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.

Attention Franklin County - You're a Sick Joke!

Yes, you, Franklin County. Your priorities are skewed. You need an animal shelter and you've made absolutely no progress in getting one.

In case any of our readers missed it, this weekend a woman from Franklin County dumped a litter of puppies after hours at the Colbert shelter. She did do the right thing when contacted and returned to take them to a rescue. No, Colbert can't take animals from other counties. Neither can Lauderdale. This is just common sense.

Don't worry, Franklin County, we're now going to address the City of Russellville. It was Russellville's previous mayor who claimed that city didn't have an animal control problem. No, and it doesn't have an illegal immigrant problem either, does it?

Nothing about this situation will change unless one of two things happens. One - The state will come in and make Franklin County do the right thing; or Two - Citizens will place pressure on their elected officials to remedy the situation.

Certainly the second choice would be quicker, so we're asking residents to act. Yes, John Smith on Waterloo Road, that's you. Yes, Jane Jones on Cotaco Street, that's you also. Yes, you...the attorney who hangs out at the courthouse...Larson E. Pettifogger, isn't it? That means you as well. 

Don't just write a letter to elected officials; write one to the Franklin County Times and the Franklin Free Press. Make sure no one can say there's no animal problem in your city or county. 

We honestly don't know how you sleep at night...

*****

Now a special word to a few of you in Russellville. Yes, we understand Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. That applies to most of Franklin County's rural residents and some in the county seat, but we know it doesn't apply to a great many in the city of Russellville.  

Please don't tell us you trust your elected officials. If your money market account never made any money, or even worse, would you continue to say you trusted your broker or banker? You have the intelligence and the resources to get things done. 

If you like to see dying, abused, and starving animals, just continue as you have done. If you have an ounce of real pity in you, do the right thing and contact your elected officials and tell them to get off their arse and build a shelter.

Who's Here Illegally?/Opportunist?

Several liberally slanted groups have called Alabama's new immigration law racist. Yet there are 50K illegal Irish immigrants in the U.S., some living in Alabama. The new E-Verify will undoubtedly impact their lives here. How will Franklin County fare?

Judging from our e-mails, many will be leaving Franklin County, possibly headed to Texas or California. HB56 goes into effect September 1st. That gives illegal immigrants 90 days to...get legal? Leave? Hope for the best? Just what will they do?

Illegal immigrants aren't gasoline, or computers, or any other 20th Century arrival that we can no longer do without. In fact, Hispanic and other immigrants from south of the border were relatively rare 25 years ago. If HB56 isn't effectively challenged in the courts, in two years we will no longer notice any difference in our economy. In fact, Franklin County may even become the subject of a few documentaries. We suggest they use the publicity to their advantage.

*****

He's not a predator, but an opportunist? The word opportunist usually gets a bad rap, but there is no sin in taking advantage of a legal opportunity. What Quinnon William Riddle did to small girls was nothing short of predatory sexual behavior and that is a sin. Let's hope the 46 year-old Marion County man, now residing in the Franklin County jail, will have the opportunity for free state room and board for many years to come.

*****

Rockin' at the Roxy Tonight!

Shoalanda

The Connection: The Radio Show

Everyone should have a voice. Starting today, The Connection: The Radio Show will be bringing the Shoals the voice of the people. Tune in to WBTG each weekday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to hear Trader and J.J. Ray discuss local, state, and national politics.

Liberal? Conservative? Moderate? Anywhere in between? You'll be welcome on The Connection: The Radio Show. Don't have a radio? No problem. The Connection: The Magazine will be streaming the show each day.

Good luck to Trader and J.J. on this worthwhile political project!

*****

We often receive e-mails asking why Franklin County has so much crime. That would make an interesting psychological study, but the answer may be extremely simple. Franklin County is economically depressed, and those with talent and professions often move to more urban areas, leaving the dregs behind. No, we don't think everyone in Franklin should be considered part of humanity's dregs, but a quick look at the crime rate for that area speaks volumes.

Franklin County is not alone. Many months ago on our Shoals Crime Blog we featured the web site People You'll See in Hell. If you currently think our area of North Alabama has a monopoly on sick crimes, you'll change your mind after reading this site (Warning--Strong Language).

People You'll See in Hell

Shoalanda

The State of CITY

The Alabama Board of Education has not yet pulled the plug on the CITY program, but it has drastically cut funding to the beleaguered entity, the most recent cut lopping 75% of the organization's workforce. In Lauderdale County, the state's most recently opened CITY site, only director Rhonda Bogus (pictured at left) and one instructor will remain.

Franklin County has been hit equally hard. Both State Sen. Roger Bedford of Russellville and Lauderdale Circuit Court Judge Jimmy Sandlin have vowed to save the program. This may not be easy.

From what has been reported, the Florence CITY program, begun in 2007, has a budget of $500,000.00 and is already $1,000,000.00 in debt. In other words, the Florence based program would not hit the green until October 2011, even if they spend zero dollars until then. Where has their money gone? Did I say their money; excuse me, where has our money gone?

The program is worthwhile, but does consist of duplications of services offered elsewhere. It's certainly admirable to give youths a second chance, or a third, or...whatever it takes, but unfortunately most of us do not receive that second chance without paying for it. My friends who have changed careers in midstream have worked odd jobs or slung hash in order to obtain the second chance they so wanted. I believe they appreciate it more.

