Meet John D. Bowen

John D. Bowen has announced his candidacy for Florence District 2 City Council. Here's a little about Mr. Bowen:

John D. Bowen was raised in Rogersville, Alabama, often visiting Florence in his teens to play pool, eat downtown and visit our parks.

Upon graduating high school top 10 in his class, John D. Bowen attended The University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business. During that time, he studied Chinese at Feng Chia University in Taiwan. John quickly developed a love for travel, visiting Hong Kong, England, France, Holland, Belgium (for a waffle) and Spain.

After graduating from The University of Alabama, John moved to Georgia. In Georgia, John worked at the heart of the financial services industry. He also apprenticed with the Oxford Center for Entrepreneurs – meeting many restaurant owners and business executives in the Atlanta area.

After leaving Georgia, John D. Bowen moved to Colorado – where he developed a love for mountains, hiking and community. John’s travels lead him back home to Florence, Alabama where he’s developed a passion for supporting non-profits and small businesses.

You can connect with Mr. Bowen on his website: John D. Bowen

It looks like District 2 is going to be the race to watch in Florence!

Lauderdale County Commission Comes Through on Paradise Drive!

Blind Curve on Paradise Drive Being Widened

From Hank Thomas:

Believe it or not, after 14 years of meetings, letters and phone calls about Paradise Drive, it is being widened. Blind curves and hills are being addressed. The road department has done a great job under the direction of county engineer Eric Hill. This will make the road safer. Thanks also to the Florence utility department for moving utility poles to allow the work to be done. Commission Chairman Danny Pettus was instrumental in pushing for this road work to happen. The citizens, living on Paradise Drive are very appreciative. Thanks also to all that have supported the efforts to make this happen. A very special thanks to Doctor Gil Parrish who lost his life on this road while continuously fighting to have improvements made to Paradise Drive. I know he is smiling. Last but certainly not least. Thanks to Shoalanda Speaks, without your blog the word would not have been printed. You have kept the citizens of Lauderdale appraised about our fight to make the road safer. For this, we will be forever grateful.

We want to first thank Mr. Thomas for his kind words to us, as well as all his work to make the public aware. Second, we wish to thank Commission Chair Danny Pettus (who often has a thankless job) for his continuing efforts on behalf of the residents of Waterloo and Paradise Drive.

Update on River Zurinsky

My name is River Zurinsky and I am asking for your vote for Florence City Council District 2 on August 25, 2020. I was born at ECM Hospital in District 2 and have lived in District 2 all my life. At 21 years old, deciding to run for Florence City Council was not an easy decision for me to make, but when I saw our current city council deny Room at the Table the right to feed the hungry out of their building, I knew it was the right decision for me to run. This decision was reinforced when our current city council recently allowed a carnival to keep their permit and set up in Florence in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic after denying Room at the Table a permit. Allowing the carnival to come to Florence during COVID-19 may have resulted in hundreds more cases of the virus than we would have had if the carnival had not been allowed to set up. If I am elected to the Florence City Council, I promise to never put profits over people. I will look out for the health and well-being of the people of Florence. One of the first things I will do if I am elected is meet with Room at the Table and negotiate a deal which will allow them to feed those in need without costing the taxpayers of Florence court costs and legal fees. I will also quickly introduce legislation to buy cyber insurance for the City of Florence's computer systems. I think it is unacceptable after being warned that our current city council took no action to protect information in our computer systems, then unanimously voted to give internet hackers a $290,000 ransom.

The Times Daily has reported that Muscle Shoals is paying their police officers more than Florence is. I want to raise the salaries of Florence firefighters and police officers to make sure they are being paid an equitable amount. I also want to add the phrase "In God We Trust" to our fire trucks and police cars. Another thing I would like to do, which I mentioned in my previous Shoalanda Speaks interview is to work with Florence Fire to build a sixth fire station on Darby Drive. While I will look out for the needs of District 2 in particular, I believe part of the job of city council member is to look out for the needs of everyone in Florence. I know in the event of a fire every second is critical. Building a fire station on Darby Drive will give residents of that part of the city a quicker response. Riverhill School is located on Darby Drive and I believe it is important for the safety of students attending there to build a fire station nearby.

