Newswire Singleton handily wins election as new chair of Alabama Democrats
By Jacob Holmes, Alabama Political Reporters After years of party infighting, the Senate minority leader vowed listening tours across all 67 counties before a pivotal election.
State Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, speaking at the West Alabama Corridor Groundbreaking Friday, Nov. 12, 2021 in Linden, Ala. Governor’s Office/Hal Yeager State Senator Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, will lead the Alabama Democratic Party for the next four years after handily defeating incumbent Chairman Randy Kelley 165-62 in an election held Saturday. Singleton represents District 24 which includes: Greene, Sumter, Hale, parts of Tuscaloosa, Marengo, Perry and parts of Bibb county. See Senator Bobby Singleton, p. 6
How to get free Back-to-school supplies for the kids this year By Shannon Dawson, NewsOne
Black Belt Folk Roots Festival -August 22 & 23, 2026 County commissioners discuss sanitation fees with city engineers The Greene County Commission met for a regular session on Monday, August 10th at 5:00 p.m. in the William McKinley Branch Courthouse. All commissioners were present with Commissioner Turner establishing a quorum and Commissioner Johnson offering the invocation. Previous session minutes and the agenda were unanimously approved. On Wednesday, August 5th, the county commission began a discussion about raising solid waste fees to account for current fuel prices and improve working conditions for sanitation employees.
See Back-To-School, p. 6
Author inspires children, families, and communities through books on behavior, mental health, and family traditions By Tracy L. Wedgeworth Jr.
Stories have the power to educate, encourage, and inspire. As a behavior intervention specialist and author, I have witnessed firsthand how children and families thrive when they are equipped with the right tools to understand emotions, improve behavior, and build healthy relationships. That passion inspired me to become an author and create books that make a meaningful difference in people's lives. See Family Tradition, p. 6
New report shows how Alabama's Congressional Map reshapes Districts ahead of the 2026 Primaries Since the 2024 elections, 10 states have adopted new congressional maps, making this the largest wave of mid-decade congressional redistricting in history. A new report from the Redistricting Data Hub provides a comprehensive analysis of how Alabama's newly ena c t e d congressional districts differ from the previous map, and what those changes could mean for the state's political landscape. The analysis is based on official redistricting plans, U.S. Census data, and election results. See Congressional Map, p. 6
torney to execute all necessary documents for civil action case number 900014: an ongoing case that began in 2020 of alleged negligence in the working conditions at the W.M. Branch Courthouse. -Resolution regarding sale of three 2026 dump trucks; city will receive 2027 updated trucks at no cost -Consider Board appointments: -DHR-District 2 -Mildred Morgan for DHR-District 3 -Approval of 2027 Rebuild Alabama report -Approval of travel: -Assistant Engineer— AAFM Gall Conference on
October 7-9 in Gulf Shores, AL -Assistant Engineer— Alabama Road Safety Conference on October 1315 in Gulf Shores, AL The following agenda items were tabled: -Consider approval of raising Solid Waste Exemption Fee -Consider approval of raising Solid Waste Fee The next county commission work session is scheduled for Wednesday, September 2nd at 5:00 p.m. The next regular session is scheduled for Monday, September 7th at 5:00 p.m.
Greene County
The Democrat Wednesday, August 12, 2026 Vol. 135, No. 32
75¢ Serving West Alabama Like No Other Community Newspaper
Our Festival: People Celebrating People Submitted by Barbara Amerson Hunter
Back-to-school season is here, and for many parents, it also means opening their wallets a little wider than they’d like for school supplies. The cost of getting kids classroom-ready continues to climb. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) per 10 News, parents of K-12 students are expected to spend an average of $146.45 on traditional school supplies this year, including essentials like notebooks, pencils, folders, and binders.
Commissioners continued to discuss current standard rates and exemption fees with the engineering department, hoping to encourage reconciliation of citizens’ delinquent accounts. No verdict was reached on the matter, and the accompanying agenda items were tabled for review of proper implementation and comparison of surrounding rates. The following agenda items were approved: -Consider 2026-2027 Contract with Digital Information System -Consider Department of Youth Contract -Resolution to authorize the Chair and County At-
The Black Belt Folk Roots Festival pays tribute to those persons recognized as bearers of the folkways, traditions and culture of the West Alabama Region. The local folk artists who participate in the festival share skills, talents and resources that are reflective of the culture and traditions of West Alabama. A lot of work goes into the production of the festival each year. Much of the efforts come from volunteers who are committed to hold this special event. The people, who are the special features of the festival, are the ones who labor the longest to share their art,
crafts, music, dance and foodways. The quilters, basketweavers, doll makers, woodcarvers, leather workers, jewelry crafters, all use their hands to fashion the beauty they see in their living. Old Timey Blues musicians, buck dancers, harmonica players, and storytellers are among the folk artists who share their heritage at Saturday’s celebration to share what their spirits have heard all their lives. Sunday’s festivities are reserved for sharing Old Timey Gospel music. This prayerful music gives testimony to the perseverance of a people and How We Made It Over. See Festival, p. 3
The Late Mrs. Mary Hicks & Annette Jordan Basket Weaving
City council reports a successful back-toschool giveaway and street sweeper underway On Tuesday, August 11th, the Eutaw City Council met for a regular session at City Hall. All council members, the mayor, and administrators were present. The minutes from the previous meeting were approved along with the agenda for the evening. Mayor Cockrell informed citizens that the street sweeper should be operable next week, and the city is working with county engineers to set a date for tree limb cutting. Cockrell also addressed public concerns regarding road debris on Highway 11
near Fincher Ferry Road. Although the highway is under state jurisdiction, he informed citizens that the city will contact the appropriate officials to ensure the area is cleaned. City Council representatives also reported a successful back to school giveaway encouraging citizens to view footage of the event on their Facebook page. Council members will welcome students back to school at Greene County High this week, arriving bright and early to the campus at 7:15 a.m. The city council ap-
proved the following agenda items: -Registration, travel, and per diem for Joe L. Powell, Administrative Assisstant to attend the NLC City Summit in Nashville, TN, November 19-22, 2026 -Registration, travel, and per diem for Councilwoman Tracey Hunter to attend the NLC City Summit in Nashville, TN, November 19-22, 2026 -Registration, travel, and per diem for Attorney Zane Willingham to attend the 2026 Fall Municipal Law Conference in Gulf Shores, Alabama, October 15-17,
2026 -Registration, travel, and per diem for Judge Joshua Swords to attend the 2026 Fall Municipal Law Conference in Gulf Shores, Alabama, October 15-17, 2026 -Approve payment of IMC membership dues for Joe L. Powell, Administrative Assistant -Approve payment of bills The next city council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25th at 5:00 p.m.
Three arrests and several incidents The Eutaw Police Department reported the following arrests. 07/2026 Wesley Watford was arrested for attempting to elude. The Eutaw Police Department reported the following incidents. 07/2026 -Marnesha Brooks reported damage to her vehicle. 07/2026 -Starlesha Hutton reported Harassment. 07/2026 Allen Watkins reported a Skill Backpack Blower stolen. 07/2026 -Shenetta Powell Criminal Mischief First Degree. 07/2026- Jazin Blake reported a disagreement with her neighbor Felicia Allen. 07/2026- Felilcia Allen reported miscellaneous disagreement with Jazin
Blaske. 07/2026 - Michelle Scarbrough reported an altercation with Dobby Scarbrough Jr. 07/2026 -Dobby Scarbrough reported domestic violence III. 07/2026- Kamerin Harris reported domestic violence. 07/2026 -Armani Price reported domestic violence. 07/2026 -Ronnie Young reported a 1954 Chevrolet stolen. 07/2026- Gloria Mobley requested that Joseph Merriweather to be removed from her residence. 07/2026- Makyla Hunter reported Domestic Violence. 07/2026 -Jamia Walton reported Criminal Mischief
II. 07/2026 -Jan Lavender McGee reported Criminal Mischief III. 07/2026- James River reported missing wallet 07/2026- Lynnetta K. Nesbitt reported threating phone calls 07/2026- Cliff Taylor lost wallet. 07/2026 -Maurika Powell. 07/2026 -Bennie Abrams reported Husqvarna Chainsaw stolen. 07/2026 -Peter J. Kirksey School reported a serving table taken. The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following arrests. 8/5- Nicholas Aaron 30, of Boligee, AL was arrested for failure to appear
reckless driving. 8/10- Frederick Crawford 45, of Eutaw, AL was arrested for three count of robbery 1st degree. The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following incidents. 8/3- Lester Simmons reported theft of property 1st degree, Item Stolen: Aluminum trailer valued at $4,000. 8/4- Angela Spencer reported identity theft. 8/6- Erica Bullock reported of Boligee Chevron reported failure to pay for gasoline. 8/8- C h r i s t o p h e r Atkins reported discharging firearm into occupied dwelling.
Page 2, The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Carol’s Notes
The Arts Council Announces Dynamic 2026-27 TuscArts OnStage Season at the Historic Bama Theatre
FSC/LAF can celebrate 59 years of perseverance and achievement for we are determined to always move forward with the Almighty as our fortress.
an unforgettable evening celebrating timeless hits that continue to captivate generations.
