Thursday, February 4, 2016

Trials?/Justin Green


If there were no more delays or a plea deal put in place, the Theft by Deception trial of Angel Gieske in Walker County and the Drug Distribution trial of Brady Ann Irons in Lauderdale County were to have begun today. Both trials were long overdue, but obviously the wheels of justice will eventually grind, slowly or not.

*****

Mary Anne Rippey, a strong VOCAL advocate, has been published as endorsing Will Powell for Circuit Judge in Lauderdale County. We would like to hear from both Mr. Powell and his opponent James Irby before our endorsement is made here.

Ms. Rippey is the sister of Danny Sledge, a Florence restaurant owner who was murdered during a robbery in the early 1990s. We were looking at a DOC photo of convicted killer Nathan Boyd earlier this week and couldn’t help but notice that the former Florence man, now doing Life Without in Donaldson Prison, was sporting quite a bleached quiff.

We assume either Boyd or someone close to him works in the infirmary and has access to the hydrogen peroxide—our tax dollars at work. Donaldson is a maximum security prison and supposedly the inmates’ actions are highly monitored. Perhaps one doing Life Without has no fear of any disciplinary actions?

*****

Any readers out there watching An American Crime Story? There is a moral here, young ladies. If he’s married or in prison/on probation when you meet him, run. Oh, but you say he’s different. Let us ask you this: Just how many times does he have to be arrested before you realize that no, he’s really not the exception to the rule after all?

*****

Justin Green is supposedly now serving time in Lauderdale Community Corrections for his involvement in the death of his 14 month old daughter, yet photos of him posing with his newest addition by still another woman have surfaced on social media. The latest child’s mother is no longer claiming him on Facebook. Trouble in paradise or merely a belated attempt at discretion?



Shoalanda

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Florence v. St. Florian Redux


It hasn’t been that long ago that the town of St. Florian lamented how unfair it was of Florence to suggest the cessation of a defective sewer line service to a mobile home park located in that small northern Lauderdale community. Now it seems both Florence and St. Florian are claiming planning jurisdiction on a proposed subdivision. The subdivision may never materialize, but if it does, it will be interesting to see if sparks again fly between the two towns.

*****

If any of our readers felt a disturbance in the force yesterday, remember it was the first day of a new legislative session in Montgomery, or what many in the state consider Alabama’s answer to Comedy Central. After all, we don’t want to be outdone by Donald and Hillary. The new session is also playing havoc with weather forecasting in south Alabama since Montgomery ground hogs were afraid to exit their dens.

*****

We don’t usually comment on national news, but most of our readers are aware of last month’s helicopter crash in Hawaii which claimed the lives of twelve US Marines, one of them a Florence native. Now it’s been revealed that Lt. Col. Edward Pavelka was relieved from his duty as leader of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 on January 11 because Brig. Gen. Russell Sanborn had lost confidence in his ability. The official inquiries into the crash should be extremely interesting. Unfortunately, if blame for the crash can be placed at shoddy practices initiated by higher ups, it will hardly mitigate the grief of the 12 affected families.



Shoalanda

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Attorney Billy Underwood's Statement on Accused Don Tipper


Donald Tipper is a long time Florence attorney who is accused of having forcible sex with a client in the Keystone Center on Seminary Street in Florence in 2011. Really? Our personal opinion is the offices are so close to each other that any screams of protest would be heard. Not to mention who would want to have sex with his/her attorney?

Here is attorney Billy Underwood's statement on the alleged crime:

On the 5th of February, 2011, the alleged victim pled guilty in Florence Municipal Court to Theft of Property 3rd Degree. She was arrested sometime after this plea and pled guilty in May, 2011 to a misdemeanor in Lauderdale County District Court. This plea was a reduction of a felony and she was placed on probation for both cases for one year. Probation means she was supposed to be good and not get arrested or in any further trouble.
On the 10th of July, 2011, the victim was again arrested for Theft of Property in the City of Florence. Don Tipper was appointed to represent her concerning an attempt by the City of Florence to revoke her prior sentences. Tipper has a note in his file which shows the victim called his office the 3rd of August, 2011 and made an appointment with him the 19th of August, 2011.
Two days before the victim was to visit with Tipper, Florence Police pulled her over and she received a ticket for Switched Tag and was also arrested for Possession of Marijuana 2nd. There is no question the City of Florence and State of Alabama sentences for one year would be enforced and the victim would be placed in jail for these recent arrests.  
On the day in question, the victim arrived at Keystone Business Center around 1:10 p.m. and went into Tipper’s office around 1:25. Sometime around 1:35 to 1:40, a lawyer knocked on Tipper’s office door and asked if she could copy some legal documents. Tipper told her she could. This female lawyer has given an affidavit stating the female victim left Tipper’s office within five to ten minutes after she arrived. The alleged victim appeared completely calm. She was not disheveled and had no bruises or marks on her.
The two women downstairs who worked at Keystone Business Center both gave affidavits stating they saw the victim come down and meet a man with one leg who had accompanied her to the business center. The couple calmly talked and were concerned about which exit they would use because the man had fallen down when entering the building. She had no bruises on her and her clothing was not disheveled.
During the course of our investigation, this attorney spoke with two males who lived with the victim from September, 2011 to December, 2011. The men stated she told them she had not been raped by Tipper but was going to use this as an opportunity to stay out of jail and get money from him.
No matter what, Don Tipper’s life is ruined from this day forward. A victory in court does not exonerate him in the eyes of the public because everyone knows 50% percent will say he did rape the victim and 50% that he was exonerated. His ability to practice law is ended.  I hope that after a trial there will be some satisfaction with a not-guilty verdict.


_________________________________________
William J. Underwood

*****
Wonder if Billy has any new clients in Franklin County?


Shoalanda

Monday, February 1, 2016

Divorces/Lawsuit?


Leslie M. Shoals is a frequent contributor to our blog. Leslie has keen insights into one of the Quad-Cities and never fails to offer pithy opinions on current events in that town. Leslie has sent us a guest blog well worth reading, but one which we are going to censor to some degree. All names have been stricken from the text for obvious reasons:

Lauderdale County December 2015 divorces indicate Ms. XXX filed divorce against her abusive husband, XXX, and rightfully so. The fine XXX used his wife for a punching bag for many years and eventually had his explosive beating on her when she discovered a love text on his work phone from his girlfriend/adulterous lover.

Franklin County December 2015 divorces indicate XXX's girlfriend/adulterous lover/co-worker filed divorce papers against her husband as well. Coincidence? Merry Christmas.

Will marriage licenses soon show the two closet lovers to "seal the deal" like another XXX? Statistics show adulterous affairs that lead to shacking up or marrying ultimately end in the same demise as the previous affairs.

Whatever the future holds for these two XXX employees having an affair in the XXX, may they find comfort in each other's arms - or at the end of the fist. Abusers are like pedophiles......they are sick and the woman that will cover for and provide the low life a ride from the jail after beating the hell out of his soon to be ex wife deserves the life she has chosen.

Will there be punishment for those two, as well as many other married employees in the XXX the powers to be know are having affairs, or will these continue to be cover-ups like the XXX?

Ms. XXX is "walking away the winner". She is to be commended for kicking him to the curb. May she clean his clock and have a happy forever.

2016 should be an interesting year in XXX.


*****

While in another local city...

Mr. Mayor, we understand you've been getting complaints about the termination of one of your employees while a second one remains on the job. We have not contacted you. This will probably be the only communication you receive from us, but you should know that the employee you're keeping not only indulges in illicit sex while on the job, but has been known to condone the physical abuse of women in his care. We recommend everyone keeping Billy's number on speed dial...

*****

For those who asked, Premiere Blogs publishes three blogs: Shoalanda Speaks, Shoals Crime, and Quad-Cities Cuisine. At one time, there were three other titles in our group, but when the authors of those blogs left our blogging group, we allowed them to take their blogs with them; some are still being published sporadically.

Problems with blogs other than our three or with news sites should be sent directly to their publishers. As for links, we publish some as simply food for thought, as with the recent Alabama Political Reporter article on the lottery. Feel free to comment on these links, but if you want your opinion known by the authors, please send your comments to the individual publications. We do not forward any comments sent to us via e-mail.



Shoalanda

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Republican Platform/Angel Gieske


A reader asked our opinion on the Republican platform for the upcoming session. Much of it is good, but we can easily see three of the platform’s planks that are not so good. Let’s look at them. 

* “Alabama’s Right To Work Constitutional Amendment – Although Alabama and many other southeastern states are firm right-to-work states, labor unions have stepped up their efforts to organize industrial facilities across the region after experiencing recent successes that include Volkswagen in Tennessee and Golden Dragon in Wilcox County. Alabama passed one of the nation’s first right-to-work laws roughly 60 years ago, but House Republicans believe it is time to enshrine that employment protection in our state constitution and will offer an amendment to be included on the November 2016 election ballot.”

So this has been a law for 60 years, but due to unions working harder to unionize businesses, we now need to “enshrine” this law in our state constitution? So much for fewer laws, needless laws, and constitutional reform.

* “Preserving Second Amendment Constitutional Rights – The Alabama House Republican Caucus pledges to assist members of our federal delegation in overturning Barack Obama’s unconstitutional executive orders attacking our Second Amendment right to own firearms.”

So just how do our state representatives plan to assist our federal officials? Shouldn’t they stick to taking care of state business and, just a thought, adopting a viable budget? And just what executive order has actually infringed any mentally fit citizen’s right to purchase a weapon?

* “Unborn Infants’ Dignity of Life Act – Recent reports about outrageous acts by Planned Parenthood and its representatives have prompted public outcry regarding the organization and the cavalier practices it utilizes regarding unborn life. In order to ensure that these atrocities do not occur in Alabama, the House Republican Caucus will offer legislation banning the sale of the bodily remains of unborn infants.”

Legal experts say sales of fetal tissue/parts are already illegal, but that’s not the main problem with this legislation. There is no such thing as an “unborn infant.” If our legislators go through with this quite possibly redundant piece of legislation, let’s hope they at least change the name so that Alabama won’t again be a laughing stock. Or perhaps next year they could introduce legislation to protect breathing cadavers?

*****

Speaking of the upcoming legislative session, will anyone attempt to disenfranchise Florence voters?

Segueing to the Lauderdale County School Board, we hear one member has been missing in action recently. Many are not happy over this, and we fail to see the “integrity” in intentionally dodging questions.

*****

Angel Gieske? The fraudulent counselor has again been arrested, this time in Colbert County. Wonder how her mental evaluation at Taylor Harden went? She’s set for trial in Walker County next week; how many out there think the state will recover any of the money either paid to Gieske or lost by DHR because of her actions?

*****

Today's article on sentencing in the TD again confused Capital and Felony Murder. Tom Smith correctly stated that Nathan Boyd is serving life without, having been convicted of Capital Murder. His brother Eric was convicted of Felony Murder and IS elibible for parole, which strangely enough he mentioned later in the article.



Shoalanda

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Battling Baptists v. Marauding Methodists?


We fully understand that the Muslim religion can be compared in scope to the Christian religion. Just because some factions are murdering, raping cannibals, not all of them are. Yet we’ve always said that despite the rogue churches with 20 or so members, you don’t see too many Christians who feel the need to go to actual war with those who don’t believe exactly as they do.

We’re going to inject here that we have at least one Baptist blogger among our ranks; this particular blog in no way describes our feelings for our good friends in the Baptist church. That being said, how many of you have heard of Dean Young, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Orange Beach who is opposing Bradley Byrne?

Young has stated Byrne can’t be trusted because he is an Episcopal, a religion that accepts gay marriage. If you haven’t guessed by now, Young is a close friend of Roy Moore. Byrne himself states that he opposes gay marriage, but has not migrated to the Anglican Church which defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

Again, this comment in no way reflects our opinion of Baptists in general, but Byrne should ideally counter with his own charges against Young who must believe once saved, always saved. After all, he could easily use this doctrine to rob his constituents blind and not feel even slightly guilty about it. (We know that most Baptists would inject here that if Young did so, he had never truly been saved.)

With a month to go before the primary, this seems to be the first mud we’ve seen flung, and thank God it wasn’t in our area. We don’t doubt there is some to come in the next few weeks. Do your own investigation into the facts and vote accordingly.

*****

Religious preference? We haven’t taken a survey, but we’re pretty sure Prince in an Apawstolic.

*****

A young man sat on the first row of an Episcopal Sunday School class, intently listening to the priest who taught the group. The man raised his hand and asked the speaker if one could find salvation outside the Episcopal Church. The priest pursed his lips, thought for a minute, then said, “Yes, a man could find salvation outside the Episcopal Church, but a gentleman wouldn’t avail himself of the opportunity.”

*****

So a woman from Waterloo possibly defaced a hunter’s truck and threw away his keys and she gets a larger write-up in the TD than the man who brutally beat his own small child? No, we don’t condone what she did. Anyone aware of illegal hunting should take the alleged miscreant’s tag number and contact the game warden.

The poacher, or non-poacher as the case may be, could have easily shot the woman. It’s just extremely sad that we’ve become so inured to stories about child abuse that they no longer rate that much copy, but take a Sharpie to a hunter’s truck and you become Public Enemy number one.



Shoalanda

Friday, January 29, 2016

They Were Caught, So Who Suffered?


When two city employees are caught in the act (on a table in a public office no less), which one is fired? If you guessed the male, you just haven't been paying attention for...oh, your whole life. It takes two to do this particular tango, during the work day no less. We sincerely hope this woman sues in order to get her job back. No, we don't condone what she did. We do believe that if there is punishment, it should be for both participants in this act.

*****

Republicans have released their agenda for the next legislative session:

“Zero-Based Budgeting Reform – In order to bring a new level of scrutiny, transparency, and accountability to the appropriations process, the Alabama House Republican Caucus will begin to implement a new ‘zero-based’ budgeting system. This revolutionary new process will require state agencies to fully account for each dollar they receive, help identify ineffective programs that are in need of elimination, and potentially save or re-direct substantial amounts of taxpayer dollars.”

“Pension Reform – The Alabama House Republican Caucus will continue its efforts to ensure the long-term solvency and fiscal health of the Retirement Systems of Alabama while protecting and preserving the current level of benefits earned by existing retirees and employees.”

“Alabama Taxpayer Advocate Act – Under current law, the role of Taxpayer Advocate must be filled by an employee within the Department of Revenue who is selected by the commissioner and reports directly to her. In order to ensure fair and equitable treatment of Alabama taxpayers, House Republicans will offer legislation requiring the Taxpayer Advocate to be appointed by the governor from a pool of candidates recommended by a committee of government officials and business professionals. The advocate’s role and duties in protecting taxpayers’ interests would be expanded significantly under this measure.”

“Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit – During the past five years, Alabama has transformed into one of the most business-friendly states in the nation, and the Legislature has worked to provide incentives necessary to lure thousands of new, high-paying jobs to our state. Small businesses, however, have created more than 65 percent of all new jobs over the past 20 years nationally. To encourage further job expansion within the state, Alabama House Republicans will propose a $1,500 income tax credit for every new, qualified employee hired by small businesses operating within the state.”

“Alabama’s Right To Work Constitutional Amendment – Although Alabama and many other southeastern states are firm right-to-work states, labor unions have stepped up their efforts to organize industrial facilities across the region after experiencing recent successes that include Volkswagen in Tennessee and Golden Dragon in Wilcox County. Alabama passed one of the nation’s first right-to-work laws roughly 60 years ago, but House Republicans believe it is time to enshrine that employment protection in our state constitution and will offer an amendment to be included on the November 2016 election ballot.”

“Protecting Public Safety from Syrian Refugee Threats – Recognizing the inherent risks that exist and lacking confidence in federal claims of thorough background checks, the Alabama House Republican Caucus will oppose any Obama administration effort to relocate masses of Syrian or other Middle Eastern refugees to our state. The possibility of even one “refugee” with a questionable background slipping through the system poses a danger to our public safety that Alabamians should not be forced to endure.”

“Preserving Second Amendment Constitutional Rights – The Alabama House Republican Caucus pledges to assist members of our federal delegation in overturning Barack Obama’s unconstitutional executive orders attacking our Second Amendment right to own firearms.”

“School Security and Student Safety Task Force – Alabama schools have been extremely fortunate to avoid a violent situation like those that have occurred in other states, but we must continue looking for ways to improve school safety and ensure we are as prepared as possible to prevent or mitigate any situation that might arise. The Alabama House Republican Caucus will create a task force comprised of key education, law enforcement, and emergency management leaders from across the state and tasked with completing a comprehensive review and assessment of state laws, regulations, and protocols relating to security and student safety in our public K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. The Legislature will consider the task force’s resulting recommendations for improvement.”

“Teacher Pay Raise – Recognizing their importance in preparing students for success in the 21st Century workplace, House Republicans will work to provide Alabama’s K-12 and post-secondary education personnel with a pay raise.”

“Wireless Infrastructure Renovation for Education (WIRED) Act – An extensive knowledge of operating computers will be required of everyone in the 21st century workforce, so today’s students must be proficient in the latest technologies. Three out of five schools in the United States currently lack the infrastructure needed to take advantage of wireless technology, and that number is believed to be even higher in Alabama. The WIRED Act proposed by House Republicans will create a framework for putting wireless broadband in all K-12 public schools by providing grants to local systems for the purchase, installation or upgrade of wireless infrastructure. Schools already possessing the necessary infrastructure may use the grants to purchase wireless devices and technology.”

“Unborn Infants’ Dignity of Life Act – Recent reports about outrageous acts by Planned Parenthood and its representatives have prompted public outcry regarding the organization and the cavalier practices it utilizes regarding unborn life. In order to ensure that these atrocities do not occur in Alabama, the House Republican Caucus will offer legislation banning the sale of the bodily remains of unborn infants.”

*****

Now, how many of these laws are totally redundant and will never be passed?



Shoalanda