Several have asked exactly what organization controls the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area endeavor. While all such areas come under the authority of the National Park Service, the local heritage area appears to be under the direct guidance of UNA.
If you want to complain or if you simply want more information, you might want to start there. We have had no updates on any investigation into the hacking/sabotage of the walking tours.
We had a comment to our blog on the Muscle Shoals/Deshler game that couldn't be posted due to language. The commenter stated that our reader was wrong - the entire Muscle Shoals first string and some of the second string played the whole ball game.
We have to ask: If this is true, weren't there often too many players on the field? Sigh...another fine product of the Muscle Shoals school system.
We'll have more on Thomas Spence later, but for now if you live in District 5, you should read this message from Mr. Spence very carefully:
A sea of bright and shining white faces lit up one side of Chappell Stadium on Friday night. They came prepared to have a good time, not to make a good impression.
It seems the crowd's homemade signs rivaled last year's visit to Russellville High where students waved emerald poster board stating "Show Us Your Green Card." This past week saw Muscle Shoals students referring to Deshler as "the ghetto."
We understand Chad O.G. Holden wasn't pleased...with the person who posted some of the pics to his Facebook. Our opinion? If Project Say Something needs to branch out, it should pay Muscle Shoals High School a visit.
How was the game itself? One reader commented:
Deshler almost beat ole Basden. They ran out of steam while MSCS has like a hundred kids on the field and kept sending in fresh players while Deshler's guys had to keep pushing themselves. Sad that the more talented kids got beat in the last minutes because they don't have the elite entitlement advantages.
Continuing with some questions we've been presented:
1. Are any sex offenders given special privileges? No. We remember the Cherokee sex offender who told his family that he had permission to work off the books at the school. Apparently sex offenders lie. Imagine that?
2. Do offenders ever graduate from the registry? Not in this state. (We actually had a recent comment on the woman who made multiple Internet claims that her First Degree rapist husband wouldn't even be on the registry in Tennessee.) Some states do expunge certain crimes (i.e. indecent exposure) after a certain number of years. No such luck here.
3. What is "Indecent Exposure?" We see these crimes mentioned in police reports from time to time. It's usually just what it implies; however, some are charged for being so inebriated they don't realize where they're urinating. We've also seen some women charged who, while drunk and disorderly, think it's cute to lift their tops while being arrested. Not a good idea as one Russellville woman can attest.
4. Does the state ban from using Facebook specifically? No, but Facebook itself bans registered sex offenders. If you know someone using the social medium against this policy, report it: Report
We've had several questions concerning residence requirements; we'll get to those shortly. If you have questions, e-mail to: Shoalanda.Speaks@gmail.com.
The above meme is especially apropos of Alabama where one remains on the Sex Offender Registry for life...no matter what. We've been asked some questions about regulations for those on the registry; here's a basic list from the state:
Next we'll answer some specific questions. If you have a query, send it to: Shoalanda.Speaks@gmail.com.
We recently pointed out that a Democratic mayor might not work with Montgomery, in fact might even oppose a Republican administration, should rioting or something similar erupt in Florence. One reader disputed this theory, claiming party lines were meaningless in municipal government. True or not?
We say that stance is definitely false. Look at a recent senate election in the state. How many, including our governor, stated they believed the sex charges against Roy Moore, but still endorsed him since he was the Republican? Don't you think a Democratic mayor will similarly support Democratic candidates and pack local positions with other Dems?
We have no opposition to Democrats in some offices. We preach voting for the better candidate no matter which party. Yet in this case, with a volatile social climate and so much unrest, party does matter, at least in Florence.
Mayor Steve Holt isn't merely a Republican; he's the more qualified candidate. Vote Steve Holt on October 6th.
Lauderdale County Deputy Brandon Kilpatrick recently posted the above statement. He, for whatever reason, soon removed it from his Facebook. We say statement, but it's actually four statements - all opinions and all subject to other views.
The first two are the especially problematic ones. Police can kill you for jaywalking? Interesting.
Speaking of jaywalking, or protesting, we were a little surprised by this legal tidbit:
Everyone must follow the rules of the road. It is against the law for a pedestrian to jaywalk, or walk on areas of a highway or road where pedestrian traffic is not permitted. Pedestrians must also obey traffic signals and signage where applicable, just like drivers.
If a pedestrian fails to follow these rules, and that failure plays a part in an accident, the pedestrian will probably be found at least partially at fault. Practically speaking, this means any damages the pedestrian is able to recover (including compensation for injuries) from other at-fault parties may be lowered. The exact role that a pedestrian’s negligence will play in a legal claim will depend on the "shared fault" rules in place where the accident occurred, specifically, whether the state follows contributory or comparative negligence.
We've been reading of some "intentional attacks" on protesters. Is that really what Florence wants to be noted for?
How about Lauderdale County becomes known for upping its quality of deputies?
We've often heard that history is written by the winners. This statement frequently comes after a lecture comparing the American Revolution with the War Between the States. Did you ever think how the war for our independence would have been chronicled if the colonies had lost? We'll admit here that had we been living at the time, we would almost certainly have been a Loyalist to the Crown.
Nothing is ever 100% black or white. Gray areas fill most of any nation's history, and a new group has formed to present what many feel is some much needed education on a still controversial era in our nation's history. From their press release:
Heritage Protection of North Alabama (HPNA) today published their new website: HPNA-USA.com Since its founding in 2020 as a grass roots organization, HPNA has enjoyed significant growth, and we continue to attract people from all walks of life. Our important work continues daily in counties across North Alabama.
From our intrepid investigator/informant:
I'm a mom of a special needs kid. And until you have lived it you can't understand! I watch my typical kid who is a year older than my son with ASD play sports without any limitations and although I'm full of excitement for him there's always that hurt in my heart for my son with ASD who doesn't get these opportunities.
Monday night was a huge milestone for him. He participated!!!!!! Yes participated in a group sport with peers!!!! And he had a blast! He has asked each day since when his next practice will be. I ask you to be a voice for our special needs kids !!!! They need and deserve more opportunities here!!
For several days, we've been hearing about an act of sabotage against Florence/UNA sponsored walking tours. If you've never taken such a self-conducted tour, the concept is simple. A quick response (QR) bar code is placed on various buildings or landmarks; those taking the tours simply wave their smart phones across the codes to view a description. Ingenious, yes?
Now someone has, for lack of a better word, hacked the software to change the descriptions of these buildings and monuments. It probably wasn't difficult to get into the program since a member of law enforcement has told us the perpetrator had the password.
From our informant:
Subject: the connection between MSNHA and UNA $$$$$
The main question concerns crime: Was one committed? If so, it was probably a misdemeanor. We're not even sure if the perp will lose his public sector job.
Should citizens of Florence and Lauderdale County be concerned by this so-called good crime? Let's consider the added tour topic supporting the abolition of the death penalty. If you've read our blog for long, you know that Shoalanda herself supports an almost total ban on the death penalty; however, this is a personal opinion and we do not support the use of tax dollars to lobby for this ban. We have to ask what kind of sociopath thinks his opinion is so important that he's entitled to steal from taxpayers to promote it?
Obviously other changes were made in the tour text. How much we don't know. It may not cost much to restore the original words, but what is to prevent other acts of sabotage by this employee?
We all need to think about who's running our city and vote accordingly on October 6th!
No one has seen Robert DeShawn Childers in four years. That's 48 months today that his family has had no contact with the Lauderdale County man. Where is he?
His former roommate has told countless stories, all of which have proved false. Search teams have turned up very little. Sheriff's investigators have come to one dead end after the other.
The best hope of new information is an informant. Has Shawn's roommate told you something? Anything at all? No matter how small the piece of information, please report it to the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office at 256-760-5757.
Today is September 16, 2020. In other words, today is a few light years away from January 1, 2020. We've seen things no one could have predicted and yet remain extremely unprepared for what the future may yet hold.
Think there couldn't be riots in Florence? Think again. Think you can count on Republican governor Kay Ivey sending in the National Guard? What if the mayor says "No, thanks!"?
In the past, it's not mattered to which party our municipal officials belonged. Things change.
On October 6th, vote for Steve Holt. He's not only the more qualified candidate, he may be the one who saves the city from a disaster no one of us ever expected.
For months now, perhaps even years, we've heard of the Muscle Shoals Police concealing the arrests of faculty and staff of Muscle Shoals City Schools. Until now, we've never been able to back up these claims with statements of those in authority who were actually there. That has now changed.
Former Muscle Shoals officer Justin Roc White has posted the first of a series of videos on Facebook describing what he's calling corruption in the department. Among the accusations of wrongdoing is an account of a (former) Muscle Shoals principal's DUI arrest and release:
We look forward to hearing more from Mr. White and thank him for having the courage to make this public at last.
In the past we've used our Aunt Jane powers to make comparisons of various social phenomena from today's world and the past. Let's go back ten or so years to the debacle that was "Sweetwater Mansion."
1. Two women with separate agendas find each other (you know from the start that this won't end well).
2. The two women see a chance to combine to do something for the public good or fame or both.
3. The women recruit some solid citizens, and some not so solid, to help advance their agenda.
4. Seeing the need and opportunity, the group then recruits some eager young people who believe they can be saviors of their community.
5. The group meets opposition and supporters become disillusioned.
6. The group gradually fades away as the two women bicker with each other over control.
Does this sound like anything happening today?
We Don't Want to See You Half-Naked!!!
From a reader:
Has anyone checked on Dick Jordan recently to know if he is ok?
On October 6th, voters in Florence and Sheffield will go to the polls to vote in the mayoral runoff. Many have contacted us to ascertain the political affiliation of the four candidates; however, we at present can supply that information for only Florence.
If Sheffield candidates Steve Stanley and David Johnson would like to weigh in with our readers on party affiliation, please send us your info via Messenger or to Shoalanda.Speaks@gmail.com. We're happy to publish the data along with any policy statements.
In Florence, current mayor Steve Holt is a Republican. Challenger Andy Betterton is a Democrat, having run for county (1996) and state (2014) offices on the Democratic ticket.
Municipal offices are not voted on by party; however ideology could certainly affect an official's stance on many local issues. We appreciate our readers' interest in ascertaining as much as possible about their mayoral candidates.
Clip below is intended as comic relief and not political commentary:
While every manager wants to believe that they are the ideal leaders, this is often not the case. For every effective leader, there exists a bad manager whose behaviors cause their employees undue strife. For the worst of these managers, their bad behaviors can lead to continuous turnover issues and significant losses to the organization. While everyone is familiar with the standard “bad manager” with unrealistic expectations and highly-critical feedback, other far more subtle leadership failures can lead to employee turnover as well. Leaders who struggle to control their own temper are often the first to notice difficulties with managing their staff. Frequent outbursts of anger, yelling at employees, and attempting to manage through fear are signs of a manager who is insecure and uncertain of their leadership skills. Employees quickly become resentful of the stress these managers place them under, and often turn to leaving their job to escape.
So is the case at the Muscle Shoals Police Department concerning the 4 year reign of Chief Clint Reck. His struggle to control his temper and outbursts of anger are clear signs he lacks necessary leadership skills.
Gone are the days before Chief Reck when the M.S. Civil Service Board would have hundreds of applicants for one single position at the MSPD. Now on a good day, there may be 5 applicants while that number reduces to 2 or 3 after the application process and testing. Considering MSPD has one of the best employee packages in the area, how did such a drastic reduction in applicants become a problem in the 4 short years Chief Reck has been in that position? With such a small pool of candidates for a job, the competition among the applicants leave little room for qualified and professional hires.
Once hired, it would stand to reason, there would be little reason for those in the employ to look elsewhere with such good pay and benefits. Not the case. Over the last 4 years Chief Reck has caused an exodus of half of those in law enforcement in Muscle Shoals. 18 out of 37 police officers have severed ties with Chief Reck taking less desirable jobs that pay a good bit less. While seasoned officers hired in at MSPD, but quickly determined the culture within the department was not a professional environment and immediately resigned within months of being hired. Career experienced and mature officers took early retirement to leave the hostile work environment, while others found jobs within their profession, also settling for less pay and benefits to get away from the MSPD toxic environment.
How does this affect you, the citizen and taxpayer? Each time a rookie young person is hired, there is a cost of training in the Academy, uniforms, outfitting, and benefits. This is not a cheap investment to result in a short stint on the streets of M.S. when these young people become licensed officers. Another issue with the rookies is the level of inexperience in responding to emergencies. Domestic disputes, drug dealers and emergency calls are life and death situations that require mature and seasoned officers for the safety and welfare of citizens. This doesn't happen when the majority of officers in a department are young rookies.
Muscle Shoals Mayor and City Council need to acknowledge there is a problem. There is a common denominator - Chief Clint Reck.
18 out of 37 officers have left MSPD in 4 years under Chief Reck. That is no coincidence. No excuses are acceptable.
Chief Reck should resign or the Civil Service Board should do their job and demand the Mayor and City Council remove the common denominator - Chief Clint Reck.
M.S. Civil Service Board - Who Do You Serve? Do Your Job.
A Lauderdale County mother has filed a complaint with both the school superintendent and law enforcement concerning recent incidents at the rural school her child attends. While we have a few more basics at this time, we're waiting on more details before identifying the school.
This is a relatively new school year. Now is the time to speak with your child about teacher/coach relationships with students. Make sure they know they can come to you at any time if they feel they are being exploited or preyed upon.
We were quite surprised to see an activist from UNA assert that most of the work on the new Florence-Lauderdale Animal Shelter had been done before Mayor Steve Holt took office in early 2016. Really?
Land purchased? No, that wasn't accomplished until April 2016.
Architect's plans finished? No, that wasn't done until July 2016.
In order to be 100% transparent, there had been plans drawn up under Mayor Mickey Haddock's administration. When Mayor Holt and the new council took office, they soon found that the plans were so much over budget as to be laughable. It was start over from the literal drawing board with another architect from the same firm. Yes, the malfeasance of the previous administration cost the taxpayers mucho bucks.
So don't let anyone pull the sheepdog wool over your eyes. Florence had basically nothing done on the shelter when Mayor Holt took office. By November 2017, Mayor Holt took part in actual groundbreaking ceremonies. We haven't had a local hero in several months, but we're naming Steve Holt our most recent!
Thank you, Mayor Holt, for all you do for the animals of Florence and the surrounding areas.
If you thought a little plague would keep our annual Labor Day Beauty Contest on hold this year, you're quite mistaken. This year it's virtual, and votes will be tabulated, oh, at some point whenever anyone feels like it. Here are 2020's real Shoals worker contestants:
First is Cassie Eugene pictured above. Cassie is representing Shoals Weight Watchers. Her talent is donning two pairs of Spanks at once. Ah, nothing says femininity like a combo of Weight Watchers and Spanks.
Second is Lydia Prine representing the Tuscumbia Tattoo Trade Union. Lydia's talent is using her muscles to make two Siamese cat tattoos dance the Minuet on her midriff. You don't see talent like that every day, folks!
Third up is Stella Inkman courtesy of the TimesDaily. Stella's costume is made entirely of unsold copies of the TD. Her talent portion will be begging the audience to subscribe to the publication. We're not sure there's enough talent in the world to succeed at that, but we do give Ms. Inkman points for trying.
Fourth to compete will be Sally Atwill representing the Florence Panhandling Federation. Sally will attempt to collect at least twenty bucks from online funding before the FPD arrests her.
Fifth on the virtual stage is Chance Backspring representing Shoals Chiropractors. Chance will sing I Did It My Way as he runs from Lauderdale County Sheriff's deputies. It may not end well.
There you have the 2020 lineup. Let's hope we actually survive until the 2021 contest!
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