Thanks to Speakin Out News and to our many dedicated readers. The months and days are passing fast as we are going into May. I pray that soon things will be back to normal.
ACROSS THE STATE
Alabama had many festivals, concerts, and sporting events this past weekend signifying a comeback from COVID. Last Saturday the U.S. Paralympics Cycling opened with close to 100 cyclists competing at Cummings Research Park to try and qualify for the summer Paralympics in Tokyo. These competitors have been training hard for this event for some time.
TRIAL
Many people celebrated in the streets for the outcome of Mr. George Floyd’s trial after former Minneapolis Police Office Derek Chauvin’s conviction. He was charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter. The case has been going for almost a year. The verdicts were announced outside the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis. Why did no one help Floyd with so many Police Officers, friends and people standing around watching this happen. It is so sad all this happened and caused the senseless taking of a person’s life.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
At last Thursday night’s City Council meeting a Birmingham attorney named Elizabeth Huntley presented the Huntsville City Council with a report from the Huntsville Police Citizens Advisory Council. The Attorney reported that Police need additional training because of their handling of the downtown riots last year. Police Chief McMurray was in the Council Chambers during the presentation. He is taking the study back to the command staff and will be working with the Advisory Council.
While more training is always a good thing, citizens need to do what they are told and cooperate with the police to avoid instances like what occurred last year. Also, when police are interviewed their personalities should also be considered to ensure we hire officers that are equipped to protect and serve the people. I think we are blessed here in Huntsville to have some of the best police in the Country.
I got a big government surprise at last Thursday night’s council meeting when the City Council voted my daughter off the Railroad Authority after having served for 5 years. She was one of the important people on the board that ask questions and I guess that is not what the City Council wants. The board has been trying to do away with the railroad in this town for several years and they need some of the property that the railroad runs thru in the south Huntsville for developers. The craziest part about it all is that my daughter called all the council members to ask for their support and was told by all of them that she had their vote. Councilman Devin Keith had someone he nominated to take her place. When the time came to vote only Bill Kling and Jeanie Robinson voted for my daughter. The others voted for Keith’s nomination. I heard he was Keith’s business partner in a restaurant business. My daughter now sees how government deals work and what I have been dealing with for over 30 years. I can tell what the Council does, for whom they do it for and why. This council has voted members off boards before so that they could get someone in that is willing to give in to what they want.
Ralph Nelson, the CEO of the Trash Pandas is resigning and leaving for another minor league opportunity. I heard they owe the city of Madison quite a bit of money as they could not hold games due to COVID.
Love you all and have a blessed week.