Republican Andrew Sorrell to challenge Marcel Black in HD 3
A 31-year-old Republican newcomer is filing a challenge for longtime Alabama State Rep. Marcel Black. Justin Andrew Sorrell is seeking the House District 3 seat held by Black, a Tuscumbia Democrat, since 1990. Sorrell is a well-known anti-tax activist and entrepreneur who received a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of North Alabama in 2006. “I decided to run for this office to give the voters of House District 3 a clear choice this election cycle: a choice between a liberal Democrat and a conservative Republican. I believe my positions on issues and my conservative upbringing reflect the positions and upbringing of the majority of my district,” Sorrell said in a statement to the Alabama Political Reporter Friday. “With the amount of job loss in Colbert and Lawrence counties, District 3 needs a conservative, a Christian small-business man who knows how to create jobs and fight higher taxes,” he added. With his brother Mathew, Andrew Sorrell launched Infinity College Textbooks – selling more than 400,000 college textbooks online, employing 27 people. In April 2015, Sorrell also founded the pawnshop Gold, Guns and Guitars, Inc., sold 3,000 guns since opening. Andrew also began buying rental real estate at age 19 and owns multiple rental properties, both commercial and residential. Sorrell lives in Muscle Shoals with his fiancée, Hannah and plans to be married June 30. Black has not yet decided on hit a re-election bid. “I will make an announcement of future election plans at a time of my choosing,” Black told the Reporter. “I feel my record shows that I am experienced, have been effective and reasonable during my tenure. Of course, the ultimate decider is the electorate and they will have an opportunity at the ballot box to decide if they agree. That is what elections are for.” HD 3 covers Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, Sheffield, Town Creek, Hillsboro, North Courtland and parts of Florence. Alabama holds primary elections June 5, 2018; the general election is Nov. 5, 2018.
Quilts of Valor designed to give comfort to Vietnam Veterans
Two local Vietnam veterans were recently presented with their own Quilts of Valor, honoring them for their military service. The two men, Raymond Paul Phillips and John McKiven, have been best friends since they met in Vietnam. Phillips served in the U.S. Marine Corps after training in 1966 at Parris Island, South Carolina. He spent time in Puerto Rico, Vietnam, and Okinawa during his service. He received six ribbons, including two Purple Hearts, the Vietnam Medal of Honor and the Good Conduct Medal. McKiven completed Marine basic training in 1968, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He also spent a week in Twentynine Palms, California, where he learned to shoot a 50-caliber machine gun. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Vietnamese Campaign Medal and the Rifle Marksman Badge. When McKiven arrived in Vietnam, Phillips was the first Alabamian he met, sparking their friendship. McKiven showed him a photograph of his first cousin, Nancy Faye McKiven, and Phillips began writing her. Phillips returned home before McKiven finished his service, and by the time both men were home, Phillips was spending more time in Southside with Nancy than he was at home in Clio. Phillips married Nancy, making him and McKiven relatives as well as friends. The Phillipses had a long marriage until she died last September. Phillips then moved to Gadsden to live closer to McKiven and family. The quilt presentation was held at McKiven’s home, and friends, family and other veterans were in attendance. Lynn Hales, district coordinator for Northeast Alabama for Quilts of Valor, presented the quilts along with Sue Biggard, her assistant. “It shook me up that they gave us those,” McKiven said. “There’s not many people who’ve done stuff for the Vietnam veterans.” He said he felt the same way when Hales originally called him to discuss the presentation. Many Vietnam veterans were not thanked upon their arrival home, Hales said. Some quilt presentations mark the first time that’s happened. The Quilts of Valor Foundation is a nonprofit group that aims to honor, comfort, and cover veterans and service members with handmade quilts. Catherine Roberts started the foundation in 2003, during her son’s deployment in Iraq after she dreamed of a veteran sitting on the edge of his bed, surrounded by war demons. In the next scene in her dream, she envisioned that veteran sitting with a quilt wrapped around his shoulders, which blocked out the demons. The veteran’s demeanor had changed from one of despair to one of hope. The dream led Roberts to organize the foundation in her home in Delaware, before expanding it into what it is today — a widespread entity that awards quilts to veterans and service members all over the nation. More than 159,000 have been presented to date. The quilts are not simply passed out to men and women who served their country; they are awarded in a special ceremony as a symbol of public thanks. Each quilt is different, but all are used to say “thanks” and provide comfort to the recipients. Some have notes from the people who made them by hand; others have specialized colors for the recipient’s branch of service. Hales said each ceremony also is different, but the responses from the veterans and servicemen are heartwarming. A member of Lakeside Quilters, a quilting club in Guntersville, she said she learned about Quilts of Valor when the club began making quilts to be presented to servicemen and women. When the district coordinator role became available, Hales took on the position and has held it for nearly a year. Since then, she has presented quilts to veterans all across Northeast Alabama. Lakeside Quilters made the quilts for McKiven and Phillips. Hales said presenting quilts always warms her heart. “It’s so reminiscent of the men I was raised with who were willing to give and serve,” she said, noting that she had several family members who served in the military. Hales said the reactions from those receiving the quilts is always great. “You know, they’re military men. They’ve been trained to stand straight, show no emotion and do their work,” she said. Still, the response sometimes is more emotional. Hales said veterans who have received quilts have come back later to let her know how much of an impact the presentation had on them and their families. When presented with the quilts and thanked for their service, recipients are always appreciative of the quilt and the recognition. Sometimes, their response is more emotional. She said veterans who have received quilts have returned later to let her know how much of an effect the quilt had them and their families. Veterans can be nominated by anyone, or can nominate themselves. The quilts are made by quilters clubs or volunteers, using donated materials or those purchased through fundraisers. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Bradley Byrne: A red snapper victory
We recently had a major victory for our area’s Red Snapper fishermen and the coastal communities, which benefit from a longer Red Snapper season. Last Wednesday, the federal Department of Commerce announced an emergency extension of the 2017 Red Snapper season for recreational fishermen. As you probably remember, it was announced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration earlier this year that the Red Snapper season would be just three days, the shortest season ever. Under the emergency extension, the season for recreational fishermen now includes Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between now and Labor Day. The season will also include July 3rd and 4th and Labor Day. This adds up to an overall extension of 39 days. As soon as the three day season was announced, my staff and I went to work to on an extension. We partnered with other Gulf Coast congressmen in sending a letter to the Department of Commerce requesting an extension, and then worked with the Department and the Gulf states to iron out the details. Many people helped make this extension possible, and they deserve to be acknowledged. I appreciate President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross for paying attention to our concerns and working to address this issue. The staff at the Department of Commerce was easy to work with as we put this extension together. I also cannot say enough about the help from Chris Blankenship, the acting commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Chris has always been a joy to work with on Red Snapper issues, and he played a critical role in helping get the other Gulf states on board with this agreement. I also want to thank the local and state officials, as well as the grassroots supporters and fishermen, who helped bring attention to this issue. I firmly believe your efforts made a difference. One of the other people who played a critical role in making this agreement a reality was House Majority Whip Steve Scalise from Louisiana. Congressman Scalise expected to make news on Wednesday morning talking about the Red Snapper news, but he unfortunately made national headlines for a different reason. He was one of the individuals tragically shot during a practice for the Congressional Baseball Game. Steve Scalise is a wonderful man, a personal friend, and a true advocate for the Gulf Coast. I hope you will join me in continuing to pray for Steve and his family as he goes through the recovery process. Ultimately, it was a total team effort to make this emergency extension a reality. This is a real victory for all our recreational fishermen as well as our coastal communities. All this said, the extension only applies to the 2017 season. We must continue our efforts to find a permanent legislative solution that gives more authority over setting Red Snapper seasons to the five Gulf states. Discussions are ongoing between my office and other Gulf Coast congressmen in the House on legislation to address the issue, but we also need a willing partner in the Senate to help push our Red Snapper reforms in that body. As I have said before, I am not giving up on this issue until we get a solution. Not only is it critically important to our fishermen and the economies in our coastal communities, but it is also a shining example of the kind of government overreach and incompetence that has become all too common in today’s federal government. I encourage all our fishermen to enjoy the extended 2017 Red Snapper season, but to join me in not letting up the pressure as we work toward a permanent solution. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
