Muscle Shoals Baseball: Gate-Crashers & Cat Killers?

 

Blake Beck Says Gattman is His Field?

Until yesterday we had never heard of Blake Beck and certainly had never considered anyone would actually pay cash money to watch Muscle Shoals High School (or any high school) play softball or baseball. Then we received three communications from various individuals about Muscle Shoals City Schools attempting to "steal" the four Gattman Park fields from the citizens.

Consequently we have learned three things about Muscle Shoals baseball and its new coach...and none has been good. We're sure we'll receive some interesting rebuttals about this, but right is right and wrong is wrong. 

1. Thou shalt not steal - Why does the school system want the fields? It seems if the school shares with the little league, etc., Muscle Shoals students and their families gate-crash the games, lying about which game they're attending and getting in free. Yes, we need to add that God frowns upon lying also. 

2. Treat others as you would wish to be treated - That means the new baseball coach shouldn't yell at some lowly park worker for simply doing his job. The worker may be in your way, Coach, but he's doing his job per the REAL owners of the fields - the city.

3. Respect what God has created - What kind of man kills a small (apparently female) Lynx Rufus simply because he's mad at not bagging whatever he really wanted to kill that day? No wonder we have mass shootings in schools considering the examples presented to young men by coaches and teachers. (We discovered this act on Beck's Facebook page while looking for a photo of the new coach causing all the complaints.)

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Here's one of the emails concerning the possible take-over of the fields:

Lockhart, Basden and Holden have decided the city ball fields are going to be controlled by the school - It appears the New Muscle Shoals’s Baseball Coach (Blake Beck) has taken up the Football Coach stance that all is mine! The new coach has claimed Gattman Park as his! and has Mayor Lockhart on board and going along with it, as to Buying gates to Lock them down; the baseball and softball fields, I was told the new Coach went as far as to tell a City employee who was working on dragging the infields “to get off his field”, now to my understanding all that land the Park and the Recreation department sits on was donated to the City from the Gattman Family and was to be used for the city citizens to use and to serve for youth sports, this is NOT SCHOOL PROPERTY, it’s CITY PROPERTY!! I think it’s time to boot High School Athletics out of Gattman Park immediately and they can carry that awful wood fence with them, maybe cover up that gaudy looking tennis court with advertising signs all over it!! I don’t see Tuscumbia schools putting fields in Spring Park, what are you thinking!

Let's Play "Where's the Chief?"

 

Only three days ago, we commented on the lack of diversity in City of Florence departments. At that time we mentioned the one Black department head, Fire Chief Jeffrey Perkins. Yes, we knew that rumors had been swirling around the FFD and problems concerning Mayor Andy Betterton. Now a former human resources employee has publicly stated this:

They (have) been keeping it secret the Fire Chief has NOT been there in months using sick leave until ?!?? Retired or Dismissed? Over 100 employees each in Fire & Police yet not one public acknowledgment and employees guessing where the heck is the Chief! Yet the old timers calm the younger employees with quietly it's how it's worked for decades. Over 30 open Firefighter positions!

If Chief Perkins is ill, we wish him our best. If he is no longer in favor with our mercurial mayor, we wish him luck with whatever legal actions he seeks to take. We'll follow this story in days to come.

Letter from a Florence Police Officer

 

Betterton Demonstrating His Leadership Skills

Part II - The Letter

To whom it may concern:

My name is Tim Glover. Everything I share with you can be verified by witnesses, letters and emails.

I worked as an active police officer for the City of Florence for 26 years (1995-2020). I filed for disability through the City and am currently awaiting a hearing with S.S.A. I am currently being paid through a company (Dearborn) contracted and paid for by the City of Florence. My time is still counting toward my City retirement. I am an inactive City employee not yet retired.\During this timeframe I worked 20 years with the Lauderdale County Drug Task Force and was Director of the Task Force from 2010-2019.

During my time as Director, I was notified by an agent under my supervision that they had been contacted by F.P.P. Officer Mike Holt who was either a Captain at the time or had been selected as Deputy Chief. (I do not want to represent that I remember which position he held). Holt told our agent “if anyone asks I was on a detail for the D.T.F.”. Apparently Holt was involved in a wreck in a City vehicle and was possibly doing something OR was somewhere he shouldn’t have been when he wrecked. He needed an alibi!!!

Since Holt decided to involve the D.T.F. I contacted (then) F.P.D. Internal Affairs Captain Ryan Fleming and expressed concern that possible misconduct and/or illegality of falsely filing a report or filing misinformation on a report may have occurred. Captain Fleming told me he would investigate.

After a period of time I received a call from Captain Fleming. I was told he (Fleming) was threatened by Chief Tyler with termination for investigating Holts’ wreck and that he (Fleming) was made to give name of officer that reported to I.A. That officer was of course ME. Chief Tyler had checked Fleming’s computer search history and saw he was pulling information on Holt and SHUT DOWN THE INVESTIGATION. Please don’t take my word contact Ryan Fleming who is no longer at F.P.D. This is verifiable.

After months of frustration (April 1, 2020), I emailed Mayor Andy Betterton and City Prosecutor Bill Musgrove an employee grievance on my City email account (tglover@florenceal.org) (I will provide copy of email) advising them of the facts regarding “possible filing a false police report” and an attempt at getting an alibi to cover a crime. Needless to say I never got a response or reply. Most alarming was my access to City email was terminated after sending the email to Betterton and Musgrove. The email also referenced the I.A. investigation being shut down! Silence from the Mayor’s Office!

I ask you this. If your next door neighbor came and said “if my wife asks, I was with you all night!!” What is the 1st thing you would think? Neighbor is doing something wrong or illegal. Right? Well I need help bringing this to light.

I tried the proper channels and those channels are corrupt. I have witnesses and email. ALSO, the D.T.F. agent who was initially contacted can verify along with another agent from F.P.D. who was assigned to the unit at the same time. 3 agents can verify the call took place. 1 former officer will verify they were intimidated into closing the investigation and 1 email will verify Betterton and Musgrove know and are complicit.

I do not expect you to believe me over this email. I will gladly meet with any representative of your organization who will fairly weigh the facts in this allegation. My 1st paragraph tells my name and this has been my email for years. I look forward to hearing from you or anyone else who can call things accurately without the pressure of City politics or politicians.

Improper, unethical or illegal? There has to be an investigation to find out which!!! If it is any of the 3 shouldn’t someone, or somebodies be held responsible?

Tim Glover

updown7768@gmail.com

When Andy Betterton Won't Respond...

 

Introduction (Part I): Often readers seem to think that this blog is written by two or three individuals or that we support each opinion that we post or even manufacture the stories. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

We are happy to present problems other citizens are faced with even if we don't agree with their rationale or have any background on the issue other than validating the incident did happen. We have recently received a letter from a Florence citizen who was, until recently, employed by the Florence Police Department. It's quite an eye-opener.

This former officer, who is providing his name, has included references pertaining to his problems and his actions concerning these problems. One of the most disturbing things this officer claims is that Florence mayor Andy Betterton refused to even acknowledge his complaints. This is nothing new for Betterton who had no problem approving the dismissal of a long-time human resources employee, but refused to discuss the termination with her or provide his rationale. 

According to this ex-officer, even letters sent to Betterton from two attorneys have gone unanswered. Now, this former LEO has contacted us with his story. We have no way to investigate properly the validity of his claims, but we can present his letter to the public since he is willing to have his name published.

As always, we will be happy to publish any rebuttal to the officer's claims. 

Tomorrow: The Letter

Is Racial Makeup of Florence Government Equitable?

 

The population of Florence describing themselves as African-American is 19%. Those who describe themselves as mixed race total 3%. If life were fair, we would expect at least one in five City of Florence employees to be Black. Unfortunately, we're a long way from there and not moving in the right direction.

We recently asked someone to identify roadblocks to more African-American city employees and were told it was because Dick Jordan has only white relatives. Our friend may have something there.

How many city department heads are Black? Only one - Fire chief Jeffrey Perkins. Progress? We've recently been told that Mayor Andy Betterton wants to shake things up. 

The question we should be asking is just what does Handy Dandy Andy consider a move up?

More to come?

Dan Beavers: Who Needs a Winner?

 

A second take on local good ol' boys from our reader:

It seems that the good ole boy system is in full power in Lauderdale County Schools. It has been the policy of the board of education in Lauderdale County that you must have worked as an assistant principal before you can become a head principal. That policy doesn't apply to the Good Ole Boy system. Last week, Mr. Hill named his ole buddy Dan Beavers the Head Principal of the alternative school. Beavers has never been a principal at any level. This job was not even posted as an open position. I guess that this may be the safest place for Beavers to be since there is no athletic programs that could have loose money.

If anyone feels slighted, this is what the AEA is for. Contact your local representative and file a complaint. On the other hand, if he's as bad a coach as our informant tells us, perhaps everyone if better off.

Is That a Fizzle Coming from the Ag Center?

  

The last the TimesDaily mentioned anything even remotely related to Ag Center progress was March 28th. Well over a month ago, two readers contacted us to ask why construction had ceased. These comments were answered by an avid supporter of the center who stated the work was now so far from Hwy. 72 that it couldn't be seen by the public.

Now we have this from a very reliable source: 

Why has the construction at the Ag center come to a halt? Rumors are the those good ole boys that run that boondoggle didn't pay the bills. The contractor pulled out when they didn't get paid for work performed. There is millions of dollars that no body is watching.

Has any of the public even attended a board meeting recently? But, hey, with Tim Melson, Phillip Pettus, and Lynn Greer in charge, what could go wrong?

Did Someone Say "Good Ol' Boys?" Take Note of Description:

Indicted Kelly Crotts Divides a Community & a Church

Homemade signs have begun popping up in the Central Community identifying former businessman Kelly Crotts as a "Child Molester" and indicating his address on a nearby county road. As of today, Crotts has only  been indicted, not convicted. If convicted (and we believe he will be), then his address will be posted on several venues as a registered sex offender.

We're sure many of these placards are taken down by his supporters almost as soon as they are affixed to prominent traffic signs. Are you surprised he has supporters? According to some locals, he has many.

From a Central Heights citizen: 

Some Cornerstone members are upset with some of us who are not standing with him or his family. It's getting a little weird. I support the boys and their families 100 percent. I hate his mother has to face the reality of what her son is. It's got to be very painful.The elders still have not contacted the boys families that they know and offer help, prayers.

So far, no new charges have been filed. As for the three youths who have accused Crotts of either sexual abuse or indecent exposure, rest assured they have many supporters who look forward to their accusations being proved in a court of law.

Kimberly Butler Continues to Fight

 

Do you want to know the truth about the District 2 State House race? Come join Kimberly Butler tell the Truth about what happened to her on the District 2 State House Race! She can still win this election on November 8th, but it’s going to take all of you to Let your voice be heard! Don’t be fooled by a select group! Find out the TRUTH and make a difference and don’t be silenced. If you care about Alabama and your community this is your time to shine! Also, enjoy a hotdog with Kimberly!
We have an answer to fix the issue but we need YOU to get involved.

If you need to know which state house district you live in, go to https://2021-redistricting-plans-algeohub.hub.arcgis.com/

Scroll down to "House Redistricting Map," put in your address. If you fall in the yellow area you are in HD2! If you are not in HD2, please share this with people who are.

We will not let them take away your vote!

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We encourage everyone to attend Mrs. Butler's forum. Remember, it could be your district in the next primary. Obviously the Republican party bigwigs don't care. Remember: The honest conclusion isn't always the easiest. How many have lost integrity over the issue in District 2?

Kay Ivey Plays Doctor Again

 

The Alabama Department of Public Health recently commented that it would like the use of masks to be normal behavior. The ADPH never mentioned any mandates or edicts, just normal as in it's normal to wear shoes outside. 

