Serving the greater NORTH, CENTRAL AND SOUTH BALDWIN communities Gardening dynamo gets it done PAGE 4 Strawberry fest The Onlooker PAGE 6 Silverhill APRIL 17, 2019 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ to host 35th Summerdale employee recognized as Heritage Day celebration hero after saving local woman’s life By JOHN UNDERWOOD By JESSICA VAUGHN thing unusual for her. Becom- [email protected] [email protected] ing concerned, Howard pulled Malic’s records from the SILVERHILL — Despite SUMMERDALE — Dur- center’s files, which included the fact that last year’s fes- ing the April council, Mayor Malic’s doctor’s contact. Com- tival was postponed by rain, David Wilson presented the municating with the doctor, organizers of Silverhill’s Life Saving Award to Senior Howard learned Malic had annual Heritage Day Festi- Center Program Director also missed an appointment val remain hopeful that the Karen Howard for her efforts and was told by the doctor festival’s move from Sep- and concern that resulted in it was very unlike her to not tember to April three years the rescue of a local woman. show up without first calling ago was a good one. On March 28, Howard no- ahead. “You’re just trying to ticed a regular face missing The discovery prompted compete against so much at among those in attendance at Howard to call Police Chief that time of year, particu- the town’s senior lunch. Local Kevin Brock to tell him her larly football,” said Gerald Marge Malic, 86-years-old, fears for Malic. Brock went by JESSICA VAUGHN / STAFF PHOTO Ardoin, owner of Café Aca- who Howard saw often, had Summerdale Police Chief Kevin Brock, Senior Center Program Director diana and one of the festival missed a few lunches, some- SEE SUMMERDALE, PAGE 2 Karen Howard, and Mayor David Wilson. organizers. “There’s also the heat to contend with. September is still a sum- mer month and if you’re lucky, you might get a small breeze that cools it down Elbertans decry signage of new hemp store in town from the mid-90s to 85.” By THE ONLOOKER STAFF will bring to this town,” one Indeed, Heritage Day resident said. “How is Elberta seems to be regaining some Several Elberta residents at- going to profit from you being of its former glory, hitting tended last week’s town coun- here and how will it enhance the town’s goal of 50 arts cil work session to share their the youth? How is this going to and crafts vendors ahead of displeasure about the signage work with our children? It’s a the 35th installment, which recently posted for a new hemp stigma that goes with that leaf will be held Saturday, April product store that has located and I don’t feel comfortable 27. in the town. having that right in the center “You always get a few ven- Those who spoke out said of our town.” dors that will drop out right they did not like the message Butts came to the meeting before, and you will get a being sent by what they called to speak to residents at the few added at the last min- a “pot leaf” on the signage for request of the town council ute,” Ardoin said. “We’re Seedless Green, a hemp prod- members and said he saw the going to keep the applica- uct store soon to be opened by sign and his store as a way to tions open right up until the SUBMITTED PHOTO businessman Christian Butts. help educate locals about the Several Elberta residents were outraged by the placement of this sign “My concern is where it SEE SILVERHILL, PAGE 17 for a new hemp business coming into the town. is located and the stigma it SEE SIGNAGE, PAGE 15 DEATHS PAGE 19 Roger H. Bedford Sr. ‘Pardon me boy, is that the Sally Paceley Godard Darwin Earl Ledbetter Freddie P. Lord Chattanooga Choo Choo?’ Joseph Curtis Miller Robertsdale seniors offering trip to Tennessee, Georgia Regina A. Gaines Prouty Gary Spray By JOHN UNDERWOOD Mary Williams with the Adult Freddie Monroe Waters [email protected] Activity Center. “We still have a few slots ROBERTSDALE — The available, but we are hoping INDEX George P. Thames Adult Ac- those will fill up quickly, so tivity Center in Robertsdale is you better act now,” Williams BALDWIN LIVING, 3 gearing up for a trip back in said. CLASSIFIED, 21 time to experience a historic The three-day, two-night HEALTH, 13 tour of Chattanooga, Tennes- trip includes round-trip see, and Chickamauga, Geor- motor coach transporta- LEGALS, 25 gia, complete with lunch on tion with two nights deluxe OPINION, 23 the vintage dining car. overnight accommodations The trip is being planned in Chattanooga with two hot OUT & ABOUT, 6 for Sept. 20-22, but 40 partici- breakfasts and two dinners. PUZZLES, 24 pants are needed to sign up in order to book the trip, said SEE CHATTANOOGA, PAGE 15 SUBMITTED PHOTO SPORTS, 11 TV LISTINGS, 7 Gulf WHAT Coast YOU IN Media STORE VOLUME 111 • ISSUE 14 IS NOW 1 SECTION • 32 PAGES ONLINE! • Freshest Quality All Departments • Hand Selected by Our Personal Shoppers • Delivery or FREE Same Day Curbside Pickup • Beer & Wine NOW Online! Order & Pay In Store! GREERS.COM/SHOP 2 • The Onlooker • April 17, 2019 • Gulf Coast Media Ribbon cutting for Culver’s of Foley SUBMITTED PHOTO An exciting day for Foley and for the new restaurant, Culver’s! The South Baldwin Cham- ber of Commerce celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony at Culver’s, and minutes later people were lined up to place their orders! Culver’s has earned its reputation for deli- ciousness by cooking every ButterBurger to order and crafting every batch of Fresh Fro- zen Custard throughout the day. The management and staff are happy to be in Foley and are ready to serve with a smile. SUMMERDALE we could secure it after- out her name and she wards.” opened her eyes. I was CONTINUED FROM 1 Brock was able to kick shocked. We got her to the front door in and the hospital and they Malic’s house to check enter into the home, gave her some fluids and on her, finding newspa- where he began check- some blood. She was pers untouched in the ing the rooms. To his severely dehydrated, driveway and Malic’s shock, he found Malic in and the doctors said car covered in a layer of the hallway bathroom’s she probably wouldn’t pollen, signaling to him tub, where she had been have made it another 24- it had been unused for a for approximately six hours. Thanks to Karen while. Checking around, to eight days before her [Howard] and her get- Brock found the house discovery. ting involved and getting locked tight and all the “I thought when I concerned, she probably lights off inside. kicked the front door in saved Marge Malic’s “I started getting that it was a done deal,” life.” that eerie feeling that Brock said. “I could Using Howard’s docu- we needed to get into smell that smell, and ments she keeps at the the house,” Brock said. it’s one of those smells Senior Center, Brock “Mayor Wilson hap- that I’m used to because was able to contact pened to call me while I’ve smelled it before Malic’s sister who lives I was looking around and you don’t forget it. in South Dakota, who outside the house for I swear I thought I was flew to Alabama im- an entry point, and he responding to a different mediately to be with told me if I needed to, situation. But I saw her her sister. Once fully to breach the home and in the tub and I called recovered, Malic is plan- ning to return to South Dakota with her sister to be with family. The The Onlooker Summerdale Police De- partment returned to 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 Malic’s home once they PHONE: (251) 943-2151 | FAX: (251) 943-3441 had her to safety and [email protected] secured the location and continued to patrol the Allison Marlow Retail Advertising area while Malic was in Managing Editor Central & South the hospital. [email protected] Bethany Randall “We are happy to John Underwood [email protected] announce that Marge Co-Editor Retail Advertising-South Malic is due to make [email protected] LouAnn Love a full recovery thanks Jessica Vaughn [email protected] to the efforts of Karen Co-Editor Retail Advertising-North Howard,” Wilson said. [email protected] Frank Kustura “Her recognition to a Tony Whitehead [email protected] potential problem and Sports Editor Classified Advertising the compassion to act [email protected] Whisper Edwards resulted directly in sav- [email protected] ing the life of Marge Parks Rogers Malic, while a delay to Publisher Legal Advertising react could have led [email protected] April Wallace [email protected] to a tragic outcome. Therefore Howard’s ac- To subscribe, make an address change or vacation delivery stop, you may call tions qualify her for the our office at (251) 943-2151, go online at www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com and Life Saving Award and scroll down the navigation bar at left to “Reader Services” or send an email to: [email protected]. bestows upon her the ©Gulf Coast Media 2019. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced without Town of Summerdale’s the prior written consent of the group publisher or associate publisher. Opinions deepest appreciation. of editorial or general columnists or those reflected in submitted letters do not This is a miracle in the necessarily reflect the editorial position of this newspaper.