Florence Fire Department Does Good for Christmas!

We've had some readers ask about Florence Fire Department Engine No.2 being spotted in front of a row of businesses adjacent to English Village:

No, the FPD isn't advertising for Cash Express; it's collecting toys for Christmas! We don't have all the details, but if the FPD will shoot us an e-mail, we will let our readers in Lauderdale County know how they can help.

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Some South American dictator trying to tell you how to dress? (Yes, we sympathize with the person who contacted us. If you feel harassed, contact the administration.) We're in the seven day countdown now, so feel free to don your orange/blue or even crimson/white. This is the U.S. of A.

Return to UNA Hijinks

From Concerned Citizen 101....

However, after my findings this past week I’m changing my name to Deeply Disturbed Citizen. Had lunch with some friends and the topics of discussion were very interesting. You guessed it none other than the current happenings at the University of North Alabama. These facts are easily verified.

So it seems that the violation of Ms. Audrey Mitchell’s civil rights continues. If you recall Ms. Mitchell is suing the University of North Alabama.

http://www.timesdaily.com/news/local/suit-against-una-alleges-discrimination/article_d583fa3b-e1f4-5d41-b4ea-0d9b0122a509.html

Well it seems that if forcing Ms. Mitchell’s office area back under Student Affairs Vice President David Shields supervision wasn’t enough, Dr. Kimberly Greenway (previous Director of Student Conduct but received a promotion to newly created position Executive Director of Housing and Residence Life) came up with the bright idea of forcing Ms. Mitchell to have an office right next to Kevin Jacques. Now keep in mind David Shields and Kevin Jacques have starring roles in the Mitchell v University of North Alabama lawsuit. Also, keep in mind Dr. Greenway’s position on campus was Director of Student Conduct. If anybody should know this is a classic case of intentionally creating a hostile work environment as well as retaliation Dr. Greenway should. However, when Ms. Mitchell stated to Dr. Greenway that she refused to be placed in a hostile work environment by being forced to have her office right next to Kevin Jacques, Dr. Greenway didn’t try to come up with another plan instead she told her she would have Human Resources investigate how doing this would create a hostile work environment. Are you kidding me? If this is any indication of Dr. Greenway’s judicial judgement then all of her judicial cases should be reviewed. Allegedly Ms. Mitchell has audio recordings of these interactions.

Let me continue because it gets much worse. So, I was told around the last week of July 2017 Ms. Mitchell received an email from none other than everyone’s favorite and very competent HR person, Catherine White. Catherine included Kimberly Greenway and Evan Thornton (VP of Business and Financial Affairs and Catherine’s boss) on the email. The email stated that Dr. Greenway informed Catherine White of Ms. Mitchell’s claims of hostile work environment if Kevin Jacques’ office was placed right next to hers. Catherine White then stated that Ms. Mitchell was to write a statement showing how Dr. Greenway’s plan for her and Kevin Jacques’ office placement would create a hostile work environment and she would investigated it.

I’ll wait until you stop laughing.

How in the heck (I wanted to use a different word) can Catherine White perform an unbiased investigation on anything concerning Ms. Audrey Mitchell? Keep in mind Catherine White also has a starring role in the Mitchell v University of North Alabama lawsuit. Now given Catherine White’s position she definitely should know better and immediately realized that what Kimberly Greenway was trying to do was a violation of federal law. She should also know that she couldn’t investigate anything concerning Audrey Mitchell and should have never sent Ms. Mitchell an email. If this is any indication of the judgement process she uses when conducting her HR responsibilities then all her cases should be reviewed as well.

Now I’m told Ms. Mitchell responded to Catherine White’s request and pretty much told her some of what I said and much much more. I’m told it was very professionally and respectfully written but a drop the mic kind of email.

Well here is why I’ve gone from Concerned Citizen to Deeply Disturbed Citizen. I’m told Ms. Mitchell responded to the email on July 27th. I’m also told that she included Kimberly Greenway and Evan Thornton in her response. Then on Friday, July 28th, Ms. Mitchell attended a scheduled meeting with Kimberly Greenway and Kevin Jacques but was blindsided and told that she would be removed from her Director of Housing (job title name was changed when she was forced back under David Shields’ supervision) position and forced to either accept a new position, resign or be terminated. Keep in mind that Dr. Greenway couldn’t tell Ms. Mitchell what the new position was because apparently it hadn’t been created yet. But Ms. Mitchell was told she had to give Kimberly Greenway an answer by Monday, July 31st. Who in the heck (not what I wanted to say) expects someone to make a decision about a job they don’t have details on. I’m told this meeting was recorded as well. Way to go Ms. Mitchell!! Also, keep in mind Kimberly Greenway’s previous position was Director of Student Conduct. Wow!!

Now Kevin Jacques was removed from his position as well but it’s not the same circumstances as Ms. Mitchell. He was moved to an existing position Director of University Events, knew where his new office would be and he actually received more responsibility by having multiple offices under his supervision as well as oversight of multiple budgets. This means he technically hit a promotion. Watching the payroll spending site for the possibility of a raise. I’m told that Ms. Mitchell didn’t know where her new office would be nor have a job description until a couple of days before she was suppose to move.

Her white counterparts received nice promotions while Ms. Mitchell was stripped of her supervisory and budgetary oversight responsibilities. If you don’t believe me check out the updated organization chart just published dated October 2017 and look at Mr. Bret Jennings’ (Kevin Jacques was moved into his old position) newly created position under Students Affairs Division Executive Director Of Auxiliary Programs and Ms. Jennifer Sutton’s newly created position Director of Housing and Residence Life (I was informed this is part of Ms. Mitchell’s position once they forced her out). Also, look at the payroll for these two. Look at July 2017 payroll and compare it to November 2017 payroll. Both received over $14,000 a year raises. That’s pretty good. A black woman was retaliated against because she took a stand and filed a lawsuit and then voiced her concerns of being subjected to hostile work environment and got demoted and two of her white counterparts benefited by receiving promotions and nice size raises. Way to go Catherine White and Kenneth Kitts.

https://www.una.edu/humanresources/organizational-chart.html

https://www.una.edu/university-spending/

If these allegations are true about Catherine White she should act like she has some resemblance of ethics and admit wrongdoing and resign from her position.

If these allegations are true about Kimberly Greenway she should be immediately terminated. Get this. I was told there’s some possible Teachers Retirement System violation concerning her payroll for July 2017 and her retirement date and the start date of her new part time position. However, I want to verify and provide proof before I post about it. Stay tuned I’ve put a call into the State Retirement System.

If these allegations are true about President Kenneth Kitts and he knew and/or approved of these actions by Kimberly Greenway and Catherine White (was told there are audio tapes to prove it) then he should do the good employees of UNA and citizens of Florence a favor and resign.

You see not that it matters but I feel it’s necessary to prove my point. I’m a white female and I see all these incidents as clear cut discrimination, retaliation and intentionally creating a hostile work environment due to race. Also, the people I am hearing these things from are both white and black employees and people in the community but mostly white. I said that because I didn’t want any of your readers to think that only black people are upset and claiming racism. No it’s more white people that are verbalizing their concerns to me.

What this boils down to is Audrey Mitchell is threatening their “way” of doing things. Because she’s brave enough to take a stand and expose the systemic discrimination issues at the University of North Alabama. Because she refuses to get along, because she refuses to tuck her tail, bow down and either shut up or quit the powers that be (Kenneth Kitts, Board of Trustees and Human Resources) will continue to humiliate and pick at her in the hopes of finding her breaking point. Can you imagine the embarrassment, intimidation and humiliation Ms. Mitchell must feel and forced to endure everyday. I don’t know how she does it. God bless this young lady and continue to give her strength.

Well, I’m done sitting by and simply posting my concerns. I’m calling the Governor’s Office on Monday and strongly requesting an independent investigation. Yes, I’m done waiting on the Board of Trustees to do anything. I’m also asking the Governor to look into why the Board is allowing all of this to continue and escalate to this level. I just know by their actions or should I say lack there of there’s some questionable things going on with the Board. I will start calling Monday, November 13th and continue to call until I get a response. I’m also asking all of my friends, family and readers to call as well. If you can’t call then write. This is the only way to put a stop to this level of egregious violations.

Governor Kay Ivey
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36130
334.242.7100

Don’t think for a minute this is just about Audrey Mitchell. Audrey Mitchell is being taught a lesson and by publicly humiliating and continually treat her in such a harsh manner Kenneth Kitts, Catherine White and the rest of the powers that be are sending a very strong message to all of their employees which is sit down, shut up or you will get what Audrey Mitchell is getting. Again Ms. Mitchell is threatening their way of doing business and they can’t afford to lose control of their corrupt empire. That’s why they are digging their heels in.

If Kenneth Kitts, Catherine White, David Shields and the rest of the people involved directly or indirectly in these allegations get away with this it will affect more than just her. They will continue and do it to others and it will/could soon be you. Probably has already happened to you but you’re too scared to speak out and who can blame you.

