Shoalanda

The good? We sincerely hope it will be a new mayor for Florence. Yes, we understand that some things take more time than others. Some projects require state approval and money; however, let's look at what has not been accomplished under four years of Mayor Haddock:

1. Either indoor or outdoor new tennis courts.

2. College Street bridge.

3. College Street Plaza (which may never happen; we have no idea since Haddock has never offered an official statement on it).

4. Either of the two proposed so-called entertainment districts (this may not be a bad thing, but the public needs to know the status of these two proposals).

5. New senior center, something else that may never happen.

6. New animal shelter (yes, there’s been progress, but very little in four years).

We’re sure there’s more, but six unfinished promised projects are enough to show a pattern of do-nothingness.

We invite reader comments on Susan Goode and Steve Holt. We’ll have more next week.

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The bad? We’ve received another communication from a reader who uses the name Pecos Bill:

I took your advice to call the warden at the Holman prison but have never got him yet. Now Jerry Don (Crowden) has threatened to kill some people. Don’t know who they are, but he openly mentions his phone and has posted pictures of guns.

PB sent us a screen shot of one of Crowden’s threats. We won’t publish it here since it includes the names of his daughter and girlfriend, but here is the edited version:

You know I'm man enough to tell somebody if I got a problem with them I don't have to put little xxx messages on Facebook book and if it somebody I'm sub post to care about I'm going right to them and just because I'm trying to change my life and be a better person don't mean them .45 are gone and want loss a nights sleep over making them things talk and when you bring xxx and xxx in it I'll go to prison the rest of my life and don't give one xxxdamn

If these two women are receiving some kind of threats, they need to contact Florence Police. If the person whom Crowden is threatening is aware of these threats, he needs to contact both the prison and his local police. Crowden talks of changing his life, but now that such an overt threat has been made, he will never make parole. He may even have added a few years to his sentence which ends in 2033. A sad waste of a life.

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The ugly? That would be Jason Dylan Olive who led at least two local law enforcement agencies on quite a chase yesterday. Apparently Olive is an amateur tattoo artist who advertises on FB that he does work at pajama/tattoo parties…all the while under the influence of meth according to some who have commented on his latest escapade.

Pajama/tattoo parties? Due to truth in advertising they should probably be called pajama/tattoo/hepatitis parties.

Quick: Which serves more citizens, a civic center or a splash pad? It’s not rocket surgery as Dr. Walt Duncan would say. So which is the town of Rogersville getting?

Even though many thinking citizens of the town have objected to the expense (part of which is funded through a grant), Rogersville is getting a splash pad that will be open approximately three months of the year--undoubtedly much more important than a civic center open 12 months of the year serving the entire populace.

Where do Rogersvillians currently hold meetings? We’re guessing rented church fellowship halls and the library conference room. The next time anyone holds a meeting, we suggest someone with an iota of common sense give out flyers concerning your government’s lack of foresight…and accountability to the voters.

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Bids for the splash pad were requested beginning July 1st. The design group for the project is one of those concerns with multiple offices across the Shoals. Kelley Group lists offices in Florence and Tuscumbia. We’re guessing a Tuscumbia mailing address makes them more palatable to those in Colbert County who seek to use their services.

This type of architectural planning is exempt from bid laws, so just how the town of Rogersville found the Kelley Group is anyone’s guess. It might be worth looking into.

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We just love new names for old things/concepts. After all, isn’t fiber so much nicer sounding than the word “roughage” many of us grew up hearing in school? How about undocumented alien? Let’s not call anything illegal.

We see the Kelley Group is using such a term: placemaking. Don’t know what it means? Apparently it describes organic architecture. In other words, design a home/office building/splash pad to fit with the area. Why not just say organic? We have an idea that the Kelley Group feels it can charge more or hold its corporate nose a little higher when it utilizes the term “placemaking.”

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A little father to the west, the race for Florence District Six city council member is heating up. Jim Fisher’s campaign slogan? “Think Nerdy.” Unfortunately, Jim, expecting most office holders in the Shoals to think at all is a little overly optimistic.

Five Florence mayoral candidates, five choices? Really? Let’s look at them…

1. Lillie Mae Boddie, the little candidate who wasn’t there, or isn’t here. Anyone know anything about Ms. Boddie or why she even bothered to pay a fee to run for this office? Comment: Are we missing something?

2. Billy Ray Simpson, perennial candidate who’s been seen campaigning in downtown Florence, but not much else. His platform? Helping the Westside. A good idea, but it’s hardly the basis of an entire campaign. Comment: He needs to learn what the verb “degenerate” means.

3. Steve Holt, who says it’s about jobs. Pretty big statement, but no platform to back it up. We could easily give our blog title the subheading of “Making You All Millionaires,” but unless we back it up, it’s a totally useless statement. Comment: If he has abilities or ideas he’s not showcasing, he needs to do so now.

4. Susan Goode, who has the intestinal fortitude to tell it like it is. Ms. Goode has run a clean campaign while bringing to light mismanagement in current city policies—not an easy accomplishment. 90% of her ideas are on track, and that’s more than we can say for anyone else. Comment: Term limits? She really needs to rethink that idea.

5. Mickey Haddock, our current mayor. Haddock has tried to be all things to all people. In other words, he’s a politician from the cellular level up. If he didn’t lose the backing of Florentines when he gave Steve Eason a city job, he should have. Haddock either needs an adviser or at least to learn that not all situations require a comment from him. Comment: He’s a prime example of the Peter Principal at work.

So, there’s your choices, folks. Are you having a hard time with it? Unless you’re either a close friend or relative of one of the above candidates, you have a pretty easy choice.

Yes, please do the research yourself, then vote for Susan Goode. We’re delighted to endorse Susan and expect big things from her.

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Florence hot spots? District One, as we’ve pointed out before, and District Six. Send us your comments; we publish all that are not libelous or vulgar.

