Why Wasn't Phinizee Charged with Capital Murder?

 

His name has now been released: Cameron Leonard Phinizee. He had enough sports accolades to sink the Titanic. Yet he threw his future away.

Phinizee has been indicted for Felony Murder. We have to ask why not Capital Murder since the crime he planned cost Ryland Calvert his life.

Will he attempt to get youthful offender? Undoubtedly. Will he get it? We're doubtful.

If you feel too sorry for Cam, just remember the Calvert family.

Cause of Extreme Flooding in Muscle Shoals?

 

This is the third in a series of articles from inside the Muscle Shoals street department. These are opinions of the author, and all questions will be forwarded to him:

Butch Fleming, aka (“Flimsy”), is the department head for the Muscle Shoals Public Works Department. This department is in charge of ALL the city’s curbside drainage, water runoff drainage, right-of way drainage, drainage piping, etc. Butch is in charge of listening to the residents' critical requests to remove/redirect damaging floodwaters from all roadside areas. He then is SUPPOSED to budget, plan, and execute these critical aspects of being a Department Leader. But instead, he hides, isolated in his red “She Shed Office”, to avoid public adversity. We believe he is still deeply upset about Lockhart denying his request to obtain 480 hours of “Comp Time”. All essential workers for the City, (Police, Fireman, Park/Recreational employees, and Golf course employees) can retire with 480 hours of comp time, which is paid out in a lump sum retirement. Butch can only retire with 240 hours. Remember Flimsy, running around crying about your Comp time hours doesn’t help fix the taxpayer’s flooding issues. Over the past few years, Butch has been observed running to a particular Tuscumbia lawyer, crying about how sorry Lockhart is, and babbling about all his issues with the current administration. If any public citizen has spoken to him about having drainage issues resolved in the past 5 years, please feel free to contact us so we can stand corrected. Flimsy and Lockhard are best known for hiding behind closed doors, avoiding contact with the general public.  Always remember folks, “Like Father Like Son”…

God Bless the poor souls who have been given the sad opportunity to converse with the Public Works assistant director Ryan Kennedy, aka “Tipsy”. His father, who is a retired assistant Fire chief for Muscle Shoals, helped the poor kid rise to the top. Ryan is best known for his contributions to our local Mexican restaurant’s margarita nights, using his city truck as a cheap taxi. He has been spotted on multiple occasions leaving liquor stores after work in his unmarked city truck. When Ryan isn’t at the Mexican restaurants, or at the liquor stores, he is busy working on the clock to investigate city employees calling out with sick leave, stalking each call out’s house to ensure that they stay home, or risk being written up the following day. Talk about a privileged “Daddy’s Boy” with Stalker vibes. He is supposed to direct the Street Departments crew to install/maintain water runoff pipes on city right of ways. Under his poor leadership, you will NEVER see any Street Employee doing preventative maintenance on any of these pipes. In turn, causing blockages in most pipes leading to FLOODING across most areas in this city when down pours occur. Causing wrecks, risking the safety of motor traffic, and potentially leading to fatalities. Also, 1 of the 4 Street Department’s Equipment Operators, 

Street Department employee Heath Willis is busy getting tips from Gina Clark(Muscle Shoals Realtor, and current City Council-woman), about Muscle Shoals house foreclosures. TOTALLY ILLEGAL AND ABUSE OF POWER FOR PERSONAL GAIN!!! His family then buys these foreclosures and renovates them. He “guts the houses”, leaving massive piles of curbside pickup garbage. During the slow work schedules, Heath gets permission from Ryan or Butch to use city backhoes to dig up bushes/trees on his newly acquired foreclosed houses. He sets materials out  for city pick up that aren’t supposed to be picked up by the Brush Trucks (outside building materials). He tells Butch where the large piles from the gutted house are and Butch directs the Sanitation crew to pick those piles up  as "specials" so no questions are asked.  This is done on Fridays when most of the men in that department are not working due to the 4 day/10 hours work schedules. Once he flips the property, he then shares the profit with his informant, City Council-Women GINA CLARK. Talk about disgraceful.

Now “Flimsy and Tipsy’s” main objectives as public servants is to work together to redirect all this water runoff from the streets to the retention ponds. The Retention Ponds Director is Ken Grissom, aka “Water Boy”, who is in charge of REMOVING THE WATER from the retention ponds, and redirecting it to the river. The reason these retention ponds hold large amounts of water, for extended periods of time after large rains, is because Water Boy doesn’t instruct his men to perform preventative maintenance on the retention pond’s “discharge pumps”. If any resident rides by any of these retention ponds, notice how much garbage lies around in them. And notice how rusty all these pumps are at the bottom of the ponds that need replacing. After years of abuse, and incorrect water flow pump engineering, they simply can’t handle the amount of rainfall Muscle Shoals receives. Muscle Shoals needs newer, larger, cleaner pumps to accommodate this discerning issue.

It's simple folks, Butch and Ryan are in charge of getting the water off the streets and out of people’s yards, while redirecting it to the retention ponds. Ken then takes this water from the ponds, and pushes it out of the city to the river. Instead of using the taxpayers money for updated “water drainage infrastructure”, Lockhart would rather give MILLIONS to payoff Beacon Point lawsuits, MILLIONS to his part time city engineer buddy/business owner overseeing the solar farm, and MILLIONS to a team of “project managers” overseeing a project that can never be paid back fully by the taxpayer. If the current Mayor, Department Leaders, and City Council remain in office to much longer, Muscle Shoals will be the epitome of the YellowHammer State’s sorriest cities…Mic Drop!

More Proof that ALFA is as Crooked as...

 

It is six months until qualifying for the 2026 state elections officially ends. Any number of candidates might come forward to announce before January 23rd. 

These candidates could be Republican, Democratic, Independent, or even the ghost of Ronald Reagan. It's not going to matter to ALFA. That group of scalawags has already made its choice.

Yes, on Thursday, ALFA officially endorsed current U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville for our next governor. Tuberville was naive enough to admit he had met privately with the lowlifes from ALFA. What promises were made is anyone's guess.

Isn't it time to toss ALFA in the dustbin with AEA?

What Are the Problems in the Sheffield School System?

The Sheffield City school system contains four schools - two elementary, one middle, and one senior high. How much turnover should one expect in these four schools? Here's a short rundown from an insider:

5/14/25 : 11 resignations 4/28/25: 4, including high school assistant principal and district assistant superintendent 3/17/25: 1-Central office secretary/bookkeeper/receptionist 1/30/25: 1 resignation 12/20/25 (emergency meeting): 1 resignation 11/18/24: 2 resignations 10/28/24: 3 resignations including the school district CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 10/11/24 (Special called meeting): They fired a child nutrition worker. 8/26/24: 1 resignation (bus driver) 7/22/24: 2 resignations 6/24/24: 5 resignations 5/20/24: 4 teachers were TERMINATED. Not allowed to resign, and not non-renewed. (I don’t believe any of these teachers had tenure, and non-tenured teachers can be let go at any time without reason. I’m trying to find out why they were fired. This group consisted of the ISS teacher, a kindergarten teacher, a high school English teacher, and a choir teacher. There were also 6 resignations. 4/29/24: 3 resignations 2/26/24: 3 resignations including the district CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 9/25/23: 1 resignation 8/28/23: 1 resignation- the Assistant Superintendent 8/4/23: 4 resignations including Junior High Principal 7/10/23: 1 resignation 6/26/23: 1 5/15/23 (special called meeting): 2 TERMINATIONS-a teacher and a nurse in addition to 1 resignation 4/24/23: 4 resignations 3/20/23: 2 resignations 2/27/23: 1 resignation 2/3/23 Emergency meeting: 1 resignation (teacher) 1/23/23: 1 resignation 12/16/22: 2 resignations Board meetings are only archived on the website through October 2022.

Do these figures represent a problem? It would seem so. Comments welcome.

 

The Mayor Muscle Shoals Needs

Florence mayor? You have multiple choices. Sheffield and Tuscumbia? Ditto. But what about Muscle Shoals?

With slightly over one month until the mayoral elections in the Quad-Cities, it's time for choices. It should be extremely easy in Muscle Shoals.

Do you want four more years of spend, spend, spend, with a dose of "the money doesn't really belong to the taxpayers?" Or do you want a viable alternative?

The only alternative is Billy Hudson. You may not support him on every issue, but he's certainly much preferable to Mikey Lockhard and his sidekick Britony Walrus.

Vote Billy Hudson on August 26th!

Visual Pollution?

 This is a field similar to Cotton Flats just south of Tuscumbia.

This is a solar farm like the one proposed for Cotton Flats.

There are currently several reasons that nearby residents to the Cotton Flats area are opposed to the new solar farm supposedly being built adjacent to Highway 43. All have merit save one: Visual pollution.

Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder; however, we can't say that a cotton field is superior to a solar farm in looks. No matter, if the owners desire to construct the farm in a county without home rule, there's not much that can be done.

We do question the proposed combined sheep farm. The owners do understand that Colbert doesn't exert any kind of animal control, don't they? Let's hope the sheep know self-defense.

Another Steve Stanley Mess

 

Sheffield has completely destroyed 'most' of Hatch Blvd/6th Street and is now focused on demolishing West Montgomery. For some unknown reason, portions of Hatch Blvd in front of the cemetery remain unscathed. Perhaps the city asked for a discount and that was 'it'.

Notice: Nowhere did I mention anything about REPAVING Hatch Blvd/6th Street before the destruction of West Montgomery began.

Any bets that Mayor Stanley leaves yet another mess for his successor to deal with?

As always,

Brittney Walker Speaks & a Reader Rebuts

 

A Reader Disagrees:

I am a female resident of Muscle Shoals. I pride myself in being able to work with males and females. I try to apply a little logic and rationale when determining how I receive information.

Muscle Shoals City Clerk Brittney Walker has me scratching my head.  Logically, I would have thought all money received by the city was the taxpayer’s money. Reading that paragraph  many times, I can only assume she doesn’t think all money are subject to rules and regulations. Seems like she is splitting hairs, playing with words, or a little confused.

I am glad to hear the City Hall Tahoe is a shared vehicle for official business by multiple departments. Recently, I saw where she drove the City Tahoe to Georgia this past summer to watch her child play ball. A friend commented that she saw her at a doctor’s appointment in Florence in the City Tahoe. As one who does a lot of driving and much of it in Muscle Shoals, I have seen the City Tahoe at her home for weeks at a time overnight. Maybe there are several white city tahoe’s with a municipal tag. I apologize, I did not get the specific tag number on the one I have seen her in at the schools, shops and picking up campaign materials for Mayor Lockhart in (during business hours).

As far as being publicly targeted as a female while other department heads with assigned vehicles are not, I have to wonder if the other department heads use those vehicles to perform their work, and do not have a desk job like Ms. Walker. Perhaps those department heads are not using their vehicles for family and personal use.I believe in standing on my own without deflecting on others as that statement alludes to.

 Again, as a female, I want to be held accountable for my position, credibility and merits without playing the weak female card. Those tactics are beneath me, as with all professional women. Women - Men - Live and lead by example. If you are doing nothing wrong, keep working hard and don’t put out half truths that some can rebut.

Live by example. Live honest. Live above reproach. It really does work.

We'll add that we also were dumbfounded by Miss Walker's assertion that not all City Bank accounts belong to the citizens, aka taxpayers. Are Lockhart (Lockhard) and Walker (Walrus) fit to govern the City of Muscle Shoals?

Murder Mart?

 

You've heard of the Stop 'n' Rob stores? It seems there's a new franchise in Florence and our mayor isn't shy about mentioning it when he forgets anyone is listening.

The District 1 mini-mart sits just two blocks off Court Street, but it has developed a so-so reputation for drugs and violence. While in a small public meeting, Andy Betterton didn't hesitate to call the store a "Murder Mart." This was not the most brilliant move he's ever made.

Now council candidate Stephanie Harvey is calling Handy Dandy Andy out over his miscue. Will he apologize?

Stay tuned...

What Else is Mayor Lockhart Lying About?

 

From a Reader:


By now, most people have seen the news accounts of the Muscle Shoals City Council work session and meeting held on Monday, July 14th.

There's a lot that could be said, but at the end of the day, I think we can all agree that public money should be subject to public scrutiny. The audacity of those sitting on the council to remain stone faced without commenting on the issues of flooding, dead animals and the health hazards for the taxpaying citizens living in Beacon Pointe was an embarrassment to most of the audience. While some council members sat with their backs turned to those who addressed the council, the others either hid behind those whose backs were turned, or just plain stared at the citizens as they spoke. Mr Lockhart blew them off and then placed blame on the county commissioners for the water problem in Beacon Pointe subdivision. I reached out to my county commissioner and found the truth, which is, the county does not have a pumping station and does not pump water onto Beacon Pointe. In plain language - Mr. Lockhart lied to the public and the press. What else is he lying about? Why didn't even one of the council members correct that lie? Do these council members and mayor have an oath to support each other regardless of dishonesty? I am very concerned, as all of the citizens should be.

What is equally troubling, is that no council member or mayor took the opportunity to present documentation of plans to address these aging problems they have ignored for the past 4+ years. They were rude, and unapproachable. There may be a plan in the future for an elaborate presentation on social media, or a press conference to announce more promises of projects and maintenance plans but they missed their golden opportunity to be responsive, honest, and accountable. According to their rules, you have to disclose what you are going to speak to the council about before you arrive, which should have given them time to plan. More importantly, if the council members and mayor have a defined plan and each doing their jobs, they should have been able to rattle off every detail in their plan to the issues presented.

For me and my family, we will vote on August 26th. We will not vote for any incumbent. This group of people have increased our taxes, failed to keep our city clean, have patched a few streets with no real paving projects, and more importantly, I researched this council's budgets over the past 5 years and find it very alarming at the money they have blown. Important community services like the library has been cut due to lack of funding .Our police department can not compete with neighboring agencies with the compensation and benefits packages our hard working law enforcement deserve Flooding, well, that will not be solved by these in office at this time. I would tell you to call Mr. Lockhart or one of the council members but you're wasting your time. Not a one of them has returned my calls over the last 4 years. From what others say at the coffee shop and social gatherings, I am not alone. I think the most common comment is, "I guess we will hear something since it is an election year".

That is not acceptable. I pay my taxes every day, I expect a professional and responsive group of people every day, not during an election year.We don't know what a new mayor and council will do, but we do know if we continue with this group of people, our city will continue to live under a cloud, hearing empty promises, dirty politics and continue to deteriorate.

I will vote, my husband, children, and grandchildren will vote. We will not give our precious votes to anyone that is so disrespectful and dishonest as what we have in office today.

God bless our City.

The Real First W.C. Handy Festival

 

Republished with permission:

When was the first W.C. Handy Festival? Many point to 1982 which began an annual tradition of a week long event, but the first Handy Festival was held 12 years before. The year 1970 saw the dedication of a reconstructed Handy birthplace accompanied by a two-day festival on November 22 and 23.

The 1970 festival featured a concert with such illustrious talent as the Olympia Brass Band, Maxine Sullivan, Blanch Thomas, and the immortal Eubie Blake and his song-writing partner Noble Sissle. The next day saw a parade and street strut down Court Street led by the Olympia Brass Band from New Orleans.

