Newspaper Page Text
October 8, 2008
PAGE 5A
WHEN DOWNTOWN DIES: Greenville, Miss, missed the
boat on developing downtown. Forsyth should be sure it
encourages downtown growth.
On the outside looking in
A tale of 3 towns
G REENVILLE, Miss. - We’ve got 1-75 coming
right through the middle of Monroe County
and this expressway has been ideal for the
growth and development of Monroe County.
This six-lane strip is finally being capitalized
upon. The chamber of commerce, development authority,
the city of Forsyth and even Juliette
feel the financial results of the over
64,000 plus vehicles that travel up
and down the interstate every day.
Here in Greenville, the Mississippi
River is a stone’s throw from down
town, closer to the river than Forsyth
is to 1-75. But downtown is dead:
vacant stores, no people shopping and
obviously no re-investment in what
should be a vibrant downtown.
Merchants have left in mass with
store-fronts advertising “going out
of business” sales with nothing in
the stores. I was here five months
ago and the re-paving that started
three years ago is weed-infested,
depressing and sad.
Just across the levee from downtown, three casinos’
parking lots—despite the depressed local economy—are
packed with locals and a few visitors playing the roll of
the dice and pulling the one-arm bandit. The casinos
advise those visitors hoping and looking for a quick rich,
“you don’t want to go downtown or be there after dark.”
I’ve asked several community leaders why they have
allowed downtown Greenville to fall into such a state.
The answers are the same: nobody seems to care, there is
a lack of leadership and the lack of a working relation
ship between the city and county governments.
The tourist-packed river boats don’t stop in Greenville
and don’t toot their whistles even when they pass town.
The paddle wheelers do stop north and south of this
Mississippi Delta town in both Memphis and Vicksburg.
Having spent time in Vicksburg and Memphis, they are
reaping tourist dollars by having downtowns that
tourists like: unique shops, local restaurants and capital
izing on history (hint-hint downtown Forsyth).
Downtown Greenville had at one time a proud past
and, to borrow a Forsyth/Monroe County phrase, a prom
ising future. I just have to say, it is sad that this town
doesn’t realize how to capitalize on what they have.
ONE MORE comment on Greenville. An above-the-fold
banner headline in the local daily newspaper revealed
that 78 percent of the city’s new moms were unwed. The
story said that eight out of 10 women who gave birth in
Greenville were unmarried. That statistic is double the
national average according to the story.
KEEPING in touch with the happenings in Monroe
County is really easy when out on the road with FEMA
by accessing The Reporter’s web site. The story on
Forsyth’s credit card spending was one of the more inter
esting stories in last week’s paper.
Up here or out here, the residents of Greenville are
upset because the mayor and entourage went up the road
to Oxford and spent $25,000 promoting the city in Oxford
during the recent presidential debate on the campus of
Ole Miss.
WONDER why the Monroe County Commissioner from
District 2 felt he had to re-imburse the county $600 for
his participation in the “healing feelings retreat” held up
in Athens. Here’s my answer: he is seeking re-election
and obviously felt it was a good political ploy. Wonder if
any of the other commissioners will pony up?
HERE’S another “wonder why”: Opponents of locating
the city/county dog pound are getting riled since work on
putting the dogs next to the recreation complex has
begun. Wonder why those opponents didn’t show up at
the county commission meeting back in June and
September of last year to express their concerns on
where the stray pooches should be pounded.
Actually, the first proposal was made in June 2007 to
put the pound at a location in the industrial park. That
idea got nixed and a majority ruled it should go to the
recreation complex.
QUESTION of the week from an e-mailer: Why is there
such a rivalry between the Mary Persons Bulldogs and
the Jackson Red Devils? E-mail the reason you think
there is such a rivalry.
Donald Jackson Daniel is for owner and publisher of
The Reporter. He can be contacted at tullaybear@bell-
south.net.
r; Reporter
Around the Bend
Heaven’s a lot fuller today
M bst of us wan
der through
life asking
why we are
here. We go
years and years
without really
knowing how to
live. We search for
meaning and take
what we can get.
But, then there are
those whose lives
are extraordinary
examples of how to
get it right.
Lareeta Davis
and Dr. I.W. ' fULy
Bowen knew
how to get it
right.
Monroe County lost both
shining lights in one
week. Lareeta Davis
passed away last Monday
after a brief illness. She
was small in stature, but
leaves behind some
mighty big shoes to fill.
She was one of the
founders of Community
Care, the ministry which
has helped countless
Monroe County citizens
and runs the Circle of
Care Thrift Shop.
Although no one seems to
remember when the min
istry started, there is one
thing everyone
can agree on.
There was never
a time when
Lareeta Davis
wasn't helping
someone or look
ing for ways to
help.
"She was kind
to everyone
jj but never
backed
- down from
a chal
lenge,” said long-time
friend June Eaves. Eaves
met Davis when she
began working with
Community Care in 1981.
“She was a stubborn,
hard-headed woman who
knew how to get things
done. She was an incredi
ble person and a dear
friend.”
Just six days later fellow
volunteer Dr. I.W. Bowen,
also passed away. And
Monroe County breathed
a collective sigh.
Dr. Bowen served. That’s
what he did. If he wasn’t
preaching, he was teach
ing. He was also just as
comfortable behind the
cash register ringing up
the bargains at the Circle
of Care.
Two finer examples of
true Christian living could
not be found anywhere
else on this earth.
By all accounts. . . and I
do mean all accounts. . .
Lareeta Davis and Dr. I.W.
Bowen walked the walk to
its fullest.
"[Dr. Bowen] was one of
those people everyone
looked up to," said Sheriff
John Cary Bittick, who
has known Dr. Bowen
since he was a young man.
"He was someone I
thought I'd like to be like
when I grew up. . . he had
a great moral compass."
Dr. Bowen and Mrs.
Davis knew how life was
supposed to be lived. . .
selflessly for Christ.
They may have been old
and tired, but retirement
never crossed their minds.
They never stopped giving
... of their time, money
and themselves.
Donna Davis, who (I
have recently learned) was
no family relation to
Lareeta, serves on the
board of Community Care.
She began working with
the organization to help
fill in while Lareeta’s hus
band Richard was ill in
the 1970s. After his death,
Donna stayed on. She has
no regrets about it.
“Lareeta taught me a
lot,” says Donna and vows
Community Care will go
on despite such great loss
es.
“We have to follow their
legacy,” Donna said. “But
we need lots of volunteers.
It will take at least 10 to
replace each of them, if
that’s even possible.”
To volunteer for
Community Care, please
call Circle of Care Thrift
Store at 994-4939.
Guest Column
Local banks surviving crisis
I have been asked
what
impact the
economic
pressures
and the new eco
nomic stabiliza
tion law may
have on the local
economy and
Monroe County
Bank.
Because ours is
a local bank serv
ing only Monroe County,
we reflect the local busi
ness climate but are cer
tainly affected by the
pressures of regional and
national economies. While
we maintain our conserva
tive approach to communi
ty banking, we continue
making loans to good bor
rowers and opening
deposit accounts for exist
ing and new customers in
our market. In
short, we are con
ducting business
as usual.
The economic
stabilization law
is so massive in
dollars and con
tent, now over 400
pages, I quite hon
estly haven’t been
able to understand
all of the proposal
and consider its effects on
our community and bank.
Many suggest the overall
package is important to
all Americans because it
will preserve the critical
flow of credit among
banks and other financial
institutions which in turn
keeps credit available for
businesses to sustain and
grow and employ people;
while others cite that mar
ket forces, not govern
ment, should be allowed to
work through this down
turn and a stronger econo
my will emerge without
the ill effects on taxpayers
paying for such a bailout.
Burdening American
workers through increased
taxes for Wall Street’s
excesses and ills is unap
pealing.
All actions of the federal
government affect every
one including the busi
nesses and individuals in
Forsyth and Monroe
County. Higher taxes
reduce individuals’ ability
to save and invest.
Further, higher taxes hin
der business owners from
being able to survive,
grow, and prosper; and,
when that happens, busi
nesses close, jobs are lost,
and tax receipts for local
governments decline.
As for the bank, MCB
has felt less of a negative
impact than some because
we avoided subprime
loans, risky mortgage
markets, and speculative
residential real estate
development. In addition,
our bank does not own
any of the now infamous
Fannie Mae or Freddie
Mac securities. Monroe
County Bank maintains
its strong position of not
having any borrowed
money (except the normal
deposits of our customers)
and continues having solid
liquidity, loan quality, loan
loss reserves, and capital.
Bill Bazemore is presi
dent and CEO of Monroe
County Bank.