Start calling!!!!

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Sincere apologies to Concerned Citizen 101 for the delay in publishing this post. Also our sincere thanks, for without such telling accounts, most of us would have only the TD's cheerleading articles from which to glean information about the university.

They're Calling Him "Chief Handjob"

Al.com was the first news outlet to break the story of Bryan Hammond's accusation that he had been sexually assaulted by the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Doug Jones. After the state's largest news network contacted Killen's police chief for a statement, he recanted.

Still the comments have kept coming: Killen is a speed trap, Killen has a police department?, Barney Fife hasn't aged well, this is a clown, this guy needs to be replaced now, and our second favorite: This guy sits on those he arrests to punish them.

As we write this, there are approximately 325 comments on the AL.com article, 80% of them negative toward Killen and Chief Handjob. Doug Jones has not so far commented on the comedy. Perhaps he's made a mental note to revoke Killen's charter if he's elected to the Senate?

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We've seen comments blaming the man who first reported Chief Handjob, saying he or AL.com or PNS or us will cause the Killen Keystone Kop to lose his job. No, we think he's done a pretty good job of that himself. $45,000.00 a year, probably more now, and he doesn't know how to behave? 

There's nothing funny about sexual assault. At least five women and several men have demanded the Killen town council show Chief Handjob the door. No, not funny at all.

A Take on the Roy Moore Inbroglio - No. Two

From a reader:

He Was King of Regency Mall

You can take out the names as you wish but I just had to tell this story. The year was 1979 just like in most of Roy Moore's lurid accusations. I had finished college and the only job I could find was in the new mall, then Regency Square Mall. The store I worked at catered to more mature women, but we saw all the teenagers every weekend and some week nights.

His first name was XXXXX and I can't remember his last name. He was a teacher in the XXXXX system and I was told he was 30 years old. Even though his home was just, I was told, over the state line, he was usually in the mall every weekend with his posse of younger boys. Sometimes he was by himself. He never as far as I knew even ventured into the store where I worked but he made the rounds of the junior dress shops and places like that.

I certainly never heard that he had attacked anyone or even who he might have been dating. What I did hear was that this nicely dressed mature man would “bother” the girls in the teen stores. Some were flattered, but some found that it grew old quickly. Mr. Box was the manager of the mall and I never knew him to ban anyone, although looking back I'm sure he must have done so quietly from time to time. I did hear that XXXXX was banned from some of the stores, so that's not too unusual. I'm sure that Roy Moore fell into the same category.

Since last year I've thought a lot about XXXXX and just what he might have been up to. I'd heard he did have two male friends about his own age, although I only saw one of them. The one I never saw with him had moved out of the country to work so I assume he made a success. The other one I did see with him. His name was XXXXX XXXXX and yes he's the one currently awaiting trial on child pornography charges.

The point is you just never know. Just because Roy Moore wasn't banned from the mall in Gadsden doesn't mean he wasn't banned from certain stores. I wonder if anyone has checked his computer for images of young girls?

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We feel this kind of story is all too common even when younger girls aren't involved, but they usually are. Here's a Shoals Crime story of one such young man with Peter Pan syndrome: 

Summer of '65: Murder on the Lake

A Take on the Roy Moore Imbroglio - No. One

Take No. One:

Roy Moore and the Largest Jury Trial in American…Particularly Alabama...History

In today’s society trying to remain a Republican and (group) text messages will make you lose your religion.  Don’t get me started on the latter!  This year’s senate election is setting up to be a “humdinger”!  Allegations of sexual assault and/or misconduct dog GOP candidate Roy Moore.  Ironically, the Democratic challenger Doug Jones “approved the message” to feature aspects of the Civil War in a campaign advertisement.  Typically Democrats decry any mention of the Civil War except when they can expound upon negatives to be used to their advantage in crafting the “Northern Narrative” and advancing their social justice perversions. 

Again I digress and stray back to the plot of the title of this article.  We are about to witness the largest jury trial in American…and particularly Alabama history.  Legally the statute of limitations has expired preventing criminal charges being presented to a grand jury regarding Moore’s actions.  The evidence and/or “facts” from both the plaintiffs and defendant have been presented to the public.  More evidence and objections will obviously be presented by election day.  The jury of Alabamians will be deliberating whether or not Roy Moore is guilty of the allegations put against him, not whether he is the better candidate.  Whether Roy Moore or Doug Jones closely aligns with the values and policies Alabamians hold dear is not on the ballot this election.  The guilt or innocence of Roy Moore is on the ballot.  While polls conducted the past week are all across the spectrum and would give air traffic controllers a headache trying to keep up with; it is no doubt that most Alabamians would favor a Republican senator.  

