Attorney Janai Nelson, President NAACP-LDF Janai Nelson President of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Head of Counsel for the organization argued before the U S Supreme Court last Wednesday for the civil rights stance of leaving Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act untouched Spencer Overton a professor at George Washington University was in the High Court when the arguments took place over Louisiana v Callais
See Voting Rights, p. 6
Private data tells the story Washington won’t:Jobs are disappearing
By: Jason Roberts and Stacy M Brown,
NNPA
With the federal government shutdown grinding on, the nation’s economic picture is collapsing into silence and uncertainty For the first time in decades there is no official monthly employment report from the U S Bureau of Labor Statistics the same agency many now say can no longer be trusted after the White House moved to control its data release following a weak jobs report earlier this year
See Jobs, p 6
Trump bulldozes through the White House to build Grand Ballroom
By April Ryan, NNPA White House Correspondent
Demolition of East Wing of White House to construct ballroom
President Trump is unnerved that people in the Treasury Building across from the East Wing of the White House have been taking pictures of the demolition project for his 90,000 ft ² ballroom
See Grand Ballroom, p 6
Project 2025’s mastermind Russell Vought Is ‘Running the Country’ and Black America is paying the Price
By Stacy M Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
ProPublica’s in-depth investigation reveals that Russell Vought, Donald Trump’s former budget director is the real power inside this White House Vought is the principal author of Project 2025, a racist and authoritarian blueprint that reshapes government around a single goal: to make America a white Christian nation
See Russell Vought, p 6
The Greene County Board of Education met in regular session, Monday, October 20, 2025 which was also the first meeting engaging the Interim Superintendent Mr Darryl Aikerson The board hired Aikerson, September 24, 2025 on a contractual basis All board members were present The board also held its annual Whole Board Training, which is a state requirement for all board members The Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB) conducted the training on the process of searching
and selecting a school system superintendent All board members attended, except Ms Veronica Richardson
As his report to the board Superintendent Aikerson scheduled Curriculum Coordinator, Mrs Barbara Martin and Maintenance Supervisor Mrs Sharon Hardwick to present updates on their administrative areas Mrs Martin’s presentation focused on three components: Curriculum and Instruction; At-Risk Multi-Tiered System of Support; Testing and Ac-
countability Her report included the following: ensuring explicit and systematic instruction daily; benchmark assessment provided to students; ensuring all aspects of the Literacy Act and Numeracy Act are implemented; digital literacy is a major part of the instructional process; problem solving teams are utilized; afterschool and summer learning opportunities are provided Mrs Hardwick s Maintenance Report focused on current projects at each school facility Outsourced
projects at Eutaw Primary include duct cleaning; leak in front driveway and repair to suppression system Robert Brown projects include awaiting new part for the elevator; installation of shades; fire alarm inspection Greene County High: flooring issue near gym; track & field in progress; fire hydrants
See School Board, p. 9
Eutaw City Council holds r e gular meeting on October 14, 2025, dealing with r outine matter s
The Eutaw City Council held its regular meeting on October 14 which is likely to be the second to last meeting presided over by Mayor Latasha Johnson as her four-year term comes to a close at the end of the month
The meeting was fairly routine in approving required city business matters but not tackling new initiatives, policies or programs The Council tabled a budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1 2025 since most of the expenditures will be made in the initial months of the next mayor ’s administration
Even though the budget was listed as a draft budget for the 25-26 Fiscal Year the council members did not want to encumber the plans of the new Administration with a budget that it would have to change
At the end of the meeting, it was announced that the inauguration of the new Mayor Corey Cockrell and the five council members, would be held on Monday November 3rd, at 10:00 A M on the grounds of the Old Greene County Courthouse, in downtown Eutaw, Alabama
The Council also heard a
report from Travis Boyd of the Servpro Corporation about alterations and repairs to the gym portion of the Robert H Young Community Center, the former Carver School The report includes removing toxic substances, such as lead paint and asbestos from the facility The Servpro representatives gave their report to the council members to review In the public meeting, the company representatives never spoke to the specifics of their financial proposal for the rehabilitation of the building Richard Harbin of Harbin and Stough CPA
firm, made a preliminary report on their audit report for Fiscal Year 2024-25 which ended September 30, 2025 Harbin said, “ Mayor Johnson has done a good job of recording the financial records of the city She is leaving the city in good financial shape She has helped the city to get several grants including a large one of over $3 6 million from ADEM, for water and sewer improvements for the cities of Eutaw and Boligee that jointly share in the system,” said Harbin
See City Council, p 2
Russell Vought
The photos above are of the No King s Rally in Selma, Alabama on Saturday, October 18, 2025
the foot
Edmund Pettus Bridge, joined millions nationwide
of the Trump-
Carol’s Notes
Our parents, Oran and Marie Edolia Prejean
shared a birthday month, same year, six days apart Mother’s was Oct 16, 1915 and Daddy was Oct 22, 1915
I salute them in the love of their seven children, three still on this earth
Two People
She was short, he was tall.
She talked much, he talked little
She was opinionated and outgoing, he was quiet and wanted his alone time.
Her love said we are living in hard times but I still need to laugh
His love said I am struggling to take care of you and that takes all my energy
She knew she loved him unconditionally
He knew she was the best thing that ever happened to him
Both found joy in their children
She encouraged us to be good and do good
He expected us to be great and do good
She was the treasure she gave us.
He longed to give us his treasure
Together they gave us family
She was short, he was tall
She talked much, he talked little
Together they formed our lives, and fill them now with so many memories inviting pause and smiles and stories retold.
She was short, he was tall
She was Mother.
He was Daddy
They now hold new places in the Creator’s domain.
Carol Prejean Zippert
--Community Calendar--
October 27, 28, 29The Greene County Community Choir presents its Annual Fall Revivial 7:00 p m nightly
- Monday October 27, 2025 Rev Cedric Royal St Paul Baptist Church Boligee AL
-Tuesday October 28, 2025 Rev Michael Barton Greater Worship Ministries Eutaw AL and St Luke Baptist Church, Boligee, AL
-Wednesday, October 29, 2025 Rev Anthony Moore Greater New Destiny Greensboro, AL Location St Matthew Watson Baptist Church 321 St Matthew Road Boligee, AL, 35443
November 9- The Eutaw Baptist Church Community Choir will present a Veteran’s Day Program at 11:00 a m to honor all Veteran s Everyone is invited to attend and join lunch in fellowship hall following the program
City Council
He said it would take some additional time to complete the audit due to accounting for the State of Alabama Retirement System which covers city employees audit testing of accounts and payments and writing an opinion In other business the Eutaw City Council:
• Approved a Resolution to create a bank account to hold funds from currency seized from lawbreakers
• Approved City Attorney Zane Willingham writing a letter to Mayor Johnson concerning her disposition of city property without council approval
• Approved City Attorney Zane Willingham to send Trevaris Truman a certified letter for the return of $4 975 in funds for a clean-up contract he
Inaugural Ceremony for Mayor-Elect
Corey Cockrell and the Eutaw City Council will be Monday, November 3, 2025, at 10:00 A.M., on the Rev. Thomas E. Gilmore Historical Courthouse Lawn 101 Tuscaloosa Street, Eutaw, Alabama 35462
never started Approver registration, travel and per diem for Councilwoman-elect, Carrie Logan, to attend an orientation training for newly elected officials in Dothan Alabama on November 12 and 13
• Received a report from City Clerk Sha’kelvia Spencer, on using Mills Tax Service for providing bookkeeping and payroll services for the city
• Approved donation of $250 to Greene County Children’s Policy Council for Halloween Festival Approved getting a Public Official Bond of $100,000 for Mayor-elect Corey Cockrell and other city officials
• Approved renewal of Notary Bond for City Clerk and Water clerk; and pur-
chase of two overnight deposit from Merchants and Farmer ’s Bank for deposit of city and water funds
• Approved reimbursement of Police Officer Tyler Johnson for $45 06 for motor oil for patrol car
• Removed item from the agenda to designate the 4th Saturday in August, to honor John and Carol Zippert, for work on the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival for fifty years
• Approved the appointment of Pamela Hamilton to the Greene County Ambulance Board Supported a Work Session to review the rental agreement for city buildings, and other facilities, including increasing the fees for clean-up costs
• Approved payment of Monthly bills
-Job Openingin the Appraisl Office at the Greene County Courthouse
Must have computer skills and good math skills
Application and job description can be pick up from Brenda Burke On Commission side of Courthouse
Dead line is November 5th at 4 p m
GIANT KILLERS: MORE THAN TWO (2) BILLION DOLLARS FOR CLIENTS
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Don’t
Eutaw Senior Citizens g r oup obser ves Br east Cancer Awar eness Month
HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATOR
GREENE COUNTY HEALTH SYSTEM
We are searching for a motivated, self-starter to oversee operations of a 20 bed Hospital, Emergency Room, 72 bed Nursing Home, and Physicians Clinic, in a rural, predominantly African-American county, in the western Alabama Black Belt
Desired applicant should have three (3) years previous experience in health care operations, personnel management and a strong financial background BS degree in Healthcare Management or accounting at minimum
Salary range: $85,000 to $120,000, negotiable based on experience and qualifications; with full benefits package including health and hospitalization, state pension, etc
Submit resumes for consideration by October 24, 2025 no phone inquiries: John Zippert
Search Committee Greene County Health System P O Box 82 Eutaw, Alabama 35462 e-mail: jzippert@aol com
The Eutaw Senior Citizens group dressed in pink on October 10th in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness month Everything Pink along with Breast Cancer information was displayed
Phone: 205-372-3373
Fax: 205-372-2243
Website:greenecodemocrat
By Marc Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League
(TriceEdneyWire com) -
We re making a giant Uturn here Are we really going to be a thriving, productive society if we have a huge share of our population uninsured?" – Kathy Hempstead Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
As the government shutdown drags on, families, workers, and communities across the country are suffering This crisis manufactured and entirely avoidable must end now
It is not a political tactic; it is a direct threat to the health, stability, and dignity of the American people
Our elected leaders must reopen the government, protect access to health care and ensure that federal funding reaches the communities that need it most These are not competing priorities they are moral imperatives
This shutdown comes at a critical moment Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act marketplaces begins November 1st
More than 20 million Americans are receiving notices of skyrocketing premiums Congress had the opportunity to address this in the recent omnibus legislation what I call the Big Ugly Bill Instead they passed trillions in tax cuts that disproportionately benefit corporations and the wealthy, while slashing over $1 trillion from Medicaid , Medicare and the ACA
The consequences are devastating According to the Congressional Budget Office more than 4 million people will lose their health insurance due to the expiration of the enhanced ACA premium tax credit Congress must act immediately to extend this credit and reopen the government We must also reject the false narrative that this
W ho gains w hen the economy implodes?
By Julianne Malveaux (TriceEdneyWire com) -
The United States economy is cruising for a bruising Inflation keeps ticking up thanks to, among other things rising prices for everything The job market is not performing as expected, and unemployment rates are ticking up Private sector employment shed 22,000 jobs last month, while forecasters thought that private sector employment would increase
which means two quarters of negative economic growth
We might experience a deep recession or even a depression But we know that the economy will not generate growth stable inflation and rising employment unless something changes That means that the majority of us will suffer People will lose jobs and perhaps also their homes, businesses will close and wealth will disappear Uncertainty will make it challenging for both individuals and businesses to make decisions
extension would provide health care to undocumented immigrants it will not This misinformation is a distraction from the real crisis
This shutdown has been made even more painful by the Trump Administration’s use of scare tactics They’ve initiated mass firings of federal employees –which are likely illegal and signaled a refusal to provide back pay despite being legally required to do so under a law signed by Trump himself
The damage is already widespread:
• A i r p o r t ground stops and delays are disrupting travel and commerce
• F e d e r a l employees face uncertainty about their next paycheck
• L o c a l communities are losing access to over $60 billion in federal funding
• Veterans are being denied critical support
Families who rely on WIC and SNAP will likely lose access to food assistance by the end of this month
• F e d e r a l research and public health efforts at NIH and CDC have ground to a halt
• H U D s ability to process grants and provide housing assistance is severely diminished
And the longer this shutdown continues, the deeper the harm will go WIC will run out of money SNAP is projected to be out of funding by the end of the month HUD’s housing grants may dry up putting millions at risk of homelessness
Even more alarming is the Trump Administration s illegal impoundment of over $410 billion in lawfully appropriated funds
These funds were meant for violence prevention hate crimes response disaster mitigation, minorityowned business development, and biomedical research among other programs Instead, the Administration has not only impounded funds but it has also used fast-track rescission processes and illegal “pocket rescissions” to eliminate billions without transparency or accountability
See Marc Morial, p 5
The government shutdown will cost jobs, and that man who lives in the House that Enslaved People Built (HEPB) says he will lay off or fire more people each day that the government is shut down And health care costs are rising, which is one of the reasons Democrats held firm on dealing with health care as a condition to keeping government open Bottom line, our economy is precarious Implosion may be a strong term Economic indicators suggest we might experience stagflation, which means economic stagnation combined with inflation We might experience a mild recession,
Even in recession though there are winners people who find opportunity in economic distress and maximize it During the 2008 recession I remember meetings some young men in an Atlanta suburb who made thousands by packing and storing the belongings of evicted people During COVID, I met women who started catering businesses after they lost their restaurants There is opportunity everywhere, though many have neither the resources nor the resilience to take advantage of those opportunities
Structurally, there are always “high rollers” who are gainers This is important because we should look at these structural gainers as possibilities for taxation not exploitation In other words if you are going to benefit from other people s pain, you should have to pay for it
Who are some of the winners when the economy implodes? The greatest
gainers are those who are cash rich People or corporations who used advantageous tax policies to stack cash in the past It s now cash they can invest in hard times They can buy up foreclosed homes distressed businesses, abandoned assets and more They can even steal assets as those who leave property or resources on the table are not always legally equipped to protect their stuff While this Congress is not likely to protect these people, especially given the near shuttering of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the current hostility to government regulation
Economic instability benefits the wealthy It also benefits speculators who short stocks, bonds or currencies and profit when markets lose value Further there are the hedge fund investors called vulture investors who buy the debt of a failing business and then benefit when the business recovers They are called vultures for obvious reasons – they thrive on the death, or failure, of some businesses The others who benefit are those who are politically well-positioned Banks lobbied for their bailouts during the 2008 recession and they got them because they were perceived as “too big to fail” This administration the man who lives in THEB is notorious for selfserving double-dealing economic policy Count on him and his grifting family to figure out ways for them to gains when the rest
of the country loses Consider their dealings in bitcoin and cybercurrency as an example of their perfidy When America has a cold, Black America has a fever so while many will be affected by an economic implosion it will hit Black America most severely The wealthy the powerful and the well-positioned gain, while those already on the margins, particularly Black communities, pay the steepest price Indeed recession-induced instability is partly responsible for the rapid gentrification of some Black communities after the 2008 recession In addition to job losses then there are also housing losses that reshaped communities Black women backbones of the Black community, are especially hard-hit The much-reported fact that Black women lost more than 300,000 jobs in the past several months trickles down to students whose tuition may be unpaid families who spiral down to instability, and communities in crisis, Economic crisis benefits some people We must do whatever we can to help those who have been further marginalized, but from a policy perspective we must also target the winners and demand that they do their part to ameliorate the pains that economic implosion causes Dr Julianne Malveaux is an economist and author based in Washington DC Juliannemalveaux com
We've cr ossed the Fir st Tipping Point. All of America will pay the price. Cor al Reefs ar e Dying—and the consequences r each far beyond our coasts
By Ben Jealous
TriceEdneyWire com) -
My parents' marriage was against the law in Maryland in 1966 so they moved west By the time I was born in 1973, they had settled in Monterey County California the same year the last cannery on Cannery Row shut down The Hovden Cannery closed its doors marking the end of an era Where it stood, the Monterey Bay Aquarium would eventually rise, a monument to what we'd lost and hoped to restore When I was 12, in 1985, I became a guide at that aquarium the youngest in my class Standing in a building literally constructed on cannery ruins, I told visitors about kelp forests sea otters and the remarkable return of the sardines Through the 1980s and 1990s, they came back The ocean, given a chance to rest proved resilient
As a kid who often felt out of place in the local community the ocean was my refuge I learned that the ocean can be a patient teacher But the lesson she's teaching now, according to leading scientists is one humanity may never recover from Worse, its impact will be felt across the entire nation first with rising seafood costs then with far more serious consequences Last week, scientists an-
nounced the world has reached its first climate tipping point Coral reefs supporting a quarter of all marine life and nearly a billion people are in widespread, irreversible collapse Since 2023, over 80% of the world's reefs have suffered the worst mass bleaching event ever recorded Underwater explosions of color and life are turning into bleached wastelands
This is fundamentally different from the sardines When sardine populations crashed in the 1940s and 50s, the fish survived elsewhere The ocean remained intact When fishing stopped they had somewhere to return Recovery took decades but was possible Coral reefs ARE the foundation When they die the habitat disappears The three-dimensional structures providing shelter, feeding grounds and nurseries collapse into rubble Unlike sardines that bounce back in decades, coral reefs take centuries or millennia to rebuild if they can rebuild at all under continued warming
Scientists are clear: we've crossed a threshold Unless we reverse global temperatures back to just 1 C above pre-industrial levels not just stop them rising but bring them down these ecosystems will be lost Small refuges may survive, but vast, thriving reefs will be gone on any timeline that matters to our children
Here s what keeps me awake: this is just the first domino
The same report warns we're approaching other catastrophic tipping points the Amazon rainforest Atlantic ocean currents regulating weather worldwide, ice sheets controlling sea levels Each
one if it tips could trigger others in a cascade of irreversible changes
These aren't abstract threats for any American The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, including the Gulf Stream, could collapse within our lifetimes If it does global food production faces devastation Nearly 60% of land suitable for wheat would become unusable
Same for 59% of corngrowing land America s agricultural economy would face catastrophic disruption drastic rises in bread prices, widespread hunger, potentially mass starvation in vulnerable regions worldwide Amazon rainforest collapse another looming tipping point would remove one of the world's largest carbon sinks accelerating warming everywhere and intensifying droughts, heat waves, and extreme weather already plaguing communities from coast to coast
We're not discussing problems our grandchildren will face We're talking about changes fundamentally reshaping civilization within decades
But we still have agency Scientists documenting this crisis also found positive tipping points in our favor Solar power has gotten cheap enough that people are choosing it over coal Electric vehicles are following the same path We're proving we can change how we power our world
What we need now is action that matches the threat
Next month world leaders meet in Brazil for COP30 the annual climate summit where countries make promises about cutting pollution For a farmer worried about next year s growing season, here's why it matters: if
countries commit to stopping the burning of coal, oil, and gas and fast we can slow the damage If they don't we're looking at soil that won't grow crops, water that won t come when seeds need it, and weather so extreme it wipes out entire harvests
The small pockets of healthy coral that remain need protection from pollution and overfishing every other stress we can remove And we need to pull some of the carbon pollution back out of the air, the same way you'd pump water out of a flooded basement It's not enough to stop adding more; we have to remove what s already there As that 12-year-old aquarium guide I taught visitors about resilience and recovery Sardines taught me the ocean can heal when we give it a chance But coral reefs teach a harder lesson: there are thresholds beyond which healing becomes impossible on human timescales We're learning the difference between damage that can be undone and wounds that become permanent
The ocean has been a patient teacher But this lesson about irreversible tipping points and cascading collapse is one we cannot afford to fail The consequences won t stay in the ocean They're coming for all of us no matter where we live
We crossed the first tipping point We cannot afford to cross the next ones
Ben Jealous is a former national president of the NAACP and a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania
The spirit of 2000 Sketches is so strong I usually do not struggle with what to write about in Sketches Sometimes I debate with myself about which of several ideas I will write about in one particular week, knowing that those I do not choose that week I can very well write about in the future But this Sketches is different because it will represent more than writing one column for a particular week This Sketches represents all Senate Sketches/Sketches for 2,000 consecutive weeks up to this point as well as hundreds, perhaps thousands, more going forward The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
I cannot separate the spirit of 2000 Sketches from the spirit that Faya Rose Toure and I were imbued with when we made the decision to come to Selma, Alabama It is the same spirit that has moved us throughout the 54 years we have been residing in Selma It is a spirit of hope faith and forging change for the better I am very uncomfortable writing about things that may reflect positively on me I am less uncomfortable writing about things that may reflect positively on Faya Rose I am not at all uncomfortable writing about us overcoming great odds, great challenges, great opposition By us I do not mean just Faya and me but all those struggling to make the bold ideals of America into practical realities for America The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
I do not want to write abstractly about the spirit of hope, faith and forging change for the better Rather I want to write concretely about how that spirit is manifested in our struggles to open doors create organizations and build institutions to serve our families, our communities, our nation and our peoples everywhere I will list some events and entities with dates and a very minimum of context The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1971: Faya and I started struggling for freedom before we became lawyers We started in college and law school While we were in Huntsville that year serving poor people through the Madison County Legal Aid Society we wanted the strength and fellowship of other lawyers struggling against great racial odds When we discovered that there was not an active organization of Black and or Civil Rights lawyers in Alabama we sent out a letter asking all Black lawyers in Alabama to meet in Birmingham We, with others, formed the Alabama Black
Mar c Morial
Senate Sketches #2000.....by Hank Sander s The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
Lawyers Association, now the Alabama Lawyers Association The spirit of unity helped us all to fight for justice The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1972: When we arrived in Selma, we set about building a communitybased law firm to fight for civil rights, voting rights, human rights and other rights The law firm became the springboard for every other organization entity and initiative that we helped build over the years The law firm grew from one (Hank) to two (Faya Rose and Hank) to three (J L Chestnut, Jr , Faya Rose and Hank) to 13 lawyers and 26 support personnel at its height The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1972: With others we immediately began working with children The result was BBACC (Black Belt Arts and Culture Center) that worked with children to create songs skits plays musicals etc It grew into the Black Belt Human Resources Center, Inc , whose members traveled all over the country for decades performing, educating and learning BBACC had a profound impact on many children as it infused a strong spirit of self-worth and hope into those young people in the troupes as well as those touched by the performers The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1973: With others we created a family including three children by birth Malika, Kindaka and Ainka and four children by foster relationships Many other children and young people, more than 50, stayed with us in our home for extended periods at one time or another We tried to instill a spirit of hope justice and mercy The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1973: With others we worked with various organizations such as the Emergency Land Fund to save Black-owned land We also established organizations such as Campaign For a New South to lift the Black Belt economically, socially and politically The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1975-1976: With others we established the McRae Learning Center now the McRae Gaines Learning Center that serves children from one year of age through second grade Faya s mother, Ora Lee Gaines, took the Center to high heights At one time McRae taught through the seventh grade It has positively impacted the lives of thousands of children who are now productive adults A powerful spirit of selfworth was infused into the
Where is this money going? The Administration has not provided an explanation But we see the militarization of cities and must ask: is this where our public dollars are being diverted?
Any year-end appropriations bill must include strong guardrails to protect appropriated funding and ensure it is used as the law requires The legislation proposed by House Appropriations Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro and Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray offers a clear blueprint for these safeguards
children who attended McRae Gaines The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1983: With the help of many I was elected to the Alabama State Senate while continuing to serve as Managing Partner of the Law Firm I ended up serving 35 years in the Senate We fought to include all, to lift all, to build up all by working for children education women those in need etc During my tenure I served as chair of the Senate education budget committee for 16 years The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1984-1986: With others we engaged in the biggest legal community political and public relations struggle of our lives We fought on all fronts to ward off a determined effort to criminalize absentee voting workers in the Alabama Black Belt We defended the Marion Three and the Greene County Five against the 212 charges the U S Government brought against them These multiple trials of the Black Belt Eight were powerful victories The result was 212-0, with the people 212 and the U S Government zero The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1985: With others we founded the 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement (21C) The idea was to instill in our youth principles of community-focused leadership The young people were prepared to start leading immediately in the schools in the streets, in the communities and wherever they were 21C grew into a national and international organization The spirits of justice, nonviolence, peace, self-worth and helping others are all central to 21C The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1985-1986: With others we helped found the Alabama New South Coalition to forge political power with community empowerment The spirits of justice fairness and inclusion are all hallmarks New South emerged as a powerful political force in Alabama for decades The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1987: The first Senate Sketches was written on April 29 1987 It was conceived in the spirit of keeping our people informed It embodied the spirits of creativity, determination and community focus that are manifested in all our struggles The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
The 1980s: A series of additional organizations and initiatives were created, including MOMS (Mother of Many), BEST (Best Education Support
Team) and CARE (Coalition of Alabamians on Reforming Education) These initiatives led to the most intense struggles in education with the Selma AntiTracking Movement We worked to lift all children The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1992: With others we founded the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute We worked to preserve and share the history of the Voting Rights Struggle in Selma, the Black Belt and the United States of America The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1993: With others we founded the Bridge Crossing Jubilee It grew into the largest annual Civil Rights gathering in the country lifting Voting Rights, Civil Rights and Human Rights The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1997: With others we became deeply involved in the first Black Farmers case J L Chestnut Jr took the lead for our law firm The case resulted in more than one billion dollars going directly to Black Farmers Our law firm was destroyed because so much time and effort went into the case When we started the case we were the largest Black Law Firm in Alabama and one of the 10 largest in the United States During this case, our law firm shrunk to three persons two lawyers (Faya Rose and me) and one secretary (Gloria Pompey) J L Chestnut Jr had transitioned This happened because we agreed not to take any fees from the Black Farmers but, instead, to get our fees from the U S Government rather than our clients The U S Government then squeezed us into financial destruction The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
1999: With others we built a 50,000-watt radio station that reached more than 100 miles in several directions The heart of the station were community programs such as Public Conversation, Faya’s Fire, Law Lessons, the Sunday School Lesson, and more The spirit of justice infused the words and the vision The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
2000 onward: With others we established many other initiatives, including the Selma Collective, the Ancient Africa and Enslavement Museum, the Black Belt Community Foundation the Selma to Montgomery March Foundation the Selma Center for Nonviolence the North Star Beloved Community Foundation, etc All are about lifting people The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
Furthermore, any short-term resolution to reopen the government must extend the funding Trump is attempting to rescind And any final deal must align with the Senate appropriations bills not the House bills, which mirror Trump s budget and propose record cuts to domestic programs We must fully fund housing assistance, WIC, LIHEAP employment programs and legal defense services This is a moment for moral clarity and political courage The shutdown must end The people must be prioritized And the budget must reflect justice equity and accountability
2008: With others we commenced the second Black Farmers Lawsuit which came to a head in 2015 More than $1 25 billion went directly to Black Farmers We have continued to this day to help Black Farmers The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
Now on to the Daily Diary
SATURDAY, October 11, 2025 – I handled various matters Among others, I communicated with the following: Faya Rose Toure of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Azali Fortier of Spelman College; Retired College President Dr James Mitchell; Dr Carol Prejean Zippert of the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival; Alabama New South Coalition State Coordinator Shelley Fearson; and Josephine Curtis of Selma
SUNDAY – I hosted the Sunday School Lesson with Dr Magaret Hardy on Facebook Live and Z105 3 FM Radio Station I handled various matters, shared in a breakfast where critical issues were discussed, attended a presentation of a documentary movie on Alabama prisons and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Sharon Wheeler of Montgomery; Law Professor Kindaka Sanders; Rev Kenneth Glasgow of The Ordinary Peoples Society (TOPS); Sarih Oghed of Selma Redevelopment Authority; and Rev Jarmal Sanders of Selma
MONDAY – I handled many matters, traveled to Greene County and returned to Selma Among others I communicated with the following: Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative; Dr Robert White of Alabama State University; Greene County Interim School Superintendent Darryl Aikerson; Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn; Marilyn Cosby Karen Jones and Brenda Miles of Selma; Greene County School Board Members Leo Branch, Veronica Richardson, Carrie Dancy, Robert Davis and Brandon Merriweather; Demopolis City Councilman Charles Jones Jr concerning his birthday; and Selma businesswoman Annie Montgomery Williams
TUESDAY – I handled many matters and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Alabama State Senator Vivian Davis Figures; Montgomery businessman Frank Jenkins; Jeannie Frazier of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Retired Deputy State Superintendent of Educa-
tion Dr Daniel Boyd; Ulysses Kimbrough of Dallas County; and Youlanda Curtis of Mobile
WEDNESDAY – I handled many matters and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Greene County Commissioner Garria Spencer; K Mark Parnell of Birmingham; Former Alabama State Senator Malika Sanders Fortier; Yomi Goodall and Twanya Dixon of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; and Sherrie Carter, Rev Michael Bowen, Khadijah Ishaq, Rev Geoffrey King and Cheryl Colvin of Selma
THURSDAY – I handled many matters participated in the SOS Conference call attended a Dallas County New South Coalition Meeting, chaired two other meetings and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Zakiya Varner and Rev Michael Bowen of Selma; Latonya Cockrell of Greene County; and Greene County CSFO Marquita Lennon