The TD tells us Colbert County volunteer fire departments are asking for more money. Inside sources tell us that one or two of them wouldn’t need more money if checks and balances had been in place. We’re sure there’s more to come. Stay tuned…

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We recently lamented the lack of leadership in the small town of Rogersville, but that’s true in the Shoals’ largest city as well. How about District Two in Florence? We suggest you like Dick Jordan…he’s running unopposed. Can we all say “lack of interest?”

How about District Three? David Bradley is running against long time council member Hermon Graham. Graham forgot long ago that he is a servant of the people, not vice versa. Bradley is promising to listen to the citizens of eastern Florence. We say give Mr. Bradley a chance.

District Five? You have to choose between an 18 year-old and a Florence businessman who has demonstrated quite a lack of business acumen. We aren’t going to make a recommendation in this race, but we will comment that it’s a sad situation the district can’t field a roster of viable candidates.

Districts One, Four, and Six? Tune in tomorrow…

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We had a reader complaining about our blogging on a local career criminal. He or she felt we should be discussing our “country.” We doubt that was a sincere sentiment, but we’ll make a rare exception and offer up some food for thought on the presidential election.

We don’t like Trump or Clinton. It’s almost impossible to rate one above the other. Both are total scalawags and…well, you get the picture.

However, having said that we don’t like Hillary, we’ve been noticing something odd recently. Take enough pictures, and you’re bound to get an ugly shot of even the most attractive and decorous candidate, so we weren’t initially impressed by some of the ugly snaps of LaClinton; there seemed to be as many of Trump.

Yet, the memes and gifs just keep coming. So Hillary stumbles? FDR was confined to a wheel chair. Does her lack of coordination really matter? Let’s give the devil her due; it probably wouldn’t affect her ability to govern. Then we come to the facial tics. In a world where so-called intelligent people think Newtown didn’t happen and 9/11 was an inside job, we’re not surprised that all kinds of theories would crop up about Hillary doing drugs or having had a stroke or having dementia or a seizure disorder. Wait…that last one…have you looked at some of her recent performances?

We say there is definitely something physically wrong with Hillary. Now if we could just as easily explain Donald.

From a reader:

I sincerely hope residents of the Shoals realize how important August 23rd is to their future. Apathy and a lack of interest could very well cost everyone another 4 years of lost progress. In Florence it will mean another four years of a Dick-Tater regime. Sholanda's Six Mickey Haddock do nothing-ness list is a very good one. But remember Haddock didn't do nothing alone. He had help, especially under the heavy handed President of the Council and Finance Committee Chairman, Dick Jordan. Under Haddock Jordan's wife was hired and promoted, her pet project - The Indian Mound Museum is almost complete while the Senior Center, Animal Shelter and numerous other projects went nowhere. With the exception of Barry Morris, none of the other Council members bothered to question the Mayor's non actions. Instead they added to the excuses games.

Electing a new Mayor is just the first step - the Council is important as well. Susan Goode has outlined numerous actions she will take and will truly be good for Florence. She has leadership skills and will not bow to the good ole boys or other special interests. She is a bridge builder and that is badly needed in the Shoals The possibilities are unlimited if she is elected and has a strong Council to work with in accomplishing goals. While Steve Holt is a good person the Chamber under his leadership was stagnant at best. He came to the party late and has no real platform.

Regarding needed City Council changes, Andy Betterton is a consummate fence sitter and a follower. There are two good choices in that race opposing him. Bob Hill and Jim Fisher. This reader thinks Jim Fisher is the choice. Bob Hill is a good man and has served the state well but Jim's energy and expertise in all things technology could make a big difference in the City of Florence's progress.. It is rumored that the lack of fiber optics and other technology resources is the reason Florence lost a major employer.

A young man who had to go to court to get approval to run, Chase Holcomb, has done extensive research and has the intelligence and character to do the right thing. He is running against Blake Edwards. Edwards has also been a yes man to the Mayor and Dick Jordan and is not a big fan of progress.

Herman Graham has an energetic opponent in David Bradley. He is an independent thinker and determined to make a positive difference. His legal experience could come in handy. Hopefully his family won't try to sell the City property. Herman Graham is one of the nicest people you will ever meet and has made valuable contributions over the years but in this latest term he has followed in the steps of no progress.

Barry Morris stayed true to his vote to have term limits and has bowed out. Two good choices are running for that positon. Michele Eubanks is this reader's choice as she has fresh ideas and energy to propel progress.

Dave Smith is also a nice man but has followed and been complacent in a lack of progress for his district. Katrina Simmons is aggressive, educated and determined to make a positive difference.

So don't forget all of the races matter! The people elected will affect your quality of life on almost a daily basis.

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The above is a very insightful letter and one whose sentiments we share in large part. Now let’s look at District Four where Councilman Barry Morris currently serves. Three candidates are vying to fill Morris’ vacated seat:

* John Hargett – A perennial candidate with sound financial credentials and little chance of winning.

* Tom Wissert – A former member of the Florence School Board. If you want to know something about someone, ask a school teacher. We assume at least part of this vast trove of information is passed on to board members. His plan for District Four and Florence? All good wishes and no specifics? He has stated he wants to see the animal shelter and Wood Avenue paving projects completed, as well as determining the best solution for disposing of the old ECM Hospital building when the time comes.

* Michelle Rupe Eubanks – A former reporter for the TD. She also has to know what cooks in many areas. Knowledge is power. She states she wants to see District Four grow, but like Wissert, she’s lacking in specifics. Eubanks works in marketing and presumably has more concrete ideas than she’s elaborating on.

So, is there an obvious choice? Our personal opinion is that Eubanks may have a slight edge over Wissert, but either one will be good for Florence. Do your own research and, above all, vote.

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If we have any advice for candidates and future winners in local municipal races, it’s to become better listeners. Obviously, some constituents will have no idea of what you can or can’t do for your district and them, some will dislike you for no valid reason, some will pester the heck out of you; however, when you stop listening and don’t offer an honest reply, you no longer honor the office to which you’ve been elected.

How many current council members would the above apply to? We’ve certainly heard it often enough about Dave Smith in District One. Perhaps Prince will join us tomorrow for a bone-chewing evaluation of that race.

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As we publish today’s blog and prepare to post its link to FB, we see that we lack three likes having 5,000. Our sincere thanks to all our readers.

How many actually read out blog each day? While the numbers vary, we rarely have less than 3,000 page hits. Some readers send us hate mail while many more send us fan mail and ideas for future blogs.

Again, from all of us here, a sincere thank you!

We’ve heard from Chase Holcombe, 18 year-old candidate for Florence City Council District 5. He feels that we unduly excluded him from being a viable candidate because of his age. Were we ageist? In a manner of speaking, yes.

Without even bringing experience into the discussion, there are some things that automatically come with individuals in Mr. Holcombe’s age group. Let’s say he wins the seat and introduces disruptive ideas and laudable projects for his district. He will then be up for re-election in four years, but where else will he be? Isn’t it just more than possible, considering our area’s economy, that Mr. Holcombe will be moving from this area to take a lucrative job elsewhere after his college graduation? Then what of his wonderful ideas and projects?

While no one can guarantee what will happen tomorrow, much less a decade down the road, we firmly believe anyone seeking public office in local government should ideally be committed to serve 12 years. That doesn’t mean they should be re-elected, just that they should have the commitment to the office to be willing to serve that long.

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We’ve also received another interesting communication; this one from Jason Dylan Olive, the man who terrorized a large Florence shopping district last Thursday when he ran from police. Here’s an edited version:

Stupid a** b**** has no clue who I am.or what she talking about. I no longer am just gonna let anybody run over me or my decisions. Some are bad Nd some are good. But I stand by my mistakes and decisions. What gives I u the right to judge me. So what I have a problem. I do use drug . Not because I like to. So glad I are the bigger person here. And thanks. I hope my family or children ain't looking at facebook to see everyone slandering me and my name. Thanks again maybe we can meet in person one day and I'll show u around

Slander, Mr. Olive? We believe you mean libel, but we aren’t seeing that either. We touched on your actions, all documented by Florence police. We mentioned your occupation and your advertising tattoo pajama parties on FB. That’s all there in black and white also. Perhaps it was the hepatitis remark that you found unjustified? Sorry, we didn’t know you carried an autoclave with you to these little soirees.

A word of warning for those considering home tattoos: While some viruses (AIDS being one of them) can be killed with chemicals as mild as Ivory soap, others (hepatitis) require long periods of disinfecting or autoclaving to be eradicated from needles, etc. If you want a tattoo, go to an established business with a health department inspection posted.

Now tell us again, Mr. Olive, just what makes you the bigger person? Yes, we see this mentality every day. Dare to mention the evil doers in the world and be damned by a certain element who are proud of their lifestyle. Six days of sin and one of church going? We’re sure that, as career criminal Shannon Johnson said of himself, Olive is just misunderstood.

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Now a word from Prince:

Hi, everybody, Prince here, your faithful Canine-American blogger. I’m here to take a chunk out of crime and Dave Smith’s leg. Ruff! Okay, just kidding about the crime part. All you District One folks out there have a decision to make on August 23rd. Dave Smith, Kaytrina Simmons, or Yolanda Falk?

* Dave Smith – Isn’t there enough hate in the world, not to mention cats? What kind of person doesn’t support the new animal shelter? Dave Smith, that’s who. Let him know what you and your dog think of him on the 23rd.

* Yolanda Falk – Nice lady, the district could do worse…a lot worse, see Dave Smith.

* Kaytrina Simmons – Another nice lady, one with love in her heart for all of us four-legged citizens, two-legged citizens, and just about everybody. She gets things done. Has a proven record and has been vetted. Ouch, probably the wrong word choice there.

So that’s it from me, I’ll let Shoalanda take it over from here. Oh, just one more thing, if I hear you voted for Dave Smith, I’ll biiiite you!

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We’re going to agree with Prince that one candidate is laughable at this point, as well as despicable. That leaves Ms. Falk and Ms. Simmons. Both candidates have an impressive resume’. We’re going with Kaytrina Simmons; she has the connections without the baggage. Ms. Simmons will be an asset to all of District One and the entire city of Florence.

Finally, apologies to all our Feline-American friends out there for some of Prince's remarks. Just do as we do and humor him.

From a reader:

I was born in the Shoals and as a small child moved to Mississippi where my parents were originally from. My sister and I lived nearby our cousin and she became another sister to us. That was until one day she didn’t come home from school. I was too young to comprehend what was happening and my parents don’t talk about it to this day. My cousin was found alive, but she had been raped. Not long after this my aunt and uncle moved out west and my cousin went to live in a “school” for mentally troubled kids.

After I graduated from high school I came to UNA, met my husband, and have remained here ever since. I am and always will be a staunch advocate for strong(er) laws against pedophiles. Many months ago I registered at a news site to comment on a man named Derek Logue who is originally from North Alabama and who calls himself an advocate for sex offenders.

Some months passed and then one day I saw a post about my comment. Derek Logue had posted about me and two other people I had never heard of and stated we three were writers for Sholanda Speaks (this is the first thing I’ve ever written here) and someone had then posted a link to Logue’s blog in support of a young criminal, a man whose family lives near me in Killen. I wasn’t sure whether to be mad or afraid.

Since that time I have been in contact with the writers at Sholanda who promised to publish my story when they did another blog about Derek Logue. No one knows how many pedophiles like Logue are out there. I ask everyone to support the Sex Offender Registry. We can at least know who has already committed these horrible crimes even if we don’t know who will commit them in the future.

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We’ll admit we hadn’t thought very much about sex offender advocate Derek Logue until he recently commented on one of our Twitter posts. It seems in Logue’s twisted thought process, Wounded Knee wasn’t a military action.

So how is this Alabama native doing in the wilds of a cold and cruel Ohio where our tax dollars support him (he’s considered disabled because he can’t get a job due to being on the registry)?

According to Logue’s own words, his checking account is $200.00 in the hole and he needs money to fight a New York libel suit. Perhaps Logue will now think twice before he accuses a support organization for victims of sex crimes of misappropriating $25,000.00 in state funding. We’ll follow this lawsuit and let you know the results.

