No Attorneys Were Hurt in the Making of this Blog

Yesterday, a regular contributor wrote:

The beauty of blog spots are that they are open forums to any kind of antics, not like media outlets that have an obligation to verify a source's story.

The reader went on to say:

I would think the attorney that Andrews hired to make sure things were done right when he found out there was an issue over a guided hunt should be a little worried over his violation of attorney/client privilege for "leaking" such false information to anyone.

Since we have supported two Colbert County attorneys in their successful attempts to win elected office, we were greatly concerned by this. We realize that everyone makes a slip from time to time, but this seemed out of character for 95% of the attorneys we know. Keep in mind, we wouldn’t be surprised at anything approximately 5% of them did.

Would an attorney who had represented Phil Andrews break a legal confidence? We hit pay dirt with our first call. No attorney, local or otherwise, is responsible for obtaining copies of Mr. Andrews' misdemeanor complaint. So whose story was not vetted? It would seem to be that of our reader.

The arrest was mainly a tempest in a teapot. We feel it had little to do with the outcome of the election.

A word about our friends: We have sources in all local law enforcement agencies; we have friends among the many attorneys in the Shoals; we have friends in all walks of life.

We make sure that we know as much as possible about a situation before we report on it…and we usually know 90% more about any situation than we make public. We are extremely glad that no Colbert County attorney committed any unethical acts in this case.



Shoalanda

A Special Election Post by a Special Reader

Seriously people, we spend our days fussing about how things go wrong in our lives. Well this week, we have the chance to possibly make some things go right. I hope that in the last months you have done some research. If you go out and don't do the research and then get bit in the behind, you can ONLY blame yourself. You should have spent time making sure your candidate was qualified, a person of integrity and good character. A person who could take care of your county in whatever position they were running for and not fall back on the job. I hope that you have NOT spent your time sitting back on your behinds assuming you know the candidates in your county elections. I can assure you right now, you do not know anyone. 

 

 I have seen people post on this blog day after day about how they KNOW this candidate or that candidate. I can tell you if you have only known a person while he is working or out about town, you don't know truly know them. Just because you have known a person for a few years does not mean you know them…you do not. You know what they want you to know about them. 

 

 I hope you will and have spent time on your knees praying and asking for God's leadership in all of these elections. Follow GOD. HE is the ONLY one who should be leading you in this election process. 

 
ALABAMA needs LEADERSHIP -- not DECEPTION.

 

HONESTY, and INTEGRITY -- not lies and hidden secrets.



SweetKem

Traffic Cones & Police Cars

In the fall of 2010, a Lauderdale County commissioner filed ethics complaints against the EMA director. His ethical crime? Lending traffic cones for an instructor to use in a class which taught local EMA workers. The commissioner's view was that these traffic cones benefited those from outside the county and that the instructor received a small fee.

The complaint was taken seriously by the ethics commission, but the final ruling was that the director had benefited no way financially; ergo, he was not charged for any wrongdoing and kept his position. Now we have a somewhat similar case in Colbert County.

The difference? Phil Andrews is involved in an election and, if he should win, will benefit greatly financially. The biggest difference may be that this complaint involves a federal charge since it concerns an election. If Mr. Andrews wins the election, he will face not only state ethics charges, but federal as well. That's of course if any choose to pursue it that far, and we believe those involved would do so.

*****

From a reader:

The beauty of blog spots are that they are open forums to any kind of antics, not like media outlets that have an obligation to verify a source's story. Much like the rumors and lies about animal cruelty charges against Andrews in Colorado.

I would think the attorney that Andrews hired to make sure things were done right when he found out there was an issue over a guided hunt should be a little worried over his violation of attorney/client privilege for "leaking" such false information to anyone. But that is for another day and time for that to be brought out against the man that is now an elected official and good friend of Frank Williamson.

What I am writing to you about is this bandwagon you jumped on without checking things out.

Superior Print Solution was one of the 4 sponsors of the First Responders Fun Fest on Saturday along with Phil & Tracy Andrews, Isbell Pumpkin Farms, and Monty Allen / Patriot Realty.

ALL First Responders in Colbert County were invited and committed to having someone from their departments there. 

Those who did not have conflicts or were short handed and able to attend that I saw and spoke with while I was there:

M.S. Canine Officer/drug dog (stopped by)

Air Evac Emergency Air Ambulance

Sheffield Fire Department 

Colbert County Sheriff Deputies (stopped by)

Spring Valley Volunteer Fire Department

Colbert Heights Volunteer Fire Department.

There could have been others, but I was not at the event the whole time.

Ethics Violation? I would be highly surprised if that's the case considering the full story.

Sad that anyone would chastise a man like Phil Andrews that has led a clean life and took time away from his campaign trail to help with such a good community event with some of the businesses in Colbert County.

In time, I think your endorsement of Williamson will prove to rank up there with the endorsement you gave Anthony Olivis.

*****

Our answer is simply this:

1) We felt the Facebook page and photographs of participants verified that the event happened. You are also saying it happened. How much more verification do we need?

2) Mr. Andrews used the event to campaign. His signs were everywhere. As for four sponsors? Whose name was the largest?

3) The event used equipment paid for by taxpayers. Do you think all taxpayers in Muscle Shoals or Sheffield support Mr. Andrews? How were the taxpayers who support Frank Williamson represented? Did Mayor Bradford call up Mr. Williamson and ask if he could give equal support to Williamson with these taxpayer dollars?

4) Would a man "like Phil Andrews" have sponsored the fun fest if he hadn't been running for an office?

4) In the end, if Andrews wins, he will be costing Colbert County mucho bucks in lost time, etc., as well as forking over his own blunt to defend himself.

5) We don't know who leaked the Colorado charges against Andrews, but they were sent to us under what we believe to be a fictitious name. When posted to our Facebook page, we removed the information. 

6) Speaking colloquially, do you think Frank Williamson could ever measure up to Anthony Olivis' jerkness?


Shoalanda

Special: J. Redmon on Rick Singleton

This is in response to the gentleman that attempted to say that Singleton hadn't been a 'working cop' in a very long time.  I'd like to know if this gentleman would consider a hospital administrator, that had a medical degree, to be a 'doctor'?  Would the gentleman consider a school system superintendent to be an 'educator'?  As a former LEO and a retired educator, I hope the gentleman has the intelligence to answer in the affirmative.  Positions of authority often dictate that others under your command or direction are delegated the authority to act on your behalf.  I think Singleton has demonstrated that he has that experience.  I also know that regardless of one's position in the scheme of things, those under you are human and are most capable of making mistakes in judgment and will eventually suffer the consequences of their actions.  While some will claim such behavior is indicative of poor leadership, history is full of examples of great leaders that had inept staff beneath them, and yet they still managed to do their jobs..


J. Redmon

A Word About State Reps. (Scumbags?)

The election is tomorrow. Our fellow blogger D.K. has chastised us for not offering enough info on some elections which feature "scumbags." We will attempt to correct that.

District 1: Greg Burdine or Phillip Pettus? Mr. Burdine was on board at RegionalCare hearings in Montgomery. He went the extra mile. We support him, albeit a Democrat, 100%.

District 2:  Andy Betterton or Lynn Greer? Greer has greatly disappointed in his lack of knowledge and discretion; however, he has some seniority. Use your best judgment.

District 3: Marcel Black or Fred Jolly? Black has much seniority, but has always spent our money like it came from an open faucet. Vote for a change, vote for Jolly.

District 5: Henry White or Dan Williams: Williams by a nose.

District 18: Johnny Mack Morrow or Gerry Wallace? Morrow is universally known as someone who doesn't keep commitments. This past term he acted on behalf of a state prisoner to secure her parole. D.K. feels this went beyond his scope of office. We've seen it happen before. Morrow has been accused of several improprieties in the past. It's time for a change. Vote for Gerry Wallace.

*****

A reader on Roger Bedford: With the Roger Bedford ads with him holding a gun, keep in mind around 2006 or 2009 he publicly announced he was going blind/ or blind in one eye and has a driver that drives him around. But still sees well enough to shoot a shotgun?

***** 

There was some question about an Alabama inmate being put off for the next parole hearing five years. According to the Board's bylaws, the next hearing may be rescheduled with due cause after only 18 months. This does not mean we support such early hearings. We certainly thought the Board made the right decision in the case of Deborah Kimbrough. We simply feel that families of victims should know the facts and not consider a five-year delay as a done-deal.

*****

Our e-mail: Our e-mail addy is located both at the bottom of our page and in our Facebook badge on the left sidebar. Search is at both top left and bottom left of our page.The e-mail addys are not direct links; you must copy (using CTRL C) and paste (CTRL V) to your email submission.

Shoalanda

Phil Andrews Shoots His Campaign in Foot

Phil Andrews, Republican candidate for Colbert County sheriff, shot himself and his party in the foot Saturday. He may have also taken Muscle Shoals mayor David Bradford with him.

Andrews’ Fun Fest

The end result depends on who wins Tuesday’s election. If Democratic candidate Frank Williamson wins…and no one reports the Republican candidate to the state ethics commission, Andrews may have dodged at least part of the fatal bullets. If Andrews wins, Williamson and obviously several others will then contest the election. Illegal is illegal no matter who does it.

We have to ask why Mayor David Bradford allowed Andrews to use City of Muscle Shoals equipment in his weekend political event, aka fun fest. Until now, we have been impressed by the way Andrews had handled himself, at least for the most part. Now we have only one question. As that old song says:

Who do you think you’re foolin’?



Shoalanda

Colbert County Board of Education/ Words From Readers

Why does the Colbert Board want to close New Bethel School? Or is it only Anthony Olivis?

500K In Debt

We have always regretted withdrawing our endorsement for Mr. Tuc Montgomery based on info sent from the Olivis camp. Two more years...

*****

* On your blog today there was a lot of number crunches, now look at the guy ob supports and his claim,then look at FB page and see story on Chief Noah Danley, the add on OBs page dont add up on his exp.30 as Chief years to 15 years is not longest exp in Florence. Link

* You posted a comment that stated we should vote for Godly men. Does anyone out there really think either Hendershot or Williamson is a Godly man? 

* How can we recall Supt. Anthony Olivis?

*****

In answer to the last question, it might not be possible. Start campaigning for a fiscally responsible and non-vindictive candidate now.

Shoalanda