While there's still over 90 days until the election, it's not too early to think about the June primary. In Lauderdale County, two of the commissioners will be up for re-election: Joe Hackworth and Brad Holmes.
We've always found Brad Holmes to be a man of integrity. As for Hackworth, we've never seen him in action, so to speak. After four years on the commission, perhaps that says something. No matter how we may personally feel about the two, many voters are out for blood over both animal issues and the lack of momentum in securing new bridges for the county.
Let's hope they campaign well. Good luck to all four candidates at this point.
*****
*****
From a reader:
I wanted to rebut J. Redmon's pro gun stance. He seems to think that just one gun death in a country with strict gun control means failure. If we thought that, why would anyone take the flu vaccine? It prevents the flu in about 40,000 out of 100,000 who take it. So why bother? At least that would be Mr. Redmon's take on matters.
Times are changing.
*****
We see that Ryan Tolliver Johnson has asked for youthful offender status in the death of Samuel Jackson Newton. Two points should be noted, and probably will be noted by Judge Gil Self.
1. So you think now, Mr. Johnson, that you're too youthful to have made the right decision the night you caused a death? Wait a second. You were too youthful to have drunk half a liquor store that night as well. Still you did. (And we would love to know who provided him with the alcohol or if he stole it.)
2. If you want the judge and others to take pity on you, perhaps you would have done better not to have smirked in your mugshot.
We see that some are predicting Johnson will get probation, but others in a similar position in this county have gotten around 30 months. It's no more than Johnson deserves.
Ryan Tolliver Johnson of Lexington has been indicted on three charges that, if convicted, could bring him 60 years in prison. Since the 19 year-old has no previous record (that we know of) and the Alabama court system likes to play Let's Make a Deal, we can be reasonably sure his final sentence won't be so daunting.
Yet the indictment leaves many questions. Let's look at them:
1. Whose UTV was Johnson driving? A Polaris UTV is expensive, and since it can't be driven on public roadways, it's a true luxury unless one is a farmer, forester, etc. Perhaps Ryan has money? Or perhaps his family didn't know that he sometimes "borrowed" farm equipment?
2. Why didn't the indictment include underage drinking and on-road driving? We'll give the troopers a pass for not charging him with the on-road driving since that was hearsay, but if he tested drunk, shouldn't he have been charged?
3. Where did Ryan get the alcohol? Someone either sold it to him or he borrowed that from family as he may have the UTV. Did he supply it to his friends? After all, we now know the UTV was not a Polaris model equipped for a driver and three passengers, but was suited to only one passenger. Why did Ryan's four friends agree to such a risky ride if they weren't similarly impaired?
If there's no trial, we may never know the answer to these questions. What we do know is that, barring some genius on Ryan's part, he's just demoted his station in life...as in forever. It's sad, but it's also sad for the Newton family who has to live the rest of their lives without Jackson because Ryan Tolliver Johnson made the choice to kill his friend.
Yes, he made that choice whether he was aware of it or not. We doubt that teenage boys are in our reading demographic, but let's hope at least one reads this and makes a conscious decision not to let this happen to him.
*****
*****
What's going to be the local race to watch this fall? It could possibly be the Colbert County Circuit Court clerk race. Qualifying doesn't end for ten more days, so we may see even more interest before then.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
