Shoalanda

In the U.S., an accused person is presumed innocent until proved guilty. Or is he? Say what you will about attorneys, state bar associations are notoriously strict concerning whom they license. Recently two local attorneys have been in the news, both charged with various sexploits.

Edward Ray “Chip” Dillard now faces over a score of charges related to a local human trafficking scheme. If you check the Alabama Bar Association’s website, you will no longer find Dillard’s name among those licensed to practice in this state. A confidential source has told us Dillard’s Athens attorney Dan C. Totten advised him to surrender his law license immediately after his arrest.

Dillard was booked on the new charges Thursday, raising his bail to $750,000.00 cash. In other words, you will more likely see porkers soaring over the Shoals before you’ll see Dillard walking around as a free man before his trial, now scheduled for December 12th.

Likewise, Dillard’s co-defendant Timothy Staggs was returned to jail on similar new charges. It remains to be seen if he can come up with $100,000.00 more in cash. Several local crime aficionados have contacted us with their predictions concerning the fate of Dillard and Staggs, the term “state’s evidence” running through most of these communications.

Who will flip first? If stories are true that many of these women were bused into Tennessee to participate in parties similar to those alleged to have taken place in Florence and another Shoals town, there may be federal charges in the offing…and a chance for both Dillard and Staggs to name those in a larger network.

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Dillard isn’t the only Florence attorney whose name no longer appears among those licensed to practice in Alabama. You’ll no longer find the name of Donald Tipper among the ranks of licensed lawyers in the Shoals.

Tipper is currently under indictment for the first degree rape of a client. He’s no stranger to criminal charges, having been arrested for possession of cocaine during a traffic stop several years ago. For whatever reason, these charges were dropped, and Tipper continued on his merry way until his February arrest for rape.

At least eight women have agreed to testify that the married Tipper either paid them for sexual favors or bartered legal services for the same. Now Tipper has requested the testimony of these women be excluded as irrelevant to the case. We do agree that being an absolute sleezeball doesn’t make one a rapist. If the case comes to trial, there should be standing room only in the courtroom.

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Shoals Democratic Club Meeting

Monday July 18th, 2016

Speaker is Dr. Jess Brown

Location: Operating Engineers Hall, Dr. Hicks Blvd.
Florence, Alabama Time: 6:00 p.m. for food and 6:30 p.m. Event

A Little about Dr Brown:

Recently retired professor of government and public affairs from Athens State after 34 years in the classroom. Dr. Jess Brown has served as a commentator and analyst for mass media in Alabama for a generation. Has conducted exit polls for all of the network affiliated TV stations in Huntsville. Has been a guest on all of Huntsville's TV stations, but appears mostly on Channel 19. Appears often on Channel 19's public affairs show, Leadership Perspectives, and is a weekly guest on the region's dominant talk radio show, The Dale Jackson Show. Is probably the best known professor for political commentary in the Tennessee Valley region of the state. Has served as an election night analyst for every election cycle since the Reagan-Carter election of 1980.

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Excel Computers owner and former Florence City School Board member Jim Fisher has thrown his hat into the ring for District 6 council member. He will be facing incumbent Andy Betterton and Bob Hill in the August 23rd election.

Earlier today we read of the recent arrest of John Junior Minton; it came a few short weeks after the arrest of Jessica Marie Nunley in Lauderdale County. Both Minton and Nunley were on probation/parole for their roles in the murder of David Wayne Pennington. Considering the crime years after it happened, we realized just how similar it was to the murder of Danny Sledge, also in Lauderdale County. Yet the legal results could hardly have been more dissimilar.

Let’s compare the two crimes:

March 1999: It’s late night, and Danny Sledge is working alone at the Galley, a small, somewhat secluded eatery located on Shoal Creek.

May 2011: It’s late night, and David Wayne Pennington, confined to a wheelchair, is home alone at his residence in the Macedonia community west of Florence.

March 1999: Eric Boyd, 19, and his brother Nathan, 17, both into alcohol and other drugs, are driving around town when Nathan allegedly suggests they visit Sledge whom he said owed him money.

May 2011: Tiffany Lynn Nunley, 20, her twin sister Jessica Marie Nunley, and John Junior Minton, 29, all into drugs, are driving around western Lauderdale County when Tiffany allegedly suggests they visit Pennington, a man with whom she had previously traded sex for money.

March 1999: Eric Boyd parks his vehicle in an out of the way place while Nathan allegedly enters the restaurant alone*.

May 2011: John Minton and Jessica Nunley allegedly wait in Minton’s vehicle while Tiffany Nunley enters Pennington’s house alone.

March 1999: Eric Boyd leaves the Galley with blood on his shoes and money in his pockets. The two brothers drive away from the scene and go to a bar where they spend the cash taken from the restaurant.

May 2011: Tiffany Nunley leaves Pennington’s home with money and prescription drugs. The three drive away from the scene.

March 1999: Danny Sledge’s body is found on the floor of his restaurant; he had been stabbed with such viciousness that the blade of the knife had broken off in his body.

May 2011: David Pennington’s body is found in his home; he had been stabbed more than 70 times.

March 1999: Both Eric and Nathan Boyd are arrested and charged with Capital Murder.

May 2011: Tiffany Nunley, Jessica Nunley, and John Minton quickly become suspects and are eventually indicted, arrested, and charged with Capital Murder.

2000/2001: No deal is reached in the Sledge murder case, and the victim’s family pushes for trials for the Boyd brothers. Nathan Lee Boyd is convicted of Capital Murder and is currently serving a sentence of Life Without Parole. Eric Wayne Boyd is convicted of Felony Murder and is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole at some future date.

2014: After months of legal wrangling, Pennington’s family accepts a plea agreement. Tiffany Nunley is sentenced to 16 years and six months in prison for Manslaughter with extenuating circumstances. Jessica Nunley and John Minton are convicted of Hindering Prosecution. J. Nunley is sentenced to five years probation, and Minton, with an extensive criminal record, is sentenced to 10 years.

2016: Jessica Nunley fails a drug test and attempts to escape from the Lauderdale County Courthouse in March. She’s remanded to community corrections to finish her sentence. John Minton is arrested for DUI in July. It’s currently unknown how this will affect his parole status.

Are the two crimes that different? We think not. Yet the results indicate what a crap shoot our criminal justice system really is.

* While Jessica Nunley and John Minton backed each other up in their accounts of not entering their victim’s home, there were no witnesses as to who actually entered the Galley. No physical evidence connected Eric Boyd to the restaurant where Danny Sledge was murdered, but prosecutors contended both brothers were involved in the actual murder. Certainly, Eric Boyd was at least an accessory after the fact and deserved his sentence.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

By: The Midnight Rider

We recently met a gentleman named Robert Eason that owns a business on 6th Street in Muscle Shoals. Seemed like a nice fellow. Anyway, we knew that we had heard that name somewhere but couldn’t place it. The next day, it hit us. He is the person that the City of Muscle Shoals says his LED Sign is too bright. Hmm, it seems that people are complaining that it shines in their houses at night time.

OK, if that is true, it is my understanding that the signs can be dimmed. But the reason for this article is the Ordinance that the City of Sheffield adopted. Well, more the amendment. According to the Times Daily, the amendment is:

“While the existing ordinance required the signs to automatically reduce the intensity of the lighting at night, the amendments establishes minimum levels of brightness. It also establishes a minimum amount of brightness for “light trespass” or the amount of light shining into a residential property.

The amendment also states all electronic signs “shall contain static messages only and shall not have movement nor flashing on any part of the sign structure, design or pictorial segment of the sign.”

It shall not have any variation in light intensity during the display of any single message.

Transitions between messages shall not use frame effects or other methods that result in movement of a displayed message during the transition. Individual static messages must be displayed for a minimum of 10 seconds.

The amendment contains an exception for the downtown building district.

“Electronic reader boards, electronic message boards or LED boards in the downtown B3 business district may project motion video of sporting events or other appropriate content during special events approved by the mayor or city council,” according the amendment.”

Now we are not an expert at the cost of a LED Sign, but from what we found on the Internet, they are not cheap. With reading the above amendment, we take it that the “Business District”, “Downtown” or “Little Beale Street” can have an LED sign “for special events” approved by the Mayor. It’s amazing that only one business downtown has one of those. I think if I was the owner of Auto-Sound Addiction, I would be pissed at the City of Sheffield since he recently purchased a LED sign.

It seems the “privileged few” can have what they want.

Muskrat Interview

We have been reporting on the Muskrat problem that the City of Tuscumbia has at Spring Park. We have decided that we wanted the other side of the story. We recently visited Spring Park and met Mike the Muskrat. Mike the Muskrat agreed to be interviewed:

MR: Mike, there seems to be a lot of problems at Spring Park that is being blamed on the Muskrats. Is there any truth to that?

MM: No. It is not our fault. We are getting blamed for something that we haven’t done.

MR: Hasn’t there been people been trying to capture you.

MM: Yes. The Tuscumbia Police Department comes around the Park. But we are afraid of them. They are highly trained and have those Machine Gun looking guns. We run from them. But, then you have Animal Control. We laugh at them and stick bananas up the tailpipes of their trucks.

MR: Mike, straight up, who is causing the problems or damage at Spring Park? You can tell me.

MM: (Looking both ways and whispers) It’s those damn Gophers. [As he runs back into the trees}

*Side Note: This was written as humor*

Blue Light Vigil

We saw this recently on Facebook and wanted to pass this on. With what is happening in the World today, people need to come together to unify, not diversify. The Midnight Rider will be there. Shouldn’t you?

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Until next time, I am and always will be, the Midnight Rider.

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The probation revocation hearing for Holland Noah Elkins, originally set for last Thursday, has been postponed until August 11th. Elkins remains in the Lauderdale County Detention Center without bond.

Related: Holland Elkins

Qualifying for municipal elections ended today. Some are running unopposed; others might as well be. Still others will be facing a tough contest, particularly in the mayoral races.

We’ll begin showcasing the candidates tomorrow. There will also be some early endorsements in elections with only two candidates. We invite all those standing for office to send us their platforms.

Shoalanda.Speaks@gmail.com

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In 2005, David Riley, then 20 years old, planned a liquor store robbery. He secured a gun and a henchman, then cold-bloodedly entered a Belle Meade liquor store in the eastern part of Florence, robbed the clerk, then shot him dead…just because he could.

Riley has already bilked the taxpayers of Lauderdale County who have had to foot the bill for two murder trials. Now he’s seeking still a third trial claiming ineffectual counsel. His attorneys were Steve Aldridge and Chris Childers, both competent in a trial setting according to those who have observed them over the years.

Yes, the prosecution contended that Riley deserved the death penalty. There are few instances in which we support the state taking a life; however, we can’t disagree with the state’s contention that David Riley, a royal bastard if any ever walked the streets of the Shoals, deserves to pay for his crimes with his life.

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We’ve heard from two more readers who are concerned with county and state prisoners accessing Facebook and social media. We’re not entirely sure these prisoners are indeed posting on social media, particularly in the one local case that seems to have disturbed some.

The state prisoner? Since he doesn’t accrue correctional incentive time, he probably has no fear of write-ups. He may or may not be posting on a Facebook page. We would advise anyone who thinks it’s helpful or funny or whatever to post in the name of a state prisoner, you’re not making his life any easier should he be reported (and we’ve been told that he has).

Similarly, if the prisoner is posting by hiding a SIM card on his person, your encouragement of this behavior is not well thought out. Your friend/relative may not have CIT to lose, but he can still be placed in solitary confinement. Perhaps more importantly, he can be charged with harboring contraband and receive another ten years added to his sentence in a worst case scenario, particularly after the recent riots at Holman Prison. Is this what you want? Think about it.

From a press release issued by the Burroughs campaign:

Sandra Killen Burroughs announced last week that she will be seeking the office of Mayor for the Town of Lexington. The election will be held on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 from 7am until 7pm. In order to vote in the municipal election you must be registered to vote and live inside the Lexington City Limits.

Sandra is a lifelong resident of Lexington, a graduate of Lexington School and received her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of North Alabama with a double major in Management and Marketing. Sandra is married to Barry Burroughs and has one son, Hunter Killen, who is a senior at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Sandra is the daughter of Alice Killen and the late W.O. Killen, former Mayor of Lexington from 1984-1996. Sandra has one sister, Cindy Killen, from Birmingham, Alabama. Sandra has worked in the tourism field for the past 22 years with such companies as Marriott, Hilton, IHG Properties and currently serves as the Membership Director and Legislative Liaison with the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. In this role with AMLA, Sandra works closely with our State Representatives, State Senators, and elected officials on all levels of the State and County.

Sandra has an extensive list of accomplishments to her credit:

* Vice President of the Alabama State Parks Partners Coalition
* Member of the Bear Creek Educational Center Steering Committee
* Member of the UNA Summer Theatre League Board of Directors
* Ex Officio member of the North Alabama Legislative Caucus
* Member of the Alabama Council of Association Executives
* CPR Certified EMT-D
* Past President of the Lexington Athletic Booster Club
* Past President of the Lexington School PTO Club
* Past Secretary/Treasurer Lexington Fire & Rescue Units
* 2001 “Outstanding Young Professional Woman of the Year” by Girl Scouts of North Alabama
* Past Secretary/Treasurer of the Decatur/Morgan County Hospitality Association
* Graduate of Dale Carnegie Leadership Training
* Awarded Convention South Magazines “Top Meeting Professional to Watch” in 2000, 2001 & 2004
* Graduate of Leadership Shoals sponsored by the Shoals Chamber of Commerce
* Past Chairperson for the Shoals Chamber of Commerce Leadership Shoals Program.

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Sandra will be facing Tim Collier in the August election. Will it be a hard choice for Lexingtonians to make? It shouldn't be.

All the bloggers here care about the Shoals and Alabama. We care about you. Yet if you needed emergency surgery, there's not one here whom we would recommend to help you--none of us is a trained physician.

