Police chief: Crime rates down in Foley | al.com

Police chief: Crime rates down in Foley | al.com: "FOLEY, Ala. -- City crime rates dropped in 2009 with robberies, burglaries, theft, assault and criminal mischief all down, Police Chief David Wilson told council members Monday night.

White-collar crime and drunk driving were up. The number of murders did not change in the last three years, with two being recorded each year in 2009, 2008 and 2007, Wilson said.

Wilson said crime rates peaked in 2005 and 2006 and the number of offenses has been on the decline since then."

Tim James attacks federal government over red snapper limits | al.com

Tim James attacks federal government over red snapper limits | al.com: "Speaking in Mobile on Tuesday, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim James blamed the federal government for a variety of problems, including managing the red snapper fishery in a way he said is costing Alabama jobs.

'Anytime the federal government gets into something, they muck it up,' he said to the 16 people, many tied to his campaign, who gathered in a courtyard at the Pinebrook Shopping Center in west Mobile."

Baldwin County crime rates down in 2009 | al.com

Baldwin County crime rates down in 2009 | al.com: "BAY MINETTE, Ala. -- Crime dropped 21 percent in Baldwin County last year with theft, robbery, assault and burglary all down, but meth and crack cocaine cases climbed, according to a Sheriff's Office report released Tuesday.

The slip in crime mirrors the trend in many communities nationally, Sheriff Huey 'Hoss' Mack said.

'I've talked to several sheriff's across the state and they're seeing the same decline in crime rates,' Mack said. 'We've also been doing several things that have contributed as well.'"

Baldwin County Commission starts search for new clerk/treasurer | al.com

Baldwin County Commission starts search for new clerk/treasurer | al.com: "BAY MINETTE, Ala. -- Baldwin County commissioners voted 3-1 today to start looking among baldwincountyseal.jpg county employees for a replacement for retiring Clerk/Treasurer Kyle Baggett."

Elberta Finances Bring Angry Voices - Elberta Alabama

Elberta Finances Bring Angry Voices - Elberta Alabama: "ELBERTA, Alabama - There were angry voices Tuesday at a town council meeting in Elberta.
Town officials are trying to deal with money problems.
Elberta is facing a 7% decline in tax revenues, and people who live in the town are making their anger felt on a number of issues."

WKRG.com News

Victims Had 4x Lethal Dose Of Carbon Monoxide - Silverhill Alabama

Victims Had 4x Lethal Dose Of Carbon Monoxide - Silverhill Alabama: "SILVERHILL, Alabama - Preliminary results show a Silverhill mother and her teenage daughter had 4-times the lethal dose of carbon monoxide in their systems.

18-year-old Samantha Combs and Donna Henderson were found dead inside their mobile home March 9."

Meth suspect arrested with minor | Fox10tv.com

Meth suspect arrested with minor | Fox10tv.com: "BALDWIN COUNTY - The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office arrested 21-year-old Michael Stewart of Stockton after they say he furnished controlled substances to a minor.

Deputies say during a domestic investigation, they discovered that Michael Stewart had furnished a 17-year-old with meth for the last two years. Deputies say Stewart confessed that the minor and he smoked meth together."

Copper thief strikes local church | Fox10tv.com

Copper thief strikes local church | Fox10tv.com: "ELBERTA, Ala. (WALA) - A Southern Baldwin County church is the victim of a copper theft, and police say this isn't the only recent case. In the past few weeks, Elberta Police say a copper thief has hit several places.

'The Bible commands us thou shall not steal, it means thou shall not steal. It's pretty clear,' said Youth Pastor Nick Dewhurst at Berean Baptist Church."

Baldwin Register's Senior Scene: St. Patrick's Day Dance planned today; Orange Beach seniors to visit Sports Academy | al.com

Baldwin Register's Senior Scene: St. Patrick's Day Dance planned today; Orange Beach seniors to visit Sports Academy | al.com: "ORANGE BEACH SENIORS will take a trip to the U.S. Sports Academy Art Museum in Daphne on Friday. The group will depart from the Adult Activity Center at 9:30 a.m. After a tour of the museum, lunch will be at Felix’s on the Causeway. Cost is $5 per person for transportation. Lunch is on your own. Call 251-981-3440 to sign up."

Laws, Life, and Legal Matters - Court Cases and Legal Information at Leagle.com - All Federal and State Appeals Court Cases in One Search

Laws, Life, and Legal Matters - Court Cases and Legal Information at Leagle.com - All Federal and State Appeals Court Cases in One Search: "This case involves a default by investors who held waterfront property in Orange Beach, Alabama. The lender exercised a power of sale to conduct its own foreclosure on the mortgaged property. A lawyer for the lender ran the auction and made the only bid. A representative of the investors attended the auction but did not participate. The lender bought the property. Then, the lender sued the investors for the balance of the loan. The investors protested, claiming that the purchase price was only a fraction of the property's fair market value, thereby needlessly inflating the loan deficiency."

Former letter carrier pleads guilty to stealing mail from her route | al.com

Former letter carrier pleads guilty to stealing mail from her route | al.com: "MOBILE, Ala. -- A former letter carrier pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing mail from her route in Orange Beach, the same post office where a pair of drivers, who were sentenced Monday, failed to deliver more than 3,400 pieces of mail."

Spring breakers search for ways to cut expenses | hattiesburgamerican.com | Hattiesburg American

Spring breakers search for ways to cut expenses | hattiesburgamerican.com | Hattiesburg American: "'So far, business is equal to last year and it's been good business,' said Noelle Hall, general manager of the Courtyard Marriott in Gulf Shores, Ala. 'The hotels are cutting down in prices, which they've been doing for a few years now but the major difference we're seeing is that students are staying for three or four days instead of the entire week this year.'"

Baldwin's beach cities eye surfside recycling | al.com

Baldwin's beach cities eye surfside recycling | al.com: "GULF SHORES, Ala. -- Baldwin County's beach cities have teamed up in an effort to develop a surfside recycling program.

'We've had such a hard time finding a feasible way to do it at condos that maybe the best way to do it is beachside,' said Phillip West, Orange Beach's coastal resources manager. 'By volume (recyclables) are a large percentage of the garbage that comes off the beach.'

Grant Brown, Gulf Shores' recreation and cultural arts director, said that about 80 percent of the trash that piles up on the beach could be recycled."

Baldwin's beach cities eye surfside recycling | al.com

Baldwin's beach cities eye surfside recycling | al.com: "GULF SHORES, Ala. -- Baldwin County's beach cities have teamed up in an effort to develop a surfside recycling program.

'We've had such a hard time finding a feasible way to do it at condos that maybe the best way to do it is beachside,' said Phillip West, Orange Beach's coastal resources manager. 'By volume (recyclables) are a large percentage of the garbage that comes off the beach.'

Grant Brown, Gulf Shores' recreation and cultural arts director, said that about 80 percent of the trash that piles up on the beach could be recycled."

Gulf Shores passes tent ordinance | Fox10tv.com

Gulf Shores passes tent ordinance | Fox10tv.com: "GULF SHORES, Ala. (WALA) - The spring break season is here, and there are some new guidelines in place for the beach in Gulf Shores.

The new ordinance requires all tents to be placed north of post markers."

Fairhope Wants to Google - Fairhope Alabama

Fairhope Wants to Google - Fairhope Alabama: "FAIRHOPE, Alabama - Officials in the City of Fairhope believe they have a good shot to be selected as a test city for Google's lightning fast fiber optic internet system The company says the service would be one hundred times faster than the average high speed internet connection."

Baldwin County school tax rally attracts 3,000 in Foley | al.com

Baldwin County school tax rally attracts 3,000 in Foley | al.com: "FOLEY, Ala.�--�An estimated 3,000 students, parents and schools boosters marched through downtown Sunday afternoon in support of the March 23 1-percent sales tax referendum that would pump some $75 million into Baldwin County's financially ailing education system if enacted."

Absentee applications high for Baldwin County's March 23 referendum | al.com

Absentee applications high for Baldwin County's March 23 referendum | al.com: "BAY MINETTE,�Ala.�-- Demand for absentee applications for the March 23 referendum could top 300 by Thursday's deadline, officials said Monday.
�'I issued 269 ballots and I am processing 30 more today,' said Baldwin County Circuit Clerk Jody Wise Campbell, also the absentee ballot manager for the election. 'They have been coming in at that rate for the past several days.'"

Ala. spring break at the beach: Warmer, sunny - WRCB Channel 3 Chattanooga News, Weather |

Ala. spring break at the beach: Warmer, sunny - WRCB Channel 3 Chattanooga News, Weather |: "GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP) - It's spring break across much of Alabama, and the weather is cooperating at the beach.

The forecast for Gulf Shores calls for sunny skies and a high near 70 degrees on Monday with only a slight chance of rain. It's much the same for Tuesday, although nighttime temperatures will still be in the 40s."

Short sales, foreclosures boost sales | al.com

Short sales, foreclosures boost sales | al.com: "Realtor Donna Fitts sold her client's three-bedroom, gulf-front condominium unit at Enclave for $325,000, almost half of the original price.

The seller used the short sale to get out from under the debt and stop the bleeding, said Fitts of REMAX of Orange Beach."

Mullek running for District 4 position on Baldwin County Commission | al.com

Mullek running for District 4 position on Baldwin County Commission | al.com: "ELBERTA, Ala. -- Al Mullek of Elberta has announced that he is running for the Republican nomination for District 4 on the Baldwin County Commission.

Mullek faces incumbent Charles 'Skip' Gruber and Ollie Daw of Elberta in the June 1 primary race in the south Baldwin district."

Dome sweet home: Unique homes proving to be a success during hurricanes | al.com

Dome sweet home: Unique homes proving to be a success during hurricanes | al.com: "For Mick and Valerie Stroup, there’s no place like a dome. It’s where they live.

Home for the west Mobile couple is a 2,300-square-foot dome on a large wooded lot they share with Valerie’s parents.

Mick built the dark brown shingle dome with a starter kit more than 20 years ago. It was the first and only house he’s ever built.

While dome-shaped homes aren’t common sights along the Gulf Coast, owners say they are energy efficient and pretty much hurricane proof."

Thousands gather in south Baldwin County in support of tax | al.com

Thousands gather in south Baldwin County in support of tax | al.com: "FOLEY, Ala.--An estimated 3,000 students, parents and schools boosters marched through downtown Foley on Sunday afternoon in support of the March 23 1-percent sales tax referendum that would pump some $75 million into Baldwin County's financially ailing education system if enacted."

‘Snow day’ to be made-up on Good Friday - Baldwin County NOW - A Gulf Coast Information Source for South Alabama

‘Snow day’ to be made-up on Good Friday - Baldwin County NOW - A Gulf Coast Information Source for South Alabama: "BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. — The public school calendar and church calendar have collided as it were, and a decision to make-up a Baldwin County public schools’ “snow day” on Good Friday will negatively impact religious observances according to some religious leaders.

The Baldwin County School Board has decided to use April 2 — “Good Friday,” the Friday before Easter Sunday, a day observed in commemoration with the crucifixion of Jesus — as the make-up day for a rare February “snow day” when schools were closed."

Baldwin residents push for sales tax | Fox10tv.com

Baldwin residents push for sales tax | Fox10tv.com: "FOLEY, Ala. (WALA) - Hundreds took to the streets in Foley Sunday for a march and rally in support of a proposed one percent sales tax. The floats, signs, and marching high school bands all carried the same message.

'It's for the schools,' one marcher shouted."

Balough, Lady Flames Walk-Off In Orange Beach - Sports - Chattanoogan.com

3/13/2010 - Balough, Lady Flames Walk-Off In Orange Beach - Sports - Chattanoogan.com: "ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – When Coach Emily Russell booked her team into the Orange Beach Invitational Softball tournament, she knew she was going to be facing top quality opponents. The Lady Flames (13-2) opened their weekend at the Invitational with a 1-0 walk-off win over the McKendree Lady Bearcats (5-6) on Friday."