Dear editor,

Having returned to Selma after 20 years, I found some but not a lot of change. I was reserved at first after living in such cities as Savannah, Atlanta and Houston, but as they say there’s no place like home.

As an amputee using a motorized wheelchair, I found it was a little hard to make numerous trips to Selma to find a place to live so I sought assistance from a family member to help me.

She came through and found a beautiful home for rent on West Dallas. I was considering buying, but at my age of 60, I decided to rent.

But to get to my point, I have had a problem of traveling back and forth to stores and such in my wheelchair due to the fact that the grass had grown over the sidewalks and made it a hazard for me to navigate them. I was actually sent into the street one time.

I decided to seek help. I called Selma City Hall and ask whom my city councilman was. He is Dr. Cecil Williamson. I spoke with him, and he told me he would look into the problem. Within two days, he was at my door telling me the problem would be corrected within a few days.

Yes, it was and now I am safe on that sidewalk. I can travel in my chair to meet my mother’s needs as well as my own.

Thank you Dr. Williamson, thank you mayor and so much thanks to the unnamed man who did all that hard work in the summer year.

Selma, Alabama has a big heart, and it starts with what might seem like small things to you but a blessing to me.

William Thomas Cousins
Selma