COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 6 EARLY SPRING Azaleas bloom at Bellingrath Gardens & Home The Courier PAGE 38
INSIDE MARCH 8, 2017 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Fairhope mayor hospitalized By CLIFF McCOLLUM poned as I became very ill employees, Public Works City. The two employees [email protected] and had to be hospitalized Director Jennifer Fidler were long-serving, but Want to help? where I remain,” Wilson and Community Affairs tenure does not outweigh United Way raising Last week, Fairhope wrote. “Tests are being Director Sherry Sullivan. what is in the best interest money for Gulf Shores Mayor Karin Wilson was run to determine the na- “I appreciate the out- of the City and its citizens. Parade victims briefly hospitalized for ture of my illness. The pouring of support and A difficult decision had page 4 what she told residents only thing we know right understanding by many to be made, and no one was an issue with an in- now is that I am fighting following Friday’s events,” likes to make these types fection. an infection. I hope to Wilson wrote. “For those of decisions, but it had to Fairhope Mayor Karin Wil- Wilson took to her of- son promises to continue be out soon, but am still who are upset, I want you be done to protect the in- ficial Facebook page to de- working and finding ways to working while here and to know that I care about tegrity and interest of the liver the message, writing: move forward despite being will continue talking with how you feel. The employ- City at large.” “I had planned my first hospitalized last week. council to find ways we ees were let go for reasons Wilson also took aim at meeting with a couple of can move forward.” which I cannot disclose at a temporary 60-day hiring city council members yes- to two council members Wilson also took time this time, but be assured freeze approved terday morning (I am only at a time); however, the in the post to discuss the that those actions were allowed by law to meet up meeting had to be post- recent firing of two city in the best interest of the SEE MAYOR, PAGE 2
City employees reflect on work, life in Fairhope Two arrested By D. FRAN MORLE for possession Book signing Submitted by City of Fairhope Point Clear’s Very few 20-some- of drugs and Mike McCall will thing individuals think sign copies of book about the long term stolen firearm in Fairhope when starting a new job. SUBMITTED page 4 Certainly, when City of Fairhope employees On Febru- Robert Rohm, Jimmy ary 27, 2017, Cluster, and Chief of while on pa- Police Joseph Petties trol, Silver- began their jobs with the hill Police City that they would still BENNETT Department be working here more observed a than 30 years later. The suspicious three sat down to talk vehicle on about how their jobs and Bohemian how the City itself has Hall Rd changed since they first occupied went on the payroll back by a white in the 1980s. male and PONDER Neighborhood Jimmy Cluster’s first female. The day with the City was vehicle was driving ex- celebration January 5, 1987. He was tremely slow and pulled Dunmore subdivision hired into the Electric into a driveway. Chief holds fi rst Kids Krewe department and has Kevin Brock initiated a de Dunmore Mardi stayed there the whole stop on the vehicle. Upon Gras Parade. time. approach, he immedi- Robert Rohm was page 5 ately noticed a shotgun hired on February 9, with a pistol grip stuck 1983 to work in Recre- between the console and ation. He transferred to the passenger seat. Chief the Gas Department on Brock and Reserve Officer DEATHS PAGE 21 June 18, 1984. Christopher Carlson in- Chief Joseph Petties structed both individuals Bobby Leon Baker began his employment to exit the vehicle. The James Ralph Bradford with the City on Octo- male had a large hunting ber 28, 1982, as a part Helen Trione Callaway knife sheathed on his side. of Public Works. After The driver said he was Geraldine Kendrick nine years in Public Chris Roy Malone “looking for a friend for Works and five years as gas money.” Upon doing a Dorothy Carol Robison a member of the Police safety pat-down, the male Loretta Naomi Mosley Reserve, he joined the also had 7 shotgun shells Shoemaker Fairhope Police Depart- in his pocket. Chief Brock Rocco Charles Valluzzo Jr. ment as an officer on did an inquiry on the shot- November 10, 1991. gun that revealed it as sto- tion when I decided to construction, but the Harold Mason. I moved len from Mobile, AL. The apply for a job with the City job included ben- around a lot in Public Chief Joseph Petties white male was then hand- City in Public Works. efits like insurance, and Works, we all did what- “I’ve worked about all cuffed and placed in the At that time, the hourly holidays off, so I figured ever needed to be done my life. My dad did con- patrol car. Upon further pay was $4.25; that was that made up the differ- in those days, and I liked struction, so I worked investigation, Brock found with him on jobs, and I a dollar or so less than ence,” Petties said. “My the work. But I also liked what I was making in first supervisor was was working construc- SEE EMPLOYEES, PAGE 2 SEE ARRESTS, PAGE 2
