The headline is . . .

don't answer that door!

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:50:07 GMT

Got up to answer the door.

Customer #1 - wanted to know if we fixed computers. Apparently you missed the sign on the door for NEWSPAPER HEADLINES.

Customer #2 - wanted to know if we were the place that had her car title. . . .

no id for you

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 18:57:12 GMT

We just had some guy come in for a id who "lost everything in hurricane catrina" and is from new orleans.
Said hurricane was 3 years ago.

/facepalm

It gets better.

His little girlfrind comes in and says he should be in the system.

1. we destroy all id's right after they are made
2. he won't be in the ALABAMA system if he is from NEW ORLEANS
3. we are not the gov. so have no means of getting records for the alabama system

Buh bye, go get your fake id to buy beer on new years somewhere else.

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:48:31 GMT

We just had a sweet lil ole lady come in who wanted us to set up her new flat screen tv for her. "Um, mam... we make the newspaper...."

Dear Santa...

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:35:58 GMT

Every year we put out letters to Santa - make sure to read the last two. They are especially adorable.

1. Dear Santa, This year for Christmas I want some candy, a bag of candy, bubbles, and a shirt with a tiger on it. I will leave you some Fruity Pebbles to eat in case you get hungry. Love, Caitlyn Gibson

2. Dear Santa, This year I want bubbles, a baby doll, and some cars. I will leave you an apple by the tree. Love, Jessi Hewitt

3. Dear Santa, This year for Christmas I want bubbles, a Winnie the Pooh, some little birds, and a big dog. I will leave you some strawberries in case you are hungry. Love, Kaden Jones

4. Dear Santa, Please bring me a bird for Christmas. I also want candy, a bag of candy, and some bubbles. I will leave you a piece of candy by the tree. Love, Zach Smith

5. Dear Santa, This year for Christmas I want a Dora the Explorer Vanity Table and a baby jaguar. Love, Madison Hines

6. Dear Santa, Please bring me a garbage truck, a Mack, a Lightning McQueen, and the race track he goes on when you come to my house. I will cook you a hamburger to eat. Love, Caleb Harrell

7. Dear Santa, Please bring me some markers for Christmas. I also want toys, a stuffed animal, and a dog. I will leave you some gummy eyeballs to snack on. Love, Jera Schoenfeld

ROFLMAO

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:21:10 GMT

We have a police scanner in the office. It's never turned off. The police just pulled over someone with no drivers licsence but tried to pass off one of our ID card's as one.

well don't that beat all

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:08:35 GMT

At the livingston open house (this is where all the stores in town have a great big sale before Christmas) some guy was standing in the alleyway beating his meat. A couple of the store owners called the police but they never came.

/chuckle

I think some guy just won 5 dollars after he and his buddies got drunk.

authorized

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:38:16 GMT

I really don't understand why people feel that they have to be assholes to me.

Woman called who got two front sections of the paper instead of a A section and a B section. I appologised for it, told her if she came to the office I would give her a free one and would add a free week on her subscription. She wanted to know what I would do about the paper ending up that way. I said that it was a mistake by the printing company and from time to time it happened due to human error. Once again I appologised.

Again she wanted to know what I was going to do about her paper. I repeated the free paper offer and the addition on to her subscription. I appologetically said that was all I was authorized to do.

She said "well I am authorized to cancle my subscrition" and slamed the phone down so hard it rang in my ear.

/sigh

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:27:14 GMT

We just had a girl come in and tell us she had no birth certificate because she was adopted.

Yeah....

free publicity = bad!

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:26:42 GMT

York Methodist Fall Festival
Saturday, October 13, a fall festival will be held at York United Methodist Church. This event will be at 5 o'clock, and will be a fun time for all. I understand that there will be food, Bingo and other entertainment. It's all free, so plan to attend!

See anything worng with the above paragraph? No? Well let me explain then. the pr person at York Methodist did not get in contact with the people making the food for the fest. The pr person called to get the fest in the announcements so we put it in. It's free for local churches. In fact we will use these announcements as filler ad's when we have a odd amount of space. So this is one of the 4 churches I used.

The lady doing the food called and demanded to know who put it in. Now churches call these in all week long and fax them. We stick them in with no questions asked. Meaning, we have no clue. She called and dog cussed me out. Until I had to tell her that she should be discussing this with her own people and not with us. They are the one's who decided to advertise this not us. She must not have realised that we have caller id b/c she called back imeadiately. "Mrs. Masters, our conversation with you is finnished. Please have your church PR person call us." and she hung up the phone.

I'm still irritated. That was 30 dollars worth of ads they got for free. *grump*

oh dear...

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:46:44 GMT

The editor is currently explaining to two little old ladies that we do not publish divorces even if we do publish obituaries and weddings.

Not a shot out!

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:07:55 GMT

This is our friendly letter to the editor writer I told ya'll about earlier. Enjoy:

Bell says Oak Tree shooting was first,
but Bell was shot in “rear end” in ‘04

By Tommy McGraw
Publisher/Editor
Oak Tree Lounge owner Jesse E. Bell has challenged the factual basis of a story that appeared in the Sumter County Record Journal (SCRJ) on Sept. 6, 2007.
Bell is also a, “proud father and dedicated teacher and coach with the Demopolis High School System,” according to the letter to the editor he faxed to the Record Journal from the Demopolis Middle School on Oct. 3 at 7:50 a.m.

The Demopolis Middle school dateline was printed at the top of one page and the bottom of another page that was received at the SCRJ's office. The letter is printed in its entirety on page 2-A of this edition.
Bell also criticizes the Sumter County Sheriff's Department for their lack of security at the nightclub that is located at 666 Mundy Rd. in the Coatopa Community.

Bell alleges that the shooting August 31, 2007 where one of his security guards was shot in the forearm was the, “first shooting incident,” ever at the Coatopa Community nightclub. Bell writes, “Let the facts be known about the Oak Tree Lounge. After being in business for 16 years, this establishment experienced its first shooting incident on its premises where an individual was injured on August 31,2007.”
Contrary to Bell's statements, the SCRJ has reported at least two other shootings at or near the club where three other people including Bell, the owner was shot.

The Record-Journal reported in the Thursday, June 12, 1997 edition that three Birmingham residents were arrested in connection with a, “drive-by shooting,” at the Oak Tree Lounge.
Two people were injured in that shooting. The two were Tequila Bell of Livingston and Mark Wright of Coatopa. The news story written by former SCRJ reporter, Judi Johnston, reported that both victims suffered gun shot wounds to their legs. Tequila Bell was treated and later released from Hill Hospital while Wright was taken to Bryan Whitfield Hospital in Demopolis and treated for the gunshot wounds.
Johnston interviewed sheriff's department personnel and wrote: “The shooting incident apparently occurred after a fight had previously taken place in front of the lounge.”

Sheriff Department Deputies including, Sheriff Johnny Hatter, arrested three people that were in a white, Monte Carlo Chevrolet that had fired on the two people at the club.
The three arrested were listed in the report as Voshon Rose, Kenneth Rice and Kelvin Rice, all of Birmingham.

All three were charged with Assault, First Degree at the time of the arrests. One of those arrested had been treated earlier in the night at the Greene County Hospital in Eutaw according to Hatter.
Hatter said Ronald Rice was treated at the Eutaw Hospital from wounds he received in a fight at the Coatopa lounge prior to the shooting at approximately 2:47 a.m.

The second shooting and the third victim that was injured by gunfire was actually the owner of the Coatopa nightclub, Jesse E. Bell.
Bell ended his letter by writing, “Further more, Mr. Bell was a victim of a robbery, not a shot [shoot] out. The next time you write an article make sure that all of your facts are correct!”
In the news story that ran on Sept. 6, 2007, the SCRJ reported that Bell had been a victim of a shooting years earlier at the club during a robbery.

Bell denied in the letter to the editor that he had been shot, but according to his sworn statement compiled in an interview by former Sheriff's Deputy Stan Boutwell on May 25, 2004, Bell told officers that he had been shot.

The SCRJ reported in the May, 27, 2004 edition of the newspaper that Bell was a victim of a robbery and was shot in the, “rear end.” First responders to the scene reported to the sheriff's deputies, “the owner of the Oak Tree lounge had been shot in the rear end.” They also reported, “he was up walking around and doesn't appear to be in any immediate danger.”

Bell was transported to Rush Hospital in Meridian for treatment according to the sheriff's department.
Bell said in his statement to Boutwell, “”I guess he was going to try and search my truck. or something. When he [second man holding a gun on Bell] got between us, I knew that the second guy with the gun on me couldn't shoot with his partner in the way, so I broke and ran for the back door. The door was open and I was almost inside when I was shot. It felt like I was on fire and it was like it paralyzed the side of my body. I fell on the floor and heard the first guy that had been talking the whole time say, “Man, what did you shoot him for?” Then I heard the truck crank up and drive away. I called my cousin lawyer, then I called 911, then I called my wife and my uncle George and his son. I didn't go back outside,”
Bell initialed the report signifying that it was true and correct statement.

Earlier in the interview Bell said he met with “Michelle [Sheppard], one of those arrested for robbing him.
“Bell told Boutwell, “On the night I was robbed, Michelle had asked me earlier in the night to borrow some money. I told her I would see her after the club closed. After the club closed everybody left and I went around front and told Michelle to come to the back of the building. We went inside for a little while and we came back out the back door about 3:30 a.m. When we walked out the back door, the young man with the .45 [caliber gun] came running up and put the gun to my nose.....”

Deputies arrested four suspects and charged them with Robbery, First Degree and Assault First Degree.
Those arrested in the case were Willy Bell Allen, Jr., 20 of Allenwood Lane, Jefferson; Jesse James Shepherd, 26, of 306 Earl Street, Demopolis; Michelle Lacetta Shepherd, 26, of 306 Earl Street, Demopolis; and Shimego Howell, 22, of 306 Earl Street, Demopolis.

Sheriff Johnny Hatter said Sheppard and Howell were acquitted in the trial. Both Allen and Jesse James Sheppard are currently still incarcerated for the robbery and shooting of Bell.
Also taken in the Robbery were the victim's vehicle, which was recovered by deputies shortly after the crime occurred and, “about $250.00,” in cash from the victim's pocket.

Bell wrote in his letter, “There was only one gunman firing shots and the sheriff's department only collected that gunman's shell casings. There were four shell casings found and 2 of which had been fired.”

Sumter County Deputy Sergeant Thomas Lewis and Sheriff Hatter in an interview Tuesday, Oct. 2 said that according to witnesses, more than two shots were fired at the club on the night of August 31, 2007. Lewis said he interviewed three different witnesses which all said more than two shots were fired.
Two men have been arrested for menacing because the person who got shot has not come back to Alabama to sign a warrant, said Hatter.

Junior Fluker, age unavailable, of Meridian, Miss., was shot twice. He was hit in the arm and waist according to the Incident Offense Report (I/O report).
Ronald Starling, 30, of Boligee was charged with menacing and could face an assault and other charges according to Sumter Sheriff Johnny Hatter.

Sergeant Lewis said that Fluker has not been questioned and seems to be avoiding deputies. Lewis said that they are still questioning other witnesses and more charges are likely from the shoot out that occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m.

Lewis said, one account that witnesses gave, is that all five security guards had weapons and came out firing following the initial first shots in the parking lot.
According to two witnesses, “Dominick Tavarius Smith of Demopolis approached Ronald Sterling with a small caliber handgun on his side they exchanged words, just before Ronald Starling pulled out a small caliber handgun and began to shoot toward Smith and Brandon Darnell Tabb.

“Security Guard Junior Fluker of Meridian, was exiting the club at the same time of the shooting when a bullet hit him in the right forearm and waist,” according to the I/O report.
In years past there have been other shootings at the club. The club's owner, Jesse Bell of Demopolis, suffered a gunshot wound in one of the incidents.

“All we can do now is charge them with the menacing charge,” said Lewis. The number Bell gave us to call Fluker, the security guard, has not been answered.” Lewis said they have not been able to identify the security guard by the name they were given by Bell.

Lewis and Hatter both said that Bell told then that Fluker may be on probation in Mississippi and was not supposed to be in Alabama during the time he was shot.
At least one of the witnesses told deputies they saw a security guard with a handgun. The witnesses said they could identify the security guards because they wore shirts that had the word “Security” printed on them.

Bell in his letter to the editor denied that his security guards carried guns. “The security [guards] that work at the Oak Tree Lounge to help secure the safety of the customers are not allowed to carry weapons. How could Mr. Fluker come out firing if he was shot in the initial first shots? This incident happened in a public parking lot. Mr. Fluker was helped back into the business by other security guards.”

Hatter and Lewis said the, “public parking lot,” Bell refers to is actually the parking lot that belongs to the Oak Tree Lounge. “There is not a public parking lot in Coatopa that I know of,” said Hatter
Bell also took Sheriff Johnny Hatter's Department to task for not, “serving the public.” Bell wrote: The job of the Sumter County Sheriff's department is to serve the public. The Oak Tree Lounge is a business for the public in a rural area in Sumter County. If there have been shootings in the past, then why hasn't the sheriff's department assisted the management of the Oak Tree Lounge to ensure that this kind of behavior is not tolerated.”

Hatter responded saying that the only time his department is called to the lounge is when there is a problem. Hatter said, his deputies had been told in the past that their presence at the lounge actually hurt Bell's business because deputies were present.”

Lewis said that during their investigation they learned that one of the Security Guards allowed a gun inside the nightclub the night of the shooting.
A witness told authorities that he was allowed to remove his clip from his gun before entering the club.
Hatter said, “no guns should be allowed inside the club, loaded or unloaded. The person could have extra bullets and just the presence of the weapon could cause a riot and stamped where many customers could be hurt or killed.”

Hatter said his department has answered many other incidents at the nightclub. The sheriff said there have also been auto accidents where people have been seriously injured or killed after leaving the club early in the morning.

Letter to the Editor:
OCT - 03 - 2007 07:50 AM DEMOPOLIS MIDDLE SCHOOL 334-289-2670
Note: This is response to the article written about the Oak Tree Lounge incident on August 31, 2007.

Let the facts be known about the Oak Tree Lounge. After being in business for 16 years, this establishment experienced its first shooting incident on its premises where an individual was injured on August 3 1,2007.

There was only one gunman firing shots and the sheriff department only collected that gunman's shell casing. There were 4 shell casings found, 2 of which had been fired.
Junior Fluker was shot one time in the right forearm where the bullet traveled through his forearm and exited through his side towards his back.

The Sumter Co. sheriffs department did not visit Mr. Fluker at Anderson
Hospital in Meridian, Ms for questioning. They were waiting for Mr. Fluker to come to the station. Mr. Fluker had major surgery and stayed in the hospital for 5 days. It was not possible for him to visit the station in a timely manner.

The security that works at the Oak Tree Lounge to help secure the safety of the customers are not allowed to carry weapons. How could Mr. Fluker come out firing if he was shot in the initial first shots? This incident happened in a public parking lot, Mr. Fluker was helped back into the business by the other security guards.

The job of the Sumter Co. sheriffs department is to serve the public. The Oak Tree Lounge is a business for the public in a rural area in Sumter Co. If there have been shootings in the past, then why hasn't the sheriff department assisted the management of the Oak Tree Lounge to ensure that this kind of behavior is not tolerated?

There is documentation showing where die owner of the Oak Tree Lounge has called the sheriff department for assistance in the past at closing time when customers would fire weapons into the air and shoot out car windows of parked cars at Hale's Body Shop upon leaving the business. The owner has not and is not receiving any assistance from the sheriff department.

These types of incidents will continue to take place until the sheriff department assists the management of the Oak Tree Lounge with this matter.

Mr. Jesse E. Bell is a proud father and a dedicated teacher and coach with the Demopolis City School system. He is also a loyal citizen and a tax payer in Sumter Co. To have his name placed in the paper along with some incorrect information adversely affects his character and standing in the community. Further more, Mr. Bell was a victim of a robbery, not a shot out.

The next time you write an article make sure that all of your facts are correct!

Management of Oak Tree Lounge
Signed,
Jesse E. Bell

laying out

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:07:00 GMT

Thursday, September 20th, 2007
4:06 pm
I need suggestions!
Steven gave me a wonderful idea!

I get a LOT of weird requests from customers and just general crap that happens here on a everyday basis since it's the newspaper. He thought I should make a LJ for it.

Today's example: We make passport photos. Just the photo - we don't do anything pertaining to the rest of the passport. 3 men came in and tried to bargin with me on the price for two sets (4 pictures). Such as if they got two sets could they pay 30 dollars instead of 40. The price is fixed and I do not haggle. This is niether a bazzar nor a car lot. They then tried to tell me the last time they had come here taht is the price they paid. I explained I had been here nearly 2 years and the price never fluctuated. They paid full price.

Would ya'll think for me and come up with some suggestions for a name?

All I came up with was: Today's Headline

Wednesday, September 26th, 2007
10:12 am
a short note about writing a letter to the editor
When writing a letter to the editor here is a few do not's:

Do not write a letter to the editor contradicting the sheriff about a case you were arrested for when the case is still under investigation.

Do not fax a letter to the editor long distance from your place of employment showing that you used company resources and the company name so that it is broadcast to the newspaper.

And do not tell a NEWS SOURCE, ever, that crimes do not happen in such and such a place unless you are absolutely certain. Because newsources keep these things called files and documentation. We like to show off that you are wrong. Sells papers and makes you tune into the news daily.

Friday, September 26
Spent the day trying to get the fire fighters special edition done. No such luck.