Shoalanda Speaks

Bailey Quarters On Corey Griffin

2012-01-28T00:01:00.000-06:00

Bailey's Bailiwick:

Did he or didn't he? Most of us just know what we read in the papers and hear on TV, so what should we think about Corey Griffin? Did he attempt to rape a fellow UNA student last fall?

Guess most of us may never know the answer to that, but we can sort out some of the "details" that are rummaging around here. First we have Corey who graduated from high school in 2009. Mr. Russel says Corey was set to graduate early, but Corey stated himself he didn't start classes until fall 2009 and the papers said he was a sophomore at the time of his arrest. Early? Well, we aren't too sure about that one.

I don't think anyone would be stepping out on a limb here to say Corey has been no saint and he doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes. Okay, he's just a high school kid when he roughs up a girlfriend and throws her out of a car. She was obsessed with him? He was obsessed with her? Makes no difference. What he did was violent and obviously wrong and he got probation. Most people would have learned from that.

So less than two years later Corey is at UNA and has an older girlfriend. She gets a restraining order just like his Talladega girlfriend, but we don't know exactly what happened there. Corey is either just as volatile as ever or at best isn't a very good judge of character.

Now we come to the fall frat rush of 2011 and Corey is intoxicated. He probably wasn't the only one and he did have enough sense to know he wasn't able to drive. Score one for Corey. Or maybe not since at least two hours after he leaves the party he has blacked out at home, that's quite a bit of drinking for one who isn't even legal age. Still more illegal activity for the tennis ace, but the kind most wink at I guess. BTW, what does UNA say about all this frat activity and underage drinking?

Now Corey calls a girlfriend to give him a drive home. They wind up having sex in the front seat of her car, but was it consensual or was it rape? Well, the woman says rape, so police are called and find Corey blacked out at his home in Muscle Shoals. No one has suggested Corey doesn't remember what happened, but I will. It's a definite possibility.

I also hope the Muscle Shoals detectives read Corey his rights. He sure opened up to them with all kinds of statements and none of them made him look like a gentleman or even a caring human being. That doesn't make him a rapist, but since this is woman number three who's accusing him of violence it's a distinct possibility.

So a grand jury isn't allowed to hear Corey's past record. I understand that's the law. I really don't understand the correctness of this particular law. Someone charged with rape has shoplifted, it's not important. Someone charged with rape has been charged with violence to women twice before it should be important. But since the grand jury didn't hear about Corey's past they didn't indict him. If I had been on the jury, I probably wouldn't have either. But I wasn't and I've read his history and as Ivy says, he's not exactly a moral character.

End of story, unless Corey hasn't learned something from this incident. I hope he has.

*****

State senator Roger Bedford has gone on record as saying Alabama's illegal immigration law is racist. Surely Sen. Bedford knows that "Hispanic" is not a race; surely he also knows the law has impacted Japanese and Germans as well as those from south of the border?

Related post: "Hispanic" is Not a Race

Shoalanda

Hank Thomas Critiques the Lauderdale County Commission

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-06:00

Dewey Mitchell

"The Lauderdale County Commission lives in the past," according to Waterloo resident Hank Thomas. Thomas further links Commissioners Larry Irons and D. C. Thornton with Dewey Mitchell, who will be seeking his first term in the new position of County Commission Chair. According to this most persistent critic, these two commissioners "take their lead" from Mitchell and vote as he wishes them to.

Thomas presents at least two interesting issues. It seems the county's emergency plan was last updated in 1998. Since then, the commission paid 10K for a new plan in 2008, but has yet to review it--a necessary step before it can be implemented. At this rate, the "new" plan will be out of date before it's inaugurated.

Thomas' second issue with the commission is the 9:00 a.m. meeting times. Obviously, most working individuals are not able to be present at these semi-monthly events. Thomas states there was once a suggestion to move the meetings to a later hour, but no vote was ever taken on the issue, nor was it ever broached by any commission member after the initial introduction by a county citizen.

Hank Thomas wants all Lauderdale County citizens to become involved in its government. We here at Shoalanda Speaks lobby for the same end. Our commission members need new leadership, not the same good ol' boy politics they have experienced since 1994.

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We hope the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department has enough furnishings and supplies to fill its new offices. It seems one retailer refused to sell any merchandise to the department when its credit card was rejected. Did someone forget to pay the bill?

Shoalanda

"UNA Problems" on Twitter/Greer Inserts Foot in Mouth

2012-01-26T21:00:00.001-06:00

There's a new Twitter account in town, UNA Problems. Obviously this looked interesting...initially. Many of the problems tweeted about seem mundane, at least to a non-student. There's also a similar Twitter account named UNA Probz, with similar postings.

Somehow we doubt whoever set up these accounts expected students to post concerning the irritation of other students coughing, even when it sounds as if they're about to bring up a giant fur ball. Perhaps the most interesting thing about UNA Problems is the logo: The traditional UNA logo turned upside down. Should we infer this to mean UNA is in serious trouble? Where's Steve Pierce when you need him?

UNA Problems

UNA Probz

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Lynn Greer (R), Rogersville, has stated Republicans wanted to retaliate against Paul Hubbert, head of the Alabama Education Association. We're not sure if Greer meant to use the word "retaliate," but we are sure his statement will be used against him for years to come. Damage control, anyone?

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We've received some comments naming an alleged rape victim. Such comments will not be published. It's always a common rationale to blame the victim, whether a victim of rape or other crime. It doesn't speak well of anyone's intelligence or morals, and it won't be tolerated here.

Shoalanda

Colbert Grand Jury Disappoints...

2012-01-25T18:00:00.000-06:00

There's an old joke, somewhat risque', that asks if a man forces sex on a prostitute, is he guilty of rape...or only shoplifting? Apparently a Colbert County grand jury held that frame of mind when they failed to indict former UNA student Corey Langley Griffin for raping a woman he had "an arrangement with." This woman "knew her place," and therefore could not be raped?

From a previous blog: Sources with the Muscle Shoals Police Department have stated that former UNA student Corey Langley Griffin, currently accused of rape and awaiting indictment, has two similar previous charges for violence against women. Both a former high school girlfriend from Talladega and a former UNA girlfriend have restraining orders against the one-time high school tennis star. Griffin's response to the charges: "The criminal complaint filed in district court says that Griffin told investigators that he only used the victim for sex, and that she understood her place with him."

Obviously Griffin's previous record was not considered in the indictment. His defense attorney has stated he will not return to UNA where he was suspended pending the outcome of the charges. At least he no longer walks the streets of the Shoals.

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There's an Internet meme that states Bill Gates' dream of a computer in every home in the U.S. has come to fruition, and now we have those with an IQ of 12 pontificating on every issue imaginable. We frequently see this, but nothing brings it home like writing about a heinous crime. We have written several blogs recently concerning Ron Wikkid Weems, the juggalo who has confessed to killing a young woman and dismembering her body at his mother's Muscle Shoals residence. One critic used the comment section to accuse us of having a previous relationship with Weems.

Now this same woman has contacted us on Facebook asking why we would even write about Weems if we didn't know him personally. Yes, we personally know the subjects of all 1,220 of our previous columns...no. Not quite.

If this woman needs our reasons to be spelled out, it's indeed sad for her and anyone else who may be limited to such tunnel vision. Just reading the arrest report of the three so far charged should be sufficient. Those who break the law commit a crime against not only their victims, but society in general. If anyone is not offended by Weems and his happy bunch of clowns, they are seriously lacking not only in brain function, but in the heart department as well.

Shoalanda
Comments welcome. No profanity, vulgarity, or libelous statements...

Ricky Walter Denton Redefines "Habitual"

2012-01-24T21:00:00.002-06:00

Tuscumbia's Ricky Walter Denton has just been sentenced to prison...again. Denton's career stretches back to the mid-1980s, and by the time he was arrested for drug trafficking in 1997, this perennial bad boy had convictions for six prior felonies, including burglary, promoting prison contraband, and leaving the scene of an accident...as well as two major drug convictions. Colbert County District Attorney Gary Alverson initially sought to have Denton tried as a habitual offender for the trafficking operation he conducted both from his home and a locker at the Dungeon Gym.

However, Denton agreed to a plea deal of 15 years, and was a free man again by 2001, when he was again arrested for drug trafficking. By 2004, Denton was 38 years old and wanted for fleeing a forgery charge. Back in prison by 2006, Denton began a long list of suits against government agencies including the Drug Task Force and the Colbert County Sheriff. By 2009, Denton was yet again free and took part in a robbery of a Ford City bank.

It was during the investigation of Denton for that crime that his involvement in a major tax fraud scheme was discovered. His partner in crime, Joann Smith Choat, will serve 12 months in Federal prison while Denton has been sentenced to 70 months. Ricky Walter Denton is still serving his state sentence for armed robbery. How long before he again returns to the free world? No matter how long, it seems as if incarceration has failed to teach this Tuscumbia terror the error of his ways.

*****

The Franklin County grand jury met earlier today. A list of indictments should be forthcoming shortly, and at that time we will know what charges will be brought against the killer(s) of David Martin Andrasik.

One of the accused, Elijah Graham, has been asking for support on Facebook. Fortunately, if he and/or his father are indicted, it will take more than well wishes on a social networking site to spare them punishment for this heinous crime.

Shoalanda
Comments welcome. No profanity, vulgarity, or libelous statements...

Crystal Huddleston Wins Probation

2012-01-23T21:00:00.001-06:00

Crystal Sutton Huddleston has won probation after pleading guilty to embezzling at least 41K from the Colbert County 911 office. We agree this was the appropriate sentence for a crime of this nature; however, we do wonder why Allison Paige McWilliams was similarly tried in Colbert County and sentenced to 15 years in prison for embezzling 16K from the Cherokee Library. We have decided those looking for rhyme or reason for most sentencing in the Shoals are chasing irrationality incarnate.

Who Embezzles & Why

Paige McWilliams to be Indicted

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In case any of our readers has been living under a rock, we'll briefly mention that Alabama now has a law targeted at illegal immigration. Notice the word "illegal" in the previous sentence. Those who have immigrated here legally from Mexico, Majorca, or Mozambique should have no fears. Those who are here illegally should be concerned enough to either leave or make an attempt to become legal...no hurt feelings.

That is unless you count the Federal government. It seems several Federal agencies including the Justice Department are holding a Birmingham meeting with immigrants to discuss health services, fair housing, civil rights, education, food assistance, and other services with immigrants. Now, if we could just convince the Feds to care as much about Alabama citizens...

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity, vulgarity, or libelous statements...

Sheffield's Got Him and He's Drunk

2012-01-22T21:00:00.010-06:00

We've heard for some time that if you have enough money, your name won't appear in the Shoals Insider should you be arrested. Apparently that's not true of the Quad-Cities Daily which didn't hesitate to publish Michael Jason Isbell's mug shot.

Isbell is known for his band the 400 Unit. Here's a shot of the Killen resident looking just a little more spiffy...

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If you're wondering about the title of today's blog, it's a take-off on a sign that's gaining quite a bit of attention in Russellville. Here's Bailey's Bailiwick:

We've Got It & It's Cold!

Drive north on Hwy 43 in Russellville and you can't miss the sign on the old Golden Corral steakhouse. We guess subtlety isn't the owner's strong point, but with all the restrictions the town is placing on alcohol sales, maybe they just wanted the local gourmets to know they can buy Blue Ribbon to go with their tacos.

Not to be outdone, the church down the block has put up their own sign: We've Got It & It's Free. I've got a pretty good idea it isn't beer or steak, but here's hoping someone will build a decent American restaurant in town. If you don't like Mexican or Chinese you're plumb out of luck.

Driving through Russellville is sort of like being in that Sylvester Stallone movie where all the restaurants were named Taco Bell. No wonder Wendy's is always crowded.

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The TimesDaily is reporting activity in the Lauderdale County Sheriff's office is getting back to normal after recent remodeling. They have a "normal?" Stay tuned...

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity, vulgarity, or libelous statements...

Whitesell Vendor Strikes Back

2012-01-21T21:00:00.000-06:00

Whitesell is known as an acquisitive company, because acquisitions are a key part of our unique business model. Whitesell’s primary strategic business objective is to continually offer our customers better total value. Key to this is regularly completing strategic acquisitions. Through these acquisitions, Whitesell gains the ability to add (or “bolt on”) newly acquired product and process capabilities to our existing core competencies and market penetration.

