2 | LAGNIAPPE | February 5, 2015 - February 11, 2015 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• LAGNIAPPE WEEKLY February 5, 2015 – February 11, 2015 | www.lagniappemobile.com Ashley Trice BAY BRIEFS Co-publisher/Editor The city of Mobile’s Solid Waste Authority lost [email protected] an $8.5 million judgment in a lawsuit brought Rob Holbert by a contractor. Co-publisher/Managing Editor 5 [email protected] Steve Hall COMMENTARY Marketing/Sales Director With a history of ethics issues of his own, is [email protected] Chief Justice Roy Moore out of line on the Gabriel Tynes gay marriage push-back? Assistant Managing Editor 14 [email protected] Dale Liesch BUSINESS Reporter Greer’s is hosting a Grand Opening of [email protected] its new location in Bayou la Batre. Jason Johnson Reporter 18 [email protected] Alyson Stokes CUISINE Web & Social Media Manager/Reporter [email protected] In his final experiment in Kevin Lee CONTENTS a weeks-long challenge Associate Editor/Arts Editor to go gluten-free, Andy [email protected] tries and fails to bake a Andy MacDonald Cuisine Editor decent loaf of bread [email protected] without using the most Stephen Centanni common of ingredients. Music Editor [email protected] J. Mark Bryant Sports Writer [email protected] 20 Daniel Anderson Chief Photographer COVER [email protected] WIth the local success of Laura Rasmussen comic book stores and Art Director an annual convention, www.laurarasmussen.com embracing the science Brooke Mathis Advertising Sales Executive fiction genre can be [email protected] a boon for the city Beth Williams economically. Advertising Sales Executive [email protected] Misty Groh Advertising Sales Executive 26 [email protected] Kelly Woods ARTS Advertising Sales Executive Mobile is missing the boat — or would [email protected] that be the starship — by not cultivat- Melissa Schwarz Editorial Assistant 28 ing the nerd arts to bring in cash flow [email protected] at warp speed. Contributors: Asia Frey • Brian Holbert MUSIC W.T. Bankhead • Ron Sivak The eight members of Jeff Poor • Jennifer McDonald Chelsea Wallace ELEL transcend differing On the Cover: Katie Carwie - backgrounds to create Minas Cosplay a unique band who’ll LAGNIAPPE (USPS 20) is published weekly, 52 issues a year, Volume 13, Issue 6, every help celebrate O’Daly’s Thursday by Something, Extra Publishing, Inc. Entered at the Mobile Post Office, 250 St. fifth anniversary Joseph St, Mobile, AL, 36601. celebration with Moon Periodicals postage paid at Mobile Post Office, 250 St Joseph St., Mobile, AL 36601 Taxi. and other locations. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. Box 3003 Mobile, AL 36652. Editorial, advertising and production offices are located at 1102A Dauphin St. 32 Mobile, AL 36604. Mailing address is P.O. Box 3003 Mobile, AL 36652. Phone: 251.450.4466 Fax 251.450.4498. Email: ashley- FILM [email protected] or [email protected] Another charming chapter in Woody LAGNIAPPE is printed at Signature Offset, 2610 Allen’s European period. Lakeview Road, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. All letters sent to Lagniappe are considered to be intended for publication. 40 Member: Association of Alternative Newsweek- lies and Alternative Weeklies Network MEDIA All rights reserved. Something Extra Publishing, Inc. Nothing may be reprinted, photocopied or Some say al.com and the Press- in any way reproduced without the expressed permission of the publishers. Individuals may take one copy of the paper free Register continue to make of charge from area businesses, racks or boxes. After that, papers are $3 per questionable managerial decisions. issue. Removal of more than one copy 42 from these points constitutes theft. Violators are subject to prosecution. SPORTS Help support Lagniappe Weekly by becoming a “Friend with Benefits.” University of Mobile basketball Scan this code for more info: standout Deonica McCormick is 45 turning her talent into a profession. STYLE The good times keep rolling as Mardi 50 Gras provides plenty of Boozie gossip. LAGNIAPPE | February 5, 2015 - February 11, 2015 | 3 GOING POSTAL An open letter to the University of South Alabama Foundation: Sad to see it go Maxie Roberts, director: Some things are more important than money. This is one. If you I wanted to let you know enjoyed the article on chef will allow all of us to buy and build the park, the Foundation will John Weichman (cover story, Jan. 15), and that I was sorry As you know our group mobilebaypark.com wants the foundation recoup all its investment and then some. I sent you the link to an to hear of the closing of his restaurant. to allow the city, county or state to buy or lease your property, lo- article where the state of Texas just recently purchased a large piece I well remember many a fine prime rib dinners I had at cated along Mobile Bay, from the Foundation and turn it into a public of privately owned waterfront property with BP oil spill fine money his All Seasons restaurant when it was open … incredible waterfront park, paying the Foundation with BP oil spill funds. to turn into a public park. So the precedent has been set. taste and consistent, you could always count on it. And We believe this could be the most important contribution USAF This park would mean more to the citizens than all the other the one side dish of his, spinach madeline? I still use it as could do for the University and the entire region. This park would environmental projects combined! This is our only chance. There a comparison today no matter where I order it, but they benefit everyone — unlike other current local projects such as a is no other location like this. We don’t know if any promises have don’t compare by a long shot. skateboard park or a soccer complex. been made or contracts signed, but for the good of everyone, please The man is great when it comes to food. He is the one This park would not have a narrow focus entertaining only a very rescind them. that taught me that food costs in pricing a meal generally small segment of the population. Most of us, including USA students Many giants have had to re-assess good intentions. I could go at any place runs 30-33 percent of the meal price, but his and alumni, don’t have waterfront property or a boat. Neither do on and on how important this will be to Mobile and the University, portions at All Seasons? He always gave them at a 40 most of us have time to drive to the beach. This park would be wildly but you can read many reasons why we should build park on our percent level. popular — entertaining tens of thousands of Mobilians and tourists website: mobilebaypark.com and see photos of what it would look I hate to see him go, but thank him for all the great alike. Many of you swam in Mobile Bay when you were younger and like — only bigger and better. groceries in the past. loved it. But you rarely ever hear of anyone swimming in the bay now and that is just wrong! Clarence Carrio Kerry Muzzey Mobile Mobile State democratic party member charged with child enticement BY JASON JOHNSON/REPORTER | [email protected] Pat Oliver Peyton made headlines last week after he was arrested on Arrest made for Jan. 15 double homi- the campus of the University of South Alabama and charged with dis- cide in Prichard tributing drugs to a minor, possession of marijuana and enticing a child Authorities arrested 29-year-old Kiyonta Moffett to enter a vehicle. However, it has not been widely reported that Peyton, in connection to a double murder reported in Prich- 59 of Theodore, is listed as a 2014 member of the Alabama Democratic ard on Jan. 15. Moffett, originally from Buffalo, Party’s Executive Committee and remains a qualified candidate for New York, is suspected of murdering Charnesha 2015. Jaquail Penn, 22, and 33 year old Roderick Reed, According to aldemocrats.org, the list of executive committee mem- both of whom are from the Mount Vernon area. bers has yet to become official through the Secretary of State’s office, According to police, the pair was shot multiple and the deadline to submit candidates is Feb. 7. times in the Whistler area near the intersection of According to USA’s police department, Peyton was arrested in the Gould Avenue and Warren Street. A neighbor who early morning of Jan. 28 in the Hillsdale area of Mobile. According to reportedly heard gunshots called 911, but both Reed reports, police questioned Peyton after discovering his van unattended and Penn were pronounced dead upon the arrival of in the area. Upon investigation, authorities found a young girl and evi- authorities. Photo/MCSO Photo/MCSO dence of drug use in his vehicle. According to records from the Mobile County Pat Oliver Peyton Other media reported that two other underage girls came forward Kiyonta Moffett Sheriff’s Office, Moffett has no other serious arrests after Peyton’s arrest was made public — saying that they had been con- in his criminal history. tacted by Peyton on Facebook and asked to do a modeling photo shoot. 4 | LAGNIAPPE | February 5, 2015 - February 11, 2015 BAY BRIEFS BB City loses millions for breach of landfill contract BY DALE LIESCH/REPORTER | [email protected] fter four full days of testimony and it up. Morris said he never got the documents almost seven hours of deliberation, and thus ignored a later request for the same a seven-member U.S. District Court increase. It was also discovered through tes- jury awarded more than $8 million timony the SWA went more than three years, Ato Waste Management in its lawsuit against from 2008 to 2011, without an official public the city of Mobile’s Solid Waste Authority.