Yes, It's Real News

The most important news to you might be the birth of a child, but you know it won't make the front page of the TimesDaily. If the stock market should crash to unprecedented lows, it would certainly be the headline of the New York Times, but it might not be of great significance to you. That's pretty much the reason we have newspapers devoted to the stock market, movies, or music. Just because it's not what you want to read, that doesn't mean your next door neighbor won't pay some big bucks to subscribe--either in print or online.

The Quad-Cities Daily is one of two online newspapers/magazines now operating in the Shoals on a daily basis. Yesterday the QCD broke a dramatic story about alleged impropriety by a Sheffield youth/music minister. We felt the news was so important that we immediately linked it here. No, we didn't expect the TimesDaily to report on the story for several reasons. There have been no criminal charges filed against the Methodist minister and there may be none for several days, or even weeks. Was it important to break the story before actual charges were filed?

We would answer a definite yes to that question. Obviously, rumors were already rampant in Sheffield, and the QCD presented the known facts in a fair and unbiased way. Yet one poster on the Tennessee Valley Talks forum commented he would still consider it all rumor until it appeared in the TD. Sadly, some things never appear in our local rag, or if they do, you've already learned the details elsewhere. That's the nature of today's ever changing media. In 20 years, you can expect to wake to both your morning coffee and your hand-picked news stories presented to you by your home's computer system.

Until then we hope you'll take a look at The Quad-Cities Daily and Pen-N-Sword (formerly The Connection) in order to obtain a balanced look at the Shoals. The story the TD chooses not to cover may just be the one that could change your life.

Related post: Local News: A Lost Cause

Shoalanda

Special Report: Breaking News from Sheffield

Steve Wiggins of the Quad-Cities Daily has just published Part I of a dramatic story on an alleged pedophile associated with a Sheffield Church:

First Methodist Youth Minister 

Blackberry Trail: Another Day, Another Curse

We've facetiously blogged before about the "Curse of the Shoals." It's often mentioned in conversations concerning big businesses which move here and then mysteriously falter or even go bankrupt; however, if any entity in the Shoals area is cursed, it would seem to be Florence's Blackberry Trail Golf Course north of the city. Now mayoral candidate Billy Ray Simpson has promised he will sell the property if elected.

The public golf course was built in an undeveloped area off Hwy 47; at the corner of the course lies the Wilson Family Cemetery. We'll leave our readers to decide how the city handled that aspect of the project, but suffice it to say many historians were appalled by the course's placement.

Blackberry Trail Golf Course was largely completed by 2000, at a cost of four million, one million over initial estimates. Then city council member Bobby Dolan fought to abandon the project altogether, but still the city toiled on, citing the ultimate value to Florence. When the course finally opened after several delays, the mayor, council members, and their guests were allowed to play without charge. Obviously that provided more ammunition for those who ardently opposed the new course. That regulation was eventually changed.

After being open to the public for only a short time, serious problems with the greens and drainage became apparent. The course officially closed for three months while the city consulted various engineering firms in an attempt to remedy the problems. The three months turned into a year, but the course did reopen in June 2003. Approximately three weeks after the re-opening, vandals struck the course, causing an estimated 75K dollars in damage. This time, the course managed to stay open while repairing the greens using city employees. This frugality led to actual damages being under 5K, but according to news reports no one was ever arrested for the crime which park authorities blamed on adults with an axe to grind. Or could it have been ghosts of Wilson family members?

By the end of 2004, the course was still operating in the red, having lost 330K in the past fiscal year, but city officials were quick to announce that revenues were on the upswing. Then came complaints regarding course employees. Approximately twenty Shoals golfers filed reports with the city, while some wrote letters to the TimeDaily encouraging a boycott due to the maltreatment of patrons. Rumors also cropped up concerning employee theft at the pro shop. Parks director Regina Gresham promised new protocols in dealing with the public, and things again began to look up for Blackberry.

By 2007, the Florence course had been host to several small tournaments and was about to host a gathering of mostly minority golfers. The morning of the tournament, golfers arrived to find racial slurs and epithets spray painted on buildings and putting greens. This time authorities were able to apprehend the culprit. Jake Adam White was arrested on vandalism and burglary charges and required to repay the 5.5K damages. White later violated his probation and is serving a prison sentence in the Limestone Correctional Facility. We're left to wonder how much ill will White's crime created among visiting golfers and just how much money he ultimately cost the city.

Since 2008, the course has been relatively smooth for Blackberry Trail, and the city expects it to have paid for itself within the next 15 to 20 years. Considering his competition, we doubt that Mr. Simpson will win the office he's seeking, but if he should and places the golf course on the market? Any buyers out there for a property that's been called snake bit?