The company has grown dramatically since 1985, now with nine-figure revenues and a global footprint. This rapid expansion is the result of both robust organic growth and its vigorous approach to acquisitions ─ 20 in all so far. Each acquisition, which average one to two a year, is strategically selected to expand the product and process capability Whitesell is able to offer to its customers. Continually adding new product and process capabilities to an established logistic infrastructure is one of the key ways Whitesell is able to offer new cost savings to the market on an ongoing basis. - Whitesell website

~~~

The MKM Company in Jeffersonville, Indiana, had problems...big financial problems. Among the company's vendors was the Acme Widget Company, and Acme was obviously worried about being paid for its products. Then along came the Whitesell Corp.

A representative of Whitesell informed Acme and other vendors that they would be purchasing MKM. The deal wouldn't be finalized over night, but it was in progress. A Whitesell employee began to sign the checks from MKM to vendors, and Acme Widget was reassured that MKM was once more a responsible company that paid for its purchases.

Yet something didn't seem quite right. Each month's check to Acme left a larger and larger balance. Acme decided to cut MKM off, but a representative from Whitesell called the widget manufacturer and asked for an emergency delivery of several parts. The Whitesell employee stated that the acquisition was almost complete and that they would be paid in full at that time.

The deal was completed just as the Whitesell representative had promised, but instead of payment in full, all MKM vendors received a letter that the Whitesell Corp. had purchased the assets of MKM only; MKM would be paying secured creditors, whomever they might be. The Acme Widget Company lost 200K dollars. The total loss of all MKM vendors reached the millions.

Surely the Acme Widget Company could sue? No, 'fraid not. Acme's attorneys informed the company that Whitesell would be fighting them with the very money they had made from Acme's products. It was a lost cause. Now Acme still sells widgets to Whitesell, but strictly on a COD basis.

An employee of Acme has been so concerned over this event that he has launched a website:

whitesellcorpinfo

It should prove extremely interesting to see how many companies may respond to the Acme employee's blog.

*****

From a reader concerning Crystal Huddleston: According to her Facebook page, she has been approved for a gastric sleeve to help her lose weight. Maybe she should take the money that operation costs and pay back Colbert 911.

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity, vulgarity, or libelous statements...

Johnny Mack Morrow & the Alabama Music Hall of Fame

2012-01-20T11:00:00.005-06:00

Johnny Mack Morrow & the Alabama Music Hall of Fame

A Guest Commentary By

Hester Saint

Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, Democrat, Red Bay, asked Shoals businessman Marty Abroms to chair a committee whose purpose will be to keep the Alabama Music Hall of Fame alive and keep its current Colbert County location, according to a story by Russ Corey in the Jan. 4th edition of the "Times Daily." The article continued by stating that "Morrow is adamant about keeping the Alabama Music Hall of Fame open, but he’s concerned about how that’s going to happen" given recent budgeting which cut State funding to museums and other attractions."Morrow asked the mayors of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield and Tuscumbia and the chairmen of the Colbert and Lauderdale county commissions to serve on the committee. Tuscumbia Mayor Bill Shoemaker, whose city is home to the hall of fame, was the only county or municipal official who could attend a meeting Wednesday at the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments offices to discuss the museum. Also attending were state Sen. Tammy Irons, D-Florence, state Rep. Marcel Black, D-Muscle Shoals, state Rep. Greg Burdine, D-Florence, and NACOLG Executive Director Keith Jones."

Rep. Morrow may, indeed must and certainly should, feel like the chickens have come home to roost. Notorious across NW Alabama for being unresponsive to mailed notifications of meetings of importance to his district, invitations to events affecting his district, unreachable by any of the means given by him to the office of the Clerk of the House for inclusion on the Alabama Legislature website. Johnny Mack must also feel egg from those roosting chickens all over his 'can't catch me' face.

Appropriately, all but Tuscumbia's own Mayor, Bill Shoemaker, played their own trump cards on 'ol Johnny Mack by not attending the meeting he called - in my humble, oft time frustrated to no end at his arrogant approach to representation of his district, opinion. Discussed among myself and others who over the years shared spoken aggravation at his thumb nosing to even the most important events.

Hopefully, Mr. Abroms and the members who now make up the committee to keep the Alabama Music Hall of Fame afloat and housed in its current location will not be discouraged by lack of attendance at Rep. Morrow's called meeting, rather encouraged anyone did.

The matter would likely gain more momentum and support if handled by someone else.

*****

From Ron Jeffries: For everyone who knew Charlie Ross (Dave Tipps), there will be an informal Wake/Reunion/Celebration of Life for Charlie tomorrow (Saturday) at O' Malley's in Sheffield at 2:00 p.m. All friends and former co-workers are invited.

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanities, vulgarities, or libelous statements...

Delete Doonsbury? Move Mallard Out?

2012-01-19T23:00:00.000-06:00

Find the Sunday comics disappointing? Apparently the TimesDaily is in the mood for change. Below is a link to their new survey to determine the most popular funnies.

Beware: The survey is slightly misleading, asking you to choose your favorite 15, then presenting you with almost 60 to rate. So, now's the time to deep six Hi & Lois and bring on Funky Winkerbean...

TimesDaily Comic Survey

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We're hearing rumblings of the continued presence of ABI agents mucking about in Colbert County offices--long after the indictment of Crystal Sutton Huddleston, former 911 office manager. Sutton's trial, unless delayed, should be upcoming shortly. Friends inform us Huddleston has started a new photography venture Haute Shots. Said friends also remain staunch supporters of the Cherokee businesswoman. We await the trial...

Say No to SOPA

2012-01-18T23:00:00.001-06:00

Want to keep the Internet free for all, uncensored? January 24th is an important day in Congress. Tell our representatives how you feel:

End Piracy, Not Liberty

Shoalanda

John Milton Littrell To Go Free?

2012-01-17T02:01:00.000-06:00

Sources close to John Milton Littrell have informed us his assault victim failed to appear in court to testify against him. Littrell is reportedly being held on other outstanding warrants at this time. We understand it's embarrassing to testify in front of strangers; however, his latest victim's testimony could have conceivably saved other women from the same ordeal.

Related post: John Milton Littrell

*****

A reader has asked if Dewey Mitchell will have an incumbent's advantage in his quest to become the first Lauderdale County Commission Chair. While technically no, the current probate judge is the de facto incumbent for this postion, so we will have to answer yes.

The new part-time position will be hotly contested both in the primary and the general election. Republican Quinton Hanson has the funds and the experience to match Mitchell...or any other nominee...

*****

Tuscumbia City Council members want to make sure the office of mayor remains the highest paid position in their city. That sounds good on the surface since the mayor is obviously the most important person in municipal workings. After all, wouldn't everyone call Mayor Shoemaker first in the event of a natural gas leak...

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity, vulgarity, or libelous statements...

Dave Tipps, aka Charlie Ross, Has Passed Away

2012-01-16T19:30:00.000-06:00

For many years, Charlie Ross was a mainstay at WQLT in Florence. Ross, whose real name was Dave Tipps, was living in Nashville when he passed away early this morning. Funeral services will be announced by Moore Cortner Funeral Home in Winchester, Tennessee.

Our sincerest sympathies to his wife Liz and the many fans he left behind.

*****

Our poll on mug shots is now over. While inherently unscientific, approximately 20% of our daily readers voted, favoring publishing these public records by a 3 to 1 margin.

*****

Also over is qualifying for the March primaries. We'll begin evaluating candidates immediately. Please send us any info you wish published if we haven't already contacted you.

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity, vulgarity, or libelous statements...

Ronald Weems Proposes from Jail

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

It seems our favorite Juggalo, Ron Wikkid Weems has offered a jailhouse proposal to one of his longtime girlfriends--one who is not incarcerated and who has an actual income. We understand this former RN has accepted Weems' offer. Now that's true love...not to mention extremely bad taste and gross denial.

*****

The Franklin County grand jury will meet sometime this week between Tuesday and Thursday; the session may last two days. Exact dates are kept private, but we have been informed that Herschel D. Graham and his son Elijah Graham are among the list of those whose cases will be presented.

Our best to the David Andrasik family in their quest for justice.

*****

TBR has posted a new review in Quad-Cities Cuisine. Be sure to check it out.

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity, vulgarity, orlibelous statements...

Pizza & Parker - Two Madison Surprises

2012-01-14T23:00:00.000-06:00

Joe's Pizzeria in Madison rolled out the football pizza today, among them one depicting Nick Saban. No word on how much Shoals blogger O.B. offered the award winning pizza maker for a replica to hang on his wall.

*****

The second big event in Madison County today was Parker Griffith's announcement that he will run against incumbent Mo Brooks. Apparently we aren't the only ones with Republican leanings to be shocked. We're guessing Dr. Griffith will have an uphill battle.

The former one-term representative is publicly stating Mo's political philosophy is composed mainly of rhetoric. Well...we do get a lot of press releases from him.

*****

Anyone take a good look at the pics accompanying Scott Beason's announcement that he will run for Congress? The current state senator from Gardendale, capital of White Flight, was wearing his usual Bama bangs, and the aura of the photo smacked of the latest edition of Awkward Family Photos.

And we hear he's hoping to someday make it to the White House...

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity, vulgarity, or libelous statements...

Juggalos Face March Indictment/Navistar News

2012-01-13T02:01:00.000-06:00

Ronald (Ron Wikkid) Weems & Laurel (Chubbylette) Pruett

Sources in the Colbert County District Attorney's office state the cases against Ronald Weems, Laurel Pruett, and Matthew Fox will be presented to a grand jury in March. Ostensibly, the February docket was full; however, we hope this also means co-conspirator Ashley Fawn Greenhill will have been arrested in the interim. The family of murder victim Amanda Taylor needs as much closure as possible.

*****

While Navistar has yet to make an official announcement concerning the exact product to be manufactured in the former National Alabama plant, we've received reports that 50 workers have recently been added to the force and 50 more should join them by the end of the month. The first series of classes for new job recruits is scheduled to begin January 24th at Northwest Shoals Community College.

We're still hearing that the Navistar facility will be producing parts for the MaxxPro military vehicles. If so, it's sad that war is the driving force bringing an upturn to Shoals economy, but we're nevertheless thankful for the much needed boost.

Related post: Military Contract for Navistar Barton?

*****

Call it Rogers Hall or call it Courtview, its beauty is undeniable. This 1907 photo postcard can be yours for $19.90 on eBay: Link

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Tony Logan's Long Legal Quest Over Today?/PYSIH

2012-01-12T02:01:00.000-06:00

It's been a long road for Tony Logan, former Florence Deputy Police Chief and current chief of the Tuscumbia Police Department. Who's to blame? No one but Logan himself. Chief Logan has never denied guilt relating to his December 2009 DUI arrest, but has instead danced around the legal system chanting nebulous laws, persecution, and other various possible loopholes.

What will happen if a Gadsden jury finds Logan guilty as charged? At best Logan will have been out a lot of money for nothing, and at worst he may again be suspended from his job. No one has ever accused Logan of not being a great police officer. Everyone makes mistakes. The difference in Logan's case is he has chosen to evade punishment for his shortcomings and consequently cost the taxpayers of Lauderdale County thousands of dollars in doing so.

Related posts: Tony Logan Blames the Media

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We've previously mentioned People You'll See in Hell both here and in Shoals Crime. Due to health problems of the publisher, PYSIH has been in hiatus for some months, but is now back with new articles.

Be sure to catch "Tiffany's" article: Weems, Pruett, Greenhill, & Fox

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Connie Green & Chris Nichols Join Democratic Fray in Franklin County

2012-01-11T02:30:00.000-06:00

Connie Green, widow of former Probate Judge Mike Green, and Chris Nichols have joined Stratt Byars in seeking the Democratic nomination for the probate judgeship in Franklin County. The winner of the Democratic primary will face off against Republican Barry Moore. Qualifying ends Friday the 13th at 5:00 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., the Dems will host their traditional kickoff banquet at the A. W. Todd Centre in downtown Russellville. No word if crow will be similarly served in November.

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A reader commented on Brooks High Coach Jerry Hill's quest for the Lauderdale County Superintendent's office:

That's like the pot calling the kettle black. Jerry Hill was coach at Central when Harlon was principal at Brooks. He works for Lauderdale Board of Education, he has two sisters who work for different offices in Lauderdale County and are on the Lauderdale County payroll. Does he think he and his family are exempt from nepotism? I will not vote for him because I don't believe he is qualified to be Superintendent of Education.

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It's now January 11th. We're still waiting to hear from Navistar on their plans for the RSA Barton facility, as well as from the state concerning RegionalCare's Certificate of Need. Perhaps their press conferences have been called because of rain?

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Special Report: Get Your Winning T-Shirts Here!

2012-01-10T09:00:00.001-06:00

If you're a true Alabama fan, you know you have to have a commemorative shirt. Call Greg today and pick up your shirt tomorrow!

Tees - 10.00
Hoodies - 20.00

Tell him Shoalanda sent you!
(And ask what a "coozy" is while you're there.)

Seeking William Joseph (Bill) Ledlow

2012-01-10T02:01:00.000-06:00

An out of state reader is seeking his brother. William Joseph Ledlow, known as Bill, was born in a small town in northern Illinois. Bill and his brother lost their mother in the early 1980s and their father in the early 1990s. At that point, they became separated. Bill's brother believes there is a good chance that he lives in the Tuscaloosa area or perhaps as far north as Winston County. Bill would be about 51 years old, is approximately 6' 3" tall, and has/had reddish hair.

We're asking anyone who might know or have known Bill to contact us here: shoalanda.speaks@gmail.com.

We're also asking any readers in the stated area to repost this blog on Facebook or link it to whatever forums or social networking sites to which you belong. On behalf of Bill's brother, we thank you for helping to reunite these two siblings.

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Currently there are three announced candidates for Lauderdale County Superintendent of Schools. On the Democratic ticket, Jennifer Gray has joined Jerry Hill in seeking the position Dr. William Valentine is vacating. Here's a short bio from her Facebook page:

I have been married to Jeff Gray for 21 years. We have two children. Sydney graduated high school in 2009 and is a college senior. Connor is a high school senior. We are active members at First Baptist Church in Green Hill.

I have been an educator for 22 years spending 15 years as a classroom teacher at Cloverdale Jr. High School and Rogers High School. In 2005, I became the assistant principal at Brooks Elementary and remained there for 3 years. I am currently in my fourth year as Elementary Curriculum Director and Federal Programs Coordinator for the Lauderdale County School system. I hold a master's degree in Early Childhood Education, an EdS in Educational Administration from UNA and am on track to complete requirements for an EdD in Educational Leadership in 2012.

A reader asked us in the comment section whom we supported. We have not made that decision, but we thoroughly believe whoever the new superintendent may be, he or she needs experience in administration. This position should not be a learn as you go job.

We welcome announcements, bios, and mission statements from all Shoals candidates.

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Harlon Hill's Son Cries Nepotism

2012-01-09T10:00:00.000-06:00

Jerry Hill, son of acclaimed Alabama and U.S. footballer Harlon Hill, has cried nepotism in the world of Lauderdale County education. First, this is not news; second...well, our blog title speaks for itself.

Hill, 52, ran for superintendent four years ago as an Independent. Now he will give it a try as a Democrat. He called education a "business" in his interview with the TimesDaily. While we agree that almost anything these days is a business, we hope those who truly care about education see it as a way of life and a way in which to insure future generations live up to their potential. Seeing it as simply a business is one reason our local system has so many current problems.

From Hill's bio: Coach Jerry Hill is beginning his seventh year as the head football coach at Brooks High School. Coach Hill is a 1977 graduate of Brooks, where he lettered in football, basketball and track. He attended the University of North Alabama on a football scholarship and was an 11th round draft pick of the Washington Redskins of the NFL in 1981. Coach Hill is married to the former Mary Beth Goad, who is also a Brooks graduate. They have one son, Austin, who is a 2010 graduate of Brooks.