During the COVID-19 pandemic many of our local businesses have struggled to make ends meet. I would like to offer our local businesses several tax-free days in 2021. Getting money back in the hands of local entrepreneurs will save jobs and reduce closures, and that is critical right now since we don't know how long COVID-19 will pose a threat to our city. The State of Alabama already hosts a "Back to School Sales Tax Holiday Weekend" where parents can buy school supplies for their child with no added sales tax. My proposed tax-free days would remove the city tax on items sold at all our locally-owned businesses, whether you are buying clothing, fuel/gasoline, groceries, hardware/tools, jewelry, pet supplies, or a meal from one of our many local restaurants.

For many years I have had the idea of building an aquarium in Florence. I think that having an aquarium would bring more family tourist groups to Florence. An aquarium would also be a great educational tool for our local children. The aquarium would have local freshwater fish found in the Tennessee River, but would also have popular saltwater fish species such as Blue Tangs, Clownfish, and Jellyfish. It would also have a Touch-A-Ray Tank which would give children the chance to interact with Manta Rays after COVID-19 restrictions have ended. Local hotels and restaurants would gain additional business from tourists who visit the aquarium. The aquarium would also create jobs for Shoals residents.

I think another way to attract more tourists, create new jobs, and improve the lives of residents of District 2 would be to use the old McFarland Park golf course area to build an amphitheater, dog park, skate park, and splash pad. Several local bands already play in McFarland Park and having an outdoor amphitheater would provide them a much nicer place to play with a seating area for the audience. In 2012, I watched a group raise $900,000 to build a city-owned dog park which never got built. The proposed location for the dog park was part of the old McFarland Park golf course. There is still high demand for a City of Florence owned dog park today. The dog park would provide a place for dogs to get exercise and play with other dogs. Teenagers living in District 2 could benefit from a skate park as it would encourage them to be physically active outside. They shouldn't have to travel all the way to Cox Creek Parkway just to skate. Having a splash pad in McFarland Park would be a great way for residents of District 2 and tourists to beat the heat and cool off on hot summer days. I also propose building a canoe/kayak storage facility on the part of the old golf course adjacent to Cypress Creek and the Tennessee River. TVA recently awarded Florence a grant to build a canoe/kayak ramp at the north end of Cypress Creek. Building a canoe/kayak storage facility at the south end of Cypress Creek would give people a place to store their canoes and kayaks after floating or paddling down Cypress Creek. Being located in McFarland Park, people on the Tennessee River could dock and use this facility as well. Building the canoe/kayak storage facility would help bring more events to McFarland Park and the Tennessee River. This facility would also help to pay for the improvements that I propose for McFarland Park. I think that revitalizing McFarland Park will encourage new business development along Highway 20/Savannah Highway and in downtown Florence, creating even more local jobs.

Since the safety of the citizens of Florence is a major concern to me, if I am elected to the Florence City Council, I will immediately introduce legislation to fix the many broken pedestrian signals on Court Street. Right now, six of the seven intersections on Court Street that have pedestrian signals are not in fully working order. None of the pedestrian signals at the intersections of Alabama Street and Court Street and Court Street and Dr. Hicks Boulevard light up, half of the pedestrian signals at College Street and Court Street don't light up, and the intersections at Court and Mobile, Court and Tombigbee, and Court and Tuscaloosa have no buttons for a pedestrian to push to signal that they need to cross the street. It shouldn’t take someone getting hurt or killed for this problem to be fixed. My legislation would also propose the addition of pedestrian signals to the intersections of Mobile and Pine, and Pine and Tombigbee so that residents of Courtview Towers can safely cross Pine Street to get to our local restaurants and shops in downtown, as well as adding pedestrian signals to the intersection of Pine Street and Tuscaloosa Street so UNA that students will be able to safely walk down Pine Street to downtown.

