More Silly School Bus Hijinks? No, Worse...

 

A few years ago a famous television preacher died. Perhaps the more correct adjective for this "gimme" evangelist is infamous. We probably wouldn't remember the event but for one local wag who took to cyberspace to proclaim that he didn't have anything nice to say about the man while he was alive, why wouldn't he tell it like it is when he's dead?

The man may have had a point, but in such cases, it's best simply to say nothing. We're pretty sure those who refrain from criticism come out looking much better for it. 

But what if the person is just a regular Joe for whom you had a great dislike? Do you prove anything by telling the world about it? Unless there's an ongoing court case or something similar, why would you even bring the person's name into a conversation?

The victim in this matter has asked that details of this incident be redacted. The family has retained an attorney, and it is now a sensitive legal case.

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Save a Kitten This Halloween

 

Maybe you're taking the grand tour for Christmas. In other words, this might not be the best time for you to adopt a pet, especially a small kitten. If you can't adopt, why not foster?

Fostering isn't forever. The Florence-Lauderdale Animal Shelter currently needs foster homes for around ten kittens. The situation is desperate:

We have 10 kittens that need a foster. They don’t all have to go together but at least in pairs.

I can’t say it any more clearly…these kittens will not make it here. They need supportive care and the shelter isn’t the place for that.

I need at the very least for 5 people to step up to save their lives. We will provide necessary supplies and will cover necessary vet visits.

Please text me 256-412-1967

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We're 15 Years-Old!!!

 

This month marks the 15th anniversary of our blog. During the past decade and a half, we've made many, many friends. We appreciate each and every one of you.

We've also had many partner bloggers come and go for various reasons. We appreciate those who have hung in there with us, as well as being thankful for the ones who remained for only a short time. Special thanks to J. Redmon and Bailey for being here from the first year.

Next year is an extremely important election year. Everyone fasten your seat belts and stock up on popcorn!

Michigan Knows How to Handle Deer Killers

 

It's a story that could have happened in the Shoals. In fact, it did happen here...except for how the murderer of an innocent deer was disciplined. 

When an Indian tribal police officer was called for assistance with a minor arrest in a town near Kalamazoo, Michigan, he decided to branch out and kill what he called a "pet deer." In fact, while the deer had been raised by humans after her mother was killed, the doe named Annie lived on her own. Annie often visited with the loving humans in the town of Lawrence. Unfortunately, on October 20th, she chose the wrong time to pay a visit to the family who had raised her and was shot by Officer David Loza.

Loza's superiors determined that he had acted illegally and terminated his employment on Friday. Unfortunately, conservation officials in Alabama don't practice the same standard of ethics as our friends in Michigan.

Kudos to the Michigan Conservation Department!

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Still Not Innovative in 2023?

 

Last year marked the first Innovate Alabama Awards. No, the Shoals didn't qualify for one:

No One Innovative in the Shoals?

This year, there were 51 awards. Surely someone/something in the Shoals won. Yes! Well, sorta. Here are the winners:

Communities: 

• City of Auburn 
• City of Bessemer 
• City of Dothan 
• City of Henagar 
• City of Hoover 
• City of Marion 
• City of Mobile 
• City of Pinson 
• City of Talladega 
• Shelby County 
• Town of Pike Road 

Nonprofit entities: 

• AL AI Center 
• Alabama Trails Foundation 
• Baldwin County Community and Economic Development Foundation 
• BioAlabama 
• Birmingham Bound 
• Birmingham Business Alliance 
• Bronze Valley Foundation 
• Cordova Economic Industrial Development Authority 
• Ed Farm 
• Economic Development Partnership of Alabama 
• Hardware Park 
• HBCU Cares 
• Higher Education Partnership 
• Innovation Depot 
• Innovation Portal 
• Main Street Marion 
• McWane Science Center 
• Montgomery Tech Lab 
• Prosper Foundation 
• QIE Foundation 
• REV Birmingham 
• Singing River Trail 
• Southern Research 
• Teach2Lead 
• The Alabama Collective 
• The Arc of Madison County 
• The E-Center 
• The Overton Project 
• United Way of Southwest Alabama 
• Venture for America 

Higher Education Institutions: 

• Alabama A&M University 
• Alabama State University 
• Auburn Lowder Center for Family and Entrepreneurship 
• Drake State Community and Technical College 
• Talladega College 
• Trenholm State University 
• Troy University 
• University of Alabama 
• University of Alabama at Birmingham 
• University of South Alabama 

Which one is "us?" The Singing River Trail, of course. If you've never heard of it, you're excused. It's all new, but developers hope to have 15 miles of the proposed 200 ready by the end of this year.

We gather that these 15 miles will be in the Madison County area; however, Leighton in Colbert County was mentioned as a future local site within the trail. That's right, Lauderdale is bypassed.

Innovate Alabama is now taking applications for the 2024 awards. At least apply, folks. You won't win if you don't apply.

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Why Is the AHSAA in the Area?

 

It was in January 2016 when it all hit the fan about the illegal actions at Muscle Shoals High School. The TimesDaily's Gregg Dewalt proved that he was more than a pretty face when he exposed alleged illegal recruiting at the Colbert County school. The Alabama High School Athletic Association investigated and gave Muscle Shoals a slap on the wrist.

Now investigators from the AHSAA have returned to Colbert County. Several have reported interaction with the agents during the past four days. While that is confirmed, the subject of the investigators' questions has not been.

We have to ask why a major high school would risk everything for a football win? Well, it is Alabama.

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Saluting Nick Saban!

 

Most of our writers here are Auburn fans, but we want to salute Nick Saban for a recent comment he made concerning alcohol. Coach Saban doesn't drink, thinks it's a bad example, and believes he's healthier for not consuming alcoholic beverages.

The writer of the article stated that since Coach Saban didn't look anywhere near 72, there might be something to his ethic. We totally agree.

If you follow local mugshots, you can probably pick out the alcoholics. We won't mention anyone locally, but here are three alcohol offenders: 58, 69, and 72:

We're reminded of a friend who wouldn't give up smoking to avoid lung cancer, but she would to avoid wrinkles. Go figure...

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Does Florence City Schools Trust Your Child?

 

This is a letter sent out by the Florence City Schools restricting students K-8 from attending basketball games without an adult. It appears students under high school age cannot be trusted to attend a game without an adult in a supervisory role. 

These are dangerous times. That is not disputed. School shootings have become all too familiar. But, has it gotten to the point that we do not even trust the children, especially older children, to go to Junior High games unchaperoned? 

Some of the same parents who bristle against "wokeism"will gladly let their children be penalized due to homegrown terrorism. They will abide restrictions to their kids but NOT to the high powered weapons that have been used in mass murders in this country. Restrict the kids but not Dad and Mom's gun collection! 

They trust their representatives in congress more than little Johnny or Jane. I grew up in a neighborhood in Florence where we could walk to the middle school basketball games. I have some happy memories of those times. The kids of the subdivision all walked together to basketball games at the school and our parents trusted us to at the very least not cause problems. If we did, we KNEW not only would the principal take care of it with a wooden pallet, we had to face even worse punishment when we got home.

But I guess it is easier to "create security measures" and the adults just stay on the sidelines. And clean their AR-15s.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔽𝕝𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖

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How Can We Help People Like Hope?

 

It was probably about this time of year in 2019. I had picked up some snacks at Hometown to take to a meeting. I usually survey my surroundings, but I hadn't seen her until she was by my side as I placed bags in the back seat of my car.

The small woman was dressed in a coat and a toboggan - much too warmly for the temperate Fall day. She immediately told me she needed help. Walgreens wouldn't let her have her cancer medicine if she didn't have her co-pay. Did I have three dollars?

It wasn't unusual to see panhandlers at the Seven-Points Shopping Center, but it was rare to see a woman. Judging from her looks, she could have been very ill. I briefly thought of driving her the one block to the pharmacy to see just what she needed, but I knew that would make me late for my meeting.

I opened my billfold to discover a one-dollar bill and a ten. I started to hand her the one and tell her it was all I had. Then I thought how difficult it would be to ask a complete stranger for money, so I handed her the ten and told her good luck.

That December, I wrote a blog on the homeless situation in Florence. Several mentioned the woman I had met at Seven-Points. Her name was Hope, and she was a regular at Flo-Bama. My ten dollars apparently went to purchase alcohol for Hope. Had I done the right thing when I gave her the money?

This past year, Hope had several arrests - one for "Aggressive Panhandling." I was very sad for Hope, but I had never seen her since our initial meeting. How does society handle someone like Hope?

I read yesterday that she had died alone on a stranger's porch. I have no answers, but I have a great deal of sorrow...

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Halloween Safety?

 

Witches, I've Known a Few.

Warlocks, I've Known Some Too.

We've spoken to several this fall who don't plan to celebrate Halloween. Have we missed a trend? If you do plan to enjoy Halloween festivities, here's a message from Franklin County sheriff Shannon Oliver:

The Halloween Holiday is coming up soon! We remind you to prioritize safety this Halloween when carving pumpkins, decorating, dressing up in costumes, and trick-or-treating.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has several safety tips to help children remain safe while still experiencing the fun and excitement that comes with Halloween.

• Leave pumpkin carving to the adults. Child helpers can grab a spoon and scoop out the inside or use a marker to trace the design.
• Battery-operated lights or glow sticks are recommended for decorations and are the safest option.
• Use a ladder when hanging or removing decorations, and only use lights tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.
• Wear a costume that fits and avoid overly long or baggy costumes to prevent trips and falls.

For more information on having a safe and fun Halloween, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Halloween can be a safe and enjoyable evening for all with some preparation, communication, and diligence. Of course, we will be on patrol and available to you and your children if you need us. As always, dial 911 in case of an emergency.

We appreciate your cooperation,
Sheriff Shannon Oliver

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Special: Profound Words on Inspiration Landing

 

From our friend Mark Daily:

Usually, I'd ask who's ready to dig into the tough questions about Inspiration Landing. But the problem here is that many folks are asking, and all we're getting is silence. We're way past the point of reviving that old Wendy's commercial asking, "Where's the beef?"

The one good thing I've heard lately, and it might be the only one, is the news we found on this forum: Sheffield might be trying to bring in some new industry. Of course, there are hurdles to clear if they want to set up shop here. What would TVA allow? And what's going to happen to Tuscumbia Landing? It doesn't mean it's impossible, but it's probably not going to be a massive operation.

I've got no doubt that our whole Shoals area could use a boost in industry more than another entertainment venue. From where I'm sitting, we've got car washes and restaurants to spare. Even though unemployment is holding steady, our economy could always use a shot in the arm from industry.

But here we are at Inspiration Landing, with nice roads and sidewalks but not necessarily built for the heavy traffic that industry brings. If you think they're tough to navigate for an entertainment district, wait until you see what it's like for industry. The recycling yard and lumber company already have their share of access challenges, and the folks over in the Village won't be thrilled about it either.

In all honesty, this grand development idea is stuck in a whirlpool, and it needs a good dose of fresh thinking and a ton of money. Let's say we could find a manufacturer willing to use the land. What would that involve?

To make this work, we'd likely have to invest some serious cash in road improvements along Georgia Avenue and 20th Avenue. Plus, we'd need Sheffield to agree to industrial traffic coming back to downtown via 2nd Street and 1st Street. I'd estimate at least two million dollars for that.

If the industry needs the railroad back, we do have a right-of-way to work with. I hope that right-of-way is still in decent shape. If Norfolk Southern agrees, we're talking about another two million dollars to revive it.

We'd also need to ensure the industry has access to a solid five megawatts of power. I'm not sure about the state of Sheffield's electrical distribution in that area, but let's assume it's outdated. Even for an electrical engineer like me, this one's a puzzle, but let's throw in a million dollars.

Lastly, we'd have to deal with getting the land back from that so-called entrepreneur. That's bound to involve some hefty legal fees, and I've estimated about five million dollars needed to get the infrastructure where it's needed. Why on earth did we sign up with that guy in Memphis?

In my opinion, industry seems like the better bet, even if it's a long shot. The idea of Inspiration Landing would only make sense if, by some miracle, riverboat gambling found its way to Alabama and chose Sheffield exclusively. But let's be real, that's probably an even longer shot than bringing in industry.

New Comedy Series: Muscle Shoals Council Friends

A Muscle Shoals reader asks some pointed questions:


Question?

It is my understanding that a civil service board appointment went unfilled for months because of a tie vote. During these multiple votes Council woman Gina Clark abstained due to “conflict of interest”. After a failed vote to put out for more applications for this board, amazingly it was put out again.

It was brought to the council's attention that Councilwoman Clark had voted for the person, 2 years previous, that she had a conflict with. Councilwoman Clark then proceeded to vote for her next door neighbor for this position. What??? Favors???


The very next meeting she missed. Where there is smoke there is fire. I call foul. Looks like Councilwoman Clark may be serving up some home cooking. The same person Councilwoman Clark couldn’t vote for because of conflict Councilman Thompson didn’t vote for because of who they
might be friends with.


What??? Now they are deciding who our friends can be???


Muscle Shoals
We can do better

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Trevor Kiddy Needs Help

 

Caution: Adult Content

Trevor Charles Kiddy, would-be Tuscumbia museum bomber, is back in jail. He was arrested yesterday morning in Colbert County on a charge of Contempt of Court. The 25 year-old was transferred later in the afternoon to Franklin County - presumably due to that jail's superior security and monitoring abilities.

Let's hope a Colbert judge will now send Kiddy to a facility where he can be treated. This is not normal behavior:

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Mark Your Calendars

 

As temperatures decrease, festivals and Fall gatherings increase. We've been made aware of a few that you don't want to miss:

Sunday!

November 3rd

November 4th

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