Hell No’ on Airport Authority Resolution Fairhope Mayor Explains Signature Add-On
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 6 BALDWIN LIVING Local artist’s debut album set to release in February The Courier PAGE 6 INSIDE FEBRUARY 1, 2017 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ ‘Hell no’ on Airport Authority resolution Fairhope mayor explains signature add-on By CLIFF McCOLLUM Fairhope Airport Authority and [email protected] called for the city to subsidize the Airport Authority $320,000 per “Hell no!!” year for the next seven years. Those were the words written Wilson said she did sign the Trees are terrific over the signature of Fairhope expletive exclamation over her Arbor Day contest Mayor Karin Wilson on a recent signature following a conversation winners chosen resolution on the city’s Airport with City Clerk Lisa Hanks. Authority land passed unani- “I told her after I signed it that I page 3 mously by the city council. don’t agree with it, and I didn’t want The resolution states the my name on it,” Wilson said. “Lisa This document obtained by The Courier shows the signature over-write made property located around the said that (Council President) Jack by Fairhope Mayor Karin Wilson on a resolution involving the city’s Airport H.L. “Sonny” Callahan Airport Authority. Wilson said the document was meant to be an internal document, remained in the hands of the SEE HELL NO, PAGE 2 but said she added the expletive to her signature. Creating community with cigars Clean up our beaches Project was designed to encourage responsible stewardship page 32 CIGARS By CLIFF McCOLLUM [email protected] s you approach the building at 77 South Section Street in AFairhope, a heady scent of tobacco and the sound of rau- cous laughter hits your senses long before you even walk into Bouch’s Premium Cigars. Almost always holding court inside, you’ll find a group of men talking about the important things in life - sports teams, local politics and stories from times past. Spring Fever Chase This is exactly the sort of community Gene Bouchillon hoped to create when he opened Bouch’s Premium Ci- Thomas Hospital, gars back in 2012. Wells Fargo host 39th annual event “I have been smoking cigars personally for over 24 page 4 years now, and, after I retired, I always felt that SEE CIGARS, PAGE 2 RIGHT: Gene Bouchillon, owner and operator of Bouch’s Plow Premium Cigars in Fairhope, holds up one of the store’s premium cigars for inspection. Fairhope bar changes hands page 4 Engineering firm pulls out of Fairhope study By CLIFF McCOLLUM son, Moore and Rauch HMR had received the evaluation into Fairhope’s themselves into that situ- [email protected] withdrew from contention contract at the council’s water, sewer and natural ation. DEATHS PAGE 21 in a letter for a city study Jan. 9 meeting, where the gas capabilities. “I viewed that meeting Fairhope city leaders awarded to them. council had inserted HMR Hutchison said because and found it uncomfort- Michael Larry Moye received a shock shortly “What the letter says into the agreement over of the fighting between able to watch,” Hutchin- David Baker before their work session is that HMR respectfully Mayor Karin Wilson’s pre- the council and mayor son said. “I’ve received last week, when Scott Joseph E. Klingensmith withdraws our name from ferred firm, the Cassady over how to award that numerous phone calls Hutchinson from the engi- consideration on this Company. The firm was contract, his firm wasn’t Jack W. Snyder neering firm of Hutchin- study,” Hutchinson said. meant to undertake an sure they wanted to insert SEE FIRM, PAGE 2 INDEX Gulf BALDWIN LIVING, 7-8 OPINION, 9-10 Coast CLASSIFIED, 23-24 PUZZLES, 31 Media HEALTH, 14-16 SPORTS, 11-13 VOLUME 123 • ISSUE 27 LEGALS, 25-30 TV LISTINGS, 17-20 1 SECTION • 36 PAGES 2• The Courier • February 1, 2017 • Gulf Coast Media them to relax and relieve pact cigar smoking can nesses across the city. CIGARS stress. That’s important have on some of those “We’re fortunate to CONTINUED FROM 1 to us.” country’s economies, have the support of Bouchillon said creating which is why he’s glad to Fairhope in our busi- Fairhope could support educational opportuni- be able to offer educational ness and have had great a premium cigar store,” ties about cigars and the trips. support from other mer- Bouchillon said. “In 2012, cigar industry was also “Sometimes, people chants, especially mem- my wife Mary Jane said important to him. Just this don’t think of the eco- bers of the Downtown ‘Gene, either open the week, Bouchillon and Mil- nomic impact we have in Merchants Association,” cigar shop or shut up talk- stead will take ten of their Central America and the Bouchillon said. “That ing about it. I’m tired of customers to Esteli, Nica- Caribbean just from buy- it probably unique to hearing about it.’” ragua - the cigar capitol of ing cigars, but it is a large Fairhope, that merchants Bouchillon took his Nicaragua - on a tour of industry that gives tens really do support each wife’s advice and with his the Perdomo Farms. of thousands of people other and send referrals business partner Jack “It’s a five day tour good-paying jobs in their to each other.” Milstead opened up in Dec. where we will go through countries,” Bouchillon Bouchillon said he was 2012. from seed collection to said. “We’re fortunate and thankful for an environ- “For the first full year, seed cleansing all the hope to continue this each ment that supports a we had a 108 percent way to the placing of cel- year because it’s a great place like his store. revenue increase in that lophane on the cigars and educational opportunity “I have found Fairhope time frame,” Bouchillon Jack Milstead, part-owner of Bouch’s, restocks a display in the boxing for shipment,” for our customers to see to be the most generous said. “Last year, we sold store’s walk-in humidor. Bouch’s boasts a selection of 385 pre- Bouchillon said. “Every the actual growing, manu- community that I have just over 65,000 premium mium cigars in its walk-in humidor. single step in the cigar facturing and production ever lived in,” Bouchil- cigars in our shop. We’re manufacturing process, of the cigars - to give them lon said. “The support of his business. embassies of the United one of the top tobacconist we will cover during that the opportunity to see the the community and es- “People appreciate the States throughout the retailers in the state of tour.” impact first hand.” pecially other merchants sense of comradery that world,” Bouchillon said. Alabama now.” Bouchillon said Nick Bouchillon said that speaks volumes to the they experience in the “We’re active in that. The Bouch’s has a large se- Perdomo, who owns and education continues every generosity of the people cigar shop,” Bouchillon last two years, our custom- lection of premium cigars, operates Perdomo Farms, time a new customer en- here. I’m grateful for said. “Many people who ers have donated over 2,400 with 385 different types in has visited Bouch’s several ters Bouch’s doors. that, and I do not take it stock in the store’s walk-in are customers who are my cigars to that organiza- times over the last few “There is an education for granted.” humidor. Bouchillon said age, early 60s and late 50s, tion.” years and he helps employ process about the type Bouchillon said he 70 percent of the store’s compare it to their small At an event held Nov. a good number of people of cigar that one should hopes to be able to grow business is local, with town barbershop that they 10 of last year, the store’s in Nicaragua with quality smoke as a new smoker and expand the business another 30 percent com- grew up with, that type of customers donated 724 jobs. and that would be deter- as the years roll on, but ing from visitors to the atmosphere where you can cigars to the program and “Tobacco farming is mined by the strength of added he’s always happy Fairhope area. share stories or talk poli- $600 in cash contributions extremely labor intensive, the cigar, the boldness, to be able to walk in the “We try to develop long- tics or other heavy topics.” to ship the cigars. so Nick actually provides the different flavors and store, sit down with a nice term relationships with Bouchillon said he “A study some years jobs for over 4,000 people the country that it’s cigar and listen to his cus- that 30 percent and ship and Milstead also focus ago told us the single most in Nicaragua,” Bouchillon grown in,” Bouchillon tomers relax and share cigars to them,” Bouchil- on trying to find ways to requested item by service said. “These are some of said. “The more we can their stories. lon said. “We have custom- give back to others, which people is premium cigars,” the highest paying jobs in teach about the cigar “Several of our custom- ers who we do business is why they support the Bouchillon said. “If you the country. He also pro- mystique, the more likely ers refer to our shop as monthly in California, Ari- Operation Cigars for War- think about it, there are vides a free medical clinic it will be for those people their asylum, their place zona, Texas, Georgia and riors program. limitations in how they for his people, as well as to come back to our to be able to get away and one customer in Maine, so “Cigars for Warriors is a can socialize.