In Support of Robert "Tuc" Montgomery

In Support of Robert "Tuc" Montgomery

A Guest Blog by

A Concerned Parent

I have seen Mr. Montgomery do everything from clean toilets to entertain public figures with the utmost grace and professionalism. He was in a constant state of making improvements to the classrooms and campus as well as causing our test scores to soar. He always gave the teachers a say in the decisions that were made and many times gave the teachers credit for things he had initiated. I've seen the love the children have for him and what a wonderful role model he has been for many of them that need this so desperately. Seeing this school shine has been his goal. I've seen him discipline children with a tear in his eye only to shake their hand afterwards and tell them how loved they are. Teacher's needs were always accommodated. I've seen the love and admiration the children have for him as well as us parents. So many of his hours outside of the school day were devoted to making sure the campus shined inside & out.

Our Parents organization, the schools finances, the teachers' resources. He just simply has turned CHES into a thriving school. If a teacher didn’t have what they wanted … then they hadn’t asked for it. He has cut the grass on the weekends, shoveled gravel in the pouring rain, as well as spent many of his summers painting the school.

He has reached in and taken money out of his pocket because he was afraid a child didn’t have snack money. He has left his own family on Christmas Eve to deliver a bicycle to parents who he knew would not be able to give their own child a present on Christmas morning.

I shudder to think where our school would be today if he had not come to CHES. He has been with CHES over 10 years. Whether you are a preacher, administrator, principal or in any other type of management position you rarely last but just a few years before problems start to crop up for whatever reason….. this man has lasted for over 10 years plus. That should tell you something about his character and work ethic.

You have 3 or 4 on the campus that may have had to be reprimanded or told to step it up or possibly they weren’t given the answer they wanted to hear on a decision he had to make … it is those few that decided to band together and try to ruin his career.

You all may wonder why I support Mr Montgomery so much. It is because I have worked with the PTO/Cats Committee and also been classroom mom since the first day my oldest started school. I have a child in 5th an a child in 2nd. I have worked along side Mr. Montgomery and teachers with many things.

With all this being said us as parents want to know WHY? Why... Did our principal that does his job and an awesome job at that get removed from his job. He makes sure our Children are safe and get the education they need, our teachers are safe and get the things they need for their class rooms, Our School shines inside an out. We parents have a voice in matters. Plus Much More... SO TELL US WHY???

Editor's Note: Our mail is running four to one in support of Mr. Montgomery.



Shoalanda

Naming Names?

The TimesDaily is one publication that makes no secret of its love for Hispanic immigrants, yet it never fails to get their names wrong. Why? One simple memo to writers should take care of the problem...

John Jones marries Mary Smith. They soon produce little Billy. In the English speaking world, Billy would usually be called "Billy Jones." In the Spanish speaking world, Billy would be called "Billy Jones Smith" and addressed as "Mr. Jones," as well as referred to as simply "Jones" in news accounts.

We were looking at accounts of a local Hispanic pedophile in two publications. Pedro Ramirez Rocha has been arrested in Franklin County for sexually abusing a young child. One online publication called him Ramirez, while another called him Rocha. If you guessed it was the TD who named him incorrectly as Rocha you would be right.

Perhaps the TD writers aren't as cosmopolitan as its editor would like for us to think?

*****

Sexual abuse is everywhere...unfortunately. Percentage wise, more immigrants seem to commit this crime than locals. It could obviously be just a case of these abusers being too obtuse to cover their tracks, but it could also be part of a larger culture. Something to think about...

(Lest any readers see the above item as bigoted, the age for marriage of girls in Mexico is 14 in the majority of states, and many indigenous tribes allow marriage at the first sign of puberty. Bigoted? No. Culture Clash? Definitely.)



Shoalanda

"Undercover Agents" in Leighton

Okay, we promise no more jokes. We just think prostitution stings could come up with a better name for those officers making the supreme sacrifice...be they male or female. In case you're totally lost here...

It seems Tony Logan has just led a group of ABI undercover agents into the dangerous world of Leighton/Colbert County prostitution...and beyond. The Tuscumbia chief has announced the arrests of four females and one male on misdemeanor charges related to soliciting sex. Logan went as far as to say there had been unusual activity at local hotels recently. Fill in your own joke here since we promised only the one attempt at humor.

Backpage.com? Never heard of it. We did visit so that you, gentle readers, will not have to be bothered. Only one ad seems to be local. From Muscle Shoals:

Click to Enlarge

And the murderer of Mr. Elbert Farley still walks the streets.



Shoalanda

Faces, Feuds, & Fathers

We greatly respect our readers and always appreciate their input. Several have commented to us that the recent Sheffield Police raid on Faces Bar & Lounge on Hatch Boulevard was the result of a false report phoned in to the authorities. If this is correct, we hope the person responsible can be found and punished, not to mention having to pay damages to those who may have been injured in the subsequent melee.

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Has another old feud surfaced? Two years ago we received more input on the Colbert County school system superintendent election than any other. We initially endorsed Robert Montgomery for the position, and to say that resulted in an onslaught of e-mail by Tony Olivis supporters would be putting it mildly. Then came the rebuttals for Montgomery.

