Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Top Five Stories of 2019



The year 2019 certainly had some news stories not seen in the Shoals before. Here's our top five:






Honorable mentions would have to include:

* No real work has begun on either the Ag Center or Inspiration Landing, even though both had projected actual construction to begin this year. 

* The City of Florence made headlines twice in a negative manner; first when it washed away a rainbow on Mobile Plaza and later when it opposed Room at the Table. 

* Muscle Shoals had continued teacher behavior problems. 

* Perhaps the town to come out the least unscathed this year is Tuscumbia where not a single muskrat reared its head.

Let's all work to make 2020 better for all Shoals citizens!


I Was A Goooood Boy This Year!

Monday, December 30, 2019

Medical Furloughs for Prisoners in the News Again - Think Hershel Graham!




ProPublica is an organization that investigates abuses of power. Its latest research delves into county sheriffs who release violent inmates in order to save money on medical expenses: Release of Violent Offenders.

County sheriffs are not the only ones participating in this behavior. The Alabama Department of Corrections also releases prisoners on compassionate medical furlough, ostensibly to go home to die. Only sometimes the prisoners don't die.

Meet Hershel Dale Graham:


1. In November 2011, Graham shot an unarmed man on property belonging to Graham's father.

2. Graham was eventually indicted for Felony Murder; in 2015, a jury convicted him of First Degree Manslaughter with enhanced sentencing due to the use of a gun.

3. While Graham could have been sentenced to up to 20 years, the morbidly obese Red Bay man was sentenced to only two actual years to serve.

4. Once in prison, Graham never left the infirmary due to his many alleged medical conditions. 

5. The ADOC suggested sending Graham home to die, and a Franklin County judge approved the move with the condition if Graham didn't die within a set time frame, he would return to prison to finish the eight months remaining on his sentence.

6. Graham returned to Red Bay in August 2016. Supposedly under intense supervision, he began to roam Franklin County freely. It's now almost 2020, and the murderer of David Andrasik is still very much alive and still very much free.

Apparently it's not only school systems that pass the trash, but county and state corrections as well.


Washington State Inmate Found Too Fat To Hang; He At Least Died In Prison

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Alabama - Where We Defend our Scumbags





From the local school board (elected or appointed-many school boards in central and south Alabama are appointed and VERY corrupt) all the way to Goat Hill, the leadership in this state is BEYOND corrupt.

No wonder this state is vile, backward, looked down upon by those who are from the outside looking in.

- Horrible school systems. Who cares if we are dead last (#52 in math), our football teams are the primary focus.

- Alabama’s #1 attraction: cheap, uneducated labor. That brings in “...jobs jobs jobs...”. For $10 or less an hour, you too, even with multiple degrees and veterans, can go to work for 7-days a week, 8-10 hours a day, on an assembly line. Ah, but day 89, you will be laid off. Then rehired 2 days later. That is how the companies and temp agencies keep from having to pay benefits. OSHA???? Oh, who is that??? Oh safety...who cares. We will fire you, whistleblower. I learned something: if the restrooms look worse than an outhouse, do not take the job.

- Sheriffs...already mentioned. We have at least 4 convictions for illegal/unethical acts.

- Prison system: unconstitutional IAW the 8th Amendment. Need I say more????

- Opioid and other drug epidemics: when your state is so backward, it is depressing. So you turn to that. The Mexican Cartels have already set up shop via cheap illegal alien labor in the chicken plants. So now the drug flow from Mexico via Texas along I20/I10/I65 flows freely and hidden in the rural areas. Pick your poison. It starts with marijuana. IN THE SCHOOLS (yes, first time I smelled it was 4 years ago at the SE Alabama high school I taught-babysat-at; USMC recruiter told me he caught the students smoking it before school, perhaps that is why the school was out of control with a 90% teacher turn over rate). Then meth. Then....if you are still alive, to something else. News flash to you pot heads out there: every meaningful career (military) or job I ever had where the pay was REAL GOOD, you had to pee in a cup...all 400 milliliters (that is metric system for those that do not know). Piss hot (positive for drugs)...no job for you!!!

Speaking of cartels: ladies, parent(s): watch yourself and your kids. Human trafficking is alive and well. Atlanta to Tuscaloosa is an infamous corridor. We have a 29-yr old female missing. Over a week. Left the bar with “two heavyset black men”....”help me, I think I am in danger...”- last text message received 20 December...nothing heard since, zero activity on her credit card or bank accounts.

- Lack of broadband internet and cellular coverage: goes along with failed school systems. The “internet is a luxury” adage is SOOOO 1990s way of thinking. If you cannot download Google Chrome, how can your child use Google Classroom in order to conduct their school work? How can a business operate? How can one pay their bills? Banking? Apply for college/career/job/work from home??? Oh, you have AT&T DSL, Century Link...all at tortoise speeds. But one cannot, due to slow speeds, download Google Chrome...the download times out.

- Crime, disrespect, etc. What happened????? There are churches on every street corner and county road...

No wonder this state has a brain drain. 45/67 counties’ populations are shrinking. Then again, without quality healthcare, hospitals closing, more are dying than moving in. 

Guess what: Alabama is predicted to lose at least one Congressional seat. Guess what that means: your voice in the D.C. Swamp will be smaller...and guess who gets the seat we lost: Commiefornia, New York, Florida (states people LOVE to hate), Texas...News flash: 85% of the US population live in urban/suburban areas. Soon all of the farms and forests will be owned by outsiders and hedge find managers...look up Sidney, Nebraska. Population @6,500. The corporate HQ of Cabelas. Read what happened after Cabelas was bought and sold to Bass Pro Shops by Marc Singer, a billionaire hedge fund manager. Guess what, Shoals: you MIGHT want to take heed...

Our leadership, BOTH PARTIES, have failed us. Then again, when your school systems are just “passing on” students to get them in that workforce, holding NO ONE to account, well, you get what you pay for. Think about that the next time the young cashier is taking a long time to make your change.

And everyone say amen....AYE-MEN!!!!

Soooooo...you ask: who are the scummiest people in Alabama?

Look in the mirror: “We have met the enemy...and they are us.”


Sincerely,

LTC John E. Cole,
US Army (retired)

Saturday, December 28, 2019

Flee from Justice? It's Often the Best Choice




A few years ago, a local man from a good family had just escaped from justice for the second time. We have no idea if he ever read any of our blogs, but we suggested he give himself up, or barring that, make his way to Mobile and on to Mexico where he could begin a new life. Thankfully, the man was apprehended without incident, but he now languishes in a Tennessee prison with Alabama charges still to answer upon his eventual release.

This man had no funds to speak of, but what of someone who does? Obviously all eyes are now on two or three individuals implicated in a huge Tennessee grow operation just across the state line. A source familiar with the arrest of the Muscle Shoals partner has stated he had to surrender his passport upon his release from custody. The source further commented on the huge amount of cash and two bit coin accounts* found on this man's property. Was he ready to flee if his world came crashing down?

Does this man have other assets he can easily get to? We would assume so. What would you do if you were facing years in prison? Isn't a totally new life preferable to that? 

We've always heard the Caribbean was the place to go. No extradition from the Dominican Republic. The small Latin country may have intense poverty, but it also has it's good side:


A local former law enforcement official has commented to us that Micronesia is also free from extradition treaties and might be preferable to many:


We're not even touching on the remote African and Asian countries where a wanted person could live out their lives. To each his/her own. Family? There's always Skype, and with money, it's easy for family to fly in to visit. 

Our recommendation? Don't do the crime in the first place and you won't have to make decisions concerning the best escape venue.


* Anything is possible, but it seems highly probable that any escape plans included two individuals.



Friday, December 27, 2019

GoFundMe to Shut Down "Help Free LeLe?"




We've received the following communication:

Shoalanda, are you aware of a Go Fund Me account set up to free LeLe, the woman arrested in Wayne County? This violates their terms of service and I've reported it. They all will rot in prison if this case holds water.

While we weren't aware of the campaign, we are now. What is he GoFundMe policy?:

Daryl Hatton, CEO of crowdfunding rival ConnectionPoint, notes that crowdfunding companies can’t raise money to pay for someone’s bail. “Raising money for bail is prohibited by the payment processors and the credit-card companies,” he says. “As crowdfunding platforms we have to comply with these prohibitions.” 

We're certainly not going to link this fundraiser here, but as of five days in, the page has raised $25.00 of the $10,000.00 it's asking for. In case you think this means she's in for the duration, think again. We understand there's breaking news...




Janitress Posts 355K Bond? 

Thursday, December 26, 2019

A Tale of the Iron City Three




The published facts:

1. On December 18th, the Wayne County Sheriff's department and several other law enforcement agencies raided a pot growing warehouse on Highway 13 in Iron City.