On the morning of December 12^th, a jury of Alabamians will be casting their votes for guilt or innocence.  Unlike most jury trials that normally require a unanimous verdict, this verdict will not have to meet that requirement.  Much has been pontificated publicly that the United States Senate will move to boot Moore from the Senate if elected?  As Judge Andrew Napolitano stated (and I paraphrase):  In order for a United States Senate vote to oust Moore from the Senate the actions warranting such vote would have to be committed during Moore’s official time serving as a United States Senator.  That may be an issue for higher learned legal minds to ponder.  

Will Moore face “vigilante justice” and be forced out of the race?  Will the jury of Alabamians find Moore guilty or innocent?  If the jury of Alabamians find him innocent, electing him the next senator from Alabama will the jury’s decision be set aside by the United States Senate, violating the right of the people of Alabama to duly select their representation?  My guess that writing all options on a piece of paper and blindly drawing may be the fairest way to predict what may happen.

Southern Son

 

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Tomorrow we'll have a story about a Lothario at the old Regency Square Mall (all names removed) and an eye-opening update from Concerned Citizen 101. We would still like to hear from anyone who may have had problems with the Colbert tax assessor's office five years ago or more. Comments always welcome.

 

Muscle Shoals Teacher Torture

This blog is rated PG:

First from Leslie M. Shoals...

Actually, the men are saying he does that weird thing men do,,, "nipple twisting" as they are explaining how "innocent" he is.

I asked if it was little boys he was doing that to and I get a scorned look!!

It is not proper nor is he a good role model with that kind of behavior.  But then again, look at others in MSCS...

* High school Coach Balentine beats his wife while having affair with guidance counselor. 

* Middle school Principal and assistant have affairs with teachers and principal gets promotion to newly created central office position.

* Coach Basden and others get bonuses out of tax payers money under the table.. 

Need more examples of the culture at MSCS?

Don't ask why kids act the way they do, ask WHY NOT.

That school board is totally disengaged. The love of title and free ride/trips?

 

Leslie M. Shoals

 

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Yes, gentle readers, the reported sin of the fourth grade teacher is "nipple twisting." We're not sure if this was a form of punishment for infractions or just a general habit. No matter which, it was wrong.

Yes, it was inflicted on both male and female. We're told it's painful. It would be especially painful for females who would at that age (9-10), at least many of them, have growing mammaries. Their breasts are tender and should be off limits no matter what.

Supt. Lindsey says this is not a criminal matter. Isn't it child abuse? We understand this man was suspended for 14 days; will the investigation be complete in two-weeks-time? Will the truth, whatever it is, then be told?

We're still waiting for someone to tell us why McBride Elementary where the abuse took place lied to the press about the incident. Yes, lied. Who told the receptionist/secretary to lie? The people of Muscle Shoals deserve some answers.

Publishing Twice a Day/Those Who Lie to Us?

First, we wish to apologize to some of our writers who have not yet had their blogs published. Due to various breaking news, we've fallen behind. At times, we will now publish twice a day. Look for us around late morning and late night - this is not written in stone as far as time is concerned and will not be an everyday publishing event. 

Please feel free to send us guest blogs; we will attempt to publish them as soon as possible. We publish views from all sides as long as they're polite, etc. You know the drill.

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There are many ways not to tell the truth without lying. Still, when we ask questions of someone, a "no comment" is sufficient if they don't wish to answer. Take the Town of Rogersville. Some years ago we asked if they had given drag racers a permit to race in the industrial park. We were told "no." What they had done was to provide the drag racing show with a parade permit. Not the same thing, so technically the city did not lie to us; however, do you think we will ever so much as blink to help that town in any way? We sincerely hope you answered "no." (People who live there who need help, yes; the town itself, no.)
Now we see this:

Did Muscle Shoals School System Lie About Suspension?

The entire brouhaha over this fourth grade teacher physically abusing children could have been handled so much more nicely, but apparently the staff at McBride were told to lie about the suspension. Why? They knew it had to come to light at some point.

Every Muscle Shoals parent should be asking Supt. Lindsey why anyone chose to lie about this man and his alleged crimes. We're asking him now. Or was it the principal at McBride? We're asking you now. Why was the employee who answered the phone told to lie when she could just as easily have said "no comment?"