*****

A cautionary tale about nepotism: Once upon a time in a land far removed from here, a coach caught an intruder in his home. He immediately recognized the would be burglar as a former student who had relatives in the county in which he toiled. Did it matter that the young man had seemed never to do anything right in his life? We admit it would be a tough call.

Instead of turning the young man over to authorities, the coach called the boy's father who promised to get him into rehab. The young man hasn't made any news since then, so we may assume he did go and it did work. We've also heard that others this boy had sought to harm also came out on top in the end. Did this coach make the right decision? It would seem to depend upon whether it was your home or car this young man had previously broken into or your child he had tried to snatch. These victims vote also.

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Neler Keeton & Hershel D. Graham: Similar Crimes?

2012-01-08T04:00:00.000-06:00

David Andrasik & Daughter

Neler Keeton was a 75 year-old resident of Zip City when he fatally shot Anthony Eugene Hunt. Red Bay resident Hershel D. Graham was 49 when he killed David Martin Andrasik. Are there similarities to these killings two counties and five years apart? We think there are.

2006 - Keeton's former son-in-law Tony Hunt, 40, had divorced his wife and quickly remarried. The younger man had custody of his two children, and Keeton was vocal in his unhappiness with what he considered inadequate visitation. A widower, Keeton often visited his grandson and granddaughter at school where he would prepare homemade ice cream for their classes.

2011 - Graham lived with his teenage son and was known for his odd behavior. Neighbors stated he had always had mental problems, but his psychological problems had become worse after a career as a professional athlete. Graham was known to let the family dog run loose despite the leash laws in Red Bay. Many say they were afraid to force the issue with him.

2006 - Thursday, May 26th was the last day of the Lauderdale County school term, and Keeton had brought his 10 year-old grandson home in preparation of taking him to a ball game later that day. Just as Keeton and his grandson were leaving, Hunt arrived and the two adults began to argue. Keeton picked up what has been alternately called a piece of rusty pipe or a length of rebar to defend himself. Hunt took the metal from Keeton and struck him in the forehead, causing a cut that later required stitches. It's been argued whether Hunt's actions were intentional or not, but the younger man was taller than Keeton, and an accidental wound seems far fetched. Others disagree.

2011 - Thursday, November 3rd, Andrasik was driving by the Graham home when the family dog ran in front of his car. He exited his vehicle and approached Graham's son about the continuing problems with the pet running loose. The younger Graham called his father, who then joined in the argument.

2006 - Keeton managed to get away from Hunt, running inside his house. Instead of calling 911 to report the attack, Neler Keeton returned to his front yard where he shot Anthony Hunt three times with a shotgun. Hunt died at the scene.

2011 - At some point, the younger Graham ran over Andrasik's foot. The elder Graham then shot the unarmed David Andrasik point blank in the heart, before walking back into the house to call authorities. Andrasik, 42, was pronounced dead minutes later at Red Bay Hospital.

2007 - A Lauderdale County Jury finds Neler Keeton guilty of manslaughter; Judge Mike Jones sentences him to 20 years in prison.

2012 - A Franklin County grand jury will hear the case against the Grahams this month. What will they find? We sincerely hope justice is served.

Justice for David Martin Andrasik

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Bad Boys: Jock Bo Riley

2012-01-07T14:30:00.000-06:00

Russellville's Jock Bo Riley is another serial bad boy...albeit with a twist; the 30 year-old Riley is said to have gotten away with so much for so long because he's not above informing on his friends. Did we say "friends?"

Riley's documented crime career goes back at least three years. In the early morning hours of December 12, 2008, Riley and a male companion attempted to elude police officers during a routine traffic stop. Fleeing from Colbert County officers, Riley headed toward Leighton where local officers awaited him with a spike-strip. The loss of tires didn't seem to deter Riley who kept on like the Energizer Bunny until he hit a utility poll, causing loss of power to all of downtown Leighton. We hope it wasn't an extremely cold morning.

Riley seemed to have cleaned up his act after a second marriage, but reverted to a life of crime early in 2011. First Riley was charged with a bad check, then his crimes began to rapidly escalate. Riley robbed a Lauderdale County resident of electronics and a 2002 Corvette in early February. Two days later he was arrested in Russellville for home invasion and attempted robbery. You guessed it...Riley was driving the Corvette.

During the past 11 months, family has reported Riley is in rehab; however, he's also been arrested for several robberies in Marion County and other points south. He's still awaiting trial for his Class A Felony theft charges in Lauderdale, and his victim is tired of waiting for justice.

*****

Victims Crime Compensation Laws: We've had some questions about this law. Unfortunately, it does not cover material loss. From the official state site:

In an effort to alleviate hardships suffered by victims of crime, the Alabama Legislature passed the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission Law on June 1, 1984. Alabama's compensation law covers a variety of expenses for which compensation is paid. The Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission provides the only substantial financial compensation to victims for expenses for personal injuries including medical, funeral and counseling bills. This assistance lessens the financial burden on innocent victims of violent crime and serves as a vehicle of hope for the rights of crime victims. Our state law is unique. It requires a victim or family member of a victim of violent crime to serve on the three-member Commission which hears victim compensation cases. This provision insures that claims are reviewed from the victim's standpoint.

*****

We've heard there's a small ball game being played tonight. On behalf of D.K. and TBR, Roll Tide!

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Franklin Probate Judge's Race to be Hotly Contested

2012-01-06T02:30:00.000-06:00

When Mike Green (pictured at right) was elected for his second term as Franklin County Probate Judge in 2006, no one suspected it would last only four months. Green was just 54 when a heart attack ended both his life and many of the plans he had to modernize local government in the mainly rural northwestern Alabama county.

Gov. Bob Riley set up a committee to find a replacement for Green, receiving 14 applications for the position. The committee soon narrowed the field to six, including Green's wife Connie who garnered the support of hundreds of voters via petition.

Less than one month after Green's death, Riley appointed Barry Moore as his replacement. Now Moore is running on the Republican ticket for his first full term.

Moore is a Franklin County native and 1990 graduate of the University of North Alabama. He's married to the former Deedra Seele, with whom he has an 11 year-old daughter. The owner of a Russellville tool company, Moore previously served 23 years in the Alabama Army National Guard.

However, the well-liked Moore won't be without opposition, at least on the Democratic side. Russellville realtor Stratt Byars, currently a member of the Franklin County Commission, is expected to announce his candidacy officially within the next few weeks.

From his bio: Stratt is married to Connie Byars and has three children, Stratt, Anna, and Conner. Stratt was born and raised in Franklin County and he and his family live in the Saints Crossroads Community. Stratt is a graduate of Russellville High School and graduated from The University of North Alabama with a B.S. in Management. Stratt is currently serving as a County Commissioner for Franklin County and also is a Real Estate Agent with Davis Realty & Assoc., Inc. Byars is also President of Y.E.S. (Youth, Employment, Seniors) of Franklin County.

The home of Alabama Senate Minority Leader Roger Bedford, Franklin County has always been strongly Democratic. This race could prove to be much more of a toss up than the also sure to be entertaining race for mayor of Russellville.

*****

Bailey's Bailiwick: I'm not a psychologist and I don't even play one on television. Still I'm pretty sure of the kind of persons Ron Wikkid Weems and his happy henchmen are. I'm pretty sure they all lived a life of drugs and yes sex and rock'n'roll, or would that be hip-hop? Jobs sure didn't seem to be at the top of their list.

At last count Weems had six kids by three different women and wasn't supporting any of them. But of course he had that heart condition and all. Wanna bet he regularly took money from Laurel who worked part-time as a cashier? Maybe from his mother too. Didn't she have some kind of disability? Apple Ron may not have dropped too far from the tree there.

But after reading about Ashley Greenhill, I'm almost ready to give Ron a pass. After all he may not have supported his kids, but at least he was never arrested for biting them all over their bodies. Whoever commented these refugees from the funny farm weren't MENSA material sure got that right.

Now let's hope a grand jury indicts Ron for a capital crime and manages to get Ashley in on the deal as well. I'm sure whoever has Ashley's two kids would love to see her down south for at least the next 20 years. Neither one deserves any less.

*****

THE SHOALS DEMOCRATIC CLUB will meet on Monday, January 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Steelworkers' Union Hall on Wilson Dam Road in Muscle Shoals. A light meal will be served at 6 p.m. Speaker for the meeting is Charlie Holley, Democratic Candidate for Congress from the 5th District. The public is invited to attend. For Additional Information, please email shoalsdemocrats@gmail.com or call 256.412.9966.

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Deal for Ashley Fawn Greenhill? - Part II

2012-01-05T02:01:00.000-06:00

At around 3:00 p.m. on October 17th, Robert D. Lee arrived at the home of Ronald Weems to pick up Amanda Taylor. Ashley Greenhill, aka Ash Lette, was sitting on the front porch with Ron's mother Laquania Welch Weems. In her hand was a hatchet that she began to wave over her head in a threatening manner. Greenhill told Lee that sometime after Taylor arrived at the Moss Avenue home around 1:20, she had attacked Ronald Eugene Weems and was no longer at the residence. Lee, fearful for his safety, left the premises. It's good to know Ashley's Juggalo props can pull double duty.

On November 7th, Ashley Greenhill reported to police that she had overheard several phone conversations in which Weems and Laurel Pruett discussed the murder of Taylor and the subsequent disposition of her body. Greenhill stated she was in fear of her life and had shortly thereafter moved out of the Muscle Shoals home she was sharing with the Weems family. Ronald Weems then made his enigmatic Facebook posting in which he called Greenhill a "roach."

Matthew Richard Fox & Co-Worker

According to Laurel Pruett's confession, Ashley Greenhill and her friend Matthew Richard Fox joined Weems and her in the basement of the Moss Avneue home around 10:30 p.m. on the night of the murder. A friend of Fox, aka Fox Fudoshin, has stated Ashley Greenhill texted Fox and asked for information on the best way to hide a body. Fox had ostensibly never met Weems before that night, and Greenhill was the only link between them. We're going to assume Fox now wishes he had never met Ashley Greenhill.

Other sources have stated that after Greenhill looked at Amanda's corpse, she walked upstairs to smoke weed and take Valium while waiting for the safety of nightfall. Fox's friend and co-worker Luke Stanfield stated he has known Ashley Greenhill for approximately ten years and has never known her to be a truthful person. We may infer Stanfield's opinion is correct since she certainly offered several colorful tales to explain the injuries she and her boyfriend inflicted on her then two year-old son.

Yet, Ashley Fawn Greenhill is not in jail with her friends. We have to ask why. What kind of deal was the Brooks High grad offered? Life isn't fair, and neither is death. The enormity of this gruesome murder is mind boggling. If Greenhill isn't prosecuted for this crime, the would-be model will undoubtedly be prosecuted for something else down the road.

*****

An attorney for Kimberly Bynum appeared in Franklin County court this morning and waived a preliminary hearing during the arraignment process. A pre-trial date for the former Vina High School teacher will be set later this month.

Related post: Kimberly Bynum's Long-Term Affair

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Deal for Ashley Fawn Greenhill? - Part I

2012-01-04T02:30:00.000-06:00

By the time Ashley Fawn Greenhill met Clint Matthew Anderson, she had a child and he had a felony conviction. Together they lived on the north end of Howell Street in a bungalow that had seen better days.

Pregnant with Clint's child, Ashley had given guardianship of her two year-old son to her parents, but sometimes brought the child into the home she shared with her then boyfriend. After one such visit, Ashley's parents noticed bite marks over much of the boy's body, along with scratches over his lower back and extremities. The Greenhills immediately reported the child's condition to DHR, and both Ashley and Clint were arrested.

At the time of Ashley Greenhill's arrest for Felony Torture of her child, she was out of jail on bail for charges of burglary, theft, criminal mischief and receiving stolen property. Her bail revoked, the 21 year-old Ashley agreed to enter drug rehab and was given leniency by the courts. Clint's parole was revoked, and he was returned to the Alabama Department of Corrections where he remains incarcerated at a facility called the Cattle Ranch. He's scheduled to be released on September 9, 2014.

By the fall of 2011, Ashley was 24 and enrolled in classes at NWSCC studying to be a hair dresser. Her online profiles describe her as a model, but acquaintances stated she worked as a stripper. The portrait to the left was posted online ten days before the murder of Amanda Taylor. On the networking site, Ashley has one contact--"Rob Noxious."

Needing a home, Ashley asked fellow Insane Clown Posse groupie Ron Weems for a place to stay. Weems allowed the young woman to move into the Muscle Shoals home he shared with his widowed mother, but later commented on Facebook that Ashley was a "roach" who had brought other vermin into his house. Whether he referred to Matthew Fox, we may only surmise.

By now Laurel Pruett, the mother of Ron Weems' four year-old daughter, had moved into a home in Sheffield. While Laurel was a frequent visitor to the Moss Avenue home she once shared with Ron, friends have said theirs was an open relationship and many believed him to be involved sexually with Ashley.

Tomorrow: Part II - The Cover-Up

*****

Several readers have asked what yesterday's preliminary hearing for Ron Weems actually decided. The hearing only established that there was enough evidence against Weems to present the case to the grand jury. The next grand jury meets January 9th, but our opinion is District Attorney Bryce Graham will wait to hone his case. The indictment shouldn't hold any surprises, but will resolve what specific charges Weems, Pruett, and Fox will face. Certainly Amanda Taylor's family is hoping for an indictment of Capital Murder. Any time served in jail awaiting trial will be counted against Weems' sentence should he be convicted--almost a foregone conclusion.

Weems' attorney may ask for other hearings concerning the introduction of evidence or change of venue after the indictment. There can be other delays in trying the case due to backlogs at forensic testing centers. In other words, a July trial is not guaranteed and may be overly optimistic. By no means did Tuesday's preliminary hearing end the legal battle to bring justice for Amanda Taylor's family.

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Ron (Wikkid) Weems: He's Just a Juggalo

2012-01-03T02:01:00.000-06:00

"I know that they've been together. I don't know how often or how long." Ron Weems' mother when asked about a physical relationship between her son and his victim.

This afternoon, District Judge Chad Coker will have the unenviable displeasure of looking Ronald Eugene Weems and Matthew Richard Fox in the face for the second time. It should be pretty cut and dried for Fox; either Judge Coker will reduce Fox's bail or not. Fox has made some horrendous choices in his life the past few months, but we doubt he will be indicted for Felony Murder. We're very interested in how Chad will handle this case.

As for Ron (Wikkid) Weems? Today's hearing ostensibly will decide if the State has enough evidence to indict. Well...there are the confessions of all three defendants.

The most interesting issue to be decided in the near future will be the verdicts of the January grand jury. Will the state wish to indict Weems for Felony Murder or go for a Capital charge? Does the State have grounds for a Capital Murder indictment?

Click for Larger Image

Laurel Pruett's confession indicated Amanda Taylor's body was lying on the basement floor with her jeans and underpants removed. It's not a stretch that the prosecution will contend Weems killed his former sister-in-law during an attempted rape. Laquania Weems has stated her son had a previous physical relationship with his ex-wife's sister--rape might be hard to prove. The difference? If indicted and convicted of only Felony Murder, Weems would at some point be eligible for parole. Even so, we doubt that Amanda Taylor's friends and family would fail to protest the release of this Juggalo gigolo.

*****

What others are saying about Ronald Eugene Weems:

Of course the question is going to come up if the ‘music’ of ICP caused Weems to kill. As much as I deride Juggalos the music does not cause anyone to kill. It’s more of case of people with violent tendencies being drawn to their music. - Nationally known blogger Trench Reynolds

If guilty, this cornfed moron must have lived under a rock for the past decade or so, because he obviously missed the part about forensic testing. - Crime writer Chelsea Hoffman

*****

Congrats to UNA on their rehire of Bobby Wallace. The university's board can do something right...

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Why Were Taxpayers Supporting Ronald E. Weems?

2012-01-02T02:01:00.000-06:00

Ronald Eugene Weems told friends he had a heart condition and couldn't work. Disability records are confidential, so we don't know if Weems ever actually received any SSI payments. Our guess is that he didn't. At the time of Amanda Taylor's murder, he was involved in an appeal of his disability (Disabled Individual Worker). So how did Weems survive?

By sharing a home with his mother, he seemingly had free rent and built-in child care, assuming Laquania Welch Weems was also absent from the work force. Those who have commented privately to us have stated this was the case.