Mr. Collier may be, and from all reports is, a wonderful and caring person. Yet, he doesn't have the expertise to lead Lexington into a better world. Sandra Killen Burroughs does. Look at Sandra's list of accomplishments. She could have left Lexington long ago, but she decided to stay, to live her life in her hometown. Now she's willing to give of her time to put Lexington on the right track, to divest it of all the cronyism and shady deals that have plagued that small town in the past.

Sandra, we personally congratulate you and are proud to call you our dear friend!

(Note: You see we just called Sandra our friend. She is, and we believe in her. We expect you the voter to do your homework in this and all elections. We can suggest a candidate, but you ultimately have the responsibility to research those on the ballot and make an informed decision.)

McKayla Nicole Slater, 13, has been missing for approximately 32 hours. Judging by her social media, McKayla was part typical young teenager and part troubled child.

Those who came in contact with her may have believed her to be older. She commented on working long days and posted photos of herself making obscene gestures. The young Caucasian girl also called herself a “n***a” and posted a photo of a bearded and balding non-Caucasian male whom she called her aunt. These posts may be inside jokes or they could be symptomatic of something more sinister.

Did she leave her rural Franklin County home to meet a man? Her family has found her bicycle by the roadside and spoken to a man who claims to have given the girl a ride to a trailer park where no one can remember seeing her.

We can understand how worried her family must be given the circumstances of her disappearance. Someone has to have noticed a young girl traveling by herself. If anyone has any information, no matter how small or seemingly trivial, please call the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.

McKayla Nicole Slater Missing

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It would seem that Terry McMinn has dropped out of the Muscle Shoals city council race. We applaud Mr. McMinn in doing the honorable thing.

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Don’t forget the Blue Light Vigil Saturday night in Leighton. There will be many present in spirit who aren’t able to attend in body. You don’t have to wait for Saturday night to tell local police officers that you appreciate them. They, like all of us, need a little extra encouragement from time to time.

Statistics vary from state to state, but for years the average U.S. family has produced around 2.2 children. Averages are just that and include the childless family as well as the parents who are part tribble. Obviously the tribbles are rare animals these days for a great many reasons.

Should a family choosing to adopt 11 children raise any flags? The Spurgeon family, formerly of Clanton, Athens, and Florence, seemingly didn’t raise any eyebrows among DHR workers. All 11 children, six of whom are already adopted, were placed by the Alabama Department of Human Resources.

We’re not going to post names or photos here, but social media show healthy and robust Caucasian children who were added to the Spurgeon household. In other words, there were no handicapped or minority children who might have found it difficult to secure a forever home. We’ve also heard over and over from friends just how hard it is to adopt such children if the family already has one or two children. How did the Spurgeons manage to accumulate a household of 14?

We’re also sure that both adoptive parents and children said what DHR wanted to hear. Yes, children need and want homes and are often willing to put up with at least some abuse in order to obtain one. Yet, how about that semi-nude kayaking on the canal photo on the Spurgeon’s Facebook page? By this time the family had migrated to Florida, but wasn’t this a red flag to social workers that family dynamics were at least a mite out of the norm?

The thread running through the children’s accounts of abuse is that Daddy Daniel liked his girls between the ages of 13 and 16. That required a constant stream of children populating the Spurgeon home. Would it have all been over in ten years or so? No, he probably would have then begun with his grandchildren…and it will never be over for the young girls whom he took into his home and systematically abused.

Alabamians need to demand more from DHR. If you suspect any kind of abuse, don’t hesitate to report it. The mantra should be “Better safe than sorry.”

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Yesterday we blogged on McKayla Slater who was missing from Franklin County. She was found late this morning. Given the reported circumstances of her disappearance, we're extremely grateful that she has been found. We do suggest she now be grounded until she's 36.

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From a reader:

In light of the most recent attack on law enforcement where another officer was murdered in cold blood, one MIGHT think that federal and state government buildings would make sure that their respective U. S. flags were indeed flying at 'half staff'. Well.....such is STILL not the case at the Lauderdale County Courthouse, nor is it, I'm sad to say, at the Sheffield Post Office.

The county commission is in charge of the courthouse flag. Any time the flag is not handled properly, it should be reported to them. Also, another reader has indicated the flag was indeed at half-staff at the Florence Municipal Building when a reader questioned it. We realize that errors occur when many are in charge of the flag at various days and times, but if you see any breach in flag etiquette, be sure to report it to the head of administration for that building.

Jails with little security are prone to the introduction of contraband. Remember when J.J. Common set fire to his cell in the Colbert County Jail? The inimitable J.J. was angry when his then girlfriend was caught bringing him drugs, cell phones, and shoes to sell – Yes, shoes!

We’ve blogged before on the security at the Lauderdale County Detention Center. It was almost a given that much of the alleged contraband came from so-called corrections officers. Now, one has been arrested for his part in smuggling drugs and more into the detention center.

Kenneth Lee Lawson

We had previously expressed our doubt as to Holland Elkins having a cell phone with which to access Facebook, but hollowed out Bibles are capable of holding a great deal…although perhaps not shoes.

No, we had envisioned unscrupulous jailers periodically ferrying a few pills in their pockets sent by misguided girlfriends and family. (And of course, the equally unscrupulous defense attorney if charges concerning Chip Dillard are true.) Apparently the drug smuggling is being done on a much larger scale than we surmised.

Was Kenneth Lee Lawson the only guilty guard involved in this scheme? We await more arrests.

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Our friend H.D. has placed his life and taste buds at great risk to again venture to Logan’s Roadhouse in Muscle Shoals:

Redemption

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Benji Crowden - June 2016

One of Jerry Benjamin Crowden’s earliest crimes was the fairly banal “criminal mischief” for which he was arrested in June 2012 at the age of 19. Six months later he had graduated to forgery when he stole a blank check from his grandmother and attempted to cash it at a local bank.

Having made the check out for $80.00 and listing the payee as “cash,” Crowden then proceeded to misspell his grandmother’s name. Even then, he might not have been caught during a busy banking day, but the hapless Florence man chose to commit his crime on New Year’s Day when only a few banks were open and customers were scarce.

The bank notified the grandmother that Benji, as he is universally called to distinguish him from his career felon father Jerry Don Crowden, was up to no good, and she immediately had her errant heir arrested.

Bailed out by family members, Crowden was soon out of jail, but his freedom lasted less than two weeks. On January 12, 2013, he was arrested in Florence for breaking and entering a motor vehicle and third degree theft with witness intimidation thrown in.

Crowden was already the father of a young son, and at this point his girlfriend decided to sever all ties with the blooming felon. In a very public Facebook spat, Crowden called her selfish and announced how much his son needed him. Sadly, he didn’t at that point attempt to become the father his child did need. Instead, he acquired a new girlfriend.

By July of that year, Benji had accumulated four more charges, adding assault and trespassing to two counts of theft. Two months later, Florence police picked up Crowden on two counts of failing to appear in municipal court.

Crowden managed to rack up five more charges in April 2014 when he failed to show up on previous charges in Lauderdale District Court. Crowden’s lack of appointment keeping skills obviously riled the judge, and this time the aspiring bad boy was handed some real time to serve.

By early 2016, Benji was back in the Shoals and looking for a job…using the word in 1930s gangster movie patois. This time Crowden had connections and managed to throw together a gang of four others who were similarly minded.

In late February, Benji’s new crime empire hit a snag when he was arrested for theft and criminal mischief in Lauderdale County. He soon bonded out of jail and, according to authorities, immediately went back to business as usual.

By late June, detectives had accumulated enough evidence to arrest Crowden along with Dedrick Casey, Brandon Berry Sharp, Kayla Michelle Sharp Burns. and Lawrence Matthew Lee. Authorities say the group led by Crowden and Brandon Berry Sharp has been connected to thefts in at least 12 homes/businesses in Lauderdale County. The investigators expect the number to rise to as many as 20 or 25 by the end of the investigation. One victim lost over $30,000.00 in goods, mostly guns. Yes, guns seemed to have been a favorite target of Crowden’s gang. At the time of their arrests, the gang’s purloined loot may have racked up a value of $150,000.00.

Much of what the detectives have recovered is still to be claimed. If you believe you may have been a victim of Benji Crowden and his friends, call the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office at 256-760-5757 and ask to speak with Det. Bullock or Det. Bolton.

And what of Jerry Benjamin Crowden? Now 23, he remains in the Lauderdale County Detention Center charged with over a dozen felonies. He’s also charged with probation violation and the violation of his March 2016 bail. In other words, he’s not going anywhere any time soon except to court. Benji’s little boy was four years-old this spring. We have to wonder when he was going to start being the father he said the child needed?

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Today's photographs courtesy of the Shoals Insider. Be sure to like them on Facebook!

Shoals Insider

For those of you who missed it, several weeks ago we had various readers who complained to us about drag racing in three or four different parts of Lauderdale County. One of these areas was in the town of Rogersville itself, and a reader sent us photos of an actual drag racing event held in the industrial park. Supporters told us the sponsors, 256 Call-Out, had a permit issued by the Town of Rogersville. Did they?

When we contacted Rogersville, the reply was that no permit for any drag racing had ever been issued to any group at any time. Was this true? The statement was much like that of the drug addict who can swear he’s never taken any Lortab or Lorcet. It may be true, but he’s taken quite a bit of generic hydrocodone. No, the Town of Rogersville had not issued a permit for drag racing, but had issued a permit for a “parade” that was composed entirely of drag racing. Everyone following this?

Our opinion is Mayor Herston falls into the category of someone who would tell a falsehood when the truth would suit better. While many didn’t want the drag racers in town, we’re sure there are others who did. Why couldn’t Herston have simply said it was a choice—either one the town still stood behind or now regretted. Talking all around the subject? Speaking with forked tongue? Talking out of both sides of his mouth? That pretty well sums up Mayor Herston.

Running against Herston in the August 23rd municipal elections is James Haygood. Haygood is apparently the equivalent of police commissioner for the town. We see that some police officers are endorsing him, while others are siding with Herston as someone who “knows how to treat people.”

Some of our readers think Rogersville needs an entire new set of council members; however, all (incumbent or non-incumbent) are running unopposed. That never bodes well for any town. Rogersville voters may not be able to clean house this time, but they can elect a more responsive mayor.

We endorse James Haygood for mayor of Rogersville.

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Gasoline prices in the Shoals? South of the river prices are around ten cents a gallon less than prices in Lauderdale County. Even taking into consideration the tax difference, this is quite a bit considering most outlets purchase from the same distributors.

As the old song says, “You better shop around.”

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Handy Week? L. Stone had this comment:

Huntsville and Decatur have been giving ridiculously inflated attendance figures for events, and it sounds like the Shoals is jumping on the bandwagon. I heard a WUAL news report and the expected attendance for the Handy Festival is 200,000. If every man, woman and child in Lauderdale and Colbert County came, it would only be about 3/4 way to that number. Imagine a sold-out Alabama football game. Now double that. That's 200,000.

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Yesterday we blogged about Jerry Benjamin Crowden, an inmate in the Lauderdale Detention Center since the end of June. A reader then sent us a FB post from Crowden dated July 7th. Did Crowden make it?

It's entirely possible inmates do have access to a cell phone in order to contact the outside world via FB or e-mail. It would take just one phone smuggled in and hidden in various rotating locations. Detention Center personnel or trusties could then sell SIM cards which worked in the phone and could easily be hidden on the prisoner's person.

Families of inmates would do well to remember that if readers can see these posts, so can judges...

Hollywood has no imagination

By: The Midnight Rider

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We may be getting old but it seems that the only thing that Hollywood is turning out lately is remakes and reboots of TV series or other movies. Entertainment that we grew up on is being revamped, remade, updated or redone to entertain the new generation. Instead of coming up with new material, Screenwriters, Producers and Directors can just ay “hey, let’s redo “XYZ” that was on TV in the 80s. Or, better yet, let’s make a sequel to “XYZ.”

The first one that pops in my mind, we guess because of all of the hype for Captain America, Civil War, is Chris Evans played the Human Torch in the Fantastic Four movie. It did well, so they had to do a sequel. Then Chris takes the lead role as Captain America. So, to further complicate matters, the Fantastic Four movie was redone. We are so confused.

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Classic movies that we grew up with are being redone in today’s flair. Point Break is an example of that. We loved that movie. You had Keanu Reeves, the late Patrick Swayze and Gary Busey starring in it. It was an action movie with style. Then last year, it was redone. We have not seen the new one yet but part of my heart knows it will not be the same.

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Another remake that comes to mind is the Punisher. Back in the early 90s, Dolph Lundgren and Louis Gossett Jr started in the Punisher movie. As an action movie buff, we thought it was good. However, it didn’t do well in intake of money. The Punisher was redone with Tony Jane in the lead. We really liked that movie. John Travolta played a classic “bad guy.” So, what do they do? Make a sequel. It was named Punisher, War Zone starring Ray Stevens. We didn’t really like this one and it was supposed to be right up my alley as far as genre.

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There have been some remakes of classic TV shows that turned out well. Miami Vice, the A-Team, orS.W.A.T. is the ones that come to mind first. These TV shows entertained us when we were young and now can entertain our children. We read recently that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is filming a remake of Baywatch. That should be interesting.

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Now, we have to talk about sequels. Some sequels have been good, some bad. We think Lethal Weapon 2, and Die Hard 2 was as good as the originals. However, some companies make squeals that have nothing to do with the originals. There are 2 sequels to S.W.A.T that have nothing to do with the original cast. The 3rd sequel was so bad, we didn’t make past 15 minutes from the beginning.

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In closing, let’s get some fresh material Hollywood. Develop new characters’ and movies so that our kids will call these movies classics. There is fresh ground to plow, just do it. Maybe in 20 years someone will be writing for Shoalanda Speaks about remakes and reboots of their movies.

P.S. As we were writing this, we just saw the trailer for the remake of the Magnificent Seven. Geez. Never mind, we will probably go see it.

https://www.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/67/MPW-33689

Qualifying Municipal Elections: 2016

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Well, qualifying for Municipal elections is over. Below is a list of candidates for each City or Town. Candidates in Red are unopposed. If it is in Blue, there is no one running for that spot. There is more Red and Blue than Black. Sad, very sad.

Anderson

Mayor -- Jimmy Glass

Town Council

Place 1 -- Richard Belue

Place 2 -- Terry Haraway

Place 3 -- Open

Place 4 -- John Williams

Place 5 -- Kip Williams

Cherokee

Mayor -- Terry Cosby

Town Council

District 1 –- Kay Handley, Sandi Hendrix

District 2 -- Loretta Wallace

District 3 – Paul Norman

District 4: Tiffani Fuqua

District 5 – Rene’ Fann

Florence

Mayor – Lillie Mae Boddie, Susan Goode, Mickey Haddock, Steve Holt, Billy Ray Simpson

City Council

District 1 -- Yolanda Johnson, Kaytrina Simmons, Dave Smith

District 2 – Dick Jordan

District 3 -- David Bradley, Hermon Graham

District 4 -- Michelle Rupe Eubanks, John Hargett, Tom Wissert

District 5 -- Blake Edwards, Chase Holcombe

District 6 – Andy Betterton, Jim Fisher, Bob Hill

Killen

Mayor – Tim Tubbs

Town Council

Place 1 –- Ryan Blessing, Robert White

Place 2 -- Don Owens, Mary Ann Rippey

Place 3 -- Pamela Hardison, Connie Parrish

Place 4 -- Charles Glover

Place 5 -- John McGee

Leighton

Mayor – John Landers

Town Council

Place 1 -- Gladis Canty

Place 2 – Mike Gower

Place 3 – Lowell McKay

Place 4 – Andre McGhaee

Place 5 – Betty Jane Borden

Lexington

Mayor -- Sandra Burroughs, Tim Collier

Town Council

Place 1 – Wendell Gooch, Peggy McGee

Place 2 – Patrick Campbell, Carla McGee

Place 3 -- Phil Springer

Place 4 -- Ronald Mitchell

Place 5 – Belinda Michael

Littleville

Mayor -- Scott Howard, Phillip Pace, Gene Strait, Eddie Wilson

Town Council

Place 1 -- David McAnally

Place 2 -- Ronald Berry, Rodney McAnally Jr.

Place 3 –- Harold Malone

Place 4 –- Diana Young

Place 5 -- Jared Ergle, Donald Pennington

Muscle Shoals

Mayor -- David H. Bradford

City Council --

Place 1 -- Chris Hall, Don Terry

Place 2 -- Neal Willis

Place 3 -- Michael W. Lockhart

Place 4 -- Mike Price, Ken Sockwell

Place 5 – Daron Goodloe, Allen Noles

Rogersville

Mayor – James Haygood, Richard Herston

Town Council

Place 1 -- George Mason

Place 2 -- Colby Tucker

Place 3 -- Danny Jones

Place 4 -- Jonathan Newton

Place 5 -- Robert Clark

Russellville

Mayor -- Randy Bray, David Grissom, Donnie Horton

City Council

District 1 – David Palmer, John Thorn

District 2 -- Judy Miller, Ronney Murphy, William Nale

District 3 – Roy Cornelison, Gary Cummings, Dwight Jackson

District 4 – Arthur Elliott, Lanny Hubbard, Billy Patterson

District 5 -- Brent Caldwell, Jamey Harris

Sheffield

Mayor -- Ian Sanford

City Council

District 1 -- Ronnie Wicks

District 2 -- Sebastian Devaughn, Dewayne Roden, Gary Scales

District 3 -- Steve Nix

District 4 -- Mary Stevens, Penny Freeman

District 5 – Steve Stanley

St. Florian

Mayor -- Don Strait

Town Council

Place 1 -- Louis Stumpe

Place 2 -- Matthew Connolly

Place 3 -- Margarete Eckl

Place 4 -- Open

Place 5 -- Jamie Eckl

Tuscumbia

Mayor -- David Cole, Kerry Underwood

Town Council

District 1 – Katherine Logan, Robert Polk

District 2 – George Johnson, Geraldine Tompkins

District 3 – Dave Couch, William Foster, Tom McCormack

District 4 – Richard Coates, Paul Haley

District 5 – Mike Isom, Terry Willis

Waterloo

Mayor – Mel Grimes, Jerry McIntyre

Town Council

Place 1 – Allen Caddell, Jack Harris

Place 2 – Joan Farneman

Place 3 – Melony Carter, Don Raper

Place 4 – Chris Stricklin

Place 5 – Jeremy Simpson

Over the next couple of weeks, we will start making picks for the various elections.

Until next time…..

I am and always will be, the Midnight Rider.

An Alabama lottery? It's amazing that those who tout the lottery for education will now revile it if the funds are used to help sick children. No, we've not endorsing the lottery, we're simply making an observation. We would love to hear from anyone who can rationalize that line of thinking.

*****

From Readers:

* It's amusing that some of Rogersville's LEOs allegedly 'support' Haygood for mayor....especially since Haygood has been overheard in public stating that he didn't 'see a need' for Rogersville having a police department in the first place. Are residents of Rogersville willing to do without a police department? If Haygood is elected mayor they may very well have to.

* Richard Herston's double talk reminded me of what a wise man once told me. I asked him if a certain politician was a liar and he replied: Well, I wouldn't say he was a liar, but he's a politician, and all politician's lie.

* Rogersville DOESN'T HAVE a 'police commissioner'. They have a Chief or Police, Terry Holden....and TWO full-time officers. TWO. (Editor's note: While there is no titled job "Police Commissioner," the police department reports to Haygood in his current position of council member.)

* Yes, I have reported Jerry Don Crowden having a cell phone or something to access the net while in Holman prison. This is one of his latest posts: People need to get a life and. Please please let me have some tranquillity because if you cause any one in my circle any trouble you are going to wish like hell this snake would have bitten you. (Editor's note: To Jerry Don, those who have reported your cell phone usage very probably have a life and one of their mottoes is "If you see something illegal, say something." BTW, we believe you just committed the crime of Witness Intimidation.)

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We've asked for platforms and have received several. Today we're publishing Katie Logan's. Katie is running for the Tuscumbia City Council.

I want to reemphasize my platform so readers who missed the first post can see it. First of all, I am a proud resident of District 1. I am also a proud business owner in downtown Tuscumbia, Basse Trading Company. I am a graduate of the University of North Alabama. I have over ten years experience in retail. I currently manage Austin's Shoes, and have done so for eight years. I have a tremendous understanding of what retail tax base can do for a city.

Prior to my position at Austin's Shoes as manager, I was employed with the Lawrence County Industrial Development Board in Moulton, Alabama. Here I developed the skills and knowledge to showcase perspective businesses with all an area has to offer. I want to bring this same mindset to Tuscumbia to increase the tax base so we can in turn help the city grow. I know I only represent District 1, but my major goal is to work with the Mayor and council, as well as all city employees and departments, to make Tuscumbia is a business friendly city.

We have a rich history with Ivy Green, Deshler football, Spring Park and so many other treasures. We have a beautiful downtown, as well as a wonderful quality of life great schools and low crime. If given the opportunity to serve District 1 and the citizens of Tuscumbia, I will work every single day to make Tuscumbia a better place to work, live and raise a family.

*****

Be sure to catch our latest in Shoals Crime: Annie Ruth Dennis

From Kaytrina P. Simmons:

ELECT KAYTRINA P. SIMMONS

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1-FLORENCE

I am Kaytrina P. Simmons a life-long resident and citizen of Florence, with deep rooted family values. I am not a politician but a mother, sister, friend and neighbor who cares about this great City and the people who reside and work here. I believe good neighborhoods make a great city. I currently serve and I am very active on various boards in the community.

I have a heart for ALL people. I am honest, hard-working, goal driven, positive, result oriented, a team player, vocal, dedicated, dependable, determined, have integrity and spiritual.

The time is NOW! Elect Kaytrina P. Simmons to the City Council for District 1 in the City of Florence. The election is August 23, 2016 and I would appreciate your prayers and support.

My mission is to serve and be a voice for District 1 and “all citizens in the City of Florence.”

Many of you have expressed your desire for change in the district. I will advocate on your behalf for that change.

NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW DIRECTION, NEW RESULTS! We must “EMPOWER IN ORDER TO IMPROVE.”

My Commitment to District 1 and the City of Florence:

I will work to see District 1 revitalized, energized, beautified, and work to bring economic growth.

I will work to make District 1 appealing to anyone wishing to visit the area. (Cleaning up the District)

I will work with the City to move forward and keep citizens informed of the bridge’s progress. (To open up West Florence)

I will focus on over grown brush, old houses, and dilapidated buildings being corrected.

I will continue to work with the organizations regarding our homeless population.

I will give support to our Seniors and our Youth. (Our Seniors paved the way, our Youth is our future.)

I will look into issues of illegally parked vehicles and cluttered streets.

I will look into areas with low flood zones in North Florence area and Street Scape.

I will support organized labor unions, as I am a former member of the Labor Local 366.

I will fully support our Veterans, law enforcement, firefighters, and those who protect us daily by creating a trusting bond between them and the citizens.

I will be very visible and reachable to listen to the needs and concerns, and will work diligently to find a solution.

I will work with City Officials to enhance Economic Growth with better paying jobs.

I will work with the City Officials to encourage them to move forward with the Animal Shelter.

Kaytrina P. Simmons is currently employed as a Staffing Manager with Snelling Staffing and works part-time with Trinity Memorial Funeral Home. She is a graduate of Central High School, Florence, Alabama and attended Faulkner University. She has one daughter, Alexis, who attends Florence High School. They are both active members of Galilee M.B. Church in Florence, under the leadership of Pastor Craig B. Scott. She participates in church ministries. Kaytrina’s Community Involvement:  City of Florence Ambassador  Shoals Chamber Member - serves as an Ambassador  SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) (Committees-Membership, Program, Conference, College, Legislative)  Board Member-Big Brothers Big Sister of the Shoals, Inc.  Board Member-CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) FOR CHILDREN  Board Member Homeless Care Council of NW Alabama, Inc.  Board Member-American Cancer Society Leadership Council  Member of the Event Leadership Team Committee-ACS Relay for Life  Relay for Life Team Captain “WE ARE FAMILY”  Florence High School Band Booster Member  Volunteer: Room in the Inn Shoals  Radio Personality for Trinity Memorial Funeral Home (WZZA Broadcasting) Honored Recipient 2016 Excellence in Helping to seek a Cure for 2015-American Cancer Society Honored Recipient in 2015 Excellent in Leadership Award Served as a past volunteer for Safe Place (Crisis Line) Kaytrina is a life-long resident of District 1 in the City of Florence, Alabama and is a candidate in the 2016 Municipal Elections for Florence City Council. She hopes to put her experience, enthusiasm, and energy to work representing ALL citizens of District 1, and the City of Florence where she has a heart for the people. We must “EMPOWER IN ORDER TO IMPROVE.” NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW DIRECTION, NEW RESULTS!

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We look forward to Yolanda Falk sending us her bio. Both Ms. Simmons and Ms. Falk are running against current Florence City Council member Dave Smith, a man who from all appearances has used his office to cause divisiveness in the city and to thwart real growth when possible.

Needless to say, we will be endorsing either Ms. Simmons or Ms. Falk in the near future and welcome reader comments.

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For your consideration...

Three Shoals residents are arrested for speeding. Speeder No. 1 is driving 17 miles over the limit while attempting to reach the hospital where a family member is extremely ill. Speeder No. 2 is admittedly going 10 miles over the limit, but was not paying attention in an area that was new to him. Speeder No. 3 is going 24 miles over the limit in a school zone and obviously couldn't care less. Should they all be treated equally?

So how about the women whose newborns test positive for drugs? Are they all equal? Wouldn't some of them benefit from an intervention rather than an arrest?

Dee Ann Barton

In other words, are our tax dollars spent wisely in arresting these women and placing them in the judicial system when a non-legal system DHR intervention might serve the purpose not only as well, but in a much better fashion? Especially since the law used to arrest these women was written to curb meth dealers who exposed their little darlings to the drug?

This blog isn’t about gun control; it’s about censorship—something that should make us all shudder. If you’re not familiar with Shoalanda’s personal stance on gun laws, we’re a moderate. That means both the right and the left hate us. The right will quickly call us a blankety blank liberal, while the left will call us a redneck hooligan. We also know that at least two who blog here regularly stand much more firmly to the right on gun control issues, and we’re always happy to give them or anyone else a stage from which to present their ideas.

This past year, our local newspaper (known as the TotallyDecatur) was presented with a new editor. He’s made some changes, both for the better and the worse as we see it. Perhaps what we’re considering censorship is nothing more than another direction the TD is taking in regards to local icons.

For those not of a musical bent, the Drive-By Truckers (DBT for short) is a band with local roots that moved to the Athens, Georgia, area several years ago. Lead singer Patterson Hood is the son of David Hood; the elder Hood is sometimes known as a Swamper and the frequent subject of Robert Palmer articles in the TD. In brief, like Ron Burgundy, the DBT is something of a big deal around here.

They were certainly a big deal last Tuesday when the band opened for Keisha at a benefit just blocks away from where the Democratic convention was being held. The recipient of the benefit? Americans for Responsible Solutions.

If you’ve never heard of this group, we doubt that you’re alone. Also appearing at the benefit were Gabby Giffords and her ex-astronaut husband Mark Kelly. Perhaps now you’re getting the drift of what this organization is all about. Yes, gentle readers, the ARS seeks to curb gun sales in the U.S.

Whether you or I or anyone else agrees with this mission, those who do have a Constitutional right to lobby as they see fit. Both the DBT and Kesha have a right to support the organization in its mission.

The DBT performed for over an hour at the ARS benefit and debuted a large chunk of material from their new album. In short, the appearance made national news…just not here in the Shoals.

Was there a reason for this oversight? Comments always welcome.

*****

Want to purchase An American Band, the DBT's latest album to be released in September? Here you go:

An American Band

*****

We’ve had several comments about drugs/contraband smuggled into the Lauderdale Detention Center. Perhaps the salient question isn’t how it’s done, but who does it? We have five possibilities:

1. Trusties - These men and women leave the jail and return without being searched, at least completely. It would seem logical that they are the most likely source.

2. Dietician/Cooks – We have no idea how many are employed in this capacity at the detention center, but they do have free access to many parts of the facility.

3. Nurses/Medical personnel – These are always a possibility, but would they risk their licenses for a relatively small amount of money? Obviously some would.

4. Attorneys - Again, would these individuals risk their license for what amounts to pocket change? Chip Dillard was being investigated at the time of his arrest on human trafficking charges. No drug smuggling charges have been brought—probably because authorities know he will be going south for a long time simply on the attorney general’s charges. He’s surrendered his law license and will probably never again enter such a facility as a visitor. Have other attorneys done the same? We hear that some have; not all local attorneys are filthy rich, nor are they all honest.

5. Correction Officers – Next to trusties, these are the most likely to have opportunity and need of extra money. We’re happy to say that since Rick Singleton was elected sheriff, there has been a dramatic decline in complaints about the detention center and the office of sheriff itself.

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We understand that one reason Chip Dillard was moved to the Franklin County Detention Center was his drug contacts in the Lauderdale facility. We also understand that records of clients and the money they paid to him were not to be found in his office. That might just make a few of his former clients a little inclined to want to take it up with him personally.

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Threats from prisoners? For some time, we’ve received communications from an individual who has been monitoring a FB account allegedly belonging to Holman inmate Jerry Don Crowden. He’s again contacted us about new threats in the past few days.

Our advice to him or anyone else being threatened by a state inmate is to report it to the proper authorities. If you think the authorities are taking too long to investigate or not doing a thorough job, you can call or write the prison’s warden directly.

Yes, there are employees there who are paid to turn a blind eye to such flagrant violations, but not all of them are on the take. We believe most do their job with integrity.

On a related note, we've been asked why an intelligent, attractive woman would align herself with a career criminal who will never see the free world for at least 17 more years? If we knew that, we would be writing a best seller...

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Reporting child abuse/neglect? We recently received a photo from a reader that depicts some very bad parenting at a party where alcohol was obviously present. Our advice to those who are concerned about an infant’s safety is the same as to the reader referenced above. Report this couple to DHR. They may simply need some parenting classes...and see remark above about women who are drawn to career criminals.

We appreciate the heads up on the father, but there’s still nothing we can do ourselves to prevent injury to this child. DHR is hardly perfect, but it remains the most direct route to protect this or any child.

From a reader:

I know Chip Dillard sold pills to two inmates. XXX and XXX were his clients and they then sold these pills to other inmates in work release. I was there last year. These guys decided they could blackmail Dillard and he let them go as clients. He may not be the only one doing it but he was the only one I knew about.

If true, and we don’t doubt that it is, it’s very interesting, but the state will probably never prosecute Dillard for these alleged crimes. It would mean separate preparation for a trial (Dillard’s human trafficking case is being handled by the attorney general’s office), and if convicted, Dillard would be serving a concurrent sentence. In other words, the state/county would gain nothing from prosecuting this case, but would lose financially.

We have previously heard from well-placed sources that Dillard was being blackmailed by some of the women who will be testifying against him in the human trafficking case. We have to ask why, if true, he was seemingly much more afraid of these women than the two druggies who attempted the same thing?

*****

From a Rogersville reader:

The Rogersville Police Department actually consists of five full-time officers (including Chief Holden), plus a reserve force. (I know that the 'two officers ' info came from a reader.) Also: Richard Herston's challenger's last name is spelled 'Hagood' -- James Hagood. (The Times Daily misspelled it 'Haygood' when they listed all local municipal candidates.) Councilman Hagood may be on the council's police committee; he may even be the chairman. (I'm not sure if the council's committees in fact have chairpersons, in fact or de facto). Still, I don't know that I would say the police chief 'reports' to the committee. (The council's committees act as liasons and provide oversight, certainly.)

Apologies to Mr. Hagood for misspelling his name. We indeed remember when Hagood accused current mayor Richard Herston of stealing his political signs in a previous campaign.

Perhaps the term “honest politician” is an oxymoron, but are there no persons with integrity to step up to serve the town of Rogersville?

Tuscumbia is about to gain a new mayor. Will it be one who will lead the town forward and get things done…or will it be one who allows personal problems to rule his professional life? While we’re sure both Kerry Underwood and David Cole have good qualities to bring to the office of mayor, we’re also sure that one of these two men effectively lost the right to govern the town of Tuscumbia when he reportedly slugged a subordinate while on duty with the fire department.

Tuscumbia Fire Chief

Just say “NO” to David Cole…unless of course, you want a city government along the lines of Birmingham or Carbon Hill where mayor and council members make the news for all the wrong reasons.

Vote for Kerry Underwood on August 23rd.

*****

We doubt that any of our regular readers are heroin addicts, but perhaps some have addicts in their families. It’s only been about three years or so since four or five Shoals citizens lost their lives to some “bad heroin” that had made its way here. Now we hear that more suspect heroin has arrived in this area.

A substance being sold as “white heroin” contains a large amount of a fentanyl derivative and is extremely dangerous…and it’s being sold in the Shoals. That’s all we’ve been told, but it’s enough to sound the alarm. If you have a family member with this addiction, there are agencies which can help. Consult your physician and good luck.

Blue Light Vigil, Bond, and the Tree

By: The Midnight Rider

Blue Light Vigil

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We recently attended the Blue Light Vigil that was held at the Leighton Cowboy Church. It started at 8:30 that night. We got there a little early and got a good seat. Good thing we brought our lawn chairs. By the time the program started, the arena was pretty full. We were surrounded by police cars.

There were several speakers for that night. Some that we knew, some that we didn’t Sheriff Frank Williamson from the Colbert Sheriff’s Department started the program. Other Officers from different Agencies spoke on behalf of their Departments. After the speakers were finished, the Pastor of the Church read the names of the Officers killed in the Line of Duty this year.

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I believe the total that night was 68 Officers killed since January, 2016. People, these people are out there protecting us. That number is unacceptable. These men and women have families that will no longer see them trying to help us. It was very sad to listen to.

Candles were lit, the Officers turned on their Blue Lights. We noticed several people crying. We got a little teary eyed. The Pastor then gave a prayer call for all in attendance. This is the first time that we have gone to this type of event. It was amazing and sad. Please support your local Law Enforcement Officers.

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Bond, James Bond

Recently, we wrote an article about Hollywood not turning out anything new, just remakes and reboots. That night that it was published, we watched the James Bond movie Skyfall. It was okay. We are a James Bond fan but we are not a Daniel Craig fan. James Bond is a Cultural Icon that brought us Bond Girls, Omega Watches, the Walther PPK and Lotus Sports Cars.

