Harry Wayne Roberts Charged with Rape

Three weeks ago, Harry Wayne Roberts and his wife were listed as wanted individuals, namely as the masterminds of a local theft ring that targeted heavy equipment across northwest Alabama. Today Roberts, 48, has been charged with First Degree Rape in Colbert County.

Roberts and his wife Stacy Elaine Murray, 34, list their primary residence as in Russellville. Murray had reportedly turned herself in to Franklin County authorities, but Roberts had not. If Franklin County still wants Roberts, he's being held in the Colbert County Jail. Considering the newest charges against him, he may wish to stay there rather than return to his wife 

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We've received several comments, both public and private, on yesterday's blog concerning Autumn Marie Wood. Obviously accusations need to be verified before they are published, but one rumor seems to be in full force. Did someone hand Autumn the knife she used to stab Brooklyn Hollins?

The current account of Autumn searching a kitchen drawer for a weapon hardly makes sense. Surely Brooklyn didn't lie on the kitchen floor patiently waiting for the fight to resume. We're sure these facts will be brought out at the trial in September.

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Several readers have also asked if the murder trial of Jason Green started today. A Franklin County judge had scheduled the trial, postponed four times, for June 6th; however, we have no new info on the proceedings. Such trials usually begin on Monday, with the first day being reserved for jury selection. There's a good chance the proceedings have again been postponed. We welcome any input.



Shoalanda

A Fair Trial for Autumn Marie Wood?

A reader has asked if Autumn Marie Wood can get a "fair trial" in Lauderdale County. For those who may have missed the news today, Wood was denied her second request to be tried as a juvenile in the stabbing death of Brooklyn Ann Hollins.

Wood's attorney may now ask for a change of venue. We would doubt that such a request would be granted. Tony Logan's was; Christy Scott's was not. Go figure. Wood could also accept a plea bargain. She's not denying she killed Hollins, but at this point she is claiming self defense.

As for a "fair trial," it's our opinion Woods would ultimately come out better going to trial than accepting a plea. The teenager is physically attractive and many on a jury will feel sympathy for the young woman. It may be a sad fact, but Wood will be in court in person to present her side--Brooklyn Hollins will not.

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Let's look at another sad fact. It's been reported there were 18 youths at the unchaperoned house party. Probably more attendees were female than male, but we may assume at least nine party-goers were young women. One such youth lived in the home, leaving eight teenage girls who were overnight guests at this unsophisticated soiree. Of the eight (probably more), all had parents/guardians who allowed them to spend the night away from home without speaking to an adult in charge.

Someone on a local forum has commented on the grammar and spelling of youths discussing the crime. We may safely assume if these parents don't care where their daughters spend the night, they certainly don't care about their education or lack thereof.



Shoalanda

Special: New Arrest for Corely Langley Griffin

Our three-time loser friend with crimes against women has again been arrested. Court records show Corey Langley Griffin was charged with Coercion, or Harassment and Intimidation, in his hometown of Talladega. Want to bet his victim was female?
 

Kellergate Is Now

From a concerned resident of Lauderdale County:

1) The people of Lauderdale county and their leaders need to petition the governor to intervene and encourage the CON board to act upon the original request for 300 beds. The more the better. We can all make a difference if we call or write to his office. If he is serious about helping create growth and jobs in Alabama, this is a no-brainer.

2) If the businesses in Colbert county will not support the growth and stimulus that this would add to the community, then don't support them with your dollars either. Let them know that if they continue to support the efforts by HKH to stifle this project, that you can spend or send your dollars elsewhere as well. Let's face it, pocketbooks talk. We saw in the TD yesterday where some businesses left Colbert county to open in Lauderdale because up to 2/3 of their customers were from Lauderdale county. We can use that to our benefit. 

3) Let your physician know that that you support this project and encourage him to do it as well. they don't have to practice or admit to the hospital to know that what is good for the community will be good for them.

I think the reason for all of the ads by the HH and HKH administration has been to solely place the blame on RegionalCare when they decide not to build a hospital. They know that Regionalcare will not build a 220 bed hospital to replace a 350 bed facility. That is why they have never openly said they did not want a hospital, only a smaller one. This way they save face and make it look like RC is the bad guy. One of their own commissioners made the statement in the hearing that they would have no problem with it if it was being built in Colbert county.

We agree with our commenter 100%. In the past we have supported Colbert County (and Franklin and Limestone) in any endeavor. Now we're presented with the hard cold truth that Colbert not only doesn't support Lauderdale County, but has placed a knife in the county's back. Note the last paragraph of our reader's comments; hence the title Kellergate.

We realize not all citizens of Colbert County oppose the new hospital, but a financial boycott seems to be the best way to make Lauderdale's voice heard. Our readers may do as they please. My personal expendable income will no longer be spent in Colbert County.



