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Muskrat Madness?/MSHS Questions

May 28, 2015, 6:00 pm
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From Tuscumbia Muskrat:So a new nonprofit committee has been created to manage the "welfare and beauty" of Tuscumbia's Spring Park. Ok, is anyone else confused?!? If the committee is making the park "suitable for locals and tourists" then why should the city continue to have a Park Director on salaried payroll?!? Who is the committee saving ... Spring Park, the Park Director's job, or both? I am 100% in favor of saving the park, however, I am NOT in favor with saving the job of the Park Director who has done a terrible job in managing Spring Park. His incompetence is why this committee came into existence. Hmmm... I did catch a few interesting names serving on the committee such as Bubba Underwood. He ran against incumbent Mayor Bill Shoemaker in the last mayoral election. Is this committee also being served as a political move for the next upcoming mayoral election? Very interesting!

*****

From a reader: What is the deal??? We got a new crew of administrators at MSHS this past year. Have you noticed that none of them reside in Muscle Shoals? Although I don’t think it is a requirement, I just think that it is strange none of them are even from Colbert County! Chad Holden, Principal, Kevin Davis, Assistant Principal and Karen Hairrell, Assistant Principal all live in Lauderdale County!! Also, Gary Dan Williams, Career Principal lives in Lauderdale County! I do think that all the MSHS principals that have school aged children send them to MS city schools. Of course, they would want the best for their children so the opportunity to have your children in one of the best school around is a job perk! But, Williams’ children go to school in Lexington where he lives and used to work. According to my neighbor (who has relatives in Lexington) he will never move his kids to MS. If an employee was being supportive of their school system, it seems that they would jump at the chance to send their kids to the school where they work. Williams is often a topic of conversation at our home because Williams has previously spoken to my child in a demoralizing way and some of my kids friends are not allowed (by their parents) to take courses at the Career Center because of Williams and the way he treats students. After a group of ladies brought it to my attention that none of the administrators live in MS, I asked my kids and their friends if Mr. Williams ever attended sporting events to support his students, they said that I had never known him to be at any extracurricular activities, including sports. I know the MSHS administrators are required to be at these types of events. Why does Williams want to work where he will never be a part of the community through his children and where he apparently he doesn't care to support his students? You know that at least some of those boys in career classes also play sports. What is the deal???

*****

From J. Redmon: NO Superintendent or principal can tell students/parents 'not to clap' at an assembly.  That would be a violation of the students'/parents' 1st Amendment rights.  They can ASK/request that there be no applause, but they cannot prohibit such.

*****

More tomorrow...



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Crack Down on Crack Pipes

May 29, 2015, 2:00 pm
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Paradise Food Marts


Remember our blog on "Love Roses?" It seems glass pens are of a similar ilk. From an expert:

Often called a love rose and marketed as a novelty, the product is a small fabric rose that comes packaged in a glass tube about the width of a ball point pen with prices ranging from $2-$5.



A reader tells us these lovely little items can and should be reported to the ABC Board:

Product Management Division

Voice: (334) 260-5417

Fax: (334) 260-5448

ABCBoard--ProductManagement@abc.alabama.gov

Pictured is a display from the Paradise Food Mart. A reader tells us all these stores carry them. E-Mail us pics of other outlets.


Shoalanda
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Muscle Shoals v. Lexington

May 30, 2015, 9:00 pm
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From a Lexington reader:

Here is your random guest commentary from Lexington!! To the lady complaining about Gary Dan Williams, to which she refers as the Principal at Muscle Shoals Career: we would GLADLY swap Willie Joiner, the current communist dictator principal at Lexington School for Gary Dan Williams. If you think its bad now, we will show you bad. Please accept our offer.

*****

We hear changes are coming to Muscle Shoals in the fall. Relatives of personnel say they are actively seeking new positions. Other new hires from 2014 will be toast. We'll see.

*****

On crack pipes: Copper pot scrubbers sold behind the counter are the second piece to the crack pipe.

We have a list of outlets; however, we prefer to have actual pics before publishing.

*****

This is the Union Planters bank building purchased by Hibbett Patient Care...which promptly razed it. Quite a bit of money invested...


Will it still be a go? New Office



Shoalanda
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Hair in Black & White?

May 31, 2015, 9:00 pm
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Integrity?


From a reader:

I brought something to the attention of the MSHS band director, David Water, regarding a young lady sitting on the front row at the year end band concert. The young lady had a half shaved head of about 1/2" black hair and the other half head was bleached blond hair below her ear.

Distraction? Absolutely.

I pointed out that not only was she sitting on the front row of the band on stage, but Holden, Stegall, Lindsey, all the band directors and some teachers were on stage with the child as well. I thought it strange that he told me he would prefer that I take that up with administrators, to which I responded that I would not waste my time.

FAST FORWARD.... After telling a friend about the conversation, he said, "You do know that David Waters is kin to Brian Lindsey, don't you?" What the heck?????

Brian Lindsey's MOM is a cousin of David Water's MOTHER IN LAW. I don't think we will ever get to the bottom of all the kin folk in MSCS. What a mess. MSCS where everyday is a family reunion.

If you ain't kin, you ain't in.

*****

Another reader:

We LOVE Mr. Willie Joiner at Lexington. After Larry Smith, Mr. Willie had some huge shoes to fill. We'll be happy to ship Muscle Shoals a couple of rapists if they ever try to come back. They can keep Chad Holden too. His facebook page says he lives in Muscle Shoals, so how is he on our board?

*****

Our take? Why is red hair not tolerated, but black/white is? We believe the FB page about  Muscle Shoals has been taken down.



Shoalanda
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Why Even "Print" It to Begin With?

June 1, 2015, 8:00 pm
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Yesterday we published a comment from a Lexington reader. It's our policy to publish all comments as long as they are not vulgar or libelous. If we see an error in the comment, we point it out. Another local blogger, one who does not publish all comments, has criticized us for, as he called it, "printing" the comment.

Besides letting everyone have a voice here (not to mention the main thrust of the comment concerned Lexington), we felt this was an opportunity to correct a misconception:


This page, no matter who originally created it, has been taken down, as well it should be if Mr. Holden did not authorize it. 

*****

What many readers don't know is the young lady sent home from school over her hair is a relative of a former school board member. Discrimination in reverse?

But here's the kicker...even though the young woman had worn the same color hair or three years, the principal and assistant principal insisted she leave school immediately after being cited for the color. No, gentle readers, that's not the lack of mercy in this tale from last fall. The young woman's mother was forced to leave the hospital where her step-son was having surgery. No delays! Heil the Admins!

And you wonder why the family hired an attorney?

*****

Our policy is to publish your comment no matter if we feel it correct or not. We obviously have the right to rebut your comment. We do not consider ourselves "benevolent dictators," but a facilitator. 

Neither will we ever publish your name if we disagree with you as some bloggers have in the past. We welcome all comments; happy reading!



Shoalanda
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James Irby for Judge?

June 2, 2015, 9:00 pm
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Florence attorney James Irby has set up a Facebook page to test the waters concerning a run for Lauderdale Circuit judge--no word on which party. Link!

*****

From L. Stone: If the state can't afford to house the mentally ill can we at least give them UAB football tickets?

*****

Phillip Pettus still wants his superintendent bill to pass? Just think if he had put that much energy into something worthwhile...


Shoalanda

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The Muskrats Broke What?

June 3, 2015, 8:00 pm
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From a day-tripper:

Does the Tuscumbia park train run on Saturdays? It looks like their web pages are bad. If you go to springparkal dot com you get a general Muscle Shoals area tourism page. That page gives tuscumbiarailway dot com, which goes nowhere. Have the muskrats broke the Internet?

This link works; however the most obvious is broken.


Now the question: Is the site up to date?

*****

The winner of the "Pick Your Pate" contest is Joey! He garnered 19 votes. In all, 50 votes were cast. We hope that brought 50 donations to our charities. If you know some brothers or co-workers who would like to compete for charity, let us know.

*****


Shoalanda
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Larry Stutts Said What?!!!

June 4, 2015, 9:00 pm
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From the TD:

Stutts (on anti-abortion bill), an obstetrician, said he thinks the bill is a good idea. He’s anti-abortion, and said that when he’s treating a pregnant woman, he has two patients.

Really? How about this comment from March 31, 2015?

My sole intention with Senate Bill 289 was to re-center health care decisions between a patient and her doctor by limiting government mandates.

 Our deceitful representative was at one time a veterinarian. Wonder if he told clients not to spay their cats but keep them in a fenced yard?

*****

A Colbert County mother, a devout Baptist, had two girls. The 16 year-old she counseled on sex, never thinking the 15 year-old was boffing half the males in her class. Upon finding out and regaining consciousness, she took the girl to Larry. What did Larry say?

