COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 6 EARLY SPRING Azaleas bloom at Bellingrath Gardens & Home The Courier PAGE 38 INSIDE MARCH 8, 2017 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Fairhope mayor hospitalized By CLIFF McCOLLUM poned as I became very ill employees, Public Works City. The two employees [email protected] and had to be hospitalized Director Jennifer Fidler were long-serving, but Want to help? where I remain,” Wilson and Community Affairs tenure does not outweigh United Way raising Last week, Fairhope wrote. “Tests are being Director Sherry Sullivan. what is in the best interest money for Gulf Shores Mayor Karin Wilson was run to determine the na- “I appreciate the out- of the City and its citizens. Parade victims briefly hospitalized for ture of my illness. The pouring of support and A difficult decision had page 4 what she told residents only thing we know right understanding by many to be made, and no one was an issue with an in- now is that I am fighting following Friday’s events,” likes to make these types fection. an infection. I hope to Wilson wrote. “For those of decisions, but it had to Fairhope Mayor Karin Wil- Wilson took to her of- son promises to continue be out soon, but am still who are upset, I want you be done to protect the in- ficial Facebook page to de- working and finding ways to working while here and to know that I care about tegrity and interest of the liver the message, writing: move forward despite being will continue talking with how you feel. The employ- City at large.” “I had planned my first hospitalized last week. council to find ways we ees were let go for reasons Wilson also took aim at meeting with a couple of can move forward.” which I cannot disclose at a temporary 60-day hiring city council members yes- to two council members Wilson also took time this time, but be assured freeze approved terday morning (I am only at a time); however, the in the post to discuss the that those actions were allowed by law to meet up meeting had to be post- recent firing of two city in the best interest of the SEE MAYOR, PAGE 2 City employees reflect on work, life in Fairhope Two arrested By D. FRAN MORLE for possession Book signing Submitted by City of Fairhope Point Clear’s Very few 20-some- of drugs and Mike McCall will thing individuals think sign copies of book about the long term stolen firearm in Fairhope when starting a new job. SUBMITTED page 4 Certainly, when City of Fairhope employees On Febru- Robert Rohm, Jimmy ary 27, 2017, Cluster, and Chief of while on pa- Police Joseph Petties trol, Silver- began their jobs with the hill Police City that they would still BENNETT Department be working here more observed a than 30 years later. The suspicious three sat down to talk vehicle on about how their jobs and Bohemian how the City itself has Hall Rd changed since they first occupied went on the payroll back by a white in the 1980s. male and PONDER Neighborhood Jimmy Cluster’s first female. The day with the City was vehicle was driving ex- celebration January 5, 1987. He was tremely slow and pulled Dunmore subdivision hired into the Electric into a driveway. Chief holds fi rst Kids Krewe department and has Kevin Brock initiated a de Dunmore Mardi stayed there the whole stop on the vehicle. Upon Gras Parade. time. approach, he immedi- Robert Rohm was page 5 ately noticed a shotgun hired on February 9, with a pistol grip stuck 1983 to work in Recre- between the console and ation. He transferred to the passenger seat. Chief the Gas Department on Brock and Reserve Officer DEATHS PAGE 21 June 18, 1984. Christopher Carlson in- Chief Joseph Petties structed both individuals Bobby Leon Baker began his employment to exit the vehicle. The James Ralph Bradford with the City on Octo- male had a large hunting ber 28, 1982, as a part Helen Trione Callaway knife sheathed on his side. of Public Works. After The driver said he was Geraldine Kendrick nine years in Public Chris Roy Malone “looking for a friend for Works and five years as gas money.” Upon doing a Dorothy Carol Robison a member of the Police safety pat-down, the male Loretta Naomi Mosley Reserve, he joined the also had 7 shotgun shells Shoemaker Fairhope Police Depart- in his pocket. Chief Brock Rocco Charles Valluzzo Jr. ment as an officer on did an inquiry on the shot- November 10, 1991. gun that revealed it as sto- tion when I decided to construction, but