Shoalanda

Unneeded Certificate of Need?

It must have been a really interesting year--1974. Richard Nixon resigned, Patty Hearst was kidnapped, and the Federal government decided to rope in certain aspects of our health care. Why the latter? It seems the theory was too many hospitals or similar endeavors would increase health care costs for the consumer.

Approximately 13 years later, the Federal government abandoned its stance, but all but 17 of the 51 boards remained in effect, including the one in Alabama. Just what does our CON Board cover? Here's the basic list:

• Construction, establishment, or acquisition of new healthcare facilities, including:
• general and many specialized hospitals
• skilled nursing facilities
• intermediate care facilities
• skilled or intermediate care units in veterans' homes
• rehabilitation centers
• Ambulatory Surgery Center
• facilities for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) treatment (dialysis)
• some alcohol and drug abuse facilities
• home health agencies
• hospice
• Addition of beds or change of bed classification
• Any medical equipment whose associated cost is greater than $2,647,548
• New annual operating costs greater than $1,059,019
• Any capital expenditure for or on behalf of a healthcare facility or organization in excess of $5,295,096

Please note that the expenditure limits are indexed annually. The amounts indicated are for FY 2012.

Quite long for just the basics, isn't it? Don't you wish the government would take that much interest in payday loan stores?

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So what happens if the CON Board denies RegionalCare its request for a new hospital--at least the one RC wants to build? The denied party has 15 days to appeal; all appeals will be heard and acted on within approximately five months. And if RC should also lose the appeal? That isn't clear. A private source tells us they could apply again in 24 to 48 months, but we can't find that in any state literature.

And what if RC should decide a smaller hospital isn't worth its time or money? The Brentwood hospital conglomerate would then owe Lauderdale County 40 million. We don't see that happening, but it will nonetheless be interesting to see how this plays out.

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By now we assume Jerry Don Crowden is safely back in the Florence-Lauderdale Detention Center. We've had several readers contact us to say this was Crowden's third escape--not second as reported in PNS, but we've been unable to verify that.

If you missed the Pen-N-Sword article on Crowden, his release date is 2029. He isn't eligible for Good Time and we don't see him making parole. Of course, now he has a new escape charge. Here's hoping Lauderdale County tries him this time as a habitual offender.



Shoalanda

What the TimesDaily Doesn't Tell Us...Or Is That Ronnie Willis?

Saturday morning saw an escape from the Florence-Lauderdale Detention Center. Perhaps you read about it in the TimesDaily...or perhaps you were lucky enough to read about it in Pen-N-Sword. These two news outlets gave different accounts of why the escapee Jerry Don Crowden was incarcerated to begin with.

We often hear, and we at Shoalanda usually agree, that the TD is a cheerleader for local business and nothing more. This could be the reason the possibility of danger to the public was played down, yet the Florence Police Department page on Facebook gave at least part of the info on Crowden that PNS published. The difference?

Reading the article in today's TD that announces Crowden's capture, we notice that the info on Crowden came from Ronnie Willis' office. Perhaps that's the problem?

No, Jerry Don Crowden wasn't arrested in May for his most recent crime spree. He was returned here from prison in May for additional court appearances. Obviously he didn't want to go back. Perhaps now he'll be incarcerated for the rest of his natural life. The Shoals will be safer.

Jerry Don Crowden

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Have you often wondered what the Certificate of Need Board is and why it has so much authority over local health care? You can thank the Federal government for the original CON premise. Tomorrow we'll talk about it in some depth and what an unfavorable ruling for RegionalCare could mean.



Shoalanda

Update on Carla Rena' Cannon Animal Abuse Charge

Pictured is Carla Rena' Foxx Cannon, half the married duo currently facing 14 counts of misdemeanor animal abuse in Lauderdale County. In yesterday's blog, we stated Cannon was employed at Florence High School. Cannon is, as our police source informed us, a Florence teacher, but not in the Florence City system. She currently works as the Media Specialist for K-6 at Wilson School in the Lauderdale County system. Wilson uses a Florence mailing address, but is technically outside the city. Apologies to the Florence City system and CFSO Connie Roberts who obviously want nothing to do with Rena', as she calls herself.

Yes, indeed, Cannon has taught at several county schools including Lexington, Cloverdale, and Central. She has previously taught special education and holds a masters degree. Of course, no one ever equated little grey cells with compassion, now did they?

One word of advice for Rena': With all the money you and hubby Bart saved on dog food, buy some lipstick for your June 20th court appearance. Nothing like a little fresh paint on an old barn as the saying goes. We've seen some of the photos of the abused and dead dogs; you're going to need all the help you can get.

Editor's Note: The Florence Animal Shelter expects all fourteen surviving dogs to recover and be placed in permanent and loving homes.



Shoalanda