As for Logue’s accusations about the three individuals, not one of them writes here. One lives in central Alabama, another doesn’t even live in the Southeast, and the third has never contributed…until today. And the names listed in support of the young man our reader mentioned? Not one of the four writes here.

In fact, one of the four doesn’t even exist. We’ve recently learned that Chip Dillard has never been married and, therefore, has no ex-wife to blog “top secret” information. No matter what we think of Mr. Dillard’s current legal situation, we do sincerely thank him for the assistance and (non-classified) information he’s contributed over the years.

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Today we finish up Florence municipal elections; then on to Muscle Shoals. Let’s look at the candidates for District Six:

* Andy Betterton, the incumbent – Mr. Betterton hasn’t advanced the city in any areas, but neither has he slugged anyone or hired any of his relatives…that we know of. No, Andy seems to be a staunch follower of the status quo.

* Bob Hill Jr. – Mr. Hill was deep in the political game long before most of us were born. He may have some good, even great ideas, but is he prepared to serve three, or even two, terms in order to see them through? If Andy Betterton hasn’t been pushy enough in his role as council member, Mr. Hill has been described by many as overly pushy in his past political roles. Is there no hope for a happy medium?

* Jim Fisher – Mr. Fisher is a local businessman who served for a short time on the Florence School Board. A recent letter writer called him tech savvy; compared to the current city council, he’s in his prime—young enough to bring fresh ideas and energy to the council, but old enough to have a well established business that won’t interfere with council duties.

We sincerely hope that in a few short months Florence will have a new mayor. A new mayor deserves at least some new council members to bring innovation to our city. Our city has long been hampered by mediocrity. Jim is anything but mediocre; let’s give him a chance. We think you’ll be glad you did. We wholeheartedly endorse Jim Fisher for District Six.

WARNING: The following blog presents a strong dose of logic; if allergic, don’t read.

It’s only been a few weeks ago that we declared our personal feelings toward guns. We’re pretty much middle of the road, meaning both extremes in the issue hate our opinion. Guns are a necessary evil. We’ve never understood why parents leave loaded guns lying around for children to find, but they do and apparently they aren’t going to stop even after their child or grandchild is killed.

Yet this isn’t about a parent; this is about a young couple who have no children. Unless something is being left out of the story, this young couple is no Bonnie and Clyde, but law abiding citizens who have found themselves in a nightmare they had nothing to do with producing. In other words, this young man and woman are the victims here and have both our sympathy and support.

Toddler Who Died due to Mother's Negligence

The whole lurid story: A woman (and perhaps her current husband, we don’t know) visits a home with no children. The couple who owned the home didn’t know the child was coming. In fact, the young husband wasn’t even there. At some point the mother, Ashley Reaves, uses the telephone and loses track of where her son Robert Michael Reaves is. While Ashley is paying attention to her phone and not her son, the two-year old finds a loaded gun on a nightstand in the young couple’s bedroom and shoots himself. The gun is at the ready due to some serious crime in the couple’s neighborhood in the preceding two months.

We’re seeing a lot of inane rhetoric about the gun “going off” or the child “being shot.” No, the gun didn’t just go off, Robert pulled the trigger and shot himself. It’s as simple as that. We don’t know how many seconds it took for Robert to see the gun, walk toward it, pick it up, and pull the trigger, but whatever number of seconds it was, that was the number of seconds Ashley Reaves was not supervising her son.

So, how is this supposed to work, Dr. Graham? (We’re not calling you “mister” since that’s a title of respect.) Our gun is in a bedside drawer, but the drawer is unlocked. If this happens at our house, are we liable? Or how about this: Just before we read this horrible story we were polishing some brass, and the Tarn-X is on the kitchen counter. If a child comes into our home unexpectedly, is left unsupervised by his guardian, and drinks the corrosive chemical, are we responsible?

How about this: We’re sure there was at least blood at the scene of the shooting and perhaps even some brain matter. Who cleaned it up? Why don’t the young couple sue for damages? Then add a little extra for emotional trauma as well? Billy and Mr. Holt don’t work for free; the young couple can use the money.

Now here’s a little extra logic while we’re on a roll. If you have five children, can you take care of them? In today’s world that’s a large family. Two of the children weren’t named Reaves, so there’s a strong possibility of emotional instability and upheaval in that family already. Usually DHR will investigate when a child dies. We hope that the Colbert County DHR is thoroughly investigating Ashley and Keith Reaves before anything happens to the four remaining children in their custody.

We would sincerely like to know why an innocent young couple has been arrested instead of Ashley Reaves.

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It’s also no secret that two of our regular bloggers are extremely pro gun. We’re awaiting their take on this surreal boondoggle.

We are publishing the statement of Billy Underwood below. Mr. Underwood is the attorney representing a young husband and father accused of manslaughter in the death of a Colbert County toddler.

However, we first wish to amend our blog from yesterday. The Whitfields do indeed have a young son. We’ve received conflicting reports on whether or not the child is walking. If the child is walking, we firmly believe DHR should pay the Whitfields a visit. That does not mean we feel they were responsible for the death of the Reaves toddler. We are not Hillary Clinton who thinks it takes a village to raise a child. If there should be any other mistake in yesterday’s blog, please inform us and we will amend it.

A few points on the reaction to yesterday’s blog:

* We do not publish comments with vulgarities. It doesn’t speak well of you, your argument, or your morals when you make such comments.

* We had to delete one comment for language which had basically stated the county had every right to tell citizens what they could or couldn’t do with their guns in their own homes. Referring to homes with adults only present, we fail to see any basis for such a specious statement. Remember, if they can tell you where you can or can’t keep guns in your home, they can also tell you not to keep guns at all. (We never thought the day would come when we would make such a pro-gun statement, but we never thought that any local government would sue an innocent couple for manslaughter.)

* We also had comments that government operations are none of our business. Really? All who blog here pay taxes; that makes any government action our business. In fact, our most pro-gun blogger lives in Colbert County and we’re waiting on his statement for publication.