Kay Ivey then jumped in that she would never support mask laws. Did anyone ask her? If our politicians put as much effort into budgets, health, and education as they do into pandering to those with a substandard IQ, just think what kind of state we could have.

Speaking of Gov. Ivey, a reader recently commented to us: If Kay Ivey worried more about the price gouging of her constituents and less about making commercials claiming someone stole the 2020 election from Trump, maybe eggs wouldn’t be $5 a dozen right now.

On the bright side, it could be worse. Tim James could have won the Republican primary.

Alabama - Where at least one out of every 200 infants dies before they're one month old, but our legislature is worried that someone might say "Namaste" in our schools.

Why Has Board Put a Gag Order on Colbert Animal Shelter?

 

Wendy Snitzer on Colbert Animal Shelter Board

Want to volunteer for the Colbert animal shelter? You must not mention the shelter on social media, must not look for problems, and must be respectful. We hope no one has any problems about number three. Always be respectful if you wish to accomplish anything.

How about looking for problems? Perhaps they just jump out at you. What do you do then? Don't mention the shelter on social media? Hmmm. We believe in the First Amendment and do not believe that the board has the authority to place such a gag order on anyone.

Funny...if you read the TimesDaily account of this meeting, nothing of these edicts was mentioned. Now tell us the shelter has nothing to hide.

The Sad Truth about Child Rape in Alabama

 

If you've read our blog long enough, you're familiar with the story of the woman who wrote us defending her boyfriend in the rape of his four year-old cousin. The little girl seduced him. Welcome to Alabama.

In 2020, the last year statistics were available, 25 girls in Alabama between the ages of 10 and 14 had induced abortions as the result of rape. Will our state legislature make such abortions legal during the next legislative session? Do you wonder what legal repercussions the children's rapists faced in our state? How many like Tim Melson and Phillip Pettus will oppose amending the anti-abortion law to make exceptions for these children? How many of our lawmakers even understand the difference between fertilization and conception?

Are we sure the word "Alabamistan" wasn't coined until 2001?

Hoover Society Said Pope's Director Brian Murphy Said What?

 

In her article for the Encyclopedia of Alabama, Carolyn M. Barske of the University of North Alabama calls Pope's Tavern Museum an inn and stagecoach stop. For those who don't know, coaching inns were popular until the advent of rail travel in the 1840s. Yes, they usually had a tap room on premises. Did our local (now) museum? We have no proof one way or the other, but it certainly wouldn't have been odd in the era Pope's was built. How about the name Pope? That was a colloquial name given the edifice and later adopted by the City of Florence over a century later in honor of LeRoy Pope, one of two men who supported the advent of a coaching inn for Florence.

In April of this year, Pope's was the scene of the Alabama Historical Association's annual conference. The Hoover chapter has written up its adventures in our fair city...albeit with a few mistakes. In case anyone doesn't know, the Rosenbaum Home isn't in Muscle Shoals.

Report on Annual Conference

While at the conference, Hoover's two representatives encountered anti-Brian Murphy protesters:

That evening, we went to Pope’s Tavern for the opening reception. We immediately saw two men across the street with signs that said Brian Murphy is a snake in the grass! We found out that Brian Murphy is the director of the museum—more on that later.

At the first concurrent session, I learned from Brian Murphy That Pope’s Tavern was never owned by anyone named Pope and was never a tavern! Hence the protesters were resisting changing that story which was first put forth by a newspaper man in the 1960s, probably to encourage preservation of the structure which does date from the 1830s.

Strange. We always thought many didn't like Brian Murphy because, among other things, he used performance art to ridicule taxpaying citizens of Florence:

Tori Bailey Says "Put It in Writing!"

 

Attention Colbert Citizens: If you wish to make a complaint against the director or the employees of the Colbert County Animal Shelter. you must now put your complaint in writing on a special form and sign it. Thanks to the shelter board for attempting to make complaints so much easier.

Where do you get these forms? Perhaps you should call Tori Bailey, board chair, in order to determine this.

How did Bailey and board react to a complaint against current director Corey Speegle? So far, we seem to have a serenade of crickets. Those who have complaints against the director say that it isn't over.

*****

It seems as if complaints against Speegle extend to his neighbors. Think breeding Alsatians/Shepherds is quiet work? Let's ask the neighbors in Sheffield Heights how the noise and stench is. Yes, we get numerous complaints...

Please Clean Your Dog's Poop!

More on Sheffield Arrest Incident

 

A person has attempted to contact us over the Sheffield police video; however, we are uncertain of his identity. When someone is banned from our Facebook, only "Facebook User" shows up if they attempt to contact us. We do have a good idea who this person is due to his calling himself "Jack" in the video. Since we are unsure, we will present him here as Jack Doe. 

We appreciate Mr. Doe's input, but cannot answer him on FB, due to the ban. He was struck from our user list due to language and his libelous statements regarding people who are not bloggers here. In short, we do not like harassment, but neither do we like police harassing those they serve.

We'll present a condensed version of Jack Doe's statement to us:

Mr. Doe was standing in front of the Sheffield Public library when he was faced with arrest for trespassing and threatened by officers. Doe is asking the city for body cam footage of the incident. One officer tore up Jack's protest sign and physically threatened him. When he appeared later at city hall in search of the mayor, he was again threatened. 

If Jack will contact our blog at shoalanda.speaks@gmail.com, we can communicate in this manner. We're hoping to do a more detailed account of his arrest and later attempts to obtain what should be public information.

LEOs Don't Need to Show ID? Unfortunately, No

 

There's a video making the rounds featuring two Sheffield officers. We'll have more on that later; however, the question now is a legal one. Must officers give the public a name or show badge/warrant card?

Apparently, in most states they do not. One exception is California. From what we can gather, Alabama officers are exempt from identifying themselves. We welcome any comments or corrections.

We encourage everyone to obey the law. We also encourage all city, county, and state employees to be polite to citizens. We're limited here, not having the genesis of this situation on video. We hope to have more information soon.

Can't Get Methotrexate? Thank the Supreme Court

 

From a long-time reader:

I've worked in health care for decades, but just learned something new and astonishing this week. Ask me what methotrexate is for and I'll tell you rheumatoid arthritis or other auto-immune diseases. Who, outside of pharmacists and the OB world, knew it was part of an abortion cocktail?

Now some pharmacies are afraid to sell this drug. Even some doctors are afraid to prescribe it. You may know that 9 out of every 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis are female. I guess the state legislature's families haven't been affected yet. If I had read the following news article before last June, I would have thought it came from the Onion.

US Abortion Ruling Threatens Access to Arthritis Drug

BTW, I don't personally take this drug. When it was offered to me, I refused to consider it due to pulmonary and fungal problems related to long term use. Those who take it should carefully consider the drug for this reason, but I'll bet not 1 in 100 patients know it can be used to help end a pregnancy.

Alabama needs to grow up and learn something when making laws concerning what doctors can and can't do.

Our takeaway? Maybe Tim Melson is trying to up sales for medical marijuana farms. He needs to weigh in on this.

Why Did John Merrill Give Lauderdale a Pass?

 

For at least 70 Lauderdale County voters, their vote in the state district two election didn't matter.  Lauderdale registrars gave them the wrong ballot. A similar event took place in Etowah County where Secretary of State John Merrill demanded the jobs of current registrars, who later resigned.

While the event wasn't as widespread in Lauderdale County, it certainly cast doubt on the competence of Lauderdale officials...if not their honesty. Now the Republican Party has denied any possibility of a new primary with correct districts marked.

Where is John Merrill now? Will any of Lauderdale's registrars resign? And people wonder why there is so little faith in our system...

*****

Imagine that you care deeply for animals, especially those in your home county. If you knew that you were holding back your shelter by your very presence, especially when you have your former job waiting to take you back, why are you continuing to make waves among animal welfare advocates?

Let's hope Corey Speegle resigns at Friday's board meeting.