We Make Do Those dusty roads and fields stretching far toward yonder are always home for us or reminding us of home, a place to return to, even in times of falling back and losing rights our hearts reach for a place where We Make Do Our hands can still grow peas, tomatoes, and greens and we can walk through our fields We eat what we grow and market all produce we can, hoping to generate income for other needs We Make Do Now a days, we hardly see a mule in the fields (we could feed the mules) We run those tractors on so much fuel, We live in a mirage of plenty with fewer resources to keep the family provided We just Make Do We try lifting our voices in leadership sacrificing to govern for the greater good hoping the young will value giving before grasping power wearing blindfolds when we all struggle and know We just Make Do We make do to keep our land We make do to give our children schooling We make do to keep struggling to keep our voice and vote And we will always make do to come back home, to that place we need to know we can return to. Carol Prejean Zippert
Death of a Fat Man A novel by Senator Hank Sanders Available at The Greene County Democrat $26 plus $4 shipping and handling
Contact:The Greene County Democrat P.O. Box 598, Eutaw, AL 35462
Carol Zippert’s Poetry Books Available Signed copies of Carol P. Zippert’s second book of poetry are available through the Greene County Democrat Meeting Myself ‘Round The Corner published by New South Books, Montgomery, AL Carol’s first book, I Don’t Want To Be Rich, Just Able is also available through the Democrat Poetry Book Order Form
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa has unveiled the 2026-27 TuscArts OnStage season, bringing five unforgettable performances to the Historic Bama Theatre. From high-energy rock and Broadway favorites to family entertainment, jazz and timeless pop classics, the new season offers something for audiences of every age. The season opens Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at 8 p.m. with Back In Black: The Ultimate Powered Up AC/DC Experience, one of the nation's premier AC/DC tribute bands. The group recreates the excitement, power and spectacle of an authentic AC/DC concert, delivering the music, energy and spirit that made the legendary rock band a global phenomenon. On Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at 7 p.m., Jukebox Saturday Night presents Music of Mancini, a celebration of the unforgettable works of legendary composer Henry Mancini. The performance features favorites from The Glenn Miller Story, Peter Gunn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Pink Panther and more, accompanied by engaging narration highlighting Mancini's remarkable journey from Pittsburgh to Hollywood. Families are invited to the Bama Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, at 4 p.m. for TheaterWorksUSA's production of The Magic
School Bus: Lost in the Solar System. Based on the beloved children's book series, the production follows Ms. Frizzle and her students on an exciting space adventure that teaches teamwork, friendship and science through music, laughter and imaginative storytelling. The series continues on Monday, March 29, 2027, at 7 p.m., with Jazz at Lincoln Center PRESENTS: World on a String – Swinging Songs of Broadway, featuring acclaimed vocalists Kate Kortum and David Marino. For more than 30 years, Jazz at Lincoln Center has served as one of the world's foremost advocates for jazz performance, arts education and cultural exchange. Under the artistic direction of Wynton Marsalis, the organization has presented performances in more than 446 cities across over 40 countries. The season concludes on Friday, April 16, 2027, at 8 p.m., with Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA. Featuring accomplished Swedish performers who have appeared in Mamma Mia! The Musical and collaborated with original members of ABBA, the production faithfully recreates the music, costumes, choreography and excitement of one of the world's most beloved pop groups. With authentic arrangements, dazzling costumes and a full live band, audiences can expect
Community Calendar August 16- Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church Boligee, AL will host their Pastor Rev. Jeffery and 1st Lady Kelly 5th Annual Pastoral Appreciation at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Jimmie Cockrell from Pine Hill Baptist Church Columbus, MS is the guest speaker, for 11:00 a.m. morning
worship and at 1:30 p.m. speaker Pastor Pastor Robert Chandler Second Baptist Church Brooksville, MS. This is also a time for those who have been a part of our church body to "come home" and join us to celebrate their time as a part of our congregation.
Alabama New South Coalition will hold its 43rd Fall Membership Convention The Alabama New South Coalition will hold its 43rd Fall Membership Convention on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the RSA Activity Center, located at 201 Dexter Avenue in downtown Montgomery. A complimentary reception is scheduled for Friday, September 25th, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Springhill Suites by Marriott, located at 152 Coosa Street in downtown Montgomery. If you require overnight accommodations, please call the hotel at 334-245-2088 to make your own reservations. To ensure the success of the convention, we encourage everyone to pre-register by Tuesday, August 24th, and to invite at least five additional guests. Chapter presidents are
asked to provide at least five advertisements for our souvenir program book from their communities. Each advertisement costs $200.00 for a full-page in color. The registration fee for the convention is $50.00 for both members and nonmembers, which includes lunch. A table that seats eight is available for members for $1,000.00 Payment can be made by cash, check, or online. The online payment link is provided below. https://square.link/u/21y GJFCy Should you have additional questions, please contact Shelley Fearson at 334-799-9757. We are looking forward to seeing you on Saturday, September 26th.
Please Send ______ Copies of poetry book, Meeting Myself ‘Round The Corner, at $20; plus $5.00 shipping & handling to: ______ Copies of poetry book, I Don’t Want To Be Rich, Just Able at $20; plus $5.00 shipping & handling to: Name________________________________________ Address______________________________________ _______________________________________ Mail to Carol P. Zippert, P.O. Box 82; Eutaw, Alabama 35462
Renaissance Theater Presents:
Lean on Me (1989) PG-13 Friday, August 14 at 6:00 pm 220 Prairie Ave. Eutaw, AL 35462. (205)-723-9821
2026-27 TuscArts OnStage Season: Back In Black: The Ultimate Powered Up AC/DC Experience Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 at 8 p.m. Music of Mancini performed by Jukebox Saturday Night Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 at 7 p.m. TheaterWorksUSA presents The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026 at 4 p.m. Jazz at Lincoln Center PRESENTS: World on a String – Swinging Songs of Broadway Featuring Kate Kortum and David Marino Monday, March 29, 2027 at 7 p.m. Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA Friday, April 16, 2027 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available through the Arts Council of Tuscaloosa. Visit TuscArts.org or contact the Bama Theatre box office at 205-7585195 Ext: 1 or email the team at boxoffice@tuscarts.org for details. The Historic Bama Theatre is located at 600 Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council or Bama Theatre, patrons should follow and like “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” on Facebook and also Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.
-WantedSaint Paul Missionary Baptist Church of Boligee, Alabama is prayerfully seeking a full-time pastor to lead and grow our membership through preaching, teaching, shepherding and providing overall spiritual leadership. It is required that the chosen male pastor is Holy Ghost-filled and is married to a female wife. Please send resumes and inquiries to: Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church, PO Box 158, Boligee, AL 35443. (Placing this ad is Deacon Detrick Hodges. My phone number is 205-496-9523.)
The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 12, 2026 Page 3
Community leaders welcome scholars during first day of school
Photos depict community figures with school personnel and students: Mayor Cockrell and city councilmembers (top right), Chief Kendrick Howell (bottom left), Lodyletta B. Wabbington (below), and many more
Festival
August 12, 2026 - Greene County High School is off to a great start this school year! The school district’s community leaders, stakeholders and local organizations came out to greet, encourage, and inspire our students on their first days back. Their presence set the tone for a year full of growth, learning, and success.
Greene County Children’s Policy Council Cut Ribbon on Little Outdoor Pantry
The late Mrs.Vera Spencer frying pork skins
On Wednesday August 5, 2026, the Greene County Children’s Policy Council officially cut the ribbon on its first little outdoor pantry in Greene County. The pantry is located on the lawn of the Children’s Resource Center located at 506 Greensboro Street. Eutaw, Alabama. The pantry is stocked with can goods and non-perishable items. According, to Judge Lillie Jones-Osborne, Chairman of the Greene County Children’s Policy, this pantry is another opportunity for the Policy Council to help meet the needs of families and children in Greene County. We only ask that people take only what is needed to help supplement a meal.
Foodways are also significant to those local traditions. The celebration brings out the best in down home cooking: soul food, barbecue, and homemade tea cakes and more. The Festival also features a children stage with activities for learning including storytelling face painting and fun. As I reflect on the festival, I think of the late J.C. Williams (father), Mary Hicks (daughter) who taught her the art of basket weaving and how her daughter Annette Hicks Jordon carried the traditions on. This year Mrs. Vera Spencer's grandson will serve up her famous skins,
passing the torch on... The original male gospel groups now feature the sons and nephews who have taken the lead... Geraldine Sands’ Soul Food Dinner is another torch being passed on... A week after last year's festival, I would meet people on the street commenting: “Barbara, you keep the festival going right.” I would just smile and say, “If you all continue to help me.” The Black Belt Folk Roots Festival is the community coming together, counting our blessings, giving tribute to our ancestors and elders, lifting our community and enjoying each other.
51st Annual Black Belt Folk Roots
Festival Celebrating Community The Next Chapter
Music / Dance/ Craft/ Food/ Play Saturday- August 22, 2026 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday- August 23, 2026 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. Old Courthouse Square Eutaw, Al Produced by The Society of Folk Arts & Culture P.O. Box 566 Eutaw, Al 35462 For more information contact: Barbara Hunter or Teresa Atkins@ 205-372-0525 or email: blackbeltfest@ gmail.com
Page 4, The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Greene County The Democrat
The American Dream is being repossessed
The Greene County Democrat newspaper is published each Wednesday by the Greene County Democrat Newspaper Company, Inc., 206 Prairie Avenue, Eutaw, Alabama (USSR 700680). Subscription rate in county is $25 per year; elsewhere in Alabama, $30; and out of state, $35. Publishers: John and Carol Zippert Editor: Maya Quinn Office Manager: Barbara Hunter The Greene County Democrat 206 Prairie Avenue P.O. Box 598 Eutaw, AL 35462 Phone: 205-372-3373 Fax: 205-372-2243 Website:greenecodemocrat.com & facebook
By Julianne Malveaux
How we are shaping the future with our dollars
By Marc Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League (TriceEdneyWire.com) “I believe in destiny. But I also believe that you can’t just sit back and let destiny happen. You are going to have to get out there and make it happen.” – Spike Lee Black Americans are tired of being disrespected at the cash register, and we’re taking our grievances to the bank. A year into the call to boycott Target for retreating on its diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments, the Urban League movement commissioned a report to understand where our dollars are going today and why. Titled Economic & Psychographic Research on Black America, this study accompanied our 2026 State of Black America Report as a special section. The research included focus groups and polling of Black Americans from every age group and region in the country, as well as sets of non-Black peers with the same demographics. The findings across five categories- groceries, health and wellness, saving and investing, beauty, and travel- painted a picture of where our dollars are going today and why. The key takeaway was that our community is no longer showing up for companies and brands that aren’t showing up for us, and we’re taking our $2.1T in spending power, just shy of the entire GDP of Canada ($2.5T), with us. The report found that 45% of Black consumers say they would reduce spending or actively seek alternative brands if a company reduced or eliminated its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion,
compared with 31% of non-Black consumers. Online backlash and boycotts are no longer simply a public relations issue. They are growing business issues with measurable marketplace consequences for customer loyalty, brand reputation, and long-term revenue. And we’re understanding the value of supporting one another. We found that 58% of Black consumers say supporting Blackowned businesses is important to them, compared with 31% of non-Black consumers. Price and product quality remain important, but they are no longer enough. Trust and respect are drivers. And we’re not just buying; we’re building. We found that Black respondents were more interested in business savings accounts (19% vs. 14%), business checking accounts (17% vs. 12%), and Individual Retirement Accounts (16% vs. 11%). And among Black adults ages 18 to 34, interest rises to 29% for business savings accounts and 25% for business checking accounts. For our young people, these investments have extended into the future of industry. 41% of Black consumers spent money on content creation during the past year, compared with 33% of non-Black consumers. Among Black consumers ages 18 to 34, average spending on content creation reached $1,920, compared with $1,530 among non-Black consumers. My takeaway from this research is that much of our influence is nothing new. We’ve shaped fashion and beauty trends, music consumption, and turned the Box Office on its head, as we saw last year with the performance of Sinners. Today we’re coalescing that influence and our dollars around an economy that serves us better than the one that has been handed to us for centuries. We have a generation of people who are taking their futures into their hands and creating a world that works better for all of us.
Send Letters to the Editor The Greene County Democrat P. O. Box 598 Eutaw, AL 35462
(TriceEdneyWire.com) The American Dream has always been sold as an installment plan: work hard, save something, buy a home, educate your children, retire with dignity and, with a little luck, leave the next generation better off than you were. Black people knew the plan was rigged. We were denied mortgages, excluded from neighborhoods, underpaid at work and cheated out of land. Still, we continued to believe that education, persistence and plain old hard work might eventually pry open doors—as with the gradual increase of Black federal workers over the last century. Now, even those doors are being slammed shut. The National Urban League’s 50th edition of its State of Black America report asks, “Is the American Dream dead?” The report documents how every attempt to guarantee life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness has been met with racism, social violence and political retrenchment. I would state the problem differently. The American Dream may not be dead. It is being repossessed. A repossession does not happen because the dream suddenly disappears. It happens after the terms have been changed, the payments have been raised, and the borrower has been stripped of the means to keep up.
That is happening to working Americans now. Homeownership—the primary source of wealth for most families—is increasingly out of reach. Rents have risen faster than many people’s paychecks. Student debt burdens those who were told that education was their pathway to opportunity. Healthcare costs can turn one illness into a financial catastrophe. Grocery prices climb while wages lag. Retirement security is increasingly reserved for those who were already secure. For Black Americans, these pressures are layered on top of the racial wealth gap. White families were provided the opportunity to accumulate assets through federally supported homeownership, subsidized education and jobs that came with pensions. Black families were routinely denied access to those same wealth-building tools. We were told to catch up while others were given a head start. We were told to save, even when our wages were lower. We were told to buy homes, even when banks redlined our neighborhoods. We were told to get an education, even when obtaining that education required us to assume more debt. Then, when some Black people managed to overcome these barriers, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs were blamed for giving us too much. Too much? We have never had too much. We have had too little opportunity, too little inherited wealth and too little protection from discrimination. The assault on DEI is not simply a cultural disagreement. It is an economic strategy. When corporations retreat from diversity commitments and
government upends civilrights enforcement, discrimination does not disappear. It becomes easier to practice and harder to prove. Black women are again absorbing much of the damage. More than 300,000 Black women were pushed out the labor force during a three-month period in 2025, and scores of Black men lost jobs, while employment increased for White men, White women and Hispanic women. Some were casualties of federal downsizing. Others were affected by contracting opportunities, the attack on DEI and the instability those policies unleashed. Black women did not suddenly lose their skills, their education or their work ethic. The economy changed the terms of the agreement. The latest employment figures offer another familiar warning. The overall unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in June, while the White unemployment rate was 3.6 percent. Black unemployment has historically hovered around twice the White rate. That disparity is not accidental. It is the accumulated result of who is hired first, promoted first—and dismissed first. Government has an obligation to confront these inequities. Instead, civilrights protections are being weakened, voting rights are under siege and the programs that keep working families afloat are treated as expendable. This repossession is not confined to Black America. The same machinery that strips Black workers of opportunity eventually rolls through the rest of the working class. When unions are weakened, wages fall. When public education is starved, children suffer. When healthcare and food assistance
are cut, hunger and illness spread. When voting rights are restricted, democracy shrinks for everyone. Black America may be the canary in the economic coal mine, but eventually everybody breathes the poisoned air. The National Urban League calls for three imperatives: Defeat Poverty. Defend Democracy. Demand Diversity. These are not separate goals. Poverty flourishes when democracy is weakened. Democracy deteriorates when inequality becomes entrenched (poverty). Diversity becomes threatening only when opportunity is treated as a scarce possession (poverty mindset) that must be reserved for a favored few (anti-democratic). The American Dream was never equally available, but generations fought to widen it. They organized unions, marched for voting rights, challenged segregated schools and housing, and demanded fair employment. They understood that democracy does not run on autopilot. If the dream is being repossessed, we cannot sit quietly on the curb while the tow truck pulls away. We must demand fair wages, affordable housing, voting rights, civil-rights enforcement and accountability from corporations that profit from Black dollars while abandoning Black workers. We must use our economic power as deliberately as we use our political power. The American Dream is not dead. But it is under assault. Whether we reclaim it—or replace it with something more just—depends on what we are willing to do now. Dr. Julianne Malveaux is a DC based economist and author.
What shall I do with my boy?
By Ben Jealous (TriceEdneyWire.com) What Shall I Do With My Boy? Frederick Douglass asked the question in 1853. Maryland is starting to answer it. In 1836, four white apprentices beat Frederick Douglass nearly blind in a Baltimore shipyard. He named them years later. Ned North. Ned Hays. Bill Stewart. Tom Humphreys. One came at him with a brick. One swung a handspike into his head. Fifty white carpenters watched. None said stop. They said the Black caulkers were "eating the bread which should be eaten by American freemen." Douglass saw past that. The white man, he wrote, "is robbed by the slave system of the just results of his labor." The men who owned that system taught poor whites to fight poor Blacks. It kept them both poor. He escaped to New Bedford, a trained caulker in a free town of Quakers and abolitionists. A shipowner tried to hire him. Every
white man on the vessel threatened to walk. He shoveled coal instead. Still no bench for him. In 1853 he asked Harriet Beecher Stowe to help him build a school where Black boys could learn a trade. There were fathers, he said, "whose minds are tossed by day and by night with the anxious enquiry, 'what shall I do with my boys?'" The school was never built. The question never went away. Ask it again now. Manufacturing jobs peaked in June 1979 and fell for forty years. In the 1950s, 98 of every 100 American men in their prime worked or looked for work. Today it is 89. Black men lived this first. Then we told every child that college was the only road. Georgetown researchers project only 42 percent of jobs will require a degree by 2031. We closed the shop classes and called it progress. The old track had sorted Black and brown children into dead ends. We did not fix the sorting. We tore out the ladder and left the wall. Now hear what we tell the boys. The Pentagon studied who could enlist. Seventy-seven percent of Americans aged 17 to 24 cannot qualify. Too heavy. A record. A pill. A test. Three out of four, told they are not wanted. Then the Army did something quiet. In 2022 it opened a course at Fort Jackson for the ones who failed the standards. It taught them
until they met them. About 95 percent passed. Chaz Andrews had wanted to serve since he was 19. He failed the entrance test more than ten times. He was 29 when the course got him through. Nothing was wrong with Chaz Andrews. Hugh Price saw this coming. He helped start the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, which lifts dropouts' earnings 20 percent. The military, the former Urban League president wrote, "figured out long ago how to nurture the potential of aimless young people." He did not want to militarize childhood. He wanted the method. High expectations for everyone. A mentor who knows your name. A refusal to sort children into the ones worth teaching and the ones worth writing off. Charlie Rangel asked the other half. He came home to Harlem from Korea with a Purple Heart and pushed for universal national service. "If we are going to send our children to war," he wrote, "the governing principle must be shared sacrifice." Rangel answered who serves. Price answered how people are made. Maryland is testing both. Republican Larry Hogan dropped the degree requirement for most state jobs, and hiring without degrees rose 41 percent in four months. Democrat Wes Moore built the first statewide service year in
America. That is real. So is this. Congress has not reauthorized the National Apprenticeship Act since 1937. Further along than we were. Nowhere near done. My father ran a Head Start center in San Diego in the late sixties. What surprised him was who objected. Not only men who hated Black children. Also comfortable people who did not want anybody's poor children given a head start, white ones included. We would rather sort children than teach them. Douglass asked what he should do with his boys. We still owe him an answer. Ten years after Los Angeles burned, I stood backstage waiting to speak. Jack Kemp was at the lectern, pounding it. Our kids, he shouted. Our kids. Our kids. An elder from South Central asked me where he was from. Upstate New York, I said. Then whose kids is he talking about? All of them, ma'am. They are all American children. The notion stunned her. It should not stun anyone. It still does. A country is not a nation until it claims them all. Ben Jealous is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and former president and CEO of the NAACP.
