Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
11:50 pm Sunday, June 8, 2008

Questioning council actions

By Staff
Dear editor, the Times:
As I take pen in hand I can't help but wonder when the best officers Red Bay has ever had will start resigning. Judging by their actions, it seems to me that nothing would please four of our city council members more.
In my opinion, David Martin, Bobby Nelson, Ann Wilkins and Patsy Hammock have continued to pursue a vindictive campaign against the police department, the citizens of Red Bay and just plain common sense. Here are just a few examples, starting with the June 2 meeting.
David Martin has declared the police need no training at all, especially not for emergencies such as a school crisis or shooting as has happened in small schools nationwide. Yes, David, it could happen here too.
We can thank Ann Wilkins, Patsy Hammock and Bobby Nelson for adding Martin to the council.
This notorious trio are the ones who gripe and criticize the police department at every meeting about every action we take, complain about the price of pens we use and question every cent spent to keep the department running despite the fact that Wilkins has been unable to find any misappropriation of anything.
This is the trio that has refused to replace police cars with well over 100,000 miles on them – two of which no longer start without being jumped off.
Officer Rodney Belue recently responded to a call in his own vehicle rather than try to start an actual police car.
When asked to replace just one of them, Wilkins expressed no concern about risks to citizens' lives, health and property.
Instead, she demanded to know what officer would be using the new patrol car and helped kill the proposal. No reason was given as to why. What does that say about her priorities?
Let's not forget how the original trio of Hammock, Wilkins and Nelson embarrassed themselves and all of Red Bay in their botched and illegal March attempt to get rid of Chief Creel.
Anyone with any sense of honor would have resigned after dragging Red Bay through the mud but they refused to even apologize. What does this say about them?
Stephen Moore
Red Bay

Also on Franklin County Times
Kiwanis Club returns; Key Club planned
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 1, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Kiwanis Club has returned to Russellville. Members gathered last week at Calvary Baptist Church to review bylaws, elect officers an...
Bridge work moves forward on SR 243
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
April 1, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Construction of a new bridge over Cedar Creek on SR 243 is moving forward as crews recently completed a major step in the project. Last...
Neighbors steps down as chairman of Democrats
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 1, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Rick Neighbors has stepped down as chair of the Franklin County Democratic Executive Committee, citing personal commitments he said no ...
Kiel named a 2026 ‘Emerging Leader’
News, Russellville
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
April 1, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — District 18 State Rep. Jamie Kiel has been named to the 2026 class of Emerging Leaders by GOPAC, a national group which works to train ...
NIL era has become a complete disaster
Columnists, Opinion
April 1, 2026
The modern NIL era is a complete disaster. Players walk away from contracts just to chase a new shiny opportunity. Coaches are left begging their alum...
Ex-educators learn about crime prevention from guest speaker
Columnists, Franklin County, News
HERE AND NOW
April 1, 2026
Members of the Franklin County Retired Educators Association learned about crime prevention during their recent monthly meeting. Association members w...
K-9 Mia gets helmet for protection
News
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
April 1, 2026
ROGERSVILLE — When Police Lt. Lucas Stansell and his K-9 Mija are called into action to track a person through the woods, or to go into a home to exec...
Biblical roles create big sandals to fill
News
Chelsea Retherford Staff Writer 
April 1, 2026
Onstage, they are adversaries — one a reluctant liberator, the other a ruler clinging to power. But offstage, McKinley Copeland and Zach Adams share s...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *