The Chinese Are Coming?

Do you think the Chinese company that wished to purchase the old Florence Golf and Country Club property just threw a dart and came up with Florence? Don't think so. UNA has a recruiting office in China and has in the past announced its intentions of awarding several slots in its nursing program to Chinese students. Money talks, and to think we once were worried about the Japanese buying our golf courses...

We're also curious about this company's alternative natural medicines. Are they talking rhino horns as a homeopathic Viagra? How would this fit in with any existing curricula at the university? From looking at their web site, we would venture any foray into U.S. enterprise would have to be at least partially approved by the F.D.A.

Let's not condemn Mr. Pendleton or Mr. Barnhart until we have the full story. Remember, it was university president William Cale who convinced the Guizhou Shenqi Group to retract their offer. Perhaps mediation isn't his strong point.

Related post: Chinese Nurses?

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It seems Tuscumbia School Superintendent Joe Walters will have to review and act on complaints against the very board of education that recently terminated his contract. We have no concrete idea why Walters' contract is not being renewed, but we can definitely say he is handling his responsibilities for the remainder of his term by taking the high road. We hope to have more on this later.

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From Chris Ligon:

I think fundamentally, Shoalanda and I would agree that the ultimate solution would be a society of voluntarianism where people would simply pay other people for services in a non corrupted exchange and not feel entitled to charity that is the end result of the productive class having their labor gleaned at the point of a gun. However, just like the local journalist who I respect the most says, those days are gone.

So what we are dealing with is a fiat currency, manufactured debt and the upward flow of wealth that is channeled into all kinds of programs that do not benefit the people who are actually out here trying to make an honest living. So the question becomes... out of all the ways that the taxes from workers could be more fairly distributed to better our communities, why is it that other poor working people from Mexico should receive most of our outrage. Believe me, the people that brought them here and benefit the from their cheap labor aren't having to worry about paying for their kids' health care. This is a class warfare issue and when I see us fighting over the scraps of wealth instead of looking at who is sitting at the table, it saddens me.

Mr. Ligon's comments are profound, but "class warfare?" It's something to think about. Tomorrow another look at local immigration.

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If you see Mary Carton today, wish her a happy birthday!



Shoalanda

Lynn Greer 35+ Years Later

In May 1975, Rep. Lynn Greer of Rogersville announced he would submit a bill in the next legislative session that would restrict voting on the Lauderdale County Superintendent of Education to voters residing outside the city limits of Florence. At that time, Osbie Linville of Florence was superintendent. That bill was effectively scuttled by a group led by then Rep. Bob Hill of Florence. Over three decades later, Greer has again introduced a bill that would limit voting on the superintendent's race.

Obviously Greer feels strongly about the issue, but why? We've received several e-mails requesting information concerning Greer's mindset, but none that offers any insight into unannounced motives. Considering Greer's long-standing opinion on the matter, there may be no motive other than a strong personal opinion--an opinion with which we disagree. In days to come, we'll provide updates on the issue; however, there doesn't seem to be the proverbial snowball's chance that Greer will have more luck now than in August 1975 when the bill was defeated the first time.

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Across the river in Tuscumbia, the board of education's Mark McIlwain seemed either confused or in desperate need of grammar lessons. He indicated the board never discussed issues with more than two present, but had discussed it among themselves. We predict the termination of Joe Walters will continue to garner headlines, and not the good kind.

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We're not sure which wag at The Connection is responsible for this quote concerning Cherokee, but it's certainly worth sharing: Water has been pouring into City Hall this morning so now the mayor can actually walk around on the inside (of) the building.



Shoalanda

Joe Walters Put Tuscumbia Residents First

When current Tuscumbia superintendent Joe Walters took office in 2007, as many as one-third of the students entering Kindergarten were from outside the city. Due to proration, Walters put a stop to non-resident students. Now at least one source states this may have cost him his contract renewal.

Tuscumbia is a small town with relatively little in the budget for the superintendent's salary. When they last interviewed four years ago, several applicants asked to be taken out of consideration when they found out just how little the demanding position paid. It will be interesting to see who now applies for a job with so little security.

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If brother kills brother over an air conditioner, as has happened more than once in Alabama, we can only imagine what the theft of beer would produce. Tony Curtis Wilson states his brother stole his beer and he retaliated by attempting to burn the house down. Wilson apparently isn't very good at impulse control, having a 2005 arrest for shoplifting meat from Hometown Market in North Florence and several arrests for burglary, not to mention a domestic violence charge in 2009. We wonder what it will take to keep Wilson in prison.

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We sympathize with those residents living on unpaved gravel roads, but there is humor in their story. Who names a narrow gravel road "Paradise Drive?" We see fodder for Jay Leno...

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It's the 31st anniversary of Larry Fisher's 39th birthday. Happy birthday, Larry!



Shoalanda