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The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Page 5
The Fight for Quality
By David W. Marshall (TriceEdneyWire.com)Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones is starting to sound the alarm that the Democratic Party should not abandon the Deep South. Black lawmakers and activists across the Deep South argue they have been left behind by the Democratic Party to fight on their own. They point to years when the Democratic Party apparatus is systematically underfunding local organizations while Congressional leadership turns its focus to key battleground districts that could ultimately give them control of the U.S. House of Representatives. “Folks who lead our party go to swing states like North Carolina and Georgia, but states like Mississippi and Tennessee and Alabama and South Carolina are really neglected and are really forgotten and are really treated as if it is inevitable that we’ll always stay in such systems of what I call apartheid type of politics,” said Jones. The feeling of neglect is negatively adding to what lawmakers are calling a crisis for Black representation. In March 2023, Jones was thrust into the national spotlight when he joined fellow state Reps. Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson to become known as the “Tennessee Three.” The group of legislators supported gun-safety demonstrators in the House chamber after the Covenant School shooting in Nashville. Pearson, who represents the Memphisarea House District 86, recently won the Democratic primary for U.S. House for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District. Pearson has an uphill battle since Tennessee Republicans redrew the congressional map soon after the Louisiana v. Callais Supreme Court decision. Previously, the 9th District largely kept Memphis together and was a majority-Black, strongly Democratic district represented by Democrat Steve Cohen. The new map divides Memphis between three districts that extend into more rural, white Republican-leaning areas. Cohen chose not to run under the new configuration. The Tennessee legislature, through means of partisan and racial gerrymandering, took what was a reliable Democratic seat and made it into a Republican-leaning district. The new statewide map is now designed to give the Republicans an electoral advantage in all nine of Tennessee’s U.S. House districts. Going back to Rep. Jones’ point, states like Tennessee cannot be an afterthought to the national Democratic Party. When I think about Rep. Pearson as a candidate running in a Republican district, one person comes to mind: former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. In 1998, Tom Vilsack was elected Iowa’s first Democratic governor in more than 30 years, and was re-elected to a second term in 2002. As governor, he worked with schools, medical providers, businesses, faith-based organizations, and other entities to expand healthcare coverage to more than 90,000 previously uninsured children. He served as Secre-
tary of Agriculture during the Obama administration and again during the Biden administration. He stands out because he came from a rural state and he knew the concerns of rural America. He constantly told Democrats not to ignore rural voters. As Agriculture Secretary, Vilsack had urged Hillary Clinton’s campaign to shore up rural outreach, multiple sources said. The Clinton campaign didn’t think it needed rural voters, which was seen as a shrinking population that was reliably Republican. The campaign never named a rural council, as Obama did in 2008 and 2012. It also didn’t build a robust rural-dedicated campaign infrastructure. The rural voting bloc turned out to be formidable. “Hillary lost rural America 3 to 1,” said one Democratic insider. “If she had lost rural America 2 to 1, it would have broken differently.” Vilsack’s message and warning to Democrats still stands true today. Pearson and other Democrats need an effective rural strategy that resonates with farmers who are frustrated with tariffs, damaging trade policies, inflation, the impact of the Iran War, and cuts to federal farm programs. U.S. farm debt has reached historic levels. In February 2026, the American Farm Bureau Federation released a report that substantiated what many farmers and agriculture economists already knew: We are experiencing a new farm crisis. The report found that Chapter 12 family farm bankruptcies surged by 46% in 2025. And let’s not forget there is a growing food crisis due to President Trump’s cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). According to former Treasury advisor Steve Rattner, who shared data from the USDA showing that participation in SNAP had plunged by 5 million people over the course of Trump’s second term. “Over 5 million low-income Americans–including 1.5 million children–have lost access to food assistance due to Trump’s SNAP cuts last year,” Rattner explained. “Most of the hardest hit states are traditionally Republican, resulting in growing hunger crises in states like Arizona. While Tennessee has created nine congressional districts of Republican domination, this could be a defining moment for Democrats despite the changing electoral landscape. A significant opportunity now exists in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional race to start reversing this domination or “apartheid type of politics,” as Rep. Jones described. This could be done by addressing non-partisan, quality -of-life issues like the burgeoning farm debt crisis and food insecurity, which are hitting Republican-held districts hardest. A candidate like Justin Pearson, who is a passionate, eloquent orator and charismatic, can succeed not by being a traditional Democrat, but by proving a young, Black leader can effectively represent the survival interests of white, rural voters who feel equally abandoned. David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization, TRB: The Reconciled Body, and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America.
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Senate Sketches #2042.....by Hank Sanders
The Power of Pain
The Power of Pain. I have learned from struggle. I have learned from success. I have learned from victory. I have learned from loss. I have learned from defeat. I have learned from failure. I have learned from relationships. I have learned from situations. I have learned from others. I have learned so much from so many experiences and interactions. However, my greatest single learning source sprung from a painful experience. The Power of Pain. I loved to read. I read everything I could get my hands on. My big “PO” family was too poverty stricken to buy books. My school, from elementary through junior high school, had two small sets of encyclopedias. I read both from A to Z. I used to borrow books from children in higher grades to read on the bus rides to and from school. Reading was one of my great joys. But something I read caused me to experience great pain and forged concrete directions for my life. The Power of Pain. My Mother worked in the home of a rich White man who owned a general store, a sawmill, lots of land and so much more. When the family finished with their newspapers and magazines, they gave them to my mother to bring home. It was not intended for us to read these papers but to use to wipe our behinds. I wanted to say “used for toilet paper” but we did not have a toilet or bathroom or even an outhouse. We went behind the Chinaberry tree. I read every one of those papers. The Power of Pain. I read in those papers something I am sure this rich White family did not intend for me to read. This was in 1955 and I was 12 or 13 years old. I read about Thurgood Marshall, the Black lawyer who argued the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision that struck down segregation in public education and the followup 1955 Brown decision that implemented it. I could tell from the context and the words how much they hated Thurgood Marshall. But I also sensed a grudging respect for Thurgood Marshall as well. I was moved by the respect in spite of the hate. The Power of Pain. After reading about Thurgood Marshall, I decided on the spot that I would become a lawyer. I had never seen a lawyer, not to speak of a Black lawyer. It was a fateful spur of the moment decision. Our homeroom teacher would have us to individually stand each Friday to individually state what we intended to be when we grew up. She did this on Friday so we would not go to far astray over the weekend. I could not wait for the following Friday to stand up and say that I was going to be a lawyer when I grew up. The Power of Pain. That Friday, I shot up from my seat when I was called upon. I proudly said, “I’m going to be a lawyer when I grow up!” The entire classroom went silent for a long stretch. Then a boy sitting next to me snickered under his breath, but I could hear him. So could other children in the classroom. Then the boy next to him snickered, but it was not under his breath. Within moments, the whole class was laughing at me. I started crying. My
classmates laughed even harder. The more they laughed the more I cried and the more I cried, the more they laughed. The Power of Pain. The teacher had been trying from the very beginning to stop the children from laughing at me, but they would not stop. She told me to sit down so the children would stop laughing but I could not sit down. I was not just in pain; I was in shock. Finally, the teacher came to me, put her right arm around my shoulders and placed her left hand on my stomach and forced me to sit. I was in more emotional pain than I had ever experienced. The Power of Pain. When I sat down, I thought to myself, “If they are going to laugh at me, I ain’t gonna to be noting” (nothing). Then I thought about the whole situation and concluded that the children laughed because they did not expect me to be anything anyway. I decided in that moment of deep pain that I would be a lawyer if it was the last thing I did, if it killed me. I also decided that I would not tell anyone I was going to be a lawyer because I did not want to be laughed at again. The Power of Pain. There was the further pain of not really knowing why the children laughed at me. I thought it might be because my family was really big and poor and lived in a three room house (a three room house, not a three bedroom house. It was a kitchen, a middle room and a front room). I then thought that it was because my father stopped going to school after the 1st grade and could not write his name. However, my mother had a 7th grade education and was good with words. It was years before I understood that they laughed because they not only could envision me being a lawyer but could not envision themselves or any Black person being a lawyer. The Power of Pain. There were times when I considered dropping out of school. Then I would think of the pain of the “I’m going to be a lawyer moment,” process the pain again, and I would not drop out of school. I graduated from high school but could not go to college at the time. I worked at a sawmill on the hardest job at the mill. I later worked as a janitor, a stockboy, a stock clerk, a shipping clerk, an electronic technician and more, but the pain would not let me stop with my schooling. Three years after I graduated from high school, I enrolled in Talladega College. The pain kept me moving forward with my education when I wanted to stop. When I graduated from college, I went to Harvard Law School and graduated. The Power of Pain. There have been many times in my life when I could see no way out. I would take the pain of that long ago moment, process it through my being and find a way to go forward. I would make a way out of no way. The pain is still with me to this day. Every time I tell the story in speeches or other settings, I start crying even some 70 years later. I cannot think of a single personal experience or group of experiences that impacted me as much as this one painful experience. The Power of
Pain. Now on to the Daily Diary. Saturday, August 1, 2026 – I discussed community issues over breakfast. I handled many matters as I worked into the night. Among others, I communicated with the following: Faya Rose Toure of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Barbara Pitts of Decatur, Georgia; Ella Sanders of McDonough, Georgia; Retired Federal Judge U. W. Clemon; Dr. Ernest Okeke and Junior Oliver of Selma; and Alabama New South President Everette Wess. Sunday – I hosted the Sunday School Lesson with Dr. Margaret Hardy on Facebook Live and Z105.3 FM Radio and worked into the night. Among others, I communicated with the following: Sharon Wheeler of the Selma to Montgomery March Foundation; Former Alabama State Senator Malika Sanders Fortier; Josephiine Curtis, Ayirra Fortier, Asha Fortier of Selma; and Dr. L. Zakiya Newland of The Black Family Summit. Monday – I walked, handled many matters and worked into the night. Among others, I communicated with the following: Marilyn Cosby, Karen and Bertha Jackson, Walker of Selma; Selma businessman Raymond Craig; Jim Eaton of Tallassee, Florida; Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones; Founder of the World Conference of Mayors Johnny Ford; Sherrie Mitchell of Selma; Ainka Jackson of the Selma Center for Nonviolence and the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; and Greene County Health System CEO Rodgerick Williams; Tuesday – I participated in one Zoom call and two conference calls; traveled to Montgomery and worked into the night. Among others, I communicated with the following: Marion Mayor Dexter Hinton; Jonathan Raulston of Jefferson County; Charles Sanders of Baldwin County; Andrew Marks of Washington, D.C.; Greg Francis of Orlando, Florida; Greene County School Superintendent Dr. Timothy Thurman; Stephen Carpenter of Minnesota; and Olivia Hussy Scott of Washington, D.C. Wednesday – I walked, handled many matters, traveled to Montgomery, returned to Selma, chaired a meeting and worked into the night. Among others, I communicated with the following: Retired Mont-
gomery Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick; Rand Neeley of Montgomery; Alabama State Senator Rodger Smitherman; and Wofford, Geraldine Lametrius Dillard and Jessie Sanders of Selma. Thursday – This was August 6, the date the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed. I handled many matters, participated in two podcasts, attended a press conference, spoke briefly at a Voting Rights Rally and worked deep into the night. Among others, I communicated with the following: Amos Moore of Selma; Reverend Mark Thompson of the Make it Plain Radio Program; Alabama Democratic Conference Chairman Dr. Joe Reed; Karen Jones of Montgomery; Alabama State Senator Vivian Davis Figures; Law Professor Emerita Martha Morgan; Reverend Jarmal Sanders of Selma; Fourth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Marvin Wiggins; and Allen Garner of Dallas County. Friday – I arose very early, handled various matters and drove Faya Rose nearly 500 miles to Greeneville, Tennessee for the Annual August 8 celebration commemorating the end of slavery in Eastern Tennessee. I stopped in Gadsden, Alabama to visit two of our friends for more than 40 years. Among others, I communicated with the following Dr. Roberta Watts, Roger Watts, Sr. and Roger Watts, Jr. of Gadsden; Gypsy Montgomery of West Virginia; and Dr. Sonya Webb of the Lowndes County School System. Epilogue – We tend to remember moments of pain more than moments of joy. I think we learn more from painful experiences. One painful experience profoundly impacted me for life. I learned from Pain. The Power of Pain.
