COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 4 BALDWIN LIVING Local businessman Jin Pak dies The Courier PAGE 18 INSIDE JANUARY 25, 2017 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Coach dies in car wreck Akins was head of girls basketball at Spanish Fort High STAFF REPORT According to a release from Spanish Fort High Princi- Akins, our Head Girl’s Bas- the Alabama Law Enforce- pal Brian Williamson said in ketball Coach, passed away Celebrating Spanish Fort head girls ment Agency, the crash oc- a press release that his school in a tragic automobile acci- 20 years basketball coach Thad Akins curred at 9:50 p.m. near mile was sad to lose a member of dent last night,” Williamson Baldwin Pops will was killed in an automo- marker 153. their family. wrote. “Thad was a true Toro bile collision with a tractor Akins previously served as “It is with an extremely at heart and loved our school celebrate anniversary trailer on I-65 near Fort De- a coach at Gulf Shores High heavy heart that I announce with concert AKINS posit last Thursday night. School and Horseshoe Bend. to you that Coach Thad SEE AKINS, PAGE 2 page 3 Fairhope theatre kids win Operations director $10,000 donation big in Atlanta competition Rotary Club of resigns in Fairhope gives to My Team Triumph Fairhope page 33 Scott Sligh out after only days on the job By CLIFF McCOLLUM [email protected] After only being in the job for a matter of days, Fairhope’s Director of Operations Scott Sligh announced Officers announced his resignation, ef- Fairhope Volunteer SLIGH fective Friday, Jan. Fire Department 20. re-elects offi cers In his resignation letter, Sligh said he was returning to his page 35 position with Riviera Utilities, where was previously the chief engineer. SEE SLIGH, PAGE 2 From left, music director and performer Brad Simmons (“Camp”, Broadway’s Lysistrata Jones), Eastern Shore Rep Kids educator Darby Dempsey, student Charles Carey, Cindy Ripley, educational consultant for iTheatrics, MTI Get involved Show Support advisor and member of the 2005 USA Today All Star Teaching team. Join Daphne Nix Center to host volunteer fair Group brings home national awards, recognition in ‘A Walk to page 34 SUBMITTED tion award. As one of just nine the New Works Showcase. The schools from across the country students performed selections Remember’ Students from Fairhope’s to win a Freddie G Outstanding from Junie B. Jones JR. for all By DOOLEY BERRY DEATHS PAGE 34 Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre Production Award, the students 6,000 festival attendees, in the and Eastern Shore Rep Kids and performed a song from Singin’ audience was the show’s authors Laura Ella Durant Ford Along with fresh, new southern Sunny Side Theater in Mobile in the Rain JR. production for all Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich. plantings, the Daphne History James Donald Herndon won national awards and rec- 6,000 festival attendees. Sunny Side Theater won a Dr. Charles Holmes Museum is currently conducting ognition at the 2017 iTheatrics Eastern Shore Repertory’s Freddie G Award for Outstanding its eagerly awaited beautification Matthew Andrew McGuire Junior Theater Festival Atlanta, Theatre Kids (the team), Kids Ensemble and Sunny Side The- and engraved paver campaign, Trudy Marsha Miller which happened Jan. 13 through won a Freddie G award for Excel- ater student Lauren Westbrook “A Walk to Remember.” All who Linda Kay Owings 15 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in lence in Dance. won a Freddie G Group Award are interested in the colorful Yun Kol Jin Pak Atlanta. Eastern Shore Repertory The- for Outstanding Student Director history of Daphne are invited to Mary Thomson Perrin Eastern Shore Repertory atre was one of five educational and Choreographer. participate by purchasing a small Patricia Joan Schambeau Theatre (senior team) received a musical theater groups across Freddie G Outstanding Produc- the nation to perform as part of SEE THEATER, PAGE 2 SEE DAPHNE, PAGE 2 INDEX Gulf BALDWIN LIVING, 18-19 OUT & ABOUT, 16 Coast CLASSIFIED, 24-25 PUZZLES, 11 Media HEALTH, 14-15 SPORTS, 8-10 VOLUME 123 • ISSUE 26 LEGALS, 26-31 TV LISTINGS, 20-23 1 SECTION • 36 PAGES OPINION, 12-13 2• The Courier • January 25, 2017 • Gulf Coast Media SLIGH CONTINUED FROM 1 other large, unfunded infrastructure a lot of new ideas for many things; needs. A couple of examples are the she and her staff will be infectious natural gas cast iron replacement in this regard,” Sligh wrote. “I want Sligh had previously served at the need, and the need for new substa- to help her by fulfilling this