Clarifying New Charges on Kelly Crotts

 

Many have said Kelly Crotts has sexually abused boys/young men for over 20 years and that his victims total around 40. Currently, Crotts has been indicted on seven felonies involving three individuals. He's pleaded not guilty on all counts.

While we believe that more victims will come forward, Alabama's law on sexual abuse has a statute of limitations. Unlike rape, abuse cases over three years old will not be prosecuted in criminal court. Such claims may be adjudicated in civil courts.

Therefore, if a young man was victimized before July 2019, he and his family have fewer options. We're sure many of those who wish now to come forward will lie in that category. 

For those who have asked about Crotts' alleged memorial printing scams, we have heard nothing official. One who criticized this blog for mentioning this possible money-maker for Crotts has alleged the printer has used other charities as well as the deceased law officer. 

We can assure you that if we had the facts, these scams would have been mentioned initially along with those concerning the fallen officer. Again, we have no idea why pointing out this theft would be offensive. While not as heinous as child sex abuse, we believe these crimes should be prosecuted.

Either this blog of Hidden Shoals will post any updates when available.

Is Ben Harrison That Obtuse?/Colbert Board Meeting

 

Kimberly Butler is awaiting news on a new runoff for Alabama State House District 2. The current "winner" of that race has stated a second runoff is not needed since only 70 votes are in question and the number is too small to affect his much larger margin.

Apparently Harrison doesn't understand that many of those who voted for declared second place Jason Black would now vote for Butler if placed against Harrison. Welcome to Alabama where our registrars are dumb and our candidates are dumber.

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As it stands now, the next Colbert Animal Shelter Board is July 15th at 9:00 a.m. in Muscle Shoals City Hall. Please call in advance to check time and to have your name placed on the agenda. Our readers say the board is notorious for changing the time at the last minute. (256) 386-9200

*****

There have been many conflicting reports on when and where Kelly Crotts moved his business after his alleged crimes came to light. What we can definitely say is that the business was sold to two Shoals area businessmen three to four weeks ago, and Crotts now has nothing to do with it.

We're not sure why exposing Crotts' alleged questionable financial dealings should offend anyone...oh, wait...don't talk about it and everything will be all right. If your family was a victim, you should want it exposed.

Interest Continues to Add up on Inspiration Landing Loans

The year 2022 is now half over, which means the City of Sheffield (read: taxpayers) have now paid six months interest on two USDA loans taken out to develop Inspiration Landing. There are other loans, but the USDA are the largest.

Loan I covers utilities for the project, while Loan II was used to build streets. Together, the loans total $2,748,000.00. The smaller loan is due to be paid off in 2052, while the larger will be paid off in 2062. Take time to prepare your children and grandchildren now.

Except for the utilities and streets paid for by Sheffield, the only new work to the super-project now standing is a fence around the music venue known as the Slag.  All other fixtures in place at the venue last August have been removed.

The brainchild of John Elkington does have some new advertising:

Photos of Inspiration Landing

That gives us a great idea:

Photo of Shoalanda Receiving Pulitzer Prize

Something Our Country Needs to Hear

 

From a favorite reader:

This picture was taken 84 years ago today (July 2) at the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. If you're the type that cannot associate or get along with someone that has a levelheaded, yet differing opinion from yourself, or the type that wants to censor everything that is uncomfortable or inconvenient, I want you to look at this picture. Stare at it and realize that you lack even the slightest traces of integrity, honor, humility, or respect for yourself. If you think you're a progressive, look at the present day and look at this and try to convince anyone above imbecile status that your progressivism is something desired. If these two men can throw their arms around each other after all the literal bloodshed they witnessed, your opinions and feelings being challenged is simply toddler antics.

*****

In case you've ever wondered about our most controversial opinions in the eyes of a great many readers:

1. Laws, rules, codes should be obeyed. If you don't like them, seek to have them legally changed.

2. To fight crime, you have to expose it. Hiding the evil acts of others helps no one except those who committed those acts. 