Others have commented that Weems took excellent care of his children. Apparently such care was not without the aid of the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. You may click on the image above for a larger shot of Weems' mobile Facebook posting while waiting to apply for the program. Warning: Strong language.

Did you notice the words "mobile Facebook posting?" Yes, it seems Weems was using a Droid phone to make posts from whatever important places and events he may have visited during the day. We apparently missed the section in the Constitution guaranteeing 3G communications to all citizens. If you want it and can afford it, go for it. Otherwise, don't ask taxpayers to fund what many don't have themselves.

That also goes for tattoos which we understand start at around $100.00 for a small work and are never recommended for indiviuals with heart conditions due to risk of infection. We have to wonder how many of our taxpayer dollars went to purchase Weems' November tattoo...but what the hey, there's always an Angel Tree to provide for his three children.

Who has Weems' phone now? Are we still paying for it? We know that Ron Weems' mother has custody of at least one child, the daughter of Ron and Laurel Ann Pruett. How is she spending the taxpayer dollars that we have provided for this child or these children?

Just as Jay Leno hates stupid criminals, we at Shoalanda hate the misuse of our tax dollars. If you want to make sure the children of Ronald Eugene Weems are cared for properly and have a secure home, we ask that you contact the Colbert County DHR office to request they expedite their supposedly ongoing investigation. Our tax dollars should support Alabama children who have no one else to do so; they should not buy Android phones for murderers.

Direct E-Mail to Colbert County DHR

Weems v. Social Security Administration

*****

Any of our readers attend the Florence Christmas parade early last month? If you did, you didn't see the Lauderdale County Sheriff Department's entry. Did Ronnie (pass me the donuts, you pretty young thing) Willis not remember to send anyone to represent county law enforcement, or did he just not think it worthwhile?

Shoalanda

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Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-01T02:01:00.000-06:00

OOPS!

That's the Right One!

We hope each and everyone of our readers has a great New Year--all 366 days!

All of us at Shoalanda Speaks

Bad Boys: Cory Luke White

2011-12-31T12:00:00.000-06:00

As they say on The Quad-Cities Daily, you gotta love these bad boys. Pictured at right is Cory Luke White who seems frequently to swap residences between Looney Road in Athens and Lee Street in Rogersville, probably due to wherever arrest warrants are the most current. Just how big a bad boy is White? In case his Athens booking photo doesn't sum it up for you, we'll offer a recap.

The 28 year-old's record goes back to April 2006 at least, when he was arrested in Lauderdale County for Possession of a Controlled Substance - Marijuana. July 2008 saw White again arrested in Lauderdale, this time for Criminal Coercion. If you're as unsure as us what this might entail, here's the legal definition:

A person is guilty of criminal coercion when with intent to compel another person to engage in or refrain from conduct, he unlawfully threatens to:
(a) Commit any crime; or
(b) Accuse anyone of a crime; or
(c) Expose any secret tending to subject any person to hatred, contempt or ridicule or to impair another's credit or business repute; or
(d) Take or withhold action as an official or cause an official to take or withhold action.

White again made the news in April 2010 when he was charged with the unauthorized use of a vehicle Things really began to escalate with White on November 14th of this year when he attempted to burgle a home on West Market Street in Athens while the owner was inside. Athens police quickly found White in a wooded area behind the home. While being booked, this perennial bad boy kicked out the window of the booking area, causing an additional charge of Destruction of State Property. This crime of theft falls into the heinous category since White ostensibly knew a resident of the home had passed away nine hours earlier.

Five weeks later, Luke Cory White was again out of jail and arrested for Public Intoxication in Lauderdale County. Some hours after his release on those charges, White committed robbery at the BP Station located on the Corner of 101 and Putman Parkway, one block north of Hwy. 72. Upon leaving the scene, White jumped in a car with the motor running and managed to add theft of a vehicle to his laundry list of crimes.

Now White is in jail again; does he have bail this time? If so, will he be returned to Limestone County to await trial there? We anxiously await news on this...and, yes, we used the word anxiously correctly here.

Related post: The Unclaimed Parkway

*****

Anyone have any similar tales to tell about Jock Bo Riley of Franklin County? If any readers think this serial thief is in rehab, guess again.

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Are You a Fit Parent?/Mug Shots?

2011-12-30T02:01:00.000-06:00

Are You a Fit Parent?

A Guest Commentary By

Mark Davis

As a fit parent advocate, married or unmarried parents should watch the following 35 minute shocking documentary about how parental rights are being violated.

The video features three married families. One of the three true stories is about a Court that ordered fit parents limit their child's church attendance because the child didn't want to attend Church three times a week.

If anyone is of the opinion similar would never happen in Alabama, it goes on every day in the Alabama Judiciary. I have personal knowledge of this because I have fielded hundreds of emails and telephone calls from other Alabama parents in my efforts to reform Alabama family law.

In 2008, Madison County Circuit Court Judge Billy Bell determined one parent should not have custody of her child because she was "too religious". This judicial judgment made national media program "Inside Edition" but was not reported by main stream media in Alabama. See the story here: http://www.insideedition.com/news.aspx?storyID=1389

In 2006, Lauderdale County Circuit Court Judge Ned Suttle determined over my objection it was in my daughters best interests to attend daycare 35 hours each week rather than spend one-half of that time in my personal care, which she had been accustomed due to a Tennessee Court judgment implemented against the other parents wishes. At daycare our daughter was cooped up in a 12'x12' room watching videos with 15 other children most of the day.

In 2011, when the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals was asked to determine if the 2006 Alabama trial court's judgment was void because it violated my fundamental parenting rights, Justice Terry A. Moore in an written opinion said, "The simple fact that a court has erroneously applied the law does not render its judgment void."

This determination is on appeal in the Supreme Court of the United States. A decision whether that Court will accept the case is expected in March 2012.

Don't wait until the Court has shocked your conscience.

Be informed now.

Elections are forthcoming in 2012.

Watch the Free video "Overruled" violations to parental rights, the three minute trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykYzgfzhhRk

Alabama fit parents can find more information how to educate themselves in safeguarding their fundamental parental rights on the Alabama Family Rights Association website at www.ALFRA.org.

*****

Do you read Hard Times? Even if you don't, you've seen it at the mini-mart. Now The Quad-Cities Daily has started carrying these mug shots and arrest records online. There's currently some controversy on Facebook as to whether it's ethical to publish records of those arrested, but not convicted.

It's been some time since we've had a poll, and this seems like a fitting issue. The poll is unscientific at best, but only one vote will be counted per IP address.

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Hearing for Amanda Taylor's Killer/Tuscumbia Lustron History

2011-12-29T02:01:00.000-06:00

January 3rd will see Ronald Weems and Matthew Fox in court. It's been reported that Weems has asked for a preliminary hearing. Legal sources say the murderer of Amanda Taylor and his attorney may ask for all or portions of the confession to be declared inadmissible, as well as a change of venue. Fox will be requesting a reduction in his 500K bail.

Sources close to Laurel Pruett (pictured) say she's not requesting bail reduction since none of her family lives in Alabama. We have had conflicting reports as to the custody of Pruett's four-year old daughter, but a second source has confirmed the child remains with Weem's mother in Muscle Shoals. DHR has reportedly petitioned to have the daughter removed.

*****

The Tuscumbia Lustron Home As I Remember It

A Guest Commentary By

Jim Smith

I lived at 705 East 4th street at the time the house was erected. I was the paper boy to everyone in the east end of town so I thought I had to see and know about everything that was going on.

The Catholic Church was on the corner of East Street and 4th. In the earlier years there was a Catholic School and living quarters on the corner of Hickory and 4th.

Sometime around 1948 0r 1949, they decided to build a new Rectory behind the church. It was decided to be a Lustron House. At that time Lustron produced and shipped all steel enameled houses.

The site was prepared and the parts and pieces arrived. A wrecker came to unload the steel parts. They stacked the steel parts and boxes of screws, bolts, etc., along the curb in front of the house. Each part was numbered and much time was spent as they sorted and found the right pieces. Each part had a certain screw or bolt for that section. I was allowed to pick up these things at the end of the day and wish I had saved some of them.

As the house took shape, it was easy to see that once the last screw was in place, it would be ready to live in. Everything was enameled in the color that had been chosen.

I don't remember how long it took them to finish but it did not seem very long. One thing that stands out now as I look back is the fact that there were no fancy electric or air tools as we know them today. Everything was screwed or bolted by hand.

There was some discussion among the workers about not having a back door because of concern for the Priest. Access to him was very limited outside of the Church. I will drop by the site to check this out once the ground dries up and the weather gets better.

This type of house was supposed to be the next best thing to sliced bread as far as technology was concerned. Not only was it pre-insulated, it was designed to last a long, long time. This is evidenced by the one we see off of Woodmont Drive. Even though the years of neglect are showing, I am sure it is in a lot better shape than a wood-frame house would be after all this time.

I don't know the whole story of the company but there are references to bad business decisions and other problems. There does not seem to be problems with the houses themselves. Can you imagine what your house would look like 60 years after it was built had it been neglected and not maintained?

Thanks to Mary for finding it and to everyone for providing the opportunity to tell about it as I remember. Also, thanks to everyone who loves Tuscumbia as much as I do for your interest in saving and preserving as much of our history as we can.

THIS WAS ONE TIME WHERE A meets B and Y met Z that everything came together.

*****

Colbert County native Jim Smith is the author of Walk Through Town (with me as a ten year-old boy). It can be found on Amazon and at several local book stores. Link

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Military Contract for Navistar Barton?/Publix & Propinquity

2011-12-28T02:01:00.000-06:00

Navistar's Military Vehicle MaxxPro

It now seems those pre-Christmas layoffs at the RSA/Navistar plant in Barton weren't just the work of a Grinch. Sources close to the former National Alabama plant say the untimely terminations were the result of new, more stringent background checks.

Why were such background checks necessary? It seems the American Motors HHMVWs, or Humvees, lost favor with the military some time ago. The preferred vehicle for desert combat is the mine-resistant MaxxPro, a Navistar product.

Does this definitely mean the new Navistar facility will be producing components for the MaxxPro or a similar vehicle? We should find out next week...

*****

What do Wal-Mart, Publix, and propinquity have in common? They're all elements in the local battle for your buck. Many thought it odd that Publix would have located so close to Florence's existing Wal-Mart, yet Publix probably thought it an ideal location. Routine Wally World shoppers can easily drive to the new Publix to finish off their weekly shopping. It's why you often see restaurants and hotels clustered together; if one doesn't provide what the customer wants, he has to only drive or walk next door.

Now Wal-Mart is planning a second super center...one not remotely close to any major shopping area. (Sorry, Big Star and CVS--you're just not a destination unto yourself.) Those cash spending customers from the western end of the county or southern Tennessee will now be isolated from the new Publix, Target, Regency Square Mall, and K-Mart, assuming the latter stays in this area. You can't say the Wally World honchos don't know their marketing.

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Silent Night: Mixed Signals from Americans United

2011-12-27T05:00:00.000-06:00

Recently an anonymous Tuscumbia parent requested that the organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State intervene concerning the school system's annual Christmas play...or should that be holiday play? It seems one of the songs to be featured was Silent Night.

Americans United then wrote the Tuscumbia School Board requesting the song be dropped from the program. The board refused to honor the request, but it's been reported that the song was moved from the finale to a place of less importance in the production.

Such requests are no longer novel, but we do question the purpose for Americans United becoming involved in this issue. The following is taken from their website:

Public schools may incorporate some religious music into concerts and other events, but it should not dominate. Some purely religious plays and other works are not appropriate for public schools. No student should be punished for declining to play religious music.

Seemingly not everyone at Americans United is on the same page. The group has suggested it may take stronger action next year; unless they edit their mission statement in the upcoming year, we would expect the Tuscumbia School Board to continue to ignore the group.

*****

Dated between 1907 and 1915, this postcard depicts the Florence-Sheffield trolley crossing the railroad bridge. It can be yours for $35.00. Link

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Federal Conviction for Shawn Johnson/Lustron Home In Tuscumbia

2011-12-26T12:00:00.000-06:00

For those who may have missed the December 15th article in the TimesDaily, Alfred Shawn Johnson has been found guilty of Federal drug charges and sentenced to 46 months in prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.

While the TD failed to point this out, Johnson is currently under indictment for the murder of Keith Barnett in Lauderdale County. Assuming Johnson is convicted in this death, how will his sentences be served? It has been our experience that state charges are usually served first; however, we don't know how long Johnson's murder trial may be delayed for various legal reasons. D.K. is working on this, and we will have an update when it's available.

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Pictured above is a Lustron Westchester home located just off Woodmont Drive in Tuscumbia. Doesn't look like much, does it? Fortunately, the sharp eye of Tuscumbia historian Mary Carton recognized the home for what it once was. These homes were manufactured between 1948 and 1950; production ceased when the company could no longer keep up with demand and declared bankruptcy. Approximately 20K orders were placed for these homes, but only about 2,680 ever made it to customers.

Several Lustrons were constructed locally. Pictured above is one in Sheffield. The abandoned Tuscumbia Lustron had not even made it to the home's national registry until Mary recently added it. Just being on the the registry will not assure its preservation, but it's a start. Lustron homes have a place in the Museum of Modern Art. We hope this one can have a renewed place of honor in the Shoals.

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T02:01:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas from Bailey, D.K., TBR, J. Redmon, & Shoalanda

Our Naughty List (Some Much More Than Others)

2011-12-24T03:30:00.000-06:00

"Naughty Lists" seem to be a trend among local bloggers this year, so we're happy to jump on the bandwagon. Here's our version, in no particular order...

1. Terry Bowden - He didn't even bother to say goodbye.

2. Wal-Mart - What? They've made so little money over the years that now they're worried about Publix? Please...

3. Florence City Council - Most of them truly care about the town. Standing one's ground can be courageous, but failing to find a solution for our garbage woes is not a great example of placing the city first. Santa may not leave any trash in their yards, but by February Cupid may consider doing so.

4. Cherokee Mayor Chuck Lansdell - If you don't play his way, he won't play at all, while blaming others for his leadership problems.

5. Tuscumbia Police Chief Tony Logan - We're about to begin year three of this ongoing saga, all paid for by Lauderdale County taxpayers. He's not even appealing his DUI conviction on claims of innocence, but on a nebulous law. Great example there, Chief.

6. Brian Keith McGuire - Another less than upstanding citizen costing Alabama tax payers unnecessarily to appeal the loss of his teaching license. A Lauderdale jury may have found him not guilty of rape, but the Alabama Board of Education pronounced him guilty of that plus a lot of other seedy doings. Does he think anyone would hire him to teach Alabama youth even if he got his license back?

7. "Christians" who bash atheists - It doesn't speak well of their religion or their IQ. After all, we haven't seen any Methodists trash talking Baptists recently. Calling an atheist harsh names isn't going to make him want to sit by us in church on Sunday morning.

8. Florence and Colbert Animal Shelters - Neither can see the forest for the trees. We hope in 2012 both entities will concentrate on promoting animal adoption. It's about time...

9. Steve Pierce - If we can blame one man for UNA now residing in the purgatory that lies between Division I and Division II, it's Steve. We have to ask why he prefers UNA to be a very small frog in a big pond to being a very large frog in a medium pond.

10. Susan Leigh Smithson & the Sweetwater Gang - It's been over two years now since the owner of Sweetwater mansion and a few locals began their efforts to restore this once stately home. During this time, the director and her various committee members have alienated almost anyone who has volunteered to work on the property. Here's hoping Smithson finds a buyer in 2012,

11. Red Bay Police Chief Jana Jackson for commenting prematurely on the death of David Andrasik. No, no one knows how a Franklin County grand jury will rule in January, but we highly suspect Jackson will have some thoughtless words to eat.

We could add more, but the sound of tiny hooves approaching needs immediate investigation. Here's hoping all readers are careful out there this weekend.

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Navistar Firing?/Saluting Tim Kent

2011-12-23T02:01:00.000-06:00

It's less than ten days until Navistar is expected to make their big announcement and we finally learn what will be replacing National Alabama at the RSA super complex in Barton. A new year is always the perfect time to start a new project, but unfortunately it seems Navistar's plans have necessitated the firing of some personnel. Termination--not a very nice Christmas present is it?

*****

The Shoals area is steeped in history, especially that of the Civil War. Tim Kent is a local military aficionado and historian. He's pictured here at the grave of our local Gen. James Deshler. This morning Tim will be working at the Tuscumbia Cemetery to replace headstones of unknown Confederate soldiers. Kudos to Tim for keeping our history alive and in good repair.

Tim Kent's Civil War Tales

*****

Russellville Municipal Building pictured on a 1940's postcard: Link

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Special Report: O.B. Gets a Christmas Miracle?

2011-12-22T13:45:00.000-06:00

Reports are circulating that Terry Bowden is leaving UNA. True? Untrue? We're guessing true. That means our dear friend O.B. has gotten one of his Christmas wishes. Uh, does that mean he won't get the other one?

If you haven't read O.B.'s interview with "Tater Tot," don't miss it!

Tater Tot

Why Was McKenzie Corey Johnson Even Out of Prison?

2011-12-22T02:01:00.000-06:00

Sheffield police are looking for McKenzie Corey Johnson, and we have to ask why. Not why are they looking for him specifically, but why is it necessary to look for him at all. Why is this man not in prison?

In July 2010, less than 18 months ago, Johnson was arrested during a routine traffic stop in Tuscumbia. From a news report at the time:

McKenzie Corey Johnson, 29, of Sheffield, Ala., was arrested on charges of failure of a sex offender to verify his identity, second-degree forgery and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Johnson at first tried to conceal his identity after crack cocaine was found in his vehicle.

Considering Johnson's record, why were these crimes not enough to return him to prison for several years. We recently quoted a Russellville police officer who used the expression "revolving door to prison." Apparently this is the case with Johsnon. If you have knowledge of his whereabouts, call Sheffield police at: 256-383-1771.

Related post: Sheffield Sex Offenders

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Losing IQ Points: We recently published a series of comments from around the state concerning Salah N. Salah's suit against the town of Russellville. One Facebook reader mentioned losing IQ points after reading these snips. We'll admit they weren't the most erudite of opinions, but apparently the literati didn't choose to comment on the situation. Now we've discovered a blog that will make these quotes look like the work of Gore Vidal. Enter at your own risk.

Alabama-Law. Org

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

World Class Pharmaceutical Center?/Publix a No Show?

2011-12-21T03:30:00.000-06:00

Florence City Councilman Barry Morris has called a Chinese drug manufacturer's once proposed plans for the former Florence Golf and Country Club a "world class pharmaceutical center." Dr. Morris, since when does alternative medicine come under the definition of "world class pharmaceuticals?"

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Grocery Store Wars: Wish we still had a Winn-Dixie in the Shoals? Apparently the Birmingham area is the closest you'll find one. Now the chain has been purchased by Bi-Lo, a popular chain with several stores just across the state line in Tennessee. Will they open one here?

We won't hold our breath, but if you're hoping for that promised Publix, local gossip has it that it won't be coming either. Construction has been halted on the Cox Creek Pky location, and city officials aren't forthcoming with any answers. Perhaps that would make another great place for a world class pharmaceutical center, huh, Dr. Morris?

*****

Rare Sweetwater Creek postcard: Link

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

What Will Be Jon Thomas Wallis' Sentence?

2011-12-20T02:01:00.000-06:00

Those familiar with the art of tattooing would obviously call Jon Thomas Wallis an accomplished practitioner. Wallis himself liked the name "Ink Slinger" well enough to have it permanently inscribed on his neck.

How long will Tommy Wallis, convicted of drug trafficking and attempted murder, be away from his chosen profession? Wallis is currently serving a mandatory three years for his October drug conviction, with 12 to serve on probation upon his release. Three years must seem like a relatively short sentence compared to what he may now be facing.

Last week, a Lauderdale County jury convicted Wallis of the attempted murder of his wife, a Class A felony. The TimesDaily has reported the Ink Slinger will serve a minimum of 10 years; however, this crime committed with a gun adds another ten years to the sentence. Tommy Wallis has previously seemed to admire tattoos of guns; we doubt he feels the same way now.

Assuming Wallis has no other felonies of record and that he is sentenced to the minimum, he should be eligible for parole after approximately seven years. He will receive no Correctional Incentive Time for a Class A felony. Those who wish to go on record as opposing Tommy Wallis' parole may write:

Alabama Board of Pardons & Paroles
Re: Jon Thomas Wallis, AIS 280574
Post Office Box 302405
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-2405
Telephone: (334) 353-7771, 353-8067
FAX: (334) 242-1809

*****

John James Common, aka J.J., is a familiar figure around Russellville. It's hard to miss his small truck with the bullet holes in the passenger door. Common, 28, has several convictions involving drugs and is no stranger to prison. Our sources in the Russellville Police Department say he has his own entrance with a revolving door.

On parole for his drug offenses, Common was wearing an ankle monitor yesterday when he broke into the home where his ex-girlfriend was staying and attempted to kidnap the 21 year-old. This is the same girlfriend he once hit in the belly while she was pregnant. We're pretty sure they've kept his bed warm at the Limestone Correctional Facility. We're also pretty sure he qualifies as a habitual offender.

Let's hope J.J. stays away for a long time...

Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

No Mahindra?/Bailey Quarters Joins Us

2011-12-19T02:01:00.000-06:00

For some time, we have labored in the vineyard of blogging with only three regular contributors. Among those who have submitted several guest commentaries is Bailey Quarters. She will now become a regular contributor, usually focusing on either comment, addenda, or rebuttal to what has been previously written here. We hope you'll enjoy Bailey's Bailiwick.

Who Buys the Beer?

A few years ago I was traveling to Nashville for the weekend when I realized Loretto would probably be both the cheapest place to buy gas and the last stop to buy a TimesDaily in Tennessee. When I got in line at the store to pay, there were seven men in front of me, and while I waited three others took their place behind me. What did these ten men have in common?

They all were purchasing beer, some in large quantities. Since it was around 3:30 on a Friday afternoon this was probably a usual scenario. What else did these men have in common? I wouldn't have wanted to have met any of them in a dark alley. Sure, they were dressed for work, not a wedding, but they didn't give off any vibes of civic responsibility.

This is what the Southside Baptist children will be seeing next to their playground if TNS Convenience Store is given a license to sell beer. Think about a football field. Then think about 187 feet. The distance of the store to the church playground is just 62% of the length of that football field. Would you want your children that close to a constant steam of who knows what? I wouldn't.

*****

The Wall Street Journal is reporting Mahindra Navistar will not be locating at the RSA facility in Colbert County. Obviously, such a large project should be kept under wraps as long as possible in order to finalize important details. We still have hopes that this Indian industrial giant will partner with Navistar in Alabama.

We're just not sure the T-20/T-40 pickups are the best fit for the Barton facility. Mahindra is currently being sued by 350 US dealers for breach of contract. The Indian automaker has failed to deliver promised vehicles to these dealers, and no end to the suit is in sight.

*****

Comments? We are still getting comments that are unpublishable. For that reason, we will be adding this admonition at the bottom of each blog.

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Shoalanda

Salah v. Southside: The Facts/Laurel Pruett Update

2011-12-18T02:30:00.000-06:00

Judging from comments and questions received concerning the ongoing legal battle of Salah N. Salah to obtain a beer/wine license from the City of Russellville, there are many misconceptions about the local alcohol laws and how they are being used or misused in this instance. We're listing the facts of the case below. It will be up to a court to determine if the laws are being applied in accordance with these facts.

1. Alabama law states that any business licensed to sell alcohol must be at least 300 feet from a church building or 1000 feet from a school.building.

2. Russellville's liquor license law states that such a business must be at least 500 feet from a church or 1000 feet from a school building.

3. TNS Mini-Mart is 397 feet from the main church building at Southside Baptist.

4. TNS Mini-Mart is 187 feet from a playground that is part of the Southside Baptist Church plant.

5. Southside Baptist Church erected their building at 12215 Highway 43 South in 1964. It remains the original congregation.

6. Salah purchased Ray's Southside Food Mart at 12301 Highway 43 South approximately one year ago. The building certainly had not been constructed when Southside Baptist established its church. In other words, Salah knew the church was there when he purchased the small store.

7. Representatives of Southside Baptist exercised their legal right to object to alcohol sales at TNS Mini-Mart, and the Russellville City Council honored that objection.

8. It's unknown to us if Southside Baptist Church operates a daycare that would qualify as a school. If so, it would logically seem the courts would uphold the City of Russellville's decision not to license TNS Mini-Mart for the sale of beer and wine.

We'll add that of all the governments in the Shoals area, we receive the most complaints concerning Russellville Mayor Troy Oliver; however, in this case, we feel the town acted legally. What a court of law will say may be entirely different.

*****

We recently received a comment from Tasha concerning what she called errors in our report on Laurel Ann Stocker Pruett (pictured). We asked Tasha to elaborate; however, her second comment contained what could be construed as a libelous statement concerning Pruett's victim. Therefore we choose not to publish the comment, but will address the errors that Tasha has enumerated.

We had reported that Laurel met Ronald E. Weems after she moved to the Shoals. Tasha informs us that Laurel had previously met Ron and moved here to be with him.

Tasha further stated that Laurel had lived in the Shoals for some time before she became employed at the Chevron. We did not mention a specific date for Laurel's employment, taking the information from one of Laurel's social networking sites; however, we are happy to add this if Tasha feels it's important to the account.

Tasha has also assured us that Laurel was not jealous of Ron and his other girlfriends. This is a subjective opinion, and one we sincerely doubt. If it should be true, it would indicate Laurel's feelings for Ron were something less that love. This would then beg the question of why Laurel would have helped Ron dispose of his victim's body. Believe us, Tasha, it's far better that Laurel be seen as a woman under the influence of uncontrollable passion than one cold-blooded enough to abet the crimes of murder and dismemberment.

Finally, Tasha mentioned the name of Ron and Laurel's child. We have chosen not to name the child in question, but it should be noted that if Ron and Laurel are convicted, they will become the property of the state. They will have no rights the state chooses not to give them. At that point, their little girl will be legally adopted by, we hope, a loving couple who will change both her names. We hope she will never have to suffer for the sins of her current parents.

Shoalanda

Mahindra Automotive Coming to Shoals?/Amanda Alert Petition

2011-12-17T02:01:00.000-06:00

Mahindra T-20/T-40 Pickup

Just what is Mahindra Automotive and what will it do for Barton/Cherokee and the Shoals? The Indian automotive giant is a part of Mahindra & Mahindra, a huge conglomerate founded in 1945 and based in Mumbai. From their Navistar Truck website:

Indian roads can be more than a little challenging thanks to wide variation in terrain, inclement weather, and a large percentage of unpaved or unmaintained routes. To succeed, you need a transportation solution that can handle it all. We designed the Mahindra Navistar truck ground-up in India to excel in Indian conditions, so that you have a more than able partner in your business.

At the core of our Heavy Commercial Vehicle range are our revolutionary MaxxForce engines. These state of the art engines deliver high performance at high fuel efficiency and meet EPA and Euro emissions standards. Join us at the cutting edge of pro-environment business solutions.

Our trucks come in two sizes, depending on the load carrying capacity – the MN25 and MN31, which can carry 25 and 31 tons respectively. The MN25 offers you best-in-class ride and handling with its four-point suspended cabin, optimized steering and suspension, and low turning radius for excellent maneuverability. Its generous cabin space makes your ride pleasant for you and a passenger.

The MN31 features a strong and durable suspension, rugged chassis aggregates, robust brakes and heavy duty axles to handle its superior torque—all low maintenance and easy to repair. The roomy cabin seats three people to accommodate personnel needs on long trips. Bring along a co-driver or passenger—or enjoy the ample space yourself.

We met both Indian and European safety standards to make sure you’re safe even in adverse driving conditions.

Assuming total production of the T-20/T-40 truck line should move to the Navistar plant near Cherokee...well, perhaps considering our track record, we shouldn't count our trucks until they're off the assembly line.

We can definitely say that Mahindra has refused proposals to produce their trucks in U.S. states that do not have "right to work" laws; in other words, don't expect old-time Detroit wages to be paid at the Barton facility.

*****

Yesterday we speculated that the new RegionalCare hospital will be built on Locker land located off Hwy. 47 northeast of Florence. This large tract of land is actually owned by Mrs. John Locker Sr. There has also been speculation that former ECM CEO Joe Roach didn't wish to pay fair market value for this choice parcel. Perhaps RegionalCare will now be forced to offer a realistic price if they want construction to begin next year.

*****

Are you often perplexed concerning missing adults and police policy? Here's your chance to change existing laws:

Amanda Alert Petition

Shoalanda

Locker Property Site of New Hospital?

2011-12-16T02:01:00.000-06:00

Last September, Lauderdale County Commissioner Rhea Tays Fulmer (pictured) was quoted in the TimesDaily as stating the property under consideration for the new RegionalCare hospital was on Hwy. 47 just north of Cox Creek Parkway. A source close to Fulmer has now identified the property as part of a large tract owned by John Locker Jr. of St. Florian.

The tract has easy access from several directions and is centrally located in Lauderdale County. Will this be the site of our new hospital? We await RegionalCare's decision.

Related article in the Quad-Cities Daily: Link

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Shane Marshall Rea, the Phil Campbell resident shot late Tuesday night while participating in an assault in Muscle Shoals, has several previous arrests for drug possession. While living in Spruce Pine in 2010, Rea was arrested for the possession and manufacture of a controlled substance. The wife of Rea's victim credits Muscle Shoals Officer Jeremy Behel with saving her husband's life. Kudos to Officer Behel.

*****

The race for Probate Judge in Lauderdale County is officially on. The two announced candidates are already experienced campaigners:

James Edwards Hall II

William Smith

Shoalanda

Special Report: Death on Dearborn Avenue

2011-12-15T14:45:00.000-06:00

Sources with the Muscle Shoals Police Department have identified the man who died early this morning as Shane Marshall Ray, 38, of Franklin County. Ray died from wounds he received after refusing to halt his attack on an unnamed male at a Dearborn Avenue townhouse. Sources have also identified the officer involved in the shooting as Patrol Officer Jeremy Behel (pictured). The condition of Ray's victim is listed as stable.

Which calls do officers dread most? We're told the most dangerous are domestic disputes, where anger runs rampant and escalation is common. Officer Behel saved the life of Ray's stabbing victim. We understand that ABI investigations into such shootings are standard, but we're in favor of giving Officer Behel top marks for quick thinking in this case.

The Staff at Shoalanda Speaks

Second Suit Filed Against Russellville

2011-12-15T02:01:00.000-06:00

Salah Salah, owner of TNS Mini-Mart on Hwy 43 in Russellville, has officially filed suit against the city. This is the second lawsuit brought against the Franklin County seat this year. Five former female inmates of the town's jail also have a pending suit against the city, Russellville Police Department, Chief Chris Hargett, and Sgt. Jeremy Hall, alleging sexual abuse while incarcerated.

Should Salah be granted a city license to sell beer and wine? Here are opinions from readers and others across the state:

* The Russellville City Council obviously respects Islam more than Salah Salah, he should thank them for helping him be faithful to his religion.

* I love the way people throw around the race card when it fits their agenda. It's also comforting to know that only Caucasians can be racists, as made evident by the fact that minorities consistently get a pass on uttering hateful racial epithets directed toward Caucasians. I'd like to see the liberal explanation for this phenomenon.

* ...I'm a minority too...a tax paying, hard working WASP...wonder how many of the "entitled" I actually support...

