I've moved!!!

Congratulations! If you're reading this, chances are you either:

• are one of three subscribers to this Blogspot page
• Googled something about "fracking," "Alabama," or "independent news"
• kinda know me

Well boy howdy do I have news for you. I still do things. Go over to mykdeen.com to see what I'm talking about.

Be careful out there on the internet. It can get kinda seedy.

-MDS

Hospital lawsuit sent to mediation

Judge dissolves restraining order, places Kernion and Johnson back on Regional Medical Center Board

ANNISTON - A day before arguments were to be heard in a lawsuit filed by the Regional Medical Center Board against the city, a consent order issued by a judge says disagreements should be resolved through mediation before a December court hearing.

Calhoun County Circuit Judge Brian Howell on Thursday dismissed challenges by RMCB that question the legality of Brian Johnson’s appointment to the hospital board. The judge also blocked an Oct. 1 council vote to remove Greg Kernion as chairman of the Regional Medical Center Board. Howell has ordered parties in the lawsuit to undergo mediation subject to Alabama Court Mediation Rules. Any unresolved issues will be handled at a hearing set for December.

Disagreements between city officials and hospital leadership fell into public view after The Anniston Star reported Johnson, who was hired as Anniston City Manager in 2013 and appointed to the board last month, was denied access to an RMCB meeting on Tuesday, September 30. The city council held a special vote to oust Kernion as chairman the following day and was quickly met with a lawsuit. According to the lawsuit filed on Friday, October 3, RMCB argued the council’s appointment of Johnson and removal of Kernion both violated state law.

The council on Monday approved legal defense against the lawsuit. Johnson on Tuesday said requests for information in connection to the board’s strategic plan dated back more than four months prior. He said failed attempts by the council to understand a potential merger under the plan as well as other recent actions taken by RMCB--including a transfer of beds from the Anniston hospital to RMC Jacksonville and a "for-profit arm" of the hospital--further raised concerns of city officials.

A message left this week for RMC requesting an interview regarding the lawsuit remains unanswered on Friday.

The lawsuit was originally assigned to Calhoun County Circuit Judge John Thomason but moved to Howell’s courtroom on Wednesday after the city requested a jury trial, according to The Anniston Star. Thursday’s consent order effectively cancels today’s scheduled hearing. The next court hearing has been set for Dec. 9 at 9 a.m.

Police say trio of recent robberies possibly connected

ANNISTON - Investigations continue regarding two armed robberies occurred at ATM machines and a third at an Anniston residence between Monday and Wednesday, according to a Wednesday statement from Anniston police Sgt. Clint Parris.

According to the statement, an unidentified man followed a woman to her residence on Monday and robbed her at gunpoint. Between Tuesday and Wednesday, police began investigating two armed robberies from ATM machines. One of the ATM robberies included gunfire, according to the statement.

Police are asking anyone with information about the crimes to call the Anniston Police Department's Investigative Division at 256-240-4000.


- MDS

CALHOUN COUNTY PRIMARY RESULTS: Party-exclusive races decide two area elections, runoff expected for third

Oxford Civic Center polling location on Tuesday

More than 16,000 Calhoun County voters endured June heat, humidity and a rainy afternoon on Tuesday to go to polling places for the 2014 primary elections. Ballots were fed into new voting machines countywide where a handful of voters experienced more headaches over changes in polling places rather than a new voter ID law that went into effect this year.

Roughly a quarter of registered voters in the county took part in the party elections, with runoffs expected next month for state and local offices leading up to the November election. 

Of the 16,000 voters on Tuesday that decided the final representative for each political party in national, state and local elections, only 2,400 of them voted as a Democrat. The remaining 13,694 cast Republican primary ballots.

Some of the races were exclusive to one ticket or the other, meaning there will be no final vote for those offices in November. Tuesday's mostly party-sanctioned elections have already decided these races, including two of five county commission seats and the position of county sheriff.

Democratic runoff expected for Commission District 1 between Wilson, Montgomery

The three-way race for Calhoun County Commission District 1, which covers Anniston, Hobson City, and parts of Oxford, was exclusive to the Democratic ticket and may head to a runoff election next month. Eric W. Stringer recorded nearly 20 percent of the vote, potentially sending incumbent Fred Wilson and businessman James Montgomery, Sr. into a July 15 runoff election. Nearly 1,400 ballots were cast in that race, where Wilson was only able to secure 48 percent of voters.

Low turnout results in narrow win for Copland, will face Brown in November

An extremely tight race was the decision for a Democratic challenger to House District 40 incumbent K.L. Brown, who did not see a fellow party challenger. Only 500 or so ballots were cast in the two-way race where Ted Copland edged Lindsay Ford by only 77 votes. Securing almost 58 percent of Democrats in an Alabama House of Representatives District that covers nearly the entire county, Copland will face Brown for the seat in November.

Patterson secures win in 5-way GOP Commission District 5 race

Commission District 5 was one of two county-wide races exclusive to the GOP ballot. Five candidates brought out nearly 2,900 voters in Jacksonville, Piedmont, and other areas in northeast Calhoun County. Lee Patterson managed to secure 52 percent of the vote--or 1,500 ballots with his name specifically marked--for the local win. 

Anniston attorney Miller-Lacher unseats Circuit Judge

A third GOP-exclusive race that did not see a Democratic challenger nor Democratic voters was the vote for Circuit Judge, where Brenda Stedham fell to Peggy Miller-Lacher by more than 1,700 votes in two counties. That race, too, saw roughly 13,000 voters in Calhoun County give Miller-Lacher the roughly 5 percent of votes needed to unseat Stedham--again, numbers nearing 80 percent of Democratic and Republican voters combined.

Sheriff Amerson on his way to serve 5th term

Another county-wide GOP race included the early win for the Democrat-turned-Republican Sheriff Larry Amerson, who was first elected back in 1994. Nearly 8,500 votes in a race were more than enough for Amerson to cruise to an early victory over Heflin police officer Ross McGlaughn. More than 13,000 people turned out for that single primary race--equivalent in numbers to 82 percent of Democratic and Republican voters combined that went to the polls on Tuesday. Democrat Thomas Long will challenge Amerson in November.

