Roy Moore "Won't Kiss the Ring?"

Kissing the ring? What does it mean? If you look up the expression, you'll find it usually refers to paying homage to popes, kings, and dukes – all individuals who wear a ring signifying their position.

We don't have any kings or dukes in our country, but we do have those who owe loyalty to the pope of the Catholic Church. Is that what Roy Moore is referring to when he says he “won't kiss the ring?” Luther Strange is an Episcopalian and Doug Jones identifies as a generic Christian.

Just when you thought Roy Moore couldn't get any stranger...

Not working in the hallowed halls of academe, we had no idea what would constitute grounds for a complaint against a school administrator, particularly by someone who doesn't work in said system. Here they are:

1. Violation of American Disabilites Act
2. Violation of Human Rights
3. Violation of Title IX of Civil Rights Bill
4. Violation of Other Civil Rights

We're guessing number four is the choice of a certain former volunteer at a Lauderdale County school. The salient question is: Does everyone have a right to volunteer at local schools? We're also guessing such complaints are laughed at, wadded up, and quickly forgotten.

The Lexington Letters aka The Truth about Jeff Cruse

Today we're publishing our first installment of comments about controversial Lexington preacher Jeffrey C. Cruse. We hope the Lauderdale County School Board takes note:

Reader One: You need to do a background check on Jeff Cruse. For 25 years he preached at congregations in the same area of Kentucky then came to Lexington. Pretty big change unless he had to leave.

Reader Two: I live in Elgin, but close enough to know what goes on in Lexington. My kids went to school there. They always complained about Mr. Will Joiner's discipline, but now when they come home they always ask how he is. That should tell you something.

Reader Three: Jeff Cruse is volunteering 15 to 25 hours a week? Where does he get time for his family? My guess is he doesn't and you can't tell me God likes that.

Reader Four: Cruse was a minor league ball player. He never made it very far so now he wants to “help” others learn to play ball. He overstepped his bounds and was told not to come back. End of story except this “man of God” won't let it go.

Reader Five: Any Baptist can tell you the problem. The Joiners go to church at Clements and not FBC of Lexington. Cruse doesn't get the Joiners money or prestige so he's always been jealous. And he wants to clean up Lexington. I didn't know we needed to be cleaned up, at least before he came.

Reader Six: I really can't stand the Freedom from Religion Foundation but turns out they're good for something. I've reported Cruse to them so now we'll see what happens. Sorry he brought such publicity to a nice little town.


Reader Seven: Don't know the preacher involved, but I can attest to the fact that Wiseman and Joiner have been into it with each other for years. I've had dealings with Joiner and can honestly say I was treated respectfully and responsibly. Joiner has never, in my experience, aired any dirty laundry about another teacher. That CANNOT be said for Wiseman. I would think that, if there is a protocol or a process for raising a protest against a school administrator, that ALL channels would be exhausted. THEN you should go public if no resolution is reached. Why were certain Lexington staff members giving "press conferences" when some hadn't even filed a grievance? It would seem to me that if you call yourself a Christian, you would show respect for the process and the law.

 
We mentioned earlier that we had received some anonymous letters (poison pen letters) about the administration at Lexington School. We went back and checked our e-mail, only to discover they began soon after Jeffrey C. Cruse says he was let go as a volunteer coach.

None of this paints a pretty picture of Jeff Cruse, does it? Perhaps the church deacons need to practice some discipline?

Wisconsin Firm to Design New Colbert County High Gym?

Let me get this straight. Colbert County superintendent has employees stand before the county commission and try to guilt the commissioners because the drama department at Colbert Heights doesn't have adequate facilities OR air conditioning? And, yet another one says he needs money to put a hotel inside Cherokee school?

What about Muscle Shoals superintendent Coach Lindsey saying he needs a new floor in a gym while the football taj mahal is kept in pristine condition sparing no costs. Not to mention all the high paid employees that never step in a classroom - something like a coach to watch over the new athletic facility or assistants to assistants and secretaries to secretaries? How bout that travel expense account? Principals and wives traveling to Pennsylvania?????

Satchel and Lindsey get caught lying to the county commissioners on several issues. What is wrong when they are exposed in the newspaper and their board members stand behind them? Exactly what are they teaching children in those schools? LYING is fine as long as it gets you what you want?

Beware parents. When superintendents have board members cheering them on to LIE, it says a lot about THEM and the LACK OF MORALS and INTEGRITY. As MSCS board president Rudolph says, "Lindsey is to be commended". Ms. Rudolph, BULLYING and LYING is NOT TO BE COMMENDED, PERIOD.  It's interesting that one of your goals for Lindsey is to pressure the county commission for more money. Is that something you are proud of? The last time he "met" his goals (which were another story as well) you gave him a big bonus and increased his salary/contract. Now, if the commission doesn't let him bully them, he still gets a big bonus? We all know the answer to that one.

Back to Colbert County - How bout the new renovations at Colbert County High School?

OUT OF TOWN FIRM DESIGNS EXTRAVAGANT REMODEL AT COLBERT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL (where Gale Satchel's husband is principal)

 http://www.palmerhamilton.generatornetwork.com/k-12

Palmer Hamilton, LLC
143 S. Jackson Street, Suite 1 
Elkhorn, WI 53121-1911   

Colbert County Superintendent Satchel's latest SPENDING OF YOUR TAXES!!!

Does this kind of extravagant renovations and decorations by an interior design OUT OF TOWN firm set well with you taxpayers while Colbert County, Tuscumbia, and Muscle Shoals superintendents say they need YOU to pay more taxes for their spending?

That doesn't quite rank up there with the MSCS football taj mahal and track that is under lock and key so those destructive people in Muscle Shoals won't destroy it by walking on it, but equally as extravagant in its own rights.

MR. COMMISSIONER, our money is on you. We think you have too much sense to buy into the same worn out song those two superintendents are singing. Look at Muscle Shoals extravagance, Colbert County extravagance, and wonder why Tuscumbia superintendent got mixed up with the two of them.

JUST SAY NO!

Leslie M. Shoals

Special: One Lexington Mom's Take on Jeffrey C. Cruse

We've begun to receive mail on some of the problems at the Lexington School. Here's a letter from one mother, a lifelong resident of the northern Lauderdale town, who knows what cooks with the 48 year-old would-be coach: 

The preacher should keep his mouth shut and just worry about his congregation instead of what's going on at the school.  He and his oldest son caused a whole lot of drama on the field, on the court, and in the dugout this past year at Lexington School.  They argued with each other and screamed and yelled at each other to the point where other players, parents and fans were asking for this situation to be handled. The preacher had ZERO respect for Mr. Joiner or his position which I always felt was wrong on so many levels. 
  

I have always liked this preacher and think he has done a good job for the church he pastors, however, I feel he has given not only his church and congregation a black eye, but also the entire community. He should have opted to take the high road but instead he has tried to fuel this entire situation by holding secret meetings at his church to discuss Mr. Joiner and sending out group text messages bashing the school and the principal.  That doesn’t seem very Christian like in my opinion, but I am not Baptist nor am I Church of Christ either.  It boils down to his feelings have been hurt and he has allowed it to spill over into other people's complaints and this has escalated to this dreadful situation now.  

From what I have heard, Mr. Joiner has been trying to get these “complainers” to do their job, and that makes them mad.  So instead of just doing their job, they want to complain and call him a bully.  The biggest problem I have ever noticed in the world of education is that most educators have never worked in a job outside the school system.  I dare say if some of these “complainers” should have to work in another job outside the school, they would have a rude awakening when a big boss tells them to do their job or hit the road.  Regular workforce people do not have tenure, nor do we get off work at 3 pm or have 2 months off in the summer. 

Secret meetings at the church building? Deacons, are you taking note?