Attending this first festival were Mrs. W. C. Handy, Charles E. Handy, W. C. Handy Jr., Mattie Handy Robinson, and Catherine Handy Lewis. At the end of the festival, Florence Chamber of Commerce President Jim Odum announced the event would become an annual tradition, but it was not yet to be.

The next Handy Festival was in 1973 and honored Handy’s 100th birthday. The event was held November 17 and 18 and began with a parade on Court Street. Special entertainment followed at the halftime of that afternoon’s University of North Alabama ball game. The Handy family was honored with a reception following the game.

The next night a concert was held in Norton Auditorium. A sold-out theatre saw Thomas, Sullivan, and Blake return to the Shoals stage. Eubie Blake was then 90 and reportedly the highlight of the night. At the end of the festival, Jim Odum again stated the festival was to become an annual event.

Under the direction of Odum, both festivals were considered huge successes. Why a delay of nine more years before the third festival was held? A slow economy as well as the aging of Mr. Handy’s family and contemporaries may have been to blame. Nevertheless, the festival is now a permanent Shoals fixture each summer.

c. Shoals History from Firenze

The Republican Answer to George Soros

 

Pictured above is Leonard Leo. What? You've never heard of him? He pretty much bought the nominations of at least four Supreme Court judges. He seems to have a great many state attorneys general in his pocket also. 

Now Leo has given $1,000,000.00 to Katherine Robertson's Alabama campaign. Does the expression "bought and paid for" ring a bell? 

Want another photo of Leo? Here's one that's interchangeable with Robertson...and Steve Marshall.

Spring Valley Solar Farm

 

From a Concerned Reader:

Friends and family, we need you to be at CHHS on July 15 at 6:00 pm to tell TVA to kick rocks and take their solar farm elsewhere! Maybe the reservation and the old Ford plant since that land can’t be used for anything else! During heavy rains the creek on Hwy 43 already floods and the diverted water from the “farm” will only exacerbate the issue potentially causing road closures on a major highway due to the TVA Spring Valley Solar Project. Plus the horrific impact it will have on the ecosytem!!! 

Let’s tell TVA this is a terrible idea and we don’t want it!

The Blue Wall of Silence: Why Police Withhold Information

 

It's been over eight years since Andrea Susan Forbes was murdered in Florence, but not only has no arrest been made, authorities have not informed the public of the manner in which Andrea met her death. This is not unusual; police often keep such facts from the general public.

Here's what one authority says:

In the age of information, the public’s desire for immediate and detailed news about criminal investigations is often at odds with the long-standing practice of law enforcement to keep case facts confidential. This withholding of information, often perceived as a "blue wall of silence," can be a source of public frustration and suspicion. However, the reasons behind this secrecy are complex and rooted in the fundamental principles of justice and investigative integrity. While transparency is a cornerstone of a democratic society, a careful examination of law enforcement's rationale reveals that withholding information is often a necessary measure to protect the investigation, ensure a fair trial, and safeguard the privacy of those involved.

One of the most critical reasons for police to maintain secrecy is to protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation. When a crime is committed, investigators are faced with a puzzle of evidence, witness statements, and potential suspects. The premature release of specific details can have a devastating impact on their ability to solve the case. For instance, if the media reports that a particular type of weapon was used, it could lead to a flood of false leads from individuals seeking attention or attempting to mislead the investigation. More importantly, revealing key details that only the perpetrator would know can compromise the ability to verify a genuine confession. As explained in a Slate article, detectives often withhold a "guilty knowledge" detail—a specific fact about the crime scene that only the true culprit would know. This allows them to differentiate between a legitimate confession and a false one from someone who has simply been following media reports.

Furthermore, the right to a fair trial, a bedrock of the American legal system, can be jeopardized by the unrestricted release of information. The constant and often sensationalized media coverage of a high-profile case can create a biased jury pool, making it difficult to find impartial individuals who have not already formed an opinion about the defendant's guilt or innocence. The U.S. government, through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), recognizes this danger by providing exemptions for information that could "deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication." By controlling the narrative and limiting the release of potentially prejudicial information, law enforcement agencies aim to ensure that the legal process is based on the evidence presented in court, not on public opinion shaped by media speculation.