the Harold Mason. I moved len from Mobile, AL. The apply for a job with the City job included ben- around a lot in Public Chief Joseph Petties white male was then hand- City in Public Works. efits like insurance, and Works, we all did what- “I’ve worked about all cuffed and placed in the At that time, the hourly holidays off, so I figured ever needed to be done my life. My dad did con- patrol car. Upon further pay was $4.25; that was that made up the differ- in those days, and I liked struction, so I worked investigation, Brock found with him on jobs, and I a dollar or so less than ence,” Petties said. “My the work. But I also liked what I was making in first supervisor was was working construc- SEE EMPLOYEES, PAGE 2 SEE ARRESTS, PAGE 2 INDEX Gulf BALDWIN LIVING, 7-8 OUT & ABOUT, 24 Coast CLASSIFIED, 10-11 PUZZLES, 9 Media HEALTH, 23, 25 SPORTS, 14-16 VOLUME 123 • ISSUE 32 LEGALS, 26-35 TV LISTINGS, 17-20 1 SECTION • 40 PAGES OPINION, 12-13 2• The Courier • March 8, 2017 • Gulf Coast Media Aaron Norris hired me meters that are more ac- “In the early 1980s, we ber that. That was a lot of zines as being a great fam- EMPLOYEES and I came in at the entry curate in registering the had two-man shifts with work.” ily friendly place to live. CONTINUED FROM 1 level and I learned what I amount of gas that goes four shifts a day, so that’s That’s just the way it When I travel and people needed to know. I’m still through the meter. It’s eight officers plus the worked back then, Cluster ask where I’m from, I give the idea of police work. I learning today! There’s a constantly improving. chief, assistant chief, and added. “It didn’t matter so them the city website ad- had friends who were offi- lot of new technology and four dispatchers. Now, the much what department dress and tell them to look cers, men I’d known since because of that, the job Changes, Changes Police Department has you were in; you did all for themselves. I’m proud high school. I joined the has changed a lot over the Technology has driven 64 employees, including sorts of things depend- of Fairhope, and I think Police Reserve, and then years.” many changes in how the jailers, dispatch, other ing on what needed to be the people who work for I took a class at the Acad- Once he got the job, way the electric depart- support personnel, and done any particular day. the City love our commu- emy. I think it was once a Cluster said he grew to ment does its job, Cluster officers. (The opening of Whoever was available got nity. That makes a differ- month for 18 months, so enjoy the work, especially said. “In 1987, we had the city’s new, larger jail picked to do the job that ence.” it was a commitment, and the fact that it was in about 12 employees, now in 2000 drove much of that was needed.” The three men agree after I graduated from the Fairhope. “I was really there’s 18, so that’s not increase in employees, Rohm remembered that the City gave them Academy, I put in my ap- happy to be working at a huge increase, but the Petties noted.) The FPD similar jobs where every- great career opportunities plication. I didn’t get hired home. I met my wife, we work we do has increased currently operates with one cooperated, includ- and has been a good place the first time, but I tried got married, and we raised and changed. Back then, five-man shifts plus two ing the boat ramp at Pier to work. “Thirty years again later, and I got on our family here.” we had about 4,800 me- officers who just work Street and work building from now, I hope the City the force. Jerry Anderson ters, now we have 6,700. traffic. greens at Quail Creek Golf still looks in-house for was Chief then.” Robert Rohm In those days, if there Course. management,” Rohm said. Chief Petties said he “I didn’t think I’d stay was an outage, we had Working Together “People who live here and never thought about be- with the City when I was to wait for the calls and All the men fondly Big Growth, work here care about the coming a supervisor. “I first hired to work in Rec- then drive out to the af- recalled the days when Big Changes city. I agree with what the thought that if I could reation. It just seemed fected neighborhood to their jobs found them More than just work- Chief said, that’s impor- reach the rank of sergeant like a good job at the find it and figure out the working on whatever ing for the City for 30-plus tant.” before I retired, that would time,” Rohm admitted.