"The Superintendent is doing nothing!"

A few days ago we blogged about a teacher at McBride Elementary School in Muscle Shoals who struck a special education student with a ball. We've been informed that as of today no action has been taken against this teacher.

There have been rumblings on various local sites:

If the parent(s) of this child feel their concerns are not being taken seriously, we suggest it may be time to hire an attorney to file a civil suit against the teacher, superintendent, and school system.

Further, since there are rumblings that the O.G. Holden has aspirations to run for the current legislative seat currently held by Kerry Underwood, now would be a good time to start a comprehensive campaign to derail any such plans on Democrat Holden's part.

We wish all these parents good luck!

Will Chad Holden...?

 

Will Democrat Chad Holden attempt to change parties to run as a Republican in Alabama District Three?

Will Holden be what's known as a RINO?

Will Holden present himself as an alternative to current Rep. Kerry Underwood?

Or will Holden run in the almost impossible role of Democrat?

So many questions, and so few answers at this time. Of course, Underwood could decide to run for higher office, leaving the District Three seat vacant. We've always had mixed feelings about the man called "Bubba," and his relationship with Florence council member Jackie Hendrix has not elevated him in our opinion. 

While the eyes of most citizens are on the August 2025 municipal elections, obviously some are making plans for 2026. Several in Muscle Shoals have grave reservations concerning their current superintendent of education, a man the good mayor hides from. At least two of our readers are planning some interesting blogs on Holden and his fitness for office.

Election madness...it never ends.

Has Chad Holden Destroyed the Muscle Shoals School System?

 

From a Muscle Shoals reader:

I can't remember Muscle Shoals School System ever having such a low State Department Of Education score. 2024 made history - in a bad way - for Muscle Shoals. If you think your children are getting a good education in Muscle Shoals, think again. It would be wise to move out of Muscle Shoals schools before they get to the high school where it makes or breaks their chances for a college scholarship or a good career. 

Our current superintendent Chad Holden hired one of his buddies as principal at the high school and test scores have fallen much more each year than we were prepared for. It's bad enough that Holden doesn't know how to manage a complex operation, but  he is obviously lacking in academic strategic planning and execution. If Chad Holden's goal is to destroy the Muscle Shoals City School System, that he is successful at. Maybe he is feeling just a little sting of failure as any normal person would, he still has time to get out before the big "F" report card comes. It would behove the school board to invite High School Principal Davis to pack his bags too. 

It's further evident that this school board is totally blind, or maybe incapable themselves, to understand the severity of the situation. What say you CITY COUNCIL? Proud of that 79 grade and the lack of leadership of those you and Holden choose to "Make Muscle Shoals Great Again"? 

If Holden, as a previous history teacher, were half as intelligent as he thinks he is, he would have learned the one thing most people learn from history is that they don't learn from history.

Chad Holden tried the elected position as Lauderdale County School Board member and failed miserably, just as he has in his current role. Word has it that Democrat Holden is now courting the Colbert County Republican Committee while he's banking on their endorsement to run for a state office. Are the rumors true that Democrat Holden is going to run as a Republican for State Senate? With his past record of failures, he has a tall hill to climb. Some of us never forget.

VOTE THEM ALL OUT!!!

Supt. Provides Drama at M.S. Band Concert

 

Thursday night marked the Muscle Shoals High School band concert held in the school auditorium. According to some parents, the occasion provided some extra drama that did not speak well of the school system.

According to those familiar with the layout of the auditorium, there is seating at the front of the mezzanine designated as reserved for handicapped individuals and those assisting them. These seats are marked with the standard wheelchair icon.

Those in attendance reported that Superintendent Chad Holden and at least two in his party (presumably his wife and son) entered and sat in the reserved handicapped seats. Holden remained seated as those walking with the assistance of canes or ambulating in a wheel chair had to navigate steps in order to find a seat.

One of our informants labeled Holden as "classless and entitled." According to those who observed this drama, several high school students assisted those with ambulation problems in finding and getting to seats.

There was also a comment as to how helpful the band director was in having her students make way for those who had problems navigating the auditorium. How sad that the superintendent didn't do the same.

Muscle Shoals Resident Calls Out Chad Holden

 

A Muscle Shoals reader has some highly critical words concerning city school superintendent Chad O.G. Holden:

It is disappointing to see that the superintendent of our beloved school system has commented #MAGA on a post that mocks Black Lives Matter. Given our current political climate, I am intrigued to see such a lack of leadership. Our schools and our city serve countless Black families and this is disgusting, to say the least.

Is the reader correct in his/her assessment? While the position of school superintendent isn't an elected office, it is one that serves all the citizens of the city. The high school where Holden served as principal until this spring recently came under fire for calling Deshler High School in Tuscumbia the ghetto. Now does not seem like the appropriate time to ridicule Black Lives Matter.

On November 1st, a new council will take office. Perhaps at that time, the new council members can have a serious discussion with the tactless super?

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.

Chad O.G. Holden: Vindictive & Inconsistent?

Pictured above is Chad (Original Gangster) Holden; we didn't dub him that, his students did. Holden is currently principal of Muscle Shoals High School, but soon he will be the system's new superintendent. 

One of Holden's first acts as principal of Muscle Shoals High in 2014 was to send a popular student home for her hair being dyed too vibrant a red:

Doesn't Look THAT Unnatural To Us

At the time the student was disciplined, Holden stated:

"As a new principal, my expectations are to enforce every school board policy and every rule in the student handbook, and that's what I did on the first day and what I will continue to do," 

In case you've forgotten, Holden knew this child's family. A lawsuit ultimately followed.

Flash forward to Muscle Shoals' 2020 graduation:

A Color Not Naturally Occurring On An Earthling

If the O.G. calls this being consistent, he needs to return to school for a remedial vocabulary course.

The O.G. Better Not Say A Word About Me

Lies, Mr. Principal? Please Point One Out

We currently have three bloggers from Colbert County, two of whom live in Muscle Shoals. Yes, all our bloggers use screen names. We see that a local police chief thinks a name should carry the influence, or at least more weight than the facts. We feel even John Dillinger or Al Calpone may have had some good points to make; therefore, we don't ask for a background check before publishing one's blog or guest editorial. 

Since the suspension and subsequent termination of Blake Jarmon, we've received copious communications about the Muscle Shoals School System. It's hardly the first time the system has been in the news, but this it the most irate we've seen parents and citizens. We give everyone a voice here, and if any Muscle Shoals school employee has comments, we will be happy to publish them.

The principal has written on his Facebook page that someone, and we assume he means Leslie M. Shoals, has lied about something in various recent blogs. We attempt to make sure that every blog we post is vetted and correct in each fact. If anyone knows of any errors or misconceptions, please let us know. It's easy to say "lies," but if you don't point them out to us, we have no idea what they are and are certainly not able to correct them.

While we don't know this Muscle Shoals employee personally, we do know the blogger who uses the name "Leslie M. Shoals." In the hierarchy of state government/position, Leslie holds a much more respected place than this principal. It might be easy to criticize Leslie's flamboyant style of fonts and punctuation, but we suggest interested readers examine the facts instead. 

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We've had several comments about the TimesDaily recently. No, the local newspaper is not owned by the New York Times. Since the Shelton family published the TD in 2009, news has become more local...and more bland.

It may have hit a new low recently when it published a short blurb about Trivia Night at On the Rocks, a local bar. On the Rocks isn't the only bar/grill to have a regular trivia night, and we're unsure why that particular establishment received any preferential treatment. A new form of advertising?

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Speaking of alcohol consumption, we understand one of two local craft beer manufacturers is leaving Florence. We have not been able to determine which, so if readers have any insight, let us know. There has to be an interesting story behind the move.

New Assistant Superintendent in Muscle Shoals Schools?

We've learned that approximately 18 months ago the Muscle Shoals City School System posted a job opening for a second assistant superintendent. We don't know how many applied for the job, but the extremely qualified Gale Satchell was one of them. Then the job posting was abruptly withdrawn, with the system saying there simply wasn't enough money to afford another assistant. Hmmmm, no one considered that before the job posting went public?

Mary Ann Stegall has been the sole person serving in the position of assistant, but is now retiring. Will there now be two positions to fill? If so who will be the lucky/unlucky finalists?

Our friend the swami is predicting Chad Holden and Denise Woods.

Any other changes the swami sees in the system's future? Kevin Davis, known to many of our regular readers as Sasquatch, will be moved to the career tech school as an "interim" principal. Maybe he'll find some new hair colors there to criticize.

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Returning to that city on the bluff, we've had an interesting comment about recording phone conversations.Thanks to a reader for giving us a heads up on the legality of this in Alabama. From a freedom of the press site:

Alabama law sets criminal penalties for recording or disclosing private communication of others without the consent of at least one of the persons involved. The statute also bans secret observations while trespassing on private property. Those divulging illegally obtained communications also face criminal penalties.

Since the consent of one party was a given in the Holden/Sanford conversation, no laws were broken in this state.

