Mayor Irons Failed...

...to add many "hidden costs" to the costs of continuing burying our trash. It will cost 2 million to line the new cell, the cost of further legal battles, permits, and surveys. All in the hope that ADEM will allow the City to continue operating a leaking landfill. -- Scott Ruffrage from Save Cypress Creek

Not to mention there may be only four months of use left in the current landfill no matter the decision. If you care about Florence and Cypress Creek, write your council member now, fax, or call.

*****

While on the subject of garbage, we regularly receive reports of three or more individuals who walk the streets of Florence immediately before garbage/trash pickup and rummage through cans. Dumpsters may provide some "prizes," but garbage cans? We assume they're looking for aluminum or other metal products, but this is such an unsanitary...and dangerous...hobby that we suggest either the city council enact some measure against it or the police enforce any current laws on the books.

*****

Sadly inclement weather prevented the Walkin' with the Outlaws historical tour this week, but don't despair. This cool weather should put us all in the mood for autumn and All Hallows' Eve. Here's the skinny on this year's Ghost Walk.

Shoals Ghost Walk 2011

Shoalanda

Alabama Has a Recusal Law?/MUG reinvented

Alabama has a recusal law for judges? Who knew? Apparently our great state has had such a law since 1995. The law states that a judge must recuse himself from a case when either a party or a party's attorney in the case has contributed two thousand dollars or more to his election campaign.

Why are most Alabamians not aware of this 16 year-old law? One, it's not now being enforced, nor has it ever been. Two, even in 2011, 2K is a fairly sizable campaign contribution--one that even the most well-heeled attorneys might refrain from. Three, it doesn't address a party in the suit having contributed to a judge's opponent.

The next question that each of us should be asking is why the law has never been enforced. From the Birmingham News:

Alabama's recusal law has never been enforced. The Alabama Supreme Court says it can't write the rules to implement the law until the U.S. Justice Department signs off that it doesn't disenfranchise minority voters; but the Alabama Attorney General's Office says no such federal approval is necessary and has refused to submit it to Washington.

Now the American Bar Association is pushing each state to adopt an enforceable recusal law. It would certainly be in the interest of Republican Chief Justice Charles R. Malone to pursue this now, before a Democrat, oh, say, Charlie Graddick makes a campaign issue of it--Graddick being so well-known for his honesty and all.

Related post: Judge Mike Jones & the Two Teachers

*****

MUG.com in Sheffield is now MUG's Chicago Eatery. Be sure to stop by their Cox Boulevard location and try one of their famous sandwiches and become a fan on Facebook.



Shoalanda

What's Wrong With Labor Day In Tuscumbia?

The following is a guest commentary by Miss Dwanda Fribish, the even lovelier sister of the the lovely Miss Wanda Fribish:

When I read in the Times Daily that the Labor Day festivities in Spring Park still include a beauty contest, I was speechless. Just not speechless enough not to sit down and write Shoalanda about it. This is 2011. Why are we still allowing this silly cattle show for women between the ages of 18 and 25 who probably don't have IQs any higher than that?

If we're going to have a beauty contest, it should be all inclusive. Here's what I think would be the perfect lineup.

Contestant 1 - Bernie Zohanawoski, a pipefitter from Zip City. Bernie is 35 and has chest hair long enough to plait into attractive, or not so attractive, patterns.

Contestant 2 - Vilma Krouse, a 41 year-old welder from Upper Leighton who is eight months pregnant with her 9th child. She would obviously get a lot of sympathy votes.

Contestant 3 - Leigh Silesi, gender unknown, but at only 20 is an up and comer in the world of basket weaving with rebar. This Frog Pond resident looks good in stilettos.

Contestant 4 - Imah Bit Dowdy, widow of a long-time machinist's local prexy who at 83, is a long shot. Imah holds the hotdog eating record at the Lexington Senior Center.

Contestant 5 - Jane Fonda, not technically a Shoals area resident, but is currently on tour to promote her new biography and would be sure to get a lot of votes from Vietnam vets.

Now there's a truly inclusive lineup. Maybe next year...

*****

We wish each and every one of you a happy Labor Day!



Shoalanda

Update on "Save Cypress Creek"/Domestic Violence

From Scott Ruffrage:

CRITICAL VOTE: TUES. SEPT. 6TH @ 5:00PM @ CITY AUDITORIUM! This is what we have been fighting for, for two years. This is the "make it or break it" moment for the City of Florence! Your voice and presence is critical in helping to SAVE CYPRESS CREEK. Show your support and be there.

*****

The new domestic violence law went into effect September 1st. We've received several questions about the law. Some have asked what constitutes a domestic relationship. According to the law in Alabama it includes: Anyone related by blood or marriage, spouses, ex-spouses, two people who share a child/children, or two people who have lived together within the past ten months. Other states may extend the period of co-habitation up to two years.

We sincerely hope that any of our readers who feel endangered will consult with an attorney or Safeplace.



Shoalanda

Who Should Come First? Why Do We Even Have to Ask This Question?

Two women stood side by side waiting on their orders at a small take-out restaurant. Bev and Jan had never met before, but after requisite chat about the weather, Bev mentioned her daughter had just recovered from scarlet fever. A mother herself, Jan knew this once common childhood illness derived from untreated strep throat. Did she dare ask?

Yes, she did ask why Bev was not aware of her daughter's illness sooner. Bev's answer, although heartbreaking, was telling. It seems Bev's sister's daughter had cancer, and she had been just too involved with her niece to notice how ill her own daughter was.


The above story is true. While there certainly were extenuating circumstances involved, Bev had nonetheless placed another's child before her own. Is this what we want for America? The plight of those seeking to immigrate to our country is heartbreaking, but we as a country in dire economic straits cannot properly take care of our own.

No, we shouldn't have to ask the question. Our citizens should come first. When we have full employment and proper medical care for all our citizens, then we can begin to consider those less fortunate who were born outside our borders. Those who think that policy sounds harsh have not stopped to consider the effect uncontrolled immigration has on our own citizens.

*****

We recently mentioned the Tennessee Valley Juvenile Detention Center located in Tuscumbia. A former inmate there provided an interesting description of every day life in the facility, but a former employee felt he had left out one of the most important parts.

It seem each detainee is allotted just three feet of toilet paper each day. Three feet for 24 hours? The children who are in the detention center are there because they have committed a crime. If they were adults they would be incarcerated in a county jail. Yet, don't county jails provide adequate toilet paper? We've heard the Florence-Lauderdale Detention Center has at times been out of soap, but never that they rationed toilet paper. Let this be a lesson to you if you're thinking of shooting into a school bus...



Shoalanda

Just Who Is Irresponsible? Perhaps It's the Judge

H. Mark Kennedy is a former judge and the current chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party. If your political leanings are so far to the left that you reside in Leningrad or if you have a very strong stomach, you may follow him on Twitter:

Justice Mark Kennedy

Be forewarned that you will be joining Kennedy's throng of 13 current followers. Yes, we said 13--pathetic, isn't it?

But perhaps you don't know Judge/Chairman Kennedy. Just how did he come to be an Alabama Supreme Court Judge, now retired, and later Chairman of the Dems? The fact that he's the son-in-law of the late Gov. George Wallace should give us a clue.

Now it seems he's calling the Republicans "irresponsible" concerning their immigration bill, throwing in the word "ridiculous" for good measure. Well, you can't say he's afraid to take a stance. How do most Alabamians feel? We hope they tell Markie Mark it's time to pack up his extended family and head for...oh, how about outer Mongolia...or anywhere outside this state where the Wallace/Kennedy family has ranted, raved, and pillaged for the last five decades.



Shoalanda

Bernie Delinski Does Indeed Have a Fan Page!

Some months ago a Facebook wag questioned, "Bernie Delinski has a fan page?" Indeed he does, and we think he's well deserving of one, if for no other reason than his annual commencement address and his putting up with the editors/publishers of the Totally Decatur. If you enjoy Bernie, we encourage you to become a fan:

Bernie Delinski, Journalist

*****

For those who grow more and more disappointed with our daily rag, there's still:

The TimesDaily Sux

*****

Recently we've had a large number of inquiries concerning two individuals with high profile arrests in Franklin County. We have been informed today that the grand jury will meet next week, but the list of cases to be presented was not available. We will continue to call and to report in the days to come.

Obviously the charges against Jeremy Shane Hall should be of great interest to everyone. There has been a civil suit already filed against the former Russellville police sergeant. If not indicted or convicted of state charges, Hall could conceivably face Federal charges.

Related posts:

Kimberly Bynum

Jeremy Shane Hall

Shoalanda