Lauderdale Deputy Terry Woods has been arrested on charges of harassment relating to his alleged attack on fellow deputy Ronnie Valentine. Florence attorney Ralph Holt is representing Woods; the trial will be August 27th in District Court.
According to previous reports, Valentine has also filed for workman's compensation. Lauderdale Sheriff Ronnie Willis (pictured) has just completed an internal investigation and suspended the 11 year veteran Woods for five days sans pay.
Since Valentine has filed a criminal complaint against Woods, it's unclear why Sheriff Willis chose to conduct an in-house investigation rather than ask the Alabama Bureau of Investigation to step in. We will assume if Terry Woods is found guilty of the misdemeanor charge, Willis will then initiate further action against the deputy.
Charges of favoritism in Willis' department have always been rampant; now is the time for Sheriff Ronnie Willis to disprove these charges to the citizens of Lauderdale County.
Haleyville's King Cockfight on Facebook: I took the "Which Racist Alabama Governor Are You?" quiz and I was Patterson.
Today a jury of six men and women, after deliberating over a period of three days, returned a "not guilty" verdict in the rape and sodomy trial of Brian Keith McGuire. It is doubtful the victim will initiate any civil proceedings against McGuire, who has not worked as a teacher in over a year.
The victim is hardly a total loser in the proceedings. Testimony in the trial revealed that McGuire had been diagnosed with an STD at least two years before his unprotected sexual encounter with the young woman and that during his divorce proceedings he initiated DNA testing on his children. Such tests proved him not to be the biological parent of the older child, perhaps one reason the Lexington native has distanced himself from his family over recent years.
However, McGuire still faces the loss of his teaching license due to allegations he fondled at least four students while teaching at Clements School in Limestone County. Robin Greene of Athens has stated she has the names of at least 50 young women McGuire has sexually touched over his teaching career. The former teacher is suing Greene for slander.
Within the next few days or weeks, Chief Administrative Law Judge Walter Turner will announce his ruling in the license hearing of Brian Keith McGuire. It's a verdict for which many have waited years and one in which we should all be interested. Our children deserve a good education. While we may not be able to provide the best educators in every classroom in the state, we should be able to provide those who have their students' best interests at heart. It's time Alabama made an effort to ensure that.
What's up with this: It seems the Colbert County District Attorney's office recused itself in the trial of Leighton Mayor LaWayne Harrison. Perhaps such recusals only occur when there's a mayor involved?
If you have some free time and a desire to serve the State of Alabama, Bob Riley is looking for you. Actually, he's looking for 193 of you.
In a press release earlier today, Governor Riley announced 193 vacancies on Alabama Boards. For those in the Shoals who oft complain about a lack of input at the state level, this is a prime opportunity to have your say.
Warning, some of the boards listed may not be everyone's cup of tea; however, if you've always wanted to serve on the Elevator Inspection Board or think you might find the Scrap Tire Commission fascinating, now's your chance. Another caveat: Now might not be a good time to join the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Board.
What's up with this: Anyone have any idea why Rep. Artur Davis abstained from voting on a resolution recognizing Hawaii's fifty years of statehood? We can at least rule out the possibility he's a "birther."
While we usually focus on Shoals and Northwest Alabama politics, we're going to stray slightly to the southeast today, more specifically to Blount County. It's not every day that we meet someone like Pamela L. Casey and we want our readers to get to know her as well.
Pam's home town is Snead, Alabama, a small town in Blount County that is roughly the size of Killen. After graduation from high school, Pam attended Rhodes College in Memphis and earned her juris doctorate from the Seattle School of Law in Washington state. Currently, Pam is a member of the bar in both Washington and Alabama.
After serving an internship in Washington, Pam returned to Alabama where she began work as an Assistant Attorney General. Some in the Shoals area will remember Pam as part of the team that prosecuted Daniel Wade Moore for the murder of Karen Tipton in Decatur. Now Pam is again in our corner of the state, this time leading the prosecution team in the Keith McGuire rape case.
Pam has told us that the law is her passion, and that fervor shows in her dedication to her work. A member of the Republican Party, she is about to launch her campaign for District Attorney of Blount County. Remember her name; Blount County needs someone like Pam Casey, but we have a feeling Montgomery will be calling as well.
Feeling Empowered? Check out the Zelda Lily website. It offers a new view on the power of women in today's society. Don't think you'll agree with most of it? No problem--it welcomes debate in the comment section.
We have frequently advocated political blogs as the ideal way to keep abreast of notable events from Montgomery to Dothan to the Shoals. From the "just the facts" of Doc's Political Parlor to the outrageous humor of King Cockfight, there's something for everyone in the Alabama blogosphere.
A new blog of note is Goat Hill News. Perhaps the initial draw is the blog's author: Fob Wallace. Now, tell us you can resist a name like that.
Goat Hill keeps it short and sweet with multiple entries each day that are economical of word. Wallace also promises to "leave no rumor unsaid." Considering the amount of e-mails this blog receives that easily fit into the rumor category, Wallace should have plenty of grist for his mill, a mill that will assuredly be running overtime as 2010 approaches.
What's up with this: Are we sure Ron Sparks is running for governor? Some stores in Russellville still display "Ron Sparks for Commissioner of Agriculture" signs. Well, at least they're in English.
Vinnie Grosso, head of Florence Animal Control, wants to get the scoop on certain local offenders--or should we say poop. Apparently McFarland and Deibert Parks are the regular recipients of unwanted gifts from canine visitors. Grosso states that animal control can do little about complaints without evidence--either DNA or video. Grosso (pictured at right with reptile friend) is requesting funding for surveillance cameras at both parks in order to catch the regular offenders. This idea has merit, but we wonder just who would be responsible for monitoring the hours of video at each park. Even with fast forward and a trained eye, it sounds like a monotonous, time-consuming exercise.
If such cameras are installed, we hope one is focused on the dispenser of plastic poop bags in each park. Still, if the Florence Recreation Department can't keep tissue and soap dispensers filled in the restrooms, there's little hope for doggie poop bags.
Photo by Jim Hannon
What's up with this: Handy Week is almost over, and there have been complaints of not enough diverse music. We're not sure what these nay-sayers thought was lacking, but many thanks to Nancy Gonce and her cohorts for another wonderful fest.
With a population of just under 1,300 and negligible sales tax receipts, the town of Cherokee (Main Street pictured) in western Colbert County is fortunate to have a library; however, the town isn't sure just how long this good fortune will continue. Allison Paige McWilliams was the town's third librarian in just over four years; now the small community has filed a $43,000.00 lawsuit against McWilliams.
Our May 16th column initially reported that just under $17,000.00 was missing; updated preliminary audits now indicate that McWilliams used the library's credit card for purchases of $16,054.50--mainly at Wal-Mart, Chevron, and Shell. State Certified Accountants have just begun the forensic audit that may turn up other unauthorized charges, and the town is unable to press charges with the District Attorney until such an audit is completed.
With only $200.00 in the library's bank account, and unable to get new state funding while open less than 16 hours a week, the town has pressed forward with a civil suit. The suit, filed by town attorney Rebecca Narmore, also alleges Paige McWilliams forged library chairperson Ella Nelson's name on an official document, having town clerk Melinda Malone notarize the signature. McWilliams has denied the allegations and announced she will defend herself against the charges.
It's unfortunate the citizens of Cherokee are having to suffer for lack of library funding, but the town itself must shoulder some blame in this situation. Any checking/debit or credit card account should be balanced and monitored by someone other than those in control of the funds. As for Ms. Malone notarizing a signature she did not herself witness, that speaks for itself.
Note: Last chance to see the Drive By Truckers tonight. You don't always have to leave home for great entertainment.
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