Cheryl Sabel for Congress - AL District 2

On Monday I attended the candidate forum here at Troy University. Before attending, I didn't even know who was actually seeking to replace our retiring Congressman. It was a long and painful process to listen to a group of politicians all answering the same questions and most all of them giving the exact same answer.

But one candidate really stood out to me. Her name is Cheryl Sabel and she is running for the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District here in Alabama. If you are interested in voting for a true progressive Democrat on June 3rd, your only choice is Cheryl Sabel. Check out Cheryl Sabel's website at Cheryl Sabel for Congress

I was amazed at how much Bobby Bright did not sound like a Democrat at all. In my opinion, he is at best an Independent in Democrats' clothing. He basically said that if elected he did not intend to caucus with the Democrats. I believe his exact words were "Nancy Pelosi will not tell me what to do." I can understand that congressional representatives sometimes have to vote against their party to do what is in the best interest of the their district and all that, but a comment like that sounds like it should be coming from a Republican not a Democrat.

No answers in Aruba

Via MSNBC - Aruba ends probe into Holloway disappearance

Authorities have closed the investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway and do not have evidence to charge anyone, prosecutors said Tuesday.

The three young men who were last seen with the Alabama teenager have all been notified that they will not be charged, prosecutors said.

"The public prosecutor's office and the police have gone the extra mile and have exhausted all their powers and techniques in order to solve the mystery of the disappearance of the girl," it said.

Real life is seldom like television. On TV they almost always get the bad guy, but in real life they often get away.

Siegelman and Scrushy head to the federal pen

Via WSFA News - Siegelman and Scrushy Sentenced to Prison

Siegelman got just over 7 years (88 months) and Scrushy got just under 7 years (82 months) plus they both have fines to pay, community service, etc. According to the article, they have 10 days to file an appeal, but they are currently in custody.

Well, Paris got her time cut in half for good behavior. I wonder how much time these two will actually serve.

A little relief

We finally got some much needed rain today. I had just over three-tenths of an inch in my rain gauge. It is the first measurable rain we have had in over a month. And we have a 90% chance of rain again tomorrow! Thank heaven.

Some help for the firefighters

Via FOX 30 - Heavy Rains Help Douse Georgia and Florida Fires

Heavy rains from Tropical Depression Barry helped douse the fires in southern Georgia and northern Florida that have been burning since the middle of April.

[. . .]

There are 187 active fires across the state of Florida, according to the Division of Forestry, and 67 active fires across Georgia.

I know that any help is greatly appreciated. We all need to keep praying for rain.

Update on missing man: Gary Vance

Via MyFox Birmingham - Police Say Missing Minister Could be in Vegas

Kimberly Police announced that evangelist Gary Vance apparently bought a bus ticket and left for Las Vegas.

[. . .]

He apparently took the taxi to the Greyhound Bus Station where he bought a ticket to Las Vegas under an assumed name.
Police say no foul play was involved.
No charges are pending at this time.
Kimberly Police have notified Las Vegas Police that Vance may be in the area.

Early this morning I was given similar information by my mother, but told not a distribute the info until it was announced at a news conference. The interesting thing is that this information does not completely comport with the information as it was given to me. First of all, the destination of the bus he was said to have boarded was different that that listed in the news article. Also, the story as it was told to me indicated that he was very disoriented at the bus station and that the police believe him to be in an impaired mental state. The FOX article makes it sound like he just skipped town and I still do not believe that to be the case. That he left of his own free will, maybe, but if so I believe he was confused and/or disoriented.

Also, I am not willing to take what this news source says at total face value simply because they have not gotten their facts straight prior to this point either. In earlier reports they listed him as living in Fayette County when he actually lives in Jefferson County and they said he was the former pastor at Mount Olive Assembly of God and I am told by my mother that that is not accurate either.

UPDATE: The video associated with the story is actually a little more accurate and more telling then the article. I couldn't watch the video at first and had to view it on a different computer.

More info on Uncle Gary's Trailblazer

Via the Tuscaloosa News - Missing man’s SUV found in area

His vehicle was discovered Friday afternoon in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart on Skyland Boulevard.

Authorities said the 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer was under a tarp. It is now in police custody and being examined for clues.

[. . .]

