WELL, with all the big news breaking last week and then going dead in the water it leaves one’s imagination open to play on what if’s, maybes, speculation and rumors.

     After looking at all the Facebook entries and seeing the gamut of responses there dealing with the idiotic, bizarre, unknown, way out in left field and a few with a little reasoning behind them, it’s time to let fly with above what if’s, maybes, speculation and rumors.

     Here’s an update on what’s in circulation.  If you don’t like one, keep reading and pick another.

 

     First item, let’s get it out that, by appearances, a company named Power South Energy Cooperative has blocked both the Monthly View and Conecuh County News and Views from being seen from their servers.  What’s this mean?  Power South distribution members include Southern Pine Electric which is tied in bed to Johnny Andrews by virtue of them having put Andrews on their Operation Roundup Board in 2013.  This appointment was done under the recommendation of Evergreen Southern Pine Office lead man, Rodney Hildreth, a former Conecuh County Commissioner.  It was passed by the Board of Trustees during a time frame when David Cook, another former Conecuh County Commissioner, was chairman.  Mr. Cook has been on the board of trustees since Moby Dick was a minnow and we already know the “partnership” formed by Andrews, Cook and Hildreth when they all served on the Conecuh Commission during 2012-2016.  By the way, neither Cook nor Hildreth continue to be a Conecuh Commissioner however, I have it on good authority Cook lust to get back in that position. 

     What does this possible blocking of the 2 websites most critical of the actions of the commissioners and most especially Johnny Andrews, and the ones not afraid to point out the wrongful actions of the same?  Maybe nothing or maybe they don’t want the power company employees to have knowledge of what’s going on in “their” management system. 

     As long as I’m on it, I really want to know why Southern Pine finds Conecuh’s Caucasian commissioners so valuable to their company and image and why they didn’t place any black commissioner on any of their boards.  Every Conecuh County Commissioner serving during the 2012-2016 terms EXCEPT those of African-American background held some type of position within Southern Pine.  Now that one of those sterling picks has been arrested for distributing drugs it appears a move has been made to ensure the employee base will be stymied from finding out this information.

     Got that out of the way.

 

     Johnny Andrews says he’s not guilty, he’s been set up.  Right!!!!.  Let’s wait till this plays out before we declare Andrews guilty or not guilty. 

     One thing to keep in mind, how many of you really think the FBI and Alabama Attorney General’s office are going to arrest Andrews for marijuana distribution and not have their ducks in a row about this?  Speculation, how many of you think Andrews is the beginning and ending point of the line for what’s going on?  Rumor, Johnny holds information about Dr. Dino, his pet project that he unleashed on the Lenox area going so far as to find him, (Dr. Dino), a place to build the biggest dinosaur in the world.  How is Conecuh going to function?  We’re the Collard Green Capital, Big Foot Capital, SERFI Capital, Sausage Capital, and now we’re on schedule to become the Dinosaur Capital!!! 

     That’s an awful lot of sugar for a dime when most of our residents can’t afford a dime due to a lack of industry that’s been lost over the years because of poor/mismanagement of our county/city/town leaders.  IF Andrews does wind up guilty and is convicted of being a drug dealer just how does one propose this to be a good thing for our county?  I can only imagine the businesses rushing to come here where we have all these “capitals.”

     Continuing speculation, Andrews, as a member of the Cooperative District Board, has some type of insider information about some purposed wrong doing there.  Even I’m aware of what I perceive to be a lack of action and/or follow up to some issues that should have been addressed there.

     Jim Allen, owner/publisher of The Monthly View has a website located at   http://themonthlyview.home.mindspring.com with a survey on his website where one may vote as to what they think will be the next issue addressed.  You can have a choice from:  The County Commission; Evergreen City Hall; Castleberry Town Hall; Repton Town Hall; other:  These are in addition to the two others mentioned above.

 

     Rumor, if Andrews is guilty, how did he deliver the “goods.”  As the local collard growing king, his collards were not certified “weed” free.  Yep, “allegedly” he put the illegal stuff in with the good stuff and just carried it in.  I can recall seeing him on several collard green delivering missions, makes me wonder if all those people getting collards from him might have been getting “bonus material.”  Again, let’s not jump to the conclusion he’s guilty yet…

 

     Unconfirmed rumor but to good not to put out there.  His former cohort on the commission, David Cook, gave Andrews a ride back to Prattville (where he was initially arrested) to get his pickup.  This was after Andrews was booked in the Conecuh County jail.  In addition to giving him a ride, it is rumored Cook posted his bond.

     I actually went by the jail to get a copy of the booking paperwork and a mugshot.  I was informed everything about the case was sealed therefore, no booking paperwork, no mugshot and no conformation as to what his bond was or who posted it. 

     I was told it was sealed paperwork due to it being an ongoing investigation.  That certainly leads me to speculate there’s gonna be more arrest warrants issued.

 

     If all will take time out to remember a situation in the recent past with a HHS teacher, a search warrant was issued and several months later an arrest warrant was issued.  We may be looking at something very similar dealing with this case.  It could be months before we could really be put “in the know” on anything dealing with Andrews and his arrest.

Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure

 

Rule 7. Release.

Rule 7.2. Right to release on one’s personal recognizance or on bond.

 

(a) BEFORE CONVICTION. Any defendant charged with an offense bailable as a matter of right may be released pending or during trial on his or her personal recognizance or on an appearance bond unless the court or magistrate determines that such a release will not reasonably assure the defendant’s appearance as required, or that the defendant’s being at large will pose a real and present danger to others or to the public at large. If such a determination is made, the court may impose the least onerous condition or conditions contained in Rule 7.3(b) that will reasonably assure the defendant’s appearance or that will eliminate or minimize the risk of harm to others or to the public at large. In making such a determination, the court may take into account the following:

1. The age, background and family ties, relationships and circumstances of the defendant.

2. The defendant’s reputation, character, and health.

3. The defendant’s prior criminal record, including prior releases on recognizance or on secured appearance bonds, and other pending cases.

4. The identity of responsible members of the community who will vouch for the defendant’s reliability. 5. Violence or lack of violence in the alleged commission of the offense.

6. The nature of the offense charged, the apparent probability of conviction, and the likely sentence, insofar as these factors are relevant to the risk of nonappearance.

7. The type of weapon used, e.g., knife, pistol, shotgun, sawed-off shotgun.

8. Threats made against victims and/or witnesses.

9. The value of property taken during the alleged commission of the offense.

10. Whether the property allegedly taken was recovered or not; damage or lack of damage to property allegedly taken.

11. Residence of the defendant, including consideration of real property ownership, and length of residence in his or her place of domicile.

13. Consideration of the defendant’s employment status and history, the location of defendant’s employment, e.g., whether employed in the county where the alleged offense occurred, and the defendant’s financial condition.

14. Any enhancement statutes related to the charged offense.

(b) BAIL SCHEDULE. The following schedule is established as a general rule for circuit, district and municipal courts in setting bail for persons charged with bailable offenses. Except where release is required in the minimum schedule amount pursuant to the Rules of Criminal Procedure, courts should exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the scheduled amounts.

 

BAIL SCHEDULE

 

Recommended Range Felonies:

Capital felony $50,000 to No Bail Allowed

Murder $15,000 to $ 150,000

Class A felony $10,000 to $ 60,000

Class C felony $ 2,500 to $ 15,000

Drug manufacturing and trafficking$ 5,000 to $1,500,000