So we started thinking. Who was the best Bond? We grew up in the Roger Moore era. My ranking is as follows:

My Rankings:

Pierce Brosnan
Timothy Dalton
Roger Moore
Sean Connery
Daniel Craig
George Lazenby

What do you think?

A Piece of Sheffield History?: The Famous Tree

Recently someone told us about a piece of Sheffield History that we were unaware of. We are sure there have been visitors from far away that have come to see this iconic piece of history. What is it, you ask? Does it have something to do with Music? Does it have something to do with downtown rebuilding? No, it is the Panty Tree. We bet you are scratching your head right now thinking “Rider, have you been drinking too much?” Alas, let me educate you.

The City of Sheffield has the Historical Railroad Bridge which is an attraction in itself. People use the bridge to walk to better their health. Great photos can be taken from the bridge. But now, the Rider has found out there is another use of the Bridge. At the end of the Bridge, you can see a tree with various panties hanging from it. What? Yes, it is true. We were told that it is a Rite of Passage to take your girlfriend/boyfriend to the bridge and “Discuss World Politics” at night time without getting caught. Then the female is supposed to throw her panties on the tree to “seal the deal”.

We did not believe this myself, so we went and checked. We present to you Exhibit A:

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We wonder if this attraction will be placed on the City of Sheffield Website as places to visit?

Until next time…

I am and always will be, the Midnight Rider.

We can never eliminate all waste in government, but we can certainly eliminate some of it. Perhaps the main question is: Can we add some common sense to our government policies?

There’s been much said recently about voter IDs and the advisability of requiring them. Even Hillary Clinton has stepped into the Alabama fray…bless her heart. Most who have commented haven’t understood just to what extent the State of Alabama has bent over backward to make sure every citizen has some form of identification.

Now in his quest to bring the wonderful world of voting to all adult citizens, Secretary of State John Merrill has sent out pamphlets to anyone in the state who is a licensed driver, but not a registered voter. The total cost of these pamphlets has not been estimated, but needless to say they weren’t written, produced, and mailed free.

Is there a problem with these mailings? Yes, just a few. If an individual is on the list of licensed drivers, but not voters, there are four possibilities:

1. He's not a citizen

2. He has no political rights

3. He has no interest in voting

4. He’s dead

For those who are number three on the list, an invitation to vote might make them change their minds, but there’s not much in the short term that anyone can do about number one or two, and absolutely nothing anyone can do about number four.

Besides the cost of these ill conceived pamphlets, some are concerned about less than honorable individuals using the information on the mailers to register to vote under the name of a dead person. (Cue music to Chicago.) As to how these serial voters would handle the ID issue, we don’t know, but we’re sure at least some would be able to get around that pesky issue.

All citizens have the right to ask Sec. Merrill: Just what were you thinking? No, Alabama will never get ahead or develop a balanced budget with this kind of leadership.

*****

We’ve had quite a few both public and private comments about the old issue of stolen political signs in Rogersville. For those who were not around at the time, it involved signs placed on state rights-of-way. No matter one’s opinion on that issue, such signs are illegal. While driving around our neighborhood this afternoon, we saw at least three busy street corners where such signs were placed illegally.

Supporters of Mayor Mickey Haddock seem to be prime perpetrators of this misdemeanor, but we saw some for Susan Goode, Blake Edwards, and others. These misplaced illegal signs don’t make anyone think more of the candidates, and in most cases make us think a lot less.

*****

We’ve had someone contact us about a property situation in Lauderdale County in which a disabled man has been partially evicted from “his” home. We understand at least one Huntsville television station has also covered this ongoing situation.

After looking into it, it seems that a David C. purchased some property at a tax sale in 1996…maybe. There’s a dispute as to the exact location of the property. David C. let his son live in a house on the property, but never paid taxes since both men were disabled. Then in 2009, Leroy Darby purchased the property at still another tax sale and has been attempting to evict the son since that time. He has finally managed to have the utilities turned off to the home. In other words, Shawn C., son of David C., has had no electricity, water, etc. for three months.

First, David C. says he wasn’t aware that he had to register his homestead/disability exemption each year, but court documents show differently. Nor did David C. ever attempt to make sure his tax sale purchase was properly recorded. This is not a new situation, but one that has gone on for seven years.

We can understand Leroy Darby wanting land he has paid money for. What we can’t understand is Darby not assisting Shawn C., disabled physically and perhaps in other ways as well, to get help from DHR or some local church in relocating. Snidely Whiplash comes to mind.

We live in a sad world.

Florence City Schools Superintendent Janet Womack interviewed earlier today as one of six finalists for the highest post in state education. Will she secure the coveted job of state superintendent and leave Florence for Montgomery? We’ll find out in exactly one week.

The lure of Montgomery? Higher humidity? A plethora of dry cleaners? No, it would have to be money…and power. If Dr. Womack does leave her current post, it will be especially interesting to see just who may apply to replace her.

*****

Early this morning there was quite a police chase near Florence Mall. We understand our friend Skip’s car was sideswiped. We’re extremely thankful that no officers or bystanders were hurt during this utterly pointless pursuit. Let’s hope Jason Olive does some actual time for this.

Florence Police Pursuit

*****

Remember Hershel Graham, convicted of manslaughter in the death of a young husband/father? He’s spent his entire time in prison in the Kilby infirmary, supposedly close to death. After being given permission to return to Red Bay to die, he recovered enough that his medical furlough was canceled. He even came to his father’s funeral.

Now he’s at death’s door again and wants to return to Franklin County. We’re not sure how that will work since his sponsor is now dead; his victim’s family also lives nearby…not a good situation. Let’s hope the powers that be at the department of corrections decide the Hamilton infirm unit is the correct place for this detritus of society.

*****

We've had several readers ask us about the murder of former football standout C.J. Sirmones. We have no information on the crime that hasn't been published elsewhere, but we see that the shooter Yancey Lee Williams is from Rogersville. Any of our friends out that way know Williams?

Two Lawyers with No Licenses to Practice

Danny Sledge & David Pennington: Not Equal Victims?

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

Qualifying Ends/David Riley--a Real B*****d

Sandra Killen Burroughs for Mayor of Lexington!

Let's Find McKayla!

Sixteen Spurgeons: A Very Dysfunctional Family

Lauderdale Detention Center: Drugs in the Bible

Were You a Victim of the Benji Crowden Gang?

Richard Herston Knows How to Treat People?

The Midnight Rider on Movies & Elections

Lottery/Readers' Voices/Katie Logan

Katrina P. Simmons/Dee Ann Barton

Did You Hear the One about the Drive-By Truckers?

Detention Drug Smuggling Blues?

Did Chip Dillard Have Accomplice(s) in Drug Smuggling?

Just Say No to David Cole

Blue Light Vigil, Bond, and the Tree

The Voting Dead/Leroy Darby

Janet Womack & the Lure of Montgomery?