Andrew Sorrell Refuses State Vehicle

 

The Shoals' own Andrew Sorrell has a beautiful wife, cute daughter, lovely cat, and...a Chevy Malibu that he will be driving for the foreseeable future. That means he won't be driving a vehicle that we the taxpayers funded.

Presumably, Andrew is Sorrell's middle name, but we're pretty sure the term "common sense" is included in there somewhere. How many others in this new administration refused a state car? 

In fairness to Gov. Ivey, she's cutting back on needless expenses by doing away with the state motor pool by October. We salute her as well as Auditor Sorrell!

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Worried about the Redstone rocket falling across I-65? The state's tourism office has said the landmark has become unsafe. NASA says it has become unsafe.

Rep. Andy Whitt of Huntsville disagrees and will be fighting to keep it. Whitt is a banker by profession, but like recent legislators who dabble in medicine, he appears to be a self-proclaimed authority in rockets or welding or something.

Doesn't our legislature make you proud?

Sheffield Buys Four New Body Cams - Won't Give Out Video

 

Sheffield mayor Steve Stanley has announced the purchase of four new body cams for the city's police officers. It would be nice to know the videos taken by these body cams would be available to citizens who asked for the recordings.

Jack Eastep of Sheffield has been especially vocal in criticism of the department which won't offer up the video in two minor cases the town has filed against him. One case involves parking while the second involves a sidewalk protest in front of a public building. In other words, Mr. Eastep is hardly a serial killer.

Yes, it's almost impossible to fight city hall without the bank account of an Elon Musk. We simply wonder why this gentleman is having to fight to get the videos. As we understand it, no other private citizen is involved. 

A little transparency would go a long way here...

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Speaking of Mayor Stanley's public announcements, wouldn't an update on the tremendous progress at Inspiration Landing be a welcome addition? 

John Elkington has promised more work in the first quarter of 2023. Three weeks down and ten to go. Everyone holding their breath?

Missing Man's Body Found Near Girlfriend's Home

 

There are statistically few unsolved murders in Lauderdale County and the surrounding area, at least percentage wise. One is the six year old case of Andrea Susan Forbes. We have just republished last year's blog on Andrea's case.

The same can't be said for murders and missing persons just to the south of the Shoals. Justin Kyle Lovett was first reported missing eight months ago in Hamilton. During that time, there were no new reports with the exception of his family begging someone to come forward with information. It would seem Marion County does not exert the effort Lauderdale does to solve such cases.

Then earlier this month, a crime blogger from out of state featured Justin's case. The next day the Hamilton authorities found Lovett's body 1,000 feet from the home of his girlfriend, either the last or next-to-last place he was seen.

It would seem it's always good to light a fire under someone's feet in cases like this. We don't know if Mr. Lovett committed suicide as Hamilton police had postulated or not. No matter what the family trauma, not everyone kills themselves. 

What can help Florence police find Andrea's killer? What can help Tuscumbia authorities find the murderer of Elbert Farley? 

We have a much underused suggestion: Prayer. It does work and it should not be the last resort. Unfortunately, it usually is. Please take a moment to ask God to help law enforcement find these two murderers and bring them to justice. Please...

Did Jerry Jordan Benford Get a Sweetheart Deal?

 

Previously: Jerry Benford Arrested

Jerry Benford was a teacher/coach...

a Baptist youth minister...

a son, husband, father...

and a cousin to Sec. of State John Merrill's wife.

Three month ago, he chose to plead to one charge against him, that of having sex with a then 17 year-old student when he was 28. Boys will be adulterers, right? Of all the girls out there to cheat with, he chose the one who would get him arrested, cost him his teaching license, and destroy his marriage (if his wife had any common sense).

While Benford hasn't yet been sentenced on the one charge, his plea deal calls for 18 months in prison, six months in community corrections, and finally probation for a set number of years. If he should violate the terms of community corrections or probation, he would return to prison to finish out a ten-year sentence.

Did we say prison? Here's the sweet part of Benford's deal: He can serve the 18 months in the Franklin County Detention Center if he wishes. We assume no one will be betting that Benford chooses an actual state prison. Upon his release, he'll be required to register as a sex offender.

Benford turned himself in three months ago, spending the holiday season behind bars. Please don't weep for him, we're out of tissues. No, despite the conviction, Jerry Jordan Benford got off incredibly easy. 

If our state legislature really wanted to pass a great law, all sex offenders would be forced to wear tee-shirts identifying themselves as such.

Have Kids? You're Not Entitled to Fun

 

In March of last year, Florence police pulled over a young woman for driving under the influence. The woman, who was innocent of underwear, proceeded to flash her nether regions not once, but twice. Besides a DUI, the inebriated driver was charged with two counts of indecent exposure.

We saw several in the Shoals defending this woman as a responsible mother of two toddlers. Responsible? We seem to have missed that. These commenters felt that the young woman was entitled to have some "fun" from time to time. Our take is that at best it depends on one's definition of fun, and at worst, a mother of a young child should be home sober with her offspring.

Now we have a beautiful young mother shot dead shortly before 2:00 a.m. Sunday in Tuscaloosa. We're sure she felt entitled to go to a club on a Saturday night to have some fun. Yet that decision cost her life. 

Our takeaways: 1. Be sure to have "fun" that's legal and in a safe place and 2. If you have a child, you have a responsibility to put it first for 22 or so years.

FPD Warns of Downtown Parking Problems

 

With the loss of the downtown Florence parking deck and a long wait for its replacement, the City of Florence can expect parking problems. Now the police department has issued a press release telling would be violators their vehicles will be towed if parked on private lots owned by local businesses.

The population of Florence reached its peak in 2019. Since that time, the number of Florence citizens has shrunk by almost 1,000. So the downtown area may be "growing," but the city isn't. If the population isn't expanding, why is traffic downtown?

Forty years ago, perhaps even 30, you would have been hard pressed to find a place to eat on Court Street, especially after 5:00 p.m. Now the town's high street boasts more neon after dark than some Nevada communities. With these eateries comes alcohol. It's been well over a year since we've heard of any major problems resulting from alcohol sales downtown, but parking woes grow.

A manager at a local Subway told us months ago how difficult it was to keep the Court Street location's parking lot free from squatters. We can imagine it's even more so after the opening of Mugshots. 

Solutions? We're thinking downtown businesses need to hire their own monitors to enforce non-trespassing on private property. At least it's one deterrent. 

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A reader sent us a pithy thought on why the population of Florence is shrinking:

Maybe the exodus from Florence is driven by people with a burning desire to vote for the county Superintendent of Education?

Tomorrow is Blue Monday

 

Almost 20 years ago, a psychologist analyzed data and determined that the second Monday in January was the saddest day of the year. His markers included:

1. Short days

2. Cloudy, cold weather

3. Emotional let down after the holidays

4. Christmas bills

We'll add three more causes mentioned in other studies:

5. End of football season

6. Divorce filings to start a new life in the new year

7. Minor respiratory illnesses most common during this period

On Saturday, there were at least three reported suicides in this area, with one more reported during the week. We have readers who want this topic put on blast, while others want it all covered up and never spoken of.

We have always believed it a positive thing to talk about suicide. Nothing just goes away without help (except perhaps that minor cold mentioned above). So what can you do?

We hope to bring more services to the news in weeks to come, but first make sure everyone is aware of 988.

That's 988

It's a 24/7 hotline similar to 911 or 411 that offers emotional support to anyone, especially those thinking of taking their own lives.

If you don't want to live for yourself, live for your family or friends. They deserve better than having to live the rest of their lives wondering how they failed you.