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Page 6, The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 12, 2026
EarthTalk From the Editors of E The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What’s new in terms of making the construction and maintenance of roads and highways more efficient and greener? -- Wendy Streeter, Exeter, NH Highways are changing as engineers look for ways to make roads last longer while reducing pollution. Instead of relying only on carbon-heavy paving methods and fixing potholes
Innovative new technologies in the way we make and maintain roads promise greener travel all around. Credit: Pexels.com. after they appear, many road agencies are using recycled materials, smarter technology, and artificial intelligence (AI). These new ideas help roads better handle extreme weather while cutting waste and lowering construction costs. One of the biggest changes is the use of recy-
cled materials. TechniSoil Industrial has developed its "Neo" paving system, which mixes recycled plastic into road construction. The company says the process can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% while using about 150,000 recycled plastic water bottles for every lane
mile of roadway. Rather than sending plastic to landfills, it becomes part of a stronger road surface. Old tires are also finding a new purpose. Along Interstate 85 in Georgia, The Ray serves as an 18-mile "living laboratory" where new transportation technologies are tested, including Rubber Modified Asphalt (RMA), which uses crumb rubber made from discarded tires. Texas Materials has also created its Super Sand Mix, replacing more than 42% of traditional asphalt binder with recycled tires and roofing shingles. These roads are more resistant to cracking, provide better traction, and even reduce traffic noise. As Allie Kelly, Executive Director of The Ray, explained in CNN's report on the project, "We see waste as a resource." Scientists are also improving the pavement itself.
McNeil proposes regional accountability plan for Alabama Data Centers
PSC Place 2 Candidate Calls for MPO-Style Review to Protect Ratepayers, Water, Infrastructure and Alabama Workers HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — As Alabama prepares for continued growth in data centers and other energy-intensive industries, Public Service Commission Place 2 candidate Sheila McNeil is proposing a regional approval process to ensure that economic development does not come at the expense of Alabama families, ratepayers, communities or workers. “I am not against data centers. I am against approving them before Alabama knows what they will cost us,” said McNeil. “We should welcome investment, technology and good jobs—but we cannot allow the costs of electricity, water, roads and other infrastructure to be shifted
onto Alabama families and small businesses.” McNeil’s Alabama Data Accountability Center Plan would use the state’s existing Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) model as a framework for coordinating major datacenter development across city and county lines. Under the proposal, large data centers would undergo regional review before final approval, examining: ● Electricity and grid capacity, including transmission, generation and reliability; ● Ratepayer impacts, including who pays for required utility upgrades; ● Water availability, including drought conditions and long-term regional demand; ● Infrastructure and transportation needs; ● Environmental and community impacts, including noise, emissions and emergency services; ● Cumulative impacts of multiple data centers in the same region; ● Jobs, wages and workforce development, including opportunities for Alabama's skilled trades. ● Ratepayer Advisory
Congressional Map
Leader Growth Should Pay for Growth McNeil is calling for a utility cost-allocation study for major projects to ensure residential and small-business customers are not unfairly subsidizing infrastructure primarily required by large industrial loads. “Growth should pay for growth,” McNeil said. “If a data center requires major new transmission, generation, substations or other infrastructure, the public deserves to know who is paying for it and who is assuming the risk.” Her plan would also establish regional maps identifying areas where data centers are appropriate, conditional or restricted based on available electricity, water, transportation and other infrastructure. Pro-Growth, Pro-Accountability McNeil emphasized that the proposal is designed to make Alabama more competitive by giving companies, communities and utilities a predictable and transparent process. “Companies want cer-
tainty. Communities want certainty. Ratepayers want certainty,” she said. “Alabama can compete for investment without writing a blank check.” She is also calling for performance-based economic incentives tied to actual capital investment, jobs, local hiring, workforce training, infrastructure improvements and community benefits. “Alabama should be open for business—but not open for exploitation,” McNeil said. “We can embrace technology and economic growth while protecting our water, our electric grid, our workers and the people who pay the bills.” This is a proposal to move the needle from just talking about data centers to beginning to devise a real plan. Sheila McNeil is the Democratic candidate for Alabama Public Service Commission Place 2. Her campaign focuses on utility affordability, transparency, accountability, reliable infrastructure and ensuring Alabama's energy and telecommunications policies serve the public interest.
The Alabama Congressional Redistricting Change Report includes: - Maps showing which congressional districts changed and how - Demographic and partisan profiles for each changed district, including the populations added and removed - Visualizations comparing the 2024 presidential election results under the old and new congressional boundaries - County and municipal split analyses, showing how local governments are divided under each map Download the Report: https://redistrictingdatahub.org/dataset/alabama-120thcongressional-district-change- report/ (Free registration required.) Why this matters: As primary elections approach, the report helps explain how district boundaries have changed, how communities were shifted between districts, and how
the political and demographic makeup of each district differs from the previous map. The underlying data are also available for download. For questions about the report or requests for additional analysis, contact press@redistrictingdatahub.org. Embargo: None. Reporters may cite, reproduce, and publish visuals and data from the report with attribution to the Redistricting Data Hub. About the Redistricting Data Hub: The nonpartisan Redistricting Data Hub (RDH) provides individuals, good government organizations, and community groups the data, resources, and knowledge to participate effectively in the redistricting process and fight gerrymandering. In service of this mission, the RDH hosts thousands of datasets in all 50 states, from the census block to the district level, and continues to add new data that is useful for nonpartisan map drawing and analysis. This data is free to the public, and accompanied by technical support and analysis on request.
But that’s only part of the bill. Once you add in clothing, shoes, backpacks, and electronics, the average family is expected to shell out $863.86 per K-12 student for the 20262027 school year—a slight increase from $858.07 in 2025. The good news? Families don’t have to shoulder those costs alone. Across the country, charities, nonprofits, schools, and community organizations are giving away thousands of free backpacks and school supplies before the first bell rings. How to get Back-To-School supplies for free: The Salvation Army, Kids In Need Foundation and More. One of the biggest programs is the Salvation Army’s “Stuff the Bus” campaign, which partners with Walmart locations nationwide to collect and distribute backpacks filled with classroom essentials to children in need. “Donated supplies go directly to local Salvation Army programs, which distribute them to families who need them most — free of charge, and with dignity,” the Salvation Army’s website states. United Way of Mid South also hosts school supply drives and giveaway events through its local chapters, helping families stock up on everything from crayons to calculators before school starts. Military and veteran families can also take advantage of Operation Homefront’s Back-to-School Brigade, a nationwide initiative that provides free backpacks loaded with school supplies to eligible children. Other organizations making a difference include the Kids In Need Foundation, which supplies underserved schools with classroom essentials, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, where many local chapters partner with retailers to host free backpack and school supply distributions throughout the summer. Search local school district and community for free programs offering Back-To-School supplies. Don’t overlook your local school district, either. Many schools receive donations from businesses and nonprofit
organizations and quietly maintain emergency supply closets for students. A quick call to your child’s school office or guidance counselor could point you toward available resources. Community organizations are stepping up as well. Churches, YMCAs, neighborhood associations, and local nonprofits often host back-to-school festivals, backpack giveaways, and resource fairs throughout August. A simple Google search using your city and the phrase “free school supplies” or “back-to-school giveaway” can uncover events happening right in your neighborhood. For example, families in Detroit can browse Chalkbeat Detroit’s regularly updated list of free school supply events. One upcoming giveaway is the Back-to-School Rally, taking place from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 5 at Racquet Up Detroit, 6530 Outer Drive West. According to the website, “The event includes free school supplies, including backpacks, as well as family activities, a bounce house, raffles” and more. If you’re not sure where to start, another easy option is to dial 211 or visit 211.org. The free service connects families with local charities and community organizations offering backpack giveaways, school supply drives, and other back-to-school assistance based on your ZIP code. Families in New York City also have several opportunities to score free school supplies. The New York Restoration Project will distribute backpacks and classroom essentials at several community gardens and green spaces across the boroughs. Bronx giveaways are scheduled for Aug. 15 at Mildred T. Rhodebeck Garden and Glover Street Community Garden, with additional dates and locations available on the organization’s website. With school shopping becoming more expensive every year, taking advantage of these free community resources can help families check off those supply lists without stretching their budgets quite as far.
