Covering all of Baldwin County, AL every Friday. Orange Beach Seafood Festival PAGE 12 BCHS wins Gold Division The Baldwin Times PAGE 19 FEBRUARY 23, 2018 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Robertsdale teacher arrested for eight counts involving alleged sexual misconduct with Central Baldwin Middle student By CLIFF MCCOLLUM of a school employee engaging they became aware of a poten- School,” Lt. Rex Bishop said. in this case. [email protected] in a sex act with a student under tial issue with Hamilton on Feb. “We began our investigation, “There is some concern there 19 and two counts of a school 5, when the Baldwin County which is still ongoing, and that may be additional victims,” Wil- On Feb. 20, John Daniel Ham- employee having sexual contact School System reported the investigation did turn up and ters said. “We hope if there are ilton, a teacher at Central Bald- with a student under 19. issue to the Robertsdale Police develop into probable cause for that they will come forward.” win Middle School, was arrested Hamilton is a history teacher Department. an arrest.” Wilters said the incidents for inappropriate sexual contact and bus driver who had been “The Robertsdale Police De- Baldwin County District At- came to light when a student with a student. employed with the Baldwin partment was notified of a situ- torney Bob Wilters said all of came forward and reported the Hamilton was arrested on County School System since ation and some allegations of the charges against Hamilton actions to a teacher. two counts of second degree 2003, but was placed on adminis- an inappropriate relationship derived from actions taken at “Evidence came to a teacher sodomy, two counts of second trative leave on Feb. 5. between a teacher and student the school. Wilters added that degree sexual abuse, two counts Law enforcement officials said at Central Baldwin Middle there may be additional victims SEE ARREST, PAGE 3 Corporal Mike Walker honored in ceremony Prim Finding his purpose RHS graduate CLIFF MCCOLLUM / STAFF PHOTOS working with anti- Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Mike Walker was recently honored by numerous organizations at a ceremony in Bay Minette, including the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Marine Corps League and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office itself. Walker, a nine year veteran of the department, was in- bullying group to jured by a shotgun blast responding to a domestic violence incident in December 2017. implement program in schools By JOHN UNDERWOOD [email protected] Stockton Heritage Museum shines spotlight on town’s rich history By ALLISON MARLOW ROBERTSDALE — [email protected] Want to visit the Edric Prim says it took him a while to find his The people of Stockton know Stockton Heritage purpose in life. who they are and where they Museum? A star athlete at Rob- came from. ertsdale High School, the In 2012 a handful of residents LOCATION: 62180 St Luke Church Loxley native moved to drove more than 1,000 miles Road, Stockton California to play college back and forth across Alabama MONTHLY EVENTS: The museum football at L.A. Valley Ju- to campaign for a statewide hosts a program the third Sunday of nior College, “and make a amendment vote to protect the each month at 3:30 p.m., focused on better life for myself.” town from forced annexation. a different aspect of local history Two and a half years And, they won. The next event was moved to March later, he says, he got a This year they celebrated the 11, 3:30 p.m. to avoid conflicting with one-year anniversary of the other area events. SEE PURPOSE, PAGE 4 Stockton Heritage Museum, a careful and painstaking effort SCHEDULE A GROUP VISIT: Call to cultivate and preserve every- Georgene Conner at 251-604-4666 SUBMITTED PHOTO BALDWIN FAST FACTS thing that makes the tiny town LEARN MORE: www. The general store in Stockton opened in 1894 and continued to operate until precious. stocktonheritage.org They know their history well. 1971. The renovated building is now home to the Stockton Heritage Museum. 90 percent of Baldwin They want others to be able to County residents have a share in it because for anyone we’re forgotten, in a tucked gins with the Native American easily transport goods along high school diploma or from Baldwin County, this is away part of the county,” said tribes who called this land home. the Mobile-Tensaw Delta which higher education. where their history began too. Georgene Conner, president of Early settlers moved in and built runs the length of the town. “It’s ironic, once we were ev- Stockton Heritage Association. Alabama’s first saw mill. Indus- Source: US Census Bureau erything in this area and now The history of Stockton be- try boomed since the mills could SEE STOCKTON, PAGE 28 Deaths Page 24 George R. Bowman Jr. Donald Ray Jordan Gulf Johnnie Heidelberg