Keeping the Faith for Handy Rec Center

 

From District 1 Councilwoman Kaytrina P. Simmons:

Handy Recreation Center, built in 1954 will undergo renovations soon. ($1,100,785.00)

The center will be closed for estimated 300 days. Exact date forth coming! Didn’t get the full renovations approved as I advocated for and the community hoped for. it still will come. I’m keeping the faith. Programming coming in the near future.

PARDON THE PROGRESS CHANGES COMING

Rentals are available at Fairground Road Center. Royal Recreation and Broadway Recreation Center. Thank you for your support, patience and understanding during this project. I look forward to supporting Jason in his needs with programs to make a difference for the entire community.

*****

Golfing His Troubles Away

 

Some of our legal eagle friends saw Judge Gil Self playing golf immediately after bonding out of the Lauderdale County Detention Center on Monday. We don't know if this denotes innocence or a fatalist attitude toward the outcome of his legal woes.

Below are two screenshots from the Examiners' report indicating county money spent in undocumented fashion:

Click to enlarge

* As noted, these undocumented expenses have been repaid.

Guns, Furniture, Eye Glasses, &...Kitty Litter!

 

According to Attorney General Steve Marshall, he bought guns, eye glasses, kitty litter, and a sofa...plus "many others." Besides illegal purchases, the Lauderdale County judge is also accused of receiving reimbursement for work trips he never took and illegally hiring his son as a law clerk. 

Yes, the AG says Judge Gilbert Porterfield Self has been a bad boy. We couldn't help but notice that this behavior seems to have started during the illness and death of his brother Hank, also a Florence attorney.

We had heard there would be 17 counts handed down by the grand jury. In actuality, there were 18. The State added one count of lying to the grand jury. Picky, weren't they? 

So what now? Judge Self, 61, faces up to 30 years in prison. Remember Limestone Judge Donald Patterson? He's currently serving a mere four years in actual confinement. We suspect Self will similarly snag a plea deal...but how many actual years?

Will Self now surrender his law license and position on the bench? If he follows Patterson's lead, he won't. Hold on, we said it would be a bumpy ride.

Judge Gilbert Self Indicted & Arrested

 

Judge Gilbert Porterfield Self was first appointed to the bench in Lauderdale County in 2009, then elected. Last October, his judicial accounts were audited for the past four years. The audit didn't go well when it was determined personal items, including guns and kitty litter, were charged to public funds.

Last week, Judge Self was indicted by a Lauderdale County grand jury. This morning, Self turned himself in to the sheriff's office. Per Vinelink, the 61 year-old Self is now out of custody.

Self's record had previously been scrutinized in 2010 when he ran for the judgeship against Janice Keeton. It was widely reported that he had been arrested on a drug charge during law school in Birmingham while he was in his 20s. More recently, Self went through a divorce while in office and had married a second time, personal offenses that are often the kiss of death for many politicians in a conservative state.

This is a developing story, and we'll comment on new details if they become available. 

*****

Hi, I'm Eli, a seven year-old German Shepherd mix. I have a lot of years and a lot of love left to give. Come see me at the Florence animal shelter in the industrial park:

What Happened When Limestone County Indicted a Sitting Judge?

 

And now a cautionary tale:

What happened when a sitting judge in Limestone County was indicted? The answer is "not much." Pictured is former Judge Donald Lee Patterson who was indicted in 2019 on charges of using a court services fund for his own financial gain and Third Degree Theft (not over 1.5K), plus a few other things.

Why do we say "not much"? Patterson refused to resign until he was convicted. If you're unsure what that means, Patterson was paid his salary for months in between his indictment and his conviction, even though other judges had to take the cases in his docket.

In simple terms, Patterson cost the citizens of Limestone County big bucks. He's still costing them, but now in the Limestone Correctional Facility. He'll leave there for probation in December of this year.

*****

Hi, I'm Chelsea. I'm only a year old and am a Lab mix. Come see me pleeeeease at the Florence shelter in the industrial park on Roberson Road:

Remembering Ray LaVay (J.J. Ray)

 

For many years, Ray LaVay wrote here as J.J. Ray. He eventually left to work with Pen-N-Sword until his health declined. Ray passed away last week at the age of 80.

Here is his obituary:

Raymond Anthony LaVay, Jr., 80, Muscle Shoals, passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. There will be a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30, at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia with Truman Sutton and Wendall Oliver officiating.

Ray was a veteran of the US Air Force. He was preceded in death by his sister, Cathy LaVay.

Ray is survived by his loving wife of fifty years, Linda LaVay; children, Joey Barger, Rachel LaVay, Theresa LaVay; Ray LaVay, III, Shawn LaVay, and Mike Lefan; sister, Debbie Brown; grandchildren, Tyler LaVay, Makenize LaVay; Alyssa LaVay; Donovan LaVay; Damien Fowlkes, Harley Willowford, Haley Rich, Madison Mears, Payton Lanier, Trey Cox, Jonathan Cox, Aaron Aday, and Caleb Vindelicto; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and bonus children.

The family offers special thanks to Angela Sparks, the staff of Helen Keller Hospital, and Dr. Lynn Ridgeway.

Today Marks Holocaust Remembrance

 

After October 7th, it's even more important to remember the Holocaust. We hope each of you says a prayer today thanking God for our freedom in this country and asking for the protection of Israel and a swift resolution to all wars.

Lie Down with the Salvation Army, Get up with Venereal Sores?

 

It seems the Salvation Army has been telling the Florence City Council how it's been reaching out to the homeless during the recent single digit weather. Really? 

It's an interesting tale, but totally untrue. A new group, which unfortunately has not until now seen the evils of the Salvationists, has been doing the leg work to find the unhoused and to transport them to the shelter, a shelter that our Florence tax dollars has helped sustain until recently.

So, tell us, New Kids on the Block, do you still think it's okay to work with the spawn of Satan?

*****

This usurpation of credit is nothing new for the SA. Just look at their Angel Trees:

1. The SA asks needy families to drop by to sign up for assistance.

2. Community volunteers write family names on hanging cards.

3. Local businesses purchase trees and hang the cards.

4. Patrons select a family's card and return with presents.

5. Finally, the Salvation Army "gives" out this wonderful charity.

Stay tuned...later this year Shoalanda will be handing out free money in the form of income tax refunds.

*****

Guten tag, I'm Rhett. I'm a five month-old male Dachshund mix in need of some new digs. Come by the Florence shelter in the industrial park to check me out:

Florence Puts Lipstick on a Pig

 

It's time for another visit from the Florence Detective:

It seemed like there were two takeaways from the Florence city council meeting held on 01/25/2024. Jimmy Oliver wants to make sure that the city’s lawnmowers are protected. And Kaytrina Simmons tries her hardest to take care of her district. Unfortunately for Kaytrina and the good folks of District 1, it seems like her best is just not good enough. At this meeting, she had another losing battle in front of her to get the entire Handy recreation center remodeled. But, in her quiet reserved way, she attempted to get the other council people on board. She failed. It seems like to the rest of this council, a place to store lawn equipment is more important than a place to provide recreation for children.

$1,721,000.00 was the amount listed on consent agenda item (i) which was a contract with Butler construction company for the construction of a maintenance building at Rivers Heritage Phase III. $1,100,785.00 was the amount listed also on the consent agenda as item (j) for another contract with Butler construction company to provide labor, equipment, materials, and incidentals necessary for the renovation of W.C. Handy recreation center. Ms. Simmons did win a small victory in getting both these items removed from the consent agenda where all items are placed which can be passed with one vote from the council (eg: reimburse travel expenses, etc.) and placed on the regular agenda where they are voted on separately and can be discussed.

Councilwoman Simmons attempted to “discuss” before the vote on these items. She pointed out that the Florence city council was attempting to spend more on a storage place for lawn equipment and a few chemicals for the splash pad than for a multi-purpose building to benefit the citizens of District 1. Earlier at the work session, a new player in what has become “the Handy melodrama” was introduced. He is the newly hired recreation director. The only name I got, and I apologize, was “Jason”. BUT, given the remarks he made to the full council it may be the case that he is not around long enough to get any plaques anyway! He came to the podium and let the council know that they should do more for the recreation center. While the paint and flooring would look nice, he proposed gutting the area where the lockers currently are located and making that a video entertainment area. It could also be used as a learning center for after school programs and he even had a plan to create a social room that citizens could rent for gatherings. You could see the scowl in every member's face but Kaytrina Simmons. She was looking more pleased with his every word. I am sure she also knew they were falling on deaf ears other than hers and those in attendance, both in person and online. BUT, to this reporter, this young man was the star of the meeting.

