Super Chili Bowl Cook Off Feb. 2 at Flora-Bama Lounge

The Flora-Bama Lounge is holding its 14th Annual Super Chili Bowl Cook Off Saturday, February 2, starting at 10 a.m. Bowls are $2 each with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, which supports the American Cancer Society’s Mission. The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

The entry fee is $50 per (3 person) team. There will be lots of prizes and perks for the competitors. There is a perpetual Trophy for the 1st Place Team, as well as the People’s Choice, with ribbons for all other winning teams. Souvenir T-shirts, “Free Beer” and other give-a-ways will be provided for all participants (must be 21 years old to enter).

The Flora-Bama Lounge challenges you to form a chili cook-off team and have a little friendly competition among your peers, as to your cooking talents. Can you whip up a super pot of chili from scratch on-site at the Flora-Bama? How about livening up February with a chance to strut your chili wizardry and come out and compete with your friends and neighbors and let us and the judges taste the very best pot of chili that your team can produce.

Get your team together now and plan to make February 2rd a “Five Alarm” Super Chili Bowl Saturday.

For additional information, please contact Cheryl Lange at (251) 980-5118 or (850) 492-0611.

High court upholds Turquoise Place ruling

Third and fourth towers clear legal challenge

Saturday, January 19, 2008

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

The Alabama Supreme Court has let stand a lower court's decision that gave developer Larry Wireman the green light to build the third and fourth towers of his Turquoise Place project in Orange Beach.

The high court offered no written reason, only noting in its Jan. 11 release of decisions that it would not consider the matter.

The owners of an adjacent hotel and the estate of former landowners brought the appeal, challenging last year's decision by the Court of Civil Appeals to side with a Baldwin County judge in favor of Wireman.

Click here to read the full story from the Mobile Press-Register.

Groundbreaking for Waste Water Treatment Facility

City of Orange Beach Announces Groundbreaking for Waste Water Treatment Facility Monday, January 28, 2008 at 1pm

January 18, 2008
By Ken Grimes, Jr, Special Projects Coordinator

When describing the Alabama Gulf Coast, most would think of the beautiful sandy white beaches, condo’s overlooking the emerald waters of the gulf, a sunset over Wolf Bay or spending the day on one of many islands. One rarely hears anyone speak of the infrastructure expansion, garbage disposal, under-grounding of utilities or the treatment of waste water but they are the vital services of any community . . . even a resort town like Orange Beach. City leaders have been planning for such improvements to infrastructure services for years as the growth of the city’s population along with the addition of thousands of units of vacation rentals which attract on peak weekends an estimated 100,000 plus tourists. On January 28th, the next step in future expansion becomes a reality.

Mayor Blalock and the Orange Beach City Council are pleased to announce the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new City of Orange Beach Waste Water Treatment Plant. The ceremony will begin at 1 PM on Monday, January 28, 2008 at the site which is located south of Canal Road between the Sportsplex and Powerline Road. A shuttle bus will be provided from the Orange Beach Sportsplex located at the end of William Silvers Parkway to the site as construction access is not paved for public travel at this time. According to Mayor Pete Blalock, “this new facility has been a long time in the works and we are extremely happy to be under construction to not only be prepared for future growth, but to finally relocate our existing plant away from heavily traveled Canal Road. The new plant will have an enclosed head-works along with the more isolated location to eliminate most odors affiliated with the service.”

The new facility will be built on approximately twenty acres within a total site of forty acres which allows for plenty of room for future growth. Mayor Blalock noted “the construction should take between 18-20 months for completion and our plant is designed by Gary McMillan and the City of Orange Beach will serve as general contractor on the project as we minimize expenses and maximize our effort.” Jeff Hartley, Utilities Director for the City of Orange Beach adds “the new Waste Water Treatment Plant will be a state of the art 10 million gallons per day plant (MGD), and will be expandable to 15 MGD. The plant is designed to serve the City’s needs for at least the next 20 years and it will replace the City’s current facility on Canal Road, which will be demolished upon completion of the new plant in 2009”. The public is invited to attend this unique event. If you need further directions, please feel free to contact Orange Beach City Hall at (251) 981-6979 or search www.CityOfOrangeBeach.com for details.

Orange Beach Development Facing Problems

Action by largest lender in $100 million financing deal is latest setback for ill-fated condo project

Sunday, January 13, 2008
By KATHY JUMPER and RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporters

The largest lender in the $100 million financing package for 15.8 acres of prime beachfront in Orange Beach has foreclosed on the loan -- another blow to developers of the now-defunct Mandalay Beach condominium project.

Oxford Investments LLC, which is headed by Jim Mattei, the Mobile native who co-founded the Checkers burger chain, foreclosed on a tract in the middle of the property Jan. 4, court records show.

When it was first approved in the fall of 2004 amid a post-Hurricane Ivan real estate market white-hot with speculation, Mandalay Beach was to be a pair of 36-story towers encasing 500 luxury condos. In a deal with the City Council to secure zoning for what would have been Orange Beach's tallest buildings, the developers pledged to donate a 175-foot-wide tract to become the city's first municipal beach.

But the screeching halt to condominium sales following 2005's Hurricane Katrina and an overall tightening of the lending market were major blows to the Mandalay landowners, OB Development. The partners canceled the project in 2006 and have for more than two years sought a buyer for the prime land.

"I've never stopped trying," Rick Phillips, one of three partners in OB Development, confirmed last week. "It all hinges on financing."

Click here to read the complete article in the Mobile Press-Register.

Hundreds take the traditional New Year's Plunge

January 1, 2008- Flora-Bama
(Click on image to right for larger version.)

The cold temperatures, nor the strong north wind deterred hundreds of New Year Revilers from their New Year Day plunge for the Flora-Bama's Polar Bear Dip. Hundreds of participants lined the shores at the Alabama Florida state line to take the plunge.

Why would anyone swim in January? One Polar Bear Dip veteran responded, It's kind of an initiation no, I'd never do it; it's too early in the morning. Noon is considered first thing in the morning on Flora-Bama Time and never mind that he had participated in the event in previous years.

The event is sponsored by the Flora-Bama Lounge and will be held on the beach at the Florida/ Alabama line. All participants in the dip will receive traditional black-eyed peas.

After Hollywood stint, local man returns to work with dad

Monday, December 31, 2007

By LEIGH T. MOORE

Correspondent

The son of a real-estate developer, Maury Cobb was born in Mobile, but when he was 5 years old, his family moved to Birmingham.

"I grew up there and graduated from Mountain Brook High School," he said. "I was in high school when my dad moved back to Orange Beach to start Fish Camp."

Rather than follow his dad, however, Cobb decided to go to the University of Georgia and pursue a business degree, and after graduating in 2005, he went with his brother, Jan, to Los Angeles.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Perdido Pass plan calls for new east jetty

Monday, December 24, 2007

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- Federal officials are hoping that by rebuilding the eastern jetties and weir that help Perdido Pass hold its shape, it will mean fewer trips to scoop sand out of the recreational ship channel.

To that end, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has embarked on a $3.5 million project it hopes to have finished within 90 days of the New Year, said project engineer Mike Cumberland.

Until then, the state beach at Florida Point will remain closed, said Orange Beach Coastal Resources Manager Phillip West.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Click here to view photos of Perdido Pass.

Baldwin officials considering appeal in hospital lawsuit

Sunday, December 23, 2007

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

Orange Beach and Gulf Shores officials have until the middle of next month to decide if they'll try to help revive a lawsuit that they hoped would force public review of a Daphne surgery center's planned move to the beach.

Earlier this month, Montgomery County Circuit Judge Charles Price dismissed the case, repeating an opinion he issued in April in which he found that the State Health Planning and Development Agency acted appropriately when it told Infirmary Health Systems it could move one of its Daphne surgery centers to the beach without going through the state's certificate of need review process.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Launch proposal opposed

Sunday, December 02, 2007

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- Plans by the city to build a $2 million public boat launch on Perdido Key have met formidable opposition from an unlikely tandem: the moneyed residents of Ono Island and the endangered Perdido Key beach mouse.

To be sure, city officials knew from the start that the 5 state-owned acres upon which they propose building a boat launch and parking lot are within the 1,300 acres of habitat that federal scientists have deemed crucial to the mouse's survival.

Like anyone wanting to build a house or condo tower in the habitat, the city must seek the blessing of federal regulators, said Orange Beach Coastal Resources Manager Phillip West.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

FSN to air FLW Kingfish Series Championship

Dec. 9 show to highlight $275,000 king mackerel tournament
from Orange Beach, AL.

MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 29, 2007) — Tune in Sunday, Dec. 9 to “FLW Outdoors” on FSN for the $275,000 Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship held in Orange Beach, AL. The final event of the season concludes with the winning team claiming a cash prize of up to $70,000.

The “FLW Outdoors” saltwater series is a reality-format show told from the anglers’ perspective. Each week the top-five finalists are followed from takeoff to weigh-in, allowing the audience to feel the anglers’ nerves, listen to their strategy and learn from their mistakes. The stories evolve and the suspense grows throughout the show until the final weigh-in results are announced. One hundred and twenty five teams – the top three from each of 15 qualifying tournaments and the top 16 in the points standings from each of five divisions – qualified to fish the tournament.

The FLW Kingfish Series Championship is a three-day, no-entry-fee event. The entire field competes on day one and day two and the top five teams compete on day three. The winning team is determined based on the heaviest kingfish from day one or day two plus the heaviest kingfish from day three.

Tournament officials canceled day one due to a Small Craft Advisory issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), so teams will now commence competition on day two with the top five advancing to day three. The inclement weather improved on day two, albeit slightly, as anglers fished in gusty winds and seas that grew to 8 feet offshore. Not that anyone would wish for such harsh conditions, but Mobile, Ala., native Marcus Kennedy, whose Team “Kwazar” leads the event with a 51-pound, 11-ounce smoker king, said the foul weather actually worked in his favor. Joined by Max Williams of Pensacola, Fla., and Mike Ward and Todd Kercher, both of Mobile, Kennedy ran approximately 60 miles southwest of Orange Beach and fished over patches of natural bottom in 180 feet of water. Team “Kwazar” caught three other kingfish in the 30-pound class on day two. Their heaviest hit a live blue runner on a downrigger set 70 feet deep at 11 a.m. Kennedy usually mans the helm during tournaments, but with other tasks occupying his teammates, he grabbed the rod and fought the fish for about 10 minutes. Another smoker on day three would likely put Kwazar in the winner’s circle.

Team “Sake,” led by Capt. Neil Nix of Okeechobee, Fla., also braved the big seas, running 50 miles south. The result was a 41-pound, 9-ounce kingfish that was caught over a reef in 180 feet of water. When “Sake’s” big fish ate a live blue runner around 10:30 a.m., Danny Marasocci fought the fish and Nix gaffed it after a 35-minute fight. The team caught another 11 kings between 20 and 25 pounds. FSN also follows Team “Square & Level/Reel Wild,” captained by Frank (Pete) Eldridge of Waycross, Ga. On the strength of a 40-pound, 14-ounce king mackerel, “Square & Level/Reel Wild” is third with one day of competition remaining. FSN is the industry leader in providing the most up-to-date technology in TV production.

FSN puts viewers in the boats with the pros, shadowing them from sunrise until the final weigh-in using innovative camera work that gives fishing fans the most intimate viewing experience available. FSN broadcasts “FLW Outdoors” Sunday mornings. Check local listings for show times and channels in your area. FLWOutdoors.com also provides an online guide listing upcoming episodes on “FLW Outdoors.”

FSN is broadcast to more than 81 million homes through its network of 20 regional sports channels. Established in 1996, FSN is the only cable network that supplies national, regional and local sports programming. FSN serves as the cable TV home to 62 of the 82 MLB, NHL and NBA teams based in the United States, and produces more than 4,500 live events each year. FSN has an extensive catalog of original national programs, including “Best Damn Sports Show Period” and “Beyond the Glory” documentary series, along with national packages of collegiate sports. Based in Los Angeles, FSN is part of the vast FOX Sports television family. For the latest up-to-the-minute sports news and opinions, visit the FOX Sports/FSN website at www.FoxSports.com .

“FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast internationally to more than 429 million households in such countries as Germany, China, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Hungary and the United Kingdom, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoor-sports television show in the world. Additionally, FLW Outdoors is proud to provide tournament coverage to more than 800,000 service men and women stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard Navy ships through broadcasts on the American Forces Network.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournament programs, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.

Ice skating at the edge of the Gulf

by Guy Busby
November 29, 2007

Orange Beach, AL- Palm trees line the drive, and the white stuff on the ground is sand, and the skaters glide in circles just a few feet from Gulf yachts and fishing boats.

Welcome to the outdoor ice rink that opened Nov. 2 at The Wharf on the Intracoastal Waterway.

The 50- by 70-foot holiday-season attraction is the first of its kind on the Alabama coast, said Lesley Dethloff, Wharf special events coordinator.

"We've really picked up since it started," she said, estimating the crowd on the weekend before Thanksgiving at about 600 people.

Young skaters interviewed there recently said the ice was nice, once they got used to it.

Click here to read the full story from the Mobile Press-Register.

Armed Robbery Surveillance Video Released

By Pat Peterson Reporter

Investigators in Orange Beach hope surveilance video of an armed robbery at the Holiday Inn Express will help them catch the suspect. A night clerk at the hotel was robbed at knifepoint Tuesday morning. News 5 obtained a copy of the hotel's surveilance footage.

Click here to read the full article and watch the video on WKRG-TV5.

Sun shining brightly on SPU women's soccer team

(Photo: Jocelyn Charette (left) celebrates with teammate Shannon Oakes)

By DEREK BELT
SPECIAL TO THE P-I

When the Seattle Pacific University women's soccer team reached the NCAA Division II Final Four in 2005, the Falcons traveled to the not-so-exciting town of Wichita Falls, Texas, where they finished second after a 2-1 overtime loss to Nebraska-Omaha in the national championship game.

"It was kind of a bummer," SPU coach Chuck Sekyra said of the whole experience.

This year, Seattle Pacific is back in the Final Four. But this time the Falcons are in Orange Beach, Ala., a lavish resort community located 20 miles west of Pensacola, Fla.

"My players are in heaven!" Sekyra wrote Tuesday in an e-mail from the team's beachside condominium. "I'm sitting on a balcony with my assistant coaches overlooking white sand, the Gulf of Mexico, and my team standing in the water up to their knees."

Click here to read the full story from the SeattlePI.com.

Click here to view more articles about NCAA Soccer in Orange Beach.

Division II soccer championships to be televised

November 28, 2007 - http://www.ncaa.org/

The Division II Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championship finals will be televised live on CSTV this weekend. The women’s championship game is Saturday at 1 p.m. Eastern time and the men’s final is Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern. West Florida hosts both matches at the Orange Beach County Sportsplex in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Click here to read the full story from the NCAA website.

Red Tide Cells Remain at Alabama Beaches

November 16, 2007

The Alabama Department of Public Health cautions the public that water samples collected this week on Baldwin County beaches indicate the presence of red tide cells and persons with respiratory problems or those experiencing symptoms of nose, throat or eye irritation should avoid the mist.

Red tide results from a massive build-up of certain species of microscopic sea organisms known as dinoflagellates. These organisms produce a toxin that affects the central nervous system of fish so they are paralyzed and cannot breathe. At high concentrations, the organisms may produce a discoloration of the water. Red tides are often referred to as "blooms." The species (Karenia brevis), isolated from Gulf Shores waters, may produce toxins that also cause skin irritation and respiratory problems in humans. Health Department officials advise:

- Avoid the area if you are susceptible to respiratory problems such as asthma or emphysema.

- Leave the water if you experience skin irritations while swimming or boating and rinse immediately with fresh water.

- If you experience nose, throat or eye irritation when exposed to the gulf mist, avoid the mist.

The Alabama Department of Public Health will continue to monitor gulf and bay waters for the presence of red tide cells.

Unfortunately, the presence of red tide cannot be predicted to be at a certain location at a certain time. The effects depend on many variables such as temperature, salinity, direction of the wind, and how concentrated the organisms are at a given location.

Closing set for sewer plant land swap

Orange Beach also restarts negotiations to lease Josephine area lines

Friday, November 16, 2007

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- After a nearly 18-month delay, the city and Alabama conservation officials have set a date later this month to finalize a land swap that will allow construction of a new $20 million municipal sewer treatment plant, Mayor Pete Blalock said Tuesday.

The two sides plan to close the transaction Nov. 27, which will give Orange Beach 40 acres south of the city's current treatment facility on Canal Road while the state will get 46 acres of maritime forest to be added to the Gulf State Park.

The trade had been delayed first because of problems with appraisals used in the deal, and later because of a disagreement between the state and the federal government over whether the state land could leave Alabama's hands.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Beach becomes a runway

Low on fuel, small plane lands safely on Orange Beach shoreline

Thursday, November 15, 2007

By RUSS HENDERSON

Staff Reporter

A small airplane that tows advertising banners along the Gulf Coast made an emergency landing on a public beach in Orange Beach when it ran low on gas late Wednesday morning, one of the airplane's owners said.

The 1973 Bellanca's landed on the hard-packed sand beside Perdido Beach Boulevard shortly after 11 a.m., said Assistant Police Chief Greg Duck. The pair inside the plane had been "joy riding" and were not at work pulling advertising, said Don Bonner, an owner of Foley's Gulf Coast Aerial Advertising Inc., which owns the aircraft.

The pilot was low on gas and made a precautionary landing about five miles short of the nearby Jack Edwards Airport, Bonner said. Police and firefighters arrived on scene to ensure no beachgoers were endangered, Duck said.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Click here to watch the video on WKRG-TV5.

Florida Gators defeat Georgia Bulldogs in SEC Soccer Finals

November 12, 2007
Article & Photo by Ken Grimes, Jr.
(click on photo for larger view)

The Florida Gators defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 4-1 on a clear Sunday afternoon before a nationally televised audience.

The Gators bit early with a quick goal and the only score in the first half. As the second half began the Lady Gators expanded the lead with two goals early in the period. Georgia got on the board with a score on a penalty kick bringing the margin to 3-1. With minutes remaining, another Gator goal sealed the victory and the championship which brought fireworks and plenty of cheers.

The SEC Championship is merely the next step as the season will feature the Gators and Bulldogs who both advance to the NCAA tournament next week. More than 1,200 spectators were in attendance for the televised match at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.

Thompson adviser from Ono Island Resigns Campaign

Philip Martin quits after criminal record surfaces; owns firm that operates terminal at Gulf Shores' Jack Edwards Airport

Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Staff, wire reports

After reports surfaced of his decades-old drug-dealing record, an Ono Island man whose company manages some operations at Gulf Shores' Jack Edwards Airport resigned as co-chairman of Republican Fred Thompson's presidential campaign.

Philip J. Martin, who lives in an 8,060-square-foot Ono Island mansion and owns the Gulf Shores airport's terminal operator, Jet Center South, through his company Gulf Capital Holdings, had acted as a fundraiser and adviser to the former Tennessee senator since the start of his presidential run.

Click here to read the complete article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Sea, Sand, and Stars Open House Sunday

Nov. 3, 2007- Orange Beach, AL - This weekend you have a special invitation to experience a wonderful new experiential facility called Sea, Sand, and Stars, adjacent to Orange Beach Elementary School. Open house for the new $2.5 million facility is scheduled for Sunday afternoon from 1 until 5 p.m.

Sea, Sand, and Stars features a huge, beautiful 5,800 gallon aquarium with a large variety of fish. In addition, the facility has a 38 seat planetarium with a Digitarium Alpha II Projector, technology used in the best planetariums around the world. The facility is equipped to tap into the Hubble Telescope and allow visitors a real-time look through this amazing window into space. Sea, Sand, and Stars features a computer technology room, complete with 30 computer work stations. Just around the corner a laboratory will allow students and adults to get a closer look at marine life. You'll also be able to enjoy a library, meeting rooms and classrooms.

If this wasn't impressive enough, outside you'll find an 800 ft. boardwalk that will take you to four large outdoor gazebo classrooms where students will learn about birds, plants, amphibians, and insects. In partnership with WKRG TV, a weather station, complete with measuring and monitoring technology, allows students to learn meteorology and then report the weather in front of a real television news set.

Sea, Sand, and Stars has been made possible through generous contributions from Brett-Robinson Construction, the City of Orange Beach and the Baldwin County Board of Education. Beginning in January it will be available for field trips, mainly for kindergarten through 6th grade students.

For further information, call Lisa Allen, Director of Sea, Sand, and Stars at 981-5690 or e-mail her at lallen@bcbe.org.

Click here to view more pictures of Sea, Sand & Stars from the Coastal Marine Builders website.

Boat Accident at Gulf State Park Pier

Saturday, November 03, 2007

By GUY BUSBY

Staff Reporter

Five people were injured Thursday night when a 23-foot boat traveling about 30 mph hit unlit pilings left exposed since 2004 when Hurricane Ivan damaged the Alabama Gulf State Park pier, marine police said Friday.

The Formula-brand vessel was returning to the Orange Beach Marina from a fishing trip to an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico when it struck the west side of the pilings at around 7:50 p.m., said Alabama Marine Police Officer Richard Miller.

Four of the five people were taken to South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley, Miller said. Thomas P. Brown of Orange Beach, operator of the boat, had been listed in critical condition after being admitted, but his status was upgraded Friday to good, said hospital spokeswoman Barbara Boller.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Click here to see a map where the accident occurred.

Ice Skating Rink at The Wharf Opens Today

Orange Beach, AL — The Wharf announces the grand opening of an all new ice skating rink for the Gulf Coast, Friday (Nov. 2).

The rink is located under the arch at Levin’s Bend condominiums at Main Street and Wharf Parkway. A treat for the young and old alike, the rink will be open to the public seven days a week through Jan. 1, 2008 — except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

All ticket prices include ice skates and are sold per person, per session. Individual tickets are $6 per person, or $9 combo/person. Combo tickets include a ride on The Wharf’s Ferris wheel, the tallest in the Southeast, and a 10 percent discount at The Wharf Store on Main Street.

Discounted group tickets are available by appointment by calling 251-224-1000. Groups also are invited to make lunch or dinner reservations at FishTales restaurant where they will receive a 15 percent discount on menu purchases. Reservations for FishTales must be made separately by calling 251-224-1007 or 251-224-1910.

Hours of Operation: Ice Skating Sessions have been established to ensure every skater has the best experience possible. Sessions are available Monday-Sunday and are also posted on www.TheWharfAL.com. For details about hours of operation, use the same website.

Red tide affects Alabama oysters

Wednesday, October 24, 2007
By BEN RAINES, Staff Reporter

Oyster beds in Bon Secour Bay were closed Tuesday after tests by the Alabama Department of Public Health revealed the presence of the organism that causes red tide.

The organism builds up in oysters as they filter water, making them unsafe to eat, sometimes for weeks after the red tide is gone.

Fish kills reported along the Gulf beaches between the Florida line and Fort Morgan over the last few days were also attributed to the red tide bloom, according to state officials.

Click here to read the rest of the article from the Mobile Press-Register.

WKRG-TV5's Report on Orange Beach Fish-Kill

By Pat Peterson Reporter

Published: October 22 2007 - 5:42 pm
Last Updated: October 22 2007 - 7:27 pm

It's a nightmare for the Orange Beach Chamber of Commerce! A trail of dead fish lines the beach from the Flora-Bama Lounge to Gulf State Park.

"It's pretty nasty," says Jody Embry. "It stinks, they're all over the place."

"Red Tide" is to blame for the fish kill. "Red Tide" is a toxic algae that forms in the Gulf of Mexico. Bacteria levels in the water kill the fish and push them up on the beach. "Red Tide" also causes respiratory problems in humans.

Click here to read the rest of the story and view the video from WKRG-TV5.

Red Tide Fish-Kill Reaches Orange Beach

October 21, 2007 - The fish-kill from the Red Tide has reached Orange Beach. The photo to the right was taken today at 12:02pm at the Cotton Bayou Beach Access. This photo is representative of the entire stretch of beach along the Cotton Bayou Access. We do not yet know how far the kill reaches east or west of Cotton Bayou Beach.

A 15 to 20 mph east-south-east wind is blowing along the coast. A north or northwest wind is needed to push the Red Tide Harmful Algal Blooms back out to the open Gulf.

Click on image for a larger view.

Red Tide Update- Samples found on Perdido Key

October 17, 2007

Orange Beach, AL- While no evidence of Harmful Algal Blooms (aka Red Tide) has been found in Orange Beach, samples of the toxic substance have been reported as close as Perdido Key (as reported by NOAA).

The rain we have experienced over the last two nights will hopefully slow the spread of this Red Tide event, and prevent it from reaching Orange Beach.

Click here to view more information about Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) & Red Tides.

Click here to view an interactive map where reports of HAB have been found.

Click here to see the latest news stories about the Gulf of Mexico Red Tide.

Coastal coverage battle emerges

Click here for Condo Insurance in Orange Beach.

Riley, Hammett say proposal that would help property owners afford policies is meeting with opposition

Thursday, October 11, 2007

By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN

Capital Bureau

MONTGOMERY -- House Speaker Seth Hammett and Gov. Bob Riley signaled this week that there is opposition to a bill intended to help property owners along the coast who are struggling with the price and availability of insurance.

Hammett, D-Andalusia, said he agrees with the governor's decision to not call a special session of the Legislature because of "significant bipartisan opposition" to coastal insurance legislation.

"I absolutely have not seen that," said state Sen. Ben Brooks, R-Mobile, sponsor of the bill. "My experience with legislators has been just the opposite, Democrat and Republican. I am puzzled where that perception would come from."

Click here to read the full story from the Mobile Press Register.

Worker dies in fall at construction site

Thursday, October 11, 2007
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- A construction worker fell to his death Wednesday afternoon while setting a reference line for carpenters on the 10th floor of the Phoenix West II condominiums, authorities said.

Michael Long, 45, of Carthage, Miss., was pronounced dead at the scene, Baldwin County Coroner Jim Small said.

Orange Beach firefighters and paramedics were called to the Gulf-front scene at about 2:30 p.m. to respond to a man who had fallen several stories and was not breathing.

