Health: How to wear and clean your cloth face mask, PAGE 8 Chamber hosts Honoring Our Heroes drive through The Courier PAGE 7 Fairhope MAY 20, 2020 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ reopens Fairhope approves water conservation directive By GUY BUSBY reserves are dropping faster library, [email protected] than city wells can fill tanks. “I would like to make an FAIRHOPE — With water announcement to city resi- City Hall demand exceeding supply in dents,” Council President Jack Fairhope, the City Council Burrell said. “If you are on voted in a special meeting the Fairhope water system to By GUY BUSBY Thursday night to urge resi- please conserve water begin- [email protected] dents to stop irrigating lawns ning immediately. I would ask and take other efforts to con- you to please stop irrigating FAIRHOPE — After being serve water. unless you have a new lawn or closed since March, the By Monday, water supplies new landscaping and I would Fairhope Public Library were near normal, according ask you to help us get through to Mayor Karin Wilson. Stor- this time. Hopefully, we’ll get SEE REOPENS, PAGE 2 age capacity had reached 95 a little rain soon and we’ll get percent by Sunday. Well 8 back on-line as soon GUY BUSBY / STAFF PHOTO The council voted Thursday as the first of next week and Storage levels in the Fairhope water tanks hit record lows last week to approve water conservation DEATHS PAGE 9 leading the Fairhope City Council to urge residents to conserve water, measures after being told that SEE WATER, PAGE 24 including to not irrigate lawns. James Akins Buck Atkins Leigh Anne Boyington David S. Bunch Glenn G. Deppe Fairhope looks at opening David Ryan Gastineau Shannon O’Donnell Holcombe sidewalks for restaurants Herman Wesley King Jamie G. Rudicell By GUY BUSBY ers said the move could help Barbara Sue Steffen [email protected] local businesses that are Terrence W. Underhill trying to recover after being FAIRHOPE — With space closed since March. in reopened Fairhope restau- “I had heard from a few citi- INDEX rants limited by social distanc- zens who had an idea of pos- ing requirements, city officials sibly offering some additional BALDWIN LIVING, 3 are looking at providing more sidewalk space or even block- CLASSIFIED, 14 outdoor areas for diners on ing off some parking spaces sidewalks and streets. to allow restaurants to maybe HEALTH, 8 The Fairhope City Council increase their capacity outside LEGALS, 16 GUY BUSBY / STAFF PHOTO discussed a plan on May 11 to because I think we’ve only got open up more outdoor dining about four or five weeks that OPINION, 21 Diners eat at sidewalk tables in downtown Fairhope. A proposal being considered by the City Council would allow more sidewalk and street spaces on downtown streets in you’ll be able to eat outside,” PUZZLES, 22 parking areas to be used for outdoor dining to help restaurants accom- an effort to help restaurants Conyers said. “It’ll be too hot. deal with limited seating. SPORTS, 10 modate social distancing restrictions enacted to limit the spread of COVID-19. Councilman Jimmy Cony- SEE SIDEWALKS, PAGE 23 COVID-19 Signs & Symptoms Protect Yourself & Others Case Count: ALABAMA: 1 2 3 12,042 cases, 488 deaths Fever • Cough • Shortness of Breath Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Senior citizens and those BALDWIN COUNTY: with underlying medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, 260 cases, 8 deaths lung disease, cancer or diabetes are at increased risk for severe symptoms, which can lead to viral pneumonia and even death. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. 4 5 as of May 18 Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) 1. Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and always before eating; after using the bathroom; and after If you think you need to be tested, for blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. testing locations and hours call 1-888- 2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Getting 264-2256. For general questions call 3. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue in the trash. 1-800-270-7268 or email covid19info@ 4. Stay at home when sick until your symptoms are gone. adph.state.al.us. Calls are answered 5. Wear a mask outside your home Tested from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) Gulf WHAT Coast YOU IN Media STORE VOLUME 126 • ISSUE 43 IS NOW 1 SECTION • 24 PAGES ONLINE! • Freshest Quality All Departments • Hand Selected by Our Personal Shoppers • Delivery or FREE Same Day Curbside Pickup • Beer & Wine NOW Online! Order & Pay In Store! GREERS.COM/SHOP 2 • The Courier • May 20, 2020 • Gulf Coast Media Spanish Fort employees return to work By GUY BUSBY Home Order. in accordance with ap- remained at full-duty I also want to thank the Ember Lane. The Spirit [email protected] City employees re- plicable guidelines, city during this time, includ- Spanish Fort Fire Res- Park tennis courts are turned to work on May officials said. ing department heads, cue Department and all also open for singles SPANISH FORT — 11 in preparation for Mayor Mike McMillan Police Department and the first reponders and and doubles play. Sport While City Hall and reopening Spanish Fort praised city workers for the Public Works and health care profession- league play has not re- other facilities are still facilities. City Hall, their efforts during the Parks Department,” als for their service to sumed. closed, Spanish Fort Spanish Fort Public Li- COVID-19 outbreak. McMillan said in a our community.” Residents are asked to employees have re- brary, and Spanish Fort “I want to specially statement. “A lot of City parks are also continue social distanc- turned to work under Senior Center remain thank all the city work was accomplished open with the excep- ing and washing hands, Alabama’s Safer at closed and will reopen employees who have during this down time. tion of Kids Park in McMillan said. Deadline extended for Chelsea Garvin scholarship application Submitted Fire Department Rescue munity art event and other purposes. Deadline mit an application and the Alabama Coastal Diver, an Original Oyster submit artwork that re- for submission of art a photo of their artwork Foundation and one of SPANISH FORT — The House employee and a flects the Original Oyster and application has been online at www.orig- the only restaurants to Original Oyster House talented artist. House brand in some extended to May 22. inaloysterhouse.com/ Oyster Garden or grow has extended the applica- Garvin died in the line way and can be displayed Highest consideration scholarship. stocker oysters for reef tion period for two $1,000 of duty with the Marlow- in the restaurant. will be for the most ar- The Original Oyster restoration. In January Chelsea Garvin Spirit Fish River Volunteer Artwork media can tistic and creative repre- House (OOH) has two of 2020, an estimated 10 Award Scholarships Department during a include oil, acrylic, wa- sentation of the Original locations, Gulf Shores at million oyster shells to to be awarded to high boating accident. tercolor, gouache, pastel, Oyster House. Appli- 701 Gulf Shores Parkway date have been recovered school seniors in Bald- To qualify for the 15th charcoal, pen and ink, cants should include on the Original Oyster from participating Gulf win County. Annual Chelsea Garvin colored pencil, mixed on the back of artwork: House Boardwalk and Coast restaurants. The scholarship was Spirit Award Scholar- media, ceramics or Name of Artist, Title of Spanish Fort at 3733 Bat- Anyone wanting more created in 2006 the Chel- ships, applicants must sculptural media types. Art, Medium, Teacher’s tleship Parkway, on the information about the sea Garvin Spirit Award be a high school senior The winning artwork Name and Name of Mobile Bay Causeway. In Original Oyster House’s Scholarship was created of Baldwin County in must be ready for dis- School. 2016, the Original Oyster 15th Annual Chelsea in memory of Chelsea the 2019-2020 school year play, completely dry and Anyone wishing to House became the first Garvin Spirit Award Garvin who was a 2004 with a minimum 2.5 will become the property apply for the Chelsea restaurant in the state Scholarships, can visit graduate of Fairhope GPA, have participated of the Original Oyster Garvin Spirit Award of Alabama to recycle www.originaloyster- High School, a Fish River in recent school or com- House for marketing or Scholarship should sub- oyster shells through house.com/scholarship. REOPENS reopen June 1. Volun- Council voted March operations continued mail and telephone. ter and Pool, hours will teers will return to the 16 to close City Hall and employees remained The council closed be limited to 8 a.m. to 6 CONTINUED FROM 1 facilities on June 20, ac- and other municipal at work with business the Municipal Pier and p.m. Monday through cording to city officials. facilities in an effort to being conducted through public beaches on March Friday. Only members and some other facilities The Fairhope Civic limit the spread of the drive through windows, 22. The pier reopened will be allowed to use reopened Monday morn- Center will also begin al- COVID-19 outbreak. City drop boxes as well as by May 2. the facilities and no day ing with abbreviated lowing space to be rented The library will re- passes will be issued. hours and occupancy at the site on June 1. OBSERVING SAFETY REGULATIONS open with limited hours At the Recreation limits.