Low Voter Turnout Marks Baldwin Vote Recent Inmate
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Covering all of Baldwin County, AL every Friday. Ballyhoo Festival this weekend PAGE 12 North-South The Baldwin Times All-Star week PAGE 19 MARCH 6, 2020 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Recent inmate Low voter turnout marks Baldwin vote escape highlights need for proposed The Republican presidential tive 1st Congressional District Barely 30 percent of the county voted nominee race went to Donald 1 in the runoff race. In Bald- monitoring Trump with 38,922 votes cast win, Carl earned 33.56 percent enhancement bill By ALLISON MARLOW tive and inactive. Of those for the sitting president, 668 of the vote while Hightower [email protected] 53,689 ballots were cast: 12,602 cast for challenger Bill Weld had 41.59 percent. Submitted Democratic, 40,962 Republican and 1,049 votes marked as un- In perhaps the Alabama Just 32 percent of registered and 125 non-partisan. committed. race watched closest across In light of a recent voters in Baldwin County vis- In the race of the Demo- Democrats Kiani Gardner the nation, the contest for U.S. prisoner escape in Tal- ited the polls Tuesday. While cratic presidential nominee and James Averhart will Senator will also head to a ladega County, a bill put primary votes historically see Joe Biden had a strong lead advance to a runoff for Ala- runoff between former Ala- forward by Rep. Matt low turnout numbers, the low in Baldwin County and even- bama U.S. Representative 1st bama senator and U.S. attor- Simpson (R – Daphne) numbers were a surprise in tually won the state, with Congressional District. In ney general Jeff Sessions and that would subject work Alabama, where several races 58.24 percent of the vote in Baldwin, Gardner snagged former Auburn football coach release inmates to elec- were highly contested in both Baldwin. Michael Bloomberg 59.64 percent of the vote and Tommy Tuberville. Sessions tronic monitoring is parties. received 12.06 percent, Bernie Averhart won 19.75 percent. had 25.80 percent of the vote gaining attention. The Board of Registrars Sanders received 19.68 per- Republicans Jerry Carl and in Baldwin County, Tuberville On Feb. 23, inmate said Baldwin County has cent and Elizabeth Warren Bill Hightower will also com- Daniel Miner, who is 166,298 voters on the list, ac- received 7.09 percent. pete for the U.S. Representa- SEE VOTE, PAGE 2 currently serving a life sentence for a 1994 murder in Marshall County, escaped from the Childersberg Work Facility. Academy preparing students for workforce “This recent escape highlights the great By GUY BUSBY need we have for better [email protected] monitoring for inmates the state has at these FAIRHOPE — Baldwin work release facilities,” County high school students Simpson said. “No one and parents stood around a wants to see news come partially disassembled small out that a murderer has plane as Ken Callais described escaped and could now the career opportunities be walking around their available maintaining such community.” aircraft. Simpson’s bill, HB The Academy at the 151, would require vio- Fairhope Airport trains stu- lent offenders placed dents for careers such as avia- in the work release tion, industrial maintenance, program to be subject to electrical and instrumenta- electronic monitoring tion, millwright and welding. as a part of their partic- The Academy is operated ipation in the program. through a partnership by “This is a simple so- the Baldwin County School GUY BUSBY / STAFF PHOTO lution, and, honestly, Aviation instructor Ken Callais talks to Baldwin County students and parents about the career opportuni- should be something SEE ACADEMY, PAGE 7 ties for aircraft mechanics during the open house for The Academy at the Fairhope Airport on Feb. 27. we should already be doing,” Simpson said. “It would help us imme- diately be able to track and find inmates when Fairhope songwriter selected for escapes happen and helps give the communi- Monroeville literary festival honor ties surrounding these work release facilities By ALLISON MARLOW down through generations, across our state some [email protected] finding its way into Fairhope peace of mind and secu- songwriter Mike Turner’s rity.” There is a tree in Mobile imagination where he Simpson encouraged called the Boyington Oak molded the tale into a folk citizens around the that legend says marks the song. grave of an innocent man This weekend Turner may SEE INMATE, PAGE 4 hung for the murder of his well perform the tune as part roommate. As he stood upon of his turn on stage at the the gallows in 1834, the man famed Monroeville Literary BALDWIN FAST FACTS maintained his innocence Festival. and said an oak tree would Turner is just one of 10 au- sprout from his grave as thors, poets and songwriters Baldwin County, measuring proof. to appear on the “15 Minutes 2,027 square miles, is larger The tree still stands. The