The Old Family Tradition of Dishonesty

Many families have traditions, even if it's just keeping the peanut butter in the fridge. How many have traditions that lead to warrants and manhunts?

We don't use names of those who've committed misdemeanors or felons not currently in the system and won't start now, so we're going to give everyone an alias for the purposes of this blog. Still, it's not like these names haven't previously made the news with great frequency.

John was the grandfather and quite a successful burglar...until he wasn't and went to prison. John's son Jim followed in his footsteps and more. He's been convicted of everything from rape to escape and is now living in one of Alabama's finest gray bar hotels. Jim's son Joe has also been known to practice the traditional art of burglary, but never to the extent of his father and grandfather.

Yet Jim is the father to more than Joe. His daughter Jill is quite a winner herself. No burglary that we've noticed, but she can't seem to find her way to municipal court. Perhaps she's worried about the father of the older two of her five children who's just been arrested for drug trafficking. She's probably more worried than he is since this is nothing new for him.

Jill has been to jail six times in the past six years. It must be an annual tradition as well as a family one. Worried about her children? Her mother or her grandmother always oblige and make sure the little ones are fed, bathed, and schooled. 

Yes, the mother and grandmother are enablers. Of course, we're sure they don't see it that way. Neither do they realize what they may have done wrong to have raised a man serving decades for heinous crimes or a woman who'd rather blow her family responsibilities off if she has a chance to party hardy. 

Is there an answer? Unfortunately not for any of those mentioned here. It won't be a popular answer, but when was the last time you took your children to a worship service? Look at it this way: Church now or the Hard Times in ten years. 

Hey, I Think I Can Get 20 Grand For You On e-BayBe!

Crime Dynasties/Fike Verdict/UNA Rape

Crime dynasties? We’ve had requests to add two families to our list of crime dynasties, the Dawsons and a second family headed by a woman; however, we’re researching the second offering. As for the Dawsons, some of them spoke openly of their past criminal endeavors; ergo, we have no problem listing them. We do wish to ensure we have the relationships correct in the second family that has been active in both Franklin and Lauderdale Counties during the past ten years.

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The Robin Fike manslaughter trial? Fike was found guilty earlier today. Surprising? Hardly!

Fike’s defense attorney John McKelvy of Tuscumbia admitted his client:

1. Was driving under the influence of alcohol,

2. Had a BAC three times the legal limit,

3. Was trying to outrun law enforcement when he crashed his PT Cruiser into the back of the Ford Taurus that (his victim was in).

Surprisingly to no one, that sounds exactly like manslaughter, no matter what Mr. McKelvy may say. In fact, we’re surprised that Fike wasn’t charged with some form of murder.

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The UNA rape arrest? It’s going to a grand jury even though the alleged perp was (again allegedly) identified at the scene. Also beaten at the scene, we understand.

Where do our sympathies lie? We assume if anyone did hit Tyre Pickett, and photographs don’t usually lie even in this age of Photoshop, they simply mistook him for a punching bag in the dark hall.

Yeah, that’s a good story. That’s third degree assault at most, and we understand he will have to go to Florence Municipal Court to officially press charges. We’re sure many would like to see him try.

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“Ad Women? Mad Ad Women?” Yes, we have them. Mea Culpa.

However, we do find it amusing that a woman would want to claim that offensive ad. Nevertheless, we’ll be sure to check future blogs to substitute the word “person” if we should inadvertently use the word “man” in that context.

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Dynasties?/Football!

Dynasties: good or bad? Obviously they can be either. Some time ago an article in the TimesDaily commented on the Heflin political dynasty in Alabama, as well as the Jordan political dynasty in Florence. Our opinion? Two generations in the same field don’t make a dynasty, so Dick Jordan’s family doesn’t count. 

Are all dynasties good? Unfortunately, no. A reader asked us about the Crowden family in Florence, a family with three generations of males known for their expertise in the field of burglary. No, not all dynasties are to be lauded. (We will probably do an extended article on these three at a later date for Shoals Crime.)

So what are you teaching your children?

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A reader reminded us that not only is Shawn Childers still missing, so is Chance Southern, a young man from Florence. No, we don’t think these two cases are related, but we hope both men are found safe very shortly.

Shawn Childers

Chance Southern

Both have been missing for almost a week. If you have any information on their whereabouts, please call the authorities.

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We’re going to assume 99.99% of our reading audience is happy tonight…at least in the football department!