MUG.com is Moving!

Our friends at MUG.com are moving. Having outgrown their old facilities on Woodward Avenue in Muscle Shoals, this popular coffee shop is now located in Sheffield at 401 Cox Boulevard. They will reopen for business at 10:00 a.m. Monday morning.

Congratulations to Jim and Cindy. They have both worked hard to create a unique coffee shop/eatery in this area; we hope everyone will visit them in their new location. Be sure to send your comments on the new site to Trader who will be doing an update on the popular business.

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Apologies to Carole Coil Medley. Carole kicked off her campaign for Lauderdale District Judge last night at Wilson Park, and we failed to spotlight the shindig in our blog. Both Carole and her opponent, Democrat James Hall II, are excellent jurists, and we look forward to a vigorous campaign.

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Know of pet/animal abuse? Our friend Renee' Miskell has sent us a link to a great site; although we hate there is a necessity for such an organization. PetAbuse.com is a repository for data on animal abuse cases across the US. If you read of animal abuse in your area, please send the information to this website. You may also wish to check out this site if you regularly place pets or farm animals. Thanks to Renee' for making us aware of this work.

Renee' is still taking donations for her rescued animals. By August 19th, she should be able to begin placing these beautiful Arabian horses.

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Missing the old Florence Golf & Country Club already? This car tag might be the ideal purchase to commemorate the defunct institution. You can buy it here on eBay: Link


Shoalanda


Coming soon...get connected!

Joe Jolly Co.: Another No-Bid Contract

We've mentioned before that the State of Alabama does not place professional services under its bidding umbrella. Why? Obviously there is more to consider than the bottom financial line in such contracts. It's also obvious that such no-bid provisions can lead to, as many have termed it, "good ol' boy" politics at its worst. Ironically, when Mayor Bobby Irons and the late Councilman Scott Carrier sought to open up the position of Financial Advisor to the city, they were the ones accused of wanting to place their cronies in the job.

The Joe Jolly Co. made the news today when its Shoals representative Johnny Dill announced that local bonds financing the Robert Trent Jones Golf Courses were on schedule to pay off early. The Joe Jolly Co. has been the Financial Advisor to Florence since 1979. It also serves in similar capacities to Muscle Shoals and numerous towns across the valley. Like Florence, these cities do not place their contracts out for bids.

By all accounts the Joe Jolly Co. has served Florence and other cities well, but its exclusive contract bothers many. In other words, the City of Florence cannot use any other brokerage firm but Jolly's, located in Birmingham. Is this troubling?

We don't have the financial expertise to answer that, but we do question how anyone would not find the contract anything but good ol' boyin' at its best. Local Jolly representative Dill is the son-in-law of the late Elton Darby. Interestingly, the Joe Jolly Co. has previously donated large amounts to the campaign of Roger Bedford, another Darby son-in-law.

Looking on the bright side, Mayor Irons favored giving the contract to J. P. Morgan, the company that lost its shirt in the Birmingham Sewer Bond boondoggle. We have Scott Carrier to thank for that not coming to fruition.

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An update on Kiwi's Haven from Renee' Miskell:

Instead of opening the paypal account (which would take too much time that I don't have), I wanted to let you know that the Elgin, Alabama Co-op is allowing donors to call in their credit card numbers. The Elgin Co-op phone number is 256 247 3453. Mention that they want to apply credit to the Jeff & Renee Miskell account. This way we can buy feed, halters, corral panels, medicine, etc.

I have rescued 37 horses, 5 cows, and 3 dogs. Joanne Gutknecht (was my friend) was not feeding them, letting them starve to death; two died. Now I am going to court Aug. 19 on the hearing. Then hopefully the horses can be placed in new foster homes. It's been quite a project! Never a dull moment. Tank got excited by all of the mares, broke 4 wood panels, cut his leg wide open, treating that now. He should be okay. A mare cut her leg, treating that. A gelding cut his leg, treating that. Walking 7 dogs morning and night. Feeding and treating 37 horses with rain rot, cutting manes and tails that were matted. Two horses looked like they had a fifth leg because the tail was so matted and touched the ground. I've made quite a stir in the Arabian horse community, been in the newspaper and on two tv stations. Spent $5000 already. Taking donations.

Really hot...105...grass is drying up. Already feeding our winter hay supply to Joanne's horses.

Renee Miskell

6901 County Road 50

Rogersville, AL 35652

256 247 1727

email: renee.256@att.net

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Now here's Johnny & Roger, uh, Moe & Joe...

Thanks to Matt Osborne for the idea for today's blog on Joe Jolly.


Shoalanda

Kiwi's Haven & Renee' Miskell

If you're a regular reader of our blog, you know the name Renee' Miskell. Renee' has written several guest commentaries for us in which she has demonstrated her concern for those who are abused and otherwise mistreated.

Now, Renee' and her husband Jeffrey are extending that concern to a large group of animals recently confiscated in Minor Hill, Tennessee. Here is Renee's story in her own words:

I just rescued 37 horses, 5 cows, and 3 dogs from Joanne Betty Gutknecht, 76, of Minor Hill, Tn on 7/10/10; who was arrested on 7/2/10 by the Giles County, TN, Sheriff's Office. There are photos at timesdaily.com/photos (search Animal Cruelty). The Times Daily kindly printed the article on 7/14/10. Several of the horses were severely emaciated, and two died from starvation.

I will one day be starting Kiwi's Haven, a non-profit organization; but first the case will be heard August 19, 2010 at 8:00 at the Pulaski, TN, Giles County Courthouse.

My husband, Jeffrey Miskell, and I are not millionaires and we are personally taking on this responsibility for the health and welfare of these poor animals that were locked in a world of living hell. Joanne Gutknecht and I were friends but I had to make a decision between severing our friendship over actively speaking out against this painful life of the horses that were literally starving to death.

If anyone is interested in making a financial contribution to our cause, please have them call us at 256-247-1727 and please be sure to leave a message. I assure you that we are not trying to get rich. The cost of bringing back a horse to good health from this type of malnourishment is costly and could rise to the level of $3000-5000 per horse depending on whether they get ill because of their immune systems being down, it could be even more costly.

We need horse halters, horse panels, medicine, feed and hay. I have been blessed already with several phone calls and even one volunteer who came yesterday to assist with the horses after she read the article! I thank the Florence Times Daily for running the article and I thank all of the lovely people who have helped in this rescue operation including cattle haulers, friends, and the Giles County Sheriff's Department.

Thank you Shoalanda for your blog. You are reaching many folks on several important causes.

We have encouraged Renee' to add Kiwi's Haven to Facebook causes. Those wishing to donate may do so via PayPal. We'll be updating this story once the site is set up.

Photo by Matt McKean

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Demise of BlogNetNews: We have been members of the BlogNetNews Alabama site almost since the very inception of our column. We were honored when their sister site Blogophilia named us the best new Alabama Political Blog of 2008.

Sadly, due to lagging revenue, this aggregate of political blogs has bitten the dust. We hope the site owners will be able to find a way to resurrect their website before the November elections.

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From C. R.:

PRIVACY PROBLEMS

Any citizen having a house telephone in western Colbert County is very concerned today. Over the weekend news broke about former Mayor Mignon Willis being allowed to hang around the Cherokee Telephone Company for hours at the time. Furthermore, Willis is being allowed to use the telephone company’s computers that hold personal information about the company’s customers. Monday a flood of concerned customers were calling the home office of the telephone company in Jackson, Mississippi. and complaining about the news. We will have to see what action the telephone company takes.

