Florence Detective Shreds Hendrix & Sak

 

Pictured is the former Gibson Guitar factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Read on for a pithy critique from the Florence Detective as he exposes Eugene Sak's plan for a Reverb Hotel on Court Street and the coronation of Dick Jordan's pal Jackie Hendrix Jr.

Kalamazoo's Best Kept Secret

There was only one surprise associated with the July 30th Florence city council meeting, but it was a mini-shocker.  It was not the vote by the council to replace the District 2 seat left open by Dick Jordan’s retirement.  That was a unanimous vote for Jordan’s  hand-picked successor Jackie Hendrix Jr.  Despite cries of foul play from the public regarding someone being appointed and not holding a special election, the council voted unanimously to give the “job to Jackie”.  No, this reporter and almost everyone who had followed this council for any period said that they were going to usher in the person that those with money and power wished to have a seat on the council. They are a rung above Dick Jordan.  The “power behind the throne”.  There are some very monied interests in District 2 who want to make more money on projects in the city that will need the council’s approval if they have not already gotten it.  And they are the ones who really got their hand-picked choice for the council seat.  Monied interests getting their way....move along, nothing new to see here.   

No, the shocker came in from Eugene Sak's corner.  He is still after city approval for the old Downtowner Motor Inn renovation into a Hard Rock hotel.  Granted, his request for money from the city to do the remodeling has been whittled down considerably.  He went from asking for $70 million down to $9 million down to a sales tax rebate and infrastructure improvements that supposedly would benefit the city.  The city would not be out one dime of taxpayer money according to Sak.  He made the plea a couple of meetings ago and his lawyer was back at this meeting again, hat in hand and needed an answer NOW or the Hard Rock people were supposedly moving on.  I thought of the story of the old woman and the snake, Eugene Sak being the snake but some of the council seemed to think it should be voted on right away.  Jimmy Oliver was so in favor until I wondered if he had been promised free drink tickets at Hard Rock Cafes to get the council’s approval.  At that particular meeting, Jordan was leaving and Blake Edwards was his usual sleepy self.  Bill Griffin had a blank stare on his face and it seemed to be up to Michele Eubanks and Kaytrina Simmons.  They both said they would not make any decisions until they had time to study the latest proposal for this hotel.  Despite practically being asked how they could pass up this golden opportunity from Oliver, they both held their ground.  There would be time to make decisions. 

So, the lawyer for Sak came before the council again only this time had gotten with Billy Musgrove the city attorney and worked out some kind of deal for a 50% tax break up to so many millions and infrastructure breaks up to $175,000.  He stood at the podium explaining away and stated that time was of the essence since the “Hard Rock” people were giving a deadline of August 5th for everything to be signed.  It seemed he was going to make progress until he got to Michele Eubanks. Mrs. Eubanks had done her homework.  First off, she stated she could not support anything involving Eugene Sak given his history with Hearn trailer park. He had let the property get into a state of disrepair that threatened the health of the tenants he rented to and a threat to the city since he had bought the property.  But, on top of that, she had investigated the Reverb hotel division of the Hard Rock Cafe chain.  In the original presentation they had used Kalamazoo, Michigan as an example of one of the hotels they owned in a smaller market.  Mrs. Eubanks had found that not only was there not a finished Reverb hotel in Kalamazoo, there had not been one spade of dirt turned toward the project.  Everyone got very quiet except for Jimmy Oliver who almost got defensive in his questioning as to why it would make a difference.  He repeated the line from Sak that the project was not going to cost the city anything but Michele said she did not trust this venture.  Oliver did not like it but he was out flanked on this one.  Eubanks had done her homework and exposed Kalamazoo's best kept secret!

The Unseemly Image: Why Public Officials Shouldn't Smoke

 

The role of a public official demands a certain standard of conduct, one that often extends beyond the realm of policy and governance. The image projected by these individuals significantly influences public perception and trust. In this context, the act of smoking, once a relatively commonplace behavior, has become increasingly incongruous with the expected demeanor of a public servant.

Firstly, smoking is a health hazard, a fact widely acknowledged by the public. Public officials are often seen as role models, particularly for young people. Their actions can shape behaviors and attitudes. By publicly smoking, these individuals are sending a contradictory message: promoting health and well-being while simultaneously engaging in a harmful habit. This inconsistency undermines their credibility and effectiveness.

Secondly, the image of a smoking public official is at odds with the modern, progressive image most strive to project. The world is increasingly health-conscious, and tobacco use is often associated with outdated or irresponsible lifestyles. Such an image can alienate a significant portion of the electorate, particularly those who value health and wellness.

Furthermore, smoking in public spaces can be offensive to non-smokers. Many people find the smell and sight of cigarette smoke unpleasant. When a public official engages in this behavior, it can create a negative impression and erode public goodwill.

In conclusion, while personal habits are a matter of individual choice, public officials occupy a unique position. Their actions are subject to greater scrutiny than ordinary citizens. The act of smoking, once considered socially acceptable, is now seen as incongruous with the role of a public servant. To maintain public trust and project a positive image, it is advisable for public officials to refrain from smoking in public.

The above essay was sent to us concerning the public behavior of new Florence City Council District 2 representative Jackie Hendrix. We welcome rebuttals or additional comments.

Today! 5:00 p.m.! Be There!

 

What? Florence City Council Meeting

When? 5:00 p.m.

Where? City auditorium on North Pine Street behind municipal building

Who? Any Florence residents, particularly those who live in District 2

Why? Even if you think the whole thing is rigged, be there to make the five active council members sweat.

Then? If you're disappointed, be there twice a month to express your displeasure with where this city is headed.

John Wahl Tells Another Whopper

 

You have to wonder if Alabama Republican chair John Wahl intentionally lies when he feels like it. Or does he get so carried away with himself that he doesn't even know what he's saying? Or perhaps he's just mistaken frequently?

And how does his Anabaptist family feel about his lies? If having your photo taken is a sin, surely telling an outright lie to make a point has to be less than desirable behavior.

Wahl recently stated on the Jeff Poor radio show that vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance is opposed to induced abortion in all instances, even when the mother's life is endangered. What does Vance say? He's stated there should be reasonable exceptions, although rape isn't one of them.

Surely, with all the Republicans in this state, there's someone more honest and intelligent out there than John Wahl...isn't there?

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Speaking of rape, we're hoping to get a few more replies to our question concerning believable accusations. How many alleged victims does it take to make you believe a man is indeed a rapist?

Is it two, three, whatever? Let us know what you think.

How Many...?

 

We want answers, so feel free to comment on Facebook or on our blog itself.

1. How many of you are single cat moms?

2. How many of you are single cat dads?

3. How many of you think your vote is less important since you're not married and have no human children?

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The above questions were just for fun, but this one is very serious. Think about it and give us your honest answer:

While a woman can, and sometimes does, report a rape that never happened, how many victims who don't know each other would it take to convince you that someone was a sexual predator? Victims who not only didn't know each other or know what had been reported by others and who could give verifiable time, date, and circumstances?

Would it be two? Or would it take three? How about more? We want to know what you think.

A Visit with Casey Cole White (and His Laundry)

 

Life must be rough at the William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer, Alabama. Dirty laundry takes on a new meaning when you have to hang it in your living room/den/bedroom combo. Unfortunately, that's something White will have to endure until at least 2061 when he will be eligible for parole at the age of 78.

If you're wondering if Casey is supposed to have this phone, the answer is no. We understand the number at the top of the screen is an Athens exchange. Ever the Lothario, White may have gotten the burner phone from a female visitor. My, my, what would Vicky think...if only she were here?

Do you suppose Casey is plotting his next escape?

Badcock's Plus More to Close

 

Look for a store closing sale at Badcock's in Florence Plaza. The furniture giant has announced it will be eliminating stores in Florence, Athens, Decatur, Huntsville, Scottsboro, Fort Payne, and Cullman.

There's been a lot of chatter about Big Lot's, but so far the Troy store is the only definite location to announce its closure. Bankruptcy is a distinct possibility at this point. 

Other rumors? Family Dollar has only two Lauderdale County locations left, with 300 more projected store closings for the second half of this year.

We've been asked about Big Man's Barbecue in North Florence. Rest assured that store has been closed only for vacation and will re-open on July 31st.

Retail is not what it once was. Get used to it.

Leading Cause of Death for Alabama Children

 

This is not about guns. This is about irresponsible adults who fail to keep their firearms in a safe place, allowing young children to find them or thugs to steal them.

* Guns are the leading cause of death for Alabama children (a child for this purpose is someone who hasn't reached the age of 18).

* In 2021, the number of children who died by gun in this state was 80. Many more were injured.

* In the past nine months, two children have been shot in the town of Sheffield, one dying. Authorities say that in neither case was the child the intended victim.

Are we in the Shoals proud of this?

Muscle Shoals Homecoming Election: "Obvious and Unfair"

 

Nothing says Autumn like homecoming...except when homecoming is scheduled two weeks before the end of summer. We understand that school schedules today reflect the need to get a certain number of days into the school year with the least amount of upheaval to classes. How does that work in Muscle Shoals?

July 23rd - Homecoming court announced

August 5th - First day of school

September 6th - Homecoming (think it might be a mite hot?)

Now, for the complaints...

1. Why vote before the start of school when there are 32 days between that date and homecoming?

2. Why vote by email when this might not be the preferred method of communication for rising seniors? (Aren't rising juniors and sophomores included?)

3. Aren't those students with no access to email technically disenfranchised from the process?

4. What lucky person has to handle complaints from students/parents who say they didn't know about the election and want a do-over?

5. Is Muscle Shoals the only system that uses this method?

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Joke of the day: A school superintendent walks into a bar (or something similar) and asks to see the mayor. When the receptionist checks, she tells the super that the mayor isn't in. The super leaves and the mayor then goes back to reading his newspaper in peace.

What? You don't think it's hilarious? Well, it's not like it really happened or that the mayor laughed about it or anything...ahem.

We're No Fan of Amber Rose, but...

 

We're not sure who said it first, possibly Ben Shaprio, but Amber Rose has never appeared in any porn. At one time, she was a stripper. That's not an ideal career, but it's still not making porn.

If you want to criticize this Trump supporter, do so because she was idiotic enough to date antisemite Kanye West for two years. This election just became much closer; Trump needs all the help he can get at this point.

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Just an observation, but we've often wondered if Ben Shapiro's commentary is akin to performance art ala Tucker Carlson. Shapiro, while he often has some interesting and valid points, seems to put down women and their place in society.

Shapiro's wife? She's a physician. 

Highland Park Baptist Church is No More

 

We've been asked to comment on this "rebranding." Other than the fact the cross in the logo looks like something from an accident report, we are not sure what is going on here.

We do know that the Highland Park pulpit minister Brett Pitman, who had been with the church since 2006, made news in Alabama Baptist by announcing his last day was July 21st.

Comments and articles are welcome.

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Sorry, Highland Park. You'll never beat this...

Meal Barrel Has Some Good News!

 

Dear Community,

We have found a new warehouse space in the old Cherokee Middle School, located at 267 Claude Posey Rd, Cherokee, Alabama, about 13 miles from our current location. At this point, we are unclear as to whether or not this will be our donation location as we are still hopeful for a satelite location in the Shoals (more information to come as its available).

We understand that distributing from Cherokee may cause significant inconvenience, especially for those who walk to our current location and our elderly community members who may find driving the distance challenging. We deeply apologize for the disruption this may cause and want to assure you that we are committed to continuing our services without interruption.

Our Commitment:

We will strive to serve with minimal disruptions.

We will engage volunteers to assist with deliveries and continue our fight against food insecurity in the Shoals Area.

We are actively seeking the funds to secure a new, more accessible location in the Shoals area.

How You Can Help:

Transportation may be a significant concern for many of our community members. We are calling on churches, businesses, and community members who can assist in this effort. If you can volunteer to deliver food, please contact me directly via phone, email, or text message.

Your support and dedication are crucial to us, and together, we can ensure that everyone in our community continues to receive the help they need during this transition.

Transition Details:

Last Donation Day in Sheffield: August 7th

Planned First Donation Day at New Location: August 14th (Appointments start at 2 PM, regular donations at 6 PM).

*We are still uncertain if the new warehouse will serve as our donation location. Due to the scale of our operation, it may prove necessary to find another site for donations to better serve our patrons and operations teams.

Special Thanks:

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Colbert County Board of Education and Superintendent Chris Hand for their efforts in helping us secure warehouse space, and to Tennessee Valley Authority, United Treating & Distribution LLC, Weisse USA, and so many others for their partnerships and support during this challenging time. Your assistance has been invaluable in making this transition possible.

