Give Steve Pierce a Try for Your Insurance Needs

Not happy with ALFA and its stance on animal welfare? Many have been so displeased that they have switched insurance carriers, a large number turning to State Farm Insurance. Those who have switched have also reported much better rates.

Now State Farm agent Steve Pierce is offering to donate $10.00 to the Florence Animal Shelter for referrals who complete quotes:

ASK US ABOUT Quotes for Good! Refer a friend who qualifies and completes an auto quote, we will make a $10 Donation to the Florence Lauderdale Animal Services. Call us today 256-764-2285.

Now that is being a good neighbor! Thanks, Steve!

You Can Always Count on ALFA for Some Things!

Derek Logue Banned from Twitter

Sex offender activist and former Sheffield resident Derek Warren Logue has been banned from Twitter for promoting hate speech. Logue, who recently moved to Nebraska from Ohio, is facing serious theft charges in Florida. We'll keep this story updated.

Pen-N-Sword editor Trader will be on KISS 102.7 at 7:30 Wednesday morning. The animal welfare activist will be discussing the role of ALFA in Alabama lobbying, especially as it pertains to animal issues. Don't miss it!

Want to show ALFA how you really feel? Here are a couple of perfect Avatars for your Facebook or Twitter accounts:

Did ALFA Buy Danny Crawford for $84.5K?

By now, most individuals who keep up with state politics are aware that ALFA is currently under fire for its stance on animal welfare bills. ALFA is a menace to the caring individuals of Alabama, and many are now coming to realize just how far the organization will go to control our state legislature. A prime example is Rep. Danny Crawford of Athens who represents Limestone County and is the head of the Agriculture and Forestry Committee in the House. 

Danny Crawford - ALFA District 5 Henchman

Crawford has recently been criticized for sending Andrew Sorrell's HB 305 back to a sub-committee, effectively ending any chance for the animal welfare bill to pass this session. Below is a statement from Crawford in which he defends himself:

...the bill was vague and members thought it was over reaching. How do you define reasonably comfortable, varies with everyone? How do you enforce it? If dogs and cats are “tortured” now then authorities have power to arrest the owner. Maybe a local bill, if authorities will enforce it, will better serve the public and acceptable to those counties who want to enforce it. Every county feels different, especially the rural ones.

Does Crawford actually feel this way or is he in ALFA's pockets? During a three year period the farmer's group has given him a total of $84,500.00 in campaign contributions. To put this in perspective, the next largest donation to a committee member was to Democrat Dexter Grimsley for $24,250.00. Yes, Crawford received over 60K more; anyone think ALFA simply picked Crawford at random and gave the money out of the goodness of its cold corporate heart?

What do you think ALFA expected in return from Danny Crawford? Could it possibly be that the federation expects Crawford to vote the way it says? 

All you good people at Lindsey Lane Baptist Church be sure to say hello to your favorite politician at your next worship service. If you're in a really gregarious mood, be sure to ask him what god he follows...

Want to Trade Houses, Danny? Tell the Truth; God Knows Your Heart!

New State Lottery? It Won't Benefit Education!

Last fall, Johnny Mack Morrow ran on a platform that included a lottery vote. It received some criticism due to his initial scheme allotting only 50% of the proceeds to education. So now, we don't have Rep. Morrow in our state legislature, but we do have a lottery plan that is half way to passage. Guess what?!!!

The plan that the Alabama Senate passed this week doesn't allot ANY funds for education. Yes, you heard that right. What it does do is help the Poarch Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama (about 4,000 individuals) rake in more money than they've ever dreamt of. 

We're doubting that the current lottery bill will pass the house, but if it does, we predict that Gov. Ivey will sign it into law. So Alabamians can then play Lotto, but our school children won't benefit from it.

What will the lottery benefit? First, funds from the lottery will have to repay money stolen, er, borrowed, from the state Trust Fund. That works for most of us. Then the money begins to be split 50/50 between the General Fund and the Trust Fund. That's until the funding reaches a certain point when it's again meted out in differing percentages. The bottom line is that NONE of these percentages includes the Education Budget.

Sure, education might get a pittance here or there if that department is really in a bind. Pundits say the majority of the lottery proceeds will go to prisons and other non-education state endeavors.

Is this what you want? Let's hope not. If it is, then don't complain when Junior can't read.

