2 | LAGNIAPPE | October 9, 2014 - October 15, 2014 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• LAGNIAPPE WEEKLY October 9, 2014 – October 15, 2014 | www.lagniappemobile.com Ashley Trice BAY BRIEFS Co-publisher/Editor Inquiries from the mayor’s office appear [email protected] to have prompted the resignations of two Rob Holbert councilors from a Bayou la Batre board. Co-publisher/Managing Editor 6 [email protected] Steve Hall COMMENTARY Marketing/Sales Director City doubles down on litter enforcement. [email protected] Gabriel Tynes Assistant Managing Editor 14 [email protected] Dale Liesch BUSINESS Reporter Throwing the gauntlet of charitible [email protected] giving may offset funding challenges Jason Johnson for cultural organizations. Reporter 18 [email protected] Alyson Stokes CUISINE Web & Social Media Manager/Reporter [email protected] Head to the Beltline Kevin Lee CONTENTS where sandwich fever Associate Editor/Arts Editor can be cured at [email protected] Stevie’s Kitchen. Andy MacDonald Cuisine Editor [email protected] Stephen Centanni Music Editor [email protected] J. Mark Bryant Sports Writer 20 [email protected] Daniel Anderson Chief Photographer COVER [email protected] The state of Alabama will Laura Rasmussen likely rely on a cocktail of Art Director funding sources to pay www.laurarasmussen.com 26 for the proposed billion- Brooke Wilder Advertising Sales Executive dollar bridge over the [email protected] Mobile River. Leigh Wright Advertising Sales Executive [email protected] Beth Williams Advertising Sales Executive [email protected] Beth McKee ARTS Advertising Sales Executive A lazy Sunday on St. Louis Street [email protected] warms hopes for a creative revival of Melissa Schwarz Editorial Assistant 28 “Auto Alley.” [email protected] Contributors: Asia Frey • Brian Holbert MUSIC Susan Larsson • Ron Sivak Widespread Panic Jeff Poor • Ken Robinson Clyde Foster percussionist Sunny On the Cover: Proposed I-10 bridge Ortiz gives a hat tip over Mobile River at night by ALDOT. to Spreadheads prior LAGNIAPPE (USPS 20) is published weekly, 52 issues a year, Volume 12, Issue 34, every to the band’s Oct. 12 Thursday by Something, Extra Publishing, Inc. Entered at the Mobile Post Office, 250 St. show at the Mississippi Joseph St, Mobile, AL, 36601. Coast Coliseum. Periodicals postage paid at Mobile Post Office, 250 St Joseph St., Mobile, AL 36601 and other locations. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. Box 3003 Mobile, AL 36652. Editorial, advertising and production offices are 32 located at 1102A Dauphin St. Mobile, AL 36604. Mailing address is P.O. Box 3003 Mobile, AL 36652. Phone: 251.450.4466 Fax 251.450.4498. Email: ashley- FILM [email protected] or [email protected] “The Boxtrolls” is a stop-motion visual LAGNIAPPE is printed at Walton Press, 402 delight for young and old alike. Mayfield Dr., Monroe, GA 30655. All letters sent to Lagniappe are considered to be intended for publication. 38 Member: Association of Alternative Newsweek- lies and Alternative Weeklies Network MEDIA All rights reserved. Something Extra Publishing, Inc. Nothing may be reprinted, photocopied or Round two of a neighborhood fight in any way reproduced without the expressed permission of the publishers. against a cell tower was put on hold Individuals may take one copy of the paper free of charge from area businesses, by the zoning board. racks or boxes. After that, papers are $3 per 40 issue. Removal of more than one copy from these points constitutes theft. Violators are subject to prosecution. SPORTS Help support Lagniappe Weekly by becoming a “Friend with Benefits.” The USA Jaguars will enjoy a bye Scan this code for more info: week prior to kicking off homecoming 44 activities Monday. STYLE BayFest brings Boozie a bounty of 50 beautiful gossip. LAGNIAPPE | October 9, 2014 - October 15, 2014 | 3 GOING POSTAL A classy name, fit for a lady An open letter to Ashley Rich about age-appropriate prosecutions Editor, District Attorney Ashley Rich, focus, caring, dedication and commitment to go the distance to reunification for the child. To rely on the Mobile juvenile court sys- I would like to express my opinion on the name of the The purpose of this letter is to speak out in the best interest of tem to determine the rehabilitative worth of McCants is a fallacy. proposed bridge over the Mobile River. But first I should 15-year-old Reco McCants, based on a Sept. 25, 2014 Lagniappe In conclusion, it is my opinion that: point out the negative actions that have occurred during the article “Vigor High School student with gun to be charged as • 15-year-old Reco McCants is a child and should receive a com- life of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. adult.” The key phrase here is 15-year-old. If our children are to be plete evaluation regarding the circumstances of his personal life, the Many years ago the Delta was a lifeline as a food categorized as a child or adult, based, perhaps solely, on behavior, life of his family, as well as the circumstances o his alleged crimes, source for indigenous, proud people. The American Indian why do we have laws stipulating specific ages at which one attains prior to juvenile court hearings. respected all of the nature and was wise and caring steward the label child or adult? • Mobile juvenile court hearings are not adequate to determine of the delta. But due to shameful acts the nutrient-rich tide- I challenge all parties to take a deep breath and ask the question: the rehabilitative worth of McCants and I would suggest that the water was blocked with the asphalt causeway and polluted “What is in the best interest of 15-year-old Reco McCants?” At age necessary resources have not been provided for a thorough case with garbage thrown into the waterways. 15, McCants is a “child” who is incapable of understanding future evaluation. So I am proposing a name that will glorify the delta. consequences of imprisonment as an adult, based on his alleged • McCants must not be thrown away in an overcrowded Alabama The delta would be seen for miles from this high-rise crime. Each person capable of making decisions has something prison system to become another statistic with little or no chance bridge. I believe children should be educated on the “bad.” As a result, is it logical to label each person as a bad person? for rehabilitation. caretaking of nature and this name would create questions No, since we are all a work in progress. The result of metro jail and • McCants’ punishment (loss of a high school education with his about the delta. imprisonment as an adult will be to throw away a child, namely, peers, an adult criminal record as a result of imprisonment and the I believe it would be a world-class name. I would like to McCants. loss of meaningful future employment prospects, to name a few) propose the bridge to be named “The Lady Delta Bridge.” A fall 2014 Southern Poverty Law Center (SCLC) report identi- will not fit the crime. fied the state of Alabama with the most overcrowded prison system J. “Butch” Davis, in the country at nearly 200 percent capacity. As a prior volunteer Ernest L. Lynch, Mobile Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in the juvenile court Mobile system, I was the only person on a child’s case with enough time, MPD investigating double homicide BayFest results in 13 arrests The Mobile Police Department is continuing to investigate an Oct. 3 double homicide on Dela- Mobile police responded to 43 complaints and made 13 misdemeanor arrests during Bay- ware Street in Mobile. According to the MPD, officers responded to the 900 block of Delaware Street Fest 2014, held Oct. 3-5 in downtown. for a report of one down inside a residence. According to officials, officers arrested six adults for disorderly conduct, one adult for Inside, officers located 34-year-old Atteba Nettles and as officers canvassed the scene, they also theft, two adults for public intoxication, two adults for unlawful possession of marijuana and located 45-year-old Bryant Washington down in the backyard of the residence, according to MPD two minors in possession of alcohol. Public Information Officer Terence Perkins. In addition, four vendors were documented for providing alcohol to minors, MPD Public The Mobile Fire-Rescue Department pronounced both men dead on the scene, Perkins said. Information Officer Terence Perkins said. The cause of death has not yet been released, as the investigation is ongoing. No vehicles were towed throughout the course of the event, but six parking citations were It is also unclear who made the initial call to police at this time. issued. Authorities will continue the investigation. If anyone has any information regarding this case, authorities ask you call the MPD at 251-208-7211. 4 | LAGNIAPPE | October 9, 2014 - October 15, 2014 LAGNIAPPE | October 9, 2014 - October 15, 2014 | 5 BAY BRIEFS BB Mayor’s ethics inquiry prompts utility board resignations BY JASON JOHNSON/REPORTER | [email protected] ess than a week after being replaced on 36-25-17, which states “every governmen- the local utilities board, it was con- tal agency head shall file a report within 10 firmed that Bayou la Batre City Council days on any matters that come to his or her members George Ramires and Kim- attention in his or her official capacity which Lberlyn Barbour opted to step down from their constitute a violation.” positions due to an inquiry from Alabama Despite some original concern over the Ethics Commission. wording of the law, Wasden said the com- Hugh Evans, general council for the Ethics mission staff confirmed mayors “were in fact Commission, told Lagniappe the two had required to submit such reports.” An Attorney voted to appoint themselves to the Utili- General’s opinion was also sought on the mat- ties Board of Bayou la Batre in November ter, he added, which confirmed Barbour and of 2012 — a position compensated with a Ramires’ votes were inappropriate.