Colbert Shelter Board's Next Meeting

 

To comply with the Alabama Open Meetings Act, aka the Sunshine Law, a regular meeting of a government entity (a county board in this case) must be publicly announced seven days in advance. In other words, a July 15th meeting must be posted in some public manner on July 8th (in this case by 9:00 a.m.).

Was the Colbert Shelter Board derelict by not having all information together by 9:00 yesterday morning? We'll give them a pass...partially.

The next meeting is at 9:00 a.m. on Friday July 15th. We're still not sure of the location, but will try to get that posted. You will need to sign in early if you wish to speak at the meeting. Anyone else seeing a resemblance to the Ag Center Board in Lauderdale? In the City of Florence anyone may speak who is at least on topic. That means if a segment of Pine Street collapses five minutes after the start of a council meeting, Dick won't let you announce it to the audience since it's not on the agenda.

Our blog will cover this meeting in some manner. The exact location will be posted as soon as we have the correct information. As we understand it, only Colbert residents will be allowed to speak.

A Short Bio of Kelly Crotts & Cornerstone Church

Cornerstone Church (of Christ?)

A contributor has sent us this bio of accused sexual predator Kelly Crotts, aka Kelly Evit:

The congregation that met on county road 158 was once known as Macedonia Church of Christ. But then in May 2001 a large group left the building on county road 158 and moved into the building on Highway 20. It became known to locals as the New Macedonia. 

A small number of people choose to stay at the building on 158 and continues to worship there today. It's known as the Church of Christ at Macedonia. The community is known as Macedonia. To locals, the congregation that meets at the building on 158 is known as the old Macedonia.


At some point since 2001, because the names of the 2 buildings were similar and to people/businesses not familiar with the location of the 2 Macedonias would often get confused (New Macedonia and Old Macedonia).So the elders of the congregation that meets at the building (New Macedonia) on Highway 20 decided to change their name to Cornerstone.


Kelly Crotts is the business owner of Full Court Press. He is currently continuing to operate out of an old tire repair shop beside Haddock's quick stop on Highway 20 and has help from local parents who are delivering orders of all-star uniforms/shirts etc... for him.  Who wants to be associated with him, I'll never understand.


Kelly moved to this area from Greenville, Mississippi in the early to mid 1990's. He, along with family members joined the congregation that met at County Rd 158. With less than 5 years since graduating high school in Mississippi, He substituted at the preschool-Sonshine School - teaching 2-5 year olds and was very involved with the youth and teens. Eventually he was hired on as a full time preschool teacher for the Sonshine School.


Do you know many 18-24 year old males who want to teach toddlers?


Over the course of many years between the old building and the new building and the temporary current building on County Rd 200 (due to storm damage of building on 20) Kelly drove the church van and took many, many kids and teens to multiple outings, went to ballgames, coached their Dixie Youth teams etc... He has worked with multiple, multiple young boys on memory verses and meeting them at the building to help them learn their verses. He became a trusting mentor to many teens and was loved by them and their parents.


It is no secret that he has bought vehicles for multiple teen boys over the years, bought many needed items for them and their families. He helped a lot of people out. They fully trusted him. He presented himself as a genuine, caring person to everyone.


He eventually married and is currently married to the same lady.


Most of these teens came from single parent homes and the teens worked for him at his T-shirt business.

From another reader:

Kelly Crotts who is a member of the Central Heights community was arrested today and has bonded out. He attended Cornerstone church of Christ for years. He was very involved with the youth. As a matter of fact he was the involvement minister on the church bulletin, He was the youth minister for several years. He taught preschool there. He was also very involved with central school. He was the announcer for football and basketball games. He even coached boys jv basketball at one time. He has been doing things to teenage boys for the past 20 years.

Our Final Take: This involvement minister was just a little too involved. 

This Is How Corruption Works

 

Within the last year:

Florence is a town of just over 40,000 in population, and we may assume just less than 25K are in the workforce. That's still quite a few individuals from which to choose to fill a government post. Yet the son and the THIRD wife of the city council president are now department heads. What are the odds of that?