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Shoalanda

Should We Expect Answers? A Guest Blog

Chad Holden is not going to answer Mr. Modas' questions. As a Lauderdale County School Board member and MSHS principal, he should respond in a timely manner to anyone requesting information, the same applies to all elected or appointed officials. If you were to review Mr. Holden's campaign platform and promises, one would have to ask where the published findings are from his "task force" that he touted as one of his accomplishments that warranted election to the Lauderdale School Board. Perhaps Mr. Holden needs to remember some of his past transgressions and his demands for answers from other elected officials.

Mr. Modas, you might want to consider a formal request for information. The freedom of information act might be a good means to obtain records on who paid for a "work phone" that enabled Coach Chris Balentine to carry out an (censored).. Keep in mind, those texts can be obtained as well which may be a part of divorce court in time. Heaven forbid if his sick wife were to be killed in one of his drunken rages. Then a murder trial will surely expose the answers that otherwise are not forthcoming.

LED billboards:

The principal of each school that has advertisers on campus gets the money from the advertisement of the bill board for their "principal account". Money is spent completely at the principal's discretion - and as evident in the hiring of Kevin Davis and the "punishment" of Chris Balentine. No consultation with or oversight by the M.S. Board.

There again, one needs to ask, who does have oversight of activities in and around MS school campuses. It hasn't been too long ago that pictures were plastered on school websites of the youth minister at Highland Park Baptist hugging students at the flag pole and other activities.

All in the faMily.


Leslie M. Shoals

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We regret the necessity of censoring part of the above guest blog; however, until the public adjudication of some of these issues, we felt it best. Comments welcome.

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Shoalanda

Steve Modas Calls Out Chad Holden

From the Wife Beaters Should Not Be Allowed to Be Teachers Page:

Chad Holden has still not gotten back with me. These questions still remain unanswered . I never thought he would. Chad Holden is the most self centered person you will ever meet. He's principal of Muscle Shoals High School and on the School Board in Lauderdale County... I think he thinks he is too good to answer my questions... These are the questions I would like you to answer Chad Holden...I would like to know if you we're consulted in the decision to only give coach Balentine a 5 day suspension.... The news articles I read said that the superintendent consulted with the athletic director but your never mentioned you . As principal were you consulted ? If not why not ? Do you agree with his slap on the wrist punishment for breaking his wife's nose ? Does it bother you ? Do you think he should be around students without first at least getting some help ? Do you think what he did was worse than a girl coming to class with her hair dyed red ? You told her she couldn't come back until her hair was dyed back to its natural color ... You don't think your Coach should have had to wait until he had anger management classes ? You probably won't answer this and I guess you have that right but I'm going to make sure everyone knows that you won't answer these questions if you don't. My last question is are you concerned and will you take responsibility if he ever lost it at school like he did Halloween night and hurts a student and if you do think it's ok for him to continue teaching will you resign if he ever does ?

Editor's Note: Holden is not running for re-election in Lauderdale County.

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We're still waiting for info on just who was paying for Chris Balentine's "work" cell phone that was at the center of the melee Halloween night...

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A reader from Muscle Shoals has asked who profits from the advertising revenue produced from the LED reader-board at the high school. We have no idea. Anyone know? We do know that one advertiser is Adam Rue Auto Sales.

Shoalanda

Chad Holden to Leave Lauderdale Board

Chad Holden has announced he will not be running for a second term as a Lauderdale County School Board member. The job is usually a thankless task, but we hope someone qualified will step up to seek the position.

We're sure Leslie M. Shoals will have some comments for us at a later date.

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We see that opposition to the proposed soft drink tax has solidified. It's doubtful it will pass. Our take is that Gov. Bentley felt a threat to everyone's Co-Coler would have a wake-up effect. We'll see...

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Locally, we've had a reader ask if James & Debbie Gibson could be charged with theft of services in relation to their continued use of a Florence sewer line. We doubt it since they have apparently been paying a much too small amount, but nonetheless paying each month.

We have to ask why even have a water/sewer manager if the city isn't taking his advice? The Gibsons have had plenty of time to digest the news of the line closing. This is not  a chess game. Take Mr. Doyle's advice and close the line now.



Shoalanda

Hair in Black & White?

Integrity?

From a reader:

I brought something to the attention of the MSHS band director, David Water, regarding a young lady sitting on the front row at the year end band concert. The young lady had a half shaved head of about 1/2" black hair and the other half head was bleached blond hair below her ear.

Distraction? Absolutely.

I pointed out that not only was she sitting on the front row of the band on stage, but Holden, Stegall, Lindsey, all the band directors and some teachers were on stage with the child as well. I thought it strange that he told me he would prefer that I take that up with administrators, to which I responded that I would not waste my time.

