Since it was apparently garbage day on Broadway Extended, an unlucky bunch of security agents attached to Vice President Kamala Harris as part of her visit to Greenville on Friday had to open every one of the garbage containers and check them for bombs.
That was probably the worst part of what turned out to be a big news day in Greenville.
While a visit from the sitting vice president is a big deal and puts the national spotlight, if for just a moment, on Greenville, the bigger news broke between Harris’ visit to Joyce Johnson’s dress shop and her speech at the E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center — the contract for construction of a new Federal Courthouse in Greenville was awarded.
It’s the biggest news day we’ve had in the paper since I’ve been here on what happens to be the anniversary of my ninth year in Greenville. Though it was a Monday, I didn’t start on April 1, 2013, because, well, I’m superstitious. I started on April 2nd.
Harris’ visit was part of an effort to promote the administration’s infrastructure plan and her speech was mostly of simple platitudes.
There was nothing there to point a finger at. It was a day for those in attendance to feel good about their vice president.
In Republican-heavy Mississippi, this was probably one of the largest gatherings of elected Democrats outside of a session in the state house in several years.
While Harris spoke, I waited for mention of the award of the courthouse contract, but it never came. I wonder if this is because its major proponents have been Mississippi’s Republican representatives.
Be that as it may, it was the first time any of our female residents saw one of their own standing behind a lectern that placed her as our nation’s vice president.
Greenville residents stood on street corners outside of Bass to wave at the motorcade as it passed.
Helicopters circled overhead.
There were snipers on rooves.
Police and deputies stopped at every crossroad.
Our new bright red and black fire truck blocked the street in front of Bass.
It had to be one of the greatest days to be a first responder in Greenville. Every policeman, EMT, fireman and deputy drove purposefully with their lights on, protecting one person.
And when that one person left town, we deflated back to our normal day.
We still have our regular lives to lead in Greenville. A visit from the VP won’t change that.
But there will be a new shining building in our downtown.
A new 56,000 square foot courthouse sat right on Stein Mart Square.
I’ll be frank, I didn’t think I’d ever see a shovel turned in anger to build that courthouse.
It had seemly faced so many obstacles, some of our own making.
But now, it’s a reality.
I hope some of our local contractors were able to be successful in their bids to do work on the building. At least, that way, we should be able to realize some of the revenue earmarked for the project here in Greenville.
Unlike so much of the days we often report on in Greenville, today, like Ice Cube said, “was a good day.”
Except for those guys who had to check all the garbage cans on the street for bombs. Their day stunk.
Jon Alverson is proud to be publisher and editor of the Delta Democrat-Times. Write to him at jalverson@ddtonline.com or call him at 662-378-0761.