INDEX Gulf BALDWIN LIVING, 7-8 OUT & ABOUT, 24 Coast CLASSIFIED, 10-11 PUZZLES, 9 Media HEALTH, 23, 25 SPORTS, 14-16 VOLUME 123 • ISSUE 32 LEGALS, 26-35 TV LISTINGS, 17-20 1 SECTION • 40 PAGES OPINION, 12-13 2• The Courier • March 8, 2017 • Gulf Coast Media
Aaron Norris hired me meters that are more ac- “In the early 1980s, we ber that. That was a lot of zines as being a great fam- EMPLOYEES and I came in at the entry curate in registering the had two-man shifts with work.” ily friendly place to live. CONTINUED FROM 1 level and I learned what I amount of gas that goes four shifts a day, so that’s That’s just the way it When I travel and people needed to know. I’m still through the meter. It’s eight officers plus the worked back then, Cluster ask where I’m from, I give the idea of police work. I learning today! There’s a constantly improving. chief, assistant chief, and added. “It didn’t matter so them the city website ad- had friends who were offi- lot of new technology and four dispatchers. Now, the much what department dress and tell them to look cers, men I’d known since because of that, the job Changes, Changes Police Department has you were in; you did all for themselves. I’m proud high school. I joined the has changed a lot over the Technology has driven 64 employees, including sorts of things depend- of Fairhope, and I think Police Reserve, and then years.” many changes in how the jailers, dispatch, other ing on what needed to be the people who work for I took a class at the Acad- Once he got the job, way the electric depart- support personnel, and done any particular day. the City love our commu- emy. I think it was once a Cluster said he grew to ment does its job, Cluster officers. (The opening of Whoever was available got nity. That makes a differ- month for 18 months, so enjoy the work, especially said. “In 1987, we had the city’s new, larger jail picked to do the job that ence.” it was a commitment, and the fact that it was in about 12 employees, now in 2000 drove much of that was needed.” The three men agree after I graduated from the Fairhope. “I was really there’s 18, so that’s not increase in employees, Rohm remembered that the City gave them Academy, I put in my ap- happy to be working at a huge increase, but the Petties noted.) The FPD similar jobs where every- great career opportunities plication. I didn’t get hired home. I met my wife, we work we do has increased currently operates with one cooperated, includ- and has been a good place the first time, but I tried got married, and we raised and changed. Back then, five-man shifts plus two ing the boat ramp at Pier to work. “Thirty years again later, and I got on our family here.” we had about 4,800 me- officers who just work Street and work building from now, I hope the City the force. Jerry Anderson ters, now we have 6,700. traffic. greens at Quail Creek Golf still looks in-house for was Chief then.” Robert Rohm In those days, if there Course. management,” Rohm said. Chief Petties said he “I didn’t think I’d stay was an outage, we had Working Together “People who live here and never thought about be- with the City when I was to wait for the calls and All the men fondly Big Growth, work here care about the coming a supervisor. “I first hired to work in Rec- then drive out to the af- recalled the days when Big Changes city. I agree with what the thought that if I could reation. It just seemed fected neighborhood to their jobs found them More than just work- Chief said, that’s impor- reach the rank of sergeant like a good job at the find it and figure out the working on whatever ing for the City for 30-plus tant.” before I retired, that would time,” Rohm admitted. “I extent. Now, when we needed to be done years, all the men remem- Cluster said he likes be a good thing.” He al- had been working at the lose something, if it’s a around the city, regard- ber how living in Fairhope that the City has a family ready had his 30 years in shipyards before I came breaker in a substation, less of the department. has changed. feel, partly because many with the City when there here, and I guess someone whoever is on call gets Chief Petties and Rohm “Thursdays at noon, of the employees are was an opening for po- thought I knew