UAB Trustees Issue Resolution That Florence City Council Should Mind Its Own Business

No, that hasn't happened yet. We have to ask what business the Florence City Council...or Muscle Shoals and Sheffield which have already issued similar resolutions...has in supporting football at UAB. Locally, a former player has stated UAB trustees lied when they announced there was no more money for the program. Did they? We have no idea of all the motivations that went into the dissolution of the program, but we do know the City of Florence is confronting some real problems. Why not clean our own front porch before we go down to Birmingham to offer our opinion on how things should be done there?

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We're thinking this is the perfect time for Steve Pierce to demand UNA fields a hockey team. After all, UAH has one. Why should any other Alabama colleges and universities be without?

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From one of our bloggers: KUDOS to Tuscumbia Police Department or their aggressive enforcement of the school zone at Deshler High School this morning. Keep it up!

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We recently blogged:

Rep. Ed Henry of Hartselle doesn't care if his bill costs Alabama tons in litigation; he's just protecting students by wanting to ban abortion clinics from any area in which there's a public school--all those demonstrations might be upsetting for the little tykes. Pardon us for introducing some logic here, but why not establish that permits for these demonstrations are not issued for school opening or closing times. Now if Rep. Henry would just start working to counter violence in movies, television shows, video games, and even homes, he might actually do some good.

This isn't Henry's first jab at abortion clinics: Is Ed Henry Sane?

The TimesDaily agrees that Henry is going at his quest in all the wrong ways and published an editorial to that effect. It seems Jim Warren of Florence disagrees. He feels any tactic is fair game to eliminate abortion clinics in Alabama. Really, even lies? What do lies say about Henry's "moral convictions" as Warren calls them.

Again, Henry should promote legislation that offers education as to abstinence and birth-control. No unwanted pregnancies mean no abortions unless medically necessary. Isn't that simple? Apparently not to a multitude in this state who think "Logic" is an expensive brand of watch sold at Belk's.

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It's okay to cuss when you really hurt. Feel better soon:

Shoalanda

Got a Felony? Phillip Pettus Wants to Take Away Your Driver's License

This falls under the category of things you won't read in the TimesDaily: Rep. Phillip Pettus, a member of the Judiciary Committee (Yeah, sure, he has so many law degrees...), has been very active in discussion of the prison reform bill now before the legislature. According to the Anniston Star:

Judiciary committee member Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Greenhill, questioned the fairness of granting licenses to ex-felons when people arrested for drunk driving and other traffic violations can lose theirs.

Yep, denying a former felon a driver's license should really help him out in that job search. Way to go, Rep. Pettus. You just keep shoving your foot farther and farther into your mouth, don't you?

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A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are:

Shoalanda

Repeat Sex Offenders

Sex offender activists want you to think 99% of sex offenders will never re-offend. Their motto? Hey, We're Pervs & We're Proud!

But just what are the facts? From a 2004 study:

• The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) reports the results of a 2004 Harris and Hanson study which indicates that rapists have a 24% rate of re-offense, child molesters targeting girls 16%, and child molesters targeting boys, 35%. Offenders with a previous sex offense conviction have a 37% re-offense rate. 

Recently Derek Logue and at least one other person traveled to Florida to campaign against the registry. Logue says he was one of four, but doesn't have any names or photos to verify that. He's a former Colbert/Franklin County resident who was convicted of First Degree Sexual Abuse in this state.

Why blog on this today? This happened just this weekend:

Sex Offender Jerry Uding Arrested in Lauderdale County

Did Uding's alleged victim know he was a sex offender? We don't know. We do know that everyone should check out his/her neighbors. Here's the easiest way:

Homefacts Sex Offenders

We keyed in the ZIP 35633, not the largest one in the area, and came up with 33 offenders. Some of these named simply made some bad decisions; some are predators. Know your neighbors.



Shoalanda

Indians Still Don't Get "No Respect"

From our friend Mary Carton: The falls are running again, thanks to the work of city employees. However the statue is termite riddled and has lost a foot and has a big hole at the base. Enjoy this view while you can.

Tuscumbia seems to be like the man who inherited fifty thousand dollars, purchased a nice Merc, then discovered he had to take it to Huntsville to have it serviced--something he couldn't afford. Again, those in the know say if the train ride was properly handled, it could pay for all park upkeep. Why doesn't the city look into this?

Obviously mechanical rides break. Muskrats do chew--it's what muskrats do. But not properly sealing this statue? There's no excuse.

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From the Tuscumbia Muskrat:

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Spring Park is nothing to brag about... 