FAST FORWARD.... After telling a friend about the conversation, he said, "You do know that David Waters is kin to Brian Lindsey, don't you?" What the heck?????

Brian Lindsey's MOM is a cousin of David Water's MOTHER IN LAW. I don't think we will ever get to the bottom of all the kin folk in MSCS. What a mess. MSCS where everyday is a family reunion.

If you ain't kin, you ain't in.

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Another reader:

We LOVE Mr. Willie Joiner at Lexington. After Larry Smith, Mr. Willie had some huge shoes to fill. We'll be happy to ship Muscle Shoals a couple of rapists if they ever try to come back. They can keep Chad Holden too. His facebook page says he lives in Muscle Shoals, so how is he on our board?

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Our take? Why is red hair not tolerated, but black/white is? We believe the FB page about  Muscle Shoals has been taken down.



Shoalanda

Some Words of Wisdom for Parents

1. Don't encourage your child to play with matches and gasoline simultaneously.

2. Don't encourage your child to do Tai-Chi exercises in the middle of the interstate at midnight while wearing dark clothes.

3. Don't encourage your child to remove the orange tip of his airsoft/BB gun illegally and then point the weapon at someone.

4. Don't encourage your child to take photographs of himself and friends flashing gang signs with the principal who then will post it on Facebook where he has 3,600 friends who will then send it to their friends. (A corollary to this suggestion is not to expect Shoalanda to take down the photo after half the Shoals has already seen it before it even reached her.)

5. Don't encourage your child to blame others for his mistakes.

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Pictured is the old First Federal Bank building on Mobile Plaza. Over the years it's had many remuddlings. Several years ago we had an appointment in a first floor office and actually had to ascend to the second floor and back down again to get to the correct business.

We've been told the original limestone facade was ruined in some of the attempts to modernize the building. Now there seems to be a great deal of money going into this new incarnation of the old edifice. The door is incredible; the awning--not so much. We realize it's not finished, but it hardly looks organic. We're hoping it improves.

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What do your thoughts say about you? Familiar with those Rorschach tests where you tell the shrink what the ink blots look like? Perhaps much in life is that way. We blog about a city having bar fights and we're automatically racist? Post a photo with flames and we're condemning others to Hell? No. We think it's all in the mind of the beholder. We have no need to apologize for anyone else's evil thoughts.



Shoalanda

Ronnie May Tarnishes His Legacy

We initially supported Jim Berryman for Colbert County Sheriff; after Frank Williamson defeated Mr. Berryman in the runoff, we offered our support to Mr. Williamson. During the days running up to the election we received what can only be classified as "mud" against both Williamson and his opponent Phil Andrews. We sincerely hope neither candidate was behind this mud-slinging. We did hear at that time that current sheriff Ronnie May did not support Mr. Williamson. That was certainly his prerogative.

After Mr. Berryman was defeated in the runoff, Ronnie May welcomed him back as a deputy. Is Mr. Williamson now similarly serving as a deputy until he officially becomes sheriff in January? We were told that Sheriff May refused to reinstate Mr. Williamson; upon checking, we found this to be true.

If Sheriff May would like to offer his rationale for this, we would be happy to publish his comments.

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Does someone dislike Chad Holden enough to set him up? It appears that someone would like to see him ineligible for the Lauderdale County School Board. Let's hope Mr. Holden reports this and has it removed:

Chad Holden on Facebook 

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Do you live or work in Tuscumbia? How are your streets? We've been asked why the avenues of that stately town are in such disrepair? Do you have a comment? Send it to us.



Shoalanda

Our Thoughts? Glad You Asked...

No matter that many can't seem to comprehend this, we don't always agree 100% with the guest blogs we publish. How do we personally feel about the Chad Holden photo?

We don't feel these kids will become thugs because of some fun. Look carefully in many local attics and you may find snaps of several junior high kids posing with a starter pistol, berets, and fedoras (Yep, we were wanna be Bonnies & Clydes). All of them turned out pretty well - retailers, artists, medical personnel, consultants, etc.

The difference is that Ralph Smith or Eddie Frost didn't take part in these somewhat dubious antics. We're at a loss as to why Mr. Holden agreed to be called the "original gangsta." Perhaps it's because only last year he was their teacher? Roles change.

Educators are not the students' friends. If any educators think that, then they are failing the young people they are trying to teach. Neither should they "relate" as one young woman expressed it. In fact, we were of the belief (perhaps mistaken) that male educators don't touch their female students or allow the girls to touch them (this was not directed at Mr. Holden but others whose photos we have been sent).