something a text. We automatically both remembered how all the shops downtown related to one another. lice chief and he decided about welding because of know where the problem Petties was working closed,” Cluster said. “A lot of people over the to give it a shot. He was that. Gene Fuqua was gas is and what areas are im- construction with Public “They rolled up the years who worked for the named interim chief in department supervisor pacted.” Works when different streets.” City had siblings, par- October 2012 and became then, and he said the City Rohm noted the same crews came together to “It was nothing like it ents, or cousins working Chief of Police on Febru- needed a welder, so they type of advancements. help build the library’s is now. I could never had here. I think that’s a good ary 8, 2013. were moving me from “In the gas department, new space in the old envisioned the city like it thing. If you’re a young Recreation to Natural how the gas is delivered Delchamps building is today,” said Rohm. guy and your dad works Jimmy Cluster Gas. I told him I did a little hasn’t changed; there’s (what became the city “I remember when here, even in another de- “I didn’t have any great welding in high school, but not a lot different with hall complex) when the Greeno Road was just two partment, are you going plans when I graduated I didn’t have any work ex- the pipes, but with newer library moved there from lanes with deep ditches on to act up?” from Fairhope High perience at it. They moved meters, we can get read- its original location on either side,” Petties added, “A lot of the younger School. I just wanted a me to that department ings without having to Summit Street. “That “and there weren’t many generation looks just at good paying job,” Cluster anyway, and I went to drive to the site. Another was a big project we all places to eat. There was pay,” Chief Petties said. said. “I tried to get on at night school to learn basic big difference is now the did together,” Rohm said. A&W Root Beer, Busy Bee, “Well, I guess we did too, the paper company in welding. Now here I am all City has an IT depart- “I was in recreation, and and Herb’s. But there was but a lot of the younger Mobile. Back then, that these years later.” ment to work with all there wasn’t a lot to do in a skating rink, an arcade ones today want to move seemed like a good idea, Rohm says the job of the that new technology. the winter, so I got put in up town, and a bowling away, go to a big city, do and then I got a job at a Natural Gas Department Thirty years ago, we Public Works to help on alley. We did have those something different. But plant in Theodore doing hasn’t changed much in 30 wouldn’t have known the construction crew for back then.” many of those kids then metal fabricating. It was years. “We still work with what that was, let alone that.” return to Fairhope when an okay place to work, the same types of pipes, that we’d need a whole Rohm also remembered The Future they are ready to raise but I started getting tired but the technology in department for that kind working on the ballparks. “Fairhope’s going to their families or later yet of that long drive every how the meters work has of work.” “We poured and spread all keep growing because when they want to retire. day, so when there was an changed. There’s technol- The Fairhope Police that concrete between the people want to live here,” I hope it stays that way: opening with the City, I ogy that allows us to get Department has grown fields by hand.” Petties said. “We’ve got a good place to grow up, decided to apply. I didn’t readings without having significantly since Chief “Oh, yeah,” replied an excellent crime rating, raise families, and re- have any experience to drive to a site, and new Petties was first hired. Chief Petties. “I remem- good exposure from maga- tire.” in electrical work, but
bag of Meth, drug para- Bennett of Orange Beach, Chief Brock also said ARRESTS phernalia including a sy- were both arrested for “Our main purpose is to MAYOR CONTINUED FROM 1 ringe, and more shotgun Possession of a Controlled protect the community. CONTINUED FROM 1 shells. Timothy Ponder Substance and Possession Anything that looks out in the vehicle, a small of Fairhope, and Kristen of Drug Paraphernalia. of the ordinary is going to unanimously by the city Ponder was also charged get checked. These indi- council at a special called with the stolen firearm. viduals were armed and meeting last week. The Courier Chief Brock stated dangerous and could have “I am committed to that “We have been on easily been targeting this working with our Coun- 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 high alert for possible community