BALDWIN COUNTY YEAR in REVIEW 2019 Brought New Votes, New Changes and Lots of Improvements in Baldwin County
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Covering all of Baldwin County, AL every Friday. New Brandon Styles show at OWA The Baldwin Times PAGE 12 DECEMBER 27, 2019 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ BALDWIN COUNTY YEAR IN REVIEW 2019 brought new votes, new changes and lots of improvements in Baldwin County January The Lodge at Gulf State changes had allowed the city Jan. 21. The town of Loxley The city of Foley received Park, a Hilton Hotel, opened to operate without relying as voted Jan. 14 to approve a tax- a $1.5 million grant to im- in November 2018 for guests, much on revenue transfers incentive package for Buc-ee’s, prove the water quality in business meetings and confer- from the Utility Department contingent on the fact that Bon Secour River. The project ences. The Lodge, operated by making more money available the store would be annexed included the purchase of 94 Valor Hospitality, offers 350 for infrastructure improve- into the town’s limits, which acres of undeveloped property guest rooms and is part of a ments. was approved during a special to be converted into wetlands complex that includes two res- called meeting on Jan. 28. The to treat urban runoff impact- taurants and a pool. Texas-based convenience move, in part, prompted the ing downstream fisheries. Alabama Tourism Depart- store giant Buc-ee’s opened its residents of the Rosinton com- ment in the 2019 Alabama Fairhope Mayor Karin Wil- first location outside the state munity to form the Rosinton Gulf State Park, was named Vacation Guide and Calendar son announced in her State of of Texas, just off of 1-10 at the Attraction of the Year by the of Events. the City Address that budget Baldwin Beach Express, on SEE REVIEW, PAGE 6 Spanish Fort mayor’s harassment trial postponed Libraries By GUY BUSBY announce [email protected] holiday BAY MINETTE — The trial of Spanish Fort Mayor Mike McMillan on a harassment schedules charge will not take place The Baldwin County until early 2020, following libraries have released a ruling Friday in Baldwin their schedule for the County District Court. Christmas and New McMillan was scheduled Year holidays. to go on trial on a charge that he slapped a female city Dec. 27 – Jan. 1, 2020 employee. Judge James Reid, – Close at 4:30 p.m. however, postponed the hear- » Bay Minette Public Library ing until he could rule on a Closed until Jan. 2, request by the prosecutors 2020 to have City Attorney David » Baldwin County Bookmo- Conner testify. bile Conner said that while he is not representing McMillan GUY BUSBY / STAFF PHOTO Closed until Spanish Fort Mayor Mike McMillan enters the Baldwin County District Court room Friday. McMillan was Wednesday, Jan. 1, SEE TRIAL, PAGE 2 scheduled to be tried on a third-degree harassment charge, but the case was postponed until early 2020. 2020 » Magnolia Springs Public Library Closed Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 2020 BCBE Transportation Department ‘adopts’ family for the holidays » Fairhope Public Library By JOHN UNDERWOOD » Thomas B. Norton Public [email protected] Library in Gulf Shores Closed Dec. 31 at 5 SUMMERDALE — Christ- p.m. mas was a little brighter for » Daphne Public Library one North Baldwin family, thanks to donations from the Baldwin County Public SEE LIBRARIES, PAGE 2 Schools Transportation De- partment. Employees with the Trans- BALDWIN FAST FACTS portation Department raised more than $750 to purchase toys, shopped, wrapped gifts, The Grand Hotel Golf Re- even purchased snacks for the sort & Spa in Pointe Clear family to use over the 10-day SUBMITTED PHOTO was Named one of Southern holiday break. Brothers Big Sisters of South grader at Bay Minette El- help someone else at this time Living’s top resorts and a The family, a single-mother Alabama, said Luann Craw- ementary School, was adopted of the year,” said Crawford. Top 5 historic hotel in the with two boys from the ford, Big Brothers Big Sisters personally by Crawford. “This little boy actually vol- country by USA Today in Stockton area, is a part of coordinator for Baldwin and “Personally, I find it so unteers his time with the Peer 2019. the school-based mentoring Escambia counties. touching that this department programs provided by Big One of the boys, a fifth- would take the time out to SEE BCBE, PAGE 4 Deaths Page 7 Gulf Bessie B. Rainey Coast Maria Vautrin Media VOLUME 129 • ISSUE 33 1 SECTION • 32 PAGES 2 • The Baldwin Times • December 27, 2019 • Gulf Coast Media TRIAL ing Conner and other of- the recording to be sued a statement that he ficials to testify came up shown during the trail. felt the charges would be The Baldwin