Statue Envy

It seems that Florence (and perhaps Tuscumbia) will not soon be getting its own music industry related statue. The city is coming up 120K short on funding.

The Sweetwater Arts & Entertainment District is also still just a name. The TimesDaily continues to call it proposed even though the city has done the proper zoning and, or course, proclaimed it so:

The TD also continues to call the new RegionalCare hospital proposed. We have to wonder at what point the word proposed will no longer be used?

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That brings us to the announced DreamVisison theme park. Bryan Robinson says the next announcement will be the day the shovel hits the dirt. Hmmmm...so no one is going to be checking property transfers for a 1.4K acre land sale in the Muscle Shoals area? That brings us to TVA--can this hybrid organization even sell any land without an auction...a very public auction?

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Backers for DreamVision? Has anyone considered the Japanese? Bryan Robinson is a partner to Ryan Baker who is a partner in Charleston Laboratories which is currently in a collaboration with the second largest drug company in Japan. On February 12th, a Japanese investment consortium announced a 430 million dollar investment in a new Indonesian theme park. That's pretty small potatoes compared to 3.5 billion, but that investment would reflect the lower cost of production in that county.

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One of our wittier readers had an interesting question concerning the new park: Will they be moving the Coon Dog Cemetery as well?



Shoalanda

Another New Trial Date for Jason Dewayne Green

His most recently postponed trial date was July of last year. Now accused murderer Jason Dewayne Green is slated to face the Franklin County Justice system in early March. We've lost track of the number of postponements that have plagued Shay Ledlow's family's attempts to see justice done.

If you need catching up on the various alleged crimes of Jason Green:

Jason Dewayne Green

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Remember Donald Wayne Darling II, the young man who brought such angst to the Lauderdale County District Attorney's office?

Who Murdered...?

It seems he's again in the news:

Update on Darling

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Happy Valentine's Day to all our readers!





Shoalanda

Hershel Dale Graham Will Now Go To Prison...

The Alabama Supreme Court has refused to hear Hershel Dale Graham's appeal in his Franklin County manslaughter conviction. This was the fourth and last appeal that Graham could have hoped for. Graham, now 51, will serve only two years in actual confinement, unless he's less than cooperative in prison--that's always a possibility. Graham is expected to appear before Judge Terry Dempsey one final time next week, after which he'll be taken into custody--over three years after he took the life of a young husband and father.

We previously reported that Graham had moved to Florence. This was in error; Graham's son is now living in Lauderdale County, while Graham himself continues to live in his father's home where the November 2011 Red Bay shooting took place.

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Christoper Martin, a man with no record of violence, got 20 years for shooting a man whom he had invited into his home. Neeler Keeton, a man with no record of violence, got 20 years for shooting a man who had struck him with rebar. Hershel Graham, with a juvenile record of violence, gets only two years for shooting a man whom he called back onto this property? Welcome to our justice system. Thanks again to Joey Rushing, Franklin County prosecutor, who fought to have Graham put away.

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Everyone knows what tomorrow is, right? So do you know who the "Ambassador of Romance" is? You don't? Well now you do...

Yes, the man's talents are endless.

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Several have chastised those who have taken on the mantle of skeptic concerning DreamVision; however, most of these individuals may not be aware of many similar, albeit on a lesser scale, schemes that have plagued the Shoals over the past 20-30 years.

If it really is in the works, we see the Chinese and Arabs are mentioned as the main backers. Arabs? The ones who won't rent hotel ballrooms to gay couples? That doesn't quite seem logical. That leaves the Chinese.

And we certainly had a wonderful experience with a Chinese businessman last year, didn't we? Zing Zang Zung still missing in action?



Shoalanda

The TD Said What About Roger Bedford?

From today's TimesDaily:

How legislation, including a bill brought last year by state Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, has not been passed in our Statehouse is a tribute to the power of the lobby these legalized loan sharks have created. Oddly, or perhaps tellingly, the opposition to Orr’s bill was led by a Democrat, Roger Bedford, of Russellville, who failed to retain his state Senate seat in November’s election.