Meanwhile at the Frog Pond Marriage Mart

Do Good & Save Money: Dump ALFA Insurance!

Alabamians across the state are switching from ALFA insurance to a more humane choice. That's not all, according to several who have contacted us, they're saving tons of money on the same coverage. That's called a Win-Win.

Here's what one reader from Tuscaloosa said:

I just changed from Alfa to USAA on Tuesday. I have full coverage on my 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. It saved me $350 per 6 months plus added roadside assistance, gap coverage & death benefits. I'm even more glad I did it now.

If that isn't enough to make you want to change your insurance carrier, we also read a story that would have been humorous if it hadn't been so true. It seems a farm family filed some sort of claim, its first ever after many years of paying premiums. When the agent came to resolve the claim, he spotted a dog behind the fence and immediately told the family to "get rid" of the pit bull or face immediate cancellation. The dog? It was a Boston Terrier. 

There are approximately ten ALFA agents in Lauderdale, Colbert, and Franklin Counties. Let's see if we can't at least whittle that number down a little. Who knows, some day they might just thank a caring public for forcing them into an honest line of work.

What Ricky Did Next...

Ricky Terry is now the uncontested chief of police in Sheffield. The entire city council had opposed him, but failed to file a law suit against his employment in a timely manner. What does Terry plan to do now? Paint the office walls. He also has previously ordered new badges and patches. Heavy is the head and all that.

Sheffield police needs real leadership. Is it getting it? At least one resident of Village Landing Apartments says Terry has refused to return his phone calls. We doubt this is unusual. We hear many citizens from the highest echelons of society to the lowest who complain of civil servants across the Shoals not returning phone calls or e-mails. 

Sheffield police officers need more training and pay raises, not freshly painted walls. Sure, the latter would be nice, but a spruced up office interior doesn't improve service. Perhaps when all that Inspiration Landing money starts rolling in the city will really start to shape up?

Any word on the status of interest payments on the USDA loan the city supposedly took out to finance parts of Inspiration Landing? Don't forget that Shoalanda is still accepting a limited number of investors for her hover board company...

Know Your Scam

How's the Law Muddling Along in Rogersville?

Remember the great 72 Roadhouse raid? You may not since nothing has been published about it since the initial days of the investigation. Was an underage female employee attacked? That was the original call to Rogersville dispatch. After that, things became extremely muddy.

There were three arrests, and the eatery was closed permanently. We understand that many of the employees haven't been able to find jobs since the roadhouse closed. Well, accusations of rape will do that sometimes.

One employee was arrested for failing to register as a sex offender, while a second was arrested on misdemeanor warrants. A third employee, the manager, was taken into custody on attempted rape charges and in connection with out of state warrants. What happened to those charges?

It seems there has yet to be an indictment in Lauderdale County...and there may not be one. Why? No one from the Rogersville police showed up to present evidence to the grand jury. The manager is either one lucky man or a very innocent one.

Our take? The police department is too busy examining vape pens to appear at court proceedings. Don't police officers face contempt of court in cases like these? Do Rogersvillians fall asleep at night feeling safe?

We welcome rebuttals...and stories of incompetence.

No, That Was Five Dozen!

Abused Child? Abused Dog?

What’s the difference between an abused child and an abused dog? Most individuals won’t see any, but the Alabama Farmers’ Federation (ALFA) does. That wonderful organization thinks Alabamians should have the right to abuse their dogs...or cats...or probably anything else short of their spouses and children (wink, wink).

How do we know this? As your mother often told you, you can tell by their actions. ALFA regularly opposes any laws in this state that are pro-animal welfare. It’s currently attempting to keep a minimal housing bill from passing. You know, one of those radical bills that says your dog or cat needs shelter on all four sides when it’s raining or snowing.

This is what one political pundit says of our legislature’s indecision in this matter:
 
Sending it "down to subcommittee" is a way of killing the bill without voting against it. The members of the committee do not want to be on record voting against something so obviously needed, but they prefer subjecting animals to poor conditions to forfeiting ALFA's financial contributions.

 
What if it doesn’t pass this session? Then you can look for some strong opposition to ALFA insurance and its agents throughout the state. There’s absolutely no reason we should allow a bunch of Godless hooligans to dictate to our state legislature. Did we say Godless? We’re pretty sure at least some have numerous DUIs and divorces; it’s all public information and is about to become more public when the Birmingham activists hit full steam ahead.

