Covering all of Baldwin County, AL every Friday. Reese’s Senior Bowl schedules set PAGE 18 Robertsdale marks Dollar Tree opening The Baldwin Times PAGE 3 JANUARY 27, 2017 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ County commission discusses engineer hiring By CLIFF MCCOLLUM the commissioners were on how ceed.” and he knows this county. I think things.” [email protected] they wanted to proceed with fill- Commissioner Skip Gruber we need to stick with here at this Commissioner Tucker Dorsey ing the position left by vacating said he would like to see the time.” said he hoped the county would Baldwin County commission- County Engineer Cal Markert. county promote from within, el- Commissioner Frank Burt take some time to explore its op- ers had an open conversation “We need to decide how we evating Interim County Engineer agreed with Gruber. tions for this position. about what to do with the county want to move forward with find- Joey Nunnalley into the position “I’d sure like to do the same “I almost like Joey too much engineer position during Tues- ing the next county engineer,” permanently. thing,” Burt said. “Being able to to give him the job because it’s day’s work session meeting in Elliott said. “Whether that’s a “I think we need to give Joey know people here already is a the hardest job in the county,” Foley. headhunting search, posting the the opportunity to step into his plus, and he already has worked Dorsey said. “I’m not saying no Commission Chairman Chris job online to various places or position,” Gruber said. “Every to cooperate with ALDOT and or yes today.” Elliott said he put the item on the promoting from within, we need time you need something, he’s other officials in the munici- agenda so he could gauge where to see which way we want to pro- good about getting an answer palities. He knows how we do SEE HIRING, PAGE 27 Inside OWA More than just moving dirt; rides and buildings going up, taking shape By ALLISON WOODHAM [email protected] On any given day, there are 1,000 construction workers at the OWA site, according to OWA Marketing and Public Relations Director Kristin Hellmich. That, alone, de- scribes the magnitude of this project. So, what has happened since the name has been announced? “We have started pouring foundations on the theme park for all 21 rides and those are pretty far along with comple- tion,” Hellmich explained. Construction has also started on the theme park sup- port staff building and main entrance to the theme park. XXXXX The Downtown District in The entrance/exit of the theme park from Downtown District. OWA is also taking shape with Far left: On the island, facing the am- SEE OWA, PAGE 2 phitheater with seating. BALDWIN FAST FACTS Left: In the middle of the Downtown District. “OWA” means “big water” in the Muskogee Creek Lan- guage. Front left to right: Sofia Gam- and a former US Surgeon bino, Lavender; Kate Nobles, General. A court of many colors Peach; Abigail Davis, Aqua; “Participants in this 2017 Dogwood Trail Annual Dogwood Trail Lauren Buehler, Pink; Caroline year’s program were Pageant and Scholarship Toombs, Yellow and Abigail some of the brightest, Macaro, Blue. Court announced Program on Saturday, en- most talented and ener- Submitted ergetic dancing, colorful getic young women that I costumes and skits based six court members join have had the opportunity alumni who have gone Six young women are on this year’s theme, to work with in my 23- on to become teachers, off to great places as they “It’s Time for Africa,” year history as Executive doctors, nurses, dentists, begin the coming year highlighted the partici- Director,” JoAnn Broa- pharmacists, lawyers, fulfilling a longstanding pants’ creativity in the dus, Executive Director performance portion of engineers, scientists, of the program, said. tradition along the East- duction, presence and 10 percent of the com- the pageant. Thirty-six university librarians “I am proud of the ac- ern Shore as members composure and twelve posite score, was judged participants were scored and faculty, broadcast complishments of all 36 of the 2017 Dogwood finalist questions. The prior to the pageant by a in the categories of essay, journalists, accountants, Trail Court. At the 57th essay category, worth three-judge panel. The interview, creative intro- small business owners SEE COURT, PAGE 27 Deaths Page 26 Gulf Timothy J. Arnould Harold Richard Glenn Coast Oliver C. Bertagnolli Sr. Frank Louis LaRosa Media William A. Calvert Alicia Mueller VOLUME 126 • ISSUE 37 Dorothy Shealy Cooper Walter C. Nitteberg 1 SECTION • 28 PAGES Lucille Mulligan Fracas Harry Norden 2 • The Baldwin Times • January 27, 2017 • Gulf Coast Media cated on the south end bile is building the retail, path you go down and OWA of the Downtown Dis- dining and entertain- the