Covering all of Baldwin County, AL every Friday. Sun Chiefs open with sweeps PAGE 17 Green Day comes to The Wharf The Baldwin Times PAGE 12 SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ School system Bradley Byrne announces holds first budget meeting for 2018 he will not run for governor fiscal year By CLIFF MCCOLLUM By CLIFF MCCOLLUM “After speaking with Gov. there now,” Byrne said. Byrne did leave the door [email protected] [email protected] Ivey, I think it’s important for With that said, Byrne felt it open somewhat saying if Ivey the state that we have continu- was not the right time for him chose not to run, his decision Baldwin County Schools At a North Baldwin Cham- ity and stability.” to run for governor. might change. CFO John Wilson gave his ber of Commerce event in Byrne said he had been ap- “I’d love to be the governor “If for some reason, Gov. first budget presentation for Bay Minette this morning, proached by multiple people of Alabama, but I don’t think Ivey changes her mind, I the coming 2018 fiscal year Congressman Bradley Byrne across the state to possibly run that’s the best decision for me might change my mind,” to the school board Tuesday announced he would not be for governor and told them he or for the state right now,” Byrne said. “I don’t believe night, which showed an in- running for governor of Ala- would be making the decision Byrne said. Gov. Ivey is going to change crease in federal and local bama next year. on whether or not to run be- Byrne said there were a her mind, though.” Byrne funds but a $1.7 million de- “I have made the decision I fore the end of the summer. number of statewide elections said he would be seeking a cline in state funds. will not run for governor next “With Labor Day coming up next year that would have a Wilson told the board the year,” Byrne said. next week, I would say we’re huge impact on the state. SEE BYRNE, PAGE 3 budget is focused on the sys- tem’s two main priorities for the coming fiscal year were classroom instruction and ad- dressing growth. “I feel like this budget ac- Coliseum stands ready to shelter storm victims complishes many of our top priorities as a system related By JOHN UNDERWOOD if needed to serve as a storm better facility than right here and as long as we have it here, to enhancing the instructional [email protected] shelter for victims of Hur- in Baldwin County, Alabama,” we should always stand ready levels in the classroom and ricane Harvey. “I know that said Baldwin County Coliseum to use it to help those who are facilitating the needs caused ROBERTSDALE — Accord- they have facilities in Austin and Fairgrounds Manager A.B. in need.” Hankins said early by growth throughout the ing to officials, the Baldwin and other areas that they can “Sonny” Hankins. “This is county, while still maintain- County Coliseum stands ready use, but in my mind there is no what this facility was built for SEE COLISEUM, PAGE 6 ing a balanced budget with a two month reserve balance,” Wilson said. Budgeted revenues showed a $1 million increase in fed- eral funds and a $4.4 million CSU focuses increase in local funds for the 2018 fiscal year, but that was paired with a $1.7 million on family decrease in state funds due to issues with the 10 mill match through and required by the state. “We had a big jump in our appraised value, and that through increase in property value ac- tually hurts us,” Wilson said. By CRYSTAL COLE “To think that when our value [email protected] goes up, our state funding goes down is crazy, but that’s Editor’s note: This is the sec- where we are right now.” ond of a multi-part series on Wilson said despite the higher education in Baldwin decrease in state funds, the County. system would still be able to address needs because of the Family owned and oper- increases in other funding ated is a common business sources and decreases in vari- descriptor in Baldwin County, ous budget spending areas. but few would guess it also applies to Columbia Southern SEE SCHOOL, PAGE 2 University (CSU). PHOTO COURTESY OF COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT Robert Mayes, Sr. founded CSU in 1993 after develop- employers to help keep their granted national accreditation marketing, said one of the big- ing and presenting training employees safe by giving them to CSU which has led to rapid gest things CSU is proudest of BALDWIN FAST FACTS programs in environmental safety training and safety expansion in its degree offer- is its affordability. compliance and occupational manuals and things like that,” ings. CSU offers six associate “Many of our students are The fiscal year 2018 budget safety for small businesses said Brittany Gibson, com- degree programs, 13 bachelor adult learners,” Harris said. for the Baldwin County which led to the establishment munications manager for CSU. programs with varying op- “So, whether they're returning School System is 1,564 pages of two certificate programs “Back then, safety wasn’t as tions of concentrations, seven to college or are a first-time long and, if printed out, in the field. The school was ingrained in organizational master’s degrees and one doc- student, we try to make earn- would be five inches tall and started in Baldwin County and culture as it is today, so he was toral offering with a large se- ing a degree possible for every- weigh over 12 pounds. has remained here the full 24 kind of ahead of the curve.” lection of certificate programs one. That's why affordability is years of its operation. In 2001, the Distance Edu- to boot. Source: Baldwin County “It started as a way for cation and Training Council Jacob Harris, director of SEE CSU, PAGE 26 Schools CFO John Wilson Deaths Page 25 Gulf Berta Joan Webb Coast Branscomb Media Patricia Ann Green Burns VOLUME 127 • ISSUE 16 Nan E. Grosmaire 1 SECTION • 32 PAGES Wanda Gulledge Lowery 2 • The Baldwin Times • September 1, 2017 • Gulf Coast Media Foley Woman’s Club members attend an Afternoon Tea The Baldwin Times Submitted BY BARBARA MCCAMISH 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 PHONE: (251) 943-2151 | FAX: (251) 943-3441 FOLEY — A few of the ladies from the Foley [email protected] Woman’s Club joined Parks Rogers Tony Whitehead others at Foley United Methodist Church’s Publisher Sports Editor annual “Afternoon (251) 947-7712 (251) 928-2321 Tea” fundraiser for the parks@gulfcoast tony@gulfcoast church’s mission group. media.com media.com Club members donned hats and gloves at a Cliff McCollum Classified Advertising table decorated with Managing Editor Whisper Edwards appointments to adver- (251) 947-7712 whisper@gulfcoast tise the Club’s annual [email protected] media.com Mad Hatters’ fundrais- ing event which will be Allison Marlow Legal Advertising on Thursday, March 8, Senior Features Editor April Wallace 2018, at the Foley Civic SUBMITTED allisonm@gulfcoast legals@gulfcoast Center. The annual fun- media.com media.com draiser benefits women From L to R: Marilyn Mosley, Kathleen Roberts, Sharon Penton, Kelly Barrett, Deborah Johnson, and children services President Chris Anglin. in Baldwin County. The To subscribe, make an address change or vacation delivery Foley Women’s Club September 11, 2017, at Contact Chris Anglin, for information on the stop, you may call our office at (251) 517-1690, go online at www. kickoff meeting will be the Gift Horse in Foley. President, at 251-943-3443 Foley Woman’s Club. gulfcoastnewstoday.com and click on the “e-edition” link in the black toolbar. Under “don’t have an id’ there is an option for how to become a subscriber. or email [email protected]. ©Gulf Coast Media 2016. No part of this newspaper may be SCHOOL compared to the state av- All school officials and overcrowded classrooms reproduced without the prior written consent of the group publisher erage of 4 percent. board members said they and no new additions. We or associate publisher. Opinions of editorial or general columnists CONTINUED FROM 1 The 2018 budget will were thankful for the ex- were facing a different or those reflected in submitted letters do not necessarily reflect the have 238 locally funded tension of the penny sales atmosphere than what editorial position of this newspaper. “All major budgeting teacher certified employ- tax done by the Baldwin we are now because of The Baldwin Times (USPS 040-560) is published weekly, areas had a year over year ees and 336 locally funded County Commission ear- that penny extension, and with its office located at 901 N. McKenzie St., in Foley, AL 36535. decrease in expenditures classified support employ- lier this year. we’re very thankful for Periodicals postage paid at Foley, AL 36535. Subscription rates: In- except for instructional ees. “This time last year, we it.” county annual, $35.50 plus local sales tax; six-month, $20.50 plus local sales tax; senior citizen annual, $33.00 plus local sales tax; and support services, The budget also con- were discussing what we Wilson also highlighted six-month, $18.50 plus local sales tax; and out-of-county annual, capital outlay and debt tains $7.7 million on were going to be bring- that average instructional $78.00, six-month, $39.00. expense,” Wilson said. large maintenance and ing y’all in the spring, support expenditures for POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Baldwin Times, 901 Wilson added general and repair projects at existing which would have been the county were higher N.