A tremendous thanks to Rep. Andrew Sorrell for sponsoring this bill!

 Putting ALFA Agents on Notice Starting Now!

Those Prison Phones...?

A few years ago, at least two concerned readers contacted us about cell phones in prisons. Specifically, these individuals were aware of two local felons who had access to communication devices they used to post Facebook updates. As we looked into it, we found at least one more who was using illegal communications. Why hadn't it been stopped?

According to the DOC at that time, the powers that be had decided to wait until new prisons were built in order to implement new cell phone blocking technology. So far these prisons have not arrived, but two raids have put the kibosh on many of these phones, ostensibly including those belonging to J.J. Common of Franklin County and Jerry Don Crowden of Lauderdale.

A February raid netted 48 devices in St. Clair, while a Holman raid this past week saw the confiscation of 16 more. The DOC has promised more impromptu raids, but is also asking for the public's help. From the Department of Corrections:

ADOC is asking that the public contact the ADOC Investigations and Intelligence Division at 1-866-293-7799 with information that may lead to the arrest of anyone attempting to introduce illegal contraband into state prisons. The public may also report suspicious activity by going to the ADOC Website.

Easter 2019

We talk of new beginnings throughout the year, especially in the spring and at Easter. Yet every day is a new beginning for us, a fresh chance to do good. Let's resolve to use each day for the betterment of our communities and families!

All of Us at Shoalanda Speaks

...But That Latest Inspiration Landing Article

The TimesDaily has just published a new article on the proposed Inspiration Landing project, this one focusing on Ditty TV out of developer John Elkington's hometown of Memphis. This particular news story was different from most - it didn't even bother to mention a possible date for the development's groundbreaking.

The last date thrown our way was around February 15th at the latest; that date passed two months ago, and we've had no status updates since then. IL is now in its fifth year of planning. 

Is the City of Sheffield now paying interest on the USDA loan acquired to assist with the project? Or did the loan not go through yet? One of our bloggers lives in Sheffield, and we understand that he may be making a personal trip to city hall to find some answers to these questions.

Wait...did we say find answers? Obviously we meant to say ask questions. Let's not be too overly optimistic about finding any answers.

Some Observations from J. Redmon

* The worst thing about all this rain is that it allows you to see just how many idiots there really are in The Shoals. (Hint: They're the ones that don't have their headlights on.)

* The Democrats aren't interested in truth or justice; only control.

* Quick: Call the cops! Someone went behind the Sheffield Street Department and stole all of the asphalt they filled the potholes on Hatch Blvd. with.

* The Claunch Cafe needs to stick to making chicken salad. Their salmon patties are a disgrace to the palette.

The last of J.'s observations was a little too short to post as a restaurant review. Make no mistake, we love the reviews that our readers send. In fact, we beg for them.

Just remember that no matter your opinion, there will be those who disagree and won't be that polite when they do it. So toughen up and have at it!

Send your reviews to shoalanda.speaks@gmail.com.

Quad-Cities Cuisine

And Vice Versa

The Lexington Slut Letter

If you're on Facebook or other social media a great deal, you may have heard of several Lexington area women receiving a letter warning them that their husbands are sleeping with a "slut." Apparently at least 12 women in the conservative little town have been lucky enough to find one in their mailboxes, ostensibly sent from a young married woman whose husband is also sleeping with the sexual dynamo. (Perhaps it's actually an ad for vitamins?)

We have no interest in elaborating on the contents of the letter except to say that most believe it to be true. Yet think about this: Is it true in all 12 cases (and we're thinking more have received letters who aren't admitting it)?

What if 11 husbands were cheating, but the 12th one was completely innocent? Does the young woman who sent these letters realize that she may have broken up a happy marriage in her search for revenge?

Now one other word to this young woman: Men cheat for two reasons. Some are unhappy in their marriage and believe they've found a new soul mate. Can't we rule this one out in the case of your husband and his "slut?" The second motivation is that the man is simply a cheater. We're guessing that's the case with your husband. If you truly want revenge (which is not the best thing to want...ever), look in the Yelp listings under divorce attorneys. Make him sorry he ever took his first breath.

Then in 20 years be sure to remind him how his kids now call another man "Daddy." That's always been one of the best outcomes for someone like your husband! 

Meanwhile at Preston's...