Shoalanda

Are Charges Against Florence Detective Valid?

WAFF has reported a citizen has filed charges against a Florence police officer. Anyone can file charges against anyone--that doesn't mean the allegations have merit. A contact at the Florence Police Department could not give us any specifics concerning the recent complaint stemming from a murder investigation, but he did have some non-specific comments.

Assuming it was the Jerry Ivy murder scene, various factors came into play. The shooting took place at the well-traveled intersection of Central Avenue and Connor Street. There was some light remaining at around 8:30 p.m. on July 19th and several neighbors were either on their respective porches or taking a walk. Family members of the victim, including his sister, were also present, and many have stated they feared retribution in some form.

Police arrived approximately five minutes after the initial shooting call. Bystanders were told to vacate the scene immediately. Some traffic was diverted in an attempt to preserve evidence. Our source says this is standard procedure and no one would have been treated any differently if the murder has occurred in any other area of Florence.

Obviously the behavior of the officer in question could have been unprofessional and involved much more than a raised voice. We're hoping it wasn't and didn't. We are sure Florence's new police chief Ron Tyler had hoped he wouldn't face such allegations about his department this early in his tenure.

Shoalanda

An Intriguing Look at Assault Rifles & Ammo

David K. has sent us an erudite look at the positive side of gun ownership:

There are several reasons why responsible, law abiding citizens should have the right to own any type of firearm the want. As a matter of fact I think it should be a requirement of every responsible, law abiding US citizen to own a firearm, but that will never happen. Let me address some of the reasons why I feel this way.  

1. The saying IS true that "when guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns". Think about that for a minute. Since their invention millions of firearms have been produced and if laws were passed banning ownership of firearms criminals would be able to obtain them one way or another to use in their criminal activities.

2. Although it will never happen just imagine, if everyone over the age of 21 was required to take a firearm safety course, learn how to properly handle and use a firearm and be required to carry one with them and have one available in their home what that would do to petty crime like muggings, robberies, home invasions and so fourth. A criminal would think twice before confronting someone who is probably armed.

3. If there were no guns whatsoever, people would still kill and harm others and the weaker would be even more susceptible to falling victim. Just look at past history before the invention of gun powder. Someone wanting to kill someone else WILL find a way.

4. Lets look at the recent theater shooting in Colorado. Had the shooter not had access to firearms he might have used explosives instead, killing even more people than he did. But, if the majority of the people in the theater had been armed themselves, even though he was wearing body armor someone would have gotten off a head shot and put him down before so many was killed or wounded. And being the coward he was would probably not have carried out his attack had he known he would have met armed resistance.

5. And, while many people including yourself I suspect, think it would never be possible consider what would happen if the United States were invaded by one or more foreign countries. If our military troops were spread thin in several small conflicts such as for example: Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Syria and as an example North Korea, Iran and a couple other countries maybe China included decided to invade the US mainland in an unexpected and undetected attack, would our remaining troops be able to ward off an overwhelming attack without help from the general "armed" citizens? If you think so just rent the movie Red Dawn and watch it. This alone is why every law abiding household should own at least one assault weapon and a few thousand rounds of ammunition for it.

And by the way, I only became a member of the NRA last week due to the current negotiations going on at the United Nations on limiting the small arms manufacture, ownership and trade disguised as the UN Arms Trade Treaty which would eventually limit American citizens ownership, trade and modification (attaching a scope to your deer rifle yourself would be illegal) of even hunting and sporting firearms.

Once the gun control lobby succeeds in banning assault rifles, hand guns will not be far behind, then next will be shotguns that fire multiple projectiles in a single shot followed by all high powered rifles like used in hunting and it would eventually be illegal to own even a single shot .22 caliber rifle. Give an inch and they will take a mile.I guess it's a good thing I'm not the one who draws the line because it'd be at "law abiding, sane, American citizens who have been trained and licensed to own such firearms" strict requirements and limits should be placed on fully automatic weapons but not as restrictive as they currently are and require that ammunition be traceable to the purchaser and hold them accountable for any misuse.

We appreciate David's input, but do have a few short comments. We find his idea of labeling ammunition intriguing, but have no idea how it could be accomplished. We have several young friends who shoot targets and complain about the cost of ammo for a .22 rifle. Identifying the source of ammo would be a further deterrent to those who shoot targets, skeet, or trap; however, no hobby is inexpensive. As with anything in life, you pay to play.

Our original blog referred to a ban on only assault rifles. Several readers defended ownership of these and mentioned the possibility of a "Red Dawn." If the unnamed enemy makes it as far inland as north Alabama, they're certainly well-trained and well-armed. A shooter with an assault rifle could take out scores, perhaps even hundreds, but what then? He would soon be killed himself. His family would be left either to the enemy's hands or to scrounge for themselves for months or years. Why not join intellectual forces with those who defend our shores? Use a sword to chop off the tentacles of an evil creature, and he will grow more. Chop off the head with cunning and well-laid plans, and you win the war.



Shoalanda

Kimberly Bynum/Such a Hot Button

Amanda Watkins and Dana Allen have hit the dust, up next is Kimberly Bynum. All three are married women who admitted to affairs with teenagers. Watkins and Bynum are teachers, while Allen was a volunteer coach. The sexual encounters of Watkins and Allen fall under the category of Second Degree Rape, while Bynum's crime is relatively new territory.

It's illegal in Alabama for a teacher to have sex with a current student under the age of 19. In the first 12 months after the law was enacted on July 1, 2010, six teachers were charged. Previously, these six would have faced only charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Bynum's attorney has had his client's day in court postponed twice. While some prosecutors claim the crime is comparable with incest, teacher advocates deem it simply a breach of trust that should result only in the loss of teaching license. It will be extremely interesting to learn what Joey Rushing may or may not offer the former Vina teacher.

From a friend: It's all right to kiss a teacher if she's a nun. Just don't get in the habit.

*****

A friend's comments on guns:

Would it surprise you to find out that not only do I own an AR15 myself, by my wife owns an AR15?, too  We have dozens of 'high-capacity' magazines and thousands of rounds of ammo for them. BTW....hers is PINK. :D

Now...WHY do we own them? Simple: Because we can. Does doing so make us evil, unstable, etc, etc, etc? No more than your owning your blog makes you an 'evil, liberal journalist'. Your 1st Amendment RIGHT to own, write, etc , with regards to your blog, are INSURED by my 2nd Amendment RIGHT to own my AR15.

Here's a some food for thought....and you can verify what I am saying easily:

* Criminals will ALWAYS be able to get WHATEVER they want: drugs, weapons, etc. When America decides to LOCK AWAY its violent criminals FOR GOOD.... I MIGHT consider not owning an AR15 or similar weapon. But until then....*I* am solely responsible for my own security, as well as that of my family. BTW...IF your own home was suddenly forcibly invaded, what would YOU want as a weapon for self-defense?

* Japan decided NOT to invade the west coast of the U.S. after Pearl Harbor due to AMERICAN GUN OWNERSHIP.

* Americans have NO NEED for cars and motorcycles that can exceed 75 mph, yet my Titan truck shows 140mph on the speedometer and many of today's motorcycles can EXCEED 160mph.

Dana Allen's Bond Revoked?/Lauderdale Law Suit

Update: Allen to Serve Three Years.

Dana Myhan Allen is scheduled to be sentenced today for having sex with an underage male. We have no firm idea of what sentence Judge Mike Jones may impose on the Lauderdale County wife and mother, an employee of a local medical clinic, but as of yesterday the state was seeking to revoke her bond for trespassing on Wilson School property. We have to wonder about Allen's mental condition. Surely freedom is worth more than whatever she expected to gain from such an unwanted visit. Or did she feel this would be her last chance to see someone before a possible prison sentence?

*****

For those of you who are long time readers, you're familiar with our friend Mark Davis. Mark and his wife divorced in Tennessee and initially shared equal custody of their daughter. After moving to Lauderdale County, Mark's ex-wife sought a new custody arrangement, citing the need for the young girl to attend kindergarten. Then circuit judge Mike Suttle agreed with the child's mother and stripped Mark of his right to joint custody. Is this fair? Is it even legal?

For several years Mark has been attempting to have Suttle's ruling reversed. During this time, the ex-Mrs. Davis has filed her own motions, asking for child support. Remember: The original agreement in Tennessee called for joint custody in which each parent would support the child while she was in their respective care.

After much legal wrangling and time that Mark has lost with his daughter, he's now filed suit in Federal Court . Listed as defendants in the case are:

Brenda K. Baker

Tonya Blackstock Smith

Robert J. Bentley

Gilbert Porterfield Self

Ned Michael Suttle

Robert F. Smith

Chris Connolly

Stacey Bryant Hooper

Lindsey Mussleman Davis

Melinda Morgan Austin

Cynthia L. Bratcher

Nancy Buckner

Terry A. Moore

Each defendant is accused of four counts of violating Mark's civil rights. In a few weeks, if not sooner, the court will decide if this suit has merit. If their decision is in the affirmative, a trial date will be set. We'll have updates on the suit as they become available.



Shoalanda