Shoalanda  

Alabama Injustice/Sonny Tibbs

Tomorrow would have been David Andrasik's birthday. Tomorrow his killer will wake up in the Kilby Infirmary--yes, Hershel Graham is back in the prison medical unit.

What of Jason Green? He's at Kilby being processed. He has a 19 year sentence for shooting Shay Ledlow while Graham has only two years to actually serve. Why the difference?

Only two logical...and legal...reasons come to mind. Green was also under indictment for several other crimes of theft, and Graham ostensibly has such bad health the state doesn't want to foot his medical bills.

Is this justice? No. There can never be justice in such crimes.

We're left to ponder just how long Graham can play the system. Does he have health issues? Yes. He is a retired wrestler, so we assume he has some residual damage from that. He's also morbidly obese through every fault of his own.

How is life in prison different from Graham's life at home in Red Bay? Much less food and he probably doesn't get to choose the television programs he watches. Other than that? Nothing is different for this epitome of couch potato. Not much punishment for taking the life of a young husband and father, is it?

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Now let's look at Sonny Tibbs. He was sentenced in Franklin County for a sex crime and given only 60 actual days to serve. Hmmmm, he's also a retired wrestler. Interesting.

How is Tibbs serving his time? First, he's in Marion County, not Franklin. We have no idea how he managed that, but he did.

The real kicker? He's doing only weekends. Let's see how that would work: First he has a large meal with whatever family he has left and reports to jail early on Friday night, then off to a bunk to read or watch television if he prefers. Saturday? It must be excruciating to him depending on his cell mates and the menu of the day, but he is probably able to go outside to exercise or ask for Benadryl to induce sleep. Sunday morning would provide a worship service, probably two of them. Then another nap and it's time for him to go home. Now that's punishment.

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Our fellow blogger J. Redmon didn't believe America actually recorded Muskrat Love?





Shoalanda

A Good Read? Yes!

Regular readers know we're all about local. Recently we've linked some books by local authors in our sidebar. We'll be changing up the offerings from time to time, but for now we're listing Used & Abused by Pam Mitchell as sold on Amazon.

This interesting tale depicts life in Florence, Alabama, as seen through the eyes of a woman married to a Lauderdale County politician. For some time this book was not available for less than $200.00, making it out of reach of many. The prices have come down over the past two or three years, and one may now purchase a copy for less than ten bucks.

We received ours today and are greatly looking forward to reading about local people and places as seen through the eyes of an abused wife and mother. Here's the link:

Used & Abused

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We had a recent question about the increasing "wake zone" around Shoal Creek Bridge. Perhaps readers can help us out with this one? 

We've learned only that the wake zone is set by Alabama Marine Police. It can be at their discretion or at the request of affected towns or property owners. In the case of the bridge, it would seem no property owners would be affected. Florence abuts the west end of the bridge, while Killen sits to the east. We don't see these towns being hurt by the wake, so we assume the marine police increased the zone size. (Calling this agency is like trying to communicate with Lauderdale Community Corrections.)

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Shoalanda

A Tale of Two "Tom Jones Insurances?"

First, Ronnie Powell of Tom Jones Insurance & Financial Services issued this statement today:

“Only to say that we (I) don't put ourselves out to be a Dealer, Investment Adviser or an Investment Advisor Representative in our practice. We (I) don't sell Securities, never have. We (I) don't hold those licenses. Never have. That's not a part of our market. We are strictly Life Insurance and fixed (Indexed) Annuity Company. Unfortunate that this issue came up but it has been resolved. In fact, I am friends with the complainant in this matter and I still do work with (for) him and manage some of his Insurance products.”

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A reader asked if criminal charges are forthcoming. It's quite possible. At least two investors with this particular company have filed complaints with the Alabama Securities Commission. The order banning Powell from business in this state mentions that it does not preclude filing criminal charges.

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It seems that in 2005, Tom Jones Insurance Agency split or had a spin-off; we're not sure which term is more correct. Tom Jones Insurance Agency remains in business and in good standing. Only Tom Jones Insurance & Financial Services is banned from business in this state.

Apparently Google also has the two confused:

How will these legal wranglings affect the Tom Jones Insurance Agency? We suspect not favorably. We have in the past suggested individuals check out their online profiles to be sure all is correct. Now here's a case of incorrect info related to a business. We will assume the Tom Jones Insurance Agency doesn't want to change its name. Perhaps it can hire Hibbett Patient Care's Tulsa PR firm?

Shoalanda