Serving the greater NORTH, CENTRAL AND SOUTH BALDWIN communities Roberts to give Mardi Gras speech PAGE 5 Black bear sightings likely to increase The Onlooker PAGE 21 JANUARY 10, 2018 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Foley seeks Foley makes swift work of first 2018 council grant to By JESSICA VAUGHN sources. tion as one of the top things they in the Police Department. bring litter [email protected] plan to implement. “We’ve talked about this be- The resolution comes after “The good thing about this is, trap to city FOLEY — At the first council fore, and we had an issue here cases where childcare facilities with the addition to the two of- of the new year, held Jan. 2, the with childcare a while back,” have tried to find ways to get out ficers you gave us in the budget, By JESSICA VAUGHN Foley city council quickly worked said Council President Wayne of specific regulations. we’re really going to be able to [email protected] through the smaller agenda to Trawick. “We have a personal ex- “A typical legitimate church strengthen our patrol division,” kick off 2018’s work. perience. I hate to put more regu- doesn’t give you an issue, but peo- said Police Chief David Wilson. FOLEY — The City • The council approved a resolu- lations on them, but it’d help the ple use the religious component “It’ll be a better impact down the of Foley is working tion in support of legislation problem. This is needed.” to get around the regulations,” road. We’re also losing three of- closely with the Mo- requiring childcare and child According to Mike Thompson, Thompson said. ficers to military deployments, bile Bay National Es- daycare facilities be subject city administrator, a summary • The council approved an lengthy military deployments, tuary to place a litter to licensing and regulation by released recently by the League amendment to the pay classifi- trap within the city as the Department of Human Re- of Municipalities puts this regula- cation plan for position changes SEE FOLEY, PAGE 2 an effort to decrease trash flow in the Bon Secour Watershed. The litter trap will be modeled after those Celebrating being used in multiple ‘A Vision For locations in Mobile with a very high suc- Martin Luther the Future’ cess rate. CBCC annual “One of the top King Jr. objectives of our Bon banquet is Jan. 18 Secour Watershed Loxley group to host management plans By JOHN UNDERWOOD was to reduce some march and program [email protected] of the litter going downstream,” said By JOHN UNDERWOOD ROBERTSDALE — The Leslie Gahagan, envi- [email protected] Central Baldwin Chamber of ronmental manager. Commerce invites you to look “It was identified that LOXLEY — For the 13th to the future at its 42nd an- the ditch going under straight year, the Loxley Area nual banquet Thursday, Jan. Cedar Street is the Martin Luther King Group will 18 at the Baldwin County Coli- worst source. So the hold program beginning with a FILE PHOTO seum in Robertsdale. National Estuary has march up Alabama 59 (Hickory on what is important, he said. grams enjoys a “2017 was a great year for a grant, and they’ve Street) beginning at 8 a.m. “God is still God and we have success rate of the Chamber and we’re look- worked with this com- Monday, Jan. 15 at the Loxley to give Him all the glory no mat- 83 percent of our ing to make it even better in pany called Osprey Church of God, marching to the ter our circumstances,” he said. youth transition- 2018,” said Chamber Director Initiative to put in Loxley Civic Center. Guest speaker for the event ing to become of Operations Gail Quezada. these litter traps.” A short program at the Civic will be Dr. Tom Ellison, medical a health care “This is just a great opportu- The city would Center will begin at 9 a.m., fea- services director and principal professional,” nity for our members to enjoy commit to a one- turing youth-led singing and investigator with Birmingham- according to the Dr. Tom Ellison some good food and spend year contract with readings from King’s writings based Project H.E.L.P., U.S.A. group’s Face- time together. It’s an opportu- the company, and and speeches. The theme for Founded in 1987 in Birming- book page. “Our emergency nity to celebrate our accom- the installation and this year’s program is “It’s up ham, Project H.E.L.P. provides preparedness projects include plishments and look forward maintenance for the to us to change the game.” innovative community-based disaster response, recovery, to the future.” year would equal near “We have the potential and projects in hypertension, teen mitigation, disaster risk reduc- “A Vision For the Future” $1,400. The National the power to change the game,” pregnancy prevention, violence tion and psychological first aid is the theme for this year’s Estuary program said Ronnie McBride, who has prevention, health promo- for first responders, survivors event, which will again be pre- would then reimburse organized the event since incep- tion, substance misuse, health and community leaders.” sented by Baldwin EMC. This tion. disparities, community based Organized through the vision is an upscale evening with a SEE LITTER, PAGE 4 While political and racial ten- research, STI,HIV/AIDS pre- of resident Gloria Autry, Mc- reception and dinner with an sions continue to rise through- vention, workforce development Bride said, the purpose of the estimated attendance of 400. out the state and the nation, it and youth enhancement. remains crucial to stay focused “Our medical pipeline pro- SEE KING, PAGE 31 SEE VISION, PAGE 29 DEATHS PAGE 20 Mary Beth Bishop Norma Lynch selected to fill vacant seat on Baldwin County Board of Education Patricia M. Cote Laura Ellen King Dekker By CLIFF MCCOLLUM sistant principal, principal and a ceived three votes. Board vice Marilene F. Dixon [email protected] real estate agent. president Shannon Cauley then William Albert Newsome The board interviewed Lynch motioned for Hudson, who also Clifford E. Potter LOXLEY — After multiple and two other candidates, Elberta received three votes. Foley board Jacqueline Faye Smith votes, the Baldwin County Board resident Charity Hudson and Fort member JaNay Dawson then mo- Inez W. Springer of Education selected veteran Morgan resident Steve Martin, tioned for Martin, who received David B. Stevenson educator and Orange Beach resi- during a special called meeting in two votes. Melvin Eugene Wilson dent Norma Lynch to fill the re- Loxley on Jan. 4. Cauley again motioned for mainder of Angie Swiger’s term When it came time for the Hudson, who then received two on the board. board to vote, Daphne board votes. Lynch has been teacher, com- member David Tarwater mo- munity schools coordinator, as- tioned for Lynch, who first re- SEE LYNCH, PAGE 31 CLIFF MCCOLLUM / STAFF PHOTO INDEX Gulf BALDWIN LIVING, 5 OUT & ABOUT, 23 Coast CLASSIFIED, 11 PUZZLES, 8 Media HEALTH, 22 SPORTS, 13 VOLUME 109 • ISSUE 52 LEGALS, 25 TV LISTINGS, 16 1 SECTION • 32 PAGES OPINION, 9 2 • The Onlooker • January 10, 2018 • Gulf Coast Media VFW presents Public Service Awards Submitted Law Enforcement Of- ficer of the Year; and BAY MINETTE — The George Singleton, EMT Veterans of Foreign of the Year. Wars Post 3568 in Bay The honorees were Minette honored three presented certificates of individuals with awards appreciation and a mon- for their outstanding etary award. service to the north Each year, the Veter- Baldwin community. The ans of Foreign Wars se- presentations were made lects emergency medical at a recent Bay Minette technicians, law enforce- City Council meeting. ment and firefighter VFW representative personnel to receive Frazier Martin pre- the VFW Public Service SUBMITTED PHOTO sented awards to Dakota Awards. Local winners Melech, Firefighter of then advance to the next Frazier Martin, second from left, presents Public Service Awards to, from left, George Singleton, EMT of the Year; Dakota Melech, the Year; Marcus Sledge, level of recognition. Firefighter of the Year; and Marcus Sledge, Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. Minetty the Elf at Merry Christmas Gulf Coast SUBMITTED PHOTOS Minetty, the City of Bay Minette’s Elf, enjoyed many adven- tures this holiday season. Minetty pitched in at Merry Christ- mas Gulf Coast. This special event was held for City Hope campuses globally. City Hope Bay Minette (one of 10 sites participating in the distribution) held its event at the indoor practice facility at Baldwin County High School. The church provided bikes and food boxes for 150 families in our commu- nity. Guests enjoyed pastries, donuts brownies, fruit, juice, cof- fee and other goodies while waiting for their bikes to be built. The children also enjoyed inflatables and playing a few games of corn hole. Minetty was a special guest and helped with reg- istration, hospitality, bike building and parking. Minetty the Elf debuted in 2016, was created by Sue Roley and sent by Santa. FOLEY in, with the changes we’re to the growth that the city LLC, and Ascend Per- a decision to be made, away from our original making here, we’re going has been experiencing in formance Materials LLC and instead voted to purpose of providing ser- CONTINUED FROM 1 to be in pretty good shape recent years. for shared utilization of carry the item over to vices for the municipal em- as far as strengthening our • The council discussed Foley Employee Health the next meeting. ployees and government and so this will help nul- patrol division.” a potential resolution Clinic.