Covering all of Baldwin County, AL every Friday. 2019 Parade of Homes starts this weekend The Baldwin Times PAGE 12 SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Group comes together Commission approves in Elsanor to help increased solve global issue budget By JOHN UNDERWOOD By GUY BUSBY [email protected] [email protected] ELSANOR — A small group BAY MINETTE — of scientists from diverse The Baldwin County backgrounds have gathered Commission approved JOHN UNDERWOOD / STAFF PHOTO together in the tiny rural com- a 2019-20 General Fund munity of Elsanor to work on ties development manager for From left, the Chonex staff, Chris Hornsby, Cade Smith, Lori Moshman budget that was 71 a common goal. Chonex. and Frankie Darsey. percent more than last “We’re taking something According to its website, year with most of that that God has given us and are chonex.ag, the company was and scientists with the mis- supply.” increase coming from a using it to create better soil,” founded “by a team of experi- sion of helping farmers build- new jail, highway barns said Frankie Darsey, facili- enced entrepreneurs, farmers ing a more sustainable food SEE GROUP, PAGE 4 and animal shelter. The County Commis- sion voted unanimously Sept. 20 to approve the General Fund budget of Animal Art Safari $115,414,134. The 2018- 19 budget for the same fund was $67,509,553. Ron Cink, Baldwin County budget direc- tor, told commissioners before the vote that several needed con- struction projects will increase the budget in the fiscal year that SEE BUDGET, PAGE 3 Fire alert issued for Alabama The Alabama For- ALLISON MARLOW / STAFF PHOTOS estry Commission Belle, a 5-month-old clouded leopard, is rewarded with a treat after painting a t-shirt Belle gets help dipping her paws into paint. She is (AFC) has upgraded to help raise money at the upcoming Animal Art Safari. See more on page 7. available for animal encounters at the zoo as well. the recent Fire Danger Advisory to a statewide Fire Alert effective im- mediately. While under a Fire Alert, permits for Perry Hand 2019 Walter M. Vine’s Free Enterprise Person of the Year outdoor burning will be restricted and issued By JESSICA VAUGHN Hand as he received his award on an individual basis [email protected] surrounded by family. “It’s at the discretion of the a great honor for me to have State Forester. Any- FOLEY — For 43 years, the received this recognition; it’s one who burns a field, South Baldwin Chamber of much appreciated.” grassland, or woodland Commerce has been awarding Today’s United States Eco- individuals who display the nomic System of Free Enter- SEE FIRE, PAGE 3 spirit of free enterprise with prise operates according to the Walter M. Vine’s Free five main principles: freedom Enterprise Person of the Year to choose our business; the BALDWIN FAST FACTS Award. During a celebratory right to private property; the luncheon on Fri., Sept. 20, the profit motive; competition; 2019 recipient was announced and consumer sovereignty. In 2018, 6.5 million visitors to be Perry Hand, past CEO It’s this system that the South to Baldwin County spent and current Chairman of the Baldwin Chamber has been $4.6 billion. Board of Volkert, Inc. celebrating, and many of the JESSICA VAUGHN / STAFF PHOTO “It’s quite an honor, I’m 2018 Walter M. Vines Person of the Year Denson Freeman presents Source: Gateway Initiative just floored at this point,” said SEE PERRY, PAGE 2 2019’s award to Perry Hand. Deaths Page 6 Karen Lee Eddins Eulalie A. Temple Gulf Coast Hy Mark Hollowell Michael Leon Wallace Media Chad E. Key VOLUME 129 • ISSUE 20 Jared Eugene Millwood 1 SECTION • 28 PAGES Virginia Rentz Stallworth 2 • The Baldwin Times • September 27, 2019 • Gulf Coast Media The Baldwin Times 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 PHONE: (251) 943-2151 | FAX: (251) 943-3441 [email protected] Allison Marlow Classified Advertising Managing Editor Whisper Edwards allisonm@gulfcoast whisper@gulfcoast media.com media.com Tony Whitehead Legal Advertising Sports Editor April M. Perry tony@gulfcoast legals@gulfcoast media.com media.com Parks Rogers JESSICA VAUGHN / STAFF PHOTO Publisher 2019 winner Perry Hand surrounded by family and friends. [email protected] PERRY helping others, all which Business Chamber, the ask them to nominate aptly describe Hand, Lion’s Club, and the Ro- someone they believe To subscribe, make an address change or vacation delivery CONTINUED FROM 1 stop, you may call our office at (251) 943-2151, go online at said Chad Watkins of tary Club. represents the spirit of www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com and click on the “e-edition” link in WAS Design, who pre- “He has been instru- free enterprise. Nomina- the black