FRIDAY – I handled various matters, traveled to Lowndes County returned to Selma handled additional matters shared a working lunch with two New South leaders, attended a birthday celebration and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Dorothy Hulett, Brenda Wheeler and Rosie Whiting of Lowndes County; Junior Oliver of Selma; and Ainka Jackson of the Selma Center for Nonviolence
EPILOGUE – We can do a whole lot if we do a little on a daily or weekly basis provided we have the right spirit and vision What began the week of April 29, 1987 has continued every week to this day, growing into 2000 weekly columns and is still going I did not reach this milestone alone Over the last four decades individuals have helped me in proofing publishing inspiring and in so many other ways The Spirit of 2000 Sketches
Note of Thanks
Mr and Mrs Albert & Brinda Travis would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to you for the continuing support and prayers Thank you for your generous and unwavering support which has been a light in my life, giving me the strength and courage to keep going even when things get tough I am so grateful for everything that you do for me, and I want you to know how much your support means to me
-Albert & Brinda Travis-
EarthTalk®
From the Editors of E -
The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: Is the U S still sending large barges of trash and recycling overseas? If so, which countries are taking most of it and is this good or bad for the environment? – P L , via email
In what is called waste
colonialism” the U S exports large amounts of trash and recycling overseas par-
The U S still exports large amounts of trash and recycling overseas, particularly plastic waste Credit: Pexels com
ticularly plastic waste For decades, countries in Asia have received this waste but growing environmental concerns have led several of them to change their policies
The biggest shift came in 2018 when China stopped accepting most imported recyclables through its Na-
tional Sword policy This left the U S scrambling to find new destinations Since then countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam have become major importers of American waste Some of these materials are technically recyclable, but many shipments include contami-
While Trump holds the title of president it is Vought who drives policy using the machinery of government to wage war on equality and democracy ProPublica s reporting shows that Vought has consolidated power through the Office of Management and Budget, controlling federal spending, freezing funds, and shutting down entire agencies He has used his position to block aid for the poor, cancel education programs, and dismantle health and environmental protections that serve Black and brown communities
Inside Washington even senior officials describe the government as one where Vought not Trump, is calling the shots
Vought calls himself a Christian nationalist and says America was “meant to be a Christian nation ” In speeches and documents he has vowed to “traumatize” civil servants who he sees as part of a liberal “regime ” His chapter in Project 2025 outlines a plan to let the president control agencies that have traditionally been independent, including the Justice Department
The League of Conservation Voters notes that Vought’s section of the plan pushes mass firings of federal employees and the suspension of funds Congress has already approved When Trump asked Vought during his first term to find a way to counter Black Lives Matter, he delivered As OMB director, he ordered the cancellation of federal contracts that mentioned white privilege or systemic racism He replaced diversity and equity training with a new ideology that celebrates racial hierarchy That order became one of the first
Jobs
In the vacuum private firms have stepped forward with independent analyses that show the country losing jobs and faith at the same time
ADP s National Employment Report found that private-sector employers shed 32,000 jobs in September, reversing the modest gains of the summer Annual pay for job-stayers rose 4 5 percent showing that wages are inching up even as hiring slows “Despite the strong economic growth we saw in the second quarter this month s release further validates what we ve been seeing in the labor market that U S employers have been cautious with hiring,” said Dr Nela Richardson, ADP’s chief economist The ADP data showed the heaviest losses in manufacturing construction and professional services with small and medium-sized companies suffering the steepest cuts The Midwest lost 63 000 jobs, and gains in the West could not offset the slide
Bank of America’s Institute Employment Report reinforced that picture, finding “a continued cooling of the labor market ” Its data showed a 10 percent year-over-year rise in unemployment payments made to customer accounts nearly double the most recent increase reported by the government before the shutdown Lower-income workers continue to trail others, with after-tax wage growth of just 1 4 percent compared with 4 0 percent for higher-income households
Goldman Sachs produced its own estimate after the Labor Department was forced to halt publication The investment bank calculated that initial claims for unemployment benefits rose to 224,000 in the week ending September 27, up from 218,000 a week earlier
The number of people receiving benefits slipped slightly to 1 91 million using state-level data and seasonal adjustments that were pre-released before the shutdown
Reuters reported that the Chicago Federal Reserve used private real-time indicators to estimate the national unemployment rate at 4 3 percent, though without federal verification that figure is uncertain
Global investment firm Carlyle also stepped in, releasing its own economic indicators drawn from its portfolio of 277 companies and nearly 730,000 employees Carlyle estimated that U S employers added only 17,000 jobs in September and that real private residential construction spending declined 2 5 percent even as business investment rose 4 8 percent, driven by technology and artificial intelligence projects Corporate spending, particularly in technology and AI infrastructure, continues to power growth while household consumption ends the quarter on a high note,” said Jason Thomas, Carlyle’s Head of Global Research and Investment Strategy
Yet while private analysts fill the gap left by a silenced federal government, the shutdown’s impact on workers and families has become its most defining consequence
A newly revealed memo from the Office of Management and Budget claims that federal workers forced into furlough during the ongoing shutdown may not receive back pay once the ordeal ends In open defiance of the law, the administration argues that the 2019 Government Employee Fair Treatment Act does not automatically guarantee wages to workers sent home or ordered to labor without compensation
The government that once promised fairness has now declared that those who serve it may be discarded This is not confusion It is control Mark Paoletta, the administration s top lawyer at the budget office, wrote that Congress must pass new legislation to authorize those payments His reasoning is what one former Republican official called “clearly against its intent ” In other words the government rewrote the law to justify punishing the very people who keep it running
President Trump offered no compassion, only contempt It depends on who we re talking about,” he said when asked if furloughed workers would receive back pay
“There are some people who really don’t deserve to be taken care of, and we’ll take care of them in a different way ” Those words echo not from a leader but from a ruler measuring human worth as though it were a currency Across the country millions now live the consequences of those words Families of federal workers stare at empty refrigerators the most recent estimate revealed that more than 49,000 District residents, or 13 percent, are federally employed and rent notices pile up CNN reported that many workers will receive smaller paychecks this week the last they may see until the shutdown ends What kind of democracy weaponizes hunger against its own citizens?
