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Bush receiving "Tiger Tracks" from THS principal and nephew Matt Coker

Bush honored at THS

Contributed

Tallassee High School Principal Matt Coker presented James Bush with the first edition of the 2019 yearbook, Tiger Tracks, on Thursday at the Senior Awards Night event. 

The students of Tallassee High School voted to dedicate the 2019 annual to Mr. Bush for his years of service to the Tallassee community as a grocer, music teacher and principal. He also makes balloons and puppets, does magic tricks and tells lots of stories and jokes. Bush is the coordinator of the annual patriotic service held in Tallassee each summer that combines area church choirs, youth groups and service organizations into one community-wide assembly.

Bush served as the music teacher for Tallassee City Schools from 1973-1981, Assistant Principal of Tallassee High School from 1981-1993 and Principal of Tallassee Elementary School from 1993-2001. He was the last principal of the elementary school when it was located at what is now City Hall in East Tallassee and the first principal of the new Tallassee Elementary School on Friendship Road. Even as an administrator, Mr. Bush continued to serve as an elementary music teacher, inspiring generations of Tallasseeans to love music and maintain it in their lives.

Pictured are Mr. Bush with principal Mr. Coker (his nephew) and with his son,
Photo by Governor's Press Office

“There is much to lose with low participation, however, with high participation there is so much to gain, and that is the message we have to hammer home in the next few months,” Ivey said. “I am so thankful for the presence of so many Alabama officials who realize the importance of the census and took time out of their schedule to attend this kickoff.”

A low count could result in Alabama losing federal funds relating to health care, education and roads and transportation, rural development and community programs. Many projections have Alabama at-risk of losing a Congressional seat to another state as a result of the census.  

Members of the Alabama Counts 2020 Census Committee were also recognized by Ivey. The committee was created last summer by executive order under Ivey and is made up of an across-the-board representation of Alabama involving education, rural communities, faith-based organizations, business and industry, community-based groups, health care agencies and governments with the intention of reaching all sectors of Alabama to encourage census participation. 

The committee is chaired by Kenneth Boswell, director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. ADECA serves as the governor’s liaison to the U.S. Census Bureau and is leading the initiative at the state government level.

“We at ADECA are challenged with serious issues on almost a regular basis, but I can think of nothing any more serious than obtaining maximum participation in the upcoming census,” Boswell said. “I encourage everyone to be an ambassador for Alabama in terms getting the message across that the results of this census will impact every individual for years to come.”

Beginning in mid-March 2020, Alabama households will receive a letter from the U.S. Census Bureau with instructions on completing 2020 census forms. The Census Bureau is encouraging an online response but will have a toll-free number for households to complete their information over the phone or request a traditional paper form. The Census Bureau plans to mail paper forms to households in rural areas with potentially low internet access. The information collected during the census is confidential and cannot be used against a person by any group or agency.