* Comments about attorneys for the Whitfields being ambulance chasers? Are there any out there so obtuse that they feel this young couple doesn’t deserve a defense? Remember, it was the county/state that brought this lawsuit, not the innocent victims. Yet to answer our own question, we know there are some out there who know as much about the legal system as we know about quantum physics…or even less.

* Finally, for those upset that our blog even mentioned the death of the Reaves toddler, remember we never once commented on this situation until Bryce Graham brought charges against the Whitfields. Nor would we have. We have sympathy for the family, but our logic or common sense hasn’t flown out the window simply because a child killed himself. It’s interesting, but hardly surprising, that the only ones damning the Whitfields or supporting Ashley Reaves are friends of the Reaves family.

Now here is Mr. Underwood’s statement:

STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY BILLY UNDERWOOD (AUGUST 12, 2016)

"I am absolutely floored that William Whitfield has been charged with the crime of manslaughter, which is a 10-20 year sentence by the State of Alabama. During the past two months, Mr. Whitfield’s vehicles in his front yard had been broken into twice and the neighbor who lived behind him had also had their house broken into. Whitfield, for the past months, has left a firearm on the night stand in his bedroom; the most sacred of rooms in a house and one you would want to readily defend against an intruder. Almost thirty days ago, Whitfield left to go to work in the morning at 6:00 and a tragic accident occurred in his house. He was not home, yet he has been charged with a 10-20 year imprisonment crime because a child, who he did not know would be in his bedroom standing next to his mother who was talking on the phone, shot and killed himself.

This will be a classic clash of Second Amendment rights, the right to privacy in your house, and whether or not a gun owner can be held accountable for an accident when he is not home. This is such a rush to judgment and people’s emotions are still high from this horrific accident. This case will definitely have to go before a jury and hopefully the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of Colbert County will be upheld. Otherwise, all weapons in this county need to be well-hidden and not within reach if someone breaks into your home."

Fraud in Red Bank & the Jack’s Sign Again

By: The Midnight Rider

Recently we saw an article on WAAY 31News concerning a member of the Red Bank Volunteer Fire Department that had gotten into some trouble. Here is the article from their website:

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ala. – The former Assistant Chief of the Red Bank Fire Department, Charles Wayne Lash has been indicted for criminal insurance fraud.

The Insurance Fraud Unit of the Alabama Department of Insurance arrested Lash on May 28 after he allegedly filed false papers and a false insurance claim of approximately $26,000 for a “wrecker” style 2003 Ford F-350 truck which burned under suspicious circumstances.

Charles Lash

This information leads us to this article. We remember Mr. Lash from the 90s. He had a Quasi-Security Company that protected the Waffle Houses in the area. That was a joke. He was also a Repo Man, always driving around in a wrecker.

But the main thing that sticks out in my mind, he was a member of the Colbert Rescue Squad. I remember that he kept the Ambulance at his house in Muscle Shoals. There were several complaints of him riding around the neighborhood with the lights and sirens going.

Now, we give you the main topic of this article. Does Red Bank Fire Department not do background checks on their members? Because Mr. Lash has been to prison in the late 90s for setting fire to his Mother’s house and then trying to claim the insurance money. Does anyone else see a pattern here? It will be interesting to see the outcome of this case. Please remember that “all persons are innocent until proven guilty. “ There is also the saying about “quack like a duck, walk like a duck.” Quack, Quack.

Jack’s Sign

A couple of weeks ago, we wrote an article about the Jack’s in Sheffield having “Ho Dogs” on sale. We posted a picture of this. Well now it seems that they are at it again. A friend of mine sent this to me.

We are going to start eating at Jack’s just so we can see what the sign is going to say next week.

Until next time…

I am and always will be, the Midnight Rider.

Several weeks ago we began to receive tips concerning a major embezzlement crime at a Colbert County volunteer fire department. Various amounts of missing money were mentioned, but all reported the theft to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

We questioned a knowledgeable source who told us there was indeed an investigation into a certain department and he would provide us with more information when charges were officially filed after the indictment. Are such thefts unusual?

Since we’ve been writing this blog, both the Cherokee Volunteer Fire Department and two Lawrence County, Tennessee, volunteer departments have been victims of embezzlement. The Lawrence County case is particularly interesting since the alleged thief is a UNA grad who was also serving as a county commissioner at the time. Then just last week the Midnight Rider blogged about an assistant Red Bank chief accused of insurance fraud/theft.

So, no, these type crimes are not unusual. We assume these small departments are desperate for members and are also overly trusting.

Fast forward a few weeks, and we’re still waiting on an indictment; however, there are now two Colbert County volunteer fire departments under investigation. Most were expecting the indictments last Friday, but even though they did not materialize, questions about the situation have made their way to Facebook.

We know the name of only one of the departments, although we have strong clues as to which department is the second victim of a trusted member helping himself to funds meant to assist the citizens of remote rural areas of Colbert County. Why is this still happening?

We can blame the lack of checks and balances in large part, but the good ol’ boy mentality of covering up for each other has certainly played a large role in the first instance. That’s not apt to change any time in the immediate future.

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We noticed that some of the male readers who commented or followed our blog on the Reaves toddler death were volunteer fire fighters. How did we notice? No matter their occupation, they prominently displayed photos of themselves in fire fighting gear.

One of the late Michael Crighton’s last novels concerned the genetic propensity for risk taking. It’s more common in males and crosses educational and intellectual lines. Could the gene that propels these men (or women) to such occupations also make them more prone to the thrill of theft? We’re sure there are studies into this also; comments welcome.

In case you’ve missed the fireworks, the State of Alabama has a new head of its education department…and he’s not from Alabama. There’s been much criticism about Dr. Sentance’s qualifications for the job from both conservative and so-called liberal political pundits. One unjust criticism we’re seeing is that Sentance had applied for five such jobs in other states before being hired here. We have to ask these writers: How many jobs did you apply for before you were hired at your present one?

Will Sentance stay? That remains to be seen. If a Canadian can take our summer heat, surely a New Englander can also.

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Over the years we’ve mentioned the “It’s best not to talk about it” school of thought. You know how that works; we can’t unrape the four year-old child, so let’s not mention it. Nor should we mention questionable spending on the part of our local governments. Now it seems we shouldn’t mention two recent thefts from volunteer fire departments since these departments do so much good. Maybe it’s just us, but wouldn’t these departments be able to do so much more good if they had the stolen money back?

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Lest you think all volunteer fire departments are alike, we have a statement from Carlton Utley of the Spring Valley volunteer fire department on how their funds are handled:

The chief and assistant chief has a $500 spending limit for emergencies only and the expenditures must be justified to the board (repairs mainly). Our secretary makes the deposits and writes the checks, all checks that are written must be approved by the board and signed by 2 board members. When the bank statement comes in at the end of the month it is laid out where all members and residents of the community are free to view. We have this system in place in order to maintain transparency and be good stewards of the money the community has trusted us with.

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A local news source has stated Jason Dylan Olive of four-minute chase fame was arrested over the weekend for his crimes. We had previously heard from several readers who wanted to know why he was a free man posting on social media. We have no idea. Did Olive walk out of the hospital where he was taken after the chase ended and then remain AWOL for more than a week?

Sources at the Lauderdale Detention Center say that Olive was arrested on August 12th; however, he almost immediately bailed out. No money for child support, but plenty for bail? First things first.

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We had one recent critic who espoused the theory that “blended” families don’t always have problems. In the case of the family in question, she may want to check out a recent comment by the father of the two older children involved.

In less than seven days, the Shoals will hold municipal elections. Unfortunately, many will not vote. It’s unfathomable why some won’t vote in a city election where their ballot just might make a real difference, but proudly brag of voting in a presidential race which, at least in Alabama, is a foregone conclusion.

We’ve discussed Florence, now let’s venture to Muscle Shoals. Up for grabs are three city council seats. Each of the three has only two candidates, so the Tuesday election is the whole shebang.

Place One:

Chris Hall – A realtor who uses a sea of rhetoric in his platform. You can find his platform on his FB page, but basically he wants to meet challenges, support the city and its services, and do what’s right in general. So what does the reader learn from this? Absolutely nothing unless you count the fact that Mr. Hall needs professional help with his writing. Another long article in the TD conveys only that Hall wants to see more cooperation among local governments.

Don Terry – A former police officer. Terry has concrete ideas to improve police and fire services. While he doesn’t enumerate all the “changes” he wants to see in Muscle Shoals, he at least is specific in part of his platform.

Do we have a recommendation? Yes, we endorse Don Terry and suggest Chris Hall get some serious help with his writing.

Place Four:

Ken Sockwell – A credit union employee. Sockwell’s entire platform is “more jobs.” Beyond that, he sings the praises of the city, but offers no concrete ideas for advancement in any areas.

Mike Price – A commercial maintenance tech. Price’s platform? More jobs. He also touts his decision making skills, but doesn’t offer any data to back them up.

Our recommendation? Take your pick. If either one wants to stand out, he’s not doing a very good job of it.

Place Five:

Allen Noles - Retired from Electric Board. Noles is a long serving council member. His platform, while not innovative, at least proves he can read and write well. His ideas are to expand educational opportunities and city services. Some of our readers have called Noles a “yes man.” From the few documents available to us, we’re not particularly seeing that, but will mention it in the for what it’s worth department.

Daron Goodloe - Instructor at a local community college. In checking on Mr. Goodloe’s qualifications, we can find nothing in the TD or FB. His LinkedIn profile is scant. In other words, Mr. Goodloe is an unknown quantity and doesn’t appear to be putting very much into this race.

Recommendation? Allen Noles has the ability and the experience. We will suggest that since Mr. Noles is retired, he set up some system where the citizens can easily contact him online with their concerns. We’re not seeing “yes man” here; we’re actually seeing more qualifications than the current mayor.

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The Foghorn Leghorn Award– We’ve never given this award before, but after reading Chris Hall’s platform on FB, he’s the hands down winner.

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Quite close to some recent conversations:

SS: John Doe, 25, is serving a ten year prison sentence for the theft of 11 cows, six pairs of knickers, and a crack pipe.

Reader: You dumb idiot you. You lie. You got it all wrong. He’s 26.

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In the “Compassion Isn’t What It Used to Be” department, it’s great to serve your community as a fire chief, but FB posts ridiculing SNAP recipients don’t speak well of you or anyone else. Certainly the program is abused by some, and we’ve very glad you’re able to support your family/families without using it, but things change. It’s always good to remember that.

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Coming to Russellville this weekend:

From a reader: Thank you for what you do. As a volunteer firefighter in Cherokee I did want to make one correction to your recent blog. It was not our fire department but the Cherokee Rescue Squad where the funds were embezzled. Like you, I’m waiting for these new indictments to be handed down and am very sorry any of our firefighting brothers have been guilty of this. Thank you.

We’re happy to make that correction and many thanks to the Cherokee Volunteer Fire Department for its good works. Also for the readers who asked, the Cherokee money was repaid; the Lawrence County, Tennessee, cases have not yet been adjudicated, but considering the amount of money allegedly stolen, it’s doubtful all can be recovered.

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From a reader in Eastern Lauderdale County:

From February: An Alabama lawmaker is seeking to have drivers ticketed if they are staying too long in the far left lane of an interstate.

In the news today: Legislation to make harming a first responder a hate crime

Does all of his ideas come from conversations at the Green Hill convenience store?

Don't get me wrong they are not terrible ideas. It is just that we need better. We deserve better....

Our take on the law is simply: Who is correctly categorized as a “first responder?” From the website of National First Responders:

At NFRO, our definition of a First Responder is simple: A First Responder is any individual who runs toward an event rather than away. The list below is not exhaustive, but only a sampling of First Responders. If you feel you should be on this list send an email with your story to info@nfro.org!

