Betterton Wants New City Seal

 

Breaking news:

When the City of Florence attempted to brand the town with an advertising logo, many misunderstood its purpose. A logo isn't a seal, and Florence still doesn't have a logo (whew!). Anyone out there lying awake at night worrying over it?

Pictured above is the city seal, which many in Florence government assured the public wouldn't be changed. Now Mayor Andy Betterton is seeking to upgrade/change the seal.

We've been unable to ascertain if Tatum Design (the culprit in the logo boondoggle) is the designer, but we believe it is. Here's the new seal which Betterton has been using. 

How do we feel? We like the newer version better, but... 

Citizens are not being given a chance to have any input. Plus, and this is a big plus, how much money is going to be spent in implementing this new seal?

It's scheduled to hit the fan on Monday, due to last Tuesday's meeting being cancelled for July 4th. No warning, no vote!

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Here's a dog looking for a new home. No, he thankfully isn't at the shelter to scare the other animals. We'll have more info tomorrow.

Muscle Shoals High Astro Turf Revisited - Part I

 

We've had many questions about the Astro Turf replacement at Muscle Shoals High School. Today and tomorrow, we'll answer a few of them:

1. Is it now standard for lowly high school athletics to use an artificial turf in their stadiums/pitches/etc.?

According to what should be trustworthy statistics, the answer is yes. Muscle Shoals certainly isn't alone in installing this pricey turf.

2. Is artificial turf always "Astro Turf" or do schools have a choice? 

Astro Turf is perhaps the most pricey, but there are other brands - hence, the generic name of artificial or synthetic turf. Some brands are SynLawn, X-Grass, Mega Grass, Turf Factory, and Forever Green. We haven't found any experts who will definitely recommend one brand over the other. We're guessing Muscle Shoals chose Astro-Turf simply because it sounds elite.

3. Is synthetic turf really safe? 

For years, more and more athletic facilities were turning toward this artificial substance, but now the pendulum has swung the other way. We hear more every day about the dangers to those who regularly play on such turf. From an October 2022 report: Numerous studies have shown that chemicals identified in artificial turf, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are known carcinogens, neurotoxicants, mutagens, and endocrine disruptors. We doubt that plastic turf will soon be banned in Alabama, but it's good to be aware of its dangers and the possibility that it could at some point be outlawed.

4. What is the actual life expectancy of Astro Turf?

We've seen the 20 to 25 year lifespan used, but one reader has presented some other statistics. If the turf is used more than moderately, then 10 years is the likely lifespan. 

That last statistic presents some questions concerning the original purchase and just how it was presented to the school board. To be continued...

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This is Monroe. We just have to say it...there aren't too many dogs at the Florence Shelter that are cuter than Monroe. She's a 10 month old girl who appears to be on the small side. Go get her! She's at the shelter in the Florence industrial park. Just follow the signs:

$25.00 Adoption Fee at FLAS Through 7/31

 

Now is the time to adopt at Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services. Fees on all animals are reduced to just $25.00 through July 31st. That includes neutering and all vaccines.

The shelter has around 100 dogs/puppies and 100 cats/kittens just looking for a home in which to spend their lives. Interested?

What - Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services

Where - 3240 Roberson Road in Florence Industrial Park

When - 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m./Noon until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday

Phone - 256-766-6670

E-Mail - cjones@florenceal.org

Independence Day - 2023

 

After you've eaten all the hot dogs and barbecue, sit back and take stock of your country. You don't always like what you see, do you? Now pray about it. You have the power to make it better...and we seem to have come down to a now or never situation. 

Make America kind again!

Questions for Andy Betterton

 

After our friend Rivermont Ron offered up his five questions for the Sheffield mayor, we decided to ask Florence mayor Andy Betterton five of our own:

1. One of your campaign promises was to protect the city from hackers. What headway have you made in that department?

2. Similarly, what attempts have you made to compromise with Lauderdale County leaders in moving the Confederate monument to Soldiers Rest?

3. Is there any way possible that you can condone your lack of support for Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services? In other words, how can you justify failing to plow snow-covered roads for basic entrance or how can you excuse not offering up emergency funds when confiscations bring in scores of unexpected animals or failing to continue monthly adoption promos as mayor?

4. How can you justify your continued support of the Salvationist Church when it continues to discriminate against women, homosexuals, and others? Read: Most citizens of Florence do not want their tax dollars given to this cult.

5. We realize that illnesses and family deaths are never planned or welcome, but considering the time you've spent away from office since being elected, do you think you've earned your salary?

We constantly hear that Betterton won by only six votes. A better description of his narrow victory is that if only four voters had decided not to support Betterton, Steve Holt would still be the mayor. Remember, your vote often counts more than you realize.

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This is Mandie. She's a 16 month-old Lab/Australian Cattle Dog just yearning for her own back yard with a flock of squirrels to corral. Please make a date to see Mandie at the Florence shelter in the industrial park:

Five Questions for Mayor Steve Stanley

 

Blatantly False Advertising

After mentioning that our blogger J. Redmon plans to run for the Sheffield City Council in the next municipal election, a reader whom we'll call "Rivermont Ron" has contacted us. He also plans to run, whether for council member or mayor, he hasn't decided.

Ron has offered up some questions for Mayor Stanley, who in the last election made the run-off by only one vote:

1. Since you appear unable to govern efficiently, have you considered resigning?

2. Are you so blind to the state of the city that you would even remotely consider running for re-election?

3. If the city doesn't have enough funds to purchase a much needed new truck for the street department, or even repair an old one, where are our tax dollars going?

4. Why haven't you reigned in the city police department with all of its lawsuits, officers discarded from other towns, and rumors of rampant drug/steroid use?

5. This is my major question: No one I talk to in my neighborhood, church, supermarket, restaurant, or anywhere else in Sheffield thinks that John Elkington will build even a miniature gold course at Inspiration Landing after almost ten years. By my calculation it's been six months since anything was done anywhere in that de facto dog park. When will you confront Mr. Elkington and demand either action from him or the gift of the land back to the city?

We like Ron's idea of five basic questions for the mayor. Stay tuned and we will publish a similar five queries for the Florence mayor.

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This is Beefy. Take a close look at his coat; isn't he smashing? He's only 11 months old (weight and breed aren't given) and ready to ride shotgun with you. You can visit Beefy at the Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services on Roberson Road in the industrial park:

Stanley Doesn't Know if Sheffield is Capable of Staying on Top of Trash

 

Pictured above is 32nd Street at 20th Avenue in Sheffield one day ago. Our much put upon blogger J. Redmon (vote for him in the next council election) says that it, like all the other piles of trash in the city, just gets larger each week. He further states that it not only is a problem with the street department, but the police department which allows dumping by those who don't live in the various drop-off areas.  

Now it's so bad in the heart of Sheffield's residential neighborhoods that the Colbert County Commission has asked to lend out its employees and one or two trucks on weekends and after hours in order to clean up the blighted areas. One would think the mayor would jump at this idea which would cost the city very little.

Think again. Mayor Steve Stanley isn't sure about the plan since he's even more unsure that Sheffield's street department could keep it clean after the initial removal of debris. That seems to imply that the residents of Sheffield, home of Inspiration Landing, are the worst trash-makers known to man. 

It's now July - we're in the second half of 2023. Aside from missing in action street department employees, where are the workers extending infrastructure in IL? One wag has suggested that property is now the city's deer refuge. Just be sure to put up signs that state "No Dumping."

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This is Rocky. He's an 18 month-old Staffordshire Terrier mix. He's patiently waiting for you at the Florence Shelter in the industrial park: