Year in Review NORTH BALDWIN CENTRAL BALDWIN
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Serving the greater NORTH, CENTRAL AND SOUTH BALDWIN communities Foley resident turns 100 PAGE 4 Flu season more active than usual The Onlooker PAGE 15-16 JANUARY 3, 2018 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ 2017: Year in Review NORTH BALDWIN CENTRAL BALDWIN Sheriff’s Deputy Officer ‘justified’ in fatal during the grand jury old female student. shot while responding shooting on I-10 investigation shows depu- Jeremy Sparks, 23, of to domestic call ROBERTSDALE — A ties repeatedly tell Vic- Daphne, was arrested in Stockton fatal shooting involving tor to drop what he was Dec. 7, charged with two BAY MINETTE — A Baldwin County Sheriff’s holding and get on the counts of second degree Baldwin County Sheriff’s Deputy in May was ruled ground. sodomy, two counts of a Deputy is recovering at “entirely justified” by a Deputies reported that school employee engag- home and a suspect is in Baldwin County Grand the incident happened ing in a sex act with a stu- Mobile County Metro Jail Jury in October. in “a matter of sections” dent under the age of 19 on a $1.5 million bond STAFF PHOTO On May 12, Baldwin and backpedaled to give and one count of second following a shooting in County Sheriff’s Deputies Victor additional mo- degree sexual abuse. Stockton in the early Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack Jr. talks to report- were called to the scene ments to surrender, but The investigation re- ers during a press conference held Dec. 19 at the Sheriff’s morning hours of Dec. 19. of a single-vehicle acci- he did not respond to vealed that these three Office in Bay Minette following the shooting of BCSO Deputy Baldwin County Sher- Cpl. Michael Walker in Stockton in the early morning hours. dent on Interstate 10 near commands. offenses occurred off of iff’s Deputy Cpl. Michael Included in the press conference were Baldwin County Dis- the Alabama-Florida According to forensic the school grounds in dif- Walker was released from trict Attorney Robert Wilters, Gulf Shores Police Chief Ed border because the man evidence, Mack said, ferent areas of Baldwin USA Medical Center in Delmore, chairman of the Baldwin County Major Crimes Unit; involved in the accident, Victor was struck in the County. Officials said the Mobile on Dec. 20, under- and GSPD Lt. Bill Cowan, BCMCU public information officer. identified as 35-year-old abdomen and the leg. alleged relationship had went outpatient surgery Jonathan David Victor of Victor was flown to USA been going on for about Dec. 21 for an eye injury Sheriff’s Department deputy’s shooting. Metairie, Louisiana, was Medical Center in Mobile three months. sustained in the shooting negotiators, and after Bullin has a long list of reportedly fighting with where he underwent and is recovering at home more than four hours, bookings with the Baldwin medical responders who emergency surgery, but Fatal wreck in Loxley after being shot while Bullin surrendered and County Corrections Facil- were attempting to treat he was pronounced dead LOXLEY — Baldwin responding to a domestic was taken into custody, ity, dating back to 2011. He him on scene. in the early morning County District Attorney call with two other depu- charged with attempted was last booked Sept. 22, In a press conference hours of May 13. Robert Wilters said a ties at around 1:30 a.m. murder and first degree 2016 on a second degree held May 15, Baldwin One of the deputies, Foley man should have Dec. 19 in the Latham assault. assault charge and was County Sheriff Huey later identified as Cpl. been in jail when he was Community of Stockton. On Dec. 20, Bullin was released the next day on “Hoss” Mack Jr. said Matt Hunady, a 13-year involved in a head-on col- At around 8:30 p.m. Dec. transferred from Bay Mi- a $5,000 bond. He was also when deputies arrived on veteran of the depart- lision May 8 on Alabama 18, investigators say they nette to the Mobile County out on bond for two mis- the scene they found Vic- ment, was identified as 59 at the entrance of Lox- received a call of a woman Metro Jail following a demeanor charges. Those tor in his vehicle, covered the lone shooter in the ley Municipal Park that who was reportedly forced bond hearing in which he bonds were revoked at the in blood, with emergency incident and was placed claimed the life of a Bay out of a moving vehicle appeared remotely at the Dec. 20 hearing. responders attempting on administrative leave Minette woman. then fell off of a bridge on Baldwin County Satellite to coax him from the pending the investigation. Sarah Echols, 49, of Alabama 59. Courthouse in