Definition of "Forked Tongue?" Rebecca Narmore and the Colbert E-911 Board

Many individuals contradict themselves quite regularly...but not in the same newspaper article. If you've just tuned in, the City of Muscle Shoals wants Shoals Ambulance Service to be its primary 911 responder (or the most qualified service), while Colbert County has said...well, what haven't they said? You certainly can't tell the players or their respective opinions of the day without a program.

The latest edict from the Colbert E-911 Board states that only one ambulance provider may respond to 911 calls in the county with the blessings of the 911 Board. On October 26th, the TimesDaily published:

1. Narmore said there is no reason for another service to answer 911 calls in Colbert County.

2. Cherokee Rescue, however, continues to answer 911 calls on the west end of the county. “Keller can’t be everywhere,” Narmore said.

Assuming the TD has correctly quoted the board's attorney Rebecca Narmore, any citizen of Colbert County and especially Muscle Shoals, needs to question why the board doesn't have better legal representation and opinions. Perhaps Narmore has become mentally deficient due to all that time she worked for the Town of Cherokee?

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Now, let's look at another revelation from that same TD article:

Helen Keller Hospital receives funding through the county beer tax. Narmore said that money was used to help the hospital establish the ambulance service, but the way the law is written, the funding is to be directed to the hospital. It does not specifically state the funding should be used for ambulance service.

Assuming this statement is correct, just remember that each time anyone purchases a beer in Colbert County, he or she may be funding a toilet paper upgrade for the HKH staff restrooms. Anyone residing in Colbert County and voting, should contact the commission and demand a clarification to that law.

Shoalanda

Daniel Rosser Escapes Just in Time

Charles Daniel Rosser Jr. is a very busy man these days. A graduate of Deshler High School, UNA, and the Birmingham School of Law, Daniel is currently a Democratic candidate for Colbert County Probate Judge.

However, the name Daniel Rosser may be more familiar to the Shoals area as the current attorney for the small Colbert County town of Cherokee. Since succeeding Rebecca Narmore, Rosser has not had smooth sailing in the position of town attorney, but neither would have any other lawyer. Now, Rosser has wisely submitted his resignation.

Rosser has pledged he will remain with the troubled town until a replacement can be found. Considering Cherokee's reputation, that may be some time. Officially, Rosser is the first candidate of either party to announce. Current probate judge Thomas Crosslin has held that position for a number of years and is rumored to be considering retirement. He also has collected nine votes on the Courthouse Forum as the worst judge in Alabama--extremely subjective voting, but something to consider.

We wish Mr. Rosser the best of luck in his campaign, as well as a speedy departure from Cherokee. We doubt that if elected Rosser will continue to list that post on his CV.

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Congratulation to Alfie Crosslin, the Dragon Dog, on being appointed the official mascot of the Renaissance Faire. We can't think of anyone who deserves it more.

Related post: Saluting Alfie Crosslin



Shoalanda

Snow If You Get My Drift/Cherokee & Self-Destruction

Photo by Anita Pace

Snow If You Get My Drift

Powdery white topped with stunning bright
Blinds those who in its hold delight.
Gasps of cold produce a croak
From those who gambol in its wintry cloak.
What is missing as the white siren bids?
Alas, we have no trash can lids.

SS (who can remember when every home had a metal trash can)

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Cherokee and Self-Destruction

By J.J. Ray

Tuscumbia attorney Rebecca Narmore has insinuated that I wish to see the city of Cherokee destroyed. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The city is doing quite well without much outside help. As a pundit, I only comment on what is or has happened on a variety of subjects. As an investigative journalist, my goal is to expose and tell the truth based strictly on the facts. The facts in Cherokee fortunately are a matter of public record in print and on video.

Having never lived in Cherokee I can only be an observer. Some years ago, I did have an opportunity to purchase a home there but fate intervened and I moved to another city, which was most fortuitous. In my years in the corporate world I have been witness to many companies self-destructing but nothing like the Cirque d Ole in Cherokee.

They have taken total destruction to a completely new level without much help from the outside world with a couple of exceptions and I think most know who that is. The tragic part of this completely sordid affair is that several members of the city council have tried in vain to do the right thing for the city. They along with the city clerk and the citizens of Cherokee end up the losers.

Fortunately, for the city council the law firm that will be defending this abhorrent lawsuit will do most of the exposing of the truth. Not the truth some would have us believe but the truth based on the record. The shame of this ridiculous situation is that it need not happen except for fear of prosperity plus the greed and the lust for control by some in the present and past city government.