Public Schools Should be Neither Baptist, Methodist, nor Church of Christ

Several months ago, this blog received a series of anonymous e-mails about Lexington School. The correspondence talked all around anything specific, and when we questioned the sender, he (it appeared to be male) deleted his account. In other words, this person couldn't back up his accusations even anonymously and chose to turn tail and run.

Now we have a small group of people who are questioning some administrative actions before the Lauderdale County school board. One is using his title of "Baptist pastor" in order to have more clout. He says he was terminated as a volunteer.

Jeff Cruse on Left

While we don't know the circumstances of his dismissal, we do know that he should not have been using his religious beliefs as a volunteer. It's very interesting that Jeff Cruse, of Mayfield, Kentucky, pretends to follow God, but doesn't want to follow due process before the board. 

It's also interesting that some of these accusations go back ten years. Really? Just why has this so-called egregious behavior not been reported in ten, we say ten, years?

No, something else is afoot. We welcome all comments as long as they can be civil and not libelous.

*****

That brings us to another point. We're sure you've noticed that when a young person is arrested for any crime, it's never his or her fault. Sad how our police officers make these stories up, isn't it?  

No, this is why school administrators and law enforcement personnel can't do their jobs. Parents have only perfect children in the 21st Century. Sigh...

Sessions & Moore: Working for Something v. Having it Handed to You

No matter what you may think of former senator Jeff Sessions' policies, he knew his stuff. He may not have come to the same conclusion as you on a particular issue, but he could tell you about the issue and why he came to that conclusion. 

A would-be replacement for Sessions is not as knowledgeable...by a long shot. If asked about DACA, we're sure most of us could have enumerated at least some of its points even if we didn't agree with the law via executive order. On the other hand, Roy Moore recently had to be told by Dale Jackson what DACA was, just as he earlier had to be told what a national right-to-work law meant. 

Sure, there's a learning curve for any new office holder, but just as a candidate to work for Acme Widgets goes into a job interview knowing something about Acme Widgets, an office seeker should know something about the position he's running for and the laws he's expected to create, uphold, or expand upon.

*****

A spokesperson for Moore has said: People don't care about acronyms. Really? Here's a few most of us know: 

UA
AU
UT
UNA
UAH
UAB
NASA
NAACP
NACOLG
MD
DO
DDS
DVM
LPN
RN
CRNP
SGA
SAG
IAM
UAW
JD
NAFTA

We could go on, but you get the idea. Acronyms are part of our daily life. Roy Moore didn't know what DACA was even when it was spelled out for him. No, the former judge wants glory without the work that goes with it. It would be funny if there wasn't a chance that this grandstander could be Alabama's next senator.

Pray for our state.

It's That Time! Labor Day Beauty Contest 2017

Yes, later today there will be a new Miss Shoals Labor crowned. Let's look at this year's field of candidates...

1. Susie McFloosie - Susie represents the newest Shoals union, Quad-Cities Brewers Network. Insiders say platinum blonde Susie is a favorite if she can just manage to make it up the platform steps without tripping.

2. Cecile Trudeau - Cecile is representing local tourism. Detractors are calling the French speaking Trudeau a ringer and are demanding to see not only her union card, but social security card and passport as well.

3.  Betsy Harbert-Dunn - Busty Betsy is representing local construction unions. She's a long-shot since she was originally only visiting the area to pick up a finders-fee on the Veterans Park tennis courts, but was then stuck here when the deal fell through.

4. Mimsy Kitts-Shields - Petite Mimsy is representing post-secondary office workers. She's another long-shot, but known for a wicked left hook. Her claim to fame is never having been sexually assaulted on the job. 

5. Billy Overwood - Billy competed last year, but this blog inadvertently left him off the list. Instead of the traditional one-piece bathing costume, Billy will wear an Armani suit as he represents the Shoals Legal Union. 

There's the rundown, and if you're like us you can hardly wait to see who captures the sash and crown this year...or to grab your second helping of barbecue and beans. Here's hoping each of you, especially local union members, enjoys a fun and fulfilling Labor Day!


All of us at Shoalanda Speaks