"Remembering Florence" Books Are In

Remembering Florence is now in, and all pre-orders have been shipped. You may order yours at:

Discover the Shoals

We're also pleased to announce there will be an autograph party on Saturday, March 5th, from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Ye Ole General Store on Seminary Street across from the post office. We'll see you there.

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Remember those infamous 2007 pay raises our state legislature voted themselves? Gov. Bentley wants at least a portion of the raise repealed. Here's one take on it:

Republican Sen. Gerald Dial says he and others will offer a resolution to repeal the raise. But he doubts their proposal will pass because some legislators have become addicted to the higher pay.

Can you say "grandstanding?" If Dial's proposal doesn't pass, perhaps he could lobby for a legislative tag sale. How much would Marcel's $480.00 cart wheel bring? Link



Shoalanda

The Parrots of Winter

The Parrots of Winter

A Guest Blog By

Deepfat

Cold, rainy days seem to bring out the parrots. Flocks of 400 birds are common, and those up to 700 are not unheard of. That they can fly at all is probably as remarkable to them as it is to me. Flailing and thrashing to stay aloft, they barely overcome gravity. They are immune to gracefulness, both in their aeronautics and in their natural voice; they screech as they flog the wet air with voices that remind one of nothing more than bad brakes on a pumper truck.

No one can agree on their origin in Pasadena. Some argue that a few pets just escaped and flourished into the flocks, others tell stories of a traveling circus the parrot cart of which wrecked. Some say the Ritz Carlton hotel used to keep an aviary full of them for the entertainment of its winter guests and let them go when the guests got tired of them. The local historians only admit that it’s a mystery.

The green Amazons and African Grays don’t migrate. If you ever saw them fly, you’d understand why. Why they flock and fly in the winter is anyone’s guess. Mine is that the tropical birds must fly to keep warm, and it sounds as though they fly under protest, so I’m sticking with that hypothesis.

California is unlike Alabama in so many ways. One of them is that winter is when California is green. About the time the dogwood and redbuds bloom so conspicuously and gloriously there, California will revert to its tawny, dry norm. The parrots feast on grass and other seeds now, and will be fed by thousands of happy volunteers the rest of the year. So much so, that they seldom flock, but hunker in every neighborhood and silently enjoy the good life.

Non-native as they are, the parrots have assimilated to an urban environment, same as the red-tailed hawks and crows that more elegantly decorate the local skies. Perhaps, out of their natural element, the parrots approach symbiosis with us humans now. If for no other reason than to see their comical attempts at flight, I’m for it.

Thanks to our West Coast corespondent and publicist for this beautiful story. We hope it will be the first of many he sends us.

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We've heard that during the storms Thursday night, many of the sirens in Colbert County weren't working. As far as we know, the power remained on over the entire county, but if that had not been the case, the sirens would have been only too necessary. Let's hope Mike Melton and associates have them ready for our usual spring tornado season.

Shoalanda

Marty Lynn Baskins/Asbestos in Hospitals

We have received a question concerning convicted felon Marty Lynn Baskins of Florence. Baskins' first noted foray into crime occurred in September 2007 when he was charged with four counts of illegal possession and use of credit cards. The then 20 year-old was sentenced to a stint in Lauderdale County Community Corrections.

According to a reliable source, in 2008, Baskins tested positive for marijuana and was remanded to the Lauderdale County Detention Center. In March of 2009, Baskins was again for whatever reason a free man and participated in a home invasion in Killen. Baskins, along with three other men, severely beat their victim and stole $200.00.

Baskins pleaded guilty to these charges and, again for whatever reason, was this time given probation. Two months later, Baskins shot into an occupied automobile, hitting a passenger in the head. Baskins' victim was not seriously hurt. In September 2009, Baskins was again arrested for breaking into a vehicle, two counts of theft, and 20 counts of the unlawful use of a credit card. These crimes merited the now 22 year-old actual prison time.

Where is he serving it? If you guessed the Lauderdale County Community Correction facility, you are indeed astute. Marty Lynn Baskins will end his sentence on January 6, 2012.

Note: Since Baskins is serving a state sentence, he is eligible for parole. If you would like to protest any early release for Baskins, please write:

Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles
Re: Marty Lynn Baskins, AIS #255211
Post Office Box 302405
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-2405

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Asbestos In Hospitals

A Guest Commentary By

Eric Stevenson

Hospital safety is an extremely complex field, with many human and environmental factors to account for. Preventing the spread of contagious disease is, of course, a very high priority, but there are other dangers that need to be kept in mind. One of these is the dangerous mineral asbestos, which, before the 1980s, was included in many construction materials to increase their strength and heat resistance. Asbestos-cement sheet was used in the construction of many public structures, including hospitals. Tragically, we now know that asbestos is responsible for health problems like lung scarring, asbestosis, and even symptoms of mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs.

A 2008 report by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration stated that the highest OSHA fines imposed on hospitals were due to asbestos violations, costing the health care facilities an average of $8,000 per citation. For comparison, blood borne pathogen citations – the most commonly-cited OSHA standard for hospitals – averaged only around $600 per citation. Environmental Health and Engineering expert Bryan Connors attributed this to aging buildings that required renovation and a lack of understanding of the intricacies of the hospital environment.

Renovations are an extremely common source of asbestos hazard. While the asbestos-containing materials like cement sheeting are intact, the fibers remain harmless, but when they are disturbed, as happens during renovation or removal, they are released into the air. Breathing these fibers in can, over time, cause mesothelioma symptoms. It is imperative that hospitals follow all proper OSHA and EPA standards while performing construction or renovation, employing professional abatement teams who have the proper protective equipment and isolating any affected areas from the rest of the building’s occupants.

Luckily, mesothelioma remains a rare form of cancer, but it is highly deadly. Mesothelioma life expectancy is poor – the five year survival rate is only around 10%. Hospital staff, especially those working in older buildings, need to be aware of the dangers posed by asbestos. New construction and insulation materials containing safe and often environmentally-friendly alternatives to asbestos need to be installed if the asbestos-containing materials are in poor condition. Paying attention to environmental hazards will not only protect the health of the occupants, but also save the hospital from costly fines.



Shoalanda

New Hospital Still Planned for Lauderdale

A department head with ECM Hospital has contacted us concerning the confusion over the location of the new RegionalCare hospital. Despite the suggestion of Drs. William Heaton and Hisham Ba'albaki that the new facility could possibly be built on TVA land south of the river, the plans remain in place for the hospital to be constructed in Lauderdale County.

While we feel a merger of RegionalCare and Helen Keller Hospital is in the interest of all Shoals citizens, it should be pointed out that ECM cardiologists stand to gain if the merger comes to fruition. Currently, Keller is sending patients requiring stents and similar procedures to Huntsville--these same procedures are done, and done well, at ECM.

Again let us stress, if citizens of Colbert County feel the partnership with Huntsville Hospital is the wrong path for their health care, they need to contact their county commissioners...and contact them now. For too long both the citizens and commissioners of Colbert County have let the Keller Board blindly lead them. They deserve better.

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If any readers have family that are currently or have in the past been incarcerated in the Lauderdale County Work Release program, please contact us concerning problems they may have encountered.

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Speaking of inmates, we today read that Alabama is third in the nation. In what, you may ask. Unfortunately not in any desirable area. It seems that Alabama falls behind only Florida and Delaware in the percentage of populace who have permanently lost their right to vote.

While Attorney General, Troy King added numerous crimes to the standard list of offenses of moral turpitude. We hope once he becomes acclimated to his new office, Luther Strange will remedy many of the excesses of TK the AG.

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We've heard from our blogging sister Mary Carton. Despite her new role as blogger for Grit magazine, she assures us she will continue with Rosedale Gardens. The Shoals area is truly blessed with numerous great bloggers. Thanks, Mary, for your wonderful tales of flowerbeds and hooligans.



Shoalanda

Yes, Peanut's Attacker Was Beaten

Joseph Wade Vinson, the man who has admitted to assaulting mentally handicapped Stephen (Peanut) Michael, was himself brutally attacked in the Colbert County jail. According to an informed source, jailers placed Vinson in a type of bullpen with as many as ten other inmates Tuesday night. After discovering the injured Vinson, deputies transported him to the Helen Keller Hospital E.R. where he was treated around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning and released. Vinson was then placed in protective isolation. WAFF has reported that Vinson was later taken to Franklin County Jail.

The source further states that if Sheriff Ronnie May had followed the correct protocol, Vinson would have been placed in isolation upon his arrival. Now, Colbert County citizens will be footing the bill for Vinson's medical treatment, as well as a possible lawsuit. Did we say possible? Let's make that probable.

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Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett is in the news again. It seems the city has had a vacancy for the office of captain for some time. After new Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver left the force in early January, the department was lacking two captains. Five Russellville officers were finalists for the two openings.

