Valley Views--Your Two Cents

Seen and heard around the Valley this week:

* Is it supposed to be ironic that Fat Boy's sells wrist bands? http://twitpic.com/zel11 - JKM Films on Twitter

* I was very disappointed with the quality of the basketball. The kids need helmets if their (sic) going to play the game this way. - Heeters commenting on the inept referees at the annual Lauderdale County Basketball tournament

* We’ve been wearing shoes here since the 1970s, and the largest city in the state (Birmingham) has had a black mayor for decades. Of course, the most recent occupant is going to federal prison for corruption. - Jay Nordlinger in On Alabama

* If the Shoals wants us to use it's (sic) airport, wouldn't it help to update your website? Hasn't been since 2008! - abstractrandom on Twitter

* A Shoals area teacher charged with a sex crime was fired from her position. - Nick Lough of WAFF on Amanda Watkins (Shouldn't the words "because of" be inserted in place of "from"?)

* Hunter’s parents may own “Beck Boys Plumbing” however, “Beck’s Plumbing” is not associated with Hunter Beck, his parents, or any other Beck family member in any way form or fashion. - CEO Beck's Plumbing (Our apologies to Beck's Plumbing for the error--what a difference the word "Boys" can make.)

* Talk about your two cents worth: It's not enough that the Lauderdale County Commission recently wrote a check for five cents, in December they actually wrote one for two cents. - Yours Truly commenting on the December 14, 2009, meeting minutes. (Since it costs approximately $1.00 to cut and mail a check, wouldn't a journal entry have sufficed to erase this debt to another county entity? For that matter, would a debt of only two cents be that monumental if it weren't paid at all?)

Shoalanda

She Said...

Yesterday we published information provided by friends of Hunter Beck, a Florence youth accused of first degree rape. Those who read us regularly know that we support swift and sure punishment for those who commit crimes of violence against women. Similarly, we hope all who bring such charges falsely receive the proper legal punishment.

Friends of the young woman who has accused Beck have also now contacted us, assuring us that she is indeed a victim and will continue to pursue her charges against Hunter Beck. In no way do we support Beck over his accuser or claim to know the facts in this case; however, we are happy to make known the support of his friends.

Hopefully, this case will see a speedy legal resolution.

*****

Morris Lentz, president of the Lauderdale County Volunteer Firefighters Association, invites everyone to the 32nd annual awards banquet to be held on January 30th at the Guillot Center on the campus of UNA. The banquet will begin at 6:00 p.m., and admission is $15.00. We hope all who can will attend and let our volunteer firefighters know how much we appreciate their efforts.


Note: As far as we can ascertain, the communications we have received supporting Hunter Beck have come from legitimate friends; however, we are updating the photo of Beck in order to assure accuracy.

Shoalanda

Was Hunter Beck Falsely Charged with Rape?

Several readers have contacted us concerning Florence native Hunter Beck. After attending a party on Chisholm Road last Friday night, Beck returned to the residence of his father Jim Beck at 220 Mauldin Avenue in the Bellmeade Subdivision. Hunter, whose age has alternately been listed as either 18 or 19, attended Florence High School where he has many friends who contend the teenager has never been in any serious trouble.

Florence police arrested Beck at the residence of his father Jim and stepmother Donna early Saturday morning. He is currently free on $50,000.00 bond and has retained Tim Case as a defense attorney. Case and Hunter's supporters contend the sex was consensual.

The friends who have contacted us feel the accusations result from a misguided case of revenge. Sources say that Hunter's personality changed as he entered high school, where he was a star on the track team. On his MySpace page he lists an annual income of $250,000.00--quite a salary for someone not yet out of his teens; however, Hunter's family owns Beck Plumbing and may be perceived by many as an easy financial target. One friend tells us that Hunter has often been misjudged because of his bravado, the result of his two-older half siblings enjoying a higher standard of living. Jessica Beck West and Chace Beck, the children of Cindy Rideout Beck Mitchell, do not list their younger half-brother among their Facebook friends. Others say Hunter's relationship with his biological mother was strained.

No matter Hunter's personal problems, they do not necessarily make him a rapist. If he is innocent as his friends claim, we hope his accuser, also 18, receives a full measure of punishment for bringing false charges. If Hunter Beck is a rapist, then he deserves the maximum punishment.


Other voices: Sources at the Florence Police Department speaking off the record state that Hunter Beck's accuser has changed her story several times.

Shoalanda