Police Officer
Peace Officer
FBI Agent
US Secret Service Agent
US Marshal

Firefighter
Deputy Sheriff
Special Deputy Sheriff
Sheriff
Under Sheriff

Emergency Medical Technician
Doctor
Nurse
Physician Assistant
Dog Warden

Animal Control Officer
SPCA Officer
Correction Officer
Warden
Inspector

Life Guard
TSA Officer
Special Police
Paramedic
AEMT

DEA Agent
Fish and Wildlife Officer
DEC Official
Emergency Medical Professional
FEMA Official

Homeland Security Agent
Air National Guard Soldier
US Army
US Navy
US Marine

US Air Force
US Coast Guard
Public Safety Official
Dispatcher
Coroner

District Attorney
Assistant District Attorney
Probation Officer
Elected Official

ATF Agent
State Coordinator
County Coordinator
Town Coordinator
Ladies Auxiliary

Campus Security
Security Guard
Fire Marshal
Harbor Patrol
Harbor Police

Constable
Court Officer
Investigator
CERT Member
Public Information Officer

Military Police
Environmental Police
K-9 Officer
Auxiliary Police
Park Police

Park Ranger
National Seashore Officer
Bridge and Tunnel Officer
Conservation Officer
Diplomatic Security

Private Investigator
Citizens Police Academy Graduate
Police Explorer
Corporate Security Officer
Insurance Investigator

Air Marshal
Civil Air Patrol
Game Warden
Postal Inspector
Transit Police

Red Cross Member
AmeriCorps
EPA Officer
ICE Agent
Border Patrol

Air Traffic Controller
University Police
Parole Officer
Fire Commissioner

That’s quite a list. We can’t think of any local situations where a first responder has been harmed in any way, but we welcome comments.

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Sheffield has two council seats up for grabs next Tuesday. Here’s the rundown:

District Four: Mary Stevens or Penny Freeman? We say give Penny Freeman a chance. She has fresh ideas and has promised to work with the council to achieve their implementation.

June 2016 Mug Shot

District One: Sebastian Devaughn, Dewayne Roden, or Gary Scales? An informed source has told us the candidacy of Devaughn has been or will be contested. That leaves Roden or Scales? Scales is the incumbent; however, we’re going with Roden. Sheffield deserves more than the current status quo.

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We regularly publish comments and articles from readers. Unless they state they want their name published, we NEVER identify an author. We will say that many articles, etc. are published in answer to stories first appearing in the TD and are not meant to be a complete picture of any event or situation. In other words, if the TD has covered that aspect of the subject, most writers don’t feel the need to reiterate; they are simply attempting to elaborate where they think it is needed. No two people ever see the same aspects of any situation—that’s what makes historical accounts, court room trials, and boudoir memoirs so interesting.

Cheers!

The way to solve problems is first to acknowledge them. Acknowledgement in any area of concern seems hard for many in the Shoals, judging from comments we've received over the years. After Troy Oliver left office, the town of Russellville had a chance to move forward...and it has. The question is: Is Russellville moving forward at a pace to even keep up, much less get ahead?

There are three candidates for mayor in Tuesday's election. David Grissom is the incumbent, who like most politicians is taking credit for the sun rising in the east each day. Then we have Randy Bray who doesn't seem to have much of a platform unless you consider his constant use of the word "equality." Finally we have Donnie Horton, a long-time businessman with fresh ideas to promote the city, especially its downtown.

We consider a vote for Randy Bray a vote to move backward. Neither Grissom nor Horton has addressed the animal control situation in Russellivlle. We can understand that when citizens have near-starving children, they have scant inclination to think of animals. How does one rise from the depths that Russellville has fallen into?

Any candidate can promise economic prosperity and more jobs. Russellville voters have the choice of Grissom or Horton to make these promises come true. While David Grissom hasn't failed at his promises, he hasn't succeeded either. We're endorsing Donnie Horton as a man who can get things done.

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Return to Florence? Perennial candidate John Hargett is actually campaigning for District Four council member. Readers actually have questions about Michelle Eubanks' record. Tom Wissert is holding steady.

We didn't previously offer a recommendation in this race, but if any readers have more comments, please send them. We will have more before the election

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We see that Florence mayor Mickey Haddock is claiming to have achieved work toward a new senior center. Perhaps he could elucidate the voters with an actual example of that work?

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Poor Sheffield? Will District Two (apologies for referring to this race as District One yesterday) become ground zero for election fraud complaints?

Sebastian Blu Devaughn

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Is Alabama the only area to see the loonies come out of the woodwork at election time? Not quite. Remember this guy?

We've previously endorsed Sandra Killen-Burroughs for mayor of the uber small Lauderdale town of Lexington. We're also going with the gals for the two contested town council seats. Peggy McGee and Carla McGee are sure winners!

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Tuscumbia? Similarly we've previously endorsed Kerry Underwood for mayor. The small Colbert County town has a number of council seats up for grabs. Choose wisely.

District 1 – Katherine Logan, Robert Polk: We endorse Katie Logan. She has what it takes!

District 2 – George Johnson, Geraldine Tompkins: No recommendation

District 3 – Dave Couch, William Foster, Tom McCormack: Dave Couch has the business acumen. A winner for everyone!

District 4 – Richard Coates, Paul Haley: Paul Haley.

District 5 – Mike Isom, Terry Willis: This election has already been decided since the Ethics Commission barred Terry Willis from running. Congrats, Mr. Isom!

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A comment about comments: Comments with profanity or vulgarity will not be published either here or on Facebook. We also refuse to publish comments which encourage violence. We had one of those in support of Ashley Reaves, but it was removed before we could delete it. We're happy to publish comments not in support of our views, but please remember our guidelines.

Important: On extremely rare occasions, a comment will unfairly hurt a bereaved person or family and we will not publish for that reason. We received such a comment a few days ago from someone we believe to be L.V. We will be happy to speak with you via our e-mail: Shoalanda.Speaks@gmail.com.

If any candidates have last minute announcements, please send them now so they can be published before the election. All readers living in incorporated areas are asked to take the time to vote on Tuesday. If you don’t, please don’t complain to us at a later date.

