The case was originally scheduled for October 4th, but autopsy results have been delayed. There is some speculation this case may now be placed on a back burner and eventually disappear. We'll post any new dates/info as we receive it.
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A reader has asked us how many times a district attorney may present a case in order to obtain a grand jury indictment. We're throwing that question out to our legal eagle friends; we can say the most we are aware of is three, but that does not mean there is a limit. That brings us to the theft case against some members of a local volunteer fire department. Apparently the district attorney's office was unable to secure an indictment the first time it was presented. A reader has asked if it will be presented again. Again we're awaiting some inside information. We can say that some insurance companies will demand prosecution even if the money is repaid.
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What's a common type of case that doesn't always bring an automatic indictment? Various types of sexual assault, especially those involving an adult victim. And we wonder why Donald Trump and Bill Clinton always get off so easy?
We watched the 2nd Presidential Debate last night and it was something else. This year is the only time that we have watched a Presidential Debate. While we are not going to endorse a candidate at the moment, we have to say that the Debate last night was interesting. We would have to define it as semi-disorderly. We were very disappointed in the moderators. We expected more out of Anderson Cooper.
But here is a thought. The Debate was almost like WWE Monday Night Raw. So let’s get Jerry “The King” Lawler and Jim Ross to moderate the next one. That will definitely make it interesting.
Jerry “The King” Lawler and Good Ole Jim Ross
Inmates picking up trash in Colbert County
There was an article in this morning’s Times Daily about the Colbert County, Alabama Sheriff’s Department using inmates to pick up trash along the highways and streets. We think this is a great idea. We are sure that paid labor raises that budget of the Colbert County Commission each year. This will help reduce that cost.
The article further stated that non-violent and short time inmates will be used. Whatever the inmate’s crime is, getting some fresh air has to be a relief from a jail cell. Of course, an armed Sheriff’s Deputy will be supervising them.
Good idea Sheriff Frank Williamson.
Spring Park
We visited Spring Park in Tuscumbia last week for an event. This event was held on a bright and sunny afternoon. We looked very hard but did not see the first Muskrat. Maybe they have migrated to Florence and Delbert Park.
Until next time…..
I am and always will be, the Midnight Rider.
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Earlier today we linked a Shoals Insider article on the passing of Jimmy "BeBop" Evans, a Shoals drummer. The article stated that Evans was an original member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.
Soon after we were contacted by our favorite consultant who informed us this was in error. Evans was a member of Jimmy Johnson's first band formed when both men were at Sheffield High School. Mr. Roger Hawkins, considered by some the finest percussionist of his day, was the original drummer with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.
WHAT IS THE LAUDERDALE COUNTY COMMISSION THINKING?????
The following statments were taken from the September 27, 2016 and October 2, 2016 TimesDaily about the county's 2017 budget:
In an effort to increase starting salaries in all county departments, the Lauderdale County Commission on Monday approved an operating budget that included a $2,000 raise for all county employees.
We were in good enough financial shape that we could address some other needs,” Commissioner Roger Garner said following the meeting. “Every department had wants and needs, and we were able to address some of those.” so included in the budget was a 4 percent increase of employee health care benefits that totaled approximately $67,838.
“This is something that we have been talking about for two years. Thankfully, we were able to do it this year,” said Lauderdale County Commissioner Roger Garner.
Commission Chairman Dewey Mitchell, who is retiring at the end of October, said this is the biggest budget in the history of the county, and he warned commissioners to stop pulling from reserves before there would be no reserves left.
“We had to take two and three-quarters million dollars out of the reserves to balance this budget,” Mitchell said. “The county is very fortunate to have the reserves to balance the budget. It has not always been that way.”
The overall budget is $31,548,935, an increase of $2.1 million from the 2016 operating budget.
We just can’t keep depleting the reserves,” Mitchell said. “I hope in the future, the budgets will be balanced on incomes and not on reserves.”
It is stated above the Commission had to take two and three-quarters million dollars out of the reserves to balance this budget but the budget only increased $2.1 million from the 2016 budget. If I read that right the Commission had overspent their 2016 budget.
Did the Commission take into consideration the other things associated with that much of a salary increase. Taxes and retirement funds will increase plus the added expense of insurance. If they can’t balance a budget without getting funds from reserve there will be no reserves, then what will the Lauderdale County Commission do?
What will happen when Dewey Mitchell leaves office? He seems to be the only one that is worried about Lauderdale County?
What do you think?
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A pithy comment from L. Stone on an increase in Florence lodging tax:
You'd think that someone from Canada would know that people will go south of a border if they can get a better deal.
How common is domestic violence at the University of North Alabama? While it’s not an everyday occurrence, it’s certainly not rare. This was posted earlier today on the Shoals Insider:
While details are scant, the perp was reportedly armed and drove from Colbert County with a specific purpose in mind. Whether it was to talk to his estranged other half or something more sinister has yet to be reported.
Again, UNA police came to the rescue—something local citizens should be extremely grateful for. Until authorities become mind readers, efficient police work is the best answer to the violence these abusers bring to the campus and community.
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Ryan Kent Pollard, termed a serial abuser by local media, is in jail again; this time without bail. It seems some have speculated his most recent arrest involves his latest girlfriend, a resident of Russellville. This may be true since we’re told she’s abandoned Facebook, at least for the time being.
However, what did she expect? We want to make it clear just being dumb and/or desperate is not an invitation to violence, but it’s certainly not a shield either. A reader has told us, in the for what it’s worth department, the couple was into BDSM and that Pollard’s arrest involves drugs, not abuse. Whatever the case, society is always the winner when abusers are taken off the streets.
Any other young ladies want to date a four time abuser? Or would that now be five time abuser? Whichever, we’re pretty sure he’ll be on the market when he gets out.
Let's say you own a small business. You’re trying to make every dollar count, but sometimes business travel is essential. You need to stay in the Shoals for five days; do you stay in Florence where you’ll pay $116.00 for a basic one hundred dollar room, or $111.00 for the same room across the river? In other words, would you stay in Sheffield or Muscle Shoals if it saved you $25.00?
Or how about this: Money is no concern, but you’re no fool either; where do you stay? Most visitors, especially if they’re here to play golf in the first place, will easily choose Colbert County.
Ahh, but there will also be those tennis tournaments. Maybe there will be and maybe there won’t be. Has Robbie Baby offered up any names for these organizations that wish to play on new courts in Florence…new outdoor courts?
Don’t count on locals to play, unless you close the existing courts, and maybe not even then. Why are the existing courts so underutilized? Most true tennis aficionados either have some sort of club membership or have forked out the blunt to build their own back yard courts.
Speaking of new tennis courts, just when did these proposed jewels morph from indoor courts to regular run of the mill outdoor lawn tennis set ups? Mayor elect Steve Holt was totally correct when he stated things were moving at an Eddie Frost pace.
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Some quotes from local hotel management/civic leaders:
"If the tourism board and (current) City Council tries to force this thing, it means they aren't listening to the public, plain and simple." Steve Holt
"We want them to listen to us, but they never really have, and the tourism board has certainly never cared about hospitality employees' opinions. I still have to question why this happened without our knowledge and why." Vickie Atwood Romine
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Is there a bottom line? Perhaps it’s that of the five percent increase, of which the tourism board gets two-fifths. Can’t you just hear Robbie Baby singing, “Yea, Yea!”
But if Florence becomes the loser in the scenario? Will Robbie Baby then sing, “We never saw it coming.”
Several readers have asked how local law enforcement knew where to find Eddie Collins and his wife. We have no inside information as to how it was determined where Collins was, but we do know one has to present a picture ID when checking into a hotel/motel. If the couple had been there for weeks, not on any obvious business, there’s a good chance a clerk became suspicious and asked Killen police to check them out.
We’ve also heard several people comment how unusual a case it was. No, not really. Take a look at the most wanted in your home county. How many are wanted for serious crimes? How many are removed from the list in a short...or long…period of time? Just as this Florida fugitive sought to hide in the Shoals, you can safely bet several Shoals fugitives are hiding around the country as you read this.
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Back in the late 1800s a local elementary school class visited the offices of what was then the Florence Times. The class was told reading the newspaper was the best way to add to one’s vocabulary. Does that apply today?
We’re not sure it applied even then, but it certainly doesn’t now. Someone needs to tell Tom Smith what “mitigating” means. No, mitigating circumstances don’t make a situation worse.
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Anyone out there really want to improve your vocabulary? Pick up a cheap used copy of a SAT tutorial; it contains more words than you can shake a long, wooden object at.
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Missing from the Shoals? As of now we have three missing persons in the past four weeks: Robert DeShawn Childers, Chance Southern, and Savannah Clever. There’s also Jansen Brewer from Lawrenceburg. Two are teens and will probably pop up at some point. Two are adults and are possibly endangered.
It seems the Facebook page of Eddie Eugene Collins had no restrictions; in other words, anyone could post on it and many did. There were family members who either pleaded for Collins to surrender for the sake of his wife and children or commented he had made bad decisions so there was nothing to be done.
Then there was the local DJ who wanted an on-air interview during mid siege. Yeah…real classy KISS 102. What was he going to ask? "How does it feel to put a gun to your wife’s head?”
Yet the most commented on comment was from a woman who chastised Collins for bringing his “demons” to Florence. True, each city has enough local demons without all those Florida ones popping in for a visit. How did Collins even arrive in Florence/Killen? By all accounts, he was a user, not a dealer. At least where drugs were concerned; he had a July 2015 arrest for pimping out his wife. How does someone fall that far?
This makes two women in one week who are now dead due to the actions of the men in their lives. There is a lesson here, ladies. Yes, it can be you if you allow it to happen.
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So Jeb Bush is joining the Jay Z tour? Yes, he doesn’t like it if you call women bad names since he has granddaughters. Uh, Jeb, what about your mother, wife, and daughter? Was it okay to call them a “witch” or other derogatory names? Your friend Jay Z wised up when he had a daughter, so he’s ahead of you there.
Conclusions? Will Queen Elizabeth take the colonies back?
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