Get Their Goat--Get Informed!

Starting today, we're adding the Goat Hill widget to our blog. Many of the bills being introduced in our legislature concern the Shoals; many concern all citizens of Alabama. To paraphrase Dick Biddle, "Be a good Alabamian. Be an informed Alabamian. Many thanks to Matt Osborne for tweaking this widget for us!

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Sue Schmitz has been in the news again--her Federal sentence may be close to coming to an end. Did she deserve the original sentence? We will leave that for others to decide; her work, or non-work, with the C.I.T.Y. program was not local--although our tax dollars did support it.

However, we have recently received some extremely interesting news concerning Rhonda Bogus, the past director of Florence's C.I.T.Y. program. Sources have informed us of an ethics complaint filed against Ms. Bogus. Apparently she was in over her head in her role as director of that program. Our sources also state that vast amounts of money were wasted on non-essential items, including having an interior designer hired to assist in laying out the classrooms, choosing the furniture, etc.

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Do you need to file an ethics or similar complaint? We'll be focusing on such filings in the next few days. In the mean time remember: Just because they're either elected or appointed to serve the public, it doesn't mean they haven't decided at some point to serve themselves first.



Shoalanda

Should Our News Be Censored?

All the news that fits? Well, the TimesDaily isn't the Rolling Stone, and we're glad it isn't. We prefer to read the local news sans strings of profanity. Yet, just what should be censored?

Perhaps no two reporters or editors will find the same facts important, but we do wonder at much of what is omitted from the TimesDaily. Here's a few recent examples:

Teresa Lannahan arrest: While the TD did eventually report the arrest of the Leighton Town Council member, it failed to mention that Lannahan is the police commissioner of that Colbert County town.

Whitesell Mfg.: The TD did hit the highlights of the OSHA investigation into cost-cutting measures at Whitesell's two local facilities, but failed to report one of the most salient points. From WAFF...

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration called the inspection of Whitesell Corporation in Colbert County the worst inspection they have done on an Alabama organization in a decade.

Cherokee: Okay, we'll give them a pass on this one. If they printed all the shenanigans in that unfair city, it would cause a world shortage of ink.

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Have you read Osborne Ink's most recent blog? If not, be sure to check it out. Matt tells it like it is concerning UNA's proposed move to Division I athletics: Link

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The Lauderdale District Court Race: So far, both Carole Coil Medley and James Hall have run super clean campaigns. We've heard Florence Deputy Chief Tim Shaddix has placed signs supporting Medley at many of his rental properties, while much of the Florence Police Department is supporting Hall. We call it neck and neck at this point.

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Planning on getting connected? You can start by becoming a fan of The Connection here: Link

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It's Labor Day; let's go to Tuscumbia: Link




Shoalanda



Get Connected in September!

It's Almost Over

We thoroughly agree with our friend Matt Osborne that it will be refreshing when the Alabama Primary is officially over. Of course, then begins the...sigh...runoff season. Let's see where we are with other recent issues.

Over: Sandra Killen-Burroughs is now officially the newest member of the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Board. Look for Sandra to continue her rise up the political ladder.

Almost Over: Paige Hite McWilliams has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for her theft of Cherokee Library funds. McWilliams is seeking probation, while Special Prosecutor Doug Evans is asking for the full sentence. Apparently, Evans has no desire to allow the former library director even work release status since she has been ordered to repay the stolen funds within 30 days. We feel McWilliams has suffered enough humiliation. If the missing money is repaid promptly, surely probation would better serve both her and the public.

Who Knows When It Will Be Over: A preliminary hearing for UNA nursing student Andrew Daniel Scott of Killen was held Monday in Lauderdale County District Court. Scott, who was arrested in February on charges of possession of a controlled substance(s) non-marijuana and drug paraphernalia now faces a grand jury indictment. His appeal in the adoption of his biological son will be held next month.

Doubtful that It Will Ever Be Over: Donald Wayne Darling II has been arrested again--this time for domestic violence and assault.

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For those of you who have been caught up in the current "Click-it or Ticket" campaign, we present Junior Brown...




Trader Evaluates: Check out Trader's newest blog.

Shoalanda

Bobby Denton & the Alabama Music Hall of Fame

The Alabama Music Hall of Fame, officially opened on July 26, 1990, was visualized as one of the stars in the crown of Shoals tourism. Instead, it became an underfunded and under attended drain on state tax dollars. Even the welcoming signage is forced to display advertising as a means of financing its illumination.

State Senator Bobby Denton intends to change that--a fact that highly irks current board members. If Denton's bill passes the House and is signed into law by Gov. Bob Riley, the Hall of Fame will have a new board of directors composed of appointees by the governor, the Alabama Tourist Association, and the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (more on this great organization later). Detractors of the bill stress that such appointees would not have the background in music that is the hallmark of the current board.

