Enjoying the Fire Ants This Summer?

 

How did those pesky fire ants get up here in Northwest Alabama? Here's a short American bio for those ubiquitous pests:

Fire ants were introduced to the United States through the port of Mobile, Alabama, on multiple occasions in the early 20th century. While the exact name of the vessel that first carried them remains unrecorded, it is widely accepted that they arrived as stowaways in the soil used for ballast on cargo ships originating from South America.

Two primary species of imported fire ants established themselves in the U.S. The black imported fire ant is believed to have arrived around 1918. Subsequently, the more aggressive red imported fire ant was introduced in the late 1930s.

These ships, likely tramp freighters, would take on soil as ballast in their home ports to maintain stability during their voyages. Upon reaching Mobile, this soil was offloaded to make room for cargo, inadvertently releasing the fire ant colonies into a new environment where they thrived and spread throughout the southern United States.

So if you encounter a nest, call out Que les bons moments roulent and they should quickly disperse. Mobile is welcome to them.

The Most Important Florence Council Seat? - Part 1

 

For years, Dick Jordan ran the Florence City Council...into to the ground. Whatever his ol' high school buddy Joel Anderson Sr. wanted, he got. The same was true for his other pals.

When he saw that he had to give up his District 2 place on the council when he became terminally ill, he single-handedly picked his successor - Jackie Hendrix. So far, Hendrix has been good at crunching numbers and voting for whatever multi-million project is on the table. Jackie likes to show the public snaps of East Florence homes where his relatives live or lived, all the while living in McFarland Heights.

He touts "civic" memberships, but refused to help a local veterans organization (his opponent Gunner Ford stepped right in). He proudly mentions being on the Selective Service Board, but doesn't mention the draft was suspended in 1973. Just what does he do there?

Finally, in verifying Hendrix's address, we see that he has a second location for his Party Pros shop. Is 344 Beverly Avenue zoned for this business? Whether it is or not, this shows that Jackie Hendrix is no struggling East Florence common man...and he's no choice for District 2 representative.

Who Owns Five Below?

 

We repeatedly hear the statement that Anco (Anderson family) owns Five Below. Does it?

No. Here's a brief history of the retail phenom:

Five Below, the popular discount retail chain, has rapidly grown from a single store in Pennsylvania to a nationwide presence with over 1,800 locations in 44 states. Founded on October 4, 2002, by Tom Vellios and David Schlessinger, the company carved out a unique niche by offering a wide array of products, primarily priced at $5 or less, catering to the tastes of teens and pre-teens.

The initial concept for Five Below emerged from the founders' recognition of a gap in the retail market for a store that appealed directly to a younger demographic with trendy, affordable items. The first store opened in Wayne, Pennsylvania, offering a vibrant and fun shopping experience with a diverse product mix that included everything from candy and snacks to room decor, tech gadgets, and seasonal novelties.

The business model proved to be a resounding success, leading to steady expansion. A significant milestone in the company's history came on July 19, 2012, when Five Below went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol "FIVE." This injection of capital fueled an even more aggressive growth strategy, allowing the company to expand its footprint across the United States.

In recent years, Five Below has evolved its pricing strategy to include a "Five Beyond" section in its stores. This area features a curated selection of products at prices exceeding the traditional $5 cap, allowing the company to offer a broader range of items and appeal to a wider customer base.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Five Below continues to be a dominant force in the discount retail sector. Its focus on providing a dynamic and ever-changing assortment of trend-right products at low prices has solidified its position as a go-to destination for young shoppers and bargain hunters alike. The company's continued growth and adaptation to consumer trends suggest a promising future for the retail giant that started as a small idea for a teen-focused five-dollar store.

Todd Davis "Retires"

 

An educator has sent us this very interesting timeline:

Davis was hired at West Blocton as assistant principal and head baseball coach, not basketball, for the 2023-2024 school year.

Was ejected from a game for telling the home plate umpire to "get your black ass back behind the plate." Suspended by school and contract not renewed.

Next stop, Prattville High as an assistant principal last school year - announcement attached. What the h*** were they thinking?

Retired on July 1 according to the minutes from the Autauga County Board of Education.

That would place Davis' latest DUI arrest three weeks after his retirement from the State of Alabama system. Many retired teachers do return in various capacities, especially when there is an urgent need; however, we don't anticipate that will be Davis' future.

Will he begin a second career, perhaps in Lauderdale County? If it's in the public realm, we'll let our readers know. If it's in the private arena, we will not comment.

Florence District 6? One Obvious Choice

 

Voters in District 6 in Florence have a choice between radio personality incumbent Jimmy Oliver and nurse/social worker/animal activist Chapel King. Who is better to lead us in the next four years of financially unstable government?

Mr. Oliver has, until recently, seemed like a fresh light in City government. He even took on Arts & Museum Director Brian Murphy and pointed out the error of the Project Say Something stalwart's ways. Then, he seemed to change. Why? We don't know, but he became involved in promoting projects that most felt were not in the city's best interest financially.

Then we have Ms. King. She's a long-time local activist who's promoting fiscal responsibility, as well as fair treatment of all City departments. In short, she's a real winner.

We believe in Chapel King and wholeheartedly endorse her for Florence District 6 City Council representative!

Yes, Ron Tyler is a Democrat

 

Municipal elections are non-partisan, meaning there's no Republican or Democrat columns to check. Yet, it does make a difference.

In 2020, we published this blog; we feel it's still pertinent: Mayoral Candidates

Now in 2025, we have the same conundrum. In January of 2021, Ron Tyler did a videoed interview with Trinity Baptist Church:

In this interview, Tyler specifically mentioned that he is a Democrat. Does it matter in a municipal election? You read our view in the blog referenced above. If you don't want a Democrat for mayor, don't vote for Ron Tyler.

District 5 Needs Help

 

Florence District 5 has four candidates seeking the position of councilman. They each have drawbacks. They each have pretty much the same agenda.

We weighed ability and character traits and believe that Ben Maharrey comes out slightly on top. As we said with District 1, do your own research and vote your conscience.