Now Supt. Olivis has suspended Montgomery. We're sure there's much to this ongoing story that has not yet been told:

Montgomery Suspended

*****

Next to a mother, a father is the most important person in any child's life. When he isn't there, it may have a serious negative impact. We recently commented on Blake Austin Hines, a young many who's scheduled to be tried in June in Lauderdale County for a home invasion involving an older victim. An article sent to us at the time of the crime mentioned Hines' mother. A faithful reader and friend wanted us to know that Hines' father should shoulder much of the blame for the young man's criminal bent. It seems he was rarely there for Blake and in fact set a bad example when he was present.

Fathers, you can't spend too much quality time with your children...



Shoalanda

What Happened at "Faces?"

The first time we heard the name of Faces Bar & Lounge, it involved the alleged rape of a woman dumped on the UNA campus. Here's a brief article from PNS:

What is Faces?

Now the name Faces is again making the local news, rumor mill, and Facebook rounds with accusations of an organized "attack" by Sheffield Police. It's not clear why the police were even called to Faces, but the patrons on the unlucky night were attending a party in honor of a local coach. When police arrived they began to use pepper spray, and many claim those innocent of any wrongdoing were caught up in the melee and even tased as they were attempting to flee.

Sheffield doesn't need any more dives/dumps, but neither does it need any more lawsuits. We'll be happy to publish any accounts of abuse.



Shoalanda

John Clark Burns Jr. Had Previous DUI

Jane went to a new doctor; he insisted on doing some routine tests, but one of those tests had a not so routine result. Jane had suffered a heart attack some years ago that she wasn't aware of. Had she been taking her medicine regularly, the doc asked. No. But you can bet that Jane did from that day forward. It's called a wake-up call. 

Burns' mugshot from 7/7/2013 DUI arrest

Yes, when most individuals get a wake-up call, they do just that. They wake-up, smell the coffee, and change their lifestyle. A few just don't seem to get it. They have to hit rock bottom before they change their ways. A very few never change no matter how far they fall, and their lives are extremely short.

On July 7, 2013, John Clark Burns Jr. was arrested for a DUI in Florence. It's our understanding that this case has not yet come to trial due to various delays in the municipal court process. On September 9, 2013, Burns wrecked his truck into the Darby Store building in Cypress Inn, Tennessee. First responders reported Burns was intoxicated when they removed him from the vehicle. Blood tests later confirmed that, and Burns was arrested on the charge of Vehicular Homicide. He also awaits a trial/plea in that case.

In other words, 63 days after being arrested for a DUI, John Clark Burns Jr., again drove drunk and took the life of Brittany Marie Underwood. Some readers have asked why Underwood would have gotten into Burns' truck. We're guessing that Burns was so used to the effects of alcohol on his body, he managed to present a picture of one who was under control of the situation. He apparently controlled his driving that night until he reached an extremely sharp curve on a very dark road and plowed into the shed built onto the Darby store. It's a miracle that he survived the crash and subsequent fire.

Yes, he lives and will graduate from UNA with a degree in Business Administration this spring. His future will depend upon the charges he's facing in Tennessee. Do we think he's remorseful? That's not for us to decide; nor is it cause to let him shirk the consequences of his actions.



 Shoalanda

"On the Rocks" & the Dram Shop Act

 

On the Rocks is what many would call a local pub. It occupies prime property on North Court Street in a building that for many years housed the Davis Dress Shop. Look closely at the the Facebook pic of OTR and you can still see the Davis name imprinted on tiles at the entrance. OTR has lasted longer than many such establishments do in the fickle world of passe' if it happened over 24 hours ago.

Should, or perhaps more to the point, can OTR be held responsible in part for the death of Brittany Underwood? This is what the law states:

1.  the sale of alcohol was contrary to law;

2.  the sale of the alcohol was the cause of the intoxication; and

3.  the plaintiff’s injuries were proximately caused by the intoxication.

Those present on the night of the accident have stated Burns was intoxicated when he left the bar; however, one problem for William Hovater may be in proving John Clark Burns Jr. didn't consume more or most of the intoxicating alcohol after he left OTR. The telling word in interpretation of the law is "known alcoholic." Was Burns an alcoholic? Hovater's comment concerning the young man's history would seem to indicate that will be a lynchpin in the case. 

For those who think OTR employees should not be legally considered nannies, the fact remains that it's currently the law and has been for decades. Just because we don't like a law does not make us exempt from it.

Is five million dollars an outrageous amount in this case? We're guessing this amount is an estimate of the projected earnings of Underwood had she lived a normal lifespan. Alabama law also provides for punitive damages, and juries have been known to award much more than the original amount asked. Liquor liability insurance in Alabama runs about $16.00 per 1K in alcohol sales. Let's hope OTR has a good policy.

We should also note that under this law, Burns' family may also sue OTR. Stay tuned...

*****

Another take on it from our friend OB: No Winners

Shoalanda