That may be true, but a career in music or music education does not a marketer make. At this point the Alabama Music Hall of Fame needs some strong state, regional, and national marketing in order to survive. Who realized that the "Singing Senator" had such vision?

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Are you offended?: We at Shoalanda feel that we can easily put a point across, as well as put a ne'er-do-well in his place, without taking the name of God, Jesus Christ, Paul Bryant, or Atticus Finch in vain. With the exception of our satirical "guest commentary" by Bubba Leroy Smuckpucker II, we don't recall a single instance in which even mildly offensive language has been included in our blog. We also realize that other bloggers do use such language in an attempt at humor, satire, or to express great perturbation.

Even though we are of a conservative/moderate political bent, we have great admiration for fellow Shoals blogger Matt Osborne, author of Osborne Ink and frequently featured columnist in the Huffington Post. Last week we added a link to King Cockfight's eponymous blog. King is a brilliant satirist from that alien region slightly to the south of the Shoals, otherwise known as the home turf of Roger Bedford.

We have received complaints about Matt's blog in the past, choosing simply not to address them publicly. Now, we have received some similar complaints concerning the content of King Cockfight. Censorship is a slippery slope--first words, then ideas. Therefore, in an attempt to strike a happy medium, we are placing an "Adult Content" label by the link to each.

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Need a good read?: Visit the Spring Sale at K's Cove in Elgin. Hundreds of paperbacks have been reduced to only twenty-five cents. K has also marked downs dozens of NOW vitamins to $1.00 a bottle. Tanning beds available Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00-6:00. See you at the Cross Roads!


Shoalanda

Drive-By Truckers in Huntsville Tomorrow Night

For all you DBT fans out there, the band will perform in Huntsville tomorrow night. For details, you can visit Crossroads Cafe.

Since most of us engage in that bourgeois institution of work, that necessary evil may prevent many from being present tomorrow night. For those who fall into that category, we offer you an excellent video by Florence's Matt Osborne. Visit our link to Osborne Ink or view his insightful works at The Huffington Post. (The Three Great Alabama Icons is also the title of one of the late Byron Wilkes' most famous works, pictured at right.)





Shoalanda

Two Blogs and a Bard

We've heard it said, to really gauge the pulse of a community, don't just rely on the local newspaper, check out the area forums and blogs. In the past we've highly recommended Osborne Ink by Matt Osborne and hope that you've added his column to your favorites list. Now, we would like to suggest two other Shoals area efforts for your consideration.

The Robnett Reveiw is a conservative political blog written by Jason W. Robnett (pictured). We find it both witty and informative. Like Osborne Ink, many of the issues tackled are of national import, and we hope Mr. Robnett will turn some of his wit toward state and local issues in the future.

The second site is more than just a blog--it's an extremely well-done website by a Brooks High graduate who refers to himself as Coach T. With football season fast approaching, we're sure CoachT.com will be a must-read for many.

That brings us to the bard, a local poet who is going places, brought to us via YouTube and a tremendous local talent currently residing in Hollywoodland. Both poet and presenter prefer to remain anonymous at this time, but we hope to be able to bring you an interview with both in the near future. For your enjoyment, we present Pyro.


What's up with this: We're glad Florence Councilman Barry Morris is concerned about protecting citizens from local hucksters; we wish he would demonstrate the same concern for our well-being in smoke-filled eateries.

Shoalanda

Who's Bob Hill?

Several Months ago, liberal blogger Matt Osborne of Florence asked, "Who's Bob Hill?" Certainly Mr. Osborne had his own ideas as to who Mr. Hill is and to his place in the local political pantheon. While we don't doubt that Osborne and others who replied to his question are correct in many of their statements, we prefer to publish here only what can be documented:

* 1956 graduate of the University of Alabama
* Practicing Florence attorney, specializing in "divorce, civil, and business law"
* Law partner of current District I representative Tammy Irons
* Divorced father of one adult daughter
* Author of Sunday sales referendum for Colbert County
* Lobbyist for University of North Alabama, Northwest-Shoals Community College, and SEDA
* Brother of Fitz Hill, partner in Hill and Janguard, Florence architects

It's the two latter relationships that have provoked the most speculation and criticism of Hill. Many feel that Hill's position of Government Relations Consultant for UNA, as well as his position at NWSCC, both state institutions, should preclude him from serving again as a state legislator.

Further, during the current administration of Florence Mayor Bobby Irons, a cousin to Hill's law partner, the firm of Hill and Janguard has received lucrative contracts from the city. According to former Florence Recreation Department Head Regina Gresham, these contracts are considered professional services and are not subject to state bid laws.

In other words, should Bob Hill Jr. be elected to succeed his law partner Tammy Irons, he would enter the legislature some 30 years after he left it, this time carrying considerably much more baggage. We believe the Shoals area can do better.


Notice: Florence attorney and Muscle Shoals resident Tina Parker has announced her candidacy for Colbert County District Judge. She will be facing some stiff competition from candidates with old money. We suggest you give her a good look.

What's a WAWA?

What's a WAWA? Apparently in Canada it's a goose for which a town is named. Here in North Alabama, it's something similar, but completely different. If you smiled at the previous sentence, you're a prime candidate to purchase a copy of this movie.

Produced by Sheffield's Steve Wiggins and directed by Wiggins' wife Sherri, Birth of a Legend: The Story of the WAWA is a hilarious sci-fi movie set in the fictional Alabama town of Sweet Tee. Visualize radioactive plastic fishing worms injected with DNA from a catfish and you'll have a good idea where this movie is going.

If this all sounds like a 1950s B-movie, we may infer that was the intention of the producer and director, but if you're still not sure what a WAWA is, we'll reveal that it stands for West Alabama Whoop Ass. Now, knowing that, we're sure you'll want to purchase a copy of this cinematic triumph starring locals Juliana Martin, Matt Osborne, and Donnie Fritts.

If you hurry, they'll include a copy of the movie's soundtrack absolutely free: http://birthofalegend.com/SalesPage.html

I'm so sure that you'll love this movie, I'll pop for a pair of tickets to the Marbro Drive-In if you don't. Can't beat that with a WAWA.

Laugh of the day: We hear that John Crowder is giving up Florence City Council meetings for lent.

Osborne Ink on Roger Lovelace

Shoals political pundit Matt Osborne wears many hats. One of them is blogger.

I have not before added Mr. Osborne's blog Osborne Ink to my list of "must reads" mainly due to his blog's evolution toward national and world politics. Yet when Mr. Osborne returns to local politics, he does so with pithy eloquence.

His column on former FloGas manager Roger Lovelace is so informative as to be breathtaking. It demonstrates how little most of us know of the inner workings of the Florence political machine. I will not reveal here any of its explosive revelations; you should read them in Mr. Osborne's own words.

If the Lauderdale County judicial system drops the ball on Lovelace this time, each registered voter needs not to ask, but demand an explanation.

http://www.osborneink.com/


What's up with this: Speaking of making your opinions known, if you're tired of that money pit commonly referred to as a Sportsplex, be sure to ask your elected officials if they know the meaning of the words "financial accountability."

Scott Carrier - A Friend to Florence, Alabama

Florence has lost a friend with the passing of Scott E. Carrier. Whether one supported Mr. Carrier in his bid for mayor or not, no one can deny that he placed his hometown first.

From Veterans Park to Florence Public Library, from the historic district to the town's outskirts, Scott Carrier worked to make his hometown a better place. A close friend of Governor Bob Riley, Carrier never hesitated to travel to Montgomery to argue the city's case.

After serving District 2 for four years, Carrier lost his first mayoral race less than three months ago. I say first since those close to him felt he would again rise in the city's political circles. What he could have accomplished had he been able to do so, we can never know, but we can look back fondly and with admiration on what he did help bring to fruition.

Sources say that his family and close friend Matt Osborne have been deeply saddened by Carrier's sudden death. Our sincerest sympathies to all those close to Mr. Carrier.


What's up with this: Ben T. Gardner, current Sheffield City Attorney, is said to be chomping at the bit to take the City of Tuscumbia to court over its dismissal of Carol Burns. Perhaps they should charge admission?

Scott Carrier's Last Stand

Lame duck Florence Councilman Scott Carrier voted against both the 2009 budget and proposed utility rate increases. His was the only negative vote on either issue, both sure to pass at the next council meeting. Carrier's objection to the budget was based on its lack of cost of living raises for city employees. At least this was Carrier's stated objection.

Carrier's recent letters to various area newspaper editors have shown the mayor-wannabe to be disgruntled and blaming voters' bad judgment for his loss in the recent Florence City elections. His votes against these issues obviously resulted from his negativity and have cost the city two weeks in preparation for the coming fiscal year. The next council meeting will be Carrier's last, and I'm sure many feel as I do--good riddance to his theatrical shenanigans.

Will Scott leave the Florence political scene for good? That remains to be seen, and even if he should do so, guy pal Matt Osborne is waiting in the wings to assume the mantle of bad boy council critic. Mayor Irons may finish his second term wondering why he sought an encore in the city's highest office.


What's up with this: Sources at a local District Attorney's office have indicated we can expect the imminent arrest of a Florence restaurant owner/manager for First Degree Theft.