NEED HELP

Because of the ongoing feud between the Burger King Four and the city clerk, Mayor Lansdell believes the citizens are not getting the help they need. If you have called city hall or your councilperson and have not received help, please e-mail the mayor and he will respond to your request. The issue has come up after a house was damaged by backed up sewage. To contact the mayor email, cklansdell@dishmail.net

Shoalanda

Protests, Clarifications, and Politics as Usual

Vulcan Materials in Tuscumbia pays Colbert County a large severance tax each year, as well as donating materials to local schools, libraries, and other community endeavors. Therefore, a reader was recently surprised to find at least five, and perhaps more, homemade billboards protesting this giant quarry company. These protest signs are located on Hwy 20 between Barton and Tuscumbia, most immediately adjacent to Vulcan's huge plant complex.

A phone call to the company confirmed that there are such signs in place, but the spokesperson would provide no further information. What, after all these years of business in the same area, has Vulcan done (or not done) to spark such animosity?

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Chad Holden has now officially launched his Facebook site and invites supporters to join. Chad has asked that we clarify one statement from our recent profile. While he does describe himself as an Independent, he will be running on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Holden feels the word "Independent" is a wise choice for social networking sites that his students will invariably read. We agree this shows wisdom and commend Chad's choice in the matter.

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Congratulations to Sandra Killen-Burroughs on the new canine member of her family. After our blog published a small item about Morris Lentz' foundling Squirt needing a new home, she and her family visited and promptly fell in love. We may need to change the name of our column to Adoptions Are Us.

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Yesterday, we published a guest commentary by Renee' Miskell. We have been in contact with Renee' for some time since her friend Jennifer Bragg's murder. Renee' would like us to add that her interest in ensuring appropriate punishment for abusers and murderers extends well beyond Jennifer's case, as evidenced by her commentary on the surprisingly light sentence meted out to Kenneth Sylvester.

Renee' knew Jennifer only the short period of time that the Shapley/Bragg family had lived in the Lexington area. Yet, she has been deeply affected by her death, as have many others.

Remembering Jennifer H. Bragg
July 26, 1990 - February 7, 2008

Jennifer is no longer crying out - she is now still - resting comfortably and in peace under the cover of God’s love, grace and mercy. God rest your beautiful soul, Jennifer. You are surely missed.

I knew you only briefly, I wish I could have helped had I known.

Renee Miskell

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Happy birthday tomorrow to our favorite computer guru Jim Fisher who will be in the neighborhood of 110. More birthday wishes to our favorite Lipstick Librarian Jessica Piper who will turn 21ish.


Shoalanda

Too Nice, Too Lenient?

TOO NICE, TOO LENIENT?

A Guest Commentary by

Renee' Miskell

On Friday, February 5, 2010, the TimesDaily reports that Kenneth Sylvester pleads guilty to manslaughter in the beating death of Donnie Guyse in Judge Mike Jones courtroom; thus avoiding the possible 99-year prison sentence Kenneth Sylvester could have received had he been convicted of murder. Kenneth Sylvester faces up to 16 years in prison as part of a plea agreement.

I am sure that Judge Mike Jones and the District Attorneys of Lauderdale County are very nice people - maybe too nice to be in their current positions of protecting the public. Getting 16 years in prison for taking another person's life is definitely not enough time to serve in prison (if he stays in prison that long)!

Is anyone else taking notice of how lenient they have been on murderers?
You are clearly sending the wrong message to murderers and to violent criminals.

It is time that we get officials in office who are hard on criminals and time to stop making short-termed prison sentences and plea agreements with these criminals!

If we need more jobs, and the prisons are over crowded, build more prisons, hire more guards and take action to protect the public. Someone who murders is clearly sick and when that person gets out, he or she will do it again.

Wake up and take action people...this is our town, this is our safety that we are talking about here. Let's not be passive about such an important issue.

Renee' is a Rogersville resident who was close friends with murder victim Jennifer Bragg. It has been exactly two years today since Jennifer's murder. Her killer has 23 years left to serve on his sentence. Let's hope he serves it all.

Shoalanda