Top Ten Blogs of 2022

 

10. Muscle Shoals Baseball: Cat Killers?

9. More Closures at Florence Mall

8. Corey Speegle New Head of Colbert Animal Control

7. Former UNA Coach Banned from Campus

6. Letter from a Florence Police Officer

5. Fraud by Melson, Pettus, Others

4. Kelly Crotts Divides a Church

3. Nursing Home Rapist Has New Charge

2. Jay Steward Named as Officer in Fatal Encounter

1. Warrant Issued for Vicky White

No Water in West Lauderdale?/Bad Tuscumbia Investment?

 

Many residents of western Lauderdale County have had no water in two to three days. When temps get down to one degree, not even counting wind chill, this is to be expected. We've personally seen blocked off streets all over Florence due to broken city pipes. Unfortunately, company in misery doesn't make it that much easier for those who are affected. 

Our main question: Will West Lauderdale Water services charge customers for days in which they received no water? A little kindness here could go a long way in creating good will for a company with so many detractors.

*****

Speaking of water damage, a reader has asked this about a downtown Tuscumbia project: Reckon how long before tree roots and frozen soil ruin Tuscumbia's investment?

Who Hurt "Janie Mfn Dough's" Family?

 

Recently a woman named "Janie Dough" was arrested for the second time this year for drug trafficking. When our blog The Hidden Shoals published news of this arrest, it was criticized for even speaking of this woman's crimes and long arrest record. Why? It hurt her family. 

Who hurt her family?

Was it the police officer who handcuffed Janie and took her to the station? Perhaps he should have let her go with promises not to do it again?

Was it the clerk who booked her, putting her name on a public record to be displayed on the Internet?

Was it the sheriff's department who also listed her name and alleged crimes on the jail roster? 

Was it one of many national and local news outlets which posted this arrest in local police records or jail roster records?

Was it the blogger who mentioned her umpteenth arrest in the past decade?

Or was it...just possibly...Janie herself?

You have six choices. If you pick anything but the last one, you really need to apply for a disability on mental grounds. 

BTW, if you're wondering why we placed a "mfn" in her name in the title, it's what Janie calls herself on Facebook. Demure little thing, isn't she?

*****

A few years ago, a local publication (not ours) mentioned a UNA student being arrested for assaulting a police officer. One of her friends contacted the publication asking that the story be removed. When asked if there was an error in the article, the sorority babe replied no, it just hurt her friend's feelings. We bet the assault didn't help the Florence police officer's feelings any either.

What Are Odds Shoals Will Have a Marijuana Dispensary?

 

What kind of chance does the Shoals have to become home to a medical marijuana dispensary? If you thought there would be 37 around the state, you may be mistaken, at least according to the latest reports. There will be 37 licenses, but only 12 for dispensaries not connected to cultivation or transportation, etc.

From AL.com:

The law allows up to 37 dispensary sites across the state -- as many as 12 operated by the licensed dispensers and as many as 25 by the integrated companies. Dispensaries can only locate in cities, towns, or counties that have approved an ordinance or resolution allowing them. More than 50 municipalities and eight counties have approved dispensaries so far, according to the AMCC.

As of today, Florence, Killen, and Tuscumbia have plans to submit applications, as well as Lauderdale County. Just think, when all those tourists flock to Sheffield's Inspiration Landing, they'll have to drive to Tuscumbia for their meds. What were you thinking, Steve?

So how soon will we know if we're one of the lucky ones? As of now, it looks like next June for the final selections. 

Don't hold your breath and don't inhale...

Could Danny Pettus, et al., Have Prevented This Death?

 

This dog was recently found in Lauderdale County:

This dog did not die quickly. He starved to death...or froze...or both. He had no fat to protect him from the cold.

Now the Lauderdale County Commission has a chance to provide real animal services to the rural areas. They're "considering it."

Yes, there are humans out there cold and alone who wish to be. We can promise you this dog didn't wish to be starved and worse. He wanted a happy, warm home. Lauderdale County failed him.

This issue will again be brought before the commission after New Year's. Let's make sure they approve a new method of animal control in conjunction with the City of Florence.

Contact the commission now:

Lauderdale co commission Brenda Bryant

256-769-5759

Danny Pettus 256-810-0050

dannypettus@juno.com

Roger Garner (256) 627-7008

ronald1778@att.net

Fay Parker

256-648-3061

fayparker@gmail.com

Joe Hackworth

256-767-9780

hackworthjoe@comcast.net

Brad Black

256-710-8340

Lower the Child Pornographer's Bond? Are You Kidding?

 

Steven Wayne Canaday has had some new charges added to his official arrest. Previously:

Steven Canaday

In addition to more porn related charges, the Florence resident is now accused of First Degree Sexual Abuse and First Degree Sodomy of a minor. If Canaday did what he's accused of (and evidence seems to prove it), he doesn't deserve any bond.

Yet he does have a bond amount - over 1.5 million dollars. His attorneys want it lowered.

Are we all clear as to what Steven Canaday did to an innocent child? He was seemingly so pleased with his work that he uploaded some to Instagram. Apparently Alabama law dictates the alleged pornographer now have a hearing to lower what for most of us is an impossible amount. No one ever said the law in Alabama always makes sense.

We never advocate violence, but we know it's out there. If we were Canaday, we would consider jail the safest place to be at this time.

There are many instances where a second chance is the right option. Being free to sexually abuse children is not one of them.

Christmas 2022

 

You now have one week to make your resolutions for 2023; make some good ones!

From all of us at...

Shoalanda Speaks

A Word from Krampus on Christmas Eve

 

I've been taking care of mean children for centuries, but sometimes it's the parents who really need the switches. Perhaps some of you mamas and papas need to take a long look at yourselves.

My tale of ignorance and avarice begins in northwest Alabama. A retired man worked once a week for a charity and was astounded at the children who came to visit. It was apparent that the one toy each child left with was a novelty. Many obviously had nothing, and not because I had stolen their toys.

The man often related these tales to his family who were equally upset. The man's niece regularly visited a thrift store in a large nearby town and came up with a plan. The store sold scores of Barbies, all totally undressed, but usually in perfect condition. This woman would purchase several each month, buy new clothes or even make them, then make an attractive box and add tissue paper to hold these creations. The dolls may not have been Madam Alexander, but to a little girl who had nothing, they were wonderful.

One day this woman found a Bob Mackie Barbie ball gown on sale. It had been some astronomical price, but now it was marked down to only a few dollars. Wouldn't the child who got a Barbie dressed in that gown be happy?

Unfortunately, no deserving little girl ever got the beautifully dressed Barbie. The woman who made them also volunteered with a children's project in a small, rural community. When the organization was unexpectedly short one girl's gift for a party, she donated the dress. She felt that it had at least saved the day for a worthwhile cause.

The night of the program's end, each child took their gift, then lined up for a participation certificate. Yes, they were rewarded for just showing up and eating and pushing and shoving each other, but that's why I carry my switches, now isn't it?

As the woman dutifully watched and smiled at each child taking his or her certificate, two mothers stood behind her talking. When one was asked what her daughter had gotten as a prize, the second mother replied in a hateful voice, "Oh, just some cheap Barbie dress. Looked like it was from the '80s."

The woman who had donated the expensive dress was understandably annoyed that she hadn't gotten it to a little girl who would have loved and cherished it. The next Christmas, I made sure the gauche mother got more than her share of switches. 

The moral? Teach your children to be appreciative of any gift. I'm always watching.

Krampus

"Ashley the God" Has Alabama Ties

 

For over a month, the tabloid style news has brought us a breaking story each day on the quadruple murders in Moscow, Idaho. Today's was a doozie. It comes from someone named Ashley Guillard, aka Ashley Taylor, aka Ashley God. The Chicago native claims to solve murders using Tarot cards. In fact she's already published at least two books on specific murders, plus making mention of others in her online videos. We're sure the authorities are greatly pleased that she's solved the murders of Take-Out and Driv-Thru and others.

If you're wondering how Ashley does it, she has a gift. Her "spiritual journey" began in 2015 and she almost immediately took up the art of the scam, uh, mystical method. Along the way in her pursuit of a master's degree, Guillard attended Troy University in Alabama. Troy is best known for spending big bucks on advertising and establishing a Confucius Institute on its South Alabama campus. How is Alabama always lucky enough to attract these types?

If someone announces she solved a murder with just three Tarot cards, most of us would quickly find a way to exit the conversation. Yet not all. Don't forget we have an actual portal into another dimension in downtown Sheffield. 

Don't laugh too hard; Madam Shoalanda's prediction is that this portal will be announced next December as the newest attraction at Inspiration Landing...

Franklin County et al. Sued in Red Bay Death

 

Unfortunately, not all dogs are as beatific as the ones pictured above. Remember the pack of seven to nine Red Bay dogs that killed two women last spring? Now the family of one victim is suing Franklin County and a great many more for negligence. 

The defendants are:

Brandy Dowdy, owner of the dogs

Billy Joe Crumpton, owner's landlord

Four employees of the Franklin Sheriff's Office

Franklin County

Franklin Emergency Communications

Franklin County Animal Control

Will the family of Jacqueline Beard win the suit? Unless the judge and/or jury are brained damaged, they certainly will. How can we be so sure?

The sheriff's office should have, by law, impounded all the dogs many times over; therefore, Mrs. Beard was led to believe the animals were not on the property. Why was this not done? According to witnesses, the sheriff's department had ordered no one to curtail the dogs until after the June election primaries. You might want to read that one again.

Also, Mrs. Beard wasn't the only victim to die. The pack's first reported human victim died the day after Beard, an employee of the ADPH who was investigating the previous attack. We predict a second lawsuit is in the works.

There aren't words to describe how horrible this is. We do expect the family's attorney to make up some new ones in this case.

Thanks to Kerry, Oreo, & Peanut

 

The Florence-Lauderdale Animal Shelter has announced it's still at Code Red for an overabundance of animals. Currently it still needs fosters/adopters and food for the animals' Christmas dinner. 

Now Kerry Gilbert of the KGB has again come to the rescue by presenting a new video...along with Peanut and Oreo. Would Kerry kill us if we said they were the video's true stars?

We hope Kerry will continue with a video from time to time, but are still seeking others to make an appearance for the shelter. What can we say about Kerry? He's an extremely accomplished musician, but you may not know it since he's never had a major arrest of even a wife beating charge. We're also pretty sure he wouldn't allow a follower to wish someone dead (no, we weren't the intended victim, but a gentleman from another publication).

If you want to donate cooked food to the shelter, please do so on Christmas Eve, normal hours. Here's some ideas:

Cooked green beans

Cooked carrots

Cooked chicken, lean beef, pork, and fish

You can even help serve on Christmas Day!

FLAS, 3240 Roberson Road just off Chisholm Road. 256-760-6676.

Alabama Number One in Death Sentences

Alabama is number one in few things. If our state is ever at the top of any list, you can bet that it's almost always in a negative way.

Latest data show that our sweet home is tops in death row inmates per capita. While we're close to the top in murders, we're not quite there...yet. That makes it appear that our judges and juries are hardy supporters of capital punishment.

As more and more states abolish the death penalty, this "right to life" state is anything but. Take Casey Cole White. Why is the murder of Connie Ridgeway a Capital crime?

If it's only due to the fact that it's a murder for hire, shouldn't Lauderdale detectives be actively searching for the man who supposedly hired Casey? Why is Lauderdale footing the bill for two murder trials? Simply hold the trial for Mrs. Ridgeway's death; if White is found guilty, there's no need to hold the second trial.

Hey, it's only the taxpayers' money...

Why Rogersville Had a 20% Increase in Water Rate?

 

Previously: Water Board Complaints

Now another reader has sent us the rationale behind this increase:

The reason Rogersville Water went up 20%, plus fees to pay with a debit card, is that the town is trying to lure Walmart into building a store in Rogersville. It has been the goal of Mayor Herston to bring in a Walmart. He doesn't care if it causes local businesses to close. Supposedly it is to raise money in order to beef up the sewer system.

That begs the question of Walmart actually considering Rogersville as a viable location. The latest information available indicates the smallest town to be home to a Walmart is Chelan, Washington, with a population of around 3,900. Latest totals for Rogersville indicate a population of 1,336.

Taking the above statistics into consideration, there are only two chances that Mayor Richard Herston will get his wish, especially in an economy that continues to take a downturn.

Not Everyone Needs a TikTok Account

 

A few readers asked us about the efficacy of banking institutions maintaining a TikTok account. We have no idea how easy it would be to find a back door to customer accounts via this video sharing service, but it did seem odd when our bank recently announced that it had now jumped on the Chinese app bandwagon. Our bank's customer service can't even answer simple questions about debit cards; why does anyone think it can handle TikTok?

Now, Gov. Ivey has announced that absolutely no TikTok will be allowed on state phones. We have to ask if this isn't a safe policy for all businesses? 

*****

It's now been announced that a total of 14 local Methodist congregations are no longer part of the United Methodist body. No matter if you're Methodist, Mormon, or Jewish, let's all pray for a better 2023. We certainly need all the help we can get.

Shalom, Ahava, and Simcha

How Did Swatter Choose Wilson School?

 

Swatting is a term for false reports to police that are intended to bring a SWAT team to a residence or public institution. On Tuesday, December 13th, at least seven Alabama schools were victims of a swatting attack. All the schools were from Birmingham northward and included Wilson in Lauderdale County.

Some reports indicated only an active shooter before the call abruptly ended, but the one ostensibly from Wilson spoke of an actual shooting victim in a geography class. Needless to say, such a report produced a massive response of law enforcement. Parents received calls from friends who had heard the incident on their scanners. It was not a pretty picture.

Why was Wilson singled out as one of the unlucky seven? We may never know unless the hoax caller is identified and arrested. At this point, it's not even certain the caller was even an Alabama resident. It hasn't been that long since a man from Louisiana threatened to shoot African-Americans at a small town Alabama fair. 

What we do know is that the FBI has been called in. FBI spokesman Paul Daymond has stated the agency is using all available resources to track down the source of these false reports. No matter the outcome of this case, the perp(s) will have a criminal record even if given no actual time to serve.

The sad thing is the caller is probably a product of the Alabama education system. Sigh...

*****

We plan to do a second part on a recent Lauderdale coach kerfluffle - this one highlighting the coach's behavior. We accept all responses, but please keep them civil (no vulgar language or libelous statements).

What Really Happened with a Lauderdale Coach?

 

There's been a great deal of online chat about a certain Lauderdale coach involving a student and discipline meted out. Everyone has a different story, so what really happened? We knew which horse to ask (pardon the analogy). Here is what we believe to be the truth, direct from the scene:

There is a whole lot more to the story and a whole lot that has been sensationalized about what really happened. Let me get my thoughts together and let's swing this story another direction. You know I love it when you play the devil's advocate and tell people what they need to hear instead of what they want to hear. It's time to address undisciplined kids with no respect for any authority including teachers, coaches, principals, police officers, adults or other people. 

In this situation, the student (I think it's a 3rd or 4th grade kid) kept calling the teacher/coach by his first name but adding a slur to that name then the kid threw an object at that teacher/coach striking him in the head. That is when the teacher/coach said to this kid, "if you were my kid, I would whoop the dog piss out of you." Now after that, the teacher/ coach made that kid go over and pick up the object that he threw at him and bring it to him. (That is where the bull crap part of the story comes in to play that the teacher/coach made him fetch the object like a dog which was actually a comment made by one of the other students referring back to the dog piss comment, which I agree was not a good choice of words by the teacher/coach.) Keep in mind too, these are 3rd and 4th grade kids who don't pay very close attention to what's happening in their universe especially in an unruly setting created by the bad behavior of the kid who caused all this commotion.

Now, the flip side of this is that this kid's dad coached youth league baseball last year at Lexington and it has been told to me that he was a terrible coach who often screamed and yelled awful comments at the players and used terrible judgment to these 7 and 8 year old kids that were on his team. It was so bad that parents requested that the youth league ban him from coaching this coming year. Isn't that interesting? Also, this guy is from a family who are known for always causing a ruckus and making their business known to everyone. They love some Facebook drama and think their kids never do anything wrong. In my opinion, the parents of this kid have totally put a red flag on their kid so that everyone knows "this is an awful undisciplined kid with stupid parents." 

Now this parent takes to Facebook encouraging everyone to pile on the bandwagon and add their 2 cents worth, calling the superintendent, school board members, newspaper, Shoalanda, all of his aunts and uncles, cousins, people who love controversy and anyone else that will listen to his one-sided story. Even though the teacher/coach requested a meeting last week to discuss the incident with the parents, admin and himself, and from that meeting the teacher/coach was punished for his role in the incident, still the parent keeps trying to cause more and more trouble. I'd say that all these parents have done is put a stigma on themselves and their kid from now on as "trouble makers" with an awful undisciplined kid who everyone needs to steer clear of at all costs.

Of course, this whole episode is one of these cases where the wrong story gets told over and over with someone adding their twist each time saying this coach has been fired at 4 different schools etc etc etc which is not true. Whatever happened to the days where if you got in trouble at school, you also got in trouble at home? 

We need to stop with teaching our kids to be big babies their entire life and taking up for them regardless of what they do wrong. Look at the current situation at James Clemens High school where a student started an altercation with an Assistant Principal. That man was defending himself when the student struck him with a punch in the face. Now people are all pissed off at the Principal when everyone should be mad and upset with the unruly student.

We have got to stop with the making of big whiny kids who never do anything wrong because these kids never grow up and realize that not everything is all about them. 

Rebuttals are welcome.

The Results of Nepotism in Muscle Shoals

 

The City of Muscle Shoals is looking for a new city clerk. The current clerk has announced her retirement after less than a year in this position. Now the TimesDaily has mentioned that Elaine Coan's job performance has been questioned. Really?

In 2013, city employee Coan was accused of gossiping about some private Civil Service Board conversations. At this time, another employee was also accused of being less than circumspect, but our focus here is on only Coan.

In 2017, Coan made TD news again after she called called a black co-worker "Aunt Jemima." At this time, Coan was the city's human resource director. At this point, we're sure you're asking how she was ever promoted to the clerk's position.

One reason Coan lasted as long as she did with the City and even continued to advance is her husband. For years, Lanny Coan was a member of the Muscle Shoals Police Department. Did that factor in?

It would be odd not to surmise Elaine's good fortune with the City after all her troubles cannot be the result of her husband's position in law enforcement. So, Mayor Mike Lockhart and council, how's that nepotism working out for you?

He's Squeaky Clean, but Won't Pay His Fine?

 

A reader asked us to do an article on a local musician just getting back on his feet. This reader felt another local publication had "done him wrong." We decided to look into it.

First, had we ever mentioned this gentleman? We found two references; one promoting his then latest album and one eight years later lamenting how some individuals think they deserve a pass when they commit crimes. What had this other publication said? We found only mentions of arrests; in other words, pretty common stories about drug use in the Shoals.

Next, had this man really reformed? We checked and he still owes a small fine from a domestic violence conviction while he was riding high in public opinion. Was not paying this fine his way of thumbing his nose at local law enforcement?

Our take on his claims? If this gentleman will pay his fine*, we'll be happy to showcase his current successes. How's that?

* The one we accessed is a City of Florence arrest. He also had several in Lauderdale County on which we haven't checked.

A Parent Speaks on Sheffield Schools

 

Something in the Water?

Let me preface this by saying, as last time, the MAJORITY of Sheffield parents do a tremendous job raising their children. However, there appears to be a VERY VOCAL MINORITY among Sheffield parents, whose actions go a long ways toward explaining 'why' Sheffield's schools are rumored to be having massive issues with student discipline. Why the school system refuses to address this issue remains a mystery.


For example: Last week there was rumored to have been a 'knock down, drag out' fight in the lobby of Sheffield High School. This fight wasn't between students, but rather between the parents of students alleged to have been involved in a fight. Reportedly, both parents were arrested on unknown charges, but I imagine 'disorderly conduct' would have been a good place to start.


And then there are the parents that are allegedly complaining about the Sheffield Police Department 'running radar' in the system's School Zones. This is ostensibly being done due to SAFETY ISSUES created by the very parents of students being brought to school. What parents in their right minds WOULDN'T want this? Well....this IS Sheffield.


If these instances don't illustrate issues that SHOULD be priority issues for the school system, perhaps a NEW school board is in order.