2. On December 19th, Wayne County Sheriff Shane Fisher issued a press release in which he stated he anticipated three arrests stemming from the huge grow operation.

3. On December 20th, a Russellville optometrist was arrested. The raided warehouse was reportedly in his name, and Muscle Shoals police found evidence linking him to the operation in his Cypress Lakes home. He is currently free on bond.

4. On December 21st, a Sheffield janitress was arrested on similar charges and named as a partner in the operation. She remains in the Wayne County Jail.

The above four facts sum up the official status of the investigation as of now or at least what has been revealed to the public. 

The other shoe:

1. As of December 26th, the third arrest has not yet been made or at least not been widely publicized. In other words, we don't have enough official information to publish a name.

2. Sources inside the investigation are naming a Russellville businessman as the third partner in the operation. This gentleman travels widely in his work and has connections across the country. He is also a long standing friend of the optometrist. Is he the actual mastermind behind the huge grow/process operation?

Our thoughts:

1. Does anyone really think a janitress with only a modicum of formal education was in any way a real partner in this operation? Or is she someone to arrest in the hopes she'll grass on the grass grower(s)?

2. Does anyone really think that the optometrist, while incredibly naive, was the real mastermind in this crime? Remember, in a marriage be sure to get everything in your name; in an illegal activity be sure to get everything in someone else's name.

Final word: 

Let's make sure the actual punishments fit the actual crimes.



Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Merry Christmas 2019!




Wishing each of you the happiest holiday ever!

Peace to all, now and in the coming year!


All of us at Shoalanda Speaks

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Still No Muscle Shoals Football Championship?



https://www.timesdaily.com/sports/college_headlines/muscle-shoals-bratton-smothers-and-strong-sign-football-scholarships/article_6c1b8aad-dec8-5d20-b967-1c2a1f27f2e2.html


Smothers - "transferred" back to Muscle Shoals his SENIOR YEAR (aka - recruited).

Strong - "transferred" from Cherokee to Muscle Shoals after his sophomore year - JUNIOR YEAR (aka - recruited).

Who will be the New Kids on the Block next year to try for a state championship? The best Scott Basden can do is to keep playing teams that are easy pickings before meeting the big guns.

Recruiting doesn't always work - how many years has he been doing that and still no championship?

2020 should be another interesting roll.



Monday, December 23, 2019

Does Rogersville Have a New Police Chief?




The small Eastern Lauderdale County town of Rogersville recently advertised for one patrol officer and a chief for its oft maligned constabulary. Many considered it odd wording, since the two employees to be replaced were chief and assistant chief. At that time, we asked if the new assistant chief had already been picked from current members of the force. No answers were forthcoming from any quarter.

We were also told by many that Chief Terry Holden was not leaving until a replacement was found. On Friday, Holden had his official going away bash. 

So does the fair city of Rogersville have a new chief? So far no announcements. 



Meanwhile in Wayne County, Tennessee, the sheriff upped the number of pot plants found in an illegal grow from around 350 to over 500. Just how does that happen? His officers can't count? Ownership of 350 plants will bring you 30 years. Ownership of 500 or more will bring you Life. How convenient for law enforcement that this number increased...especially if you want to confiscate the old warehouse. Merely an observation, of course.

Meanwhile in Muscle Shoals...





Saturday, December 21, 2019

Iron City Pot Farm Duo Looking at "Unfair" Sentencing?




Since the raid on the Iron City pot farm, we're constantly hearing how unfair the arrests and possible consequences are. Here's something to think about:

An unscrupulous businessman cons three men out of their life savings. Victim A buys a can of paint and pours it over the conman's luxury car. Victim B takes a baseball bat to the conman. Victim C pulls a handgun and unloads a clip into the grifter. All three crimes were premeditated, yet the first is a Class A misdemeanor, the second a Class B Felony, and the third a Class A felony. 

Would you, the general public, not want these men sentenced for their crimes? All three knew exactly what they were doing was against the law. All three knew exactly what the consequences would be if caught and then chose which crime they would risk.

And, yes, the man and woman arrested in the Iron City drug bust both knew exactly what they were doing and what the consequences were when they began their enterprise. A quick Google search immediately shows the maximum sentence for possession of that many marijuana plants - 30 years. That's not counting the other charges. Remember a stern Tennessee judge could have the pair serve their sentences, if convicted, consecutively. 