No birth control. Just tell her to stop having sex. No, we're not kidding.

*****

Our view is and always has been to counsel children on morality and self-respect. Barring that, counsel on birth control. No abortion necessary. Where are the bills on sponsoring such education in schools?



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Joe Pampinto & the Concrete Con

June 5, 2015, 9:00 pm
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From a Muscle Shoals resident:



Did you see the picture that is in the Times Daily that shows the sidewalk project on Sheffield Avenue in Muscle Shoals? I thought you might like to hear the rest of the story. The driveway being worked on in the picture is the city councilman Joe Pampinto's driveway.

The house you see in the background of the picture is my house. Our house was skipped yesterday so the City Councilman's driveway could be done first. This is Muscle Shoals politics at work yet again and they got a picture of it. The construction company has been tearing up to put in sidewalks on Sheffield Avenue for the past week. As they work they systematically go down the line and take out driveways and then fix them back with new concrete. One by one, down the line.

Then they get to our driveway. We come home to find our driveway has been skipped so that the driveway of the city councilman (that lives after us down the line) can be done first. This puts us without a driveway for our THREE vehicles (parking them on the street) for what will end up being at least a week so that the city councilman can park his ONE vehicle in his garage once again.

We talked to the workers and they said they didn't know why they were told to skip ours but they were short-handed so they could only do one driveway. They were told to do that (the councilman's) driveway first. Yes. We are peons in Muscle Shoals. We aren't special with privileges like getting to have things done first because of who we are.

*****

Joe, we await your comments...



Shoalanda
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TD Calls Staggs Grocery "Ramshackle"

June 6, 2015, 8:00 pm
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The TimesDaily recently profiled growth in the Sweetwater Arts & Entertainment District, albeit never using its presumably correct name.


The Bill Campbell article was informative...up to a point; however, the main surprise of the front page content was the remark about Staggs Grocery. Campbell called it "ramshackle." The word was removed later from online, but still made it into print.

The old building on Huntsville Road is hardly the 360 Grille, but "ramshackle?" We doubt the current owners of Billy Staggs' former grocery will be taking out any advertising soon.

Maybe Bill will soon be going the way or our friend Trevor?

*****

A tune about Bill Campbell:





Shoalanda
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Dakota Holt Is Free...For Now

June 7, 2015, 9:00 pm
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Dylan Milam

For those not familiar with the murder of Dylan Milam:



 From Dylan's mother: Just to let everyone know... the kid (Dakota Holt) that murdered Dylan is now out. I knew about when he was getting out but wanted to wait to let everyone know before I posted... also seems he was a bad boy while in... seems he called a kid the N word and got beat down for it. lmao.. they even had to wire his jaw shut. If you are a friend of mine or Dylan please repost this on your page. ok D...let the games begin.

*****

The above is much like an old joke. The teacher was filling out an application for health insurance and was asked, "Have you ever had a nervous breakdown?" Her reply? "No, but watch this space for further development."

Holt has been released five years early. While we hope he stays out of trouble, we aren't betting the ranch on it. Just another subject for the blind man on the corner.



Shoalanda
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Return to Heroin Central: David Ros

June 8, 2015, 8:00 pm
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Call him a "key player" or a "kingpin," David Ros managed to get a lucky break after his July 2013 arrest in Morgan County for heroin trafficking. At the time of his Decatur arrest, Ros was on probation in Lauderdale County related to a February theft charge.

Where is he now? He managed to get a form of probation/rehabilitation in Morgan and was placed in a halfway house. It seems he was kicked out of two facilities before entering his third this past Friday. He blew that after two days.

High on something, Ros proclaimed he was Jesus. Where is he now? That we don't know. His partner in drug crime Wes Akin faces another Lauderdale charge within the next few weeks.

Obviously Ros didn't know when he had it good.



Shoalanda
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Take It With a Grain of Logic

June 9, 2015, 3:00 pm
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Whatever happened Friday night was not good. There was an alleged gang attack at Subway and in Wilson Park. But what actually happened? We don't know. Logically, if a Florence Police officer was attacked on Court/Tuscaloosa, it should be major news. Yet many aren't looking at this logically.

1. Call it a "hate crime?" Only a grand jury can do that. The city has no hate crime statute. It's simply assault until it becomes a felony.

2. The sheriff isn't doing his job? Our sheriff has nothing to do with it if it happened inside city limits.

3. There was a Taser attack? Tasers go for at least 390.00. Pretty rich equipment for a street gang.

4. It's obviously a cover up? Why? The park episode wasn't reported until much later. The FPD doesn't have a clairvoyant on staff.