Jimmy Oliver shot back that the cost of the maintenance building is for new construction and that the cost at the Handy center was only for a remodel. He was correct in this assessment but what he did not acknowledge and the point that Ms. Simmons and “Jason” were making was if you are going to remodel the building, why not remodel the entire building? Mr. Oliver seemed stuck on one being new construction and the other being a remodel. One thing this reporter did was to go online to find the average construction cost for “warehouse” type buildings for 2023. The average cost for basic shell buildings can run anywhere from $90 to $137 per sq. Ft. This “new” maintenance building proposed size is listed at 5600 sq ft. Given the cost of the building, this comes in at an average cost of $307.32 per sq ft for construction. When it came time for “remarks from the public” one commenter showed his concern at the $1.7 million price and asked if the building was to be “made of gold”. Gold today is selling for $2.031.00 an ounce.

Of course, when the votes were taken, all but Ms. Simmons voted yes. The lawnmowers will have a shiny new home. The citizens of District 1 will have some paint, some new flooring and a few kitchen appliances. And “lipstick on the pig” of a building built in 1955. It seems like this council once again missed a golden opportunity to do the right thing.






You may contact the blogger at: flodetective@gmail.com

Eight Days without Water!

 

From a West Lauderdale Water Board customer:

We’ve been out since last Thursday morning. Along with what the water dept says is roughly 500 customers. They seem to be down playing it though supposedly due to “low tank levels”. They’re blaming customers having leaks at their homes they aren’t repairing but who would do that? Everyone seems to be coming to the conclusion they have leaks on the main lines and either can’t fix them or can’t find them.

I’ve been told by workers the system is very outdated. Hasn’t been serviced since it serviced 3000 customers 20 years ago and now serves over 6000

The last update is they hope to have water restored Friday. That’ll be 8 days.

This is totally unacceptable. Does this type of ineptitude fall under the state's public service commission domain? What if all are not restored by tomorrow.

Help! Who has an answer for these customers who are receiving such shoddy service?

*****

Today at 6:00 p.m., Kenneth Eugene Smith is scheduled to lose his life. Let's all pray that God's will is done. 

Florence Needs a Baby Box

 

Madison's Baby Box had its first patron Sunday when a newborn baby girl was placed inside the rotating device. Not only Madison, but Gadsden, Prattville, Tuscaloosa, and Opelika have functioning Safe Haven Baby Boxes. 

The Madison box is only two weeks old. It was installed at a fire department, as most are. Also, most are funded via donations. How wonderful that the Madison child will now find two loving parents who are able both financially and emotionally to care for her!

One organization sponsoring the installation of baby boxes is Kids to Love. We'll be finding out more soon and publishing details on how you can donate.

*****

Hi, I'm Broghan, a four month-old girl mixed breed female. Please come take me away to a tropical paradise...or your home...that'll work! I'm at the Florence shelter in the industrial park:

What the Florence Public is Saying

 

Yesterday we touched on the lack of preparation in the City of Florence. A few, very few, called foul on our remarks, but these were coming from the citizens. Let's look at a few of these comments:

the police department can't even get the city to clear their parking lot ?

yea it’s ridiculous and the people of Florence have a reason to be upset. I work out of town and just came back last night and was astonished on the conditions of the roads compared to Huntsville and Athens. Total mismanagement and resources and planning and just not caring. People have to get to work or risk getting fired and to the grocery store and the hospital and other places. When your main city roads are still in such bad shape after 5 days it’s uncalled with the a city the size of Florence.

He said they dropped 1 ton of salt already. I asked "WHERE?" I know they have but I've seen zero evidence of any loose salt or gravel on the road anywhere. 1 ton is salt is nothing. To be proud of that is astonishing to me. We've been stuck inside for 6 days now, trucks cannot get to the grocery stores, shelves are empty, commerce is halted - all because of complete mismanagement.

it won’t do any good but I will write my grievances to him. That’s hilarious that he is pleased with the progress on the roads doesn’t surprise me though. He doesn’t care

Please write Andy Betterton ABetterton@florenceal.org with your grievances. I've been in touch and of course he dismissed it like it was a "me" issue not a shared community problem. He said he was pleased with the progress that was made on the roads. Clearly he hasn't been out on them. He has ample notice and he dropped the ball.

The city of Florence is a joke for the letting the roads still be in as bad shape as they are. Completely incompetent and inexcusable and a embarrassment to the rest of the state.

I just don’t have much patience when incompetence threatens my livelihood

A state of emergency was declared so extra funds were released. our Mayor was asleep at the wheel.

They could have plowed and salted as soon as it stopped falling. If they don’t have snow plows they could invest in the snow plow attachments that go in the front of trucks. It’s almost like they just threw their hands up. Kids need to get back to school. Businesses need revenue. There’s no doubt that more could’ve been done.

Don't forget the half million of our tax dollars going to UNA every year. Our Mayor & City Council members voted for that. We got 2 City Council members on UNA'S payroll. Then our wonderful Mayor Andy Betterton & the Florence City Council have allotted 700 hundred thousand to re-purpose Pine St for UNA. Florence City had snow removal accessories and salt trucks at one time. They must have decided they were no longer needed. UNA could use our tax dollars more than our property owning tax paying Citizens. No matter the Citizens can't get out. How many missed important Dr. appt. ??? Our Mayor & City Council could care less about the Citizens. I for one am sick of seeing our tax dollars go to a Liberal Arts College with a 47% graduation rate. SA rate is not very good either, but UNA keeps that on the down low. UNA is a moral hazard and nothing more than a legal money racket. Kitts making 267 thousand with all his perks. Male coaches make 97 thousand a year & female coaches making around 12 thousand less a year. UNA don't even practice what they teach. DEI UNA.....REMEMBER ALL THE TAX PAYER MONEY GIVEN TO THIS FAILING INSTITUTE WITH A 47% graduation rate. They can't even graduate every 1 out of 2 students, but the 53% that did not graduate still have student loans debt. YET KEN KITTS still gets his money. The coaches get their money, and the students and tax payers are left paying the bill for them to live the highlife. If a student defaults on their loan you think UNA is going to help or even care. Nope they got their money. This is insanity. Continuing to do the same thing expecting different results...

The above are just remarks from city residents. The remarks from Waterloo and other county areas are not publishable using our language guidelines. Hopefully, those fine folks will find safe passage to the grocery store shortly and no kittens will be harmed in the making of dinner.

*****

Hi, I'm Tomato, but I don't want to be anyone's lunch. I'm a five month-old girl who should have fluffy long hair. Come see me at the Florence shelter on Roberson in the industrial park:

Why Were Streets Not Sanded? Where Was Andy?

 

Readers in all cities, especially Florence, have asked us why more was not done to prepare roads for the 8" of snow. It had been predicted days in advance. Florence citizens were particularly unhappy. Many main arteries went untouched by anything even resembling a snowplow.

Municipal elections are still two years away. Think about what you want your hometown to be. It won't simply morph into something better. You have to vote to replace the dead weight. Ask our Florence Detective (flodetective@gmail.com) some questions about city problems. He's working to make a better Florence, and so should you be.

*****

There are two important dates coming up. The first applies to our state only. In three days, barring a judge's order, Alabama will execute former Florence resident Kenneth Smith. The State will use a new method...or try to. The world will be watching. You need to decide how you feel about the death penalty. Admittedly, Smith is no poster boy for abolishing such punishment. We all need to pray about this.

*****

Why Wasn't the Alleged Salvation Army Rape Reported?

 

Three or four years ago, we began publishing stories from women who had been forced to resort to the shelter at the Salvationist Church. While all the reported events were troubling, one was particularly so. Allegedly, an employee of the SA had raped a woman who was seeking shelter.

The account of the rape was given to us by two or three women who were ostensibly at the shelter when it happened. We told these women to encourage the victim to report the attack to the Florence police. As far as we know, she never did.

According to the latest statistics, only 31% or rapes are reported in the U.S. There are many reasons these attacks are never turned over to authorities. In this particular case, the woman would have lost her "home." There could have also been other reasons. We urge any one who has been sexually assaulted to report the attack to authorities. There is no statute of limitations on rape in Alabama. You're helping not only yourself, but in all likelihood preventing future rapes.

We've been asked why we care about the Salvationists discrimination against gays. It's not just gays; it's also women, a much larger segment of the population. Do the right thing - make sure you know where your money goes before you write that check or send that PayPal/Venmo.

Remembering Dr. John Thornell

 

Of all the people we've met since the inception of this blog, Dr. John Thornell is among the dearest. Over the years, we've communicated about various topics and were always impressed by his insight and wisdom. We were extremely saddened to learn of his passing.

Obituary:

Following an extended illness, John Thornell, 76, died peacefully at his Florence home on January 12, 2024. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, John was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel and Grover Thornell of Cleveland, Mississippi, and his brothers, Warren and Lester.

John is survived by his wife, Nita Bishop Thornell; their daughter, Abby Holmes (Todd); and their grandchildren, John Clark and Elle.

A career educator, John began as a math teacher in the Mississippi Delta, received a PhD from the University of Texas, and served in a series of post-secondary teaching and administrative positions. With these roles, John expressed avid interest in the educational systems of Russia, China, and Japan, and traveled in support of, and published, his research. He was appointed interim president of Delta State University in 2003 and was inducted into the Delta State University Hall of Fame. John served as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of North Alabama from 2009-2017. He concluded his tenure as Provost at the University in 2018 after a more than 40-year career in higher education. In addition, he served as Interim President at UNA in 2014-2015.

John was a communicant at Trinity Episcopal Church and was active in community events. He leaves many close friends in North Alabama and the Mississippi Delta.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. with The Reverend Callie Plunket-Brewton officiating. A reception in the Parish Hall will follow.

Revisiting Auntie Eu-la - Part II

 

Who's that girl sitting behind the desk of former Alabama governor Lurleen Wallace? Why, it's our own governor Kay Ivey. Yes, something happened along the way that changed Kay, who wouldn't know a foundation garment if it time warped out of Roger's Department Store.

Yet, she's one smart cookie. Here's what one of our more erudite readers said concerning dubbing our governor "MeeMaw":

It’s disrespectful, whether one voted for her or not. We’ve never referred to a male governor as “Pawpaw.” If a younger woman becomes our next governor, shall we call her Mama—-? I’m surprised women haven’t been more vocal on this, but many refer to her by this moniker. Men and women should be treated with equal respect and dignity, though there’s little of that left in politics these days.

We couldn't have said it better than our commenter. We've often disagreed with Gov. Ivey, yet we've never once called her an ugly name. Let's all do better.

She's a Big Time Woman from Way Out West Alabama

Revisiting Auntie Eu-la - Part I

 

Our recent blog mentioning "Auntie Eu-la" brought some interesting responses. One we took to mean that unions cause trouble. Really?

How do unions cause trouble? We are aware that large companies sometimes bring in strikebreakers who can become the objects of violence. This is rare. As far as we know, it's never happened in the Shoals.

How about entities closing? (Everyone knows about the local Krogers.) Good union reps know when to push and when to back off. The local Kroger stores were all pretty much in older buildings and in areas where Food World was super stiff competition. The union should have known to back off; that doesn't mean all unions are trouble.

We'll repeat our take on unions: If workers vote yes, then have a union. If workers vote no, then don't have a union. Kay Ivey has no business attempting to sway opinion with rhetoric that would make Kamala Harris blush.

*****

Hi ya, Mates. I'm Skip, a four month-old Bulldog mix. I think that means mixed with extra cute with paws the size of Michigan. Come see me at the Florence shelter in the industrial park off Chisholm:

No Water in Waterloo & Lexington!

 

Water has been off in Waterloo since early yesterday. Officials have announced they hope to have it restored at some point on Friday morning, Friday afternoon at the latest.

As of 9:30 p.m. last night, water was out for most of Lexington. A reader has said an attempt to obtain assistance from Loretto has fallen through.

What makes this a particularly difficult situation is that most residents can't run to the store to purchase bottled water. Help!

This is not an everyday situation, but nonetheless customers of West Lauderdale and Lexington Water need help now. Are there any organizations out there who can offer any assistance?

Comments and suggestions welcome!

Auntie Eu-la Raises her Mistaken Head

 

Editor's Note: While we usually make every effort to use non-copyrighted illustrations, this is an exception. It came from the latest edition of Lagniappe, a Mobile publication. So we suggest you subscribe - it's fantastic: Lagniappe

We can remember when many were offended by referring to Robert Bentley as the Luv Guv - a title he had earned. Not too many seem as offended when someone calls Gov. Kay Ivey "MeeMaw." Since the lady in question is not anyone's nan, why the very ugly word for grandmother?

Now, we have a name for the governor that actually fits. She's Auntie Eu-la. Get it? She's anti-union. 

Have you been reading her pronouncements about the UAW's attempts to unionize car makers in Alabama? It goes something like this:

We have education in this great state; we don't need unions. These unions are from the wilds of Michigan and don't belong in our beautiful state. Have I mentioned we have everything we need here without more unions, especially education?

What education has to do with unionizing auto factories is beyond us, How do we feel about it? If workers vote no union, there shouldn't be one. If the workers vote yes to the union, they have spoken and Kay Ivey shouldn't have the slightest input.

This Dog Isn't for Adoption - It's Alabama's First Dog Missy

Yes, You Have to Pay for It

 

A few years ago, the Lauderdale County Commission used county inmates to dismantle most of a condemned bridge on a rural road. Over ten years ago, Franklin County used inmates to raze the old jail after the construction of the new detention center. It's financially a good move.

It seems Lawrence County, Alabama, isn't sure how inmate labor works. For years, it's been trying to find a grant or some other means of funding to tear down its abandoned county jail building. Apparently, the structure can't be even locked, and homeless use the building for sleeping in inclimate weather. Last December, a former inmate at the jail decided it would be a warm place to catch 40 winks. Sadly, Jeffrey Martin didn't wake up and was found some time later.

Now the Lawrence County Commission has announced the financial onus of the deconstruction project will fall to the cash-strapped county. This is how it usually works. If anyone thinks it's difficult to find funds for new construction, one should logically know it's even harder to find the free money to tear down a dilapidated edifice.

The skinny? The old jail location will become a parking lot...

Jeffrey Martin

TVA Asks Customers to Conserve Power Amid High Demand

 

KNOXVILLE. Tenn. — Heavy snow and bitter cold temperatures are creating record high demand for electricity across the Southeast region. As a result, the Tennessee Valley Authority is asking customers to be aware of their power consumption, specifically between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. (CT) on Wednesday.

TVA is actively monitoring weather conditions, and our power system remains stable. Conservation requests are often used in the power industry to help lower demand during a specific time and does not indicate TVA is experiencing emergency conditions. If you are experiencing an outage, please check with your local electric provider for more information.  

TVA employees and local power companies are working around the clock to keep the electricity flowing. Together, we are doing our part to reduce the strain on the power grid. TVA has lowered thermostats in offices and is keeping lights off in buildings and plants when it is safe to do so.

Why is TVA recommending power conservation?

• Extremely cold temperatures and near-zero wind chill cause an increase in power demand for heating over an extended period of time for more than 10 million people across the TVA seven-state region.
• Colder temperatures mean more people are turning to electrified heat sources, pushing demand higher to what is referred to as a “peak.”
• Winter limits the availability of solar generation in the morning hours.

 

What is Peak Demand?

Peak demand is the highest number of megawatts consumed in a specific period of time by power consumers all across the TVA system.

• The record for system load at this time is 33,482 MW set on August 16, 2007. The previous record load for a winter day was 33,427 MW set on December 23, 2022.
• In the past year, TVA has added approximately 1,500 megawatts of new natural gas generation — enough to power 878,000 homes.
   

What can you do to help?

• Set your thermostat to 65-68 degrees. You can save as much as 10% per year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat down 7°–10°F for 8 hours a day in the fall and winter.
• Ensure your window coverings on the sunny side of your house are open.
• Unplug unused electronics.
• Unblock your air vents.
• Reduce your energy usage by turning off non-essential appliances and lights and refrain from using large appliances during the coldest part of the day.
• Postpone use of hot water and adjust water heater’s temperature.
• Weatherstrip doors and windows
• Commercial Business: Turn off any lights and office equipment (or place in sleep mode) when not in use and turn off air-conditioning/heating outside of business hours.

 

 TVA will communicate further as conditions evolve due to continued freezing temperatures.

 

To help ensure power reliability, last year, TVA invested more than $123 million and completed 3,400 winter readiness activities to harden its system and enhance the reliability and resiliency at its coal, gas, and hydro-electric facilities. This year, TVA will invest an additional $120 million above regular funding levels to specifically focus on enhancing the reliability of the generation fleet. Learn more about the work of TVA employees in preparing for winter weather here. 

It's Cold, So Hay or Straw?

 

Bring your animals in if at all possible. If they're strays and you can't catch to bring in, pad their sleeping area with straw - not hay.

Hay is for horses...to eat. Straw is for strays...for bedding. Got it?

*****

Ah, yes, the Cone of Shame! It can happen to the best of us. This is Haiku, a one year-old female Lab mix. Drop by and take a look at this doll at the Florence shelter in the industrial park:

Need Shelter in Russellville?

 

If you're in Franklin County and need shelter, the old canteen next to the A. W. Todd Center downtown will be open starting Monday night. Each night after Monday will be evaluated as to need.

We feel there is a definite need most nights. No one can say it's ideal if the temperature is above freezing at 33 degrees. We hope Russellville continues to provide shelter to those who may need it in the bitter cold or extreme heat this coming summer.