Chupek Sean Michael McKay Coast Susan W. Denis Max G. Northcutt Media James M. Fuller Eunice I. Ralston VOLUME 127 • ISSUE 41 Joseph Frank Gravlee Jr. MD David Nolan Rider Luise Anna Guilds Joanna Mae Steadham 1 SECTION • 28 PAGES Thomas Phillips Hart Clifford Martin Street Sr. Wallace A. Hurd Jr. Barry R. White 2 • The Baldwin Times • February 23, 2018 • Gulf Coast Media Baldwin County Animal The Baldwin Times Shelter holds open house 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 PHONE: (251) 943-2151 | FAX: (251) 943-3441 [email protected] Parks Rogers Tony Whitehead Publisher Sports Editor (251) 947-7712 (251) 928-2321 parks@gulfcoast tony@gulfcoast media.com media.com CLIFF MCCOLLUM / STAFF PHOTOS Cliff McCollum Classified Advertising The Baldwin County Animal Shelter held an open house last Managing Editor Whisper Edwards weekend, with dozens of county residents visiting the shelter (251) 947-7712 whisper@gulfcoast to try to find a new perfect pet. cliff@gulfcoastmedia. media.com com Legal Advertising Allison Marlow April Wallace Senior Features Editor legals@gulfcoast allisonm@gulfcoast media.com media.com To subscribe, make an address change or vacation delivery stop, you may call our office at (251) 517-1690, go online at www. gulfcoastnewstoday.com and click on the “e-edition” link in the black toolbar. Under “don’t have an id’ there is an option for how to become a subscriber. or email [email protected]. ©Gulf Coast Media 2018. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced without the prior written consent of the group TRENDING publisher or associate publisher. Opinions of editorial or general columnists or those reflected in submitted letters do 1. Robertsdale teacher arrested on eight charges involving not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this newspaper. sexual contact with Central Baldwin Middle student The Baldwin Times (USPS 040-560) is published weekly, 2. BCSO investigating possible murder/suicide at Wilcox with its office located at 901 N. McKenzie St., in Foley, AL 36535. Periodicals postage paid at Foley, AL 36535. Subscription rates: In- RV park county annual, $36.50 plus local sales tax; six-month, $21.50 plus 3. Baldwin County schools end negotiations with Gulf local sales tax; senior citizen annual, $34.00 plus local sales tax; Shores team on school split six-month, $19.50 plus local sales tax; and out-of-county annual, 4. Firearm found on student at Fairhope Middle $78.00, six-month, $39.00. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Baldwin Times, 901 5. Fairhope mayor, council spar on numerous issues during N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546. last meeting To see these top online stories of the week and our other content, visit gulfcoastnewstoday.com. Gulf Coast Media • February 23, 2018 • The Baldwin Times • 3 Rep. Davis earns leadership award MONTGOMERY — Rep. surprised at receiving enhance economic devel- and storage at Plant Barry Randy Davis, who repre- the award. My work has opment and the quality of in Bucks, Alabama,” sents the House District 96 always been centered on life in the South through said Kenneth J. Nemeth, counties of Baldwin and making our state a bet- innovations in energy and secretary and executive Mobile, is the 2018 recipi- ter place. However, I am environmental policies, director, Southern States ent of the Energy Institute grateful and humbled programs and technolo- Energy Board. of Alabama’s Leadership by EIA’s recognition. gies. “Representative Davis Award. Davis received the Speaker Hammett ap- “As Vice Chairman, embodies the spirit of a award at the group’s En- pointed me to the South- Randy Davis is the leader true legislative leader, ergy Day, held last week. ern States Energy Board of a southern legislative serving his state while SUBMITTED PHOTO “Representative Davis in 2003, and our work with caucus of key legislators targeting technological EIA Executive Director Blake Hardwich (left) and EIA Chairman has been a staunch sup- the 15 other Southern who support innovative breakthroughs that can and former Speaker of the House Seth Hammett (right) pres- porter of clean, affordable, states and two territories state energy and envi- be utilized throughout ent Rep. Randy Davis with the 2018 Leadership Award for his reliable energy production has been very valuable to ronmental legislation, the nation. The Southern contributions and service to the energy industry. in Alabama. He under- the Baldwin/Mobile area new technologies, and States Energy Board is stands the need for a solid and the State of Alabama. inventive policies that duly proud and honored chairman of the Consti- The EIA’s mission is to energy base, which also We are blessed with so spur economic develop- to have Representative tution, Campaigns and promote reliable, afford- provides an economic many natural resources, ment.