Blog war on Al.com

UPDATE

Confederates of Jimmy Stephens had Al.com remove all references to his relationship with convicted federal felon Mona Moore.

MORE UPDATE: It appears that half the boggers don't understand what has happened and are just shooting off their mouths.

The Birmingham Snooze finally found out about the lawsuit filed against the Bessemer Bingo Committee of the City Council, charging that it violated the state's Open Meetings law.

But it's the comments that are most interesting.

In three comments posted it is charged that Councilman Jimmy Stephens is beind the suit and that his long-tme girlfriend, Mona Moore, is a convicted federal felon.

We carried a story earlier in the week that Stephens put Moore up to calling Councilwoman Dorothy Davidson and talking long enough to her so that she could be served.

The suit wrongly names Councilman Jesse Matthews. He is not a member of the committee.

—Tribune staff report

St. Patrick's celebration

Bessemer mayoral candidate Kenneth Gulley, left, makes a point to chamber Chairman David Darby and Joni Holt last night during annual St. Patrick's celebration at the Holiday Inn Express attended by about 100 people.

—Tribune staff report

Smoot trades in fancy wheels

Interesting sight at the Bessemer Civic Center the other night: Shelia Smoot being driven around town in a car that was purchased used at one of those buy-here, pay-here operations.

Smoot-dog normally is driven around in a Jefferson County car and they are normally parked illegally.

Thinks this change has something to do with her ludicrous campaign for Congress?

—Tribune staff report

Eastern Valley fire displaces family

A fire this morning in Eastern Valley displaced a family, officials said.

The family was not home when firefighters answered a call to 126 Elrie Blvd., says Melvin Alexander, a firefighter with the East Valley Fire Department.

The call went out at 3:43 a.m.

Cause of the fire is still under investigation.

—Tribune staff report

School tax trial to coincide with election

Bessemer Mayor Ed May could suffer a real setback on the polls this August when it is expected the city school's lawsuit to recover money withheld from it goes to court.

The city stopped paying its share of the retail tax collection to the school because it couldn't pay its bills.

After patiently waiting for more than a year, the schools filed suit to recover $6.1 million.

Of course, the schools are about to fall into the same economic crater as the city. Six months ago it had $14 million in reserves. The number is down to $8 million and it will evaporate soon after being hit with yet another proration cut by the state.

If this isn't enough for May, the city is expected to fall further into its hole because money it receives about this time of the year from Jefferson County in the form of property taxes has been moved back until summer.

The city, which has been flush with cash in the past two months will probably have to consider laying off employees just to keep the doors open.

This plays into the hands of the four major candidates who hope to unseat May as each one has mentioned the need to get the city's finances under control.

—Tribune staff report

READ FULL STORY IN NEXT WEEK'S NEWSPAPER

Well, at least the grass is trimmed

Bessemer thugs like to leave their sentiments on buildings. This abandoned building is in Jonesboro.

On a sign farther back on Center Street it designates the area "Goone City." Problem is the correct spelling is GOON. The low-rent thugs must be products of the Bessemer Board of Dumification.

—Tribune staff report

Kickoff celebration for Gulley

A few hundred people came to the Bessemer mayoral campaign kickoff celebration for Kenneth Gulley last night at the Bessemer Civic Center.

Among those who attended were, from left, Bob Pennington, Gulley, Otis Smith and Hank Tyler.

Gulley's message is "Put Bessemer First," as opposed to the administration of Mayor Ed, which seems hellbent on sending business and jobs out of town.

The election is Aug. 24.

—Tribune staff report 

Belcher backs down, attorney paid

Bessemer bingo attorney finally got paid the $15,225 that was owed to her after Councilwoman Sarah Belcher caved in and signed after being threatened with a lawsuit.

Last week Belcher and Mayor Ed May both refused to sign off on the check.

Councilwoman Dorothy Davidson signed.

So attorney Davidson had to resort to a threatening letter.

It worked as Belcher reluctantly signed.

According to sources inside City Hall, May said something would have to freeze over for him to sign. Either that, or a court order.

—Tribune staff report

'Pretty rotten'

The so-called citizen's lawsuit filed last week against the Bingo Committee of the Bessemer City Council was done by Councilman Jimmy Stephens, according to Councilwoman Dorothy Davidson.

What's more interesting is that the process server was helped by Mona Moore, Stephenson's long-time girlfriend who works in City Hall for Mayor Ed May.

The way Davidson was served, according to her, was Moore called her on her bell phone, found out where she was and kept her on the line until she arrived home so that she could be served.

"Pretty rotten," says Davidson.

—Tribune staff report

Dog ate the homework, maybe

Bessemer's elected leaders this morning made it clear that they are the slugs you thought they were.

With an assortment of important and festering issues on their plate they did nothing. Zippo.

The worst part is that council attorney Greg Harris, who was supposed to be fired last year, still has a job. But he didn't show up for the meeting. Something about his mother being ill.

Maybe the dog ate the homework. Oh dear.

—Tribune staff report

ON NEWSSTANDS NOW

The final major mayoral candidate checks in and stomps Ed May in a poll ... Everybody's making millions but Bessemer ... Don't let the city help you or you'll be doomed ... And Bubba's got the latest to curl your toes ...

Expect a bumpy meeting

You can expect a bumpy Bessemer City Council tomorrow morning.

Among the topics that up for discussion is why no one has signed a $15,000 check for bingo attorney Kim Davidson.

Also, why Mayor Ed May has blocked the opening of bingo halls in Bessemer.

Fairfield pulled in close to $1 million at packed halls this past weekend.

—Tribune staff report