Baldwin County, Alabama News and Discussion
September 25th, 2009 — Daphne
The couple who owns the ‘Pina’s Mobile Home Park” says they don’t keep kids from living there, but they do restrict the numbers, and the federal government says that’s discrimination.
According to the settlement, the couple will have to pay a little more than one hundred thousand dollars to those considered victims of discrimination, and 30-thousand to the government as a civil penalty.
September 15th, 2009 — Daphne
The city of Daphne recently saved around $61,000 by modifying its traditional project bidding process to an electronic bidding platform, using BidBridge, which allows for reverse auctions and claims true-market values
The city budgeted $235,000 for the purchase of new trash bins, according to the city’s senior accountant, Suzanne Henson; the awarded bid came in at $174,000.
The reverse auction process allows suppliers to place multiple competitive bids, a change from the traditional “one price per vendor” scenario.
September 13th, 2009 — Daphne
Fire hydrant purging and testing has been done by the city’s utility service every spring since 1953, when the department was first established. And the bill has always been paid for by the city itself as part of the its larger task of fire protection, said Daphne Utilities Superintendent Rob McElroy.
Then last year, the mayor and City Council took that item out of the 2008-09 budget, expecting Daphne Utilities to absorb the cost.
But, McElroy said, no one thought to inform him
September 12th, 2009 — Daphne
The city council at its meeting Tuesday proposed eliminating the city’s recycling program if participation in Team Green Recycling’s county-wide program is approved.
Debate was sparked by a presentation from Team Green manager Larry Hoover, who said the transition could save Baldwin County $600,000 per year.
City finance director Kim Briley said the city of Daphne spends $230,000 annually to operate its recycling service.
Mayor Fred Small said the money saved from switching to Team Green’s program could be used to reinstitute twice-weekly garbage pickup.
September 11th, 2009 — Crime, Daphne
Police are requesting help from the public in identifying 2 subjects wanted in connection with the the use of a stolen credit card last month.
The credit card was stolen from a Daphne business, then later it was used Aug. 25 at a Mobile retail store to purchase a PlayStation 3 video gaming system, according to a news release. Daphne police are investigating the credit card theft.
September 10th, 2009 — Daphne
A seven-man Daphne Utilities crew dug up sewer lines at three Park City homes Wednesday. Those homeowners were the few who — despite repeated attempts by the utilities service — had not arranged in the past two months to pay for years-overdue sewer fees.
“We didn’t want to do this, but we have to,” Danny Lyndall, operations manager for the utility provider, said as he watched a worker saw the blue-green sewer line in half.
“I’m a senior citizen and I’m exempted from paying a whole lot of stuff. I shouldn’t have to pay no sewer bill, because of my age.”
Daphne Utilities cuts sewer lines in Park City
So surviving to old age entitles you to free sewer service, apparently. Maybe he’s waiting on President Obama to start a cash for crappers program.
September 10th, 2009 — Daphne
Parts of Highway 98 in Daphne look like a ghost town! Hungry drivers getting off the first exit in Baldwin County are finding boarded up restaurants, closed signs, weed-choked parking lots and missing drive-thru menus. Many of their favorite fast-food restaurants and local eateries have gone out of business, creating growling stomachs and a lot of concern.
Daphne restaurants that have recently closed:
-Krystal
-Checkers
-Roly Poly
-Russo’s
-Frosty Dog
September 4th, 2009 — Daphne
Fox News is reporting that a former University of South Alabama student has been indicted in Mobile, Ala., and faces charges he is a terrorist linked to the al-Qaeda terrorist network.
Shafik Hammani of Daphne told the Press-Register today that he is the father of the man who goes by the name Abu Mansour al-Amriki — identified by Fox News as a terror suspect to face indictment in Mobile, Ala. — but he would comment no further on the matter.
The father of the man who grew up as Omar Hammami is still a resident of Daphne and works as a transportation engineer with the Alabama Department of Transportation in Mobile.
Fox News reports former South Alabama student to be charged as al-Qaeda-linked terrorist
Daphne, Ala., father of suspected al-Qaeda-linked terrorist will only confirm relationship
September 1st, 2009 — Daphne
The Daphne Police Department has been searching for two white male suspects who allegedly stole a 2006 Nissan Titan on Aug. 25 from the Hilton Garden Inn.
Authorities from the Loxley Police Department located the truck a few hours later, finding it having been set on fire, totaled and abandoned on Mosley Road near the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office training center.
Security footage captured images of two white males driving a gray minivan, of unknown make and model, while attempting to steal other vehicles on the same night in the same parking lot.
September 1st, 2009 — Daphne
Construction has begun on a new 16-station computer lab at the Daphne Public Library that will allow the facility to offer more classes and services to patrons
The bulk of the project’s cost — around $1 million — was drawn from a 2006 bond issue used for capital construction, including City Hall and U.S. Highway 90 sewer improvements.
The new 3,191-square-foot computer lab is phase one of three proposed additions. The two additional phases, library director Tonja Young said, will require raising funds.
September 1st, 2009 — Daphne
More than a dozen Daphne Utilities customers have one week to pay up or their sewer service will be shut off. The utility company’s general manager says 18 customers in the Park City and Belforest areas owe more than 23 thousand dollars in past due payments.
On top of the money already owed, Daphne Utilities will charge the 2-grand it cost them to cap the line, plus a 75 dollar deposit.
Obama’s next stimulus: Cash for crappers?
September 1st, 2009 — Crime, Daphne
Daphne police are still on the lookout for two men who they believe are responsible for breaking into several cars at a hotel parking lot. One thing officials do know, however, is that the break ins could have been prevented.
Last Tuesday, officers say two men driving a gray minivan went to the parking lot at Hilton Garden Inn in Daphne. They went to a number cars and trucks to see which ones were unlocked, and then they hit the jackpot.
They eventually stole a Nissan Titan, took what they could from inside, and burned it. Officers found the remains of the truck in Loxley.
August 27th, 2009 — Daphne
A beauty school may open in Daphne as the Planning Commission at its site review Aug. 19 heard an administrative presentation for Genesis Career College to move into the building formerly occupied by Advance Auto Parts in Daphne Square, at the Wilson Avenue-U.S. Highway 98 intersection. Commissioners do not vote during site review.
The .4-acre property is southeast of the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and Wilson Avenue.
Finally, they’re going to teach the ugly people how to be beautiful. I’d support a 1-cent sales tax increase for that school. Will they be offering scholarships to people from Mobile?
August 23rd, 2009 — Daphne
Georgia Roussos said that, wherever it was located, many diners considered Roussos Restaurant part of their own family traditions.
“They would have birthdays and other occasions with us,” she said. “We’d take the children into the kitchen to get their own ice cream.”
Today, after 55 years, the tradition will come to an end
August 23rd, 2009 — Daphne
A form of fun for some is causing erosion of stream banks and sedimentation in many Eastern Shore tributaries to Mobile Bay—and law enforcement officers said they will take steps to stop trespassing and property damage.
Ashley Campbell, the city’s site containment inspector, said that people on four-wheelers have followed trails onto oftentimes private property and caused damage to soil and vegetation—leading to erosion and its subsequent issues.