Sex Psychology & Sex Physiology Are Two Different Things

We've seen several comments on the legislative bill to improve sex education in our state. Many are objecting to the lack of traditional moral teaching that this bill would bring about. Don't throw the legitimate baby out with the bathwater.

We've never been sure why the psychology of sex is included in most sex education classes. Does knowing what a fetish is fall into standard sex education? We certainly don't think so. The psychology of sex is fine in its place - that means for those who want to study it and have the approval of parents if they're underage. The physiology of sex is simply the mechanics; for most purposes, it's informing hormone-laden teens how NOT to become pregnant. Ideally, the state curriculum will stick to physiology; if it doesn't, let the powers that be know your wishes. 

If you want your child to learn in school that pre-marital sex is wrong, send him or her to a private religious school. Why? If public schools teach that premarital sex is wrong, per Christian ideology, they will legally have to teach that the "prophet" Mohammad declares sex with a child to be a great thing...and sex with four children is an even greater thing. Please don't say you would actually want this.

If the improved sex education courses are implemented in this state, expect to see induced abortion statistics drop substantially. No unwanted pregnancies, no abortions. It's pretty simple.

No More $10.00/Page Accident Reports?!!!

It's been a while since we had to shell out for an accident report, but our feeble memory seems to recall paying $12.00 for two pages. The same report would cost us $20.00 in Huntsville. If the new revised public record law is passed in this legislative session, a two page black and white report should cost no more than 20 cents. 

The proposed law covers much more than just costs and will be a boon to the public's right to know...if it passes. After all, we wouldn't want it to take time away from the plastic bag law or anything.

Lobbyists on both sides of the abortion issue are cavorting before our lawmakers. We have one "missionary" who wants the proposed abortion ban to include murder charges for everyone involved, as well as eliminating the one scant exception of a woman whose life is in danger. 

David Day calls himself a Baptist missionary for the "pre-born." He routinely takes photos of women who enter abortion clinics and then posts them on Facebook where their sometimes abusive partners can see them. Nice guy, huh? For someone who wants to save lives, he certainly seems intent on hurrying up the deaths of a great many women.

We've discussed the term "pre-born" before. Not all fetuses are born. Yet you can be pretty certain that all of us will meet our demise at some point. We are definitely "pre-dead," but somehow we don't see too many favoring that term. 

Any good news? Yes! The legislature may enact a law to modernize and increase sex education in our public schools! More sex education means a dramatic decrease in induced abortions. This is how to stop abortion, but apparently it isn't as glamorous to some as threatening the lives of women in crisis.

Or Attending a McBride Elementary Faculty Meeting

The Voice of the Trojans is Silenced

Last year, Dr. Alan Willingham, principal of McBride Elementary School and Muscle Shoals football announcer, made Internet news when some accused him of using his connections to avoid a misdemeanor arrest. Some readers told us they were going to file ethics complaints in various places; however, if any did, we have not received a follow up on it.

Now Willingham has been suspended from the position he's held for two years. Smart money says he's gone. A few say he will be booted upstairs. Surely not the latter?

We've always heard that dentists are prone to destructive behavior due to the stress of their jobs. Can the same be said of school teachers?

Old joke: Many years ago a teacher had to fill out a health form. When she arrived at the question "Have you ever had a nervous breakdown?," she penciled in "No, but watch this space for further development."

If You Think I'm Texty...

No Satire? No Critiques? Loosen Up!

We just published a link to a satire on Sheffield city government. The piece was extremely well written, meaning if you were paying attention, you soon realized that it was satire...very good satire. 

However, just to make sure our readers got it, we introduced the work by referencing the comedy Animal House. Some readers still didn't get the fact that the article was humor.

Apparently students are no longer required to read Swift's Gulliver's Travels in high school. 

If you've been following us for any length of time, you know that we publish two other blogs besides this one: Shoals Crime and Quad-Cities Cuisine. The latter recently published a critique on Taco Garage, a new Mexican restaurant located near Florence Mall.

We have joked about Taco Wars, but apparently this phenomenon is here. Several readers took great exception to our writer's opinions - both for and against the new taco joint. We would ask that those who follow Quad-Cities Cuisine remember that these blogs are not political, but the work of local individuals who have taken the time to write a review for us. It is strictly the opinion of the blog's author, and anyone is free to offer a rebuttal that we will be happy to publish.

A true critique will always point out the bad with the good. No eatery is perfect. If you should say it is, then our readers will know you've been paid for a good review. All our publishing group pays is the glory, ahem. 

