Perhaps we should have called today's blog: Where is the RSA when you need it? That venerable Alabama organization has saved the Renaissance Tower and is attempting to save the rail car plant in Barton (we're not holding our breath). Perhaps Dr. David Bronner's team could breathe new life into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia. Did we say "new life?" Perhaps we should strike out the word new, since the twenty year-old endeavor has never had any real life from the get-go.
Now, the HOF board has formed a foundation in order to drum up financial support for this white elephant. In the past we had felt such an organization would serve only one purpose--to get back at the Friends of the Hall of Fame over whom the HOF board had no control, but apparently this newly formed foundation will have a second, perhaps even greater purpose.
Yes, according to HOF board member Buel Springer in today's TimesDaily:
“We certainly would like to find additional board members who also would be donors,” Springer said.
So, there it is, in black and white; you can buy a place on this board. Just imagine if Bubba Leroy Smuckpucker II or Trixie LaTour the local strip club owner are the only ones to donate. Yes, the foundation is private, so it may appoint anyone it wishes. Just remember, it can also take those donations of yours and buy old 45s with which to don the rest room walls if that's what they choose. Ah, we here in Alabama do have an awesomely warped way of doing things.
*****
Cherokee Clarifications:
Yesterday's blog featured a poster advertising "Breakfast with Santa," an event being held by the Cherokee Lions Club. Beneath the ad, we offered a humorous poem inspired by the vision of ol' St. Nick actually visiting the small Colbert County town. The poem had absolutely no connection to the Cherokee Lions Club. The Lions Club is a worldwide organization that supports many charities, most notably organizations designed to assist the blind. We hope everyone in the Cherokee area will turn out Saturday at 9:00 a.m. to offer support to Santa and the Lions Club.
We have recently published some blogs featuring Crystal Sutton Huddleston, the former Colbert 911 office manager who has been dismissed over charges of theft. In one recent column, we stated that according to her Facebook page, Huddleston had become a partner in a local Cherokee business. According to the business's owner, Ms. Huddleston does work there, but is not a partner. Also, the business should not be considered that new, since it was begun 2008. We're happy to offer the correct information concerning Ms. Huddleson's relationship to this business.
*****
Work for the Coffee Health Group and have problems with the new insurance? Contact us. We've already had several employees email us with their concerns about this change in insurance coverage. Specifically, we would like to know how this change has affected you financially. We will, as always, publish these comments anonymously.
Shoalanda
We always knew there was a lot of bull in this area; now it's official. Ross Hill (pictured) is the 27 year-old current American Bull Fighting Champion. Hill also owns a farm in Muscle Shoals that produces prize bulls.
Props to Hill for his acumen; apparently these matches pay around 15K to the winner--and that's no bull.
*****
Are you buying this bull? This week the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board of Directors announced that it's seeking to establish an Alabama Music Hall of Fame Foundation for the purpose of raising funds for the HOF in Muscle Shoals. The establishment of such a foundation would seem prudent--except for the fact that there already exists such a group.
The Friends of the Alabama Hall of Fame has been in existence for several years and supposedly fills the function of fundraiser for the the HOF and related museum. Earlier this year, Hall of Fame Board Director Buel Springer questioned the role of the Friends group and its accounting practices. Since then we have learned that Colbert County accountant Tim Leigh is president of the Friends organization. Obviously, accounting is not the main issue the Hall of Fame Board has with the Friends organization.
Amazing how close the word duplication is to the word duplicitous.
*****
If the Lauderdale County Commission is about to split the duties of EMA/911 Director, why is it revamping George Grabryan's job description now? Don't they have more pressing wastes of time to attend to? Here's a link to the very woolly-bully meeting: Link
*****
Finally, we say bully to O.B.'s Corner in its memorial to Bill (Harvey) Allgood on his birthday.
Shoalanda
John Briggs is Chairman of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board of Directors. While he states in his official profile that he was born in Killen, Alabama, unless born at home, we can chalk this statement up to another blot on Brigg's veracity.
Briggs currently lives in the state of Tennessee, begging the question: Even if he should be the reincarnation of Elvis Presley, Jimmie Rodgers, or Ludwig von Beethoven, what is he doing on the board of an entity controlled by the State of Alabama?