Just as with the vandalism to the Baby Trump balloon, you may feel all the sympathy you wish for the culprits, but it's nonetheless still a crime. Don't like the laws? Lobby your state legislature to change them...then cross your fingers.


There's also a great deal of misunderstanding about what's legal in the U.S. At this time, only 11 states have decriminalized the recreational use of marijuana. We're not looking to see Alabama or Tennessee join them anytime soon.



Friday, December 20, 2019

Are We Getting Medical Marijuana for Christmas?




Stories of the huge drug bust in Iron City/Muscle Shoals have brought out the comments on Alabama's rigid pot laws. While the state may not be getting legalized MaryJane, it may be getting medical marijuana.

The committee in charge of a study on the issue has voted to recommend it. Thank you, Sen. Tim Melson. Just because we don't support the Ag Center, doesn't mean we don't support you personally. We believe this is something the state needs.

The senate bill to legalize this form of marijuana use will be introduced at the start of the next session on February 4th. Will there be opposition? Almost certainly. We consider this similar to panhandling. While some may abuse this law simply to get high, we should not refuse this drug to people who genuinely need it.

If you want to make sure the bill has the best chance in the senate and the house, write your representatives. We'll have more on this later. In the meantime, we're asking readers to tell us what other serious issues need to be addressed. Yes, we have a list, but we'd like to see yours...



Thursday, December 19, 2019

Do Wife Beaters Ever Learn?



Some say once an abuser, always an abuser. Or is it more truthful to say once violent, always violent? We believe individuals can be reformed if they want to be. Apparently John Milton Littrell doesn't want to be.


Remember John Milton Littrell? Eight years ago he made our blog for violently assaulting his girlfriend and then leading police on a two county chase. Now the 58 year-old Leighton resident is at it again.

Last week he was arrested for Domestic Violence, Disorderly Conduct, and Resisting Arrest in Colbert County. After posting bond, Littrell was immediately given quite a special escort to Lauderdale County where he was wanted in Florence for Failure to Pay in more minor cases.

This is Littrell's third known violent assault in the Shoals, although the first two happened in 2011. At least he appears to have controlled himself for eight years; we're sure that's little comfort to his latest victim.



Wednesday, December 18, 2019

A Tale of One Professional Panhandler




A Professional Florence Panhandler

A True Tale in which Shoalanda Fell Victim


About a month ago, I had just exited Walgreen's and was placing some parcels in the back of my car when I saw someone approaching. I looked up to see a very small, grizzled white lady wearing a toboggan; she immediately began her spiel. She had cancer and needed her medicine, but didn't have the co-pay of $10.00. Could I help?

My immediate thought was scam since the lady didn't seem too hesitant about asking, but she looked very weak and frail and appeared to be on foot in some very cool weather. I told her I didn't ever carry much cash, but might have a dollar. As I looked in my purse, I saw three one dollar bills. What if I or someone I loved ever had to resort to begging on the street? I took the bills from my bag and handed them to her and wished her well. 

Yes, I could have insisted on going back into the drug store with her, or asked for information so that I could contact an organization on her behalf, but I was rushed for time. Unlike most panhandlers, she didn't say she needed the money for food or gasoline, so I felt there was at least a possibility her tale of woe was genuine. If it wasn't? I had treated her in a positive manner and would have no regrets over failing to help someone who appeared to be in real need.

Now, approximately four weeks later, the problems of panhandling have been brought to the attention of many due to the City of Florence's stance on Room at the Table. Yesterday's blog brought multiple comments on this particular grifter.

It seems the woman is, according to readers, a meth addict. She often begs downtown around FloBama and has also been seen inside the club drinking at the bar. So much for my $3.00.

Will this change my stance on giving to those who ask? No. It will simply change the outcome of any future pleas I might receive from this lady. 

Now you have been warned about her. Give if you want to buy her a drink; if not, don't. Her actions don't change the real needs of many in Florence and the Shoals area. If nine out of ten are scam artists, should we not help the tenth who is truly in need?



Kudos to Room at the Table for handling any criticism in an extremely positive manner. This organization is requesting its supporters reply to any harsh words or even threats with nothing but kindness.

Florence is lucky to have Room at the Table here. Let's all get behind this work and support it to the fullest!



Tuesday, December 17, 2019

How Prevalent Are Panhandlers in the Shoals?




Homelessness and panhandling don't always go together, but often they do. We've received several communications in the past 24 hours that mention panhandling in the Shoals, especially Florence.