We can hardly wait for Taco Mama to arrive and the war to go nuclear...

Meanwhile, at the Bell...

Is Bed, Bath, & Beyond Gone Too?

While on the subject of the changing retail scene, we'll mention Bed, Bath, & Beyond. The home store is one of five owned by a parent company which announced this week it will be closing at least 40 of its outlets by the end of 2019. These stores will not all be Bed, Bath, & Beyond locations, and no exact number or locations were given. The press release did say that if leases cannot be renegotiated, the number of closures will rise sharply.

Many of the recent announcements of chain closures have concluded with the prediction that 25% of current brick and mortar outlets will be closed by 2025. That's not including those which may downsize as Old Navy and others have done. 

The first time we heard of a pop-up shop, we were intrigued. Now we believe these may be the retail wave of the future. And let's not forget food trucks. No, that wasn't a joke. Roaming food vendors should do exceedingly well in this area. Local municipalities need to make our area more welcoming for these small business endeavors. 

North Florence? Why have your Art Crawl just once a year? If the downtown area has First Fridays nine months of the year, can't you have a blow-out three or four times annually?

And Florence Mall? Well, the Jaycees' annual haunted house has to be somewhere...

Rush Hour Easter Shopping at Florence Mall This Week

No Major Grocery for Downtown Florence

Retail Report:

So many have questioned us about a grocery for downtown Florence. We do know that for years, the city council has tried to recruit something, anything, but to no avail. So, no, don't hold your breath.

Interestingly, at one time, there were three major groceries in the Trowbridge's block. All faded away and each of these three vacant buildings eventually became a dollar store. Now, with Fred's leaving, the cheap department stores are also gone. 

For those who are thankful for the remaining Fred's in Rogersville, does anyone really think the parent company will keep it open long when there are no more outlets in the area? Trucking costs will be prohibitive. Sorry, but things change. 

Don't Forget:

1. We highly recommend ordering online from Walmart. Shipping is free on totals of at least $35.00. There are also now home delivery services. Fees vary, but this is now. The future is here, and we have to deal with it. 

2. If you must shop downtown, the Oriental Pearl on East Tennessee Street carries Asian cuisine and spices. We welcome reviews for this grocery.

3. In a pinch, the Court Street Chevron carries many staples. The selection may not be great, but it is accessible from Courtview Towers and Magnolia Gardens via motorized scooter, and at least you won't starve.

Apartment Managers, Are You Paying Attention?

These Fred's Department Stores to Close Locally

It was announced earlier today that four local Fred's Department Stores will shutter their doors by May 31st. These locations have been called "underperforming."

Closing are:

Russellville

Tuscumbia

Florence - Court Street (Downtown)

Florence - Florence Boulevard (Indian Springs)

Lauderdale County will have a remaining outlet in Rogersville. Management of the dollar type stores has said the time remaining on store leases played an important part in this decision. Stores with longer leases may close later, including the Rogersville location.

A liquidation sale has already begun. Residents of Courtview Towers in downtown Florence will be particularly hard hit since this was a quick fix for grocery stock ups.

Another long time Shoals business is also predicted to be closing. Look for the announcement before the start of summer. 

Ta Ta, Shoals!

Jack & Jill Do Texas

A morality tale about Jack and Jill: Both Jack and Jill are students at the University of Texas in Austin in 2020. They may be college students, but they're not all that intelligent. First they allow themselves to indulge in whatever strikes their fancy, then they fail to use birth control. Pregnancy ensues.

Jack consults his friends and family and finds a physician who will help Jill, even though he knows it is now illegal. Jack then goes to his bank and withdraws $1,000.00 from his trust fund. He then drives to Jill's apartment and picks her up, taking her to the surgeon's clinic. Jack holds Jill's hand as they enter the facility and waits with her. When Jill begins to express doubt, Jack encourages her to stay the course. When the procedure is over, Jack drives Jill home, picks up and pays for her pain pills, and stays with her until she is well. He buys her groceries and cooks for her. In short, Jack is Jill's nurse until she is better. When he feels Jill is well, he leaves her a substantial amount of cash to tide her over due to her missing work for a week. Most people would say Jack acted responsibly. We say that's up for discussion, but he at least didn't abandon Jill. Yet...