Back-To-School
Some new asphalt contains tiny capsules filled with bio-based oils that automatically seal small cracks before they grow. Other roads use embedded steel fibers that can be heated with magnetic induction to extend pavement life up to three times longer. Porous asphalt and permeable concrete allow as much as 80% of rainwater to pass through the surface, reducing flooding, preventing hydroplaning, and helping replenish groundwater. Technology is making road maintenance smarter as well. Intelligent Compaction rollers use GPS and onboard sensors to ensure pavement reaches the correct density during construction. Embedded sensors continue monitoring concrete long after it is poured, while AI-powered cameras and automated repair machines can detect and fix small cracks before
they become costly potholes. New temperaturepaint and sensitive glow-in-the-dark lane markings can also improve driver safety during icy conditions. Looking toward the future, government agencies are also beginning to integrate renewable energy directly into the transportation grid. Solar panels and piezoelectric energy harvesters are being installed along highway shoulders and beneath surfaces to capture clean electricity from passing vehicular traffic and sunlight. As Sean Weaver, founder and CEO of TechniSoil Industrial, noted when discussing modern eco-friendly paving methods, "I'm captivated by the idea that roads are one of the first downstream applications for recycled plastic that is bigger than the size of the plastic problem itself."
Family Tradition
One of my featured books, When Behavior Speaks: Understanding the Message Behind Children's Actions, helps parents, caregivers, educators, and professionals look beyond challenging behaviors to understand what children may be trying to communicate. Drawing from practical experience and evidence-based strategies, the book provides guidance on building positive relationships, responding with patience, teaching appropriate behaviors, and creating supportive environments where children can succeed. It encourages readers to remember that behavior is often a form of communication and that understanding the message behind it can transform a child's future. In addition to writing about children's behavior, I also authored Held Together: A Journey Through Mental Health, Love, and Support, a book designed to encourage individuals navigating life's challenges. Through compassionate guidance, practical encouragement, and messages of hope, the book reminds readers that healing is possible, support is available, and no one has to face difficult times alone. I also created Southern Simply Cooked Family Edition, a cookbook that celebrates the comfort of home-cooked meals, cherished family recipes, and the joy of gathering around the table. It reflects my belief that food has a unique way of bringing people together, creating lasting memories, and strengthening family bonds. My inspiration for becoming an author comes from working closely with children and families every day. I wanted to create resources that educate, empower, and inspire readers of all ages. Whether helping adults better understand children's behavior, encouraging someone on a mental health journey, or sharing recipes that bring families together, my goal is to leave a positive and lasting impact through every book I write. My books are available for purchase on Amazon, and I look forward to continuing to create resources that promote understanding, healing, education, and hope within our communities. Tracy L. Wedgeworth Jr., 33, grew up in Eutaw,, and is an author, behavior intervention specialist, and mental health advocate dedicated to improving the lives of children, families, and communities. Growing up in a closeknit community inspired his passion for serving others and making a positive difference through education, advocacy, and writing. He attended Alabama A&M University and later earned a Master of Science in Psychology from Walden University, where he further developed his understanding of human behavior and mental wellness. Inspired by his professional experience working with children and families, Tracy began writing books that educate, encourage, and empower readers of all ages. Through both his professional career and his writing, Tracy is committed to promoting positive behavior, emotional wellness, resilience, and stronger family relationships. His mission is to create meaningful resources that inspire growth, understanding, and hope while making a lasting impact on children, families, educators, and communities. He believes that education, compassion, and connection have the power to transform lives, and he hopes his work continues to encourage and uplift readers for generations to come.
Senator Bobby Singleton
The vote came after years of turmoil within the party that stretch back well beyond Kelley’s term. The party has faced infighting for decades, and that tension reared its head again during the nearly six-hour meeting. Even approval of the previous meeting’s minutes was derailed by contentions that the meeting had improperly proceeded without a quorum. Meanwhile, Democrats are on the heels of an election that many believe could be more favorable to Democratic candidates than any Alabama ballot has been in years. Singleton promised members that he wants to bring the party together and make it work to seize the moment at hand. “I want you to know that I hear you, I see you,” Singleton said. “We need to make sure that we realize and listen to people. I’m gonna hold listening tours across all 67 counties because I want you to know: Women, I see you, and I hear you. I want the LGBTQ to know that I hear you and I see you. We can no longer sit back and do things in an archaic way.” The party had been fractured under the leadership of Kelley, an ally of Joe Reed, leader of the Alabama Democratic Conference. The party eliminated its LGBTQ+, youth and disabled caucuses in 2023, only to have them restored a year later by order of the Democratic National Committee. Observers from the DNC were present Saturday to ensure proper procedures were followed There were also tensions between Kelley and Vice Chair Tabitha Isner, who has said she was consistently shut out of essential operations. Singleton has been a fixture within the Alabama Democratic Party for more than two decades, serving in the Alabama House of Representatives beginning in 2002 before moving to the Alabama Senate in 2005. He now serves as Senate minority leader. With the election now less than 90 days away, Singleton said he plans to visit every county before Election Day to support county chairs and fundraisers. While the party has publicly fought within itself over the past four years, it has made some progress, including expanding its reach to establish county parties in all 67 Alabama counties.
Legal Notice STATE OF ALABAMA NOTICE OF MORTGAGE COUNTY OF GREENE FORECLOSURE SALE Default having been made under the terms of that certain mortgage executed by Marc Ethridge, an unmarried man, William Steve Ethridge, a married man, and Norma Renee Ethridge, an unmarried woman, on the 29th day of October, 2019 to Sweet Water State Bank which said mortgage is recorded in the Probate Office of Greene County, Alabama, in Mortgage Book 0086, at Page 640, and by reason of such default, having declared all of the indebtedness secured by said mortgage due and payable, and such default continuing, notice is hereby given that, acting under the power of sale contained in said mortgage, Sweet Water State Bank will sell at public outcry, for cash, to the highest bidder, before the main entrance of the Courthouse in the City of Eutaw, Greene County, Alabama, at noon or otherwise during the legal hours of sale on August 18, 2026 the following described real estate situated in Greene County, Alabama, to-wit: A tract or parcel of land situated in Section 31, Township 20 North, Range 2 East, and Section 36, Township 20 North, Range 2 East, Greene County, Alabama being more particularly described as follows: The West ½ of the West ½ of Section 31, Township 20 North, Range 3 East, Green County, Alabama, LESS AND EXCEPT a strip of land 400 feet in width (North – South) lying South and adjacent to Greene County Highway 41 running from the West boundary of Section 31 to the East boundary of the West ½ of the West ½ of Section 31. Township 20 North, Range 3 East, Greene County, Alabama. This being Greene County Tax Parcel #29-09-31-0000-005 Deed Reference: Deed Book 6-0 at page 507. The East ½ of the East ½ of Section 36, Township 20 North, Range 2 East, LESS AND EXCEPT a strip of land 400 feet in width (North – South) lying South and adjacent to Greene County Highway 41 running from the East boundary of Section 36 to the West boundary of the East ½ of the East ½ of Section 36, all in Township 20 North, Range 2 East, Greene County, Alabama. This being Greene County Tax Parcel # 27-07-36-0000-001. Deed Reference: Deed Book 65 at page 162. LESS AND EXCEPT: A parcel of property located in the Southwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section 31, Township 20 North, Range 3 East and in the Southwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of Section 36, Township 20 North, Range 2 East all in Greene County, Alabama and being more particularly described as follows: As a STARTING POINT, begin at the Southeast corner of the Northwest Quarter of the Southwest Quarter of said Section 31, said point being a ½” rebar found near a fence corner; thence run N 00°10’39” E for a distance of 1,733.42 feet to a ½” rebar found; thence run N 00°08’59” E for a distance of 51.21 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING of the parcel herein described, said point being a 5/8” capped rebar set; thence run N 89°50’40” W for a distance of 1,500.00 feet to a 5/8” capped rebar set; thence run N 04°04’27” W for a distance of 545.28 feet to a 5/8” capped rebar set on the curving South Right-ofWay of Lloyd Chapel Road, an 80-foot Right-of-
Way, said curve having a delta angle of 01°13’27” and a radius of 5,769.58 feet; thence run along said curving Right-of-Way with a run a chord bearing of S 83°16’12” E for a chord distance of 123.28 feet (arc distance of 123.28 feet) to a point; thence run S 83°52’56” E along said Right-of-Way for a distance 1,053.66 feet to a concrete monument found on a curve having a delta angle of 00°16’16” and a radius of 28,607.89 foot, thence run with a chord bearing of S 84°23’27” E for a chord distance of 135.35 feet (arc distance of 135.35 feet) to a 5/8” capped rebar set on an old fence line; thence run S 38°05’45” E along said old fence line for a distance of 232.36 feet to a 5/8” capped rebar set, thence run S 30°13’25” E along said old fence line for a distance of 91.23 feet to a 5/8” capped rebar set, thence run S 80°42’10” E along said old fence line for a distance of 45.62 feet to 5/8” capped rebar set; thence run S 00°08’59” W for a distance of 138.94 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING of the parcel herein described. Said parcel containing 15.35 acres, more or less. For informational purposes only the street address for the above referenced property is believed to be: 3466 County Road 41, Forkland, Alabama 36740, which is not a part of the legal description and in the event of any discrepancy the legal description described in this notice shall control. Together with the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging and all fixtures now attached to and used in connection with the premises herein described. Said sale will be subject to the right of way easements and restrictions of record in the Probate Office of Greene County, Alabama, and will be subject to outstanding property taxes, and existing special assessments, if any, which might adversely affect the title to subject property. Said property will be sold on an “As Is, Where Is” basis without warranty or recourse, express or implied as to title, use and/or enjoyment. Neither the mortgagee, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of the mortgagee make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition, including those suggested by Code of Ala. (1975) §35-4-271, are expressly disclaimed. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. Said sale will be made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by the above described mortgage, and the proceeds thereof will be applied as provided by the terms of said mortgage. The successful bidder must tender a non-refundable deposit in certified funds made payable to Reynolds, Reynolds & Little, LLC at the time and place of the sale. The balance of the purchase price must be paid in certified funds or by wire transfer by 5:00 p.m. the next business day at the Law Office of
Reynolds, Reynolds & Little, LLC at the address indicated below unless prior to said sale Reynolds, Reynolds & Little, LLC has agreed to a later date or closing location. The Mortgagee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate. The failure of any high bidder to pay the purchase price and close this sale shall, at the option of Mortgagee, be cause for rejection of the bid, and if the bid is rejected, Mortgagee shall have the option of making the sale to the next highest bidder who is able, capable and willing to comply with the terms thereof. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation. Sweet Water State Bank Mortgagee Justin B. Little R E Y N O L D S , REYNOLDS & LITTLE, LLC Attorneys for Mortgagee 2115 Maxie Thomas Way Post Office Box 2863 Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35403-2863 Telephone: 205-3910073 File No. 1398.0004 Publication Dates: July 29 August 5,12, 2026 Public Notice Notice of Proposed Branch Purchase and Assumption Transaction Notice is hereby given that First Community Bank of Central Alabama, headquartered in Wetumpka, Alabama, and Merchants & Farmers Bank of Greene County, Alabama, headquartered in Eutaw, Alabama, have filed an Interagency Bank Merger Act Application with the Atlanta Regional Office of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for its written consent for First Community Bank of Central Alabama to acquire all of the assets and assume substantially all of the liabilities (including all deposit liabilities) of the Merchants & Farmers Bank of Greene County, Alabama branch located at 1805 E. Main Street, Prattville, AL 36066. It is contemplated that all offices of Merchants & Farmers Bank of Greene County, Alabama will continue to be operated following the transaction (other than the Prattville branch which will become a branch of First Community Bank of Central Alabama). Any person wishing to comment on this application may file his or her comments in writing with the Regional Director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation at its Atlanta Regional Office, 10 Tenth Street, NE, Suite 900, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, not later than September 4, 2026. The nonconfidential portions of the application are on file at the Atlanta, Georgia Regional Office of the FDIC and are available for public inspection during regular business hours. Photocopies of the non-confidential portion of the application file will be made available upon request. An application has also been filed with the Alabama State Banking Department with respect to the proposed transaction. Comments on the application may also be submitted to the Alabama State Banking Department at the following address: P.O. Box 4600, Montgomery, Alabama 36103-4600.
8/5 ,12, 26 Legal Notice Ordinance No. Ordinance Regulating Grass and Weed Nuisances, Accumulation of Rubbish, Abandoned and Inoperable, Vehicles, Abandoned/ Dilapidated Structures, and other Nuisances Ordinance No. 202420-06 # 6 Be It Ordained by the City Council of the City of Eutaw, Alabama that the following ordinance is adopted to amend Chapter 42, Article I of the Code of Ordinances, City of Eutaw, is hereby amended as follows: Section One- Cumulative Nature These provisions shall be cumulative in nature, and are in addition to any and all power and authority which the City may have under any other law, including statute or other ordinance of the City. Section Two- Unlawful growth of vegetation. In order to keep premises and vacant lots within the city free of any growth of weeds or grass downed trees and /or limbs favorable to the harboring of mosquitoes or other insects of like kind and/ or rodents or reptiles, it shall be unlawful for any person owning, residing or having charge or control of any premises or vacant lot within the city to allow weeds, grass or kudzu to grow to a height in excess of twelve (12) inches or to plant or allow bamboo within fifty (50) feet of any residential property line, right-of-way of public utility easement or to allow any other vegetation, including, but not limited to vines, or underbrush to become overgrown or to allow downed trees and /or limbs to remain to such an extent that the same may create favorable conditions to the harboring of mosquitoes or other insects of like kind and/ or rodents or reptiles otherwise constitutes a public nuisance or a danger to the public health, safety and welfare. Section Three - Removal of litter and accumulation of trash required. It shall be unlawful for any person owning, residing on or having charge or control of any premises or vacant lot within the city to allow any litter or accumulation of trash or rubbish, including but not limited to storm debris, tree limbs, dead trees, construction materials, glass, bottle, tin cans, brush, combustible material, tires, automobile parts, lawnmowers, appliances, machinery, tools electronics, or any similar items (except for collection purposes on regulary scheduled collection days in a manner authorized) on said premises or vacant lot. Section Four- Household appliances and household furniture prohibited outside any dwelling. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person residing in or having charge or control of any dwelling within the City of Eutaw to leave or permit to remain outside of any such dwelling any household appliances or household furniture in such a manner that the same are exposed to the elements. (b) Provided, however, [that] exposed shall not include the interior of any fully enclosed porch (including, without, limitation, a porch enclosed by screening material) that cannot be accessed from outside expect through a closed door that can be locked, and shall not be considered outside for the purpose of this section. (c) the following shall constitute specified defenses to any alleged violation of the provision.
The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 12, 2026, Page 7
(1) That such furniture was placed in an outside location in order to allow it to be moved during a move of a resident or residents or removed as part of a trash or recycling program on a day scheduled for such moving or removal. (2) That such furniture was temporarily placed in an outside location in order that it be offered for sale at a yard or garage sale if each of the following conditions exists: a. The furniture is located in an outside location only during the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. b. The person attempting to sell the furniture, or that person’s agent, is outside during the period of the yard or garage sale in order to monitor the sale. c. A sign is placed on or near the furniture indicating that it is for sale. d. This defense shall not apply if upholstered furniture is located in an outside location for more than two days in any six-month period. Section Five -Dismantled, wrecked, discarded vehicles or premises. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person in charge or control of any real property within the city, whether tenant, owner, occupant, lessee or otherwise, to allow any vehicle which is partially dismantled, nonoperative, wrecked, junked or discarded to be on said premise. A vehicle will be considered nonoperative for the purposes of this section if it cannot be safely operated or if it is incapable of being moved under it own power or if it may not be legally operated due to lack of any legal requirement including a current license tag. (b) In lieu of the above procedure, the city may utilize the provisions of the state abandoned vehicle law. (c) This section shall not apply to any vehicle in a permanently enclosed building or shelter, or to any vehicle on the premises of a licensed business, when the keeping of such vehicle is lawful and necessary to the operation of such licensed business, nor shall this section apply to storage place or depository lawfully maintained by duly constituted law enforcement officers in the city. Section Six - Unsafe/ Dilapidate Structures It shall be unlawful for the owner, occupant, or person in charge or control of a property, within the City of Eutaw, Alabama to allow the existence of any abandoned, unoccupied dilapidated structure that is dangerous to the public and that could work, hurt, inconvenience, or damage to another. Section SevenEnforcement procedures (a) Litter enforcement officers. The following are hereby designated at as litter control officers: (1) All police officers of the city. (2) The city Building Inspector.
(3) Any employee of the city as the mayor may direct (b) Procedure and Penalties: (1) No notice shall be required to constitute a violation of this Article (2) When any employee of the city designated as a litter control officer, as herein above defined, observes any violation of the provisions chapter, such employee may go before a city magistrate and request a summons or warrant to be issued pursuant to Rule 3.1 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure. (3) The Uniform NonTraffic Citation and Complaint (UNTCC) shall serve as the charging instrument. The UNTCC shall be issued in accordance with Rule 20 of the Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration. (4) Any individual, firm, partnership of corporation that violates any provisions of this article shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred ($100.00) or more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisoned for no more than ninety (90) days or both in the discretion of the court. Corey Cockrell, Mayor Attest Ke’Undra Cox Clerk, Clerk 1tcg 8/12 The Towers, LLC is proposing to construct a 265overall height foot guyed-type tower telecommunications structure off County Road 12, Forkland, Greene County, Alabama (32° 36' 23.3" N, 87° 49' 42.7" W). The proposed tower is anticipated to utilize FAA Style E (medium intensity, dual red/white strobes) lighting. Any interested party may request further environmental review of the proposed action under the FCC’s National Environmental Policy Act rules, 47 CFR §1.1307, by notifying the FCC of the specific reasons that the action may have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. This request must only raise environmental concerns and can be filed online using the FCC pleadings system at https://wireless2.fcc.gov/U lsEntry/pleadings/pleadingsType.jsp or mailed to FCC Requests for Environmental Review, Attn: Ramon Williams, 45 L Street, Washington, DC 20554 within 30 days of the date of the National Notice as referenced within the Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) application. Mailed pleadings must include a request to waive the electronic filing requirement along with an explanation of why an electronic filing cannot be made. Refer to File No. A1391139 when submitting the request and to view the specific information about the proposed action. 25-002967 /JMF 1tcg 8/12/2026 See Legal Notices, p. 9
Page 8, The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 12, 2026
City of Eutaw hosted Book Bag and School Supplies Giveaway
On August 9th, the City of Eutaw partnered with Savion Richardson, Judge Joshua Swords, and DJ Yella Boy hosted a book bag and school supplies giveaway at the Branch Heights Community Center. Families enjoyed free school supplies, hot dogs & drinks, a bouncy house, a basketball tournament, and music by DJ Yella Boy. The event illustrated the city’s continued commitment to ensure every child is prepared for success. Families still in need of supplies can stop by Eutaw City Hall.
