Thank goodness the council approved funding for improvements to the airport. Mr. Smith wouldn't have had a chance unless this deal had been done.

Concerned Citizen I wish you would not take peoples words and twist them to attain your ideological political ends. I also attended those meetings and all Rev. Smith was trying to convey is that everyday common people can and should help recruit new industry to our area and to that end, if he had a prospect on his own or brought to him by someone else, which he does, he would not have to jump through all the political hoops and have them passed from one agency to another if they were looking at coming to Sylacauga. He simply meant that if they were serious about coming to Sylacauga, it is the council and the city attorney that make alot of the actual decisions for Sylacauga, nothing as sinister as you want to make it appear.

He made the comment about the mayor not offering any help in getting the prospect to Sylacauga after the fact the mayor personally attacked him and made it appear that the Rev. was doing something outside the law when all he did was ask average citizens if they would be interested in "pitching in" something to help bring the prospect here for a few days after he spoke with the person and asked them "what do you you need me to do on this end to make this happen". Nothing sinister or unlawful about that. He did this only after approaching a council member that told him flat out "the council will not approve something like this" and went on to say it may be a flim-flam deal and if they did this for one prospect, then everyone would have their hands out wanting money. How fast we forget the theater flim-flam the city/mayor jumped through hoops for, and the Marble Festival we threw away $10,000 on so the mayor can have a permanent vacation destiny in Italy, or the private bicycle trails the mayor built at Lake Howard for he and his buddies to enjoy, and then there is the god awaful eyesore of a moto-cross bicycle track stuck in the most beautiful park Sylacauga had so his friends could sell some bicycles... want more?

So Rev. Smith did not bring it before the council because he felt it was a dead cause. The mayor knew of this prospect, but instead of going to the Rev. face to face - man to man and asking "is there anything I can do for you Manuel?", he shoots off a letter saying that he is investigating with two different agencies the Rev.'s actions for offering to help facilitate bring a prospect to Sylacauga and that he better watch his steps.

This prospect made clear to Rev. Smith that he wanted to check out Sylacauga and if he made a decision to locate here, he wanted to deal with as few agencies as possible, so the Rev. was only trying to do as the prospect requested, again nothing sinister or unlawful, just trying to honor the mans requests, but everyone wants to point their cannons and shoot without knowing 1/100th of the facts.

The company is coming to visit Sylacauga, on Rev. Smiths dime, and I pray to God that all the local do-nothing/my name ain't in the papers politics can stay in the garbage pails until a deal is struck. I wish I could post the link to the prospects website so everyone can see that it is a legit company, and a very serious inquiry. Sylacauga will be lucky if this goes through. I know Rev. Smith, and he does not want any hard feelings surrounding this, he was only doing what he thought was right as a citizen and steward of the peoples trust. It was the mayor that came out throwing low blows and innuendos. Sorry all you Sam fans, but call a spade a spade, if it had the Rev. making the accusations, he would be crucified also. Lesson, think before you act, do the right thing and go talk to your fellow citizen before you accuse and investigate them. Let us not be so hasty to crucify someone for at least trying. Always remember, if you always do what you have always done, you always get what you have always gotten.

I attended both of Mr. Smith's Think Tank sessions where he presented Dr. Jim Hethcox's industrial recruitment theory. Factories with research facilities attached, etc. In both meetings Mr. Smith made the statement, "We don't need the Mayor, Calvin Miller or the IDB, all I need is the City Council and the City Attorney". Now Mr. Smith is attacking the Mayor and others for not offering to help him financially. If his client cannot afford a trip to Sylacauga from California, do you really think he has funds to build some facility employing 5-700 people? Not likely. I wish Mr. Smith the best of luck in his endeavors but he has to be honest with the people of Sylacauga and not offer them false hope. Mr. Smith is smart enough to know what he was doing in soliciting money was wrong--wrong--wrong. He got caught, got angry and wants to blame others for his problems. Sort of like the kids always blame the teacher for their bad grades.

Take the advice of Mr. Barton, get involved with your city so you will know the facts and don't depend on someone else to tell you their opinion of what is happening. Knowledege is power and ignorance is pathetic.

To: Bobby Ray & Billy Joe.. if this is your real name, I met folks like you in prison.even wrote a book about it..I am not imtimated by your comments...There is nothing that you can tell that has not been told by other liars...so if you think you have some "juicy gossip"...just make sure it is backed with facts...there is a law that deals with defimation and slander....now bring it on boys...or girls....or whatever sexual orientation you are. As far as me being a spokesperson for these other ladies and gentlemen, I think they are quite capable of speaking for themself...just like I speak for myself...

Bobby Ray and Billy Joe: It is interesting what searching an IP address can find. SLANDER - A false defamation (expressed in spoken words, signs, or gestures) which injures the character or reputation of the person defamed; distinguished from libel.

This is a response to Larry Barton. We finally now know who is taking the rap for Ken Brewer, Claire Curtis and Bob Green along with a few other cronies to be named later. Barton, get back to selling stumps and stop rolling yourself into a high and mighty man of the people. You are only hangling around to cause trouble like Talladega. I know you so well, it might be best not to answer me back.

Bill Joe is right, this town need to settle down and work togather to with the Commercial and Industrial base we have.

To Billy Joe....I am not trying to interfere...as the host of IN THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE, a t.v. talk show,soon to be originating out of Sylacauga, I just report the news....not make it...it is a shame that all the citizens who have spoken out on this site have to get up in arms because of elected officials not performing their duties...Billy Joe, you are quick to run your mouth, but what have you done to help the Councilmembers and citizens of Sylacauga bring in jobs? What have you done to help make the quality of life better for the citizens of Sylacauga? I was at the council meeting and heard what was said...where were you? I have invited your mayor, through his secretary, to be on my t.v. show, but he does not even have the courtesy to return my call. Anyone is welcome, including you Billy Joe, to be a guest and share with the folks what their concern is. The unemployment is almost 14% in Talladega County...I commend anyone who tries to bring jobs...the remarks you made about Councilmember Smith would indicate you might also be a racist. Is this true? As long as God gives me breath and strength and an outlet to speak out on behalf of those who have no one to stand for them...I will be there. Hopefully this will clear up any misunderstanding of why I was in Sylacauga.

I completely agree with you, Camtech. The city and other businesses should have NO control over what you pay your employees or what you offer to them. Business leaders need to let these council members know that the pay scales will be what the BUSINESSES decide. If that's the case....why don't we give them the politicians the same pay scale as the common working people of this community. I personally have no problem with Sam, but this is something that I would tell the entire council. The rich get richer, and the poor continue to sink.

I will be honest Sylacauga has nothing to offer a company to come to your city. The mayor has a deer in the head lights look when asking about economic development impacts for the city. When offering a great development for the city but being stopped in your tracks and being told that the pay scale has to stay between two stats and not to go over so that the other companies in the city will have a even playing field. That was to many limitations for our company, so we moved on.

that is what we need in Talladega a new Mayor and a new Council .so lets get to work on this

befor Talladega dies

I agree with Big John, we all need to take a deep breath and support what we have left. Ken, call off your dogs and let's support our Mayor, Council and leaders.

the truth is that the truth hurts... none of this is "silly"..... are we just supposed to stick our head in the sand and ignore what is going on? one thing that most people don't realize is that.....EVERYTHING MATTERS!!!!

Let's all calm down and stop calling names like a bunch of kids. The overall economy has hurt many a town but the progressive ones don't have this in-fighting. I know who is fueling this thing and I am about to call you out.

Most of the things you are fussing about is just plain silly. Grow up and support the commercial and Industrial businesses we have.

i think its time the citizens of sylacauga realize that if what comes to sylacauga does not pad the pocket or boost the ego of our infamous mayor (i use the term mayor lightly)sam wright,he will try every way possible to sabotage every effort or intimidate any one who tries to promote the growth of new business in sylacauga. its all about what is best for sam not the citizens of this city . if you think i'm wrong just try to find a job in this town for than 8.00-10.00$ per hour or, just walk out your door and take deep breath of the toxins being hauled by the truck load in our back door to a treatment plant that is not designed treat such waste as being dumped. who do you think is benefiting from that little business deal. it aint the citizens of sylacauga is it sam wright? wake up sylacauga and take a stand if for no one else at least for your children they are the ones who will suffer the long term effects aint that right mayor?

I think this goes back to Wright's first term, when he and the then council voted down the Pursell's offer to build a sports park on Hwy 280. Then the movie theater fiasco happened. Now sits an empty spec building by the airport and an atrocious pay raise plan called the "Buford" plan. Ask your council man about this one, citizens. The Marble Festival was a joke. How much money did that cost the city? And then they laid off 8 workers from the Rec department. Oh, what about the REEF plant and stinky Sylacauga? How much more does it take for the citizens of this great city to realize that they deserve a better class of leaders. They are out there. Talk to your neighbors, friends, relatives. Get the truth out about these people in city hall. Then next election, you can be informed. The most dangerous thing is an uneducated voter.

You know what Big John and tallchick49??? After reading your comments I have to agree with you. It's all too easy to get off topic and chase rabbits. The issue at hand is indeed jobs for the city, and while I don't necessarily agree with everything that was said, that basic truth remains... we need jobs, and we need to continue efforts to make that happen.

My apologies to LB. I felt like you were trying to stir up controversy, but I didn't give you the benefit of the doubt... and I should have.

I hope the companies interested in coming to sylacauga as well as the ones we now have aren't reading this. I know the cities that are in competition with Sylacauga are laughing at the way this has been handled.

By the way, who is the company?

And by the way, I don't think it matters if Councilman Smith is black, white, yellow or purple plaid. Money is green, and that's what Sylacauga citizens need right now: industry, jobs, and steady paychecks--GREEN, GREEN, GREEN.

What we're getting from some folks (confederate american and tide23, are ya listenin') is hot air and cheap shots that are not even related to the topic at hand.

I wonder why the good councilman Smith had to ferret out new industry for Sylacauga (which is a very good and necessary thing to do right now). Hmmm, because he feels it's his job (he was elected to help the people of Sylacauga) and he's right.

My question is: Why didn't Mayor Wright get up off his shiny hiney and get some businesses to come into Sylacauga, too?! You can't get the industry in here if you don't use a little energy and some of your oh-so-vast influence to reach out beyond your cushy, comfortable office. So get out there and DO SOMETHING, Sam.

You can bet this lone-wolf councilman has something up his sleeve and it will not be good for the majoriy of Sylacaugans. The taxpayers of Sylacauga would do well to keep an eye on this maverick.