COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 4 AHSAA State Softball Tournament PAGE 13 North Baldwin Infirmary gala The Islander PAGE 22 INSIDE MAY 16, 2018 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Junior Marksmanship Program in June Parking addition causes controversy The annual Junior Marks- manship Program will be By CRYSTAL COLE velopment of a 32 space parking commission. In the letter they tive waterways such as Little La- held in June in Orange [email protected] lot west of the Dairy Queen, in- said they had owned a house on goon and the connecting canals, Beach. To read more about crease in dining area of 1,025sf Windmill Ridge Road since 1989, one which is across the street the details of the three-day A proposed 23-spot offsite that included a parking buy well before the Original Oyster from this property (CUP #6).” event, see page 34. parking expansion for the Bayou down of 21 spaces, the purchase House moved into their neigh- The Pennells also said their Village Shopping Center caused of the former Dairy Queen for borhood. neighbors shouldn’t have to be considerable controversy at the parking (59 spaces), the addition “The existing parking lots al- subjected to the additional noise City of Gulf Shores’ most re- of 30 seats in 2012, and the cur- ready fail to drain appropriately from another large parking lot cently Council work session. rent application for 23 off-site and run off onto our property in a residential area. According Since 1996 the Bayou Village parking spaces. exacerbating flooding during to the staff report presented to Shopping Center has obtained Several citizens spoke out heavy rains,” the letter said. the City Council, the applicant’s approval for several expansions, against the expansion, including “Gulf Shores does not need narrative indicates the need all related to the Oyster House James and Greta Pennell who more paved property that floods Restaurant, including the de- wrote a letter to the planning property and drains into sensi- SEE PARKING, PAGE 2 CSU president honored The Boys Scouts of Amer- Paw Ball doesn’t ‘roll over’ on fun ica recently presented one of its highest honors, the National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, to Columbia Southern University (CSU) President Ken Styron. For more information, jump to page 3. DEATHS PAGE 20 Theodore A. Abeln Amy Denise Alexander Julya Ann Fincher Carter Joan Darnell Curtis Everett Renate Christa Ford Richard Stephen Fountain PHOTOS BY CAPT. MARK ROBINSON / GCM CORRESPONDENT Gary Richard Gandt The Orange Beach Police Benevolent Board, along with participating restaurants in the area, held a benefit Saturday, May 12 to raise funds for the purchase Elsie Marie Novak Guarisco of a new K-9 officer for the Orange Beach Police Department. The “Paw Ball” was held in the Perdido Beach Resort Grand Ballroom and consisted of a silent Ronald Helton auction, live music and culinary offerings from local restaurants. The following restaurants showcased some of their most enticing delights that evening: Carissa Ann Hoppes Anchor Bar, Bill’s By The Beach, Cobalt, Cosmos, FloraBama Yacht Club, Meat Mart of Orange Beach, Ole River Grill at FloraBama, GT’s by the Bay, Lunas, Mary Nan Jopp Big Fish Restaurant, BuzzCatz, Desoto’s and Voyagers at Perdido Beach Resort. International Wine and United Johnson Brothers also provided wine for the Patricia Ann Loughrige evening. James Kemble Merrihew Jr. Janet C. Morris Jennifer F. Moss William Albert Nunnery Becky Powe School groundbreaking marks historic day in Orange Beach Ida Marie Randall Courtesy of THE CITY OF ORANGE Frederick Schwartzenburg Jr. BEACH Jack G. Walls Hilda West More than 200 people, includ- Michael Z. Wilson ing city, county and school of- ficials as well as fifth-graders INDEX from Orange Beach Elementary School, gathered on Friday BALDWIN LIVING, 5 morning on 40 city-donated acres in Orange Beach that will CLASSIFIED, 8 soon be home to the new Orange HEALTH, 22 Beach high/middle School. LEGALS, 26 The day marked the official groundbreaking and unveiling OPINION, 11 of the long-awaited school that OUT & ABOUT, 24 will be built on the Canal Road site at William Silvers Parkway. PUZZLES, 10 “This is a game changer in SPORTS, 13 SEE SCHOOL, PAGE 2 CRYSTAL COLE / STAFF PHOTO TV LISTINGS, 16 Gulf Coast Media VOLUME 42 • ISSUE 21 1 SECTION • 36 PAGES 1805 N. McKenzie St. (Hwy. 59), Foley (Peachtree Professional Center) 251-943-4395 2 • The Islander • May 16, 2018 • Gulf Coast Media Realtor Fred Newman lends a hand to Baldwin County Animal Shelter SUBMITTED mals gives me great joy,” or grooming adoptable Renew, Energize and Do- generous spirit and com- Fairhope, Newman said. “These animals, cleaning animal nate, is an annual day of mitment associates have Loxley, Orange Beach Realtor animals have been aban- housing areas, walking service when agents make to ‘giving back’ to the cit- Daphne Fred Newman, of Keller doned. The care and at- adoptable dogs and so- a difference in the lives of ies and towns in which we and Span- Williams Alabama Gulf tention that we give them cialization of adoptable others and better the com- live and work,” Newman ish Fort. He Coast, volunteered at is a small price to pay for animals. There is also the munities that they serve. said. works with Baldwin County Animal the unconditional love opportunity for admin- This observance defines Newman assists home- both buyers Shelter for Keller Wil- they offer someone who istrative duties, such as who Keller Williams is owners and condo own- and sellers. Newman liams RED Day on Thurs- adopts them.” making copies and off-site and is a natural extension ers throughout Baldwin For more day, May 10, fro eight The program allows for adoption event prepara- of its commitment to the County, including Gulf information, please call hours from 8:30 a.m. to volunteers to assist in, tion. highest level of profes- Shores, Orange Beach, 251-979-5600, or visit www. 4:30 p.m. but not limited to shelter Keller Williams RED sional customer service. Fort Morgan, Foley, Sum- baldwinhomefinders.com. “Volunteering with ani- and animal care, bathing Day, which stands for “RED Day embodies the merdale, Robertsdale, SCHOOL completes us. It makes us million. The new Orange going to be there and that multi-generational Beach middle and high completely support our CONTINUED FROM 1 community that I think school will include 101,000 image of what excellence we’re lacking in some square feet of education is,” Kennon said. “I believe my humble opinion for ways.” space and is estimated to that with all of my heart. the city of Orange Beach,” The city has been work- cost $16.1 million, which I want to thank the board said Mayor Tony Kennon ing closely with Baldwin will be funded by Baldwin members.” Kennon also during the ceremony. “We County Schools Superin- County Public Schools via introduced the new school have always been a won- tendent Eddie Tyler and its $60 million, 4-year "pay- mascot, the Orange Beach derful community and a the county school board to as-you-go" program. In ad- Mako Sharks, with the place to find family values, make the school a reality, dition to the main school motto “Show Your Teeth.” tradition, safety, protec- starting with the dona- areas, the city will be “We want to start tradi- tion but with this school, tion of 40 acres, which is funding a performing arts tion today,” Kennon said. in my humble opinion, it valued at more than $6 center and future athletic “I want these kids to real- SUBMITTED PHOTO fields on the site. ize this is special.” game changer for the City it was a historic day. Kennon said it is his goal Being a part of Baldwin of Orange Beach,” Tyler “A lot of people have to ensure the school will County schools for 42 said. “People come here said this would never hap- not only be the best in the years, Tyler said he’s been because they know all pen. Never,” Tyler said. county and state but na- part of game changers like about you — the sun, the “Well, I’ll tell you right tionally recognized, based this new Orange Beach fun, the beach — all of now it’s happening, there on excellence. “We’re school before. He noted the those things. And what is no going back. I mean going to accomplish that opening of Daphne High I like, you keep it family what a fantastic opportu- in a very short period of School in 1989 and the oriented and that’s hard to nity we have in front of time because I know the opening of Elberta High do sometimes. But you will us.” county is going to bring in last year and how those be getting a state-of-the-art Site preparation work excellent principals, assis- schools changed Daphne school … and it’s because will begin soon and con- tant principals, teachers and Elberta for the better. of a partnership.” struction is set to begin and support staff that’s “This is a true cultural Tyler went on to say that mid-July. PARKING cessed from the existing The planning commis- Bicycle & Pedestrian parking lot at the former sion was split on their Advisory Committee. CONTINUED FROM 1 Dairy Queen site and decision, offering a 4-3 • Truland Homes the has no access to West 6th positive recommendation present majority for additional parking for Avenue. This is an area to the City Council. property owner of the customer use is because of the City which quickly Retreat at Bon Secour “business is so good.” transitions from commer- Also discussed at the and KJC Investments, The proposed off-site cial to residential uses and work session were: LLC (both Nathan Cox parking is shifting into is sensitive to increases • Confirm reappoint- controlled entities) are the next block along West in traffic congestion and ment of Cheryl Searcy requesting the City 6th Avenue and will be ac- noise.