MUSCLE SHOALS…MUSCLE SHOALS…MUSCLE SHOALS...WILL YOU EVER LEARN?

From a reader:

I’ve watched and listened with amazement the antics of the Muscle Shoals City Council and the Board of Education, both ruled and governed by the infamous Brian Lindsey. Don’t think this is true, check the facts which will be listed later and see for yourself. And I realize there are those who will actually check the facts and those who will continue to drink the poison provided by Lindsey and band of henchmen (aka MSBOE).

First to address City Council member and president Allen Noles. At the meeting last night President Noles said there was absolutely nothing they could do to overturn the ruling of the Superintendent and Board of Education. Well, that is somewhat true “BUT”, Noles failed to mention that he and the city council are solely responsible for this debacle because they took good people who actually researched their decisions before voting off the BOE and replaced them with individuals approved by Mayor Lindsey who will rubber stamp anything he desires.

One thing Mr. Noles and his other council members might want to explain is how the dentist, Jeremiah (Jamie) Stoddard from Florence was suddenly appointed to the BOE. There were 6 other applicants, many are long time residents of Muscle Shoals, Terry Copley, Doris Metcalf, Jeb Miles, Margaret Farley, Allison Mefford and Greg Hill. These residents were passed over for Mr. Stoddard who appeared on the scene and moved to Muscle Shoals a few months prior to the appointment. None of you council members could have known anything about him but we’re sure you were told by Mayor Lindsey to appoint him and that’s what you did. And now you want to tell us that you had nothing to do with what’s going on at the BOE…really!

Now let’s look at your other appointments on the BOE...in 2013 you had applicants Butch Fleming, Joey Puckett and Clayton Wood and you chose Wood. After listening to him at the council meeting last night, OMG! As us southerners would say, Bless His Heart. Now you could have chosen professional people like Butch or Joey and you chose Clayton Wood…in 2014 you had applicants Marilyn Granville Davis, Pam Doyle, current council member Ken Sockwell, Phillip Green and Celia Rudolph and you chose the former Assistant Superintendent who Mayor Lindsey and Scott Basden told you to choose. Can’t deny it because Lindsey, Basden and their minions have boasted all over the city how they got Doyle booted off the board. Even councilman Lockhart’s wife boasted at school the next day (as verified by more than one teacher) that “we won, she’s gone”!

And would anyone think that Rudolph would be unbiased in any form or fashion in dealing with her former employer...in 2015 you only had Willis Thompson that applied so you had no choice but to appoint him but there has never been a board member who micromanages any more than Thompson…..in 2016 you had applicants, former council member Steve Bradford, Pete Waldrep, Allison Mefford and career board member Farrell Southern and of course you chose Farrell Southern because Mayor Lindsey told you to choose him. So much for the history lesson but Mr. Noles needs to face the situation that he helped create. Hall and Sockwell are only responsible for Stoddard but Willis, Lockhart and Noles are responsible for the all the appointments.

Enough said now but the citizens of Muscle Shoals deserve much better representation than we’re getting. Mr. Noles said they can all be replaced but nothing will change…..I’d be willing to take a chance on change, with the exception of Chris Hall who definitely listens and responds to the people as evidenced last night. This council has proven they don’t consider merit whatsoever in selecting board members so “we the people” need to remove those appointments from them and have a BOE elected by and for the people of Muscle Shoals!

ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD IN 2018…

VOTE OUT ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO IS OPPOSED TO AN ELECTED BOARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Meanwhile, in Rogersville...Let's hope the crooks give it a rest for the holidays. It seems three police officers have left Richard Herston's happy home for greener pastures.

More on this later.