5. It happened between 8:30 & 9:00 and no one reported it? If true, a lot of people have a lot to answer for (and apparently have nothing in common with our neighbors who have a hotline to the police).

***** 

Just saw this on FB: I was going to watch an old sitcom, but decided to watch the local news. I think the news is going to turn out to be funnier. An armed man robbed a drug store and took everyone inside hostage. The reporter explained it was drug related. She also said he will be facing charges.



Shoalanda
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The "Subway Riot"/Truck Stop Hits

June 10, 2015, 2:00 pm
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The "Subway Riot?" There wasn't one. It seems what many First Friday visitors saw was an unfortunately normal event. Teens congregate both inside and outside the deli every Friday until management and later police ask them to move on. The officer was also a regular and was in control at all times. The teens who were at the eatery were not the ones in Wilson Park.

A reader asked what difference late reporting of the attack made? It meant it wasn't reported in time to get into the late Friday news update, so no extensive media reporting until Monday. No big conspiracy to hide from public.

Any news on the attack? Not that we have.

*****

Rodney Ivey: Ivey was at one time a suspect in the hit-style murders of his cousin Gary Baskins and his companion earlier this year. Obviously he has not been charged in any way with that crime, and we don't expect him to be. A source says there's no news in the murder investigation.

We are going to make two or three comments here and save the rest for the time of the killer's trial and the release of the autopsy reports. While we hope all our readers pass from this life peacefully at the age of 101 either in the arms of Morpheus or their lover, it's a sad fact that people die unexpectedly every day. All the media know about you is what you post online.

If you say you have one child, that's all anyone knows about. Maybe you're too overwhelmed to update your profile (there was an entire episode of Yes, Dear devoted to this) or perhaps the thrill of motherhood has worn off. No matter, don't expect anyone magically to know how many children a murder victim has. Don't blame the media for reporting exactly what the victim has stated on line.

Facebook pages? If Bradley William Flemming decides at the age of 25 to grow a signature beard and change his name to Boogie Woogie Fever, don't expect the media to know about the new FB page or any beard. The information they publish will come from records posted by Bradley William Flemming. There again, don't blame the media if Flemming left his old FB page up.

Finally, to the local blogger who criticized us for relating we had to ban some hootchie mamas, would it have been better to have called those we banned what they called us, simply for posting some links from two local news sites? Hootchie mama sounds much better than g**d*** m*****f***** piece of s***, don't you think?

No matter how the two victims lived their lives, we fervently want to see the killer(s) punished. If anyone knows anything not yet reported, please call local police. If just doing the right thing doesn't appeal to you, there is a cash reward. It's totally anonymous. We guarantee it!




Shoalanda
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Any Other LEOs Want to Comment?

June 11, 2015, 9:00 pm
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You pull a driver over in a 75 mph zone. He's doing almost 100. Then he abruptly drives away. You may (or may not) feel that he almost "got you." Do you shoot?

We have three answers so far. If anyone else wants to comment (LEOs & former LEOs only), we'll publish our results next week.

*****



We all know who he really was. A very sad day...





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Hate Crimes & Speed Limits

June 12, 2015, 2:00 pm
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Hate crimes? From Mark Parker: Alabama's hate crime statute is an enhancement to the penalty phase after conviction of another crime. If an assault, or other crime takes place, and it's because of hate crime, the penalty is enhanced. Code of Alabama 13A-5-13.

No matter, a third degree assault is a misdemeanor. For the reader who disagreed, we suggest you contact the FPD or the city attorney.

*****


Taser? We're just guessing here, but it seems logical that what the victims of Friday's attack called a Taser was actually a stun gun. This could make a difference in severity of charges. A Taser starts at 350.00 (a little cheaper than we previously said); a stun gun for as little as 20.00 and no background check. There's also a big difference in the harm they can cause. If this First Friday gang did use a Taser, couldn't charges be upgraded to second degree assault?

*****

Our LEO question? A reader pointed out that the speed limit in question is 70 mph, not 75. As for the officer feeling threatened, we can only speculate. That's why we wanted someone who had actually done traffic stops to comment. We will try to blog answers late next week.



Shoalanda
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The First Friday Attack & the State of Denmark

June 13, 2015, 5:00 pm
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We have no doubt that two members of the Kevin Dawes family were attacked by someone at the last First Friday, as well as their van. We do have questions about this attack. There are a number of oddities about the family’s statements--all of which may have logical rationales. Let’s look at them.