We'll just let our readers digest that statement. Feel free to send comments.

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Infrastructure? We were about to blog more about the road/highway situation any DreamVision park might produce here, but we see the TD has done an amazingly adequate job of enumerating problems that would face the proposed theme park.

However, one important problem should be stressed. DreamVision can build its own power plants, It can build its own waste water plant. It can build its own natural gas pipeline. What DreamVision cannot do is build its own state/county highways.

Think the State of Alabama could manage an adequate upgrade of Hwy 184 by 2019? Perhaps we should ask residents of Hwy 43 in northern Lauderdale County how they're enjoying their four-lane to the Tennessee state line completed on schedule in 2002. Oh, wait, no they're still working on that...only 13 years behind on the completion date.

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It seems the question on every thinking person's lips is "What's the scam?" Things it could be:

1. Scam for money by semi-delusional persons.
2. Totally delusional participants who really believe they can pull this off.
3. Rick Silanskas is actually Sacha Baron Cohen or Andy Kaufman (hey, they said he'd come back) and the entire Muscle Shoals area is about to become the brunt of one huge practical joke.

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Yes, apparently Bryan Robinson is a business partner of both Gary Baker and Ryan Baker. He seems to have a lot of businesses with a lot of partners. Nothing wrong with that, but are any of these enterprises actually making any money?

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How to conduct business in the Shoals: Hire or elect the most qualified person, then fail to pay them enough, lose the wonderful asset, then be forced to pay his/her less competent successor much more than the original asked for in a raise.

Translation: Colbert County, perhaps you should reconsider your latest policy on salary increases.



Shoalanda

Coach Jody Lanier/LogicLand Theme Park

First, we want to stress that no one here hates Muscle Shoals City or Muscle Shoals High School. Any past blogs about either have been initiated by concerned citizens/parents. That being said...

A reader who felt we "hated" Muscle Shoals, has informed us that boys' basketball coach Jody Lanier has just resigned. The info was from a very reliable source. Is it true? We haven't been able to verify it.

What we can definitely say is that Muscle Shoals lost last night to Lee High of Huntsville...actually they didn't just lose, they got skunked as some of the males out there might put it, with the final score of Lee 60/MSH 31.

We wish Coach Lanier the best whatever the truth of the matter.

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Let's visit LogicLand, that much maligned theme park. First we'll take a ride on the infamous NitPicky. DreamVision say its 5K acre park in Ft. Worth will cost 3.5 billion. So will its 1.4K acre park in Muscle Shoals where property and labor are cheaper. Hmmm, not very logical is it?

Let's next skip over to the Semantics ride. Florence investment broker Bryan Robinson says his business is "purpose driven." Silly us...we thought all investments had a purpose--to make money. No, inane semantics don't speak well of this business. Neither do referencing entities like the Alabama Music Hall of Fame which has never heard of DreamVision.

Robinson also says the money, all seven billion dollars of it, is already secured. It's so unlikely to come from just one source as to be 99.99% impossible. So how did Robinson, from Killen/Florence, secure this huge investment?

Does having a former Disney executive vice president on board mean anything? According Wiki, Disney has approximately 60 vice presidents and executive officers over its theme parks alone.

The property? Some say the Muscle Shoals reservation; we say not enough room for adequate entrance and egress. Between Tuscumbia and Littleville? Much more likely, but not in Muscle Shoals.

All our readers out there know the expression "pillow talk?" It means that if DreamVision had been looking into property here, there would have been at least some gossip, whether originating from pillow talk or from office staff snooping.

The opening is scheduled for 2019. Save the date?



Shoalanda

Questions for DreamVision/Provident Global Capital

First, Shoalanda is an invited guest at tomorrow's press conference. We're guessing the QCD and PNS are also. Are we going? No, our pet raccoon still has hepatitis. (We're going to owe Woody Allen royalties on that one day.)