Contact Information:

Phone/ Text: (256) 810-4289

Email: Penny.W.Freeman@gmail.com

And To our clients, we love you. Thank you for your understanding, patience, and unwavering prayers of support. We are committed to finding a space in the Shoals as soon as possible. Keep on praying for us. We're still fighting for you!

Yours in service,

Penny Freeman

Founding Director

Community 4Ward Projects: The Meal Barrel Project

No Difference in Resume' and Ballot except Voters

 

On July 30th, the five current members of the Florence City Council will select a new member to represent District 2. Yes, that was five...5...FIVE. That's in opposition to the over 2K who voted in that district in the last municipal election. Basically the only difference in the election processes is the numbers...and of course the fact that none from the council actually lives in District 2.

Now, let's look at something very odd. We profiled all five candidates, numbering them in alphabetical order. We had much more data on two of the candidates than we did the others. Our published info came from the candidates themselves and/or previously published biographies.

On July 13th, we profiled candidate Jackie Lloyd Hendrix. Five days later we received two disparaging comments - one from a member of the Alabama State Legislature who resides in a Colbert County town and one from a laborer who resides in a Lauderdale County village.

Both our posters, even though they were at opposite ends of the socio-cognitive spectrum, took umbrage at us mentioning the candidate's family before he was even selected. Let's throw some logic into the mix; families and their associations can make or break an election. We seem to remember the Colbert County reader mentioning his family when he ran for the state house.

There was one dramatic difference between the two criticisms: the Lauderdale manual laborer called our bloggers a vulgar name. Yes, he's banned.

Many who live in District 2 have waited years for a council member who isn't given to special interests and who truly cares about the area. Let's not mess it up with Dick v. 2.0!

Did William Foster Get a Job at Texas Roadhouse?

 

He's the mayor of Tuscumbia. He's at an official ceremony inside Tuscumbia City Hall. Why is he wearing a hat?

1. He likes to break rules?

2. He's not smart enough to know better?

3. He's drunk?

4. He wanted to see if Shoalanda etal. was paying attention?

Indeed we are. William Foster has won the Born in a Barn award!

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For those who are manners-challenged, here's the rule:

All hats should be removed upon entering indoors, which includes houses of worship (unless customary otherwise, like at Jewish synagogues), public buildings, and private homes, especially at mealtimes. Exceptions include when attending indoor athletic events, taking public transportation, or traversing public thoroughfare spaces such as airports, hotel lobbies, and elevators.

Milburn Stone Wouldn't Come to UAB Now

 

If you don't know who Milburn Stone was, we feel sorry for you. Once a leading man, Stone aged into character roles and for years was universally loved as Doc Adams on Gunsmoke. He also aged into some serious heart problems.

In 1971, Stone had a heart attack and was told by his Los Angeles physicians that he needed coronary artery bypass surgery. He was also told to travel to Birmingham to have the procedure at UAB.  Just over 50 years ago, UAB was considered the best hospital for cardiac care in the nation. Stone made a full recovery, worked on Gunsmoke until the series ended in 1975, and passed away in 1980. 

If an affluent actor needed sophisticated heart surgery today, he wouldn't be sent to UAB. Why? Its cardiac department now ranks 50th in the United States.

Don't despair too much; UAB is still ranked as the number one hospital in the state. You do the math on how far down the rankings Huntsville Hospital or North Alabama Medical Center may lie.

If the above rankings don't put the fear of Dr. Auschlander into you, consider the state's OB/GYN programs. As of two years ago, many medical school graduates stopped applying for internships at Alabama hospitals. Applications are down 21.1% and still dropping. Four labor & delivery units have closed or announced plans for closure since January.

What is our state legislature doing to improve medical care for its citizens? Is arresting librarians that much more important?

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We solicit articles from NAMC, Keller, Shoals, Russellvile, and Red Bay Hospital physicians on the local state of healthcare. All will be published anonymously.

Who Wants Info about District 2 Candidates Hidden?

 

We recently ran short bios on the five candidates for the new District 2 Florence rep. All information came from public bios with the exception of River Zurinsky's. River was kind enough to send us the same bio he used for his application to replace Dick Jordan.

