What Happened with Florence High School?

Many entities rate schools today, but perhaps one of the most respected judges in this category is U.S. News & World Report. This year the iconic news leader revamped its criteria, adopting a weighted system. USN announced that scores from previous years should not be compared to this year's with the new system in place.

In Alabama, the top 50 public high schools are now on display for everyone to brag about...or not. How did North Alabama stack up? Only two schools in this general area made the top 50. Athens High School came in at number 29, while Muscle Shoals was slightly higher at 23.

And Florence High School? Such polls usually place FHS at the top in the Shoals and surrounding areas, but not the latest USN. Florence High didn't make the cut. Even taking the new scoring system into consideration, we have to wonder what the problem is. 

We don't believe that FHS has sunk to new lows in just a year's time. Perhaps some scholastic data wasn't submitted in time? If anyone knows the rationale for this fall from academic grace, please contact us. 

Feeling Cute. May Outshine That Old Bradshaw Campus & Irritate the Older Kids Later. IDK.

Complaint Filed Against Muscle Shoals School System

The following was sent to us. We have removed the names:


I've debated many times whether to post this on social media or not.The main reason that I was hesitant about posting this is that I don't want people to get the wrong idea of the kind of person that my daughter is. XXX is a wonderful person with a heart of gold.She makes me laugh even on the very worst days.She is more than I ever dreamt of in a daughter. 

As most of you on here know, XXX has Autism.Many kids with Autism have behavior issues.Most of this is due to the fact that they have a hard time communicating and expressing how they feel with others.Many times this causes frustration for them and it comes out in anger. XXX has come a long way.Rarely do we ever have to deal with meltdowns at home anymore or out in public,but we know that there are triggers and it could still happen.She has Autism! Autistic kids have meltdowns! In the early part of February, XXX had a meltdown when she was in class with only the special needs teacher and the aide.No students were in the classroom at this time.She was very upset.

Special needs teachers and aides are trained to not get in a child's space during a meltdown.This did not happen and the teacher and aide were hit. XXX has a very detailed Behavior Support Plan and Behavior Intervention Plan.Without going into the whole plan,I will just say that if she begins to have a meltdown,she has a place to go to calm down called a calm down space.This is a room for her to calm down if she becomes upset where no one can hear or see her and she can calm down and then come out and finish her day.Taking her to her calm down space was not even attempted that day. XXX told me what happened and that she was very upset,but she didn't mean to hurt anyone.

She said,"I told them I was sorry and the aide said she forgave me." We had a meeting planned for the next week. The special needs teacher was in the meeting and XXX had still been in her room since the incident.She talked very little about the incident,but admitted that she knew better than to be in her space,but she was. XXX continued on in her room and many days went by.Remember this happened on Feb.7.On March 23 a deputy appeared at our door.I had no idea what he was doing there.It was papers for XXX, my husband, and I from guess who?

The special needs teacher had gone 6 days after the incident and the afternoon of the meeting and filed charges against XXX at the police dept.Criminal harassment with the INTENT to cause harm.WE had no idea that this special needs teacher had done this and yet she kept her "Alleged Assailant" in her room the whole time after the incident.This is someone who had been teaching special needs kids for over 20 years.

XXX has a plan for when she gets upset and it was not followed that day and an unfortunate incident happened.In a perfect world,an autistic child will never get mad or have have a meltdown,but in the real world,they do! In the real world special needs teachers take this chance every day in the profession that THEY chose. So,my question is why would you not try to help the child instead of introducing them to the wonderful world of the juvenile justice system? 

XXX, along with her Dad and I, have now had the joy of meeting with a probation officer. XXX has had the joy of sitting in a hallway waiting to go before a judge and watching people go by in handcuffs. XXX has had the joy of going before a judge and him asking how did she plead, without fully even understanding what is going on.People this is real!Especially you special needs parents out there.This happened to our daughter and it could happen to your child.Needless to say the charges were dropped and the judge threw it out, but not before we filed a complaint against the school system. 

I want to go on to say that XXX is doing good. She is doing well with behaviors and making really good grades.There have been some really good people at school that came into her life this year and for that we are thankful!I've always said that she is an over comer and she will continue to do great things and she will.She will not let this define her!

Putting the Muscle in Muscle Shoals

It Will Arrive May 13th!

No, it won't be DreamVision or Inspiration Landing; it will be something much more wonderful. The new Florence Animal Shelter will open its doors on May 13th.

If you've been thinking about a summer companion, now's the time to adopt from the current shelter on College Street. Let's make this move as easy as possible for everyone!

Speaking of animal shelter...HB 305 is scheduled for further discussion next Tuesday. Hopefully the subcommittee will send the bill to the House floor for a vote. Thanks to everyone who has helped to bring this forward.

Retail Watch:

Three Alabama CVS stores are among the closings announced this week; however, the closest to the Shoals is in Huntsville. It's been several years since Pier 1 closed its Florence store, but two in Huntsville have remained to serve the North Alabama area. Now the import home interior business is close to bankruptcy and has announced as many as 145 outlets may bite the mercantile dust. A definite list of closings is expected later. If there's any good news there, at least we can expect cheap Pier 1 merchandise to show up soon at our Florence Big Lots.

More Fun Than a Barrel of Politicians

Give Steve Pierce a Try for Your Insurance Needs

Not happy with ALFA and its stance on animal welfare? Many have been so displeased that they have switched insurance carriers, a large number turning to State Farm Insurance. Those who have switched have also reported much better rates.

Now State Farm agent Steve Pierce is offering to donate $10.00 to the Florence Animal Shelter for referrals who complete quotes:

ASK US ABOUT Quotes for Good! Refer a friend who qualifies and completes an auto quote, we will make a $10 Donation to the Florence Lauderdale Animal Services. Call us today 256-764-2285.

Now that is being a good neighbor! Thanks, Steve!

You Can Always Count on ALFA for Some Things!

Derek Logue Banned from Twitter

Sex offender activist and former Sheffield resident Derek Warren Logue has been banned from Twitter for promoting hate speech. Logue, who recently moved to Nebraska from Ohio, is facing serious theft charges in Florida. We'll keep this story updated.

Pen-N-Sword editor Trader will be on KISS 102.7 at 7:30 Wednesday morning. The animal welfare activist will be discussing the role of ALFA in Alabama lobbying, especially as it pertains to animal issues. Don't miss it!

Want to show ALFA how you really feel? Here are a couple of perfect Avatars for your Facebook or Twitter accounts:

Did ALFA Buy Danny Crawford for $84.5K?

By now, most individuals who keep up with state politics are aware that ALFA is currently under fire for its stance on animal welfare bills. ALFA is a menace to the caring individuals of Alabama, and many are now coming to realize just how far the organization will go to control our state legislature. A prime example is Rep. Danny Crawford of Athens who represents Limestone County and is the head of the Agriculture and Forestry Committee in the House. 

Danny Crawford - ALFA District 5 Henchman

Crawford has recently been criticized for sending Andrew Sorrell's HB 305 back to a sub-committee, effectively ending any chance for the animal welfare bill to pass this session. Below is a statement from Crawford in which he defends himself:

...the bill was vague and members thought it was over reaching. How do you define reasonably comfortable, varies with everyone? How do you enforce it? If dogs and cats are “tortured” now then authorities have power to arrest the owner. Maybe a local bill, if authorities will enforce it, will better serve the public and acceptable to those counties who want to enforce it. Every county feels different, especially the rural ones.

Does Crawford actually feel this way or is he in ALFA's pockets? During a three year period the farmer's group has given him a total of $84,500.00 in campaign contributions. To put this in perspective, the next largest donation to a committee member was to Democrat Dexter Grimsley for $24,250.00. Yes, Crawford received over 60K more; anyone think ALFA simply picked Crawford at random and gave the money out of the goodness of its cold corporate heart?

What do you think ALFA expected in return from Danny Crawford? Could it possibly be that the federation expects Crawford to vote the way it says? 

All you good people at Lindsey Lane Baptist Church be sure to say hello to your favorite politician at your next worship service. If you're in a really gregarious mood, be sure to ask him what god he follows...

Want to Trade Houses, Danny? Tell the Truth; God Knows Your Heart!

New State Lottery? It Won't Benefit Education!

Last fall, Johnny Mack Morrow ran on a platform that included a lottery vote. It received some criticism due to his initial scheme allotting only 50% of the proceeds to education. So now, we don't have Rep. Morrow in our state legislature, but we do have a lottery plan that is half way to passage. Guess what?!!!

The plan that the Alabama Senate passed this week doesn't allot ANY funds for education. Yes, you heard that right. What it does do is help the Poarch Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama (about 4,000 individuals) rake in more money than they've ever dreamt of. 

We're doubting that the current lottery bill will pass the house, but if it does, we predict that Gov. Ivey will sign it into law. So Alabamians can then play Lotto, but our school children won't benefit from it.

What will the lottery benefit? First, funds from the lottery will have to repay money stolen, er, borrowed, from the state Trust Fund. That works for most of us. Then the money begins to be split 50/50 between the General Fund and the Trust Fund. That's until the funding reaches a certain point when it's again meted out in differing percentages. The bottom line is that NONE of these percentages includes the Education Budget.

Sure, education might get a pittance here or there if that department is really in a bind. Pundits say the majority of the lottery proceeds will go to prisons and other non-education state endeavors.

Is this what you want? Let's hope not. If it is, then don't complain when Junior can't read.

Meanwhile at the Frog Pond Marriage Mart