I love Florence and with your vote for Florence City Council District 2 on August 25th, together we can make Florence an even better place to live! I’ve set up a campaign e-mail address electriverzurinsky@yahoo.com and I have an Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/riverzurinskystar/ where I post daily about my campaign. You can also watch my live campaign broadcasts on Instagram every Friday at 6:30 PM between now and the election. Please DM me on Instagram or e-mail me any questions you have about my campaign/platform. If you live in District 2, look for my flyers in your mailbox on August 11th or August 12th! I encourage you to read my previous interview with Shoalanda Speaks if you haven't already done so at http://shoalandaspeaks.blogspot.com/2020/06/see-dicks-opponents-run-part-i.html. Thank you for reading this and voting for River Zurinsky on August 25th. Together, we can create positive change!

Voters can contact me at electriverzurinsky@yahoo.com or by DMing me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverzurinskystar/

During a time when public campaign events cannot be done, I think it is important to be available daily online for anyone with comments or questions. It's the least I can do. I enjoyed reading the comments I received on the first interview I did with your blog, looking forward to reading the comments I receive from this one.

Two Sides, Two Crimes, One Sick Florence/Lauderdale Public

Until now, we've supported Project Say Something's stance that the CSA monument should be moved to a more appropriate place. Until now, Project Say Something has not indulged in vandalism. That changed on Monday afternoon.

From Sheffield High's dress code to Rogersville's speed limit to Doc's Gym closure, we've always supported obeying the laws/rules. Yes, that's legalism, and we're a legalist. 

It just gets worse; we're told a Florence city employee indulged in this vandalism, a person with whom we had discussed the monument problem. We're totally gobsmacked that he would have been involved. If he was, then he should lose his job. 

Apparently, Florence police had to shut down the demonstration after the vandalism began. Perhaps we should just be happy that no one was hurt. At least no one has been hurt yet.

It gets still worse. We said there were two sides and two crimes. Is everyone familiar with what Mrs. Camille Bennett, head of Project Say Something, looks like? If photographs are accurate, PeeWee Herman could take her in a fair fight. Yet one Lauderdale County citizen has threatened to break her jaw.

Ready for it to get still worse? Lanier Holcombe is allegedly some kind of youth minister. Or he was. We doubt that it's a paid position, but no matter what it is, he should lose his job also. 

Can anyone reading this visualize Jesus saying anything like this? Over what? A piece of generic statuary that seems to have a more sinister backstory than most of us ever realized. 

Pray for Lauderdale County...

Calls for ALFA Advocate Will Dismukes' Resignation

Wherever Will Dismukes goes, controversy follows. The erstwhile ALFA employee is again in the news after announcing his attendance at a birthday party honoring the founder of the Ku Klux Klan. 

Dismukes serves the Prattville/Montgomery area in the state legislature and has been chastised by Democratic lawmakers in the past for his activities. Dismukes, whose wife continues to work for ALFA has also been widely criticized for supporting an entity totally opposed to animal welfare in this state.

No matter what anyone may think of Dismukes' membership in the Sons of Confederate Veterans, attending an event honoring Nathan Bedford Forrest on the day civil rights activist John Lewis was being mourned in the same city is totally tasteless and smacks of overt racism. ALFA and the Klan - two hate-filled organizations that Alabama is better off leaving behind.

Meet Kevin Leigh Robinson

Kevin Leigh Robinson announces his campaign for Mayor of Sheffield, Alabama. 

Born in Jackson, Mississippi Kevin Leigh Robinson grew up in Huntsville & attended UNA in Florence. He was hired as the 6 & 10 news producer at WOWL while attending UNA in 1996. While working for WOWL he walked into Muscle Shoals Sound Studio (now Cypress Moon) and shortly thereafter was offered a contract with Warner Bros. This pivotal life event found him working deep within the music industry for the past 25 years. Kevin has worked with global advertising agencies, brands such as BMW, Facebook & Disney, producing as well as publishing and licensing. He has toured the world, ran a record label, worked in construction management and more. This deep understanding of the music industry is an asset he plans to bring to Sheffield, “We have a brand that is incredibly valuable to the world when it comes to music & we can offer this to industries that create jobs and build on the amazing work that has already been done here.”

