Elizabeth E. Romine/Get Yo' Money Back?

Several media have made note of the passing of Elizabeth Ernestine Romine, once a prominent critic of the Florence City Council. Here are links to two very revealing, yet very different, tributes to Miss Romine:

Happy Warrior Gone at 88

My Friend Ernestine Romine

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Which One Isn't a Cold-Blooded Killer?

A reader writes: Since Greg Scoggins has a high powered deer rifle in his squad car he must not be hurting too much for money. Maybe those who gave when his house burned could get their money back? Seriously you gotta wonder if it's first a half tame deer then the stray skateboarder or two. I wouldn't wanna be a jaywalker in Muscle Shoals with him around. I know Scoggins is entitled to a hearing, but if he keeps his job he bears watching.

Interesting thought, but we understand the 47 year-old Scoggins and his wife Billie have at least one child. The fire obviously affected them also. Let's hope most of the money went to things they needed. As for his future at the Muscle Shoals Police Department? Some people deserve second chances and some don't. No matter which way you feel, if you live in Muscle Shoals you're entitled to make your voice heard by the mayor and city council.

Shoalanda

Greg Scoggins: He'll Pay "Deerly"

Officer Greg Scoggins

Greg Scoggins is a Deshler High graduate, a resident of Muscle Shoals, and a member of the town's police department--at least he was. Now Scoggins is on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Alabama Department of Conservation.

Scoggins is accused of shooting and killing a deer on property belonging to the Federal government--specifically the TVA Reservation--while on duty. We're not sure just how many laws Scoggins violated, but we have to ask why he would have violated even one.

Does Scoggins just hate deer? Is he like Roger Pitts who doesn't care what he kills just for the thrills and accolades from a certain segment of our society? Did he risk killing the deer for food?

As odd as it may sound, the answer may be number three. Scoggins' house burned last July, and sources with the police department say the patrol officer's family members lost most of their possessions. At least two organizations reportedly took up donations for the Scogginses at that time.

Obviously that fact won't matter to the Department of Conservation when it comes time to charge Scoggins. We hope it will matter to the City of Muscle Shoals when the powers that be decide how to handle Officer Scoggins employment; desperate people will often do much to support their families.

However, that may be a moot point. Another source tells us Greg Scoggins could be charged with a felony. If that should happen, and he's convicted, Scoggins will no longer meet the requirements for a police officer.

Look around and see who's hurting this holiday season. You never know just how much someone might need your help.

Shoalanda

Bad Boys: Return Engagement/Words of Wisdom

We see two big, bad convicted killers have again made the arrest reports. Roger Keith Pitts is ostensibly awaiting trial for a series of burglaries in the western end of Lauderdale County, and this makes the second time (6/7) he's been arrested since the initial theft charges. Let's hope he goes away for a long time.

David Darryl Thomspon also has a new arrest (7/10) in Lauderdale. Convicted of manslaughter in the death of a Killen nurse, the county is apparently still waiting for results of his appeal. How long must Melissa's family wait for justice?

Related posts:

Roger Keith Pitts

David Darryl Thompson

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Just a few words of wisdom here (or at least our opinion): If you wish to set yourself up as an example of Christianity, Buddhism, Atheism, or even Pastafarianism, may we suggest beating up your boyfriend is not the way to go about it. You may think because of your beliefs we don't care about you. That's not the case. We think you have tremendous potential. Wake up and take control of your life...and control doesn't come from alcohol or physically abusing those you think have wronged you.



Shoalanda

It's April 19th; Do You Know Where Your Hospital Is?

From the January 18th TimesDaily:

The application was deemed complete Tuesday...but it will not go before the agency board to be accepted or denied until April 18, providing it is not contested.

Our sources indicated that a specific location for the hospital in Lauderdale County would be added by this date. As far as we know, there have been no private or public announcements of location. On April 13th, RegionalCare, headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, announced a new cancer center to be built adjacent to the new hospital...but still no exact location. Apparently the money is still on a site west of Florence belonging to a local physician. We await...

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Roger Keith Pitts has again been arrested. On April 3rd, Pitts was charged with Domestic Violence in Lauderdale County.  VINELink does not show Pitts as currently being incarcerated. Has he again been granted bail?

Related blog: Roger Keith Pitts 20 Years Later

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The Connection has published its second in a series on local sex offenders. We caught up with Trader recently, and he tells us no one convicted of Second Degree (Statutory) Rape will be included in these weekly bios. This week features:

 David Joshua Green

Like: The Connection



Shoalanda

Roger Keith Pitts: 20 Years Later

Roger Keith Pitts, 42, of Waterloo has been arrested in a long string of recent robberies in the west end of the county. Pitts is no stranger to the news; in 1992 he was tried for a senseless killing and found guilty. Not everyone will remember Pitts' heinous act; their reaction to Pitts' crime at the time would have depended greatly on their mindset and the depths of their feelings.

It was Christmas Eve 1991 when George Taylor traveled from his Rhodesville home to Florence. It had become a regular trek for Taylor whose wife Elizabeth was recovering from heart surgery at ECM. When Mr. Taylor returned home, he found Bucky Taylor lying in a pool of blood, his head missing.

Bucky had been a member of the Taylor family since he was a three week-old fawn. The four year-old stag and his mate Babe loved and greeted everyone. Roger Keith Pitts took advantage of that, luring the deer to him and shooting him at point blank range. Pitts then decapitated Bucky, took photos, and bragged to fellow yobs how he had killed the deer while hunting.

George Taylor was able to identify pictures of Pitts with Bucky's remains, and two weeks after the killing, Pitts was arrested. He was found guilty and sentenced to six months in jail. Was the sentence appropriate?

The Taylor's children were grown, and it was well known in the community that Mr. Taylor had been batching it while Mrs. Taylor was hospitalized. We have to wonder what would have happened if Mr. Taylor had discovered Pitts on his property. Would he also have been the victim of sometime tree-trimmer Roger Pitts?

Let's hope the Lauderdale County District Attorney's office manages to put Roger Keith Pitts away for a long, long time.

Shoalanda