2 | LAGNIAPPE | September 18, 2014 - September 24, 2014 LAGNIAPPE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• WEEKLY September 18, 2014 – September 24, 2014 | www.lagniappemobile.com Ashley Trice BAY BRIEFS Co-publisher/Editor Layoffs at the MHA raise management [email protected] questions, and a lack of diversity in Mobile’s Rob Holbert Fire Deparment is examined. Co-publisher/Managing Editor 6 [email protected] Steve Hall COMMENTARY Marketing/Sales Director We’ve got tips on how to be a better Jag [email protected] fan and Rob assesses recent inflammatory Gabriel Tynes remarks from the Public Saftey Director. Assistant Managing Editor 12 [email protected] Dale Liesch BUSINESS Reporter The comic buisness is alive and thriving [email protected] on both sides of the bay. Jason Johnson Reporter 16 [email protected] Alyson Stokes CUISINE Web & Social Media Manager/Reporter [email protected] Cammie’s Old Dutch Kevin Lee CONTENTS and Fairhope are Associate Editor/Arts Editor teaming up to create [email protected] Andy MacDonald and eat the world’s Cuisine Editor largest ice cream [email protected] sundae. Stephen Centanni Music Editor [email protected] J. Mark Bryant Sports Writer [email protected] 19 Daniel Anderson Chief Photographer COVER [email protected] Dauphin and Royal Laura Rasmussen streets will transform into Art Director Mobile’s fashion mecca www.laurarasmussen.com 24 when the fourth annual Brooke Wilder Advertising Sales Executive Mobile Fashion Week [email protected] kicks off next week. Leigh Wright Advertising Sales Executive [email protected] Beth Williams Advertising Sales Executive [email protected] Jeff Winter ARTS Advertising Sales Executive From creative mom to award-winner, [email protected] Susan Howell is making waves in the Melissa Schwarz Editorial Assistant 26 Mobile arts community. [email protected] Contributors: Asia Frey • Brian Holbert MUSIC Ron Sivak • Susan Larsson Former actress Taylor Jennifer McDonald • Jeff Poor Ticauris Stokes • Steve Joynt Momsen — of Gossip Girl fame — talks with On the Cover: “Fashion Lagniappe about Week” her musical career By Daniel Anderson ahead of the Sept. 23 Model: Cassie with Barefoot Models performance of The Stylists: Krystal Tuberville & Pretty Reckless at Soul Kourtney Kosgrove - Enve Kitchen. Salon 30 LAGNIAPPE (USPS 20) is published weekly, FILM 52 issues a year, Volume 12, Issue 31, every Thursday by Something, Extra Publishing, Inc. Funny man Simon Pegg just misses the Entered at the Mobile Post Office, 250 St. Joseph St, Mobile, AL, 36601. mark with “The World’s End.” Periodicals postage paid at Mobile Post Office, 250 St Joseph St., Mobile, AL 36601 and other locations. 36 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. Box 3003 Mobile, AL 36652. Editorial, advertising and production offices are MEDIA located at 1102A Dauphin St. Mobile, AL 36604. Mailing address is P.O. Box Three decades of 92.1 The Zew. 3003 Mobile, AL 36652. Phone: 251.450.4466 Fax 251.450.4498. Email: ashley- [email protected] or [email protected] 40 LAGNIAPPE is printed at Walton Press, 402 Mayfield Dr., Monroe, GA 30655. All letters sent to Lagniappe are considered to be intended for publication. SPORTS Member: Association of Alternative Newsweek- USA’s fall seasons are are going to lies and Alternative Weeklies Network All rights reserved. Something Extra Publishing, the girls. Inc. Nothing may be reprinted, photocopied or in any way reproduced without the expressed permission of the publishers. 42 Individuals may take one copy of the paper free of charge from area businesses, racks or boxes. After that, papers are $3 per STYLE issue. Removal of more than one copy from these points constitutes theft. Violators are subject to prosecution. All the tailgate gossip from last weekend’s sellout at Ladd-Peebles. Help support Lagniappe Weekly by becoming a “Friend with Benefits.” www.lagniappemobile.com/subscribe 46 LAGNIAPPE | September 18, 2014 - September 24, 2014 | 3 GOING POSTAL Mobile needs more To the editor: I just finish reading your article about your visit to New York (Hidden Agenda 9/4/14). I must say I am pretty much an outdoor person (when humidity slows down), and I was happy and a little jealous about what New York has to offer to its citizens. I have visited the state a few years ago, but with limited time my husband and I did what every tourist does. Meaning the Statue of Liberty. Rockefeller Center etc, etcetera. I think your idea about getting something done at the Mobile Cruise Terminal would be great. There is so much land and beauty in here and it’s so sad that there are no corporations or any type of investors willing to risk their money in this city. I am from Miami, and have lived in different areas of the country. I wish we had something like San Jose amusement park in San Francisco or the variety and fabu- lous parks in Gwinnett County, Georgia. I am soon to move back to Florida and when I come to visit I hope some of your ideas have become realities! Good luck! Norah Huaroto MPD sergeant terminated for misusing police databases BY ALYSON STOKES/REPORTER | [email protected] A 15-year veteran of the Mobile Police Department was terminated effective immediately after a Trial Board found him guilty of five major violations, Mobile Police Chief James Barber announced Sept. 12. Sgt. Michael Smith, who was most currently assigned as su- pervisor in Precinct Four, was charged with conduct unbecom- ing, misuse of position, failure to obey a direct order, biased based profiling and disobedience of orders, according to MPD spokeswoman Ashley Rains. Rains said all of these charges are major violations. On Wednesday, Sept. 3, the Trial Board convened for the pur- pose of hearing evidence of those major violations and made a unanimous decision to find Sgt. Smith guilty. The board recommended Smith be dismissed from service with MPD and Chief Barber and Mayor Sandy Stimpson con- curred with the findings of the board, according to Rains. Photo/MPD | Michael Smith “Sergeant Michael Smith was charged with a leadership posi- tion in this Department, in which he betrayed the public’s trust and confidence,” Barber said in a news release. “He has violated and tarnished the badge of his office.” When initially asked for more information related to the charges and Smith’s actions, Rains said, per Chief Barber, that Smith has a right to appeal at which time details would be discussed. On Sept. 15, Rains announced that Smith was dismissed by MPD for allegedly using local and state databases for non-law enforcement use “to obtain the personal information of black females.” According to Rains, Smith still has the right to appeal within 10 days. Smith served MPD for over 15 years, Rains said. 4 | LAGNIAPPE | September 18, 2014 - September 24, 2014 LAGNIAPPE | September 18, 2014 - September 24, 2014 | 5 BAY BRIEFS BB County soccer complex project gets assist from City Council BY DALE LIESCH/REPORTER | [email protected] he Mobile City Council on Tuesday going to have to do what it has to do.” approved funding the county soccer Stimpson warned councilors against rush- complex project with $1.5 million from ing to fund the soccer complex before more is $3 million in capital funds originally set known about it. He added that the city should Taside for park improvements. focus on its needs, with improvements of parks Councilwoman Bess Rich introduced the that already exist and not its wants. amendment to the fiscal year 2015 budget, “Everyone wants a Mercedes, but do you which was approved by a 5-2 vote. need a Mercedes when your house is falling Rich said she introduced the amendment down,” he asked, during last week’s council because she had heard Mayor Sandy Stimp- meeting. “I would question the need for the son talk about replacing grass soccer fields at council to even ask for it.” Medal of Honor Park with turf fields. She said Councilman John Williams said he would she thought this was a better use of the capital like the council to wait and think about it, be- money because the plan is to have three turf fore making a decision to spend money on the fields at the proposed complex. project. He said he thinks it will be successful, Councilmen Joel Daves and John Williams but would also like to prioritize city park needs voted against the amendment. before making a commitment to it. County Commission President Connie Hud- “My feelings are much like the mayor’s,” he son approached the City Council two weeks ago said. “We have a lot of thinking to do before we about possibly partnering to bring to fruition enter into agreements.” plans for a proposed soccer complex near the Williams said Hudson should’ve taken the intersection of interstates 10 and 65. issue up with Stimpson and not come to the The idea of helping to fund the complex, council. which would include 10 tournament soccer In an email on Monday, Hudson wrote that fields with a championship field gained traction she did inform Stimpson of the project, shortly with councilors, who believed it could be an after he took office. She said she also made a economic development engine. partnership request, during that initial meeting. Councilman Fred Richardson said he sup- “While the mayor did not outright refuse ports the project and would give it between $1.5 support, I did not get a sense, in that initial or and $2 million because he believes it would a subsequent meeting that (he) supported such make money for the city. a project partnership,” she wrote. “My recent “Once they open it up we’ll start making letter to the City Council requested FY 2015 money,” Richardson said.