The Greene County Democrat - August 5, 2026-compressed

Black Belt Folk Roots Festival -August 22 & 23, 2026

Newswire Federation to hold 59th Annual meeting and 25th Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony, August 13-15, 2026 The Federation is excited to announce the 59th Annual Meeting & 25th Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund taking place August 13–15, 2026. Centered around this year’s theme, Sustaining the Future: Innovation, Resilience, and Member Engagement, the event will begin in Birmingham on Thursday, August 13 and conclude in Epes, Alabama on August 14 and 15.

Greene County

The Democrat Wednesday, August 5 2026 Vol. 135, No. 31

75¢ Serving West Alabama Like No Other Community Newspaper Greene County celebrates the 57th Annual Freedom Day

See FSC, p. 6

Taylor’s Law begins Aug. 1. Here’s how it affects Alabama teen drivers

By Jennifer Lindahl, Montgomery Advertiser As Alabama students head back to school, there’s a new reason to stay out of the principal’s office. Beginning Aug. 1, school discipline won’t just affect report cards or extracurricular activities. Under Taylor’s Law, certain disciplinary actions can also delay when some teens are eligible to get a learner’s permit or driver’s license. Here’s what families should know before the new school year begins. See Taylor ‘s Law, p. 6

Congresswoman files bill to solve Alabama’s rural ambulance crisis

Elder Spiver Gordon with Freedom Day celebration panelists ebration The Alabama Civil Rights Movement Museum sponsored the 57th Annual Freedom Day Program at the Sandra Walker Office on August 30, 2026. Many citizens of Greene and surrounding counties gathered to recount the historic day and commemorate over half a century of Black political progress in Greene County. President of the museum, Elder Spiver Gordon, presided over the event, which featured a panel of guests to discuss how to involve today’s

youth in the struggle against discrimination. Freedom Day was established to commemorate the Special Election on July 29, 1969, when Black people were elected to control the County Commission and School Board in Greene County. The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the election after local white officials left the Black candidates, running in the National Democratic Party of Alabama (NDPA), off the ballot in the November 1968 General Election.

After the election, Greene County became the first county in the South to elect a majority Black local government since Reconstruction with four county commissioners: Harry Means, Franchie Burton, Vassie Knott and Levi Morrow Sr.; and School Board members: Robert Hines, and James Posey, joined Peter J. Kirksey, who had been elected to the Board in 1968. In 1970, Greene County voters elected William McKinley Branch as the first Black

Probate Judge in America and Thomas Gilmore as the second Black Sheriff in Alabama. Greene County also elected Wadine Williams as first Black Circuit Clerk, Robert Cook as first Black Tax Collector and Rev. Harold (Abner) Milton as first Black Coroner. Deacon John Head and Earsrie Chambers were also elected to the school board. See Freedom Day , p. 8

The Perfect Blend with Mya Steele: a Black Belt Folk Roots Festival Interview

Congresswoman Terri Sewell By Savannah Tryens-Fernandes, AL.com U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell introduced a bipartisan bill this week to increase Medicare payments for ambulances to help fix the crisis plaguing communities throughout Alabama and the country. Medicare reimbursements for ground and air ambulances have not been updated since 2002, according to the group of representatives sponsoring the Reimbursing Emergency Services for Critical Urgent Encounters (RESCUE) Act. See Ambulance Crisis, p. 6

Commentary: Jim Crow 2.0 at the Pentagon

This week's Black Belt Folk Roots Festival interview features a heartfelt discussion with Mya Steele, an artist indigenous to Greene County. She returns to the festival each year to spearhead free creative activities and giveaways for the Kid’s Tent. Born and raised in Eutaw, Mya Steele spent many days in her parents’ salon. “My family roots run deep here. My dad (Marcus Steele) was also raised in Greene County. He grew up in Branch Heights,” Steele explained. After graduating from Greene County High School in 2014, Steele began to pursue her own artistic career. “I have always had a love for all things creative. Born to a barber and a hairstylist, I spent much of my time watching my parents sculpting and cutting hair into cool designs and styles, especially in the 90’s and early 2000’s,” Steele detailed. “My parents both recognized my

love for drawing and supported and encouraged me to pursue it from an early

age.” Mya Steele currently works in the Cultural Arts

2nd degree. 7/31- Terrance Kimbrough 25, of Eutaw, AL was arrested and ordered by the courts to serve 45 weekends. The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following incidents. 7/16- Brandon McCuistion reported criminal mischief 2nd degree, Item Damaged: 2025 Toyota Tacoma front fender and hood value unknown. 7/21- The State of Alabama reported disorderly conduct. 7/25- Malcolm Hutton reported criminal mischief

2nd degree, Item Damaged:Front left driver door window valued at $600. 7/26- Na’kayah Brown reported theft of property 1st degree, Items Stolen: Iphone 14 Black in color, 2014 Honda Accord, burgundy valued at $12,000. 7/27- La Princeton Daniels reported assault 1st degree and attempt to commit murder 7/30- Robert Diveley reported theft by deception. 7/30- Jacqueline Davis reported Harassing Communication 8/1- Paul Carlisle reported forgery. 8/1- Dav’Feshia Sim-

& Special Events division of Prattville Parks & Recreation. The role allows her to use her creative passion to serve her community by coordinating art exhibits, classes, camps, and designing promotional material for city events. Alongside these responsibilities, she has also found time to work on her own projects. She currently has a three-part series for children and kids at heart called Picture That. “The original book is a wonderful story that anyone with a gift or passion can relate to and learn from, but is specifically designed to encourage young creatives while reminding them that anything worth doing requires work. There is also a “How to Draw Faces” book to help budding artists find their own creative drawing style. And, lastly, a coloring/sketch book. My goal is to help uplift the generation that follows me.” See Festival, p. 8

Four arrests and several incidents By Wade Henderson, BlackPressUSA Newswire Pete Hegseth insists that he is restoring “merit” to the United States military. But after months of dismissals, blocked promotions, and ideological purges, the evidence tells a different story. His campaign against so-called “diversity, equity, and inclusion” has become something far more dangerous: an assault on equal opportunity that falls with particular force on African Americans, while also targeting women, Latinos, gay Americans, and transgender service members. The latest example is both troubling and infuriating. Once again, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly blocked the promotion of an exceptionally qualified woman—Rear Admiral Amy Bauernschmidt. Bauernschmidt is no ordinary officer. See Jim Crow 2.0, p. 6

The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following arrests. 7/21- Tyler Thomas 18, of Forkland, Al was arrested for disorderly conduct. 7/27- Brena Bouler 53, of Dixons Mills, AL was arrested for failure to appear negotiating worthless instrument. 7/28- Trevaris Turman 31, of Eutaw, AL was arrested for domestic violence 3rd-reckless endangerment, criminal trespass 3rd degree, domestic violence-strangulation, and criminal mischief

mons reported harassment. 8/1- Richard Cox reported menacing. 8/1- Moheez Gondal of Marathon Service Station reported criminal mischief 2nd degree, items Damaged: Diesel Gas Pump valued at $3,000. The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following bonds. 7/30Allen Levert was released on a bond of $7,000.00 for possession of prohibited liquor. 7/30Asia Hart was released on a bond of $5,000 for possession of marijuana 2nd degree.

Page 2, The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Carol’s Notes Valuing Struggle We work so hard and we sacrifice so much for our children But our dreams are for their children.

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.

We believe our destiny is to relieve our children of the burdens we know and prepare them for an easier life. We pretend our struggle was enough! Thus their path should be smooth Their way should be easy. And in this fantasy our children are grown and have come into possessions and comfort but do they live in purpose. And their children have no struggle And their children have no dreams. In this nightmare we have not shielded We have stripped our descendants of our significant legacy. Then we are awakened. And we realize the depth of our feverish slumber. The vision to hold is that we do work so hard and we do sacrifice so much for our children that they will value their children and work so hard and sacrifice so much for them as well. And every generation of children will value work and struggle and people. We work for our children We dream for their children. Carol Prejean Zippert

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Death of a Fat Man A novel by Senator Hank Sanders Available at The Greene County Democrat $26 plus $4 shipping and handling

Renaissance Theater Presents:

Carol Zippert’s Poetry Books Available

No Retreat, No Surrender (1986) Rated PG

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

Friday, August 7 at 6:00 pm 220 Prairie Ave. Eutaw, AL 35462. (205)-723-9821

Carol’s first book, I Don’t Want To Be Rich, Just Able is also available through the Democrat Poetry Book Order Form

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

-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.)

OnMed Center Outreach in Greene County Throughout the month of July, Ms. Sermon visited senior citizen sites in Boligee, Eutaw, Forkand the land, Tishabee area, where she distributed medical supplies and provided hands-on demonstrations on the proper use of pulse oximeters, blood glucose monitors and blood pressure cuffs. Her educational helped outreach equip community members with valuable knowledge and resources to better monitor their health at home. As we wrap up our work with the OnMed Center located at the Boligee Community Center in Greene County, Alabama, we want to recognize the outstanding efforts of Ms. Iris Sermon for her dedication and commitment to serving our community. We extend our heartfelt appreciation and sincere gratitude to Ms. Sermon for a job exceptionally well done. Her tireless efforts in promoting and encouraging the use of the OnMed Center have helped increase awareness of affordable, convenient healthcare servthroughout ices Greene County. Thank you, Ms. Sermon, for your compassion, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to improving the health and well-being of our community. Your service has made a lasting impact, and we are truly grateful for all you have done.

Eutaw Activity Center

The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 5, 2026 Page 3

Mrs. Hill attends SREB Conference

Mrs. Tomora K. Hill a representative of the Greene County Career Center attended the SREB Conference in Nashville, TN. Her session, “Beyond the Textbook: Connecting Experience, Passion, and Purpose,” highlighted the impact of creating meaningful learning experiences that inspire students both inside and outside the classroom. A special thank you to the Greene County Schools team members who were there to support her. It’s always great to see our educators learning, leading, and representing our district so well.

Davis earns degree as registered nurse Tishabee Community Center

Forkland Townhall

Boligee Community Center

Tia Davis recently celebrated her RN Pinning Ceremony, marking her transition from Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Registered Nurse (RN). Her hard work, dedication, and commitment to providing compassionate patient care have truly paid off. The Greene County Health System is proud to have Tia as part of the healthcare family and look forward to seeing all she will accomplish in her nursing career. Congratulations, Tia! We wish you continued success as you begin this exciting new chapter.

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 5, 2026

Greene County The Democrat

If you don’t count it, you don’t have to fix it

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

Affordability for All: It's time to rescue the American dream

By Marc Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League “The economic struggles of typical U.S. families deserve serious solutions, not political buzzwords. Unfortunately, the policies the Trump administration has undertaken are making economic Americans’ struggles harder, not easier.” – Economic Policy Institute Chief Economist Josh Bivens The current affordability crisis has not come about by accident. It is the predictable result of political choices that have made life easier for those at the top while leaving working families struggling to keep up with the rising costs of housing, healthcare, education, child care, groceries, and transportation. The solution requires a different set of choices that put working people first. For generations, Americans believed that if they worked hard, played by the rules, and contributed to their communities, they could build a stable and secure life. Today, that promise feels increasingly out of reach. Across the country, families are working longer hours yet finding it harder to afford the basics. Rent consumes ever-larger shares of household budgets. Homeownership remains beyond the reach of millions. Healthcare costs continue to strain family finances. Student debt limits opportunity. Even internet access, now essential for work, education, healthcare, and civic participation, remains unaffordable for too many households. Americans are asking for an economy that rewards work, not merely wealth. Unfortunately, Washington's priorities have too often moved in the opposite direction. Instead of making life more affordable for working families, policymakers have devoted enormous resources to tax advantages for the wealthy, political battles that divide communities, and policies that increase costs without improving economic secu-

rity. The result is an affordability crisis that threatens the very foundation of the American Dream. The National Urban League's Affordability for All Agenda offers a different path forward, one focused on practical solutions that reduce costs, increase opportunity, and strengthen economic mobility for millions of Americans. First, America needs a national living wage. No one who works full-time should live in poverty. Yet millions of workers continue to earn wages that have failed to keep pace with rising costs. Raising the federal minimum wage and indexing it to inflation would help ensure that wages grow alongside the cost of living, allowing workers and their families to maintain economic stability rather than continually falling behind. Second, Congress must repeal and replace the "Big Ugly Bill." Restoring investments in healthcare, education, student aid, nutrition assistance, and other family-supporting programs that help families succeed would provide critical support for Americans striving to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Third, housing affordability must become a national priority. Housing costs represent the single largest expense for most families, yet millions remain burdened by rents they cannot afford or locked out of homeownership opportunities. Universal housing vouchers would ensure that eligible families receive assistance, just as they do through programs like SNAP or Medicaid. At the same time, the nation must dramatically increase the supply of affordable housing through a robust national Housing Trust Fund dedicated to financing and preserving affordable and workforce housing. Fourth, affordable broadband must be recognized as essential infrastructure. In today's economy, internet access is no longer a luxury. It is a prerequisite for employment, education, healthcare access, and economic advancement. Reestablishing and strengthening the Affordable Connectivity Program would help ensure that every family can participate fully in modern society regardless of income or geography. See Marc Morial, p. 9

(TriceEdneyWire.com) The Trump administration is not eliminating workplace discrimination. It is eliminating the receipts. On July 23, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) proposed abolishing the EEO1 report and five related workforce reports. For nearly sixty years, EEO-1 has required large private employers to report the race, ethnicity and sex of their employees across major occupational categories. The information helps us see who gets hired, who advances, who remains clustered at the bottom and who never gets through the door. Now the federal government proposes to stop collecting it. This is far more than bureaucratic housekeeping. It is the deliberate destruction of evidence. Without data, disparities cannot be adequately documented; without documentation, discrimination becomes more difficult to prove. An administration already committed to declaring our nation colorblind will then be free to point to the absence of evidence—an absence it created—as evidence that inequality no longer exists. First they deny inequality. Then they destroy the evidence. Finally, they declare the problem solved. The EEO-1 report has been collected since 1966, just two years after passage

of the Civil Rights Act. Private employers with at least 100 workers, along with certain federal contractors with at least 50, have been required to provide workforce demographic information. Approximately 110,000 employers are covered. While that is less than 2 percent of the nation’s nearly 6 million employer firms, these are among our largest employers and collectively employ a substantial share of the American workforce. The proposed rule goes beyond private employers. It would also eliminate reports covering unions, state and local governments, public school systems, apprenticeship programs and institutions of higher education, as well as some of the record keeping requirements associated with those reports. The administration is not simply turning off the camera; it is also proposing to throw away the film. The EEOC contends that these reports are burdensome, of limited usefulness and potentially unconstitutional because they classify workers by race and sex. That reasoning turns civilrights enforcement on its head. In the twisted logic of this political moment, counting racial inequality is treated as a form of racial discrimination, while actual discrimination is rendered invisible. Collecting information about race is not the same as discriminating by race. A thermometer does not cause a fever, nor does a scale cause weight gain. Data do not create inequality; they reveal it. Indeed, without data, claims of equal opportunity are little more than corporate advertising. The EEOC estimates that eliminating the reporting requirements would