The administration’s defiance also contradicts its own Office of Personnel Management, which stated that “employees who were furloughed as a result of the lapse will receive retroactive pay for those furlough periods” once the shutdown ends But this White House does not deal in law; it deals in loyalty It rewards obedience and punishes dissent It governs by threat and humiliation And as the government remains closed and official data suppressed, America’s workers both public and private are left to piece together their own picture of a country in economic and moral decline
Read the Greene County Democrat online at www greenecodemocrat
nated or low-quality plastics that are difficult or impossible to process properly
These countries are left dealing with the consequences including pollution public health risks and damaged ecosystems Some governments have pushed back Malaysia has returned containers of waste to sender countries, and Thailand plans to ban plastic imports entirely by 2025 The Philippines has also made headlines for sending back trash shipments to Canada and South Korea
The environmental and social effects are serious Much of the waste ends up burned or dumped illegally This releases harmful chemicals into the air and water affecting both people and wildlife In many communities near dumping or processing sites, residents report increased health issues and environmental
degradation Waste also clogs waterways contaminates soil and reduces air quality
Supporters of the trade argue it provides economic benefits and supports recycling markets in developing countries But critics point out that these benefits often come at too high a cost and that real recycling rarely occurs
To address the issue, U S experts and advocates recommend improving domestic recycling infrastructure reducing single-use plastics and enforcing stricter export rules International agreements like the Basel Convention aim to regulate the waste trade, though the U S has not ratified the treaty In the long term reducing waste at its source is key Consumers can help by using less plastic, choosing reusable products and supporting policies that priori-
tize sustainability and fairness in how waste is managed worldwide CONTACTS: Waste Trade: A Form of Colonialism | Break Free From Plastic HYPERLINK "
freefromplastic org/2024/08 /01/waste-trade-a-form-ofcolonialism/"https://www b reakfreefromplastic org/202 4
form-of-colonialism/ EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk See more
" https://emagazine com To donate, visit HYPERLINK "https://earthtalk org/"https: //earthtalk org Send questions to: HYPERLINK
building blocks of Project 2025
ProPublica s reporting shows that Vought now uses his control over the budget to punish opponents and reward those who fall in line He has paused or canceled more than $400 billion in funding for programs that support education, public housing, and medical research Many of these programs are lifelines for low-income families and for Black Americans who have fought for decades to gain access to them
The League of Conservation Voters calls Vought s agenda a direct attack on democracy Vought has promised to traumatize civil servants and shut down agency funding to carry out his dangerous Project 2025 agenda,” said Matthew Davis, the organization’s vice president of federal policy “We will fight him at every step and stand with these public servants who protect our communities ” What Vought describes as restoring order is instead the construction of a new Jim Crow system It strips rights, silences dissent, and rewards loyalty to an ideology that centers white Christian power
ProPublica’s reporting makes clear that Vought is not a bureaucrat carrying out policy but the architect of a plan to reverse more than half a century of civil rights progress Vought is the man behind the curtain a figure who uses faith as cover for cruelty and government as a weapon against the vulnerable As long as he directs this regime, Black America and every community that depends on fairness in government will remain in his crosshairs
The optics (https://www instagram com/reel/DQDTf2ElXw/?igsh cGp4NzFyMjY4azcw) of the White House are forever changed as demolition and construction workers begin construction worth $250 million and allegedly funded through private donations President Trump never received permission to participate in this project The last time he officially received authorization for an escalation was during his first term working on the Tennis courts on the White House complex
The last major construction on the White House was in the 1940s; however, according to the president, this venue will hold 999 people He currently says only 88 people can fit in the East Room of the White House
The bulldozing demolition effort has not considered the history of the building’s walls windows, or other parts It is uncertain what will remain of the East Wing, which also houses the presidential movie theater
Speaking with a White House Historical Association source, Rosalynn Carter was the First Lady to have an office in the White House in the East Wing She established the First Lady s office on the East Wing s second Floor President Thomas Jefferson was the first to propose wings for the White House and introduce the colonnade
Voting Rights
Overton proudly emphasized that “Jaina [Nelson] was basically like Bruce Lee taking on everybody Overton, an expert on redistricting, said, Six of the nine justices were coming for Jaina She was taking on many arguments, she s got three different parties, the state of Louisiana (https://www instagram com/reel/DP1b5c7iDq /?igsh=aTV1aWtrbnl5c2Mz) the Trump administration and the so-called non-Black plaintiffs the Callais plaintiffs
The core of the argument is that race is a factor in the second Black district in Louisiana out of its six districts White residents have claimed it is unconstitutional and reverse racism to have that second district Opponents of Voting Rights questioned whether creating the second Black Louisiana district violates the 14th or 15th Amendment They also wondered whether the affirmative action ban justifies striking down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act They re all arguing against her [Janai Nelson], so she s there, and you know she did a great job I can’t see anyone doing a better job with what she had to work with,” added Overton
She argued that the nation should “stay with the current doctrine which has been working for 40 years Former head of the U S Commission on Civil Rights, Mary Frances Berry, gave her analysis on the court session stating, From the justices responses to the oral arguments, looks like Chief Justices Roberts will win his crusade to get rid of efforts to use the law to provide equal justice for Blacks- meaning the conservative majority gets rid of districts created by states to govern Black voters the right to vote for the candidates of their choice
“Blunt in her assessment, Berry added, “It also means that Republicans can draw maps in such a way to create more congressional districts to stay in power for the foreseeable future ” The expectation is that the Supreme Court will decide on redistricting Louisiana in January or February to give states time to make changes before the 2026 elections Civil Rights organizations believe that this type of decision could have a crippling effect on the 2026 midterm election process If Republicans win, it will affect about 20 members of the Congressional Black Caucus and lawmakers representing Hispanic districts
Eric Holder the Obama administration’s Attorney General issued a written statement on the severity of this attack on the right to vote: In the midst of the greatest attack on the right to vote since Jim Crow, our nation’s highest tribunal and other courts must protect this most vital of rights The Court must make it clear that violating the voting rights of American citizens will not be tolerated and it must do so by permanently reinstating Louisiana s Voting Rights Act-compliant map
In 2013, a Supreme Court case bearing Eric Holder s name, Shelby V Holder, was the first significant attack to begin gutting the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act
Gr and Ballr oom
Russell Vought
Legal Notice In the Probate Court of Greene County Alabama In Re The Petition Of:
Willie James Davis
Deceased Come Now, LaDora Davis, Peitioner, and gives Notices by Publication to Janice Ward and Anthony Worthington as well as any other unknown heir (s) of Wille James Davis deceased that the Petitioner has filed a Petition for Final Settlement and for Discharge of Personal Representative The heirs, Janice Ward and Antony Worthington, and any other unknow heir (s) are hereby put on notice of this Petition and the hearing set for November 5 2025 at 10:00 am regarding the Petition for Final Settlement and for Discharge of Personal Representative Rolonda M Wedgeworth Judge of Probate Greene County Alabama