Mr. Robinson has a history of public service and a lifetime of successfully completing high stress projects under budget and on schedule. He understands the importance of teamwork, collaboration and what it takes to create successful projects with a diverse group of people.

Kevin and his wife Sarah (along with their bloodhound Loretta) moved back to Sheffield in 2018 and opened the Do Right Man Barbershop, located at 122 N. Nashville. They live downtown and have loved reconnecting with their community and sharing the vision of local business owners, “Sheffield launched my adult life and to be back 25 years later has been one of my life’s greatest joys. My heart belongs here.”

One of his first goals as mayor will be to develop a transparent plan for the city of Sheffield that solidifies it’s foundation. “We’re losing workers and citizens every month and we need to stop the leaks.” His priorities will be strengthening & supporting the school system in Sheffield, helping to revive and bring new life to future developments, (finally) tackling the train track issue and creating jobs that not only improve the infrastructure of Sheffield, but also lays a solid foundation for future projects that can piggyback off of the phenomenal success of the tourism of Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. He brings fresh ideas to the existing construction developments that have left many uncertain. He is committed to sitting down and talking with people from every corner of his hometown and really listening to what their dreams and visions are for the future of Sheffield. “Transparency is a big one with me. Trust is earned & as Mayor we will operate with full disclosure to the community. This town deserves that.”

As a successful producer, Kevin has been trained to recognize a hit. He knows that Sheffield is a town with all the potential to become a phenomenal success. He also knows that wherever you have a large vision and dream big, you must first make sure you have a solid foundation on which to build it, “Collaboration is key to working together, and I’m committed to making Sheffield a hit!”

Political Announcements

If you're running for municipal office next month, send us your announcement, short bio, etc. We will try to run one each day. 

Good luck!

(Contact us at shoalanda.speaks@gmail.com)

Rename Deshler High School?

From a reader:

Thanks to your blog for bringing important issues to light. I hope you'll allow me to suggest a much needed improvement to the area. Let's rename Deshler High School.

Look at it this way: You have Florence High, Sheffield High, and Muscle Shoals High. Why do we have Deshler High named after an obscure CSA general?

There is a large percentage of African-Amerian students at Tuscumbia's only secondary school. Do they enjoy attending a facility names for a Confederate general?

A proposal to erect a monument to James Deshler was recently only narrowly avoided. One way to cut off any future monument plans at the pass is to rename the school now. 

Tuscumbia Board of Education, are you listening?

You May Lie, but You Can't Outrun 'Rona

From Leslie M. Shoals:

Chad, Chad, Chad:

Now why would you say "Holden said he doesn't know how or where he contracted the virus as he has followed CDC protocol with social distancing, frequent hand washing and other regulations"? Why did you lie to that Times Daily reporter, to the citizens of Muscle Shoals, and expose so many people to 'Rona?

In late June, you were not taking precautions, you were on a nice vacation at the taxpayers' expense.

While you've been lying around (literally) and acting like you're all innocent, why don't you produce the taxpayers' expense records for your big trip to a Superintendent's conference in Point Clear, Alabama (Baldwin County - where close to 2500 cases have been confirmed.)?

Yes, Chad, you have been naughty and already started your tax, spend and lie to cover up your activities in this new position as you have in the past. The bad thing is, if you were practicing precautions while you stayed at home (cause it was dangerous to go to work and be around your secretary), you thought it perfectly okay to go to a large gathering in Baldwin County at the beach in late June when the numbers were peaking?

There has to be at least 125 or 130 superintendents in the state of Alabama. If even half were as reckless as Chad Holden and attended that conference along with organizers and speakers, there were at least 70 or 80 people in attendance. Add their families that love free vacations in a tropical setting at a beach to that number and you have a lot of people in that fancy hotel and swimming pool/spa.

