Life Without Walmart/Get VOCAL Tonight

If he were alive today, perhaps John Lennon would add a verse to Imagine. "Imagine there's no Walmart." If the powers that be in Florence have their way, there will be two Walmarts--three miles apart. Some say the city can't support two Walmarts. More to the point, how do we support one Walmart when we can't support Pier I, Linens 'N' Things, Food Max, Stein-Mart, Toys-R-Us, or Old Navy? We could list several more, but you get the idea.

Admittedly, some of the above retail giants went under nationally--not just in Florence, but no matter the cause, the effect was to drive more shoppers to Target, K-Mart, or Walmart. Did we say K-Mart? We're not sure that struggling entity will survive in Florence should a second Walmart come to fruition.The irony seems to be in the fact that the proposed new Walmart has produced more public debate than Division I, a new landfill cell, Charter Schools, and the location of the new hospital combined.

Don't like Walmart? Shop Target, but we warn you there's a possibility you could wind up speaking French.

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From D.K.:  

This week is "National Crime Victims Rights Week" April 22nd - 28th - We will have Crosses at Lauderdale County Court house all week.

On Tuesday April 24th @ 7:00 pm @ Wilson Park in Florence, AL. VOCAL will be sharing our Candle Light Vigil again this year with Safe Place and Rape Response. Speakers from each group. Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly will do the opening and closing of the Vigil . Lucia House will lead a prayer. Daniel Power and Kathyrn Burks will each do a song. You're encouraged to bring a lawn chair.

Our Key Note speaker will be Janette Grantham, formerly one of Attorney General's Victim Service Officers and now Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey's Victim Service Officer. Janette is a sister of Coffee County Sheriff Niel Grantham who was murdered 30 years ago. His murderer had been on death row all this time, but now has been moved off death row with life without parole, a hearing will take place April 30, 2012 on the matter. Janette has been active with VOCAL and understands the battles of what it is to be a victim. Everyone is welcome !!

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This is an appropriate time to thank D.K. for all he does for victims, as well as for what he contributes here. Sharing the grief of others is never an easy task, so on behalf of the entire Shoals area we thank you and your family for your continued support.

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While we don't place any significance in the number 13, we are happy to note that this is our 1313th post. On second thought, we'll say that makes us pretty lucky to have such faithful readers.

Shoalanda