COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 4 Art in the Park PAGE 19-22 Newsies takes the stage The Islander PAGE 6-7 INSIDE MAY 2, 2018 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Gulf Shores Gulf Shores makes financial seeks grant for changes at council meeting aviation park By CRYSTAL COLE we’ve met regularly and over short-term, low-interest rate improvements [email protected] the last five or six years we have financing into a long-term debt,” used the low interest rate envi- Dyken said. “At the end of 2017, By CRYSTAL COLE Gulf Shores’ City Council ap- ronment to fund a lot of the proj- we felt the time was right with [email protected] proved a measure which would ects we do in this community.” the prices we are able to get in So. Much. Summer convert some of the city’s short- In the last few years, he ex- the bond market to make that A walk-on amendment at The Wharf term credit to long-term debt. plained, interest rates have gone conversion.” at the City of Gulf Shores’ The Wharf will celebrate Councilman Jason Dyken, up several times and the trend He compared the short-term most recent city council seems to lean toward more rate funding to home-equity lines of the season with its So. Chairman of the Finance Com- meeting aims to procure mittee, said the city has taken increases. credit or credit cards, saying the funding to finish roadway Much. Summer. campaign an aggressive approach to its “We, the finance committee, city has always payed off the in- connections to the Busi- beginning Friday, May finances since 2008. have been looking over the last terest and principal. ness and Aviation Park. 25 with the annual Pepsi “At that point the finance two years at our short-term “Now is the time we need to The area, adjacent to Beach Ball Drop. For more committee took it very seriously obligations- which is what we convert that credit card or home the Jack Edwards Na- information, see page 2. to get our fiscal house in order,” have used for low-interest fund- tional Airport, has been Dyken said. “Since that time, ing- and when do we covert that SEE COUNCIL, PAGE 3 lacking paved access since its construction. Blake Phelps, Economic Development Coordina- tor, said the reason for Mullet Toss 2018 the urgency was that the deadline for the Alabama Industrial Access Fund’s June meeting was the Fri- day of the same week. “Industrial Access grants are 80/20 matches,” Phelps said. “What we’ve put in here is an amount not to exceed $1.6 mil- lion, which is the total estimated cost including UTR Tennis Tournament the loop in the Business and Aviation Park includ- The City of Orange Beach ing utilities.” Phelps said Spring 2018 UTR Tennis Industrial Access does not Tournament was held April fund utilities, only road- 6-8 at the Orange Beach way improvements. Tennis Center. The tourna- Mayor Robert Craft said ment attracted 28 players this project has been in from five different states. To every TIGER (Transporta- learn more about the tour- tion Investment Generat- nament and winners, jump ing Economic Recovery) grant application for the to page 37. last three or four years. PHOTOS BY CAPT. MARK ROBINSON / GCM CORRESPONDENT “We were hoping to get Thousands joined in at the world-famous Flora-Bama to toss a Mullet (yes, a dead fish) from Florida over the Ala- that, but we didn’t get the bama State Line at the annual Mullet Toss weekend. Attendees enjoyed plenty of drinks, food, games and people TIGER grant,” Craft said. watching. Mullet Toss featured a Bikini Contests and a Hot Body Contest (men) during the four-day event, along “This is the replace- with awards for those who threw Mullet the furthest. ment for that.” Councilman Jason Dyken said the 78-acre Business and Aviation Park is a great area of the city for potential develop- ment. “We don’t have sites for a lot of businesses who may want to locate in our area,” Dyken said. “When DEATHS PAGE 23 we talk about improve- ments and return on Huey Bertsil Boothe Jr. investment, those kind of Russell Edward Drake dollars spent will pay divi- Lt. Col. Paul E. Loeffler III dends in the future.” Lucile P. Stallings Dyken said recruiting Thomas Stallworth Turk businesses for the park in its current state is dif- Benjamin K. Worcester SEE AVIATION, PAGE 39 INDEX Gulf BALDWIN LIVING, 5 OUT & ABOUT, 26 Coast CLASSIFIED, 8 PUZZLES, 10 Media HEALTH, 25 SPORTS, 12 VOLUME 42 • ISSUE 19 LEGALS, 29 TV LISTINGS, 15 1 SECTION • 40 PAGES OPINION, 11 2 • The Islander • May 2, 2018 • Gulf Coast Media Summer with Pepsi Beach Ball Drop Memorial Day Weekend Season-long event list will follow with free activities and at $5- $10. The night will close with the SPECTRA entertainment each night of the week Sound and Light Spectac- ular at 8:30 and 9 p.m. SUBMITTED From May 28 to August 12, So. Much. Summer. The Islander The Wharf will cel- will include recurring ebrate the season with its events each night of the 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 So. Much. Summer. cam- week aimed to provide PHONE: (251) 943-2151 | FAX: (251) 943-3441 paign beginning Friday, fun, free activities for the [email protected] May 25 with the annual entire family. Pepsi Beach Ball Drop. Parks Rogers Allison Marlow Again this year, five Monday – Sparks Publisher Senior Features Editor thousand beach balls will After Dark [email protected] [email protected] fall from above Marlin » Main Street, 8:45 p.m. View the fireworks display from Classified Advertising Circle at 6:25 p.m. — Cliff McCollum some specially marked Main Street each Monday fol- Whisper Edwards lowing the first SPECTRA show. Managing Editor for redeemable prizes. [email protected] [email protected] The night will feature Tuesday – Kids Night live music from Red Bow Legal Advertising » Palm Plaza, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Crystal Cole Records recording artist April Wallace The Wharf will host Kids Night Editor Craig Campbell presented entertainment such as aerial For those unable to [email protected] featuring a foam party, bouncy [email protected] by 95 KSJ. Since launch- artists, stilt walkers, fire act and make it onsite, The Pepsi house, live animals, face paint- magicians. Tony Whitehead Retail Advertising ing onto the music scene ing and more. Beach Ball Drop will be Sports Editor LouAnn Love in 2011, he has logged Friday and Saturday – televised live on NBC 15 four consecutive charted Wednesday – Wheel beginning at 6:25 p.m. [email protected] [email protected] Dancin’ in the Street hits, more than a billion of Deals The property will host » Main Street, 7-10 p.m. radio airplay audience » 5-10 p.m. numerous other events To subscribe, make an address change or vacation delivery stop, you may Free DJ entertainment will be impressions and more throughout the season in- call our office at (251) 943-2151, go online at www.gulfcoastnewstoday. Each Wednesday, various ten- offered each weekend complete com and click on the “e-edition” link in the black toolbar. Under “don’t have than half a million down- ants will have discounts includ- with games, prizes and appear- cluding the Independence an id’ there is an option for how to become a subscriber. or email amber@ loads. The “Outskirts of ing an ongoing package for a ances from mascots Finn and Day Celebration, Blue gulfcoastmedia.com. Heaven” singer will go on round of mini golf for $1 when Starla. Marlin Grand Champion- you purchase a Ferris wheel ©Gulf Coast Media 2018. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced at 6:30 p.m. ship as well as the con- without the prior written consent of the group publisher or associate There will be a variety ride. Sunday – Pepsi tinuation of the C Spire Pirate Party publisher. Opinions of editorial or general columnists or those reflected in of kids activities avail- Thursday – Circus concert series at The submitted letters do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this able throughout the night » Main Street, 7-10 p.m. Wharf Amphitheater. newspaper. on Main including a surf simula- » Main Street, 6-9 p.m. Enjoy the pirate-themed SPEC- Times and dates are The Islander (USPS 002-968) is published weekly, with its office located tor, bouncy house, rock TRA Sound and Light Spec- subject to change. For Thursdays will transport guests at 901 N. McKenzie St., in Foley, AL 36535. Periodicals postage paid at climbing wall, bungee tacular at each show time with a full schedule and up- Foley, AL 36535. Subscription rates: In-county annual, $36.50 plus local under the big top each week interactive elements, bubble trampoline, live animals with a circus-themed night to-date event news, visit sales tax; six-month, $21.50 plus local sales tax; senior citizen annual, machines and prizes. $34.00 plus local sales tax; six-month, $19.50 plus local sales tax; and out- and face painting priced including alternating talent and alwharf.com. of-county annual, $78.00, six-month, $39.00. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Islander, 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546. GulfCoastNewsToday.com Baldwin County’s news innovator since 1890 Gulf Coast Media • May 2, 2018 • The Islander • 3 Gulf Place ribbon cutting Back to back wins for Oyster House chef PHOTO BY CAPT. MARK ROBINSON / GCM CORRESPONDENT SUBMITTED PHOTOS The City of Gulf Shores celebrated another major beach project this week as it held a ribbon- cutting event at Gulf Place.