Some statewide runoff elections will occur on the GOP ticket next month, including Public Service Commission Place 2 between Chris "Chip" Beeker, Jr. and Terry Dunn, and State Auditor between Jim Zeigler and Dale Peterson.

-MDS

The Sugar Daddy Scholarship

An interesting press release came across my desk this morning. The website SeekingArrangement.com touts itself as "the world's largest Sugar Daddy dating site" and has released its annual list of the top 20 Fastest Growing Sugar Baby Schools.

According to the release, 42 percent of the website's members are college students. The website says that the popularity of the "sugar" lifestyle is growing and students using the site receive an average of $3,000 per month in allowances and gifts from these sugar daddies. The website's founder, Brandon Wade, says "why hope for financial aid when you can guarantee it with a Sugar Daddy?"

At the top of the top 20 Fastest Growing Sugar Baby Schools list is the University of Central Florida, where 474 students signed up for the SeekingArrangement.com website in 2013. Other schools on the top 20 list include Arizona State University (#2 on the list) and the University of Southern California (#8 on the list). Six of the 20 schools are located in the South; three are in Florida (UCF, FIU, USF), two in Georgia (GSU and UGA) and one in Louisiana (LSU).

The University of Alabama, whose Board of Trustees this summer approved tuition hikes for all three campuses across the state, did not make the top 20 list -- barely. The 97 University of Alabama students that signed up for SeekingArrangement.com in 2013 put their school at number 23 on the list.

College isn't cheap. A single, full-time semester at UA can cost over $12,000. A CNNMoney report from 2012 indicates that tuition at private, nonprofit, four-year colleges has jumped 60 percent in the decade prior; tuition at public colleges more than doubled during the same time.

The most obvious point of contention lies in the types of relationships these students might have to shape with an opulent partner. One side of an online discussion this morning likened these arrangements to prostitution. Another side said that mutually beneficial relationships are a personal choice and that any sort of social stigma could be eliminated if society could "mind it's [sic] own business."

But how would those social stigmas change when the gender roles are reversed? Does society collectively cringe when a young woman engages in a "mutually beneficial relationship" with an older man with money, but not give a second thought to a young man engaging in a similar relationship with an older woman with money?

What about the perception of people with money being able to essentially "purchase" their status? Is a wealthy man in his 50s forming a relationship with a woman in her teens a sign of benevolence, or a sociopathic disorder?

The most important part of this conversation, in my opinion, should focus on just how difficult it is to become successful in the U.S. Education is out of reach for a growing number of Americans. Parents and students alike are trying to figure out how to afford college -- and everything else promised to us by the American Dream. The expectation that hard work will make a person successful is a farce in the 21st century.

Elbow grease and all-night study sessions don't cover the cost of admission into the hallowed halls of success anymore. Proof of that can be found on the press release on my desk this morning:

"One Million Students Seek Sugar Daddies in 2013"

What will society look like in 20 years after those million sugar babies are out of college and walking those halls of success?

What will society look like in 20 years after the rest of us who couldn't graduate college or land a wealthy benefactor are relegated to second-class citizen?

My guess: not much will change.

Clockwise from top left: John Ensign, Tim Mahoney, John Edwards, Chris Lee, Anthony Weiner, David Petraeus. All men were found to have had relationships with women to which they were not married. (Photos are public domain)

- MDS

Logging a Model City Winter: January 6, 2014

The following is a collection of a day's worth of broadcast news copy with a personal forward.

January 6, 2014 - 12:18 a.m.

[NOTES] As traffic lights downtown switched to two-way flashing stops and residents of the Model City prepared for a new work week on Sunday night, a mass of cold air continued its push through the United States. By 11 p.m., the cold air has already affected millions of people across the North and Midwest and prompted all schools in Calhoun County to delay classes by two hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 

It came in as bells from the courthouse tolled in the distance; a burning wind caused sharp ripples in the puddles in the street. A steady wind sent a cold mist whipping around WDNG Broadcasting Central and continues to shake the front door a full 15 minutes later. 

The current conditions are not necessarily out of the ordinary; temperatures are currently 40 degrees at the Anniston Municipal Airport. Temperatures appear normal compared for the average low for January, but temperatures further northwest show the nature of what is in store for Calhoun County. Areas surrounding Gadsden are currently around the freezing mark, while temperatures in north Alabama are already in the mid-20s. 

Temperatures are expected to dip into the 20s around the Model City by Monday, and blustery winds have prompted a Wind Chill Advisory from the National Weather Service until noon on Tuesday. A Hard Freeze Warning will be in effect for Calhoun County until 8 a.m. Wednesday morning. 

Students and staff of the Calhoun County School System along with schools in Anniston, Jacksonville, Oxford, Piedmont and surrounding counties have planned to delay the start of school days by at least two hours Monday through Wednesday. 

With the risk of freezing roads in higher elevations, this reporter has taken refuge inside the newsroom. As midnight nears and Monday looms, I will sign off until Monday morning at 7 a.m. to begin regular news updates every 30 minutes -- live if warranted and possible. Until then, keep your head up (and your neck warm). 

- MDS

7 o'clock broadcast

[WDNG] - Cold weather pushing across the state has prompted delays for some Calhoun County schools. Bitterly cold temperatures moved into the area late Sunday night, which sent temperatures diving below the freezing mark shortly before midnight. By 6 a.m. Monday morning, conditions at the Anniston Municipal Airport saw temperatures in the mid-20s with a wind chill of 14 degrees.  

The National Weather Service issued a Wind Chill Warning for Calhoun County until noon on Tuesday and a Hard Freeze Warning until Wednesday morning. As a result, students and staff of all schools in Calhoun County have been delayed by two hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  

Information from the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office indicates that the Calhoun County Administration Building will not open until 10 a.m. and residents scheduled for jury duty on Monday are to report two hours later than originally planned.  

Oxford police chief Bill Partridge tweeted early Monday morning that city streets were open and passable as of 4 a.m. but adds spots of nearly invisible black ice are possible in untraveled areas. 

-MDS

8 o'clock broadcast

[WDNG] - Warming stations are being opened up across the Model City to help the less fortunate deal with brutally cold temperatures. Cold temperatures moved into the area late Sunday night and sent thermometer reading diving below the freezing mark shortly before midnight.  

By 7 a.m. Monday morning, conditions at the Anniston Municipal Airport saw temperatures in the mid-20s with a wind chill of 14 degrees. The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Warning for Calhoun County until noon on Tuesday and a Hard Freeze Warning until Wednesday morning.  

Anniston City Council member Seyram Selase said on Twitter Monday morning that the cold weather has prompted warming stations to open at the Salvation Army on Noble St. and the Carver Community Center on W. 14th Street. Schools and offices across the county have also delayed opening on Monday.  

Law enforcement officials have said there are no major problems on main roadways in the area but warn that black ice can still be a threat on roads that are less frequently traveled.
-MDS

9 o'clock broadcast

[WDNG] - Calhoun County residents are waking up Monday morning to cold weather and light snow as a polar vortex pushes into the deep South. Temperatures across Calhoun County dropped below freezing Sunday night and remained in the low 20s by 9 a.m. Monday morning. Reports of light snow have been reported on Monday morning in parts of the Model City as well as flurries in Coldwater, Gadsden, Jacksonville and Heflin.   

Anniston city officials announced warming stations will be available for those in need at the Salvation Army on Noble Street and the Carver Community Center on W. 14th St. The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Warning for Calhoun County until noon on Tuesday and a Hard Freeze Warning until Wednesday morning. 

All schools in Calhoun County have delayed the start of classes by two hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. High temperatures in Anniston are not expected to go higher than 24 degrees and low temperatures on Monday night are expected to fall into single digits.  

Law enforcement across the county say there are no widespread problems with ice on major roadways but several reports indicate rural and less traveled roads in Calhoun and Talladega counties do have patches of black ice. 

Police in Weaver warn residents that officers in that city will be patrolling during the cold weather to ensure pets have proper shelter. Weaver police Lt. Charles Plitt says that pet owners neglecting animals kept outside will be charged with animal cruelty.

2 o'clock report

[WDNG] - Anniston residents without adequate shelter during this week’s cold weather will get a little help from two warming stations set up in the Model City. The Salvation Army and the City of Anniston are each providing warming stations to needy residents who may otherwise be unable to protect themselves from frigid arctic air that moved into the area on Sunday night.  

Salvation Army Capt. Bert Lind says up to 150 people will be able to use the organization’s facilities on the 400 block of Noble St. between Monday and Thursday evening. He said beds and cots will be available and that snacks and meals will also be provided.  

The Salvation Army warming station will be open 24 hours a day and Lind asks that only those people that have no other option to protect themselves from the dangerously cold weather utilize the facility.  

The Carver Community Center on W. 14th St. will open their doors at 1 p.m. beginning on Monday. Center program director Angie Shockley says City Manager Brian Johnson and Mayor Vaughn Stewart on Sunday made the decision to open the city-owned center because of available shower facilities. Shockley says the Carver Center has room for about 30 people and will be open 24 hours a day until Wednesday.  

Residents taking shelter at Carver Community Center are being asked to take any toiletry items they will need, and Shockley says pets, drugs, or alcohol will not be allowed. She says residents needing a warm place to stay for the night must be signed in by 10:30 p.m. and lights out will be at 11 p.m. 

An Anniston police officer will also be at the Carver Center from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. each night, according to Shockley. She says donations are not needed at the Carver Center at this time. Capt. Lind with the Salvation Army says that, while donations will not be turned away, anyone wanting to support the shelter can give monetary donations.

A Retrospective in Time of Controversy

So...yeah. Sorry I haven't posted much to this blog. But in times of duress, I typically open up a post on this blog and just sorta write. This'll probably end up going public...

I'm writing this letter to all of my friends, family, acquaintances, or anybody else that has helped or continues to support the efforts I've made in the past few years. I'm not asking for a million shares or likes on Facebook or Twitter. I'm simply defending the decisions I've made and the people I'm stuck with as a result of those decisions.

I've officially been employed at WDNG for six months. About three years ago I set a personal goal to become a "working journalist" and write about current events for a living.

I didn't start this career in a traditional fashion, mind you. No college-level communications courses. No internship with established journalists. I worked in an electronics manufacturing warehouse for years before getting my size 15 foot jammed in the proverbial door.

The decision to join the ranks of other forgotten alcoholics in the news industry did not come overnight. When I wasn't working at the warehouse, I was normally found with a newspaper or television in front of me. When I was working at the warehouse, I was often found with some form of talk-radio in the background.

Conservative or liberal. Commercial or non-profit. Status-quo or conspiracy theories. It angered me. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me lose faith in humanity from time to time. It mostly entertained and kinda informed.

I put entertain before informs for a reason. Why? Because it is talk-radio.

Listening to talk-radio will keep you informed about a tiny hint of public sentiment and can put all sides of a conversation on an equal level. Along with that, listening to talk-radio in Anniston (I hope) keeps you informed of events that may not be getting coverage elsewhere.

But it is only a single source of local, state, national and world news. Exclusively listening to talk-radio for news and information is a terrible idea. I say that as the news writer for a talk-radio station.

Talk-radio, especially call-in shows, are not news programs. The format of the Sean Hannity Show (Weekdays at 2 p.m. on WDNG-AM 1450) is in the same category as the format of The Big Show w/ Joseph Anthony (Mon - Thur from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on WDNG-AM 1450).

But Mike, how can you put Joe in the same column as Hannity?

I don't. I put the format in the same column.

But the content is completely different between the two programs. Sure, both shows make room for civic leaders, elected officials, business folks, or the dude flipping your burger. Hannity delivers national and international talking points in a well produced show with writers, directors, engineers, interns, and call screeners. Anthony flies solo and still provides hyper-local listeners a platform to talk about anything within reason.

I use the term "reason" loosely, but then again my standards are weird.

Local shows aren't heavily pre-produced by a suit in a office or underwritten by an advertiser with an agenda. Local shows are sponsored by local people, produced by local personalities and facilitated by a local business owner. The public conversations enabled are directly from the peoples' mouths. No keyboard warriors or other, more anonymous entities--possibly having nothing to do with local events--contributing to a hyper-local conversation.

The keyword is "local."

This rant comes a day after criticism thrown in the direction of the radio station which I proudly declare as my day job. Joseph goes over the top to respect the privacy of people when he's on the air. I, on my personal blog, don't give a flying duck about reposting stuff that's already on teh interwebz.

Thank you, digital age.


In an internet post on Monday, an Anniston resident and retired police officer started an online campaign to get others to boycott WDNG and its advertisers. The reason for the boycott is due to his anger that The Big Show "reportedly provide a platform for the irresponsible slandering of an honorable public servant" and the "show's host also reportedly participates in the accusations."

I'm a news writer that uses the word "reportedly" if I didn't directly see something.

I'm also a writer that copied the quote verbatim.

Anywho...

The conversation raged online and was shared more than 100 times! (I exclaim with fervor because that just means more people might start listening) It put some of the other staff here in a flurry by Tuesday morning and it sounds like a small number of advertisers have noticed this blip on their radars. In just a few hours, the Buckalew campaign was apparently able to "make sure that WDNG's sponsors know that they're providing a forum for people to make FALSE attacks against a good & decent public servant."

But what Buckalew forgot to mention was the fact that WDNG does more than that. WDNG also provides a forum for people to set the record straight. WDNG provides businesses with the only news-talk radio station for advertising. WDNG provides listeners with international, national, and local headlines every hour.

But the real kicker for me, personally?

WDNG continues to give me the opportunity to live the dream I had three years ago.
WDNG provides alternative coverage of community events.
WDNG facilitates the conversations that some people don't want to hear.

We're a pretty small group here at this tiny little AM radio station, but the political views and opinions vary greatly between listeners, staff, management, and advertisers.

Because we're human. Just like you.

I've been coming to work for the past six months and (for the most part) am pretty stoked every morning I walk up the stairs, sit down at my desk and start freaking out about the long list of things to do on painfully short deadlines.

It's what I signed up for. It's what I hope to do for the rest of my life. Call me a masochist, but I love the whole job...including public criticism.

So, now to get down to the brass tacks: do you like WDNG? Do you like knowing there is a phone line open for four hours each morning that will let you blast your frustrations across the entire county? Do you just think it's kind of cool that a radio station gave someone with no professional training a chance?

If you answered "yes" (or even "meh") to any of those questions, I humbly ask for your support.

Local businesses like Furniture Outlet, Oxford Carpet Coldwater, Marie's Pool Store, Mike's Treasure Chest and others advertise on WDNG because people engaged with current events at any level are more aware of advertisers. It makes sense for business to have that type of exposure whether it is a slow news day or Day 3 of WDNG SlanderGate.

So if you can appreciate what we do everyday, call one of our advertisers and let 'em know that you listen. Even better (although not required), visit one of our sponsors and take a look around. Maybe you'll buy something, maybe you won't. But you'll feel better knowing you're actively taking part in a cause that looks to keep providing a platform to people around you.

-MDS

Mayor Berry seeks third term to continue economic growth, work with Cleburne County

By: M. Dean Smith

From the Mayor's office at Heflin City Hall on July 17, Anna Berry explained what her administration has done over the past eight years and addressed statements made by mayoral candidates. Berry is seeking a third term as mayor and said she has “tried to think about what is in the best interest for the city” during her time in office.

The mayor's office provided the six-page document City of Heflin, Alabama 5-Year Strategic Plan 2011-2015 which outlines six separate areas for city growth. It is the second Strategic Plan Mayor Berry has used for the City and lists more than 30 individual contributors from Cleburne County. Sponsored by The Economic and Community Development Department of Alabama Power Company, the Strategic Plan documents economic and community development along with education, leadership, healthcare, and cultural enhancements, and provides goals and time-tables for completion.

Mayor Berry said she took an “economic development intensive course” at Auburn University. “It is surprising what economic development really is,” she said about the nuances of attracting businesses to Heflin. Along with providing property to new or expanding companies, she said a well-trained workforce, proper utilities, and a “vibrant looking town” are equally important factors.

Along with traditional ideas for city growth, Berry said groups like the City Beautification Committee and the Heflin Arts Council are often overlooked but still vital components to economic development and town identity. “If the children of their [potential business] employees don't have access to things like ballet or musical programs,” she said “those quality of life things matter whether this town is chosen or another town.”

The industrial park near Exit 205 on Interstate 20, owned and managed by the City of Heflin since April 2008 after the joint City/County ownership was dissolved, remains unoccupied. With recent water and sewage systems installed on the site, Mayor Berry said “we have the infrastructure there,” but “a lot of cut and fill” is necessary to have the park ready. She estimated three companies have visited Heflin but did not select the city due to the underdevelopment.

“We are in the process of getting the park developed,” Berry said. She commented on the recent bulldozer acquisition from a military surplus inventory in New Jersey. “It's expensive to move dirt,” she said, but the city has the people to use equipment to work at the industrial park. “Now that we have the equipment,” she said “we can just buy fuel and begin that process.”

Looking at the August 28 municipal election, Berry hopes to continue her work and said she is proud of the Strategic Plan. A City Election Fact Check sent by City Hall  to In The Field says that “the city is not aware of any incident” where the two governments could not work together. She also said Emmett Owen, the County Commissioner for the City of Heflin, works on a regular basis with city government.

Ex-Officio Chairman of the Cleburne County Commission Judge Ryan Robertson said the working relationship between the City and County is good. He said in a July 9 interview “we handle our business and they handle theirs.”

-MDS

Candidate for Heflin mayor Rooks hosts Independence Day “block party”

NOTE: Originally submitted for publication July 7, 2012

In a front yard scattered with tents, tables, and several Heflin families, Rudy Rooks hosted a July 4 "block party" at his home on Wednesday. As a candidate for Heflin mayor, Rooks and his family held the Independence Day event to allow members in the community to meet one another and "to just have a big party."

Over 20 party-goers were offered refreshments in the July heat and many were seen in red, white, and blue "Rudy" campaign shirts available from a tent in the driveway. Also available with promotional material was voter registration information. The atmosphere was festive with over a dozen children on playground equipment and an inflatable moon bounce, but conversations about the August 28 municipal elections were less than lighthearted.

"We need to get rid of the mayor we've got now," said attorney John Casey of Heflin. Casey feels communication between city and county governments has deteriorated over the past few years. After supporting current mayor Anna Berry in previous elections he now stands behind Rooks.

Pat Skinner, Cleburne County Courthouse employee and treasurer for the Heflin Arts Council, also supported the current administration for two terms but said "gradually things started deteriorating" between the city and county during the past four years. Skinner said the firings of former Heflin Police Chief Ty Payne and former city attorney Patrick Casey ultimately caused her to no longer support Berry.

Rooks said a “wedge” does exist between the city and county government due to “egos” from both. Along with bringing the two local governments closer together, he also hopes to see more involvement from community members. While describing his bid for election during local political strife, he added “I don't want to build myself up by tearing somebody else down.”

When asked about the city's recent financial audit described as “in good shape” by CPA John DeLoach on June 11, Rooks said “we are $6.3 million in debt and that is a lot of debt.” He explained his knowledge of city finances as a former fire chief and said the most recent assessment of city finances are “smoke and mirrors.”

"I realized several years ago that I'm a servant leader," said Rooks. He said a total of 16 years have been spent in local public service jobs which include his current position as Cleburne County Coroner. “I don't have any experience as a mayor,” Rooks admitted “but I have experience with how a city is supposed to work.”

-MDS

Anniston Runners Club visits Heflin for seminar

HEFLIN – Local running enthusiasts clad in bright running shoes and tank-tops gathered Tuesday with a larger group curious about a sport gaining popularity in the region. After a “challenging” run of over three miles which snaked through neighborhoods near Lake Heflin, participants and organizers gathered in the Heflin Recreation Center for refreshments and a seminar held by the Anniston Runners Club and hosted by Heflin Parks and Recreation.

Runners listen to a medical expert and members of the 

Anniston Runners Club explain how to safely participate 

in a growing community.

The seminar, which lasted about two hours, gave almost 30 attendees a primer in running for both sport and fitness. Dr. John Ferdinand of Cleburne County Sports and Family Medicine in Heflin answered questions about how to safely begin a running regimen. Other speakers discussed proper running gear and safety, but mainly reiterated the unique community offered by ARC.

“It's just one big support group,” said Steven Miles, President of Anniston Runners Club. He described cheering fellow runners during a race last year in which he was unable to participate after suffering a broken ankle. Injuries like his are common among new runners and Miles hopes the ARC will fulfill a “need for people to communicate” about running to prevent these types of injuries.

“I haven't met anybody that wasn't encouraging,” said Tammy Perry with Heflin Parks and Recreation. She hopes anybody in the community interested in running is inspired by Tuesday's event to create local groups. The Anniston Runners Club is not a group exclusively for Anniston residents, but is complimented by smaller groups across East-Central Alabama.

Anthony Blair, ARC member and record holder of Heflin's 3.1 mile course with a time of 18:59, told the crowd about his struggle with weight loss, blood pressure, and cholesterol. “Running and diet does work,” he said as he answered questions from the audience about popular “diet” sodas. Blair said he started two years ago by walking two miles a day and has since brought his weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control.

Members of the Anniston Runners Club used the seminar to introduce power-walking, trail running, and triathlons—a combination of running with swimming and biking. Equipment which included watch-sized GPS systems, hydration systems, and a wide array of shoes were shown to demonstrate how to safely and effectively participate in running activities.

Yearly Anniston Runners Club memberships start at $15 and provide discounts for event registrations and services provided by local sponsors. Along with these membership benefits, Miles said the goal of ARC is “to encourage and inspire runners.”

For more information about the Anniston Runners Club, visit AnnistonRunners.com
Heflin residents interested in joining a group, contact Heflin PARD - (256) 463-5434

-MDS


Photo slideshow: Runners of Heflin 3.1 mile course

Slideshow courtesy: Heidi Spilman/Mojo Custom

Local fracking questions may not be answered until August

By: M. Dean Smith
The Bureau of Land Management plans to sell almost 43,000 acres of the Talladega National Forest as 10-year leases for natural gas drilling on June 14. Local environmental groups which protest the sale are gaining support with rallies in Heflin and Talladega to oppose unsafe methods of drilling. Residents near the potential lease sites fear negative environmental impacts similar to fracking operations in Texas and Pennsylvania.

While a resolution in Montgomery to oppose the leases failed to pass through Congress before the end of the regular session, a petition filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center says the BLM will neglect several environmental and reform standards "until new rules, regulations, and studies governing hydrofracking have been issued." The BLM has until August 13 to decide validity of the protest.

Senate Joint Resolution 107 was "dead in the House" according to congressional staffers over the phone early Monday. The resolution was introduced by Sen. Gerald Dial and passed the Senate in the 9 o'clock hour of May 16--the official last day of the 2012 Regular Session--but stalled in the House of Representatives by the end of day--and ultimately the Regular Session. Without adoption from both sides of Congress and Governor Robert Bentley, the resolution does not establish a legislative agreement of Alabama government to oppose the leases.

With a sale date looming less than a month away, the petition filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center remains the only legal document representing a growing number of local residents opposed to the federal leases. The June 14 sale of parcels within the Talladega National Forest for natural gas drilling will be held at the Bureau of Land Management office in Springfield, Va. According the the SELC petition, the BLM violates federal laws by ignoring environmental and reform acts.

Calls to the BLM were unsuccessful and only referred questions to the website blm.gov. Davida Carnahan, Public Affairs Officer for the Bureau, had not read the petition but stated that no comments would be released while it is reviewed and a decision may not be available for up to 60 days after the sale. Protested land will be identified as such before bidding at the June 14 sale, and the Bureau "will issue no lease for a protested parcel until the State Director makes a decision on the protest."

Community rallies to oppose natural gas drilling

Signs opposed to proposed drilling leases surrounded the Heflin Rec Center

HEFLIN - Around 200 people gathered Monday at the Heflin Recreation Center to learn about potential hazards involved with natural gas drilling in the Talladega National Forest. Federally proposed leases for the controversial method of drilling in the forest are scheduled for sale on June 14 and were opposed by an overwhelming majority of attendees. Also at the meeting were city, county, and state leaders concerned about negative impacts on an area which relies heavily on the conservation of natural resources. Organized by the Southern Environmental Law Center and supported by regional environmental groups against fracking, the public meeting provided educational material, featured documentary films, and provided a platform for residents to speak publicly.

According to Katie Ottenweller with the Southern Environmental Law Center, the group which formally petitioned the Bureau of Land Management on April 16 to prevent drilling leases, the SELC planned for the Monday meeting to be held just two days before the deadline for protests. “The window of protesting was so short,” Ottenweller said as she explained the scramble to organize a protest in less than two months. Janice Barrett with Wild South, a non-profit organization focused on protecting national forests in the South, described similar and successful protests in the past to protect the Bankhead National Forest from having historic Native American sites destroyed by timber leasing.

Informational material provided by local
conservation groups was available
for free to the public

Maps of local lease sites, brochures, yard signs, and petitions were provided upon entering the gymnasium by Wild South and local conservation group Friends of the Talladega National Forest. Also available was contact information for all local government representation. Those in attendance were urged to regularly petition their elected officials to prevent the drilling leases. A list of online resources also provided websites concerning individual stories of fallout caused by drilling, the economics of fracking, and news articles from across the country which describe other drilling operations.

Once the meeting began, the investigative documentary “Fracking Hell: The Untold Story” was screened for the audience and depicted a number of detrimental impacts in small Pennsylvania communities caused by natural gas drilling. The crowd sat in silence while the film showed popular clips of flammable drinking water caused by chemicals used in fracking which have seeped into water supplies. Other downsides to fracking shown in the film included increased truck traffic in quiet towns and visible scars on the once lush landscape.

Attendees of the Monday public meeting screened the
documentary "Fracking Hell: The Untold Story"

After the film, Cleburne County resident of 25 years Jake Mathews told the crowd that “this is not the kind of thing we want here.” Tammy Perry of Heflin’s Parks and Recreation Department agreed with Mr. Mathews and reminded the audience of her department’s focus on outdoor activities. About 10 people concerned with the health of the Talladega National Forest also spoke the the audience. While most in the crowd wanted to learn how to prevent drilling leases, some attendees of the meeting expressed a desire to learn more about the issue before making a decision. Only one gentleman openly welcomed any drilling, but claimed in anonymity to In the Field that he wanted to see “anything that can get me a job” come into the area before he gave this writer his phone number in hopes of finding work.

Also in attendance was Senator Gerald Dial who expressed by phone on Tuesday a desire to protect the “great natural resource” in his home district. Dial has been a lifelong resident of Clay County and understands the importance of the Talladega National Forest to people in the area. The senator and his colleagues plan to introduce a resolution to the Alabama Legislature on Wednesday which will publicly oppose any leasing of the federally-owned land. If approved, the resolution will be forwarded to Governor Robert Bentley for his signature. When asked about the economic impact of potential drilling, Senator Dial admitted it would provide a boost in employment and other factors but said “we don’t need jobs that deteriorate our lands.”

Residents request stop sign at dangerous intersection

Despite new speed limit signs, drivers on County Road 18 still feel intersection with Evans Bridge Road is too dangerous.

By M. Dean Smith

The street sign for County Road 18 sits hidden from
traffic traveling northbound on Evans Bridge Road

HEFLIN - Residents in the southeastern edge of the city want a 3-way stop on Evans Bridge Road at the intersection of two separate portions of County Road 18. A motorist who frequents the intersection petitioned the city council on Tuesday to place a new stop sign in addition to the recently installed speed limit signs aimed at traffic entering Heflin. “I have been almost hit four different times in that corner,” said Diana Childs at the May 8 city council work session. “You can’t see until you get totally out into the road.“ Childs lives off of County Road 18 a few miles east of the intersection and said motorists on Evans Bridge Road continue to speed over the hill coming into Heflin which makes it a hazardous location. Officials with Heflin Police Department and Cleburne County Sheriff's Office were unaware of any traffic accidents in the past year that can be directly linked to the layout of the intersection. Residents in the area of the intersection agree with Childs that the current two-way stop is dangerous. For three years, Connie Smith has lived with the intersection in her front yard and attests vehicles speed from all four directions. “When pulling out of my driveway and you’re going straight across, you had better gun it,” she said as she motioned across her yard towards the western side of the intersection. Smith was not aware of any recent accidents at the intersection but mentioned two further south where Evans Bridge Road turns into County Road 84 near the Heflin city limits. She and neighbors believe the speeders are teenagers who travel to and from the Cleburne County Vocational School and agree a 3-way stop might help address some safety concerns.

Existing stop signs provide a two-way stop for traffic
traveling east and west on County Road 18

Diana Childs also told the council about successful requests to install speed limit signs near the intersection, which were erected last week by the county and established the speed limit at 35 m.p.h., but mentioned confusion in determining if a stop sign would be “a city matter or a county matter.” City engineer Shannon Robbins confirmed to In the Field by phone that, according to maps approved in 2005 by county commissioners and the city council, the intersection is within the city limits. Heflin Mayor Anna Berry assured Childs that she and the council would discuss the matter and Heflin Police Chief Robert Pittman agreed to investigate the intersection the following day.

Occupying a Revolution

Just after noon on May Day 2012, the car was parked and I nervously began my two-block hike to the corner of 20th Street and 5th Avenue North in urban Alabama. While financial district staples like Regions, Wells Fargo, and Compass banks dominate Birmingham's skyline with towering monoliths of glass and stones, something else takes the focal point at street level. Naturally blending into the well-manicured downtown neighborhood, four blue tarp-covered campsites sit neatly gathered beneath an American flag displayed near a lamp post.

People's Corner played host to a crowd of activists on May 1, 2012, or May Day, in support of workers rights worldwide. The Wells Fargo Bank building can be seen in the background

People's Corner, as it's known by locals, was established in November of 2011 and since then has been permanently occupied by a die-hard group of local activists. This particular stretch of sidewalk has played host to a number of different forms of civil disobedience during the past six months—most notably actions taken by the group Occupy Birmingham—but not the chaotic events popularly seen from occupations in Oakland or New York City. Men and women dressed to professionally impress shuffled on the sidewalks into and out of the skyscrapers, but on this particular day somehow looked out of place among supporters of labor rights in casual and bohemian attire. On all four corners of the busy downtown intersection stood these protesters with signs, flyers, and generally friendly dispositions to supporters and skeptics alike.

I was snapping pictures of signs which hung from the campsites when a man in a suit caught my attention. Held high over his head was a highly visible green sign with a quote from Abraham Lincoln:

“Labor is the superior of capital and deserves much the higher consideration.”

An activist holds a sign while pedestrians navigate Birmingham's Financial District

An older and balding gentleman in a yellow polo shirt tucked into his freshly pressed slacks stopped for a moment after crossing the street to read this sign. His facial expression went from curious to uncomfortable while his eyes visibly skimmed the human billboard. For a moment he looked at the man in the suit before turning to me for another slight pause. Suddenly in a single motion the passerby said “excuse me,” lowered his glance toward the sidewalk, and hurriedly slid between the billboard and me. The man in the suit lowered the sign and revealed to me a grin on his face. He mentioned how often he gets the strangest looks from pedestrians and associated these silent communications to his apparel of choice.

I continued to walk through People's Corner where about two dozen people fed the sound of indeterminable chatter as they conversed amongst themselves. The now hot spring air slowly began to fill with a familiar tune and behind me was a small march of four activists returning to the Corner. As they approached, the song “This Land Is Your Land” became blatantly clear. I caught myself unconsciously humming the melody while others in the crowd began to sing along. Some people in the area not associated with the group showed slight grins of approval, but most tried to ignore the spectacle as they anxiously hurried to their destinations.

A small group of activists sings on their return to People's Corner

I had started to practice my amateur journalist skills on an unsuspecting victim when a man, about my age and using the assistance of a cane, approached me with camera in tow and asked for a few words. The questions he asked were simple and pertained to my personal outlook on the larger Occupy movement and what I hoped to see emerge. My reply was a desire to see citizens more involved with their local governments and less involved with any sort of corporate media narrative that forces the American collective consciousness to focus on petty issues—especially those issues which make lewd amounts of money for political interests.

It was in the moments shortly after he thanked me for my time and moved deeper into the crowd when I took a deep breath and finally became part of the group. A drummer began to deliver a pulse and I, with direction from the crowd, rhythmically chanted messages of freedom—as naturally as well-placed change of key in a song, my thoughts drifted away from reporting an event to retelling an experience. Was I here to simply report on a convergence of apparent hippies? Investigate a six-month long encampment in Birmingham's financial district? Or was I here to find my niche as a concerned citizen with a desire to record a tiny speck of time in which I was by choice or by fate involved?

A May Day 2012 flyer calling for activists to "Occupy the Machine" by staging a general strike from work, school, shopping, and banking

I was shaken out of this introspective moment by a recognizable face hidden behind large aviator sunglasses as he asked if I wanted “to have a General Assembly” in the coming minutes. His face was familiar with the local Occupy Birmingham movement and has been at every event I have personally attended. I instinctively agreed and he pressed on through the crowd to ask the same question of whomever he met. I posted an update about the upcoming GA to Twitter and readied my cellphone's camera to broadcast a live video stream onto the internet.

The Occupy Birmingham General Assembly was facilitated by the same man in sunglasses and explained the recent progress made by Occupy Birmingham, which included the successful prevention of a foreclosure on a family's home within the city. The GA allowed activists to publicly speak without interruption, applauded the actions of long-term occupiers, and called for the formation of specifically directed working groups. This Occupy Birmingham General Assembly held the attention of most everyone on People's Corner but received less participation than seen in the assemblies held last fall in the Southside area.

One of four campsites at People's Corner in downtown Birmingham. Standing since November 2011, campsites like this once stretched halfway down the block.

By the end of the day, as the towering Regions Center cast a shadow across People's Corner, I casually sat with the remaining activists that drifted in and out of the encampment and we exchanged ideas, philosophies, and stories. The topics discussed weren't those normally found in televised coverage of the larger Occupations across the country. Instead the talks touched on little-known yet vitally important issues from Birmingham. Eminent Domain, human rights, and environmental concerns which pertain specifically to Jefferson County residents remained at the forefront of this debate. While many of these topics were rather unimportant to me as I contemplated my hour-long drive back home, I found myself most intrigued when the activists' talks were directed toward the Occupy movement as a whole.

The atmosphere was consistently positive; throughout the day passing foot and vehicle traffic, private security, and even Birmingham Police and various city workers showed approval with activists at People's Corner. While many individuals who gathered at the campsite supported “solidarity,” others appeared skeptical and at times cynical of Occupy Birmingham and the general Occupy movement. It was about this time when the day's events began to come together into a story: this May Day general strike was not a neatly packaged occupation. Activists young and old, black and white, privileged and forgotten had all left the confines of their homes to congregate and express a communal frustration with the direction our American society has taken in recent memory. Whether the frustration was directed towards banking systems, media manipulation, expression of public dissidence, or any other subject which one might have a strong opinion, we all had physically gathered in the direct center of a major metropolitan center to find a common ground.

Signs with various messages hang from campsites and benches throughout People's Corner

That common ground was the recognition of a broken system in which all Americans live. High school boys, middle-aged women, and everyone in-between flocked to an open community in the heart of the Birmingham financial machine to breathe revolution into the air. Left and Right were able to spend a day, one which has been internationally set aside for the common worker, to try and resolve common problems. Many Americans stayed home and followed their regularly scheduled programming. Some brave souls, however, had the ambition to go out and direct where the consciousness goes next. Whether we like it or not, the May Day 2012 events and the larger movement that sparked these events is not a story to be told by newspapers, blogs, or talking heads. It cannot be clearly described, promoted, nor denied when brought to you by the sponsors. Whether it is called the Occupy Movement, the American Spring, or even a New American Revolution, it is an experience which is best understood by nervously walking into it alone and finding a personally unique place in this emerging American culture.