Here's the official document sent to our e-mail:

MEDIA ALERT

Press Conference

The DreamVision Company Announces Development

of World’s Largest Theme Park in Muscle Shoals, Alabama

Wednesday, February 11 at 11 a.m. CST

What: The DreamVision Company, based in Fort Worth, Texas, is announcing its development of two of the largest theme parks in the world: DreamVision SoundScape in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to cover approximately 1,400 acres; and DreamVision Mountain/DreamScape in Fort Worth, Texas, which will be situated on approximately 5,000 acres. In addition to the theme parks, each property will include golf courses, water parks, hotels, theatres, concert venues, retail and more. Both parks will be built simultaneously, which has never been done by a single company.

When: Wednesday, February 11 from 11 a.m. to noon CST

Where: Marriott Shoals Hotel, 10 Hightower Place, Florence, Alabama 35630 – Main Ballroom

Who/Speakers:

The DreamVision Company is a family-oriented entertainment and media privately-owned enterprise with four business segments: CGI animation & film, live theatrical productions, music and theme park resort destinations.

·         Rick Silanskas, DreamVision CEO/Chairman and award-winning composer and producer
·         Ron Logan, DreamVision Chief Creative Officer and former executive vice president and executive producer for Walt Disney Entertainment

               

Press conference topics including but not limited to:

·         Details about the park including visuals
·         Approximate opening date
·         Estimated employment
·         Additional ventures and details

NOTE: Live streaming of the press conference begins at 11 a.m. for those who cannot attend in person. A recording of the press conference will be available on the same link. Click here to participate: http://thedreamvisioncompany.com.

RSVP: If you plan to attend the conference in person, please email pr@mclarkpr.com in advance. Thank you!

On-site PR contact:

Kathy Siefert

Marguarite Clark Public Relations

404-441-3669 – mobile

For more information:

Trisha Clayton                                  

Marguarite Clark Public Relations

t.clayton@comcast.net

415-706-3462

www.mclarkpr.com 

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Looking at the invitation, we notice Bryan Robinson's name is not on the list of speakers. Since he's local, why isn't it? In case you missed the skinny on Bryan Robinson's local companies (at least two of them):

Who Is Bryan Robinson

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A reader has pointed out to us that the name Provident Global Capital bears a great similarity to Provident Funding, It's certainly not illegal, but could be misleading to some.

Robinson and his wife Rachel and assorted others seem to have founded at least five corporations in the Lauderdale County area. Bryan Robinson also has an office in the Keystone Centre, apparently having moved there from his Tombigbee Street location. 

Twenty years experience. As our faithful reader said, is that combined? Combined with whose?

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Tomorrow's press conference seems to be limited to one hour. The Ft. Worth conference did not allow any questions, at least we have been informed that was the case. 

So, anyone want to buy into Shoalanda's Hoverboards? We'll bring you what your parents thought would be here by 1999.

Shoalanda

DreamVision Press Conference Invitation Only?

It seems not everyone who might wish to ask DreamVision CEO Rick Silankas a question about his proposed multi-billion dollar theme park will be able to. The upcoming press conference will be by invitation only. We assume the TimesDaily will be there, along with someone from AL.com. Let's hope there will be some hard hitting fact finding in the works.

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A reader questioned our use of Tony Mapes' photo while in character as Yolanda. We used that particular picture since it is his public persona--one that he uses to make money. After all, say "Barry Humphries" and see how many recognize the name. Say "Dame Edna" and everyone knows exactly who you mean.

As for Mr. Mapes coming to Alabama to perform weddings, his website indicates he's being inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame on February 11th. That just might take precedence.

So, congratulations, Tony!

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Back to DreamVision, a reader has asked what we really think of it? Really? Can you say "Ponzi Scheme?"



Shoalanda