for a home cil, and they also must home invasions and invasion. At this level, it be committed to working PHONE: (251) 928-2321 | FAX: (251) 943-3441 burglaries. We have could have meant injury with me and because of [email protected] been having a lot of or even worse to one of A stolen shotgun, meth, and there are 5 councilmen businesses, homes and our own. I chalk this up drug paraphernalia were and 1 of me, the com- Parks Rogers Classifi ed Advertising vehicles broken into.” as one for the good guys.” found in the car. munication must go both Publisher Jessica Vaughn ways,” Wilson wrote. (251) 943-2151 [email protected] “Each were elected by [email protected] NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS the citizens to perform the functions of the of- Cliff McCollum Legal Advertising The Zoning Board of Adjustments of the City of Robertsdale, Managing Editor April Wallace fice they were elected (251) 943-2151 [email protected] Alabama will be holding a public hearing on the following to hold, and the actions cliff @gulfcoastmedia.com application: of Monday’s City Coun- cil Emergency Session Tony Whitehead Retail Advertising Applicant, Andreza Watson is requesting a Special Exception crossed long-standing Sports Editor Frank Kustura Permit to operate a Photography Studio at 22678 Milwaukee legal boundaries estab- (251) 928-2321 [email protected] lished by Alabama law. [email protected] Street. This property is zoned M-U, which requires a Special Know that I will continue To subscribe, make an address change or vacation delivery stop, you may call Exception Permit be issued. to protect the integrity of our offi ce at (251) 517-1690, go online at www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com and click both branches of govern- on the “e-edition” link in the black toolbar. Under “don’t have an id’ there is an The hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 21, 2017, ment (Office of the Mayor option for how to become a subscriber. or email [email protected]. beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Robertsdale City Hall. Any person and City Council) so that ©Gulf Coast Media 2016. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced without Fairhope will be success- the prior written consent of the group publisher or associate publisher. Opinions aggrieved by the granting of the request is hereby notified to of editorial or general columnists or those refl ected in submitted letters do not ful and rash decisions will necessarily refl ect the editorial position of this newspaper. appear at the public hearing or send a written response to: not continue to be made The Courier (USPS 184-320) is published weekly, with its offi ce located at 901 Shannon J. Burkett, Zoning Board of Adjustments Secretary, that further divide the N. McKenzie St. in Foley, AL 36535-3546. Periodicals postage paid at Fairhope, AL P O Box 429, Robertsdale, AL 36567. community.” 36532. Periodicals postage paid at Fairhope, AL 36532. Subscription rates: In- Reports as of Monday county annual, $35.50 plus local sales tax; six-month, $20.50 plus local Herman Harville, Chairman were that Wilson was no sales tax; senior citizen annual, $33.00 plus local sales tax; six-month, longer in the hospital and $18.50 plus local sales tax; and out-of-county annual, $78.00, six-month, Zoning Board of Adjustments planned to be attending $39.00. City of Robertsdale the council meeting on POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Courier, 901 N. McKenzie St., AL2-LV35762 Foley, AL 36535-3546. Thursday, March 9. Gulf Coast Media • March 8, 2017 • The Islander • 3
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STAFF REPORT this for these families, we just “Those decisions will be made as want them to be able to be made they come along.” Following the accident at the whole again,” Simpson said. “With Donations can be made at Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade how insurance can go, they could https://commitchange.com/al/ earlier this week, people across be out money for a long time, so foley/united-way-of-baldwin- Baldwin County have asked how we want to make sure these fami- county-inc/campaigns/we-are- they can help with the situation. lies get the assistance and help united , and any donation made to United Way of Baldwin County they need.” the fund is tax-deductible. Daphne celebrates has started a fundraiser that will Simpson said she and her staff Simpson said people can also help case management and assis- have been in communication with mail in a check or stop by the of- opening of water tance for the families whose chil- the Baldwin County Schools sys- fice in Foley to hand in any dona- dren were affected by the accident. tem to see what needs the school tion they might have. United Way Executive Director has as well. “Just make sure to specify the treatment facility Marina Simpson said this was a “Depending on how much designation is for the Gulf Shores direct way to make sure the vic- money we raise, we’re in com- incident,” Simpson said. SUBMITTED tims and their families will have munication with the school board For more information, contact needs taken care of. on what the band possibly might United Way of Baldwin County at Daphne Utilities celebrated the opening of the Olde “With all of the expenses that need, as well as what the school 943-2110 or stop by the office at 700 Towne Daphne Water Treatment Facility with a dedi- will occur with a situation like might need,” Simpson said. N. McKenzie St. in Foley. cation, a ribbon cutting and open house on Friday, February 24th. The new facility is located on 6th Street between College and Belrose Ave. The new facility is located across the street from Daphne Utilities’ oldest well and treatment plant Mike McCall to sign new book in Fairhope which was built in 1957. The new structure replaces this old facility and was built on the site of a 1940s-era SUBMITTED Apple, at a signing March Belt, before pushing into cottage which originally served as the deacon’s home 16. the rich Mississippi Delta, for Daphne Baptist Church. Daphne Utilities pur- In the second half of the Raising catfish, likened and beyond. chased the house in 2013 and began construction of the 20th century, eager inves- to the California Gold Rush Along the way, a colorful new water treatment facility in 2016. The architecture tors, from city slickers to of a century earlier, was cast of characters, celebri- of the structure is nearly identical to the original cot- country folks, and others seen as a panacea for a ties and politicians emerged tage and complements other homes in the neighbor- poured hundreds of mil- down economy – even easy to bask in the heyday, hood. According to Danny Lyndall, General Manager lions of dollars into the money. Farmers and cor- then quietly slipped away of Daphne Utilities, “the typical passerby would never southern United States to porations built and stocked when ship loads of cheap, realize the cute blue house is hiding a state-of-the-art build catfish farms, pro- more than 180,000 acres of imported fish from Asia water treatment facility.” cessing plants, and infra- catfish ponds across the reached U.S. shores and In honor of the history of the site and the replace- structure. South, as an obliging news dominated the market. Al- ment of its Well #1, Daphne Utilities dedicated a time Point Clear resident media served up the feel- most overnight, an industry capsule inside the building to be opened on the 100th Mike McCall, 25-year edi- good story like an all-you- was in full retreat, taking anniversary of Daphne Utilities in the year 2053. Arti- tor of The Catfish Journal, can-eat buffet. with it thousands of jobs cles inside the time capsule include assorted tools and compiled the history and Catfish Days covers the from the South’s poorest gear signed by all members of the individual depart- will introduce readers to catfish farming industry’s regions. ments. The lobby of the facility also features historic his new book, Catfish Days rough and tumble early McCall, a veteran news- photos and documents from the early days of the util- - From Belzoni to the Big years in Alabama’s Black paper reporter and editor, ity, including the original operating permit for Well #1 will sign first edition copies from the State of Alabama. of his nonfiction account The Olde Towne Daphne Water Treatment Facility Catfish Days on Thursday, can produce and treat nearly 1.5 million gallons of March 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. water per day. It has 40% more production capacity at the American Legion than the well it replaced which will provide for the Hall, Post 199, on Scenic growing water needs of the Daphne Community for Highway 98 in Fairhope. many years to come added Lyndall.
Natural Gas has a better safety record than any other form of energy. HELP US KEEP IT THAT WAY! Natural Gas has a distinct odor to it so you can smell less than 1% of gas in the air. Here’s what to do it you detect a gas leak: 1. Never try to locate the leak yourself 2. Avoid flame and operation of electronic appliances 3. If odor is indoors, evacuate the building CALL BEFORE YOU DIG! Give two working days notice to have underground utility lines located. Wait the Required amount of time. Respect the Marks and Dig with Care. On Weekends and Holidays call Daphne Utilities 900 Daphne Avenue