The next week, the surgeon's office is raided. He's arrested and his records confiscated. Jill's name turns up, and she's arrested for Capital Murder. Jack is home sleeping and doesn't know what has happened until much later. Is he in danger of similar arrest? No, not in the Texas of 2020. Only Jill will be prosecuted for murder...Capital Murder at that. Jill is facing spending the rest of her life in prison...or worse.

How is this happening? The citizens of Texas will have state representative Tony Tinderholt to thank if this should become law. Obviously, this bill has little chance of passing. If the bill should be enacted into law, it will be swiftly struck down by appellate courts. How much money will the Texas taxpayers be out over this debacle and why?

Rep. Tony Tinderholt says this is a moral law. Tinderholt may not be the best authority on morals. He's been married five times to four different women. Yes, one poor woman had the significant bad judgment to marry him twice. Why would Texans want someone like Tinderholt defining their morals? 

Why did Alabamians ever want then Rep. Ed Henry to legislate their reproductive morality? (That's the same Henry who recently pleaded guilty to stealing hundreds of thousands from Medicare.) Yes, that was purely a rhetorical question which no sane person could be expected to answer.

On the Left is Bethany (Mrs. Tony) Tinderholt Advertising Playboy Condoms...or Maybe Melons. She and Her Husband Want to Tell Texans How to Live a Moral Life. Need We Say More? 

Danger, Will Robinson! The Plastic Bags Are Attacking!

It's been said that almost every house has a plastic "t-bag" filled with other plastic "t-bags." Ours does. We use them for various projects in order to save money. Yet, we're not blind to the number of bags we see floating down the street and in vacant lots. Many towns in various areas either have or are considering banning these ubiquitous plastic carry-alls.

Is it really a city's business? We believe if a town can ban smoking in public, it can surely ban plastic bags. Yet some in our state legislature want a law saying towns can't make laws governing these bags. That's right - a law to ban a law.

The legislation would also include a prohibition on banning Styrofoam cups, bowls, etc. Thank God. We don't know about you, but we often lie awake nights worrying about having to drink from a plastic tumbler at the convenience store.

Nathaniel Ledbetter of Rainsville introduced the ban ban in the legislature. He just wants the state to be uniform, he says. If he really wanted some practical uniformity, he would try for a law that requires cities to install traffic lights in a uniform manner (not some overhead, others on right side of road). Alas, that would be a useful law; our legislature would never pass such a thing. 

Sorry, but God Isn't the Supernatural Being Who Breaks up Families

It's amazing what some people will twist God into. Hey, guy, miss your girlfriend after she was killed in a car wreck? Just tell God you'd like her married sister; we're sure He'd be happy to break up a loving home just so you can have whatever your twisted little heart desires. No?

No! God is not capable of willing evil; you have Him confused with one of His fallen angels. The fact that you would even suggest such a thing says much about you, Eddie Haskell. Look at yourself. You're like the man described to King David. Remember him? He had a heard of sheep but stole from a poor man who had only one lamb? Well, hey, why not? If it feels good, do it.

No. You are not that child's father and for you to wish to turn a beautiful child away from the only parents he's ever known, to turn him into a bastard, is beyond the ken of any caring, logical person. 

Grow up! Try to act like a real man. Prove that everyone has always been wrong about what a sniveling piece of excrement you really are. 

In case any readers are wondering about the above message, we've been forwarded some social media screen shots of a young man who's obviously confused about the difference between good and evil. The person who sent us the shots wanted us to publish them. We are not going to do that. 

We did feel the need to comment on this man's totally irrational behavior and the well-wishers who champion kidnapping, either legal or illegal. Look at yourselves in the mirror and think about what you're advocating. If you think it's a pretty picture, just be assured that no moral person does.

Why Mia's Killer Won't Be Punished

That's right. In all probability, the man who killed a Central Heights service dog won't be punished. When we told E.J. they were coming for him, we didn't know just how incompetent "they" were. If it should make you feel any better in the midst of feeling worse, E.J. has reportedly killed 14 dogs in two years, so we're pretty sure there will be more chances to nab the doggie destroyer.

Why won't E.J. suffer the consequences for his actions in this case? Oh, yes, a private citizen paid for a necropsy on Mia. The animal autopsy proved that the dog didn't die as E.J. had related to a Lauderdale County sheriff's deputy. Isn't that enough for an arrest for felony animal cruelty?

