Richard Herston Knows How to Treat People?

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.

*****

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.”

*****

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.

*****

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...