Four Way Facts - Part I

Over the next few days and weeks, we'll be bringing you some facts about the new half-way house located in the old Four-Way Motel on Highway 43 in Tuscumbia. Arguments on both sides of this issue have become heated, and for now we're merely looking at some statements about the endeavor that should be verified.

First, there has been criticism of the amount of time it took the Colbert County Sheriff's office to post the names and locations of the first two residents, obviously both sex offenders. These two men have been convicted of possession of child pornography and are not violent offenders. The last names of these two men have been posted on Facebook, so we'll go with that only. 

While we're sure the people opposing this half-way house have many valid points, we want to be sure they are not mistaken in any of them. There are numerous reasons to oppose this social experiment without stating any falsehoods.

Let's look at the claims concerning the delay in posting to the Colbert County site:

Claim - They were both finally added on the 13th of March. So Mathis was 25 days of (without) the public knowing and Story was 15 days of (without) the public knowing.

1. Mathis was released from custody on February 22 and registered with the State on February 27. That would mean Colbert County added Mathis 14 days after it became known he was living in the area, not 25, assuming the add date of March 13th is correct.

2. Story was registered with the State on February 16. Colbert County added him 25 days later.

It would appear the names and dates may have been reversed in these claims and that one was a day off. We also have to ask how long it took the State probation office to inform the Sheriff's office. You'll notice they were both added on the same day, suggesting the person responsible for this task updates the site at intervals. Is this a good policy? We have inquired, and it appears the person responsible for the county site has been ill and not working a 40 hour week. 

We suggest those interested in local sex offenders always check the State site and group the offenders by zip code in order to have the most complete information. This site also lists the actual offense so that you'll know the type of offender living in your neighborhood.

*****

*****

Ah, today was the big day in Florence. Any fatalities or lesser casualties? Let's hope the pub crawl didn't turn out to be too literal.

Walt Maddox/Gasoline Prices/Jessica Hamby

Walt Maddox is a conservative Democrat. He's well worth a look:

Walt Maddox, a Democratic candidate in the primary to be held June 5th, will be speaking on Monday, March 19th, at the Shoals Democratic Club located at the IEOU LOCAL 320 UNION HALL, 405 Dr. Hicks Blvd. Florence Alabama 35630. Doors open at 6 pm, the meeting starts at 6:30 pm. The public is invited.

*****

From J. Redmon:

At least once a week, gas prices change. We've grown accustomed to that. The gas suppliers count on that. What's interesting is their tendency to hover around 'certain' prices. That current price is $2.33/gal in The Shoals. What's odd is that while prices in The Shoals are going UP...prices elsewhere are going DOWN. For example, gas prices in Decatur are at $2.13/gal, down from $2.15/gal earlier this week.

*****

*****

There is news today concerning the missing Winston County woman Jessica Hamby; however, it appears that it's not good news:

Has Jessica Been Found?

*****

We inadvertently published the name of the child involved in the accusations against Blake Jarmon. This name has now been removed from yesterday's blog, and we apologize for the oversight. 

*****

We sometimes receive communications telling us that felony arrests are "none or our business." We suggest the arrestee look at the the title of the case against him. The designation of "State of Alabama" refers to the citizens of this state, so yes it is our business. We're more than happy to clear that up for you...

Clean Up Muscle Shoals City Schools

Today we're presenting a blog from Judge Starr; we hope to have more from this blogger shortly. While we find the conduct of the Muscle Shoals School Board and related entities to be reprehensible, we do not find that they committed a crime of moral turpitude; however, using former AG Troy King's definition, it's possible.

*****

*****

On Feb. 19th Amanda Hollander approached the Muscle Shoals City Council during the public comments portion of the meeting. She re-visited the statement that was made by the City Council that it would only intervene in the situation involving the questionings of 78 fourth graders and termination of teacher Blake Jarmon if the law had been broken or moral turpitude had occurred.  (Amanda's speech was recorded and posted on #TeamJarom's Facebook page.)

Amanda informed the council that Clayton Wood (Board of Education member) stood before the council and a room full of concerned citizens and broke the open meeting's law on Dec. 18th.  Mr. Wood told the council and the citizens that he had sat down with Celia Rudolph and Brian Lindsey.  He was recorded saying "How many of you have sat down like Celia and I, and gone over these issues in depth with Brian Lindsey, what they are thinking and why they're doing it and the decision making behind it."

Amanda told the city council members that a meeting between Dr. Lindsey, Ms. Rudolph, and Mr. Wood discussing Mr. Jarmon's good name and character and his subsequent termination is a direct violation of the Alabama Open Meetings Act.  

She also explained to them that moral turpitude occurred when Dr. Alan Willingham interrogated multiple children alone about extremely delicate matters, and told the children not to tell anyone.  It also occurred when Dr. Willingham falsified statements and testimonies of multiple children, some of which had school implemented IEP.  Some children have told their parents that only Dr. Willingham was in the room when they were questioned, but Dr. Willingham said those children are lying, he always had the school counselor with him.