of Fame Stage” during the than the state of Rhode Is- tale still lingers more than 2020 festivities. land which measures 1,212 180 years later. And years “It’s a great honor. I was square miles. after the execution, another bowled over,” Turner said. FIL E PHOTO man confessed. Source: Google maps Mike Turner The story has been passed SEE SONGWRITER, PAGE 4 Deaths Page 6 Gulf Linda Kay Glover Wanda Luttrell Coast Danny W. Hardesty Sr. Robbins Media Leon J. Malone Helen Margaret Smith VOLUME 129 • ISSUE 43 Felicia Ann Ridlon William Smith 1 SECTION • 28 PAGES McAllister 2 • The Baldwin Times • March 6, 2020 • Gulf Coast Media The Baldwin Times High water on Tensaw 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 PHONE: (251) 943-2151 | FAX: (251) 943-3441 [email protected] Allison Marlow Classified Advertising Managing Editor Lindsay Walker allisonm@gulfcoast lindsay@gulfcoast media.com media.com Tony Whitehead Legal Advertising Sports Editor April M. Perry GUY BUSBY / STAFF PHOTOS tony@gulfcoast legals@gulfcoast media.com media.com An egret wades in what is usually the boat launch area of Lower Bryants Landing on Tuesday. Water levels had dropped to 14.5 feet in the area by midweek from a high of Parks Rogers 17.1 feet, but were expected to rise again as more rain fell Publisher across the state and area. Flood stage is 12 feet. Wade Barnes moves one of several boats pushed up on the [email protected] bank of the Tensaw River at Lower Bryants Landing after the piers were flooded by rising water. To subscribe, make an address change or vacation delivery Water covers the parking lot of Lower Bryants Landing stop, you may call our office at (251) 943-2151, go online at in Stockton. 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 amber@gulfcoastmedia. com. ©Gulf Coast Media 2019. No part of this newspaper may be VOTE Results in other races reproduced without the prior written consent of the group CONTINUED FROM 1 publisher or associate publisher. Opinions of editorial or ASSOCIATE JUSTICE FOR THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 1: Greg Shaw, 18,484 general columnists or those reflected in submitted letters earned 12.38 percent do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this Cam Ward 12,494 and current Alabama newspaper. District 1 Congressman COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2: The Baldwin Times (USPS 040-560) is published weekly, Bradley Byrne earned with its office located at 901 N. McKenzie St., in Foley, AL 36535. Philip Bahakel 10,826 Periodicals postage paid at Foley, AL 36535. Subscription 56.31 percent. Matt Fridy 17,999 rates: In-county annual, $40.00 plus local sales tax; six-month, Candidates for the Court of Criminal Ap- COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 1: $24.00 plus local sales tax; senior citizen annual, $38.00 plus Melvin Hasting 9,439 local sales tax; six-month, $22.50 plus local sales tax; and out- peals will also head to of-county annual, $79.00, six-month, $40.00. the runoff race between Mary Windom 22,169 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Baldwin Times, Beth Kellum, 47.03 per- PRESIDENT, PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION: 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546. cent, and Will Smith, Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, 23,018 34.83 percent. Robin Litaker 11,343 The runoff race will take place on Tuesday, MEMBER, BALDWIN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION: March 31. Norma Hoots Lynch 2,436 Robert Stuart II 3,553 Gulf Coast Media • March 6, 2020 • The Baldwin Times • 3 Cattlemen celebrate 70th anniversary with festival, meeting By JOHN UNDERWOOD [email protected] ROBERTSDALE — The Baldwin County Cattlemen’s Association celebrated its 70th an- niversary on Saturday, Feb. 29, hosting the first Baldwin County Cattle- men’s Festival, followed by the Cattlemen’s and Cattlewomen’s asso- ciations annual meeting Saturday night at the Baldwin County Coli- Baldwin County rancher Cody Harris, star of the hit real- seum and Fairgrounds ity series The Cowboy Way and son Carter visit with their JOHN UNDERWOOD / STAFF PHOTOS in Robertsdale. uncle George Campbell at the Baldwin County Cattlemen’s The Baldwin County Cattlemen’s Association celebrated its 70th anniversary on Saturday The Festival included Association annual meeting held Saturday at the Baldwin with the first Baldwin County Cattlemen’s Festival, held at the Baldwin County Fair- activities from 9 a.m. to 3 County Coliseum. grounds and Arena. p.m. including cow patty bingo, a petting zoo, Lil Britches Roping, face painting, horse rides, corn hole and bounce house. Jon, the Balloon Guy was on hand for a lim- ited time with all-day A special award was displays from the South presented Saturday to Alabama Antique Trac- Marjorie Ard on behalf tor Club, Gear Jammers of her husband, Richard Car Club and the Eng- Ard, who passed away lish Car Club.