Local personnel with the program have gone on record that it now may become nothing but a babysitting service when the reduction in personnel is implemented. Do we the taxpayers wish to pay $500,000.00 a year for a babysitting service for wayward youth? I think not.

What about the money already spent on this endeavor? A local pundit in the legal field has stated that Rhonda Bogus' salary is "off the charts." I have no idea the actual amount of her salary, but I intend to find out. Is it off the charts? Well, I have a friend with a master's degree in social work who by day is the assistant director of a facility for the handicapped in Franklin County, yet by night she toils as a Wal-Mart door greeter in order to make ends meet. This is Alabama, and this is a public job, not a position in the private sector where most of us work.

As for Ms. Bogus' qualifications, looking at her Plaxo resume' online, she lists only the CITY job; nothing about Ms. Bogus is made public before 2007. What are her qualifications? How did she learn of the position? Who hired Ms. Bogus?

If you value your tax dollars, these are all questions the citizens of Lauderdale and Franklin Counties should be asking.

Tomorrow: An open letter to a judge

Sunshine Week

Today is the first day of Sunshine Week, an annual event designed to focus on not just transparency in government, but accountability as well. The emphasis of this year's campaign is local records, particularly those posted online. So how does the Shoals stack up?

If you live in Franklin County, not technically a part of the Shoals, you have absolutely no online access to public records. Neither Franklin nor its county seat of Russellville has an official site where records are available for public consumption. This survey (see link below) did not consider privately funded websites or sites erected by such public entities as fire and police departments.

Looking north to Colbert County, we find a website for the county, but not for the county seat of Tuscumbia. The city of Muscle Shoals does provide a site at which some of its records may be obtained; it is the only municipality within Colbert to do so.

Moving on to Lauderdale County, the availability of online records increases, but is still found to be wanting. For instance, the website connects to one offering court dockets, but once there we find only the most recently completed docket, with no information concerning future trials. Inside Lauderdale, only the county seat of Florence provides a website where any such records may be easily obtained.

Obviously, this area has far to go. I think it's safe to say it won't improve until we call our elected officials accountable and demand an increase in easy access to these public records.


To see how other Alabama counties stack up, check out this year's Sunshine Project from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa: http://chrisrob.com/sunshine

Quinn's Ranch Deer Hunt

I recently reported that Quinn's ranch was sponsoring a January 2009 deer hunt for its charges--homeless, problem, and orphaned youths. Apparently, this is not the case. The deer hunt, scheduled for the 3rd of next month, does not involve the youths themselves, but adults who wish to participate at $50.00 an entry.

It seems that one, if licensed and acting within the laws of whatever area one wishes to hunt, may pay the fee and enter the bodies of one buck, one doe, and one pair (hopefully a mated couple so as to cut down on the deer population and avoid retribution from surviving spouses--I think someone made a video game out of that scenario).

The press release makes mention of the family fun at the end of the day when the dead animals are weighed in. Ah, yes, family fun in Red Bay apparently isn't what it used to be. Just remember: The family that kills together makes a lifetime of memories for those long,cold prison stays to come.

It seems Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing is on the board at Quinn's Ranch, advertised as "faith based," perhaps in Cthulhu or the Nazi Party--who knows? You may remember Joey Rushing is quoted prominently on the web site DumpYourWifeNow.com. Nuff said.


What's up with this: Medicaid, not famous for its expedient use of taxpayer money, is now rating local nursing homes. If you or a loved one should need the services of such local endeavors, remember to check the credentials of those doing the rating--it may surprise you.

_______________________________________


In response to the comment, the article referenced is from April 2007--"Will Pimp for Pizza." While I infer Mr. Rushing feels any publicity is good publicity, a self-proclaimed Methodist minister and elected official would do well to steer clear of such sites (He knows it's there, he's been informed before). Franklin County has had only too many scalawag pols and police officers in its recent past. Neither Rushing nor Chris Hargett is setting a good example.

Bellgreen Cops

They're rough...they're tough...and they're silly. They're the Bellgreen Cops.

If you haven't yet viewed any Dirrty Apple videos, you've been missing a real treat. Founded in Franklin County in 2002, this small company specializes in short comedies. Perhaps Dirrty Apple's best known works are those featuring a group of comedic cops set in the rural Franklin County town of Bellgreen, hometown to the producers.

Currently there are six Bellgreen Cop videos, the last shot just last month at Florence's Renaissance Faire. Our two favorites feature a perp with a very unusual weapon and the hunt for a retro criminal that takes our heroes to the metropolitan city of Russellville.

Dirrty Apple founders include Daniel Horton, Sharla Horton, Brian Rodgers, and Jonathan Borden. These talented young film/video makers now live in Huntsville, where they continue to expand their portfolio of humor. Besides YouTube, you can view these videos at their website or via their new pod casting endeavor.

Give them a look and you'll be hooked. Be sure to sign their guest book while there and tell them that Shoalanda sent you.


What's up with this: Sources close to the Florence zoning department say the release of information concerning environmental contamination at the former Richards' Metal Plating Company has put the nails in the coffin of the Sweetwater Entertainment District. Wasn't that unofficially buried long ago?