P.T. Barnum Went to Montgomery

We were going to call today's blog "Larry, Curly, & Moe Went to Montgomery," but we decided to give our legislators the benefit of the doubt. So, who's today's P.T. Barnum? While it may have been Will Ainsworth with his teacher/gun bill last week, today it's Chris Sells of Greenville with a bill on new capital crimes...except they aren't new.

Rep. Chris Sells wants to make the murder of a police officer, corrections officer, first responder, or child under the age of 14 a capital offense. Of course, all but the intentional killing of first responders is already a capital crime, but why let that stand in the way of some good publicity?

Even for those legislators unfamiliar with the law, which is apparently most of them, it's surprising that they don't remember Lynda Lyon Block. She was the last person electrocuted in this state (1993); her crime was the murder of a police officer who had stopped her for simple questioning.

We need prisons/prison reform. We need better state highways. We need... Yet what we get from most of our state legislators is a pathetic performance designed to take up time and make them look good. 

And the voters don't care...

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Nepotism. Ain't it grand? We understand that sometimes the best qualified candidate is related to a current employee. That's fine in the private sector, but what about the public?

We see that Franklin County is about to be bombarded with bad press concerning the former county administrator Crista Massey Madden. She's the daughter of a county commissioner who had worked several years for the county before her father was elected to his current position. Nevertheless, it took only one year for her to be promoted to top dog after her father was elected.

We've previously discussed how some states and local governments have rules in place to "avoid the appearance of evil." This means Madden wouldn't have gotten the job under those circumstances. Yet she did in present day Franklin County, and now it will be easy for critics to accuse Rayburn Massey of complicity in whatever went on. 

At least it's the Franklin County Commission and not the Lauderdale this time...

Where Is Jessica Hamby?

Jessica Lee Ann Hamby - her story sounds much like that of Amanda Taylor. Jessica is a woman with a history of drug problems who was trying to get her life together for her parents and her children. She asked a friend for a ride to a home (address is known) and was never seen again. 

It's been over two months now since the Haleyville High School grad left a rehab facility in Haleyville and apparently walked into a miasma of "they said." If you know any of the details of that day in January when Jessica disappeared or if you've seen her since, call:

Winston County Sheriff's Department - 205-489-8765

Hackleburg Chief of Police - 205-935-3133

While it hasn't been publicly announced, we're surmising that the Hackleburg chief's involvement indicates that was the location where Jessica was dropped off. Residents of Hackleburg, please pay special attention to this case.

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Forensics? Alabama labs are hopelessly backed up. A Rogersville murder and a Nitrate City murder are said to basically be solved if the forensic evidence is ever analyzed. Perhaps that's the case with the Florence murder of Andrea Susan Forbes who was found dead in her North Florence Apartment in January of last year. Or perhaps the police are still desperately seeking clues in her death and need your input. If you know anything at all, give them a call.

More: http://shoalandaspeaks.blogspot.com/2017/01/andrea-susan-forbes-deserves-more.html

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Tips are also still appreciated in the Elbert Farley Davis murder. Like other cases, police are waiting for a small piece of evidence to bring the case together. Please give Mr. Davis' family some peace and call Chief Tony Logan if you have any information at all.

More: http://shoalandaspeaks.blogspot.com/2015/01/rewards-how-about-elbert-farley-davis-jr.html

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Were you in jail with Robert DeShawn Childers' roommate? Did he confide anything to you? If so, the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department wants to hear from you. All tips about this missing man are anonymous.

More: http://shoalandaspeaks.blogspot.com/2016/09/why-is-robert-deshawn-childers-missing.html

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Do you know where Susie Rena Lanier's body is? Her skull has been located in Tishomingo County, and her family suspects foul play. Her remains could prove either murder or accident, but they haven't been found. Call the Tishomingo Sheriff's Department if you have any leads.

More: http://shoalandaspeaks.blogspot.com/2017/07/missing-missing-missing-missing.html

Who Killed the Possum?

Possums? Who hasn't killed one? We'll admit to running over a few...albeit unintentionally. That last word is what sets us apart from a local high school student.