The Russellville City Council narrowed their choices down to three: Lts. Cary Hitt, Mike Prince, and Johnnie MacKay. Only MacKay possesses a master's degree in Criminal Justice. Also, Hitt, whom Councilman Lanny Hubbard opposed, owns a local photography business--which might or might not pose time restraints on Hitt's schedule. It's unknown if other applicants for the two postions also divide their career time.

When asked to pick two from the three on the short list, Chris Hargett picked Hitt and Prince, stating, "We need someone who is unified toward a common goal." Perhaps Hargett could explain that mish-mash of a statement. What goal? Why is MacKay not "unified," whatever that might mean? We understand that not all who possess post graduate degrees are leaders, but Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett just left that cash-strapped city in a tenuous legal position.

Related post: Inspector Clouseau

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Former Muscle Shoals Municipal Court Magistrate Linda Stanley was arrested Wednesday on charges of embezzling over 86K in city funds. District Attorney Bryce Graham has recused himself; he is expected also to recuse in the missing 911 funds case.

Related post: Is Linda Stanley Guilty?



Shoalanda

Tuscumbia's Joseph Vinson: Spineless Felon

Joseph Vinson, 28, of Tuscumbia has been arrested in the brutal attack on Stephen (Peanut) Michael. As of six o'clock last night Vinson, reputedly the son of Danny and Darlene Keenum Vinson of Spring Valley, was still being held in Colbert County Jail. There were reports later in the evening that Vinson had been attacked by ten inmates, badly beaten, and transferred to Helen Keller Hospital.

The animosity being shown toward Vinson on Facebook and similar sites is revealing. If the reports of his injuries at the hands of other inmates should be true, it would be the citizens of Colbert County who would suffer the financial responsibility--unfortunately.

Vinson's Facebook page gives little insight into his personality. He laments losing contact with a six year old daughter and states he's looking for a soul mate. Obviously, we may infer alcohol was involved in Joseph Vinson's conduct last Saturday night, but it cannot ameliorate his guilt--either with the courts or those he will meet the rest of his life in the Shoals.

Related sites: Peanut

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Due to the severe weather in January, many are facing the loss of utilities for non-payment. One would think local utility departments are in need of all the good press they can muster; however, some employees don't seem to be doing their part.

Here's a great commentary from O.B.: Link

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Congratulations to Tuscumbia's Mary Carton on being chosen as a blogger for Grit. You can read Mary's blog (at least for the time being) at Rosedale Gardens.



Shoalanda

RegionalCare is Lesser of Two Evils

We recently mentioned that two local physicians support RegionalCare over the Helen Keller/Huntsville Hospital alliance. A reader asked:

Drs Heaton and Ba'albaki's letter leaves some unanswered questions:

1. How could a hospital in Colbert county pay taxes to both Colbert and Lauderdale County? I am sure they have this all worked out with the tax people at the courthouses.

2. The agreement/contract to sell ECM to Regional Care specified that the new hospital be built in Lauderdale County. How are they going to get around this?

3. How can 2 hospitals be combined without significant loss of jobs at one hospital or both?

They may be HEART doctors but it seems they are trying to mess with our MINDS.

We'll attempt to answer partially--although such answers may be debatable. The Coffee Health Group was non-profit and probably paid little or no taxes to the county governments--remember they owned hospitals in both Colbert and Lauderdale. Therefore, Lauderdale, if it should be deprived of tax revenue from RegionalCare, won't be losing any longstanding tax dollars.

As recently as last August, ECM CEO Joe Roach was still painting a rosy picture of a state-of-the-art facility in Lauderdale County. If that should be of great importance to Lauderdale citizens, they may just be out of luck. The Coffee Health Group has no desire to negate the contract and take back the hospitals. RegionalCare has already changed the name of the proposed facility once, so we doubt that anything is written in stone.

Considering the size of the new facility, we don't foresee many losing their jobs if Keller were to be swept up by RegionalCare. As it is now, no one seems to have job security at either hospital.

We hope that other physicians and department heads will offer some input into these questions. We welcome all comments, both pro and con; however, as the title of today's blog suggests, RegionalCare would seem to be the lesser of two evils. Lauderdale County has no choice--Colbert does. If you're a citizen of Colbert County, please make your wishes known to the county commission.

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The Connection has published Part I in their series of articles on the Colbert 911 missing funds: Link



Shoalanda