Serving the greater NORTH, CENTRAL AND SOUTH BALDWIN communities Boxing class helping Parkinson patients PAGE 22 Eagles take PCC runner-up trophy The Onlooker PAGE 13 FEBRUARY 21, 2018 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Elberta South Baldwin Police Chief BCSO investigating possible Chamber of DeVane murder-suicide at Wilcox RV park Commerce begins announces Gateway Initiative retirement BCSO RELEASE Deputies responded to a According to a release issued with a bang possible medical emergency Thursday by BCSO Lt. Andre By CLIFF MCCOLLUM WILCOX — The Baldwin on Thursday in an RV at the Reid, preliminary evidence By JESSICA VAUGHN [email protected] County Sheriff’s Office is in- park on Patterson Road. Upon indicates that the female was [email protected] vestigating what could be a entry into the RV, deputies shot by the male, who then shot In the Elberta Town murder-suicide Thursday, Feb. discovered the bodies of a male himself. FOLEY — “We have lots of Council work session 15 at the Wilderness RV Park in and female, both from gunshot No further information was exciting things to talk about, Feb. 13, Mayor Jim the Wilcox community. wounds. available at presstime. lots of exciting things to Hamby announced share with you today,” said he had received a re- South Baldwin Chamber of tirement letter from Commerce Vice President of Elberta Police Chief Investor Relations and Busi- Stan DeVane. ness Growth & Retention Tra- DeVane, who had Foley lets the good times roll vis Valentine, thus kicking off been dealing with the Chamber’s new Gateway health complications Initiative during an event due to a horseback held on Feb. 8 at the Groovy riding accident last Goat at OWA. year, thanked the The Gateway Initiative is town for allowing him the Chamber’s new 5-year to serve as its chief. initiative to help the commu- “Since Feb. 15, 2012, nity’s workforce, education, I have had the distinct and local businesses, and privilege of being the to forge strong bonds and Chief of Police for partnerships between other the town of Elberta. chambers and municipalities. Throughout that For the past few months, the time, I have served Chamber members have been with some remark- meeting with local business able men and women leaders to help raise money to who daily demon- fund the project in the hopes strate their dedica- to raise enough to help push tion and commitment the area forward. to the residents and “It’s going to be so won- visitors of Elberta. derful for our community,” “Being the police said Chamber Chairman of chief of Elberta has the Board of Directors Sue also provided me an Alford. “For big businesses, JESSICA VAUGHN / STAFF PHOTO opportunity to work small businesses, middle-of- and partner with ex- The rain held out on Saturday, Feb. 10 just long enough to allow the city of Foley to celebrate Mardi Gras with a pa- the-road businesses, what- ceptional town staff rade which ran the streets of downtown. People came out with bags and umbrellas to catch some beads and moon ever size you are. I’ve already members who strive pies. For a video of the event posted by Dr. Karen H. Bonnel, visit https://youtube/rtmGI9OjjSo. For a full gallery of signed up, I hope all of you do Foley’s 2018 Mardi Gras parade, visit our website at GulfCoastNewsToday.com. daily to make Elberta too.” the best it can be. President and CEO of the “While serving South Baldwin Chamber with police personnel Donna Watts has been putting and city staff I have the new campaign together also built relation- for years. The reason behind ships and partner- the program is the recent ships with regional growth witnessed by the South Baldwin area over the SEE DEVANE, PAGE 38 last five or six years, and will help create both local and regional partnerships with chambers, municipalities, and regional community and PAGE 20 DEATHS economic development orga- Gloria Bloxson nizations. William S. Gilbert “With growth comes great Bonnie J. Johnson opportunity, but it also brings William R. Pharr challenges to all of us,” said Campaign Chair Tommy Lee. Janice E. Rediker “Many of those challenges Catherine Elizabeth are big, and they must be ad- Small dressed with long-term strat- Douglas L. Stewart egies and driven by strong William David Ward community support.” William R. Whiteford Sr. The Gateway Initiative was Laverne Whitehead created only after six months of data gathering, planning, SEE GATEWAY, PAGE 37 INDEX Gulf BALDWIN LIVING, 7 OUT & ABOUT, 11 Coast CLASSIFIED, 5 PUZZLES, 12 Media HEALTH, 22 SPORTS, 13 VOLUME 110 • ISSUE 6 LEGALS, 25 TV LISTINGS, 16 1 SECTION • 40 PAGES OPINION, 10 2 • The Onlooker • February 21, 2018 • Gulf Coast Media Town to dedicate park as part of Bicentennial kickoff By