-MDS

Heflin city council promotes healthy living, city beautification, public interaction

Heflin Mayor Anna Berry designates
March as Extension Living Well Month

The Heflin City Council met Tuesday and approved several motions, including a proclamation which designates March 2012 as Extension Living Well Month.

According to the Heflin proclamation signed by Mayor Anna Berry, the Alabama Cooperative Extension of Cleburne County anticipates Living Well Month will “encourage our residents to take advantage of the educational opportunities” offered by the Extension system.

Along with the various educational workshops and seminars offered by the Cleburne County Extension System, the statewide Alabama Cooperative Extension provides online resources, publications, and calendars for local and statewide events. The Extension is funded cooperatively through federal, state, and county government agencies and their website is located at aces.edu.

Following the signing of the proclamation, the council approved request of a grant for city bridge repairs along with a $50,000 limit for repairs to the former armory, which was recently acquired by Heflin.

Councilman Travis Crowe also updated the council concerning work done by the Beautification Committee. “Everything is looking better than it did” said Crowe as he described the progress, which included removing trash and cutting grass near the Heflin Cemetery. Both Berry and Councilman Johnny Heard praised the work of Crowe.

The council then briefly discussed dumpsters being placed in the city for an April clean-up month. The council promoted a relocation of the dumpsters behind city hall in order to prevent blockage of emergency lanes near the old location and to allow Heflin Police to monitor the containers.

The next Heflin City Council public hearing on April 10^th will be held at 5:30PM before the closed work session. After previously holding the public hearing immediately after the work session, Mayor Berry said the change would be made “to keep people from waiting” for the public hearing to begin.

-MDS

Occupy Oakland spurs large police response for “Move-In Day”

Saturday was dubbed “Move-in day” by thousands of Occupy Oakland protesters but was most noted for the tense confrontations with area police, infiltration of Oakland City Hall, and more that 300 arrests.

Citizen journalists broadcast live video streams on ustream.com while activists kept Twitter full of updates throughout the day. After a tense and unsuccessful occupation attempt of a vacant convention center in downtown Oakland that afternoon, protesters regrouped in front of city hall and announced a new occupation of an undisclosed location.

A march of about 500 people began to move north and snake through city streets as the evening sun set. Music could be heard playing through an amplifier at the rear of the crowd as protesters chanted “Whose street? Our street!” The heavy presence of police in riot gear attempted to contain the growing march about 15 blocks from city hall, but many protesters scattered to avoid becoming victims of kettling—a police tactic used to corral large numbers of people.

Momentum of the march was soon directed away from police as protesters on bicycles darted through the neighborhood. Protesters turned around and began to march south but encountered riot police at 23^rd street near a YMCA. By 6:30 PM the protest was completely surrounded on Broadway by riot police on foot and in vehicles.

Reports suggest an individual already inside the YMCA had unlocked the doors to help some protesters slip away from the crowd. Police quickly tightened the perimeter around the march and announced over a loudspeaker “you have failed to disperse and are now under arrest.”

The sprawling march was condensed to the sidewalk by police and some skirmishes appeared to unfold. Police were seen tossing bicycles away from the building and crowd while some protesters were allowed outside the perimeter and away from the arrests. Some protesters shouted their name to citizen journalists as they were filed down the sidewalk in handcuffs. One protester was seen being led away by police with a small amount of blood streaming down his face.

Police vans and buses entered the area near the YMCA just before 7:30 PM. Meanwhile, a small group of protesters returned to City Hall and several entered in hopes of holding a General Assembly within the city council's chambers. This group had little support from fellow occupiers as office furniture and documents were removed from the building. An American flag was also removed and onlookers failed to stop its burning.

Many protesters remained in the unlit park outside as, for nearly 20 minutes, only three police officers were available to secure the entrance. Police reinforcements eventually arrived by the dozens as the number of protesters grew in the area. One protester was then taken by ambulance to the hospital after she was allegedly “clubbed in the kidney” by an Oakland police officer during an earlier march.

Another march of about 50 protesters soon left Oscar Grant Park and headed toward Oakland Police Department to support those arrested at the YMCA. Contempt for law enforcement was high among this march as chants for “total freedom” blared from a bullhorn and were echoed by the crowd. Police scanners began relaying to officers throughout the city that resources were thin, but police still swarmed the area around the march.

Upon reaching the police department, the protesters began howling into the night sky to show support for the arrested protesters. They quickly turned their attention to a police bus, however, as it approached the building and entered an underground garage. Protesters ran towards the closing door and shouted for the release of those arrested when a canister was thrown from inside the building. The canister was returned before the door shut completely—protesters nor police were seen wearing protective equipment.

Police quickly advanced on the march as both groups navigated through streets littered with overturned shopping carts and trashcans. One protester was seen trying to tie his shoe while others told him there was no time as a line of police quickly shortened the space between them. The march returned to Oscar Grant Park just after 9:00 PM and police established a riot-line across 14^th Street.

The intersection of 14^th and Broadway quickly filled and a standoff ensued between occupiers and police. Officers from neighboring law enforcement departments were seen with Oakland police but without name badges. Shouts of “go home” and “fight some real crime” were heard from protesters as more police filed into the area. A girl approached the police line and began to dance for a moment before she turned and walked away, at which time she was arrested. One citizen journalist reported the “imported cops” were responsible for her arrest.

Around 10:00 PM, after a final act of defiance in the form of an impromptu sit-in, police gave a 5-minute warning for protesters to disperse. The warning was met with thunderous disapproval from the crowd—completely drowning out the voice on the police bullhorn—but ultimately heeded. Police made one final advance across the intersection but the crowds stayed on the sidewalks.

A citizen journalist reporting for The Revolution Will Be Streamed on uStream.com commented “Every sort of dispersal weapon was used today. Other than the LRAD, pepper balls, smoke bombs, tear gas, bean bags, rubber bullets—I saw all of those being used. Lots of flash bangs. I think people were just pissed off by how the police retaliated today. People felt they needed to do something.”

Thanks to ustream.com users punkboyinsf, OaktownPirate, TRWBS, and OakFoSho for the live stream of the January 28^th Occupy Oakland footage.

-MDS