Being a pal is fine, but when it's time for discipline, students don't usually take leadership from a pal all that well.

Our second beef with Mr. Holden? Suspending a young student for her dyed hair because he always goes by the rule book, but allows some students to make gang signs on campus when this is also forbidden in the handbook. How is this consistent in any way?

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Thugin' Thursday: 

The day on which it is acceptable to post thuggin pictures of yourself, friends, acquaintances, idols, or strangers on social media. Occurs every Thursday of every week. 

Finna have a hood thuggin thursday #tt

Dis pic be dope af. holla, we be thuggin. #thugginthursday 

Would someone please tell us what "finna" means?

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Joe Pampinto? We believe he is mistaken when he refers to the Muscle Shoals Gas Department. From what we've been told there is no such animal. Natural gas is delivered and billed by the North Alabama Gas District.

We have not learned all the details of the grill donated to a local bar, but it does seem possibly to have come from the NAGD. A reader asked how this can be handled. Since the elected officials of Muscle Shoals are aware of and happy about this, we would recommend contacting FERC. If the alleged gift did occur, it could very well be a violation of the Commission's rules.

Note: We're not sure that Pampinto didn't screw up more than a name in his comments to the press. We still find it hard to believe that the manager of NAGD would participate in such a thing.



Shoalanda

The Cartoon...The Critique

From a reader on a recent cartoon featuring Lauderdale School Board member Chad Holden:

One has to assume this cartoon was produced by a Lauderdale County teacher. Is this person really, REALLY, complaining about teaching SIX WHOLE HOURS in a day?!?!? Let's be honest, no one would suggest that teaching is a "cushy" job, but with a work contract of 180 or so days per year, averaging 6 hours of teaching per day comes to about 1080 hours per year. And at an average starting salary of $36,000 or so, that works out to about $33 an hour. Pretty nice deal, especially when you get summers and Christmas off, too.

It is difficult to have much sympathy for some teacher whining about the hours of their work day, when you open the Times Daily almost weekly and read about jobs being cut, people laid off, and companies closing their doors. Maybe this individual should just be thankful they still have a job to go to. I'm quite certain a lot of those in the area who have been let go recently would give their right arm just to have 6 hours of work to do a day...

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We disagree slightly with the premise of only six hours. Teachers have to create plans...and they're ever changing. As for the six hours v. four hours, we feel the cartoonist was comparing apples and oranges.

A rural school system will never equate with a metropolitan system which caters to mainly upper class students. Also, having a school board member who is also a teacher is much preferable to having one who's...say...a plumber or a/c person...who's going to jail.

Shoalanda

A Guest Editorial Cartoon!

 

While we disagree with much of this, we feel it only fair to publish. We await comments from each side before we publish our thoughts.

Shoalanda

Bark for What? Got His What?

Perhaps without hope and change, or any chance for hope, in 2012, "I Bark for Barack" was all that was left. Wait...there's also "Get Barack's Back" and some variations thereon...

 

 Pretty weak, but what about Romney? Here's an idea:

Okay, you're right, Mitt Romney is no Patrick McGoohan. Any Independents out there?

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We heard there were a few words spoken in Montgomery yesterday. Apparently our Alabama teachers aren't happy. Our friend Chad Holden was even quoted in today's TimesDaily on the subject. Did any of the teachers' words hit home? Here's what the gubnah said:

Robert Bentley's Answer to the AEA

Shoalanda

Chad Holden/EMA/Blinker Fluid

In less than one week, we'll go to the polls to elect those who will represent us for the next two to six years. Local politics have always been this blog's theme, and we want our Lauderdale readers to know that next Tuesday they'll have a chance to improve the quality of education many county children receive.

We urge you to vote for Chad Holden for Place 2 on the Lauderdale County School Board. Chad is committed to excellency in education. Moreover, he's not in anyone's pocket. That will be a big step up in itself for Lauderdale County.

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If you wish to help support Lauderdale EMA Director George Grabryan, we urge you to write:

Dewey Mitchell
Chairman Lauderdale County Commission
Post Office Box 1059
Florence, AL 35631

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Shoals Drivers? If we asked our readers to list their main complaint about area drivers, we're sure a large portion would say, "They must be outta blinker fluid." In that spirit, we suggest you like the following Facebook page:

The Shoals Area Needs Blinker Fluid

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There have been several reports that small animals are being poisoned and butchered in the area around Cherokee High School. We will have more on this later, but if any readers have information pertaining to these crimes, please contact us.

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Shoalanda