Click here to read the complete article in the Mobile Press-Register.

Letter to the Editor: Proposed Orange Beach Boat Launch

Following is a letter to the editor written by Gene Meyers of Paradise Marine in Gulf Shores.

SHOULD A VOCAL MINORITY WITH POLITICAL CLOUT BE ABLE TO HALT A PUBLIC PROJECT THAT WILL BENEFIT ALL OF ALABAMA’S CITIZENS?

Click here to view the ad that appeared in the Mobile Press-Register.

Why YOUR support is needed, and YOUR voice must be heard in Montgomery!

If you are a boater, or concerned citizen, you need to read this information, as the consequences will impact your boating enjoyment, and your rights as an Alabamian. The proposed 5 acre Boat Launch Facility would be located on Old River between the Caribe Resort and Ono Island Bridge. The property was to be provided by the State of Alabama and leased to the City of Orange Beach, who would fund and build the project. For the boating public and our community this project is long overdue. Public access to our state’s waterways is shrinking at an alarming rate. Developers have purchased marinas, boat yards and waterfront property and converted these properties to condominium projects. State and local municipalities must be pro-active and take bold steps to address this alarming decline. Without proper access, the average working man and his family is limited in their ability to boat, fish, and play on these waters.

The project opponents, mostly Ono Island residents and members of the Perdido Key Coalition claim that our area boat ramps are under-utilized. Nothing is farther from the truth as any local boater can tell you. (See for Yourself) The lack of parking at these facilities is the most pressing issue and getting worse all the time. On a busy summer weekend hundreds of trailers and tow vehicles park illegally on the side of the roads around the Cotton Bayou boat launch. This causes major public safety concerns for the City of Orange Beach who walk a fine line between both public safety and tourist relations. There are many unfortunate instances when vehicles get towed. These kinds of conflicts do not bode well for a tourist community that depends on a constant flow of satisfied visitors.

In Baldwin County boat registrations are growing at a rate of 2.6%. Baldwin County’s population is also growing at an astronomical rate and many of these citizens have been drawn here by the lure of our inshore and offshore waters. These water access shortcomings can only be addressed by a consistent commitment from the Conservation Department. They must maximize the diminishing opportunities they have to provide fair and equal water access as our state's population grows and our tourism stream increases.

We all know that the City of Orange Beach's foundation and heritage is tightly intertwined with recreational boating and fishing. They understand this and have eagerly provided the initiative, resources and most importantly the foresight, to address the issue. The City has done some impressive work in the design stages of this facility proposal. It is a showpiece to be proud of! It is cutting edge in its visual appeal, physical layout, and proposed operational procedures.

One argument we have heard regularly from project opponents revolves around the impact this project will have in what they claim to be one of the most environmentally sensitive areas in the area. We all can agree that this is a beautiful piece of natural property; there is no doubt in our mind. On the other hand by "offering" this parcel to the public good you will allow many more citizens the ability to enjoy, and utilize an even bigger resource, our state’s countless square miles of recreational waterways.

The same people who mask their opposition to this project by cloaking themselves behind the "environmental flag" cannot have it both ways. At one time Ono Island was also a precious and pristine resource until progress and demand allowed it to be heavily built upon and intersected with a network of man-made, environmentally unfriendly canals. Many of these opponents have their piece of paradise, living adjacent to the water. Ono Island residents who oppose this project also have their own private boat ramp facility. They have no boating access problem. Shouldn’t they understand that everyone must have the same privilege to utilize the resource without having to own expensive waterfront property?

Here is an interesting paradox that surfaces regarding this issue. The current entrance and bridge to Ono Island is located on what was also once pristine state property. Years ago when the state offered this parcel, it opened the island up for use by private individuals and developers, not the public. Without that easement grant, Ono Island would not be what it is today, a private gated Island community. The Conservation Department now has the same opportunity to offer a nearby parcel for the benefit of the entire state, not just a few citizens. Wouldn’t this provide a much better return on public investment? After all isn’t it the responsibility of the state to provide for the maximum benefit of the majority of its citizens?

Most of the opponents of the Boat Launch Facility are residents of Ono Island, but not all Ono residents oppose it. Those that do are a very vocal minority and they wield a considerable amount of political clout. They are making their opposition known and getting the ear of state officials. Our voices of SUPPORT must be heard if we are to continue to have convenient access to Alabama’s waterways. If you are a boater, fisherman, or concerned citizen, this issue affects YOU! YOUR support is vital. We urge YOU to write, email, and phone your SUPPORT for this project to Governor Bob Riley, Commissioner M. Barnett Lawley, and the officials of the City of Orange Beach.

* Visit our Government Officials Page for email addresses, mailing addresses, and phone numbers to voice your SUPPORT.

If state officials make the decision to proceed based on the public benefit and consider investment versus the return we have a good chance to get the boat launching facility we so badly need. To have a handful of people thwart this much needed, well planned, and environmentally friendly project would be a travesty. All Alabamians have the right to equal access opportunities to all of Alabama's outdoor resources, not just a privileged few.