As we do with all our blogs, we linked these candidate bios to Facebook. Now FB has removed two as Spam. Why?

The first was Mr. Zurinsky's. It was long, but we have no idea why FB's new AI editor would consider it spam. The second was Inga Carroll-Harden's. We did mention the name of her downtown business; is that spam? 1984 is here; it's just 40 years late.

We've had some public comment on our bio of Jackie Hendrix. Horrors, we mentioned his family. Politicians usually mention their families in their press releases, and Hendrix has the most PUBLIC info of any of the candidates. Jimmy Hickman has the least public info, so his bio was the shortest; if we had known more, we would have published more.

Whoever the lucky/unlucky winner of the private selection is, we will be doing a much more in depth blog on their background. This is common in politics in a world where senators and their wives take bribes and local representatives give their entire families jobs at taxpayer expense.

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While on the subject of politics, we received some criticism for mentioning many can't spell J.D. Vance's last name. It's both sad and humorous and has nothing to do with Vance himself. This just shows how so many take offense at the slightest statement. 

The candidate was dressed in blue? Hey, what's wrong with blue?

This country needs to see the bigger picture and very quickly.

Tuscaloosa Store Removes Ammo Kiosk

 

They're new, shiny, feature a U.S. flag, and sell real bullets. Until last week, Alabama had two of the these mechanical marvels that work with facial recognition software (Read: John Wahl and family will never use to purchase their ammo).

One of these two American Rounds vending marvels was placed in Pell City, while the second was located in Tuscaloosa. The Tuscaloosa City Council thought the machine was a joke, then checked its legality. It seems it was absolutely legal, but not the money maker its host store had hoped for. The vending novelty was removed a few days before the Trump assassination attempt.

In case you want to visit Pell City just for the giggles, make sure your hair color and style match your driver license. The machine is uber picky and prefers to err on the side of caution. It's also pricey.

Are we sure this is what James Madison had in mind?

Council Meeting Cancelled/"We Will Dance Again"

 

Two Florence City Council members are ill, and the regularly scheduled meeting is cancelled. The next gathering will be July 30th. At that time, a replacement for Dick Jordan should be named.

We noticed that today's agenda also included giving SEDA a "grant" for improvements in Rogersville. If Jackie Hendrix is chosen for the council, he will not be allowed to vote on these issues. He will also need to step down from the new Parks & Rec Foundation. 

We've been asked about the partners of these candidates. As far as we know, only three have life partners. If one of these three is selected, we will do an in depth look into his/her financial attachments as well.

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Coming to Paramount+ Next Fall

Florence Candidate #5: River Zurinsky

 

If you keep up with Florence politics, the name River Zurinsky is familiar to you. Mr. Zurinsky has forwarded a copy of his application to the council:

I am seeking the position of the district 2 councilperson vacated by former President Dick Jordan on June 20, 2024. As a lifelong citizen of Florence, I feel that I bring a lot of knowledge and insight about the city to the table which can help me carry out my duties as a member of the Florence City Council.

I was born at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital (ECM) in 1999 and have spent my entire life as a citizen of District 2, where I’ve lived in the McFarland Heights neighborhood for 25 years. I attended W.C. Handy HeadStart, Kilby Laboratory School, Shoals Christian School, and graduated from Faith Academy. I’ve been interested in local politics since I was in fourth grade, and I’m attaching an essay that I wrote after a field trip to our state capital, Montgomery. This trip kindled a desire in me to be involved in Alabama politics when I was old enough to run for office.

After graduating from high school, I completed formal training to become a SKYWARN Storm Spotter for the National Weather Service. This was spurred by a personal experience that greatly impacted me. On a sixth-grade class field trip to Atlanta on April 28, 2011, I witnessed firsthand the devastation that violent weather inflicted upon Cullman and Moulton. This later inspired me to start livestreaming during tornado warnings for Lauderdale, Colbert, and surrounding counties. My familiarity with reporting severe weather to the NWS and assisting with local emergency management agencies will be a valuable asset to my role on the Florence City Council.