Fairhope. Tolbert hired as new Bay vehicle. After several at- In October, a Grand Jury Bay Minette, was killed Forrest Carl Bullin, 37, His bond was set at $1 Minette Police Chief tempts, Victor exited the ruled that Hunady was instantly when a 2001 of Stockton, was identi- million for an attempted BAY MINETTE — The vehicle on the passenger “entirely justified” in his Jeep Grand Cherokee fied as a suspect in the murder charge, along Bay Minette City Council side because it appeared actions and he was not traveling southbound incident. Walker and two with an additional $500,000 voted unanimously in that, due to the nature charged in the shooting. crossed the center line other deputies were re- for a first degree assault November to approve Al of the accident, he was and struck her 2014 sponding to Bullin’s home charge. W. Tolbert Jr. as the city’s unable to exit from the RHS volunteer Hyundai Tucson head-on. when Walker was shot The Baldwin County new police chief. He took driver’s side. coach charged It was later reported in the face, shoulder and Major Crimes Unit was over the position left va- According to reports, ROBERTSDALE — A that the driver of the torso area shortly after called in to lead in the in- cant by the retirement of investigators said Vic- Robertsdale High School Jeep Grand Cherokee, arriving on the scene, and vestigation. Chief Clarence Crook. tor was holding a fanny substitute teacher and identified as 22-year-old immediately returned fire. Multiple guns were The appointment came pack wrapped in a black volunteer coach was ar- Alec Gregory Dvorak, Officers with the found inside the home, after a lengthy application windbreaker when he rested in December on should have been serving S.W.A.T. unit were called officials said, including a process directed by Mayor exited the vehicle and ap- charges related to an part of a 12-month sen- to the scene, along with 12-guage shotgun believed proached deputies. Body alleged inappropriate re- to be involved in the SEE NORTH, PAGE 27 camera footage released lationship with a 15-year SEE CENTRAL, PAGE 26 DEATHS PAGE 14 Lisa Newman Baker SOUTH BALDWIN Michael Wood Byrd Sr. George William Pulliam Foley welcomes OWA and public. The Park at OWA and the Wave Rider, and turing breakfast all day Joseph Francis Wiest III new Event Center became the first amuse- child-friendly rides such and burgess, sliders, and FOLEY — After a long ment park in the state of as Leap Frog, Flying Aces, baskets, the location fea- road filled with ups, downs, Alabama, and as of Dec. 20, and Gully Washer. tures multiple televisions and setbacks, OWA of- the Alabama Tourism De- Since The Park opened in all throughout, perfect for ficially opened its gates on partment has named OWA July, some of the first ten- game day. A large arcade is GulfCoast July 21. After dropping the its Attraction of the Year ants outside the gates have present on-site and features location’s name earlier in in the 2018 Alabama Vaca- begun opening their doors, a built-in bar, along with STAFF PHOTO the year, along with an- tion Guide and Calendar of all with something new to over 60 arcade games. The Park at OWA and The NewsToday.com nouncing some of the first Events. offer the area. Quickly following was Foley Event Center opened From Baldwin County’s news tenants that would fill the The Park features 21 The Groovy Goat was Wahlburgers, an upscale during 2017, winning awards Retail and Dining District, rides, including thrill rides the first to open, a sports burger restaurant created and becoming nationally innovator since 1890 The Park was the first such as the Rollin’ Thunder bar and restaurant. Along recognized within the first attraction to open to the coaster, the Freedom Flyer, with a diverse menu, fea- SEE SOUTH, PAGE 25 few months of business. INDEX Gulf BALDWIN LIVING, 4 OPINION, 7 Coast CLASSIFIED, 19 PUZZLES, 6 Media HEALTH, 15 SPORTS, 8 VOLUME 109 • ISSUE 51 LEGALS, 21 TV LISTINGS, 10 1 SECTION • 28 PAGES 2 • The Onlooker • January 3, 2018 • Gulf Coast Media Foley discusses South Pine improvements By JESSICA VAUGHN construction of that proj- it’s going to,” said Chris- The council agreed Street project, as it will • The council discussed [email protected] ect, asking the council tian. anything that could be keep too much water from the possible placement appropriate $300,000 for a Once construction of done to take the water flowing downstream at of a new sign across FOLEY — The Foley total of $600,000 for con- the ditch is complete, it off the west side and one rate, and thus help from Tanger Outlets council made quick work struction.” will help take water off head it south would help downstream areas as well.