Congrats to Lexington School

Norman Lovelady, a Sulligent transplant, has been named new principal of Lexington School. It's been a rough two years for the Lauderdale County school; let's hope Mr. Lovelady will quickly restore the school to its former place in educational circles.

One parting critique of the former principal, highly edited: 

I have been in class when principal has come into the classroom to help teach. While he was teaching his life lessons, he claims to wish he would have married his wife many years later so he could have experienced more things. Also, several of the girls in my grade were upset because in his lessons, he would degrade women. He gave this same lesson to 3 separate senior classes. A man in charge of a school should not teach young adult women that men are superior to them and that the only thing women do is cause problems for men. After hearing that lesson, I felt disgusted and belittled, as did almost every other young woman in the class. This type of behavior should not have been permitted,,,

Interesting, isn't it, how many men degrade women when their wives hold higher social/employment status than they do? Kudos to the young woman who came forward with this story!

Just What is "TOP" for Muscle Shoals Schools?

Another take from Muscle Shoals:

TOP in the state by it's own grading standards?

Where does the state rank.

Think of it like this.

You have a brain aneurysm and need to select a surgeon.

One surgeon is in the top 13 of their class of 130.

Another surgeon is in the middle of their class of 130.

There are 50 classes of 130.

Who do you choose?

Devil is in the detail... The surgeon in the top 13 is in the lowest performing and testing class of the 50.

Not hard to be in the top 10 when you're in the worst 50.

Ever wonder why MSCS testing by independent means - to you simple people, that means testing by those that are not employed by MSCS - is not impressive by any means, and quite frankly failing? 

Chew on that, then pull that face mask off your eyes. Your child is going to get a rude awaking when they get out of the compound into the real world.

Two More Band Directors Kicked to the Curb

Lest any of our readers think Muscle Shoals is the only school system to generate parent complaints, today we bring you news from the Franklin County System where two band directors have been "non-renewed." According to parents, these two directors were about to receive tenure, but were suddenly let go by the board. Pictured above is Callie Henderson, band director at Tharptown for the past three years.

As with the Muscle Shoals coach there is a Change.org petition to rehire Mrs. Henderson, who is about to receive a master's degree in music education at UNA. According to both parents and students, Henderson is the best thing to ever have happened to the music program at Tharptown. Unfortunately, the board disagrees.

Also getting the sack is Jimmy Johnson III, band director at Vina High School:

We think we see the problem; these two should have been coaches who physically abused their spouses in order to have job security. We live in strange times...

Rusty Pipe Announces Bid for Mayor of Muscle Shoals

Rusty Pipe, longtime employee of the Muscle Shoals School System, has announced his candidacy for mayor. Pipe's press release states he wants to clean up the city plagued in the past with turtle killers, corrupt coaches, and original gangsters.

When asked what distinguishes him from other candidates, Mr. Pipe cited his years of service to the school system followed by a forced semi-retirement. He also stated that, like Bob Hill, he knows where the bodies are buried. 

Ala Joe Biden, Pipe then launched into a rambling tale of a council election from a generation ago in which he assisted a sitting member in incapacitating an opponent. The newly announced candidate quickly went on to say that his participation was purely involuntary. 

Pipe ended his press conference by reaffirming his support of Rep. Andrew Sorrell and strongly chastising the representative's critics within the system. Welcome to the world of politics, Mr. Pipe, where some are perverted enough to take a swipe at mothers, Santa Claus, and apple pie.

It's Serious When a Books-A-Million Closes

ANCO stores have closed over the years, but they were usually small affairs left over from who knows when. Now one of the state's largest Books-A-Million outlets at Brookwood Village has closed. COVID-19 or Kindle or both?

We're going with both. No exact cause of demise was given, but neither was any warning. Closer to home, the Tuesday Morning in Florence appears to be safe from what are being called "first round closings" for that company. How reassuring is that? Is that the retail version of The Batchelor?

Who's most vulnerable? Retail pundits say food and apparel are the most likely establishments to go under. Walmart and Amazon march on...

If We Only Had A Twinkie...

Diversity in Muscle Shoals?

From Chad O.G. Holden:

I am gravely concerned that our minority population will lose their voice if we change to a politically elected system. The bill calls for an at-large election and our city doesn’t have districts that would ensure minority representation. Our city council has been intentional about making sure our board has minority representation with past members like Thomas Burgess, Willis Thompson, and now Marilyn Granville Davis since I have been around.

From a Muscle Shoals resident:

NOW - How much concern about minority representation does THIS City Council have?

Jim Holland's vacant seat was filled with a good ole white haired white man instead of a good minority.

Neal Willis vacant seat was filled with the same good ole white haired white man instead of a good minority.

Are we to believe Chad Holden and Willis Thompson took offense with this City Council when they place the same yes man - a white good ole boy 2 times to fill vacancies in the past 2 years?

Hmmmmm - So what is the difference between the City Council and the Boards? At the end of the day - everyone is elected to a position. Just a matter of how narrow you want the pool of voters to accomplish the personal agendas.

Memorial Day 2020

There were few public remembrances today in this strange new world of ours. Let's resolve to take a few seconds before the end of the day to remember someone lost in service to our country. Then let's resolve to attend an event personally next year. The men and women honored on Memorial Day gave so much; we can at least give this.

Stolen Valor?

Recently, we've had several contact us concerning the crime of Stolen Valor. This blog can do very little to assist in bringing these crimes to light. Rest assured, claiming a military honor one has not won is a crime punishable by incarceration of one year.

If you're sure of your facts, contact local police. They are the proper authorities to handle this crime. If you merely suspect someone, you may wish to verify his or her credentials by asking:

1. Branch of service. 

2. Years/length of service. 

3. What was the veteran’s MOS. 

4. Bases or ships served at/on. 

5. Unit and years of assignment.
6. Rank held and when.

7. Ask to see his VA ID card.

We hope this helps those seeking to expose the fakers. Many thanks to our military expert for the list.

Muscle Shoals Parent Charges "Nepotism"

A concerned Muscle Shoals parent speaks on recent events within the school system:

BTW - Nepotism?

FIRE a really effective teacher and baseball coach Skyler Kirchner. Then name Paul Ellis in a permanent position as baseball coach.

Oops - once again, the faMily dynasty made a grave error in their haste to pull one over the children and citizens.

While the elected school board (issue) had the jokers in Muscle Shoals scrambling, the game changed (pardon the pun). They had to step up the timeline to get that really smart son of Denise Woods at Muscle Shoals.

Seth Woods always had it easy at MSCS since graduation rates are really important. Honest scores on the student's tests aren't important because the current status quo is going to scale, fix, fudge, or whatever it takes to make the numbers where they have to be for their own bragging rights.

Seth goes away freshman year to the big city university. How long did he make it? Let's just say, he was sent home very fast. Could it have something to do with his mother stating he is a visual learner. Exactly what does that mean, he can't read?

He manages to squeak by at UNA, went to Sheffield as a "coach" and of course "history" teacher we're guessing. Something about them paying off a student loan if he stayed a while.

Now, with Coach Ellis as a permanent baseball coach where will they put this Woods boy? Of course it will be another football assistant, making it around 30 coaches.

We bet the Woods boy will also be placed in one of those sports that threatens Basden with its success, maybe the previous state championship golf team?

So, imagine how this election in August will look.
Willis Thompson - a major part of the angst the citizens have with the faMily who is already saying he's going to listen and be part of a solution fixing the city departments, although as a school board member he publicly criticized tax opponents and told them they didn't understand how it works. 

Mike Lockhard who can't understand why anyone would have anything against the school system his wife works for and is going to cut benefits to the city employees so he can send more money to the schools.

Allen Noles who publicly states, "if you don't like it, you can move". (That's exactly what fat cat Lindsey and his adoring sycophant Chad Holden tell people who dare have an opinion that isn't theirs.) Noles chastised numerous citizens for their stance on elected school board and their opposition to a huge tax increase.

Get ready - the past is going to rear its ugly head in the coming months with facts and sins of the past on these folks for sure.

Let the good times roll - 82% of the voting citizens of Muscle Shoals says it's time for a CHANGE.

IT'S A COMIN'!

They're Mad in Muscle Shoals Now!

Rehire Coach Kirchner

Who is Skyler Kirchner?

My name is Skyler Kirchner and I am teaching 9th & 10th Grade Honors History at Muscle Shoals High School. I am an assistant varsity baseball coach and an assistant middle school football coach. This is my third year in the Muscle Shoals School system. I taught 8th Grade World History at Muscle Shoals Middle School in 2018-2019 and I worked with some awesome educators and students in the special education department at the middle school for the 2017-2018 school year. I am a 2016 graduate of the University of North Alabama , summa cum laude with my BS in social science. While at UNA, I was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Kappa Delta Pi, Gamma Theta Upsilon honor societies, voted Secondary Education Student of the Month and recipient of the Social Studies Outstanding Academic Achievement Award for 2017. In 2017, I taught 9th grade World History and 11th grade United States History at Sheffield High School and was the assistant varsity baseball coach. I am currently pursuing my masters in social science at the University of North Alabama. I enjoy spending time with family and my pets. In my free time, you can find me in the gym or on the golf course! I love history and have a special passion for historical conspiracy theories. I am happy to be at the high school this year and be a part of Muscle Shoals City Schools. GO TROJANS!!!!

What is the fuss?

It seems the assistant coach has been terminated. Now students are protesting and have initiated a petition to rehire Kirchner. 

Are there two sides to the story? We're sure there are. In the meantime, this is just more bad publicity for Muscle Shoals High School and its leaders.

Trump Says Vote for Tommy

It's not just Rick and Bubba; Donald Trump has again endorsed Tommy Tuberville for the U.S. Senate. Just look how much good that did Luther Strange...and Roy Moore.

Just think how many Alabama fans will vote against Tommy on general principal alone. Doug Jones must be fervently hoping Tommy wins the runoff.

Yet all things considered, is it Jeff Sessions or Tommy? We're going with Tommy. Paul Finebaum can keep Jeff Sessions. 

Trojan Trio Debuts New Act

At least two-thirds of the Trojan Trio would have the public believe they have no idea why anyone in Muscle Shoals even suggested to Rep. Andrew Sorrell that the city needed an elected school board. In case these two educators do have such a faulty memory, does the board's firing of Blake Jarmon ring a bell?

Dr. Lindsey and Dr. Holden are entitled to think the idea of an elected board hogwash. What they're not entitled to is playing dumb as to why anyone in Muscle Shoals wants such an accountable board.

We see both sides of the issue. Politics isn't pretty. Neither is nepotism, good ol' boy networks, or quid pro quo when playing with taxpayer dollars. 

Another One (or Two) Bites the Dust at Florence Mall?

We don't know if J.C. Penney will leave Florence Mall or not. We do know it's a good possibility that it will. Only two of Penney's 15 Alabama stores are located north of Birmingham, so axing Florence and Scottsboro may make good business sense to the department store execs.

Now Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works have announced closings...somewhere. If Penney's is leaving Florence Mall, do these two retail chains want to stay for the decreased traffic? That's not counting mall walkers Willow Dean, Inez, and Homer as one of our favorite commenters frequently mentions.

Anyone know what Belk and Dillard's are up to?

Shop At Wish & Help Finish Off The Mall

Your Town Filing Bankruptcy?

Yes, incorporated cities/towns can go bankrupt. There's even a special kind of filing for these entities. One such current town is Fairfield in Jefferson County. Two options for Fairfield are simply to dissolve or to merge with another town. Good luck with the latter.

Any towns in the Shoals looking at humongous debt with no hope of project completion? How y'all doin', Sheffield?

Very serious question: If major retail establishments are putting on the brakes concerning expansion, why does Sheffield want to continue with Inspiration Landing? Oh, okay. No one thinks the town is actually going anywhere with that anyway. Good point!

Chris Hall, Character and Competency Aren't the Same Thing

Chris Hall is a Muscle Shoals City Councilman; Ed Bowman is a local political activist. Recently Mr. Bowman questioned Chris Hall's track record on accountability and competency while in office; Hall then circumvented the questions and accused Bowman of attacking his character.

Perhaps it does say something about character to take a salary to represent citizens, then fail to do so? Here, warts and all, is the exchange in question:

It’s pretty sad (which isn’t a surprise) when you question your elected officials and they refuse to answer questions that we as the people elected them. Arrogance!

Here’s the questions I ask of Muscle Shoals City Councilmen Chris Hall and below that is his response.

Mr. Chris Hall. I’m assuming that you’re running for re-election for your Muscle Shoals City Council seat again.

You’re asking my friends, family and I to vote for you again but you haven’t been to interested in the things that have been plaguing our great city. Asking the tough questions.
But it seems that since you’re running again you have much to say.

So!!! If you wouldn’t mind taking a moment to address my questions, serious questions, then it would help my family and I make the decision whether to vote for you or not.

Questions:

•Due to the fact that 22 to 23 officers have left the MSPD since chief Clint Reck has been police chief, have you asked why so many have left during Chief Reck’s administration? He’s been chief for only 4 years!

•On September 3, 2019 Muscle Shoals City Council meeting, where I addressed the City Council (you were present) and the Mayor concerning Willie Simpson’s sex halfway house in the Camden Cove west subdivision. During my speech I laid out how the residents in that subdivision have repeatedly called the city council and mayor’s office concerning this, with no response!
How is it Mr. Simpson can run a business out of his house without a business license? And!!! Why haven’t you ask questions on why the residents pleas for answers were ignored?

•I’m assuming were not aware of this! Are you aware (for some time now) that Mayor David Bradford has NOT been living in side the city limits of Muscle Shoals? Are you also aware of the fact that Mayor Bradford voted for the last tax the Muscle Shoals school board wanted, while NOT LIVING inside the city limits? If you were aware of this, did you ask the how’s and why’s?

Being a good leader is asking the tough questions! Being a good leader is standing up for what’s right!

I look forward to you answering your constituents.

Over 8K Warrants in Florence

Look at the Florence Police Department page and you'll see over eight thousand warrants. Many are years old. Many are for people now deceased. Many are for individuals who no longer reside in the U.S. (judging by names). Some are in prison. Also, many on the warrant list have five, ten, or even more to their discredit. 

The point is there are still more than just a handful of individuals on the Florence list. Some were given non-custodial citations and never looked back, while others were bonded out and never bothered to show up for their court appearance. 

We realize that minor crimes don't require a custodial arrest. In today's health climate, more and more crimes are considered not worthy of a trip to the jailhouse. Is this the best answer? Surely, it's not the only one.

You live across the state line in Tennessee and you've paid no bond money; do you bother to show up or not? How much is Florence losing with these signature bonds? We suspect quite a bit.

And the other local towns? And the counties? Where is the deterrent for those who are more than simple speeders or careless drivers? We strongly suspect it's no longer there.

There If You Need It

Davis & Goldberg: Why Education Gets a Bad Name

A source in Sheffield schools tells us there are currently ten teaching vacancies in the small system...and that's not counting other personnel vacancies. Most are seriously disenchanted with the current superintendent Keith Davis. It may not be a problem; we hear that many students are opting to go elsewhere in the fall.

There's a new visiting prof at Auburn. Dr. Jesse A. Goldberg from New York has announced he won't be using the greeting "War Eagle." He doesn't like the word "war." The professor of black and queer studies (his term, not ours) also wants to abolish prisons. Boy, did he come to the wrong state.

Actually, we're just surprised UNA didn't snap him up. He seems like an improvement on vising rapists.

About Those TVA In-Lieu-of-Taxes...

Two local cities recently had lunch...

Muscle Shoals: How about our high school; it looks like an Egyptian temple.

Florence: How about our new middle school; we had the ghost of Frank Lloyd Wright design it.

Muscle Shoals: How about our mall; it's still hanging in there.

Florence: How about our mall; we've got Belk and Dillard's.

Muscle Shoals: How about all we've been doing with TVA in-lieu-of-tax money?

Florence: Uh, yeah...Hey, how about them Lakers?

Cheer up, Florence. The new Ag Center is sure to need a lot of pooper scoopers to work for minimum wage.

 It Was Either Me Or The Kids

Look Who Doesn't Want an Elected School Board

Thank you, Andrew Sorrell:

...a campaign promise I made in 2018...was to allow Muscle Shoals residents the ability to choose the method of seating their city school board.

Say what, Ferrell Southern?

As a school board, we've done about as well as we could do right now. This was not brought on by our stakeholders. If it's not broke, why fix it?

Say what, Chad O.G. Holden?

...said he can't see the need for an elected board when the appointed board has served the school system well for years.

Can we find a candidate who quotes Kipling by heart?

Trust Me; I'm The O.G.

How Much Does UNA Care for Employees?

Guest Editorial:

Once again UNA has proven that the welfare of their employees are not high priority. Well, at least, SOME of their employees. All along, we have been told our target return date was May 26. Even as of last Thursday we were instructed that we would need to be planning on returning May 26 with restrictions such as staggering employee work times, etc. We were also told that any employee who didn’t feel comfortable returning could submit a letter for approval to continue working from home stating if they had circumstances that may put them or their family at greater risk. 

Now as of 2:00 today we were informed...we would all be back at 7:30 am tomorrow morning! (So much for giving employees time to make arrangements) No phasing employees in, staggering or anything! If we choose not to come....we can use our vacation time! 

Now when I say SOME of their employees are of more importance, they have blatantly informed us that “department chairs and administrative assistants” will be allowed to work from home until July 6. When questioned why we should risk exposure and they shouldn’t...Cindy Conlon was quick to inform us that “we shouldn’t worry about what others were doing.” I have attached copies of what we have been sent.

Click to Enlarge

 

 

Local Chains S&P Says Apt to Close for Good

Let's face it: If we didn't have fast food outlets, many of us would starve. Yet according to most financial pundits, our choices are going to become much more limited. Here, in order of ascending peril, are local (or semi-local) chains that are in trouble:

Outback

KFC

Pizza Hut

Taco Bell

Burger King

Popeye's

Arby's

Sonic

Chili's

Applebees

Panera

Bogangles

Red Lobster

Chuck-E-Cheese

Steak 'n Shake

In other words, Outback could be in trouble, but not nearly as much as Steak 'n Shake. We don't know about you, but we see five that we frequent regularly and one or two that we visit at least periodically. 

Remember that Stallone movie where all restaurants were McDonaldses?

Happy Mother's Day 2020

We usually encourage mothers to be an example to their children. This year, we have two different takes on motherhood to share. 

Over the years, we've heard many young women say they've kept unwanted infants due to pressure from family and sincerely regretted it. If you know you don't want a child or are not able to care for a child, please allow that child to be placed where it will be wanted. Your own mother may be disappointed for a short while, but you can be sure you're not raising a serial killer who felt unloved all his young life. 

To the more maternal among our readers, we encourage you to be a Mother Abigail - take a stand! It may not be easy, but even if you can't change the entire world, you can change the world around you. Go for it!

"Abigail Freemantle" - She Took a Stand

Four Armed Robberies and She Blew Bail Again!

Does everyone remember Aldani Faith Byrd? Miss Byrd has not yet attained the age of 30 and has at least four arrests for armed robbery to her discredit. Where is she now?

As of this week, arrested again for not even bothering to appear in court. We're sure Judge Ben Graves who granted her bail (yes, he really did) was a mite displeased. 

We have no idea if and when her two arrests in the Mobile area were settled, but her two arrests for armed robbery in Lauderdale County are still in the system. Do we have sympathy for Byrd's drug problems? Yes; however, we have much more concern for her November 2018 victim whom she stabbed "multiple times."

