Gulfstream (a/k/a Wing & A Prayer) Airlines

Why will no big name airlines bring service to the Shoals? Perhaps since most frequent flyers prefer to drive to Huntsville or other larger cities to embark, these airlines know the downward spiral will never stop. Fewer passengers mean higher fares, and higher fares mean fewer passengers.

A reader sent us this comparison:

Muscle Shoals to San Francisco Round Trip - $518.40, with travel time of 9.5 hours

Nashville to San Francisco Round Trip - $232.80, with travel time of 7.5 hours

Huntsville to San Francisco Round Trip - $360.80, with travel time of 7 hours

Birmingham to San Francisco Round Trip - $366.80, with travel time of 7 hours

(Travel time approximate)

Now, who wants to fly from Muscle Shoals? Apparently Gulfstream Air is willing to take a chance that at least some will choose the Colbert County town as their favorite point of embarkation, but why? Gulfstream has faced some serious problems in the past year.

Gulfstream Files Chapter 11

Inspector Wanted to Ground Gulfstream

Gulfstream Airlines to be Sold

Many thanks to Bryan Van Devender for the links associated with this story. Obviously at this point, if we need unbiased info on any topic concerning the Shoals area, we need to consult Google rather than the TimesDaily.



Shoalanda

Let's Improve Our Airport & Do Away With The National Debt

Like today's blog title? The two topics are not even related, you say? Yes, they do have one commonality: Both may be impossible.

We've recently been focusing on improving the Shoals and have stated the easiest thing we can do as individuals is demand an area wide cleanup. So, technically, a few coats of paint and perhaps some architectural renovations could improve our airport, but is this what we think of when discussing how to better the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport?

We've heard great misgivings concerning the past makeup of the Airport Authority Board, but often the representative chosen by various Shoals governments is the only one who applied. This seems surprising in itself since being a member of the Airport Board sounds vastly more appealing than, say, the City Dump and Refuse Committee. Finding those to serve on any local board is a major problem in this area. The only larger problem seems to be acquiring the then necessary approval for the new member.

There's no easy answer to this lack of interest, but we do suggest replacing the small classified announcement of such openings with a larger ad. The improved quality of applicants would be well worth the extra expense.

However, a lack of local interest in airport governance is hardly the most pressing problem. What's an airport without air service? A local wag has suggested we could turn the runway into a drag strip, but obviously the field will always be needed by local pilots. The questions: Is that all we expect from the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport?

Tomorrow: Gulfstream Airlines

*****

More on Eyesores: We will be limiting our list to the ten worst eyesores in the Shoals--at least those known to us. As one is taken care of, we will add another to take its place. Please continue to send in your nominations on commercial eyesores.

*****

Florence American Legion Home 1946: Link





Shoalanda

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

We Offer a Question and an Answer

The rub of today's topic is that the question and answer aren't mated...

A reader from Killen has asked the current status of Allen Wilson, the Lauderdale County teacher who was recently convicted of misdemeanor assault and terminated from his position at Brooks High School. Wilson was sentenced to 90 days in the Lauderdale County Detention Center, but is currently free on appeal bond. Appeals are not heard in Alabama on a first come, first serve basis, so Mr. Wilson's freedom may be long-lived no matter the final outcome.

Wilson is also appealing his loss of position at the Killen high school, using his criminal attorney Tim Case in lieu of an AEA lawyer. Results from this appeal should be forthcoming within the next two months. After his hearing before the Lauderdale Board of Education, Wilson stated that he frequently had to be confrontational in order to solve school problems. We think the teacher-pilot has seen Glenn Ford in Blackboard Jungle one too many times.

As for Wilson's position as Lauderdale representative on the Muscle Shoals Airport Authority Board, the county commission recently replaced him with Greg Ezell, a local labor activist. We don't know Mr Ezell, but suspect the board meetings will henceforth be much more amiable.

Now, for our personal question for which we have no answer--yet. Those who use plastic at the Lauderdale County Courthouse to pay any form of taxes are aware that the county charges $3.00 for every swipe. Citizens may us their debit or credit cards to pay for car tags, property taxes, or any number of licenses that the county government sells; we imagine that many do use plastic simply for the convenience, and these $3.00 charges add up over time. Yes, it's called convenience--that's with a "c" that stands for cold cash for not just the company processing these electronic payments, but apparently Lauderdale County as well.

The September 14th minutes of the county commission extended the contract with the RDS company to process transactions at $2.48 each. That leaves the county with an extra fifty-two cents per transaction. Assuming Lauderdale County citizens use plastic 10K times a year, the county takes in an extra $5,200.00. That amount might be the proverbial drop in the bucket to a government with a budget the size of Lauderdale County, but we do ask:

Just how much extra does Lauderdale County garner from these electronic processing fees, and where does the money go? Jenoice? Danny? Mickey? Anyone?


Tomorrow: A question about Lauderdale County deputy Ronnie Valentine's involvement in the October 4, 2009, automobile crash in the Central community.

Shoalanda

Shoals Suzuki & James Michael Self

If you purchased a new automobile from Shoals Suzuki, you are automatically part of a class action suit against the Sheffield dealership and its general manager James Michael (Mike) Self. Self is no stranger to the court system, having been indicted last year for embezzling $70,000.00 from Tom Jones Financial Services of which he was Chief Operating Officer. After Self's partner James Harris agreed to drop the criminal charges, Self then sued Harris for malicious prosecution.

The son of the late broadcaster D. Mitchell Self inherited Self Broadcasting, a company that included the historic WLAY radio station in Muscle Shoals. After selling his interest in 2000, Mike Self helped found Odyssey Broadband and Supernet Services, as well as buying into what was then known as Tom Jones Insurance Agency in Tuscumbia. The 1979 graduate of Muscle Shoals High School is also Muscle Shoals' representative on the Airport Authority Board, his term expiring in March 2010.

It remains to be seen if this class action suit will actually recoup any of the money lost in warranties purchased through Shoals Suzuki. Legal eagles say such a victory would be extraordinarily rare; however, if you are the unlucky holder of such an agreement, don't toss the document just yet. You could win a victory based solely on the court's past experience with Mike Self.


What's up with this: Engineers for the Avalon Avenue construction project say the end is in sight. One extra lane, two miles long, three years in the making--sounds about par for any state project.

Note May 31st correction to this article.