However, it isn't just nepotism which indicates corruption in our local governments. The Muscle Shoals City Council appointed a golf pro who was quite the job hopper, didn't have the best references, and who no one really likes instead of the then second in command who was both superior and well-liked. Why? Some on the council wanted to thumb their noses at the long time employee just to irritate his mentor with whom they had a bone to pick.

Most recently, the Colbert County Animal Board has acted in a similar manner by selecting a novice shelter manager. Why? The board chair didn't like the more experienced candidate personally. Now the animals suffer.

That's not all; the board  is passing the buck to various law agencies to correct the abysmal situation at the shelter, and we understand the Colbert District Attorney is attempting to pass the situation back to the board. 

Politics as usual unless you stand up for what's right. We urge everyone to confirm the date and time of the July board meeting and attend with questions in hand.

Is Tommy Our Junior Senator or Is It Yogi?

 

Our junior senator from Alabama has said it's time to wake up and smell the roses. Somehow we don't think this statement conveyed his actual thoughts on a Democratic takeover of the Senate. 

Will this takeover happen? It's possible after the events of last month. There's now several movements to have Uncle Clarence impeached. If you don't like that moniker, it was courtesy of "Huntsville's own Nick Fury." 

Even more recently the controversial jurist has been espousing the erroneous idea of dead fetal cells in COVID vaccines. Perhaps he wants to lose some of his following via a horrible death?

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If you wish to complain about the current administration of the Colbert Shelter, we're told Tambra Howard has left that body. It would be interesting to know why.

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Here's a wake up call for Napping Nancy. Lauderdale County has fallen in the state's income ratings, while its neighbor Limestone has risen to number three.

Or, in the words of an old Dr. Hook song, we're still seeing them same ol' sleazos that we used to see.

Contact the Colbert County Animal Shelter Board

 

A few years ago, there were serious problems at the old Florence-Lauderdale Animal Shelter. Mayor Steve Holt of Florence took care of it immediately and even worked performing manual labor at the shelter. Thank you, former mayor Holt!

Don't expect this from the Colbert County Board or those mayors who are members. Why do they simply care so little? You would need to ask them, but pass the buck seems to be their favorite game.

We urge all in Colbert County (and beyond) to e-mail, write, or call these board members concerning the problems at the Colbert Shelter. Trust us, there has been no exaggeration in the problems reported. Much more will come to official light soon.

Steve Stanley - mayor@sheffieldalabama.org, Office: 256.383.0250, Cell: 256.627.5089.

Mike Lockhart - (256) 383-5675

Kerry Underwood - 256-366-5785, 102 North Main Street , Tuscumbia, AL 35674 256-366-5785

Tambra Howard - https://shoalspaws.com/

Tori Bailey - 201 N Main St, Tuscumbia, AL 35674, 256-394-8674
toribailey@aol.com

In case they missed the memo, these individuals work for you the people. Make them start acting like it.

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Thought for the day: If a man beats his first wife, how desperate is any woman who agrees to become his second?

Independence Day 2022

 

We don't know the future, but we can certainly read warning signs. Rome, the Mayan nation, the USSR - they were once all great (though ideologically flawed) powers...and they all fell. As we've said before, do you expect everything to be the same in one thousand years? No. How about five hundred? No. How about 100? Now your answers are probably positive. Yes, the US will be here, just like it is today, in 100 years. Why are you so sure?

Five years ago, if you had asked what calamity would befall the world and especially this country, we would have postulated that North Korea would finally develop a missile to reach Guam and our world would change forever. Now our world is changed to a great degree, but it was due to a plague. Did anyone see that coming except Stephen King?

Yes, news is instantaneous and we learn of much more tragedy than ever before. For years we've used that thinking to pooh-pooh any real change in our country and its greatness. Now, we're not so sure.

Are we predicting a civil war? No. We see the politics of US states diverging to the point that secession can't be stopped without major military action that we would hope will never come. How many new countries will evolve? We have no idea, but we should be prepared that this could come suddenly and be something we see in our lifetime.

Yes, it's sad that so many have similar thoughts this Independence Day. Enjoy the celebrations while you can...

Shoalanda and Staff