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No, it’s not too early to start thinking about runoffs. Several elections are featuring three candidates, and Florence’s mayoral race is boasting a field of five. While two of the mayoral candidates will garner what may be considered a miniscule amount of votes, these will be votes the top three won’t get. We’ll be very surprised if there isn’t a runoff in that race, a runoff where the majority of registered voters will sit home and say “ho, hum.”

And PresBO wanted to make voting mandatory for every citizen…

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Killen?

Town of Killen Municipal election is Tuesday, August 23, at First Baptist Church. Polls open at 7:00 am and close at 7:00 pm. Running for Council are as follows and in alphabetical order for each place. Names will appear on ballot as:

Council Place 1
Ryan Blessing
Robert White

We like Ryan Blessing and you should too!

Council Place 2
Don Owens
Mary Ann Rippey

Mary Ann Rippey has what it takes.

Council Place 3
Pamela Hardison
Connie Parrish

No recommendation, except that both need to learn how to use the Internet for their advantage.

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A time out from election talk to say a few words about…the Olympics. The U.S. medal count is great, and it should be. Look how large our country is. Have you noticed who’s ranked second in the medal count? It’s Great Britain. For all our British cousins residing here in the Shoals, we say “Way to go!”

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We continue to receive comments on recent legal verdicts, some fair, others unfair. Remember, a judge can’t sentence a defendant if the accused hasn’t been convicted. It seems pretty straight forward, but some still don’t seem to get it.

If you think our system in Alabama is lacking in…oh, common sense, just look at Florida. John Marshall Fitzgerald went on trial on Thursday in the attempted murder of Rivers Starkey. By Friday night, a jury of 12 was’t able to agree on a verdict. We would have thought four shots fired into an unarmed man would be pretty easy to comprehend, but apparently not.

Mistrial in Attempted Murder Trial

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Note: Everyone with I-Phones or other Apple products should now be able to see the posts of our friends at PNS.

Like Pen-N-Sword on Facebook

It’s Time to Make a Difference

By: The Midnight Rider

Usually The Rider writes about things that are wrong, might not be right or something humorous. This time, The Rider is going to write about something serious. This Tuesday, August 23rd, make your voice heard. YOU NEED TO VOTE! While we have written that we were disappointed with the number of people who decided to run, the people that did run deserve your support.

Our forefathers gave their lives to make this Country and You free. You have the Right to vote because of the men and women throughout the years that have made the ultimate sacrifice for You. This is the United States of America. A Free Country. We are Americans by Birth and Southern by the Grace of God.

While we do not live in the City limits and cannot vote in Municipal Elections, we have been following the elections. We are going to make a few recommendations. These recommendations are based on the candidates that have impressed us during the last couple of weeks. We would like to for you to consider the following candidates for your vote:

Tuscumbia Mayor: Kerry Underwood

Tuscumbia District One: Katie Logan

Sheffield District 4: Penny Freeman

Lexington Mayor: Sandra Killen Burroughs

Again, there are a lot of elections going on; these are the ones that stood out to us. It’s time for the People to be heard. Go vote.

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IzPl_LfBaMs/V7fUcDQ1PzI/AAAAAAAAP4M/oMZz3GkhL3gG6FjA9joA855AQ0JhdHZ2wCLcB/s320/election.jpg

Until next time….

I am and always will be, the Midnight Rider.

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From a Rogersville reader:

Does the term robber baron mean anything to anyone anymore?

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Be sure to check out Cherry's review of a North Florence staple:

Wok 'n Roll

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Due to the advent of elections, we may make more than one post tomorrow. Please keep checking back.

Someone, perhaps several people, sent out a letter in Rogersville recently. These individuals support Richard Herston’s opponent whom we endorsed. The letters contained incorrect information and bordered on libel if not actually

touching it.

A Word from Morris Lentz

We know that the Anti-Herston crowd involves at least two individuals, one a businessman who is on the surface supporting Herston while backstabbing at every opportunity. The second is one we believe contacted us concerning Herston’s use of town funding.

Does Herston’s opponent support what these two individuals are doing? If he does, Rogersville, you’re up Cripple Creek. You deserve better than one candidate who doesn't care about you and refuses to tell you the truth and a second candidate who will attempt to win at any cost.

Let’s see if you can’t do better in four years.

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Remember to vote tomorrow. Also remember this:

1. No matter who wins, your town will have the same problems to face.

2. No matter who wins, your town will have the same budget with which to work.

3. If you don’t communicate in some manner with whoever wins, the new office-holder won’t know your opinions/feelings.

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Sources say the Kelley Group, a business whose bread and butter is municipal contracts, is not only backing Herston in Rogersville, but Kerry Underwood in Tuscumbia. We wholeheartedly support Mr. Underwood, but when any group gives large sums to candidates, we should always take an extra look at them.

Everyone in Florence, listen up:

Here's what you need to do tomorrow...

1. Vote for Susan Goode for mayor!

2. Vote for anyone but Dave Smith in District 1!

Remember, I've been to basic obedience school at Texas A&M and got my masters at Auburn. I know my stuff!

Prince, Your Faithful Canine-American Blogger

The Good(e), the Bad, & the Ugly

Splish-Splash: Rogersville Takes a Bath

A Monumental Turning Point for Florence

Money to Burn?/A Florence Endorsement

Dick-Tater? An Apt Description?

Chase Holcombe, Jason Olive, & Prince

Tracking Sex Offenders/Florence District Six

Manslaughter? Is Bryce Graham Crazy?

Special: Billy Underwood's Statement on Reaves Toddler Manslaughter Suit

Fraud in Red Bank & the Jack’s Sign Again

Two Colbert Volunteer Fire Departments Victims of Major Theft

Where Has Jason Olive Been?/Blended Families?

Muscle Shoals Municipal Elections/SNAP

Sheffield Elections/First Responders?

Russellville Still Has Problems/Voter Fraud

Return to Tuscumbia & Lexington

Killen/Starkey Shooter Trial

The Midnight Rider on Elections

The Philistines of Rogersville

Ruff, You Florence Guys!