Serving the greater NORTH, CENTRAL AND SOUTH BALDWIN communities Hot air ballon media flight PAGE 11 Lynn signs with CACC The Onlooker PAGE 13 Bay Minette MAY 9, 2018 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ police NTSB releases preliminary report from March bus crash By JOHN UNDERWOOD roadway, traveled into the me- apprehend [email protected] dian and down an embankment. The crash occurred approxi- shooting LOXLEY — The National mately three miles east of Wilcox Transportation Safety Board near the 57 mile marker and suspect is continuing its investigation landed in a ravine on Cowpen into the cause of a March bus Creek in the Wilcox community. crash on Interstate 10 in Baldwin All 46 passengers sustained BMPD RELEASE County, issuing a preliminary minor to serious injuries in the report on its website May 1. crash, according to the report. BAY MI- According to a release is- Killed in the crash was the bus NETTE — A sued by the Alabama Law En- driver, 65-year-old Harry Calig- suspect has forcement Agency, at 5:33 a.m. one of Houston. been appre- Tuesday, March 13, a tour bus NTSB investigators arrived hended by carrying students from Channel- were on scene the day following NTSB.GOV Bay Minette view, Texas, was traveling west Police after on Interstate 10 when it left the SEE CRASH, PAGE 2 An Alabama Department of Transportation photo shows the bus at final rest. he reportedly Stokes stole a vehicle and shot at several buildings in the early morning hours Friday in Satsuma before 14th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival soars traveling to Baldwin County Elberta via Interstate 65 where he reportedly shot at two more student occupied vehicles. According to a release is- sued Friday by Bay Minette doodles for Police Chief Al Tolbert, 54-year-old David Harold Google Stokes was arrested by BMPD Officers and on charges of receiving stolen Sixth grader property, first degree; receiv- named Alabama ing stolen property, second degree, receiving stolen winner in property, fourth degree; drawing contest resisting arrest, and posses- sion of a pistol by a violent felon. Stokes is currently By CLIFF MCCOLLUM being held in the Baldwin [email protected] County Sheriff’s Correction without bond. Stokes has an The Doodle4Google extensive criminal history contest received over dating back to 2000. 200,000 entries this year, According to the release, and one of the 53 winners BMPD received a call Fri- from across the country day from a motorist stating included Elberta sixth a white male individual grader Kendall Goodwin. pointed a firearm at his fam- JESSICA VAUGHN / STAFF PHOTOS Her win was announced ily while they were at the The 14th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival presented by Tanger Outlets came to Foley May 3-5, and thanks last Thursday morning Marathon Gas Station at the to favorable winds and weather the balloons took flight and soared above the city! The festival included vendors, at Elberta Elementary Highway 287 exit of I-65. The carnival rides, a dog show, live entertainment, and of course, some tethered hot air balloon rides and lots of bal- as a school full of kids suspect, later identified as loons flying through the air. On the morning of Saturday, May 5, a 5K/10K race took place, with competitors running yelled and screamed to Stokes, proceeded south on under balloons that were in a race of their own. The pilots were able to take their balloons up and attempt to reach congratulate Goodwin on Highway 287 to Bay Minette. their marks, goals that were set up on the ground below for the pilots to take aim at and throw down sacks, trying to her win. The motorist followed the come closest to the mark. Spectators down below watched both races take place, as well as receiving a view of more Goodwin was chosen as suspect and stayed on the than 45 balloons taking flight all around. Alabama’s representative For a full gallery of the event, visit our website at GulfCoastNewsToday.com. line with Bay Minette Police in the competition, which Dispatch. could see her drawing end up on Google’s homep- SEE SHOOTING, PAGE 33 age and win her a $30,000 scholarship. Goodwin’s drawing DEATHS PAGE 20 was baking inspired, a piece she called “Baking Helen Delene Anderson Bonanza,” which fea- Bari Lynn Arquilla Delorto tured a standing mixer as Felicia D. Lazzari Google’s signature G and Col. Harry Holt Moreland a host of baked goods and J. Edward Powell other supplies filling out Dartha Alice McCool Sanders the remaining letters. Deborah Susan Thatcher “The best doodle from Margaret M. Waters each state and territory SEE GOOGLE, PAGE 35 INDEX Gulf BALDWIN LIVING, 5 OUT & ABOUT, 24 Coast CLASSIFIED, 8 PUZZLES, 10 Media HEALTH, 22 SPORTS, 13 VOLUME 110 • ISSUE 17 LEGALS, 26 TV LISTINGS, 16 1 SECTION • 36 PAGES 2 • The Onlooker • May 9, 2018 • Gulf Coast Media Bay Minette Middle wins Battle of the Books Bay Minette Middle tion open to all fifth to School returned to the eighth grade students in winners’ circle for the the Baldwin County High annual Battle of the School feeder pattern. Books competition. This Participating schools read marks the fourth time for chapter books provided BMMS to win the trophy. by a grant from the North Prior wins occurred in Baldwin Coalition for Ex- 2013, 2015 and 2016. Delta cellence in Education. Elementary won in the This year’s titles in- inaugural battle in 2012 cluded: Indian in the and again in 2014 and Bay Cupboard, The Raft, Ms. Bay Minette Middle School has won the Battle of the Books SUBMITTED PHOTOS Minette Elementary won Bixby's Last Day, The 2018, marking its fourth time to win the annual reading com- Bay Minette Middle won first place, followed by Perdido, Bay last year. Moves Make the Man, and petition. Minette and Delta Elementary schools. Rounding out the 2018 A Year Down Yonder. winners included: Perdido Throughout the school during the school day and and answer competition She said all participating & Tyrell DMD. School, second place; Bay year, the students discuss also set up a Moodle site held each spring at Bald- students receive a Battle She also extended Minette Elementary, third and study the books in for students to do on-line win County High School of the Books t-shirt, an thanks to Kristy Weather- place; and Delta Elemen- relation to genre, plot, assignments outside of Library. Students must individual reading medal, ford and Betsy Long at the tary, fourth place. Their setting, theme, charac- school. To be a member of answer questions involv- enjoy a picnic lunch, and BCHS library who assist team sponsors include terization. The student the school's Battle of the ing literacy skills, vocabu- are treated to an after- with the project each year. Kathy Wright, BMMS; also learn about literary Books team, the students lary and character pop-up noon of skating on compe- Judges included Joanna Rhonda Campbell, Delta; elements such as similar, must take personal initia- questions. tition day. Bailey, Director of Bay Mi- Gail Richerson, BMES and metaphor, personification, tive to do the preparation Trachy Miller, who In addition to NBCEE, nette Public Library; Tina Trachy Miller, Perdido. idiom and point of view. work in addition to class- helps coordinate the Bat- additional Battle of the Covington, North Baldwin The North Baldwin The librarians at the room studies, organizers tle of the Books, praised Books sponsors include Coalition for Excellence in Battle of the Books is an schools provide the teams said. all the participants and Piggly Wiggly, Stockton Education; and David Cox, annual reading competi- with coaching sessions All that hard work cul- local businesses who sup- Five Arts Club, Strickland Baldwin County School minates in the question port this annual event. Orthodonics, and Tillery Board. JIM RILLO LANDSCAPING CO. “Complete Landscaping Service” Landscape Preparation and Installation ❖❖ Landscape Preparation and Installation ❖ Maintenance❖ Maintenance❖ Landscape❖ LandscapeDesign ❖ RetainingDesign Walls ❖ Retaining Walls ❖ Drainage Systems ❖ Drainage Systems ❖ Driveways ❖ Sodding ❖ Planting NTSB.GOV ❖❖SprinklerDrivewaysSystems❖ SoddingInstalled❖&RPlantingepaired Overhead photo of scene following the crash, showing path and final rest position of the bus (yellow arrows). ❖ ❖ SprinklerSystems Installed❖ & Repaired ❖ Residential &Commercial Licensed &Insured CRASH that as it approached the onto the shoulder and feet below the roadway. ❖ Residential & Commercial ❖ Licensed & Insured ❖ milepost, the bus suddenly struck a W-beam guard- Preliminary evidence ❖ Prompt &Dependable ❖ CONTINUED FROM 1 left the right westbound rail. The bus traveled back showed no signs of brak- Prompt & Dependable ❖❖ ❖❖ lane, crossed the left west- across both eastbound ing, according to the NTSB 928-3484 Office the crash gathering evi- bound lane, and continued lanes onto the median, report. Serving Baldwin County for Over 25 years dence and it could be more across the median into the where it continued west “A passenger reported ❖ 928-3484 Office ❖ than a year before the in- eastbound lanes. into a ravine between the that as (the bus) departed vestigation is complete. The bus continued twin bridge structures that the travel lanes, the driver “Complete Landscaping Service” The report stated that, across both eastbound support the eastbound appeared unresponsive,” Serving Baldwin County for Over 25 years according to preliminary lanes, almost colliding and westbound roadways. the report stated. “The GPS data, the bus was trav- with a passenger vehicle The bus came to rest in passenger attempted to re- AL4-LV44830 eling about 59 miles per and a truck-tractor semi- the ravine on its right side vive the driver in the time hour. A witness reported trailer, then continued against a bridge pier, 38 before the crash.” According to the re- The Onlooker port, an inspection found Treat Mom This Mother’s Day at no vehicle defects that 901 N.