Basden Says Beck is Expected to Win

 

Ya Gotta Be A Baseball Hero...

Photo Partially Obscured by Request (Why Is It on his Facebook?)

Muscle Shoals athletic director Scott Basden said of Blake Beck's hire in May 2022: The expectation now is to win. Unfortunately, 15 months into Beck's reign of mediocrity, that hasn't been the case.

The Hamilton native isn't doing too well this year either. Reportedly, five rising senior players have decided not to return to a sport under Beck's leadership. 

In the past decade, Beck has had at least five employers. Isn't it time to add Muscle Shoals City Schools to the list of those employers who found him lacking in both skill and morals?

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This is Egon. He's two years old and his breed...is anyone's guess. He's still quite the handsome dog and eagerly awaiting his new home. You can meet Egon at the shelter in the Florence industrial park:

Who Reported Parks & Rec Meeting?

 

Muscle Shoals mayor Mike Lockhart noted in his termination letter to Rusty Wheeles that "a citizen that was present" reported an irregularity in a Parks & Recreation work session. Before we get to the main round of this discussion, please note that the portly power broker should have used the word "who," not "that." Bad mayor = bad grammar?

Just who reported this vote? Did anyone even report it, or was Lockhart routinely scanning the board's meeting notes in order to find a "termination offense?"

Finally, where is the profane animal abuser in all this? Blake Beck has been strangely silent in the controversy surrounding his nemesis. Perhaps he's been busy packing his bags? We can hope...

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This is Fenway. He's a five month-old Lab mix and more than ready to get this party started. You can find Fenway at the Florence shelter on Roberson Road just off Chisholm:

Muscle Shoals Coach Blake Beck Demands Rusty Wheeles Be Fired

 

Who is more valuable to the City of Muscle Shoals: A profane animal abuser or a 27 year veteran of the Parks & Rec Department?

Did you know?

1. William Hovater is Mr. Wheeles' attorney? Doesn't that outlaw town need another lawsuit?

2. Blake Beck has lost five (5) star players from last year due to his conduct?

Stay tuned...

The Drugs & Dregs of Muscle Shoals

 

We'll be continuing Part III (the private Florence swim club) of our series on public/private swim team/club money in a few days. For today, we want to publish an extremely informative guest blog by a Muscle Shoals citizen:

It's nice for someone to acknowledge publicly what most of us have known and complained about for years.

I never met Mr. Baker, but can't blame him for getting out of Muscle Shoals. He is probably correct in everything he wrote -  MSPD Chief Clint Rek will do nothing about this - in fact he is elevating those within the Police Department that have shady deals/family and drug activity surrounding them and in their family. No wonder the experienced and good officers have, and are, leaving MSPD. 

According to Derek Baker, former MSPD officer, post on FB social media:  https://www.facebook.com/baker089

"I have said this since I began working at Muscle Shoals PD. THE SHOALS area is the DRUG hub of the state. Yet, the City of Muscle Shoals has NOT ONE person working drugs. Colbert County only has three guys working the entire area. There is clearly a huge cartel presence in the City of Muscle Shoals. I’ve seen it myself. Yet the leaders in the Shoals, turn their head to it. This is the reason I left the area. I do not understand at all. I kept telling myself that I wouldn’t make any type of public statement on this issue, but continuously seeing it, changed my mind. Yes I understand, by making a public statement, I’m creating many enemies. But the citizens in the area deserve to know and understand how bad the issue is.

This is not a conspiracy theory. I have the resume and awards that prove I know what I’m talking about. Law Enforcement leaders in the area (not all, but most), are completely clueless about narcotics. If you are raising a family in the Shoals, please understand what I’m saying. You are living next door to actual Mexican Cartel members. Yet, your Law Enforcement leaders put absolutely no effort into combatting it"

Thank you Mr. Baker for trying to make a difference. As long as Clint Rek, Mike Lockhart, Chad Holden and a few others are sitting on their blessed ass-urances and lying to the citizens and parents, these truths will only be heard from those who experienced the corruption and had enough morals to get the hell outta dodge.

With Mr Lockhart, Willis Thompson and Brittney Walters hiding out in secret meetings when the 3 aren't traveling on the citizens tax dollars, it has become a war zone and MSC employees are threatened and harassed by those 3 clowns daily. We all know Lockhart came from "there", Thompson from the west end, but what class of terror did that walters woman come from that Lockhart has to ask permission to go pee?

Thanks to those self serving folks, TAXES HAVE GONE UP - TRAVEL EXPENSES ARE OUT THE ROOF - EMPLOYEES ARE SYSTEMATICALLY FIRED - EMPLOYEES ARE HARRASSED - DRUGS ARE RAMPANT - SCHOOL TESTING IS CONTINUALLY DROPPING.