From reader reports, various types of panhandling are rampant at the Walmart on Hough Road. From personal experience, 90% of the panhandlers we've encountered in the past five years or so have been at the Seven Points Shopping Center. Perhaps we should also mention a woman on West College Street who was selling what amounted to weeds (not the kind you smoke) in order to secure money for cigarettes - she said.

Answers? Anyone? We would like to get a firmer grasp on where panhandling is in the Shoals. If you've encountered this phenomenon, email us.

Let's all try to remember that just because some abuse the social work system, that doesn't mean we should stop helping everyone. How can you judge who is sincerely needy and who isn't?

After all, Jesus didn't command us to help the needy...except for the alcoholics, drug addicts, mentally ill, and those who have simply made some very bad choices in life.



Monday, December 16, 2019

Gary Williamson Denies Room at the Table a Business Permit




Drive north on Wood Avenue through the Seven Points intersection in Florence District I and immediately look to your right. What do you see? An empty building that is home to two store fronts. How long have these two locations been empty? We have no exact dates, but quite a while.

Enter a charity which wants to occupy one of these empty storefronts to provide a daily meal to anyone who asks. Wow! How lucky can Florence, North Florence, and District I get? Apparently not very lucky if Gary Williamson has his way.

Williamson is the head of the Florence Building Department and he has denied a license to Room at the Table, a local charity that we can't say enough good about. So much for Williamson (and the City of Florence by default) wanting to help uplift the city and its citizens. 



Comparing Two Charitable Organizations

SAC calls Virginia its U.S. home, but the ultimate headquarters is in London, England.

RATT is locally based in Florence, Alabama.

SAC does God only knows what with your donations.

RATT uses all donations to feed anyone who needs a meal.

SAC has received more negative local, national, and international publicity than almost any known "charity."

RATT is highly spoken of in Florence. 

SAC is currently run by two temporary residents, one not even a native U.S. citizen. 

RATT is run by locals who know and understand the Shoals dynamic.

SAC doesn't always feed women as much as men, whether by intent or poor planning.

RATT feeds a complete nourishing mean to all.

SAC has reported sexual abuse and criminal activity at its shelter.

RATT has no reports of abuse or crime at its meal program. 

SAC gets $38,000.00 from the City of Florence.

RATT gets the shaft from the City of Florence.

Does any of this sound right to you? 

We're asking that Mayor Steve Holt and District I councilwoman Kaytrina Simmons step into this situation, as is their prerogative, and at least give the public some believable answers!



Sunday, December 15, 2019

Does Your Elected Official Respond to You?




First, we want to be sure that each one of our readers knows that he/she has a voice in government. You have the best chance of being heard if you're on the voter roles, but you also deserve to have your opinion count if you're a citizen. That would cover 99.9% of our readers.

You can write, you can phone, you can e-mail, or you can visit in person. What happens if your communications are not acknowledged? You should make that known.

Elected officials serve because they want to. County commissioners and city council members serve, usually, in a part time capacity and make the majority of their incomes in some other way. It's a choice. If they choose to "serve," then they should also choose to be accountable.

Have you contacted an official and had absolutely no reply? We want to hear from you!

Yes, please name names of these officials in your communication if possible. Contact us at Shoalanda.Speaks@gmail.com. Your name will not be used unless you stress that you wish it to be.



Saturday, December 14, 2019

Six Million Page Views and Counting!




This week our blog hit six million page views. Thanks to each of you, whether you regularly read our daily editorials or simply stop by from time to time if a topic of interest catches your eye!


As we recently mentioned, it's been quite some time since we honored a local hero. We're correcting that right now with a great big shout out to Roy Nagle. Roy has held political office while residing in Franklin County and now works tirelessly to make his adopted home of Lauderdale a better place.

Recently Roy participated in Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society. He's always a voice of deliberation and wisdom, often bringing his observant comments to our Facebook page.

We salute you, Roy! Many thanks for all you do for our local communities and all that we know you have planned for the future.



Friday, December 13, 2019

Could Jeffery Hunt Walk on Charges of Florence Child Porn?




Part II


By June 2019, Jeffery Dale Hunt was 50 years old and living on Mt. Hester Road in Cherokee. The change of address was an expected outcome of the fallout from Hunt's arrest. Wilson Avenue residents were openly hostile when confronted with the allegations that neighborhood children had been recruited for Hunt's pornographic enterprise. 

Sgt. Greg Cobb of the Florence police told the press that the number of Hunt's reported victims was in the double digits and all had been identified as local tots. Lauderdale County and the Shoals had never before seen a case of this magnitude or with so many young victims.

Hunt had also moved on in his career. He was now working for a Huntsville real estate developer. In all likelihood, the home improvement center where Hunt had worked had immediately terminated him upon the discovery that their employee had maintained at least part of his mammoth collection on its premises. Hunt's decision to keep all or part of his sordid portfolio at his workplace may be his salvation.

Hunt's trial had been set for jury selection when his attorneys filed a surprise motion. They argued that a search warrant issued in Lauderdale County was not valid in Colbert where investigators found most, if not all, of Hunt's prodigious output of kiddie porn. The Lauderdale County District Attorney's office countered that this was normal procedure and that its chief investigator was a member of an anti-pornography squad that had statewide jurisdiction.

In the end, Judge Gil Self agreed with defense attorneys and threw out all evidence the FPD had collected in Colbert County. The Lauderdale district attorney is appealing Self's ruling, but after six months, there has still been no word from the appeals court.

Unlike Matthew and Patricia Ayers of Lauderdale County, Hunt faces no federal charges for his crimes. The Lauderdale County case is currently the whole ballgame and it may never see a courtroom. In the interim, Jeffery Dale Hunt walks among us with a seemingly new and improved life.

Let's hope the Alabama appeals court makes the right decision.



Thursday, December 12, 2019

Will Accused Pornographer Jeffery Dale Hunt Get Away with Abusing at Least 10 Lauderdale Children?




The Alleged Crime: In December 2016, Jeffery Dale Hunt was living in a relatively upscale ranch house on Wilson Avenue in North Florence. He worked for a home improvement center in Muscle Shoals and often "babysat" neighborhood children. Some have reported to us that two of his charges were grandchildren, but we have not verified this.

Then the Florence police received a tip that Hunt was taking photographs of these children in sexual situations. After an investigation of three months, the FPD arrested the 48 year old Hunt in March 2017 and charged him with possession of almost 2,300 sexually titillating images of children. 

Hunt's bail was set at $400,000.00. The accused pornographer was soon released on the condition that he wear an ankle monitor at all times. Now. the detectives in charge of Hunt's case began to solidify the evidence against him. A final count of sexual photos on Hunt's electronic devices turned up over 4,500 more images; in May 2018, a new indictment was handed down and Hunt was returned to jail. His bail was set at ten million dollars, reportedly the largest bond in Lauderdale County history.

Hunt's attorneys argued that the bond amount was excessive, and Lauderdale County Circuit Judge Gil Self agreed. He allowed the accused child pornographer to again go free on his original bond.

Tomorrow: Legal Wranglings



Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Waterloo Is Waiting on the Lauderdale County Commission




As this year is winding down, many of us make note of what advances we have accomplished. At this time, it's good to take a look as well at what our governing bodies are accomplishing.

One ongoing project in Lauderdale County has been the improvements to Paradise Drive in Waterloo. To make it short and not so sweet, there still aren't any. Waterloo community activist and spokesman Hank Thomas recently sent this letter to Danny Pettus, commission chair:

Danny, we have now gone almost a year with nothing being done to the defects on Paradise Drive. Dr. Parrish died on January 20, 2019 so eleven months have passed. We were told that AT&T was the holdup on work on the blind curves and hills. Then we were told the engineer did not want to move the equipment unless he could complete the job. Also the gravel to be removed was causing a problem. We drive this road every day concerned that another citizen of Lauderdale county could be hurt or killed, traversing the road. We have had 2 deaths already. When people unaware of the dangers drive the road they often times move to the wrong side of the road to navigate the curves and many times we have dodged vehicles driving on the wrong side of the road. They do so because you cannot see what is coming around the blind curves and the blind hills. We have tried since 2006 to get the defects remedied by the county and thus far to no avail. We have had more grading of the road under your leadership, but the defects noted in 2006 remain. Please look into this matter and help us open up the curves and hills that are blind to traffic. 

Danny I have also attached the letter written February 2012 before the first death in May 2012. It outlines the defects I allude to in this email and have not been addressed except for a few signs that were required by the court in the settlement regarding the young man's death in May of 2012. 

Thanks Hank and the citizens of Paradise Drive.  

What else will it take to ensure the commission keeps its commitment to improve this dangerous roadway? No one wants another death...