Economic Assessment Shows Bayfest As a ‘Tourism Engine’ by JASON JOHNSON/REPORTER | [email protected]
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2 | LAGNIAPPE | June 19, 2014 - June 25, 2014 WEEKLY LAGNIAPPE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• June 19, 2014 – June 25, 2014 | www.lagniappemobile.com Ashley Trice BAY BRIEFS Co-publisher/Editor The Crescent Theater’s benefactors are [email protected] looking for supporting patrons. Rob Holbert Co-publisher/Managing Editor 6 [email protected] Steve Hall COMMENTARY Marketing/Sales Director Some questions will never be answered. [email protected] Ashley explains why the Hangout Festival Gabriel Tynes extension is a no brainer. Assistant Managing Editor 12 [email protected] CUISINE Dale Liesch Reporter The scuffle about truffles: [email protected] The diamond of the Jason Johnson culinary world. Reporter 18 [email protected] Kevin Lee Associate Editor/Arts Editor [email protected] Andy MacDonald CONTENTS Cuisine Editor [email protected] Stephen Centanni Music Editor [email protected] J. Mark Bryant BUSINESS Sports Writer With storefronts in Robertsdale and [email protected] Saraland, Lickin Good Doughnuts is Daniel Anderson expanding locally. Chief Photographer 22 [email protected] Laura Rasmussen Art Director COVER www.laurarasmussen.com Lagniappe speaks with Brooke Wilder former commissioners Advertising Sales Executive and directors of the [email protected] 24 Mobile Area Water and Leigh Wright Advertising Sales Executive Sewer System, who talk [email protected] about the Board’s role at Beth Williams the utility. Advertising Sales Executive [email protected] Jeff Winter Advertising Sales Executive [email protected] Melissa Schwarz ARTS Editorial Assistant Following up with recent stories about [email protected] potential art plagiarism and the scrutiny Alyson Stokes Web & Social Media Manager 27 of a proposed light show. [email protected] Contributors: Asia Frey • Brian Holbert MUSIC Jeff Poor • Ron Sivak The Ben Walls Memorial Susan Larsson • Kelsey Davis Jam Session June 22 at The Garage remembers For Music Listings & Events Calender a downtown staple Email your info to Melissa at: [email protected] & while raising money for [email protected] a good cause. Lagniappe is published every Thursday, 52 is- sues a year by SOMETHING EXTRA PUBLISH- ING, INC. Business offices are located at 1102- A Dauphin Street and mailing address is P.O. Box 3003, Mobile AL 36652-3003. Telephone (251)450-4466. Email editor@lagniappemobile. com. Reproduction in whole or in part without express, written approval of the publisher is prohibited. Individual readers may take one 30 copy of the publication. After that, papers are $2 per copy. Removal of more than one copy from any distribution point constitutes theft. FILM Violators are subject to prosecution. All letters sent to Lagniappe will be treated as intended There are riveting moments in the for publication. Publishing history: Lagniappe was first published bi-weekly otherwise lengthy ‘WikiLeaks’ drama. July 24, 2002. 36 On the Cover: “MAWSS Commissioner Sam Jones” By Dan Anderson SPORTS Volume 12 Issue 18 Mississippi State and Troy are two Help support Lagniappe highlights on South Alabama’s 2014 Weekly by becoming a 40 home football schedule. “Friend with Benefits.” Scan this code for more info: MEDIA Why Sam Jones should talk to 42 Lagniappe STYLE One of RuPaul’s queens spotted out on The Loop, and a porn star/ 46 gubernatorial candidate is coming to town. LAGNIAPPE | June 19, 2014 - June 25, 2014 | 3 MPD officer reinstated after demotion BY ALYSON STOKES/REPORTER | [email protected] The Mobile County Personnel Board reinstat- of failing to provide proper supervision. As a ed Mobile Police Department Sergeant Ronald result, he was reassigned and demoted. Brown to his former position as lieutenant at an “He’s served his time, and the chief felt it appeal June 12. was an appropriate time,” MPD Attorney Wanda Lt. Brown was reassigned and demoted Rahman said at the hearing. “He wants to give to sergeant on Jan. 23, 2014, after an internal him another chance.” investigation found two other officers, who were Brown has been serving as sergeant since under his supervision at the time, guilty of mis- January while Officer Brandon Cotton was fired handling adult entertainment compliance checks and Officer Timothy Johnson was given a six- and failing to turn in citations for violations at week suspension without pay. local strip clubs. “Officers Cotton and Johnson’s verdicts were Brown led the Narcotics and Vice Unit, which upheld,” said MPD Spokesperson Ashley Rains the two officers were assigned. According to via email. Mobile Police Chief James Barber at the press The board’s decision to restore Brown to conference in January, Brown was found guilty lieutenant was effective immediately. POLICE BLOTTER Police Blotter is a collection of reports from the Mobile Police Department over the past two weeks. Information is supplied by MPD. June 8, at approximately 11:30 a.m., officers responded to Budget Zone, 3949 Airport Blvd., June 11, at approximately 7:30 a.m., officers for the report of a robbery. The victim stated responded to Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, while in the in parking lot an unknown male 5 Infirmary Circle, for the report of one subject reached in her vehicle, struck her in assaulted. The victim stated that the arrested the face and took her GPS system. The victim person physically assaulted him as he tired to changed her story several times. stop her from entering a restricted area of the hospital. June 9, at approximately 1:10 a.m. officers responded to Chevron, 5454 Zeigler Blvd., for June 12, at approximately 12:00 p.m., officers the report of a robbery. The victim stated three responded to Gordon Oaks Assisted Living, unknown male subjects entered the location 3145 Knollwood Dr. for the report of theft. armed with handguns and demanded cash. The A representative of the company stated the victim complied and was not harmed. arrested person deceived elderly tenants and took money from them. From Dec. 2013 June 10, at approximately 4:30 p.m., officers through April 2014, the arrested person moved responded to LeFlore High School, 700 Donald tenants into the facility with out putting their Street, for the report of a vehicle burglary. The names on the book. She would have tenants victim witnessed the two arrested juvenile to the check blank and she would stamp the subjects unlawfully entering his vehicle. Both business name in for them. She deposited nearly juveniles were transported to Strickland Youth $21,000 into her personal account. Canter. June 13, at approximately 12:40 a.m., June 10, at approximately 6:25 p.m., officers officers responded to One Stop Convenience responded to the 600 block of Crawford Ln. for Store, 601 Holcombe Ave, for a report of a the report of one shot. The victim stated during commercial burglary. Officers located and a verbal argument the suspect, the arrested arrested two male juveniles inside the business. person, shot him in both his legs. The victim The juveniles were transported to Strickland was transported to a local hospital for medical Your Center. treatment. 4 | LAGNIAPPE | June 19, 2014 - June 25, 2014 LAGNIAPPE | June 19, 2014 - June 25, 2014 | 5 BAY BRIEFS BB Final settlement in Bayou la Batre retaliation case pending BY JASON JOHNSON/REPORTER | [email protected] ore than four months after the parties The settlement isn’t finalized, but its tentative agreed to the terms of a settlement, the terms show the city paying Wilson $40,000 in lawsuit brought on the city of Bayou back pay for March 1, 2013 to March 1, 2014. la Batre by former police captain Dar- The city has also agreed to pay Wilson’s Tier 1 Mryl Wilson remains unresolved in federal court. RSA obligations for that time period. Wilson filed suit against the city, former The remainder will be awarded to Wilson mayor Stan Wright and former council members through the city’s payroll from March 1, 2014 to Louis Hard and Mathew Nelson in 2011 —alleg- Nov. 1, 2016, at which point Wilson is scheduled ing Wright retaliated against him after discov- to retire. ering he was assisting the FBI in a corruption He’ll be paid for 40 hours each week at a rate investigation of the former mayor. of $12 an hour. Those payments will be subject Those allegations were substantiated when to all payroll deductions, customary employee Wright was convicted of a charge of retaliating taxes and government charges for Social Secu- against a witness during his criminal proceedings rity and Medicare cumulative. Wilson will also in 2013. receive a W-2 statement from the city. Though the conditions of the settlement have “He’s not going back as an employee. It’s like been outlined, United States District Judge Kristi he’s on the payroll, but he’s not actually coming DuBose delayed her final approval at a June 10 in to work,” Dungan said. “He has two and a half hearing over concerns of how the settlement was years before he retires and what the city worked “procedurally postured.” out, because of severe cash flow issues, was to Andrew Rutens, an attorney representing the pay over the next 32 months.” city of Bayou la Batre, said the matter could be In addition to the weekly or bi-weekly pay- resolved by the end of the week but wouldn’t ments, Bayou la Batre will pay the employer comment further because of the nature of the Tier 1 RSA obligations and provide individual active lawsuit. medical insurance coverage to Wilson consistent According to court documents filed in June, with the terms and provisions the city pays its all of the parties agreed to the terms of a settle- other employees. ment during mediation in February. They also Dungan said setting up the retirement pay- requested a joint motion to be entered in court ments to Wilson caused some of the delay final- “due to the involvement of third parties” in the izing the suit because of the changing nature of case.