Another Steve Stanley Mess

 

Sheffield has completely destroyed 'most' of Hatch Blvd/6th Street and is now focused on demolishing West Montgomery. For some unknown reason, portions of Hatch Blvd in front of the cemetery remain unscathed. Perhaps the city asked for a discount and that was 'it'.

Notice: Nowhere did I mention anything about REPAVING Hatch Blvd/6th Street before the destruction of West Montgomery began.

Any bets that Mayor Stanley leaves yet another mess for his successor to deal with?

As always,

Brittney Walker Speaks & a Reader Rebuts

 

A Reader Disagrees:

I am a female resident of Muscle Shoals. I pride myself in being able to work with males and females. I try to apply a little logic and rationale when determining how I receive information.

Muscle Shoals City Clerk Brittney Walker has me scratching my head.  Logically, I would have thought all money received by the city was the taxpayer’s money. Reading that paragraph  many times, I can only assume she doesn’t think all money are subject to rules and regulations. Seems like she is splitting hairs, playing with words, or a little confused.

I am glad to hear the City Hall Tahoe is a shared vehicle for official business by multiple departments. Recently, I saw where she drove the City Tahoe to Georgia this past summer to watch her child play ball. A friend commented that she saw her at a doctor’s appointment in Florence in the City Tahoe. As one who does a lot of driving and much of it in Muscle Shoals, I have seen the City Tahoe at her home for weeks at a time overnight. Maybe there are several white city tahoe’s with a municipal tag. I apologize, I did not get the specific tag number on the one I have seen her in at the schools, shops and picking up campaign materials for Mayor Lockhart in (during business hours).

As far as being publicly targeted as a female while other department heads with assigned vehicles are not, I have to wonder if the other department heads use those vehicles to perform their work, and do not have a desk job like Ms. Walker. Perhaps those department heads are not using their vehicles for family and personal use.I believe in standing on my own without deflecting on others as that statement alludes to.

 Again, as a female, I want to be held accountable for my position, credibility and merits without playing the weak female card. Those tactics are beneath me, as with all professional women. Women - Men - Live and lead by example. If you are doing nothing wrong, keep working hard and don’t put out half truths that some can rebut.

Live by example. Live honest. Live above reproach. It really does work.

We'll add that we also were dumbfounded by Miss Walker's assertion that not all City Bank accounts belong to the citizens, aka taxpayers. Are Lockhart (Lockhard) and Walker (Walrus) fit to govern the City of Muscle Shoals?

Murder Mart?

 

You've heard of the Stop 'n' Rob stores? It seems there's a new franchise in Florence and our mayor isn't shy about mentioning it when he forgets anyone is listening.

The District 1 mini-mart sits just two blocks off Court Street, but it has developed a so-so reputation for drugs and violence. While in a small public meeting, Andy Betterton didn't hesitate to call the store a "Murder Mart." This was not the most brilliant move he's ever made.

Now council candidate Stephanie Harvey is calling Handy Dandy Andy out over his miscue. Will he apologize?

Stay tuned...

What Else is Mayor Lockhart Lying About?

 

From a Reader:


By now, most people have seen the news accounts of the Muscle Shoals City Council work session and meeting held on Monday, July 14th.

There's a lot that could be said, but at the end of the day, I think we can all agree that public money should be subject to public scrutiny. The audacity of those sitting on the council to remain stone faced without commenting on the issues of flooding, dead animals and the health hazards for the taxpaying citizens living in Beacon Pointe was an embarrassment to most of the audience. While some council members sat with their backs turned to those who addressed the council, the others either hid behind those whose backs were turned, or just plain stared at the citizens as they spoke. Mr Lockhart blew them off and then placed blame on the county commissioners for the water problem in Beacon Pointe subdivision. I reached out to my county commissioner and found the truth, which is, the county does not have a pumping station and does not pump water onto Beacon Pointe. In plain language - Mr. Lockhart lied to the public and the press. What else is he lying about? Why didn't even one of the council members correct that lie? Do these council members and mayor have an oath to support each other regardless of dishonesty? I am very concerned, as all of the citizens should be.

What is equally troubling, is that no council member or mayor took the opportunity to present documentation of plans to address these aging problems they have ignored for the past 4+ years. They were rude, and unapproachable. There may be a plan in the future for an elaborate presentation on social media, or a press conference to announce more promises of projects and maintenance plans but they missed their golden opportunity to be responsive, honest, and accountable. According to their rules, you have to disclose what you are going to speak to the council about before you arrive, which should have given them time to plan. More importantly, if the council members and mayor have a defined plan and each doing their jobs, they should have been able to rattle off every detail in their plan to the issues presented.

For me and my family, we will vote on August 26th. We will not vote for any incumbent. This group of people have increased our taxes, failed to keep our city clean, have patched a few streets with no real paving projects, and more importantly, I researched this council's budgets over the past 5 years and find it very alarming at the money they have blown. Important community services like the library has been cut due to lack of funding .Our police department can not compete with neighboring agencies with the compensation and benefits packages our hard working law enforcement deserve Flooding, well, that will not be solved by these in office at this time. I would tell you to call Mr. Lockhart or one of the council members but you're wasting your time. Not a one of them has returned my calls over the last 4 years. From what others say at the coffee shop and social gatherings, I am not alone. I think the most common comment is, "I guess we will hear something since it is an election year".

That is not acceptable. I pay my taxes every day, I expect a professional and responsive group of people every day, not during an election year.We don't know what a new mayor and council will do, but we do know if we continue with this group of people, our city will continue to live under a cloud, hearing empty promises, dirty politics and continue to deteriorate.

I will vote, my husband, children, and grandchildren will vote. We will not give our precious votes to anyone that is so disrespectful and dishonest as what we have in office today.

God bless our City.

The Real First W.C. Handy Festival

 

Republished with permission:

When was the first W.C. Handy Festival? Many point to 1982 which began an annual tradition of a week long event, but the first Handy Festival was held 12 years before. The year 1970 saw the dedication of a reconstructed Handy birthplace accompanied by a two-day festival on November 22 and 23.

The 1970 festival featured a concert with such illustrious talent as the Olympia Brass Band, Maxine Sullivan, Blanch Thomas, and the immortal Eubie Blake and his song-writing partner Noble Sissle. The next day saw a parade and street strut down Court Street led by the Olympia Brass Band from New Orleans.

Attending this first festival were Mrs. W. C. Handy, Charles E. Handy, W. C. Handy Jr., Mattie Handy Robinson, and Catherine Handy Lewis. At the end of the festival, Florence Chamber of Commerce President Jim Odum announced the event would become an annual tradition, but it was not yet to be.

The next Handy Festival was in 1973 and honored Handy’s 100th birthday. The event was held November 17 and 18 and began with a parade on Court Street. Special entertainment followed at the halftime of that afternoon’s University of North Alabama ball game. The Handy family was honored with a reception following the game.

The next night a concert was held in Norton Auditorium. A sold-out theatre saw Thomas, Sullivan, and Blake return to the Shoals stage. Eubie Blake was then 90 and reportedly the highlight of the night. At the end of the festival, Jim Odum again stated the festival was to become an annual event.

Under the direction of Odum, both festivals were considered huge successes. Why a delay of nine more years before the third festival was held? A slow economy as well as the aging of Mr. Handy’s family and contemporaries may have been to blame. Nevertheless, the festival is now a permanent Shoals fixture each summer.

c. Shoals History from Firenze

The Republican Answer to George Soros

 

Pictured above is Leonard Leo. What? You've never heard of him? He pretty much bought the nominations of at least four Supreme Court judges. He seems to have a great many state attorneys general in his pocket also. 

Now Leo has given $1,000,000.00 to Katherine Robertson's Alabama campaign. Does the expression "bought and paid for" ring a bell? 

Want another photo of Leo? Here's one that's interchangeable with Robertson...and Steve Marshall.

Spring Valley Solar Farm

 

From a Concerned Reader:

Friends and family, we need you to be at CHHS on July 15 at 6:00 pm to tell TVA to kick rocks and take their solar farm elsewhere! Maybe the reservation and the old Ford plant since that land can’t be used for anything else! During heavy rains the creek on Hwy 43 already floods and the diverted water from the “farm” will only exacerbate the issue potentially causing road closures on a major highway due to the TVA Spring Valley Solar Project. Plus the horrific impact it will have on the ecosytem!!! 

Let’s tell TVA this is a terrible idea and we don’t want it!