Alternative news and discussion for Scottsboro, Jackson County Alabama and the Tennessee River Valley as I see it. Responsible comments to articles welcome. As always, "Watch for Snakes," particularly those wearing suits.
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."
I had a brief discussion with Chief Necklaus about the status of the fire and if there were any hazardous materials involved in the underground fire. "There are no chemicals or tires involved in this fire. ADEM, (Alabama Department of Environmental Management) has inspected the area, no tires or chemical agents were found," stated Chief Necklaus. Necklaus also commented, the fire appeared to be the result of spontaneous combustion underground from years of brush and vegetative debris buildup.
Chief Necklaus Video Update on Fire
AGENDA
(Click on image for an expanded view.)
Heritage Center Expansion Project Update, Mrs. Brenda Ivey
Agenda Item 1, Mrs. Brenda Ivey provides the city council with latest info on the Heritage Center project and meetings with Mayor and architect, first 18 minutes of the below video after city council opening. Apparently there was an error in the architects initial cost estimates. Once the City Council provides final approval, the issue regarding the Heritage Center expansion project, the bidding and costs 'step' process will begin.
Council Member Keith Smith discusses Martintown Landfill, bestows accolades on CDG Engineering, engineers for the landfill, and ask Mayor Shelton to "bring back" Mr. Eddie Blizzard, Solid Waste Director and Street Department Superintendent. (photo by G. Morgan)
The Martintown Landfill new permitting is due by July 18, 2018, CDG Engineering assists in that process.
Mr Smith alleged the Mayor had created hostile work conditions for Mr. Blizzard. Smith further claimed that Mr. Blizzard had been placed on Medical Leave due to a heart condition. Mayor Robin Shelton had no comment on the Sick Leave status of Mr. Blizzard.
It is important to point out that the day to day operations of the City of Scottsboro and the Supervision of the Employees is the responsibility of the Mayor of Scottsboro. As to any story such as this, there are two or more sides to the story. Mr. Smith also indicated Mr. Blizzard had received a reprimand from the Mayor.
There have been no formal complaints brought forward to the Scottsboro City Council as a body politic as a complaint for action.
DOCUMENTATION OF VERBAL WARNING FROM MAYOR ROBIN SHELTON REGARDING MR. EDDIE BLIZZARD
(Result of Records Request)
Mayor Shelton (photo by G. Morgan)
Mayor Shelton's Verbal Warning Documentation
(Click on image for an expanded view)
Mr. Eddie Blizzard speaking before the Scottsboro City Council (photo by G. Morgan)
There are two items which stands out in this document: 1) Provoking comments documented, quote - Mayor stated - "I apologized for cursing him," 2) an assault upon the Mayor by a Department Head, Quote from Mayor: "Blizzard said then we will just settle this right now, reached in and grabbed my necktie and started pulling."
Mr. Blizzard refused to sign the warning. H.R. Director Erin Stiles signed, Police Chief Ralph Dawe signed and the Mayor signed.
What is a hostile work environment? The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, EEOC, defines Creating a Hostile Work Environment as Harassment. The definition as to Federal Guidelines of a Hostile Work Environment are described at this link: https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/harassment.cfm
More info on workplace harassment from employment attorneys: ". . . for harassment under a hostile work environment theory, you must show that you were subjected to offensive, unwelcome conduct that was so severe or pervasive that it affected the terms and conditions of your employment. Getting yelled at all day long could be enough to meet this part of the test. However, you must also prove that the harassment was based on a protected characteristic, such as your race or gender.
Legally speaking, harassment is a form of discrimination. It is illegal only if it is based on one of the characteristics protected by federal or state antidiscrimination laws. Under federal law, these characteristics include race, color, national origin, gender, pregnancy, religion, disability, age (over 40), and genetic information. State law often protects additional traits, such as gender identity, marital status, and sexual orientation. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/my-boss-yells-me-can-i-sue-hostile-work-environment.html
Issue concerning approval of Change Order for Downtown Streetscape Phase 2 Project. This cost overrun was not approved, the issue died due to a lack of a second on the motion. Apparently there was a difference between last weeks costs as discussed in the June 18, 2018 Council Work Session, $18,340.00 and this week's cost of $26,346.67.
Best Landfill in the State - Employees of Scottsboro's Solid Waste Department receives the State of Alabama Department of Environmental Management's Award for their plan, innovation, maintenance and meeting environmental standards of the Martintown Landfill. Mayor Potter and Solid Waste Committee members Brent Miller and Gary Stewart presented the award. Scottsboro's Waste Management Plan http://www.cityofscottsboro.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85&Itemid=171
K9 Mato, SPD
Loyal Officer and Friend - Scottsboro Police Departments K-9 Mato Retired. FaceBook Picture, caption reads:Alta-Tollhaus German Shepherd Dogs "Keeping watch of his cruiser is SCOTTSBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT, AL-K9 Vest Recipient#48, "Mato" On May 28, 2007 the Scottsboro Police Department enhanced their capabilities to serve the Scottsboro citizens by welcoming Mato to the force. Mato was born in December of 2005, in Czechoslovakia. Mato is a German Shepherd and has received special training to detect the odors of narcotics. He has also been trained for tracking people and police patrol. Mato was formally trained by the Huntsville Police Department's K-9 training program and has been nationally certified as a dual purpose police dog. Sergeant Shavers joined the Scottsboro Police Department on Feb 1997. He became the K-9 handler in October 2012. The duo attended a 13 week training course at the Huntsville Police Department .The Scottsboro Police Department is looking forward to utilizing Mato and Sergeant Shavers to assist with patrol, rescue, tracking, and drug enforcement. Sergeant Shavers and Mato do routine school searches in Scottsboro and if requested [in] Jackson County."
Scottsboro Police Chief, Ralph Dawe said Monday that Mato would be used as a search and rescue dog by a local non-profit organization. The City Council voted to declare Mato as excess property. Mato should receive a proper retirement ceremony. K9 working dogs are valuable assets to any police department.
Electricity for all, at what costs in human suffering, costs to taxpayers and TVA ratepayers?
Arrowhead Landfill near Uniontown, Al. (photo - southernstudies.org)
TVA COAL ASH and RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: ADEM (Alabama Department of Environmental Management) could loose all Federal funding, totaling near $54 million, due to discriminatory acts against minority peoples in the State of Alabama claims environmental groups and their attorneys.
The claim originated as a result of ADEM's refusal to meet with concerned citizens and environmental groups due to the dumping of TVA coal ash which has contaminated local water supplies in Uniontown, Alabama. Other states have refused to accept TVA's coal ash due to high contamination levels of dangerous substances such as Arsenic, Mercury, and other heavy metals.
Facebook has permanently suspended my account, CENSORED, for telling the truth about Donald Trump's criminal history and disclosing facts about racial discrimination in Scottsboro and our nation. Garry Morgan : 03/15/2025
Copyright Info
All Rights Reserved for writings, video, photographs and art by Garry L. Morgan.
U.S. Copyright Office Fair Use Rule: "Section 107 contains a list of the various purposes for which the reproduction of a particular work may be considered fair, such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, nonprofit educational purposes and research. Link: http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
Total "In the Boro" Pageviews
Scottsboro Police Department Web Site
""The police are the public, the public are the police. The police are the only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties that are incumbent on every citizen in the interest to community welfare and existence." - Sir Robert Peel, 1829 https://www.scottsboropd.org/
The Sunlight Foundation uses cutting-edge technology and ideas to make government transparent and accountable. Click on image to learn more.
THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY
"I can say with confidence that the federal government needs a major overhaul. Don’t get me wrong, most public servants in government are highly educated and dedicated professionals who are committed to “the greater good.” At the same time, the government has become a bloated bureaucracy that is based on past conditions and in too many cases, federal programs and policies can’t demonstrate that they are generating real results that benefit the American people."
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David Walker President and CEO The Peter G. Peterson Foundation http://www.pgpf.org/ ; former, recently served for 10 years, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
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NPR's story on David Walker: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124460237
"public intelligence"
"What is Public Intelligence? Public Intelligence is an international, collaborative research project aimed at aggregating the collective work of independent researchers around the globe who wish to defend the public’s right to access information." http://publicintelligence.net/
A Nuclear Engineer's Report on the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant
Danger Zone: Aging Nuclear Reactors
Incident at Browns Ferry (PBS 1977)
History of nuclear power safety issues which the 1975 Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant fire brought forward. This video has been censored by the nuclear industry. The trillion dollar multinational nuclear death industry prefers to keep you the citizen in the dark and feed you crap.
Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio and others. Click on image for a tour. Left click & hold mouse to move image.
Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team/Mothers Against Tennessee River Radiation http://www.matrr.org/
"TVA at the Crossroads" a SACE Film.
"America is at an energy crossroads and the Tennessee Valley Authority has a choice to make: Will it cling to old coal power because of its historic significance or will it retire its oldest, dirtiest and least efficient plants and lead America into a clean energy future?" TVA At The Crossroads from SACE.
****************************I'm GARRY MORGAN, a Christian, U.S. Army (AMEDD) retired, Race Relations/Equal Opportunity Specialist (U.S.Army, Retired DOD-DRRI-DEOMI) a citizen of Scottsboro Alabama, a Baylor University grad-Go Bears, a political activist and a political Independent as I believe political parties divide the citizenry whom they are suppose to represent. We must learn the lessons of our history or we will surely repeat our mistakes. I think the greatest problem facing our nation is the massive national and personal debt.
