Cassie Carol Medley: New Franklin CoC Director

W. Kevin Stone

The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously to hire Cassie Carol Lindsey Medley as its new director; she was chosen from among 18 applicants. Previously, Medley worked for Valley State Bank in Russellville at a branch managed by W. Kevin Stone. Coincidentally, Stone is on the board of directors of the Franklin County Chamber.

Stone isn't Medley's only tie to the chamber. Cassie Medley is also the owner of Dixie Catering, a business that is a chamber member. Not surprisingly, many of the 17 other applicants have been crying foul.

Medley has proclaimed her experience in the business world made her the ideal choice for the job, yet other applicants had similar backgrounds. In fact, many would have seemed to have much more impressive backgrounds. It's possible that in a town as small as Russellville, in a county with as sparse a population as Franklin, each of the remaining 17 could have had similar connections with board members and the board in general.

We expect to have a follow-up blog on the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and its new director in the not too distant future. Promoting Franklin County to the world is a huge job, and we wish Mrs. Medley good luck.

*****

Will the Alabama Music Hall of Fame reopen...ever? If we must venture an opinion, we'll speculate the answer is "no." We don't seem to be alone in that opinion. Here's a very insightful piece from Steve Wiggins of The Quad-Cities Daily:

Swan Song? Johnson Reflects

*****

Pictured above is a scapegoat...or is that David Johnson, former long-time director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame?



Shoalanda

It Pays How Much? Or Should We Say Little?

The Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board of Directors has officially started the process of selecting the HOF's new director. Board members state they want the best person for the job. Perhaps the question should be: Why would the best person for the job want the position?

We doubt that the HOF can offer a competitive salary; it should be interesting to see just how many applicants bail after they hear the actual figure the HOF committee presents to them. In the mean time, if bored to tears while avoiding the heat, you may wish to read one of the really first class biographies found on the HOF's website. What the HOF obviously has a desperate need for is a proof reader.

Here's a link to David Johnson's bio. Warning--we stopped counting errors at nine. This is not exactly the image the Shoals wants the Alabama Music Hall of Fame to project.

*****

Speaking of glaring mistakes, ArtWorks 2010 is presenting a show by local artists, among them Al Hausmann. Mr. Hausmann is a widely acclaimed talent, but obviously not a biblical scholar, as his work The 12 Disciples of Christ attests.

*****

It seems some are already planning for the 2012 elections in Cherokee. Shelby Waddell has just launched his Facebook Page. Good luck to Shelby as he attempts to give back to his hometown.

*****

Update on injured Beagle: Link


Shoalanda


Coming soon...get connected!

Lowlifes on High Street?

It seems High Street residents in North Central Florence have little luck when contacting Florence Police concerning rampant theft and drug dealing. We suggest a neighborhood meeting to set up surveillance teams. Videotape doesn't lie--it would seem to be your best bet in this case.

*****

Columnist Reg Henry may win our Favorite Quote of the Year Award with this one referring to Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions: It is widely known that the graves will open before the senator's mind does.

*****

According to Saturday's TimesDaily, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board of Directors is seeking Troy King's opinion on the amount of vacation pay due fired director David Johnson--this should be interesting. In fact, it was one of the most interesting tidbits in the article, considering the fact there have apparently been no problems with Johnson's vacation pay during the 21 years he served as director. For someone who claims he hates negative publicity, John Briggs certainly courts it at every opportunity.

*****

And now, another opinion from Cherokee. This one by A. W. who provides some interesting food for thought.:

In regard to your post of July 10, News from Cherokee by C. R., some of it is misleading.

• As long as there are no more than three (3) council members together at one time (it takes four (4) to make a quorum) no law is broken.

• It is the responsibility of the council members to research any issues before them.

• Any research that is done has to be done prior to the meeting.

• Discussing the issues and sharing their research is the accepted practice in most political circles.

• Lobbying other council members to gain their support for a motion you plan to make is also accepted practice.

As for as the town clerk having set hours for lunch, in as small a town as Cherokee, I personalty don't think it is that important. However, if they do want to set a lunch hour, let the Mayor relieve her. That way the citizens will know when they can catch the Mayor in his office. Yes he is part time but being part time does not preclude him having set hours also.

The statement about them trying to oust Lansdell and Lambert, I don't know. If they are conspiring such wouldn't you think they would have some one lined up for District 2 to replace Glover? Mignon can't serve on the council unless she gives up the water board appointment, and I don't think that is even a remote possibility of that.

Stay tuned next week when Desperate Cherokee Housewives meet the Cherokee Council Apprentices at the Big Betty House.

Shoalanda

ASCAP's John Briggs & Turn-Around-Time

We once knew a man who was convinced the end of the world was near. Why? According to him, turn-around-time was becoming shorter and shorter.

What's turn-around-time? Some call it karma; others deem it reaping what one sews. We doubt that turn-around-time in general is getting any shorter, or that the end of the world is imminent; but if reports are true, turn-around-time for John Briggs was exceedingly short.

Two separate, albeit unverified, sources reported yesterday that the Chairman of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board has been dumped from his position as Vice President of ASCAP in Nashville. The end of the former Killen resident's position with the music association ostensibly resulted from shenanigans related to the defeat of Sen. Bobby Denton's bill to replace the board, as well as the e-mail sacking of long-time Hall of Fame Executive Director David Johnson.

Of course, it was hardly true karma if ASCAP conveyed Briggs' pink slip in person rather than via cyberspace. Who knows, perhaps Briggs will now apply for Johnson's former position. The irony would be sweet, but we doubt that bi-faciality is a requirement of the job.

Since we referred to the bilious Briggs yesterday as "jaded," we thought this only appropriate... (Yes, that's Gary P. Nunn on the keyboard.)




Shoalanda

John Briggs: Consummate Cretin or Just Lowdown Varmint?

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