As far as we can tell, Briggs doesn't have even the throw-a-way lake cabin located in some backwater of the state. Just in case we're not making it perfectly clear, he doesn't pay any taxes to the state in which he seeks to control certain elements. No wonder Sen. Bobby Denton sought to overhaul this board while he still had the chance.
Two days ago, the majority of the current Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board paid a visit to Montgomery in order to lobby against Denton's bill. As soon as they were successful in defeating the bill in the House, Chairman John Briggs fired Hall of Fame Director David Johnson via an e-mail.
Briggs wears many hats and holds many titles in the music world, among them, Vice President of ASCAP. Obviously a man of his position has better business smarts than to terminate someone by means of an e-mail. Oh, wait, that's just in case the person being fired could conceivably again rise up the ladder of success and be a friend worth having. Briggs apparently doesn't see Johnson as anyone who can ever assist him in his quest for money, power, or whatever this jaded musician may wish for his louche lifestyle.
We would suggest John Briggs learn some manners. Even if his mama didn't teach him right from wrong, we have it on good authority that it's never too late to learn.
*****
In related news, Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board member Buel Springer wants an audit of the group Friends of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Springer knows this is a private group over which he has no control. Springer also states the audit would cost 25K which the state does not have in its budget. So...why mention it in the first place? Sorry, Buel, that one didn't quite take any of the heat off the board for the manner in which it fired Executive Director David Johnson, but we'll give you a C minus for effort.
*****
C.A.S.A. Chili Cook-Off - Don't make any plans for lunch Saturday. CASA of Colbert County is having a fabulous chili cook-off in downtown Tuscumbia from 11:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Admission is only $5.00, and you can meet many of the candidates for Colbert County office, including CASA Director Tina Miller Parker, as well as local musicians Zac and Angela Hacker. We'll see you there.
Shoalanda
We make no secret that our political leanings are conservative; however, that does not mean we are wingnuts or support every candidate who claims the mantle of the Republican Party. One extremely controversial Republican is George Corley Wallace III, a man who styles himself politically as George Wallace Jr.
The Good: Wallace will be speaking to the Shoals Republican Club one week from today. Below is the blurb for the event:
George Wallace Jr. will be the guest speaker at the next Shoals Republican Club meeting on Wednesday, October 28th, 12:00 noon, at Ryan’s Family Steakhouse Restaurant on Cox Creek Parkway in Florence.
George C. Wallace Jr. was born in Eufaula, Alabama, in October 1951 and grew up in a well-known Alabama political family. He is the only son of Governor George Wallace and Governor Lurleen Burns Wallace. Wallace was elected Alabama State Treasurer in 1986 and 1990. After serving two successful terms as Treasurer, he was elected as Alabama Public Service Commissioner, Place 2, in 1998 and 2002.
As State Treasurer, Wallace established a program of cash management refinement procedures resulting in an increase of about $5 million of new revenue per year for Alabama's General Fund and proposed additional refinements in the Treasury's investment policy that continue to generate several million additional dollars for the General Fund. He developed the Linked Deposit Program, a low-interest loan program to assist farmers and small business owners. He initiated and implemented the Wallace Housing Plan, which helped young families buy their first home.
Moreover, Wallace developed the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program (PACT), a plan which allows parents, grandparents or other sponsors to make a one-time lump sum payment or periodic payments to guarantee the payment of a child's tuition and mandatory fees at today's fixed prices. Wallace obtained a bachelor's degree in History from Huntingdon College in 1976. He continued his education with graduate work in Political Science and Public Administration at Auburn University at Montgomery. He served both as Director of Financial Aid and Alumni Affairs, as well as Vice-President of Development and Alumni Affairs at Troy State University at Montgomery.
Wallace is the author of The Wallaces of Alabama. He has also received many awards, including the John H. Buchanan Distinguished Service Award for Contributions to Higher Education and the NAACP Freedom Award. The Shoals Republican Club meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month. All meetings of the Shoals Republican Club are open to the public. For more information, contact Buel Springer, 256-766-3461, or bspring@comcast.net.
Tomorrow: George Wallace III - The Bad
Shoalanda 
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
