Belle Foods: Competition for Publix?

Many Shoals residents can't wait for Publix to open its doors to the promised land of fresh and exotic groceries, but newcomer Belle Foods is determined to make a dent in their market. Between Halloween and Thanksgiving, three local markets will be rebranded Belle Foods. Belle purchased the parent company of Bruno's, Southern Market, Food World, and Piggly Wiggly (select franchises).

Expect to see Florence and Muscle Shoals Food Worlds not only turn purple and green, Belle's trademark colors, but to completely overhaul the limited selections the chain had come to be known for the past few years. Some Belle stores even furnish a staffed nursery where mothers can drop their little ones while they shop; no word yet on the availability of that option in the Shoals. We hope Belle Foods lives up to its press--certainly many of us don't look forward to a weekly trek onto the parkway and its ubiquitous traffic signals just to purchase groceries.

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Two sets of rumors, but no one seems to know even who's on first. There are apparently no plans for Halloween festivities at the Weeden Home this year. We will revert to calling Sweetwater Plantation, or what's left of it, by its common name since owner Susan Leigh Smithson has completely disbanded the committee that had been in charge of these events for the past two years. Readers have asked if there are pending lawsuits. While there may be, we have found no record of any filed in Lauderdale County. If any readers have updates, please send them our way.

A second set of questions concerns the shooting of Jesse Rainey at Crooked Oak. We're sure rumors abound for many reasons; it seems no two news sources are reporting the same facts in the case. Even the number of youths present (8 or 9) at the unsupervised house party is in question. We have a contact in the Colbert County Sheriff's office and will post an update as soon as we can verify some of the information we've received.

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Shoalanda

It's That Time of Year...Time for a Ghost Walk!

Haunted History of the Shoals Ghost Walk

10th Annual Tour

October 19th thru October 31st

Wilson Park

Start: 7:30

$10.00 adults/$8.00 Children

See you there! Boo!

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The following are questions from readers; some have been consolidated: 

 

1. Why was Beth Weir placed on leave? A teacher in the system has indicated it was because of a Facebook post. If this is correct, it would be the second instance of FB being the undoing of someone in the local education system. Unless you work for yourself, it's best not to comment online about your job.

2. What will happen to the young man who shot Jesse Rainey? The Colbert County District Attorney's office is seeking an indictment--whether for Manslaughter, Felony Murder, or something else we don't know. If the shooter is indicted, he will be given a chance to plead. His attorney will also obviously seek youthful offender status for his client. The case should be presented to the grand jury in December or January.

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Shoalanda

Mark Dutton: Mentally Ill or Just Plain Cruel?

Mark Anthony Dutton is a 51 year-old attorney from Moulton. This small town is obviously not a gold mine for practicing lawyers, but Dutton seems to have hit a new low. According to Marky Mark, animal cruelty is legal as long as it's done on private property. Hmmm...the things we learn from those willing to make a buck anyway they can.

We haven't heard of any cock fighting matches at the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum or Tom Braly Municipal Stadium, so we're guessing it's usually done on private property. Dutton may be feeling lucky since he just recently represented the family of an accident victim who sued local weatherman Gary Dobbs. It seems Dutton and his team repeatedly referred to Dobbs as a local celebrity. We think they meant Dobbs has celebrity; does that mean Mark A. Dutton now has notoriety?

No, Mr. Dutton, it's animal cruelty anywhere it takes place. Now if you really want to do the right thing, you'll donate your fee to the local animal shelter. So, how about it, Marky Mark? It's either that or a new fur coat for Melissa. The public is watching...

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We've had several readers inquire why the Colbert County shooting of Jesse Rainey is going to be presented to a grand jury. We can assume the district attorney wants to dot every i before pressing any charges. Should he press charges? Since we don't know the basis of his decision to present the case to the grand jury, we can only defer to his legal expertise. It's an extremely sad situation for all families involved.

That being said, parents, do you know where your children are and what they're up to on weekends? It just might be a good idea if you did.

We recall a recent blog by our friend OB in which he stated that at 3:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning he, as a teenager, would have been in bed asleep--no choice involved whatsoever. It seems he had a very intelligent and loving mother, as did I. It's sad that not everyone did and does.

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Saluting a great mother: Get well soon, Annie Walker Neidert!

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Shoalanda

Jesse Carl Rainey Still Critical

Jesse Carl Rainey

According to news reports, Jesse Carl Rainey remains in critical condition at Children's Hospital in Birmingham. The son of Regina Barfield Pencak, Jesse was one of eight 15 and 16 year-olds who were at an unsupervised house party near Tuscumbia Saturday morning around 3:30. According to WAFF, Jesse was hiding in a closet pretending to be an intruder when he opened the door and another youth shot him. News reports indicate several hand guns as well as long guns were in the home.

Jesse is the third youth this year to be injured at the home of a friend/schoolmate. The other two youths were killed. Autumn Wood and Dakota Holt are awaiting trial for Felony Murder in the deaths of Brooklyn Hollins and Dylan Milam, respectively.

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Shoalanda