Gov. Ivey needs to know you and others are taking risks on the taxpayers' backs in regards to the health and safety of everyone while the citizens are yanked around with restrictions. I wonder if she or the state superintendent attended this party at the beach with all those superintendents and families?

The bottom line is this: Chad Holden should not have been allowed to travel in late June when there were travel and meeting restrictions, exposure and daily lectures on stay away from others outside your home.

The next level problem is, there are five school board members who determine what Holden can and can't do and they collectively could not find the wisdom between them to know the dangers while they sit at home drawing a check and have virtual meetings.

Going a little higher, the Muscle Shoals City Council appoints the school board members and refuses to listen to the citizens' concerns and complaints.

Finally to the next level. citizens are forced to go viral and public with their disdain and frustration with the lies, waste of taxpayers' money and the double standards.

We need a change in Muscle Shoals. I'm gonna venture to predict some of the candidates running for office in Muscle Shoals are in the race to continue the tax and spend, lies, double standard abuse of the children, citizens, and futures of this city. I will go so far as to say there are Muscle Shoals candidates for office who have been recruited by the school system to gain control because they feel threatened after that 82% vote AGAINST them on a huge property tax increase.

Willis Thompson (previous school board member), Ken Sockwell (taxing current city councilman) and Mike Lockhart (taxing city city councilman and candidate for mayor in M.S.) all openly supported and voted to FORCE CITIZENS TO PAY MORE PROPERTY TAXES and have refused to listen to citizens' complaints.

These three men have a record, a bad record, of abuse of office. They need to be sent home and quarantined for bad behavior - forget about 'Rona, these men have abused the system and should be run out of town on August 25th.

As far as all these last minute people jumping in the city council races, one only needs to look at their "resumes" and the similarity of their signs that look like football advertisements with the school colors.

Chad Holden and his sidekicks Basden and Davis want control of the city to see if they can screw it up as bad as they have the school system.

Lindsey Legacy Reign of Terror Part II begins.

The Hispanic man who wrote to you needs a civil rights lawyer to make believers of these jokers and expose them nationally with a federal lawsuit for the corruption in the school system and city.

VOTE AUGUST 25th - just don't vote for those people who want your money.

Bye Bye Thompson, Sockwell, Lockhart, and DAVID BRADFORD.

GO HOME.

Kadie Needs Our Help!

Kadie Story was diagnosed with 38 tumors on the brain and sent home with six months to live. She is 30 years old with no life insurance and four small children under the age of 10.

There will be a raffle held online for Kadie's medical expenses on Friday, August 14th. There will be 70+ business/donations prizes. The winners will be called out during the online drawings. You do not have to be present to win...you will be notified.

Example donations:
Robert Trent Jones Golf,
Cypress Lake Course,
Marriott Stay,
Best Western Plus stay,
Hillshire meat basket,
Restaurant gift cards,
Lowes gift card,
Home Depot gift card,
Auto Zone gift card,
Much, much more!!

There will also be a pancake breakfast drive thru pickup in Florence, on Saturday, August 15th.

All tickets are $5.00.

Please let Terri Vandiver Stevens know if you would like to purchase or assist in any way.

Thank you!

TimesDaily Returns to Paid Only in Mid-August

Watch where you're going with your advertising! The TimesDaily will be returning to paid subscriptions online on August 18th. Make your advertising dollars count.

Contact us for your election or business ads. We currently have over 10K Facebook followers. Last month our page hit total reached 77K, and our all time page views stand at 6.5 million.

Something for every budget at shoalanda.speaks@gmail.com.

A Betrayed Muscle Shoals Parent Speaks

Muscle Shoals School Superintendent 

Chad O.G. Holden

Dr. Conner,

I have thought a lot about our meeting today and have decided to change my course of action. There is no need to have anyone contact me to schedule a visit on my apartment. I have decided to change direction as to where I will be sending my kids for school after the way I was treated today. In our meeting you did everything besides call me a liar about what I planned to do to enable my kids to attend the muscle shoals school system. I have heard great things about these schools and wanted my kids to be a part of that type of education. 

