Widows Creek Fossil Plant, Can a Kingston Type Disaster Happen Here?

photo by TVA

photos by TVA

Lets look at some facts.

Civil Penalty and Fines-http://www.adem.state.al.us/PublicNotice/Jan/AO/1TVA.htm ; Enviromental Release Reports- http://www.scorecard.org/env-releases/facility.tcl?tri_id=35772STVWDCOUNT#major_chemical_releases ; Pollution Ranking in State- http://www.scorecard.org/ranking/rank-facilities.tcl?how_many=100&drop_down_name=Total+environmental+releases&fips_state_code=01&sic_2=All+reporting+sectors

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TVA's description of Widows Creek: http://www.tva.gov/sites/widowscreek.htm

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More Reports: http://www.thearabtribune.com/articles/2008/12/31/news/news3.txt

TVA Ignores Leaks: http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/energy/node/454

Coal Waste Pollution, leaks from the Widows Creek Ash Pond have been reported: " Two additional TVA sites are also responsible for groundwater contamination, the Colbert and Widows Creek plants, both in Alabama on the Tennessee River. The Widows Creek plant has had high levels of lead, iron, manganese, aluminum, sulfates and boron. The Colbert site is over standard for sulfate, chromium, selenium, iron, molybdenum and boron." http://www.appvoices.org/index.php?/frontporch/blogposts/coal_wastes_contaminate_hundreds_of_sites_in_us/

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Prior Warnings Go Unheeded: "Empty Promise" http://www.southernstudies.org/2008/12/empty-promise-the-broken-federal-commitment-behind-tenne.html

Can a disaster occur in Jackson County such as occured at Kingston, Tn.? The answer is yes, I think there is a genuine problem with the TVA and its bureaucratic deceitfulness.

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Coal Soot Dangers, 24,000 annual deaths. http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2004/2004-06-10-10.asp

The TRUTH Concerning TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant disaster.

YouTube - TVA Coal Ash Sampling Trip TVA Police acting the bureaucratic, authoritarian, socialistic, enforcer in this video. The TVA has no oversight. Congress has failed not only in their financial management responsibilities of oversight to banks, oversight failures concerning the TVA is evident. The TVA is a mismanaged, socialistic, bureaucracy whose executive management has displayed irresponsible management and failed stewardship of the Rivers Resources of the TVA area.

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The Director of River Operations announced at Huntsville, Al. that their dam fleet and electrical generation equipment is in need of serious repair and updating. TVA Executives are failing to maintain existing TVA infrastructure.
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Truth for the TVA, "a fifty foot Dam" is not a TVA "retaining wall." The TRUTH is the TVA has not told the truth. They have lied about the risks and finances of Nuclear Power, they have lied about their financial status and now they lie about this terrible disaster to the enviroment and the citizens of the Tennessee River Valley.
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The TVA has and is neglecting their dam fleet, their facilities in general while they massively expand their bureaucracy and the quest for expensive nuclear power.

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Wiki's description of Kingston: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_Fossil_Plant
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TVA's official description of the event in their Financial Filing Statement, SEC Form 8K:

"8.01 Other Events: Sometime after midnight on December 22, 2008, a retention wall for an ash-containment area at TVA’s Kingston Fossil Plant (“KFP”), located near Kingston, Tennessee collapsed. The resulting ash slide impacted an area of approximately 250 acres to 400 acres on the north side of the plant. There were no reported injuries but approximately 15 homes were directly affected. The ash slide also interrupted utilities to nearby residents, blocked a local roadway, and a rail spur serving the site. The Environmental Protection Agency has been notified of the incident, and TVA is working with state and local agencies to respond to the situation and assist affected residents. "

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From:http://www.wataugawatershed.org/WWA_Front_Page.html

Story Links: http://sierraclub.typepad.com/compass/ http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/12/23/143848/36/732/676608

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The TVA Coal Ash Impoundment Spill - Another Risk of Coal
This is a blog post from Bruce Nilles, director of the Sierra Club's National Coal Campaign.
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Today there is sad news out of Roane County, Tenn.: A retention pond at the Kingston coal-fired steam plant burst, sending more than 524 million gallons of coal fly ash and water into the nearby town of Harriman and Watts Bar Lake. One man was injured when his home was swept off its foundation, and the mudslide also affected 15 other homes.
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Reports are that the rush of mud, ash and water now covers 400 acres and is several feet deep in some areas – this coal ash spill is also many times more massive than the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The cleanup is expected to last weeks, but some lives have already been altered forever - and the full environmental impact is not yet known. Fly ash is known to contain numerous toxic chemicals and it’s being reported that some of the spill made it into the Tennessee River – a water supply source for the city of Chattanooga as well as people in Kentucky and Alabama.
And now we have to wonder if the Tennessee Valley Authority is being fully open about what’s in that fly ash water – bloggers are already taking notice, including the Knoxville Sentinel blog and in these two posts here and here. The second post links this an excellent article about the risks.
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While coal company CEOs flog the supposed wonders of “clean” coal – they cannot get around the latest coal industry disaster: massive coal sludge spills. To see more of the destruction, just look at the aerial video of the spill. How many more reminders do we need that burning coal for power is filthy and dangerous? And will those doing the cleanup and those living nearby in the aftermath be properly protected in this possibly toxic environment?
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A.P News Story on Law Suit, contaminated well water at Kingston: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081229/ap_on_re_us/flooded_neighborhood

Merry Christmas to All

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> World War 2 Christmas Celebration

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tropical Lightning Santa.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Santa on Patrol

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Refueling Santa

"Merry Christmas Dear Soldier" http://shock.military.com/Shock/videos.do;jsessionid=4D71942BDE7FF8A3B9D86A98C76AC73C?displayContent=181436&page=2

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Aeroscape Flight, buckle up for this ride: http://shock.military.com/Shock/videos.do;jsessionid=4D71942BDE7FF8A3B9D86A98C76AC73C?displayContent=181338&page=3

Scottsboro City Council Meeting

Goose Pond Island (90acre +/-) Industrial Property and lakeside home developments surrounding property. The site of much controversy concerning the zoning of the property as R1, Residential when taken into the City Limits by an Act of the Legislature. The site owner is applying for rezoning to M1, Light Manufacturing. ( The issue of jobs vs home owners, Scottsboro's The Daily Sentinel article on growing unemployment http://thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=637b07c6dee3dabc )

Councilman Keith Smith cast the lone dissenting vote in support of the homeowners. Mr. Smith had requested a separate Appraisal Report, titled the Neil Taylor Appraisal Report, which recommended the city purchase all industrial property, annex it and rezone it to Residential. (The Daily Sentinel's Editorial Board Comments on the Neil Taylor Report: http://www.thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=0a09195e538b2a69 Daily Sentinel Publisher's Op-ed article: http://thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=0f7af3f30ee3cdeb

Mr. Matthew Hodges, City Council President, stated this is one of the most difficult decissions he has made during his tenure as a City Council member.

Mr. Gary Speers seconded the motion to approve M1 Zoning with restrictions. Mr. Speers stated that his decision was based on what he believes is best for Scottsboro after review of available information.

Mr. Thermon Bell made the motion to rezone the property to M1 with restrictions. Mr. Bell stated he believes this is what is best for the City of Scottsboro in providing opportunities for jobs.

The Scottsboro City Council, Councilman Terry Thomas, 3rd from left, ( Mr. Thomas's specific comments on video may be seen in the link below.) stated he would vote for the rezoning measure if there were restrictions on the property. Mr Thomas also added an additional restriction that would prevent any access to the industrial property from the home development area. Mr. Thomas has stated that he could not support the rezoning unless there were adequate restrictions to protect the home owners in this matter. A future public hearing and a final council decision in January should mark the end of this ordeal.
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Old Business: 1) Consider a zoning ordinance for the Goose Pond Island old aluminum plant property. Mr Bell made a motion to rezone the property from R1 to M1 with restrictions, Mr. Speers seconded the motion. The motion carried by a 4 to 1 vote. There were changes made to the original zoning request which will require an approval by Mr. Christopher property owner and a subsequent public hearing. Final approval will depend on Mr. Christopher's agreement concerning the restrictions and a final council vote after the public hearing. Huntsville Times article by David Brewer on issue with video: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2008/12/scottsboro_council_again_delay.html (Council Member video comments attached with this link from David Brewer of the Huntsville Times.) 2) Bid opening for Rec Com cleaning contract. Low bidder was Ms. Hester at $105.00 per day.

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New Business: 1) Consider a city ordinance change to City Council Work Session times from twice a month to once a month, tabled. 2) The following Alcohol Beverage License were approved: a. Comfort Inn Suites; b. Tavern Grill, 3202 S. Broad St.; c. Bains Tavern, 3608 E. Willow St., old Scotters. Mr Bains stated he will open in the middle of January. 3) Approval of 90% of 2008-2009 budget. 4) New Organization Chart and Job Descriptions for Rec Com approved. Changes involve Park and Ball Field Grounds Keepers positions. 5) Bid opening for Mayors vehicle was awarded to Harbin Chevrolet for $34,978.50 for a used, 15,000 miles, 2008 Tahoe Hybrid Sports Utility Vehicle.

JibJab 2008 Year in Review

http://sendables.jibjab.com/sendables/202809/2008_year_in_review#/teaser/202809

TVA Neglect Comes Home to Roost at Kingston Steam Plant.

Homes destroyed, gas leaks, train derailed, road closures, thankfully there were no deaths. A water and fly ash holding pond dam collapse resulted in this damage. Knoxnews.com Images: http://www.knoxnews.com/photos/galleries/2008/dec/22/images-tva-pond-breach/

The TVA has spent millions and intends on spending billions on expensive risky nuclear power while neglecting its dam fleet and other operations. At its Kingston Steam Plant this neglect had a devastating result. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/dec/22/officials-dike-burst-floods-homes-near-tva-plant/

Who are the Real Criminals?

Lowell Barron political sign was attached over this pay day loan advertisement. Mr. Barron has publicly stated he sold his pay day loan businesses, apparently that is not the case.

Pay day loan barons and Democrats in Jackson County have one thing in common, state Senator Lowell Barron.

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Pay Day Loan Borrowers being arrested for indebtedness in repaying with bad checks. http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/local.ssf?/base/news/122994096341630.xml&coll=1&thispage=1

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Charlie Rhodes, Jackson County District Attorney will go after the poor who borrow money, write a post-dated check to pay, check does not clear, arrest. Pay day loan borrowers can not be arrested for not paying the loan but they may be arrested for writing a bad check.

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Folks may be arrested for a pay day loan bad check, no action is taken to investigate crimes of a much serious nature. Evidence has been presented that state Senator Lowell Barron removes money from Jackson County Board of Education and deposits it in a fraudulent account in Henagar Alabama, http://arklite.blogspot.com/2008/08/education-fund-diversions-jackson.html Rhodes takes no action. Mr. Rhodes also takes no action when his political cronies are involved in political deception and violations of Open Records Laws and Open Meetings Laws. Mr. Rhodes is a loyal member of the local Party of elitist Bourbon Democrats whose role it is to cause working men and women to suffer while extending special privileges to high ranking political officials and elite citizens. (One of the largest recent frauds not prosecuted was the architect who lied and the lie resulted in the collapsed Scottsboro city hall. Prosecute the poor while the elitist get away with crime.) It is the way of the local Democrat Party deceivers whose goal is the socialistic formation of government instead of supporting the Republic and the rule of law. County Democrat Party government officials have also used law enforcement to harass and falsely arrest citizens who do not agree with the local Democrat Party government officials. The First Amendment of our Constitution is threatened by Jackson County Democrat Party Officials.

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Mr Barron's role: Mr. Barron apparently owns pay day loan offices, although he claims he sold them, no evidence exists of the sale; passes legislation that favors pay day loan businesses; controls the local Economic Development Authority which has not been successful in acquiring local jobs. More evidence of broken government in the State of Alabama as a result of unscrupulous political influences. In Jackson county Alabama it is the Democrat Party and its Democrat leadership under the helm of Senator Lowell Barron which is the unscrupulous influence.

The Current Poll on Scottsboro City Council and the Goose Pond Island Zoning Issue.

Goose Pond Island Industrial property and the island home development behind the plant. A dilemna of governmental socialism. The Industrial Operation was zoned R1 while the plant was operating not taking into the "non-conforming use" (grandfather clause) provisions of Scottsboro's Zoning Ordinance, original dated 1974 and the subsequent update of 1985.

The current poll at right concerning Scottsboro City Council's decision making efforts on Goose Pond Island Industrial Property zoned R1, Residential issue reflects a 78% of poll respondents believe that Scottsboro City Councils actions are negative in nature, not reflecting the majority view of citizens. This is up from the 65% of 2 months ago. The large majority of citizens believe the City Council is procrastinating and the use of the property should be Manufacturing, M1 in support of job opportunities.

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The recent report mentioned in The Daily Sentinel concerning the Neil Taylor Report, http://www.thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=9d383ecf8c6ee7e0 I went to City Hall and viewed this report. The underlying plans of some citizens of Scottsboro is brought forth. The continuance of local Governmental Corporate Socialism in property investment. The Taylor report favors only the lakeside property owners side of the argument and that of Government Socialists. It is a one sided report admitting to the one sided interviewing of the lakeside property owners and the continuing expansion of governmental property investment for the benefit of the select few who own lakeside property.

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The Mayor Bailey 2001Fowler Report and TVA's Scottsboro Land Plan Usage in the TVA Enviromental Assessment regarding the usage of the island property as mixed zoning of Residential and Manufacturing is never mentioned. The average working citizen and the unemployed of Scottsboro are not represented in the Taylor Report. Those represented are the lakeside property owners and select local politicians. The intentional destruction of Native American Burial Sites are never mentioned. The hazardous wastes and the designation of the property as a Brownfield Site are never mentioned. What is mentioned is the suggestion that Scottsboro purchase all the property on the island and develop it and the lakeside property owners private interests. The report did not mention how many jobs will be lost in this socialist scheme of governmental property investment. There was no mention of costs to the Citizens of Scottsboro of Mr. Taylor's proposal. It would surely mean further indebtedness for the citizens of Scottsboro and more job loss in an economic depressed time with inflation on a rise.

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Look at who is making this appraisal and suggestion of socialist governmental action of property investment, former government employees supporting furthering government investment removing private opportunity of business investment and job opportunities for the citizens of Scottsboro at the expense of Scottsboro's citizens.

Intellectual Property and Authoritarian Media Corporate Tyranny in Discussion Forums

For 1 year now this blog has been in place. The reason the blog was created was and is to inform the citizens of Scottsboro Alabama of a different political picture of the world around them and to demonstrate the extent of political censorship that is occurring at the hands of local formal media and politicians. It has became obvious to some and not so obvious to others that the media and some politicians do not want alternative ideas which do not agree with their individual political platform and plans. In the private media's so called discussion forums they will not allow discussion of alternative ideas of responsible opposing political speech and opposing view points to important issues before the community. I believe the removal of my speech and the "banning" of my accounts and that of others accounts on al.com had a purpose, that purpose was politically motivated so as not to allow the opposing side of an issue to be discussed.

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When there is an attempt to discuss alternatives and present alternatives outside the small group of political party insiders by utilizing available media tools, access to the tools are removed, while allowing attacks against Democrat opposition and slanting reports favoring one position which the local Democrat Party supports or supportive of an individual politician. (In other parts of the state it is the rule of the Republican Party which is overbearing in political discussion. opposition is removed from al.com products where the Republican Party is the dominant party of choice.) The local commercial media is in fact no more and no less than a pawn of political factionalism, they practice propaganda as much as they attempt to report the news.

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The local discussion forum by al.com is a means to communicate on a real time basis with the community. Unfortunately not all managers of this forum know the meaning of responsible open speech. The managers of al.com are not supportive of the Constitutional ideals of our nation. Those same tyrannical managers of al.com also attempt to deny intellectual freedom to those who write. I used my name and was banned because of it, I used a "handle" for a name but disclosed my identity in the profile, I was banned for it. I discussed political issues, I did not agree with the status quo of local controversial political positions, I was banned for it.

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In discussing important issues which involve the community's future it is important that all sides of an issue be presented. Unfortunately Advance Internet, al.com, Scottsboro forum it is impossible to utilize that forum to participate in meaningful political discussion of issues as the managers of that forum will not allow the truth to be told or any discussion of issues which do not agree with the local Democrat Party. Local Democrat Party thugs have been allowed to make threats, intimidate and lie about those who attempt to carry forth meaningful discussions on al.com's Scottsboro Forum. Al.com editors and Democrat Party tyrants have rendered the Scottsboro forum a propaganda tool of repressive politicians whose only purpose is to enrich themselves and maintain political party control at the expense of the local citizenry.

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For the above stated reasons I will no longer participate in Advance Internet's al.com. However, I will vigilantly defend any attacks made on me, my speech or my political ideas on any Advance Internet product

Internet Censorship, An Expanding Problem for Citizens of the United States

You will find various links concerning the censorship issue in the United States. Even in the quaint small city of Scottsboro Alabama is affected by the tyranny of political officials and editorial staff who act on governmental officials request. Apathy and a feeling of non-control has resulted in the infringement on the rights of expression in our city, county, state and nation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_the_United_States

http://www.rense.com/general69/intercens.htm http://www.therecruiterslounge.com/2008/01/28/karen-rants-internet-censorship-and-cyberbullying-on-professional-business-internet-forums/ http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ip_speech.htm http://www.america.gov/st/freepress-english/2008/September/20080915175335esnamfuak0.8041956.html

http://w2.eff.org/br/

http://www.serendipity.li/cda.html

http://www.projectcensored.org/

http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd[347]=x-347-61390&als[theme]=Silenced%20Report

http://www.atelier-us.com/e-business-and-it/article/caught-between-corporate-and-governmental-censorship

Net Neutrality: http://s921.gridserver.com/media-girl/congress-selling-out-your-internet-access-corporate-censorship-updated

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Top25 censored stories: http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/category/y-2009/

Censorship in the U.S. for the past 30 years:http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/publications/

Whose responsible: http://www.projectcensored.org/censorship/corporate-media-ownership/

My articles on al.com censorship: http://www.blogcatalog.com/blogs/watch-for-snakes-n-scottsboro/posts/tag/al.com%20censorship/

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Alex Carey wrote about censorship in, "Taking the Risk Out of Democracy:" "The twentieth century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy." Journalist Walter Lippmann called it the "manufacture of consent" in a democratic society where it can't be done by force, and Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman titled their landmark 1988 book "Manufacturing Consent" to describe the dominant media's "propaganda model" to program the public mind.It "filter(s) out the news to print, marginalize(s) dissent, (and assures) government and dominant private interests" control all information dissemination. It's done through a set of "filters" to remove what's unacceptable and "leav(es) only the cleansed residue fit to print" or broadcast.It raises the dilemma James Madison posed that "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." Today it's from the media, and therein lies the problem.

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Mr. Carey had this to say about a ""propaganda-managed democracy"....to identify the free-enterprise system in popular consciousness with every cherished value, and to identify interventionist governments and strong unions with tyranny, oppression and even subversion." Carey called propaganda "communications where the form and content is selected with the single-minded purpose of bringing some target audience (the public or a company's employees, etc.) to adopt attitudes and beliefs chosen in advance by the sponsors." It's as important in democratic societies as in authoritarian ones. In addition, "the success of business (or government) propaganda persuading us that we are free from (this type influence) is one of the most significant propaganda achievements of the twentieth century."

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Governmental and corporate censorship in Scottsboro, Alabama is real, tyrants practice it frequently. The question is, do you the citizen care enough not to buy a product or participate in any organization who practices censorship such as Advance Publications through its subsidiary company al.com. Advance Publications owns several Alabama media operations, The Huntsville Times, The Birmingham News and The Mobile Press Register are 3 of Advance Publication's Alabama newspapers. Other Advance ownership companies and info: http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Advance_Publications

Tyranny in Scottsboro, Socialist Bourbon Democrats at Work

Local Democrat Leadership and political mouthpieces have stated they expect the government to clean up aquatic weeds around their private property. Local Democrat politicians are supporting influential lakeside property owners instead of jobs and good sense in Jackson County. http://arklite.blogspot.com/2008/12/more-on-tva-aquatic-weed-control.html Eliminate the weeds from the lake you eliminate the fishery and the natural balance of the ecosystem. Local politicians refuse to listen to scientific evidence or facts, they only listen to those who give them political contributions and the wealthy of the community. Other Links to this issue: http://arklite.blogspot.com/2008/11/weed-control-on-lake-guntersville_13.html , http://arklite.blogspot.com/2008/11/weed-control-on-lake-guntersville.html

The old Aluminum Plant. The site of much controversy. Now some members of our City Council apparently believe the City of Scottsboro should eliminate all jobs in the industrial area and place homes instead of jobs in the industrial park. The area is a hazardous waste dump and has been declared a Brownfield site. Home developers destroyed Native American Burial Grounds in this area.

Once again the tyrants of the local Democratic Party in conjunction with al.com/Advance Internet censors have eliminated my forum name from the al.com Scottsboro forum for speaking out against the actions of local Democrats. I am banned once again from posting on al.com. No violations of forum policy, just political speech in disagreement with the local Democrat Party and those who support the advancement of socialism in our community.

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Lies and deceit have been the watchword of local Democrats and their tyrannical actions. Speak up about the local political party and they eliminate your voice by censorship on local message boards.

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I have been threatened with bodily harm, harassed by the local political party goons. All for attempts at discussion, disagreement and questioning of the reason for local political decision making.

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Citizens of Scottsboro, Jackson County Alabama, you have a serious problem with local political leadership associated with the Democrat Party, they are deceiving tyrants.

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The latest censorship issue apparently stems from the use of Goose Pond Island industrial property and its zoning to residential as a result of a legislative act. Home owners are demanding the removal of industrial property. Now comes a property appraisal group and suggest in a report the city of Scottsboro buy the industrial property, all of it, more socialism. This company was hired on the suggestion of City Council Member Keith Smith. It seems our city council is supportive not of jobs in Scottsboro or the working man or woman but influential owners of lakeside property and their selfish schemes of depriving the working men and women of Scottsboro jobs. Now those same lakeside owners with boat docks expect the taxpayers and ratepayers of the TVA to foot the bill for the cleanup of weeds around their private boat docks. Then, as if their high and mighty attitude is not enough, they come forward to request the city to buy the remaining industrial property and make it a residential area. Local selfish, social, elitist at work, destroying job opportunities! Speaking up about these moves by our illustrious political leadership has resulted in me being banned once again from the al.com Scottsboro so called discussion Forum.

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It is truly a sad day in the United States and Scottsboro Alabama that an individual can not speak in opposition to political issues without being threatened, banned from discussion and subject to intimidation by local political tyrants and their supporters.

More on TVA Aquatic Weed Control

>>>>>More of the Dog and Pony Show from our state legislators

Story from Huntsville Times by David Brewer on the continuing saga of aquatic weed control on Lake Guntersville: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2008/12/tva_to_reconsider_action_to_st.html. and http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/local.ssf?/base/news/1229595359263580.xml&coll=1

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Meanwhile, Alabama schools suffer, the TVA continues their trend toward unmanageable debt and our nation continues to slide further into the abyss of unmanageable debt. Our Legislators work toward resolving the aquatic weeds issue around home owners boat docks. This is why we elect Democrat Party leaders of such high caliber? They display such a caring attitude, the party's membership must be very proud of these bulwarks of fiduciary management.
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The new Democrat Party motto, "Aquatic weed control before common sense." Local Democrat Political Leadership displaying how much they care for you, the everyday working man and woman of Jackson County.

TVA Fails to Tell the Facts, Intentionally Fails to Report Construction Costs, Petition Filed

TVA's Bellefonte Dream, 2 AP 1000 reactors, costs were under estimated. The truth has not been told. Reactor plans have not been approved. The TVA has not approved this project and has spent millions upon millions of dollars with no approvals of any sort. Meanwhile the TVA is going further into debt.

TVA's original Bellefonte Nuclear Plants The two partially built 1256 MWe pressurized water reactors on the Bellefonte site were made by Babcock and Wilcox. The reactor pair are called a 205 design due to the number of fuel assemblies in the core. The original construction permits for Bellefonte were approved by the NRC in 1974. The TVA deferred completion of the plant in 1988 due to an over estimation of power needs in the area plus massive cost overruns. Unit 1 was 88% complete and unit 2 was approximately 58% complete.

The TVA has not been truthful in their filings to the NRC for the building of a Nuclear Power Plant at Bellefonte, Alabama. TVA intentionally underestimated costs for the construction of a pair of reactors at Bellefonte so as not to list alternative/sustainable energy resources available.

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BLUE RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE LEAGUE
www.BREDL.org PO Box 88 Glendale Springs, North Carolina 28629 BREDL@skybest.com (336) 982-2691 office, (336) 977-0852 cell

Esse quam videre

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 16, 2008

GROUPS DISPUTE TVA COST FIGURES
NEW LEGAL CHALLENGE AT BELLEFONTE

Today citizens’ groups announced new cost arguments in their lawsuit against nuclear power at Tennessee Valley Authority’s Bellefonte site. The December 15th filing charges that TVA provided inaccurate cost information in its environmental report. In an 18-page request to the three-judge licensing board, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy charged that TVA violated the National Environmental Policy Act.
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The petition states that TVA’s cost estimates and comparisons are grossly inaccurate for four reasons: 1) TVA failed to include the full range of costs for nuclear power, 2) TVA made apples-to-oranges comparisons with coal- and gas-fired options, 3) TVA improperly selected nuclear as the best available option, and 4) TVA excluded reasonable alternatives for getting electricity at lower cost. Under the law TVA must compare the impacts of nuclear power at Bellefonte with available alternatives. The comparison must include construction costs and the costs of power delivered to customers.
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Louis Zeller, the League’s Science Director, said “TVA's failure to estimate costs accurately spells trouble for its customers in seven states.” He continued, “We’ve been through enough bailouts already; let’s not continue the nuclear one.”
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Dr. Ross McCluney, a member of the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team, said, “Considering the wave of energy efficiency technology and the clean renewable energy sources on the horizon, a nuclear plant at Bellefonte would be obsolete before it generated the first watt of power. To continue pushing for nuclear power in the U.S. just makes no sense.” Dr. McCluney is a research physicist for SunPine Consulting in Chattanooga and a retired Principal Research Scientist at the University of Central Florida.

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TVA and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff have ten days to respond to the groups’ petition. Earlier this year TVA requested a license to build two new reactors at its Bellefonte site in northern Alabama. The League, BEST and SACE intervened in June and the NRC held a hearing in Scottsboro in July. The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will hold further hearings on four of the groups’ legal arguments.
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Links to BREDL: http://www.bredl.org/ SACE: http://www.cleanenergy.org/

Notice of Variance Hearing, Goose Pond Rezoning Issue

Mr Chandler in behalf of Mr. Christopher is scheduled to meet with the Zoning Board of Adjustment in a Special Call Meeting on Tuesday Dec. 23, 2008, 6PM at the City Council Chambers for the purpose of utilizing the old Aluminum Plant property on Goose Pond Island for warehousing and storage. Official notice is in today's Daily Sentinel.

Scottsboro City Council Work Session

Tonight's Scottsboro City Council Meeting was a work session. 1) Discussion concerning a change in the City Council procedures. Proposal to end the 1st week work session. Currently the work sessions are held the 1st and 3rd Monday's of each month, the 2nd and 4th Monday's are times for the Regular council meeting. Mr. Smith expressed concerns over this plan in that it appears there will be secrecy in the decision making process of the council. It was suggested by Mr. Hodges that the 1st Monday could be used for Committee meetings and the meetings could be announced. This issue will be decided at next Mondays Council meeting. 2)Rec Com Organization Chart Change and change in job descriptions discussed in relationship to responsibilities of ground maintenance of the sports complexes. 3) 2008-2009 Budget Discussion, 90% of the budget should be approved at the next regular meeting.

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Reports: Mayor-Animal Control Shelter Review. The Contract for the Animal Control Shelter project can not be located. Mr. Kennamer stated he has a Draft copy of the contract. There has been problems in the construction of the project. The Mayor stated he will be having discussions with the Department of Corrections and the Architect involved in this project. Mr. Smith mentioned that plants and iron statuary has been removed from the entrance area of the North Island Development at Goose Pond. It was suggested by Mr. Smith that Mr. Christopher may have removed the items. There is a question as to ownership of the landscaping items. It was stated that the Goose Pond Island zoning issue will be voted on at the next meeting.

1 Year Anniversary of Blog, A SMALL CHANGE IN APPEARANCE

Merry Christmas and may God Bless all of our Service Men and Women in the Armed Forces of the United States.

Just one month to go but he already has his new job picked out, a Swedish Princess?

The pulleys of an old farm combine on South Goose Pond Island, City of Scottsboro property.

I always thought the VW Bug was a symbol of Scottsboro in a positive way. The Scottsboro Police Department was energy and cost efficient 40 years ago.
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I've been at this for a year now and it is an interesting chronicle of political communications in Scottsboro, all thanks to "al.com" editorial policies and my quest for telling more than the usual story.