An Instagram video depicting an intentional death began to make the rounds recently. Colbert animal control believes the video originated with a local high school student. We've even been told which Colbert County high school; however, we're waiting for an arrest to publish that information.

Will there be an arrest in the video that depicted a young male stomping a possum to death? There's a 5,000.00 reward, so we're predicting there will be. At that time, his name and school affiliation will be published here...even is he's only 14 or 15. At that age a person is able to know that taking the life of an innocent animal is wrong, and whoever killed the Shoals marsupial should be exposed.

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Now, young ladies, if this sadistic teenager did that to a possum for pleasure, what will he do to you if he's mad? Whoever he may be, simply strike him off your dating list right now. Oh, wait, we know...he's just misunderstood and has a good heart. What we also know is that if you believe that, you're a few peanuts shy of a bag of zoo food.

Sheffield School Safety/Illegal Upskirts?

From a reader:

Are Russ Corey and Lisa Singleton-Rickman reporters, or are they running PR for the city of Sheffield and its school system? I’m referring to today’s article about school safety, which of course, begins with the worship of Keith Lankford and and a rundown of his accomplishments. NOT ONCE does the article mention that parents flooded the school with visits and phone calls this past Tuesday due to the high school’s failure to follow protocol.

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Apparently "upskirts" are not currently illegal in Alabama if they're taken in a public place. The legislature may soon change that, making it a misdemeanor if taken for personal "enjoyment" or a felony if posted publicly. 

Good idea? Certainly! Yet we're seeing comments (we assume from men) who see nothing wrong with this. In other words, they're saying if you don't want upskirt pics, don't wear a skirt. Really?

For anyone who needs a geographic check, yes, this is still Alabama...

The Monster in My Closet/What Did David Isbell Say?

The Monster In My Closet

One of my favorite things about being a dad is watching cartoons with my son. Lately he's got a major crush on Scooby Doo. Not just any Scooby Doo cartoon, but only those featuring the entire gang (that's right, take a hike Scrappy). We've weaned him just a bit, but still he's an hour a day Scooby Doo-Aholic. The problem, of course, is that it's scaring the bejesus out of him at night. There's been a couple times when he's asked for an escort to the bathroom. By the time we leave his night light on, the hall light on, his TV on...he's not really sleeping in the dark anymore. So you can see why I would be a little hesitant last week to believe that there was a monster in his closet. Like most boys he’s very persistent, but the more he complained the more I was determined to put the "Monster In My Closet" business to bed fast before it became a nightly event. With every trip to his room I explained "There are no monsters in your closet," and each time he responded "Yes there are!"

After an hour of attempting to break down the wall between what is real and what is a make believe old man dressed up like a zombie, my son finally cried out "Well if it's not a monster then a toy is trying to get out of my closet". Finally I did the only thing I could do...I opened the closet...and screamed like a little girl as a very unhappy cat who had been trapped for a loooooong time lunged at me from the deepest dark of the closet. Needless to say, every night before bed we now check the closet just in case any monsters or kitty cats are hiding inside.

There was a time in this country when we could ignore the boy who cried wolf,  constantly sounding the alarm that trouble was at hand. Sadly those days are long gone as with each new school shooting committed by some deranged lunatic, we learn that yet another senseless act of violence could have been avoided had we taken the first warnings seriously. We can no longer afford to ignore those who dare to speak up in the middle of the night, telling them to pull the covers over their head and go back to sleep. Now more than ever it’s up to every citizen to be watchful of their surroundings at all times so that when the next terrorist decides to act, we don’t get caught pretending monsters aren’t real.

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First, our sincerest praise to David Isbell who assisted in freeing a trapped woman from a rapidly submerging vehicle. The TimesDaily featured Mr. Isbell in a story about the incident and quoted him as saying: 

"It was just (divine intervention), miraculous really, that her Jeep landed upright in the water and that she wasn't seriously hurt or worse."

So what did TD writer Lisa Singleton-Rickman change? Did she remove the name "God" from Isbell's comment? It would certainly be interesting to know...and to know if she was ordered to do so...

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The woman who almost died in the accident stated she was about to become a school bus driver. She also stated she was doing "only" 40 in a torrential downpour. Being terribly fond of the mantra "Old pilots, bold pilots," we suggest in a torrential downpour that one pull to the side of the road if possible. If not possible, a speed limit of 25 mph is a pretty safe bet. It beats drowning in Gnat Pond.