Michael J Cartee
Attorney for Petitioner
Cartee & Lloyd, Attorneys at Law 2210 8th Street , Suite B Tuscaloosa Alabama
35401 Phone (205) 759-1554
Fax 205-758-9477
mcartee@carteelloydlaw com
4tcg 10/1,8,15, 22
On October 10, 2025, the Eutaw Police Department arrested Lequavis Cook, of Eutaw, on multiple warrants with the Eutaw Police Department
On October 15 the Greene County Sheriff Department arrested Roderick Washington, 31 of Boligee, AL for harassment He was released on a $1 000 bond On October 16, Jaydon Fields, 19, of Boligee, AL was arrested for menacing and reckless endanger-
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
until the closing date and time of 11:59 p m , Friday, October 31 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:
#1-A TRACT OF LAND LYING SOUTH AND EAST OF I-59&20 IN THE SW ¼ OF SECTION 35, TOWNSHIP 23 NORTH, RANGE 2 EAST
ment He was released on a $3 000 bond for menacing and a $6 000 bond for reckless endangerment
The Eutaw Police Department reported the following incidents 10/11 - Juwan Wesley reported leaving the scene of the accident 10/15 - Jennifer Smith reported shooting into an occupied dwelling 10/18 - Shannon Penberthy (Bait Shop) reported an incident
---Le gal Notices---
IN GREENE COUNTY, ALABAMA SAID PARCEL CONTAINS 21
ACRES MORE OR LESS SOURCE OF TITLE: DEED BOOK 101 PAGE 322 THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT OR NEAR LAMB ROAD AND I-20/I-59, EUTAW, ALABAMA 35462; PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 11-07-35-0000-011 000#0
#2-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 I-20/I-59 EUTAW ALABAMA 35462; PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 18-01-02-0000-003 000#0
#3-THE E ½ OF THE NW ¼ OF SECTION 2, TOWNSHIP 22 NORTH, RANGE 2 EAST IN GREENE COUNTY ALABAMA CONTAINING EIGHTY (80) ACRES MORE OR LESS SOURCE OF TITLE: DEED BOOK 136 PAGE
10/18 - Shirley Shadbolt of Alaska reported theft of property 4th 10/19 - Ernest Coleman reported unlawful breaking and entering 10/19 - Caniyah Leonard reported harassing communication 10/19 - Jorien Reeves reported an incident 10/19 - Lakeisha Russell reported domestic violence 3rd degree
The Sheriff Department reported the following inci-
400 THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT OR NEAR LAMB ROAD EUTAW ALABAMA 35462; PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 18-01-02-0000-002 000#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
The minimum bid for this parcel is $150 000 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
dents
10/15 - Rosie Washington reported harassment 10/17 - Daisy Finch reported an assault 2nd degree 10/17 - Greene County Industrial Development Authority reported an incident 10/19 - Tiffany Sturdivant reported an assault
Reach Out and Read inspir es ear l y liter acy by pr oviding new books for young childr en
The Alabama Department of Public Health is pleased to announce that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has approved continuation of the Reach Out and Read Alabama Health Services Initiative Reach Out and Readprovides new books to children from birth through age 5 during well-child visits with their pediatricians This program emphasizes reading aloud as a regular daily practice Healthy brain development, language skills, and positive parent-child interactions are promoted by encouraging families to read together State Health Officer Dr Scott Harris said “This collaborative project with the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Alabama Children s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) promotes the health of Alabama’s children by encouraging social and emotional development through inspiring early literacy early learning and school readiness by providing books for children at routine pediatric well-care visits ” Alabama Secretary of Early Childhood Education Ami Brooks said, We are proud to continue our partnership with Reach Out and Read to serve even more children and families across Alabama By placing books in the hands of
parents and caregivers during well-child visits we are not only encouraging literacy but also supporting healthy child development
This partnership is an investment in Alabama's youngest learners and their future success Amy Crosby, Reach Out and Read Program Director said “This health services initiative makes it possible for us to reach thousands more children across Alabama by aiming to fulfill our goal to increase participation by 10
percent each year over the next three years In 2024 Reach Out and Read-Alabamadistributed 154,579 books, serving more than 112,000 children statewide We are grateful to our partners and to the CHIP program for their continued support and commitment to improving the health and well-being of Alabama s youngest residents For more information, visit https://www roralabama org/
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 10/8,15, 22
Legal Notice In accordance with Chapter 1, Title 39, Code of Alabama 1975 notice is hereby given that BOOTH Contractors LLC (Contractor) has completed the Contract for The Housing Authority of Greene
County Modernization of Public Housing Sites Al
190/AL-1 1 A (owner) at 429 Branch Heights Drive Eutaw AL 35462 and having made request for final settlement of said Contract All person having any claim for labor, materials or otherwise in connection with this project should immediately notify:
Booth Contractors LLC P O Box 537 Northport, AL 35476 4tch 8,15,23, 30
Legal Notice In accordance with Chapter 1 Title 39 Code of Alabama 1975 notice is hereby given that UWS Inc has completed the work on the Water Meter Replacement for the Greene County Water & Sewer Authority; DWSRF Project No FS010431-01 Any persons having a claim against the project should notify Ed Morris Sentell Engineering Inc 639 Black Bears Way, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 All claims should be filed within 30 days of the first publication of this notice
3tcg 10/22 29 11/5
Lester Cotton distingushed Fir e Fighter of the Year
The Greene County Association of Volunteer FireFighters Departments (AVFD) held its 10th Annual Volunteer FireFighters' Banquet and Awards program, Friday, October 17, 2025 at the Boligee Community Center (The former Paramount High School)
Rev Michael Barton served at Master of Order Greeting were presented by Mr Hodges Smith, President of Greene County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments Mr Billy Doss Presi-
dent of the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Department, Garria Spencer, Chairman of the Greene County Commission and Mayor of Boligee Hattie Samuels
Mr Lester Cotton was selected as Distinguished Fire Fighter of the Year for 2025 and presented with a plaque by Hodges Smith, President of the Greene County AVFD Cotton was recognized for Exceptional Courage and Dedicated Service to the Citizens of Greene County
Ms Eddie Mae Brown of Boligee Volunteer Fire Department presented a Memorial Tribute with Hodges Smith, ringing the bell in honor of fallen firefighters Fallen firefighters included: Mr Willie Mack NicksonL o w e r Gainesville Road VFD, Mr Bobby James Davis -Dollarhide VFD, Mrs Rosie Mae Smith- Knoxville VFD, Mr Roy D Jines-Forkland VFD, Mr James C Lashley, Jr - Eutaw VFD and Mrs Barbara DukesClinton VFD and Willie Clay Davis -
Boligee in Pink
Saturday, October 18, 2025 Boligee Community Center Director Dr. Karen Lewis held a Breast Cancer Awarenes Walk. Theme: “Boligee in Pink Cancer Walk” Grace Atkins served as Grand Marshall We stand with Grace and all survivors No one fights alone in Boligee #BetterTogether. Lesia Means, a Physician Assistant with Maudley Whatley Health Center, served as the guest speaker Participants walked 3 miles around the community center Various information, refreshment and door prizes were given.
Dollarhide VFD Featured entainment included Mr Marvin Turner, Ms Lauren Smith
Each of the 14 Volunteer Firefighters Departments received a Good Standing Membership Award The planning committee for the program including Geraldine Walton Chairperson, Hodges Smith, Bennie Abrams, Iris Sermon, Mollie Gaines and Willie Mae Austin would like to thank all supporters and sponsors of this event “All Ready to Fight the Fight ”
Hodges Smith, President of AVFD presents Lester Cotton with Distinguished Fire Fighter of the Year award.
Think Three Thoughtful Thoughts
Carolyn’s Tid Bits by Carolyn Young
Three things to think and to keepgood friends good health, good cheer
Three things to think and avoidselfish people cruel people, ignorant people
Three things to think and to love- gentle hearts
gentle words, gentle ideas
Three things to think and control- your language your conduct, your fears
Three things to think and to support- our freedom,
School Boar d
The board approved the following personnel items recommended by the superintendent Employment: Canesha Ray Williams – Long-term substitute Greene County High School; Adrienne Davis – Substitute Bus Aide Additional Service Contracts 2025 – 2026 for the following employees at Greene County High School: (Separate Contract): Akeem Tyree – Assistant Basketball Coach; Devin Woods – Head Baseball Coach
Catastrophic sick leave for Carl Oliver Lead Maintenance
Greene County School District After-School Tutorial Program 2025-2026:
Robert Brown Middle School: Vanessa Bryant4th Grade; Demetris Lyles5th Grade; Naomi Cyrus-6th Grade; Sylvia Williams-7th & 8th Grade; Raven Bryant-Special Services; Dorothea ChildsSpecial Services Paraprofessional; Pinkie Tr a v i s - P
p
s s
n a l ; Felecia Smith-Math Coach Bus Drivers & Aide: Stanley Lucious; Natasha Lewis; Gerald Holloway; George Pippen; Johnnie Pelt; James Gaines; Jerdin Gray; Marsha Powell - Aide
The board approved the following administra-
out homes our nation
Happy Birthday to Willie Atkins Jr Augustus Cook LaChardonnay Chisolm, Brooklyn Bester, Jordan Long, Christyn Callanan Alberta Mildred
Johnson Catherine Hodges Bell, Donna Davis, Jake Anderson, III , Randell Paulk, Curtez Byrd, Nicole Henley Longmire Larry Rogers Morgan Palmer, Marlon Palmer, Kameron Craig, Keisha
tive items recommended by the superintendent
* Capital Plan – Five Year Plan for the Greene County School System
* Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Lucy Reyes for Special Education translator services for the 2025 – 2026 school year at a rate of $30 00 per hour with a minimum of 2 hours per session
* Bid from Pruett Oil Company to provide petroleum products for the 2025 – 2026 school year (Only Bidder)
* Quote from ClearWinds for Chromebook Repair Service in the amount of $32,400 (yearly renewal)
* Payment of all bills claims and payroll
* Out-of-state travel for students and chaperones to attend The Bodies Human
Williams Rongie Wesley Jamarcus Crowell Shaneen Morrow, Morgan Palmer, Tamela Rancher, Landon Johnson Carlos Jackson Eric Fields Gregory Taggart, Shatara Hunter, Aleria Young, Portia Crawford, Ava Elise Walton
Happy Anniversary to Mr and Mrs Cleve & Valentine Spencer
Exhibit in Gatlinburg, TN on December 3 2025
• Renewal of two Certificates of Deposit (CDs) at Merchants & Farmers Bank for the Greene County Career Center updating the interest rate from 0 95% to 4 17% (13 Month rate) First CD - Maturity Date October 31 2025$2 141 23; Second CDMaturity Date - November 11, 2025 – $1,962 74 CSFO Mrs Marquita Lennon informed the board there would not be a financial snapshot at this meeting, since the system is in process of closing for the porous fiscal year October andNovember financial reports will be presented at the November board meeting
Rep. Terri Sewell leads 54 Democrats asking for answers on Argentina $20 Billion bailout
By Alabama Political Reporter
Democrats questioned the Treasury secretary about the Trump administration s $20 billion bailout of Argentina, citing concerns about election influence and farmer impact Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D AL-7) Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member Terri A Sewell, D-Alabama; Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda T Sánchez D-California; and 54 of their Democratic colleagues Monday called on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to provide answers regarding the Trump administration s $20 billion bailout of Argentina
The members expressed concerns that the bailout is an inappropriate use of U S taxpayer funds to influence Argentina s upcoming election in favor of President Trump s political ally, Argentine President Javier Milei They also highlighted the bailout’s impact on American farmers, particularly soybean producers and a potential conflict of interest involving a close associate of the Trump administration who stands to financially benefit from the arrangement President Trump also suggested Monday that the U S government would purchase beef from Argentina
“President Trump and his administration is once again selling out the American people to help his wealthy friends and political allies ” said Ranking Member Sewell Billions of Americans taxpayer dollars are being sent to support the political prospects of Argentine President Javier Milei while President Trump continues to try to strip away healthcare from millions of working families in the U S The American people deserve answers ”
The members wrote in part, President Trump has explicitly conditioned the bailout on the electoral success in this month’s elections of President Milei’s party The U S Treasury s authorities to address international financial crises, which are meant for situations that present a genuine U S national interest, should not be used to influence elections abroad In this regard, President Trump has not only conditioned the loan on President Milei’s electoral prospects but he has also noted that the United States will not benefit from the bailout
The members continued Due to the Trump Administration s failed trade policy, China purchased almost no American soybeans from May to August of this year As American farmers struggle, Brazil has set records in its soybean exports to China and Argentina is following suit after capitalizing on the Trump administration s promise of a bailout American farmers need relief American farmers need restored market access ”
Full text of the letter is available on Rep Sewell s website
Fall pr evention month highlighted at Eutaw Senior Site
Submitted by: Tameka King
EUTAW, Ala In recognition of Fall Prevention Month in September, Tameka King Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Extension Agent, and
Sheanell Edwards, 4-H Agent from Tuskegee Cooperative Extension visited the Eutaw Senior Site on September 24 2025 Ms King led an engaging presentation on the importance of fall prevention for seniors sharing helpful tips on staying safe and maintaining balance
Participants enjoyed the informative session and received a token of appreciation for their attentiveness
The event saw a great turnout, with many seniors in attendance making it a successful and educational day for everyone involved
The Democrat
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
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$30 Alabama Residents
$35 Out-of-State Residents
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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-
: 205-372-3373
833-879-1371 Have zip code of service location ready when you call!
HEALTH/BEAUTY
ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators FREE information kit Call 1-833-650-7885
Attention: VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed CALL NOW: 1-833-6416606
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! 1-833-641-6672
NEED NEW FLOORING? Call today to schedule a FREE in-home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring Call Today! 1-833-641-6567
No more cleaning out gutters Guaranteed! LeafFilter is the most advanced gutter protection for your home, backed by a noclog guarantee and lifetime transferrable warranty Call today 1833-683-2005 to schedule a FREE inspection and no obligation estimate Plus get 20% off! Seniors and military save an
additional 10% Restrictions apply see representative for warranty and offer details
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator Act now to receive a FREE 7-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-877323-5516 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 1-844-871-6175
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 - 8 7 7 - 8 1 7 - 4 6 9 7 www dental50plus co m/alabama #6258
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 12/31/25 ) Call 1877-205-0836
BOLIGEE ELECTRICAL
OVER 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
“CALL US FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS” Store Hours
8 a m - 3 p m Monday - Friday
RESIDENTIAL * COMMERCIAL * INDUSTRIAL 215 Boligee Street Eutaw, AL 35462 CELL: 205-496-6019
Email : BoligeeElectric@bellsouth net
JOSHUA J SWORDS
Attorney at Law
Tuscaloosa County Office
600 Lurleen B Wallace Blvd , S
Courthouse Plaza, Suite 120
Tuscaloosa AL 35401 Eutaw Al
JSwords@Swordslaw com
Phone: 205-409-0673
Facsimile: 205-409-0672 Tuscaloosa, Al 35401
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: 1-833-955-3163
Consumer Cellularthe same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers No long-term contract no hidden fees and activation is free All plans feature unlimited talk and text starting at just $20/month For more information, call 1-844-358-5270
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: 1-833-426-0193
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 1-877-724-3049 today!