save employers and the federal government about $278 million annually, including approximately $273 million for private employers. That sounds like a large amount until it is compared with the economic cost of workplace discrimination. Wage disparities, occupational segregation, biased hiring and blocked promotions cost workers—and the larger economy—far more than employers spend completing a report. Furthermore, businesses already collect much of this information through their payroll and human-resources systems. The real burden may not be gathering the numbers but being held accountable for what those numbers reveal. EEO-1 data are hardly perfect. The report does not tell us everything about pay, promotions, discrimination or workplace culture; it offers a snapshot rather than a full biography. Still, snapshots matter. They can reveal whether Black women are concentrated in administrative and support positions while white men dominate senior management. They can expose the distance between a company’s carefully worded commitment to diversity and its actual employment practices. Such patterns do not prove every individual allegation of discrimination, but they tell investigators where to look. They allow employers to identify problems before those problems become lawsuits, while giving researchers and policymakers a way to measure progress—or the lack of it. Eliminating the data will not make workplaces more equal; it will simply make inequality easier to conceal. This attack on EEO-1 reporting is part of a broader war on facts. The Trump

administration has attacked diversity, equity and inclusion programs, weakened federal contracting protections and attempted to purge race-conscious analysis from government. It apparently wants a nation in which racial inequality may be experienced but not measured, described but not documented, protested but not proved. Black workers know better, and so do women who continue to encounter occupational segregation and unequal opportunity. We know that fairness cannot be measured by a corporate slogan or a glossy photograph featuring a carefully assembled rainbow of employees. It must be measured by who is hired, what they earn, where they work, whether they advance and who holds power. Data are instruments of democratic accountability because they allow ordinary people to compare promises with performance. That is precisely why those who resist accountability want the numbers buried. The proposed elimination of EEO-1 reporting is not colorblindness but willful blindness—a declaration that the federal government would prefer not to know what is happening inside American workplaces. Inequality does not disappear when government closes its eyes. When the people charged with enforcing equal opportunity stop collecting the evidence, they are not being neutral. They are choosing concealment over accountability and darkness over the illumination that data provide.

With South Carolina, Democrats are now moving the nominating calendar closer to Black voters who are actually the party’s center of gravity. This decision reflects nearly two decades of election results showing Southern Black voters have been central to selecting Democratic presidential nominees despite being placed later in the nominating process. Barack Obama’s 2008 Iowa caucus victory established a Black candidate could win in a predominantly white state. But Black South Carolinians solidified the coalition that actually carried Obama to the nomination and ultimately the presidency. More than 530,000 votes were cast in the state’s Democratic primary. Obama received approximately 295,000 votes, or 55 percent, compared with about 141,000 votes and 27 percent for Hillary Clinton. John Edwards, a former senator from neighboring North Carolina, finished a distant third. The delegate result was nearly as decisive. Obama won 25 of South Carolina’s pledged delegates, Clinton won 12 and Edwards won eight. In other words, Obama left South Carolina with more delegates than his two leading opponents combined. Exit polling explains how he did it. Black voters constituted roughly 55 percent of the primary electorate, and nearly eight in 10 supported Obama. He also won Black voters across age, income and educational groups, demonstrating that his appeal extended far beyond

younger or more affluent African Americans. Eight years later, Black voters in South Carolina delivered an even more lopsided result for Clinton. In the 2016 primary, Clinton won approximately 272,000 votes, or 73.5 percent, while Bernie Sanders received about 96,000 votes, or 26 percent. Clinton won 39 pledged delegates to Sanders’s 14, giving her almost three-fourths of the state’s available pledged delegates. Black voters accounted for roughly six in 10 participants in that primary. Exit polls found that Clinton won close to nine in 10 of them. Sanders performed substantially better among white voters and younger voters, but those advantages could not overcome Clinton’s strength with the state’s much larger Black electorate. By the end of the primary season, Clinton had secured more than 1,800 pledged delegates even before automatic delegates were included in the count. Like Obama, Clinton’s coalition was built through commanding victories among Black voters in the South. Joe Biden arrived in South Carolina in 2020 with a campaign on the brink of failure. He had finished fourth in Iowa, fifth in New Hampshire and second in Nevada. Before South Carolina, Biden had won only 15 pledged delegates across the first three contests. Then Black voters changed the race. Biden won all 46 counties and captured 39 of South Carolina’s 54

pledged delegates. Exit polls found Black voters made up a majority of the electorate and supported Biden over Sanders by approximately four to one. A Biden campaign that had appeared close to collapse after New Hampshire had become the nomination frontrunner in less than two weeks. From 2008 to 2020, Black voters were the constituency that crowned the eventual nominee. Only in Iowa with Obama did Black voters validate the choice of a white electorate that voted before them. Each time afterwards, Black voters changed course entirely and picked who they wanted to be the Democratic nominee, selecting Clinton and Biden despite their early struggles. But Democrats cannot confuse primary influence with general-election security in 2028. An earlier voice in the nomination process does not guarantee Black support in November. Democrats must still earn it, particularly among younger voters and Black men. South Carolina provides an opportunity to hone in on what’s broken and fix it before the General Election. Still South Carolina is not a perfect representation of the Democratic coalition. The state has a relatively small Latino population, limited union density and few recent examples of Democratic success in statewide general elections.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is a DC based economist and author.

South Carolina puts Black voters in the driver seat for 2028

By Kevin Harris The Democratic Party’s decision to elevate South Carolina as the first 2028 presidential primary provides Black voters with an historic opportunity. Black voters will lead in determining which presidential candidates receive momentum and which campaigns collapse before most Democrats even have a chance to vote in the primary. Candidates seeking the 2028 nomination will now have to organize in Black communities early. They will need relationships with local leaders, churches, civic organizations, historically Black colleges and universities, small businesses and rural communities. Their records will be scrutinized on voting rights, health disparities, education, economic mobility, criminal justice and the survival of Black institutions. Black voters will vote based on which candidate speaks directly to their concerns as opposed to a political calculation rooted in who is the most electable after Iowa and New Hampshire have already picked over the candidates.

See Kevin Harris, p. 9

Black Mayors: Climate Change is in America’s top five crucial Issues

By Hazel Trice Edney (TriceEdneyWire.com) As the Trump Administration continues to deny the reality and community impact of climate change, Black mayors have united to protect African-Americans and other people of color, who are increasingly and disparately in danger across the nation. “Even though we have an administration that doesn’t even believe that climate change is real, we’re smart and we know that it is real,” says Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, president of the African American Mayors Association (AAMA), in an interview with the Trice Edney News Wire. “People can see these storms that are causing flooding in areas that have never been flooded. People know it’s hotter. They can see that. What we’re doing now is just allowing ourselves to be prepared for the world that we know that we want.” Baltimore mayor since 2020, Scott has earned a reputation for using his power to actively prepare for the world that he envisions. For example, three years into his administration, he signed into law City Council Bill 21-0159, to help "facilitate a transition to zero emissions vehicles for the City’s administrative fleet. Under the law, by 2030, all procurements for the City’s administrative fleet – comprised of light-duty, standard-occupancy vehicles, including sedans, small pickups, and SUVs – will be required to be zero emission vehicles, mostly likely all electric," according to a press release describing the bill. This action followed the 2022 announcement of Scott's vision for a goal of 100 percent carbon neutrality by 2045. Among his earliest legislative actions, Scott also signed a bill requiring the city’s three pension funds to divest from the fossil fuel industry. “My administration knows the critical importance of ensuring our city is able to confront the climate crisis head-on and do everything in our power to ensure Baltimore is leading the way in sustainability and climate resilience," he said in a press statement. "Doing so requires us to look at the steps city government can take to change the way it operates, and work to modernize our systems to be more climate conscious." In the interview, he said he wants Baltimore to lead the nation by example. "When you look at the milestones that we're setting for ourselves, that's how we're holding ourselves accountable." He said he hopes this vision will spread around the nation to mayors of AAMA as effects of climate change - including global warming, pandemics and other health crisis - have historically affected Black and other people of color disparately. Scott represents the 641 African American mayors of the AAMA, an organization that grew out of the 50-year-old National Conference of Black Mayors, which merged with the