Bill Bazemore
Shelter
continued from the front page
give commissioners signed petitions
opposing the shelter location at
their regular meeting at 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 6. Commissioners Jim
Ham told the Reporter he's willing
to change the shelter location if 80
percent of the taxpayers oppose the
current plan.
Jones and about 15 other citizens
who oppose the location, including
Clete Sanders, Jimmy Webb, Sonny
Trammell, Keith "Spanky" Harbuck
and Stan and Blair Hickman, met
with the Reporter last Friday at the
site. Ham also showed up and tried
to persuade the crowd it was the
right decision.
Crews have already graded a lot
and are poised to build a 3,300
square foot animal shelter. The
county was set to pour a concrete
slab for the facility this week but
Ham agreed to postpone it until
opponents could voice their opinions
at Tuesday's meeting. Jones is ask
ing for a 30-day postponement and
a public hearing to let taxpayers
have a say.
The location is right next to the
interstate and about 100 feet from
the outfield fence of the rec depart
ment's softball field No. 4. Ham said
the shelter would not be accessible
from the rec department, but only
from Fairview Church Road, which
is off Hwy. 42. He said the dogs will
be kept inside the shelter and that
an 8-foot fence will surround the
facility. He said there will be no
smell or noise and that it will give
the county more opportunities to
adopt out rather than euthanizing
dogs. However, county clerk Cindy
Crowley said the county currently
doesn't have a license to adopt out
dogs and doesn't have plans to get
one. The county takes in about 45-
60 dogs per month and euthanizes
85 percent, said Crowley. The pet
rescue group Save-A-Pet takes the
other 15 percent and tries to find
owners through its Bolingbroke
facility.
After hearing Ham's defense, some
opponents, like Teddy Sauls, said
they felt a little better about the
plan. But he said he still opposes
the shelter in that location.
"You're messing with our kids,"
Sauls told Ham.
But Ham said he wouldn't put the
shelter there if he thought it could
harm kids because he has grandkids
who play at the rec department.
Nearby resident George Valenti
told Ham he thought the property
was a rec park, not a dog pound.
"Put it by the dump instead of
where kids are playing ball," said
Valenti.
A one-cent sales tax approved by
voters in 2002 set aside $145,000 to
build a new shelter. The tax wound
up collecting closer to $125,000. The
county's current shelter, located at
the landfill off Hwy. 83, consists of a
small outdoor kennel made of chain
link fence and wood.
Commissioners have discussed
putting the shelter at the recreation
department for a year but the deci
sion was made without a formal
vote.
"We didn't do a good enough job
talking to people about it," said
Ham.
Now, said commission chairman
Harold Carlisle, the horse is already
out of the barn.
"It's mighty late for them to be
complaining now," said Carlisle.
After searching the minutes of
past meetings, county clerk Cindy
Crowley said she found that at a
Sept. 4, 2007 meeting, commission
ers announced they had reached a
"consensus" to begin preparing the
northwest corner of the rec depart
ment for the animal shelter.
Commissioners announced the con
sensus after a 35-minute closed door
session ostensibly to discuss the
acquisition of real estate. No vote
was ever taken, and reporters had
left when they were shut out for the
closed session. The recreation board
wrote a letter to commissioners
opposing the plan on Dec. 17, 2007
and requested a meeting but never
heard back from them.
Commissioner Jim Peters said
putting the shelter on property they
already own saves the county
money.
County building official Bentley
Cox drew up the plans for the shel
ter using guidelines from the
humane society. It includes a garage
door for shelter staff to enter the
building in a truck and close before
letting captured dogs out. The dogs
will be kept in kennels with spray
down areas and drains, and the
shelter will have two septic tanks.
Shelter plans originally called for
two offices, one for county workers
and one for a Save-A-Pet volunteers.
But last week, the office for the vol
unteer was removed and two more
kennels were added.
Ham noted that a grove of trees
that will block much of the shelter
from view, and he said the dogs will
all be inside the cinderblock build
ing.
But opposition leader Jimmy
Jones said he doesn't care if the
shelter is the Taj Mahal, it won't
change his mind that the shelter
should go somewhere else. And he
said he has a big problem with the
location begin selected without citi
zen input.
Ham put Jones on the agenda for
commissioners’ regular meeting at 6
p.m. on Oct. 7. See details in next
week’s Reporter.