Breken Terry from WAAY news recorded her speech and Jonathan Ratliff also spoke that evening. Breken Terry also received a comment from Mayor Bradford that the council was not equipped to handle this situation.  She aired her story on the news that night.  

As for Clayton Wood, his 1st term expires for his Board of Education Appointment this June.  He can re-apply for a second term and I am sure he will likely be chosen again.  The city council will start taking applications now for the interview process coming up in the next few weeks.  

Council member Mike Lockhart has a wife who is a teacher in the school system, he should have to recuse himself when appointing the next board member.

Jamie Stoddard, School Board Member, now coaches the new Muscle Shoals Soccer team.  After the Dec 18th city council meeting Stoddard had a tantrum, in front of several citizens - he was yelling at Chris Hall.  Curious to know how Stoddard and his wife are treating #TeamJarmon parents who have kids on this soccer team.

Chris Hall is still the odd man out, most of the council members avoid him still and don't interact with him.

School Administrators, principals, assistance principals, coaches, and some teachers have already started showing their classy side.  If you're associated with #TeamJarmon or Elect the School Board, then you don't get waves at drop off or pickup anymore, they turn their head and walk the other way if you are approaching, and just a few weeks ago an outside source that did some work for McBride and the Middle School was asked not to come back.  It will only get worse, but so many of the citizens who don't work for the school system are fed up but fear retaliation over what could happen with their kids at school.  I hear that daily from many parents!  WE are ready for a change and we are gearing up to start our petition.  We also have some who are planning on running for city council seats come next election.  Muscle Shoals citizens need to make sure they are registered to vote before they can sign the petition.  

On March 6th the child who started all this about Blake Jarmon was placed in IIS for 30 days.  More to come on this...

To see videos, see Facebook page #TeamJarmon

Amanda Hollander, Feb 19th

Laura Hamilton Holland, Dec.18th, in the comments section there is video of Clayton Wood

Until next time,

Judge Starr

Are We Atlantic? Eastern? Central? Who the Flip Knows?

We've discussed time zones before, and while Alabama is still quite a way from adopting the Eastern Time Zone, it seems Florida is dangerously close to adopting Atlantic/Eastern Time. Or is it?

Even if Florida's governor signs the bill that has been passed in its legislature, Congress then has to approve the change. Then there's the small matter of what to call the time. Most of Florida would then be in the Atlantic Time Zone, but might want to call it Eastern Daylight Time year round. Then let's see those Florida real estate moguls explain to their Chinese investors that Atlantic Time and Eastern Daylight are the same...except when Atlantic actually goes on its own Daylight Savings Time. Confused yet?

Alabama's Rusty Glover wants our state effectively to move to the Eastern Time Zone. It seems he tries every legislative session. Let's hope our legislature has more sense than Florida's. It wouldn't take much, but it's still doubtful...

*****

*****

Are we also moving toward appointed county school superintendents? Let's hope so. School admins shouldn't be politicians.

Several readers have asked us if we're familiar with a state investigation into Lauderdale County schools. We are not; however, that doesn't mean there's not one or that one isn't needed...

A Tale of Two Dead Children

The first tale:

A family has four children, the two youngest being two years old and 11 months old. While the older two children are in school, the mother hurriedly steps out her back door to speak with her mother-in-law who lives in the guest house. While the mother is there, the two year-old arrives to say his "ears are ringing." When the two women investigate, they find that the toddler has opened a nightstand drawer, removed a handgun, pointed it at his younger brother, and fired. The younger boy died yesterday at a Mobile Hospital.

Are the police sending the case to the grand jury for some sort of manslaughter charges against the parents? While that could change, the answer as of today is no. Now think back two or so years ago in Colbert County where a woman took her children visiting and spoke on her cell phone as her brood ran free range through a house not belonging to them, one finding a loaded gun and killing himself. There was an indictment, but Bryce Graham saw fit to accuse the homeowners of a crime, not the mother who was responsible.

Are you confused by how our laws are handled from county to county? 

*****

*****

The second tale:

How do you feel when someone breaks into your home and steals from you? We're pretty sure the answer is mad, but you're still able to function normally. Suppose one of the missing items is an X-Box? We had to check, but these video toys cost between 230.00 and 700.00. No matter which one you purchase, it's still a sizable chunk of change.

Now what if you thought you had found the thief selling your X-Box? Would you invite at least four friends to assist you in killing the young burglar? And if you did, would they, most around at least 30 years of age, say "Sure. Let's do it!"?

Think about that. Five grown men who would kill a 17 year-old over an X-Box. They didn't even know for sure if it was the stolen X-Box. It wasn't. 

