Tears and Laughter: WA Volleyball team scores, while the city of Selma is losing

If you live in Wilcox County, you pretty much have to resign yourself to the fact that you have to frequently travel to bigger towns. Camden is relatively centered about 40 miles between Selma, Thomasville, Greenville, and Monroeville.

Selma was once the most popular of the four because it once had the most to offer. Mostly that was due to its size, and was in terms of shopping, specialized doctors, and entertainment. And it still does have Junebugg’s, Mark’s Mart, and the Social Security office, but Selma has a serious crime problem.

I was harping last week about the crime rate being too high in Wilcox County, and it is, but Selma seems to be trying to earn a gold medal in high crime. Criminals are creating a bad name for the city, and squelching their local economy.

Before I continue about Selma, I am so happy to report to any out of town readers who might not have yet heard, that the Dodge pick-up that was stolen Saturday, September 22, on Clifton Street in Camden was located and recovered Friday by the Wilcox Academy Volleyball team.

They were on their way to a volleyball game when they noticed a truck that looked like the stolen truck parked at a business in Beatrice, a small town in Monroe County. The truck looked so much like the one that was stolen that they texted the owner, who is a fellow student and classmate of theirs at Wilcox Academy.

The girls encouraged him to call the police, and his mama, and sure enough, it was his truck, and it wasn’t damaged.

This has been the happy story of the week around Camden. The whole team should be deputized, or at least properly acknowledged. They did an excellent job of being aware and taking action.

The situation in Selma also has everybody’s attention. People who live in Wilcox County are becoming increasingly apprehensive about doing business in Selma. There is a “stay out of Selma, if you can” attitude that has formed. When people do have to visit, they are careful to get out of town before nightfall because of the way the daily arrest report reads in the Selma Times Journal.

Killings, police shootings, and huge arrests are reserved for the front page, but arrests for assaults, thefts in progress, shots fired, fighting, and menacing are extensive. They increase on weekends, holidays, full moons, and the first of the month.

Selma has been ranked for years as one of the most dangerous cities in the state, at times taking first place. The Old Town Historic District, once stately and well-maintained, is continually being desecrated. It was home to some of the most beautiful homes the state has to offer, and now some of them resemble meth dens.

It is no wonder Wilcox residents have become leery of visiting and shopping in Selma the way they once felt comfortable doing. The city of Selma can’t afford proper safety equipment to protect their police officers who are clearly being targeted. If they can’t protect themselves well, then how well can they be expected to protect Selma?

Amanda Walker is a blogger and contributor with AL.com, The Thomasville Times, West Alabama Watchman, and Wilcox Progressive Era. Contact her at walkerworld77@msn.com or at https://www.facebook.com/AmandaWalker.Columnist