Andrew Sorrell to Run for State Auditor

 

Andrew Sorrell of Muscle Shoals is currently the state representative from District 3; however, that may soon change. Sorrell has announced he will be running for State Auditor in 2022.

Current auditor Jim Zeigler is in his second term and not eligible to run for a third at this time. During Zeigler's tenure, the state has reduced the number of employees in the auditor's office, ostensibly due to budget constraints.

There has been discussion of completely eliminating the office and allowing each state department to police the areas currently covered by the auditor. If that doesn't sound problematic to you, it should.

Since Andrew has been in office, he has consistently fought for this area, as well as animal welfare and fewer business restrictions. There have been a few times we've disagreed with him, but have never doubted his honesty or work ethic.

At this point, we don't know who will be running against Rep. Sorrell, but we can't imagine anyone of more integrity in the position. Good luck, Andrew!

City of Florence Kicks Handy Museum to the Curb

 

Editor's Note: Do you know the definition of "cultural worker?" According to Devyn Springer, it's a term used by socialists, Black nationalists, and other radical organizers to describe some who work in the art field.

Now here's an interesting take on Florence's museum situation by a reader who is billed as the Astute Professor:

Anticipation has already begun for the return of this year's W.C. Handy Music Festival. One question on everyone's mind is why did the city remove the W.C. Handy Museum from its official webpage?

Three years ago ownership of the W.C. Handy Birthplace, Museum and Library was handed over to the foundation. That action effectively delivered ownership of the historic west Florence home back to the Handy family.

Is that why the newly built www.florencealmuseums.com only includes Kennedy-Douglas Center for the Arts, Pope's Tavern Museum, Florence Indian Mound Museum, and Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House?

Could the deletion of the museum be due in part to the fact that the new site solicits donations? That would be a good reason, but does not explain why the Children's Museum received the same treatment. It is questionable if that museum is even open to the public, but a fundraiser at the Children's Museum was held on June 12. If that museum is no longer in operation where did that money go?

I understand that supporting tourism is no longer a hip thing in Florence, but why all the unnecessary confusion? For example, the new website has this to say about Pope's Tavern:

"Located in downtown Florence, the Pope’s Tavern Museum interprets the early history of the city of Florence and Lauderdale County through educational programming, public discourse, and community engagement.

"Programs at the museum include historical talks, films, and workshops centered on early Florence history. The Museum aims to become a downtown institution, known for creative, historical events and gatherings focused on understanding the past and the present."

How many misnomers can you find in those two paragraphs? A city of Florence museum employee recently described herself and colleagues as "cultural workers." Maybe that is the problem?

ANOTHER Ag Center!

 

Obviously agriculture centers can come in varying sizes, but it seems the Lauderdale County Ag Center will have some close competition. Wayne County, directly north of Lauderdale in Tennessee, is building its own venue. There's not a time table on construction yet, but the Wayne County Commission is hopeful of starting in the not too distant future.

The new event center is currently slated to be built just north of Collinwood on Highway 13. Lauderdale's will lie just west of Killen. The above map indicates how close the two ag centers will be once built.

In the interim, how's the Slag Yard coming at Inspiration Landing?

Support Your Local Drug Trafficker

 

Even drug traffickers need to plan ahead. Apparently Arana Robert Simone of Sheffield failed to put any ill-gotten gains aside in case of arrest and now has no funds for whatever he may need during his incarceration.

We're not sure who's running his Facebook page, but they aren't shy about asking for money. Anyone out there who feels the urge to help out a down on his luck drug dealer?

The Next Principal at Lauderdale Career Tech?

 

Allen Thornton Career Technical Center - Is it the future of Lauderdale Education? The facility is currently located in Killen. 

Killen? Yes, so good they say it twice on their website. Doesn't anyone ever proof these things?

Now the principal for the past two years has been transferred. Is that a kind way of saying "given the boot?"

Who will take his place? We've asked around and have had no definitive answers. We're not sure if that's good or bad. 

We do see that the school still has a fax machine number listed. Parents, if you want to make the ultra-forward thinking Principal Gary Dan Williams' day, ask him why he's wasting money on a separate number for outmoded technology...

Lauderdale Principal's a Sore Loser

 

At this point, it seems inevitable that there will be an Ag Center in Lauderdale County and with it a new career tech center. Apparently, the Lauderdale Board of Education is making plans to secure this endeavor's future by bringing in new admins. Goodbye, Gary Dan Williams.

Yes, Principal Williams will be moving to the alternative school and he's not happy. He says the move is a direct result of his facing off against the current superintendent in the last election. He's gone so far as to call the TimesDaily and offer the local rag his version of events.

We're guessing Williams is close to having his 30 years in with the state education system, if he doesn't already. It sounds good to us. Williams gets a nice piece of change each month, plus he gets to work as a consultant around the Southeast for an even larger chunk of change. That is unless prospective contract employers get a whiff of his current antics. 

Leaving the stage gracefully at the end of a performance is highly underrated...

Jeremy James Thigpen: Kidnapping is no Joke

 

On Monday, a Killen man was arrested in Tuscumbia on charges of Second Degree Kidnapping. The 28 year-old welder was also charged with Second Degree Domestic Violence/Assault and Interfering with an Emergency Call. In short, he's in a lot of trouble.

We linked a news post on the alleged kidnapping, making a humorous statement. We promptly received two replies concerning how depraved this man's actions were and lambasting us for making light. The criticism was certainly merited. This man, if guilty, is both sick and a danger to the general public. Let's take a look at the reported deviant.

Jeremy James Thigpen is a Rogers High School graduate with a number of Facebook pages. All of his personal pages reflect his low opinion of females. One refers to women as "whores," while another seems to advocate slapping as a way to discipline them.

Somewhere along the way, Thigpen acquired a son without benefit of clergy. When the child's mother married, the Bigbee Steel worker indicated he could take care of this new man in his son's life. The ex-girlfriend called Thigpen unfit; we do also.

What will happen to the alleged kidnapper now? A grand jury could fail to indict or could up the charges when it does deliver an indictment. Obviously, most felons today opt for a plea and hope for a slap on the wrist, but that's not always a given. What could Mr. Macho expect if convicted?

Second Degree Kidnapping (felony) - 10 years to life

Second Degree Domestic Assault (felony) - Two to 20 years

Interfering with an Emergency Call (misdemeanor) - Six months

Our prediction is a plea on Thigpen's part, plus a new girlfriend. Don't say "surely not." We can already hear the protests of "But he's changed."