Hughes Beauty Chapter#705 OES, PHA donates supplies to GCHS football team
Hughes Beauty Chapter #705, OES, P.H.A., is proud to make a positive impact through a donation to the Greene County High School Football Team. We extend our prayers and best wishes to the players, coaches, and staff for a safe, successful, and rewarding football season. We are honored to support our youth and invest in the community. Go Tigers.
Elevated Elie Youth organization donates school uniform shirts to DHR
Elevated Elite Youth Organization, Brandon Meriwether and Howard Crawford. Shown above donating school uniform shirts to the Department of Human Resources (DHR) representatives to help local children prepare for a successful upcoming school year.
The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 12, 2026, Page 9
Carolyn’s Tid Bits...by Carolyn Young him, grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore where a seagull lay dead in the sand. “Daddy, what happened to him? the son asked. “ He died and went to heaven,” the dad replied. The boy thought for a moment and then said, “ Did God throw him back down -A time to laugh A Child’s View A father was at the beach with his children when the four-year-old son ran up to
“The best way for a man to train up a hill in the way he should go is to travel that way himself.”
Happy birthday to Artie C.D. Atkins, Ola Lewis, Kim Branch-Garcia, Josphine Thomas, Sarah Tolliver, Jerrell Smith, Eric Williams, Latoya Taylor, Caleb Hunter, Courtney Davis, Raiden Spencer Bryant, Alexie White, Dr. Rose Mary Hodges, Broderk Hardy, Luther White, Jr., Lateasia Harris, Kinya J. Winn, Eric Merrit, Rev. William O. Morgan, Brandon Jones, Frankie Robertson, Jurnee McCoy Shon Crockett Hall, Adrain Dixon, Jr., Theodore
Rhone, LaSamuel D. Armstong, Janice Williams, TeCoy Wilder. Happy anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Jameson & TaShawna Stokes and Mr. and Mrs. Jasper & Gloria Morrow. “Life is a choice between aging and growing, aging is adding years to life while growing is adding life to years.”
---Legal Notices-MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE
legal description referenced herein shall control.
Default having being made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage dated October 12, 2022 executed by Autumn Kelley Tidwell and Dustin Lane Tidwell, a married couple, in favor of Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc., said Mortgage being recorded October 26, 2022, in Book 0092, Page 913, in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Greene County, Alabama. Said default continues and notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc., under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash or certified funds at the main entrance to the County Courthouse, Greene County, Alabama on 09/08/2026, during the legal hours of sale, the following described real estate situated in Greene County, Alabama, to-wit:
THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD ON AN “AS-IS, WHERE-IS” BASIS, SUBJECT TO ANY EASEMENTS, ENCUMBRANCES, AND EXCEPTIONS REFLECTED IN THE MORTGAGE AND THOSE CONTAINED IN THE RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED PROPERTY IS SITUATED. THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD WITHOUT WARRANTY OR RECOURSE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED AS TO TITLE, USE AND/OR ENJOYMENT AND WILL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION OF ALL PARTIES ENTITLED THERETO.
Lot 3 of Two Rivers Subdivision, a map or plat of which is recorded in Map Book 3, at Page 67 in the Probate Office of Greene County, Alabama, reference to which is hereby made in aid of and as a part of this description. Together with that certain 1988 Brilliant mobile home Model No. 6126 VIN 0836 For informational purposes only, the property address is: 806 Bass Dr, Eutaw, AL 35462. Any property address provided is not part of the legal description of the property sold herein and in the event of any discrepancy, the
Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under circumstances. certain Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. Federal law requires that certain residential real estate transactions purchased with all cash or without institutional lender financing, where at least one buyer/transferee is a legal entity, LLC, Corporation, Partnership, trust, trustee or other non-natural person, be reported to the United States Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Net-
work (FinCen). This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by mortgage as well as the expenses of foreclosure, including a reasonable attorney’s fees and other purposes set out in said mortgage. If the highest bidder is an entity, such as an LLC, corporation, partnership, or trust, federal FinCEN rules require the purchaser to provide ownership information to the attorney handling the sale. This includes the entity’s details and its beneficial owners. Entity purchasers will have 7 days to provide a fully completed FinCen form providing the required information. The deed will not be delivered to the purchaser until a fully completed FinCen form is received. These requirements do not apply to individual bidders.
1 Hydroelectric LLC, permittee for the proposed A.I. Selden Hydroelectric Project, has requested that its preliminary permit be terminated. The permit was issued on February 23, 2024, and would have expired on January 31, 2028. The project would have been located at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ A.I. Selden Lock and Dam near the City of Eutaw in Greene County, Alabama. The preliminary permit for Project No. 15328 will remain in effect until the close of business, September 3, 2026. If the Commission is closed on this day, then the permit remains in effect until close of business on the next day the Commission is open. New applications for this site may not be submitted until after the permit surrender is effective. (Authority: 18 CFR 2.1)
Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc. Paul K. Lavelle, Esq. Attorney for Mortgagee Spina, & Lavelle, P.C. One Perimeter Park South-Suite 400N Birmingham, Alabama 35243 (205) 298-1800 45-FC-26-01273 08/12/2026, 8/19/2026 and 8/26/2026. SOLIA 1 Hydroelectric LLC Project No. 15328-001
Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary. 1tch 8/12 Valuation Notice The appraised valuattions of all property listed for taxation in Greene County have been fixed as provided by law and filed in my office according to Sec. 40-30-20, 1975 Code of Alabama. The Board of Eqalization will hear protest on any of these valuations provided these protests are filed in writing by September 7, 2026.
NOTICE OF SURRENDER OF PRELIMINARY PERMIT (August 4, 2026)
Arnelia L. Johnson, ACTA Revenue Commissioner Board Secretary Greene County
Take notice that SOLIA
1tcg 8/12, 19, 26
ALEA clarifies driver license eligibility requirements under Taylor’s Law, enacted in 2009 MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) would like to offer clarification regarding Alabama’s driver license eligibility requirements for students subject to school disciplinary actions. Section 32-6-7.4, Code of Alabama 1975, which has been referred to as “Taylor’s Law,” was enacted by the Alabama Legislature in 2009 as Act 2009-713 and has remained in effect since that time. Recent public confusion appears to have resulted from House Bill 33 (2026 Regular Legislative Session), which proposed reducing the age threshold associated with certain driver license eligibility
provisions from 19 years of age to 17 years of age. While the legislation was approved by the Alabama House of Representatives, it was not passed by the Alabama Senate and therefore did not become law. Accordingly, no amendments to Section 32-6-7.4 became effective on August 1, 2026, and the statutory requirements currently administered by ALEA remain unchanged. Pursuant to Taylor’s Law, Alabama public and private secondary schools assess disciplinary points for specified disciplinary actions, including, but not limited to, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, placement in an alternative school, and expulsion. The accumulation
of these disciplinary points may delay the age at which an eligible student may apply for a learner’s permit, driver license, or other applicable operator credential, as prescribed by Alabama law. Local education agencies, public and private schools are responsible for maintaining student disciplinary records, assessing disciplinary points as required by law, and reporting applicable information through the established process. ALEA’s Driver License Division receives the necessary eligibility information on an applicant’s DL-193 form certified by the appropriate educational authorities and determines license eligibility solely by applying the requirements
established by Alabama Law. The DL-193 also confirms the student’s compliance with act 93368 that requires attendance or graduation standards be met before an individual under the age of 19 may be issued a learner license or driver license. ALEA does not establish school disciplinary policies, assign disciplinary points, or modify statutory eligibility requirements. The Agency’s responsibility is to uniformly administer the licensing provisions enacted by the Alabama Legislature. For additional information regarding Alabama’s driver license laws, visit www.alea.gov.
NOTICE
The Greene County Highway Department is seeking:
HEAVY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC •Drivers License Required •Repairs Automotive & Heavy Equipment •Performs Maintenance on Automotive & Heavy Equipment
TEMPORARY WORKERS FOR HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
---Announcement--August 28 & 29, 2026 Ann Abraham Lindsey and family will host
The Abraham Family Reunion
at the Boligee Community Center (Paramount School). Family and friends are invited to come share in the celebration. For more information call Lorenzo Lewis at 404-394-6215 or Stella Sashington at 678-485-3110.
•Driver License is required •Semi-Skilled Work •Operates Light to Heavy Equipment Apply at Greene County Highway Department 521 Prairie Avenue Eutaw, Alabama 35462 (205) 372-3302 Hours of Operation: 7:00 am-3:00 pm Monday –Friday Timeline to Apply: Ongoing Greene County Highway Department Is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Page 10, The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 12, 2026
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Store Hours Huge sale on light 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday - Friday bulbs! Lights bulbs .50 RESIDENTIAL * COMMERCIAL * INDUSTRIAL 215 Boligee Street Eutaw, AL 35462 Appliances: CELL: 205-496-6019 Washers, Dryers, Email : BoligeeElectric@bellsouth.net Refrigerators, Reginald Cheatem Proprietor Stoves..etc
JOSHUA J. SWORDS Attorney at Law Tuscaloosa County Office 600 Lurleen B. Wallace Blvd S. Courthouse Plaza, Suite 120 Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Greene County Office Oliver Scott House 329 Prairie Ave Eutaw, Al 35462
JSwords@Swordslaw. com Phone: 205-409-0673 Facsimile: 205-409-0672 Tuscaloosa, Al 35401
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
ACCIDENTS & INJURIES AUTO & TRUCK ACCIDENTS, WRONGFUL DEATH, SLIP & FALL Office-205-933-7533 Cell – 205-901-6129 “I like Big Bucks and I cannot lie” 24 HOUR SERVICE – FREE CONSULTATION OVER 100 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE FRANK S. BUCK P.C. ATTORNEY 2160 14TH Ave South BIRMINGHAM, AL 35255 NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE THAT THE QUALITY OF THE LEGAL SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED IS GREATER THAN THE QUALITY OF LEGAL SERVICES PERFORMED BY OTHER LAWYERS