The dynamic law of prosperity could be called the eighth wonder of the world. When you look at it and really see it, you will stand in awe. It is invisible but has very visible results. It is profound but simplistic.

Conversely, the “Fear of Prosperity” is a real dynamic, a type of cancer that infects city, county and national governments to fail along with businesses, churches and individuals. Why do some fail and others prosper? Let’s compare two cities here in the valley. Cherokee is broke and completely dysfunctional but Muscle Shoals is prosperous and efficient.

Then why is Muscle Shoals prospering? The leaders are proactive, practical, and function, as a governing body should, planning for present and future city growth. Cherokee suffers from internal gridlock floundering around in a sea of backward and reactive thinking unable to function at all.

With all this negativity, how many businesses would locate in Cherokee based on their current record? Unless it is the circus, none I suspect. Perhaps this lawsuit will be the final nail in the coffin of a once prosperous and functional city. Alternatively, could the election of 2012 hold a solution and stave off the death of the city? Who knows now?

One thing is certain most of us will sit back and watch, some with disgust, others with delight. Personally, I’ll just observe, comment, eat popcorn and enjoy the show.



Shoalanda

Jonathan & Elaine Shirah: A Tale of Two Coaches

Jonathan D. Shirah is in his tenth year as track and field coach of the Muscle Shoals Trojans; his wife Mary Elaine has been volleyball coach for the Sheffield Lady Bulldogs. The parents of a teenage daughter and son would seem to have been living an ideal life. Jonathan Shirah has coached winning track teams the past few years, while Elaine has won her own awards in various local runs. Photos of the family look like adverts for Nordic Track. Yet, apparently not all was what it seemed with the Shirahs.

On Monday night, Tuscumbia Police were called to the Shirahs' home on Chess Lane in Tuscumbia's Colonial Heights, a neighborhood where houses are valued in the 200K range. There they found Mary Elaine Shirah lying on the floor, having been thrown "through a glass coffee table." Obviously the more expensive the table, the thicker the glass. Yet sources on home furnishings laud all such glass as extremely hard to break.

Who called the police and how long had Mary Elaine Shirah been lying where her husband had thrown her? These are still unanswered questions. We can state that her condition was such police felt the need for her to be checked out at the Emergency Room.

Jonathan D. Shirah spent the requisite 12 hours in jail--standard on domestic violence charges. Sources inform us that by Thursday morning he had returned to Muscle Shoals High School where he engaged in a verbal confrontation with the assistant principal. Shirah was then removed from the school by a Student Resource Officer.

Now Shirah has been charged with misdemeanor assault. It's only a stroke of fate that the coffee table glass broke in such a manner as to prevent serious injury--he could have conceivably been charged with Felony Murder at the end of the night's melee.

So far this week, Shirah has abused his wife and cursed his immediate superior; is this the kind of teacher Muscle Shoals wants to educate its youth? We have no idea where the Shirah marriage is headed, but judging from past events in Alabama, Jonathan D. Shirah will soon be teaching at some unsuspecting school in South Alabama.

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A recent column by J.J. Ray questioned the ethics of Tuscumbia attorney Rebecca Narmore. Ms. Narmore has contacted us concerning the blog. According to Narmore:

I obtained an opinion from the Alabama State Bar General Counsel's office regarding my representation of Marsha Allen in her claim for backpay. The Alabama State Bar stated that I do not have a conflict in this matter. In the future, you might want to be careful as to whom you allow to post information and opinions about people and their work ethic. I do expect that the individual(s) who posted that article are the same ones set on destroying Cherokee. That doesn't surprise me because ethics is not in their vocabulary.

We are happy to make this addendum to the account of current legal actions in the Town of Cherokee; however, ethics is often, like morals, in the eye of the beholder. We're sure many local attorneys, having been terminated by the town, would never have looked back at the floundering municipality.

We will also add that J.J. Ray does not live in or near Cherokee. We doubt he wishes to see the town destroyed. If there should be any out there who do, it would seem all they need to do is wait--it's doing a pretty good job of destroying itself.

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For the truly serious collector of Sheffield memorabilia: Link

Shoalanda

Rebecca Narmore, Cherokee, & Ethics

Cherokee, O’ Cherokee: A Little Dose of Fact

By J.J. Ray

The Holidays saw a lot of activity in the village of Cherokee. The mayor, a fugitive from a Viagra roundup, apparently managed to have himself sued by his own attorney. Not only did she sue him and the city, but part of the city council. What is more amazing is she has previously personally represented two council members and city clerk Melinda Malone and husband Mike.