position, City of Fairhope’s electric department tion transformers and circuits. but the time is just not right for me as manager from 2008 until July 2015. Fairhope also lacks a strong network a husband and father. She is trying “During this time, we were able to of employee resources and faces a to enact change by example, and she make many changes for the better real shortage of leadership in the needs more good people that want to that had been needed for many, many employee ranks – possibly by prior help her do so. She is obviously disap- years,” Sligh wrote in his letter. “The design. Strong leaders challenge and pointed in my decision, but remained employees that I supervised embraced these changes, as they knew from push the leaders above them. Effective the consummate professional in talk- talking to their peers what other utili- leaders don’t mind people pushing ing with me. I know that there are ties were doing and what they should them and realize it can be healthy. those who will believe otherwise no be doing. One appeal of this new job Poor leaders get mad and actively matter what I say, but I want to stress to me was the fact that due to reasons work to keep people down.” that my decision had nothing to do Daphne History Museum volunteer Scott Berry is ready He said it would be up to Mayor with her, her ideas, her personality, with brick pavers. outside my control, and due to the influence of others less knowledge- Karin Wilson to find a way to com- or any other thing having to do with plete some of those larger projects Mayor Wilson. Anyone who underes- on toward the museum able in utility work, when I left in during the upcoming budgeting pro- timates her resolve and determination DAPHNE cemetery. 2015 there was still a lot to be done to CONTINUED FROM 1 cess. does so at their own peril.” All who are inter- bring Fairhope Public Utilities into Wilson confirmed Sligh had re- Fairhope Council President Jack ested in purchasing a the modern age; I felt that change was part of that cherished signed his position last week. Burrell said he was incredibly sur- laser engraved brick still needed and the time was now to heritage. “Scott Sligh was excited to join the can go by the Daphne start doing it.” prised by the resignation, but said the Laser engraved brick History Museum at According to city officials, Sligh had team here at Fairhope and work with city would move to find a replacement pavers are being of- 405 Dryer Avenue in started in his new position just last the new administration,” Wilson said. quickly. fered to our citizens to Daphne during the reg- Tuesday, leaving many surprised by “However, since accepting the posi- “We will have to continue to search help complete the new ular museum hours of his sudden exit from the job. tion, there has been a turn of events for an operations director, which brick walkway and ter- 1 to 4 p.m. on Fridays, In his resignation letter, Sligh in his personal life that require him is key to the city moving forward,” race at $35 per brick. Saturdays or Sundays pointed out some issues he saw with to spend more time at home with his Burrell said. “I feel the council should What a wonderful way to fill in the order form the city’s current utility status. family.” consider making this an appointed to honor loved ones and pay $35 by check or “In several aspects, the utilities Sligh indicated in his letter that a position now.” who have gone on or cash. They can also call perform well, but in many others, personal family matter was his main who are still with us the museum at 251-621- they lag far behind other utilities,” reason for vacating his position, but Editor’s note: To see the updated version and cherish Daphne’s 9620 and leave a clear Sligh wrote. “While the sewer plant he took time to offer his support to of this story, along with the complete unique history. A brick message with name and upgrades were necessary and carried Wilson. text of Sligh’s resignation letter, visit our personally engraved phone number and the out in fine fashion, there exist many “Mayor Wilson is energetic and has website at gulfcoastnewstoday.com. paver could be a lovely call will be returned way to welcome a new by a volunteer within a baby into the family, few days. memorialize a wed- Order forms are also where we all love and “I ask that you be un- and prayers.” ding, anniversary or available on the mu- AKINS CONTINUED FROM 1 take care of one another. derstanding and patient Over the weekend, the any milestone in the seum website at daph- Thad fit perfectly into with our school through- school held a candlelight lives of our residents.