What kind of people walk among us? Were these five young men who had been raised separately miles apart, but who somehow came together as friends with such little regard for life? Or were these men whose neural paths had been rerouted in some manner due to drugs?

None of these men deserves to leave prison. Even dying, let them lie in a prison infirmary and breathe their last. They have forfeited any pity they would ordinarily receive from decent human beings.

Animals Among Us? Shall We Call Cook's?

Perhaps Tony Logan should call Cook's Pest Control; after all, they specialize in getting rid of pests. Tuscumbia seems to have more than its share recently.

The possum killers? We had their ages as 14 and 16, while today's news lists them as 16 and 17. We still don't have their names. All comments to us are totally confidential. Help us expose these little demons.

*****

Two family pets were poisoned this weekend in Davis Estates in Tuscumbia. If you have any information about the perpetrators, call Tuscumiba Police or Anthony Wilbanks at Colbert Animal Control at (256) 381-4073. Let's put these dog killers away for a long time.

*****

*****

Some Tuscumbia cretins are already scheduled to go away for a nice rest. One of our readers writes:

WHERE IS CHILD PREDATOR / MOLESTER CHARLES MARK McCORMACK AS HE AWAITS SENTENCING ON APRIL 3, 2018?

A Colbert County man pleaded guilty to producing child pornography between 1997 and 1998, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Ray Parmer.

CHARLES MARK MCCORMACK, 54, of either Nassau Blvd. Muscle Shoals or 602 Keller Lane, Tuscumbia, AL, pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Karon O. Bowdre. Sentencing is set for April 3 in Huntsville. Anyone concerned with seeing this monster receive his due judgment, email Judge Bowdre at bowdre_chambers@alnd.uscourts.gov and express your desire for him to be punished to the fullest extent of the law, which is 20 years.  

“It is incredibly disturbing that this kindergarten teacher was engaged in the production of child pornography,” Town said. “I thank the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and HSI agents who worked with federal prosecutors for their quick efforts which prevented more innocent victims from suffering at the hands of McCormack. The Bureau of Prisons has bed space reserved for people like him.”

According to admissions made in connection with his guilty plea, between Aug. 1, 1997, and Oct. 15, 1998, McCormack used a minor, born in 1992, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of the conduct, by videotaping the minor urinating in a bathroom in his Colbert County home. During a May 2016 search of McCormack’s residence, law enforcement also discovered images of nude and topless females believed to constitute child pornography and a suitcase containing young girls’ panties.

McCormack should receive a very warm welcome from the inmates at his new address. Maybe McCormack and Jeff Eddie (former HPBC children’s director) can be bunk mates. 

*****

We hate to inform our reader and others of this, but Mark McCormack will be going to federal prison. That means much better food and general conditions than one finds in our state prisons. Yet that also means a much longer time to wait for any parole conditions. A prisoner in the federal system usually has to serve 85% of his sentence before being granted an early release.

On the other hand, while McCormack and "Bro. Jeff" can't be bunk mates (Jeffrey Dale Eddie is a state prisoner), the former Baptist youth minister is not living too high on the prison hog:

Where is Jeff Eddie Now?

It won't hurt to write some letters protesting Bro. Jeff's parole either...

Will Possum Killer Be Tried as Adult?

Local schools like to claim bragging rights for various sports and activities. If one of those is animal abuse, Deshler High in Tuscumbia now owns the Shoals. A 16 year-old and a 14 year-old have been arrested in the crime of killing a small possum, albeit as juveniles. That simply means they may or may not be tried as adults and that, if tried as juvies, their names will not be revealed in records made public by the courts.

We understand the 16 year-old already has a previous felony conviction as a juvenile. Yes, you read that correctly. He's 16 and has a felony to his credit. He probably won't be given juvenile status this time. We sincerely hope that he isn't, but for our purposes such a designation simply keeps names out of public records, not the press if it so chooses to publish them. We do and we will if anyone has names for these two. 

Yes, if you have proof of who these two touching Tuscumbia troglodytes are, send us their names. The older one may never see the hallowed halls of Deshler again, but we have no hopes of similar punishment for the younger one who's claiming innocence by way of being too dumb to know what was going to happen to the doomed marsupial. 

Lest any of you are in favor of a second chance, may we presume if the duo's next victim is one of yours, even a human member of your family, you're not going to object then, are you? What? We didn't quite catch your answer to that..

*****

*****

Our usually misguided not so daily newspaper has seen fit to publish an editorial from Los Angeles about the harm of keeping schools on lock down as a precaution against shootings. It might do more harm than good, the L.A. Times says.

Just which editor du jour picked that little ditty for Shoals consumption? No one wants to see metal detectors in schools, but no one wants to see dead kids lining the halls either. If children can live through duck and cover and become functioning members of society, then they can live through 13 years of moderate security they won't even notice after two days. The operative word there being moderate. Neither does one want to see Miss Dessie the cafeteria lady armed with a bazooka.