Halloween 2019

We hope each of our readers has a terrific Celtic New Year's Eve!

If You Value Your Life, Stay Out of Those Places!

The rain hadn't stopped in two days, and the college football coach decided to show first aid films rather than have his team scrimmage. When he noticed his star fullback wasn't paying attention, he asked:

"Biff, would you know what to do if you got your nose broken in two places?"

"Sure, Coach. I'd stay out of those two places."

Those with a vested financial interest in a certain business may say what they wish about the club incident of last Saturday night. We've seen the photos and the wounded employee certainly appears to have a gunshot wound. We've also talked to a police source who says the victim was definitely shot.

The absolute miracle of the whole thing is that no lives were lost. Our best to the young man for a rapid recovery.

Certainly there have always been shootings at clubs and even shopping venues. Better news gathering aside, we're still sure the number of these shootings increases each year.

One or two critics feel the whole shooting should be swept under the rug. Regular readers know our stance on that. Just how does not talking about something make it go away? If you can explain that to us, we'll never mention a violent act again. 

The truth is just the opposite. The more who realize the danger of any situation, the more who will avoid it.

Florence Shelter to Raise Kill Rate?

For some time the Florence Animal Shelter, aka Florence Animal Services, has been a low-kill facility. That may change if staffing quotas aren't met.

If you can volunteer, you need to do so now. the shelter may have 200 animals on any given day, with only three or so employees to maintain the facility. 

Like most towns and cities, Florence has a problem with an overabundance of dogs and cats. If you care, you will help in some manner. If you don't care, we know what kind of person you are.

(256) 760-6676

Audio Files?/Forgery?

At this point, no one seems to be able to open the audio files that go with our UNA series. We have three programs that we are trying, but welcome any software suggestions from our readers.

We have heard the audio; is it damning? We would prefer that each reader decide for himself. If all else fails, we will publish two more parts of CC 101's report without audio links.

Over the years, we have misspelled names, listed a few incorrect job titles, and even once listed the wrong government entity in a blog on forced retirement. At least twice we've made a glaring error in classifying a crime. In short we make mistakes and always try to correct them.

We have never forged any documents here, much less three signatures to an official Republican Executive Committee resolution. Yet that is what one reader accused us of. The document has now been mentioned in the TimesDaily, so perhaps our reader is slightly more satisfied with our veracity.

A very savvy pundit tells us the Ag Center will go, in very short order, to either UNA or a huge semi-local business that we won't name here. What about the debt? Ideally, any bond debt should be taken over by whomever acquires the new center. If it isn't, we firmly believe a class action lawsuit against the Lauderdale County Commission is possible.

Skankie's Buys Drunken Brass Monkey

In what the Wall Street Journal is calling a brilliant financial coup, the uber popular Sheffield watering hole Skankie's has purchased the Drunken Brass Monkey in Florence. According to insiders, Skankie's practically stole the club in what real estate moguls call a shooting sale. This is apparently like a fire sale, but in which the property is riddled with bullets rather than torched.

Said general manager Blake Aycock, "We absolutely jumped on the deal. Our main concern was whether to call the new dive "The Drunken Brass Skanky" or "Skankies North." We went with Skankies North so as not to dilute our established months old brand." Will there be any changes to the format? "You betcha! The new cover policy is bikers free, gays only $1.00, and hookers a crisp C note, or maybe trade - call me. Second, we're pretty sure we can do better than DJ Snix out of Marion County. We're going whole hog to get DJ Sux from Frog Pond in Franklin."

There you have it, folks. Be sure to keep up with the continued adventures of Skankie's in the Shoals News Source.

Note: The blog Shoalanda Speaks does not own the fictional characters of Skankie's or Blake Aycock, nor does anyone who works here write for the Shoals News Source.

UNA Personnel Situation - Part I

We have a long communication from Concerned Citizen 101. Due to its length, we'll be breaking this down into parts. Some references are to audio files which we have also been sent. We will be attaching them so that you may listen if you wish.

While this is tedious in some cases, it's useful to see exactly how this situation continues to play out at UNA:

Well it is me again. And yes, I am still a Concerned Citizen 101 and I will be until a change comes. And yes, it is about the University of North Alabama. 

