Shoalanda Speaks

• Who Thinks Sheffield Can?

  
  A show of hands, please--who really thinks Sheffield can return to its former state of prosperity? Okay, I see Steve Wiggins' hand. There's another one; no, that one belongs to Steve's brother Rick and he lives in California, so he doesn't count. Hmmm, okay, now [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 8:25pm EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Who Killed Rudy?

  
  On Friday afternoon, Vincent Lavert Ingram turned himself in to Florence police for the murder of Harold (Rudy) Stanback. Authorities say the shooting that took the life of Chris Stanback's older brother was the culmination of an ongoing argument. Readers have e-mailed us to ask if there is any [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 1:55am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• First Chris Stanback; Now Rudy

  
  Christopher Eugene Stanback (pictured) would be 32 years old if he had lived. Instead, Chris died fifteen years ago in a murder that is still unsolved. Last year we wrote about Chris' death and the effect it's had on his family. The Christopher Stanback' [...]
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  Posted: November 28, 2009, 2:25am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Byron Marc Newsome to Appear at Parker Fundraiser

  
  

  The Shoals’ very own Byron Marc Newsome, nationally known actor and motivational speaker and 1993 graduate of Muscle Shoals High School, will be the guest speaker at a December fundraising dinner for the Tina Miller Parker for Colbert County District Judge campaign. Ms. Parker is [...]

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  Posted: November 27, 2009, 2:01am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• A Thanksgiving Challenge

  
  The woman rushed from her car to the door of the fast food restaurant; the February wind was howling and it felt like snow was on the way. Once inside, the woman approached the customerless counter and began to speak to the young girl behind [...]
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  Posted: November 26, 2009, 4:10pm EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Jennifer Hampton: Her Death Demands Justice

  
  Valentino Vasquez Miranda brutally beat, raped, and murdered Jennifer Lee Hampton. He then disposed of her body in a nearby lake where it remained for seven days. His skin and semen were found on Jennifer's body, and his victim's blood was found on the clothes [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 10:15pm EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Jennifer Hampton: Coming Home for the Last Time

  
  After medical examiners identified the body found in the lake as that of Jennifer Lee Hampton, her family in Lauderdale County began to make funeral arrangements. At first, family members were concerned over a lack of funds, but individuals who had never met Jennifer stepped [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 1:25am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Jennifer Hampton: Murdered by Illegal Immigrant

  
  Valentino Vasquez Miranda had migrated to the United States illegally and, like the Guatemalan immigrant of our earlier tale, was living with a common-law wife over whom he exerted total control. Miranda and Rosa Rodriguez Hernandez shared a room at the Days Inn on South [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 8:40am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• "Save Cypress Creek" Meeting

  
  Our Series on Jennifer Hampton will continue tomorrow.
  
  The newest environmental group in Florence is Save Cypress Creek, and they want you to join them in spirit, in person at Tuesday's meeting, on facebook, and in accomplishing something for future generations. From their press release:
  
  

  On [...]

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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 11:30pm EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Jennifer Hampton: Child without a Home

  
  Jennifer Lee Hampton was 21 years old when she died, scores of miles from her high school friends in Waterloo and the various homes in which she had lived in her short life. According to officials at Waterloo High School, Jennifer lived with a sister [...]
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  Posted: November 21, 2009, 12:15pm EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Miranda, Rights, & Immigration

  
  The young Guatemalan had walked for miles. He was determined to make it to the United States for a better life. As he walked, he thought of all he would need when he arrived in his new home--a companion came to mind, one who spoke Spanish. By now he [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 2:30pm EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• More on Roger Bedford and the Forgotten Audits

  
  We reported earlier in the week on the lack of state audits for two of Roger Bedford's pet projects, the Marion County Community Development Association and the West Alabama Development Association of Fayette County. At that time, Ronald L. Jones, Chief Examiner of Public Accounts stated the required [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 12:50am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• City of Florence Owes England Auto Salvage an Apology

  
  Last night the Florence City Council voted to purchase a 157 acre tract west of Florence. The land is currently in use as a country club and 18 hole golf course; if the council has its way, in six or seven years at least part of this land will [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 7:40am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Influence: Good or Bad?

  
  When the Florence City Council meets this afternoon at five o'clock, will Dr. Barry Morris (pictured) be voting on the proposed purchase of the Florence Golf and Country Club? There's a possibility that the vote will not come up, but if it doesn't today, it [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 7:30pm EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Roger Bedford & State Coal Tax Severance Revenue

  
  Coal tax severance revenue? Those words really tell us a lot about...well, perhaps nothing if you've never heard them before. It seems in many states, Alabama being one of them, a company can't just purchase vast acreages and then do anything with the land, at [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 1:45am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Free "Poison & Wine" Album Download from The Civil Wars

  
  John Paul White is a Shoals musician who's going places. Recently he teamed with Joy Williams, currently of Nashville, to form a band called The Civil Wars. Their music is diverse and has been featured on such television shows as Grey's Anatomy.
  
  John and [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 11:50pm EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• TimesDaily to Charge for Online Content?

  
  The Tennessee Valley Printing Company is owned by the Shelton family; currently the fourth generation of Sheltons manage this growing business. Yes, in this economic recession, the Tennessee Valley Printing Company is still growing, but by acquisition, rather than increased sales and revenue. Obviously, this [...]
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  Posted: November 14, 2009, 5:25am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Just Say Nay - Dump the Dump!

  
  A Letter to All Citizens of Florence & All Other Conservation-Minded Individuals:
  
  It's been said "You can't fight City Hall." Well, we say we can--especially if City Hall is wrong. We are asking all residents of Florence to take part in this campaign to [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 8:25am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Cynthia Stewart Does Tharptown

  
  
  Tharptown ladies, sing this song, ooh lah, ooh lah.
  Tharptown admins, boy, they're wrong, ooh lah, ooh lah.
  Gwine to dance all night, gwine to dance all day,
  Else we'll protest, ain't that right, got to have our say.
  
  Like Katy Perry, Cynthia' [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 2:10am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Saluting Frank Buckles - Last Living U.S. WWI Veteran

  
  
  
  Frank Woodruff Buckles, 108, is the last living United States Veteran of World War I. Since the 2008 anniversary of the Armistice, the last known remaining veteran from Great Britain has passed away. Now, Frank [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 8:00am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Salute to Veterans 2009

  
  Whether you call it Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, or Veterans Day, November 11th is a day set aside originally by all English speaking countries to mark the end of the Great War and, now, to honor all veterans who have served their countries with honor.
  [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 5:50am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Checks, but No Balances...

  
  Those who read our column on a daily basis are familiar with Brandi Lee Campbell, the Colbert County woman a grand jury refused to indict in the slaying of her brother. Now, Campbell is again wanted by Colbert County authorities. Besides several bad check charges, [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 5:10am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Ronnie Valentine - Dedicated Deputy or Gunslinger?

  
  Lauderdale County Road 200, commonly called the Old Savannah Highway, is a winding stretch of two-lane road--so winding that it was bypassed when the state upgraded Alabama Highway 20 some years ago. Early in the morning of Sunday, October 4, 2009, Deputy Ronnie Valentine was [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 6:15am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• We Offer a Question and an Answer

  
  The rub of today's topic is that the question and answer aren't mated...
  
  A reader from Killen has asked the current status of Allen Wilson, the Lauderdale County teacher who was recently convicted of misdemeanor assault and terminated from his position at Brooks High School. Wilson was sentenced [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 4:05am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Andy Betterton & Rhea Fulmer - Biased on Not on Tourism Pick?

  
  Would Jan Ingle (pictured) make a dynamic addition to the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Board? We think she would, but the 1985 graduate of the University of North Alabama may never get the chance.
  
  It seems the Lauderdale County Commission and Florence City Council are still [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 8:45am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Zachary Mullins Charged Because of Flag Team Row?

  
  Our October 29th blog on the indictment of Morgan County teacher Jessica Heather DeFoor and Air Force Lt. Zachary W. Mullins told it like it is: If an 18/19 year-old male has sex with a 15 year-old girl, he's guilty of second degree rape' [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 3:00am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Looking for a Bargain? Or Maybe a History Lesson?

  
  Are you looking for a bargain? Well, if you aren't, you should be; so if you haven't discovered Bargain Mom, you've been missing out on a multitude of great deals.
  
  Some of the offers featured in the Bargain Mom Blog, are local to the Birmingham area, but' [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 5:10am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• One Swanky Landfill

  
  They're tearing down a school to build a parking lot.
  
  They're tearing down a hospital to build a parking lot.
  
  They're tearing down a church to build a parking lot.
  
  Whoa! They're tearing down a parking lot to build a parking lot!
  [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 2:05am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Guerra & Konig: A Tale of Two Entrepreneurs

  
  Francisco Guerra and Bernard Konig have a lot in common. The two are dedicated family men, close to the same age, and epitomize the ethic of hard work. In the early part of this decade both men brought their ideas to northeast Lauderdale County and set up shop; this [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 4:00am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks

• Mayor LaWayne Harrison - Same Song, Second Verse

  
  In 2008, LaWayne Harrison won his second term as mayor of the small Colbert County town of Leighton with 74% of the vote; however, the landslide victory came in spite of Harrison's record in office, not because of it.
  
  In 2007, employees of the' [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 5:40am EST
  by Shoalanda Speaks