AAMA in 2016. Black mayors represent 48 million citizens across the country. It has been widely reported by credible environmental agencies that climate change causes frequent and severe weather events, heavier than normal rainfalls, dangerous thunder and lightning storms, droughts and scorching heat waves such as those taking place this summer. Coupled with long time environmental racism in poor Black neighborhoods, climate issues have risen to crisis level. Among America’s worst recent environmental crisis was the Flint, Mich., water crisis from 2014-2019. Between 6-12,000 Flint children were exposed to high levels of lead in Flint’s drinking water after residents complained about the taste, smell and appearance of the water for years. Lead affects the brain and central nervous system when consumed. Flint Mayor Sheldon Neely, mayor since 2019, is still dealing with the aftermath of the crisis. In an interview, he agreed with observers that Flint suffered the inattention that led to the crisis largely because the community was poor and Black. “We would not have had to experience the things that we are still currently experiencing had we been a community of not so many minority members of our society,” he said. Environmental racism doesn’t just impact physical health. The continued fear and mistrust of the government also impact mental health. “When we talk about the psychological and social impact that we've had, you know, there's a crisis of confidence, especially in government,” Neely said. “Definitely the psychological impact is something that we cannot see and we have to really understand what that is. And so, segments of our community still believe that we're still in crisis.” Neely says climate change is among the top five most important issues America currently faces. That is why the AAMA now partners with organizations studying and advocating issues pertaining to climate change. AAMA, a non-partisan organization, works alongside climate organizations, such as the Climate Action Campaign (CAC), which has kept a sharp eye on moves made by the Trump Administration against climate change issues. CAC pushes for “equitable federal action to tackle the climate crisis.” For example, CAC has a web feature called, “Trump’s Climate and Clean Energy Rollback Tracker”. Currently it states, “The Trump administration has accelerated the climate crisis and endangered communities’ health, driven up costs and undermined economic growth. The rollbacks tracked below – cuts to extreme weather preparedness, frozen investments, and blocked pollution protections, and more – will have a devastating impact on every American, and particularly the most vulnerable.” Neely stresses that he works from a non-partisan perspective; and therefore, will do everything possible to fill gaps where funds have been cut by the federal government. Meanwhile, the damage continues to grow in the Black community as the AAMA fights back. See Hazel Trice Edney, p. 9

The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Page 5

Senate Sketches #2041.....by Hank Sanders

The Meaning of August 6

The meaning of August 6. August 6 is a special date in the history of the United States of America. It is the date this country finally became a practicing democracy. There cannot be a democracy where a whole people is enslaved or where many are deprived of civil rights or where millions are denied the right to vote. The Meaning of August 6. The United States of America has been on a long journey moving toward a full democracy. It started in 1776 with the Declaration of Independence with its powerful ideals of democracy including the ringing phrase; “All men are Created Equal.“ It took some concrete steps with the ratification of the United States Constitution, but limited democracy in various other ways. It took a series of gradual steps over the next 176 years starting from 1776. The Meaning of August 6. Among the many other steps on the journey toward democracy, I note the following ten steps: (1) White men who owned land could vote; (2) White men who served in the American Revolutionary War and or the Militia could vote; (3) White men who paid Property taxes except for Jews and Catholics could vote; (4) All white men including Jews and Catholics could vote; (5) a Civil war resulting in chattel slavery being abolished; (6) Civil Rights were provided to the formerly enslaved for a brief period after the Civil War; (7) Black men could vote during a brief period after the Civil War; (8) All white women could vote based on the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; (9) Legal segregation was abolished through the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and (10) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 provided the right to vote for African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans and other Americans of age. The Meaning of August 6. The struggle for the right to vote and to forge an inclusive democracy came to a head in Selma, Marion and other areas in the Alabama Black Belt. Selma was an afterthought in the Voting Rights Movement. Civil Rights workers said that “White folk are too mean and Black folk are too scared” to succeed in organizing a movement for voting rights and or civil rights in Selma. And yet this is where the Voting Rights Movement came to a powerful, explosive and historical head. The Meaning of August 6. August 6 was preceded by a series of significant events and dates. Across the South, there were demonstrations against segregation and the denial of voting rights. This included Selma and the Alabama Black Belt where a few Black leaders had been struggling for voting rights commencing in the 1920s. In Selma, and the Alabama Black Belt, these significant dates commencing with February 18, 1965, when Jimmie Lee Jackson was viciously shot by Alabama State Troopers and others were brutally beaten in Marion, Alabama. On February 26, 1965, Jimmie Lee Jackson died in a Selma hospital and some Voting Rights leaders urged people to March to Montgomery with his dead body to protest his death and the widespread denial of voting rights. There were dates such as these in various Southern states. The Meaning of August 6. Some dates stand out much more than others. Sunday, March 7, 1965 is one such date. About 600 Marchers left Selma on a 50 mile trek to Mont-

gomery. Alabama Governor George Corley Wallace decided to make an example of the marchers to stop future protests for voting and other rights. He directed the State Troopers to go to Selma and they did so. They were stationed across the Alabama River near the other end of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. They were joined by Dallas County Sheriff Jim Clark with deputies and posse men on horseback. The marchers were brutally attacked and viciously beaten with clubs on Sunday, March 7, 1965. The beatings were captured on television and shown all over the world. It was a crucifixion. The Street Committee immediately dubbed this terrible day as “Bloody Sunday.” The Meaning of August 6. Other pivotal, historical events followed. The Turn Around Tuesday March on March 9, 1965. The brutal beating to death of Reverend James Reeb and the vicious near-death beatings of Reverend Clark Olsen and Reverend Orloff Miller on the same date. The powerful speech by President Lyndon Johnson on March 15, 1965, wherein he invoked the refrain from the Civil Rights Anthem, “We Shall Overcome.” The trial in federal court trial in Montgomery commencing on March 11. The Federal Court ruling on March 17. The beginning of the 50 mile Selma to Montgomery March, which left Selma on March 21 and concluded in Montgomery on March 25. The murder of Viola Liuzzo on March 25. All these dates matter, but there was still another date—a culminating date. The Meaning of August 6. August 6 was not supposed to happen. After the signing of the Civil Rights Act on July 2, 1964, by President Lyndon Johnson, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked the President to pursue voting rights legislation. Johnson said there was no way because he had used up all his leverage with Congress just to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. King, and other Civil and Voting Rights leaders returned to the South and continued the Voting Rights Movement creating pressure for a full and inclusive democracy. There was great effort. There was great sacrifice. There was great hope. There was great faith. There was great work. There were great organizing. Finally, there was August 6, 1965. The Meaning of August 6. August 6, 1965 is the date President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed into law the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was the crowning legislative achievement in U.S. democracy. This powerful step became the foundation for many additional steps necessary to make this law bear concrete fruits and not just be another law on the books. It took massive voter registration drives, continuous community organizing, numerous legal cases, and a variety of political actions to cultivate, grow and harvest the fruits springing from the voting rights legislation signed on August 6,1965. The Meaning of August 6. I want you to see a little of what the struggles for democracy were up against. In 1900, there were 100,000 African American men registered to Vote in Alabama. By 1908 there was only 3,742. In Dallas County Alabama where Selma is the county seat, there were 14,400 whites of voting age and 15,115 Blacks of voting age in 1965. There were 9,542 whites registered to vote and just 335 Blacks registered to vote. In Mississippi, in 1965, there were 28,500 Blacks regis-

tered to vote in the whole state and by 1984, because of the Voting Rights Act, there was 406,000. What a difference! The Meaning of August 6. In 1965, there were just several hundred African American elected officials in the entire United States of America. There were even fewer Hispanic Americans elected officials. Now there are more than 10,000 African American elected officials and more than 8,000 Hispanics elected officials. In the U.S. Congress, there were four African Americans in 1965 and today there are 67. In 1965 there were 5 Hispanic Congresspersons and today there are 57. What a difference! The Meaning of August 6. Some think that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 just impacted African Hispanic Americans, Americans and other marginalized Americans in the Southern states. However, the Right to Vote provided by the legislation signed on August 6 by President Lyndon Baines Johnson infused democracy in all parts of the United States of America. What a difference! The Meaning of August 6. Now the United States Supreme Court and others are destroying the 1965 Voting Rights Act, piece by piece, decision by decision. In 2013, they gutted the enforcement provisions such as Sections 4 and 5, which provided for preclearance of any voting changes in certain states. In 2026 they gutted the enforcement standards provided in Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which applied to the entire country. This is just a little of why August 6 is so significant. Therefore, August 6 now means we must fight just as hard to restore the Voting Right Act and promote our democracy. The Meaning of August 6. Now on to the Daily Diary.

Saturday, July 25, 2026 – I handled many matters as I worked into the night. I communicated with the following: Retired Alabama Deputy State Superintendent of Education Dr. Daniel Boyd; Brenda Myles of Selma/Birmingham; and Josephine Curtis of Selma. Sunday – I hosted the Sunday School Lesson with Faya Rose Toure on Facebook Live and Z105.33 50,000 Watts FM Radio Station, traveled to Montgomery to attend Zion Baptist Church on a history mission, returned to Selma and worked into the night. Among others, I communicated with the following: Sharon Wheeler of the Selma to Montgomery March Foundation; Retired College President and Current Chair of the Craig Field Airport and Industrial Authority Dr. James Mitchell and wife Priscilla Mitchell; Dixie Bonner of Talladega; and Steve Thomason of Montgomery. Monday – I was at my office by 5:30 a.m. where I handled many matters before traveling to Tuscaloosa on certain matters, returned to Selma and worked into the night. Among others, I communicated with the following: Jim Eaton of Tallahassee, Florida; Former Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks; Dr. Sonya Webb of the Lowndes County School System; Greene County Health System CEO Rogerick Williams; and Johnny Moore of Montgomery. Tuesday – I walked, handled various matters, traveled to Montgomery

for certain matters, returned to Selma and worked into the night. Among others, I communicated with the following: Former Alabama Labor Leader Stewart Burkhalter on his birthday; Marilyn Cosby and Karen Jackson of Selma; Dr. Carol P. Zippert of Lake Charles, Louisiana; Talladega businessman Roger Sims; Pernila Stimley Brown of Jackson, Mississippi; Lowndes County Sheriff Chris West; Retired Lowndes County Administrator Jackie Thomas; and Retired Montgomery Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick. Wednesday – I participated in a nationwide Zoom call, handled many matters, chaired certain meetings and worked into the night. Among others, I communicated with the following: Andrew Marks of Washington, D.C.; Greg Francis of Orlando, Florida; Dr. Joe Reed of the Alabama Democratic Conference; Cornelius Blanding of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives; Barbara Pitts of Decatur, Georgia; Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones; Richard Graham of Jefferson County; and Jennifer Smyley of the Craig Field Airport Authority; Thursday – I walked, handled many matters, participated in the SOS Conference call, and the ANSC conference call, attended a Craig Field Airport and Industrial Authority meeting and worked into the night. Among others, I communicated with the following; Selma businessman Raymond Craig; Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC) State Coordinator Shelley Fearson; Dallas County Commissioner Connel Towns; Amos Moore and Christmas Green of Selma; Sherri Bevel of Chicago; and Dallas County Retired Probate Judge Kim Ballard. Friday – I was at my office by 6:00 a.m. where I handled many matters before leaving on a scheduled 370-mile round trip to Mobile and Daphne and returning to Selma. The trip was cancelled. Among others, I communicated with the following: Dr. Ron Daniels of the Institute of the Black World; Dr. Ahmed Bugre of Ghana, West African; Greene County Board of Education member Veronica Richardson; Dorothy Hulett of Lowndes County; Dorothy England of Chilton County; Twanya Dixon of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Retired Federal Judge U.W. Clemon, Jr.; and Dr. Ernest Okeke of Selma. Epilogue – Some dates—such as July 4, 1776--become powerful symbols based on powerful words such as the Declaration of Independence. Many celebrate July 4, which advanced democracy by a declaration only. Other dates such as August 6, which advanced democracy by powerful concrete actions, are lost on most. Few of us celebrate August 6, which made this country a democracy in the eyes of the law. I am celebrating August 6. It was my liberation date. The Meaning of August 6.

Page 6, The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 5, 2026

EarthTalk From the Editors of E The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What are some innovative ways researchers are removing microplastics from drinking water? -- Bill J., Chicago, IL As concern over microplastics grows, so do efforts to avoid consuming them. Drinking water is a

Given the uncertainties around current waste water treatment’s efficacy for microplastics, scientists are developing novel removal methods. Credit: Pexels.com. primary entry point for microplastic accumulation in our bodies. While we trust municipal waste water treatment plants to remove countless other contaminants, their ability to remove these plastics varies. A study by Ohio State University, led by Dr. John Lenhart and Megan Jamison, found that two-thirds

of microplastics in raw and treated samples were smaller than one micrometer. Jamison noted, “We’re seeing a much higher concentration of plastics in terms of particle count because we’re seeing a lot of those nanoplastics that have been unreported in other studies.”

Given the uncertainties around current waste water treatment’s efficacy for microplastics, scientists are developing novel removal methods. One approach uses polymers originating from okra pods and fenugreek seeds, which stick to microplastics, clumping them together for easier removal. This also presents a safer, biodegradable alternative to the current use of synthetic wastewater treatment polymers. Researchers at the University of Missouri have engineered a strain of algae that produces limonene, the oil best known for giving oranges their scent. It alters the algae’s surface, making it water repellent. When introduced to contaminated water, microplastics, which are also water repellent, adhere to the algae and can be

Jim Crow 2.0 She became the Navy’s first woman to command a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, one of the most demanding leadership assignments in the world. Her career reflects decades of exemplary performance, operational excellence, and leadership under extraordinary pressure. Yet once again, a distinguished military career appears to have been subordinated to an ideological agenda masquerading as “merit.” I call BS! The American people are expected to believe that one extraordinary officer after another suddenly fails to meet some undefined standard of excellence. We are expected to ignore impeccable service records while accepting that political appointees alone possess the wisdom to determine who is worthy of advancement. The pattern has become impossible to ignore. General Charles Q. Brown Jr., only the second African American to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was dismissed despite a career that placed him among the most accomplished military leaders of his generation. Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman ever to serve as Chief of Naval Operations, was removed despite decades of distinguished command experience. Reports have documented interventions that blocked or delayed the promotions of Black officers and women selected through the military’s rigorous promotion system. Now Rear Admiral Amy Bauernschmidt joins the growing list of highly accomplished officers whose careers have been derailed for reasons that have never been persuasively explained. Where is Congress? Its silence has become deafening. Congress has an independent constitutional responsibility to oversee the armed forces. Instead, too many lawmakers have watched silently while one of the nation’s most respected institutions is subjected to ideological litmus tests and political interference. This is not military reform. It is testosterone-fueled performative masculinity disguised as a philosophy of military excellence. The irony is impossible to miss. Hegseth repeatedly invokes “merit,” yet his rhetoric begins with the assumption that Black officers, women, and other historically excluded Americans must somehow justify their achievements in ways that white male officers are rarely required to do. That is not meritocracy. It is prejudice wrapped in patriotic language. No one is asking that anyone be promoted because of race or gender. Americans simply expect that promotions be based on demonstrated competence, leadership, integrity, and service. The officers being targeted have already proven themselves repeatedly under one of the world’s most demanding evaluation systems. Their records speak for themselves. The attack on African American military leadership has been especially pernicious. For generations, Black Americans fought in segregated units, earned decorations while denied equal treatment, and repeatedly demonstrated loyalty to a nation that often failed to extend them full citizenship. They broke barriers not because standards were lowered but because excellence finally overcame institutional discrimination. Today’s campaign against “diversity” threatens to revive old assumptions under new slogans. The implication that Black generals and admirals somehow owe their success to affirmative action rather than extraordinary performance echoes some of the ugliest stereotypes of the Jim Crow era. Yesterday’s segregationists claimed Black Americans were inherently less qualified. Today’s culture warriors simply employ more politically acceptable language while inviting the same suspicion about Black achievement. That is why Hegseth’s campaign increasingly resembles Jim Crow 2.0. The targets may now wear stars on their shoulders instead of military patches on segregated uniforms, but the underlying message is hauntingly familiar: Black excellence is presumed suspect, while white excellence is presumed earned. America’s military became the finest fighting force in history because it opened its doors to talent wherever it could be found. It grew stronger after President Truman desegregated the armed forces. It became stronger when women assumed greater command responsibilities. It became stronger when every qualified American was given the opportunity to serve to the fullest extent of their abilities. Diversity is not a concession. It is a strategic advantage. The nation’s adversaries do not fear an American military because it is racially homogeneous. They fear it because it draws upon the talents of more than 340 million Americans whose diverse experiences, perspectives, and abilities make our armed forces unmatched anywhere in the world. Every politically motivated dismissal of a distinguished officer sends a chilling message throughout the ranks: excellence alone may no longer be enough if you belong to the wrong demographic group. That weakens morale. It weakens recruitment. It weakens retention. And ultimately, it weakens national security. Pete Hegseth has every right to pursue military readiness. He has no right to redefine merit in ways that repeatedly

removed. The creator of this algae, Susie Dai, aims to use this method to not only clean water, but also recycle the microplastics collected into safer, bioplastic materials. Elsewhere, Princeton Engineering has discovered a way to us egg protein to create an aerogel capable of microplastics removing with 99 percent efficiency. While scaling this aerogel is a challenge, Sehmus Ozden, a postdoctoral research associate, emphasizes the product's potential. “Activated carbon is one of the cheapest materials used for water purification,” she says. “We compared our results with activated carbon, and it’s much better.” While awaiting these innovations, there are ways to reduce microplastic consumption. Boiling water before filtering it creates

limescale, which traps microplastics that at-home filters can easily remove. This works best with hard water, but even with soft tap water, boiling can remove about 25 percent of microplastics. Also, avoiding bottled water is an easy way to reduce your microplastic intake, as it is linked to higher microplastic concentrations than tap water. Finally, addressing the source of pollution is essential to the success of the global fight against microplastics. Microfibers from polyester clothing are a significant contributor to water contamination. Switching to natural fabric alternatives can reduce the microplastics entering our waterways in tandem with efforts to filter them from our drinking supply.

Taylor’s Law cast suspicion upon the accomplishments of Black officers, women, and others who have devoted their lives to defending this nation. America deserves better. The men and women who wear the uniform deserve better. The Constitution deserves better. And unless Congress finds the courage to exercise meaningful oversight, history may well remember this period not as a restoration of military excellence, but as the moment political ideology attempted to resurrect, in modern form, the old poison of exclusion.

What is Taylor’s Law? Taylor’s Law establishes a discipline point system for students enrolled in Alabama public and private secondary schools. The law applies to disciplinary infractions committed on school property. Beginning with the school year, including summer school, in which a student turns 13, discipline points are tracked and accumulated until the student becomes eligible to apply for a learner’s permit or driver’s license. Each point earned pushes back eligibility by one week.

Jim Crow did not strengthen America. Jim Crow 2.0 will not strengthen America’s military. It will only diminish it Wade Henderson Strategic Advisor Civil and Human Rights wade@wadejhenderson.com

When does Taylor’s Law take effect? Taylor’s Law takes effect Aug. 1, meaning the discipline point systems will be in place as Alabama students return to school for the new academic year.

Ambulance Crisis

That means the current rates emergency services are being paid by Medicare are based on data from 1998, even as the cost of things like gas and medical equipment have gone up. “I cosponsored the bipartisan RESCUE Act because it will help ensure ambulance services are fairly reimbursed for the lifesaving care they provide, strengthening emergency medical services and helping keep ambulances on the road for the communities that depend on them,” Sewell (D) said in a statement to AL.com. Alabama has the second lowest number of ambulance stations per capita in the country, according to a 2023 report by the Rural Health Research and Policy Centers. Of the state’s 67 counties, 64 are considered to be in an ‘ambulance desert,’ impacting over 300,000 people, mostly in rural communities. Many rural counties have lost medical services in recent years as hospitals downsized or closed completely. Earlier this month, Greene County Emergency Medical Services halted their ambulance service because a “critical lack of funding” had prevented them from maintaining their ambulances. Residents were told there was only one quick response vehicle available to take patients to the hospital, and they “should expect significantly delayed response times” for emergencies. But days later, local and state officials secured money for two new ambulances from the state’s EMS office. Local officials told AL.com that the new ambulances are only a short-term solution. In order to keep them on the road, emergency services will need higher payments from Medicare and other insurance providers. “The biggest clients that the ambulances have in Greene County are Medicaid and Medicare patients,” said Garria Spencer, chair of the Greene County Commission. “We have got to have a source of income other than what they’re billing because they’re just not billing enough to make it work, and that’s not only true in Greene County.” The RESCUE Act would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to update ambulance payments every three years based on current data on mileage and labor costs. The new payments would take effect in 2029, according to the bill, which has the support of the Emergency Ambulance Operators Alliance. “When Alabamians call 911 during a medical emergency, they deserve to know that an ambulance will be there when they need it,” Sewell said. “Unfortunately, too many families—especially in our rural communities—are facing longer response times because ambulance providers are under tremendous financial strain.” Savannah Tryens-Fernandes is an investigative reporter covering health and medical care in Alabama. She joined AL.com as an education reporter and Report for America corps member in 2021, covering efforts to address child mental health and wellness inside and outside classrooms. Savannah previously documented human rights abuses in Southern Africa while working at Human Rights Watch. She also holds a master’s degree from Columbia Journalism School, where she was a Stabile fellow in investigative journalism.

FSC

This special gathering celebrates decades of leadership, advocacy, resilience, and progress in strengthening Black farmers, landowners, cooperatives, and rural communities across the South. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect, reflect on the Federation’s enduring impact, and honor individuals whose contributions continue to shape the future of cooperative and community-based development, including legendary civil rights attorney Fred David Gray, whose lifelong fight for justice has helped shape the course of American civil rights history. The meeting will include workshops on land retention, cooperative development and advocacy for Black farmers and rural development. There will also be farm and forestry tours of demonstration projects and information on the Master Plan for the Federation’s Memorial Legacy Park at the organization’s Rural Training and Research Center. For more information, contact the Federation’s Rural Training and Research Center near Epes, Alabama at 205652-9676.

For teenagers approaching driving age, school discipline may now have consequences that extend beyond the classroom, affecting when they can legally get behind the wheel. Which students are affected by Taylor’s Law? The law applies to students who are 13 years and older and enrolled in a public or private secondary school in Alabama. Although Alabama allows teens to obtain a learner’s permit at age 15 and a driver’s license at age 16 if they meet licensing requirements, discipline points begin accumulating years earlier, starting with the school year in which the student turns 13. How many points does each disciplinary action carry? Taylor’s Law assigns points based on the type of school discipline: In-school suspension (ISS): 1 point for each day. Out-of-school suspension (OSS): 2 points for each day. Alternative school placement: 6 points. Expulsion: 20 points. Every point adds one week to the age at which a student may receive a learner’s permit, driver’s license or other covered license. For example, a student who accumulates six points would have to wait an additional six weeks before becoming eligible. Students don’t automatically receive points for every suspension The law includes exceptions designed to allow students to improve their behavior. For in-school suspension: The first three days of ISS in a school year do not generate points. If a student reaches a fourth day of ISS, then all ISS days from that school year, including the first three, count toward the total. For out-of-school suspension: An initial OSS of two days or fewer does not generate points. If the student receives another OSS later that school year, the days from the first suspension are added to the point total. If the initial OSS exceeds two days, all of those days count. Can students erase discipline points? Yes. Taylor’s Law includes provisions that allow students to reduce or eliminate accumulated points through improved behavior. If a student completes one full school year without receiving additional discipline points, previously accumulated points are reduced by half. If the student completes two consecutive school years without receiving additional points, all accumulated points are removed from the student’s school record. Is there a limit to how long a license can be delayed? Yes. Even if a student accumulates enough points to create a longer delay, Alabama law says eligibility cannot be extended by more than one year beyond the date the student would otherwise first qualify to apply for a learner’s permit or driver’s license. Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email atjlindahl@usatodayco.com.

Black Belt Folk Roots Festival August 22 & 23

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-ofWay, 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 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. 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 Legal Notices A D V E RT I S E M E N T FOR BIDS Sealed bids will be received by Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Inc., at 601 Black Wears Way, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35401, Friday, August 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM local time for property located at 5951 Highway 51, Aliceville, AL, at which time they will be opened and read. Submissions may be sent via USPS or mailing service but must be received by August 14, 2026 at 9:00 AM local time and marked to the attention of Heather Siavelis. All bids received in person or by mail by the required time will be opened on August 14, 2026 at 10:15 AM. Bids are being accepted for property located at 5951 Highway 51, Al-

The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Page 7

iceville, AL, containing 1.92 acres, more or less. The minimum bid required is $35,000.00. The buyer shall be solely responsible for all closing costs associated with the purchase of the property. The property includes two parcels: Parcel No. 1: Begin at the Northwest Corner of Section 30, Township 22, Range 15 West in Pickens County, AL, and run East along the Section line as now established 1057.5 feet to the West border of the Right of Way of the Eutaw-Aliceville Highway; thence Southerly along said West border of said Right of Way 1405 feet to the point of beginning of the property herein and hereby conveyed; thence continuing Southerly along said West border of said Eutaw-Aliceville Highway Right of Way 200 feet; thence West parallel to the aforesaid Section line 200 feet; thence Northerly parallel to said border of said Highway 200 feet; thence East parallel to said section line 200 feet to the point of beginning. Said real estate lying and being situated in the South Half (S ½) of Northwest Quarter (NW ¼) Section 30, Township 22, Range 15 West, in Pickens County, Alabama. Parcel No 2: Begin at the Northwest corner of Section 30, Township 22 South, Range 15 West, and run East along the North boundary of said Section a distance of 1057.5 feet to the West boundary of the AlicevilleEutaw Highway (Alabama Highway #14); thence run in a southeasterly direction along the said West boundary of said highway a distance of 1405 feet to a point; thence run in a westerly direction parallel to the North boundary of said Section 30, a distance of 200 feet to the point of beginning of the parcel herein described and conveyed; thence from said point of beginning run in a westerly direction parallel to said North line of said Section 30, a distance of 200 feet to a point; thence run in a southeasterly direction parallel to the West boundary of said Highway #14 a distance of 250 feet to a point; thence run in an easterly direction parallel to the North boundary of said Section 30 a distance of 400 feet to a point on the West boundary of said Highway #14 thence run northwesterly along said West right of way boundary of said highway a distance of 50 feet to a point; thence run westerly parallel to the North boundary of said Section 30, a distance of 200 feet to a point; thence run northeasterly

parallel to the West boundary of said Highway 14 a distance of 200 feet to the point of beginning. LESS AND EXCEPT on-half (1/2) interest in all oil, gas and minerals. 2tcg 7/ 29 8/5 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

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 •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 8, The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Greene County Housing Authority hosts Vacation Bible Class

Greene County Housing Authority held its annual Vacation Bible School on July 27th-31st at the Branch Heights Community Center. Director Anita Lewis, Greene County citizens and Calvary Bible Church members from Kalamazoo, Missouri learned about living in peace amidst uncertainty, all while gaining new friends. This year, programming resources were derived from the Answers VBS curriculum: Emerald Crossing subtitled An Irish Adventure Through Psalm 23. The program took participants on a 5-day journey through the lush landscapes of Ireland to explore the life of King David and the Good Shepherd. Program Overview and Themes Core Focus: Moving from anxiety to peace, fear to faith, and uncertainty to a firm foundation in God's Word. Daily Progression: Focuses on verses from Psalm 23, learning about God's provision, the right paths of His Word, comfort in dark valleys, and an attitude of gratitude. Setting & Decor: Transforms church spaces into the Irish countryside with green hills, sheep farms, stone castles, Celtic crosses, and rustic village details. Material Components: Features age-graded curricula, leader guides, themed music, crafts, science experiments, and dramas.

Freedom Day “Many things have changed for the better since 1969.” Spiver Gordon stated. “Electing Black officials allowed us to change many of the insulting racist practices in Greene County, but we still need to keep working and keep moving forward. Everything that happened, happened because ordinary people stood up to help make the needed

Panel members ranged from current Greene County officials to justicedriven citizens. They all reaffirmed the importance of encouraging neighbors and relatives to be more civically involved, which starts with changing divisive patterns of thinking. “We keep the gains by

working together for a common goal,” stated panelist Reverend Joe Webb. He implored citizens to look past minor disagreements and remain dedicated to improving the community for the next generation. Spiver announced that he is passing the torch to a new organizer for the 58th celebration. “Many of you can lead…We don’t need a pre-

pared speech; we just need you.” The Alabama Civil Rights Freedom Movement organization showcases artifacts and photographs of the civil rights and voting rights struggle in Greene County at their museums. The Eutaw museum is located at 137 County Road 183, Eutaw, AL 35462.