We are very passionate about this issue. We stand firm in our belief that every citizen has the right to access our State's natural resources, we also stand firm in our belief that every citizen has the right to be heard. We believe that both sides of every issue should be presented in a fair and accurate manner. Therefore, we are providing a link to our opposition’s web site: www.perdidokeycoalition.com

Publix market coming to Orange Beach

Sunday, October 07, 2007

by Kathy Jumper, Mobile Press-Register

Publix Super Market plans to open a 54,000-square-foot store this spring in Orange Beach's Shoppes at Palm Pointe at the northwest corner of Alabama 182 and 161, according to Ken Bailey of Brigham Williams Commercial Properties in Birmingham. The store will anchor the 194,000-square-foot retail center, he said. The Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer has 28 stores in Alabama, though this will be the first in south Alabama.

Guy Harvey's Island Grill will open in April in the archway on the marina at The Wharf , a mixed-use development on the Intracoastal Waterway in Orange Beach, according to Jeff Rouzie of The Wharf. Guy Harvey, a marine-biologist-turned-wildlife artist, diver and photographer who lives in Grand Cayman, also will open a 5,650-square-foot Guy Harvey Art Gallery to the east of the 7,000-square-foot Island Grill, and on the west side, a 3,300-square-foot Harvey clothing store, according to Rouzie.

Click here for more business news from the Mobile Press-Register.

Click here to see a Birdseye-view of the New Publix location.

Mobile Native Marcus Kennedy takes 1st Place in FLW Tournament

Tournament Wrap-up

Orange Beach, AL — October 6, 2007 — Team “Kwazar” captained by Marcus Kennedy of Mobile, Ala., won the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship and $50,000 Saturday in Orange Beach, Ala., with a total catch of two kingfish weighing 77 pounds, 1 ounce. The top prize included a $20,000 Yamaha bonus.


Kennedy and his teammates Max Williams of Milton, Fla. and Mike Ward and Todd Kercher, both of Mobile, ran approximately 65 miles southwest of Orange Beach and caught a 25-pound, 6-ounce kingfish over an area of rocky bottom in 180 feet of water. “This was a place that we usually bottom fish and we’ll occasionally catch a big king off the bottom, so this is a good time of year to go get them.”

The team’s final-round kingfish ate a live blue runner set about 60 feet deep on a downrigger. Kennedy fought the fish and Williams gaffed it after a 25-minute fight. Team “Kwazar” caught 11 kingfish and a white marlin Saturday.

Inclement weather caused the cancellation of Thursday’s scheduled start, so teams competed Friday to qualify for Saturday’s top-five finale. While some teams struggled with the shortened schedule, Kennedy said he relied on his local knowledge to overcome the loss of a qualifying day.

“It didn’t affect me any, I just went out and did the same thing I was doing,” he said. “It just saved me $600 in gas and another day of butt-whipping.”

Team “Kwazar” advanced to the final round of five boats in first place Friday on the strength of a king mackerel weighing 51 pounds, 11 ounces. They caught this fish by slow trolling a live blue runner on a downrigger. For Saturday’s competition, the winners returned to the same area they fished on day one and caught their winning king about a mile from where they caught their Friday fish.

“We had an idea of where the fish were and we stuck with our plan,” Kennedy said. “Fortunately, we got a big one yesterday and went out today and got a big enough one.”

Rounding out the top five teams were team “Old School” captained by Scott Jennings of Port Royal, S.C. (two kingfish, 69-7, $7,800 plus $5,200 Evinrude bonus and $5,200 Wellcraft bonus); team “Sake” captained by Neil Nix of Okeechobee, Fla. (two kingfish, 67-3, $6,500 plus $4,160 Yamaha bonus and $4,160 Wellcraft bonus); team “Square & Level/Reel Wild” captained by Frank Eldridge of Waycross, Ga. (two kingfish, 66-13, $5,200 plus $3,640 Yamaha bonus); and team “Catch 22” captained by Kevin Arnold of Houston, Texas (two kingfish, 51-6, $4,420 plus $3,120 Yamaha bonus and $3,120 Hydra-Sports bonus).

One hundred and twenty five teams – the top three from each of 15 qualifying tournaments and the top 16 in the points standings from each of five divisions – qualified to fish the tournament. After Friday’s weigh-in, the field was cut to the top five teams based on the heaviest kingfish. The final standings were determined by the total weight of the heaviest kingfish from Friday plus Saturday’s catch.

The Kingfish Series Championship will be featured in a one-hour episode of “FLW Outdoors” broadcast to 80 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) households in the United States and more than 429 million households in such countries as Germany, China, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Hungary and the United Kingdom on Dec. 9. This reach makes “FLW Outdoors” the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. Additionally, FLW Outdoors is proud to provide tournament coverage to more than 800,000 servicemembers stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard Navy ships through broadcasts on the American Forces Network.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission hosted the FLW Kingfish Series Championship along with The Wharf, Brett-Robinson, Live Bait at the Wharf and the cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.

Local pro Marcus Kennedy leads FLW Anglers into Final Day

(Photo- Marcus Kennedy & Max Williams taken by David A. Brown)

By David A. Brown - 06.Oct.2007

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – As the rising sun peeked through Ferris wheel framework at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama, a quintet of kingfish teams headed into a bumpy Gulf of Mexico for their own brand of thrill ride in the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship’s final round.

Local pro Marcus Kennedy, a perennial favorite heading the Mobile, Alabama-based Team Kwazar leads the field with a 51-pound, 11 ounce kingfish. The leaders caught Friday’s top king over natural bottom structure about 65 miles southwest of Orange Beach, and they’ll stick with the same plan today.