JOHN UNDERWOOD pavilion and playground book) and Bicentennial ation proposal from The to renew the contract. Appreciation Awards, [email protected] and has provided residents T-shirts. Retail Coach, a national “For what we’re paying which will be held begin- a tranquil site for fam- The Girl Scouts will be business recruiting firm. them, I just don’t see that ning at 6:30 p.m. Thurs- LOXLEY — The Town ily reunions, picnics and earning points for their According to a release we’re getting anything out day at the Loxley Civic of Loxley will host a kick- birthday parties. badges as volunteers issued in April of 2017, The of it,” said Council mem- Center. off event for the Alabama The ceremony will and will have an exhibit Retail Coach, founded in ber Kasey Childress. “If • Authorized the purchase Bicentennial on Saturday include Mayor Billy which includes how they 2000 in Tupelo, Mississippi, there was some way that of a Kubota utility ve- with the dedication of a Middleton presenting a earned their Bicentennial is a national retail consult- they could show us a value hicle for the Utilities Historic Marker, Bicenten- proclamation, Girl Scouts Badge. Of course, since it ing, market research and for what we’re paying for, I Department at a cost of nial Tree and Flower Gar- flag presentation, the intro- is “cookie time,” they will development firm that would reconsider.” $13,062.01. den at Cedar Street Park duction of a new neighbor- be selling their Girl Scout combines strategy, technol- • Tabled a donation re- on Relham Street. hood association called the Cookies. ogy, and creative expertise Also on Feb. 12, quest from the Jace At the Loxley Town Friends of Cedar Street “With this event, we are to develop and deliver high- the council: Waters Foundation ask- Council meeting on Park, a musical program not only celebrating Ala- impact retail recruitment • Approved applications ing that founder Julie Monday, Feb. 12, officials by the Loxley Elementary bama’s 200th Birthday, but and development strate- for two 5K fundraisers, Waters come before the invited the public to at- Glee Club and refresh- honoring a special park,” gies to local governments, April 14 for the Loxley council at its work ses- tend the event, which will ments provided after the Middleton said. “We have chambers of commerce, Strawberry Festival 5K, sion, which will be held celebrate Loxley’s first ceremony in the pavilion. the opportunity to re-con- and economic development organized by the Loxley beginning at 6 p.m. Mon- park, honored by the Town A focal point of the cel- nect with our neighbors, organizations. Church of God; and day, Feb. 26. of Loxley and Friends of ebration will be the Bicen- revitalize Cedar Street The town contracted the Mad Dash 5K/Fun • Mayor Billy Middleton Cedar Street Park. tennial Covered Wagon Park and the community with the firm in 2017 at a Run hosted by Odyssey announced that he had According to a release selling the Bicentennial of Loxley.” cost of $15,000, payable in Church on April 21. authorized the purchase issued earlier this month, Cookbook (a reprint of In other business, the three $5,000 installments. • Approved a sponsorship of three garbage cans at the park was established a 1925 United Methodist council voted not to ap- An additional $15,000 request for the Loxley Cedar Street Park at a in 1958 with a beautiful Church of Loxley cook- prove a two-year continu- would have been required Optimist Club’s Youth cost of $1,226. Get your tickets now for Robertsdale Rotary Rodeo By JOHN UNDERWOOD Saturday advance tickets Students from local performing these tricks, [email protected] for children 5 to 12 cost $4. schools will be treated Rawhide will lope the Friday and Saturday to a sampling of rodeo horse around the arena ROBERTSDALE — Get tickets cost $12 on the events. Also for the performing whip popping your tickets now for the night of the event for third straight year The on horse-back. 19th Annual PCA Cham- adults; Saturday tickets Rawhide-n-Dusty Show Rawhide also has two pionship Rodeo, which cost $6 at the gate for ages & James Boys Wild and trained Texas Longhorn will be held Friday and 5 to 12. Admission for ages Western Entertainment steers known as Frank Saturday, March 9 and 5 and under is free both will provide halftime en- and Jessie, the outlaws 10 at the Baldwin County nights. tertainment. from Missouri. Frank and Fairgrounds arena in “This is our biggest Mark “Rawhide” Lah- Jessie perform on top of Robertsdale. fundraiser of the year,” mann and his wife Cindy the trailer with Rawhide Advance tickets cost $10 said 2018-19 Rotary Club of Sullivan, Missouri, and Dusty. The show also SUBMITTED PHOTO for adults and are avail- President Joshua Mims.