If you remember my last postings, I wanted to find the audio recordings mentioned in the Mitchell v UNA lawsuit. Well like the good book says if you ask you will receive. It took some time to convince those who had copies of these to give them up but I kept asking. I am persistent! Once I heard them my mouth dropped open but I will let you draw your own opinion. 

Before I unleash the recordings, I will start by commenting on the Alabama A&M Head Coach statements made this week during a press conference. Now bear with me the audio recordings tie into this. I have no idea if anything Coach Maynor said are true or not. I do not know if it was just rudeness or racist. Everyone will have their own opinion concerning this. Now I will say the statement but an officer placing his hand on his gun while talking to Alabama A&M coach(es) alarms me and should alarm everyone especially in today’s climate. But there’s no documented irrefutable evidence, yet. Just one man’s word against another. 

Maynor says Alabama A&M won't play UNA again

Maynor says Alabama A&M won't play UNA again Gregg Dewalt Senior Sports Editor Alabama A&M head football coach Connell Maynor inferred racism played a part in the treatment he said his school...

However, something in UNA’s statement made my eyebrow go up and made me laugh out loud. Real loud. The part where “Our athletic programs – including students, players, coaching staffing, alumni and fans – are held to the highest standards of respectful behavior …” I guess that does not include the rest of the University employees such as UNA Administration and Human Resources. Because what’s on these audio recordings is far from high standards of respectful behavior. 

Again, as I said about Coach Maynor, claim of racism is sometimes subjective and depends on your own opinion. But I know retaliation when I see and hear it. I know threats as well as creating hostile work environment all of which are illegal. There is no way the UNA Administration specifically the President as well as Board of Trustee members should be okay with any UNA employee regardless of race being spoken to in this manner. Not just once but repeatedly by some Vice Presidents and Head of Human Resources. These conversations were reported numerous times. I am just livid and confused as to why nothing has been done about this. Okay Okay Listen for yourselves. 

First up is everyone’s favorite HR person Catherine White. Play attachment labeled.

2016-09-14 Catherine threat about consultant - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1er2H-3cCpND65zGGltaiV3brmol8hfO3

Is UNA Board of Trustees okay with Human Resources speaking to employees in this manner? Notice I did not say President Kitts because I think these are his words. Catherine White was just stupid enough to say them. She is still at fault because by position she knows better. Either way WOW.

Now here is how Ms. Mitchell was informed of this meeting. These emails are on the UNA server. 

Lauderdale Republican Executive Committee Condemns Ag Center

How does this affect the standing of Tim Melson, Lynn Greer, and Phillip Pettus in the local Republican Party?

Resolution on Proposed Agricultural Center in Lauderdale County, Alabama 

WHEREAS, $45 million has been proposed for an Agricultural Center in Lauderdale County, Alabama; and 

WHEREAS, a 40-year bond issue of up to $46 million has been authorized by the Agricultural Authority Board; and 

WHEREAS, the establishment of the Agricultural Authority Board to oversee the construction and operation of the Agricultural Center was passed without adequate input from the public; and 

WHEREAS, $1.2 million in annual in-lieu-of tax dollars allocated to seven cities and in Lauderdale County, the Lauderdale County Board of Education, the Florence City Board of Education, and the Lauderdale County Commission has been appropriated and redirected to the Agricultural Authority; and 

WHEREAS, the two cent gasoline tax, which was promised to expire when the RTI Golf Trail bond issue was paid off, was extended for Lauderdale County and directed to the Agricultural Authority without consent of the taxpayers; and 

WHEREAS, the bill to extend the two cent gasoline tax had to be rewritten to extend the tax only to Lauderdale County and exempt Colbert County before the bill could be introduced; and 

WHEREAS, no feasibility study for the project has been completed; and 

WHEREAS, the Alabama Republican Party Platform specifically states "We support lower tax models that adequately fund government without undue waste or programs better facilitated by the private sector"; and 

WHEREAS, the Agricultural Center as proposed is antithetical to the fiscally conservative principles of the Republican Party of Lauderdale County, Alabama; 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lauderdale County Republican Party Executive Committee does not endorse nor does it support the existing proposal to create an Agricultural Center in Lauderdale County, Alabama.

Joshua Dodd, Chairman 

Ralph Long, Secretary

John Hargett,, Treasurer