Anyone with information regarding Vance’s whereabouts was asked to call Crime Stoppers at 205-752-STOP (7867) or the Kimberly Police Department at 205-647-5531.

I will post more updates as they become available.

Note: The Cooper quoted in the article is not me, but another niece of his on the other side of the family.

Please Help Find this Missing Man

My uncle, Gary Vance, went missing on Friday in the Birmingham area. If you have any information, please contact the local police. Below is a copy of the flier that is being posted locally.

MISSING!

URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION NEEDED!!

REV. GARY VANCE

LAST SEEN WEARING: ORANGE POLO SHIRT

ON THE POCKET “VANCE HOMEBUILDERS INC.”

KHAKI PANTS & BLACK OPEN HEEL Z COIL SHOES

AGE 59 – HEIGHT 5’11” – WEIGHT 170LBS

DRIVING A DARK BLUE 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER

He was in the Lincoln, AL area Friday morning. It is possible he was in or around Tuscaloosa on Friday afternoon.

Please call your local police with any information!

UPDATE: His Trailblazer has been found in Tuscaloosa, AL, but he is still missing.

UPDATE 2: see new info here

(I will be keeping this post on top until further notice)
Posting Update: I have decided to move the information about Uncle Gary to the sidebar. The post will still be available for comments but it will now float down the page as new posts are added to the blog.

FINAL UPDATE:  Gary has returned home to his family.  Thank you for your interest and concern.

On a local note

For any body who might have happened to see CBS 8's 6:00 news tonight and saw the story about the young man who got the perfect score on the ACT, that was my youngest step-daughter's boyfriend. Now we get to tease her that she's dating Mr. Perfect.

I just don't understand. . .

why this falls to the government.
WSFA - Montgomery Water Park Not a Done Deal
If developers want to build a water park in Montgomery (or anywhere for that matter) let them, but why should the local government pay for construction? I really don't understand. The article says:

Four developers have expressed interest in operating a water park at Gateway. But in order to make a profit, they need the city to pay the up-front costs.

What I don't get is why they should be able to make a profit off of something the city builds. I know that cities often build stadiums for pro sports teams, and some are comparing it to the building of the baseball stadium,

"When you look at baseball in Montgomery, there were a lot of nay-says who didn't see the vision," said council member C.C. Calhoun. "Now look at the development downtown behind baseball."

Maybe there is some room for government spending it stimulate the economy; I am familiar with Keynesian economics, but I just don't understand things like this. I really don't even get why the city should pay for stadiums and equating a water park to a baseball stadium is quite a stretch in my opinion.

It is my understanding that the city doesn't even pay for new roads in a new subdivision, nor do they even maintain them for the first 6 months to a year, but these developers think they should have millions paid for them, up front, so that they can make a profit on a water park? Do we believe in liberal capitalism or not? I think if the government is building it, it should be like a public park, either free or usable at minimal cost, not something that private owners make a profit from.

At least it seem that at this point it not going to happen.

The mayor and some city council members say they feel obligated to finish Gateway as planned.

"A vast majority of people in the neighborhood had input on the way this plan was put together," the mayor said.

Ok, I'm done ranting . . . for now.

Is Violence better than Nudity?

Apparently judges at the Alabama National Fair think that violence is more acceptable than nudity. Alabama native and artist, Barrett Bailey, had his painting removed from the Fair's art contest because it was not considered acceptable for a family audience by the manager, Russell Melton.

His ejected piece, titled "Transition," depicts a nude model in pixilated squares. Even though the fair art director accepted Bailey's submission, manager Russell Melton decided it wasn't appropriate for the venue.

Melton says, "There are plenty of places in this city for that type of artwork, and I'm not against that type of artwork. It's just that it isn't for a family entertainment center." Judging by what is on display, religious imagery and violence are acceptable.

I have not been to the Fair, nor have I seen the artwork, but I do not understand why our society seems to think that violence is more acceptable for children to view than nudity. Explicit sexual imagry is one thing, but a pixilated nude model hardly seems like the end of society as we know it. I found it interesting that artist said:

It's something that I didn't feel bad about showing my parents, who are a very religious family. If my mother felt in any way offended, she would let me know.

So I assume it couldn't have been anything to explicit. Sensorship seems to be the news of the week however.