Happy New Year To All

The Daily Sentinels Top 10 News Stories for Jackson County: http://thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=d8c93f47337bb762
>
The top 10 Alabama news stories of 2008 by The Associated Press:

>Financial problems and corruption cases in Jefferson County.

>Uncertainty over a $35 billion contract to build Air Force tankers in Mobile.

>Democrats gain a seat in Alabama’s congressional delegation when Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright defeats Rep. Jay Love, also of Montgomery, but Republican John McCain carries state in presidential vote.

>Proration of the state education budget.

>Father charged after four children are tossed to their deaths off a coastal bridge.

>Former Gov. Don Siegelman is freed from prison, appeals corruption conviction.

>Former Postsecondary Education Chancellor Roy Johnson pleads guilty to corruption.

>Thousands of Hurricane Gustav evacuees come to Alabama.

>Drought conditions end across Alabama.

>Three major pharmaceutical companies ordered to pay the state about $329 million over Medicaid payments.

>>

Top 10 Alabama Sports Stories: http://www.al.com/sportsflash/local/index.ssf?/base/sports-15/123015834864710.xml&storylist=alabamasports

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

>>

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

>>>

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/

>>>>

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.

>>>>>

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.

>

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.
>
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.
>>
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.

>>>

Wiki's description of Kingston: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_Fossil_Plant
>>>>

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. "

>>>>>

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

<

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.
<

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.
<

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.
<

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?
>>>>>>
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

>

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.
>

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.

>>

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