toolbar. Under “don’t have an id’ there is an option for previous winners at- sented the award. mental and influential tions are then compiled how to become a subscriber. or email amber@gulfcoastmedia. tended the ceremony Hand grew up in in representing Baldwin and past Chamber chair- com. in honor of this year’s Alabama and attended County in his profes- men and former award ©Gulf Coast Media 2019. No part of this newspaper may be winner. Except for one Auburn University, com- sional, political and winners review them, reproduced without the prior written consent of the group or two occasions, the ing to work in Mobile personal life, is a dedi- casting votes during a publisher or associate publisher. Opinions of editorial or identity of the winner afterwards before estab- cated servant to both secret ballet to select the general columnists or those reflected in submitted letters is kept largely a secret lishing his own company his profession and the top three nominations. do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this until the day of the in Gulf Shores. After public through leader- Out of these three, the newspaper. award celebration. Only becoming a business ship, and his business person who finishes The Baldwin Times (USPS 040-560) is published weekly, the ones who vote for the owner he entered into has demonstrated a com- with the most votes from with its office located at 901 N. McKenzie St., in Foley, AL 36535. Periodicals postage paid at Foley, AL 36535. Subscription rates: winner and the winner’s politics, serving on the mitment to the future of the board chairs, former In-county annual, $38.50 plus local sales tax; six-month, $22.50 family are aware prior to Alabama State Senate. alternative delivery and winners, and chamber plus local sales tax; senior citizen annual, $36.00 plus local the event. Afterwards, he returned asset management in the board members is pro- sales tax; six-month, $20.50 plus local sales tax; and out-of- In order to be nomi- to the business world design, improvement, claimed the winner. county annual, $78.00, six-month, $39.00. nated, one must still be and began expanding and maintenance of our For more information POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Baldwin Times, active in the business his company, as well as nation’s infrastructure,” on the Walter M. Vines 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546. community and the af- serving in a number of Watkins said. Free Enterprise Person fairs of their business, boards and organiza- The nomination pro- of the Year Award, past have a good moral repu- tions including the Mo- cess begins in July and recipients, and other tation, be active in com- bile Chamber, the South closes in August, during chamber events, visit munity and civic affairs, Baldwin Chamber, which Chamber employ- www.southbaldwin- and be committed to the Coastal Alabama ees visit members and chamber.com. Gulf Coast Media • September 27, 2019 • The Baldwin Times • 3 BUDGET interview that the con- Sheriff $71 milllion. number, but the reality Commission Chair- Tuesday, to Friday due struction of a new jail That looks like a huge is the investment in the man Charles “Skip” to scheduling conflicts. CONTINUED FROM 1 tower will add 300 to 400 number, but again, future. Gruber praised county County spending plans beds, depending on the there’s the jail. That is Personnel. There’s employees for their work also include several proj- starts Oct. 1. final design approved. what’s driving that big some new head count in preparing the budget. ects budgeted this year, “This year we focused Plans also call for the number. added and the reason “It’s been very trying, but carried over to the on infrastructure, which remodeling of two other Rebuild Alabama being is to provide better but y’all pulled it off,” 2020, Cink said. is the maintenance of areas of the facility. fund, anticipated citizen services. he said. “We can have a The county plans to county facilities. Those He said the expansion revenue from that ap- Joe Davis: Expansion balanced budget come expand the Fairhope Sat- infrastructure projects should meet the county’s proximately $1.3 million. of service and provide October.” ellite Courthouse com- include a new jail, a new need for housing prison- GoMESA better more timely ser- Gruber said that pleting the unfinished intake facility at the ers for the next 15 to 20 Restroe 11.3 vice. while the commission second floor at a cost of animal shelter and two years. That’s one of the Skip Gruber. You did is scheduled to vote on $1.2 million and plumb- new highway barns,” The sheriff said the larger budgets we’ve had a great job getting this the budget on Friday, ing improvements at the Cink said.