Paris, Tenn.–A ribbon-cutting will be held at Johnson Park at 5 p.m. Monday, October 10 to dedicate the new basketball courts. Paris City Commissioner Sam Tharpe will present a short program on Mordecai Johnson, for whom the park is named. Johnson was the first African-American president at Howard University and was a revered figure nationally. Everyone is invited to the ribbon-cutting. Johnson Park is located off of Rison Street in Paris. (Shannon McFarlin photo).