* Its ok with me if Muslims drink beer. Mormons too for that matter. But they can get it at the Wavaho like the rest of us. They don't need special privileges like the Mexicans.

* There are 17 dry counties (at one time) in Alabama. The state is the ONLY supplier of spirits at the wholesale level. The whole system is hypocritical.

* I thought Muslims didn't drink. Are they allowed to sell what the Koran forbids?

* Again the perfidies of the Muslim "so-called" religion: It is supposed to be against their "religion" to be around alcoholic beverages. This man needs to get a reality check. His business is next to a church and he wants to sell beer? That is an obviously directed insult to Christians and needs to be slapped down. Treat this guy how we would be treated if we "disrespected" his religion in his country.

* Russellville did not have this problem when they were dry. The bootleggers handled it all, some even delivered.

* Vietnamese is not a race; the "race" would be Mongoloid and the people are considered Asian. Hispanic is not a race at all but is an ethnic group made up of people from varying races or a blend of more than one. A Muslim is a person who follows Islam religion and has nothing to do with "race". Muslims are made up of people from every race on Earth and various blends of the different races.

* I wish folks would use a dictionary and discover the actual definition of "racism". It doesn't include culture, religion, or geography.

Related posts: Jeremy Hall

*****

Is there any humor in Russellville's current legal difficulties? From our friends at The Connection: Salah Salah

*****

Breaking News from ECM? We earlier announced that RegionalCare would host a press conference this afternoon. We understand our friends from The Quad-Cities Daily will be there and will have a report either later today or early tomorrow. Don't miss it.

*****

Reminder about comments: We are unable to edit comments. Any article comments containing profanity, vulgarity, or libelous statements will not be published. If you've sent us a comment that has not made it to our blog, we suggest you rewrite it and send it again. Thanks.

Shoalanda

Laurel Pruett's Path to Murder/The Envy Band

2011-12-14T02:01:00.000-06:00

The following is an update on Laurel Pruett, accused accomplice in the murder of Amanda Taylor:

It's not surprising that Laurel Ann Stocker didn't have an easy childhood. Her father left the family when she was 18 months old. After announcing he was gay, Stocker never saw Laurel or her younger sister again. Her mother Barbara, bi-polar and left alone with two young daughters, worked as a nurse at the Limestone Correctional Facility until she became disabled. She died three years ago.

At 15, Laurel became pregnant with her first child. Her boyfriend was several years older and heavily into drugs. He disappeared before his son was born, a son that has Asperger's Syndrome and now lives in a foster home in Decatur. Laurel then married Ross Pruett and became a mother again, this time giving birth to a daughter. After the divorce, her mentally challenged daughter went to live with Laurel's ex-father-in-law. Once again Laurel Ann Stocker Pruett was alone.

Laurel's online profiles state that she has some college credit, but don't specify a school. After moving to the Shoals, she worked at a Chevron in Muscle Shoals. She also met Ronald Weems, whom she thought was "Preppy." A week after they met, he surprised her by dying his hair blue. Apparently this didn't bother Laurel who went on to live with Ron and have his daughter. She considered them married, but Ron demanded the relationship be open...at least as far as other women were concerned.

Ron, who had no steady employment, lived with his mother. Friends say he loved his children from his marriage to Brandy Leeth and was eager to have custody of the two when his ex-wife was no longer able to care for them properly. Therein lay a problem for Laurel; DHR refused to grant Ron custody as long as she lived with him.

Laurel, who was heterosexual, devised a plan to announce her "marriage" to a female friend in Sheffield. Now she lived sporadically with Ron, but also with her faux wife and her two children. We can assume it hurt Laurel to see Ron with his girlfriend du jour, especially someone like Ashley Greenhill who had lived even a more troubled life than Laurel.

Now Laurel claims she was not at Ron's house in Muscle Shoals when he murdered Brandy's sister Amanda Taylor. She has confessed to helping Ron cover his tracks in the crime, something a woman with Laurel's mindset wouldn't hesitate to do. We doubt she will be indicted for murder, but she still has several crimes to answer for. She won't have to worry about their young daughter--she's already in foster care.

We don't imagine that's how Laurel saw her future when she first met Ron. Apparently among Laurel's shortcomings in life was the ability to judge character. Now it has cost her everything.

*****

The Envy Band

Looking for a band for all your holiday parties? Look no farther. The Envy Band is composed of:

Mark Anthony Terry - Front Man/Guitar
Jeremy Sparks - Bass
Jeremy Young - Drums
Lee Gilstrap - Piano

Give them a call at 205-412-5814 Cell/253-383-4896 Home

Envy Band Page

Shoalanda

What Was Matthew Fox's Involvement in Amanda Taylor's Death?

2011-12-13T02:01:00.000-06:00

Matthew Fox

No matter what we may think of those involved in Amanda Taylor's death, they are not all equally guilty. The following is from Luke Stanfield, a close friend of Matt Fox:

He was at my house when the murder took place. we got the text from Ashley at my house asking how to dispose of a body. we didn't believe her and laughed it off and told her what we had seen in movies and on csi and criminal minds. once we knew it was real we told them to call the cops. he left my house later that night around 1am-2am. where he went after that i don't know. but i do know he wasn't there to kill or dismember her. if we had known it was real to start with we wouldn't have even said anything to her about how to "dispose" of the body. She told fox that, at the time, her unnamed roommate had been attacked and killed her in self defense.

I now know that fox went over there after he left my house. but he was lied to about the situation. I guess he didn't know what to do because a man he didn't know just killed someone and had cut her up when he got there so out of fear for his on life he said nothing and did nothing. I can see why he would fear for his life after seeing some guy you don't know killed some one he knew, what would keep him from killing a complete stranger.

We have no reason to believe that this is not true; however, Fox remained silent for over five weeks. He will have to answer the charges for that.

*****

From D.K.:

The Times Daily wrote this morning in the Amanda Taylor case the 3 defendants would have their first court date some time today. I drove over to Colbert Co. to find out that it happened Friday.

If there is going to many (at the trial) have a system to make sure first Family and then close friends have a reserved area for them so not to be left out in the halls, of course I guess then the defendants would have to have a place or room for them, not that very many at all will be there for their support.

It very well may happen in this case, with all reports and news of this, I can see a possible motion to ask for a Move, and it just may be granted with this one, more so with the one (Weems) charged for Murder.

D.K. is always more than willing to help any family that has lost a loved one to crime and violence. Often families are not ready for his help, but we hope they know he will be there for them when they are.

*****

The attempted murder trial of Jon Thomas Wallis begins today in Lauderdale County. Wallis, currently serving a sentence for drug trafficking, will be tried for the attack on his wife. Jurors were selected yesterday, and testimony will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Wallis is currently serving his time in the Lauderdale County Jail, with a release date of April 29, 2014. Assuming (and hoping for) a conviction in this case, he should be transferred to a state facility within 30 days.

*****

From Alaina Burgess of the UNA Paralegal program:

The University of North Alabama is sponsoring a General Law CLE on December 16, 2011, on the campus of the University of North Alabama. The CLE is approved by the Alabama State Bar, and will contain 6 credit hours, with 1 hour of Ethics. Special Guest Instructors include Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Judges Terri Thomas and Terry Moore; and Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Samuel Welch, Judge Liles Burke and Judge J. Michael Joiner.

The cost is only $99 and lunch is provided!

We hope to see you there!

Shoalanda

The Last Ten Minutes of Amanda Taylor's Life

2011-12-12T02:01:00.000-06:00

Ron Weems, aka Ron Wikkid, aka Stark Raven

Ronald Eugene Weems has admitted to strangling Amanda Leeth Taylor, using a nylon strap. Such deaths are called ligature strangulation and usually require a great amount of physical strength to commit. Victims are often those who can't fight back due to their size or physical condition, e.g., women, children, handicapped, or elderly. Weems had scratch marks on his arms, so we know Amanda fought back--at least at first.

Nylon Strapping

In order to commit ligature strangulation, Weems would have to overpower Amanda, then quickly tighten the nylon ligature. A healthy woman, Amanda may have been able to breathe for as long as one minute. It would then take as much as five minutes for her to die due to oxygen deprivation.

In all, it may have taken Ronald Weems seven to 10 minutes to subdue and kill Amanda. This was no crime in which a gun was hastily picked up and fired. Ronald Eugene Weems, aka Ron Wikkid, acted deliberately and forcefully to take Amanda Taylor's life. He did so in the basement of his Moss Avenue home with his mother and small child sitting upstairs, oblivious to the ongoing violence beneath them.

Amanda Leeth Bailey Taylor

This is how Amanda Taylor's life ended. If this isn't Capital murder, we don't know what would constitute the crime. Weems and two others charged in the death will appear before a Colbert County judge sometime today, a judge who will appoint Weems an attorney. We don't envy any lawyer charged with defending Juggalo Ronald Weems.

ICP Tattoo Weems Acquired around November 24th
Five Weeks after Murdering Amanda Taylor

*****

Ashley Fawn Greenhill, aka Ash Lette
Pictured at 2008 Arrest for Felony Torture of her Child

Several have asked why Ashley Greenhill, aka Ash Lette, was not arrested as an accessory after the fact, especially since both Laurel Pruett and Matthew Fox were. For whatever reason, aspiring model Greenhill had become concerned that Amanda's body would be found, or that someone, possibly Fox, would go to the police. She decided to cut a deal with the authorities, stressing that she had heard about the killing only accidentally. Our sources say the three defendants will dispute Greenhill's version of the events, but it remains to be seen if she will be charged.

We have to ask how the participants in this mangy menage found each other. We know Laurel Pruett was so desperately in love with Ron Weems that she wouldn't let him go, even knowing the worst. Was Matt Fox similarly enthralled by Ashley Greenhill? If any of these cases comes to trial, it will obviously be standing room only.

Thought for the day: Have you ever viewed a movie that was so bad, not only did you not care what happened to any of the characters, you actually hoped something bad would?

Shoalanda

Ash Lette: Turned in Ronald Weems for Murder of Amanda Taylor

2011-12-11T03:00:00.000-06:00

Ash Lette, aka Ashley Greenhill, lived with Ronald Weems and his mother in their Muscle Shoals home on Moss Avenue. According to sources with the Muscle Shoals Police Department, the Brooks High graduate provided the tip that led searchers to the area off Gnat Pond Road where the body of Amanda Leeth Taylor lay partially hidden.

Greenhill, a hair dresser, has yet to be charged in the crime, but authorities are not ruling out more arrests. Other sources outside the police department have stated Ashley Greenhill, sometime girlfriend of Ron Weems, is the link between Weems and Matthew Fox who has also been arrested in the heinous killing.

*****

We will have more on both Matthew Fox and Laurel Pruett later in the week, but the owners of Arx Mortis have asked us to relay that Fox was not working at the Killen Halloween attraction on the night of October 17th. The day of Amanda's murder fell on Monday, a day the popular attraction was closed.

However, it would seem Fox has another alibi that may be even stronger. Was he lured to the crime scene by Ash Lette? A reliable witness has said that he was.

*****

From Carla Andrasik, widow of David Andrasik:

God's amazing us as always :) a friend/graduating classmate of David's from his school in Florida came today to place decorations on his grave and she works for a Books-A-Million, they sent two HUGE bagfulls of toys, gifts for David's children. The look on our children's faces was priceless. What a precious outpour of love! Wanted to share this great goodness of God working thru others...

The case against two men accused of killing David will go before the January Franklin County grand jury. Pray that justice will be served.

Shoalanda

Mystery Man Matthew Fox is "Fox Fudoshin"

2011-12-10T02:01:00.000-06:00

"Fox Fudoshin"

"Fudoshin" is a Japanese word meaning immovable heart. It's also a type of jujitsu. Apparently Matthew Fox was so taken with the word that he used it as his professional name. Formerly a bouncer at the defunct Seven Points Sound music venue, the UNA student was working for Arx Mortis in October, more specifically on the night of October 17th, the alleged night of Amanda Taylor's murder.

While Fox and Laurel Pruett have been charged with murder along with Ronald Weems, they would appear to be accessories after the fact. No matter where Matthew Fox was at the time of the murder, he helped dispose of the body. Our sources say both Fox and Pruett can expect a sentence of 10 to 15 years for their parts in this heinous crime.

We will have an update on Laurel Pruett tomorrow.

*****

Big doings at ECM? We understand that RegionalCare will hold a press conference at 3:00 p.m. Thursday. Will they be announcing the new location of a regional hospital? A new CEO? The purchase of their media yes-man, the TimesDaily? Stay tuned...

*****

Don't forget the candlelight vigil in memory of Amanda Taylor tonight at 7:00 on the Colbert County Courthouse lawn. We would appreciate any photos our readers might send.

Shoalanda

Special Report: Candlelight Vigil for Amanda Taylor

2011-12-09T09:30:00.000-06:00

The candlelight vigil for Amanda Leeth Taylor will be tomorrow night at 7:00 pm on the Colbert County courthouse lawn!!! This is to show our love and support for this family. And for JUSTICE for Amanda!!!! If you have any questions you may contact me, Tiffany Mitchell, at 256-668-1530 or my mother Lisa Steele Murr at 256-436-5027!!!

We have already had a few news outlets calling to say they WOULD be there to cover this!!! Thank the Lord, they didn't cover her missing so I think this is the least they can do!!!! I appreciate all the prayer and would appreciate if everyone would repost this. Let's get the word out!!! And send a message tomorrow night that this act of violence will not go unpunished and will not be tolerated in our community!!!!

Lisa Steele Murr and Billy Leeth

The Killers Three: Ronald Weems, Laurel Pruett, & Matthew Fox

2011-12-09T02:01:00.000-06:00

Ronald Eugene Weems, 33, aka Ron Wikked, is a self-professed Juggalo, or follower of Hip Hop group Insane Clown Posse. The Muscle Shoals resident lived with his mother, 61 year-old Laquania Delores Welch Weems at 609 Moss Avenue in Muscle Shoals where the murder of Amanda Leeth Bailey Taylor took place. Also living in the run down home was Weems' latest girl friend, who sources say tipped off the police to the location of 32 year-old Taylor's dismembered body. Weems was often seen in costume complete with sword.

*****

Laurel Ann Pruett, 35, aka Chubby-Lette, a former girlfriend of Weems, lived in Sheffield with her "wife." Pruett, who had a child with Weems, has alternately described herself as straight and bi-sexual. She lived on Robertson Boulevard in Sheffield with her "wife." A member of the OkCupid dating site, she revealed in her profile last visited November 30th:

I'm a mommy, and I'm a juggalette. I'm bipolar, and alot of different things. I like things around me to be neat and orderly, but I let that slip alot. I'm pretty laid back, although time makes me bolder to speak out. I play D&D, old school style. I can play some Guitar Hero. I love Luna Online. I'm a girlie girl, but I'm not afraid to get dirty. I like to play outdoors, but I don't like hikes, long walks on the beach, or hunting. ~ I have a platonic wife. She's a major part of my life. ~ I'm best friends with my ex (my babydaddy, as it were lol). He'll always be a part of my life since we have a wonderful child together, and we parent her together. ~ I'm not looking for a serious relationship, although I never know when I'll meet someone I like that much. ~ I don't like to be used, and I don't use others.

Things have changed so much in the past months. Right now I have joint custody of my daughter. My wife and her 2 children also live with me. I'm rebuilding who I am, sorting out what I like, meeting more people.

I'm not perfect.

*****

Matthew Richard Fox, 21, of Florence, is something of a mystery man in the mix. The son of Richard M. Fox and Miriam Gail Fox, he lived in the Beechwood Subdivision off Cox Creek Parkway. According to reports in the TimesDaily, it was Fox's idea to dismember Taylor's body.

Now all three have been charged with murder. Three children in Arkansas no longer have a mother and a little girl in Sheffield has both parents facing possible capital murder charges. We have to believe alcohol or other drugs played a large part in this murder. If not, this trio of thugs is not worthy of the cost of housing them the rest of their lives.

Shoalanda

Laurel Pruett & Ronald Weems: Persons of Interest in Amanda Taylor Disappearance

2011-12-08T02:01:00.000-06:00

Laurel (ChubbyLette) Pruett

Ronald E. (Ron Wikked) Weems

Ronald Weems and Laurel Pruett have both been taken into custody relating to the October 17th disappearance of Amanda Leeth Bailey Taylor. They considered themselves the perfect couple; did they think they had committed the perfect crime?

Weems, who often goes by the name Ron Wikked, had been married to Amanda's sister Brandy and was the father of her two children. Pruett, a native of Huntsville, had also been married and was the mother to three children when she met Ron, whom she called her soul mate. Together they had a child, but soon found it impossible to live together. They separated in October at approximately the same time Amanda Taylor went missing.

When taken into police custody Tuesday, Weems, 33, had already moved another woman into his mother's home on Moss Avenue in Muscle Shoals. Pruett, 35, was living in Sheffield. Neither has been officially arrested, and Amanda's family is still waiting for answers.

Sources with the Muscle Shoals Police Department have a possible motive for whatever may have happened to Amanda, but they have asked us not to release this information until formal arrests are made. In the mean time, Amanda is still missing and her family is still in a state of limbo.

Are these outcasts of society capable of murder? On Laurel Pruett's Facebook page she lists her favorite quote:

"Swing our hatchets if we must
Each and every one of us"

Shoalanda

Second Person of Interest in Amanda Taylor Disappearance

2011-12-07T02:01:00.000-06:00

Sources with Muscle Shoals Police last night reported a second unidentified person was taken into custody in connection with the disappearance of Amanda Leeth Bailey Taylor. Taylor, missing for six weeks, was last seen at 609 Moss Avenue in Muscle Shoals. Ronald E. Weems, Taylor's former brother-in-law lived at the residence with his 61 year-old mother Laquania Delores Welch Weems (pictured). Ronald E. Weems, taken into custody early Tuesday, is the ex-husband of Brandy Leeth.

Taylor's three children now live in Arkansas with her first husband Andy Bailey. Daughters Ashton, 14, and Autumn, 11, and son Alex, 7, have not heard from their mother since her disappearance and are extremely eager for any information. If anyone can shed light on her whereabouts, they're encouraged to call Muscle Shoals Police at 256-383-6746.

*****

Dirrty Apple Productions does it again--this time in print. If you're looking for the perfect gift for the Franklin Countian or just a local historian, this is it. From Amazon:

Franklin County is a land deeply rooted in myth passed down from generation to generation, with tales told that stretch the limits of both feasibility and imagination. Never before has a book attempted to compile these accounts. You'll have to wait a bit longer if you're looking for that complete compendium, but this book attempts to sketch out some of the most colorful told in this backwoods area of small town Alabama.

This book is currently available only on Kindle, but what better way to insure arrival by Christmas?! Link

Shoalanda

Does "Castle Doctrine" Apply to David Andrasik Killing?

2011-12-06T02:01:00.000-06:00

David Andrasik & Daughter

Are you familiar with Alabama's "Castle Doctrine?" Unless you're one of our legal eagle friends, you may not have heard of this law that officially went into effect in April 2006. According to a news source at the time:

The “Castle Doctrine” bill removes the “duty to retreat” if an individual is attacked in his or her home, vehicle, place of business or any other place he or she has a legal right to be. This legislation also states that victims may use necessary force to defend themselves against the attacker.

Does this law apply to the killing of David Martin Andrasik, a 42 year-old father of three? Andrasik was shot in the Red Bay yard of Hershel D. Graham in early November. How was Graham, supposedly in his home and able to call police, attacked by Andrasik while David spoke with Graham's son Elijah outside? Why would a gun be considered necessary force since Andrasik was unarmed and outnumbered on the Graham property?

These are questions that will be presented to a Franklin County grand jury next month. Others have questioned how Hershel Graham, commonly known to have mental problems, was legally able to own a handgun. We have no answer to that, but not all mental illnesses result in commitments, and not all commitments are public record. Those who demand less restrictive gun laws need to address these issues.

Justice for David Martin Andrasik

*****

Joe Rhoden, in a letter to the TimesDaily, has questioned the existence of a contract requiring RegionalCare to build the new hospital in Lauderdale County. He suggests the contract should be made public. While we have not seen the contract, it would be logical to assume a copy of the contract is on file with both the Florence City Council and the Lauderdale County Commission. We feel sure either entity would be happy to produce the contract for him personally. Not everything is a conspiracy, Mr. Rhoden.

*****

According to Amanda Leeth Taylor's father Billy Leeth, he, his son, and one daughter have been asked to provide DNA samples for testing against remains that were found this weekend on Gnat Pond Road in Leighton.

Amanda has been missing for six weeks, with little publicity to help with the search. Amanda's family is hoping the results of the testing will rule out Amanda, but they will still be no closer to finding the 32 year old.

For further updates you may visit:

Our Daugher Amanda Taylor is Missing

Shoalanda

Why So Little Coverage of Amanda Taylor's Disappearance?

2011-12-05T02:01:00.000-06:00

Amanda Taylor & Two Daughters

Amanda Leeth Taylor has not been seen since October 17th. For the past 48 days Amanda's father Billy Leeth has been desperately seeking information about his daughter, the mother of three young children. At the time of her disappearance, Amanda was working as a waitress at Jody's Restaurant.

During the last six weeks, Mr. Leeth has been disappointed in the lack of news coverage concerning the case. Now, Muscle Shoals police have contacted Leeth about human remains recently found on Gnat Pond Road in Leighton, but it may be days before an identification of the body can be made. In the interim, Leeth is still seeking any information the public can provide. If anyone has information for Mr. Leeth, they may call him directly or contact the Muscle Shoals Police Department.

Besides her father and three children, Amanda has a stepmother, two sisters, one brother, and one step-brother who are also affected by this disappearance. Any information, no matter how small, will be welcome.

Billy Leeth - 256-412-8925

Muscle Shoals Police - 256-383-6746

*****

We're sure most of our readers remember the Neil Whitesell mansion nearing completion in Naples, Florida. From Saturday's Naples News:

Some of Collier County's biggest homes have been built in the past four years. The biggest – at 32,000 square feet – is at 779 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., just south of the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. It's owned by Neil Whitesell, a successful corporate CEO. The city issued a permit in 2007 valued at $10 million, but local Realtors put the value at closer to $40 million once complete.

Related post: The Neil Whitesell House

*****

We've had several inquiries concerning Good Samaritan Hospice owner Randy Gist. The former Muscle Shoals police officer turned private businessman is scheduled to be sentenced in U.S. District Court this month. Such sentencing is usually announced via a press release the afternoon of the court appearance. We'll have an update on this as soon as the information is made public.

Related post: Randy Gist Guilty

Shoalanda

Special Report: Amanda Taylor's Body Found?

2011-12-04T12:00:00.000-06:00

Amanda Taylor of Muscle Shoals has been missing for approximately six weeks. From her father:

Amanda Taylor was last seen at a residence on Moss Avenue in Muscle Shoals Alabama on Oct 17th 2011 under very suspicious circumstances. She did not return home that night nor did she report to work the next day. A missing person report was made on the 19th of October 2011.

She had no drivers license, no SS card or any ID of any kind, no purse or money, and no car. Only thing she had was the clothes she had on. She has not been seen nor heard from by ANY of her family or friends since that day. We are very worried about her and her safety. There are some who have been asked to take polygraphs, but have declined citing the unreliability of such tests and the room for human error as the reasons.

Police are vigorously investigating this case and are investigating as though she has suffered bodily harm and are following EVERY lead that is given to them. If ANYONE has ANY information concerning Amanda's disappearance please contact Muscle Shoals Police (Det Lanny Cowan or Det Graig Rickman) @ 256-383-6746 or myself Billy Leeth @ 256-412-8925. This investigation IS NOT GOING AWAY as some folks might like it to. I will continue to try to find our daughter until she is located or those responsible for or associated with her disappearance is caught.

I ask for your prayers for Amanda and her family. She has three children all under 14 yrs of age, two sisters, one brother and a stepbrother, father and a stepmother. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Now a body has been found near a known hotbed of drug activity in Leighton. If anyone knows anything about Amanda, please call Muscle Shoals Police at 256-383-6746.

Shoalanda

"Ignorant Shoals"/Quad-Cities Daily

2011-12-04T09:00:00.000-06:00

Are you ignorant? We're all ignorant of some things, usually many things--that does not mean we're lacking in intelligence; it simply means we're uninformed on a certain subject. Yet the word is fraught with negative connotations. UNA activist Amanda Hernandez has called those who support Alabama HB56 ignorant. She's quoted in the Quad-Cities Daily as saying: This law really does play off the ignorance of the people here.

The entire law is long and, yes, steeped in legalese. Here from Wiki is a synopsis that is easily understandable:

The Alabama law requires that if police have "reasonable suspicion" that a person is an immigrant unlawfully present in the United States, in the midst of any legal stop, detention or arrest, to make a similarly reasonable attempt to determine that person's legal status. An exemption is provided if such action would hinder an official investigation of some kind.

The law prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving any public benefits at either the state or local level. It bars illegal immigrants from attending publicly-owned colleges or universities [currently blocked]. At the high, middle, and elementary public school levels, the law requires that school officials ascertain whether students are illegal immigrants. Attendance is not prohibited for such students; school districts are mandated to submit annual tallies on the suspected number of illegal immigrants when making report to state education officials.

The law prohibits the transporting or harboring of illegal immigrants [currently blocked]. It prohibits landlords from renting property to illegal immigrants. It forbids employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants for any job within Alabama. Moreover, it considers as a discriminatory practice any action to refuse to employ or remove a legal resident of the state when an illegal one is already employed [currently blocked]. The law requires large and small businesses to validate the immigration status of employees using the US E-Verify program. The law prohibits illegal immigrants from applying for work [currently blocked].

The production of false identification documents is considered a crime. Contracts formed in which one party is an illegal immigrant and the other has direct knowledge of that are deemed null and void. The law also requires voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering.

Now, Mrs. Hernandez, none who have read this is ignorant of the law any longer. Please take your foot out of your mouth and realize most informed Alabamians will still support the law as a means to steep the flow of our tax dollars to non-citizens.

*****

For those who question the cost of enforcing HB56, we think you'll find the initial cost will be more than justified by the amount of tax dollars saved after just a few years. Alabama has been paying out countless tax dollars (yours and mine) to illegals via DHR and the Department of Health. That's not counting the losses suffered by motorists involved in accidents with these non-documented intruders or the costs to law enforcement in having to deal with the large percentage who commit crimes.

Related post: Shoals Most Wanted

*****

Some weeks ago, we became aware of a new Shoals news site, the The Quad-Cities Daily. Since is was still a work in progress, we were asked not to mention it until January 1st; however, it has now been quoted on Facebook, as well as linked, so we want to go ahead and give it a plug. We hope everyone will visit the site regularly. Like The Connection, it offers a great alternative to the print medium (read: TimesDaily).

The Quad-Cities Daily

Shoalanda

Dwayne Charles Holcombe Owes How Much?

2011-12-03T02:01:00.000-06:00

Dwayne Charles Holcombe turned 50 while under indictment for mail fraud. Now he's been sentenced and will serve approximately the next 29 months in Federal prison. There is no parole in the Federal system, but inmates are usually released a few months early due to good time credit and possibly a transfer to a half-way house. At this point Holcombe's family can hope for less than two years.

Holcombe was convicted of defrauding Farmers and Merchants Bank of Waterloo of 1.406 million during a period of five years and six months culminating with his dismissal in August 2010. Federal courts on Thursday also sentenced Holcombe to repay 1.3 million in restitution, leaving a balance of 106K...but wait; Holcombe is also being required to pay an additional 1.3 million to the Federal government.

Since Holcombe did not benefit from the loan fraud, 2.6 million seems like quite a bit of pocket change for Holcombe to come up with, especially since his employment prospects upon release look limited. As for the 106K the Waterloo bank is out? We doubt it would be covered by any kind of insurance. We also have to ask why this fraud went unnoticed for over five years? Perhaps there is, as some of our readers have suggested, more to this story?

Related post: Dwayne Charles Holcombe

*****

It seems like Salah Salah is looking forward to being arrested Monday in Russellville. We have to wonder if he actually thinks a jury would look favorably on his unlawful sale of alcohol or if his attorney Billy Underwood is just attempting to pad his own billfold. Speaking of attorneys, we have to ask why a Franklin County lawyer wouldn't take Salah's case?

The main building of the South Side Southern Baptist Church was finished in September 1964, predating Salah's TNT mini-mart by some years. If the case should come to court, we understand this could be a major point in favor of the Russellville Town Council acting on the church's opposition to the sale of beer and wine in close proximity to South Side's playground.

Related post: Hispanic Is Not a Race

Shoalanda

Strengthening Ties? What Were You Thinking?

2011-12-02T02:01:00.000-06:00

Florida Native/UNA Student Amanda Hernandez

Let's see...we want to strengthen ties between Shoals bloggers and the rest of the community; how should we go about it? Hmmm...how about a demonstration where we sing We Shall Overcome and chant anti-Shoals slogans. Yep, that should do it. Mrs. Hernandez, what were you thinking? How could anyone logically think non-citizens demonstrating against a state law would strengthen ties between Hispanic immigrants and Shoals citizens?

As for our friend Hank Sherrod, we admire you greatly (not to mention actually being able to spell your name correctly), but we would love to see you first attend to laws that adversely affect Alabama citizens before you start advocating for non-citizens. Perhaps the ACLU could work to remedy damage accomplished by former Attorney General Troy King who added as many as 11 crimes to the basic list of felonies composing moral turpitude. We hope none of our reading audience is ever arrested for jaywalking in this state--who knows whether it's now on the list or not.

Arguing for the rights of illegal immigrants while Alabama citizens are wrongly denied the vote or any other basic civil right is incomprehensible. Think about it; look at those who do so; then think about it again.

*****

Our friend O.B. left the following comment on one of our recent blogs, but we feel it deserves a second look:

It continues to amaze me that people, Americans, play the race card. Being an illegal immigrant isn't a race, it is a crime. One that our own federal government has seemed to forget. Move here, get legal and learn the language. My grandparents didn't have a problem doing that. They were proud to do it.

Related post: Hispanic Is Not a Race

Shoalanda

Immigration & Logic/Santa Returns to Cherokee

2011-12-01T02:01:00.000-06:00

Emotion versus logic...which one usually wins? All too often, emotion wins out, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by con artists through the ages. Let's take a closer look at the above cartoon...a cartoon found on the wall of Amanda Hernandez' Facebook page.

Depicted is a shirtless boy wearing overalls. Is that how Hernandez, a native of Florida, sees Alabama citizens? The three panel drawing appeals to the emotions, but is it logical? In panel one we see this unkempt youth telling a young black man to return to Africa. Did African Americans surreptitiously cross our borders in the middle of the night to immigrate here illegally? We think not.

Panel three depicts an indigenous American confronting the youth over his views. Yet when Europeans first arrived in America, there were no sovereign governments and therefore no illegal immigration. Many Indian tribes welcomed the white settlers, even selling them land. We can't deny that Indians were maltreated by many, but neither can we deny the other facts surrounding Western European immigration. There are few comparisons to the illegal onslaught Alabama and other Southeastern states face today.

We have no doubt that when UNA nursing student Amanda Hernandez speaks at the immigration rally in Florence today she will appeal to emotions. That's her right. It's also our right to look carefully at her words and the Hispanic Coalition's claims with logic and a sense of responsibility toward all Alabama citizens.

*****

Shoalanda

UNA Immigration March/Justice for David Andrasik

2011-11-30T02:01:00.000-06:00

Amanda Hernandez

No matter where our feelings may lie concerning the illegal immigration issue, the program following the scheduled Thursday march should be informative. We hope all who have time will also have the inclination to attend.

On December 1, 2011, the University of North Alabama’s Hispanic Culture Organization will be holding the March Toward Understanding. The goal of the event is to educate people on what the immigration bill is doing to not only the individuals targeted, but the community as well.

The event was created in opposition to the recent passing of Alabama’s immigration laws. Amanda Hernandez says the mission of the march is to “educate and inform people on the immigration laws and how the laws will negatively impact the community.” Hank Sherrod from the Alabama chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will be in attendance of the march. Speakers from the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act, Alabama Dreamer’s Organization and the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice will be attending as well.

Both those in opposition of and support of the bill are encouraged to attend since the overall goal of the march is to inform the community on both sides of the immigration law. The group has obtained a permit for the event on December 1. Originally, the march was to begin at McFarland Park but that has since been changed and will begin at Wilson Park instead. The march will still be concluding on UNA’s campus as the participants walk from Wilson Park to the amphitheater on campus.

*****

If you haven't previously, be sure to read the new comments concerning David Andrasik's death. They are located at the bottom of the November 27th blog. While David's murder is scheduled to be on the January Franklin County grand jury docket, there has been no firm date set as yet. We encourage you to join this site:

Justice for David Martin Andrasik

Shoalanda

How is the State of Alabama Spending YOUR Money?

2011-11-29T02:01:00.000-06:00

Getting value for money--it's something most of us have been taught from our youth. Yet it seems to be a concept with which those connected to Alabama government are unfamiliar. Our friend Mark Davis recently called our attention to an article in the Alabama Family Rights Association newsletter.

For 2008, the last year for which such data are available, an estimated minimum of 1.31 million individuals (children, parents, guardians) were affected by legal rulings established by Alabama family courts. During that year, DHR received over 143K in Federal funding to assist the state in complying with the Alabama Access and Parenting Program. Just what was accomplished? From state reports:

The Alabama Department of Human Resources show only 677 parents and 695 children were involved in the Alabama Access and Visitation Programs for FY 2008. Further, the government data shows only 217 divorced parents and 246 unmarried parents were served.

Out of these numbers the services provided accounted for only 165 mediation services, 7 Counseling services, 117 Parent Education, 250 Supervised Visitation, 37 Neutral Drop-off sites, and only 26 parenting plans developed.

The question asked and unanswered: Why are there 1,577,765 persons subject to child custody judgments in the state of Alabama and only 26 parenting plans implemented.

We hardly know which is worse--the lack of oversight in these programs or the number of families involved--families torn apart and in which children suffer...

*****

Anyone recognize any of these children from Patton Elementary School in Florence? This eBay listing is described as: Patton Elementary School, Florence, Alabama class picture. From the estate of Ann Huston Acker (Mrs. Guy Acker). Unknown date. This picture may be an old reprint. It is 5" x 7". I believe Mrs. Acker and her sister Miss Ellie Huston were teachers at this school. There is no writing on the back of the picture to identify the students or their teacher. Link

Shoalanda

Downside to New Shelter Policy?

2011-11-28T19:00:00.000-06:00

We recently blogged that Vinnie Grosso of the Florence-Lauderdale Animal Shelter was seeking input into how to improve adoption rates. Today The Connection announced that Grosso has done away with the drop boxes that many use to abandon animals, as well as to remand lost pets.

A friend has pointed out that many will now simply leave these animals at the shelter's door, to be killed by cars or, in some cases, larger animals. Which policy is better? We've heard many say that taking any animal to the shelter is almost a sure death sentence. Neither the drop box nor the absence of one is ideal.

If you haven't neutered your pets, why not? Don't get Junior or Sissy that puppy or kitten for Christmas unless you have the funds to care for it properly.

Shelter Closes Drop Box

*****

Want to help homeless animals this Christmas? Here's three great places to start:

Florence Shelter
(Food or Cash)
702 East College Street (Behind City Cemetery)
256-760-6431

Maisie's Fund
c/o Dr. Joe Cobb
(Food or Cash)
930 Hwy. 20 East
Tuscumbia
256-381-6210

PAWS of the Shoals
(Cash or Foster Home)
Web Site

*****

No matter your personal opinion of director Ken Russell, there's no denying his talent:

Shoalanda

One More Fatherless Home: Update on David Andrasik

2011-11-27T02:01:00.000-06:00

David Andrasik & Infant Daughter

We recently came upon the following statistics for our great state; they should be of interest to everyone:

Children from one Parent homes account for:

85% to 90% of contested Alabama Child custody cases physical custody of the Child goes to one Parent, typically the Mother. (Bureau of the U.S. Census; Taken in to Custody, at page 35, by Stephen Baskerville, PhD., March 2007.
63% of youth suicides. (Source: U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Bureau of the Census).
71% of pregnant teenagers. (Source: US Dept. of Health & Human Services).
90% of all homeless and runaway Children. (Source: US Dept. of Health & Human Services).
85% of all Children that exhibit behavioral disorders. (Source: Center for Disease Control).
80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger. (Source: Criminal Justice & Behavior, Vol. 14, p. 403-26).
71% of all high school dropouts. (Source: National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools).
75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers. (Source: Rainbows for all God`s Children).
85% of all youths sitting in prisons. (Source: Fulton Co. Georgia jail populations, Texas Dept. of Corrections).

2010 ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES (DHR) FACTS

The following information is located on the website of the Alabama Department of Human Resources.[1]

Alabama currently has the 4th highest divorce rate in the country.
Only about 50 percent of our Children will spend their entire Childhood in an intact family.
In 2000, 29 percent of Alabama’s families with minor Children were headed by a single Parent compared to the national average of 27 percent.
Divorce and non-marital childbearing have become commonplace and have dramatically altered Children’s lives.
Nationally, 40 percent of Children whose fathers live outside the home have no contact with them. (Does not include data regarding number of Fathers alienated by the Mother.)
The other 60 percent had contact an average of 69 days during the year. (This figure supports current Alabama legal practice for standardized visitation orders issued by Alabama judges for less than 80 days per year.)
Children from father-absent homes are five times more likely to live in poverty, three times more likely to fail in school, two to three times more likely to develop emotional and behavioral problems, and three times more likely to commit suicide.
The chief predictor of crime in a neighborhood is the percentage of homes without fathers.
Up to 70 percent of adolescents charged with murder are from fatherless homes. (Source: U.S. Dept. of Justice).
Up to 70 percent of long-term prison inmates grew up in fatherless homes. (Source: U.S. Dept. of Justice).

[1] http://dhr.alabama.gov/page.asp?pageid=408.

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This brings us to David Martin Andrasik, the 42 year-old Red Bay man shot to death in early November. We previously blogged that Mr. Andrasik was stepfather to two children as well as the father of an infant daughter not two weeks old. We've received word that David and Carla's middle child, also a daughter, was his biological child as well.

We will publish information on the next Franklin County grand jury as soon as it's available. In the mean time Hershel D. Graham remains free--yes, this man with known mental problems is ostensibly enjoying life while David's family undoubtedly suffered through the holiday weekend. Let's hope Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing can hit this one out of the ballpark.

Related post: David Andrasik

Shoalanda

Only in Alabama...

2011-11-26T14:45:00.000-06:00

Can we have three holidays in a row: Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Iron Bowl Day. We're pretty sure that the sequence is logical. If the Iron Bowl were to be played first, half the state would not be properly thankful, nor would they feel like spending their hard earned dollars on those who may have supported the opposing team.

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Christopher Blake Pyron, 22, of Florence has made not only national news, as reported, but international news, as he became unruly in the Florence Wal-Mart Thanksgiving night. Pyron, who was termed drunk by local police, was tased and arrested for Public Intoxication and Resisting Arrest. Great to have the Shoals in the news, isn't it?

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It's that time. May the best team win...

Shoalanda Speaks

Matthew Bassie is NOT a Coyote...

2011-11-25T02:01:00.000-06:00

Jerrod Cole, a 19 year-old Waterloo resident, is apparently no fan of coyotes. At approximately 5:30 p.m. on the night of November 8th, Cole shot trespassing bow-hunter Matthew Bassie, also 19. When questioned by Game Warden Johnny Johnson, Cole stated he mistook the 5' 10" neon orange hat-wearing Bassie for a coyote. Cole then shot Bassie with his 20 gauge shotgun, 13 of 34 pellets penetrating the trespasser's chest; however, Bassie remained relatively unscathed by the bird shot and was released from the hospital after treatment. Authorities have not reported if the two men knew each other previously..

While Matthew Bassie has been charged with misdemeanor trespassing on the Cole property at the intersection of County Roads 8 and 100, Jerrod Cole was arrested on November 22nd and charged with reckless endangerment, reckless assault, and hunting at night. The 2011 Wilson High School graduate currently attends Northwest Shoals Community College and is free on bond. Bassie is a graduate of Waterloo High School and attends the University of North Alabama. Apparently neither has taken classes in hunting safety.

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Comments: During the early days of our blog, we allowed uncensored comments. After several threats to reveal the name of a rape victim, we decided to discontinue the comment portion of our column. We regularly receive numerous comments on our Facebook page, but we realize not everyone is registered on that social networking site. Therefore, we are resuming comments today, all moderated in advance.

Absolutely no comments containing vulgarity, profanity, or similar language will be published. Neither will we publish libelous comments or remarks in which posters label others with unsavory names. Hint: Calling those who do not share your beliefs "stupid" or "stinking" is hardly intelligent debate and will not be tolerated.

That's it--have at it.

Shoalanda

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T12:00:00.000-06:00

Yes, today is the day that the Bald Eagle has competition for his place as the national bird. Yet, it should be more than that. We often hear the question, "What would happen if everything was taken from you today for which you had failed to give thanks yesterday?"

For most of us, it would be almost impossible to enumerate our many blessings and give individual thanks in prayer. So which things really matter? If we lost our gold bracelet, or our lucky gold eagle coin, or any number of things, would our lives change dramatically? No.

The things we should be most thankful for are our family and loved ones. These can be taken away almost instantly by a drunk driver, heart attack, or malicious false gossip by the village busybody. These are what we need to offer special thanks for today and everyday.

What if we no longer have even these? We suggest offering thanks for the time we had those loved ones with us...but if those you love are still with you, don't forget to tell them how much you care each day. It's a great day to start that tradition.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Shoalanda Speaks!

Memo to Troy Oliver: "Hispanic" Is Not A Race

2011-11-23T04:00:00.000-06:00

Once again, Russellville's mayor Troy Oliver has shown himself something less than a scholar. Defending the town's refusal to issue Yemen native Salah Salah a liquor license, Oliver stated: We’ve issued alcohol licenses to a Vietnamese and to two or three Hispanics.

While Oliver and Russellville elected officials may have issued liquor licenses to two or three Hispanics, it obviously had nothing to do with race. Here's some photos of well known Mexican Hispanics...

Jorge Ramos - TV Executive - 100% Spanish (Hidalgo)

Carlos Pietro - Native of Mexico City - Former Director of Huntsville Symphony

Guillermo Del Toro - Native of Guadalajaro - Producer of Pan's Labyrynth

Edelmiro Cavazos - Former Mayor of Santiago

Perhaps the word Mayor Oliver was looking for was "Indian?" Yes, these are the ones who come to Russellville--the poorest of the poor--and many not even Hispanic since they speak only their native Indian language. Of course Salah and his attorney Billy Underwood may still be able to argue the race card in this specific case since the mini-mart owner is Middle Eastern--something we understand even the local Hispanic Indians look down on.

Shoalanda

Is Graham Berry an Abuser?

2011-11-22T03:00:00.000-06:00

Graham Berry

Graham Berry is 19 years old and a test case. The University of West Alabama freshman is a 2010 graduate of Lauderdale County High School where he played varsity football. Now Lauderdale County investigators have charged Berry with domestic abuse, not because he physically attacked his ex-girlfriend, but because of the emotional trauma he inflicted when he disseminated photos of the young woman in a state of undress.

Will a Lauderdale County jury find Graham Berry guilty? Considering that Berry is also charged with the display of obscene material and criminal coercion, he may be in the mood to accept a plea--should one be offered. The latter two charges are felonies, so we may assume by now Mr. Berry has realized he's in some very hot water.

Among Graham Berry's favorite quotations on his Facebook page is "She broke my heart, so I broke her jaw." Perhaps under the circumstances Berry might consider deleting that one.

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Vinnie Grosso, head of Florence Animal Control, has asked for ideas concerning ways to improve adoption rates of shelter animals. That's a step in the right direction. Other areas have a much higher adoption rate than Florence and the Shoals. Perhaps we need to look into their methods. If you have ideas on this subject, please contact Mr. Grosso at 256-760-6676.

Shoalanda

Would You Do Business With An Atheist?

2011-11-21T12:00:00.000-06:00

No matter how you answered the question, the fact is you probably do business with atheists on a regular basis. They are much like everyone else in the area; they love their families, run fair businesses, and pretty much blend in with the community.

Why are we asking this question today? First, we took some flack because of our blog on Jeremy Lane Green, the Shoals Humanist who sought to abolish public prayer at Brooks High School functions. We felt our article on Mr. Green was fair. He had every legal ground to stand on. Our main concerns with Green were questions concerning why he chose Brooks High School specifically, rather than addressing the entire county, and his embellishment of his employment on his Facebook page. These were fair questions to ask of someone who had thrust himself into the public arena. There was absolutely no ad hominem attack in what was written, since we felt...and yes knew...he was legally correct in his protest. That does not change whether you or I or anyone else does not like the current interpretation of the law.

The second reason we're addressing this issue today is recent, and not so recent, gossip concerning atheists who do business in the Shoals. Not long ago a small local forum accused a local businessman of being a Satanist because he did not believe in God. We feel pretty sure that if this gentleman did not believe in God, he did not believe in Satan either. Such attacks say more about the instigator than the one being libeled.

Now, we hear a second local businessman is being dragged through the mud by someone who professes to be a Christian--albeit a Christian who is in the same line of business as the atheist. Isn't that some coincidence, folks? I suppose as Christians we should buy products or services only from other Christians no matter how inferior they may be?

We have no problem with anyone selecting friends, mates, business suppliers, or dog walkers on the basis of their religious preference or non-preference. It's when certain people use a person's religious beliefs to smear their work or ethics that we have a problem

We don't believe Jesus commanded us to shun anyone based on his or her lack of belief. In fact, we're pretty sure you won't convert anyone by behaving in this manner. Think about it...

Shoalanda

Jen's 10th Annual Thanksgiving Feast

2011-11-20T13:00:00.000-06:00

Once again, Jen's Cafe on South Pine Street in downtown Florence is offering a free Thanksgiving meal. You may contribute to Jen's efforts by reaching her here:

Jen's Cafe

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Various local races are heating up; we now have two declared candidates for mayor in Florence. License Commissioner Mickey Haddock has his Facebook page up, and Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton states his will be up shortly.

We posted a question on our Facebook page: Which mayoral candidate once used the words to John Lennon's anthem Imagine in a speech? Vote if you're so inclined, and we'll have the answer soon.

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To the left of our blog, we have a list of the ten most popular columns during the week. It's telling to note that for much of last week three of the ten featured teachers accused of sexual impropriety with their students: Kimberly Bynum, Keith McGuire, and Amanda Watkins. How sad those charged with the care of our young don't have the self-control to fulfill this charge.

Shoalanda

Bad Boys: Cockfighters Edition

2011-11-19T02:01:00.000-06:00

Why would you go to a cockfight? While I'm sure you, gentle readers, are saying you wouldn't, some people do. So...why do they go? After careful consideration we have arrived at the following conclusions:

1. To gamble on who wins.

2. To see two roosters with razors attached to their claws tear each other to shreds because they like the sight of blood, and violence gives them a thrill.

3. To sell concessions; you know, whatever the individuals who fall into the above two groups like--and it's probably not petit fours and fruit punch.

In other words, it's pretty safe to say that everyone attending these illegal events should be arrested, arraigned, tried, and...yes...found guilty. So, why are some caught in these circumstances at the community of Speaks not being made to face the consequences of their actions? Stating lack of evidence, Lawrence County Judge Angela Terry dismissed charges against the following:

* Loyd Leidon Brooks, 7451 Cullman County 1245, Cullman
* Jimmie Dumont Laney, 11466 U.S. 278, Cullman
* Richie Ray Kirby, 10346, Lawrence County 460, Moulton
* Matthew Thomas McDonald, 214 Hopewell Church Loop, Leighton
* Terry Elton McDonald, 160 Piney Woods Road, Russellville

How did those arrested at the August 7th raid defend themselves? From yesterday's TimesDaily:

Rusty Garnett, of Vinemont, said he and others received worse treatment from law enforcement than the alleged acts of cruelty against the animals. “We were laying in ant beds, and they said if we moved they’d Tase us.”

Well, Mr. Garnett, how dare they arrest you while laying? Didn't they know your family needed the eggs?

“People don’t realize this has been going on for hundreds of years,” said Tim McCroy, who wasn’t charged but was at the courthouse Wednesday in support of family. “It was handed down from the presidents.”

Presidents? Okay, that makes all the difference. One word of advice, ladies, if you see any of these men coming with a box of cigars, run...

Related post: Jason Dale Riddle

Shoalanda