History is what really happens Celebrations of history are like movies about historical events Celebrations and movies collapse a lot into one space and time Both leave out a lot As we celebrate Juneteenth please know there is a long history to this celebration A lot is collapsed A lot is left out Juneteenth is symbolic and that s good enough for me

Josephine Curtis, Marilyn Cosby and Karen Jackson of Selma; Dr Donitha Griffin of Wallace College; Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson; Amadi

EarthTalk® From the Editors of EThe Environmental Magazine

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Constitution and Immig r ation Chaos

As for Los Angeles and the recent tensions stemming from the ICE raids, Democratic ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, New York Congressman Greg Meeks, says President Trump “decided to enflame the situation” by sending in the Marines “for what?” Meeks says the president’s actions on the National Guard and military presence in LA are overreach and unconstitutional The Constitution is the standard reference Democratic state attorney generals are leaning on amid this current Trump immigration deportation controversy Aaron Ford, Democratic Nevada State Attorney General says the focus is to “uphold the law“ and “if they [ICE and Trump administration] are unconstitutional we have to stand up against that

Over the weekend in Las Vegas, Black Press USA talked to Ford, who laments, There is a lot of trepidation and fear ” Among the group of democratic state attorney generals is Keith Ellison of Minnesota, who most recently was on a list of lawmakers targeted by the Trump-supporting right-wing evangelical preacher 57-year-old Vance Boelter who al-

Unequal Bur den

Today although Black Americans make up just over 13% of the U S population they account for nearly 19% of active-duty Army personnel “When the U S goes to war Black Americans, whether as civilians, enlisted personnel, or military families, often carry a disproportionate share of the burden, Liscah R Isaboke, Esq , Managing Partner at Isaboke Law Firm, PLLC, told Black Press USA

“Historically Black service members have been overrepresented in frontline and highrisk roles while underrepresented in officer ranks Isaboke said This exposure results not only in increased physical danger, but also long-term disparities in access to VA benefits, career advancement, and mental health care upon return ” That overrepresentation is linked to greater economic inequality

Recruitment data shows the military draws heavily from low-income communities and Black Americans more likely to face systemic barriers to college and employment are disproportionately represented among enlistees seeking stability, education, or opportunity Once enlisted they are less likely to be promoted into leadership roles often due to bias in evaluation and selection processes

According to the VA s National Health Study, 21 9% of deployed Black veterans screened positive for PTSD, compared to 14 1% of white veterans Studies have shown that Black veterans are less likely to receive long-term culturally competent mental health care and face more barriers to follow-up treatment Military justice records also reveal that Black service members are more likely to face court-martial than their white counterparts

“Black Americans have historically been overrepresented in the U S military while being under-protected both at home and abroad, Cazoshay Marie, a disability advocate, artist, and writer, wrote in an email to Black Press USA From the disproportionate impact of PTSD and other invisible war wounds among Black veterans to the lack of adequate support upon returning home the psychological and socioeconomic costs of war weigh heavily Increased military spending often coincides with the defunding of essential programs education, healthcare, and community infrastructure which are lifelines in our communities,” Marie said

Those federal divestments have long-term consequences During the post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan it’s estimated that the U S spent over $6 trillion on military operations interest payments and veteran care As those expenses ballooned domestic programs including housing subsidies, public education investment, and job training faced cutbacks Black Americans, already on the receiving end of wealth gaps and institutional

Judge Michael Farbiarz of the U S District Court in New Jersey ordered Khalil s release on bail from the Jena-LaSalle Immigration Detention Center in rural Louisiana, stating that he is not a flight risk or a threat to public safety

“Khalil is not a flight risk and the evidence that has been presented to me at least is that he is not a danger to the community, period, full stop, Farbiarz said from the bench

Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and lawful U S permanent resident, was arrested on March 8 in front of his Manhattan apartment Though he had not been arrested or charged for a crime he was one of the first arrestees in Trump’s immigration crackdown targeting student activists Following the pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia, he had emerged as a prominent spokesperson and negotiator for the student-led movement, a position that his attorneys argue made him a political target

“The court concluded there’s no reason he should continue to be detained given the serious harms that are happening the chill that is happening to his speech and other people’s speech as a result of his detention, one of his attorneys, Baher Azmy, told CNN

The Trump administration had asserted that Khalil should be expelled because of his activism, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio entering a two-page memo as evidence stating that he found that Khalil’s presence in the U S “would compromise a compelling U S foreign policy interest

Judge Farbiarz, however, found that the facts proved otherwise, ruling that the Secretary of State’s assertion was not a valid basis for ongoing detention

“It’s overwhelmingly unlikely, I found, that a lawful permanent resident would be detained on the remaining available charge” of failing to accurately fill out an immigration application the judge said during Friday s hearing

Mahmoud Khalil had been accused of providing incomplete information on his green card application, an allegation his lawyers strongly disputed Despite an earlier ruling allowing the government to pursue that charge the court found Friday that continued detention was not warranted

There is at least something to the underlying claim that there is an effort to use the immigration charge here to punish the petitioner, Farbiarz noted And of course, that would be unconstitutional ”

Emerging from the Louisiana detention center Friday evening Khalil wearing a keffiyeh a traditional Palestinian scarf raised his fists and smiled broadly as he greeted supporters and legal counsel

quote Jill Kysor from the Southern Environmental Law Center, The way that they price those products, it's been more of a premium product”

Community solar is subject to massive changes following President Trump’s recent pausing of federal funding for the $7 billion Solar for All initiative which helped 900,000 lowincome households subscribe to community solar and provided grants to 60 solar farms Moreover, Trump has halted energy grants under the Inflation Reduction Act causing states like Nevada to lose access to $156 million in community solar funding While the effects on subscription pricing are still uncertain, the massive cuts towards community solar can mean that all involvement with solar energy will become indefinitely more expensive, as Trump seems unwilling to relent After all, one of his primary messages in his campaign was not wasting American taxpayer dollars on expensive, unreliable green energy projects ” In light of the unforesee-

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legedly shot and killed a state lawmaker and her husband Saturday and wounded another state lawmaker and their spouse as well

The horrific events happened at 2 AM on Saturday, the day the president celebrated his birthday with the military review in front of the White House Amid this immigration raid chaos, the president s poll numbers are underwater A recent NBC News poll shows President Donald Trump s disapproval rating is 55%

One of those who actively disapprove of President Trump’s immigration policy is former CNN Anchor and now independent journalist Jim Acosta who asked “Where are the ICE raids at the Trump properties? Could somebody call ICE on the Trump golf course in Virginia? You re telling me there s nobody in there that is undocumented or has some kind of squirreliness going on with their paperwork?” He commented Saturday on Substack’s Contrarian program White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to Acosta, calling him “a disgraceful human being ”

neglect felt those losses acutely

In their February 2024 essay “The Race Gap That Shapes American Views of War ” published in Foreign Affairs, Naima Green-Riley of Princeton University and Andrew Leber of Tulane University wrote that Black Americans have consistently been less likely than white Americans to support U S wars abroad The authors cited not only political and moral skepticism but also a deeply rooted sense that these wars are carried out in the name of democracy while offering little tangible benefit to Black communities Black Americans are more inclined to ask: Is this war just? Will our people gain anything from it? And what are we sacrificing for a country that so often withholds justice at home?” Green-Riley and Leber wrote

The article pointed to cultural responses including KRS-One s 2008 track Our Soldiers, which critiques the Iraq War and opens with a siren that initially evokes U S policing The song’s hook, “Frontline of the political war,” highlights a dual consciousness: the experience of fighting abroad while being targeted and marginalized at home “As a historian of public health and policy I can say that when the U S goes to war Black Americans often shoulder a disproportionate share of both the burden and the consequences on the battlefield and at home,

Dr Zachary W Schulz, of the Department of History at Auburn University, told Black Press USA “Historically military service has been a double-edged sword for Black Americans Schulz said From the Civil War through Iraq and Afghanistan Black soldiers have fought for freedoms abroad they were denied at home Military service offered mobility, education, and sometimes even a pathway to civil rights advocacy as in the case of the Double V campaign during WWII but it also exposed Black personnel to racism within the ranks limited advancement opportunities and post-service disparities in veteran care