In addition to serving as a SKYWARN Storm Spotter, I am actively engaged with the Shoals community, and I’ve built a social media presence on Facebook and Instagram while concurrently pursuing my interest in local and state government. In 2020, I ran for the District 2 Florence City Council seat during the first election I was eligible to run in at 21 years of age. While I did not expect to win this election during my first attempt, I gained invaluable experience from my political campaign and developed a greater understanding of the needs of my constituents and how local government works. In 2023, I was one of only four private citizens in the entire State of Alabama to submit a Congressional Map proposal to our State Legislature (*see attachment). Making a congressional map of the state taught me a great deal about the electoral process and the demographics of various regions within our state. After submitting my map, I contacted multiple state legislators including Representative Kerry Underwood and Speaker of the House, Nathaniel Ledbetter, who read my email correspondence with him aloud during the Reapportionment Committee hearings held after the Allen v. Milligan Supreme Court ruling. This helped me gain invaluable information about the complex process of getting legislation passed in Montgomery. If you select me as the next District 2 Council member, I hope that I can be an example to our younger citizens and encourage them to participate in the political process.

My selection as the District 2 Council representative could also inspire persons with disabilities to become involved in local government. At the last City Council Meeting on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, I spoke about being diagnosed with autism and losing my ability to communicate as a young child. Losing my speech became a tremendous motivation for me to speak out publicly on behalf of others now, because I believe that my ability to do so is both a privilege and a gift from God. As a person with autism, I would bring a valuable new perspective to issues brought before the Florence City Council. While living with autism in a neurotypical world is challenging, it also comes with a specific set of strengths and abilities that include honesty, logical thinking, special attention to detail, and a strong sense of justice. I believe that I have a strong sense of what’s right and what’s wrong and I believe that this, coupled with my strong faith in God, could help champion integrity and the equitable representation of all voters within our city government.

I am very active in our local community, and you can regularly find me attending events such as First Fridays in Downtown Florence and grand openings of new businesses. I also regularly patronize Shoals area businesses and music venues and use my Facebook and Instagram pages to promote dining, shopping, and engaging in recreational activities locally. I am also one of only a handful of citizens who regularly attend Florence City Council meetings. While I am deeply committed to local government that fairly represents the population of Florence, I am not a typical “politician” as defined in the minds of many people. I don’t have wealth, own a business, or possess political connections. This is exactly why I am uniquely qualified to ethically serve the citizens of Florence. Mistrust in government at all levels is at an all-time high. There are reasons for this, and some of these reasons are legitimate. Integrity must be restored to the governmental process and elected officials should fairly represent the needs of the voters who elected them, not seeking financial gain or favors by representing the interests of a select few.

While I believe that a Special Election must occur in order to ethically fill the District 2 council seat vacancy with a representative chosen by the voters, as one of two remaining eligible candidates who ran in the 2020 election, I am willing to serve the citizens of my district under the current circumstances until a lawful election can be held in 2025. My reason for this is to prevent the appointment of a person who never ran in a District 2 city council election being appointed to the position simply because he was hand-selected by the former City Council President. If the remaining Council members choose to rubber-stamp his appointment, this will solidify and perpetuate public perception of corruption and favor given to special interest groups by disenfranchising the 2,811 voters in District 2. Alternatively, if the City Council chooses to appoint either Reverend Billy Ray Simpson or me (who are known to voters from the previous election) to this position until a lawful election can be held, it might help restore some degree of public trust in our current city government. For this reason, I stand ready to temporarily serve as the City Council member representing District 2.

We've admired River for some time, both because of his intellect and his dedication to the City. If he's selected, we know he will perform his job well and not be influenced by graft or use his power to promote friends and family.

The Next Florence Mayor

 

What do you want from the next Florence mayor? There are currently three bloggers here who live in the City of Florence. We're pretty sure there is no unanimous opinion on whom to support for the City's highest office, but we can tell you what we believe to be of the greatest importance:

1. Support of Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services. There has been no real support under Betterton, and our animals have suffered.

2. A review of all department heads to include job performance and falsified resumes.

3. Either cease throwing funds at various churches (Salvationists come to mind) or give to all churches equally.

We welcome comments from citizens of Florence. Tell us what you think the new mayor should accomplish during the 2025-2029 term.

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Live in Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, or Russellville? Tell us the most important changes or improvements needed in your town.

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Coming soon - Who condones selective prosecution and can Joe Average bring a lawsuit on behalf of the citizens?