Covering all of Baldwin County, AL every Friday. Community mourns passing of longtime pastor The Baldwin Times PAGE 4 JUNE 14, 2019 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ School board approves raises, new computers By GUY BUSBY to replace laptops now being the bill, the state will pay $8.3 other projects.” The board also approved [email protected] used by elementary, middle million to cover most of the The purchase of new N21 disseminating salary and high school students. The costs. and N22 Chromebooks in- schedules for the 2019-2020 LOXLEY — Teachers will computers will cost $8.9 mil- “This is a tremendous cludes a three-year warranty academic year. The schedules be getting raises and students lion. amount of money,” Wilson and three-year accidental include the 4-percent raise for new Chromebooks this fall fol- Most of that cost will be said. “It couldn’t be better damage protection. School teachers and other employees. lowing action by the Baldwin covered under funding pro- timing and my plan is to shift officials said the warranties The state will provide County Board of Education. vided by the Alabama Ad- some of the funds that we did on laptops now being used money to cover the increases Board members voted at a vances in Technology Bill, have allocated for Chrome- by students is expiring and for state-funded teachers. special June 6 meeting to buy John Wilson, school system books and we can kind of repairs to the computers are new Lenovo Chromebooks financial officer, said. Under keep the ball rolling on some expensive. SEE SCHOOL, PAGE 2 Enjoy a relaxing evening on the Great White Shark visits divers water with Blakeley’s during Flora-Bama fishing rodeo sunset cruise By ALLISON MARLOW Historic Blakeley [email protected] State Park invites you to join us for a relaxing It appears, almost out of outing on the beauti- nowhere. ful waters of the lower Clearly on the video, a Delta as we take an- diver turns to another diver other of our popular and shouts through his sunset cruises on Fri- equipment, “Great White.” day, June 21. The men turn toward the Departing the park shark as it slowly slides past, dock at 6:30 p.m., we glancing their way. It never take a peaceful excur- stops. It never speeds up. It sion down the Delta simply saunters past. rivers to the head of “I think he was just check- Mobile Bay. We’ll enjoy ing things out, like sharks the stunning views of do,” said David Murphy who the setting sun and the was diving 30 miles off Ala- cool bay breeze before bama’s coast when the shark returning upriver. appeared. SUBMITTED PHOTO Complimentary snacks Murphy, of Loxley, and see,” he said. “It was obvious him as they ascended. without a whole lot of work. and soft drinks will be some friends were spearfish- to us what he was.” Generally, sharks who visit Every once in while we have provided. ing in the annual Flora- The men were about 160 dive sites are not an issue. one that is really a problem Tickets are just $29 Bama fishing rodeo earlier feet deep, a climb that would “It depends on the shark,” and is trying hard to take our for adults, and $19 for this month when they have take more than 15 minutes he said. “The majority of fish.” children 6-12. To re- what Murphy calls the “sight to safely reach the surface. sharks we see are curious The men estimate the great serve your seat, visit of a lifetime.” They were on their way out like this one was or they’re white measured between the events page on our “It was obviously different of the water anyway, Murphy looking for an easy meal, website to book tickets than the sharks we usually said, but they kept an eye on something they can take SEE SHARK, PAGE 7 online. The Delta Ex- plorer is a U.S. Coast SEE CRUISE, PAGE 7 Commission plans public meetings on Beach Express extension BALDWIN FAST FACTS By GUY BUSBY Baldwin County Coliseum said that between now and the money for the project [email protected] in Robertsdale but will the referendum, they want and state and federal funding set final details later this to hold meetings and inform is not available. The meet- Since the late 20th century, FOLEY — Baldwin County month. Legislation to allow the public about the project. ings are intended to explain Baldwin County has been commissioners will hold a Baldwin County to create a The Baldwin Beach Ex- the project and get public declared a disaster area series of public meetings to toll authority to pay for the press now runs from the opinion on the proposal. five times due to hurricane discuss the upcoming vote to extension was signed by Gov. Intracoastal Waterway in Or- I’m willing to talk to any- damage: in September 1979, allow a toll authority needed Kay Ivey on