Revisiting Troy Woodis & Bob "Tuc" Montgomery

 Troy Woodis Sitting on Left of Local Pariah Greg Aziz

We doubt that any of us who have been voting for any number of years have not voted for the "ideal" candidate only to find out later that the man/woman was a wife beater/Satanist/whatever. It happens.

We were certainly caught off guard yesterday when we read the breaking story on Troy Woodis in The Connection:

Troy Woodis Slammed by Lawsuits

We don't pretend to know what has precipitated Mr. Woodis' financial problems, but the drastic decline in housing sales would seem to be a likely guess. We don't know if Woodis is not providing child support because of a lack of means or a lack of common care for his children. He is obviously funding his campaign for the Colbert County Commission. That's not very good prioritizing.

That brings us back to his opponent Lane Roland. Roland may work as manager of the Madison office of the North Alabama Gas District, but the main office is in Muscle Shoals. Would he vote on issues concerning natural gas in Colbert County? Many issues would involve gas service peripherally; would he vote on those if the public didn't realize this?

These are the issues. We are not going to endorse anyone in this particular Democratic race. Colbert voters need to look at all the issues and look at them good. Then vote. Then keep their eyes on whoever serves them. In God we trust; all others should be reasonably suspect.

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No local race has been as divisive as the one for Colbert County School Superintendent. Both candidates have run an honorable campaign, but our readers are vehement in their support of either Montgomery or Olivis. We're still receiving e-mails on this particular office/endorsement.

We'll take a second look at both candidates tomorrow. If you want to make your voice heard here, please send your thoughts now. It speaks well of both men that they have such avid supporters and have run such a clean race.

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Slang? Ain't it cool? Who should use it and when? Each profession has its own patois, usually not known to the general public and often not grammatical. Should our educators use slang, at least publicly? In other words, is is really copacetic? (Yes, that was a salute to Bill Bojangles Robinson.)

We see where current Lauderdale County School Superintendent William Valentine has just announced he "trespassed" a father from any school property. Trespassed? Really? Perhaps when Dr. Valentine leaves office some incoming choppers will whisk him back to his crib where he can ride the scan machine for more popo talk. From Merriam-Webster:

1

a : a violation of moral or social ethics : transgression; especially : sin b : an unwarranted infringement

2

a : an unlawful act committed on the person, property, or rights of another; especially : a wrongful entry on real property b : the legal action for injuries resulting from trespass.

Shoalanda

Green v. Brooks: Nothing but the Facts - Part II (Not Even a Moment of Silence?)

Yesterday we discussed atheist Jeremy Lane Green who protested public prayer at Brooks High School football games. We read on a local forum that today we would "tear apart" the Brooks Lions Will Pray movement. That is not our intention, but we do have a few words of constructive criticism for those involved.

1. Apparently no one either knew or checked the law before beginning the group. Superintendent William Valentine has already assented to the FFRF's request, a fact that should have been little in doubt, if at all.

2. Now the Brooks group has contacted state senator Tammy Irons in hopes of modifying the law in some manner. We doubt even Ms. Irons has the ability to sway the Supreme Court in its current incarnation. Time spent in meaningless activity is ill spent.

3. There is also talk of a huge fund-raising project in order to retain a lawyer to plead the group's case. Sorry, folks, he or she will have no more influence than Ms. Irons.

4. Many in the group don't know the names of the school board members and apparently are unaware the Lauderdale County school system has its own web site.

5. Many in the group don't seem to understand the Freedom From Religion Foundation is not connected to the ACLU.

6. The group is supposedly composed of Christians, but many of the comments by group members and others who oppose Mr. Green have been anything but Christian. Let's look at some of them...

Where does he live? If it is Lauderdale county, run him out of town!!!!! (referring to Green)

he is scum. (referring to Valentine)

the hell with them...

6. As long as the group continues along these lines, it will only serve to give Green a second 15 minutes of fame. Think about it.

*****

It should be noted that William Valentine made his decision to delete public prayers (and supposedly moments of silence) from county ball games in conjunction with the system's attorney James Irby. The decision concerning public prayer was mandated by law; however, they did not confer with school board members. Those who say they will not vote for any current members are not practicing the fairness they claim they have been denied.

Also, it seems that only county sports are involved in this decision. Youth games sponsored by various leagues are exempt from this decision. That will not stop Green or others from protesting the leagues' use of county property. This is something the Brooks group should be considering if they wish to be one step ahead of the next legal challenge. Good luck in your future endeavors to help the school in any legal way possible.



Shoalanda

Storm Warnings for Rhea Tays Fulmer

From our October 24th blog:

A source close to the Lauderdale County Commission has commented: I understand a particular commissioner now has her pets documenting every conversation they have with the director and deputy director. Wonder if she even has their notes on when they took their potty breaks so she can try and throw that out there next time?


While we had no doubt concerning the veracity of our source's comments, we didn't expect them to be proved so literally. After Tuesday's work session of the Lauderdale County Commission, there can be no doubt that every move the EMA director makes is closely monitored by a member of his staff. Perhaps the most important question is: Which one is Rhea Tays Fulmer's pet?

Or, perhaps, the most important question is when did Fulmer begin emulating Howard Dean at his worst? If this is what the commission's work sessions have now become, we can only imagine what the regular meeting will offer next Monday.

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From D.K.:

Victims beware!!! The Alabama Public Safety and Sentencing Coalition is trying to introduce a bill for the next legislative session regarding alternative sentencing. In the bill, it includes an act to do away with the mandatory notification act for victims of violent crime when offenders are being considered for parole. VOCAL was invited to participate in this coalition under the guise this would only affect non-violent offenders. Crime Victims are strongly opposed to this! This will set victims' rights back before the early 80's.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS, JUSTICE SUE BELL COBB (creator of the coalition), and THE PAROLE BOARD to let them know YOU ARE AGAINST THIS BILL! If this bill passes, victims will not be notified by certified mail! If you or a loved one is a victim of a violent crime, this affects you!

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Our local hero today is William Valentine, Lauderdale County Superintendent. Mr. Valentine had the intestinal fortitude to put Commissioner Rhea Fulmer in her place Tuesday. Kudos, Mr. Valentine; we're sure you've won many a new fan for your candor concerning Fulmer's abilities.



Shoalanda