In August, we’re celebrating Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks, whether they be liars, thieves, extortionists, swindlers or thugs. Running daily until Birmingham mayor Larry Langford’s Aug. 31 federal trial. Thanks to Bhamwiki for helping with this project.

Richard Scrushy

Positions held: founder of Birmingham-based HealthSouth, TV talk show host

Wanted for: fraud and conspiracy (2005); bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud (2006)

Date of conviction: acquitted of 2005 charges, but convicted alongside former governor Don Siegelman on June 29, 2006.

Sentence: nearly 7 years in prison, then 3 years probation, $400,000 in fines plus up to $150,000 to repay cost of incarceration. On June 18, Scrushy lost a civil suit and was ordered to pay $2.87 billion.

Criminally fun fact: Scrushy set up a ministry in 2006 to feed African children and provide mortgages. He helped found the charity organization Computer Help for Kids with convicted former Birmingham pol John Katopodis and mayor Larry Langford; the charity employed gay porn star Ryan Idol as a computer technician for $30,000.

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Additional reading:

• Bhamwiki: Richard Scrushy
• Crime Watch
• Meet more of Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks | RSS feed

• • •

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When I think I am
failing at life, I picture
her smile. Victory!

• • •

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Earlier today, we posted a preview of the returning Birmingham Heritage Festival.

Scratch that.

The three-day music festival was scheduled for Linn Park on Friday through Sunday, with Ludacris, Angie Stone, Keyshia Cole, Chaka Khan and OverFloe. But financial woes have forced organizers Ascension Event Management to pull the plug three days before opening.

The first hint of trouble came when the organizers approached the city council for a last-minute loan of $300,000 to pay acts. The second hint came today when rapper Ludacris, billed as a performer, said he wasn’t performing, calling the festival “bogus.”

Lawrence Walker of Ascension Event Management released a statement on the Birmingham Heritage Festival site, citing a broken promise from the City of Birmingham and even blaming negative media coverage. [See statement after the jump.]

Ticket buyers can receive refunds from the original point of purchase.

(more…)

In August, we’re celebrating Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks, whether they be liars, thieves, extortionists, swindlers or thugs. Running daily until Birmingham mayor Larry Langford’s Aug. 31 federal trial. Thanks to Bhamwiki for helping with this project.

J.B. Stoner

Positions held: Georgia-born attorney; chairman of  the National States’ Rights Party, the political arm of the Ku Klux Klan

Wanted for: 1958 bombing of Birmingham’s Bethel Baptist Church

Date of conviction: 1980

Sentence: 10 years in Kilby Prison outside Montgomery, but released after three-and-a-half years for good behavior.

Criminally fun fact: During his 1970 Georgia gubernatorial run, Stoner described Adolf Hitler as “too moderate.” During his 1972 Senate campaign, he won a ruling from the FCC that TV stations had to air his commercials despite his use of the “n-word.”

Stoner was a fugitive for 5 months before surrendering to go to prison, fearing what black prisoners would do to him. A few months before his death at age 81 in a Georgia nursing home, he told a reporter he’d like to still march out and make a segregation speech. He served as an appeals attorney for assassin James Earl Ray.

• • •

Additional reading:

• Bhamwiki: J.B. Stoner
• Crime Watch
• Meet more of Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks | RSS feed

• • •

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Update: Organizers cancel Birmingham Heritage Festival, citing financial woes.

• • •

Friday marks the return of the Birmingham Heritage Festival, which originally ran from 1991 to 2003 under Larry Allen. This year, Ascension Event Management has taken on the three-day event, but not without a hiccup or two.

Organizer Lawrence Walker asked the city council for a last-minute loan of $300,000 for the Birmingham Heritage Festival, the same day City Stages declared bankruptcy after taking an additional last-minute $250,000 from the City of Birmingham. Walker said the 30-day loan would be to pay acts after a financial backer had pulled out, but the council rejected the request.

The festival takes place Friday through Sunday in a new location, Linn Park (previously, the event was in and around Kelly Ingram Park). Tickets, $55 for all three days or $33 for one day, are available online and at select Piggly Wiggly locations.

Scheduled to perform …

Friday

• Angie Stone
• SOS Band
• Lloyd
• Ludacris

Saturday

• Dwele
• Avant
• Keyshia Cole

Sunday

• Prince Yelder and DFC
• OverFloe
• Cheryl Bufford and the Floodland Family
• Ashley Guin
• Church Boy
• Atlantic Starr
• Joe
• Chaka Khan

Update: Ludacris said via Twitter that he is not performing at the Birmingham Heritage Festival: “Bogus promoter alert!!! Birmingham, AL Heritage festival, completely false. Luda will not be there so don’t buy tickets!!!”

(hat tip The Terminal)

Video previews after the jump …

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The bean sprouts have had
better days, but the peaches
and tomatoes shine.

• • •

Read more haiku.

In August, we’re celebrating Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks, whether they be liars, thieves, extortionists, swindlers or thugs. Running daily until Birmingham mayor Larry Langford’s Aug. 31 federal trial. Thanks to Bhamwiki for helping with this project.

Dedrick Griham

Positions held: robber, kidnapper, felon

Wanted for: carjacking and related gun charges

Date of conviction: Nov. 13, 2006

Sentence: Life plus 84 years in prison.

