Crystal Huddleston Wins Probation

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.

Related posts:

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...

Whitesell Vendor Strikes Back

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

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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.

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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...

Delete Doonsbury? Move Mallard Out?

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...

Related post: Who Embezzles & Why?

Shoalanda

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

Mac McAnally/Grand Jury Updates

Since we've been spotlighting local artists this week, Mac picked the perfect time to release his album. Obviously, with this Red Bay native's talent, any time is perfect. You can pre-order Mac's latest, Live in Muscle Shoals, on his website. The album will be released October 11th. Congratulations, Mac, on your many nominations and awards.

Mac McAnally Store

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The recent Franklin County grand jury docket didn't include Kimberly Bynum, the Vina teacher arrested last June for having sex with an under-age student. Authorities state Bynum will be on the next docket scheduled before the end of the year.

Related post: Kimberly Bynum

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The latest Colbert County grand jury did indict Crystal Sutton Huddleston on charges that she embezzled 65K from 911 funds. Huddleston is now a Scentsy representative.

Related post: Who Embezzles & Why?



Shoalanda

Who Embezzles & Why?

Crystal Sutton Huddleston was terminated as 911 office manager in November of last year when 40K was reported missing. She has has yet to be indicted on any charges. Since that time, several of her friends have e-mailed us concerning the charges against her. Is she an unlikely candidate for the such a crime? Statistics show those who embezzle are female, long-term employees, and those with no previous criminal record.

Friends have responded that Huddleston was not to blame for the missing funds, but placed the responsibility on others in the office; however, C.R. recently reported that funds were also missing from the Cherokee Rescue Squad where Huddleston acted as treasurer. Huddleston's husband and a local businessman have reportedly repaid the rescue squad.

Huddleston is a 1994 graduate of Cherokee High School and received an Associates Degree from Shoals Community College in 1997. Married and the mother of two sons, Huddleston has previously stated she helped her parents financially when they experienced reverses due to "government interference."

From Huddleston's blog entry three years ago:
I am tired of my family always making me out to be the "bad person". No matter what me or XXXXX have to say it is always taken out of context and turned into a big HUGE ordeal. I have decided that my main goal is to make sure that XXXXX, XXXXXX, and XXXXX are taken care of and happy, and the rest can fend for themselves. Don't get me wrong I love my family with all my heart, but they take a toll on me emotionally, and I just can not deal with it anymore.

There's certainly nothing wrong with wishing to provide for one's family, but we're sure the Colbert County taxpayers would prefer it's not with their money.

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Sometimes the oddest things brings people together. Check out this site:

Tide for Toomer's

Shoalanda

What to Give for Christmas? A Board Membership

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.

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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.

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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

Where's Trevor, Who's the Dead Angel, and Other Pressing Mysteries

We haven't seen TimesDaily cub reporter Trevor Stokes around in some time. A quick check of the TD archives shows that he hasn't had a byline in a little over two months. Stokes' last article, dated September 19th, came just three short weeks after he reported the current problems at the Barton rail car plant. Of course, we will not be so brazen as to suggest there may be a correlation there; we'll let our readers decide for themselves. After all, the TotallyDecatur wouldn't want to keep its Shoals readers in the dark concerning the state of the economy in our fair corner of the state, now would it?

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We regularly receive e-mails from those who claim to be psychic and have even published one or two. Some we receive are cryptic in nature, whether intentionally so or not. We have this week received information from a psychic concerning a local ghost, a ghost that's apparently not resting easy since the demise of his mortal shell a few years ago. Ordinarily we wouldn't publish this particular communication, but since it concerns our favorite haunt Sweetwater, we're eager to hear from any readers who can elucidate us on the subject.

You make fun of Sweetwater, but there's at least one ghost there, I know for certain. He called himself a vampire, the Dead Angel. His girlfriend was a dead countess, also a vampire. The Dead Angel carried a knife and threatened others, but some still loved him. One of those killed him. The Dead Angel doesn't think his murder has been avenged as yet. His killer is now free to roam the grounds at Sweetwater, firing his guns at random and pretending to be someone from the past. If you really want to see a ghost try calling up the Dead Angel.

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We've also heard from two readers who purport to have inside info on the payroll situation at the Colbert County 911 office; however, their report of corruption was vague and not nearly as entertaining as that concerning the Dead Angel.

Currently, Crystal Huddleston and a friend have opened Two Peas in a Pod, a monogramming business in Cherokee, and, if there is a real case against the former office manager, it has not yet gone to the grand jury. We understand The Connection will be having more reports on this and related problems in the very near future.


Shoalanda

Crystal Huddleston: Cherokee Rescue Squad Treasurer?

According to a social networking site, Crystal Sutton Huddleston was not only the office manager for Colbert County's 911 office, but currently serves as treasurer of the Cherokee Rescue Squad. According to her online bio, her hours at the 911 office were not strenuous; however, the Cherokee High School and Shoals Community College grad has been accused of writing herself unauthorized checks for overtime and sick pay. First Cherokee librarian Paige McWilliams (currently in work release) and now Crystal Huddleston--at this rate Mayor Chuck Lansdell won't have any employees left.

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As the war between RegionalCare (ECM/Shoals) and Helen Keller Hospital heats up, employee concerns have so far been overlooked in the press. Besides numerous reports of disgruntlement concerning RegionalCare employee insurance, we've received an interesting communication concerning the disposition of ECM retirement funds. From a reader:

Commissioner Fulmer should be concerned about the status of the Coffee Health Group pension for its former employees. They have not received a statement since Jan 2009 for 2008. Former employees cannot find out from Aetna or from HR of Regional Care (which did not take over the fund) where our money is and what has happened. Those in the know retired or resigned before May 31 and were able to roll their full amount into an annuity fund. Those retiring after only can get monthly payments at age 62 with 25 yrs service or at age 65. Employees were notified of the changes on June 23 effective June 1. Employees are being told the money is there. When MHA was sold those employees were allowed to roll their retirement into something else.

Indeed this does sound like a situation in need of investigation by the Lauderdale County Commission. We urge all concerned ECM/Shoals employees to contact the commission. Understandably RegionalCare may know nothing concerning the funds, but Aetna should be required to answer the commission's questions concerning the current status of these retirement accounts.

What's up with this: Two men were arrested yesterday attempting to break into Sweetwater Mansion while carrying a ladder. Well, no one ever said crooks have intelligence...or good taste.

Shoalanda