1. A group of 20 to 30 black youths are alleged to have attacked the father & son in Wilson Park between 8:30 and 9:00 on a First Friday. It was dark, but wouldn’t others leaving the event also have been walking through the park? Goodness knows enough people saw the (different) crowd at the deli half an hour later.

2. The gang yelled, “Get that white!” Really? Is that what they say in the ‘hood now? Not “cracker” or even the old standby “honky?” Not even one vulgar adjective thrown in? Anyone else out there think that’s pretty odd?

3. The gang had an expensive Taser? We’ve previously commented that we doubted that, but most recent reports from the family indicate that Mr. Dawes had burns from seven Taser hits. A stun gun theoretically won't leave burns, but Tasers do. Seven hits? And no one saw anything?

4. The attack, the mother has reported, was a “gang initiation.” Is this how it’s done now? 20 or 30 initiated at once? And just who in this lovely group took the time to utter the words “gang initiation?” If that isn’t bizarre, we don’t know what is.

5. The gang ran when they heard sirens? (The latest update indicates the mother called 911 immediately.) Two things come to mind here. First, weren’t any of the officers one block away on Court Street and on foot called to the scene? Second, why couldn’t any of the officers catch just one of the 20 to 30 running from the park? If any responding officers even saw one of these youths, he hasn’t made a public statement.

6. Why has no one come forward to offer any eye-witness information on the youths? Again, look at the Subway incident. Facebook and our mailbox were full of witnesses reporting what they saw.

There may be perfectly reasonable explanations for these discrepancies. In the mean time, every uber right-wing (read: hate) site on the Internet is running a story on the out of control black gangs in Florence.

Totally true or patently false, this incident is a black eye on the Renaissance City.



Shoalanda
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Return to Spring Park

June 14, 2015, 2:00 pm
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A few varied views on the current condition/situation at Spring Park:



Tusumbia Muskrat - Interesting that the TimesDaily didn't report "why" Spring Park needs a volunteer group to "chip in" with park maintenance. Hmmm.... Could it be that concerned citizens pointed out the Park Director's lack of maintenance? Could it be that many attractions were rotting? Could it be that the train was only half running? Could it be that boards were falling off & not being replaced on the railroad bridge? Could it be that the fountain is NEVER ready for operation in early spring (even after saying it would be)? Could it be that paint was peeling off the carousel horses, along with warped boards, shot light bulbs, & no music? Could it be that the restrooms are in terrible disrepair? If the park was well managed then there would not be a long repair list for volunteers to "chip in" with! To quote the Park Director: "“It’s going to be so good for the park. Having volunteers like that, it helps the community take ownership of the park.” (TimesDaily 6/13/15) How about you, Mr. Kendrick, take ownership for your failure as park director!!!!!

Reader DP - Last night (June 7) a special group had the park and rides. First problem came because the train had broken down in the wooden bridge and would not be operable for the group. The next problem arose when there was not a uniform enforcement of the rules for the roller coaster. The rides crew tried to enforce a height rule for small kids but not in a uniform way. This allowed some kids to ride who were shorter than the height rule being enforced and others who were shorter were allowed to ride. Some kids got to ride one time but when they came back to ride again, they were not allowed to ride. This resulted with crying kids and upset parents. On the lighter side, THE NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN SCULPTURE WAS REMOVED TODAY AND PLACED UNDER COVER AWAY FROM THE ELEMENTS, KIDS, AND INSECTS.
  
Another reader from June 6th - I have a good report on the park in Tuscumbia. The train is running and the crossing signal works. Unfortunately there is a car show with someone who loves to hear his voice on the p.a. The waterfall and fountain were both operating. The train was running with plenty of cars. The roller coaster, carousel and splash pad were all seeing lots of action, too. It was my first real visit and I was really impressed with what they had at the park today. 

*****

A great video:

 

subscribe



Shoalanda
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St. Florian Freeloaders

June 15, 2015, 2:00 pm
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To James & Patti Gibson: You’ve been getting free sewage for years, now you want to sue the city that’s been giving it to you? Nice couple. Remember, you’ll be suing the entire population of Florence. That freeloading attitude doesn’t make you popular.

To the Gibson’s attorney: There’s probably some state law somewhere you can use to justify demanding the taxpayers of Florence pay for your clients’ sewage. Made an “A” in shyster class, didn’t you? Too bad the TD didn’t name you.

To the mayor of St. Florian Don Strait: You’re upset that you’ll lose tax dollars if the line is shut down? You actually had the nerve to say that? How about you and yours cough up some money for a new line that actually belongs to you? Cliff, are you sure you want to work for these delusional gimmesummadat imbeciles?

To Florence Mayor Mickey Haddock: You’re in charge of these negotiations? We taxpayers are paying Mike Doyle to run the water/sewer department. He says the line is unsafe. Why aren’t you backing him up? Why should you even be negotiating with these freeloading heathen to start with?

*****

Now Mayor Haddock, we have a second question for you: Can’t the city make up its mind about the location of the new Arts & Entertainment District? Or will there be two? Many individuals have already invested in East Florence. What are you going to say to them if the powers that be now declare the district to be in downtown?

We would ask about all the money invested in the East Florence feasibility study, but a city that contracted with four separate architects over five years time to redo the one block of Mobile Plaza probably doesn’t see a problem with that. When the 1941 fictionalized version of Gen. Stilwell said, “You can hold one block, can’t you?” he’d obviously never been to Florence.





Shoalanda
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In Memory of Robert Lowery Gonce

June 16, 2015, 9:00 pm
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Robert Lowery Gonce, age 76, passed on Saturday, June 13, 2015. Visitation will be Thursday, June 18, 2015, at the First Presbyterian Church of Florence from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. in the fellowship hall, with services to follow at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary with the Rev. Dr. Anna Brawley and the Rev. Dr. Foster Eich officiating. Burial will be at Florence City Cemetery.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Carrie Gonce.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Cummings Gonce, of Florence; his children, Suzanne Gonce Perlis (David), of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Elizabeth Gonce Messer (David), of Florence, Alabama; his grandchildren, Corey Messer, of Florence, Alabama, Caroline Elizabeth Perlis, Robert Wicker Perlis, and Lauren Michelle Perlis, all of New Orleans, Louisiana; one sister, Mary Katherine Gonce King (Harry), of Bowling Green, Kentucky; his nieces and nephews, Harry King Jr. (Nancy), of Louisville, Kentucky, Will King (Elizabeth), of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Miriam Cummings and David Cummings, both of London, Ontario; his cousins, Mary Nell Gonce King, of Florence, Alabama, Bobbie Lowe, of Birmingham, Alabama, Nancy Lowe Ruggles (Gordon), of Sheffield, Alabama, and James Lowe (Patti), of Atlanta, Georgia; as well as his special friends, Marjorie Ezell, Ralph Young, Zach Humphrey, John Lightfoot, and Jessie Pride.

Robert Lowery Gonce was equally committed to his profession, his community, and his friends.

Robert was a 50-year member of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, served on the vestry as the senior warden and sang in the choir. He served on the Board of Directors for the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Foundation, Shoals Symphony as chairman, and the Florence Camerata. He was a member of the Downtown Florence Unlimited and the Shoals Chamber of Commerce. At the University of North Alabama, he was on the President's Council, the President's Cabinet Advisory Committee, a member of the Sportsman's Club, and the National Alumni Association, Friend of the University. He was also a member of the Florence Kiwanis Club for over 50 years, their president, and earned the George F. Hixon Fellow award.

Robert Gonce was an attorney and partner with the firm of Gonce and Messer. He served his profession in various capacities including the Lauderdale County Bar Association as president, Alabama State Bar Association: member Ethics Panel and Bar Comissioner, Alabama Supreme Court Pattern Jury Instruction Committee, Alabama Law Foundation Fellow, and served as attorney for Lauderdale County and the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Board.

He was a graduate of Coffee High School and earned the LLB degree from the University of Alabama and also attended Florence State University (UNA).

His other interests included reading, as he was a member of the Sunday night book club, golf, travel, music, and playing bridge.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The University of North Alabama Foundation/Music Deptartment, The St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Shoals Symphony, Florence Camerata, Alabama Law Foundation, or the Music Preservation Society, Inc.

*****

Our sincerest sympathies to the Gonce family. Elizabeth Messer has been a friend to us here and we especially want her to know we are remembering her in our prayers at this time.

*****

Fathers are forever. Even death,
Although a distancing, does not divide
The child from the parent, nor does time,
However long, nor space, however wide.
Enduring beyond silence, beyond breath,
Resonant where hours cease to chime,
Some yearnings inconsolable abide.



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