Beyond the procedural aspects of an investigation, the protection of privacy for victims, witnesses, and even the accused is a paramount concern. Crime victims have already endured a traumatic experience, and the public disclosure of sensitive details can lead to further emotional distress and public scrutiny. Similarly, witnesses may be hesitant to come forward if they fear their identity will be revealed, potentially exposing them to retaliation or harassment. The FOIA also includes exemptions to protect personal privacy, underscoring the legal and ethical obligation to shield individuals from unwarranted public exposure. Even the accused, who are presumed innocent until proven guilty, have a right to privacy that must be respected.

However, the practice of withholding information is not without its drawbacks. A lack of transparency can breed mistrust between the police and the community they serve. When the public feels that information is being unreasonably withheld, it can lead to speculation, rumors, and the spread of misinformation, particularly in the age of social media. This can be especially damaging in cases involving police use of force or other sensitive issues, where public confidence in law enforcement is crucial. As a publication from the U.S. Department of Justice's COPS Office notes, building trust requires open communication and a willingness to be accountable to the public.

The decision by law enforcement to keep case facts a secret is a complex balancing act. On one side is the legitimate need to protect the integrity of investigations, ensure the right to a fair trial, and safeguard the privacy of individuals. On the other is the public's right to know and the importance of transparency in maintaining trust between the police and the community. While the "blue wall of silence" can be a source of frustration, it is often a necessary, and legally supported, tool for ensuring that justice is served effectively and fairly. The challenge for law enforcement is to strike the right balance, providing as much information as possible without compromising the fundamental principles of the justice system.

Now several individuals, including one Florence mayoral candidate, have criticized police for similarly withholding facts about the shooting that took Ryland Calvert's life. Let's hope the upcoming events of this week will set local minds to rest. We intend to publish any information that is made public after the upcoming grand jury.

*****

If you wish to learn more about the murder of Andrea Forbes: 

Who Killed Andrea Susan Forbes?

Lauderdale Grand Jury to Meet Next Week

 

We understand the Lauderdale County Grand Jury will meet next week. At that time, one of four things may happen in the Ryland Calvert shooting investigation:

1. No indictments

2. Indictment of Russellville athlete

3. Indictment of Latino shooter

4. Indictments of both 2 & 3

Perhaps this will squelch the rumors surrounding the Florence Police Department...

Muscle Shoals Voters Should Thank Jennifer Underwood

 

We thought we had seen some sinkholes, but this one wins the prize. The conditions of Muscle Shoals have encouraged one voter to pen this:

Boy are we being taken for a ride in Muscle Shoals.

Here's the figures - straight out of City Hall. They finally published the past 5 years of budgets after many questions and heat from Jennifer Underwood, candidate for City Council, Place 4.

Increased taxes and revenue since 2020-2021 budget have given this Mayor and City Council an ADDITIONAL $9,334,895.00 (MILLIONS)  - a 29% increase in revenues in 5 years.

However, with over NINE MILLION extra income from our taxes  - this Mayor and City Council  have spent all of it and more leaving only $783.00.

This comes straight from their own published records. 

Former Mayor Bradford left a financially stable City with a 2021-2022 budget surplus of $4,783.00 for that  ONE YEAR.

Mayor Lockhart - Chris Hall, Gina Clark, Willis Thompson, Ken Sockwell, Donnie Linley - Where is our money?

Thank you Jennifer Underwood for exposing the wasteful spending. You deserve a seat at the table for your honesty and boldness to ask questions that forced those people on the City Council and the Mayor to actually publish the budgets. Even those the quilty parties are bashing you for this - we appreciate someone finally standing up for the taxpayers of Muscle Shoals. 

