Sheffield mayor Steve Stanley has, rather belatedly, attempted to cut back on expenses for the City on the Bluff (or is it the Center of the Shoals?). There may have been a financial reason for his seeking to redo contracts with the city judge, attorney, and prosecutor.
While no new contract has as yet been negotiated with the municipal judge, agreements have been reached with the City attorney and prosecutor. We understand that these contracts which begin January 1st are much less lucrative than previous agreements.
As for the five or six lawsuits against the City, we can't help but speculate if Ben Gardner Jr. will require additional assistance in his defense of the town and its police department. Perhaps Mayor Stanley can initiate a GoFundMe page?
Are most Shoals school teachers happy? How about at the recently featured Harlan Elementary in Florence? If you think the answer to that is "yes," then you might want to take a look at a partial list of the most recent AEA/FEA Harlan survey questions below.
Let's hope administration, as well as parents, take steps to correct these problems.
Thursday night marked the Muscle Shoals High School band concert held in the school auditorium. According to some parents, the occasion provided some extra drama that did not speak well of the school system.
According to those familiar with the layout of the auditorium, there is seating at the front of the mezzanine designated as reserved for handicapped individuals and those assisting them. These seats are marked with the standard wheelchair icon.
Those in attendance reported that Superintendent Chad Holden and at least two in his party (presumably his wife and son) entered and sat in the reserved handicapped seats. Holden remained seated as those walking with the assistance of canes or ambulating in a wheel chair had to navigate steps in order to find a seat.
One of our informants labeled Holden as "classless and entitled." According to those who observed this drama, several high school students assisted those with ambulation problems in finding and getting to seats.
There was also a comment as to how helpful the band director was in having her students make way for those who had problems navigating the auditorium. How sad that the superintendent didn't do the same.
The natives are restless at Harlan Elementary School. If you're unfamiliar with that North Florence hall of learning, the school houses the first through fifth grades, meaning the students would not normally be older than 11.
We've received a packet of information about various problems at Harlan, including alleged guns on campus. One incident concerned an airsoft weapon. Are they harmless?
Here's what one medical source says:
Airsoft weapons can cause a variety of injuries, ranging from minor welts to more serious eye injuries and internal bleeding. The severity of the injury depends on several factors, including the type of airsoft weapon, the distance from the target, and the type of ammunition used.
Common injuries from airsoft weapons include:
Welts and bruises: These are the most common type of injury from airsoft weapons. They are caused by the impact of the BB on the skin.
Eye injuries: Eye injuries are a serious concern with airsoft weapons.Even small BBs can cause serious damage to the eye, including blindness. It is important to always wear eye protection when using airsoft weapons.
Internal bleeding: Internal bleeding can occur if an airsoft BB strikes a vital organ, such as the liver or spleen. This is a serious injury that can be life-threatening.
Broken bones: Broken bones can occur if an airsoft BB strikes a bone with enough force. This is more likely to happen with high-powered airsoft weapons.
Dental injuries:Dental injuries can occur if an airsoft BB strikes the teeth. This can cause chipped or broken teeth.
In addition to the physical injuries listed above, airsoft weapons can also cause psychological harm. People who are shot with airsoft weapons may experience fear, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Here is a quote attributed to a Harlan administer (we've redacted the name at this time):
A loaded gun was on Harlan campus for 4 days straight in a child's backpack - once found student was not disciplined per policy and law - per XXXX’s word for word statement: “a bb gun is not considered a gun because it can’t kill you”
*student was back on campus in time to take state testing because he was a high scorer*
We'll be looking at this information concerning not only student behavior, but also the resulting staff abandonment of Harlan in upcoming blogs. If you're a Harlan parent and have complaints or insights into these problems, we want to hear from you.
Come January 1st, current district judge Carole Medley will become the newest circuit court judge for Lauderdale County. Who will fill her current shoes?
We know that Lauderdale probate judge Will Motlow has expressed interest in the position. It will be up to Gov. Ivey to make the selection; however, we can't think of anyone who deserves the judgeship more.
Good luck to both Judge Medley and Judge Motlow in 2025!
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A reader has asked about the number of Latinos who appear on Most Wanted lists. We infer that those originally from south of the border find it easiest to escape their crimes, therefore they remain on these lists longer than their homegrown counterparts who have deep roots in the areas in which they were arrested.
Our blog has not highlighted one wanted felon over another, but published them as the government agency has posted them. If you have a problem with these lists (Tishomingo County, for instance, lists only two wanted and both are Latino), you need to contact the office that created the list.
It had been an ordinary week on Bridlewood Drive, an average street in a a nondescript subdivision in a common Alabama town. Then the residents spotted a strange shadow. Looking upward, they saw the behemoth rising from behind their overpriced homes.
Children screamed. Men and women ran for their safe rooms...if they had one. Those who didn't have their own resources called 911, but help from the city never came...
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Is our rather late Halloween story true? Partially, but the invader wasn't a Martian spaceship. It was a new City of Florence water tank - just what everyone wanted for Christmas.
In fairness, the project had been announced three years before, but many paid no attention. Others had no idea what the new 120 ft. water tower would bring to the quiet neighborhood in terms of industrial architecture. Now it's halfway completed, and it's too late to complain.
For those in Florence just happy that it isn't in their backyard, remember that all City taxpayers are footing the bill. Just how much did this lovely spaceship model cost? The projected budget from 2021 was eight million dollars. We're betting the tower is running over the initial projections. Happy holidays!
Are animal protection laws important to you? If so, tell Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth about it.
There is a current campaign to inform Ainsworth about the positive impact these laws have on the citizens of Alabama. The lieutenant governor can become an important ally in the fight against ALFA/Farm Bureau. With the legislative session just around the corner, now is the time to write:
The deadline for applications for new Sheffield police chief has now passed. The total candidates seeking the position now stands at five. It will be interesting to see how the civil service commission performs in this search.
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