Anonymous Parent

Almost 200 United Methodist Congregations Leave Denomination in North Alabama

 

The North Alabama Conference of United Methodist Churches covers almost every area of the state north of Montgomery. On December 10th, 198 of congregations in this conference left the denomination, ostensibly to become Independent, Global, Foundry, or Free Methodists.

The main issue of concern to those which left appears to be the acceptance of same-sex marriage. Now, 440 congregations remain in the popular denomination. 

What issues have divided American Methodists before? Dancing, drinking, and racial equality. What Shoals congregations will now have new names? We're not aware of any as yet, but look forward to hearing from any who have disaffiliated and wish to tell their story.

*****

Everyone remember that line in Blazing Saddles?

Big Props to Kerry Gilbert!

 

Our story actually goes back to Steve Holt's tenure as the mayor of Florence. Each month, Steve would visit the Florence-Lauderdale Animal Shelter and have his photo made with a dog/cat of the month. Sadly, Andy Betterton chose not to continue to work in a positive manner with the shelter. What could be done?

We began to ask around for various local officials and celebrities; sadly, no one seemed interested in continuing this program. Months passed, then the county confiscated almost 70 animals used in a dog fighting ring. The shelter was in a crisis mode. Initially, these dogs could not be adopted or fostered for legal reasons. Thankfully, that has now changed.

We presented this situation to the public, as did others. It seemed every adoptable dog who found a home was soon replaced by a new stray. How could more adoptive families be reached?

This blog's current readership hit 13.2K this past week, but there are many in the Shoals who are not even aware of our publication. How could we reach more to help the shelter? The idea of messages from celebrities again presented itself, but who?

We wrote a script for a brief public service announcement and began to contact anyone who had a large public following. Of the ten or so we reached out to, only three replied to our cry for help.

One of the three was our friend Kerry Gilbert. Kerry immediately videoed a message to his followers, many of whom don't follow our blog. His 60 second message concerning the shelter's plight was a tremendous boost to the morale of the workers and any who had been pleading for help in this overwhelming plight.

Just as Kerry's message hit Facebook, the shelter secured legal control over the confiscated dogs, making them eligible for fostering and adoption. The situation is still critical, but each day now brings more relief as the shelter's census begins to diminish. 

Do we still need spokespeople for the shelter? Absolutely. You don't have to be Brad Pitt to make a video or to stop by to have your photo taken with an adoptable dog or cat. We're hoping for more to step forward in the weeks and months to come.

After all, don't you really want to be able to say you were in a celebrity ad campaign?

Tuscumbia Organization Had One Black Face - the "Help"

 

Twelve years ago, nine women from Tuscumbia founded the Tuscumbia Retail Development group to promote and foster business in that Colbert County town. All of the women appear to be white.

 

Did no male or African-American retailers wish to participate in this non-profit group in 2010? It would seem that over a decade later, there are still no black members in this organization, or at least none who attended their annual Christmas party at Locust Hill.

The group's Facebook page does include one photo of an African-American at the gala. He appears to be the caterer. Many who attended the party wore fancy dress; we're guessing left over from the Dickens Christmas event. Thank goodness there were no Southern belles in hoop skirts.

The best takeaway we can offer is that at least no tarot card readers were invited...

Former UNA Coach Banned from Campus

 

After our recent blog on UNA's new head football coach Brent Dearman, a contact from the university asked us to look into a situation with former offensive coordinator Tyler Rice. Other contacts at our local uni were unaware of details or extremely good at evading questions.

This is what we do know:

Tyler Rice, now 30, attended high school in Wayne County, Tennessee, where he was a standout on the football field. After attending Murray State University in Kentucky, he became the assistant coach at the University of Tennessee - Martin. Tyler was then hired by the University of North Alabama, where he toiled for two seasons - 2020 and 2021.

At the end of the '21 season, head coach Chris Willis dismissed Rice for unknown reasons. In June of this year, Rice became head coach of Greenfield High School in Weakley County, Tennessee, where he ostensibly remains.

On September 23rd, approximately ten months after his dismissal from UNA, Rice was banned from the campus. The university gave no reason for its harsh action against the married father of two.

If we should obtain more information on the incident, we'll publish it here. In the meantime, perhaps football fans could start a pool as to the next coach to offend our illustrious institution of higher learning.