Cassie Carol Medley: New Franklin CoC Director

W. Kevin Stone

The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously to hire Cassie Carol Lindsey Medley as its new director; she was chosen from among 18 applicants. Previously, Medley worked for Valley State Bank in Russellville at a branch managed by W. Kevin Stone. Coincidentally, Stone is on the board of directors of the Franklin County Chamber.

Stone isn't Medley's only tie to the chamber. Cassie Medley is also the owner of Dixie Catering, a business that is a chamber member. Not surprisingly, many of the 17 other applicants have been crying foul.

Medley has proclaimed her experience in the business world made her the ideal choice for the job, yet other applicants had similar backgrounds. In fact, many would have seemed to have much more impressive backgrounds. It's possible that in a town as small as Russellville, in a county with as sparse a population as Franklin, each of the remaining 17 could have had similar connections with board members and the board in general.

We expect to have a follow-up blog on the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and its new director in the not too distant future. Promoting Franklin County to the world is a huge job, and we wish Mrs. Medley good luck.

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Will the Alabama Music Hall of Fame reopen...ever? If we must venture an opinion, we'll speculate the answer is "no." We don't seem to be alone in that opinion. Here's a very insightful piece from Steve Wiggins of The Quad-Cities Daily:

Swan Song? Johnson Reflects

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Pictured above is a scapegoat...or is that David Johnson, former long-time director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame?



Shoalanda

The "Catfish Wrapper" is Back!/Mary Carton Has Grit

We're showcasing two, or more correctly three, local artists today. While they couldn't be more different, they both epitomize what's special about the Shoals area in general and Colbert County in particular. If you don't watch anything else until TBS begins its Halloween marathon, you have to watch this eye-opening video from Steve & Sheri Wiggins, aka The Catfish Wrapper:

The Boys from Brentwood Have a Surprise

We believe every word of this insightful video is true. Unfortunately, that includes the great divide between the two counties. Let's try to put this aside for a few minutes and take a long look at RegionalCare and its plans for Helen Keller Hospital...or at least what this mega-corporation's plans were. We here in Florence have recently been up in arms over our garbage situation. Let's hope the entire Shoals area will now similarly unite in the quest for the best health care.

Thank you, Steve & Sheri for all your efforts. We've named Steve a local hero once before, but now we want to proclaim both Steve & Sheri Wiggins local heroes for all they do for Sheffield, Colbert County, and the Shoals area.

Related post: If It Seems Too Good...

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Our second local artist is our friend Mary Carton. Mary not only writes a local blog, Rosedale Gardens, she also blogs for Grit Magazine. Currently, she's also running the Facebook site Remember Tuscumbia, but that's still not all. Mary has used her photography skills to bring us 2012 Tuscumbia Alabama. We'll have more information about this calendar when it's officially on sale.

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Sometimes overheard conversations can be the most enlightening, not to mention entertaining. We often hear others comment on various writers, painters, sculptors, etc., by announcing they could do just as well. Perhaps they can, but are they? It's not just having talent that sets one apart from the crowd, but knowing how to use it and promote it--something our local artists do very well.



Shoalanda

Franklin County's Calling... (Trapp & Pilati)

It's fair to state that Franklin County always has the most, shall we say, interesting political and crime news in the area. Two stories originating from that fair county yesterday just beg for a comment.

The name Howard Ray Trapp is not unknown to the citizens of Franklin. In 1985, the senior Howard Ray testified at the trial of Russellville Police Chief "Buckshot" Saint. Trapp admitted to being a well-known bootlegger who served as a driver for Bobby Dawson for two years. Saint's defense attorney: Roger Bedord, now state senator.

Now, Howard Trapp Jr. is again in the news. In 2005, the 28 year-old and his 55 year-old girlfriend were arrested for burglary in a series of post office break-ins. Trapp was charged with theft from post office boxes in Athens, Haleyville, Red Bay, and Bear Creek. At that time, Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett stated Trapp had already served time in state and Federal prisons.

By June 2010, the younger Trapp was living in Phil Campbell when he was arrested for drug possession and forgery. Last December, Trapp made front page news when he and his current wife attempted to run down a home owner who had returned and found the pair in the act of breaking and entering.

While in jail on that charge, Trapp has stabbed himself twice and cost the taxpayers over $50,000.00. Franklin County has now turned Howard Ray Trapp Jr. over to Federal Marshals. Apparently Trapp was on Federal probation related to the post office break-ins. We're sure the people of Franklin County wish the Feds had kept him.

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Is John Pilati a sex offender? The judge who presided at his trial on civil rights violations required that the former Franklin County District Attorney register as a sex offender upon his release from Federal prison. Was the judge acting within the law? That would be beyond our scope of knowledge to answer, but an appeals court has ruled that part of Pilati's sentence must stand.

Pilati claims he was merely attempting to insure those young men providing urine samples (some at Pilati's private residence) did not pull a switcheroo. If any readers are unfamiliar with the protocol of such tests, the proper way to determine that fact is by immediate temperature testing. Sorry, John, your story just sounds totally lame for a man of your intelligence.

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If you're on Facebook and have not yet friended the wonderful Whippoorwill Hollow Films, please do so now. The Sheffield based film company is shooting for 1K likes--it shouldn't be hard considering all Steve and Sheri Wiggins have done for their home town: Link



Shoalanda

The Truth Hurts, but It's Good for Us...

How does that old joke go? Atlanta envies New York, Birmingham envies Atlanta, Huntsville envies Birmingham, and Florence & the Shoals envy Huntsville. We're here to tell you that after reading the TimesDaily the past few months, Florence and the Shoals should envy...Florence and the Shoals.

There may be some crime; there may even be a modicum of bickering among local leaders, but there's no true recession here. Jobs are plentiful in most fields, and if they aren't in yours, stick around because they will be after a few more months of SEDA recruiting.

The National Alabama rail car plant is set to explode--just tell them when. The Alabama Music Hall of Fame now has a second group to solicit funds for the HOF. According to TD staff writer Russ Corey, the formation of a foundation to seek additional funding for the Tuscumbia boondoggle is a positive thing. If you refuse the first one to ask for a contribution, you'll feel bad and contribute to the second one? We wonder how many will now give to neither since the whole situation smacks of a family feud?

The new year will also see a new Internet company based in Lexington--we're guessing because the Snow Masters company has so much more experience in that sort of thing than AT&T. Heaven forbid the TD portray such a project as anything short of the second coming. It will only be when National Alabama, the Hall of Fame, a Francisco Guerra company, or a similar endeavor goes under that the local press will be missing in action.

For real news concerning the local economy, look at the obituaries--that's right, the local obituaries. Those of a certain age who pass on have fewer and fewer children...at least living in the Shoals. If they do have resident children, their grandchildren have migrated to the lush economic pastures of larger cities. Even those who stay here for personal reasons are quick to paint a bleak picture of life in northwest Alabama. The Shoals is saturated with attorneys, nurses, and accountants. Many in these highly skilled professions barely eke out a living, at least compared to their colleagues in other geographical areas.

Nevertheless, we can rejoice because Florence will now have one of the top five school systems in the state...and not leave any child behind to do so. How do we know this? The TimesDaily has told us so. Belief in one's self is essential, but it takes more to make the system work. If local stores took inventory in the same manner the TD takes stock of local industry, we're afraid most would go bankrupt very quickly.

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Hard words are often necessary. We've recently encouraged readers to write those in state and national government to request a link to the interstate highway system. We still think that should be the number one project for the area, but what would be the second?

Several things come to mind, but the easiest is community clean-up. Would you want to put a restaurant in the East Florence Entertainment District (whatever that may be)? Would you want to open a large chain store in downtown Sheffield? Would you want to place an upscale art gallery in downtown Leighton?

We're betting you answered no to all three questions. If the answers are ever to change to yes, local governments are going to have to treat the offending property owners in a fair, but extremely strict manner. Junk is junk, no matter who owns it.

We'll add that the City of Sheffield should appoint Steve Wiggins to head a monumental clean up campaign. The city should give Steve authority to do what it takes to clean up what used to be a beautiful town. There are only two choices, and those who choose to do nothing should expect nothing. Think about it.

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It's Christmas Eve, and the above subjects of urban and economic decay in the area, while necessary, aren't exactly uplifting. If you're looking for a treat on your afternoon off, we suggest you take a look at Remembering Florence. If you haven't visited Larry Fisher's Facebook page recently, you'll be amazed at the added material. There are now over 300 photos of Florence and the surrounding area. Thanks again to Larry for creating and monitoring this wonderful sight.


What's up with this: It's 12/24 and we haven't heard from J. J. Ray. Will Santa escape Rhea Fulmer Michael Tays' evil plot to ruin Christmas? Let's hope everyone has a joyous and fantastic holiday!

Shoalanda

Mike Curtis "Fighting" for Memphis-Atlanta Highway

There's nothing like a well-informed politician. Yes, we mean nothing, since whoever heard of a truly well-informed politician in the Shoals? Mike Curtis just proved that he is not breaking that mold.

The Memphis to Atlanta Highway has been in talking stages for around twenty years. About three weeks after the initial route through Huntsville and the Redstone Arsenal was approved, along came a little thing called 9/11. That would have been almost nine years ago, and the army base soon reneged on its promise of access due to security reasons.

According to Alabama Department of Transportation officials, the project was shelved nearly a year ago. Yet, Rep. Mike Curtis of Greenhill stated last week that this was the first he's heard of it (TimesDaily 7/18). Nevertheless, he's going to keep fighting for it.

Do you think we should tell him that Huntsville has already initiated plans for its own new Southern Bypass that eliminates the old Redstone route? There might just be a little duplication there, Mike, but with your keen sense of timing, we're sure Washington is just waiting for your input to get back on track with the project.

Or maybe, just maybe, the voters are wondering why you didn't know the project had been shelved almost a year ago. You might want to look into that...

If you missed it the first time: Link

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While on the subject of hypocrisy, Sunday's TimesDaily also editorialized on the lack of formal history in the Shoals. Hmmm, didn't there used to be a weekly historical column in the TD until the new editor took over some months ago?

If it's only in print, is the foot still planted firmly in the mouth?

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Quote of the week from Steve Wiggins: Let's all keep trying, and pull The Shoals into the 20th Century whether it likes it or not. And that was NOT a typo.


What's up with this: A whole day has passed and not a peep out of Cherokee. Don't worry, we'll have more tomorrow.

Shoalanda

Local Heroes/The Sherwin-Williams Police

Since we're finally able to take a breather from the onerous election season, we're taking the opportunity to initiate two new segments. The first is "Local Heroes" and should be self-explanatory. This award will offer no monetary prize or resume' fillers, but we hope it will bring these hard-working individuals some well-deserved thanks.

Local Heroes know that, while the economy may trickle down, social or political success pushes upward--the major reason our blog focuses on local events rather than the often misguided efforts of the Washington scene.

Our first Local Hero is Steve Wiggins of Sheffield. Steve knows that President Obama is not planning on visiting Sheffield, on viewing Second Street or the railroad tracks and properly tut-tutting, on offering millions of dollars in stimulus funds just to revitalize the town many Colbert Countians call home. No, Steve is working in all areas of Sheffield to make his hometown a better place. Think you can do better than Steve? We're pretty sure he's not egotistical; give him a call and join him on his quest to make Sheffield all it can be.

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The Sherwin-Williams Police? Maybe that one's not as self-explanatory, but we think reporting such arrests is necessary. Our first report is a bust at the Green Life Package Store in Littleville. The Sherwin-Williams SWAT team was seen wearing haz-mat suits as they entered the bile green building. Officials speaking on the promise of anonymity said the structure wasn't difficult to track down--it glows in the dark. Known cohorts of Green Life are various title-pawn shops scattered throughout the Shoals. Let's hope this Littleville emporium will reform after its first arrest.

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Sources at Helen Keller Hospital have identified the toddler who drowned earlier today as the daughter of Jerry and Teresa Cagle. Jerilyn Grace Cagle was pronounced dead at the hospital in which she was born. She would have been two years old on July 26th.

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For those who just can't get enough of Cherokee, we should have a special report sometime after Noon today. Thanks to C. R. and others for keeping our readers up to date on all sides of this conflict--now threatening to take on the mantle previously enjoyed only by England's One Hundred Year War.


Shoalanda

Charles Moore's Last Assignment

Once again, Whippoorwill Hollow Films brings us an extraordinary view of the Shoals. The video is so moving, so dramatic, that it's easy to forget it was produced here, in a small Sheffield studio. Obviously, in Steve and Sheri Wiggins' competent hands, small studio doesn't mean small film.

We'll insert a random thought concerning this video on Charles Moore; alongside the hooded Klansmen stand paramilitary--men dressed as if ready for combat. Yet our real soldiers are serving halfway around the world, perhaps giving their very lives for our freedom. One has to wonder how these strange throwbacks to a darker time in our history have the audacity to wear such garb. Perhaps it's enough to be thankful their kind grows fewer with each passing year.




Tomorrow: Another look at Brad Holmes

Shoalanda

Odds, Ends, & Infamous DUIs

One must wonder how Tuscumbia Police Chief Tony Logan expects the citizens of that town to respect the law when he so obviously does not. While he may overturn his DUI conviction in Lauderdale Circuit Court, it will be on a technicality, not because he's innocent. Not a very good example, is he?

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We wish to correct a statement concerning Dr. William Roddy made in a recent blog. While Dr. Roddy has treated private Medicaid patients attending the Sara Dinsmore Center in Franklin County, he did not treat those who resided in Scope 310 group homes. We regret this error; Scope 310 (Shoals Cope for the Mentally Retarded) provides excellent services for their clients, and we encourage everyone to patronize their Blue Door Thrift Stores in Florence and Russellville.

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Thanks to Whippoorwill Hollow Films for this wonderful video. Steve and Sheri Wiggins do a fantastic job in promoting the Shoals...

Shoalanda

Sheffield is Saved (Well, at Least Partially)

A recent column focused on the giant Santa that resided prominently in Sheffield during December in the 1950s and 1960s. There's still no word on the location of this desirable artifact, but we now have a photo...or at least part of a photo. It's an intriguing tale.

It seems that during the 1950s, a mother took a black and white photograph of her daughter standing in front of Santa's boots. In order to comprehend the enormity of the Sheffield Santa, remember that this child, who was then three to four years of age, would ordinarily have achieved a height between 36 and 39 inches. The parking meters to the right of the child are anchored in the raised sidewalk and mounted on metal posts approximately 42" in height. Taking those measurements into consideration, we may infer that Santa was...to put it scientifically...very tall, not to mention wide.

Now to discuss the elephant, it seems that the photographer, while focusing on her daughter, inadvertently lopped of Saint Nick's head and shoulders, and so the photograph remained for many years until it was given to a family friend--the brother of our thoughtful donor in fact. The young man asked an artist to finish out the missing anatomy of the famous Sheffield Santa, and, voila, so the Big Guy appears in our blog today.

If you have a keen eye, you can see that Santa stood where the fountain sits today--or should we be so correct as to say the filled-in fountain featured prominently in Steve Wiggins' video Sheffield: A City Hanging over a Cliff. If the Sheffield city fathers were to find Santa, would there now be a prominent place to display him? Sadly, as large as our corpulent Santa is, even given the fact he was halved each year for storage, no one may have thought him worthy of salvation as the world moved on into the 1970s.

If any other readers have photos or information, please contact us. We hope the Saga of the Sheffield Santa is ongoing.


Special Thanks: To Pamela Lindsey Hamm for providing us with the Sheffield Santa photo. She was a friend of the girl in the photo and her brother the thoughtful family friend who had the image artfully restored.

Shoalanda

Was Sheffield Ever Really Like This?

We recently wrote a blog concerning the efforts of Steve Wiggins and others to restore Sheffield to its former glory. After our column Who Thinks Sheffield Can? was published, a reader sent us this poem by Tucky Ginn. It seems a fitting Christmas present to all those in Sheffield who love the city and are determined to make their hometown again something to be proud of.

My hometown is the greatest on earth

I’m so glad it’s where my mother gave birth.

I’ve lived there nearly all my life

It’s the place where I met my wife.

I was raised with downtown just a few blocks away

I guess you could call it a small town USA.

We didn’t have television sets back then

We would just play all the time with a friend.

Rode our bicycles everywhere we went

Take big cardboard boxes and make us a tent.

Brocato’s Market was just around the block

After church on Sunday, it’s where everybody would stop.

Getting those good rolls by the dozen or two

All we wanted was some bubble gum to chew.

Skating on the sidewalk, skinning up our knee

Always had a hard time keeping up with the key.

The kids on Saturday went to the picture show all day

And to get in with a dime was all you had to pay.

We would go real early—it started at 10

A lot of Cowboys and Indians and you know who would win.

Two movies, a serial and, of course, a cartoon

We wouldn’t see daylight till 2 or 3 in the afternoon.

One time when I was just a small lad

I got woke up in the night by my dad.

He put us in the car and drove towards town

We watched the old hotel burn to the ground.

They built it right back without any haste

Only ‘way across the street in a different place.

Clement’s Barber Shop was on the first floor

Go in through the lobby or an outside door.

You would have to sit and wait for awhile

They mostly cut flat tops because that was the style.

The Community Center was behind the hotel

Over time, it’s a place we got to know well.

The center was used for more than one thing

You might have played basketball or heard Elvis sing.

The Tennessee River was right at our feet

Just go down Alabama Avenue to the end of the street.

There was the Naval Reserve and Ice Plant Road

A big crane unloading gravel by the barge load.

Going to the Ice Plant was always fun

Dropping blocks in the crusher, and we watched it run.

Then they bag it up all nice and clean

Take some with us for homemade ice cream.

Whippoorwill Hollow was our old swimming hole

To jump off those highest bluffs you had to be bold.

About 65 feet high was the tallest one

Down to about 20 where we laid in the sun.

Jump in the water and climb back up with care

Most of the time we swam in our underwear.

It’s because we had to sneak off to go

If we asked our mother she would just say no.

Downtown’s not what it used to be

But I can close my eyes and look back and see.

Saturdays were the busiest day by far

People could not find a place to park their car.

They would be taking care of business like paying bills

And going in the dime stores looking for deals.

They might have had shoes that needed repair

Around to Green’s Shoe Shop; it was always there.

If it was clothes they were looking for

They could go to Abroms or the Belk Hudson Store.

If a better line of clothes was what the seek

Then, they could go to Olim’s or to Otto Speake.

Into Best Jewelers for a really nice gift

Around to Pride’s Cleaners to get your shirts done stiff.

Timberlake Hardware was a favorite of mine

He had about anything you were looking to find.

If a good hamburger was to your taste

Then the Big-E-Nuff was just the place.

Sit at the counter or get them by the sack

We would shoot pool and play dominoes in the back.

If you had a roll of film that was ready to drop

Just take it on in to Crump’s Camera Shop.

I guess the old pharmacy without a doubt

Had to be our very first hangout.

Soda fountain inside; get a cherry coke

Go outside on the corner and hear a dirty joke.

Shug Sieman was a woman that everybody knew

Going through garbage cans is what she would do.

Pushed an old cart around in sunshine or rain

Whenever we saw her we would holler out her name.

Frederickson’s Tire and Appliances opened in 1946

You could buy nice new things or get your old stuff fixed.

Lucky’s Minnow Farm was a little kid’s delight

Ponds full of minnows and goldfish and a lot of frogs at night.

If getting groceries is where you need to be

Head out to Liberty Supermarket or down to the A&P.

The Grant Hotel was down by the railroad track

They say you could drive around and park in the back

Wait at the door for the bellhop to appear

Get you whisky or a woman—at least, that’s what I’d hear.

We bought bicycle parts at the Western Auto Store

You could also get appliances or a Wizard lawnmower.

Sometimes on Sunday, we would go out to eat

Down to Spalding Walgreen’s and look for a seat.

They had that good home cooking from the South

And Exa’s homemade rolls would melt in your mouth.

Another little place was Brewer’s Café

A black man went inside and ate one day.

Some unknown person went and got a gun

Blew the front window out just for fun.

Went to a lot of dances at the V.F.W. Hall

A bonfire in the parking lot for homecoming in the Fall.

There would be pep rallies in the middle of town

Doing that snake dance all up and down.

Going to Odell”s for a hamburger and coke.

Trade in your bottle for a cigarette to smoke.

We had the bowling alley and the WoodyMac Corral

And the telephones back then had a rotary dial.

Jackson Highway was the home of Muscle Shoals Sound

Music from there is heard the world around.

A lot of famous people would come and go

And nobody in town would ever know.

Like Bob Dylan and Sonny and Cher

And even the Rolling Stones recorded there.

I think a small town is the best place to be

At least, that’s the way it worked out for me.

I’m sure you think your hometown is the best

But, I’ll take Sheffield, Alabama, over all the rest.

Tucky Ginn

September 2000

Shoalanda

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 I see Ian Sanford's. Anyone else?

We here at our blogging group would also raise our hands, but none of us lives in Sheffield either; however, we're going to make ourselves honorary citizens of Sheffield for the day and give some pats on the back. First, we're sure it wasn't easy to just say no to storefront churches in downtown Sheffield. Early Christians met in homes, so we're not of the belief a church building must have stained glass and a steeple. We do believe that buildings built for business should house enterprises that engage in commerce of some form and return tax dollars to the city in which they are built. Kudos to Ian Sanford and the town council for enforcing this law.

Automotive repair shops downtown? Yes, they do pay taxes, but they do not bring in as much out of town traffic as other retail establishments. Florence long ago rezoned that fair city and, for the most part, made a variance as rare as a six-toed cat. That brings us to Steve Wiggins and his stand against such establishments. Steve has vision. He sees the forest. It wouldn't hurt to listen to him.

Photo: Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in1970s


For your enjoyment: If you haven't seen Steve Wiggins' film City Hanging Over a Cliff, here's your chance--link.

Shoalanda

What's a WAWA?

What's a WAWA? Apparently in Canada it's a goose for which a town is named. Here in North Alabama, it's something similar, but completely different. If you smiled at the previous sentence, you're a prime candidate to purchase a copy of this movie.

Produced by Sheffield's Steve Wiggins and directed by Wiggins' wife Sherri, Birth of a Legend: The Story of the WAWA is a hilarious sci-fi movie set in the fictional Alabama town of Sweet Tee. Visualize radioactive plastic fishing worms injected with DNA from a catfish and you'll have a good idea where this movie is going.

If this all sounds like a 1950s B-movie, we may infer that was the intention of the producer and director, but if you're still not sure what a WAWA is, we'll reveal that it stands for West Alabama Whoop Ass. Now, knowing that, we're sure you'll want to purchase a copy of this cinematic triumph starring locals Juliana Martin, Matt Osborne, and Donnie Fritts.

If you hurry, they'll include a copy of the movie's soundtrack absolutely free: http://birthofalegend.com/SalesPage.html

I'm so sure that you'll love this movie, I'll pop for a pair of tickets to the Marbro Drive-In if you don't. Can't beat that with a WAWA.

Laugh of the day: We hear that John Crowder is giving up Florence City Council meetings for lent.

The Catfish Wrapper

Sometimes local news encompasses more than words printed on paper or filtering through the airwaves. Utilizing the Internet, Sheffield resident Steve Wiggins has created a unique form of news/entertainment in The Catfish Wrapper.

Calling his site a VodCast, Wiggins airs videos of local entertainers mixed with political chat. Often Steve, who unsuccessfully ran for Sheffield City Council this summer, is the first in the know about Shoals happenings.

Starting today, you can link directly from our site to The Catfish Wrapper. We can't promise you'll always agree with Steve, but you can be sure to find both entertainment and erudite commentary.


What's up with this: Rumors are a certain L.A. pundit with Sheffield roots is closely connected to Steve Wiggins, hmmmm.