COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 17 Coastal Cleanup PAGE 6 High school football The Islander PAGE 10 INSIDE SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Shrimp Fest application approved with site changes By CRYSTAL COLE changes. “Care was taken that since fic so that there will not be [email protected] Recreation and Cultural this festival takes place on a a right turn available to go Affairs Director Grant Brown beachfront that there is ample west along Beach Boulevard,” The 47th Annual National said these changes come on accessibility to the prome- Grant said. “The detour will Shrimp Festival public as- the heels of the enhance- nade for people who are at the be put in place to detour sembly permit was approved ments and redevelopment of event to enjoy the beaches.” around the west.” by the City of Gulf Shores the public beach area in Gulf Due to the ability to shift Gulf Place will be closed with the organizers making Shores. some of the parking and starting at 4 a.m. Sunday, Lifeguard of the Year several changes to the festival “The chamber and the exhibits off the beach road, Oct. 7 to allow for construc- this year. shrimp committee worked Hwy. 59 will flow all the way tion and setup for the festival. Orange Beach Surf Res- The festival is set for Oct. tirelessly with our city staff down to the beach road and Mayor Robert Craft raised cue recently presented its 11-14 at Gulf Place, with a along with a number of traffic going east will remain questions about pedestrian 2018 Lifeguard of the Year change to the layout of the local business to create this as usual. award. To find out who won festival as well as traffic flow site map plan,” Brown said. “We will feather the traf- SEE SHRIMP, PAGE 36 and to read more about the rescue group, see page 18. Uncorking a great weekend Animal Art Safari Coastal Arts Paws, claws, toes and tails have been put to canvas by Center gets the animals of the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo to create new sign a one-of-a-kind artwork collection that will be on By CRYSTAL COLE display and offered at auc- [email protected] tion on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 5 to 8 p.m. For more on SUBMITTED PHOTO After months of bid- the event and to see ticker ding, rejecting and Visitors and locals alike flocked to Orange Beach this weekend for the fifth annual The Wharf Uncorked information, jump to page rehashing expectations, Food & Drinks Festival at The Wharf. The three-day event combined tastings of delicious food and tantaliz- the Coastal Arts Center 2. ing wines, live entertainment, a pinch of southern flare and a dash of Gulf Coast hospitality. This event of Orange Beach has raised funds for Make-A-Wish Alabama — an organization devoted to granting wishes to Alabama children with life-threatening medical conditions. The festival — bringing together local and celebrity talent alike – an approved sign for its featured more than 100 labels of wine, chef demonstrations, book signings by James Briscione and Brooke new facility. Parkhurst, a luxury yacht walk and auctions benefitting Make-A-Wish Alabama. See more photos on page 36. At Orange Beach’s DEATHS PAGE 8 City Council meeting last week, the council Richard Bixler Cunningham had a generic bid to Harry Earl Freeman approve with several Erin Marie Sullivan Higgins Gary Branch retiring as CACC president different options. Some Shirley Krages of the options had LED lighting in two rows of Charra Langley BAY MINETTE — “I love one color, other options Jennifer Marie Younce students.” had full-color LED on a In an emotional address to much larger area of the Coastal Alabama Community sign. College employees, during Expectations of the INDEX which he announced his up- Friend of the Arts, Arts coming retirement, President Center Director Desiree BALDWIN LIVING, 5 Gary Branch said that simple Blackwell and the City CLASSIFIED, 26 statement summed up what were seemingly not add- HEALTH, 21 he hoped would be his legacy ing up as the discussion after 37 years of leadership. began. LEGALS, 28 Branch, soon to turn 76, The Friends of the OPINION, 3 noted he has spent half his Arts didn’t feel as life as president of the col- though a large, full- OUT & ABOUT, 6 lege, going back to when it color LED properly PUZZLES, 4 SUBMITTED PHOTO SEE BRANCH, PAGE 2 SEE SIGN, PAGE 19 SPORTS, 10 TV LISTINGS, 13 Gulf WHAT Coast YOU IN Media STORE VOLUME 42 • ISSUE 39 IS NOW 1 SECTION • 36 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 Islander • September 19, 2018 • Gulf Coast Media Go wild at Animal Art Safari A wild bunch of ‘artists-in-residence’ tion of the new Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, located off County Road 6 in SUBMITTED purchase original pieces Gulf Shores. of art created by some of The silent auction will Paws, claws, toes and the zoo’s wildest bunch be held from 5 to 6:45 pm, tails have been put to of “artists-in-residence.” followed by a live auction canvas by the animals of It’s a unique and delight- of a few select pieces at SUBMITTED PHOTO the Alabama Gulf Coast ful opportunity to get 7 p.m. Musical enter- www.alabamagulfcoast- www.dropbox.com/ sloths to name just a few. Zoo to create a one-of-a- up-close and personal tainment is provided zoo.com/art for more sh/7d7cu2spqtm06eo/ The Zoo features a pet- kind artwork collection with the zoo’s animal by Roman Street Band information and to pur- AACL-2DSh7EO10_ ting zoo along with sea- that will be on display ambassadors, feast on and Dr. Rock; gourmet chase tickets. E4K1iKFkVa?dl=0. sonal animal encounters, and offered at auction on gourmet treats and — for picnic-style food is by If you would like to a new mining sluice and Saturday, Oct. 27, from 5 all art and animal lovers COASTAL Catering; craft become an event spon- About the Alabama Gulf interactive animal shows to 8 p.m. — participate in a worthy beers will be served by sor, please contact Judy Coast Zoo during the spring and The non-profit zoo, lo- cause. Fairhope Brewery, plus Bishop or Cherie Ne- The Alabama Gulf summer months. The cated at 1204 Gulf Shores All proceeds from the a selection of specialty mens. Coast Zoo is home to Zoo is the highest ticked Parkway in Gulf Shores, auction will go toward wines by M&J Wines. Media photos, pro- more than 600 exotic attraction in Baldwin will open its gates after the Build Your Zoo chari- Tickets are $50/person vided courtesy of the animals including lions, County and welcomed hours for an Animal Art table fund which assists in advance or $75 at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, tigers, macaws, reptiles, more than 175,000 visi- Safari where guests can in the on-going construc- door. Please visit https:// are available at https:// kangaroos, lemurs, tors in 2017. BRANCH back tears. port that you need, the As he considered last few decades are his as his doctors, have When he was first encouragement that you his legacy in the days appointment as chair of implored him to sim- CONTINUED FROM 1 hired at then-Faulkner need,” Branch said. “But since deciding to retire, the committee that cre- plify his life, or else the State, Branch said he I don’t do it, you do it. Branch mused on sev- ated STARS (Statewide consequences could be was known as Faulkner had the unenviable re- “And I’m so proud that eral initiatives he helped Transfer Articulation dire, Branch said. So he State Junior College and sponsibility to balance I had the wisdom and bring about during his & Reporting System), penned a letter to Ala- consisted of only the the budget which, for a the ability to offer you a tenure. They included which allows two-year bama Community Col- Bay Minette campus. In school in the midst of a career.” the annual Student Lead- college students to lege System Chancellor contrast, Coastal Ala- financial crisis, involved When he was hired, ership Retreat, known as transfer to universities Jimmy Baker, announc- bama now includes 10 a “reduction in force” Faulkner State had the Gatlinburg Getaway; across the state; Coastal ing his retirement. campuses, and overall 16 which cost 13 employees barely 1,100 students, all the Black Ministerial Alabama’s inclusion as a Pausing throughout instructional sites. their jobs out of a total reporting to the Bay Mi- Dinner, with its accom- beneficiary of state sales due to overwhelming And his Sept. 29 retire- staff pool that included nette campus. And there panying scholarships; tax revenue in Baldwin emotions, Branch read ment will conclude a less than 50. After a were so many potential the Counselor’s Dinners, County; and the merger the letter to his employ- career of more than 50 short period, Branch em- enrollees who could not welcoming high school of three independently ees, chronicling how a years as a higher educa- ployed nearly all those register, because the counselors; and the accredited institutions once-broke junior col- tion. employees back. school was just too far creation of a women’s into Coastal Alabama lege now enjoyed unprec- With his wife seated “I’ve never had an- a drive once the respon- intercollegiate softball Community College.