Reader Requests...

A few topical requests from readers:

The family of accused child pornographer Perry Underwood asked us to publish this statement: " We are all shocked and disgusted, and we believe justice should be served. We all miss and love him, but his affliction is inexcusable. We are grieving, but after all he has done and put his family through, we believe he is where he belongs. "

Alcohol at the Keller Festival? Before we could write anything, the steering committee for the event voted down any chance for alcohol sales in connection with the festival. While we're sure many supported the sale of spirits at the event, we believe the committee made the correct choice.

What do you want to do with Hoda? Two readers have asked us about the mini-controversy over Sen. Doug Jones wanting Hoda the so-called ISIS bride to return to the U.S. Many haven't bothered to read his rationale that this is the only country in which she could possibly receive legal punishment. She's not committed any known crimes in Syria, so it's not about letting that country pay for any trial. There won't be a trial if she's not brought back here. On the flip side, if she's not returned to the U.S., one could reason that having to live out her life in some hellhole of an Arabic country is sufficient punishment for her actions. 

Roy Moore running for U.S. Senate? Is anyone surprised? Have you read some of the evidence he's collected in his answer to Leigh Corfman's libel claims? Apparently some affidavits refer to how many men she's f*cked as an adult woman. Way to go, Roy. As a certain anchorman would say, stay classy.

Bradley Byrne for U.S. Senate? Rep. Byrne doesn't always come across as well as he should. He has a lot going for him. We haven't seen anyone better on the Republican side; he may just be the best person for the job.

On Behalf of Politics, We Resent These Allegations...Not to Mention the Allegator.

The Shoals: Just One Big Happy?

A Florence-Lauderdale visitors center has been in the works for some time. We're now told that once it's completed it will have a new name to better reflect its service to the entire Shoals. Not too long ago we would have been pleased with that news. Now? Not so much.

For those from across the river who are applauding this move, we have some questions. First, let's look at a positive quote from Rodney Hall:

Thank you Debbie Wilson for thinking outside the lines and over the river... We are the Shoals! 

We have to ask if Mr. Hall spoke to the Colbert County Commission about the oneness of the area? Perhaps he wrote a letter? How many who want to use Florence and Lauderdale's greater tax base to promote the county just to the south stood up to the Colbert Commission when they opposed the new hospital?

Everything in life is give and take, but it seems some of the powers that be in Colbert want only to take...

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Both Pen N Sword and the Quad-Cities Daily have some interesting photos related to the Jessica Bevis Broadfoot murder investigation:

The Many Faces of Danger

Boyfriend in Custody 

While visiting the QCD, be sure to check out their ongoing photographic coverage of the Helen Keller Festival--it's the next best thing to being there!

Shoalanda

A Sunday Treat - Yes, Really!

We didn't know such a film existed. What a treat to see Mr. Frank Potts at the end!

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Tennessee Valley Historical Society presents Helen Keller Festival Week Speakers: In recognition of Northwest Alabama history diversity and Helen Keller Festival Week activities, the Tennessee Valley Historical Society is sponsoring three guest speaker presentations to be held at Cold Water Bookstore, 101 West 6th Street, Tuscumbia, Alabama.

The presentation line up is as follows:

Thursday- June 21 - Time: 2 p.m. - “The American Star” Tom McKnight, TVHS President, will give a Power-Point presentation on ‘The American Star,’ the African-American, Muscle Shoals Missionary Baptist Association newspaper, edited and published by Professor George Washington Trenholm in Tuscumbia. Artifacts of recently discovered rare issues that were not known to exist covering the 1940s and 1950s will be on display.

Friday - June 22 - Time: 5:30 p.m. “Rediscovering the Poarch Creek Band of Creek Indians” Robert Thrower, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Poarch Creek Indians, will discuss “The Forgotten Creeks of Alabama: Rediscovering the Poarch Band of Creek Indians”. The presentation will explore the origin, struggles and accomplishments of the Poarch Band. A number of Creek cultural items will be on display for both discussion and demonstration.

Saturday – June 23 – Time: 12 Noon - “General Joe Wheeler Museum” Scheduled speakers will be Melissa Beasley, Site Director of the General Joe Wheeler Museum, Pond Spring, Hillsboro, Alabama and Kara Long, Museum Curator. Power-point presentation will cover the restoration effort that restored the Wheeler Home Museum, the family’s furnishings and artifacts that now occupy the historic site and historic insights of General Wheeler who served his home and country as a Confederate General, Congressman and West Point graduate. Miss Annie Wheeler’s service in the American Red Cross during three wars and her devotion to helping others will also be discussed.

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Tomorrow we'll have some newly released info on the alleged murderer of Dylan Mylam. It's a sad commentary on the state of some families as well as our legal system.



Shoalanda