LIES - SECRETS - LIES - SECRETS - AND MORE LIES. The devil is in the details - and the details are in city hall. They will all come out.

Howell Heflin and the Passage of the Alabama Judicial Article

 

Press Release:

Howell Heflin and the Passage of the Alabama Judicial Article will be held August 10th at the University of North Alabama's Collier Library 

On August 10, 2023, the Alabama Bench & Bar Historical Society will host a program about the life of former United States Senator and Alabama Chief Justice Howell Heflin and the 50th Anniversary of the passage of the Alabama Judicial Article. The program will be held at the University of North Alabama's Collier Library.

A program about the life of Howell Heflin will begin at 12:00 noon and be presented by his son, Tom Heflin. Following Tom Heflin's talk, a panel discussion will take place about the enactment of the Alabama Judicial Article. Panelists will include some of the participants who were instrumental in its passage 50 years ago. As Chief Justice of Alabama Supreme Court, Howell Heflin was the primary force behind the efforts to transform the Alabama Judicial System into a model for the country. Panelists will include Tom Heflin, former Congressman Ronnie Flippo,  who was a state representative during this time and influential in its passage, and former Alabama state representative Bob Hill, who was critical in it's passage in the Alabama House of Representatives. 

This event is scheduled between semesters at the University of North Alabama. Parking will be available at the UNA campus entrance parking lots off Seminary Street and adjacent to the UNA President's home and adjoining facility parking lot. The walk from the UNA parking lots to Collier Library is roughly two blocks.

This event is open to the public.

The Alabama Beach & Bar Historical Society will be hosting a series of roadshows across the state centered around either an Alabama legal milestone or an Alabama legal icon. This event spotlighting the career of Howell Heflin and the passage of the Alabama Judicial Article is the organization's inaugural roadshow.

For further information,

contact Janice Schultz of the Alabama Bench & Bar Historical Society at jschultz.albenchandbar@gmail.com.

Demise of Local Swim Teams - Part II Florence

 

You can't deny that Florence's Jordan family is truly blessed. How blessed?

Patriarch Dick Jordan is president of the Florence City Council. He's been on the commission/council since 1979. For the math impaired, that's 44 years. 

Libby Jordan (the third Mrs. Dick) is currently the director of Arts & Museums. She beat out 29 other applicants when she was first selected to direct the Rosenbaum Home, bringing at least one lawsuit in her wake. You have to admit Dick can pick talented individuals for his family.

Bill Jordan (Dick's son from his first marriage) is currently director of Parks & Recreation. He left his job as warehouse manager at the Electricity Department to beat out 38 other applicants for this plum position. What are the odds?

If that isn't some family, we don't know what is. If Florence really wanted to be fair, it would share. Preferably with Marrakech.

Now Bill has decided to save the city some money by eliminating the Florence Swim Team, first established in 1955. That's why he's a manager and we're all just plain folks.

But wait, there's more. Bill has a plan for those Florence youths who still want to swim. Can you wait until tomorrow to find out what it is?

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This is Callahan. He's a 13 month old German Shepherd mix just salivating to come live with you. You can meet Callahan up close and personal at the Florence shelter on Roberson Road:

Demise of Local Swim Teams - Part I Sheffield

 

We don't know how many Shoals/Northwest Alabama towns have recreation departments, but certainly Florence and Sheffield are among those which do. Florence may have the larger, but Sheffield has always had a very active recreation branch. In fact, the Sheffield swim team often won Tennessee Valley and larger regional championships.

Pictured above is Jerry Mills, a former swim team coach for the City of Sheffield. This is what one of our bloggers said of Mr. Mills and his team:

Sheffield always had a very successful swim team. Jerry Mills (I don’t know if you know him, but he’s one of the best humans on the planet.) was the coach for as long as I can remember, and Holley Randolph was helping him. Mr. Mills quit to do personal training full time, but Holley was handling the swim team the last I heard. I didn’t even realize that the team had disbanded until I read your post. It’s a shame for both groups.

Yet, three years ago, the City ended the swim team. Now, as we write this blog, Sheffield is also attempting to divest itself of recreational properties by donating them to the school system. Many citizens are up in arms; we have to wonder where they were when Steve Stanley's inept advisors encouraged him to end the swim team, or at least allow it to be scuppered. Thinking about those millionaire tourists flocking to Inspiration Landing?

When the Sheffield swim team disbanded, some of the members of its championship caliber group aligned themselves with the Florence team. Now, three years on, these swimmers are again without a team...

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This is Jolie. She's only six months old and appears to be a bit of a Heinz, but a beautiful one. You can meet and adopt Jolie at Florence Animal Services in the Florence Industrial Park on Roberson Road: