Abuse of System in Sheffield?

Former Sheffield Police Chief Greg Ray is currently on paid leave pending a civil service board hearing. That means the City of Sheffield is paying both Ray and his interim replacement, who is also fire chief. How much is this costing the city? We have no firm idea since Dewey King was already on the payroll. We do have a concrete idea that Mr. Ray feels his days as chief, working or on leave, are numbered.

Ray is paying Colbert County attorney Tony Hughes to defend him of charges related to malfeasance. The hearing, already postponed once, was scheduled for January 17th; on the 14th, Hughes requested the subpoena of several witnesses. Obviously, the subpoenas could not be processed in three days time--something we imagine Hughes, our readers, and Hong Kong garbage truck workers would probably be cognizant of.

Either former Florence cop Tony Hughes just received some extremely pertinent new information, he isn't doing his job, or he's attempting to manipulate the system in Sheffield. Only the first possibility is an acceptable one. We have to wonder why Chief Ray didn't hire Billy Underwood. We don't know his going rate, but he does get things done.

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Have fond memories of the Norwood Theatre? The site of the popular movie house in the Seven Points area of North Florence is now Pocket Park, but when first constructed in the latter half of the 1940s, the small theatre caused some controversy. It seems that construction materials were still in short supply, and building permits were issued for only necessary structures. The permit to build the new movie house originally stated it was to be a grocery store. After construction began, some savvy observers reported to the city that it was the only grocery store they ever saw with that much gradient to the floor, but by that time the building was well under way.

Don't you miss those days of dissembling to get around all those pointless government regulations? No? Oh, you just visit Muscle Shoals when you feel nostalgic for them.

If you just adore the Norwood theatre card pictured above, it can be yours for only 3.00 and shipping. Between YouTube and eBay, who can't relive their childhood? Link



Shoalanda

US Marshals in Cherokee?/Pocket Park

A very reliable source has informed us that US Marshals may be headed to Cherokee. Since the details have not been confirmed, we won't publish any other info on this, but look for a story tomorrow.

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Pocket Park? How Empty! Most of us remember the mantra "Point Park? How Pointless!" from the campaign to rename the riverside facility to honor veterans. May we suggest a similar new name is in order for Pocket Park, the small park just south of Seven Points on Wood Avenue. This location was home to the Norwood Theatre until it burned in 1968.

For many years the lot sat vacant until the City of Florence constructed the current amphitheatre. The location is now used for festival events and impromptu lunches for those who work nearby.

If you have a suggestion for a fitting name, please e-mail us. Florence Councilman Dick Jordan is an avid local historian and would be a good person to head this campaign. We've very good at volunteering others...

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We recently mentioned the WVNA sign on the Florence side of O'Neal Bridge. One may see from the photograph that the sign has experienced no recent upkeep. The tower is rusty, and the time/date mechanism hasn't worked in years.

If the station's owners won't properly maintain the sign, the City of Florence should begin condemnation proceedings. The new owners of the station have experienced financial troubles since purchasing the business from the Darby family, but bad advertising is worse than no advertising at all.



Shoalanda