GOOD LUCK JENNIFER UNDERWOOD. 

Uniquely Qualified? Steve Stanley?

 

J. Redmon sent the above photo and apologizes for the blurriness. The second line says:

Uniquely Qualified

J. says: I'm having a difficult time figuring out what Mayor Stanley's 'unique qualifications' are.  All I'm coming up with is basically 'bankrupting' the city.

We're still laughing...

W.C. Handy Favorite Finally Sentenced on Porn Charges

 

Jazz pianist Ray Reach (pictured left) used Birmingham as his base, but he often performed all over the Southeast. From 2002 until at least 2013, he appeared at the Florence W.C. Handy Festival where he was extremely popular.

In 2018, the now 76 year-old Reach was arrested for possession of child pornography. He finally came to trial in April of this year. Yes, that's right, it took seven years for Reach to face justice; it's not believed that he performed here after his arrest.

Reach was found guilty earlier this month, although he never admitted his guilt, and has been sentenced to two years in prison with three years of probation to follow. Let's hope his successful run here is over.

River Zurinsky: An Undercurrent of Change for District 2!

 

My name is River Zurinsky, and I am asking for your vote for Florence City Council District 2. I’m running for office because I want to serve the citizens of Florence and inspire our next generation of leaders. 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 26 years. I attended W.C. Handy Head Start, Kilby Laboratory School, Shoals Christian School, and graduated from Faith Academy. I’m a member of the Florence Beautification Board, a SKYWARN Storm Spotter, and an advocate for people with disabilities.

As the first person with autism to run for public office in Florence, Alabama, I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to have their voice heard and express their opinions. For the past three years, I’ve regularly attended and advocated for citizens of Florence at city council meetings and I'm one of only four private citizens who submitted a redistricting proposal in 2023 to the Alabama State Legislature following the Allen vs Milligan Supreme Court decision in an effort to protect African American representation. In 2025, I was the only citizen in Florence who submitted a redistricting proposal to the Florence City Council as an alternative to NACOG's proposal which took away our only black majority district. If I'm elected to the Florence City Council on August 26th, I will seek to restore the comments section on the City Of Florence, Alabama - Government Facebook page so that the elderly, parents with small children, people with disabilities, and all citizens who are unable to attend city council meetings in person can bring their concerns to the attention of the Florence City Council prior to agenda items being voted on. 

Another top priority of mine is safety. I have a friend on Chisholm Road whose son has autism. Cars speed past his son’s school bus stop, and I believe it’s urgent to address this before children are killed while boarding or exiting the school bus. Our city could purchase 50 yellow school bus stop signs for $3,500, and I will push for this if elected. I have also made numerous presentations to the Florence City Council concerning the broken pedestrian signals downtown that particularly impact parents walking with small children, senior citizens and the disabled. If I’m elected to the Florence City Council on August 26th, I will continue to advocate for fixing the broken pedestrian signals on Court and Tennessee streets and adding additional pedestrian signals on Pine Street. I also support raising the salaries of our firefighters and police officers to increase safety on a city-wide level and I propose building a new fire station on Darby Drive in District 4, along with the new station that is currently being built at the intersection of Franklin Street and Mahogany Avenue. I've been speaking for the last three years at Florence City Council meetings regarding the need for a fire station in proximity to Deibert Park, Riverhill School, and the Children's Museum. Florence has six districts, but only five fire stations, and I want citizens of all districts to have a rapid response during emergencies.

As a Christian, I believe it’s important for us as a city to honor God and love our neighbors as ourselves. I support putting the phrase “In God We Trust” on our fire trucks and police cars and want to establish an annual Veterans Day Parade to honor and recognize the men and women of Florence who have served our country. I believe that Florence City Council members should be truthful, ethical stewards of taxpayer funds who prioritize the everyday needs of their citizens. This can be demonstrated by addressing repairs to existing infrastructure and roads, budgeting annually for ongoing maintenance, and reserving money each year for future expenses such as the estimated 115+ million-dollar federal water treatment regulations that the city must meet within a few years. Additionally, I believe it's a necessity to work with the Lauderdale County Commission to increase the annual budget for the animal shelter to maintain our no kill status.

I would also like to work with TVA to improve McFarland Park, where I propose the additions of an amphitheater, dog park, skate park, and a splash pad. A permanent venue for live music would bring about more opportunities for our local musicians to showcase their songs. A dog park would give the many dog owners that live in District 2 a place to bring their dogs and socialize. A skate park would encourage teenagers and young adults to be active outdoors and provide the opportunity for the City of Florence to host skating tournaments. Skating tournaments would provide a new source of revenue for the City of Florence and attract tourists when baseball and softball are not in season. A splash pad would provide a place for young children to play and cool off during the summer. I also support adding additional covered pavilions and improving the picnic areas. Another priority is replacing the bulbs in the McFarland Park Lighthouse to showcase the entrance to our city and make the Florence Harbor and Marina more welcoming and well-lit at night. All these improvements would benefit Florence citizens and visitors alike. 

I’m hosting a town hall at Companion Coffee Roasters (1210 N. Wood Ave in 7 Points) on Saturday, July 12th at 6:00 PM and invite everyone to attend. I hope to see you there! You can also reach out to me on Facebook or Instagram where you can find me @riverzurinskystar or by emailing me at electriverzurinsky@yahoo.com.

Paying to Manage the Imaginary Muscle Shoals Sportsplex

 

Representation of Mikey Lockhard; Ms. Walrus Is Not Pictured

A reader demands change in Muscle Shoals:

We have learned from someone "in-the-know" circle with the Muscle Shoals Mayor and City Council of their backroom meetings. While Mike Lockhart and Councilman Donnie Linley are enjoying a nice beach vacation / Electric Cities Conference in Orange Beach, the Clerk and other Councilmen/woman are carrying on. However, they sometimes have loose lips and their agenda slips out to the lowly citizens, as you will see when you continue to read.

For the past 4+ years, they have hid behind closed doors and refused to acknowledge requests and return calls to average citizens that aren't in their "in-the-know" circle or on the "Mayor's Advisory Council".

We have been neglected. Our City has been neglected.

The current Mayor and City Council has enjoyed many many many trips across the country. They have bought expensive luxury vehicles. All using our tax dollars and raising garbage rates!!!

In May, 2024 the "in-the-know" groupies devised a money pit scheme for THE "Sportsplex", which means if it cost $65,000.000.00 to build  as they say - it will COST THE TAXPAYERS $140,000,000.00 (MILLIONS) TO PAY BACK WITH INTEREST. That is a heap of a lot of zeros and new taxes on us. Since the Sportsplex isn't materializing, their greed has cost us taxpayers $30,000.00 A MONTH paid to their buddies for management of the Sportsplex that is non-existent - yet every month the money goes to their buddies. 

In the meantime, while that "INSPIRATION" promise is costing us dearly, they devise yet another plan to scam money off us taxpayers - A SOLAR FARM that has greased the same palms that are receiving the $30,000.00 a month while pulling in others to help cover their tracks. Their "DREAM VISION" of being re-elected is fueling their lies. Exactly WHY is this election so critical for them? What are they really hiding? It is very probable those backroom deals are in reality a life or debt situation for them and their buddies. 

THE LATEST backroom joke they are going to play on the taxpayers? ANOTHER GRAND ANNOUNCEMENT.

We all know, when campaign season begins, the lies ramp up. After all, they are just trying to keep their jobs - right?

WHAT ABOUT US KEEPING OUR HARD EARNED MONEY - WE COULD ALL USE A TAX BREAK.

Get ready - THIS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL are about to throw another wild promise our way.

WE ARE MUCH SMARTER THAN THAT. Those kids have cried wolf too many times in the last year.

VOTE AUGUST 26th - VOTE THEM ALL OUT.