Consolidation Marches On?/Retail Report

Despite protestations by the Lauderdale County Board of Education that school consolidation is not being considered as part of its strategic plan, and the Times Daily’s unquestioning reportage thereof, the die may already be cast. Heck, they may actually believe their own BS, but the reality of the situation is that the manifest fiscal ineptitude of the Board and its executive management have placed such onerous burdens on current and future financial resources that school consolidation will become their only viable option in the not-so-distant future unless the Board alters its current trajectory.

Humbly submitted for your consideration by,

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A huge number of readers contacted us after our report on a possible Target store for Muscle Shoals. The bottom line was that more would like a regular report on retail establishments in the Shoals, both coming and going. Beginning today, we'll publish a brief statement on any retail developments as they happen, entitled:

Retail Report...

In 2017, J.C. Penney announced 138 closings, including four in Alabama - Jasper, Auburn, Bessemer, and Gadsden. Today it announced that at least 24 more stores would close across the U.S.; however, the retail giant refused to offer any specific locations. A large J.C. Penney has been an anchor at the Florence Mall since its opening in 1978. Before that, the popular department store had been a fixture in downtown Florence for decades.

In fact, J.C. Penney is the only one of the five original anchor stores remaining in what was once Regency Square Mall. For those who had rather wrestle Chequita for the last crab leg than shop at that retail merry-go-round on the parkway, Sears is no longer in business, Castner-Knott is now Dillard's, and Parisian and Pizitz are now Belk locations. 

Perhaps Muscle Shoals Can Soon Enjoy Its Own Friday Night Fights?