After our meeting today I realized that I do not want their values and culture growing from being around people that are turning away people who want the types of opportunities for their kids that they did not have available. I brought in the lease for the apartment, the electric bill and all other documents that are needed in my name to properly enroll an in district student. I explained the situation to you and that me and my wife had the understanding that this was something she was ok with me doing. You basically called me a liar and said that there was little chance that I would do that being married. You must not have had to sacrifice much in your life but my kids are of the utmost importance to me and I am willing to do whatever is needed to ensure they are properly taken care of.

I will not however expose them to the type of culture that I witnessed today. Also according to your policies which you did not follow it states “Resident students will be accepted conditionally pending confirmation of residency”. You did not keep any of my kids information and did not make any attempt to give me any kind of motion that you were even considering letting them in. You told me that I would be contacted and someone would come look at the apartment but had made it clear that you did not believe my situation and did not give any notion of being accepted. You also made a call to the high school principal and sent me out of the room for nearly 20 minutes to discuss the situation with him. I do not understand why this conversation would need to be had since it is a resident student and upon acceptance they would start at the school.

I do know that my wife’s ex-husband is a teacher at the high school and is very tight with the school principle which leads me to believe I am being discriminated against due to being a Hispanic person and the fact that I am with his ex-wife. He has also made comments about my son during the short period my son was at Muscle Shoals High that he better not ever take one of his classes and several racist comments to me which I have recorded. Another thing I wanted to mention was during the short period my son attended the high school before they were dismissed for the Covid-19 virus there was also a teacher who made a comment to my son asking him if him and his family were on the run due to our last name being Hispanic. 

These types of things are not acceptable in a school system and I realized I was working hard to get my kids into a system that would maybe give them a better book education but would not instill the core values they need to be good people. As far as the discrimination and racists actions go I will speak to my attorney to determine best course of action for those. Very sorry we could not work this out in a better manner as I tried to follow the proper policy and was denied.

Time for a change this coming city election?

Questions for Project Say Something?

Over the past few days and weeks, we've seen various statements made about Project Say Something, many of them unfounded. We weren't sure whether to be greatly amused or appalled by the allegations that the group was responsible for the almost $300,000.00 hacker ransom demand.

If you would like to ask this group a question, a board member has graciously volunteered to provide answers. Send your questions to us via Messenger or to our e-mail at shoalanda.speaks@gmail.com.

Municipal campaigning is heating up. If you're running for office, be sure to send us a bio for publication.

SA Places Three, but How Many Did It Lose?

It seems the Salvationist Church is asking for housewarming gifts for three homeless individuals it recently placed. All very admirable, and we commend them for the placements.

But just how many of Florence's homeless did they lose from the property surrounding their building? Apparently it was enough for residents on Sweetwater Avenue to call the Florence Police Department to evict them from their backyards.

Yes some of the homeless took their city-issued tents and migrated slightly to the north of the Salvation Army building and wound up at private residences, camping out and using the creek for toilet facilities.

We're told the FPD quickly put an end to this behavior, but we have to ask just how the SA allowed that to happen. The incident didn't endear the quasi-religious group to any of its neighbors. Is the Florence City Council listening?

Project Say Something Letter to Tim Melson

We've commented before that, even if he means well, Sen. Tim Melson of Florence doesn't always express his thoughts in the most mannerly way. This blog had missed a controversy from last month, but a regular reader sent us a copy of Project Say Something's letter to the good state senator after he spoke before the Lauderdale County Commission last month:

PSS Letter to Tim Melson

This at least answers one of our questions concerning whom an acquaintance of ours was referring to in his pithy comment on the PSS Facebook page.

Props to Sen. Melson for the Time He Got It 1000% Right!

Tell Us What You Think!

Click to Enlarge

Above is a graphic from an ad for a Redstone Arsenal seminar. The Army isn't happy. Yet many (or should we say most) of these listed behaviors are non-productive at best.

But the point of this exercise isn't to discuss the actions of an Army agency. It's to see what our readers think about these things. 

