Former Colony Mayor Earlene Johnson shared the story of Sojourner Truth and talked about why she is a member of the Democratic Party Saturday at the Colony Educational Complex. (W.C. Mann for The Cullman Tribune)
COLONY, Ala. – On Saturday morning, the Town of Colony hosted a breakfast meeting of the Cullman County Democratic Party, with several members remarking about the turnout being the largest in a long time and commending the idea of getting out to community centers for party functions.
After older members told leaders that the morning meetings are easier for those who have trouble driving at night, the group passed a motion to hold morning meetings in local community centers, at least until daylight extends longer into the evenings.
State Democratic Party reelections
County party chairman Nick Shabel, who also represents Cullman County in the Alabama Democratic Party, addressed the Democratic National Committee’s recent order for new elections for the chair and vice-chair of the Alabama Democratic Party within the next three months, and the DNC’s review of Alabama’s bylaws.
He said of the situation in the state party, “It is divisive, it is ugly, and I look to you for comment and direction, because I will be going down there to vote on these issues when that meeting is called.”
The national committee found what Shabel called “voting irregularities” in its last election in August.
Said Shabel, “As the national party holds that to be true, that will be my position.”
Addressing difficulties in communication within the county party, Shabel said that he will use Facebook and email to get information out and that members who do not regularly access Facebook or local newspapers should contact Josh Freeman and let him know the best ways to contact them.
Protecting against scams
Cullman County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Trevor Clemmons addressed the group about certain scams growing in frequency in Cullman County, and offered advice on dealing with them:
- Phone scams – offer false promises of prizes or money, and often target the elderly. Clemmons advised:
- Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry at usa.gov or 1-888-382-1222.
- Beware of offers of free money or gifts.
- Hang up on suspicious callers.
- Research business opportunity offers and charities before giving money.
- Don’t take immediate action if the caller demands it.
- Don’t give out personal information.
- Don’t send money.
- Grandparent scams – a caller pretending to be an elderly person’s grandchild says that he or she is in trouble (wreck, arrest, etc.) and needs money immediately; or a caller pretending to be a law enforcement officer says that the grandchild is in trouble and needs money sent immediately. Clemmons advised:
- Hang up and call family members yourself using a trustworthy phone number.
- Gas pump scams – scammers use electronic devices mounted on or inside gas pump and ATM card readers and keypads to gain access to credit and debit card information. Clemmons advised:
- Check tape seals on pumps and don’t use if broken.
- Use pumps that station clerks can most clearly see.
- Use bank-owned ATMs, not independently owned machines that are not checked as often.
- Use credit cards instead of debit cards.
- Get receipts.
- Wiggle the card reader; if it feels loose, don’t use it.
- Check for hidden Bluetooth devices in a pump by attempting a Bluetooth connection with your smart phone.
- Pay for your gas inside the station.
Former Mayor Earlene Johnson
Former Colony Mayor Earlene Johnson, whom current Mayor Donnis Leeth described as “an icon of the Colony,” gave a woman’s perspective on Black History Month by sharing the story of Sojourner Truth and her famous speech “Ain’t I a Woman.” She then talked about why she is a member of the Democratic Party, including family tradition and the party’s “best fit for my social, economic and religious profile of what America is supposed to be.”
She pointed to what she said is the Democrats’ concern for the welfare of the poor, children, and the elderly, public education, access to health care, peace over violence and equality between sexes and races, and opportunities for women
According to a motion passed at the meeting, the Cullman County Democrats will meet next at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday in March, at the Cold Springs Community Center. This meeting will take the place of the regular second Thursday evening meeting.
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