Civilians are also deeply affected, Schulz said Wars often fuel economic shifts and labor demands that open up jobs for Black workers only to see those gains reversed when the war ends Wartime policing and surveillance disproportionately target Black communities and anti-war protest movements led by Black activists think Muhammad Ali or Martin Luther King Jr s Beyond Vietnam speech have historically met with state suppression and public backlash ” “The impact is layered,” Schulz added “Black Americans are overrepresented among the fighters, under-resourced in the aftermath, and frequently erased from the national narrative of sacrifice ” “We must tell the full truth ” Isaboke concluded Black Americans have always shown up for this country even when this country has not always shown up for them, especially in times of war

Although justice prevailed, it s long, very long overdue, and this shouldn t have taken three months,” Khalil told reporters “The Trump administration are doing their best to dehumanize everyone here Whether you are a U S citizen an immigrant or just a person on this land doesn’t mean that you are less of a human ”

Khalil s detention had taken place more than 1,000 miles from his wife, Noor Abdalla, and their newborn son, whom, until Friday, he had not yet met Speaking on the decision via statement, she shared that the ruling has allowed her to finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing Khalil will be reunited with his family

After more than three months we can finally breathe a sigh of relief and know that Mahmoud is on his way home to me and Deen, who never should have been separated from his father,” Noor Abdalla said in a statement “We know this ruling does not begin to address the injustices the Trump administration has brought upon our family, and so many others the government is trying to silence for speaking out against Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians, she added But today we are celebrating Mahmoud coming back to New York to be reunited with our little family, and the community that has supported us since the day he was unjustly taken for speaking out for Palestinian freedom ”

During Friday s hearing Khalil s legal team argued that the case represented “extraordinary circumstances and was part of a broader pattern of using immigration enforcement to suppress free speech

“I’m aware, of my 20 years of representing immigrants, of no other case where the government announced the day that it detained someone that they were detaining them in order to send a message that their arrest would be the first of many that they were going after student protesters, Khalil s attorney Alina Das argued before the court Despite the administration’s request to temporarily block the release, Judge Farbiarz denied the motion

Now free Khalil expressed gratitude while also emphasizing that others remain unjustly held There are still many immigrants inside who are in a place where they shouldn t have been, he said

While Mahmoud Khalil’s release is a significant victory for due process and the First Amendment his case remains ongoing in immigration court and his legal team is preparing to continue challenging the government s underlying deportation efforts in the weeks ahead

Mahmoud Khalil

Notice of Completion:

In accordance with Chapter 1, Title 39, Code of Alabama 1975, notice is hereby given that Lavender Inc of 1056 Industrial Drive, Aliceville, Alabama 35442, has completed construction of ADEM DWSRF Project No FS010444-02, Contract A: Metering, Monitoring, and Flushing Improvements for the City of Eutaw Owner and has made request for the final settlement for said contract All persons having made claim for labor, materials or otherwise in connection with this project should immediately notify: The Cassady Company 4700 Highway 69 North Northport AL 35473

3tcg 6/4,11,18

In the Probate Court of Greene County Alabama

In the Matter of: The Estate of Mary Elizabeth Lavender, Deceased, Notice of Appointment

Letters Testamentary of Mary Elizabeth Lavender Deceased, having been granted on the 11th day of June, 2025, by the Honorable Rolando M Wedgeworth Judge of Probate for Greene County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having a claim against the estate are hereby required to present their claim within the time allowed by law, or the claim will be barred Paul Drake Lavender Jr and John D Lavender Jr Co-Personal Representatives Cynthia Lee Almond

Almond Attorneys 2704 8th Street Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

205-523-0198

3tcg 6/18,25

In the Probate Court of Greene County Alabama

In the Matter of the Adminstration of the Estate of Edgar Williams

deceased with will annexed Notice to Creditor Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 12th day of June 2025 by the Honorable Rolonda Wedgeworth Judge of Probate of Greene County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred Edgar B Williams Administrator Pruitt & Pruitt, P A 312 South Washington Street P O Box 1037 Livingston,

---Le gal Notices---

Alabama 35470

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 p m , Friday, July 18, 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:

PARCEL 1: FROM THE SW CORNER OF THE NE ¼ OF THE NE ¼ OF SECTION 3, TOWNSHIP 22 NORTH, RANGE 2 EAST RUN NORTH ALONG THE WEST BOUNDARY LINE OF SAID NE ¼ OF THE NE ¼ OF SECTION 3 AT A DISTANCE OF 858 FEET TO THE SOUTH BOUNDARY OF GREENE COUNTY HIGHWAY NO 37 (ALSO KNOWN AS THE EUTAW-UNION ROAD); THEN RUN IN A SE LY DIRECTION ALONG THE SOUTH BOUNDARY OF SAID GREEN COUNTY HIGHWAY NO 37 A DISTANCE OF 627 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING; THEN RUN SOUTH AND PARALLEL WITH THE WEST BOUNDARY OF THE E ½ OF THE NE ¼ OF SECTION 3 A DISTANCE OF 1,056 FEET: THEN TURN AT AN ANGLE OF 90 FEET TO THE LEFT AND RUN EAST A DISTANCE OF 204 6 FEET TO THE WEST BOUNDARY OF RAMP “D” OF THE UNION INTERCHANGE OF INTERSTATE 59 AS SHOWN BY MAP OR PLAT RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 2 PAGES 18-24 IN THE PROBATE OFFICE OF GREENE COUNTY, ALABAMA; THEN RUN IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION ALONG THE WEST BOUNDARY OF SAID RAMP “D” TO THE POINT WHERE THE SAME INTERSECTS THE SOUTH BOUNDARY OF GREENE

COUNTY HIGHWAY NO 37; THEN RUN IN A NW LY DIRECTION ALONG THE SOUTH BOUNDARY OF SAID GREENE COUNTY HIGHWAY NO 37 A DISTANCE OF 422 4 FEET; THEN TURN AT AN ANGLE OF 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT OF AN OFFSET OF SAID HIGHWAY AND RUN A DISTANCE OF 100 FEET; THEN TURN AT AN ANGLE OF 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT AND CONTINUE ALONG THE SOUTH BOUNDARY OF GREENE COUNTY HIGHWAY NO 37 A DISTANCE OF 204 6 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING CONTAINING 5 43 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, AND KNOWN AS THE “POWELL PLACE”

SOURCE OF TITLE: DEED BOOK 145 PAGE 298 PARCEL 2: TWENTY THREE (23) ACRES, MORE OR LESS LYING NORTH OF HAMLIN BRANCH, WEST OF I-59 AND SOUTH OF THE UNION ROAD (GREENE COUNTY NO 37) AND LYING IN THE S ½ OF THE NE ¼ AND THE NE ¼ IN SECTION 3

TOWNSHIP 22 NORTH, RANGE 2 EAST IN GREENE COUNTY ALABAMA LESS AND EXCEPT: A TRACT OF LAND CONTAINING 5 43 ACRES IN THE NE PART OF THE ABOVE DESCRIBED TRACT

SAID TRACT CONTAINS 17 57 ACRES, MORE OR LESS

SOURCE OF TITLE:

DEED BOOK 145 PAGE 304

The property is located at or near Hwy 208 & I20/I-59 Eutaw Alabama 35462; Parcel Identification Number: 18-02-03-0000-005 001#0 & 1 8 - 0 2 - 0 3 - 0 - 0 0 0005 002#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

The minimum bid for this parcel is $120,000

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 6/18,25, 7/2

Legal Notices In Re: The Estate of Wilbert Morrow, deceased Letters of Testamentary having been granted to Terisha M Morrow on the 16th day of June 2025 by the Honorable Rolonda M Wedgeworth, Judge of Probate for Greene County, Alabama notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are required to present same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred

Terisha M Morrow

Exexecutrix of the Estate of Wilbert Morrow, deceased

Walter A Griess Attorney for the Executrix Griess, Shaw& Willingham P C 315 Main Street

P O Box 528

Eutaw, Alabama 35462

Phone: 205-372-9333

Fax 205- 372-4027

Email: info@eutawlaw com 6/18, 25, 7/2

Notice of Sale

The following abandoned vehicle(s) will be sold on August 01, 2025Time - 9am if not claimed - 414 Clinton Rd Eutaw AL 35462

2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2GNALDEK7D1139198

2tcg 6/24, 7/2

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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: 1-833-9553163

AUTOMOTIVE

GOT AN UNWANTED CAR??? DONATE IT TO PATRIOTIC HEARTS

Fast free pick up Patriotic Hearts programs help veterans find work or start their own business Call 24/7: 1-833426-0193

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 1-251-3428538

REGGIE’S FIRWORKS

JOSHUA J SWORDS

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Greene County Democrat - June 25, 2025 by GreenecoDemocrat - Issuu