Covering all of Baldwin County, AL every Friday. Cardinals coach Phelps resigns PAGE 16 Sports The Baldwin Times cancellations PAGE 17 APRIL 3, 2020 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Coronavirus Baldwin unemployment claims jump concerns more than 1,400 percent in a week cause surge in gun sales By GUY BUSBY bama Department of Labor claims in the same period Ivey ordered all Gulf beaches [email protected] officials said. went up 422 percent, from closed as well as restaurants By JOHN UNDERWOOD During the week ending 1,819 to 9,490, according to restricted to carry out meals [email protected] FOLEY — While unem- March 14, 30 Baldwin County Department of Labor re- only. Since then, many other ployment claims rose across residents filed for unemploy- ports. nonessential businesses have ROBERTSDALE Alabama since the corona- ment compensation. During On March 13, the first also been ordered closed. — Growing concerns virus was reported in the the next week, 472 people COVID-19 case was reported Donna Watts, president of over the Coronavirus state and across the country, filed for unemployment in in Alabama. The next day, the South Baldwin Chamber outbreak has caused the rate in Baldwin County Baldwin County, an increase the first case was reported in of Commerce, said many a surge in Baldwin jumped at more than three of 1,473 percent. Baldwin County. County sales of weap- times the state average, Ala- Statewide, the number of Later that week, Gov. Kay SEE CLAIMS, PAGE 2 ons and ammunition, according to local gun shop owners. Nelson Wingo, owner of Campbell Hardware Fire crews spread cheer to birthday kids stuck at home & Sporting Goods, said gun sales at his shop By ALLISON MARLOW in Robertsdale surged [email protected] 30 to 40 percent since Wednesday, March 18. Andrew Ray turned 8 last “We’ve had an in- month. And before he did, crease across the board, he spent many, many days at school planning his big day SEE GUN, PAGE 4 with his friends. His parents had booked a OUR COMMITMENT movie theater party, com- plete with a viewing of the TO OUR READERS newest Sonic the Hedgehog Wind, rain or quarantine, we’ll keep film. you updated. In the event that we Then, the coronavirus shut are unable to deliver newspapers, down his school, Bayside we can deliver the full edition right Academy. And then, it shut to your inbox. Please send us your down the movie theater. email address so we can add you Ray’s birthday plans were of- to our electronic delivery list if ficially shut down too. needed as developments continue The coronavirus has can- in the COVID-19 pandemic. celled national festivals, Send your email to glitzy Hollywood award [email protected]. shows and the summer In an effort to help keep our neigh- Olympics capturing head- bors safe, you can read the most up-to-date information about the lines around the world. ALLISON MARLOW / STAFF PHOTO virus for free everyday at www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com SEE FIRE, PAGE 2 The Fairhope Volunteer Fire Department swung by to help wish Andrew Ray a happy 8th birthday. COVID-19 Signs & Symptoms Coronaviruses (CoV) are a family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more severe diseases. COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 is a strain of coronavirus that had not been previously identified in humans, making it a novel coronavirus. The Updates: disease caused by this virus is known as COVID-19. Source: World Health Organization Updates on COVID-19 can be found at the World Health Organization Fever • Cough • Shortness of Breath website at who.int. Updates can also Protect Yourself & Others be found at www.cdc.gov/COVID19. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Senior citizens and those Updates on Baldwin County closures, with underlying medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, testing, and more can be found at lung disease, cancer or diabetes are at increased risk for severe symptoms, which can lead to viral pneumonia and even death. www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. 1 2 3 4 Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) 1. Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, If you think you need to be tested, for and always before eating; after using the bathroom; and after testing locations and hours call 1-888- blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. 264-2256. For general questions call 2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Getting 1-800-270-7268 or email covid19info@ 3. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue in the trash. adph.state.al.us. Calls are answered 4. Stay at home when sick until your symptoms are gone. Tested from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) Deaths Page 6 Gulf Joel B. Moore Coast Jeraldean Buckhault Reed Media Elsie L. Spader VOLUME 129 • ISSUE 47 Timothy Brent Williams 1 SECTION • 24 PAGES 2 • The Baldwin Times • April 3, 2020 • Gulf Coast Media FIRE for the second grader. He stood in his front The Baldwin Times CONTINUED FROM 1 yard, flanked by his par- ents who took pictures 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 But it also took a toll and were relieved that on weddings, family the local heroes had res- PHONE: (251) 943-2151 | FAX: (251) 943-3441 reunions, field trips and cued their son’s big day. [email protected] birthday parties. “I was very sur- Cue the new heroes of prised,” Ray said on the Allison Marlow Classified Advertising this birthday tale, the phone afterwards. “I do Managing Editor Lindsay Walker Fairhope Volunteer Fire love fire trucks because allisonm@gulfcoast lindsay@gulfcoast Department. they help fight fires.” media.com media.com Like the good guys The fire department ALLISON MARLOW / STAFF PHOTO rescuing the day on the has offered to spread more than a dozen ment so these people Tony Whitehead Legal Advertising big screen, department birthday cheer to any birthday rides. are just going above and Sports Editor April M. Perry volunteers headed down child under age 12 who Ray’s mother, Katie, beyond by doing this for tony@gulfcoast legals@gulfcoast Ray’s street Monday, lives in the Fairhope said the family is thank- the kids,” she said. “It media.com media.com with sirens blazing, VFD jurisdiction. So far ful for the support. really is making them lights blinking and a the offer has been very “We just can’t thank feel so special at a time happy birthday sign popular and the crew is them enough. It’s a when everything is sort Parks Rogers hung on the truck just already booked to make volunteer fire depart- of turned upside down.” Publisher [email protected] To subscribe, make an address change or vacation delivery CLAIMS target at this point,” taurant’s Human Re- are lifted, the restau- stop, you may call our office at (251) 943-2151, go online at she said. sources manager has rant will be ready to CONTINUED FROM 1 www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com and click on the “e-edition” link in Charlene Haber, worked with laid off pick up business again. the black toolbar. Under “don’t have an id’ there is an option for whose family has oper- employees to help them “We’ll just have to how to become a subscriber, or email amber@gulfcoastmedia. businesses in the area ated Wolf Bay Lodge file unemployment and see when that is. A fall com. have been faced with a since 1974, said she had deal with the other dif- crowd is different from ©Gulf Coast Media 2019. No part of this newspaper may be difficult choice. to lay off more than 200 ficulties caused by the a spring crowd,” Haber reproduced without the prior written consent of the group “A lot of them want workers and close two pandemic and economic said. “When it does publisher or associate publisher. Opinions of editorial or to stay open and keep of the three restaurants downturn. She said happen, I think it’ll be general columnists or those reflected in submitted letters their people working, in March. Only about 10 the company news let- a slow start, but we’ll do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this but they just can’t,” she employees are working ter has been providing just have to see. In the newspaper. said. “They’ve either in the Foley restaurant instructions such as meantime, we’ve been The Baldwin Times (USPS 040-560) is published weekly, got to close or at least after the Orange Beach links to the Department blessed that our locals with its office located at 901 N. McKenzie St., in Foley, AL 36535. Periodicals postage paid at Foley, AL 36535. Subscription let some of their people and Pensacola estab- of Labor’s instructions have always supported rates: In-county annual, $40.00 plus local sales tax; six-month, go for now.” lishments were closed for filing for unemploy- us.” $24.00 plus local sales tax; senior citizen annual, $38.00 plus Watts said many local until the restrictions ment compensation. Tara Huchison, com- local sales tax; six-month, $22.50 plus local sales tax; and out- merchants are follow- are lifted. She said the restau- munications direc- of-county annual, $79.00, six-month, $40.00. ing developments in “We were just gearing rant is also continuing tor for the Alabama POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Baldwin Times, Washington, waiting up for spring break,” to operate seven days Department of Labor, 901 N.