A break from Covering all of Baldwin County, AL every Friday. the gridiron PAGE 5 Gulf Shores HOF 2019 Induction The Baldwin Times Ceremony PAGE 19 AUGUST 30, 2019 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Dunn talks Department of Corrections issues, future plans By JESSICA VAUGHN April 2015, and manages an inmate provided in prison to get skills, an [email protected] population of over 20,000 offenders, education, and address the issues 26 correctional institutions, over that brought them to prison, and the FOLEY - Commissioner of Ala- 3,300 correctional officers, supervi- support structure outside of prison bama Department of Corrections sors, and support staff, and operates to be with them while they’re there Jeff Dunn spoke at the South Bald- an annual budget exceeding $500 and be there when they get out,” win Chamber of Commerce’s recent million. Approximately $80 million is Dunn said. “We do all of the things Leadership Series, and detailed generated through the department’s required of a correctional agency, issues and problems faced by the program to contribute to the cost of which first and foremost is public department, future plans and the de- incarceration. safety, keeping those who are sup- partment’s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan. “The two most important ingre- posed to be behind the fence behind Dunn, a retired U.S. Air Force col- dients to success for someone who SEE DUNN PAGE 3 onel, was appointed commissioner in leaves prison are the opportunities , JESSICA VAUGHN/ STAFF PHOTOS Students Water woes in threaten Whitehouse Fork? violence at By JOHN UNDERWOOD Sam and Susan Byrd, but has three schools [email protected] purchased property in the Whitehouse Fork community WHITEHOUSE FORK — where he has built a barn and in two days For nearly five decades, the plans to build a home. By GUY BUSBY White House Water System It was there that he began [email protected] has provided water service to have problems with his for its customers in the water pressure and discolor- Whitehouse, Crossroads and ation of his water. DAPHNE – With the Bromley communities of “They told me it was dirt start of the academic year North Baldwin County. dobbers and that it would bringing three students And while officials with clear up on its own,” he said. arrested for threaten- the Water System say they “I just don’t believe that.” ing violence in Baldwin are financially sound and After he says he didn’t get schools, education and are working to fix what they the answers he sought from law enforcement officials call minor problems with the the Water System, Byrd went are warning students and system, some of the Water to North Baldwin General parents that threats will System’s member/customers Manager Jason M. Padgett not be tolerated. are looking to an alternative with his concerns and discov- Three incidents were re- to provide service. ered there were others who ported at Daphne, Spanish “I just want people to know had similar problems. Fort and Elberta within that there is an alternative At the request of the two days. In each case, a out there,” said Jacob Byrd. members who share Byrd’s teen threatened violence “I think if people know there concerns, North Baldwin and was detained by mu- is an alternative that will pro- Utilities General Manager nicipal police. vide better service at a lower Jason M. Padgett wrote a let- Baldwin County Sheriff rate, they will be on board ter last October to then Board Huey “Hoss” Mack said with us.” President Ruffin Crook, of- JOHN UNDERWOOD/STAFF PHOTO no one was harmed in any A lifelong resident of fering the Whitehouse Water Whitehouse Fork resident Jacob Byrd says he has discolored water of the incidents. Whitehouse Fork, Byrd cur- on property he owns where he is planning to build a home in the “In each case, it was a rently lives with his parents, SEE WATER, PAGE 2 future. veiled threat and there was no actual violence,” Mack said. The sheriff said par- ents and students should Getting married? The process has changed in Alabama SEE THREAT, PAGE 4 By ALLISON MARLOW recorded. [email protected] ON THE WEB Couples must have the form BALDWIN FAST FACTS Couples wanting to marry may access the new marriage notarized before bringing it Bells don’t have to ring. The certificate form online at the Alabama Department of Pub- to the probate office. The date sun doesn’t have to shine, and lic Health’s website at http://www.alabamapublichealth. it is recorded is the official In 2018, Baldwin you don’t even need to go to gov/vitalrecords/marriage-certificates.html. The depart- date of the marriage. The County had 6.57 mil- the chapel to get married in ment’s website will include instructions for completing and form must be delivered to the Alabama any more. filing the new form, as well as answers to some frequently probate office within 30 days lion visitors, over 3 As of Wednesday, the state asked questions (FAQs) about the marriage law. of the couples’ signatures to million more than the requires new forms and a new be valid. next closest county process for getting hitched. “The whole intent of the (Jefferson). Source: Couples are no longer re- quisition. And, you don’t even have to law is to get the probate office Alabama Tourism De- quired to hold a ceremony Instead, becoming blissfully sign it at the same time or be out of the marriage busi- or visit the probate office wed is as simple as download- in the same room when your partment together for a 30-minute in- ing a form and signing it. everlasting love is officially SEE MARRIED, PAGE 7 Deaths Page 6 Gulf Mary Margaret Powell Ruby Coast Dawson Englett Kenneth L. Smith Media Peggy S. Fuquay David Wolfe Taylor VOLUME 129 • ISSUE 16 Cheryl K. Marsala James Garvis Walters 1 SECTION • 28 PAGES Eleanor M. Pulsinelle Glenda Elizabeth 2 • The Baldwin Times • August 30, 2019 • Gulf Coast Media Monthly water ser- will be dedicated to the “Whitehouse” name WATER vice usage charged funding water system on the current water CONTINUED FROM 1 (both minimum bill- infrastructure improve- tower. ings and unit usage ments (for example When the Water Sys- Board to consider an rates) to current White replacement of cur- tem was created in the The Baldwin Times offer for NBU to acquire House customers will rent undersized 6-inch early 1970s, Padgett the system. be immediately reduced water lines) within the said, it received all of “Over the last three by approximately 35 current White House its water from North 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 months, North Baldwin percent, based upon service area. It is esti- Baldwin Utilities. A few PHONE: (251) 943-2151 | FAX: (251) 943-3441 Utilities has received minimum usage, real- mated that NBU would years ago the Water Au- [email protected] more than three dozen ized from savings due spend approximately $1 thority dug a well that calls/visits asking for to economics of scale million upgrading the produces some water Allison Marlow Classified Advertising help with suggestions and elimination of op- water lines. for the system (NBU Managing Editor Whisper Edwards on rates, service in- erational redundancies. Current White House still provides about 80 allisonm@gulfcoast whisper@gulfcoast terruptions and dirty The reduction would be employees will be pro- to 90 percent of the sys- water complaints,” ac- immediate. vided employment op- tem’s water.) media.com media.com cording to the letter. Monthly water ser- portunity with NBU. “One of the biggest Tony Whitehead Legal Advertising In a telephone inter- vice charged within the Fully staff two, three- issues that we have is Sports Editor April M. Perry view, Padgett stated that current White House person crews for distri- that the well causes ad- tony@gulfcoast legals@gulfcoast the offer to take over service area will not be bution needs within the ditional water pressure the system was first increased thereafter for current WHWS terri- on the lines,” Padgett media.com media.com presented to the WHWS a period of at least two tory. said, “and some of the Board 10 years ago. years from transaction NBU will continue older lines are unable Parks Rogers At the time, a meeting date. its and White House’s to withstand the added Publisher was held and the Water Subsequent to the tradition of closely pressure, which has [email protected] System Board decided initial two-year period, cooperating with local caused breaks.” not to take NBU up on monthly water service volunteer fire depart- There has also been its offer. charged within the ments, community an issue with imbal- To subscribe, make an address change or vacation delivery Padgett said he de- current White House organizations and anced pH levels in the stop, you may call our office at (251) 943-2151, go online at www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com and click on the “e-edition” link in cided to update the service area could be churches with the com- water, causing discolor- the black toolbar. Under “don’t have an id’ there is an option for letter when he began subject to adjustment munities. ation in the water called how to become a subscriber. or email amber@gulfcoastmedia. receiving calls, many of only to the extent and NBU will initiate ac- “Blue Water,” Padgett com. which came from em- magnitudes as for all tivities to enhance the said. ©Gulf Coast Media 2019. No part of this newspaper may be ployees at NBU.