DECEMBER

ROBERTSDALE — Several members of the Robertsdale Police Department were recognized by the United States Attorney General’s Office in Mobile for their handling of a child pornography case. Chief Investigator Rex Bishop, Corporal Anthony Dobson, Officer Thomas Kiel, and Officer Justin Williams were recognized.

ROBERTSDALE — On Dec. 19, the the old First Baptist Church on Racine Street in Robertsdale was a hive of activity. Workers sorted items in the thrift store, while others made sure the toys and food for 39 needy families were ready to go.

NOVEMBER

ROBERTSDALE. — Carl Bailey of Robertsdale was named Disabled American Veterans’ Alabama Veteran of the Year.

ELSANOR — Elsanor Elementary Principal Susan Runnels went nose to snout with “Brak,” a Vietnamese potbellied pig. Runnells was the “winner” of a school contest designed to raise money for classroom supplies.

ROBERTSDALE — Veterans and their families celebrated Veterans Day at the PZK hall in Robertsdale.

ROBERTSDALE— Homer Hollis, 59, apparently took his own life at the CVS store on Highway 59 around 5:30 p.m. in Robertsdale Saturday, Nov. 28 after firing shots at his wife, Robertsdale police said.

OCTOBER

LOXLEY— The Town Council voted to accept Mayor Billy Middleton’s suggestion that Michael Allegri be appointed to the Loxley town council to fill the rest of Derek Middleton’s term on the council.

ROBERTSDALE — Calvin Turner, an instructor at Slippers and Taps was one of the performers in contention for the “So You Think You Can Dance” Top 20.

ROBERTSDALE — The Department of Human Resources building behind the Baldwin County Annex on Palmer Street, the site of the former Vanity Fair facility, was formally dedicated Oct. 16.

FOLEY — Habitat for Humanity, Baldwin County received a $50,000 check from the Snook Foundation.

SEPTEMBER

LOXLEY — More than 100 dogs and their human friends came to Loxley Municipal Park to celebrate the first-ever BARC! in The Park event, a fundraiser for the Baldwin County Humane Society and the American Cancer Society.

ROBERTSDALE — The Robertsdale City Council passed a budget that gave the city a slim surplus of $84,126 for next year.

ROBERTSDALE — The First Assembly of God Church on Holland Street completed a $730,000 makeover that provided church with new offices, a lobby with an area for congregants, a seating area for small groups to meet, a new, larger sanctuary and an expanded youth worship area off the fellowship hall.

AUGUST

ROSINTON — An elderly Rosinton woman was fine after a home invasion.

According to Loxley police spokesman, Lt. Doug Phillips, Estelle Hayes, answered the door as two men attempted to sell her flooring.

“While the lady was distracted, we believe a third suspect pushed his way into a bedroom and took cash,” said Phillips.

Hayes was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

ROBERTSDALE — Natalie Thompson of Robertsdale was the Alabama High School Rodeo Association rodeo queen in 2009.

LOXLEY — Residents of the Town of Loxley had better check the size of their garbage cans. As of an August council meeting, they are now limited to the 50 gallon size.

JULY

LOXLEY — The hunt began with the report of a stolen vehicle in Foley and ended with an escape attempt in Loxley. Derrell Lopez Driscoll, 27, reportedly stole an SUV in Foley. Loxley Police spotted the vehicle and gave chase. Driscoll wound up ion Mobile, and was later brought to Loxley to be charged. While being booked, Driscoll escaped and was recaptured near the Loxley police station.

ROSINTON — The faculty of the Rosinton Elementary school showed off a new play yard for the youngest students.

JUNE

ROBERTSDALE — Green Acres Dance Studio hosted Benito Gallardo and his wife Jessica. Gallardo is sometimes better known a “B-boy” or Stress” and is a two-time winner of national “B-boy” dance competitions. The couple instructed the students on the latest dance moves.

FAIRHOPE — A disabled white 1991 Jeep Cherokee Laredo was found just upstream from Bohemian Park.

SILVERHILL — Elsie Adeline Sutton Chandler, former librarian at the Oscar Johnson Memorial Library died June 14. She was 99.

LOXLEY — The Loxley Town Council rezoned a parcel of about 29,000 acres of land from single-family residential and agricultural use to commercial use.

SILVERHILL — According to an indictment from the Baldwin County Grand Jury, Keisjuan Betts, 19, of Lark Lane, Robertsdale, was indicted on charges of capital murder and arson in the first degree in May. The charges against Betts stem from the alleged robbery and murder of Robert Paul Aitcheson, 51, Aitcheson’s body was found in the early morning of Jan. 28 when his mobile home on Holston St. near Silverhill caught fire.

Also charged in the incident were: Ian Aitcheson, 16, the victim’s son, and Danny O’Neil Weaver, 19, both of Robertsdale. Amber Darlene Jerkins, 18, of Robertsdale was also arrested in the case.

For Weaver, Jerkins, and Betts, the charges could carry the death penalty.

MAY

ROBERTSDALE — Huey Alfred Mack Sr., a local funeral director and former Baldwin County coroner died May 15.

ROBERTSDALE — Mayor Charles Murphy was elected vice president of the Alabama League of Municipalities.

APRIL

ROBERTSDALE — The Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce opened their new building at the junction of Highway 59 and U.S. Highway 90 on Thursday April 30

ROBERTSDALE — The Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance job fair drew at least 1,000 job seekers to the Baldwin County Coliseum April 9.

MARCH

LOXLEY — A Loxley police traffic stop morphed into a national story into March. A Loxley Police Officer, his K-9 partner barking in the back seat, stopped a gold Honda March 19 around 1:30 a.m. near mile marker 44. The driver of the car was given a warning, a summons to appear in Loxley and sent on his way.

The driver of the car, Robert O’Ryan, 34, was stopped by Los Angeles authorities March 24. They say he was found with two loaded weapons, duct tape and love letters to Shawn Johnson, a 2008 Olympic gold medalist, who was 17.

Johnson’s family obtained a restraining order against O’Ryan. He was arrested outside the studio where “Dancing With The Stars” is taped.

ROSINTON — On Saturday, March 14, more than 300 “Armadillos” made their way around streets near Rosinton Elementary School

The 2009 edition of Rosinton Elementary’s “Armadillo Dash” combined a certified course for a 5K run, a one-mile fun run, and a 5K walk.

ROBERTSDALE — Tiffaney Plato of Central Baldwin Middle School was named “2009 Secondary Teacher of the Year” by the Baldwin County Public Schools.

FEBRUARY

LOXLEY — Head Start opened a facility for migrant children in Loxley.

ROSINTON — Members of the Rosinton Volunteer Fire Department were involved in a crash while on their way to a call. Heavy smoke from a “controlled burn” near Interstate 10 and fog contributed to the crash.

JANUARY

LOXLEY — Baldwin County Sherif Huey “Hoss” Mack identified a man found dead on Truck Trail 17, off of Brady Road near Loxley as William Oliver Grunden, 57, of Pensacola. A Loxley man, David Game Coombs, 32, of 15230 Mary Russell Road was later arrested and charged with capital murder.