Gregg DeWalt/New AHSAA Rules?

Did everyone read Gregg DeWalt’s Sunday column in the TD. If you didn’t, you should. He’s calling for the positions of athletic director and head coach at Muscle Shoals High to be separated. We’re not going to hold our breath, but obviously having these positions combined is akin to letting the employee who writes the company checks also balance the account—you’re just asking for abuse.

Is Muscle Shoals lobbying for rule changes at the AHSAA? If such changes do come through, will MSHS be exempt from the playoff ban retroactively?

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We find it very interesting anyone would comment that we’re despicable for giving a voice to a Muscle Shoals High School critic…who seems to know just what murky, mucky broth cooks at the school. Yet this reader doesn’t think the school should be held accountable for illegal actions. Morality and ethics aren’t everyone’s strong point.

It’s also interesting that many can’t seem to distinguish between our own editorials and guest blogs. We always welcome guest editorials as long as they aren’t libelous, use vulgarities, or advocate violence. Yes, that was the 1067th time we have made that statement, but apparently some still don’t get it.

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Something to think about: None of us knows when we leave the house each day if we’ll return to our homes at the appointed time. Nothing is guaranteed in this life; however, we civilians have a much better chance of finishing our work day in one piece than do those who toil in law enforcement.

A long time narcotics agent was killed this weekend—just one county away from Lauderdale. It was only a few days ago that a Lauderdale deputy was shot under very similar circumstances. Most of us have a long list of blessings for which we ask in our daily prayers. Let us all try to remember members of our law enforcement community in those prayers.

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With all due respect to James Irby, does he think he will be called upon as a circuit judge to make decisions on abortion and gay marriage? We’d personally rather he and any other candidates promise not to populate the court and related entities with their relatives, lovers, and other cronies.



Shoalanda

Talking Turkey: Lauderdale Circuit Judge Place Two

James Irby, a Florence attorney in private practice, and Will Powell, an assistant Lauderdale district attorney, are both vying for the Republican nomination in the race for Lauderdale Circuit Judge Place Two. Both gentlemen are extremely qualified.

Who will win? Irby has obviously outspent Powell in political advertising, but until the beginning of this election season, didn’t have the name recognition that Powell has.

Will Powell:

Will Powell joined the Lauderdale County DA’s office in January 2005 as Chief Assistant District Attorney. He earned his law degree from The University of Alabama School of Law after receiving an undergraduate degree from Rhodes College.

Mr. Powell is an experienced trial attorney. He has successfully prosecuted multiple felony cases, including capital murder cases. He also chairs the Multidisciplinary Task Force focusing on cases involving children who are victims of physical and/or sexual abuse.

Prior to joining the Lauderdale County DA’s office, Mr. Powell worked as a Deputy District Attorney in the Montgomery County DA’s office, at which time he was honored as Prosecutor of the Year by VOCAL (Victims of Crime and Leniency). In addition to his duties as Chief Assistant DA, Mr. Powell is an adjunct Professor of Criminal Law at the University of North Alabama.

Mr. Powell is married to Emily Rhodes. The Powells have three children.

James Irby:

Born and raised in Lauderdale County, James Irby's roots in the local community run deep. After graduating from Henry A. Bradshaw High School in Florence, James Irby continued his education in Lauderdale County, receiving his Bachelors degree and two seperate Masters Degrees from the University of North Alabama. He then went to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and earned his Doctorate in Education before getting his Juris Doctorate from Thomas Goode Jones School of Law at Faulkner University in Montgomery.

Shortly after receiving his Bachelor's degree from UNA, James Irby went to work for Sheffield City Schools as their Band Director, working there for 11 years before going to work as an Assistant Principal in Decatur. James has served as the Principal of Guntersville High School, as well as Superintendent for the City School Boards of Roanoke and Athens.

After earning his Law Degree, James Irby went to work for Sherrill, Batts & Shipman in Athens, where he focused on special education law, prosecuting over 200 state-level special education due process hearings under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,protecting the rights of special education students to receive quality instruction.

James Irby then returned to his home of Lauderdale County and practiced education, personal injury, and criminal defense law at Potts & Young before opening up his own practice on Tennessee St in historic downtown Florence in late 2007. In addition to continuing his focus on personal injury and criminal defense law, he represents the Lauderdale County and Decatur City Boards of Education. James currently lives in Florence with his wife Margaret, who works with him at his law firm.

James Irby has been admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit United States Court of Appeals, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama, the Alabama Supreme Court, and all Circuit, District, and Municipal Courts of Alabama.

Does one have an edge over the other? We believe that one is in fact prepared to better serve in this judicial position. It’s a given that most who face criminal trials are indeed guilty. Judges primarily act as a type of referee between opposing council in making sure the letter of the law is followed. They also sentence those who have taken a plea deal—most of the accused in the legal system.

The salient point is that Will Powell obviously has the more experience in dealing with criminal matters. He’s always been there for victims’ families, as well as not participating in some of the theatrics we often see in other courtrooms (think Colbert County). We endorse Assistant District Attorney Will Powell in the race for Lauderdale Circuit Judge Place Two.

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We were asked a question about William Smith and Ben Graves. Neither candidate holds an elected post. Mr. Smith was appointed to act as county license commissioner and Mr. Graves was hired to serve as municipal judge.

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One year into DreamVision and no one thinks there will be any amusement park in the Shoals unless the state legislature comes to town. DreamVision promoter Bryan Robinson has now been accused of taking 500,000.00 from three local investors without purchasing the investment property he had proposed to buy with the funds.

So what did Robinson do with the money? We’re sure to see at least civil suits over this. There’s nothing like court records to reveal the actual money trail. We await.

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Some Alabama legislators think supplemental nutrition funding recipients should be drug tested. Just how does that work in case of couples where one tests positive and the other negative? Does DHR make them live apart, never breaking bread together?

Perhaps some think disqualifying those who use recreational drugs from receiving any EBTs will more than offset the cost of drug testing (actual test kits and time expended by DHR workers in administering these tests). We have a better idea: Each time a legislator is arrested for impaired driving, or on any charge for that matter, he/she has to pay the state $10,000.00. That should help the budget out just a little.


Shoalanda

James Irby for Judge?

Florence attorney James Irby has set up a Facebook page to test the waters concerning a run for Lauderdale Circuit judge--no word on which party. Link!

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From L. Stone: If the state can't afford to house the mentally ill can we at least give them UAB football tickets?

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Phillip Pettus still wants his superintendent bill to pass? Just think if he had put that much energy into something worthwhile...

Shoalanda

What Now For Shannon Johnson?

Shannon Johnson

Shannon Ray Johnson, 42, is currently incarcerated on drug charges. After refusing to testify against his brother Alfred Shawn Johnson, 43, he's lost his chance at a plea bargain that would have allowed him to plead to manslaughter in the 2000 death of Keith Barnett. What now?

Since Shawn has now been convicted of Felony Murder, Shannon's attorney Jeff Austin may attempt to place total blame on the older brother, creating a more than slight chance Shannon Ray Johnson could request a jury trial and walk free--at least of any Felony Murder or Manslaughter charges.

Let's hope Shannon Ray Johnson receives the same penalty as his brother.

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Thanks to a lack of documentation and what we hear was some fancy footwork by attorney James Irby, Sheffield's Greg Ray has now been reinstated as police chief. The Quad-Cities Daily has an exclusive interview with the chief:

Chief Greg Ray Interview

Shoalanda

Green v. Brooks: Nothing but the Facts - Part II (Not Even a Moment of Silence?)

Yesterday we discussed atheist Jeremy Lane Green who protested public prayer at Brooks High School football games. We read on a local forum that today we would "tear apart" the Brooks Lions Will Pray movement. That is not our intention, but we do have a few words of constructive criticism for those involved.

1. Apparently no one either knew or checked the law before beginning the group. Superintendent William Valentine has already assented to the FFRF's request, a fact that should have been little in doubt, if at all.

2. Now the Brooks group has contacted state senator Tammy Irons in hopes of modifying the law in some manner. We doubt even Ms. Irons has the ability to sway the Supreme Court in its current incarnation. Time spent in meaningless activity is ill spent.

3. There is also talk of a huge fund-raising project in order to retain a lawyer to plead the group's case. Sorry, folks, he or she will have no more influence than Ms. Irons.

4. Many in the group don't know the names of the school board members and apparently are unaware the Lauderdale County school system has its own web site.

5. Many in the group don't seem to understand the Freedom From Religion Foundation is not connected to the ACLU.

6. The group is supposedly composed of Christians, but many of the comments by group members and others who oppose Mr. Green have been anything but Christian. Let's look at some of them...

Where does he live? If it is Lauderdale county, run him out of town!!!!! (referring to Green)

he is scum. (referring to Valentine)

the hell with them...

6. As long as the group continues along these lines, it will only serve to give Green a second 15 minutes of fame. Think about it.

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It should be noted that William Valentine made his decision to delete public prayers (and supposedly moments of silence) from county ball games in conjunction with the system's attorney James Irby. The decision concerning public prayer was mandated by law; however, they did not confer with school board members. Those who say they will not vote for any current members are not practicing the fairness they claim they have been denied.

Also, it seems that only county sports are involved in this decision. Youth games sponsored by various leagues are exempt from this decision. That will not stop Green or others from protesting the leagues' use of county property. This is something the Brooks group should be considering if they wish to be one step ahead of the next legal challenge. Good luck in your future endeavors to help the school in any legal way possible.



Shoalanda

Tina Rochelle Coleman Goes for the Big Bucks

In August 2009, Tina R. Coleman of Moulton was a very unhappy woman. We can hardly blame Mrs. Coleman for being upset considering she had just discovered her 16 year-old son had been having sex with his principal's wife:

Rebecca Nichols, Nepotism, & Assets

In early 2010, a Lawrence County District Judge dismissed the charges against Rebecca Nichols after Nichols privately settled Mrs. Coleman's civil suit. The outcome of the civil suit was not made public, but Mrs. Coleman originally sought 52 million dollars from Principal Ricky Nichols' then wife.

Now 19 months later, Mrs. Coleman has retained James Irby of Florence, attorney for the Lauderdale County Board of Education, to represent her in a suit against the Lawrence County Board. Also named in the suit are the school's athletic director and principal--yes, poor Mr. Nichols who can't seem to win for losing. As of two days ago, Lawrence Board of Education officials hadn't seen the suit involving its sexual harassment policy, but Mr. Irby has stated it's "a very serious situation with very serious circumstances."

The fact that an adult school employee has sex with a student is indeed serious; criminal charges should have been pursued, but sadly were not. So why a second suit? It seems Mrs. Coleman's son was banned from the football team in October of last year for twice testing positive for illicit drugs.

Are the two matters connected? Or is Mrs. Coleman just upset with East Lawrence High School banning her son from its athletics program? We await the trial (or settlement) for more details. In the mean time, Rebecca Nichols is living in a different county free to pursue...well, we have no idea what she may be pursuing, but we do hope it's no longer underage toy boys.

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In case any are wondering, several readers e-mailed us that the Rebecca Nichols involved in this particular sex scandal is definitely not the Rebecca Nichols of Playboy fame.



Shoalanda