It would have been, but... The deputy who retrieved Mia's body did so without a warrant...while trespassing. Fourth amendment and all that. The district attorney knew that there was no case after the deputy's actions.

No, we're not going to name the deputy. We have heard that he will be given more training in proper investigative procedures. Did we say "more?" From what we've learned, this deputy doesn't even know how to return a citizen's phone call. He doesn't know what questions to ask. He doesn't know...period.

So there you have the latest status in Mia's case. We will add one final caveat. If you live near E.J. and have children, keep them away from him. Anyone who can kill 14 dogs in two years probably wouldn't mind throwing the stray rug rat into the mix.

And Please Keep Me & My Family Safe From That Ol' Debil E.J.

Had Enough, Sherry?

The Lauderdale County Board of Education is once again advertising an opening for a new Chief School Financial Officer (CSFO). It would seem that the Board's most recent CSFO, Sherry Langley, after only 19 months on the job, could no longer tolerate having her professional judgment, advice, and expertise continuously ignored, overlooked, and overruled by this semi-literate board of buffoons. 

Her predecessor was forced into retirement after 19 years of contending with the district's woefully inept leadership, a road Ms. Langley has wisely chosen not to continue traveling. She is in good company though. Driving away talented leaders is one of the few things the Board and its executive management do very well. How long will the district's next CSFO last? 19 weeks? 19 days?

Humbly submitted for your considerations by,

Why Isn't Sonny Dewaine Tibbs on the Sex Offender Registry?

Over four years ago, two Vina teacher/coaches were accused of sexual contact with female students. The second of the two coaches pleaded guilty to a simple physical assault and did not have to register as a sex offender, but was required to surrender his Alabama teaching license.

The first of the two accused coaches was Sonny Dewaine Tibbs who pleaded guilty to sex charges and, as part of his plea, was required to register as a sex offender. Tibbs is reportedly living in the Hamilton area at this time.

Several reports have come in to us that Tibbs is no longer on the state registry. Is he on the Mississippi? No, he's not on that state's either. 

It is possible that Tibbs was given a pardon; however, that is extremely unlikely. We've not been able to find a record of any such pardon in this state, and doubt that it exists. 

If you live in Marion County or nearby and are concerned, please contact your sheriff's office. If you have any updated information on this sex offender, please forward it to us.

Sex Is For Bunnies, Not Teachers!

Why Does Florence Tourism Care About Brewery Modernization?

It's a valid question: Why does Florence tourism care about brewery modernization? Do more modern breweries bring in the tourists? Or is it just beer in general? See Florence - the Beer Capital of the State!

After all, beer improves the quality of life so much...well, doesn't it? So does ice cream, and we're pretty sure no one was ever arrested for consuming too much of it. When most of us think of alcoholics, we picture the mug shots of several locals who regularly make the Quad-Cities Daily. They have enough furrows in their brows to plant a corn crop and appear only semi-lucid.

But those aren't the only kind of alcoholics out there. Many are "functioning alcoholics" who hold a job, but who immediately hit the bottle as soon as the work day is over. By the following morning, these unfortunate individuals are again sober and back at the grindstone. Rinse and repeat.

So just why is Rob "Adolph" Carnegie promoting fewer laws concerning beer production? Is he concerned about friends? Is he a true believer? Has money changed hands? Tell us, Rob, just how do less restrictive laws on beer production promote tourism in Florence?

Uh Oh! Leo's Been Partying with Rob Again!

Do You Know Who Works for You? It's Time to Find Out!

Spring is here and with it comes yard work. Who does yours? 

Just a word of warning: Check out the backgrounds of those "landscaping artists" and "tree surgeons" to see just how many have theft convictions...or even worse. We're all for giving anyone a second chance, but similarly we don't wish for any of you to fall prey to a con man who's simply casing your home for his next real job.

It's not just minor pilfering; sometimes family pets are taken to be resold or given as gifts. You may not want to pay for a background check, but a quick Google may turn up much more than you were expecting.

That brings us back to the world of crime reporting. Notice any improvement in the TimesDaily? No, we haven't either. 

Try these sites:

Stolen Stuff of the Tennessee Valley

Pen-N-Sword Crime Stoppers

PNS Crime Stoppers is new, while Stolen Stuff has been around for a while. Those seeking to post comments need to request to join these groups. Enjoy!

I Ain't Confess to Nothin' Cuz I Ain't Do Nothin'