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COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 3

Top Teacher Award Given

The Courier

INSIDE

JUNE 14, 2017 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com |

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Fairhope mayor responds on recent city controversies

S. Denise Borroni, LLC Opens Own CPA Practice in Fairhope CPA Firm, S. Denise Borroni, LLC is now open at 23710 Highway 98, Suite A-1 in Fairhope. The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce celebrated theopening Wednesday, May 24 with a ribbon cutting. For more, see page 31.

By CLIFF McCOLLUM clif@gulfcoastmedia.com

Levis Quiggle is surprised as she enters her 100th birthday party at The Brennity in Fairhope.

After 100 years, local resident is still dancing donated by the Warehouse Bakery. More than 40 of The Brennity’s residents gathered for the event. “I was thoroughly surprised,” Quiggle said. “I had no idea this would take place.” After entering the room, Quiggle was soon out on the dance floor grooving to the tune of “Proud Mary,” while residents clapped and cheered.

By BROOKE CONRAD

Fairhope welcomes new writer-inresidence The Fairhope Writers-in- Residence program is the best-known activity of FCWA and has received attention in national media. The program offers a free residency of one to three months to authors to work on books or other writing projects while they contribute to Fairhope by making public appearances at schools, the Library, book clubs, and elsewhere. For more, see page 30.

DEATHS

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Marjorie Mae Burch Mary M. Burkhardt Billy Roy Clarke Voncil Taylor Statom Faust Lillie Myrle Flowers Harriet Lipton Theron R. Mozingo Jr. George J. Noffsinger Velma Cozette Phillips Knolton Robinson

The residents at The Brennity know 100-year-old Levis Quiggle loves to dance. Here she rocks out at her 100th birthday party.

Not everyone lives to see their 100th birthday. And only a few celebrate it with the spunk of Levis Quiggle, a longtime citizen of Fairhope and one of The Brennity’s most popular residents. The staff at The Brennity threw a surprise party for Quiggle last week, complete with ceiling pom-poms, giant balloons, a slideshow, and a cake

SEE 100 YEARS, PAGE

Daphne approves hire of new city clerk By CLIFF McCOLLUM clif@gulfcoastmedia.com

In a 4-3 vote, the Daphne City Council approved Candace Antinarella to serve as the next city clerk. Current Daphne City Clerk Rebecca Hayes is retiring from her position on June 30. Council President Ron Scott said the position had been advertised and the city had received some 50 applicants for the position. Scott detailed the process the city had gone through to get to the final two candidates: Antinarella and Julie Ramm. “Human Resources went through and boiled those down to approximately ten applications,” Scott said. “The council then had

an opportunity to go to the HR department and look at redacted applications. Each member voted for their top three candidates, and the top five candidates were going to get an interview.” The city employed the services of local management consultant Dan Lumpkin to assist with the process, who interviewed those top candidates and recommended the final two for council approval. The council held interviews with Antinarella and Ramm at a special called meeting on June 1. As the council voted, Councilmembers Tommie Conaway, Pat Rudicell and Robin LeJeune voted for AnSEE CLERK, PAGE

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Spanish Fort appoints interim municipal judge By CLIFF McCOLLUM clif@gulfcoastmedia.com

Spanish Fort city leaders suspended the rules last week to pass an ordinance that allowed them to appoint an interim municipal judge for the city. During the council’s work session, Mayor Mike McMillan told the council sitting Spanish Fort Municipal Judge Jim Roberts required an absence from the position due to medical reasons. “We need to give him time to recover,” McMillan said. “He has suggested that Derek Rose be considered as an interim appointment, and I believe we should honor our judge’s request.” Rose will serve as interim judge until Roberts’ return or six months, whichever is earlier. McMillan said he hoped Roberts would return to the bench as soon as possible. “We’re all praying he will be back shortly,” McMillan said. The council also discussed moving forward with a stormwater ordiSEE JUDGE, PAGE

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Fairhope Mayor Karin Wilson took to her official Facebook page Sunday to sharing her side of several recent claims and issues regarding the city. Wilson wrote she wanted to provide an “accurate account” of what had occurred over the past few weeks. “As you know, I have pledged to bring you openness and transparency, implement ways to protect the way we grow, bring fiscal responsibility and make decisions that are in the best interest of the city,” Wilson wrote. With regard to the personnel claims filed with the city alleging an assault by Wilson on current Fairhope Human Resources Director Pandora Heathcoe and wrongful termination filed by former Director of Community Affairs Sherry Sullivan, Wilson said their claims were false. She also alluded to a possible third claim that could be filed, likely by former Fairhope Public Works Director Jennifer Fidler. “There are two claims against me and the City and we may receive one more,” Wilson said. “The cases include falsehoods, exaggerations and are legally without merit. I have instructed the attorneys representing the City to fight these baseless claims. I will not agree to pay one dime of tax-payer money (or money from the City’s insurance company) to anyone for this purpose. To do so would only encourage more of the same in the future.” Wilson also addressed a recent story filed by Gulf Coast Media involving key logger software that was placed on the computers of seven city employees. “Recent implications of misuse of monitoring ‘spying’ is groundless,” Wilson wrote. “The mayor has the right to protect the city and citizens’ tax dollars from the misuse of city property and disruption from the day to day efficiency of running the City. All cities and most businesses have this in place.” Gulf Coast Media contacted SEE MAYOR, PAGE

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Gulf Coast Media

BALDWIN LIVING, 5-7

OUT & ABOUT, 22

CLASSIFIED, 24

PUZZLES, 8

HEALTH, 20-23

SPORTS, 11-13

VOLUME 123 • ISSUE 46

LEGALS, 25-29

TV LISTINGS, 14-17

1 SECTION • 32 PAGES

OPINION, 9-10

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