After a brief look, we have to ask: Why is being colorblind a bad thing? What are we missing? Is Columbus Day really one the worst problems this nation has to face? Paternalism? We have news - that's not simply a racist thing. It's in every facet of our lives, and we should call out those who choose to indulge in it (listening, medical profession?).

Comments wanted and welcome on Facebook, blog, or via e-mail!

What Did You Expect from the Lauderdale County Commission?

We're at a loss as to why Project Say Something is blaming the City of Florence for the current debacle over the CSA monument. The city attorney for Florence has asked the county to give written permission to move the monument, which the county has denied.

Does this surprise anyone? When has the county commission ever been responsive to the citizens of Lauderdale County? Paradise Drive? No...still no work done on that death trap. Enforcing animal laws? The county has claimed due to home rule that it has no right to enforce laws already on the books.

Basically, what you get for your money, is four men who draw a check to sign checks to pay utilities, salaries, and of course those building the Ag Center. Speaking of that, how is it coming along? Anyone feeling ready to go sit in that expensive new building next to a Coronavirus time bomb?

Child Molester Says Shoalanda Burned Down His Home

If you're new to our blog, you may not be familiar with Derek Warren Logue, currently residing in Nebraska and also currently under indictment in Florida on charges of First Degree Theft. Some years ago, Logue was convicted of the First Degree Sexual Abuse of an 11 year-old girl in Franklin County. Upon his release from the Alabama prison system, he became an advocate for convicted sex offenders.

Since our first blog on Logue many years ago, the social justice warrior has not exactly been a fan of our publication. Earlier this week, a reader made us aware of the following post to another local publication:

You're right about one thing -- the fire IS suspicious. Shoalanda Speaks and her cohort going by the alias Larry Lynch made death threats against Derek Logue. One such threat was made just before the fire. Police should question Shoalanda about her role in the fire. By the way, this case will be dismissed because there is clear evidence of mistaken identity, but you losers won't bother publishing the fact there was a willful mistakeon the part of law enforcement.

If you're wondering who Larry Lynch is, it's the pen name of the gentleman who writes the blog on sex offenders found in our left side bar. We've never met Mr. Lynch, much less joined him in making any death threats against our friendly former Sheffield child molester, nor have we ever been to Ohio where Logue was living when his ramshackle apartment building burned down. 

Still, it's nice to know that Derek thinks of us, along with Rep. Andrew Sorrell, political activist Edward Bowman, and several Shoals officials, so fondly. What higher praise could anyone desire?

Sinister Sexual Predator?

Sex Offender News

Duchess in Recovery; Terry Cosby in Disgrace

Yesterday, our Canine-American blogger threatened to bite anyone who harmed Cherokee police K-9 Duchess. Currently, he's on his way to Mayor Terry Cosby's home.

Cosby, pictured above in a dogmatic tee-shirt, has now said he will resign on Friday. Currently, he's up for re-election, but we hope he does think better of pursuing any future in politics. If he doesn't keep his promise to resign, we trust the good citizens of Cherokee stand with Duchess and send him packing.

According to the trainer who sold the expensive K-9 to the town, she would have gladly retrieved the dog from the hot car for those officials who were in fear of doing so. According to informed sources, there's going to be much more to come. We'll keep our readers informed on both Duchess' situation and Cosby's fate.

If you want more Cherokee, there's a new page in town:

Cherokee Corruption

Yes, we know, it's going to be a very long page...

I Really Like Prince. Hey, I Am A Duchess; It Could Work Out.

Where Is Duchess?

Duchess

I've heard it through the whine line that my friend Duchess is in danger. Where is she? Puppers in Cherokee are barking the news that she's being abused at the Cherokee police department, kidnapped even.

I don't give an ounce of kibble what else those moronic humans at the Cherokee town hall do, but if they hurt Duchess, I'll go down there and biiiiiiiite them!

I've asked my human friends at the Colbert County Animal Shelter to help. Grrrr...don't they have enough to do without having to police the police? Now excuse me while I go sharpen my canine teeth.

Prince, Your Canine-American Blogger

Note: Duchess is the three year-old Shepherd purchased just last year by the Cherokee Police Department. Dogs, yes even police K-9s, die each year from neglect in hot cars. It may not need to be said, but if it does, Prince isn't the only one watching, Cherokee.

Cherokee on the Skids Again

Pictured above is former Cherokee police chief Jason Williamson.

Pictured below is future Cherokee police chief Jason Williamson.

Are you confused yet? Just imagine how the citizens of a certain small Colbert County town feel. 

We will not comment here why Williamson left his job some time ago. If you need theories, they're all over Facebook. At the time Red left his happy police home, he was replaced by Billy Jefferson, pictured below.

Some of our readers say Chief Jefferson simply wanted to do his job by the book. Imagine that!

Enter Mayor Terry Cosby, pictured below.

Apparently, the good mayor doesn't like legalism...or Chief Jefferson. He's taken it upon himself to replace the chief with Williamson. It may have been an easy choice since the town's official website still lists Red as the occupant of that office. Nothing like being right on top of it, is there?

So anyone out there looking for some free entertainment Tuesday night should hie himself to Cherokee. The special called meeting of the town council should have more pyrotechnics than the town's fireworks show from last week.

MOVING THE CONFEDERATE MONUMENT TO VETERANS PARK IS THE ONLY SOLUTION

The Confederate monument located outside of the Lauderdale County Courthouse belongs at a museum. For the purposes of education and understanding it deserves to be rededicated.

The Florence-Lauderdale County Veterans Memorial currently contains markers listing every fallen soldier from Lauderdale County who served in WWI until present day. Each Confederate and Union soldier from Lauderdale County who died in the Civil War deserves to be remembered.

How many of those CSA soldiers from Lauderdale County were of the approximate 25% drafted into the Confederate States Army?

This monument belongs inside the park dedicated to the veterans of this county. I believe this request to be a reasonable and fair compromise.

Relocating the monument behind the Florence-Lauderdale County Veterans Museum will remain out of site from the road, yet safely monitored. Hopefully, the day will come that a larger museum will be built on site.

While it is technically true that history can not be erased, it can be easily forgotten. Please let us not forgot that our local history is family history. If someone wants to know their heritage they can usually find it in their family tree. If your roots go deep enough in Lauderdale County you will find that we are all related.

I ask you Mr. Danny Pettus and every Lauderdale County Commissioner to please put an end to this modern day online war of words and please move the Confederate Monument to where it belongs: the Florence-Lauderdale County Veterans Museum and Memorial.

Your good bud,

Uncle ZAR

Merrill Says Maskless Voting Okay

Unlike some Alabama towns, Shoals cities have not made mask wearing mandatory in public. For those towns that have, does this apply to polling places?

Secretary of State John Merrill says no. Still, it would seem a pretty good idea even if only 22% turnout is expected.

Will you vote Tuesday? If you don't, and your candidate loses, please don't complain.

And on Wednesday? Just think, we can then really start to contemplate the municipal elections.

Half the population of Sheffield is running for mayor. Like Roy Moore, we can hardly wait...

Good Deputy/Bad Deputy

This blog received two rather nasty comments concerning our article on the law enforcement officer whose weapons were stolen by a Muscle Shoals teen. Basically, the posters challenged our source and us for publishing the "false" account of the unlocked squad car. 

So was it locked or unlocked? This is from the deputy himself:

We don't choose to post the law enforcement officer's name here, but we do wish to offer him praise for his attitude. Not every officer would have shown this much grace under Facebook fire.

Are all deputies intent on doing their best? It seems not. One reader has reported:

On my way to work this morning, I stopped to get gas. I saw a Colbert county law enforcement officer going inside a public place and speaking to people without a face covering. I just assumed when you take an oath to protect & serve, it didn’t mean, “yourself. “ Very disappointed considering Colbert County is in the red concerning COVID19. Sadly, all heroes don’t wear masks.

With How Many Citizens Does This Deputy Interact Each Day?