Aldani Faith Byrd is a danger to herself, her family, and to the general public. Let's hope Lauderdale courts do the right thing this time. 

It's Not My Fault If I Like To Stab People

J.C. Penney to File Bankruptcy Next Week?

Reuters and several other news outlets are predicting J.C. Penney will finally declare bankruptcy next week. From one article:

J.C. Penney passed a deadline for a $17 million debt payment Thursday and only has five days to catch up on it before it defaults. The 30-day grace period for a $12 million payment J.C. Penney skipped mid-April closes next Friday.

Penney's was founded in 1902 and has been a Shoals staple for longer than most of us have lived. If the mid-range department store does close, only Belk and Dillard's will remain as anchors in Florence Mall. Long gone are Sears, Parisian, and Pizitz/McRae's.

Perhaps we should begin a pool as to who will be the designated business to turn out the lights?

Welcome To The Mall 2021

Chief Hudson Says Dr. Butler Lied/Herston Doesn't Support Police

We don't know Dr. Aric Butler or Rogersville Police Chief Brian Hudson. We have no idea which one is lying, but one of them is. The story just gets weirder; read on:

Chiropractor Arrested

Yes, it was definitely an intriguing read, then...Mayor Richard Herston is accused of encouraging Butler to commit an unlawful act and disregard what his own police department said.

Will it wind up on Netflix? Probably not unless the characters are jazzed up a bit. Still, none of this puts Rogersville in a positive light.

Coming To A Courtroom Near You Soon

Will Dismukes Calls Alabamians Oppressed

Some recent pithy comments:

God intended us to be faithful in marriage. Donald Trump

We all need to tighten our financial belts. Jeff Bezos

The State of Alabama is oppressing us. Will Dismukes

We hope everyone remembers Will Dismukes, the Alabama representative who until recently worked for ALFA...whose wife still works for ALFA...who always supports ALFA supported bills and opposes those bills ALFA opposes. Now he's openly demonstrating in Montgomery and claiming that Alabamians are oppressed.

He wants businesses (read: farming businesses) to re-open immediately. He also got in a few words about government overreach. Overreach? We think he means those pesky little laws that say families and animals should be provided and cared for. 

Dismukes, gasp, has political ambitions. Let's hope they fail to come to fruition.

Meet Chelsea Cauchick

From Chelsea Cauckick:

At my core, I am a connector. One of my passions is linking and leveraging community members and resources to solve big problems. I served for six years as Director of Marketing & Leadership Programs at the Shoals Chamber of Commerce where I championed both aspiring youths and professional adults to take pride in their community and achieve ideas bigger than themselves.

I am a proud University of North Alabama alumna with a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Writing and Marketing.

​My experience has proven time and again that by communicating goals and cooperating with others, our community can reach beyond the barriers we've set for ourselves in the past.

For more than 30 years, I've called the Shoals home. In 2009, I moved from Florence to Muscle Shoals where I reside with my husband of 8 years (Mike) and my six-year-old, lively daughter (Adele).

It's been said that home is where the heart is, and that's true. My heart has been serving the Shoals community through everything I do from my professional career, to how I choose to use my free time.

​I'm an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast who enjoys the many nature trails our community has to offer. I also author a self-help blog focused on managing stress and anxiety, particularly for working moms.

My desire to make an impact on my community led me to serve as a Founding Member of Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful, the first river-focused affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.

​I also co-developed the Shoals Poverty Simulation for participants to experience the real-life struggles of families who live below the federal poverty line.

​Like you, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected my routine, but I continue to search for ways to be of service. I currently deliver face masks to healthcare professionals and identify childcare providers for their teams. I also co-manage a social media page focused on sharing important coronavirus updates for the Shoals and offer resume writing assistance for those seeking employment.

There appear to be two areas where Ms. Cauchick is lacking. She doesn't mention her eagerness to take long, unneeded trips at taxpayer expense or any ability to shoot innocent turtles from great distances. Will the Muscle Shoals electorate forgive her these shortcomings?