Now the question is, Ms. Narmore, exactly how do you accomplish that and maintain attorney-client privilege? Second, how do you satisfy the Alabama Bar Association that there is no conflict of interest without someone filing charges against you?

According to the suit that has been filed Melinda Malone is right up there with public enemy number one. Perhaps the noises that have been coming from the mayor’s house are the pillory he is constructing. A picture is included, Mr. Mayor, in case you need help. For sure, you need to have your wife knit a Scarlet Letter and force her to wear it everywhere she goes. No, that would be a violation of her civil rights. You should be an authority on that by now.

All the crimes that the clerk and council have been accused of were actually voted on by a majority in the democratic fashion. I do have the minutes, Mr. Mayor, in case you have misplaced them. Have you explained to the city residents that should your indictment and prosecution of the city clerk and council members fail, the city could be financially responsible? Oh, dog gone, maybe I should not have let the cat out of the bag.

This whole mess stinks to high heaven and beyond. It is about time a full investigation by the State Attorney General's office looked into your mess Mr. Mayor and your wannabe secretary.

Not only is this all in the minutes but it is available on video. Remember when Ms. Narmore said she would remain you personal attorney, Mr. Mayor? Did you or your wannabe secretary bother to check the statutes concerning the powers and responsibilities of the city clerk Melinda Malone? I did not think so. I have those also if you would like a copy. A copy of the actual lawsuit is available and can be posted if anyone would like to read the utter nonsense that is included in it. The minutes and video are also available.

Perhaps, Mr. Mayor, you should stick to studying Viagra and its effects, it appears you are suffering from a lack of blood flow to the brain. You might want to cut back some. I would hate to see any more dementia set in.

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Whoa, folks, we were about to post a photo of Tuscumbia attorney Rebecca Narmore when we visited her website: Link

Presbyopia is a horrible thing to endure, but do any of you under the age of 95 see the required disclaimer as to the quality of services rendered by Narmore? We don't. We do see her preferred method of payment is cash.

Any anti-Chuck/Thelma readers out there? Now's your chance to strike a blow for the city council. That, gentle reader, was sarcasm. We don't suggest any of you attempt to get back at anyone, but we do wonder why no disclaimer. This will not go over well if she is reported for other ethics violations...be they true or not.


Shoalanda

Awards: Good...Federal Takeovers: Bad

Since our brief mention of Cherokee in yesterday's blog, we've had several questions as to what role the Federal government would or could play in that town's political problems in the upcoming year. The answer is probably very little. As long as the town meets any financial obligations to the US government and doesn't defy any Federal employment or environmental laws, we would hardly think Cherokee would be of great concern to Uncle Sam.

We have not yet had an update from our source, but the exact nature of Federal involvement in Cherokee is stated to be: Federal criminal charges and an arrest by US Marshals. If new information warrants, we'll publish a special update.

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Has former Cherokee attorney Rebecca Narmore committed an ethics violation in assisting Mayor Chuck Lansdell's secretary in a lawsuit? This is a more difficult question to answer. Narmore was terminated as attorney for the small Colbert County town in July of this year. Now she is representing Marsha Allen in her attempt to recover unpaid wages. According to rules of bar associations in almost all states, an attorney is guilty of a conflict of interest if:

1. The existence of a valid attorney-client relationship between the attorney and the former client.
2. The interests of the current and former clients must be materially adverse.
3. The former client has not given an informed consent to the new representation.
4. The current and former matter are the same or substantially related.

Whether Ms. Narmore is guilty of these four elements would probably be a matter of interpretation. Number four would seem to be the hardest to prove. We welcome comments from any of our attorney friends. As always, they will be published anonymously if that is their wish.

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Another sort of Federal takeover is in the works. It may not go anywhere...or it may change the way you and I look at and use the Internet.

We urge each of you to read this Washington Post article:

Hand's Off Tomorrow's Internet

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Awards?! Who doesn't love them? OB's Corner has just published part one of its awards for 2010. We're extremely pleased that he named us "Shoals Blogger of the Year." This award means much more to us than the Blogophilia award we received in 2008.

O.B. takes time from his busy schedule to blog about what matters in the Shoals. He makes a difference...and in our estimation that makes him an award winner every day of the year.



Shoalanda

Cherokee Ethics Violations/Leighton Memories

ETHICS VIOLATIONS REACH MONTGOMERY

By C. R.

Several citizens present at the Cherokee City Council have formally filed ethics complaints against multiple city council members. The ethics violations occurred during the July 14 council meeting. After being advised by City Attorney Becky Narmore that it was illegal to vote on matters involving a family member, Councilman Glover and Councilwomen Mason still voted on matters that related to their family and violated Alabama Law. The complainants state they have evidence to prove the violations occurred and will testify against the council members. Other ethics complaints will be filed for other violations committed during other council meetings.

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Memories of Leighton: The Tale of a 1960’s First Generation Corvair & a Future Colbert County Sheriff Candidate

by Lecia Ford

(The name of the car thief in this story has been changed to John Smith. Lecia's account of a memory from her youth was inspired by C. R.'s commentary Second Chances.)

In the 1960’s a father for a daughter, that should have been a boy, purchased a 1962 (the year of her birth) First Generation Corvair, green in color, with push button gears on the dashboard. The daughter, daddy’s pick of the litter, so they say, would learn how to drive in a cow pasture in the Green Machine. She would show out in front of the cousins and visitors on holidays. They would all line up to take the next ride around ‘town’.

When the Green Machine would pull up to the gate, (a loading shoot that was used for cattle) “next in line” she would say and they would pile in the little Green Machine. Around and around they would go, from the front to the back of 20 acres. Dodging cow patties, and sinkholes, the passengers would ‘whoop and holler’, and dread the time their country ride would end.

Summer was a fun time in the 60’s. Neighbors were relatives and relatives were friends, friends were loved ones. Everyone would gather for food, fun, fellowship…all in the middle of the 20-acre plot, and there would always be the Green Machine. The Green Machine was one fun ‘toy’, although it was the main transportation for this father to travel to work and back every day, it was a ‘toy’.

It happened on Main Street, Leighton, Alabama, where it was safe to leave your car windows down, your screen door unlocked for the evening breeze to gently cool the sweat off your brow. A safe place to raise your children, to be taught right from wrong, and if you disobeyed, you were corrected; by whatever means it had to be. Granted, we were never beaten, we may have thought we were, and before it happened we were always told, ‘this is going to hurt me more than you’, a quote that you never really grasp until you have children of your own. Only one day in the late 60’s would it prove to be a mistake, a mistake that would never be forgotten...

Two young men, one of which went by the name John Smith, would walk right up to the Green Machine and drive away, unknown to the father who was busy working providing for his family. The father went home that afternoon; the disappointment on his face could only be read by one, the pick of the litter.

It broke his heart to have to tell her that the Green Machine was gone, but he did it. When the Green Machine was recovered, it had been submerged in Gnat Pond, on Sixth Street, and painted with a can of spray paint, RED…

The father would not file charges against the two, ‘they were just being boys, maybe they will learn a lesson, give ‘em another chance’… (Leighton, A Place for Second Chances). The sentence for one of the young men? The Green Machine had to be sanded and the original green restored. The color was back, but the glory was gone. The Green Machine would never run another day…

I find it strange, I suppose, that a ‘future political candidate’ would never apologize for an act such as this, and considered his ‘punishment’ stupid, silly, and embarrassing--after all, it was ‘just for fun’. And proclaim…

" If elected, I will be a 24 hour sheriff-working harder than any other. I will fight drugs, solve property crimes, help get your possessions back, and serve the public for your safety." John states, "As Colbert County Sheriff, I will fight diligently to keep illegal drugs off our streets and out of the hands of our children. Drugs are a poison that ruins the lives of thousands of young people every day. We must work together to rid our county of this evil and give our children a safe learning environment that allows them to reach their potential."

“I am not afraid to stand up for you!”

And John Smith was not afraid to take a vehicle in broad daylight, paint it and submerge in a pond...

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Facebook page of Christopher Lee Sutherland, arrested yesterday in Tuscumbia for possession of child pornography: Link

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Our sincerest sympathies to Brad Holmes and his family in the passing of his father Keith Alan Holmes. Our prayers are with them at this time.

Shoalanda

Special Report: Nathan Johnson New Cherokee Municipal Judge

Cherokee City Council Meeting

Special Report By

C. R.

The Cherokee City Council held a meeting this morning. The citizens were given only twenty four hours notice that a city council meeting was going to be held at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. The council thought this would keep turn out for the meeting low but they were wrong. The city council meeting was packed. ( Thanks to people like SS )

The temp outside was cool but the temp inside of the city council meeting was boiling. During the meeting one citizen yelled out to the council “all of you are damn stupid”. This remark brought cheers from the packed crowd. One citizen told the council several times during the meeting to resign.

It was rumored that the city council has been meeting in secret and it showed during the meeting. Mayor Lansdell even pointed it out by saying “go ahead and do it y'all have already made your decision before this meeting”. At one point during the meeting Steve Glover was asked a question and Glover would not answer. The mayor stated “what is wrong Steve did you not rehearse that question at your secret meeting”. Steve Glover looked at Mignon Willis and the Mayor told Steve “stop looking at her and look at me”.

The leader of the city council Steve Glover would make a motion and Councilwomen Mason or Councilman Joe Franks would second the motion and the Burger King Four Glover, Malone, Franks, and Mason would vote lock step with each other to pass the motion.

The city council moved quick to imply that the mayor’s hiring of Marsha Allen was illegal. The council fired Marsha Allen as the part time city clerk and made a motion to not pay her the money she was owed by the town for working. Steve Glover made the motion and voted on the motion. This could be an ethics violation because the matter was involving his mother-in-law.

Steve Glover made a motion to hire his mother-in-law Becky Watkins. City Attorney Becky Narmore advised Steve that was an ethics violation and Councilman Malone made the motion and the motion was passed by the Burger King Four. Steve Glover made a motion to set the pay of his mother-in-law and also voted on the motion. This is also a possible ethics violation.

The Burger King Four fired City Attorney Becky Narmore. After being fired she stated: I only did this because I was raised here and I was asked by several people living here not to quit over the years. I stayed here for them and now I am glad to be done with all of this. Later on Narmore added since I am no longer employed by the City of Cherokee I would be glad to be Marsha Allen’s attorney and Chuck Lansdell's adviser and I will do it for free.

Steve Glover also made a motion to remove Mayor Lansdell from the list of people authorized to sign the city's checks. When Glover made the motion Mayor Lansdell demanded Glover give him a reason for this action. After about 15 minutes Glover could never give a reason. The motion died. It takes two signatures to sign a check.

Nathan Johnson was hired as the new city judge and Dan Rosson was hired as the new city attorney. The one bright spot was when all city councilpersons and mayor voted to replace some of the city’s park equipment. All parties also agreed to have an expert come and look at the sewers pumps. The two motions were made by Mike Malone.

As the meeting was ending Mayor Lansdell signed a city check to pay Marsha Allen for the hours she had worked. Councilwomen Lambert signed the check also. Lambert told Glover, "If you do not like it sue me."

After the meeting City Clerk Melinda Malone turned in request to take two days vacation Thursday and Friday to attend her daughter's cheer camp. The mayor told Melinda that everyone in town has known about the cheer camp since March. Melinda was advised that she failed to give proper notice and the request was denied. Melinda claimed harassment but the Mayor told her that "you failed to give proper notice and your request is denied."

Note: Other views on the Cherokee situation will be published this week.

Shoalanda

Cherokee Library - Paige II

With a population of just under 1,300 and negligible sales tax receipts, the town of Cherokee (Main Street pictured) in western Colbert County is fortunate to have a library; however, the town isn't sure just how long this good fortune will continue. Allison Paige McWilliams was the town's third librarian in just over four years; now the small community has filed a $43,000.00 lawsuit against McWilliams.

Our May 16th column initially reported that just under $17,000.00 was missing; updated preliminary audits now indicate that McWilliams used the library's credit card for purchases of $16,054.50--mainly at Wal-Mart, Chevron, and Shell. State Certified Accountants have just begun the forensic audit that may turn up other unauthorized charges, and the town is unable to press charges with the District Attorney until such an audit is completed.

With only $200.00 in the library's bank account, and unable to get new state funding while open less than 16 hours a week, the town has pressed forward with a civil suit. The suit, filed by town attorney Rebecca Narmore, also alleges Paige McWilliams forged library chairperson Ella Nelson's name on an official document, having town clerk Melinda Malone notarize the signature. McWilliams has denied the allegations and announced she will defend herself against the charges.

It's unfortunate the citizens of Cherokee are having to suffer for lack of library funding, but the town itself must shoulder some blame in this situation. Any checking/debit or credit card account should be balanced and monitored by someone other than those in control of the funds. As for Ms. Malone notarizing a signature she did not herself witness, that speaks for itself.


Note: Last chance to see the Drive By Truckers tonight. You don't always have to leave home for great entertainment.