The Strange Meeting In Montgomery and Dothan Delegation Meeting With Legislators

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Feb 14 2013 8:28 AM

MONTGOMERY:     On Wednesday there was a meeting between members of the Dothan City Commission and the legislative delegation which represents Dothan. The meeting was held at LaJolla’s Restaurant and BAR. The restaurant and bar is located in Eastchase in Montgomery.

And yes, Dothan Commissioners Albert Kirkland and Critt Snellgrove were present along with State Representative Paul Lee, Dexter Grimsley, Steve Clouse and State Senator Harri Anne Smith. Other members of the Commission were present along with the designated driver for Commissioner Kirkland, Snellgrove and Baxley - Mike West.

And no, the members of the media were not notified of the meeting with the elected officials which represent Dothan and Houston County. And no, I was not invited either.

When I entered the restaurant and bar I did see the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the State of Alabama Luther Strange. He was not with the delegation from the Dothan Commission. Strange said he was in contact with the people in Dale County but was not present for any of the 6 days of Ethan was held captive underground with a killer.

RSN asked the question, where was the Chief Law Enforcement for the State of Alabama during this hostage rescue operation. Sources in Montgomery had indicated, Strange being an Alumni of Tulane, that he was in New Orleans for the Super Bowl. We verified Strange nor any members of his staff were on the scene. RSN thought that was Strange since he says he is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the State.

RSN has asked for interviews with Strange when Center Stage was raided. Strange had a press conference in Montgomery but we were never notified. We asked again and were again denied interviews with Strange. It was only when Strange was seeking office we had access or he would interview.

RSN will take Strange at his word: (1) he was not in New Orleans January 29, 2013 through February 4, 2013 (2) he and his staff were in contact with Dale County, which had to be either Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson or District Attorney Kirke Adams.

At a distance I saw the Dothan delegation. I never went into their meeting or spoke to any of them. I remained my distance.

Local Legislative Delegation

Other than once a month for the "paid members" of the Dothan Chamber of Commerce, the local legislative delegation has no local meetings to update the people which elect them. No where do they explain to the people who elect them what is going on in legislature. If media contacts them they will do interviews. Only the "paid members" of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce are notified of the legislative briefing and only the "paid members" attend.

The legislature creates a lot of law that affect our lives. Example is the one that Senator Scott Beason is doing on gun control. The Alabama Sheriff’s held a press conference at their statewide meeting in Hoover yesterday. The Alabama Sheriff’s do not support the legislation of Beason in any way, shape,form or fashion. The voters which elect the legislators have no public forum access to the legislators.

The public has no idea what the legislative requests the City of Dothan has for this legislature. We do know the traffic camera issue was approved for two legislative sessions. We do not know if that legislation was discussed last night.

We are sure the Houston County Commission will hold a legislative delegation meeting. And if the past track record holds true, that meeting will also attempt to be held in top secret, without the media knowledge and without the public knowing about it until it is to late. We could get more fee increases if the county meeting and legislative meeting is not monitored.

We do have about an hour of only the outside surveillance of the meeting.

Pictures

Picture 1 is the restaurant and bar where the meeting was held.

Picture 2 is State Representative Dexter Grimsley arriving at the restuarant and bar.

Picture 3 the Dothan City Manager Mike West, the designated driver for Dothan Commissioners Albert Kirkland, Critt Snellgrove and Hamp Baxley. They stopped at Trader's Island for a pit stop while traveling to the meeting at Lajollas Restaurant and Bar.

Note the outside surveillance video of the restaurant is about an hour long. It just represents people coming and going. Does not represent anything specific.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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