Monday. The ange Beach to Interstate 10. one who wants to talk about Hurricane Frederic; July to raise funds to extend the bill, sponsored by Rep. Steve The estimated cost to extend it. We can sit down and 1997, Hurricane Danny; Baldwin Beach Express from McMillan, requires a public the highway 24 miles north talk to anyone who wants September 1998, Hurricane Interstate 10 north to Inter- vote to set up the authority. to Interstate 65 is $200 mil- to talk about it and explain Georges; September 2004, state 65. The vote will take place lion, Joey Nunnally, county why we’re doing this, why Hurricane Ivan; August 2005 At a work session Tuesday in 2020 during either the engineer, said. we need to do this,” Gruber Hurricane Katrina. in Foley, commissioners state primary elections or Commission Chairman said. “If they have a better said they hoped to have the general election, county of- Charles “Skip” Gruber said Source: FEMA first meeting June 27 at the ficials said. Commissioners county officials do not have SEE COMMISSION, PAGE 7 Deaths Page 6 Gulf Shirley Ann Boykin Jane S. Meadows Coast Linda L. Callaway John H. Newman Media Myrtis Estell Dyess Lillian Leola Orgeron VOLUME 129 • ISSUE 5 Fay Dew Gilheart Thomas James Rogers 1 SECTION • 28 PAGES Maurice William Jr. Johnson Jr. Sidney Aubrey Schurr 2 • The Baldwin Times • June 14, 2019 • Gulf Coast Media The Baldwin Times Alabama Farmers Federation 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 applauds final passage of disaster bill PHONE: (251) 943-2151 | FAX: (251) 943-3441 [email protected] By JEFF HELMS munities; assistance could do better. I don't for veterans’ health think it was our best Allison Marlow Classified Advertising Alabama’s largest facilities and military show.” Managing Editor Whisper Edwards farm organization construction projects; Roby, whose 2nd Con- allisonm@gulfcoast whisper@gulfcoast applauded final pas- emergency funds for gressional District was media.com media.com sage of a $19.1 billion timber, watershed battered by Hurricane disaster package by and wastewater infra- Michael, has been an Tony Whitehead Legal Advertising the U.S. House of Rep- structure needs; and outspoken advocate for Sports Editor April M. Perry resentatives Monday. Trump for agreeing to resources to restore disaster assistance. tony@gulfcoast legals@gulfcoast The measure now goes sign this legislation.” highways, aviation fa- “For eight long media.com media.com to President Donald Following months of cilities and other tran- months, farmers in the Trump, who has agreed debate over disaster sit projects. Wiregrass and through- to sign it. funding for Puerto Rico Shelby, who serves out the Southeast have Parks Rogers “Alabama farmers and the humanitarian as chairman of the waited for disaster re- Publisher were hit hard by hur- crisis at the U.S. south- Senate Appropriations lief aid after Hurricane [email protected] ricanes, and families ern border, the House Committee, announced Michael devastated the also have been devas- overwhelmingly ap- an agreement with region last October,” To subscribe, make an address change or vacation delivery tated by tornadoes,” proved the aid package Congressional leaders she said. “I am very stop, you may call our office at (251) 943-2151, go online at said Alabama Farmers by a 354-58 vote. and the Trump Admin- proud that Congress www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com and click on the “e-edition” link in Federation President The disaster relief istration May 23, just has at last delivered the black toolbar. Under “don’t have an id’ there is an option for Jimmy Parnell. “Pas- bill provides aid for hours before the Senate this long-overdue as- how to become a subscriber. or email amber@gulfcoastmedia. sage of disaster relief is states affected by di- voted 85-8 in favor of sistance, and I am eager com. long overdue. We thank sasters in 2018 and the package. Following to see President Trump ©Gulf Coast Media 2019. No part of this newspaper may be Sen. Richard Shelby, 2019, as well as ongo- House passage, he ex- sign this bill into law to reproduced without the prior written consent of the group Rep. Martha Roby and ing relief for disasters pressed disappointment finally help the many publisher or associate publisher. Opinions of editorial or other members of Ala- that occurred in 2017 in the time required to Americans who have general columnists or those reflected in submitted letters bama’s congressional including: agriculture pass disaster relief. suffered extreme dev- do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this delegation for keeping disaster relief for farm- “A lot of people were astation in the wake of newspaper.