Sheffield Times Two

School Threats This Week

By: The Midnight Rider

It is sad that we have to write this article. What is the world coming to? Basically the world is going to Hell in a handbag. Everyone is getting offended over small things.  People are protesting over these small things. People need to return to the old ways and their Bible. There have been three school threats this week in this area. Let’s look at them:

Red Bay, AL:

This week a Junior High School Student made threat(s). These threats were taken seriously. The Student was arrested and taken to the Tennessee Valley Juvenile Detention Center. The population of Red Bay, AL is approximately 3,200 people. Their Police Force led by Chief Janna Jackson did the appropriate action by taking this threat seriously.  

Sheffield, AL:

This week a High School Student made a threat saying he had a gun. We are hearing that he did not have a real one but a toy gun. This student was suspended one day. The Sheffield Police Department was not contacted. There is a member of the Sheffield Police Department that is a School Resource Officer. Not only that, but the parents were not notified of the incident. We have been reading on Facebook that some of the parents have found out and are displeased. The Times Daily has not reported on this. However Shoalanda Speaks and Pen-N-Sword have.  

The population for Sheffield, AL is a little over 9,000 people.

Cherokee, AL:

Yesterday, a student found a threat had been written on the wall of the bathroom. The School Officials were notified. Superintendent Satchel informed the School Resource Officer as well as the Colbert County Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff’s Department as well as Cherokee Police Department responded to the school.  

This morning, the Colbert County Sheriff’s Department, Cherokee Police Department as well as the Alabama State Troopers was present as Students came to school to make sure that the kids arriving were safe. Our hats are off to Chief Williamson, Sheriff Williamson and the State Troopers for this.  

The population of Cherokee, AL is a little over 1,000 people.  

So, with the above information, it makes us wonder if we should send our kids to a small town school. The actions (or lack of action) by the Sheffield Police Department may have endangered the students and it sure didn’t make the parents feel that their children were safe.  

We are going to give a thumbs up to Cherokee and Red Bay. Don’t even get us started on Sheffield.   

That’s it for now. But remember, the Midnight Rider will always be around to voice his/her/their (?) opinion.  

I am and always will be, the Midnight Rider.

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The Sinkhole!

The new gateway to the nether regions is at the corner of Atlanta and 12th Avenues in Sheffield. Yes, that town again.

Courtesy of T. Johnson

We understand that while repairing the huge sinkhole, workers are also looking for Jimmy Hoffa and Lord Lucan. 

Voting Democrat?/Guns Like the Flu?

While there's still over 90 days until the election, it's not too early to think about the June primary. In Lauderdale County, two of the commissioners will be up for re-election: Joe Hackworth and Brad Holmes. 

We've always found Brad Holmes to be a man of integrity. As for Hackworth, we've never seen him in action, so to speak. After four years on the commission, perhaps that says something. No matter how we may personally feel about the two, many voters are out for blood over both animal issues and the lack of momentum in securing new bridges for the county. 

Let's hope they campaign well. Good luck to all four candidates at this point.

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From a reader:

I wanted to rebut J. Redmon's pro gun stance. He seems to think that just one gun death in a country with strict gun control means failure. If we thought that, why would anyone take the flu vaccine? It prevents the flu in about 40,000 out of 100,000 who take it. So why bother? At least that would be Mr. Redmon's take on matters.

Times are changing.

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We see that Ryan Tolliver Johnson has asked for youthful offender status in the death of Samuel Jackson Newton. Two points should be noted, and probably will be noted by Judge Gil Self.

1. So you think now, Mr. Johnson, that you're too youthful to have made the right decision the night you caused a death? Wait a second. You were too youthful to have drunk half a liquor store that night as well. Still you did. (And we would love to know who provided him with the alcohol or if he stole it.)

2. If you want the judge and others to take pity on you, perhaps you would have done better not to have smirked in your mugshot. 

We see that some are predicting Johnson will get probation, but others in a similar position in this county have gotten around 30 months. It's no more than Johnson deserves.