It’s a reminder to trust God’s plans and not let my own anxiety get in my way.” When asked why she returns each year, Steele responded that it is simply tradition. “The festival has always been a great networking opportunity. It’s a place where local and nonlocal artists are all in one place. I am always able to make connections while working the event.” This year, she hopes to see “the perfect blend” of Black Belt Folk Roots Festival traditions with new experiences.

“I’m excited to see a new generation embraced and integrated with the wonderful legacy that has been created.” Before concluding, Steele wanted to tell readers that there are no coincidences. “If the Lord granted you a gift, He means for you to use it. It may take some trust and prayer to figure exactly what that looks like from season to season, but that’s how faith works…I’ll leave you with my tagline: God gives us gifts, This Is Myne. ”

Mya Steele will be present for the county’s Read Greene Read event on Sunday, August 9th at the Eutaw Activity Center 2:00 p.m. You can view Steele’s personal and comissioned art on her Facebook page, Drawings By Mya. To learn more about her multimedia art company and purchase her books, visit her website thisismyne.com For information on this year’s festival, visit: Black Best Folks Root Festival on Facebook.

changes.”

Festival Creating a brand and working full time is no easy feat, yet Steele finds balance in life by nurturing her spirituality. “Working full time as a creative always presents unique challenges,” Steele expressed. “Ultimately, I trust that God placed me in the role for this season for a reason…I try to remind myself daily of 2 Timothy 1:7; it helps that it’s tattooed on my ankle. The verse goes, “For God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind.”

WHAT:

Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Press Conference and Rally for Restoration of the Voting Rights Act

WHEN:

This Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. On the Anniversary of the Enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965

WHERE:

At the Foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma side Followed by Bridge Crossing ceremony

WHO:

The National Voting Rights Museum & Institute; SOS—The Save Ourselves Movement for Justice and Democracy; and other Alabama organizations

CONTACT:

Hank Sanders, (334) 782-1651 and hank23sanders@gmail.com

SELMA—The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law on August 6, 1965—61 years ago this Thursday. In the last 13 years, it has been dismantled piece by piece by the United States Supreme Court and some states. This Thursday, there will be a press conference and Rally for Restoration of the Voting Rights Act at 2:00 p.m. at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma side. The rally will be followed by a march across the Bridge on the sidewalk. The Bridge was central to events that led to the passage of this most effective piece of civil rights legislation. The right to vote is central to all other rights, and leaders from across the state will be speaking out and marching for that right. The events are sponsored by the National Voting Rights Museum & Institute, SOS—the Save Ourselves Movement for Justice and Democracy, and other Alabama organizations. Prior to the 2:00 p.m. events, the weekly SOS podcast will focus on the Voting Rights Act and will be broadcast live from the National Voting Rights Museum & Institute at 6 US-80 East, on the Montgomery side of the bridge, via Zoom and Facebook. All events are open to the media and the public, and links to the podcast will be sent out on Wednesday.

The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Page 9

Carolyn’s Tid Bits...by Carolyn Young a little less need A little more smile and a little less frown; A little less kicking a man when he’s down A little more “we’ and a little less “I”; A little more laugh a A little less cry; A little more flowers on the path of life; And fewer on graves at the end of the strife.

The World’s Greatest Needs

-C Austin Miles

A little more kindness and a little less greed; A little more giving and

Happy birthday to Berince Barnes, Esther Robinson Fairley, Charles

Bloxon, Michaela S. Gill, Mary Smith, Ashley Consentine, Ciara McCray, Joseph Cunningham, Isaac Brady, Deana Anderson, Tomekia Isaac, Tremaine Hunter, Carlos Banks, Anthony McGee, Dorothy Washington, Rosie M. Winn, Amair Wesley, Robert Noland Sr., Robert Noland Jr., Alexia Rogers, Erika Long, Willie Polk, LaShaun Henley, Tawanda Washington, Vickie White, Terence Harris, Nathan Davis, Dr. Vivan DeShields, Ayden Lyons, K e r r y Wa s h i n g t o n , Rosayln Crawford-McK-

endall, W. Scott Smith, Jameson Stokes, Yolanda Young, Bernice Hodges, Pamela McGee, Willie Rhone, Jazmine D. Consentine, Buford McKinnis Jr., Jamichael Watkins and James Hardy. Happy anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Quinet & Jason Bryant and Mr. and Mrs. Gregory & Mamie Taggart. “When death overtake us, All that we have is lift to others; all that we are we take with us.

---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.

Hazel Trice Edney The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) reports, “African American communities are more vulnerable to severe weather and floods. More than half of African Americans in the United States live in the South, an area that is and will continue to see stronger hurricanes and increased flooding from climate change. Many communities adjacent to power plants, petrochemical plants, factories, and other sources of pollution, are African American or other people of color. Unfortunately, recent hurricanes have shown that many of these facilities are ill equipped to deal with flooding from increasingly stronger storms, often leading to releases of air and water pollution.” The report continues, “For example, after Hurricane Harvey [in 2017], independent monitors found petrochemical plants released cancer-causing benzene at rates six times higher than safe levels. Neighborhoods near Superfund sites, which have also seen flooding from recent storms, are also more likely to be African American. Historic segregation has resulted in African Americans living in less desirable low-lying and flood prone areas in many cities throughout the United States.” The EDF reports it will only get worse. But Scott says it won’t be difficult to measure the impact the mayors are making. “When you talk about our legacy residents who now have heating and air in their homes. Even things like cool roofs and mitigating extreme flooding,” Scott said. “And people’s basements aren’t being ruined year after year after year. We can hold ourselves accountable for that.” Scott concludes that the key will be the mayors working together and sharing strategies for success. "As president of the African American Mayors Association, we do this on every issue, making sure that we're looking for best practices across the country, putting things together and helping each other to make policy better - not just for one city, but for all cities."

Marc Morial Finally, we must end inflationary tariffs that increase the price of everyday goods and place additional burdens on working families already navigating tight budgets. Americans should not be forced to bear unnecessary costs that make basic necessities more expensive. Trade policies should strengthen American competitiveness while protecting household purchasing power. The affordability debate is ultimately about more than dollars and cents. It is about dignity. It is about whether hard work still provides a pathway to stability. It is about whether young people can imagine owning a home, raising a family, and building wealth. It is about whether seniors can retire with security and whether workers can achieve economic mobility without constantly worrying about the next bill. The American Dream does not need to be reinvented. It needs to be restored. That restoration begins with policies that make life more affordable for the people who keep this country running every day. By raising wages, expanding housing opportunity, preserving essential family supports, restoring affordable internet access, and reducing unnecessary costs, the Affordability for All Agenda offers a roadmap toward an economy that works for everyone, not just for those already at the top.

Kevin Harris Nevada and other states can reasonably argue that they test different and equally important parts of the party. But the traditional calendar wasn’t representative either. Iowa and New Hampshire gave disproportionate power to electorates that were overwhelmingly white and rural. Candidates could spend a year discussing the concerns of those voters, survive through the opening contests and engage seriously with Black communities only after the field had already narrowed. Putting South Carolina first reverses that sequence. South Carolina is a recognition that Black Democrats have more than earned our say. Kevin Harris is a Democratic strategist who has advised more than 100 campaigns and ballot measures, including the past five presidential elections. He served in the Obama administration as a Cabinet member for two bigcity mayors and as executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Copies .15¢

Page 10, The Greene County Democrat, Wednesday, August 5, 2026

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