Just Give the Table Back!

So many people who contact us have no idea of any delineation between city and county. It seems a county office worker falls into that group. There's been quite a conversation between Lora Morrow, former state legislative candidate, and Barbara Jamieson Griffith who works for the Lauderdale County legislative offices as a clerk. Griffith has accused Mrs. Morrow of twisting the truth, when it seems to us that Griffith doesn't even wish to admit for whom she works.

At issue is an antique table...or perhaps an antique reproduction conference table...that the Ag Board removed from city property, the Karsner-Kennedy House on Pine Street. The Facebook banter:

Griffith: my bosses had no idea it was gone. Blame me if you want. The KK house was refurbished in the early 80s for the Legislators to have an office. The table was built for them. The Main Street organization was allowed to use the upstairs office about 10 years later. They kicked the Legislative office out of their own building and I had I hour notice b4 I moved because the Main Street head didn’t have enough courtesy to tell me. We took the furniture to another Florence city office. It was not our choice to leave and the furniture was originally the legislators. What’s funny is the time you wasted of so many people to push an issue that not your business.

Morrow: 

I must challenge the accuracy of your statement. 

1. The Legislature was not kicked "out of their own building." The building is owned by the City of Florence.
2. The table is owned by the City of Florence, and was taken without permission from the Karsner-Kennedy House
3. You did not take it to another Florence City office. You took it to a Lauderdale County controlled office.
4. The furniture was not "originally the legislators"
5. As a citizen of Florence, it is my business, along with every other citizen, to protect the assets of our great city.

If any other group of people had taken property that didn't belong to them, they would be in
jail. When are you returning the table and any other furniture stolen from Karsner-Kennedy House?

Since this was no easily replaced Ikea table, and since we're sure the Ag Board wants to remain scrupulously honest, we assume the conference table will be immediately returned. If it isn't, please let us know. The plurality of bloggers here live in Florence and have a vested interest in city property. 

Who Took the Table to the Stable?

Florence Mall: All Used Up?

Many moons ago, a restaurant owner requested a larger loan from his banker. The loan officer hemmed and hawed and finally said, "I've eaten at your establishment several times and never seen you there."

The business owner looked the banker straight in the eye and asked him if he ever ate at Howard Johnson's. When the banker answered in the affirmative, the restaurateur then asked, "Well, do you ever see Howard there?"

There's not one simple solution to retail closings, no one size fits all. Yet there are some things that should be a given. We were curious as to what businesses remained in our once beautiful mall and were shocked when we read the list on the website. Sears is still there? 

It's unclear how long it's been since the mall's website has been updated, but just how hard is this to do? Going with what's listed, the mall has 49 businesses. Or does it?

1. Three (or more) are gone or going: Sears, Payless ShoeSource, and Charlotte Russe.

2. One is a police substation.

3. Two are hair salons located in larger stores.

4. Two are military recruiting offices.

5. One is a free standing theatre complex. 

That leaves 40 stores in a mall the site describes as "mid-town." Any of our readers particularly eager to shop there?

Does Anyone Care?

Ryan Magers Jumped the Cliff, Shed His Pants, & Now Wants a Monetary Reward

There once was a rich lord, who was in need of a carriage driver. He interviewed several potential drivers asking them all the same question, “The road which leads to my castle has many dangerous areas. On one stretch of that road there is a steep mountain on one side and a sharp drop-off into a canyon on the other side. If you were to be selected to drive my carriage, just how close to that cliff do you think you could get the carriage without going over the edge?”

The first man said timidly, “Well, I am a good driver! I suppose could get your carriage to within 6 feet from the edge!”

The second man said more confidently, “I am an excellent driver! I could get your carriage at least 3 feet from the edge!”

The third man said boldly, “None surpass me in excellence! I am sure I could get the carriage right up to the edge of the road without going over!”

But for all their professed skill, it was the fourth man who was hired. The fourth man had said, “Sir, if you would give me the honor and privilege of driving your carriage, I would stay as far away from the edge of the cliff as possible.”

This isn't a blog about the right or wrong of induced abortion. Those who read our writings regularly know that we in no way support induced abortion as a form of birth control. This is a blog about a young man, approximate age 19, who is no catch by any decent standards. Since young Mr. Magers has inserted himself into public domain, we feel this is an excellent chance to turn his story into a modern morality play. What we're stating here are simple facts about Mr. Magers, followed by some logical conclusions.

1. There are two ways to prevent pregnancy. The first and best way is to abstain from sex, something the 17 year old Magers obviously didn't want to do. The second is to use birth control, something Magers also didn't do. He didn't care about himself or his partner. Ladies, you may do as you wish, but if you're not worth the cost of a box of Walmart condoms to your pimply faced, toga wearing Lothario, our advice is to give him the sack.

2. Speaking of that toga... Magers says it rocked his world when his girlfriend had an induced abortion in February 2017. The above photo of Magers was taken in August 2017. Yes, obviously someone pointed a gun at his head to make him want to party after what his girlfriend put him through. 

3. Speaking of his girlfriend... Magers has been kind enough to keep dated Facebook photos of the poor misguided young woman on his Timeline. What a gentleman!

4. Magers wanted to memorialize the six week old fetus, so he commissioned a sleeve tattoo that tells the story of "Baby Roe." If this young man should ever be lucky enough to find another girlfriend, we just bet that tat will go over really big with her parents. Wouldn't a cash donation to Agape or another adoption agency have been more appropriate?

5. Now, Magers is appearing on television, complete with tattoo and bleached hair, but thankfully no toga. He's promoting his lawsuit against the clinic, physicians, and pharmaceutical companies that all played a part in his girlfriend's induced abortion. Think Magers came up with that idea himself, or do you think he's being used by several people, not the least of which is an attorney with political ambitions?

6. Lest you think Magers is totally in the dark concerning this lawsuit, he's asking for monetary damages to be determined by a jury. That's right - Ryan Magers is going for the green. Nothing like some cool cash to make you forget your troubles, is there?

Finally, in case any of you think Magers can win this suit, the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that a putative father cannot stop a woman from having an induced abortion. No matter what one may think of this law, it's still the law. 

If Alabama schools need anything, it's more emphasis on self-respect, self-control, and sex education...and fewer toga parties.

Ryan Magers in No Way Approved This Message.

Sex Offender Derek Warren Logue Back in Jail

It's been an interesting few weeks for former-local sex offender advocate Derek Warren Logue. First his Ohio apartment burned (but he saved everyone in the building, ahem), leaving him homeless. His online pronouncements hinted that he might return to the Shoals where he has an ex-wife and half-siblings. If that worries you, you may breathe easily at least for now.

Derek, who appears to have a lot of bad luck through absolutely no fault of his own, has been arrested on a fugitive warrant. It seems that Margate, Florida, wants Logue to answer to burglary and grand theft charges. Derek is known to travel to the trailer park state to lobby against its oh, so restrictive laws concerning sex offenders.

The former Sheffield sexual predator is also known for begging donations in order to travel to these worthwhile protests. Perhaps the flood of cash coming in wasn't quite enough for his last junket down south?

In the past, we've dubbed the sex offender advocate "Derek the Rogue Logue." Someone has suggested that title be changed to "Derek Logue the Loser." Works for us...

Funny; We Don't See Those Reported Facial Blisters from the Fire.

Who Is Going to Beauregard? Won't You Help?

As we write this, 23 have now been confirmed dead in Beauregard, Alabama - 21 of them adults. The death toll is expected to rise on Monday when searchers are again able to enter the tornado damaged town.

Lee County is a long way from the Shoals, but this community needs help. Think of those who aided the Phil Campbell area some years ago. It's already been posted that the many left homeless need:

Bottled Water

Energy Bars

Diapers

Wet Wipes

Soap

Deodorant

Feminine Hygiene Products

As of tonight, we don't know who will be traveling to Lee County. If your church or organization is going, contact us. We reach thousands each day and can assist in routing donations to your group.

Above all, let's pray for Beauregard...

Gas Tax Wars/Victoria's Secret Closings

How many miles a year do you drive? 12,000? That's an average according to our governor. If that's your number, then you can expect to pay $55.00 a year more for gasoline if the new 56% tax increase passes.

The upcoming week is expected to be pivotal in the tax vote. If you oppose the tax, contact your representatives now or forever hold your peace.

Victoria's Secret currently owns 1,143 outlets in the U.S. On Thursday, the lingerie giant announced that 53 of those stores would close by the end of 2019. Taking a cue from J.C. Penney, VS refused to list those outlets, stating only that they had already been chosen. Florence has one VS store located in the mall on Cox Creek Parkway.

Sorry, Hon. Dollar General Was the Only Store in Town.

New Charges for Dillard & Staggs?

It's certainly been an eventful day for Chip Dillard and Tim Staggs. Both men were acquitted of all charges brought against them in Lauderdale County Circuit Court, but...and it's certainly a big "but"...according to Ashley Thusius of WAAY TV in Huntsville, more charges are forthcoming.

We have checked, and the two Florence men were definitely released from the Lauderdale County Detention Center this afternoon, with no new arrests recorded. How long it will take for these "pending" charges to materialize is anyone's guess. 

What are the charges? We're guessing drug related crimes, but that's just an educated guess. If that should be the charge, will a certain long-time bad boy from the eastern end of the county be one who testifies against Dillard? After three years since the original indictment and another year of drug accusations before that, this is turning into the never ending story.

If you want some very in depth information on the proposed Ag Center, be sure to visit the Ag Center Transparency Project page on Facebook. A detailed history of the endeavor has been posted:

Transparency Project

Which Lauderdale School Wants to Donate Next?