“We’ll probably do about the same thing that we did yesterday,” Kennedy said. “We might change the area a little bit, but not much.”

Live baitfish like blue runners (locally called “hardtails”) will be the dominant offering, but Kennedy said he’ll also run dead ribbonfish in his spread. He’ll dress a couple of his live baits with pink or chartreuse skirts to enhance their attraction.

“The water’s clear, but it’s rough out there and I think (a skirt) helps the kings find the bait better,” he said. “I’ll run skirts on two of my baits and the rest of them will be naked.”

Team Kwazar holds a 10-pound lead over second-place Team Sake led by Neil Nix of Okeechobee, Fla., and a 15-pound margin separates the first and fifth spots. However, with the Northern Gulf of Mexico’s reputation for hordes of monster kings, one lucky break can quickly redirect fortune’s favor.

“If we had any sense we’d go catch a 30-pounder somewhere, but we have to go back and try to catch another big fish,” he said. “If we catch a 40-pounder, it’ll be tough to beat (91 pounds). But there are a lot of good fishermen fishing this tournament so you can’t take anything for granted.”

Tournament officials cancelled Thursday’s scheduled start when inclement weather and extremely rough seas created unsafe boating conditions. Losing one qualifying day in what was originally to be a three-day event put most teams in a swing-for-the fence mode on Friday. FLW Kingfish Series Tournament Director Chris Hoover said the adjusted schedule amplifies the feeling of accomplishment for Saturday’s top-five teams.

“Yesterday was a big day for these teams to go out and get as much weight as they could, but today’s going to take a little bit of pressure off of them because they’ve already made the top five,” Hoover said. “Everyone would love to win, but they all want to make it to that TV day and have the opportunity to (win the Championship).”

Hoover also pointed out that while local knowledge and experience clearly factor into the competitive equation, the first-place prize remains within reach of all top-five teams until the last fish hits the scale Saturday afternoon.

“It’s anyone’s game,” Hoover said. “These teams network so much that they all have (GPS) numbers and locations (to fish). So really all of the teams will have the same opportunity because they’ve networked and they’ve done their homework before they even got here.

“Anything can happen out there today, so it’s going to be really exciting.”

Tournament rules
The Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship, which concludes today, gathers the top finishers from five divisions – North Carolina, South Carolina/Georgia, East Florida, Gulf, and Upper Gulf. The top five teams compete in today’s final round for a top award of as much as $70,000.

Action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. (Central Time) at The Wharf, located at 23101 Canal Road in Orange Beach. The National Guard Family Fun Zone opens at noon with free games and giveaways.

Friday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 6:47 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 79 degrees
Expected high temperature: 92 degrees
Water temperature: 79 degrees
Wind: from the east-northeast at 10-15 mph
Humidity: 79 percent
Day’s outlook: Cloudy with isolated thunderstorms

Change of Seasons Update to The Orange Beach Community Website

September 23, 2007 -- With the change of seasons, we thought it would be a good time to do some fall cleaning on The Orange Beach Community Website, and recap some of the recently added features. Over the summer, we added a lot of new features to the Website including Interactive Orange Beach Maps, a new Orange Beach Community News Service, with RSS Feed capability, the Orange Beach News Index, the Orange Beach Weather Index, and a custom Orange Beach Vacation Rental Search Engine, to mention a few. Below you will find additional information about each of these new features...

Interactive Orange Beach Maps: We have built several custom maps that show points-of-interest for anglers, vacationers, pet owners, and residents in Orange Beach. The Map List Page includes links to maps for Orange Beach's Finest Restaurants, Golf Courses, Fishing Charters, Pet-Owner Points-Of-Interest, Boat Launches, Public Beaches, and a custom map showing the location of all Condo Buildings in Orange Beach. Each of the custom maps contain push-pins with links to additional information about points-of-interest in Orange Beach.

Orange Beach Community News Service: This page contains up-to-date news specific to Orange Beach. Articles on this page are updated daily. This new Orange Beach Community News Service allows you to subscribe using RSS feeds. (Click here for more information about how RSS Feeds work and how to use them.)

Orange Beach News Index: This is an updated index of news sources related to Orange Beach. This page contains links to The Orange Beach Community Website's Current News, as well as the News Archives. You will find links on this page that will let you easily search worldwide news sources for news about Orange Beach.

Orange Beach Weather Index: On this page you will find weather information specific to Orange Beach, including local forecasts, radars, satellites, and tropical updates. This page also includes links to a Custom Weather Charts for Orange Beach. These charts include Sunrise & Sunset Times, Moon Phase, Moonrise & Moonset Times, Tide Charts and Schedules for Perdido Pass, as well as Average High & Low Air and Water Temperatures.

Orange Beach Vacation Rental Search Engine: This is a Custom Search Engine that helps visitors planning a trip to Orange Beach, locate accommodations in Orange Beach. This Custom Search Engine also benefits Vacation Rental Property Owners in Orange Beach because it only searches for vacation rental properties located in Orange Beach.

A Special Thank You to
The Orange Beach Community Website Sponsors
Click on the above link to see a list of the local businesses that support The Orange Beach Community Website. The support of these local businesses that make these services possible.

Please visit, support, and let these businesses know you appreciate what they are doing for the Orange Beach Community. With the continued support of our sponsors, we have a lot more useful features planned for The Orange Beach Community Website.