JAMES MADISON QUOTE - 1822

"A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives."

SCOTTSBORO WEATHER - SUN & MOON RISE

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Mayor Potter's Report on the State of the City


On Wednesday morning Scottsboro's Mayor Melton Potter delivered the annual "State of the City Report." This is The Daily Sentinel's report on this event by Ken Bonner
http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_2847bc82-29b4-11e0-b50f-001cc4c002e0.html

Monday, January 24, 2011

Scottsboro City Council Meeting

Mayor Potter and Council Member Gary Speers discuss the Rec Com Organization Chart and Athletic Coordinator position, item 2 and 4 on the agenda.
City Council Agenda, click on image for an expanded view.



1) Commercial Development Authority, CDA, has 2 vacancies, applications for the CDA must be turned into the City Clerk by Feb. 18, 2011, 4:20PM. 2 & 4) Rec Com Organizational Chart discussed and approved for a temporary change, Athletic Coordinators position approved until Oct. 2011 at which time the position will be reviewed. 3) Vacancy on Housing Authority, Mayors appointment, individual must live in the Housing Project. 4) see above 5) Bid opening approval for brush chipper awarded to Vermeer of Birmingham, Al. as low bidder meeting specifications, $14,700.00. 6) Bid opening approval for Excavator awarded to Tractor & Equipment of Huntsville, Al. as low bidder meeting specifications, $151,395.00 7) Bid opening approval for mini-excavator awarded to Tractor & Equipment of Huntsville, Al. for $56,959 as low bidder meeting specifications. 8) Alcohol Beverage License hearing for the sale of beer & wine for Victory Lanes, 1503 E. Willow St., Scottsboro, Al., approved.
Reports: Garry Morgan made announcement inviting City Council, Mayor and Citizens to the Black History Month celebration and the one year anniversary of the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center, 428 West Willow St., link from Scottsboro Stories about event. http://scottsborostories.blogspot.com/2011/01/black-history-month-events-at.html

Jackson County Commission Meeting

Jackson County Commission agenda with my notes, click on image for expanded view.





Sunday, January 23, 2011

Scottsboro City Council Meeting Tuesday Jan. 18, 2011

City Council Agendas for 18 January's meeting, for an expanded view click on the image.
The City Council met Tuesday due to Mondays holiday. There was a work session and regular council meeting held. The previous weeks work session was rescheduled due to heavy snow fall.

There is one vacancy on the Personnel Board, 4 vacancies on the Tree Commission and 5 vacancies on the Zoning Adjustment and Appeals Board. All applications for board or commission vacancies must be turned into the City Clerk no later than February 8, 2011 by 4:30PM. For more information contact the City Clerk at 256-574-3100.
.
Agenda item 1, Council approved Distracted Drivers Ordinance. Daily Sentinel link: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_98bb96b4-241e-11e0-8eb2-001cc4c002e0.html
.
Agenda item 2, Council approved $2500 to the Salvation Army. Daily Sentinel link: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_2d889616-24e7-11e0-9207-001cc4c002e0.html


Thursday, January 13, 2011

Are You Ready for That Great Atomic Power? (Part of the Atomic Rhapsody)Music Banned from "al.com" Scottsboro and Huntsville Forums

"Tickling the Dragon"


Another version which I call, "Sunburn and the Beach Ball."



These videos have been banned from the al.com Scottsboro and Huntsville forums. I have also been banned from posting on these so called forums. This is not the first time censorship of TVA issues have occured on the al.com Scottsboro forum.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Political Extremism and Hateful Speech Leads to Violence

Sarah Palins Gun-sight Ad targeting Democrat politicians. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/24/sarah-palins-pac-puts-gun_n_511433.html
.
Specific facts I have noticed common to all political extremists, they transfer all responsibility to the opposition and they never take responsibility for their actions or comments.
.
In the wake of the shooting in Tuscon, Arizona which left 6 dead and 14 injured, the dead included a Federal judge and a child, the injured included a United States Congress woman who was the target of shooter Jared Loughner. News reports released have indicated Loughner planned the attack on Congress Woman Gabrielle Giffords. Story Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110111/ap_on_re_us/us_congresswoman_shot
.
There is much controversy concerning the political rhetoric of Republican extremists. Noted quotes of right wing extremist and propagandists who make money and gain publicity from spreading hate and insanity:

1. Rush Limbaugh: "I tell people don't kill all the liberals. Leave enough so we can have two on every campus – living fossils – so we will never forget what these people stood for."

2. Senator Phil Gramm: "We're going to keep building the party until we're hunting Democrats with dogs."

3. Rep. James Hansen on Bill Clinton: "Get rid of the guy. Impeach him, censure him, assassinate him."

4. John Derbyshire intimated in the National Review that because Chelsea Clinton had "the taint," she should "be killed."

5. Ann Coulter: "We need to execute people like John Walker in order to physically intimidate liberals, by making them realize that they can be killed, too."

6. Ann Coulter: "My only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times building."

7. Bill O'Reilly: "Those clowns over at the liberal radio network, we could incarcerate them immediately. Will you have that done, please? Send over the FBI and just put them in chains."

8. Clear Channel radio host Glenn Beck said he was "thinking about killing Michael Moore" and pondered whether "I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it," before concluding: "No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out -- is this wrong?"

9. Mel Gibson on Frank Rich: "I want to kill him. I want his entrails on a stick. I want to kill his dog."

10. Fresno, Ca. City Council Member Jerry Duncan in 2003 wrote in an email that police should "Cap" members of the Human Relations Commission and wrote, "If I had one dirty bomb and I could eliminate all the liberals in Fresno at once." When his comments became public, Duncan said "The response I have gotten from the public on this has been 100% supportive."

11. Right winger backer and often a TV guest, Ted Nugent calling for violence against Democrats - http://vyan.blogspot.com/2007/08/nugent-calls-for-violence-against.html

12. "Liberalism Is a Mental Disorder: Savage Solutions" by Michael Savage, conservative radio talk show host. One of the books in which murderer Jim David Adkisson had in his possession. Adkinson stated he was motivated to kill liberals and Democrats. He entered a church in Knoxville, Tn and began a murder spree. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Knoxville_Unitarian_Universalist_church_shooting
.
Rachel Maddow, "A Summary of Death Threats by the Right Wing Extreme" (Aug 2009)


.
When does political speech cross over the line of responsible speech? A discussion concerning the issue from "Crooks & Liars:" Does hateful rhetoric really lead to violence? History gives us the clear answer: yes
.
Trusting Washington politicians to act responsibly concerning this issue leaves this writer very uneasy. Already the extremists on the left are discussing limitations on political speech where "perceived threats" are involved. The threat seems to be originating from extremists on the left and right. I wonder if the "Speech Police" will come and haul me away for this speech?
**
UPDATE: FBI finds evidence Loughner planned the attacks, from NPR. "FBI Director Robert Mueller confirmed that authorities "believe we have indication that he [Loughner] attended a similar event" to the one held on Saturday."
.
"Investigators also say they found an envelope in which the words "I planned ahead," "My assassination" and "Giffords" were scrawled." http://www.npr.org/2011/01/10/132780010/vitriol-cited-as-possible-factor-in-arizona-tragedy?ft=1&f=1001

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Scottsboro City Council Meeting - Maple Street Flooding Issue

Scottsboro City Council listens as Rev Granville Anderson expresses concerns of the minority community in Scottsboro relating to the flooding issue.
Rev. Granville Anderson, Pastor of the St. Paul AME Church, Scottsboro, Al., addresses the Scottsboro City Council concerning the East Maple Street Flood disaster, Mayor Potter listens intently to the message delivered by Reverend Anderson,"...people of the area have lost faith in their city government...," Mayor Potter's reply, "this hasn't been easy on any of us...the waiting pretty much kills us."

Council member Gary Speers discusses East Maple Street flooding issue, Mr. Speers stated, "the city is doing the best that it can...the residents have not been forgotten."
**
Monday night was a city council work session. 1) Wade Stapler spoke concerning the hazards of Al. Hwy 79 and U.S. 72 intersection. With input from Chief Dawe and the Mayor it was reported that since 2006 the intersection has tallied 4 fatalities, 15 injuries and 33 accidents. This intersection is the most dangerous intersection in Jackson County.
.
There have been hundreds of accidents at the Hwy 72 and Al Hwy 79 intersection and many, many deaths. Approximately 8 years ago a group of concerned citizens posted crosses at the intersection during an election cycle representing the number of deaths which have occurred at this location, the crosses numbered over 50. The crosses were taken down within 48 hours of being placed. The political signs were allowed to remain.
.
2)Proposed Distracted Driving Ordinace Discussed.
.
3) Salvation Army fund request discussion for $4500.00 relating to the East Maple Street flood disaster. It was stated that $2120.00 would go to pay for motel bills of the citizens displaced as a result of the flood. The Mayor stated the funding to buy out the properties is a slow process.
.
Rev. Granville Anderson spoke to the City Council regarding the plight of the flood victims. He stated many had to move back into their dilapidated structures. Rev. Anderson stated that the rich and influential Scottsboro citizens receive funding for projects while the poor people of Scottsboro suffer. He stated no one from the City Council with the exception of Council member Gary Speers had been to the area to check on the people in the flood zone. Several on the city council offered their apologies for not inspecting the area and making themselves available to the citizens of the flooded area.
.
Marqueta Johnson spoke to the council stating she and her husband lost everything including their jobs. She stated, "we are just trying to make it day to day...we are confused as to what is going on...we have lost everything."
.
Rev. Anderson stated, "the people of the area have lost faith in their city government...they see it as an issue of the have and have nots, you care about people with money, they need to know you care about them." At that point the apologies rolled in and some council members stated, "I have a phone and I am available to all citizens," other council members chimed in with, "I wish they didn't feel that way" and "I'm sorry."
.
Council member Gary Speers told Rev Anderson, "the city is doing the best that it can." Mayor Potter further stated, " This has not been easy on us, the waiting is killing us." City Council President Matthew Hodges stated, "if we need to come out there we will;" Council member Keith Smith replied, "we will fight for any group in the city with a problem."
.
Mayor Potter stated the E. Maple property appraisals have been completed and the city was waiting on FEMA's response to this disaster.
.
Associated links to the Scottsboro Flooding Story: The Daily Sentinel- http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_0a633696-1844-11e0-9195-001cc4c03286.html