Criminally fun fact: Griham served 5 years of a 20-year sentence for a Mobile robbery when he was paroled in 2005. He abducted a Birmingham attorney from the parking lot of her downtown apartment. Birmingham police captured him at a Homewood motel and freed his captive.

He later escaped from Staton Correctional Facility in Elmore County, but was recaptured when federal agents found him in a cardboard box in West End.

On the stand, he accused his victim of setting up the whole crime with a prostitute named ”Pumpkin.”

• • •

Additional reading:

• Bhamwiki: Dedrick Griham
• Crime Watch
• Meet more of Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks | RSS feed

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Iambic? Sonnets?
Limericks? Alltop has it
for poetry fans!

• • •

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Video: “Food, Inc.” trailer

“Food, Inc.,” the critically acclaimed documentary, started its four-night stint at the Bama Theatre in Tuscaloosa Sunday night. It followed a one-week run in July at Mobile’s Crescent Theater.

But, Birmingham foodies and film fans will have their chance on Labor Day weekend, as Bottletree Cafe will show “Food, Inc.” for several nights. In addition to the film’s exclusive Birmingham screening, organizers plan to have tastings, a panel discussion and handouts detailing area food groups and resources.

The movie, directed by Robert Kenner, takes a look at the American food industry and the dire consequences of modern production and consumption to people and planet. Film critic Roger Ebert gave it three-and-a-half stars out of four, writing:

This review doesn’t read one thing like a movie review. But most of the stuff I discuss in it, I learned from the new documentary “Food, Inc.,” directed by Robert Kenner and based on the recent book “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan. … I just wanted to scare the bejesus out of you, which is what “Food, Inc.” did to me.

“Food, Inc.” also scored well on the review site Metacritic.

Sponsoring the film are the Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network, Greater Birmingham Community Food Partners, Jefferson County Childhood Obesity Task Force, Jones Valley Urban Farm, Slow Food Birmingham and Whole Foods Market.

Screenings will be on Sept. 5 and 6. Information on times and ticket prices will be posted on this site soon. [Update: You can purchase tickets for $7 to $18 through Bottletree.]

For more information, contact Amanda Storey on her site, Food Revival, or e-mail her at Amanda.storey[at]foodrevival.com.

Video: “Food, Inc.” opening scene

In August, we’re celebrating Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks, whether they be liars, thieves, extortionists, swindlers or thugs. Running daily until Birmingham mayor Larry Langford’s Aug. 31 federal trial. Thanks to Bhamwiki for helping with this project.

Simon Speights

Positions held: Lipscomb mayor and city council president

Wanted for: burglary

Date of conviction: Feb. 3, 1994

Sentence: 3-year suspended sentence, unsupervised probation, $1,000 fine plus restitution and court costs

Criminally fun fact: Speights was Lipscomb council president when he was appointed as mayor after Jimmie Johnson resigned in 2005 for the “safety for me and my family.” Speights was driving a stolen car and collecting more than the authorized salary for his office. He resigned in July 2007 after his burglary conviction came to light; his conviction prevents him from holding office.

• • •

Additional reading:

• Bhamwiki: Simon Speights
• Crime Watch
• Meet more of Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks | RSS feed

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I’ve been kicked by folks
bigger than a baby, but
not from the inside.

• • •

Read more haiku.

In August, we’re celebrating Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks, whether they be liars, thieves, extortionists, swindlers or thugs. Running daily until Birmingham mayor Larry Langford’s Aug. 31 federal trial. Thanks to Bhamwiki for helping with this project.

Mary Kay Beard

Positions held: nursing school graduate, now Center Point resident and founder of Angel Tree ministry

Wanted for: grand larceny and armed robbery, including robbing banks and staging a prison break for her then husband/partner in crime. In 1972, Beard made the FBI’s Most Wanted List.

Date of conviction: 1972

Sentence: 21 years in Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, but paroled after 6 years.

Criminally fun fact: Beard once had a contract on her life for crossing the mafia in a diamond heist. She started the Angel Tree program in 1982, which has given Christmas gifts for 6 million children of prisoners.

• • •

Additional reading:

• Bhamwiki: Mary Kay Beard
• Crime Watch
• Meet more of Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks | RSS feed

• • •

Want more Wade on Birmingham? Subscribe to our free newsletter!

A day made for fun,
fishing, hiking, relaxing …
but watching inside.

• • •

Read more haiku.

In August, we’re celebrating Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks, whether they be liars, thieves, extortionists, swindlers or thugs. Running daily until Birmingham mayor Larry Langford’s Aug. 31 federal trial. Thanks to Bhamwiki for helping with this project.

Don MacDermott

Positions held: City Council member.

Wanted for: receiving and possessing child pornography.

Date of conviction: Dec. 5, 2007

Sentence: 5 years in prison.

Criminally fun fact: MacDermott is a member of the Council of Conservative Citizens, described by him as “a conservative organization that tries to defend the Constitution.” The Southern Poverty Law Center says it “spews white supremacist propaganda in its publications and Web site.”

• • •

Additional reading:

• Bhamwiki: Don MacDermott
• Crime Watch
• Meet more of Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks | RSS feed

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Want more Wade on Birmingham? Subscribe to our free newsletter!

It’s easy to be
yourself: Just don’t imitate
others. Be unique!

• • •

Read more haiku.