turns you take allow The Baldwin Times CONTINUED FROM 1 trict and is the only part ment area; Cunningham for different experiences, building frames up and of the project that will Delaney Construction of each area has very 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 buildings being enclosed. charge admission. Summerdale is working unique characteristics,” PHONE: (251) 943-2151 | FAX: (251) 943-3441 “They have continued “That’s a question on the road infrastruc- she said. to work on the 14-acre we’re getting a lot,” said ture; IC Thomasson One of the frequent [email protected] lake, as far as excava- Hellmich. “Everything Associates Inc. are the questions OWA gets else in the project has no electrical/plumbing and about the project is Parks Rogers Tony Whitehead tion and lining the edges of the lake,” Hellmich charge, including park- mechanical engineers; about the hiring process. Publisher Sports Editor said. “They have also ing. Other areas, like Rotolo Consultants Inc. As far as construction, (251) 947-7712 (251) 928-2321 continued building the the shopping and dining of Slidell, Louisiana, are OWA only hired the parks@gulfcoast tony@gulfcoast structures on the is- venues are open to the landscaping; TSI Inc. general contractors, media.com media.com land, which are all new: public to come and enjoy is supplying the Wi-Fi who then have their the amphitheater, boat as they please.” systems; STOA Archi- crews. Right now, only Cliff McCollum Classified Advertising house, and you can see As far as the timeline tects of Pensacola is the a few jobs are posted at Managing Editor Jessica Vaughn the hotel is very close to for construction and architectural firm; and VisitOWA.com, and ap- (251) 947-7712 jessica@gulfcoast completion and the city opening, everything re- Zamperla is the Italian plications are only being [email protected] media.com of Foley’s event center mains on schedule and manufacturer of the accepted online for those as well.” unchanged. theme park rides. posted jobs. Destiny Brown Legal Advertising The underground “The theme park and Something of note in “Mass hiring for po- Gulf Coast Buzz Editor April Wallace infrastructure for the about 44,000 square feet this project is the entire sitions will take place (251) 943-2151 alegals@gulfcoast roadways in is progress, out of the 154,000 square area will have lots of in late February/early destiny@gulfcoast media.com as well. feet of retail, dining and green space and land- March,” Hellmich said. The theme park is lo- entertainment area will scaping. “Our human resources media.com be open with tenants, “We have employed department plans to To subscribe, make an address change or vacation delivery which equates to about STOA Architects and host job fairs as well as stop, you may call our office at (251) 517-1690, go online at www. TRENDING seven to eight businesses they have master plan- go into the communi- gulfcoastnewstoday.com and click on the “e-edition” link in the of retailers, restaurants ners in the field to make ties, colleges and high black toolbar. Under “don’t have an id’ there is an option for how to 1. Spanish Fort girls bas- and entertainment ven- sure we’re putting in schools.” become a subscriber. or email [email protected]. ketball coach dies in car ues that will be open plants and trees and Another question that ©Gulf Coast Media 2016. No part of this newspaper may be accident summer 2017.” shade structures that comes to OWA a lot, is reproduced without the prior written consent of the group publisher 2. Inside OWA The island will be open are natural to the area,” the price of ticket sales. or associate publisher. Opinions of editorial or general columnists 3. Silverhill council ad- and accessible, and the Hellmich explained. “It’s The pricing for tickets or those reflected in submitted letters do not necessarily reflect the amphitheater will be going to be very lush, won’t be rolled out until dresses concerns with fire editorial position of this newspaper. open for concerts and lots of natural plants, later in the spring. The Baldwin Times (USPS 040-560) is published weekly, department events. The hotel is still and tree materials will Although there is a with its office located at 901 N. McKenzie St., in Foley, AL 36535. 4. Gulf Shores looks to on track to open in May. be used to help regulate lot of dirt moving, rides Periodicals postage paid at Foley, AL 36535. Subscription rates: In- study impact of Gulf State OWA has employed the temperatures.” coming in and going up county annual, $35.50 plus local sales tax; six-month, $20.50 plus Park developments Hellmich explained and buildings taking local sales tax; senior citizen annual, $33.00 plus local sales tax; several contractors over six-month, $18.50 plus local sales tax; and out-of-county annual, 5.