Times CONTINUED FROM 1 in the last week. “It is part of the case, shown to be false. “In preparation for but it is not all of the “I want to thank 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 in the case, as city attor- trial, we didn’t antici- case,” Doggett said. everyone for the tre- ney, the mayor and other pate until recently and McMillan’s attorney mendous outpouring of PHONE: (251) 943-2151 | FAX: (251) 943-3441 Spanish Fort officials it’s something that we Donald Briskman told support I have received [email protected] are his clients. Conner would like to get re- Reid that the defense since these charges told Reid that he was solved before the trial was ready for trial. He were brought,” he said Allison Marlow Classified Advertising concerned that testifying starts,” Doggett said. said after the hearing in the statement. “I look Managing Editor Whisper Edwards would violate his oath to “The question is we be- that he understood that forward to having my allisonm@gulfcoast whisper@gulfcoast uphold attorney client lieve there may be some the legal questions have day in court where all media.com media.com privilege. more information out to be resolved first. the evidence will come “They have called me there and it may or may “There are some forth, and the truth will Tony Whitehead Legal Advertising as a witness in the case not be privileged and legal issues that don’t be borne out. I am proud Sports Editor April M. Perry and I’ve made an objec- we don’t know that. We necessarily involve the to have served the people tony@gulfcoast legals@gulfcoast tion to that and so how need a legal ruling from mayor, but they have of this community for media.com media.com and to what extent tes- the judge.” to be resolved before 17 years on the Planning timony can be given is Before the case was we can go forward with Commission, City Coun- what the judge is trying postponed, officials the hearing,” Brisk- cil and as mayor. I am Parks Rogers to determine,” Conner with the District At- man said. “We’re disap- satisfied that, after a full Publisher said after the hearing. torney’s Office set up pointed we’re not able and fair hearing, the al- [email protected] “He wants to make the television screens in the to go ahead and resolve legations against me will right answer at the right courtroom. Asked about the matter today, but we be disproved, and I will To subscribe, make an address change or vacation delivery time so the trial is fair to reports that the video want to get it right as be exonerated.” stop, you may call our office at (251) 943-2151, go online at all involved.” showed the incident, does everyone.” The woman filed a www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com and click on the “e-edition” link in Assistant District At- Doggett would not com- McMillan did not com- complaint that she was the black toolbar. Under “don’t have an id’ there is an option for torney Patrick Doggett ment on the contents, ment during or after the “slapped in the face” by how to become a subscriber, or email amber@gulfcoastmedia. said the question of ask- but said that expected hearing. On Nov. 4, he is- McMillan around Oct. 1. com. ©Gulf Coast Media 2019. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced without the prior written consent of the group publisher or associate publisher. Opinions of editorial or Closed Jan. 1, 2020 » Fairhope Public Library Library general columnists or those reflected in submitted letters LIBRARIES » Baldwin County Library » Foley Public Library » Robertsdale Public Library do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this CONTINUED FROM 1 Cooperative newspaper. » Loxley Public Library » Spanish Fort Public Library Bay Minette Public Library The Baldwin Times (USPS 040-560) is published weekly, » » Marjorie Younce Snook Pub- Closed Dec. 31 at 4:30 lic Library in Summerdale All libraries return to with its office located at 901 N. McKenzie St., in Foley, AL 36535. p.m. » Daphne Public Library Periodicals postage paid at Foley, AL 36535. Subscription » Elberta Public Library » Orange Beach Public Library their regular schedules Spanish Fort Public Library rates: In-county annual, $40.00 plus local sales tax; six-month, » » Oscar Johnson Memorial on Jan. 2, 2020. $24.00 plus local sales tax; senior citizen annual, $38.00 plus local sales tax; six-month, $22.50 plus local sales tax; and out- of-county annual, $79.00, six-month, $40.00. NEED For extra copies of an edition of a Gulf Coast POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Baldwin Times, EXTRA 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546. Media newspaper, contact the GCM office, COPIES OF A 901 N. McKenzie St. in Foley, to order them PAPER? and arrange a pick-up time.